"O" Means Ornament and Oval Card Shape

     Today we're doing the letter "O" as the prompt at Beccy's Place for the 30 Days of Christmas cards.  I found one of Beccy's fabulous Ornaments and used it.  It colored up beautifully.

Color combo came from My Favorite Things.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and the parts which look gold are actually colored with an Olive green marker.  The two narrow stripes bordering the holly are done with Onyx glitter.

     I had already decided on a shaped card so I dug out one of my Oval dies from QuicKutz and used it to cut the card shape.  I had to plan ahead for this card because I wanted it to be a One layer card so I had to put the Ornament at the bottom of the CS sheet in order to have the fold at the top to make a tent card.  This is my first ever Oval card but I'm liking it!

     I added two, teeny, rhinestones - one on each side of the sentiment.

Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Cardz TV
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

Christmas at a Snail's Pace

    Good Friday Morning all of you!  If it's Friday, it must be time for another QKR Stampede challenge.  I want to share a card with you this morning which will explain why your Christmas packages may arrive late or even not at all.  You can use the information to explain to all the kids and grandkids why there are no presents under the tree for them.

     Santa apparently ran short of reindeer this year, or maybe they're all in the stable, hung over from too much Christmas cheer but, whatever the reason, Santa seems to have hired a snail to replace them.  Unfortunately, like most snails, he's completely unused to the ice and cold which explains the blue color of his skin.  He's traveling awfully slowly; maybe he's frozen solid and not going anywhere!  But then, he's carrying his home with him, so maybe he doesn't care.  :-D

I used colors from the TicTacToe Color Dare at Color My Heart

only this time I did the diagonal bottom left to top right.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  I inked the edges and cut a tiny, decorative corner (also Spellbinders) which is off -the-edge of the image piece.

     I used a Darice EF to emboss the scrap of distressed, red CS.  I added grosgrain ribbon and a lace, bow-tie bow which I dyed red with a Copic marker.  It didn't really need any more embellishment so I left it rather CAS.  It's going to be a perfect masculine Christmas card.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
 
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out

     That's it for today but I do hope you're going to come and play with us at QKR Stampede this week.  Remember, you can use any image from any company and our theme is Always Anything Goes.  However, if you do use a QKR image, your entry goes into a completely separate draw for only QKR (or Eureka Stamps) and your chances of winning in that draw are huge!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nativity Night

     Today Beccy's Place is using "N" as the inspiration prompt for the 30 Days of Christmas cards and I used various parts of the Nativity set, part of which I used for "Kings" a few days ago.  I couldn't use all the parts - it would have been too large for the card.  So this time, I used a different one of the kings and added a shepherd and lamb (reversed in Word so that he was facing the manger.) 

     I love using Nativity scenes at Christmas - it reminds me of the Reason for the Season.

     I remember, as a child, being completely fascinated by a Nativity set my Grammy had.  Her father had hand carved it from blocks of soap her mother made.  She told me that when the set was new, it was sparkling white (a huge feat for home made soaps in those days) but by the time I was seeing it, it was yellowed with age.  I thought that made it all the more spectacular.  :-D  It was passed on to my mother but I have no idea what became of it after that.  If it was still around, I'd be setting it out each Christmas.

I used colors from the Tic Tac Toe Color Dare at Color My Heart,

3rd column plus Saffron for the gold shades and neutrals of beige & brown.

     Once again, I started with a pre-colored image (printed with the Nativity Night sentiment) but I used ProMarkers to add highlights and even to change some colors on the clothing.  I used white gel pen on the lamb and on the beards of the shepherd and wise man.  I cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, inked the edges with gold ProMarker, and matted it with Natural Earth CS - CS which is made completely from recycled products.

     I layered additional papers behind the image onto the card front, all of which were scraps left on the crafting desk.  I swear, most of the time the only way the craft desk gets cleared off is because I'm using up things left over from other projects!

     I dug through my bag of spangles and sequins to find the two stars, one gold and one silver.  I layered those together with craft glue (not easy to do with things that tiny) and added them above the image.  I used the gold ProMarker to draw the lines of light downward.

     Finally, I found my Noel sentiment die (by Die-versions) and cut white CS, then added Neptune Green glitter to it.  Once that dried, I put it on the upper corner and called the card finished.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafts Dreamy
Creative Craft Cottages
Cute Card Thurs.
Paper Nest Dolls
Winter Wonderland

     There will be one more post today but not until 3 a.m. my time.  I'll be sharing my DT card with you for the challenge at QKR Stampede so feel free to check back.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Mail Delivery

     It's the 15th of the month so it's time for the next challenge at Creations in Pink.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" as long as you use lots of pink in making your creation.  We have wonderful sponsors this month; Starz Stamps and Di's Digi Designs.  I'm using a darling image from Di's Digi Designs, called "Surprise for All" (which may have been retired since I can't find it in the shop.)  I chose this one from my own, rather large, collection of Di's stamps.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it with two related dies from Spellbinders and I inlaid the die cuts into each other.  I mounted that piece onto pink polka dot paper.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it above the image.

     I used green satin ribbon to tie a bow-tie bow and put it at the top.  Everything went onto a pink card base.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's DP
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Making a Joyful Noise with Music

     Yep, another card for the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place but then, if you've been visiting me at all this month, you already suspected that.  :-D  The alphabet prompt is the letter "M" and we're at the midway point of both the month and the alphabet.  My "M"s to day are related to Music.  I adore these 3 snowmen Making Music, singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs (do snowmen have lungs?)

I started with the sketch from Tuesday Morning.

     I colored with ProMarkers, my favorite alcohol Markers, and cut the image with a Lawn Fawn, stitched, square die, turned on point to make a diamond shape.  The silver and white ribbon is wired & glittered and I wrapped the card front with it.

     I printed and hand-cut the sentiment and began layering on all the different bits and pieces.  The bow is from my stash, one of those I make by the dozens and toss into the stash for future use.  The snowflake charm was in my Christmas stash and I'm sure it's been there for 3 years, forgotten and unused.  It seemed awfully happy to see the light of day when I took it out.  :-D  I added glitter to it and put it in a prominent place at the top of the card.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Cardz TV
Crafty Sentiments
Digistamp4Joy
Outlawz Festive Friday
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrap from Your Heart
Try Stampin' on Tues.

     This is my first post of the day and in about an hour, I'll be posting my DT card for Creations in Pink so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Waiting

     It's time for the next monthly challenge at World Wide Open Design Team and, as usual, we have an Anything Goes theme.  I used this sweet image from Julia Spiri called "Little Lori."  It wasn't designed to be a winter or Christmas image, but I used gel inks to add the snow and it made a perfect Christmas Eve image.  Can't you just feel Little Lori missing all those who are due to come for Christmas?

I was influenced by the sketch from My Favorite Things

but I flipped it a quarter turn so that my card would be horizontal instead of vertical

and moved the vertical bow off the image to the side.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used dies from Art Impressions to cut both the image and the frame.  I chose a pre-made card base from DCWV and the "Holly Jolly" design is printed right onto the card front.

     I went through my stash of Christmas ribbons, found two that were gold and glittery, used one to wrap the card front and the other to tie a double loop, double layer bow with the help of my Bow It All.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Fingers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Simon Says Stamp
Words to Craft By

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Light in the Window

     The alphabet prompt today at Beccy's Place is the letter "L" and I used one of Beccy's Seasonal Window images to make my card.  This is the winter window and it gave me another chance to focus on being home for the holidays - Thanksgiving or Christmas.

     I played with a pre-colored image but used a Lemon ProMarker to cast the glow on the window pane and a pale green to color the candle.  I also used a couple of gray ProMarkers to enhance the bricks a bit, and used a white gel pen on the snow.

     I added Lemon yellow, Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flame which gave it both shine and texture.  I know that's hard to see but if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll get a good look at it.

     The image piece was cut on my Fiskars paper cutter, then I distressed the edges.  I cut scrap pieces of gray CS with a Bo Bunny die and made Layers with them, adding the image piece on top.  I printed the sentiment, getting two more Ls, Light and Leading.  The bow is one of those I sew up by the dozens using white ribbon, then I dye them the color I want with ProMarkers.  The bow is the same color as the candle, and that complementary pop of color in the bow makes the candle more visible to the eye.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Hiding in My Craft Room
I {Heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Take It, Make It
Time Out
Winter Wonderland

     Can you believe it - a day with only 1 post!  Ooops, I forgot that I'm posting for World Wide Open DT challenge later today.  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"K" is for King, Kraft, and Khaki

     I'll bet the title of this post will tell you all you need to know about today's prompt at Beccy's Place in the 30 Days of Christmas cards.  I actually combined Beccy's images to add the King to the nativity scene.

I used the colors again from Ike's World

but this time I did include the purple.  :-D

     Really fast details:  Image cut with stitched, CUTplorations die and Khaki green mat cut with Gina Marie die.  Ribbon is wired and wrapped around card front, and the bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn, bows dyed purple with a marker.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Lemon Shortbread
Scrappy Land
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Quick and short post but duty calls today so Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Joyful Merry Christmas

     We're back to the alphabet prompts at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Holidays and today's letter is "J."

     What's better than the Joy of Christmas as shown by a Jolly snowman with an ornament hanging from his Jaunty nose?

I followed the color inspiration from the

3rd column at the TicTacToe board at

Color My Heart Color Dare.

     I colored with ProMarkers and I'm calling those greens "Jade, Juniper, or Jungle" to add a few more "J"s.  Don't they look great against the glacier blues? 

     I cut the image with a simple, square die from Spellbinders, then used another larger die from that set to cut glittered, white CS for the frame behind it. 

     I had already used an Elizabeth Craft Designs sentiment die to cut out the "Merry Christmas" which I used on another project.  The snowflakes were all cut with various Spellbinders dies.  I used white gel ink to pop them from the blue background, adding some dimension at the same time.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Cute Card Thurs.
Double Trouble (all 3)
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Polkadoodles
Try Stampin' on Tues (1st column)
TTCRD

     This is my second post and that's all I have for today.  I'm going to go and make decisions on the images for the next several Christmas cards for Beccy's Place, just to see if I can work ahead a bit.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Off We Go

     Today, I'm thinking of holiday travels - both for Thanksgiving and for Christmas/ New Year.  They are all cold weather traveling and require taking lots of warm clothing layers instead of packing the Bermuda shorts and bikinis.  These two little mice from Sasayaki Glitter's Progressive Challenge have the right idea.  They even come bearing gifts!  :-D

I used most of the colors from Ike's World

missing only my favorite - purple.  The pink seemed 

a better fit for this little lady.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The background papers are from DCWV.  I sewed one of my favorite bows, dyed it royal blue, and added a glittery paper-punched bit to the center.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrappy Land
Unicorn
Word Art Weds.

     I'll have one more post today - yes, you guessed it - for Beccy's Place.  Be sure to stop by again in a couple of hours.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Early Bird

     Today the theme at Beccy's Place, where I'm playing in the 30 Days of Holiday cards, is a BINGO board.  I've used the 3rd column:  Ice & Snow/ Ovals/ Kraft CS. 

     The little 'cardinal' (maybe he's an owl, but since I colored him red for Christmas, he's now a cardinal!) is one of Beccy's images and I did a take off on one of the sentiments that comes with this bird set.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment, "I woke up early but all the worms were under the snow!" was also cut with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I used kraft CS for my card base.

     I wrapped baker's twine around the card front and tied it in a square knot.  I used a few of the dots which dropped out of the image die cut to symbolize snow falling from the sky.  The "Merry Christmas" is a negative piece from an Elizabeth Craft Designs die.  I've used that one a lot this holiday season and you'll see it a couple of more times this week on upcoming cards.  It just seems foolish to let those negatives go into the trash bin when they are so usable!  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Dragonfly Dreams
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
That's Crafty!

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dance of the Snow People

     I'm finally getting my card for the November Outlawz Progressive Challenge posted.  The freebie this month is from Drawn by Krista and it is actually 2 separate images but called Snowman Couple.  I merged them together so they look like they're dancing in the snow.  This is another card made primarily from scraps which were already on the craft table.

I started with the sketch from the Outlawz.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers, Copics, and gel inks for highlights, then cut them with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Makers.  I matted them with a hexagon (QuicKutz die) cut from a dp scrap and I inked the edges with teal ink. 

     The cityscape paper is another scrap, this one from Doodlebug, and the turquoise strip was a scrap from my Christmas stash, probably DCWV.  The narrow, sparkly ribbon was in my basket of ribbon scraps.  The final touch was to tie a bow-tie bow from long scrap of lace and die it with an alcohol marker.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     I'll have a second post again today for the next in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  Check back later today to see it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"I" for Ice Cold

     This card will get me caught up in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place and it's Day 10 with the letter "I" as our prompt, not an easy one!  This adorable snowman from Beccy's Place can explain his own Icy blue coloring.  Just read the sentiment.  lol

     I colored the snowman with ProMarkers (Ice Blue, Cool Aqua, Ice Gray 2), then cut the image with a long, oval die from QuicKutz.  The larger, fancy oval was cut from Indigo CS with an Unbranded die.  The dp with the snowflakes and Icicles came from the DCWV "Winter Magic"stack.

     I layered everything onto an aqua card base, then added the Icy White, sparkly, ribbon and one of my signature, hand-sewn bows.  Finally, I printed and die cut the sentiment and added it at the bottom of the card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
That's Crafty

     That's all for today but I'll be back tomorrow.  I'm feeling better each day now and I should be back to normal by the beginning of the work week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Home for the Holidays

     I'm playing catch up again at the 30 Days of Christmas going on at Beccy's Place this month.  So, I'm doing two posts today and this first one is for the alphabet prompt "H."   I used this cute little House image from Beccy's and went with the theme "Home for the Holidays."  There's nothing I love more than being with the family for Christmas. 

     Beccy should love this one since it's done in the national colors of Australia - green and gold.

     I also used Hexagons, Hunter Green, and Harvest Gold.  The Hexagons were cut with a die from Quick Cuts and the "Merry Christmas" was cut with a die from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  The CS and papers were all in my stash and no new papers were Harmed in the making of this card.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crackerbox and Suzy Stamps
Crafty Catz
Joy Clair
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Stamping Sensations
Time Out
Winter Wonderland

     Be sure to stop by later this morning for the second post of the day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

And the Turkey Says, "Eat Beef"

     It's Friday and we have another new challenge beginning at QKR Stampede and we always have an "Anything Goes" theme.   I managed to get this one done early so it was completed before the flu symptoms hit me last week.

     I used an image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Eat Beef."  You can believe he's saying "Thanks" to all who take his advice about the menu.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  Both the dp and the golden CS were scraps on my craft desk and they worked with the colors of the image.  I used brown jute cord to make the bow and added three sets of three brads to corners of the image.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Fingers
Cute N Crafty
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Fussy and Fancy
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Warm Wishes

     There's a new challenge today at Colour Crazy and we're sponsored by Scrap n Dipity.  I used this lovely image called The Scarf, a very fitting image for those chilly fall or winter days.

     I decided on monochromatic autumn colors covering the range from the palest of yellow-oranges to those on the rust and burnt orange end, emphasized with neutrals of white and pale brown.  I think monochrome coloring can really focus the eye on the image and I often prefer it to coloring with many colors.  I colored with ProMarkers and used white gel inks to add a few highlights.  

     The image is cut with a simple, rectangle, die from Spellbinders and the leaves are cut from some fall dp with the very first Cheery Lynn die I ever bought.  The sentiment is printed, then cut with a die from QuicKutz.  

     The card base is made from confetti CS and I layered on the image and the leaves, then left it with lots of white space for a CAS design.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Bastel-Traum

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Addicts

Creative Inspirations

Cut It Up

Die Cut Divas

Double D

Hiding in My Craft Room

LeAnn's World 101

     Come play with us this week!  We'd love to see what you make and submit.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gingerbread Christmas

     Ok, it's now Day 8 at the 30 Days of Christmas cards at Beccy's Place and the challenge prompt is the letter "G" so what could be more inline for the holidays than Gingerbread?  These darling Gingerbread people are images from Beccy's Place.

I incorporated the colors from the challenge

at My Favorite Things.

 
     The two images were merged before printing and then colored with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the Green mat with dies from Tonic Studios.  I had already decided on a Gatefold card, since that added one  more G to my list.

     A Gatefold card is simple to make.  I started with a piece of CS 5.5 inches wide by 11 inches long.  I left 5.5 inches in the middle and scored a line on each side of that to make the flaps which fold in and are the Gate.  That made my card a 5.5 inch square but you can make it any size by adjusting the size of your beginning piece.  I've made them the size of an A1 card all the way up to an A7.

     The background dp came from a Bo Bunny stack and I trimmed them to fit the flap size.  I added the image piece by adhering it to the left side only.   I found a holiday rosette in my stash of holiday embellishments and added it to the lower, right hand flap.

     The gingerbread people are also a salute to one of my favorite childhood memories.  Every Christmas there would be a present under the tree from my Grammy (for whom this blog is named!) and it always contained some kind of gingerbread - a tiny house, a gingerbread man, gingerbread cut into candy canes or stars.  I looked forward to opening that present above all others every year.  :-D  It was a sad day when Grammy could no longer bake due to her declining health.  I still miss her although she's been gone nearly 50 years now and the smell of gingerbread always makes me think of her.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Cardz TV
Christmas Crafts AYR
C.R.A.F.T.
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Quick Quotes
Scrappy Land
Time Out

     That's all for today but tomorrow will be another double posting day with two of my DT cards.  One will be for Color Crazy and the other for QKR Stampede.  You'll have to wait until Saturday for my next Beccy's Place card but maybe I'll have 2 to share by then.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fa la la la la...

     Day 7 at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas cards and the prompt this time is the letter "F."  As you can see from the title on this post, I'm singing Christmas carols, starting with Fa la la la la, la la la la!  lol  The Festive stocking, Filled with gorgeous baubles was turned into a Fancy Fold, Dutch Door card.

     Edited to add:  Some of you have commented that you'd like to try the Dutch Fold so here's a link to the tutorial Beccy gave us.  https://beccysplace.blogspot.com/2014/05/tutorial-dutch-fold-card.html

     That stocking is Fussy cut (by hand, with scissors) and put onto the card front with dimensional dots.  I used small scraps of red dp to decorate the Dutch Door Flaps but left everything else in kraft.  Red and kraft happens to be one of my favorite, Christmas, color combos.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, matted it with red CS, then added it and a hand-tied, plaid bow.  I liked the rather CAS look of it at that point so I left it alone.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Double Trouble (all 3)
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Try Stampin' on Tues  (bottom row)
Word Art Weds.

     That's it for today.  Thanks for being so patient with me while I fight the last of these flu symptoms.  Hoping to be back to normal in a day or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Playing in the Snow

     I adore Magnolia Stamps' Tildas and all their various adventures.  Of the few companies whose rubber stamps I kept in my collection when I went digital, Magnolias were first and I must have close to 75 of them, collected over the years.  So, having shared that information with you, I'm ashamed to admit this particular stamp had never been inked before.  I've now corrected that neglect.  :-D

     Nothing I say is going to do justice to the sparkle on this card.  The sparkle just doesn't show up no matter how I try to photograph it.  Sigh...

     The image is colored with Copics and ProMarkers, then cut and corner-punched with a Fiskars punch.  I found a large scrap of lace, laid it across a piece of shimmery, deep red, dp and tucked the edges to the back where I adhered them with double-sided tape.  After the image was added, I used glue and glitter to the snowflakes in the image and on the flowers in the lace.

     While the glitter was drying, I dug out some glittered CS and cut the "Merry Christmas" sentiment with a die from Die-Versions.  Unfortunately, I simply could not capture the sparkle on the sentiment but it's there.  I tied one of my favorite bow-tie bows using red, polka dot ribbon and added it.  My final touch was to add two, small, sparkly, Card Candi dots; one is on her hat and the other in the lower corner of the image piece.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Angie's Digital Stamps
Christmas with the Cuties
Crafting from the Heart
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Magnolia-licious
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations
Try Stampin' on Tues Technique

     I'll have a second post today for the Day 7 challenge at Beccy's Place if I have energy enough to sit at the computer long enough to draft another blog post.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

E for Easel Card at Beccy's Place

     It's time for the next alphabet prompt at Beccy's Place in the 30 Days of Holiday cards and today is the letter "E".  I decided it would be a perfect time to make an Easel card and to also do some Embossing.

     I love this particular snowman from Beccy's Place and I think I've used him on a Christmas card each year since I first got him.

     I colored with ProMarkers and chalks, then cut the image with a fancy oval die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment piece is also from Beccy's and I cut it with the smallest die from that same Spellbinders set.  I decided that by folding up the top part of the sentiment, I could use it as the Easel stop.

     I used one of my snow swirl Embossing folders to emboss both the front and back flaps of the card.  I turned down one corner of the top flap, making this card a twisted Easel, added the image piece, and left it plain with no ribbon, no bows, no flowers - I wanted the Embossing to showcase the image and the image to be the focal point.

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
Double Trouble (w/ TSOT and his plaid tie is 'hanging')
Outlawz Festive Fri.
TTCRD
Try Stampin' on Tues. (green-trees-plaid)
Unicorn
Word Art Weds.

     OK, I've been up as long as I can handle so I'm going to go drink something warm and then cuddle with my fur babies 'til I feel better.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beccy's Place Color Challenge

     It turns out that today (Day 5 of the 30 Days of Christmas) is one of the days when Beccy tosses us a theme instead of using a letter of the alphabet as a prompt.  The challenge colors are: custard, moss, cocoa, and bisque.

  

     I read through the Day 5 post at Beccy's, then went back to bed for a while since this flu hasn't gone completely.  When I got up again, I did this CAS card using these two really cute stockings from Beccy's Place.

I based my design on the sketch from

The House that Stamps Built, but flipped side to side.

     Last year during her 30 Days of Holiday Cards, Beccy gave us a tutorial on recoloring a pre-colored image and I decided to try it.  I chose this image of the two stockings because the original colors were as close to what I needed as possible.  I also adjusted the pre-coloring to make it as light as possible before I printed it, editing it with my Word software.

     I used my ProMarkers to add a golden orange to the red, making it bisque, and turned the green darker and more mossy with a "Moss" Promarker.  The yellow in the striped stocking only needed the addition of a "Mustard" ProMarker to change it to the custard shade.

     To get the "cocoa," I used a Bo Bunny die to cut the frame out of CS and I inset the image into it.  The background paper (also Bo Bunny) was a delightful bisque color and worked perfectly as a complementary background for the image.  Both of those went onto a white card base and, beyond that, I left it very CAS.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
Stamping Sensations

     OK, that's it.  I'm going back for another nap and I'll see you tomorrow when, hopefully, I'll be feeling stronger and not need two naps in the same day.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Apologies to My Blogging Buddies

     I'm sending apologies to all of you who visit me so faithfully and whose blogs I visit regularly.  I've been fighting some kind of flu for several days now and have been unable to visit many of you or to leave comments.  My list of visits owed is now so long that I have no hope of ever catching up.

     I am getting better but it's a slow process and will be another few days before I actually get back to normal.  I can sit up for half an hour at a time in the craft room so can get some things done.  I'll be visiting again as soon as I can stay at the computer screen long enough to visit and leave a comment but I hope you'll forgive if I don't back track over all the days I've been unable to visit.

     Thanks for continuing to visit my blog and for the encouragement you leave me.    Hugs, NC

D for Drummer

     I'm determined to get caught up and have crafted through this miserable flu because I just don't want to miss a single day of the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  We're on Day 4 and the prompt letter is "D."  I used this Drummer image from Beccy.

     There's a ton of "Ds" used for this card!  Obviously, I started with the Drummer (a Digital stamp) which I colored with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the mat with Dies from QuicKutz and mounted them on Dimensional dots.  I layered the image onto the Dark red mat, giving dimensional space between them and also between the card front and the image piece.

     The card front is Dry embossed with a folder from Darise.  I added the bow and the card candy Dots for more embellishment.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
CCC Digi Creations
Classic DT Open
Crackerbox/Suzy Stamps
Crafter's Cafe
Die Cut Divas
Digi Doodle Studios
Do Al(l) Creatives

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

C for Candy Canes

     I'm still playing in the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and even though I'm a bit behind due to being sick, this is my card for Day 3, Letter "C."  The image is from Beccy's Place and the Candy Canes are the most obvious "Cs" but there are others which you can find if you read the description.

     I used Copics for the Coloring this time because I have the best Crimson colors with those and I added the highlights with white gel ink.  I cut the image with a scalloped Circle die and matted it with another circle die cut.  The card itself is made using a fancy Circle die from Little B.  I layered all those scalloped circles together, one upon the other.

     I used Card Candy enamel dots for embellishment, including a large one on the Carmine bow.  The sentiment is all about Celebrating Christmas.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Digi Choosday
Joy Clair
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Winter Wonderland
Word Art Weds.

     I'll have a second post later this morning and that will have me almost caught up with all four days of the month long, daily challenges so far.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

B for Blizzard at Beccy's Place

     I'm a few days behind on playing in the month-long, 30 Days of Holiday at Beccy's Place.  This is the 6th year Beccy has done this and each day there is a new challenge.  Beccy's uses the alphabet letters as daily prompts, plus she throws in some unexpected themes to account for the extra 4 days without letters.  I managed to play on Day 1 but then I got some kind of flu bug and haven't been doing much other than curling up under the covers.

     In the middle of the night last night, I was awake and restless, though feverish, so I did some creating and am now hoping to be able to sit up long enough to get a couple of posts done for the "B" and "C" prompts.

     For "B", I used one of Beccy's fabulous sentiments and a few of her snowflakes to salute "Blizzards."  I also have a Bow, the color Blue (in 2 shades) and Brads.  :-D

     I used glitter on the snowflakes and cut the sentiment with a square die from QuicKutz.  This was a very fast and CAS card but it was the best I could manage at the time.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bounty of Blessings

     Friday morning and another new "Anything Goes" challenge over at QKR Stampede.  There is no requirement that you use an image from QKR --any stamp from any company is fine.  But if you decide to use an image from QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will be put into a separate draw for QKR only and that really increases your chance of winning!  Think about it.  :-D

     I decided on a Thanksgiving card today, and I used two images plus a sentiment, all three are from Eureka Stamps:  Pilgrim Boy ES2302, PilgrimGirl ES2303, and Bounty of Blessings.  I merged the Pilgrim images and printed the sentiment separately.

I took some inspiration from this photo at Cupcake Inspirations.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut it with a Cross Stitch Rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  I cut the sentiment with another die from that same set.  Because of the cross stitching on the die, I dug out the dp from my fall holiday stash and used it to make the card front.

     I added two ribbons, one is ribbed grosgrain and the other is a satin with a leaf print on it.  I layered those together and wrapped them around the card front.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn, bows to which I had added a button.

     This card is going to be mailed so I left it CAS and flat for easy mailing.

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
Bastel-Traum
Crafts Dreamy
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Dies R Us
Digi Choosday
Kreativeinkauf

     Come play along this week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Candle

     This is it!  Fourth post of the day and the last one.  :-D

     One last DT card for another new monthly challenge and this time it's at the SheepSki Designs blog!  We have a theme this month, "Anything Christmas."  Since you are a bit over 6 weeks away from Christmas (yes, it's true, and I don't know how that happened either!), it's a great time to add a couple more holiday cards to your stash.  You know you're going to need them.

     I used one of Andrea's newer images, Christmas Candle, and it really inspired me to use traditional colors.  It reminds me of all the holiday references to candles in the windows for those who are making their way home, hence the sentiment.,

     I colored with ProMarkers and Copics and used dies from QuicKutz to cut the image and the mat behind it, plus the aperture in the card front.  I added golden Nuvo Crystal Drops to the centers of the poinsettias.  The leaves I used for the 'wreath' frame were cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  The background paper was in my stash of Christmas papers and I've had it for so long I'm not absolutely sure but I think it came from one of my Bo Bunny stacks.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Beccy's Place (aperture & avocado green)
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Die Cut Divas
Fabrika Fantasy
Joy Clair
Not Just Cards
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

White Christmas?

     This is the third post of the day and I'll have a total of 4 so be sure to check them all. :-D

     It's the first Thursday of the month (and the first of the month!) so we have a new challenge at Crafting with an Attitude!  Our theme is always "Anything Goes"and this month our sponsor is Lacy Sunshine.  I used a darling LS image called "Christmas Snowflake" from their Strayz collection.  Unfortunately, I can't find it in the current online shop so it may have been retired.  If so, it's a great shame because this is one of Heather's most precious Christmas images.

    I colored with ProMarkers and sparkle gel ink.  I cut one side of the image with a border die from Poppy Stamps.  After adding the sentiment piece, I found both red and shimmery green CS and cut layers of those with that same border die.  I layered those onto one side of the image piece, then added red ink to the shaped outside border.  The card front is shorter than the card width so a bit of the inside show when the card is closed.

     The large, embellishment snowflake was cut with a die from Spellbinders and I added loose silver glitter to it.  Not exactly CAS but not overwhelmed with embellishments, either.

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Polkadoodles
SUYP Cats
TSOT Technique
TTCRD

     We always appreciate seeing you enter out monthly challenges at Crafting with an Attitude and I hope you'll be playing along this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie   

Sleigh Ride

     This is my second post today and there will be a total of 4!  Be sure to check them all.  :-D

     OMGoodness, it's the 1st of November and we have only two months left in the year!  How did that happen?  It seems only yesterday I was groaning about not having my Valentine cards done.

     In any case, it IS November and we have a new challenge starting at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.   As always, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter."  The sponsor is Sparkle N Sprinkle and I have used a wonderful image called "Sleigh Ride."

     For this card, I started with a blank piece of white CS and I colored the sky with ProMarkers.  I printed the sleigh, the sentiment, and two small snowflakes in the sky area right onto the colored background.  After it was printed, I colored the snow on the ground, and cut the image with a simple square die from QuicKutz.

     I matted the image piece with a piece of aquamarine CS, and put that onto a white card base.  I added the horizontal wrap of blue ribbon and tied a double layer bow with the sheer ribbon which already had the glittery circles on it.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect time to Craft
Craft-D BowZ
Crafty Animals
Digi Doodle Studio
Digistamps4Joy
Scrap from Your Heart
Sparkle n Sprinkle FB

     I hope we see you playing in our challenge this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie