Easter Lilies

     This is the last of the five newly released sets from MHK Designs this month and one of the most beautiful, I think.  The set is called "He is Risen" and you can see a photo of it at the end of this post.

     This is a single layer card with the image and the sentiment printed right onto the card front.   I used chalk markers and colored pencils to color the image and chalk markers to ink the edges of the card.  The corners are shaped with a punch.  I added lace ribbon from my stash and the three pearls.  That's all -- very simple card design.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Chalk n Stock
Colour Your World
Craft and Smash
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Great Impressions
Let's Color
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Nest Dolls
Path of Positivity
Pencil Case
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sisters of Craft

     Don't forget that our second challenge at MHK Designs starts tomorrow and runs for a month.  Be sure to stop by there tomorrow to check out the inspiration photo for the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Bunny Love

     This is the fourth new release set from MHK Designs this month and it's called "Bunny Love."  There are three separate images (most of which work well for spring or Easter) and four sentiments included in the set.  If you scroll all the way to the bottom of this post, you'll see a photo of the complete set.  Here's my card using the Bunny with Lily image.

     This is a pretty CAS card design.  I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I also cut the mat with another larger die from that same set.  The sentiment was printed and die cut, but hand trimmed along the bottom.

     I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the green CS and chose to mount it on an angle for a little visual interest.   Everything went onto a black card base which brought out the black in the bunny's tux and top hat.  The black bow is one of those I make by the dozens and keep in my stash for use as I need them.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Bit More Time to Craft
Addicted to Stamps
Card and Scrap
Craft Your Passion
Critters and Creatures
Digistamps4Joy
Eureka Stamps
Just Keep on Creating
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art
Petal Lu
Scrap N'
Scrapy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations
Sweet Stampin'
Your Scrapbook Place

     Thanks to all of you for bearing with me as I heal from an injury which keeps me from typing.  It means that others have to prepare and schedule my posts for me, and that there is little I can do towards commenting when I visit your blogs.  I do apologize for that.   Hopefully, I'll be back in harness soon.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

  Bunny Love

Good Shepherd

     Day Three of the February release at MHK Designs and the first of my Easter cards.  This spectacular image of the Good Shepherd is from the set called "Easter Blessings."  The sentiment is also from that same set.  Check the bottom of this post to see a photo of the entire set.

I started with the sketch from Sketchy Colors

but left off the diamond shape because I couldn't squeeze 

this image into a diamond shape.

     When I first began designing this card, I was thinking about how to color the image but the more I looked at it, the more I decided there wasn't much I could do to 'improve' it so I decided to leave it black and white; color could be added through the papers and embellishments I chose.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and backed that with a Swiss Dot embossed piece of CS.

     I layered that onto a background of blue dp from the MHK Designs "Going Gingham - Brights" set.  I added some of my favorite sheer ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) and also used it to tie a triple loop, triple layer bow - a perfect handmade embellishment!  I finally inked the edges of the card and it really gave it a finished look.

     Challenges:
Becka B (die,ink, layers)
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Digistamps 4 Joy
Great Impressions
Just Keep on Creating
My Time to Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Petal Lu
Pile It On
Scrapper's Delight
Sisters of Craft
Sparkles Forum
That Craft Place

     Check out the MHK Designs blog to see what all the other designers have made.  You can hop around all the blogs, leaving comments for everyone on the DT and on the main blog, and you could win one set or all of them in the February release.  Don't forget to join the Facebook group!  Links to  that group are on the MHK Designs blog.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

 Easter Blessings

Heartfelt Thank You

    If you're looking for the second February release from MHK Designs, please scroll down one post.

      This card uses the freebie image from Tickell Expressions given to us for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.   Thank you, Teresa.  :-D

    Printed onto pastel parchment paper (not vellum but actual parchment, for those of you in the UK :-D), then colored with chalk, Copics & gel ink.  The bit of lace was a scrap left over from a blouse I made recently, and the ribbon for the bow was also in the bin filled with other scraps.  I tied it and then added the two pearls.

     Really short post today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Girl and Her Cat

     This is the second day of the new releases over at MHK Designs and I have someone very special writing up my blog posts today and tomorrow and then we're back to the ones I already had pre-scheduled before my injury.  I dictate, they type.  I like this having a secretary!  :-D

     Today Mynn has released this adorable set called "Purr-Fect."  You can see the full set at the bottom of this post.  Here's my card using this precious image and one of the sentiments.

     I used chalks and ProMarkers to color this one and decided on pink as the primary color because I wanted to celebrate the kind of love that happens between a girl and her cat.  Can't you tell these two are BFFs?   I used a Darice embossing folder on the background CS and the black grosgrain ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Fairly CAS but I think it looks suitably vintage and almost elegant.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends
Chalk n Stock
Crafting with Dragonflies
Docerela Creations
If You Give a Crafter as Cookie
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simply Papercraft
Through the Purple Haze

     Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll stop by the MHK Designs blog to see what everyone has created.  Remember, our new challenge (#2) starts next weekend, after the new releases have been completed and it would be great to see you playing along with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie


 Purr-Fect

Bird on a Branch

     Last month, I joined the MHK Designs DT and this is the first month I've gotten to celebrate a new release from the shop.  From today through Saturday, you'll see a newly released set each day and they are all so wonderful.  We start with the "Birds n Branches" set which has 3 images and 3 different sentiments.  I also used one of the MHK Designs papers from the "Going Gingham - Rustics" set (pine.)  See below for photos of both the sets.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then die cut it and matted it with another die cut in lime green (Spellbinders.)   I love the yellow on the bird, the green on the tree leaves, and the three different shades of green in the papers.   I thought about a really bright yellow to make him look more like a meadowlark but decided the vintage image called for something a bit more subtle.  :-D

      The octagon is cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut.  I tied a two-color, double bow (left over scrap ribbons from my stash) and used it as the only embellishment.  I really wanted to show off the image and that lovely gingham paper so left it as simple as possible.

     Much as I appreciate shaped cards, I still love the basic A2 card for size and shape; a single fold and a perfect size card for mailing without extra postage.

      Challenges:

As You Like It

Brown Sugar

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafting with Friends

Crafty Ribbons

Creative Fingers

Dragon's Lair (bottom row)

Moving Along with the Times

Polka Doodles

     Be sure to come by tomorrow for the next release.  They are already all in the shop if you want to see them before you see the DT inspiration cards made with them.  But fair warning: you'll fall in love and want them all !  :-D  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

     Edited to add:  I have several posts pre-scheduled and that's a good thing because, due to an injury, I'm currently unable to type or craft or even leave comments.  I can visit your blogs but leaving comments is just not going to happen.  Hopefully, I'll be back to normal in 2 or 3 weeks.

  

Raspberry Wishes

     I think this is the first of my spring cards, but it may actually be a card which celebrates summer berries more than spring.  Raspberries are a favorite and the new challenge theme at QKR Stampede this week was a perfect opportunity to use this fabulous Raspberry Label image (Digi 17901.)  Our theme is "Yummy, Yummy" and we want to see you include food on your cards.

I based this on the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

and used colors from The Outlawz 

(Green plus choose 2 from photo - pink & white).

   

     I also used Digi 12407 "Garden Grow" for the sentiment.  The image and sentiment are printed directly onto the card front, making this a one-layer card.  I used my ProMarkers to color the image and to outline the sentiment.  I added the bee, the ribbon, and the handmade flower with a yellow brad for embellishments.  Overall, it's still a very CAS card.  Mmmm, don't I wish those raspberries were growing in my yard right now!

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
I {heart} ProMarkers (1st diagonal)
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Pile It On
That Craft Place
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door
WordArt Weds.

     I think that's it for today and I have a busy weekend with kids, grandkids, and even my 2 great-grands all in town for the Valentine weekend.  I don't know how much crafting I'll get done so I may not see you again until Monday or Tuesday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kissing Frogs

     Now that I've grabbed your attention with the title, I freely admit that the kissing going on in the image has little to do with frogs nor even with finding a handsome prince.  This is just a fun card with a silly sentiment I made up and it's a light hearted attempt at a Valentine for a guy who definitely has a sense of humor.  :-D

     I know my friend, Lynn (Creative Crafts by Lynn) will enjoy it, too, because I always check out her blog when I'm looking for CAS designs, and she has a fab sense of humor (which shows up on her cards all the time.)  Sorry it's not done all in your favorite blues, Lynn.  :-D

     The image is from Nutcrafters and I used my ProMarkers to color it.  It's cut with a die set from Spellbinders, as are the mat and the sentiment.  The twine was in my stash and is another salute to Lynn because she uses twine a lot.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
ArtbyMiran
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
CAS on Sunday
Cards in Envy
Catch the Bug
Corrosive Challenge
Craft for the Craic
Crafting with an Attitude
Creative Corner
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs
Julia Spiri
My Time to Craft
Stamping Boutique
Star Stampz
Sweet Stampin'

     The big "V"-day is getting closer and if you still have cards to make for family and friends, you're about to run out of time!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Purrr-fect Together

     Open-Minded Crafting Fun starts its February challenge today and it will run throughout February and into March.  New challenges begin there on the 10th of each month.  This month, we have a theme of "Love" or "Valentines."  Even after Valentine's Day is over, we can always do with a bit more Love to share.  We have four great sponsors this month; All Dressed Up, Ppinky Dolls, SLS Lines, and Zuri Artsy.

     I am using a darling image from All Dressed Up called "Purrfect Together."

     I loaded the image once, using MS Word, and then loaded and flipped it for a second image.  I sized one slightly larger than the other so that I could use them as a cute couple.  I printed them onto white CS and then printed them again onto the background dp (I love how it looks almost like wallpaper!), including in that printing the sentiment which came with the image.

     I colored them with ProMarkers, fussy cut them and layered them onto the background, carefully lining up the whiskers and black outlines.  I used my favorite ever sheer ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and then die cut some heart-shaped leaves (Spellbinders.)   I added punched and glittered flowers, putting wooden beads in the centers.  I think this is a delightful Valentine card but would work just as well for an engagement, an anniversary, for someone who just got a new feline fur baby, or for any occasion which celebrates pets or love.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Animal Friends
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Connie Can Crop
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Creative Corner
Dies R Us
Just Us Girls
My Time to Craft
Oddball Art
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Creator's Crafts
Pattie's Creations
Petal Lu
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Show Us Your Pussy Cats
Sweet Stampin'

     Come play along with us this month, won't you?   We'd love to see what you enter.  Remember, we get as inspired by looking at all the entries as you do by reviewing the DT cards.  See you at Open-Minded!  Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

Golden Anniversary

     I had a friend ask me if I could make an anniversary card for a couple who got married on Valentine's Day 50 years ago.  I knew that 'Golden Anniversary' would be a great theme and decided on gold embossing powder before I even looked at what I might use image-wise.  Here's the end result.

     In addition to the gold embossing, I decided on a touch of red as a nod to Valentine's Day.  On the gold, what wasn't heat embossed was colored with metallic ProMarkers.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Memory Box.

     Challenges:
Craft Rocket
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
DL.ART
Just Keep on Creating
Oddball Art
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrapy Land
Scribbles Designs
Simon Says Stamp
Star Stampz
Time Out
Tinker-Dream

     I was very pleased with the way this turned out and so was the friend who ordered it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Quirky Red OR Pink + Black AND White

     It's time for the February challenge at Quirky Crafts!  Remember, all our challenges will begin on the first Sunday of the month and end on the 28th day of that month.  We will also publish a reminder on the third Sunday of each month.   We have a new theme this month:  Let's "Quirky use Red OR Pink + black AND white."  How easy is that?

     This month, we have "The Cutting Cafe" as our fantastic sponsor and they generously supplied digis and .svg files to the DT.

Out theme fit perfectly with

the colors from the challenge at The Outlawz

so I used them and added hearts for their twist.

     I used the basic wheelbarrow, colored it with ProMarkers, then die cut it (stitched die - Lawn Fawn, scalloped circle die - Spellbinders).  I fussy cut the hearts (part of the sets from The Cutting Cafe) and added them to the wheelbarrow (since I don't have anything that uses .svg files.)   I also fussy cut and added the wheel which has a heart on it.  I love that these Cutting Cafe files can be used either with a machine or by fussy cutting!

    The heart with the sentiment is another die cut (Spellbinders) as are the leaves (Cheery Lynn.)   I made the little flowers by punching the shapes and adding a gem to the center of each one.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Art Impressions
Artistic Inspirations
Aud Sentiments
Cheery Lynn Designs
Craft Rocket
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Fairy Tale
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Ike's World
Incy Wincy
Inky Chicks
In the Pink
Julia Spiri
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrapy Land
Star Stampz
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn

     I really hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  Just use our color combo on any kind of project -- not just Valentines, although those are fine, too.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Love in Stained Glass

     I have something really different from my usual 'style' this morning and I had so much fun stepping outside my norm.  No, that doesn't mean I've suddenly become "abnormal" but who knows where it could take me?

I started with the sketch at The Outlawz

although I kept it much more simple.

     The heart is a cling rubber stamp I found somewhere and it's been bouncing around in my collection, new and unused, for more than 5 years (shame on me.)  There's no identification on the stamp so I have no idea who made it.  I stamped it onto vellum with VersaMark ink and used silver EP to heat emboss it.  Then I colored it with my ProMarkers and, what do you know, it looks like stained glass!

     Before I fussy cut it (no easy chore but do-able because of the embossed outline), I put it onto sticker paper and then cut it out.  After it was fussy cut, I peeled off the backside paper and adhered it to the card front.  That meant there was no tape to show through the vellum, something I really dislike and one of the reasons I don't use vellum very often.  Now that I've discovered this technique, I may use it more.

      The smaller roses were stamped directly onto the card front and colored.  You can see how different they look when compared to the the vellum and heat embossing.

     The "Love You" sentiment is cut with a die set from Sizzix.  I didn't want anything to take away from the stained glass heart so I added no embellishment at all.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cards in Envy
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Melonheadz Friends
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters
Where the HeART Is

     Hope your weekend has started well.  Don't forget that the Super Bowl is tomorrow and if you're not a football fan, watch it for the fab commercials and half-time show.  Enjoy and Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie 

Totally in Love

     OK, you have a little over a week to get all your Valentine cards ready and we're going to encourage you over at QKR Stampede with a theme of "Valentine Cards" this week.   How can you miss with a theme that general?

     My card is made using a wonderful image and fun sentiment, both from QKR Stampede;  6905 "Totally in Love" and 14513 "Valentine." 

I used the colors from Colour Sisters

and Sketch #301 from Sketch Saturday.

         

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers and cut with a rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  The mat is cut with a stitched rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  I used a Darice embossing folder on the darker panel.  The card is embellished with a flower, a button, twine, and a bow with a pearl.

     Challenges:

Artistic Inspirations

Card Mania

Connie Can Crop

Crafts and Me

Crafty Boots

Crafty Time

Crazy Challenge

Die Cut Divas

Di's Digi Designs

DL.ART

Dragonfly Journeys

Fussy and Fancy

Glitter n Sparkle

Incy Wincy

Let's Color Saturday

Lunagirl Moonbeam

My Sheri Crafts

Oddball Art

Pearly Sparkles

Pencil Case

Scrapy Land

Scribbles Designs

Tinker-Dream

     I'm nearly done with all the Valentines I need for this year; only a couple more to make and a couple which still need to be finished.  Get yours done and come enter them in our QKR Stampede challenge this week.  Looking forward to seeing your fabby creations.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConie

Blue Valentine

     I wanted to try something a bit different today so I made a card that focuses on Love but did it all in wintery blues.  What do you think?

I used both an image (Stamp of the Month) 

and a sketch from the challenges at

From the Heart Stamps.

     I printed the image and the "Stay Warm..." sentiment at that same time, then colored the image with ProMarkers; cut and then matted it twice.  The layered hearts were die cut with my newest die set from Lawn Fawn, then stacked up on top of each other to make the two hearts.  The "Love" sentiment is also a die cut (Sizzix.)

     I added glitter (which barely shows in the photo) to the snowflakes, the tassel on his hat, the top layer of the hearts, and his eyes.  IRL, it's very sparkly.  :-D  I decided that was enough embellishment and kept it pretty CAS.

     Challenges:

Ching-chou Kuik

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafting Musketeers

Crafts and Me

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Kreativeinkauf

Lunagirl Moonbeam

My Crafting Stories

Oddball Art

Paper Creator's Crafts

Scrapy Land

Scribble Designs

Sparkles Forum

Tinker Dream

     Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Bearly Love

     At Tuesday Throwdown this week, we want to see you do 'Paper Piecing.'  Our sponsor is Robyn's Fetish and I've used "It's Bearly Love" as the image for my card.

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz (flipped)

and used colors from Can You Case It?

    

     The bears are colored with ProMarkers and Copics, then cut with a stitched border die from Lawn Fawn, one of my newest acquisitions.  I've gone crazy getting more stitched dies and this is the latest one.  The heart is paper pieced.  I matted the image with CS from Recollections and rounded the corners to match the image piece.  I added a ribbon and bow (Really Reasonable Ribbon), plus a glittered flower from my stash.  I also rounded the corners of the card itself.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Art Impressions
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with Friends
Create and Inspire
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART Thursday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
In the Pink
Let's Color Saturday
My Sheri Crafts
My Time to Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pencil Case
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simply Papercraft
Sisterhood of Crafters
Sweet Stampin'
Work It Wednesday

     Valentine's Day is just around the corner; less than 2 weeks away now.  Don't forget your sweetheart and loved ones.  Make a card or other project for them and, if you do paper piecing, come enter it into our challenge.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie