The Cat's Candy

     Before you read that post title and decide that I'm completely bonkers for thinking that cats like or have candy, let me tell you the quick story behind the phrase.

     When I was a young child, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, if my parents didn't want me having more candy than was good for me - mostly during the fall holiday season - they would put the candy into a special vintage tin which had a picture of a cat on it.  That became known as "The Cat's Candy" and the rule was that I had to ask our pet cat if  I could have more.  She had to say "Yes" before I could have any more.  Of course, she never learned to talk so she never said that magic word.  lol

     I saw this cat silhouette at Beccy's Place and the expression on the cat's face was so forbidding, I was reminded of "The Cat's Candy" from my childhood.  So, here's what I did...

     The cat is one image and the little bag of candy is another.  Both are from Beccy's Place.  I merged them and colored with ProMarkers.  Since the optional twist at Beccy's this month is Fancy Folds, I followed Beccy's tutorial on Dutch Door Folds and did my first one.  It's a fun fold and looks more complicated than it is.  It also allows a card to stand on its own.

     I used an oval die from QuicKutz to cut the image and used a smaller oval die to cut the sentiment.  The candy corn paper was in my scrapbooking stash and probably came from a DCVW stack.  That paper was so busy I decided to limit my embellishments to one, simple, bow which I tied by hand from black, grosgrain ribbon.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafter's Castle
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy & Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Send a Smile 4 Kids
SUYP Cats

     That's what I have for today and I'm working on cards for tomorrow and over the weekend.  Of course, on Friday, I'll have my usual DT card for QKR Stampede so be sure to stop by.  Everything is autumn related through Saturday at least, and I'm still hoping for cooler weather to show up.  :-D
Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thanksgiving Maiden

     If you visit my blog regularly or are a follower, you undoubtedly know that I love progressive challenges.  I found one that's new to me although it's not a new challenge.  I popped over to the online store at Cute as a Button, bought the image for this challenge (at half off), and sat down to make this card.  I could have gotten the image free simply by sending an email and requesting it but since it was on sale at half off, I did what I could to support the artist by buying it.  After all, I'll get the next one free.  :-D

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and cut it with a die from Bo Bunny.  The delicate frame is also cut with another die from that same set and that brown CS was simply a scrap from the basket on my craft table.  I layered the image and frame pieces onto marbled-beige CS and trimmed that to fit the card base.

     I took a scrap of that trimmed off CS and printed the sentiment onto it, then die cut it (again, Bo Bunny die) but I had to cut more than once, moving the die each time to get the size I wanted since the die was much larger than the sentiment.  The brown CS behind the sentiment was the inside leftover from cutting the frame for the image but I cut that piece with the same die I used on the sentiment.  The cut piece shows you the actual size of the die, no adjustment made to the cut that time.

     As a final touch on this otherwise CAS card, I tied a simple bow using brown jute cord and added it above the sentiment piece.

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creates and Makes
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Last week's somewhat lower temperatures are already a thing of the past so we're still waiting on autumn here in my neck of the woods.  Weather predictors are saying we will be back to 100F either today or tomorrow and at 99F for the rest of the week, through and including the weekend.  Maybe this is just what we use to call "Indian Summer" back when I was a child.  I can hope, right?

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rosy Birthday

     I'm excited to announce that this fortnight I'm a Guest Designer at The Paper Girls.  The  newest challenge has a photo to show the color theme.  Notice that green wasn't selected as one of the colors to use despite all the green in the photo.  :-D  I used an image (Bella Rose) from Conie Fong and here's how I used the colors.

     I colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut the image with scissors.  The black oval was cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I mounted that onto a pink card base and added the image using dimensional dots so that the image is actually raised above the black oval.

    I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and matted it with a scrap of black.  The bowtie bow was made using white lace which I 'dyed' pink with a ProMarker.  I love it when CAS designs look more complex that they are.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Always Happy Birthday
A Perfect Time to Craft
Cardz TV
Classic DT Open
Creative Fingers
Digistamps4Joy
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday

     I hope we're going to see you playing in the challenge at The Paper Girls some time in the next two weeks.  Those are such lovely colors - lots of neutrals with a gorgeous pink for balance.  How could you resist?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Word is Autumn

     We've had an entire week of temperatures under 100F - meaning 97 to 99 - and I'm taking that as a sign that autumn will be here any minute.  Today's card celebrates that fact with a fun image from Bugaboo Stamps.  :-D

I was inspired by the colors at Card Mania.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.  I cut the image with a die from Die-namics and the frame is cut with two different dies - Die-namics on the inside and CUTplorations on the outside.  All have some form of stitching on them.

     I ran both the gray CS of the frame and the brown CS of the background through my Linen embossing folder, then I layered everything together.  I added narrow grosgrain ribbon to the top of the card, and used 2 additional ribbons and my bow maker to tie a double loop bow.

     For final embellishment, I added three sets of three brads each.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe (brads + 3 layers)
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Do Al(l) Creatives  (dies/image/ribbon)
Jo's Scrap Shack
Joy Clair
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flying Pigs and Salute to Lewis Carroll

     " 'The time has come,' the Walrus said,

      To talk of many things:

Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —

      Of cabbages — and kings —

   And why the sea is boiling hot —

    And whether pigs have wings."

       Of course, that's the famous passage from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and my DT card today for the newest challenge at SheepSki Designs salutes the author with this darling image called "Pigs Can Fly."  

       From the time I was a young child and first read (or had read to me) the 'Alice' book (as I called it), I was fascinated by the idea of pigs having wings.  As a teen, hearing the old adage about something happening "when pigs fly," I was just as intrigued.  So, when Andrea first drew this image, I knew I had to use it.  Since the optional twist on this month's usual "Anything Goes" challenge is "For Kids," it seemed the perfect time.

       I colored with ProMarkers and added gold and white gel ink on the wings.  I die cut the image with a die from Die-namics.  The scalloped frame is cut with a Memory Box die which is also stitched.

       I found a scrap of dp in my basket of leftovers which had stitching and it seemed perfect.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges and added it.  Finally, I tied a "bowtie" bow and added it below the sentiment.  Voila', finished!  And it makes me happy - like being a child again and dreaming of magical things like pigs with wings.  :-D

       Challenges:

Aud Sentiments (top row)

CARDZ TV

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Color

Outlawz Festive Friday

Passion for ProMarkers

Time Out

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Whale of a Birthday

     Welcome to September!  Can you believe that nearly 3/4 of the year is gone already?  Since it's the first of a month, we're starting a new challenge over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and, as usual, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter."  Just feature a creature on your project and it qualifies for entry.

     Ike's Art is sponsoring us this month and she supplied the images all the DT used.  Be sure to check out the 2CCC blog to see all of them.  I chose this magnificent whale and used it for a masculine birthday card. 

     I colored the whale with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a die from Gina Marie.  I inked the edges with black ink.

     The background is done with papers from a DCWV scrapbook stash, cut to size for the card.  I enhanced the faux stitching around the swirl with white gel ink.  I added the ribbon bow and a few sequins and left it alone.

     The sentiment is inside and it says, "Have a Whale of a Birthday."

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Cookie Challenge
Crafty Friends
Double Trouble
Fussy and Fancy Fri
Ike's World
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pause Dream Enjoy
Polkadoodles

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Angels Among Us

     Is it the end of the week already?  No worry - I have my DT card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede, where our theme is always Anything Goes.  How about an unusual angel?  You're never going to find a cuter one than this "Angel Mouse" image from QKR.  The sentiment, "Angel Baby" is also by QKR.  Now, I admit I've never seen a Mouse Angel but I'm sure it's something magical !  :-D

      I used ProMarkers and sparkle gel pen (on the wings) to color the image, then cut it with a die from Tonic Studios.  The sentiment was also cut with a die from that set.  The little star on the sentiment was colored with a silver paint pen.

    I found a scrap of blue star dp, cut it with a Memory Box, pinpoint, die and it made a perfect background for the image.  I also had a scrap of embossed CS to make the card front.  I inked the edges of it in dark blue before adding it.

     I layered everything together, adding the sheer ribbon between layers.  That ribbon is one of my favorites from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  It has a very light, plaid, pattern in pink and blue and is gorgeous.  I'm getting close to having to purchase it again after I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow which I added separately.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Gals Corner
Cute Card Thurs
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
That's Crafty
Word Art Weds.

     I really hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Balloons

     I need to add several more birthday cards to my stash and most of them need to be CAS and masculine.  Fortunately, I love doing both of those and even better when I can combine them.

     I've had this balloon image (Bugaboo Stamps) for a while and I can't remember ever using it but I love the color combo from the Catch the Bug challenge this week and knew it would work wonderfully with this image.

Color Palette from Catch the Bug and 

sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

   

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  I inked the edges of the rectangle.  Both of the papers I used were in my scrap basket and they were perfect for the color combo.  The green, polka dot, paper is from Stampin' Up and it was in the very first batch of SU papers I ever bought so it has to be among the oldest things in my paper stash, if not the oldest.  :-D

     The scalloped border piece, which I used across the middle of the card, was cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, matted it with dark green CS, and added it to the top of the card.  I found the three, blue pearls and added them to the bottom corner.  That was it - a CAS and masculine card for the birthday stash.

     Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
TTCRD

     The weekend is almost here and, for those of us in the US, it's a long weekend as we celebrate Labor Day.  That particular 'holiday' has always intrigued me.  We are celebrating "Labor" by doing our absolute best to not labor for the entire 3 days.  lol

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgie Witches on the Move

     I haven't done a tall and skinny card for ages, it seems, but this one for Halloween (done with a Penny Black stamp) just had to be tall to get the effect of the entire scene.  Take a look - you'll see right away what I mean.

     I adore hedgies and finding these two as witches on their broom just made me happy!  I also love making Halloween cards so that made me even happier.  :-D

     I colored the cute hedgie witches on their broom with my ProMarkers and die cut them with a Sizzix die.  I inked the edges with a deep, purple marker.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another Sizzix die.

     The background is done entirely with papers from a Making Memories Halloween stack.  I had to trim things to fit the card size but I loved figuring out the how and where of placement for the papers and scrap bits.

     I decided that I only needed minimal embellishment so I tied a black ribbon bow and added a tiny gem to it.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black Saturday
Penny Black and More
Scrappy Land

     OK, I'm going to take all my happiness to the kitchen and fix some dinner, then do an early bedtime.  I was up at 4:30 this morning, didn't have a nap, and sleepy time is fast setting in.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Wagon

     The pumpkins in the garden are getting bigger, fatter, and more orange each day.  The rest of the crops are pretty much done for the year even though my tomato plants are still looking healthy and are massive in size.  I was inspired to dig out this delightful image from Sandi Huggett which I used nearly every fall; sometimes for Halloween, sometimes for Thanksgiving.  This year it's just for a celebration of the harvest season.

     I started with water colors on the sky and ground, then colored the rest of wagons and pumpkins with ProMarkers.  I cut the image with an Unbranded, Cross Stitch Rectangle die.  I wanted dp which had fall colors but also had blue.  I found two scraps of dp in my basket, neither of which was large enough to cover the entire card front so I combined them.

     The brown strip is the back side of one of those papers.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another die from that same Cross Stitch set.  I inked the edges before adhering it to the top corner.  I added the three metal brads and the wrapped-string bow and called it finished before it got away from me.  :-D

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR
Simon Says Stamp Mon.
Simon Says Stamp Weds. (this is pumpkin pie in its raw form! :-D)
Sum More Fun
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Hedgies with Poppies

     I think hedgies are my favorite critters (don't tell the cats!) especially for making cards.  Poppies are one of my favorite flowers so this darling image from Di's Digi Designs was a delight to color.  When I checked their current challenge theme, they want to see Fancy Folds so I took a standard gate fold card and turned it sideways so that the 'gate' opens top and bottom.  Sounds weird, I know, but let me show you the pic and you'll immediately see what I mean.

     I used water colors on the image and cut it and the frame with scalloped circle dies from Sizzix.

     I used kraft CS to make the card base and scored an 8.5 inch x 5.5 inch piece at the 1.5 inch line and the 2.5 inch line, leaving the middle section 5.5 x 4.25 (standard A2 size.)  The dp (Recollections) was a scrap and it worked perfectly with the color combo - beige background to complement the kraft and red flowers to pair up with the image and frame.

     I folded on the score lines and adhered the image to the top flap.  I tied a bowtie bow, dyed it red with a ProMarker, and added it to the bottom of the image.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and matted it with a scrap of red CS, then hand cut it again, attaching it at the top of the card.

     My next door neighbor loves poppies - any color, any size, and any variety so I'm giving this one to her for her birthday next month.  That should 'brighten her day' and make it an occasion.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Everybody Art
Hiding in My Craft Room
House that Stamps Built
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     That's all I have for this first day of the work week.  Have a great week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Words for Christmas

     I have two more Christmas cards to share today, both using image sentiments as the focus.  These are from Limited Runs and I've used four of these Christmas sentiments to make a dozen  CAS Christmas cards for my stash.

     The coloring on each one was done with ProMarkers.  On the top one, I used "Frosted Lace" Stickles for the snow on the letters.  The snowflakes are rub-ons which have been in my stash at least 5 years.  It was about time  I used them!  

     I'm still working on getting the weather to cool down and feel like fall instead of a sweltering 100+F day after day so this card is actually a plea more than a statement.  lol

     On the bottom one, I used ribbon from my Christmas stash and tied a tiny bow, white originally but dyed red with a ProMarker.  The Santa and the snowflakes on that one are simple foam stickers to which I added glitter.  

     That's two more quick, CAS cards for the Christmas stash.

     Challenges:  (Cold Outside)

Color Sisters

Creative Craft Cottage

Joy Clair

Morgan's ArtWorld

Paper Nest Dolls

     Challenges:  (Santa Stop)

12 Months of Christmas

A Bit More Time to Craft

Christmas Crafts All Year Round

Classic Design Team Open

Not Just Cards

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sketch Saturday Guest Designer

     This is my fourth (and final) card as a Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday and I'm having so much fun with the sketches and sponsors.  This week, we're sponsored by Little Miss Muffet and I've used their darling "Pippa" image.   She definitely looks like she's ready to conquer her first day at school !  Don't tell her it could also be used for someone's birthday.  lol

     Here's the sketch for this week but I turned it a quarter turn and reversed the layers because that better fit my image shape.

Here's my card:

     I used ProMarkers to color sweet Pippa, then cut her with a Bo Bunny die.  I used another die from that same set to cut the delicate, pink frame and inlaid the two.  The dp rectangle came from my scrap basket and didn't even need trimming; it was the perfect size as it was.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then began looking for a single embellishment.  I thought about a flower but decided on the two-tone, bowtie, bow.  I'm loving the monochromatic pink of this card.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Bastel-Traum

CASual Friday

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Sentiments

Cute Card Thurs.

I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp

Time Out

     Have yourselves a great little weekend and feel free to come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Building Dreams

     The newest challenge starts today over at QKR Stampede and our theme is the usual "Anything Goes."  I made this card for a friend who has donated more than 1500 hours of labor to Habitat for Humanity over the last 10 years.  He doesn't even talk about the amount of materials he's also donated.  I just wanted to give him a pat on the back and this QKR Stampede image called "Carpenter Rabbit" seemed perfect.

I was inspired by the sketch at My Favorite Things.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I used chalk to highlight the embossing around the edges of the die cut.

     I chose dp from Recollections, cutting a strip from the chevron paper and trimmed down the background scrap to fit the card front.  I layered everything together, printed and hand cut the sentiment, and after that, left the card very plain and un-embellished.   It had to be mailed and it's for a guy so plain is better.  :-D

     Challenges:
Cute N Crafty
Crafty Creations
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     I hope we'll see you playing along at QKR Stampede this week.  I mean, how can you go wrong with an Anything Goes theme?  See you over there.  NanaConnie

Sparkling Christmas

     As I said before in an earlier post, I spent most of last weekend making Halloween and Christmas cards and today I'm sharing another of the Christmas cards.  If there's someone on your list who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I suppose it could be used for a celebration of the Winter Solstice.  But I celebrate Christmas so it's a Christmas card.  ;-D

     The sentiment image is from Limited Runs and I printed it large enough to take up almost 3/4 of this card.  I used sparkle gel pen to 'color' the snowflakes in the letters and used "Diamond" glitter to make the frame. 

     I had the very narrow white and gold ribbon in my Christmas stash and I wrapped it around the card front before adding the sentiment piece.  The iridescent glittered bow is made from die cut pieces.  Unfortunately, I don't know who made the die.  I made half a dozen of the bows at a crafting party we set up for exchanging the use of dies.  Someone brought that die as her contribution to the party and anyone interested could use it.

     If you've never done that kind of crafting party, you really should think about organizing one.  I think we had about 10 ladies who attended, each one bringing some kind of unusual die (it could be any crafting tool or supply, depending on what interests the group) and each person brought their own paper and CS supplies.  I also took images I had already colored because I knew one of the ladies was bringing a set of framing dies which I could use to cut them.

     But, back to this bow - I assembled it (totally new for me - I've never "assembled" bows before - tied them, yes, but not "assembled"!) and added it to the narrow ribbon, nearly obscuring  that poor ribbon altogether!  With all that sparkle, I called it finished and added it to my Christmas stash. 

     I realize that card is mostly black and white but the glitter on the bow is a lovely shade of winter-y lavender and it's just so stunning.  I love any shade of purple (my favorite color) but in this case I love it because, with everything else black and white, it adds a deliciously icy sheen to this winter weather card!

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Catch the Bug
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Limited Runs
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dandelions in the Wind

     I remember as a child discovering how much fun it was to blow on dandelions and watch their delicate seeds drift all over the yard.  I also remember my mom telling me not to do that because she hated having to dig the dandelion plants out of the lawn.  But the temptation was just soooo great.  lol

     Anyway, when I first saw the Dandelion Sprite image at AuroraWings, I bought it and I'm using it on this card today to celebrate a friend's birthday. 

AuroraWings has a sketch challenge this month.

      I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter to the dandelion and seeds, and used Nuvo Crystal Drops on the sprite's flower petals.  The image was cut with stitched dies from Die-Namics.  I also cut the yellow background CS with the largest of those dies and inlaid the image.

     The leaves were cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and the butterfly was cut from burlap paper with a Cottage Cuts die.  I added a strip of Nuvo Crystal Drops for the butterfly's body and added little touches of it to the flowers, too.  The flowers were in  my stash as was the net 'ribbon.' 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges and adhered it to the card.  I added the birthday sentiment to the inside but forgot to photograph it and the card is already in the mail.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafting by Designs
Creates and Makes
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Hey, do you realize that we're halfway to the weekend?  Only 2 more days to go.  Woohoo!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower of the Family

     Since I was the baby and only girl among the siblings, my dad always said I was the "Flower" of the family.  In my teen years, my older brother said that was because I was a "bloomin' idiot!"  lol  Whatever the reason, I used that phrase as the sentiment on this card which features an image from All Dressed Up.

I was inspired by the colors at House of Cards.

     This one is colored with a combo of polychromos pencils and ProMarkers, then cut with an Unbranded die.  I matted the die cut image piece with light blue CS and trimmed the corners.  I mounted that onto dark blue CS and put that onto a kraft card base.

     I dug through my stash of ribbon and found two, matching-in-color, ribbons from completely different companies.  I used one to wrap the card front and the other to make a 'ruched' bow to which I added a row of pearls.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, then matted it with a scrap of kraft CS.  I added that to the bottom of the dark blue CS.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up
A Perfect Time to Craft
Carlin's Card Paradise
CCC Digi Creations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Joy Clair
Let's Craft and Create
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Have a wonderful, crafty day and Happy Stamping!   NanaConnie

Pumpkin Time

     I've spent the weekend doing both Christmas and Halloween themed cards and today I'm sharing one of the fall/Halloween cards.  The stamp is from Digistamps4Joy and I think it's adorable.

I was inspired by the colors in the mood board at Sum More Fun.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and white gel ink to make the stars.  I cut the moon from white CS (colored with ProMarkers), added it to the corner, then cut the entire image with a Tonic Studios die.

    I printed the sentiment, cut it with another Tonic Studios die, matted it with yellow CS, and cut that with my paper cutter.  I added everything to an embossed card front and found a lace bowtie to add.  I left it CAS because it will be sent to one of the guys in my family.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Tuesday
Paper Shelter
Polkadoodles
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

CAS Christmas

     This is my second post today so if you missed the first one, be sure to scroll down to the previous post.  It's worth a look.  :-D

     Limited Runs has some wonderful Christmas images but I'm showcasing a very simple and large sentiment.  I'm going to make at least a dozen cards just like this one because it's one of those really quick, "git 'er done" (as my friend, Lynn, says) cards which is flat enough to mail.

I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

flipped side to side.

     I used ProMarkers to color the candy cane letters in the sentiment and also the border around the sentiment.  I used die cut holly leaves and berries, adhered them with Pop Dots, and added Glossy Accents to the berries for some sparkle and shine.   Plain but bright, CAS and fast.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Addicted to CAS
Aud Sentiments
Catch the Bug
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Creative Inspirations
Everybody Art 
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Time Out

     Have a great rest of your weekend, my friends.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Too Cute to Spook

     OK, this weekend I've gotten inspired to make a few Halloween cards and I started with this darling little witch from Conie Fong.  Who could resist that cute face and that sweet little kitten cuddled in her arm?

I took inspiration from the sketch at The Outlawz

turning it a quarter turn and I also took a bit of a liberty with it.

     She's colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut.  I used a set of framing dies from Spellbinders to cut the black piece behind the image.  I cut those from different pieces of scrap CS and inlaid them to make the one, large framing piece.

     The 'moon' is cut with a plain circle die from QuicKutz and the bats are cut with a Cottage Cutz die.  Those were also cut from scrap bits rescued from the trash can.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment.  The three tiny dots are negative pieces which fell out of the Spellbinders die cut and I just used them like gem embellies.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafting by Designs
Double D
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippet's
Scrappy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I'll have another post later this afternoon - not Halloween, but Christmas instead.  I'm still hoping our 103F weather will change and get cooler.  Throughout the summer this year, 5 out of every 6 days have been 100 degrees or higher, and even those which have been below 100, have been 98 or 99.  That started the last week of May and I'm really tired of it!  I'm trying to entice fall by doing cold weather cards.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie