Paw Prints on the Heart

     I know I tend to use more felines than canines on my cards but this adorable pup (by Tiddly Inks) reminds me of a little Scotty dog we got when he was about 10 weeks old and I was about 10 years old.  He promptly got dubbed "Puffball" and despite some outrageously long, elegant, and highly proper name which was shown on his pedigree papers, he remained "Puffball" for the rest of his life.  :-D

     I colored him with my black, gray, and lavender ProMarkers, die cut him with my largest stitched squares set (Cheery Lynn) and then cut a mat from purple CS with a larger die from the same set.  Before framing the image with it, I ran it through the embossing machine using my "Linen" embossing folder.  

     The ribbon is from my stash and the butterflies have been waiting to be used for way too many moons.  A nice CAS design to showcase this wonderful puppy.

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create

Cheery Lynn

Crafting from the Heart

Craft Your Passion

Dragonfly Journeys

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Outlawz PAM 

Send a Smile 4 Kids

Tiddly Inks (die cut, image, ribbon)

     Well, another five days and I'll be back from my vacation.  I hope you've enjoyed what I've posted while I was gone.  Tomorrow is another card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Hope you'll come by and see what we're doing for next week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Pocket Dragons

     Do you know about Pocket Dragons?   I remember when I first heard about them.  I was in my pre- or early teens and, as we sat around the campfire on a family camping trip, I commented that the fire looked like dragons when the tops of the flames were blown horizontal by the evening breeze.  My dad said he didn't know about campfire dragons but he did know about Pocket Dragons.

     Pocket Dragons are very, very small and never seen by humans.  The only way you even know they exist is by finding their bedding or pillows.  If you have ever reached your hand into one of your pockets and found a bit of lint, perhaps shaped gently into a tiny pillow, then you know you have a Pocket Dragon living with you and you should treat it oh, so very kindly because they are loyal and good friends, even tho' you can't see them.

     All of that being true, I believe this may be the first ever picture of a Pocket Dragon!

     Colored with watercolor pencils and ProMarkers, cut with a die from Spellbinders, framed with another die from that same set and still a third die used for the filagree in the background.  Ribbon from my stash and burlap ribbon used for the bow.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
ArtbyMiran
Brown Sugar
Craft for the Craic
Creative Fingers
Dragon's Lair
Jo's Scrap Shack

     That's all for today and I'll see you when I get back home.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Another Sympathy Card

     On my blog last Thursday, I shared with you a sympathy card I had to make for family friends who lost their 'special needs' daughter at age 19.  This is a second card for the same family at the request of my own daughter who has been a close friend of theirs for 25 years.  I chose image, sentiment, and digital dp from MHK Designs and am going to use this as my Designer's Inspiration card this month.

I based this on the sketch at Feeling Sketchy

turned 1/4 turn for horizontal design.

     Sympathy cards are never easy to make but these frames from the new "I've Been Framed" set give lots of options for simple but elegant cards.  I chose the "Tree Frame" from the set.  The background is dp from the "French Country" set and the sentiment came from the "Beginnings and Endings" set.

     I die cut the sentiment, backed it with blue CS, cut it again, and added it to the inside of the frame with dimensional dots.  The two flowers were in my stash and have just a touch of glitter on them.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Classic Design Team
Crafty Hazelnut's Design Paper
Great Impressions
Not Just Cards

      Below you'll find photos of the three sets I used.  Have a great day and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

  I've Been Framed

 French Country

 Beginnings and Endings


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Teddy Bear Love

     Our theme for the new challenge at QKR Stampede this week is "Paper Piecing."  I love this technique but it's been a while since I used it.  So this week, I paper pieced everything on the image (Digi 15101 Love Bears.)  I added the sentiment but edited it in PS so that it was white on black, looking like chalk board writing (Digi 17606 Knock Me Out.)

I used the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds 2

but put the embellishments in the upper corner

as though the sketch was turned 1/4 turn..

     All of the papers are digital papers, printed out and then run through the printer a second time to print the image onto them.  Obviously, I had to print the image four times to get it onto each paper, then I hand cut each section and adhered it to a copy of the image printed onto white CS.  Very different from my usual coloring on all my QKR images.  The ruffle part of the heart is colored with distress ink.

     Once everything was paper pieced, I die cut the image with a stitched, scalloped-circle die from Memory Box.  Those stitched dies are all time favorites of mine.  They make the stitching look so neat and tidy.  My own stitching, either by hand or machine, never looks this good.  :-D

     I cut the sentiment with a smaller die from that same set.  Both of those pieces were added to a beige card front, and then I tied a bow from pink, satin ribbon and added the three little hearts which have been in my stash since I was making Valentine cards last winter.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Crafty Girls Creations
Creative Inspirations (center column)
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Word Art Weds.

     By the time you read this, I'll be off on my vacation travels for the next couple of weeks.  My internet may be a bit intermittent so if I don't visit as usual, I promise to get caught up with each of you when I get back.  Enjoy and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Sympathy Card

     Sympathy cards are the most difficult cards for me to make and I suspect that's true for most of us.  I'm never able to get a stash of them put by so end up making them as needed.  The occasions are always sad and stressful for those left behind, suffering the loss, but it seems even more difficult when the loss is felt by a parent who has lost a child.  In this case, close family friends have lost their 'special needs' daughter at the age of 19.
   

I pulled colors from Cupcake Inspirations.

     The image (from A Creative Need) is colored with ProMarkers and the sentiment is from MHK Designs.  I wanted something very CAS so limited embellishment to just a bow-tie bow, hand-tied.  

     Challenges:

Crafting with Friends

Dragonfly Dreams

Fussy and Fancy

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie

Paper Creator's Crafts

     I know I've said very little about my card compared to how I write up most of my posts but this one is just too sad.  Thanks for understanding.  NanaConnie

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Sad Kitten?

     This delightful kitten image was drawn by my blogging buddy, Teresa, at Tickell Expressions, and she labelled it "Sad Kitten."  I told her I didn't think the kitten was sad, only intrigued by something he'd seen.  She told me I had a good imagination so I had to do a card to see if I could prove my point.   I sent her the photo and she asked if she could showcase it on her blog.  I was honored by that.   :-D

     The little snail and mushrooms image came from Drawn by Krista and it seemed perfect for the line-of-sight object which caught the kitten's attention.  I colored both images with my ProMarkers and a couple of Copics, then die cut with simple circle dies (QuicKutz.)  Both papers were scraps left over from scrapbooking and the blue background is the actual card front.  I used one of my bow-tie bows for embellishment, keeping it pretty flat and CAS.  I haven't decided on a sentiment yet but I'd guess that when it grows up, it's going to be a masculine birthday card.

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Create and Inspire
Creative Fingers
Hiding in My Craft Room
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Girls
Send a Smile 4 Kids
SUYP Cats Only

     I leave in another 2 days and will be gone for about 12 days.  I have a few posts pre-scheduled.  I've tried to get around to visiting each of your blogs this week but admit that time has just gotten away from me.  My internet connection may or may not exist while I'm gone but I promise to catch up when I return.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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June/July Challenge at MHK Designs

     Hello, and welcome to our SURPRISE Birthday Beach Blog Hop for the lovely Asha!  You should have arrived here from MYNN KITCHEN's blog.  If not, start at the MHKDesigns blog to complete the hop for more chances to WIN !  We are celebrating a very special lady today, and we're doing so by creating beachy birthday cards to wish her many happy returns!

Here's our Inspiration Photo for this challenge which runs from June 21 to July 17.

 

And here's my card using the Anchor from the "Serene Seaside" set available at MHK Designs.

I originally intended this for a Father's Day card but realized it would
also make a great birthday card for either gender.  So, Happy Birthday, Asha !

     The personal greeting is on the inside.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the anchor and then cut it with a stitched scalloped circle die from Memory Box.  The plain circle is done with a die from Spellbinders.  I used a Darice embossing folder on the blue diamond and the brown CS strip.

     The ribbon is from my stash and the 'bow-tie' bow was made using yellow satin ribbon.  The sentiment is from the set, also die cut with a (Memory Box) stitched die and matted with a small circle (Spellbinders.)

     Challenges:

Brown Sugar

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Ribbons

Create and Inspire

Creative Fingers

Double D

Inky Chicks

Scrapy Land

     Thank you so much for joining in our hop to say "Happy Birthday" to a dear friend!  Your next stop on the hop is ROCKY CRAFTER's blog!  

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Serene Seaside


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Measure Twice...

     This is a second post for today but I have to get this one posted or I'll be out of time before I run away for a couple of weeks.  This is for the FB Progressive Challenge at Scrapper's Delights.  She reminded me of one of my dad's favorite sayings, "Measure Twice, Cut Once."  He had three professions; chef, tailor, and fine cabinet/furniture maker.  He was a perfectionist and believed in quality products, regardless of what product it was.  Each of those professions required careful measuring and now that I'm a card maker, I realize how true that maxim can be.  Dad, you'd be pleased to know I've adopted that motto as a way of life.  :-D

     Before I started, I knew I wanted to do a shaped card but I wanted something a bit different.  I started planning by looking at my newest set of Spellbinders dies, Labels Seventeen.  I knew I could use the largest die to cut the actual card shape, and then repeat it in both the image shape and a frame.

     Having decided on that, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then started die cutting all the various pieces.  The polka dot dp is from SU and I cut a long rectangle then punched the corners.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.   I added the bow which was made from white, satin ribbon, dyed blue with a marker.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Bit More Time to Craft
Card and Scrap
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting Techniques
Craft Your Passion
Creative Ladybird Creations
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Greetings

     Hope your week has started well.  If I get caught up on laundry, housework, and sewing a new blouse which I need to take on my upcoming travels, I'll be around to visit, hopefully to catch up on my belated visits to your blogs.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Happy Little Cat

     I discovered a new artist (new to me, that is) the other day and fell in love with some of her felines (of course!)   She publishes her images under the name "Drawn by Krista."  This is just the happiest cat I've seen in ages.  :-D

Before I even colored the fur baby,

I decided on the sketch from The Outlawz.

Can you believe how faithful I was to the design?

I usually go off on a tangent.  :-D

     I grabbed my ProMarkers, colored the image, and cut it with a circle die from QuickKutz.  I dug into my storage of alcohol inks, chose three and brayered them across a stamped background scrap, then die cut a hexagon shape and used it for the frame around the image circle.

     I cut strips of CS and Paper Studio dp, layered them onto a card front and added the borders of flowers above and below the strips.  For embellishment, I added sequins (my one diversion from the sketch which had buttons) and a burlap ribbon bow.  No sentiment on this one yet because I haven't decided how I'm going to use it.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (center row)
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Ribbons
Create and Inspire
Creative Fingers
Penny's Paper Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats Only
Take It Make It

     I'm here for a short while and then will be leaving the end of the week for more travels until after 4th of July.  I have a few posts scheduled during my absence but I may be out of touch for commenting.  Whether or not I can access the internet whenever I want is always a question.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Flower Framed

    Here's today's release coming from MHK Designs this month and I had so much fun making this card!  Of course, it didn't hurt that I did it entirely in purples, my favorite color.  :-D  The set is called "I've Been Framed" and you can see a photo of the entire set at the bottom of this post.

     My process for getting this image printed was a bit different than my usual "select and print."  First, I chose a dp from the MHK Designs "French Country" set (photo also at the bottom of this post) and printed it the size I wanted.  There are some gorgeous papers in that set and I chose the "Fern" in lavender.

     After printing the paper, I put it back into my printer and then printed the flower frame right onto the dp, adjusting the placement and size to fit the pre-printed dp sheet.  I used ProMarkers to color most of the flowers on the frame, choosing to leave a few uncolored so that they are white.

     I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to dry emboss the purple CS onto which I centered the image piece.  I also die cut a small scalloped oval piece (Spellbinders) and embossed it with the same folder.  Next, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and mounted it onto the embossed oval, then put that in the middle of the frame.

     Finally, I added the roses and the ribbons, and tied a triple-loop bow.

     Challenges:
2 Creative Chicks
ABC Challenge
A Bit More Time to Craft
Card and Scrap
Classic Design Team
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Ladybirds Creations
Not Just Cards
Paper Creator
Sweet Stamps

     Tomorrow there will be one more new release which you can see over on the MHK Designs blog, and then, on Tuesday, we start our new monthly Inspiration Challenge.  Be sure to visit both days so that you don't miss anything.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

  I've Been Framed   French Country

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June Bride

     This delightful bride is from Morgan's ArtWorld and is the June image on their FB page.

The sketch came from Live and Love Crafts.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added glitter to her dress.  I made the inset, double frame by cutting two colors of CS (black and turquoise) with dies from Spellbinders, putting one inside the other.   The pale aqua die cut is done with a die set from Cheery Lynn, cut in half so I could elongate it since the part behind the image doesn't show anyway.

     The round doily is cut (Cheery Lynn) from CS by SU, as is the small rectangle in the bottom corner.   Everything is layered together on another piece of aqua CS, then put onto a white card base.

     While I was making this card, I had a conversation with one of my grandkids during which I said I was making "Sizzlin' Summer" cards.  When they objected that aqua was a cool color, not a sizzlin' color, I replied that as far as I was concerned there were no better colors when dealing with 102 degree temperatures outside.  So, these are MY "sizzling" colors!

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Crafting Musketeers
Crafts and Me
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Awesomeness
Die Cut Divas
Sisters of Craft
Stempelsonnen

     Well, if this hot weather keeps up, I'm going to run away again!  Sorry, but I'm just not cut out for 100+ temperatures day after day.  I swear, I should be a snow bird, living up north where there are cool summers and then I'd come south for the winter to stay out of the snow.   If I disappear from visiting your blogs, you can just bet that I've pre-scheduled a bunch of posts and headed for the arctic circle for two months.  I do have a right to some vacation time, right?  OK, I'm gone!!  :-D

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Stardust Angel

     New post today and a new challenge starting at QKR Stampede with a theme of "Quilting or Stitching."  I tried to do a card that looked a bit like quilting (questionable if I accomplished that) but at least I got the stitching part of it and since it's an 'either/or' theme, I think that'll be sufficient.  :-D

     This card also advises about the potential dangers of  'Stardust' !!  This sweet little angel (Digi 12405 Sprinkling Stardust) is scattering her stardust about without any concern at all !  If she'd just read the sentiment (Digi 12402 Stardust Caution), maybe she'd be better educated.   And more careful. :-D

     I used ProMarkers and chalk markers to color the image, and added glittery Snow-Tex to her wings.  Then I fussy cut her, added a mat of dp and fussy cut again.  That piece got layered onto a die cut stitched frame (Die-versions) and I added that to another piece of the dp.  I stitched around that after I mounted it onto white CS.

     I love the stitched die -- any of them and all of them!  It's such an easy way to get perfect stitching on cards.  Just compare the die stitching with the hand stitching to see what I mean.  :-D

     I added a strip of satin ribbon, then tied a bow using velveteen ribbon.  Everything was put on a 5.5" x 5.5" card base.  Finally, I matted the sentiment and added it to the card front.  This is just begging to be used for non-traditional Christmas card, don't you think?  OK, maybe it'll get used as a young child's birthday card before then but if not, it's going in my Christmas stash and I'm going to pretend that stardust is what brings children "visions of sugar plums" while they sleep.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
As You Like It
Color Your World
Come and Get It
Corrosive Challenge
Crafty Ribbons
In the Pink (flowery dp)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Robyn's Fetish

     I may be a bit late getting around to commenting on your entry (if you decide to play along at QKR Stampede this week) since I can't guarantee being able to get online.  Once I get back to my regular computer routine at home, I'll visit and leave you some comment love.  In the meantime -- Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

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First Day of New Release at MHK Designs

     I'm so excited about the latest release at MHK Designs!   Over the next 5 days, our DTs will be showcasing the newest sets so be sure to check the main MHK Designs blog to see them all.  Since I'm gone much of this month, I only have two of the sets to share but I love them all.

     The first set is called "Beachy Keen" and I had so much fun playing with it.  Both the image and the sentiment are included in the set and you can see a photo of the set at the very bottom of this post.

     I used my ProMarkers and some chalk markers to color the image, then added a tiny bit of glitter and some white gel ink to the ocean.  I used a die from Spellbinders to cut the random shape around the image, and you can see the actual shape of the die in the dark blue CS 'bunting' I added to two sides of the image.

     I wrapped twine around the dp and then added the two little shell charms, finally adhered the sentiment and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Chalk n Stock
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crazy Challenge (twine/digi/die cut)
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Where the HeART Is

     Be sure to check out the MHK Designs blog to see what everyone else has done with this delightful set.  It's just so perfect for a summery June project.  Be sure to check out the MHK blog each day and I'll be back on Sunday with another MHK Designs release.   You definitely don't want to miss that one!  :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie



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Dancing Snowman

     Well, this was supposed to go live at 6:00 this morning but something happened with the pre-scheduling.  No matter, here it is now.

     This morning, I'm sharing with you a delightful, new-to-me, Dancing Snowman (From the Heart Stamps) and now I have a second Christmas card in the stash.  I've discovered I'm going to have to make 2 to 3 per week for the rest of the year in order to have enough for my Christmas needs.

I started with the sketch found at From the Heart Stamps.

     The snowman is colored with ProMarkers with spattered watercolors coloring the sky, then it's die cut with a stitched circle die from Die-namics.  I also cut the frame with a larger die from that same set.  I repeated that process with the sentiment.  I found that lovely pale blue, polka dot paper in my stash (how old?  who knows!) which worked for a snowflake background, then added strips of CS and the bow.  Fast, clean, simple and into the Christmas stash for one of the many guys in my family.  :-D

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Melonheadz Friends
Pile It On
Robyn's Fetish

     Thanks for visiting and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Little French Lady

     This darling image is from Julia Spiri and I think she makes a perfect birthday card for a young lady.

I chose colors from Color Crazy.

     She's colored completely with chalks and framed with a stitched die cut from Die-Namics.  That frame is actually a negative, trimmed to fit and layered on top of the image.  The sentiment is printed with a computer font, then cut and added.  I used a white gel pen to highlight the stitches made by the die.

     I embossed the card front and used pastel pink chalk to highlight the embossing.  However, it doesn't show up all that well in the photo but if you enlarge it, you'll get a better view.  No embellishments beyond the chalk and embossing because I wanted a really CAS design.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Broken Fairy
Chalk n Stock
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations (middle column)
Creative Moments
Lemon Shortbread
Morgan's Art World
Paper Shelter

     That all for today.  Thanks so much for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Sunshine Suzy

     This darling little gal is the image for the Progressive Challenge on the ArtbyMiRan FB page.  She's definitely summery in her bright, sizzling colors.  :-D

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz,

flipped top to bottom..

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and Copics, then cut her with my newest Sue Wilson die.  All the die cuts on this card are done with dies from that same Sue Wilson set.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut.  I added the row of pearls and then chose two bronze pearls plus the bow for additional embellishment.

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Inky Impressions
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sisterhood of Crafters
Southern Girls
Through the Purple Haze
WordArt Wedsnesday
Work It Wednesday

     OK, you got two-for-the-price-of-one to day -- two posts on the same day!   I'm going to be away this week but I have plenty of posts pre-scheduled so I hope you'll come and visit.  If I'm slow getting around to visiting your blog, forgive me.  I will get there, I promise.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie


Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Summer Butterfly

     I love this simple image and decided it would look best if the card design was also rather simple.  The image is from Sami Stamps.

     I colored the butterfly and the flower with ProMarkers and added the shadow behind them with chalks.  The striped dp is from SU and the dies are from Spellbinders.  The bow is 'dyed' with an orchid ProMarker.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiRan
Chalk n Stock
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations (middle row)
Creative Fingers
Digitally Sweet
Dragonfly Dreams
Great Impressions
Hannah & Friends
Inspiration Destination
Julia Spiri
Paper Shelter

     This is one of two posts I have today so be sure to stop by later in the day and check out the second post, too.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Summer Travels

     Have you ever noticed how long it takes for a planned summer vacation to finally get here, only to have it disappear into a puff of photos and memories in far too short a time?  I think I've found the solution -- travel at a snail's pace, enjoying the journey with no specific destination in mind.  :-D   Hmmm, that might work for aging and having birthdays, too!  What do you think?

     This delightful image is one I found in my collection from Emerald Faeries and I don't remember what it's called but I think it's adorable.  I colored with ProMarkers, chalks and glitter.  This is a single layer card with the image and sentiments right on the card front.    I added one layer of sheer ribbon and a single layer bow made from satin ribbon.  It's about as CAS as you can get.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Color Crazy
Crafter's Cafe
Craft for the Craic
Craft Rocket
Crafty Catz
Crafty Girls Creations
Emerald Faeries
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Sasayaki Glitter
Simply Papercraft
Star Stampz

     I hope your weekend time is going well and that you've managed some down time or at least some slow time.  Remember, it restores the soul and rejuvenates the creative flow.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Birthday Daffodils

     It's been a while since I played in the challenge at Delicious Doodles and, because I've been adding to my stash of birthday cards, I decided it was time to dig through my rather extensive collection of their images to find something that would work for a feminine birthday card.  So, welcome to a peek through the window of my summer garden solarium.  :-D

I loved the citrus colors from Hand Stamped Sentiments

and decided to use them.

I also based my design on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds. 2

   

     I have no idea why I chose green as the majority color - all the citrus shades seem equally represented in the inspiration photo - but that's how it worked out.  Before I ever started coloring the image, I used one of my Spellbinders dies to cut the Happy Birthday into that lovely, green CS and then decided that the negative should go on the card front.  That entailed scooping up the tiny bits that drop out of the letters "H," "a," "p," "B," "h," and "d" and gluing them back where they belong.  Then,  I also cut a strip of 'bunting' but used the positive of that one.

     The window in the image is colored with water colors and then I used ProMarkers to color the flowers and vine after the water colors were completely dry.  You can't see it in the photo, but the watercoloring left a wonderful texture on the window panes.  The image is cut with another die from Spellbinders but I trimmed the decorative border along one side because the bunting just got lost otherwise.

     I added the lace and a row of pearls for embellishment, then decided that the sentiment deserved a couple of pearls, too.  :-D

     Challenges:
Colouring in Scrapland (1 sentiment, 2 shades of green, 3 daffodils)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations (top row)
Digi Choosday
DRS Designs
Lemon Shortbread
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out

     Have a great weekend, won't you?  Our temperatures out here in hot California have dropped by 15 degrees and, while it's still hotter than I personally like, it much easier to bear than those drastic, 100+ temps we had last weekend.  I might actually leave the house and get some things done.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST POST YOUR COMMENT, IT'LL BE THERE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Father's Day Fishing

     My dad was a man who never expected any kind of fuss to be made over him, not even on his birthday or Father's Day.  He used both of those occasions every year as an excuse to go fishing and just have quiet time.  Since both his birthday and Father's day were in June and since I was out of school by that time, I got to go with him on many of those occasions.  It was wonderful, father-daughter, quiet time and I still love fishing and enjoying serene, quiet time.

     When I discovered our new challenge at QKR Stampede this week had a "For the Guys" theme, I immediately dug out my favorite "Going Fishing" image (Digi 13209) and paired it with the "Fishing Is" sentiment (Digi 12401) as an homage to my dad.  Today would have been his birthday.  :-D

Colors are from The Outlawz Color Challenge.

Blue isn't necessarily required but a monochrome creation is.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, die cut it with a Cheery Lynn stitched die, and inked the edges.  I did the same with the sentiment.  The other two die cut pieces were done with dies from Spellbinders.   The ribbons were in my stash.  Can you tell I've just gone crazy over those 'bow tie' bows?  I seem to be making them for about every third card, give or take.  :-D

     Challenges:
Craft Rocket
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Deep Ocean
Digi Choosday 
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Male Room
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrapy Land
Star Stampz
Sweet Stampin'
Through the Craft room Door
Tuesday Throwdown

     I have now added those "few more challenges" as promised after getting some sleep.  Thanks for your patience.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST POST YOUR COMMENT, IT'LL BE THERE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Snowman's Laundry Line

     OK, so I know if this scene was plunked down in the middle of my back yard on this excessively hot summer day, it would melt away in seconds and the snowman would never return to claim the things from his laundry line but at least I have gotten my first Christmas card done for this year!  :-D
   

 

I based this design on the sketch at Paper Play Sketches.

     The image came from The Stamping Boutique.  After printing both the image and sentiment, the image is colored with ProMarkers and glitter gel pen, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.   The dark dp is from DCWV ("Winter Magic" stack) and the white CS was embossed with a folder from Darice,

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

A Snowflakes Promise

Artistic Inspirations

Crafty Boots

Crafty Cardmakers

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Great Impressions

Melonheadz Friends

Outlawz Greetings

Pile It On  (middle column)

Sweet Stamps

     That's my post for today.  I have worked ahead on a few cards so will have things to post for you while I'm taking a bit of a break and I'll have my DT cards, of course.  Do come by and visit.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST POST YOUR COMMENT, IT'LL BE THERE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.