Bear's Best Friend

    So I have to ask, if kids love teddy bears and consider them to be 'best friends,' why shouldn't a bear-child have a teddy bear best friend?  That was my first thought when I spotted this image over at QKR Stampede, where their theme this challenge is "Friends are special."

I based my colors on the theme at CAS-Colors & Sketches.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  Everything is matted with daffodil yellow CS.  The slate gray background piece is embossed with a folder from Sizzix.  I added a bit of twine and three buttons since this is a masculine card and it didn't need a lot of frills.  I thought it would be perfect for a young boy's birthday card.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Embossing
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- Teddy bears
Crafty Little Fairies -- For the boys
Crafty Hands -- Embossed background
Created with Love -- Friends
Totally Gorjuss -- String's the thing

     This is supposed to be my post for tomorrow but I'm posting it now because I can't get Blogger's scheduler to work.  Sigh.  You don't mind seeing it a bit early, do you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Something Great

     Back again with a second post today although it's been a lot of hours since my first post in the middle of the night last night.  In lots of places, it's already tomorrow.  :-D

     I was going through my stash of digital images and happened on the folder with Squigglefly images.  Realizing that I hadn't dug into that one in a while, I opened it and was delighted to find this curious cat who obviously can't keep any kind of secret -- Valentine or birthday!  Or maybe she's the gift?  I'd be thrilled if someone gave me a new kitten as a Valentine.  (No, no, nevermind -- I see all of you lining up to drop off your strays on my front porch!)

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and Copics, and I added clear glitter to the tissue paper in the image and another touch to the bow on the box lid.  Then I layered the image onto a piece of white CS which has been run through a Darise embossing folder, one of my new ones not used before.  The sentiment is mine and I added it before printing the image.  I added dots of red to the embossing and inked the edges before adding it to the card front.  The red bow is from my stash and is part of the latest batch that I made.  Between Christmas and Valentines, I was completely out of red bows, so I spent some time making another dozen.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends -- Dots
Cards Galore Encore -- Add glitter or a gem or candi
Cuttlebug Mania -- A touch of red
Emergency Crafters -- Pink & red
House That Stamps Built -- Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
Scribbles Designs -- Sparkle it up
Sparkles Forum -- Show new stash (Emb folder & bow)
Squigglefly -- Red and pink
Sweet Stamps -- Pink, red, white
Whimsy Inspiration -- Something new (Emb folder)

     OK, tomorrow morning I'll have a different kind of project which has taken me well over 4 days to complete and I have 3 others still "under construction."  Not a card but something recycled.  Whew, it makes me tired all over just thinking of it.  lol  Be sure to peep in mid-morning or so.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Roses Mean Love

     One more card which could be for your special Valentine or just to show that you love someone.  It's a new challenge day at Scribble & Scrap, which always has an Anything Goes theme.  I used the beautiful Vintage Rose Bud 2 image.

     The rose is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut.  I cut a black mat with another of my new "vintage" frame dies from Spellbinders.  I really love the way those frame dies make the card look so fancy when they really are just CAS.  In this case, the image and the frames make for an elegant vintage card that's just 2 layers of CS and a bit of sparkle in each corner.  The sentiment is mine, computer printed and hand cut, then layered onto the die cut.

     Challenges:
Crafting for All Seasons -- For the girls
Creative Moments -- Add sparkle
Cuttlebug Mania -- All you need it love
Frilly and Funky -- Valentine w/o hearts
LEJ Designs -- Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet -- Love
Miriam's Crafting -- Flowers
Party Time Tuesday -- Anything goes
Passion for ProMarkers -- Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door -- Anything goes

     I hope your weekend is going well and that whatever your plans, the weather where you are will co-operate.  Personally, I'm staying in and watching the Super Bowl.  I may be one of the few who remembers the days when the Seattle and Denver teams were both in the same Division of the AFC.  Then Seattle got moved to the NFC and now the two teams are facing each other in the Super Bowl.  How odd.  :-D  Oh, well -- Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Strut Your Stuff -- A Birthday Card

      Good morning and welcome to February!  My gosh, 1/12th of 2014 is already gone.  But the good news is that the first of a new month means a new release of digi sets at Doodle Pantry.  Laurie always does wonderful sets but I am just so excited by the releases this month.  It was a really tough decision as to which one to use first.

     Let me introduce my card by telling you two things; I love peacock images and they intimidate me because I never know where to start on the coloring.  I'm always afraid I'll get the blues and greens in the wrong spots and there just no way to really capture the magical quality of the feathers.  But, this peacock comes fully pre-colored as well as in black and white outline form and that ended my intimidation.  :-D

I chose to use the sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp

and the colors are perfect for Sketchy Colors, blue, green and white.

  

     The dp is also from Doodle Pantry and comes with the "Pretty Peacock" set, along with several sentiments, one of which I used (see below.)  Inside I added a Happy Birthday sentiment but didn't photograph it.  The bow is one of those I make by the dozens, however, this time it was white and I needed it to be that particular green so I colored it with a marker.  I always have white ribbon and bows on hand in case I need to color them to match dp or the colors of an image.  And that's your tip for the week.  :-D

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- A/G or Animals
Creative Creations -- Less is More
Digi Makeover -- Shades of blue
Dream It Up -- CAS
Eureka Stamps -- Anything goes
Going Grey w/ Scrap Creations -- Favorite embellie (the bows I make)
Nutcrafters -- CAS
Outlawz Greetings -- Anything goes

     Be sure to check out the Doodle Pantry challenge this month.  It runs through the 24th of February and if you use a Doodle Pantry digi (not just a sentiment), you'll get a free set just for playing.  If you win the draw, you can get another set of your choice.  And, finally, there's a free set with any purchase.  Below, I've added pictures of the challenge Freebie and the Free with Purchase sets.  Check out the entire new release collection -- more than worth your time!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

 I used this set

 Challenge Freebie for using DP image

  Free with purchase