Final Vintage Valentine Cards

Happy St. Valentine's Day !

     I want to share with you my last three vintage Valentines.  These were done at the last minute after I got a call yesterday from a friend who had seen the earlier ones I did and asked if there was still time for me to make two cards for her grand-daughters (ages 4 and 6) and one for her daughter.  

It took me about 3 hours to get these done and she's on her way over to pick them up.  :-D

     Here are the two for the grand-daughters.  She told me they both love kittens so...

 

     On both cards, the kittens were originally gray scale images so I used ProMarkers to add some color.  On the top one, I used white gel pen to add the sentiment to the hearts.  I fussy cut the kittens and added them to a red heart with Pop Dots, then layered that onto a white doily.  I used 'confetti' CS to make the card base, added two scraps of red dp (Paper House) and one of my signature, hand-sewn, bows with a pearl.

     Challenges for this card:

Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Double D
If You Give a Crafter...
Southern Girls

     For this second card, the kittens were already in a heart shape so I fussy cut that allowing for the pink bow and the rose to be "out-of-the-box."  I used dimensional tape to add the kitten/heart piece to the inside of a filigree heart stamp.  I cut that piece with a Gina Marie die and added the sentiment to the top and bottom.  I used chalks to 'sponge' the border.  The card base is embossed, burgundy CS and I added a scrap of dp from my stash plus 2 blue doilies.

     Challenges for this card:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations

     Finally, this is the card for her daughter.

     On this one, I highlighted the roses with white gel pen on one of the images and popped up the roses and the bow in her hair with Pop Dots for added dimension.  The lace behind the image is from my stash and the pink half-frame is a scrap of CS which was on the craft desk.  The bright pink bow was made with lace, wrapped with satin ribbon.  I added the tiny, epoxy, flower/heart and called it finished.

     Challenges for this card:
Aloha Friday
Crafty Addicts
Creative Inspirations

Mod Squad
Paper Fundays

     That's it for today.  Spread the love this Valentine's Day and don't forget to love yourself, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Be My Valentine?

     This sweet little image (a new one to me) is from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz this month, provided by Di's Digital Stamps, and I thought she'd make a perfect Valentine.  :-D

I was influenced by the wheel over at Butterfly Challenge

and used 3 of the options: Kobe, Kobi, & Knot It.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and cut both the mage and the frame with double stitched circle dies from Die-namics.  The flowery dp used for the frame is from 7 Gypsies.  The butterfly is machine embroidered on my machine and the ribbon is a scrap bit which I tied into a knot.

     Quick post today because I'm running late for an appointment.  I'll add all the challenge links when I return.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiment Designs
Cuttlebug Mania
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers  ('l'ittle 'l'ady)
TTCRD
   
     Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Loving Family

     One more progressive challenge in the bag and I love this sweet image of a big, happy family.  What better way to say "Love" this month?  The image is from Sasayaki Glitter and I think it's one of their best.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a die from Gina Marie.  The purple dp was a scrap left over from a DT project which you'll see in a couple of weeks.  The dark blue CS was also a scrap and all of those things were layered together onto a 'confetti ' CS base.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then inked the edges before adding it to the bottom of the card.  I used one of my signature bows, left white this time instead of 'dying' it to match a color in the card, and I added a sparkly gem to it.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Morning After

     Those of you with feline fur babies will completely understand this card because all of them sneak off to party when we're not watching the (cat) door and this is how they appear when finally they bring their bedraggled selves home!  In this case, the Siamese must have been the "designated driver" since he's showing few ill effects.  lol

I started with the sketch from Beccy's Place

and the images are also from Beccy.

I used colors from the challenge at C.R.A.F.T.

with the red and pink being in the dp "flags."

  

     I started by merging the three cat images, then colored them with my ProMarkers.  The gray background is washed with a muddle of watercolor paints and the image piece laid on top of it.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, then matted it and hand cut that.

     The 'flag' strips were all cut from a single, two-sided scrap of 7 Gypsies paper which had been slipped back into the stack.  Instead of throwing it away, I cut and used the little flags from it.  The diamond texture ribbon is from my (huge) stash of Really Reasonable Ribbon bits.  The dark brown, grosgrain, bow was hand made and I added a tiny sequin star to it.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     OK, I'm taking the rest of the day off to be a lazy couch potato!  I may even fall asleep with the TV on.  I'm tired of boxes and chores.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Let Them Eat Cupcakes!

     Hey, guess who found her ProMarkers?  One more craft room box unpacked and put into the new space.  :-D  Having organized them, it was necessary to immediately use them.  You understand, I had to test them to see if any had gone dry or leaked or changed color.  Besides, the progressive challenge at Limited Runs comes to an end in just a few more days and I had to get something made and submitted.

     I colored the cupcake with ProMarkers, then used a stitched die from Lawn Fawn to cut the image and the two framing pieces.  The dp is from 7 Gypsies and each little diamond in the pattern echos the stitching.  I decided on a CAS design, letting the pattern in the dp do all the visual work.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lawn Fawnatics
                
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
Path of Positivity

     That's it for today.  I really do have to get back into the craft room but not for play this time.  I have to get things completely reorganized so that play will be something enjoyable again.  Hang in there with me -- I promise to get back into my routine soon.  NanaConnie

Puppy and Cupid Valentines

     I have to get this post written up very quickly before the feline fur babies awake and see me posting something featuring a puppy!  Here are two more of the Valentine cards I've done by recycling vintage Valentines from the box I found hidden under who know how many tons of supplies when the craft room was getting packed up and reorganized.

     I especially love these two and put in quite a bit of work on them.  Let's start with the puppy.

     Starting from the card base and working upward, the background dp came from Paper House, trimmed to fit the front of an A2 size card.  I had some lovely, glittered ribbon scraps in my stash which I think came from Crafty Ribbons.

     I dug out a set of doily dies from Spellbinders, and cut alternating layers of white and pink doilies (all cut from scraps), offsetting them as best I could.  Once all those were layered together with foam tape, I added the hand cut puppy to the top of the stack.  

     I added one of my signature bows to the bottom of the card front and called it finished.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Cute Card Thurs

Cut It Up

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pixie's Snippets

Southern Girls

     Here's the second card with a sweet cupid image.

     I put silver glitter on his wings, and I used a rectangle die from QuicKutz top cut the image from the front of the old card, then inked the edges with ProMarkers to enhance the distressed look.  I 'dyed' a white doily with a dark brown ProMarker so that the image piece would pop.  I had two scraps of ribbon, one in hot pink and the other a golden brown.  I decided to put the doily between them and then wrap them around a piece of background dp (also Paper House.)

     The image went on top and I make a double bow but sewing two hand crafted bows together.  The final touch was a tiny, epoxy flower in the bottom corner of the image.  I hand wrote the sentiment in the opposite corner.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Brown Sugar
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Happy Craft
If You Give a Crafter...
Polkadoodles
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Kitten Love and Lady with Roses

     Today I have two more recycled, vintage Valentines to share.  Of course, the one with the kittens has to come first.  -D

     This time, I fussy cut the kittens and added them to a heart shaped doily with dimensional tape.  I found two scraps of red dp from a stack by Paper House, and used those to cover the front of a square card base.  The doily went on top of that and I added a red, epoxy flower with a heart in the middle.  The bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Cute N Crafty
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp & Show
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Unicorn 

     The second card has a fantastic image of a Victorian lady with roses.

                               

     I cut the image from the original card with a QuicKutz rectangle die.  The "frame" behind it was a negative left over from cutting out a frame with a die from Spellbinders.  I took that piece, cut it diagonally, and offset the pieces behind the image.  That piece was previously embossed but I don't remember which of my embossing folders was used.

     The deep, pink card front is dry embossed and I used a scrap of white lace threaded with a piece of pink, satin ribbon and layered those along the left side of the card front.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Cupcake Inspirations

Cuttlebug Mania
Dream Valley
Double Trouble (Flowers + Bouquet)
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Girls
Outlawz SAR

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My Happy Valentine

     I've done a few Valentine cards using recycled and vintage images since things are still not completely accessible after all the boxing up and reorganizing.  Most of the markers and colored pencils are still put away and my printer use is somewhat limited.  But I am loving the entire box of vintage Valentines which were given to me several years ago and which got set aside during the last move.  I found them a few weeks ago and they have been put to great use during this year's turmoil.

     Expect to see several vintage Valentine cards over the next couple of weeks.

     I thought this image was adorable with the little girl and her faithful dog.  I cut the old card, used a Spellbinders die to cut the image into a rectangle, then punched it with a Fiskars' corner punch.  I used scraps of red paper on a kraft card base, and layered on a scrap piece of wide, wired, sparkly, silver ribbon before adding the image piece.  That ribbon and the flowers gave the card some really great texture!

     The ribbon of embroidered daisy flowers with pink centers came from my stash.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Cupcake Inspirations

Cute N Crafty
Get Creative
Incy Wincy
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     See you later.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bandaged Cat

     Welcome to our newest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  There's no requirement to use images from QKR (or from our sister company, Eureka Stamps) but for those of you who do use them, you increase your chances of winning by a huge amount since those entries go into a completely separate drawing so your odds are much better.  :-D

     The image I used today is from QKR and it's called "Bandaged Cat."  Every time I use this image, I can hear my dad in my head talking about someone being "as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!"  lol  Now you know why!

     I used my ProMarkers to color the cat, then cut the image with a die from Lawn Fawn.  I cut the blue frame with a Cottage Cutz die.  The shiny, metallic background was cut with an Altenew die and everything is layered onto a smoke-blue card base.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with a scrap of blue CS, and added that below the image.  Because I used this as a masculine, get-well card, I didn't add any further embellishment.  I thought the texture of the layers and the die cuts was enough.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paperbabe Stamps
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     I'm hoping that by next week, I'll be back to my regular routine but if it takes another week, please trust that I will be back.  I haven't abandoned my crafting nor my blogging.  I just need to get settled in again after all the recent changes.  Thanks for your patience.  :-D  NanaConnie

No Fear of the Night

     It's time for our February challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!   As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter" and, once again, Sparkle n Sprinkle is our fabulous sponsor.  They generously provided images for our team members to use and I hope you're going to visit the main 2 Crafty Critter Crazies blog to see all of the inspiration the team is offering.

       I used an incredible Owl set (Great Horned Owl) designed by our very own Donna E!  Isn't it gorgeous?

     I colored the owl with ProMarkers and then used SnS EP to heat emboss the white areas on the owl's feathers and on the tree branch.  I cut the image and the frame with scalloped dies from Sizzix.  The deep blue dp is from 7 Gypsies and the flowery paper is a scrap of origami paper.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment (also part of the Great Horned Owl image set), inking the edges of it.  The CS behind the sentiment was a scrap left from die cutting the blue CS frame.  I simply lined up the scallop spaces and that helped to pop the sentiment off the background.  The card base is kraft CS.

     I added one, hand-sewn, bow with a pearl for embellishment and decided it was beautifully finished.  I know I'm going to be using this set a lot.  There are so many options available.  Go check it out.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sparkle n Sprinkle
TTCRD
Tues. Throwdown

     Check back in another three hours or so when I'll have my post for QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Thank You for Di

     I'm sharing a Thank You card today, made specifically to thank Di, who runs the Pixie's Snippets Playground, and it's important to include Parsnip and Dudley in that, too, I suppose, so that they don't feel slighted and run wild.  Di just celebrated the end of the 8th year at the Playground, and she's been running it for the last seven.  Darnell has organized a large blog hop for those of us who wanted to thank her and you can find the hop here if you're interested.

      Following the main rule of the Playground, I did this entire card using scraps of this and that, including a left over bit of CS for the card base.  The flowery background is a snippet of oriental origami paper and the size of it controlled the actual size of the card (approximately 3" X 5".)

     I found a scrap of cornflower blue CS and layered onto it the back of a left-over negative of a "thank you" die cut (Tim Holtz for Sizzix.)  Because the piece between the 't' and the 'h' was missing, I cut a tiny, thin, bit of dark burgundy CS which was hanging about on the desk and used it.  It doesn't match exactly but was the best I could do with what was available.

     The flower was cut from a scrap of white paper; I embossed the petals with a stylus and added a white sequin in the middle.

     I've been a bit absent from the Playground during the holidays (and again most of this month) due to all the time spent with family and the rather long process of sorting things to be relocated.  I have missed making 'snippets' projects during that time.  What fun to have used nothing but snippets for this entire card!  Enjoy, Di, and thank you so much for keeping things going at the Playground.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
DL.ART Thankful Thurs.
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

It's a Booboo !

     I found myself having to make a couple of quick Get Well cards and used an image from QKR Stampede to make each one.  I'm sharing this one today and will share the other next Friday as my DT inspirations for those two QKR Challenges.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes."

     The image is called "Booboo" and I think it's adorable.  Not the first time I've used it, but when it's this cute, who can resist?

     I colored with ProMarkers and a touch of sparkle gel ink on the tear, then cut the image with a die from Memory Box.  I cut the frame from dark pink CS with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and matted.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Happy Craft
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Paper Fundays
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Groovy V-Dub Bug

     So how many of you truly remember the "Love Generation" of the 1960s and 70s?  This image takes me back to my late teen/early adult years when things were "groovy" and VWs were all the rage.  I actually had a blue VW Bug so even coloring this image brought back some wonderful memories.  :-D

     The image is for the Progressive challenge at LeAnne's World 101 and you all know how I love my progressive challenges.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, gel inks, silver paint pens, and sparkle gel pens for a bit of shine on the windows.  I fussy cut the Bug and added it to a die cut square (Lawn Fawn) with dimensional dots and made sure that it was out-of-the-box.  I used additional Lawn Fawn dies to cut the square frame and that put everything back inside-the-box.  :-D

     Since this Bug represents the 'groovy' times, I added some sparkly, 'hippy' flowers, added little gem centers, then printed and hand cut the sentiment.  The card base is made with confetti CS.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Double Trouble  (all 3)
Get Creative
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD

     That's all for now.  See you on Friday with a post for QKR Stampede.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Purple Winter Silhouette

     I tried something new with this card and I'm very pleased with the end result.  I mixed water coloring and heat embossing with a silhouette image.

      I started with watercolor paper, painting it with purple to make the ombre background.sky.  After letting that dry and ironing it flat (because it had curled from the water), I printed the Silhouette Scene image (Digi Set 493b) from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I drew around the image with a Versa-Mark pen and heat embossed it with matte, smoke gray EP.  After it was set, I drew around that with the Versa-Mark pen again and used white EP to make another border.  I cut the image by hand just outside the white, embossed border.

     The sentiment (part of that same set) is printed and cut with an Unbranded die.  I mounted both of those pieces onto black CS, then added the three tiny gems in the diagonal corners.  I wanted to pop out the lavender sky so I chose a purple card base and added a scrap of dp across the top.  Once I adhered the black CS piece with the image, it really pulled the lavender and purple to the fore.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Get Creative
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Sparkle n Sprinkle
Words to Craft By

     That's it for today and maybe for a few more days before I can manage to post again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

More Cake! More Cake!

     This is the last of the cards for the week long, Birthday Bash at Catch the Bug where they were celebrating their 9th year on the challenge blog.  They offered a Bugaboo Stamps freebie (as they always do on Fridays) and I used it, along with the birthday cake image, following this inspiration photo.  What better way to banish the winter blues than by having a party and eating cake?
                             
         

     I used my ProMarkers to color the images, then fussy cut the little monsters and added them on top of the huge cake image.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges before adding it to the bottom of this really CAS card.

     I used a craft knife to distress the edges of the image piece before I mounted that onto an aqua card base.  There was already so much going on with the images that I opted for no embellishments, just the images and the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV 
Crafting with Friends
Cute Card Thurs.
Happy Craft
My Favorite Things   
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     I may have a post tomorrow, too, if I find the time to write it up.  The card is done but I have several folks coming tomorrow at different times throughout the day so we'll just have to see how much I can get done between their visits.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

More Birthday Celebrations

     This is another post with multiple cards for the week long, Birthday Bash over at Catch the Bug.  Today, I'm starting with the card I did for the Tuesday challenge.

Tuesday Theme:  BINGO Top Row:  Die Cut/ Sentiment/ Texture

     This sentiment is an image from Bugaboo Stamps and it's a new one for me.  I printed it onto aqua CS and used a black ProMarker to enhance the depth of the color on the "Happy Birthday" portion.  I die cut the sentiment with border dies from Spellbinders.

     The texture on the white background is dry embossed with a folder from Cuttlebug, another new item for my stash.  I used my bow maker to tie the polkadot, bowtie bow.

     Challenges for this card:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown


Wednesday Theme: Make Us Laugh

     Coloring was done with ProMarkers and the image was cut with a scalloped die from Sizzix.  The green, grosgrain ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and I simply cut a strip and adhered it like washi tape, using double stick tape on the back of it.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inking the edges before adding it.  The bow is one of my signature bows, this time with a gem added instead of a pearl.

     Challenges for this card:
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.


Thursday Theme: Color Challenge

                            

     I used ProMarkers to color the image (a new one for me), selecting colors that were featured in the inspiration photo.   I used soft, golden, neutrals as much as possible on the critters, keeping the bold and bright colors for the word "Birthday."  I cut the image with a large, rectangle die from QuicKutz and mounted it onto a gray-blue card base.  The bronzy-gold ribbon was recycled from a craft store bouquet and the blue ribbon was in my stash.  Fun how the edges of the two ribbons matched up.

     Challenges for this card:

Cupcake Inspirations

  

Cutie Pie

Dream Valley

Outlawz Festive Friday

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Well, that's six more birthday cards for my stash and I'll post one more, the last for the Catch the Bug Birthday Bash this week, later this afternoon.  I'm so on target with my time frame for all the house projects which have to be done that I'm feeling calm and almost relaxed in the midst of the chaos.  lol   I'm sure that'll change tomorrow morning when three more major projects are on the list, including a meeting to sell some of the furniture pieces I'm not keeping!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Celebration

     Before I tell you about today's post, let me give you a quick update.  I've spent the majority of the last 4 days, sometimes long into the night time hours so the sleeping pattern has been badly disrupted, working on all the things I have to complete around the house.  I've been packing boxes and it's amazing what one runs across during that process.  I've been trimming down, throwing out, reorganizing -- all those things one does during this process.

     But yesterday, I awoke at 1:30 a.m.  Since I was clearly wide awake, I gave myself permission to take a break and indulge in some crafting.  I made a batch of cards for the week-long, daily challenge themes at Catch the Bug where they are celebrating their 9th Anniversary.  That means they are just starting their 10th year and I want to help them celebrate that wonderful new beginning!

     They have a different theme for each day and we all have until Saturday evening to get our projects entered.  So, I spent 7 hours making 6 cards, including coloring each of the Bugaboo Stamps images, and I'll make one more with Friday's Freebie Image once it's been released.

     I'm sharing the first 3 of those cards here in this post and will do the others late on Friday or perhaps Saturday morning

Saturday Theme: Monster Birthday Party

I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used two dies from Tonic Studios to cut the image and the aqua frame.  I layered those two together, sandwiching the green, polka dot, ribbon between them, then mounted them onto sky blue CS.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with aqua CS, hand cut that, and added it to the bottom.

     Challenges for this card:
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles


Sunday Theme: Sketch

                                         

      Again, I used ProMarkers to color the image (which is a new one for me) but I cut this one with a die from Gina Marie.  I used a square, kraft CS card base, then added the two narrow rectangles of glittered paper.  I wrapped that with stitched ribbon from Crafty Ribbons before adding the image piece.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and then added the three rows of three metal brads to the top corner.

     Challenges for this card:
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.


Monday Theme:  Anything But a Card

     For this one, I did a party favor box with a personalized tag.  I used one of my box dies from Spellbinders to cut glitter CS and fold it into the tall, box shape.

     The name of each guest is on the back of the tag.  I colored the tag image with watercolor pencils and gel pens.  I cut it with a stitched die from Cottage Cutz.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment sand added twine to the corners of both the tag and the sentiment and taped the twine loops inside the favor box.  I filled the boxes with chocolate candy.

     Challenges for this project:
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Paper Fundays
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

January Challenge at Creations in Pink

     Once Christmas is over, it's time for all the Thank You cards.  I've made a dozen or so and this is the one I did as my DT card for the newest challenge over at Creations in Pink.  We don't have a sponsor this month but we're having a ton of fun doing "Anything Goes" projects with any supplies we wish!

     My design is all die cuts this time.  The main shape is cut from pink CS with a Spellbinders border die; the flower flourish comes from a Memory Box die, trimmed to fit; and the individual flowers are done with dies from that same set.  The "Thanks" was cut with a Die-Versions die.

     That beautiful plaid dp is from a My Favorite Things stack.  I added glitter to the flowers and everything was placed on a pale pink card base.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's a Cat's Party!

     New challenge at QKR Stampede this week, where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  I thought it was time for a party so I got busy making up invitations.  While I was away from the computer, coloring images, the feline fur babies took over and printed out this image, which they then insisted I use!

     It's from QKR's sister shop, Eureka, and is called "Kitty Party."  I told the fur babies since they chose the image, it was up to them to color it.  I think they did a pretty awesome job considering they had a bit of trouble holding the markers in their furry paws.  :-D

     The coloring was done with ProMarkers and the image was cut with an Unbranded oval die.  I found some of my favorite plaid paper in a stack by Your Next Stamp, called Mint Cocoa Kisses.

     The both the light and dark ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons and I hand tied the lighter ribbon into a bow.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a smaller die from that same Unbranded set.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Digi Choosday
Happy Craft
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Passion for ProMarkers
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this week.  After today, I'll be taking a two or three week break (my first one since joining the team more than 4 years ago!) while crafting resources are packed away during the reorganizing process.  I'll be back with more QKR posts as soon as I can.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Winter Heart

     This will be a quick post today but I had to do some coloring and crafting just for sanity sake and this cute winter image from Bugaboo Stamps was on top of the pile of images which I have ready to color.

     I love Bugaboo Stamps and have printed several of them because my crafting room will soon be in chaos while I pack up and re-organize.  In addition to that, this coming weekend begins the week long birthday celebration at Catch the Bug and I want to play in as many of those daily challenges as I can so I'm trying to work ahead (one of the advantages to being on their newsletter subscriber list is that you find out the themes before they are published on the daily posts during that week!)

     I colored with ProMarkers and used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image and frame.  The sentiment was part of the image set and I cut it with another die from Spellbinders, then inked the edges.

     The bow is one of those I sew up by the dozens but this one has a faceted gem instead of the usual pearl.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Catch the Bug
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper Crafty
Time Out

     Wishing you a warm and loving day!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrating Love

     I'm back on track but will be posting only sporadically this month and maybe the first half of next month since my craft room supplies are going to be pretty much packed up during that time.  :-(  In the interests of plain and simple sanity, I'll probably keep a few ProMarkers and a box of watercolor pencils close at hand so that I can do coloring if nothing else.  Sitting and coloring a dozen images over a weekend will go a long way toward making me feel both calm and creative.  :-D

     In the meantime, here's my card for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz this month.  The image came from SheepSki Designs.

     I started with scraps of confetti CS, printed the image on one, and trimmed the other piece to the size of the card front so that I could do a twisted easel card.  I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a square die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges of both the image and the confetti CS square for the card front.

     The scattered hearts were all cut with dies from Spellbinders, Memory Box, or Lawn Fawn, all of which are brand new in my stash!  How perfect to now have them for this card.  :-D  I used them to complement the scattered hearts in the image.  The sentiment, together with one heart, is used as the 'stopper' for the easel.  The card base is made with kraft CS and I love the contrast with the confetti CS.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Cute N Crafty
Ike's World
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Hatching a New World

     It's a New Year so why not a New World?  We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede and I thought this funny image, called "Top of the World," would be a fun way to play on that idea.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and the prize is always images from the QKR store.

I took color inspiration from the mood board at Crafts Dreamy.

     I started by coloring the image with a combination of ProMarkers and water color pencils, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  I inked the edges and then used another oval die from Spellbinders to cut the large oval behind the image piece.  I inked the edges of that piece, also. 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then made the burlap-twine, wrapped, bow with the help of my bow maker.  I added the mesh 'ribbon' to a piece of dark gray CS and added the die cut ovals on top of it.  Both the bow and the ribbon added great texture to the card.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
a2z Scrapbooking
Ching-Chou Kuik
Craft-Dee Bowz
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Digi Doodle Studios
Do Al(l) Creatives  - 2 ovals

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Anything Goes challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Coldest Day of Winter

     We start a new challenge over at Crafting with an Attitude and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Our wonderful sponsor this month is Lacy Sunshine (Colour of Love) and I'm using a darling image called Rory's Winter Day.

My colors came from My Favorite Things.

     I decided to do a card using the 'spotlight' technique so I printed the image twice, cut one with a rectangle die from Spellbinders, and colored the second one with my ProMarkers, adding just a touch of sparkle with some glitter on the snowflakes.

     Once colored, I used a circle die (QuicKutz) to cut just the portion of the image where I wanted to focus attention.  I inked the edges of both cut pieces, then layered the colored circle on top of the black and white image to create the 'spotlight.'

     I found an icy-blue card base, wrapped it with sparkly, silver and white ribbon, then added the image.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it to the lower section of the card front.  I think this is a delightful CAS design with just enough sparkle to celebrate the cold chill of early January!

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Double Trouble
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Whoopsi Daisy

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow and then I'll be back to my post holiday activities.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Snow Buddies

     The challenge theme at SheepSki Designs this month is "New or Old" and since I'm still on my Holiday break, I'm sharing with you a card with an image more than 2 years old.  The image is called "Penguin Pals" and I think it's absolutely adorable!  Two penguins building their own snow man penguin.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut both the image and the frame with dies from Cheery Lynn.  I mounted those onto a a deep green card base.  I added a single, hand-tied, red bow and the sentiment, then left it CAS.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Cardz TV
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs 
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Have yourself a wonderful New Year's Day and I'm sending wishes for a happy and prosperous year.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Digging In or Out?

     Happy New Year to all of you!  The first day of 2019 and the first day of our new January monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this month our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps.  They have their own challenge going - a Bingo board - which will be open through Friday.  I used the top row of that board to make my card - Texture/ No dp/ & a Bugaboo Stamps image.

     I love their cute images and have a quickly growing collection of them.  They generously provided the DT with images to use for this challenge and I'm using "Winter Bird Friend."

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then used a die from CUTplorations to cut the image.  I inked the edges and turned it on an angle on a square card.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges of it.

     I added the three, sparkly snowflakes and beyond that, left it CAS.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Please come and play with us this month.  The holidays are behind us (for the most part) and we have time to take a breath before Valentine's Day swoops in and inundates us.  We'd love to be inspired by you and your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie