Rose and Butterfly

     I intended to have this posted yesterday but I'm having internet connection problems for some reason.  So it gets posted this morning instead.   I used one of my newest images which came from Delicious Doodles (challenge theme -- Flowers for Spring), and I used the sketch from A Die for a Sketch, plus I chose the colors from Dynamic Duo this week.

   

     The image is colored completely with SN markers, and the image is cut with a square die, using the 'out of the box' technique on the butterfly in the top corner.  The tiny butterfly next to the sentiment is a leftover from another project I did where I used a Spellbinders die and the butterfly is one of the cut out pieces.  I'm not sure why it looks green.  It's a deep teal, IRL.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp and I don't remember what company for sure, but I think it was one I chose as a winner at DRS Designs.

     Both dp were in the Linen Closet stack from DCWV, and they are clear embossed.  I used two different ribbons and added pearls to both butterfly bodies for a few little gems.  I thought this made a very feminine and 'romantic' card.  

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Add a bow
Color Me Creative -- Color a feminine image
Craft Us Crazy -- Show us Favorites (Linen Closet dp & flowers)
Crazy 4 Challenges -- Texture (ribbon, embossing, butterfly)
DRS Designs -- Plaids
Heck of a Challenge -- Love and flowers
Outlawz Paper Ala Mode -- Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey -- Bingo: Gems, Emboss, Ribbon
Paper Creator's Crafts -- Flowery Delight
Paper Playtime -- Sentiment Stamp
Sparkle and Glitter -- All the things I love (flowers & butterflies)
Speedy Fox & Friends -- My State (CA, Rose Parade)
Sweet Stampin' -- Mother's Day or special lady

     OK, I hope Blogger works and posts this as scheduled.  (Edited to add: It didn't!  Had to post it manually as soon as I saw it hadn't gone as scheduled.)  I'm having a super busy week and don't know how much crafting I'll actually get done.  I'm just going with the flow so look for me when you see me a'comin' down the river!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hang Yer Hat

     I recently met someone who truly is an old fashioned American cowboy.  Soft spoken, very dry sense of humor, and not at all given to sentences much longer than 5 or 6 words.   He doesn't care at all about fancy or frilly.  So, when I decided to make a Valentine card for him (and he got wind of it from his daughter), he sent a message which indicated that cards weren't really necessary, that a simple "Hang yer hat" would be sufficient.

     That made me think about the new releases from Doodle Pantry, which included this fabulous cowboy hat from the Cowboy Gear set and also the Old Parchment set, which I used as though it was background dp.

I took my sketch from The Sweet Stop, modified a bit to be very CAS.  The lariat takes the place of the banner and the hat replaces the image square.

     This is actually a small card, only 4 1/4" X 4 1/4", so I'm going to have to make an envelope for it.  The hat is fussy cut and then popped up on dimensional dots, although that really doesn't show in the photo.  The lariat is made from jute cord.  I truly couldn't resist a little bit of "fancy", so I added four tiny, topaz-colored gems to the hat band.  While they are sparkly in the picture, they barely show on the card IRL unless the light happens to catch them.

     Challenges:
Cards Galore -- 1 for the men
Crafting Cafe -- Anything goes
Here Come the Boys -- Westerns
Hot Shot Crafts -- CAS
Natalie and Amy's -- Something old (cord) & something new (images)
One Stop Craft -- Anything goes
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ fav colors (mine are fav neutrals -- browns)
Outlawz CAS -- "Short" cards
Sentimental Sundays -- Celebrating 'new' (new person!)
Stamptacular Sunday -- Gents and gems (Does a gent's hat count?)
Word Play Saturday -- Anything goes

     We'll see if this card appeals to that dry sense of humor.  :-D  Below are pictures of the two new release sets I used for this card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie