Summer Fun

     I'm hearing all about summer fun; from my grandkids, in blogland, for challenge themes...  Yeah, right!  I'm here to tell you that when the summer temperatures hit 100+ degrees a month before normal and then they stay there for more than a week, the best kind of summer fun is staying indoors and coloring with markers.  :-D

I  based this on the sketch from Outlawz

leaving off the large ribbon and bow across the top

because I wanted something a bit more simple.

     The image is from Simply B Stamps, colored with chalk markers and gel pens, then die cut with a Spellbinders die.  I'm still working on blond hair and the chore was made even more difficult working with chalk markers and more limited colors.  

     Challenges:

ArtbyMiran

Chalk n Stock

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Time

Di's Digi Designs

Ladybug Crafts

Paper Creator's Crafts

Sassy Studio Design

Scribble & Scrap

Simply Papercraft

SLS Lines

Stamping Boutique

     The rest of my week is going to be really busy so I don't know if I'll have another post before my regular QKR Stampede DT post on Friday.  If I find some crafting time, I'll get a post up.  Otherwise, I'll see you on Friday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Bugs and Blooms

     I love this Bugs and Blooms set which comes from Deedee's Digis and I decided that the snail  needed to put on her finest pink for this card.  The sentiment is also from that set.  I'm using up scraps today so both the image and the sentiment were printed onto scrap CS.

I based my design on the sketch from Sunday Stamps, turned vertical,

and took colors from Inspired by Stamping.

  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut and matted with a rectangle die cut CS piece (another scrap), layered on in such a way as to create an out-of-the-box technique, one of my favorites.

     Both ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I tied the double layer bow using my Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker.  The background dp is from Lawn Fawn and I'm happy to say I won that stack in a challenge.  :-D  

     Challenges:

Catch the Bug (center vertical)

Craft-Dee Bowz

In the Pink

Jo's Scrap Shack

Outlawz CAS

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scrapper's Delights

Simon Says Stamp

Sister Act

That Craft Place

Whimsy Inspiration

Word Art Weds.

     Well, it's the first day of a new week in a new summer and I really hope your summer has started well.  Thanks for visiting and feel free to browse around while you're here.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Orchid Fairy

     I was looking through my images from Morgan Fitzsimons (now Morgan's ArtWorld instead of Fitztown) and found this one which I've never used before.   I remember falling madly in love with it but then it just languished in the file.  Today it got colored and now it graces a card which will probably end up being a birthday card.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and the wings have sparkle gel ink added to them.  Here's a close up so you can see the sparkle better.  This is my very first attempt at coloring black hair.  That will no doubt improve with more practice but I'm satisfied with it as a first effort.

     I don't know if the flowers were supposed to be orchids but they just called for pale orchid color so they became orchids no matter what they were originally.  :-D  Besides, that allowed me to use what is fast becoming a favorite color combo - yellow and lavender/purple.

     I wanted to keep this one CAS so the only embellishment is from the die cut butterflies (Cheery Lynn).  Those were cut from scrap CS.  The image itself was cut with a framing die from Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps (middle row down)
Cheery Lynn
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Corrosive Challenge
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Melonheadz Friends
Papertake Weekly
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft

     Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  If you still have your dad, I hope you are treating him to a day beyond his highest hopes.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Dandi-lion

     I've fallen madly in love with AuroraWings' darling little sprites and this Dandelion Sprite is no exception.   Their challenge theme this time is "Sprite Delight" and you just have to use a hand-colored sprite on your project to enter.

I chose my colors from the challenge at The Outlawz.

I used the center diagonal row of yellow, lt brown, & green 

and added the gold mesh for the lace.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and I added glitter gel ink to the dandelion seeds but it just doesn't show in the photo.  The sentiment was printed on the same piece as the image.  The fancy edge was made with a Cheery Lynn border die and the flower is from Recollections, dyed with a marker.  Everything is put onto a dark brown CS base.

     Challenges:

Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Inspiration Destination
Love to Scrap
Paper Shelter
Papertake Weekly
Penny's Paper Crafty
Through the Craft Room Door
Vintage Stamping

     Yesterday was day 7 in our over-100 degree heat wave and there's just no relief in sight.  The weather folks are predicting that on Monday we'll be at 99 instead of 100 but, I'm sorry, my body fails to detect the difference.  Hot is hot!  If you're also suffering from high heat, be sane and stay indoors.  Craft your heart out and post lots of inspiration for the rest of us.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Cow Country

     I don't think I've ever had more fun coloring an image!  We have a new challenge at QKR Stampede starting today and our theme is "Cows."  Yes, I said "Cows."   I hope you'll check out all the different cows used by the gals on the DT.  We all giggled over our images and cards this week.

     Both my sentiment (Digi 11207 - Cow Country) and my image (Digi 1004 - Long Horn) came from QKR Stampede.

     I'm happily dedicating this card to my friend and blogging buddy, Lynn (Creative Crafts by Lynn,) who lives in Cow Country somewhere out there in the middle of Texas.  Some time back, she made a card and discovered that her hubby was very confused about the difference between a pig and a cow, which is a bit embarrassing for a Texas cowboy!  She had me laughing for a week with her story about that one.

     So, Lynn, I personally challenge you to do something with a cow this week and enter it into the QKR challenge.  And, yes, I know you have some kind of a cowboy charm to add to it!  :-D

     I colored this image with ProMarkers then cut it out and punched the corners.  I used dark brown CS to mat the image and punched those corners, too.  I printed the sentiment, rounded the corners, matted it and rounded those corners.  Everything was adhered to a square, white card base.

     I added the twine, used a bit more of it to make the lariat, and finally added the cowboy hat charm.  There you go, another CAS, masculine card filled with fun and who knows what else.  After all, as the sentiment says, "You're in cow country..."

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Come and Get It
Crafting for all Seasons
Creative Moments
Deep Ocean
DL.ART
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Loves Rubber Stamps
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Minutes
Petal Lu
SLS Lines
Sunday Stamps

     I really hope you'll come and play with us this week.  While it isn't necessary to use a QKR image to enter or to win, there are some awfully cute cow images in the shop.  Plus, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for entries which use QKR Stampede images and that increases your chances of winning dramatically!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Island Hammock

     Aud Sentiments has a new challenge starting today and our theme is "Use a Summer Sentiment."  Our sponsor is Make It Crafty and they generously provided images for the DT to use.   The one I used not only makes a great summer card, it's a wonderful card for a guy, maybe even for Father's Day.  I wish I was lazing in that hammock with a cool ocean breeze blowing instead of enduring the fourth day of a heat wave where temps have been over 100 each day and they are predicting at least another 6 days of those temps before we cool down into the high 90s!  Yuck.

My colors came from CAS on Sunday.

     This "Island Hammock" image was colored with ProMarkers and then die cut with a die from QuicKutz.   I layered that onto dark blue CS, aligning it so that the top edge of the die cut overlapped the stitched ribbon.  The bow was originally made from white ribbon but I colored it with marker to match the wide ribbon.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Cardz 4 Guyz
Catch the Bug
Come and Get It
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Die Cuttin' Divas
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
My Sheri Crafts
One Stitch at a Time
Path of Positivity
Ribbon Girls
Scrapper's Delights

     I hope we'll see you joining us this fortnight for our "Summer Sentiment" challenge at Aud Sentiments.  Find something that just shouts "summer," add a summery sentiment, and enter it in our challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Pansies

     I remember planting spring gardens each year from before I was old enough to go to school clear through the first four or five years I was in school.  After the first year, it became mandatory (my rules!) to plant pansies.   They were such sweet flowers with their little faces turned up to greet everyone who passed by.  I still love pansies so this wonderful digi from AuroraWings  just called out to me.

     I used my chalk markers again to color this image.  The sentiment came from my collection of Tickell Expressions and it goes back a couple of years but it seemed perfect for this card.  When I printed the sentiment, I adhered two other layers of white CS and then die cut through all three stacked layers to add some dimension.  

     I cut up a scrap piece of  ribbon and tucked a couple of pieces under the sentiment  when I added it to the card front.  Then I used two more pieces and added some punched butterflies.   I dug through my tin of teeny-tiny buttons and found enough in purple to add three to the sentiment and one to each butterfly.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Colour Your World
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Catz
Fussy and Fancy
Just Us Girls
Melonheadz Friends
Scribble & Scrap
Sister Act
Sisters of Craft
   
     I find that I'm still trying to hit that happy balance between totally CS and over-the-top dressed, enhanced, embellished... you get the idea.  I admit that today's card is definitely on the CAS side of things.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Time Share Vacation

     Summers are all about vacations and time off from work or school.   One of the things I always enjoyed most about vacations was meeting the neighbors in the next cabin or campground or RV.  This fun image from Sassy Cheryl's seems to typify many of those vacations for me.

I chose colors from Pals Paper Arts.

     I tried something new in coloring the image this time.  I used Zig Writers chalk markers.  I like the subdued shades of the colors and now that my collection of colors is growing, I'll probably use them more often.  I like working with them more than any other form of chalk I have.

     The image is cut with a die from Spellbinders and the sentiment is hand cut.  The dp was a scrap I rescued from the pile on the desk.  The flowers are punched and glittered.  The feathers are bits that were are the bottom of storage box.  Pretty clean design and fast to complete.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Gem of a Challenge
Chalk n Stock
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crazy 4 Challenges
Creative Corner
Dragonfly Dreams
Fairytale Stampers
Glitter n Sparkle
Hanna & Friends
Love to Scrap
Pile It On
Scrapper's Delights
Stamp and Create

     Happy Stamping, friends and followers.  NanaConnie  

"Chocolate" Holiday

     There are all kinds of holidays throughout the year and many people talk of their "holidays" instead of their "vacation."  We card makers prepare for various holidays by making cards to celebrate the occasion.   Calendars list all sorts of silly holidays like "National Take a Crab for a Walk Day" or "International Sneeze Day."  Personally, I believe in keeping things more basic and simple and I've announced my philosophy on happiness and holidays in the sentiment on this CAS card.

I took my colors from the challenge at

Digitally Sweet. 

      This is another of my single layer CAS cards with the sentiment printed directly onto the card front before stamping the House Mouse image.   I stamped it using gray instead of black ink so that the outline was less distinct once it had been colored.  I colored the image with ProMarkers and chalks.

      Both the green and pink ribbons came from my stash and were probably originally found at Joann Crafts or Michael's.  I made the double bow by folding some lace and adding a small pink bow on top of that.  The small bow I tied using my Craft-Dee BowZ bow maker.  One simple gem was added to the bow.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Bunny Zoe's
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Catz
House Mouse
Our Creative Corner
Paper Creator's Crafts
Path of Positivity
Simply Papercrafts
Sister Act
Wags n Whiskers

     I hope your week is starting well and that summer will bless you with warm but not hot temperatures.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Summer Hello

     I was looking at the current challenge over at A Day for Daisies where they want us to CASE one of the cards from the DT.  I browsed through my ADFD images and found this sweet image of birds on a branch and knew immediately which one I wanted to CASE.  I've put that one first and then mine right below it.  I love the pink and blue color combo.

I based my card on the sketch from Our Daily Bread Designs.

     I inadvertently printed the image onto a scrap piece of white CS which was in the paper tray of my printer and then realized as I pulled it out that it was a left over negative piece from a Cheery Lynn die cut.  Fortunately, all of the image printed which is all that mattered.  I used ProMarkers to color the image while I tried to figure out what I could do with that odd piece.   Then it came to me that if I backed the negative with some colored CS and then used a Spellbinders' die to cut the image and some of the negative, I'd have an interesting piece with some delightful texture.

     Both the dp and the peach-pink strip were scraps, too, so I dug through the box of scrap ribbon until I found one that would work for this card.  Might as well keep it all scraps.  :-D  I tied the little bow and then sewed a sequin and bead to the front before adhering it to the card.

     Challenges:

Brown Sugar

Crafting with an Attitude

Di's Digi Designs

Everybody Art

Hanna & Friends

Hiding in My Craft Room

I {heart} ProMarkers

In the Pink

Kit and Clowder

Scrapper's Delights

Scrapy Land

Sister Act

Through the Craft Room Door

Word Art Wednesday

     We're on the downhill side of the weekend and I've been inside the entire time except for a brief trip to the grocery store very early this morning.   I love that store's hours in the summer when I can go there at 5:00 in the morning.  They're open 25 hours a day.  We're going to be in the 100+ degree range for the next 6 days and I hate hot weather!   I hibernate inside with the air conditioning running and crafts spread out around me.  I'll pay the price for that when the electric bill comes in but it's called survival.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Birthday, America

     Although I do lots of cards to honor veterans and serving military, I rarely do 4th of July cards unless there's a special request.  No request was made for this card; I simply fell in love with this sweet Sunbonnet image from Bugaboo Stamps.  Obviously, this called for a red, white, and blue color combo.

     This is a single layer card with the image and sentiment printed at the bottom of the card stock sheet which, when folded, becomes the card front on a tent card.   You have to trim it down to the proper width for your card size.   I used ProMarkers to color her.  The decorative corners are made with a Cheery Lynn die and they are the only embellishment.  Extremely CAS.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Cheery Lynn Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Time
Just Us Girls
Lia Stampz
Noor Design
Not Just Cards
Sisters of Craft
That Craft Place

     We're closer to the weekend than we were on Monday and, hard as it is to believe, nearly half-way through the year!  Holy Cow, how did that happen?    Well, in any case, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Willow Goldfinch

     My dear friend, Teresa (of Tickell Expressions,) drew this beautiful Goldfinch and shared it as a freebie on her blog earlier this week.  I found some time last night to get him colored and he just comes to life!  Go get the digi and color him yourself.  You'll see what I mean.

I based this on the sketch from Mojo Monday,

turned a quarter turn.

     This was going to be totally CAS with just the colored (ProMarkers) & die cut (QuicKutz) image and sentiment on the front of the card but then the lace and the little punched flowers crept on, and the flowers needed some leaves (Cheery Lynn), and then the butterfly (Cheery Lynn) danced by and lit on the top corner...   Well, you've heard of "If you give a mouse a cookie..." right?  It was kind of like that.  :-D  Still, it does have a lot of open space so maybe it is somewhat clean, hmmm?

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Artistic Inspirations
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Colors
              
Everybody-Art
Great Impressions
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Inky Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Top Tip Tuesday

     I hope you'll visit Teresa's blog and check out all the freebies she has available.  This lovely Goldfinch is only one of  what she has over there.  Go browse her blog.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Knight in Armour

     Father's Day is just around the corner and I'm getting the last of my cards made.  I always send cards to all the fathers in my family -- sons, grandsons, SILs.  My own dad has been gone for many years but I think about him whenever I make a card for one of the other guys.  :-D  I never made one for him because I wasn't doing paper crafting back in those years but, in a way, each one is for him.

     This one is done as my DT card for the latest challenge at QKR Stampede this week where our theme is "Father's Day Cards."  I used Digi 17003 "Knight in Armor" and Digi 11805 "To My Dad."  Isn't every father a Knight to his kids?

     Although it looks a bit complex, it's really a very CAS card.  I colored the knight with my ProMarkers, then used a die from Spellbinders to cut him out.  I used other dies from that same set to cut the frame and nestled the knight into the center of the frame.  I backed it with gray CS, cut to fit the outside shape of the frame.  That entire piece went onto the front of an A2 card, making it tall and skinny.  I added the sentiment and the twine and it was finished.

     Challenges:  There are a ton this week with Father's Day or Masculine themes (!) and a few with other themes

Art Impressions
Artistic Inspirations
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
Digi Sketch
Dragonfly Dreams
Glitter n Sparkle
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
Ladybug Crafts
Love to Scrap
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Girls
Papertake Weekly
Passion for ProMarkers
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Sisters of Craft
Top Tip Tuesday

     I hope your week has gone well.  This is the last day of the week and now the weekend starts. COme play with us at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Gotta Go

     My card today feature two images from the same Doodle Pantry set and I can't remember the exact name of it right now but it has something to do with Happy Trails or Camping Trails.  I printed both images, then fussy cut the canoe and used dimensional dots to position it in front of the little house.  And, yes, that little house is exactly what you think it is!  lol

I used the colors from Color Sisters.

     The image is cut with a die from Spellbinders, as is the blue mat.  I ran the mat piece through my Lattice embossing folder before adhering the image.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font.  The dp is a scrap from my stash box and the twine is from a spool I purchased at Joann Crafts.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Card and Scrap
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting Musketeers
Creative Corner
Creative Craft Cottages
Di's Digi Designs
Doodle Pantry
Karleigh Sue
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Creator's Crafts
Scribbles Designs (boat, bow, blue)
Tinker Dream
Top Tip Tuesday
Tuesday Throwdown

     That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting and let me wish you a wonderful week.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Poppies

     This month, the Progressive Challenge over at The Outlawz has given us a beautiful image by Anne Fenton to use on our projects.  I'm always amazed at how different the creations are yet each one uses exactly the same image.

     I loved coloring this one since the bright, orange, poppies are California's state flower and, therefore, a favorite of mine.  Hence, I colored these orange instead of more often seen red.  Poppies in California bloom all summer long so they always make me think of summer and summer colors.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image.  The black lace ribbon was in my stash, and I though it was a great complement to the warm, summer colors, as well as being something old to offset the new image.

     I made the flowers by punching a piece of black, flocked paper and adding a two-layer, satin flower on top of it.  I dug through my box of feathers until I found those loose bits and pieces which I gathered together and adhered behind the flower.  A metal brad in the middle of the flower finished it off.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Allsorts
As You Like It
Cards in Envy
Corrosive Challenge
Crafty Catz
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Hiding in My Craft Room
JUGs
Little Miss Muffet
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Color
Quick Quotes
Scrapper's Delights
Sentimental Sundays
Sister Act
Sweet Stampin' (old lace/ new image)

     Our temperatures are going to drop today to a more manageable 99 degrees.  Yesterday we hit 106!  Truly, I don't feel the difference other than it doesn't get hot, hot, hot quite as early in the day.  Oh, well, yesterday and today are great excuses to stay indoors and craft, right?   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dogs Days of Summer

     Is this the most adorable image for a summer fun card?  It's from the Dog Days of Summer set at Deedee's Digis.  I'm with these pups on keeping cool.  Our really hot summer temps are setting in this week and my air conditioning has been running for the last 2 days with only a brief shutdown during the coolest hours of the night.  :-D  But the pups look oh, so happy despite summer heat.  Maybe it's all about attitude.

I used the sketch at The Outlawz

but turned it sideways.

     Quick details:  pre-colored image which was matted twice.  Everything has been distressed by sanding and the sentiment is printed with a computer font.  The twine was a scrap which I cut in two in order to tie a double bow.  I found the three little sequins lying on my desk and decided to use them instead of throw them away.  :-D

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Fussy and Fancy
Mema's Crafts
Not Just Cards
Path of Positivity
Paper Girls
Simply Papercraft
Sister Act
Vintage Stamping
Whoopsi Daisy

     I have an early appointment so must hit the shower and get on my way or I'll be late.  Enjoy your day and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Prince

     My card today was made using a progressive challenge freebie from My Whimsical Little World.  I thought it was a perfect image for a boy's birthday card.  I did another of those fabulous fancy fold cards that fold flat for mailing and open out to stand up.  My friend, Teresa (Tickell Expressions) introduced me to these a few months back.  Unfortunately, I only photographed the folded version (OK, semi-folded :-D) but I'm sure you can figure it out.  If not, check out Teresa's blog.  She has a link to a tutorial.

Edited to add:  I waited until my camera was recharged and then took one more shot of the card standing open.

     I used three of the colors from the challenge at Creative Colors.

     The little prince is colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut and mounted onto a die cut.  The sentiment is a computer font, printed, hand cut and matted, then hand cut again.  Papers were all in the scrap box which sits on my desk, handy for quick finds.  The bow is one I made weeks ago and it was also waiting in my stash.

     Challenges:
Craft for the Craic
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Ribbons
Fairy Tale
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
Graph' It
Inky Impressions
Loves Rubber Stamps
Mod Squad
Moving Along with the Times
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Stamp and Create
Whimsy Inspiration
Word Art Weds.

     That's it for me today.  I have to go prepare the garden for 100+ temps over the next 3 days by tuning up the drip system to give it a good, slow soaking without wasting any of the precious water.  It's about 2:00 in the afternoon and is already in the low 90s. Yuck.  Wish I was staying inside and doing some Happy Stamping!    NanaConnie

Catnip Tea

     I'm playing again in Part 2 of the progressive challenge at Sparkle and Glitter, the Rick St. Dennis blog.  I dearly love all his elegant ladies but the freebie for this time was right up my alley.  Take a look and you'll see what I mean.  Doesn't that cat look like he's had one cup too many of catnip tea?  lol

I based my design on the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches

and my colors came from the color challenge at The Outlawz.

  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted.  I chose that die because it carried on the 'spacey-I'm-looped-on-catnip' look I wanted.  I found that fabulous background paper in an old stack which has been hanging out in my stash for a couple of years at least.  The flowers were punched, colored with markers, and had beads added to them before putting them on the card front.

     The sentiment was printed with a computer font, then hand cut and matted.  Finally, the white bow is one of those I make up by the dozens and keep in my stash for a quick-to-grab future use.  I guess this qualifies as a 1-2-3 card: 1 bow, 2 critters and 3 flowers.  :-D

     

     Challenges:

Card and Scrap

Clear It Out

Crafting by Designs

Crafting for all Seasons

Crafty Creations

Creative Craft Cottage

Ladybug Crafts

Our Creative Corner

Outlawz Coloring

Paper Shelter

Petal Lu

Simon Says Stamp

Sisters of Craft

     Well, this is my second post of the day and now I'm off to teach a class.  Enjoy your weekend and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Touch of Picasso

     This is so far out of my norm, I don't even know what to do with this card.  :-D  The initial face image is a newsletter freebie from The East Wind and it intrigued me from the first moment I saw it.  For some reason, it made me think of the artist, Picasso, and I began to envision something reminiscent of his art.  This college-effect card is the result.

     I printed the image three times; first onto kraft CS, then twice onto white.  I tore rather than cut the pieces, then colored just the eyes, using gold ink and brown ProMarker in order to maintain the black, white, and metallic combo.  I sponged distress ink onto the kraft image after I tore it out and then layered it onto the white card front.  

    I added the torn pieces of white image and added 'score' lines for stripes.  Finally, I added the sentiment and the twine.  

     Challenges:

ArtbyMiran

Crafting by Designs

Cupcake Inspirations

Digi Choosday

East Wind FB

Inky Impression

Inspiration Destination

Paper Nest Dolls

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Simply Papercrafts

Sister Act

That Craft Place

Through the Craft Room Door

     OK, I think Picasso is completely out of my system now.  I sent a photo of this to a friend, asking for her opinion (because I knew she'd be honest with me) and her reaction was that it would have made a great cover for an art journal or diary.  Now I wish I'd thought of that before I did a card.  At least I wouldn't be wondering if I'll ever use the card.  :-D

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Golf is Hard Work!

     For those of you who don't play golf, I want you to know that it is hard work and takes a great deal of concentration.  I don't play either, but I've been told by experts and I believe them.  I do, I really do!  :-D  For a quick primer on all the things a good golfer must do, see the sentiments listed on my QKR Stampede DT card below.

     Our latest weekly challenge starts today and our new theme is "Golfing."  I used Digi 15309, "Golfing Bear."

     The image is hand-colored using ProMarkers, and then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I chalked the edges before I removed it from the die.  The sentiments are all printed using a computer font, then hand cut and added to the card front.  I added some doodling around the sentiments to make them stand out a little bit from the background.  The square metallic brads are the only embellishments because I really wanted that image to be the primary focus.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Artistic Inspirations
Card Mania
Chalk n Stock
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Fussy & Fancy
Glitter n Sparkle
Love to Scrap
Mema's Crafts
Outlawz CAS Sunday
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls
Scrapy Land
Through the Craft Room Door
Whoopsi Daisy

     Have a great Friday, a wonderful weekend, and, oh, yes -- Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Father's Boots

     When I found this "Western Boots" image at Pattie's Creations, I knew I needed to use it for a Father's Day card.  Since the theme for our new June challenge at Pattie's is "Father's Day or Graduation," I knew it would work perfectly for my DT card this month.

     The image and the sentiment were printed at the same time.  I used my ProMarkers to color the boots and then I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.   I added a brown CS backing and hand cut it to the outside shape of the die.  I found those pieces of gingham check dp in the scrap basket and rescued them just for this card.  I layered those onto some red CS which I first ran through my 'Linen' embossing folder.  The twine was the final touch and I frayed the ends to make it more distressed looking.  All of that went onto the card front and everything was from my stash.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Loves Rubber Stamps
Love to Scrap
Mema's Crafts
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Papertake Weekly
Quirky Crafts
Scribble & Scrap
Vintage Stamping

     You have all the rest of the month to play along with us so get going on those Father's Day or Graduation cards, then get your entry posted on the challenge blog.  See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie.  

Under the Sea

     OK, if you read the post title and ever saw Disney's "Littlest Mermaid," that "Under the  Sea" tune is running through your head.  If it isn't, it should be.  It was in my head the entire time I was coloring this image and making this card!  If I'm stuck with it, why not you, too?  :-D

     Today starts a new challenge at Aud Sentiments and The Stamping Boutique is our wonderful sponsor.  They generously supplied images for the team to use and this one ("Uncommon Friendship') seemed perfect for a summer card.  Wouldn't a trip which included scuba diving or snorkling be a perfect summer vacation?

I based this design on the sketch from Sunday Stamps,

adjusted somewhat to accommodate a square card.

     I used my ProMarkers and a few Copics to color the image.  What doesn't show up very well in the photo is that I also added a lot of glitter gel ink to the water, bubbles, and mermaid's scales for some sparkle and bling.   I die cut the image with a plain circle die from Spellbinders, then cut a piece of dp with another die for the mat behind  the image.

     The sentiment is computer printed and hand cut.  I added the bottom two layers using textured woven paper (square die cut) and green polka dot dp.  Those are wrapped with sheer ribbon and I added a double bow, tied using my Craft-Dee BowZ bow maker.  And yes, I still love it just as much as I did when I first got it.  Maybe even more since I get better at using it each time.  The 'kelp' bits are taken from faux fir branches which I coated with Glossy Accents to give them a wet look.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
Corrosive Challenge
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crazy 4 Challenges
Fairytale Stampers
Glitter n Sparkle
My Sheri Crafts
Not Just Cards
Open-Minded Crafting Fun
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Stamp and Create
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope your week is going well.  Not long now until the weekend when you can enjoy some Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie     

Lilies for Delicious Doodles

     A few days ago, I found out that the challenges at Delicious Doodles are back and I'm thrilled about that.  I loved it when I worked on the DT for Teri and making this card with one of her images was so much fun.  I plan to be a regular in the challenges from now on.

     I don't use yellow as my main color very often but I had those papers lying on my desk and grabbed my yellow chalks to do just a touch of coloring on the lilies and butterfly.  Most of the time spent on this card was taken up putting together all the layers.

     The bow is one of those I make myself, sewing them together and putting them in m y stash.  This one was white but I colored it with a buttercup yellow ProMarker pen.  The gold mesh was a leftover scrap.  I still have a piece or two of it left and I'm going to really miss it when it's gone.  It was a recycle/ rescue from a plant I was given and it was just too pretty to toss out.  It has decorated several of my cards.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
Chalk n Stock
Crafty Catz
Moving Along with the Times
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Stempelsonnen

     Thanks for visiting today and I hope your week has started well.   If I don't have a post tomorrow, you'll know I'm doing my civic duty by serving on a jury which means no time for crafting.  Enjoy your week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie