Kitten & Puppy Thank You

     Last year, I made a card very similar to this one and, when a friend of mine saw it, she asked if I could make a set of them so that she could use them for Thank You cards after the holidays.  She does a lot of entertaining and is often given hostess gifts by those invited to her home.  She likes to send out handwritten 'Thank You' cards and finding handmade cards made them even more special in her mind.

     I used the same image on each one and varied the color of the burlap and the bow so that she'd have a few different colors to use.  This is the most neutral of them.

I based them on the sketch at Sketch Saturday, 

turned sideways and with one piece behind the image instead of two.

     I colored with ProMarkers, die cut the image and the two mats, and layered everything together onto the burlap.  The background is made with fiber paper.  The bow is one of those I make and toss in my stash for later use.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
ArtbyMiran
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Inkspirational
Outlawz PAM
Polka Doodles
Stamping Boutique
Stempelsonnen

     Another short post but my time is just so full that I'm getting little crafting or posting time.  After the New Year, I promise.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Believe in Christmas Magic

     This is either the last Christmas card I made in 2015 or it'll be my first one for 2016.  :-D  Either way, I made it with a kit I had gotten with this fun House Mouse stamp.  The papers and the die cut sentiment were in the kit and I used ribbon from my stash to make the bow myself.   I did use my new Bow-It-All which my family got me for Christmas.  :-D  A fast card and a fast post.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, cut with a QuicKutz die, and the edges are sponged with chalk.  The dark green CS (looks almost black in the photo) is embossed.  I used a sequin for the dot on the "i".

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Chalk n Stock
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Card Crew
Crimbo Crackers
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Male Room
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for Promarkers
Scrapy Land
WordArt Weds.

     We're mid-way between Christmas and the New Year and I'll be returning on January 2, if you're wondering about getting back to the regular daily posting routine.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Warm Irish Coffee Wishes

     Winter and December/January holidays are great times for sending warm wishes and holding hot cups of coffee in otherwise frozen hands.  When it's Irish Coffee, that's even better.  :-D

     I made this masculine card for a friend who was kind enough to commission 8 Christmas cards from me.  The image is from My Whimsical Little World.  It was a freebie on their FB page and I'm entering it in their "Anything Goes" challenge on the blog..  I colored it with my ProMarkers and die cut it with one of my hexagon dies.  I used that same die set to cut the red and black CS used for framing it.

     The sentiment is computer generated, printed, and cut with a die from Spellbinders, then I added matching red and black CS to frame it.  Everything was mounted onto blue, shiny CS to give it an icy look suitable for a penguin.

     The only embellishment is the bow from my stash of those I make myself.

     Challenges:
Card and Scrap
Catch the Bug
CCC Digi
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Die Cut Divas
Just Keep on Creating
Karleigh Sue
Outlawz Greetings
Petal Lu

     Hope your rush is slowing down a bit and that you're now able to spend some time gathering new creative energy for the New Year.  We all deserve a short break before we face the necessity of getting back into the drudge of our every day routines after the holiday hustle and bustle.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowmen or Snowflakes

    

     Let me start by wishing each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas!   I hope your day is filled with family and friends and Christmas blessings.  When the gifts are opened and the meal has been enjoyed, maybe you'll find a bit of time to visit a few blogs.  Just in case you do, we have a new challenge starting today over at QKR Stampede.  Our new theme is Snowmen or Snowflakes.  You can use any image you like and if you want to use one from QKR, there are so many cute and loveable snowmen.  Just check out the store.

     I chose to use Digi 5303 "Hitch Hiking Snowman" but to me, he's just offering a hand of friendship.  :-D  On the other hand, maybe he's looking for a ride to someplace colder, filled with lots of snow.

I used the colors in the challenge at Paper Sweeties.

     I used ProMarkers and glitter to color the image, then cut it with one of dies from Spellbinders.  The "Merry" sentiment is cut with a die from Memory Box.  The paper has been in my stash forever and those are both scrap pieces.  I found sequins and glittery snowflakes to add as embellishment but still kept the card as CAS as possible.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Card Mania
Christmas Challenge
Colour Your World
Come and Get It
Craft and Smash
Crafty Time
Emerald Faeries
Just Keep on Creating
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Natalie and Amy's
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz CAS
Outlawz Tuesday
Robyn's Fetish
Sparkles Forum Christmas
Your Scrapbook Place

     I hope we're going to see you playing along sometime this week.  In the meantime, warm Christmas thoughts and prayers.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Oh, Christmas Tree(s)

     Two quick and related cards today.  The first one has a digi image that I got at From the Heart Stamps and the second is done with a simple Christmas Postage punch (maker unknown) and die cuts.

      I used ProMarkers to color the green portions of the trees, then added some sparkly texture paste to them.  I used a die set from Spellbinders to cut the image and inlaid it into another die cut.  The sentiment is also cut with that same set and inlaid into a larger cut.  The silver trees were stamped onto acetate, heat embossed with silver EP, and peeled off.  I added a bit of color to the baubles with ProMarkers.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Card Crew
Deep Ocean
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Love to Scrap
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Polkadoodles
Vintage Stamping/Flonz

     This one is even simpler, made with layers of leftover die cuts from the first card.  The sentiment is done with an Elizabeth Craft Designs die and the silver trees postage stamp was punched from metallic paper.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Dream Valley 
Fairy Tale
My Time to Craft
Simply Papercraft
Sweet Stampin'
Sweet Stamps
Through the Purple Haze

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thank You

     Every holiday season also calls for some Thank You cards, whether to acknowledge gifts or warm acts of kindness.  I made a dozen in varying versions and colors of this one.

     The die is from Memory Box and is another of my newest stitched dies.  I used it to cut one of my oldest papers for the sentiment.  It cuts beautifully and the "you" is separate so that it can be placed anywhere on the card.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Card and Scrap
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft Rocket 
Crafty Friends
Crafty Girls Creations
Creatalicious
Digistamps 4 Joy
Just Keep on Creating
Kreativeinkauf
Petal Lu
Quick Quotes
Simply Papercraft

     I had a lot of fun making these and they were quick and simple.  I now have 4 different "Thanks" dies or stamps and I plan to stock up on cards for all my Thank You occasions.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Lassy

     When I first saw this image (ArtbyMiran), it made me think of an Irish lassy, all bundled up against the cold winter air of an Emerald Isle Christmas.  I wanted to use her on a very traditional Christmas card.  While it's fun to try other colors for Christmas, I freely admit that I am moved by the traditional red and green -- so many happy childhood memories are tied to Christmases with those colors.

     I colored her with ProMarkers and used a border die from Spellbinders to cut the piece.  I love the odd shape and unusual corners that resulted.  I'm going to have to try this kind of cutting in the future with some of my other border dies.  The sentiment was cut with an Elizabeth Craft Designs die.  The sparkly ribbon was in my stash and I had completely forgotten about it so you know it needed to be used.  :-D

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
A Snowflakes Promise
As You Like It
Cardz for Galz
Coloring in Scrapland
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART 
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sweet Stampin'
Unicorn
WordArt Wednesday

     Christmas is only days away and I'm happy to report that I'll be spending it with family.  Nothing like being surrounded by family and friends on such a blessed holiday, even if travel in bad weather is required.  I know a good many of you have been enjoying warmer than usual weather and very little or no snow at all so travel shouldn't be a problem for those east of the Mississippi.  I'm hoping that means you'll also be surrounded by family.  Merry Christmas.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie     

Little Star Angel

     This sweet image by All Dressed Up is the December Progressive Freebie from the Outlawz challenge.  Isn't she just the sweetest angel?  Angels are one of my favorite things to use on cards at Christmas but for some reason this year, I did very few of them.  This one allows me to catch up.  :-D

     I wanted the green to be understated and very different from the usual Christmas green so I chose chartreuse shades from my ProMarkers.  I did the card primarily in black and white.  The image is cut with a framing die from Spellbinders.  The lace and the narrow white ribbon for the double bow are both from my huge stash of ribbons.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Artistic Stampers
Brown Sugar
Card Mania
Cardz for Galz
Craft for the Craic
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Girls Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crafty Ribbons
Creatalicious
Digistamps 4 Joy
Little Miss Muffet
Lunagirl
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft
Sisters of Craft
Sparkles Forum
Sparkles Forum Christmas

     Only a few days left now until Christmas and, unlike my norm. I won't be posting every single day between Christmas and the New Year.  A couple of posts are scheduled so be sure to stop by and check them out.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Stay Warm, My Friend

     I think one of the best ways to stay warm and cozy in cold weather is through the magic of friendship.  When the heart is warmed with the love of friends, the whole world seems cozier.  I think this delightful image (From the Heart Stamps) really makes that point.  :-D  So, this card is for all my friends in blogland.  May your holidays be warm and cozy.

My sketch came from "I {heart} Sketches" (reversed)

and I took my colors from the challenge at "Sisterhood of Crafters."

  

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added glitter and Snow-Tex, then die cut it with a plain square die and punched the corners.  I added a die cut behind it (a left over from another project) and matted that with some dp from DCWV's Winter Magic stack.  The dark blue paper with the silver snowflakes in the background is also from that same stack.  I added the hand-sewn bow for a tiny bit of embellishment and dimension.

     Challenges:
Card and Scrap
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art Stamps
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Minutes
Paper Shelter
Petal Lu
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sunsational Stamps
Tinker Dream
Whimsy Inspiration

     Well, we're down to the last weekend before Christmas and one week after that, it'll be the New Year!  I have no idea where 2015 went but I know it went waaay too quickly.  At this rate, I'll be 100 before I know it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Santa Bear from QKR Stampede

     Yes, it's another Friday and another challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "Christmas" so that should be pretty easy.   Out of all the fabulous seasonal stamps/digis available at QKR, I decided on this adorable "Santa Bear" (Digi 9501) and I added the sentiment "Joy" (digi 15703.)

     He's colored with ProMarkers, then die cut with one of my framing dies from Spellbinders.  The black mat is also die cut with another die from that same set (scrap CS from my stash.)  I added white ribbon (a scrap) and a die cut bow.  As a way of finishing off everything, I added a 'pinch' of loose glitter to the bow, along with 2 gold beads, leftovers which were in my stash.

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Cards in Envy
Clear It Out
Creative Card Crew
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Love to Scrap
Not Just Cards
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door
Where the HeART Is

     I hope in the midst of the last minute rush, rush, rush that you'll come play with us this week.   We love being inspired by you.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Christmas Cross

     One of the loveliest sets I've seen at Deedee's Digis is her Seasonal Crosses and I chose to use the one for Christmas on this card.  There's also one for Spring/Easter, one good for fall, and one for summer.  I love them all.  (See photo at the bottom of this post.)

     The image I used is pre-colored but the set comes with both pre-colored and outline images for each season.  I fussy cut the cross and layered it onto a die cut (from a scrap in the throw away pile!) from Spellbinders.  Although it doesn't show up well in the photo, the gold CS is very sparkly.

     I adhered the sentiment onto a tiny scrap piece of the gold CS left over from doing the larger die cut.  I used some of the negative curls and added them to the sentiment piece. The white snowflake was also die cut (Memory Box) from a scrap of shimmery white CS.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
ArtbyMiran
Christmas Challenge
Classy Cards 'n Such
Come and Get It
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Digitally Sweet
Dragonfly Dreams
Fussy and Fancy
Great Impressions
Hiding in My Craft Room
Male Room
Not Just Cards
Pattie's Creations
Scrap and Craft
Scrapy Land
Stamping Boutique
WordArt Wednesday

     This is probably the last of my cards for Deedee's Digis.  Since the shop is closing in another couple of weeks (at the end of the year), I won't be doing any more DT cards for Deedee.  That doesn't mean I won't be using any of her digis.  I love the precious style of her images and have a huge collection which I've built over the years.  I'll be using those on many projects in the future, especially at Christmas and Easter.

     Remember, all the images in her shop are 75% off between now and the time the shop closes.   That means every single set is under a dollar!   Don't miss out -- get over there and shop 'til you drop.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Elk

     I needed one more masculine card for family because we've added a couple of people to our Christmas Day celebration.  There's a story behind the image on this one.  A month or so ago, my friend, Teresa (Tickell Expressions), granted me the honor of selecting something which she would then draw as an image.  Not realizing how difficult the choice might be, I asked her for a stag or an elk.  Of course, she did it in style.  :-D  You can find this elk as a freebie on her blog.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a hexagon die.  I matted that with brown CS.  I cut a second brown hexagon using two dies one size apart and layered that on top of the image.  Putting it on top of the image made it looked like a the image was double stamped, a somewhat unexpected result but one I'm going to try again; might even try a triple stamped look.

     The sentiment is also from Teresa and I die cut it into a hexagon, then matted it with the same brown CS.  I mounted everything onto icy blue paper and then onto a white card blank.  I chose to tie a bow using red polka dot ribbon as a salute to Christmas.  That's the only embellishment because this is a masculine card and I wanted it CAS.

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Christmas Cards All Year Long
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Digitally Sweet
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Morgan's Artworld
My Time to Craft
Not Just Cards
Ribbon Girl
Sisters of Craft

     I hope you'll check out Teresa's blog and look for this wonderful elk as well as other images she's drawn and offered as freebies.  Give her a shout out while you're there, too.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowman Tag

     I'm doing an extra card this week that will be used for the Tuesday Throwdown challenge which starts today and since Deedee's Digis is our sponsor, I get to use another image from Deedee's Digis and make another tag.  This darling snowman is from her Snowman Tags set.  Our theme is everyone's favorite, "Anything Goes."

I chose to base this on a sketch at Crazy 4 Challenges

(you can choose your favorite from last year 

and I chose #299, turned clockwise twice)

and then used colors from Christmas Card Challenges.

  

     The sentiment on the Snowman Tag is a tag in itself - a die cut from Sizzix.  I rubbed over the embossed letters with white chalk so that it would show up better.  The holly leaves also are embossed.  The entire snowman is cut with a scalloped die from Spellbinders.  The double bow is tied using narrow, white ribbon.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Craft for the Craic
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Girls Creations
Crafty Time
Creative Fingers
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Keep on Creating
Little Red Wagon
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz CAS
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl
Simon Says Stamp
Winter Wonderland

     Don't forget that all of Deedee's Digis are on sale at 75% off until the end of the year.  After that, the shop closes and then you won't be able to get any of her cute sets.  Come play with us this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

We, Three Kings

     I think this is the last of the Christmas images which I had colored way-back-who-knows-when and put into my stash of images waiting to be used.  Unfortunately, I also don't know who made the image so I can't give proper credit.  I've searched through the files where I keep some of my favorite digi companies but as the amount of time I was spending on the search grew to more than three hours, I gave up and decided I'd post the card and hope one of you might know.

     I'm fairly certain I used ProMarkers to color it but it could have been Copics or Spectrum Noir or even a combination of all three.  The crowns are colored with metallics and the jewels in their crowns are done with glitter.  The star is done in silver metallics.  The patterned dp is embossed metallic and the white is confetti CS.  Everything is mounted onto a colored card blank.

     I used one of my plain, square die sets (Spellbinders) to cut the image and the mats.  I added the bow, using ribbon with a sparkly metallic edge, and that seemed to call for a soft ribbon rose to offset it.  The leaves are punched.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
ArtbyMiran
Cardz 4 Galz
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft for the Craic
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Dragonfly Journeys
Eureka Stamps
Fairy Tale
Graph'It
Hannah & Friend
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Moving Along with the Times
Not Just Cards
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Star Stampz

     I've now completed all the commissioned cards which were ordered, have sold about a dozen others, and today I am taking all the remaining extras over to the Senior Center.  I have a couple more I need to get finished for the family and a few more gift tags to complete, and then I'm pretty much done with holiday projects.  I still have lots of packages to wrap but I do still have time for that.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New Skates

     How many of you remember getting new skates for Christmas?   Those short hours in between opening the packages and sitting down to the family Christmas dinner barely gave enough time to get the skates on and adjusted to your feet, much less figure out how to get any forward mobility.  :-D  By the time Christmas dinner was done, it was getting dark and there was no more time to skate.  Those are the memories this image evokes.

     The image and the sentiment both came from MHK Designs and I colored with chalks, then cut the image with a die from Memory Box.  The embossing was done with a folder from Darice.  I think the bow speaks for itself.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Vintage Journey
Cards in Envy
Chalk n Stock
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Boots
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Ribbons
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Cut It Up
Digitally Sweet
Fussy and Fancy
Male Room
My Sheri Crafts
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrap & Craft
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Speedy Fox & Friends
Star Stampz
Where the HeART Is
Whimsy Inspirations
WordArt Weds.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Skating Mice

     Another one of those totally adorable images from Rick St. Dennis!  How could I not use this one for a Christmas card?  On the RSD FB page, they have a challenge for "Sparkles" so, of course, this had to have tons of glitter.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added the glitter to the clothing, the tassels and her skates, and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I cut the "Believe..." sentiment with a border die from Spellbinders to give it the curve.  The ribbon is from my stash and I just curled it to make the bow.  Everything was layered onto green CS and then onto the card front.  I tried to make it look like a Christmas package and I think the curly ribbon accomplished that.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Animal Friends
Artistic Stamper
A Snowflakes Promise
Bunny Zoe's
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Time
Cuttlebug Mania
Dies R Us
I {heart} ProMarkers
Just Keep on Crafting
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Papertake Weekly
Passion for ProMarkers
Path of Positivity
Scrapy Land
Sparkles Forum Christmas
Tinker Dream
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Wonderland

    I have two posts again today and then things should slow down a bit.  This card is a bit different for me since it has no colored image but is all done with rubber stamps and embossing, and with a bit of sparkle from hologram papers.

     The trees, the sentiment, and the snowflakes are all heat embossed and then die cut with a simple circle die.  I used a kraft card blank, and layered on a leftover from a die cut frame I had used on another project.  I found a scrap of green, sparkly ribbon, wrapped it around the card front, and layered the embossed piece over it.   I  used the last bit of that scrap ribbon to make a folded bow, then added a candy cane across the mid-point of the bow.  The holly and leaves were punched from hologram paper.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Cardz 4 Guyz
Clear It Out
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Creative Moments
Get Creative
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Colors 
Paper Girls
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn

     My second post of the day will be live in a few more hours so be sure to stop back by.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

White Christmas Snowman

     Our theme in the challenge at QKR Stampede this week is "Snow Scene."   There are so many delightful digi or rubber stamps at QKR Stampede which would work for this challenge but I chose Digi 23501, Snowman Scene.  With all the snow covered trees, it just seemed to lend itself to a monochromatic green color-combo.

     I used my ProMarkers and lots of glitter on the trees and snowflakes in the sky to color the scene and layered it onto a hand-punched background.  All of that was put onto another layer which is now the card front.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font , then hand cut and matted, then hand cut again.  That's it; really CAS with no embellishment.  I wanted the image to be front and center without any visual distractions.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Christmas Challenge
Colour Your World
Come and Get It
Country View Crafts
Crafting Musketeers
Creatalicious
Dragonfly Dreams
Emerald Faeries
Glitter n Sparkle
Lia Stampz
Lil Patch of Crafty Friend
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art Stamps
One Stitch at a Time
Pile It On
That Craft Place
Your Scrapbook Place

     I know everyone is busy with all the Christmas plans but I hope you'll find time to come play in our challenge this week.  You can use any image from any company but if you do use a QKR image, you'll be put into a separate drawing and that increases your chances of winning.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Not Open 'Til Christmas

     Another day with two posts.  This darling image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at From the Heart Stamps and it clearly is the fulfillment of every child's biggest Christmas wish -- lots of packages just for him!

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, including gold, silver and copper metallic markers on some of the presents.  I heat embossed the sentiment with gold EP.  That image piece was layered onto shiny, gold CS and I added a leftover scrap of gold ribbon for the bow.  That was it --again, I wanted a CAS design, easier to mail.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More
Frilly and Funkie
Holly Jolly Christmas
Kitty Bee Designs
Southern Ridge Trading Co.
Stempelsonnen
Sweet Stamps Technique
Through the Purple Haze

     I'll see you again tomorrow with my DT post for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Penguins Wait for Santa?

     I've never been able to confirm that penguins are excited about Santa's visits but this little guy seems to think it's worth watching the skies.  :-D  It's a Bugaboo image and this is the first card I've been able to get done in their week of Christmas themed challenges.  This one is for Catch the Bug's "Here Comes Santa" challenge.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut the image with one of my Stitched Rectangle Dies (Memory Box.)  I added two layers of mats and adhered it all onto a pre-made, colored, card base.  I used three little snowflakes, punched from red CS.  Hard as it is to see in the photo, I added glitter to the snow and to the snowflakes.  I left it CAS, partly because it's going to be a card for a guy.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Animal Friends
Card Mania
Christmas Cards All Year Round
CCC Digi
Digistamps 4 Joy
Hiding in My Craft Room
My Time to Craft
Natalie and Amy's
Petal Lu
Scrapy Land
Speedy Fox & Friends
Where the HeART Is

     Two weeks from tonight is Christmas Eve.  Are you ready?   Have you mailed your packages and cards, and wrapped all the gifts?  Have you baked those cookies for Santa?   Are the stockings hung by the chimney or do you wait until Christmas Eve for that little chore?  If you haven't done any of those things, you need to get a move on!    Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Too Much Eggnog!

     I have a dear friend who loves giraffes so I make cards for her for all kinds of occasions but it's often hard to work them into a Christmas card.  This image (From the Heart Stamps) made me think of Christmas because his expression makes it so obvious that he's really been dipping into the eggnog!  LOL  I know she's going to love it.

     He's colored in yellowy-beige and bright Christmas red with ProMarkers and I added red Stickles to the spots on his head.   The holly and berries which make his tie (I added that myself - it's not part of the image) are also sparkly.  I managed that by paper piecing with sparkled, hologram paper.

     I die cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and layered that onto berry red CS.  The sparkly ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I used a scrap of white crocheted lace ribbon to tie the bow.  Finally I added the glittery poinsettia next to the bow to give it even more Christmas flair.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Love to Scrap
Melonheadz Friends
Our Crafty Corner
Shabby Tea Room
Simon Says Stamp

     Hope your week is going well and that you're right on target to have all your holiday preparations done before Christmas lands smack in our laps.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

In the Meadow...

     I really do love snowmen and have used several of them on my Christmas cards this year.  This latest one is a freebie from A Day for Daisies, where they have a "Modern Christmas" theme for their challenge.  Isn't he darling?  I know my friend, Lynn, will love it -- all that blue!  :-D

I chose the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added loose glitter to the snowman, and die cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The rectangle pieces are also cut with dies from QuicKutz.  The snowflakes are cut from sparkle CS (ice blue and winter white) with one of my new dies from Memory Box.

     I used a scrap of ribbon, folded it, and tied it in the middle with sparkly twine.  I 'shredded' the twine ends so that I had individual fibers showing.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Card and Scrap
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting with Dragonflies
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Crafty Enjoyments
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Dies R Us
Digitally Sweet
Di's Digi Designs
Emerald Faeries
Oddball Art Stamps
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simply Papercraft
Sisters of Craft
Sparkle Forum Christmas

     I may have one more post today but if not, then tomorrow for sure.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowflakes at Tuesday Throwdown

     A new challenge is starting today at Tuesday Throwdown and our theme is "Snowflakes."  We have a wonderful sponsor who gave the DT some really fun images to use - Sami Stamps.  The one I used is called "My Snowy Friend."

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then added Snow Tex and glitter to the snowman and the flakes in the sky.   I used a set of hexagon dies from QuicKutz to cut the image and the two mat layers.  The blue snowflakes are die cut (Memory Box) from sparkle CS and the ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Craft Rocket
Crafty Catz
Crafty Girls Creations
Creative Corner
Digitally Sweet
Di's Digi Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Friday Coloring
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simon Says Stamp
Sweet Stampin'
Time Out

     Christmas is so close now, it won't be long before most of us are heading out on our holiday travels.  Fear not, I've made so many Christmas cards, I'll be posting straight through until New Year's or the weekend after.  I'm sure I won't want to see another Christmas card until after Valentine's Day.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Child

     In case we forget in the midst of the season's rush, let's take a moment to recall that the greatest 'Christmas' gift ever was the birth of the Christ Child.  I used this image from Delicious Doodles, which was actually an image designed for Mother's Day, because I thought it could be used for a perfect depiction of Mother and Child at Christmas.

I used the sketch at Outlawz Sketch Challenge, reversed.

     The only coloring I did was on the faces and I used my chalks to do those.  The image and mat are cut with one of my newer Stitched Scalloped Circles dies from Memory Box.  The background is embossed with a folder from Cuttlebug.

     The star is also an image from Delicious Doodles and, though it's hard to see in the photo, I added a touch of glitter to it for some silver sparkle.  The 'banner' at the top is made from scrap which I was about to throw away.  :-D

     Challenges:
CAS on Sunday
Chalk N Stock
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
Christmas Stamping all Year Long
Digital Delights
DL.ART Thursday
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Add Ink (Christmas Child)
Little Red Wagon
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft
WordArt Wednesday

     Have yourselves a great day, my friends and followers.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie