Rest Easy

     Friday means a new challenge is starting at QKR Stampede and we have a new theme of "Mother's Day."  Most of you who follow me already know that I have a weird, perhaps even bizarre sense of humor so hopefully you'll appreciate this card I made for a wonderful lady who has a family of 5 and says all she does is laundry, laundry, laundry every day of the week.  I, on the other hand, live alone and sometimes go a full 2 weeks with barely enough laundry to separate it into different loads.  Remember, we're conserving water out here in drought stricken California so I have to have a big load before I run the machine!  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Laziness has nothing to do with it!  :-D

     This is Digi 24224 "Resting Heavy" and, while I had good intentions of using a sentiment from QKR, I have to take the full blame for the sentiment this time.  :-D  It just popped into my head as I was getting ready to print the digi.

     I added the 'frame' and the sentiment with some editing software before I printed it, a new technique for me.   Then I used ProMarkers to color the image, and cut it out - frame, sentiment, and all - with my Fiskars paper cutter.

     I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the card front before adding the image piece.  The ribbon has been in my stash for at least 2 years, maybe 3.  I found the yellow feathers last week when I reorganizing the craft space so I knew exactly where to put my hands on them.  The flower is from Recollections.  This card took less than 15 minutes to put together (not counting coloring time) even though it looks complex rather than simple.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Boots
Crazy 4 Challenges
Design Team Showcase
Hiding in My Craft Room
Love to Scrap
Perfectly Rustics
Pink Elephant
Sister Act

     That's it for this post.  Come play with us this week and have a great weekend, folks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mother's Day Birthday

     Every few years, my friend's birthday falls on Mother's Day and I try to make sure she gets a card from me celebrating both of those events.  On this card, I used one of my new LOTV stamps.  Remember a week or so ago, I told you I'd ordered some new stamps from Lily of the Valley?  I also promised that they weren't going to sit in a drawer, unused for 3 years, like the ones I had purchased before.  lol  Keeping that promise, I used this stamp the same day it arrived.

     This card is my DT card for the new challenge starting today in the Twisted Thursday challenge over at the Outlawz.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we always have an optional twist if you want to use it.  The last Thursday of the month, even the twist is "Anything Goes" so this week you can do anything you like and still do two entries.  :-D

     I used watercolors, ProMarkers, and gel inks on the image and then used dies from Spellbinders to cut the image and the mat.  The card base layer is embossed with my "Linen" folder for some texture.  I added sparkly twine to one corner, and layered a strip of dp from DCWV behind the image, then did the sentiment using white ink.  The three little pearl heart buttons were in my stash.  I inked the edges of the card with distress inks.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Girlz
Design Team Showcase
Digi Sketch
Incy Wincy
Kit and Clowder
My Time to Craft
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Girls
Pink Elephant
Simon Says Stamp
Simply Papercrafts
Sister Act
Stamp and Create

     That's it for me today.  I hope you'll come play with us this week.  How can you beat an Anything Goes week?   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Overdose

     OK, so I wasn't going to have another post for today but I saw this image lying on my desk and had a sudden idea of how to use it.  All that time last month when I was without a computer, or rather between computers, I spent some time with my rubber stamps (the ones which have been languishing in the storage drawers) and got into stamping and coloring them since I couldn't access any of the digis stored on flash drives.  I didn't necessarily know how or where I was going to use the colored images but doing them kept me sane when I had couldn't play online.

     Today, I made a Get Well card from one of those images I had colored, a cute House Mouse stamp.  I know this wasn't intended for a "Get Well" sentiment but I think it works.  I've seen my grandson look a bit like this when he hasn't tracked his carb count properly.  :-D

     I hope my friend Lynn, Creative Crafts by Lynn, has a chance to see this.  I know she's going to love it since blue is her favorite color and she loves CAS designs and cute images.   Are you smiling yet, Lynn?  :-D

I knew I wanted to do a patchwork design of 

polka dots and checks and went looking for a sketch to use.  

I found this one at Sketch Saturday,

and I turned it sideways.

     I used ProMarkers on the image and the papers are old.  I think they're from DCWV's "Basics" stack.   I added the stitching using gel pens.  Everything was cut by hand.  The bow is one of those I've had in my stash from the last time I made a batch of two dozen.  This one may even have been in the stash from the batch before the last one but in any case, it's been a good 6 months.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
ArtbyMiran
Artistic Inspirations
Brown Sugar
Clear It Out
Digi Chooseday
Friday Mashup
Gruffies & Guests
House Mouse
Inky Chicks
Jo's Scrap Shack
Simply Papercrafts
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope your week is going well and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Need a Hug?

     I'm finally able to enter the Progressive Challenge over on the My Whimsical Little World's FB page.  I had the card done but had to wait on the camera.  :-D  If you purchase the current digi for the challenge, you get the one for next month free.

     Do you think I've gotten hooked on CAS lately?  I am enjoying it more than I ever thought I would.  This image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a die from a set by Spellbinders.  The textured mat is also cut with a larger die from that same set.  The ribbon was a piece left over and tossed into my scrap basket.  The pearls were 'rescued' and recycled from a card that only made it as far as the "round file."  Have you ever had any of those?

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafts Galore Encore
Digitally Sweet
DL.ART Thankful Thurs
Ladybug Crafts
Lia Stampz
Mema's
My Craft Creations
My Sheri Crafts
Natalie and Amy's
Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent

     I'm not sure I'll have a post for tomorrow but I'll definitely have one on Thursday.  This is just a really busy week for me and there's little 'new crafting' time available.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rain Boots and Umbrellas

     It's been so long since I picked up an actual rubber stamp!  I'm totally hooked on digis so most of my rubber stamps are languishing in a drawer or box, but I was cleaning up and organizing the craft room when I ran across an old, old set of rubber stamps by Sparkle n Sprinkle that seemed perfect for a 'rainmaking' card.  We need rain so desperately in California.  After I got the card done on Saturday morning, we actually had an hour of light rain so something was working.  :-D

     This is a single layer, CAS card and since I was using rubber, I decided it was also time to do a bit of heat embossing (Black Detail powder) -- another thing which has been forgotten.   I love heat embossing because of the shine it gives to the card.  Hard to photograph but lovely IRL.  As silly as it sounds, after years of doing heat embossing, I still get a kick out of watching the EP turn from powdery to shiny.

     I added splashes of color using my ProMarkers and stamped the sentiment after 'coloring' it with a pink ProMarker.  Although it's hard to see in the photo, I added glue and loose glitter to the leaves and then put a tiny bit on the bow as though it was a little gem.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Moments
Dream It Up
FHL- Throwback Thurs
Frosted Designs
In the Pink
Love to Scrap
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out
Tuesday Throwdown (Do raindrops count?) :-D
Word Art Weds.

     I'm getting back in the swing of thing now that I have most of the cards I made during my down time all photographed.  So glad to be back with actual pictures.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Guy Card for QKR Stampede

     Second post of the day and I'm still playing catch up due to the camera glitch.  This card was done for the challenge which started last Friday at QKR Stampede.  Our challenge this week is "Cards for Guys" so we want to see something with a masculine flair.

     This silly grasshopper is an image from QKR Stampede (Digi 24173 "Lounging") and the sentiment is also from QKR (Digi 13506 "Sometimes...")  I colored the image with ProMarkers and used chalks on the sky.  I wrapped the twine around the card front before I added the hand cut sentiment.  Very CAS and definitely a masculine card.  I might even use it for a Father's Day Card.

     Can you believe that as much as I love humor and cute images, I've never used this one before?

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Brown Sugar
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Catz
Fairy Tale
I (heart) ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Scrap & Craft
Sister Act
Whimsy Inspiration

     OK, I'm feeling so much better now that my camera glitch has been cured and I have my camera back again.  It must be an addiction -- I was climbing the walls all those days without it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hope and a Warm Hello

     This is the first of my posts today and it's my DT post for Aud Sentiments which was due last Thursday.  What with the camera glitch, I couldn't get anything photographed but now that I have the camera back from the factory, I've been on a photography binge this morning.  :-D

     Our wonderful sponsor this fortnight is The Paper Shelter and our theme is "Things with Wings" plus you must have a sentiment on your card.  This TPS image is called "Hope" and I think she's gorgeous with her sweet dove.

     I tried a new technique which I learned recently from my friend, Donna (Creative Smiles.)  I wanted to use that lovely die cut frame (Spellbinders) but my image was large enough that it wouldn't fit.  I cut the frame at top and bottom and both sides, and then framed the image with the pieces.  I added the punched flowers and the bows to cover the 'holes' in the frame.

     The sentiment is hand printed on the dp, which is from a stack by DCWV.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Chooseday
Loves Rubber Stamps
Mema's

     I'll have another post up shortly for my QKR Stampede DT card,which is also late due to camera problems.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cat Nap in the Flowers

    Woohoo!  I have my camera back!  Now I'm going to play catch up so I'll have only this post tonight and two late DT posts tomorrow.  I only had enough daylight to take this one photo (making sure everything was working again) but the rest will get photographed in the morning.  :-D

     For this darling card, I used an image from AuroraWings which I dearly love and use every few months whenever I can find a reason to do so.  :-D

     The image is printed on the card front along with the sentiment, then colored with ProMarkers and watercolors.  I added glitter to some of the flower centers and to the butterfly.   The twine was the only embellishment because I wanted this card to be CAS.  It's for a young boy in my neighborhood who just happens to think that my white cat is the cutest thing he's ever seen.  Whenever he's visiting his grandparents, he loves to come by and watch for Honey to sit in her window.  They stare at each other as though each is trying to decipher what the other is thinking as they watch each other for minutes at a time.  I wanted him to have a white kitten of his very own and this is the best I could do. :-D

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Card Crew
Cutie Pie
Love to Scrap
Not Just Cards
Paper Girls
Stamp and Create
Through the Purple Haze
Whoopsi Daisy

     It feels so good to be back posting again!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Teddy Bear for Mum

     Thursday and that means another another new challenge is starting today at Outlawz Twisted Thursday where our theme is always "Anything Goes" and where we add an optional twist if you want to use it.  This week our twist is "Add a Sentiment."

     I'm using the last of my purchased-last-spring-but-never-used Lily of the Valley stamps for this darling Mother's Day card.   Warning -- I've ordered another 6 LOTV stamps which should be arriving in the next week or so.  However, this time I plan to use them instead of letting them sit idle for a year.  :-D

I found a sketch at Sketch Saturday and turned it sideways,

and my colors were pulled from the photo at Cupcake Inspirations.

  

     I thought an easel card would be nice but wanted to make it long rather than tall.  It's an A2 size card with the fold running lengthwise and folded again half-way down.  I attached the card front along the mid-line fold, leaving the top free.

     I used ProMarkers, chalk, and gel pen for coloring, then framed the image with CS and dp, and I corner punched each layer as I went along.  Both of my ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the flower was made from things in my stash.  I made the sentiment by layering it with ribbon and CS and it became my easel 'stop.'

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug (first diagonal)
Come and Get It (bear)
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Kit and Clowder
My Sheri Crafts
Outlawz CAS
Sentimental Sundays

     That's it for today.  I'm not sure what other posts I may have this week or next.  Everything depends on my camera repair.  If it's not one thing, it's another -- computer, camera, what next?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New Sentiments for Friends and Followers

     I know it looks like I'm MIA since you haven't seen a post from me since last Friday but there's a glitch in my camera which required that it be sent back to the factory.  I hope it will be fixed and back to me early next week but until then, I can't photograph anything for posting.   I do have a post scheduled for Twisted Thursday this week but nothing else until the camera is restored.  I'll be posting my (by then) past due DT works first.

     However, my dear friend, Teresa, has been hard at work with another of my silly sentiments (not original with me -- I grew up hearing my dad say it) and I love how she's given you several options in both the language, in either .jpg and .png, and in how they are laid out, either horizontal or vertical.

     I hope you'll enjoy these and it would be great if you'd stop by Teresa's blog - Tickell Expressions and give her a 'thank you' for all her work on these.   Don't you just love how she used Cats to make the capital letters?  I think that's fantastic!  :-D  Enjoy.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring Flowers at QKR Stampede

     Happy Friday and enjoy the start to your weekend.  We have a new challenge at QKR Stampede this week and our theme is "Spring Flowers."  There are so many gorgeous flower images at QKR that it took me a while to choose this one to use (Digi 16220 "Bouquet") but the search was fun in itself.

I found this sketch at Digi Sketch

and flipped it top to bottom.  I also took some liberties

 with the placement of the gemstones.

     I printed the image and sentiment onto a scrap of CS, then used my ProMarkers to color the image.  I used a die set from QuicKutz to cut the image and the mat.  I believe all the dp is from DCWV but again, those are mainly scraps from the stash so don't hold me to that.  I know they came from 12" x 12" scrapbooking paper originally.  

     The wide sheer ribbon was another scrap in my stash and I added a layer of gold mesh on top of it.  The satin ribbon I used to tie the double bow (bless my Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker!) may have come from Really Reasonable Ribbon but I'm not sure.  I added the small paper flower and the gem stones and pronounced it finished.  Another card that pleases me, even more so because it's all from things in my stash.  The more I use things up, the better my excuse to buy some new things.  :-D

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create

Addicted to Stamps

Artistic Inspirations

Clear It Out

Corrosive Challenge

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Sentiment Designs

Crazy Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams
Fussy and Fancy

Great Impressions
Kit and Clowder

Melonheadz Friends

Ribbon Girl

Through the Craft Room Door

Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope you're going to enter the challenge at QKR this week.  Find some flowers suitable for spring and make something wonderful.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Being the Queen (Feline Version)

     Those of you who are 'owned' by a feline will totally understand this card I did for my DT spot at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week.  Our challenge is always "Anything Goes" but the optional twist this week is "Clean And Simple."

     My image this time is a digi freebie from Sliekje which just made me smile.  This is definitely how it is around my house, only I'm the servant!  lol  Do I even need to say this is a favorite stamp?

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut and the edges are inked.  That piece is layered onto the card front and I inked the edges of the card.  I printed the sentiment, cut it by hand, and adhered it with a gemstone brad, the only embellie.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Design Team Showcase
Di's Digi Stamps
Eureka Stamps
Fairytale Stampers
Monday Morning
My Sheri Crafts
Not Just Cards
Outlawz CAS
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamp and Create

     I hope you'll play along with us this week.  If you aren't thrilled with CAS, forget the optional twist and come play in the Anything Goes part.  We're looking forward to seeing your wonderful creation.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Free Word Art Sentiments

     Something a bit different for all of you today -- WORD ART!  

     Several months ago, my dear friend, Teresa, of TICKELL EXPRESSIONS, asked me why I didn't make available to others many of the sentiments I make up for my cards.  She seems to think they are often humorous and sometimes worth repeating.  I told her I'd never thought about it since most of the time they just pop into my head when I'm looking at an image I plan to use.  Besides, I don't have access to all the fancy fonts she uses nor her talent to make them into true Word Art!

     Last week, she made a similar comment on a sentiment I had used on one of my QKR Stampede cards.  You can find it here.  Since she is an artist and does lots of word art (which she gives away on her blog,) I suggested to her that the next time she saw a sentiment of mine she really liked, she should turn it into word art and then she and I could each make it available on our blogs as a freebie word art sentiment.

     She loved that idea and today, we are each offering the same two sentiments.  Hasn't she done incredible work on them?  :-D  The second one comes from this card.

     Feel free to download and use them if you find them suitable for something you want to make.  Just right click on the image, then 'Save As' into whatever folder you wish.  It's just like saving a digi image and they can be adjusted to whatever size you need.

      

    

  

    Look for more of these in the future.  Enjoy! and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Aloha (and I wish I was in Hawaii)

     Fair warning to those of you who've gotten used to my doing CAS lately -- this one is NOT clean and simple!  Although I'm becoming very fond of my CAS designs, I reverted to something more in line with frilly, fancy, and over-the-top.  :-D

    I used this image which came from the Rick St. Dennis Progressive Challenge.

I chose to use the colors from Color My Heart

although I admit that my "juniper" feather looks more emerald green

but IRL it is that blue-green of a juniper bush.

     I used ProMarkers to color my image, then die cut it and the mat with dies from Spellbinders.  I used one of my favorite embossing folders (SU) to emboss the pink CS.  I added Flower Soft to her arm and neck leis, and glitter to the stamen of the flowers in her hair.  I used lace ribbon to make the wrapped bow and found three perfect feathers in my stash.  The rose embellies are from Recollections.

     Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks

Allsorts (middle row)

ArtbyMiran

Card Mania

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafts 4 Eternity

Die Cut Divas

Emerald Faeries

Graph'It

Our Creative Corner

Paper Creator's Crafts

Ribbon Girl

Sentimental Sundays

     Is it OK if I tell you that I'm very pleased with this card?  It's been a while since I did that much embellishing and it felt good to just let things go with no worries about having to be minimalist this time around.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"Hoppy" Birthday

     Is this one of the cutest frogs you've ever seen?  What do you think -- a prince in disguise like in the fairy tales?   Or just a little croaker enjoying the spring?

     The frog is a freebie from Encino Stamps for the progressive challenge over at The Outlawz.  I colored him with ProMarkers and hand cut him with scissors.  The 'lily' pad leaf is cut with two different size dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is hand printed and hand cut, then matted, and that's hand cut.  Everything is popped up on a DCWV card base with dimensional dots.  I added sparkly twine and sequins as the embellies on this masculine card.

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Addicted to Stamps & More

Craft for the Craic

Crafting for all Seasons

Creative Corner

Frilly & Funky (leaves)

Paper Shelter

Simply Papercraft

Stempelsonnen

Stamping Boutique

     That's all for today.  I'm getting better at both my new operating system and my new photography software.  Give me another 5 or 6 months and I should like them just as well as my old programs.  :-D  My motto is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!  I wish Microsoft would adhere to that idea.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Sassy Lady

     The challenge at The East Wind this fortnight was to do something "Sassy" and I chose to use their freebie image for April to make this card.  Their challenge is already closed.

My colors came from Color Sisters.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers (I tried some distress markers I have and I just don't like the look of them.  I'll take alcohol markers any day!) then cut both it and the frames with one of my favorite framing dies by Spellbinders.  Everything is dry embossed and set on dimensional dots for texture.  The bow was cut with a die from Memory Keepers, I think.  All the colored CS came from left over scraps.  I added the computer printed sentiment on top of the bow.

     Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks

As You Like It

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafts 4 Eternity

Crafts Galore Encore

Creative Craft Cottage

Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Hiding in My Craft Room

Inspiration Destination

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Sister Act

Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope your weekend has gone well and that you've had some 'down' time in which to relax and enjoy.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Clyde in Spring

     It's a great day today!  I've managed to find new editing software for my camera (one more new thing to learn!), my old printer is now talking to my new computer, and I had time this morning for some crafting with all kinds of recycled goodies in honor of "Earth Day."  :-D

     This funny and very CAS card has a Bugaboo Stamps image (their darling dragon, Clyde) and it seems like a perfect celebration of spring.

     This is a single layer card with the image printed right to the card front and colored with ProMarkers.  The card itself is made from recycled CS.  The papers inside are recycled from a magazine page.  The buttons came from doll dresses which I found at a local thrift store and bought for twenty cents each, specifically to harvest the tiny buttons.  How's that for an "Earth Day" project?

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Card Mania

Catch the Bug

Craft Your Passion

Crazy 4 Challenges

Di's Digi Designs

Incy Wincy

Kit and Clowder

My Sheri Crafts

Open-Minded

Paper Creator's Crafts

Papertake Weekly

Party Time Tuesday

Recycle, Repurpose, & Reinvent

Sweet Stampin'

     I hope your weekend is going well.  Our weather is perfect spring weather -- warm but not hot, and wonderful for playing in the garden.  Which reminds me that I need to go turn on the drip system.  I'm having to do my garden on minimal watering this year.  Our drought is so bad that new restrictions on water use have been put in place.  When you watch your veggie and fruit prices skyrocket this summer, it's because of the water restrictions out here in California.  Farmers are tearing out their vineyards and groves because they simply can't keep the trees and vines alive without more rain and a higher volume in the aquifers.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Got an Itch

     Friday and QKR Stampede just go together, don't they?   Well, they do on my blog!  So we're starting a new challenge today and our theme this time is: "Bunnies."  Very simple, very sweet, very ... romantic?  You decide after you see this image (Digi 15203) and sentiment.  lol

I chose to use the sketch from Creaine.

     I used ProMarkers and Copics to color the image, then die cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I found a old stack of burlap papers with prints on the pages (hidden in my stash for how long???) and decided that one of them would be perfect for adding some texture to this masculine card.

     The rest of the card is done with things from my stash, mainly kraft and white CS, although in the photo the kraft looks brown.  I think it must be the lighting.  The sentiment is mine, printed and hand cut, then inked on the edge.  The image is mounted on dimensional dots.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Clear It Out
Country View Crafts
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting Musketeers
Creatalicious
Cutie Pie
Cut It Up
Dies R Us
Digi Chooseday
Digi Sketch
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Sisters of Craft
Tuesday Throwdown (shout out to my former teamies -- miss you all!)

     Here we are, 1/3 of the way through April and that means we're nearly 1/3 of the way through 2015.  It's true, time does go faster the older you get.  :-D  Come play with us at QKR Stampede and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Birthday Party for Teddy

     Good Thursday Morning to you all!   It's a new challenge starting today over at Aud Sentiments.  Our theme is to use the number "5" or a "Birthday Sentiment."  If someone you know is celebrating his or her 5th birthday, you could combine them.  :-D  Our sponsor is The Stamping Boutique and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  Mine is called "The Magic of Pretend" and it was perfect for a birthday invitation.

     To color it, I used pink, blue, and yellow chalk, applied with cotton swabs.  Very simple and it gives such a soft look.  I used hot pink, yellow, and blue CS to frame the image and the used some beautiful yellow ribbon for the bow.  The sentiment is printed and chalked with blue.  I used a wide, sheer ribbon with both yellow and pink tones in it and did a single wrap of it around the card front, over the CS layers but behind the image.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends
Chalk n Stock
Crafting with Attitude
Inkspirational
In the Pink
Ladybug Crafts
My Craft Creations
Natalie and Amy's
Open-Minded Crafting Fun
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'

     Come play along with us this week.  We both know you always can use another birthday card in your stash and that's all you need to play along with us.  OK, you need to make sure it has a birthday sentiment on it but why make a birthday card without a birthday sentiment?  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

All Better !

     It's (almost) Thursday and that means another challenge is starting at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we add an optional Twist which you can use if you like.  Our twist this week is: "Use Punches."

     This sweet image is a freebie called "All Better" from Judy at Bluejeans, Coffee & Friends and I just fell in love!  :-D  I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then used a die to cut three sides of it.  I punched the butterflies and inset two of them and put the other two on dimensional dots.  I added pink glitter to the wings and red to the bodies.  

     The white lace and the sheer ribbon for the bow are both from Really Reasonable Ribbon, but the darker burgundy ribbon has been in my stash for more than 2 years.  (Eeek! Time to use some of it.)  I also used a small border punch on two sides of the sentiment piece.

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create

Crafty Calendar

Design Team Showcase

Glitter n Sparkle

Ladybug Crafts

Mema's 

My Craft Creations

One Crazy Stamper

Paper Nest Dolls

Pile It On

SLS Lines

     That's it for this post but I have another one scheduled for midnight so be sure to check back later or in the morning.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cuddle a Dragon

     My second post of the day but my old computer is about to be replaced by the new one and that means I have to learn a completely new operating system!  Since I don't learn things as quickly as I once did, and since there's no "Operating System for Dummies" manual, I can only hope that it's not as difficult as I've heard from certain trusted sources.  In any case, I decided to get this one posted before the old computer goes away forever, even if I do get punted offline every few minutes.  :-D

     This image came from AuroraWings and I decided that it should be a "Bucket List" card.  That's a card which celebrates things you can now scratch from your Bucket List.

     That sweet little Snapdragon Sprite is colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a Spellbinders die.  I added glitter to his little wings for a bit of sparkle.  The mat is also cut with a larger die from the same set.  Both ribbons were n my stash and I tied a double bow.  I added the February gemstone butterfly (amethyst) and three small pearls for embellishment.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafting for all Seasons
Creative Corner
Moving Along with the Times
Quick Quotes
Outlawz Greetings
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Scrapy Land
Sister Act
Whimsy Inspiration

     That's it for today.  I do have a few posts scheduled this week so we'll see how things go with the new computer and, hopefully, I'll be able to get back online without any problems.  If there are problems, at least you'll have some things to see when you come over to visit my blog.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thoughts for You

     The April Progressive Challenge at Deedee's Digis is under way and the set for this month is both lovely and versatile.  I used it for a card expressing thoughts and prayers.  The frame and the sentiment are both from the Blooming Blessings set.  There are also sentiments for Mother's Day, for Spring, for Get Well, and Congratulations.

     The card front is embossed and rubbed with chalk.  The circular frame image is hand cut and the sentiment is corner punched; both are adhered with dimensional dots.  The bow was tied using my new bow maker from Craft-Dee BowZ (I do love it!!) and I also attached a left over scrap of sheer ribbon to it for a bit of sparkle.  I added yellow glitter to the center of the flowers on the frame.  I wanted it to remain very CAS.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
Scrap & Craft
Scrapbooker Ph.D.
Word Art Weds.

     I hope you'll come and play in our monthy Digi of the Month (DOM) challenge.  It's a progressive challenge which means that you can purchase, at a much reduced price, the DOM set for the first month you play, and then you get the set for the following month as a freebie!  :-D  Each month that you play, you'll get a set for the next month free.  Hope to see you over there.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thank You Bouquet

Happy Easter, Friends and Followers!

     I'm going to share a Thank You card today which has a lovely spring feel to it.  The image is one of the pre-colored images that come with sets from Doodle Pantry and they are terrific for making quick and easy cards.

    The image is cut with a die from Spellbinders and I inked the edges.  The three layers of scallops were cut with one of my brand new Spellbinders die sets from Scrapy Land and I used some of the little 'dots' that fell out of the cuts to make the scatter of confetti.  Both the ribbon and newsprint flowers were in my stash.

     Challenges:

Card Mania

Crafting by Design

Fab n Funky

Frilly & Funkie

Inky Impressions

Mod Squad (middle column)

Our Creative Corner

Whimsy Inspirations

     I'm off to spend Easter with family.  May the blessings of the Resurrection holiday be with you and yours this wonderful Easter Sunday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Trash or Treasure?

     It's the first Friday in April and I simply can't believe how fast 2015 is moving along!  Friday means a new challenge at QKR Stampede and this week our theme is "April Showers."  The possibilities with that theme are endless.  I decided to see if  I could find an image that was seemingly unrelated (meaning no baby ducks, umbrellas, or cloudy skies) and then work the theme into it.  What do you think?  I used an image (Digi 7102 "One Man's Trash") and an inside sentiment (Digi 16411) which are both from QKR Stampede.

     The snail image is colored with ProMarkers and mounted onto a sea blue card front.  That front sentiment is mine.  I used blue gems to make the raindrops.  I printed the QKR sentiment onto paper and added some aqua lace before adhering it to the inside of the card.  A simple card with a delightfully CAS design.

     Challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz (snail)
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Everybody-Art
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greetings
Party Time Tues.
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     I absolutely love this silly card, mostly because of that crazy snail.  Don't you just love his expression?  I'm thinking of using this same image for some kind of tea party or coffee klatch card, but with different sentiments, of course.  :-D

     I really hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Remember, you can use any image by any company but if you use a QKR image, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for those who have used QKR stamps.  That increases your chances of winning by quite a lot!  See you at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Easter with Pattie's Creations

     With Easter only a few days away, I want to share with you a card I made for the "Easter" challenge at Pattie's Creations.  It features a digi from Pattie's called "Decorated Easter Egg."   Did I mention that I've joined the DT at Pattie's?  I'm so tickled.  :-D

     This is a new type of fancy fold card which I first saw on my friend, Teresa's, blog.  I was so intrigued, I knew I had to try it.  If you go to Teresa's blog, you'll find a link to a tutorial on how to make these fun cards.  Here's what the card looks like when it's open.

     The dp came from a stack by The Paper Studio.  I colored the egg with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  The gold netting, the flower, and the bow were all in my stash.

     Challenges:
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Design Team Showcase
Glitter n Sparkle
Hiding in My Craft Room
Monday Morning
My Sheri Crafts
Outlawz PAM
Perfectly Rustics
Pile It On
Pink Elephant
Stamp and Create
Sweet Stampin'

     I hope you'll come play along this month.  Show us the cards you made to celebrate Easter this year or the ones you're making for next year.  There's no requirement to use an image from Pattie's Creations but we'll certainly be tickled if you do.  We're a month long challenge which starts on the first Friday of each month, UK time.  If you're in the US, you'll find the challenge starting on the Thursday evening before.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Tulip Bunny

     I'm getting close to the end of my Easter cards and have begun using images which could be for a birthday, for Mother's Day, or for a general spring theme.  Today, our challenge at Outlawz Twisted Thursday has an "Easter/Spring" optional theme (we're always 'Anything Goes') so this darling image worked perfectly.  Can you tell I'm finally using those Lily of the Valley stamps I got more than a year ago and hadn't used until this last couple of weeks?  I'm on a roll with them now.  :-D

I used the basic sketch at The Sweetest Thing

but flipped it from top to bottom.

     To color this one, I used a combination of chalks, Copics, and ProMarkers, then I die cut the image and two mats.  That's an older die set from QuicKutz which I haven't seen in the shops for a while so it may have been discontinued.  I love the lacy, 'doily' look of it.  I added satin ribbon for an embellishment and the bow is tied separately, then adhered.  Very CAS and easy to make.  Can you believe everything came from scraps on my work table?

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Allsorts
Come and Get It
Corrosive Challenge
Crazy 4 Challenges
Di's Digi Designs
My Sheri Crafts
My Time to Craft
Robyn's Fetish
That Craft Place

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  It's "Anything Goes" but you can add the optional twist of "Easter/Spring" if you like.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie