Dew Drops

     OK, I know winter has really just arrived but for all of you who are already shivering under a thick blanket of snow, I want to bring you a breath of hope that spring will show itself.  :-D

     This sweet image is from House Mouse, stamped on a scrap of white CS and colored with polychromos pencils.  I based the design on this sketch from The Outlawz.

     The scalloped die is from Sizzix and the stitched circle die (also a scrap) is by Die-namics.  I layered those cuts on top of each other and mounted them onto a rectangle of green CS.  All of that went onto a pre-made, pale lilac, card base.  I used a corner punch by Fiskars to cut the purple corners (scraps) and then tied double-bowtie bows from gingham ribbon.

     Finally, I punched the last bit of scrap left over from making the corner bits and made the two tiny butterflies which are attached to the image.

     Challenges:

Cards in Envy

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafting with an Attitude

Cute Card Thurs.

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Pixie's Snippets

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowmen or Flakes

     Our latest challenge is starting today at QKR Stampede and we have our usual "Anything Goes" theme but if you want to use the twist, it's "Snowman or Snowflakes."  I've used a sweet little snowmen image called "Father and Son" 15901 and the sentiment is also from QKR,  "All the Years" 17308.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and die cut it on an angle with a die from Spellbinders.  I printed the sentiment onto sky blue paper, cut it with a small rectangle die from QuicKutz, and added it to the image piece.  All of that went onto turquoise CS. 

     I hand tied a small bow using polka dot ribbon and layered it on just below the sentiment piece. The card design is really pretty CAS but looks more complex because of the fancy die.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Color
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Only the weekend to go before the New Year arrives.  May your partying be safe and sane.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy in a Stocking

   I want to send heartfelt Christmas Blessings to each and every one of you.

     I also have one simple card for Christmas.  Earlier this month, I did a card using the Nov/Dec Limited Runs progressive challenge image with a dear kitten in a stocking and now we're doing the same for puppies. 

     I colored with my usual ProMarkers, then used a Sue Wilson die to cut the image and the delicate frame around it.  I put that onto a deep red card front and added the sentiment.  For embellishment, I used some sparkly silver twine and a row of silver pearls.  Much simpler in design than it looks.

     Merry Christmas to all.

NanaConnie

Embossed Ornament

     I searched through some really old stamps and found this Christmas ornament which I haven't used in several years so it definitely was time.  I originally bought this stamp set along with a set of dies from Sparkle n Sprinkle perfectly shaped to these ornaments.  They weren't intended to match the stamps but they worked.  However, for this card I just heat embossed the stamp without using the die set.  I decided on a fairly simple card with only minimal embellishment.

     I stamped the ornament with Versamark ink, then embossed it with red EP.  I cut it with a rectangle die from Spellbinders, and then cut two layers of CS mats for it (same die set), one tan and one red.  I layered those together, then added the ornament but adhered it only across the top of the rectangle.  I found some very old dp which had delightful tan snowflakes on deep red paper and it worked perfectly with the mats for the image.

     I adhered it to the card front, then took a strip of sheer gold ribbon with green edges and tied it around the card front before adding the image piece.  Beyond that ribbon, I left it without embellishment.

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Cute Card Thurs.
DL.ART
Glitter n Sparkle
Merry Monday  (top row)
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Star Stampz

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Diets (Good Grief!)

     This fun and funny image from QKR Stampede (Santa in Chimney 16708) shows my #1 problem every holiday season.  Thank goodness I don't have to slide down chimneys on Christmas Eve!  We're starting a brand new "Anything Goes" challenge today and we also have an optional theme of "Santa" if you want to use it.

I based my card on Sketch 124 from Sweet Sketch Weds. 2.

This challenge we get to choose our favorite sketch

of all the ones used in 2017.

   
     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I cut a burgundy frame for the image with another die from that same set.  Everything went onto a heather gray piece of CS which had been embossed with my "Linen" folder.

     I added only one, small, ribbon bow which had been white but I 'dyed' it with my marker.  The sentiment is mine, based mostly on the expression on Santa's face.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters
Sugar Pea Designs

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Potted Poinsettia

     One more Christmas card to share and I have a feeling I'll still be sharing some after Christmas!  This one uses an image from Bugaboo Stamps with one of my favorite characters, Fancy Sunbonnet.  She's just so precious and I adore nearly every image with her throughout seasons.  This one, in which she's bearing the gift of a poinsettia plant, is probably my favorite for the Christmas season. 
   
     Maybe that's because she reminds me of my mother who often gifted poinsettias to family members at Christmas.  Each had been lovingly snipped and pot-started from the massive poinsettia plant she tended in our yard.  She had more luck growing them than anyone else I've ever known.

     I started by coloring this with ProMarkers, then I fussy cut the image by hand.  I took a red card base and ran it through one of my Poinsettia embossing folders from SU.  I found a negative scrap frame (Spellbinders die) which I trimmed and adhered on top of the embossing.  I used dimensional tape to mount the image inside the frame.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and added it above the image.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug (top row)
Come and Get It
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack

     I have another pre-scheduled post tomorrow for my usual Friday at QKR Stampede so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Eve Party Mice

     Here's my second post today, again using a borrowed House Mouse stamp and other supplies.  I'm not sure which of the two images is the cutest.  If you haven't seen my previous post today, scroll down and check it out, then let me know which image is the cutest.  :-D

     This is what happens when the Mousies' Christmas Eve party runs too late into the evening and nobody has enough energy to tote the kids upstairs to their beds.  The parents stoke up the fire, tuck the sleepy kids into Santa caps, and stumble off to their own beds.  I'm not sure how Santa is going to get down that chimney with the fire roaring but since he has holiday magic, I'm sure he'll manage somehow.

     I colored with ProMarkers this time, then cut the image and punched the corners.  I added a rectangle of patterned dp (a scrap) as a mat for it and corner punched it, also.  The die cut doily was done with die from Spellbinders.  The dp is from SU and is double sided so I got to choose the side I liked best.

     I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and inked the edges with a marker.  I liked the lacy doily and decided that it was best without ribbon or other embellishments (which are currently in short supply.)

     Challenges:
Christmas with the Cuties
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
House Mouse
Incy Wincy
Merry Monday (1st column)
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp

     I think I have a post pre-scheduled for tomorrow but it may have been set for Thursday.  I know I have a post on Friday for QKR Stampede, so either way, stop by and visit again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Angels We Have Heard on High...

     I have 2 posts today and that's what happens when you have access to borrowed crafting goodies, to markers and colored pencils, and a camera!   I think I've fallen in love with two more House Mouse stamps and I may even have to add them to my collection before next Christmas season, if they are still available.  This one is all about Angel Mice and you'll have to check back in a bit to see the second one.

     I used ProMarkers, Copics, and colored pencils on the image, then added even more snowflakes with a gel pen.  I cut the image, punched the corners (Fiskars), matted it and punched the corners again.  The white frame was done with a set of dies from Sue Wilson.  Everything was mounted onto textured CS.  I added no other embellishments because my SIL loved the way it looked with just the white frame around the image and she's going to be using it for family.  Can't say who will get it because they just might read the post.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Creates and Makes
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
House Mouse
Lemon Shortbread
Let's Craft and Create
Outlawz Festive Friday
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     I'll have my second post for today up in about an hour.  Please check back.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bundle Up Cat Buddies

     This is the second time this season that I've used this card but those kitties, all bundled up in their winter-wear, are just so cute, I couldn't resist using them again.  Can't you just see them trudging off to the family Christmas feast?

     They are from Bugaboo Stamps and I wanted to do a card that was very CAS and that could be used for a guy.

     I printed the image directly onto the card front and then colored it with my ProMarkers.  I added a bit of blue for the sky and ice but that was mostly to get the white kitties to pop off the background.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edges and fussed a bit before deciding that it should be up at the top of the card.

     I had planned a CAS design but it looked so plain that I pulled out some of my embossing folders to see what I might be able to do with them.   I found the snowflake and icy swirl folder from Darice and embossed right over the colored image.  Then I added the three, tiny, blue, pearls.  Finally, the sentiment piece was attached and the card was done - still CAS but with a bit more personality from the texture of the embossing.

     Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty
Catch the Bug (texture/pearl/blue)
CCC Digi
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Create and Inspire
Digistamps 4 Joy
Do-Al(l) Kreatives

     One more week 'til Christmas and I heard from my daughter that she's not going to get finished with everything on her list.  lol  My list is so short that I could travel to five other states and still have extra time for play!  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Bah, Hum-cat

     We all know about Scrooge's famous "Bah, Humbug" phrase but now there's "Bah, Hum-cat"and he's as Dickensonian as can be!  Image is from Rick St. Dennis.

Isn't he fabulous?

     I colored him with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image.  I used a die from Spellbinders to cut out an oval from a scrap of forest green CS, and trimmed it top and bottom to fit the size of the card.  I was actually using not the oval die cut but the negative piece left behind.  I saved the oval for some other project.  That went down on a white card base for a look of some winter snow behind the image.

     It looked a little bit plain with the image sent into the empty oval so I looked for something else to add.  I found another scrap of green CS, dug out a Sue Wilson die, and used it to cut the delicate, filigree frame.  I glued that down (a long and tedious process because of all the tiny curlicues) and then added the image and sentiment on top of it.

     Finally, I added a bit of red glitter to his bowtie for a tiny bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:
Crafty Catz
Color Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Fussy and Fancy
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Polkadoodles
Sparkle n Glitter
Vintage Journey

     We're only a week away from Christmas Eve.  Are you ready or nearly ready for the warmest holiday of the year?  I hope your plans include lots of time with family and close friends.  I'm truly enjoying the time I have with both this year.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa Always Delivers

     Well, it's Friday again and QKR Stampede has a new challenge up.  We always have an Anything Goes theme but we also offer an optional theme if you choose to use it.  Our optional theme this week is "Christmas Cards."  I chose a delightful "Santa" from the QKR store and a simple but appropriate sentiment, "Merry Christmas."  Doesn't he make a fantastic, old-fashioned, Father Christmas?

     I used ProMarkers to color and a die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  I inked the edges of the sentiment piece after hand cutting it, then added it.  That whole piece went onto the front of a pre-made, red card base.

     For embellishment, I added a glittered, snowflake button and three shiny, glittery packages to the bottom of the card.  I love the gems and gold pearls on those packages.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Double D
House that Stamps Built (top row)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Kraftin' Kimmie
Scrappy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters

    I hope you'll find some time in the middle of this crazy-busy season to come play in our challenge this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shopping for a Christmas Birthday

     I absolutely love the image from the Sasayaki Glitter Progressive Challenge this month and it's perfect for my daughter-in-law who has an almost-Christmas birthday that often gets lost in the rush of all the holiday festivities.  I try to do a separate birthday card for her every year, in addition to her Christmas card.  I know she'll love the silly sentiment on this one.

     Everything was done with scraps this time, including printing the image onto a scrap of white CS.  I colored the image with ProMarkers, but the gold and silver gift bags are colored with metallic paint pens.  I then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The dark green frame was also cut from a scrap with another die that same set. 

     The sentiment is printed with a computer font, then hand cut, inked along the edges, and mounted onto the bottom of the image piece.  I added a bow, made with a scrap of sheer ribbon and 'dyed' green with a marker, then sewn together with a tiny pearl.

     Challenges:
Color My Heart
Colour Crazy
Hiding in my Craft Room
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
Victorine Originals
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Love You Sew Much

     Gerda Steiner Designs has the cutest little mouse for their Progressive Challenge this month!  She's sewing up a love note for someone very special.  This may just be my first Valentine card for 2018.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  I chose a deep pink card base, which looks red in the photo but it really is pink.  The background die cut was a gift from one of the ladies in the Card Chain Challenge.  I do wish I could remember which lady because I'd love to give her full credit and a huge thanks.  It's just so perfect for this card! Wish I knew what company made that die.  It would definitely come to live at my house.

     I found a scrap of gray CS, ran it through my "linen" embossing folder, and added it to the card base.  Then I layered on the die cut and the image.  I tied one of my bow-tie bows using pink satin ribbon, and added it to the background.  I thought that was enough embellishment.  I really didn't want to cover up any more of that gorgeous die cut.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Scrapy Land
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting and thanks for visiting.  NanaConnie

Sparkle n Shine

     Time for one more Progressive Challenge, this time for The Outlawz.  The image was drawn by Sandra VanBlaricum, a member of the Outlawz team.  Thanks, Sandra!

     I colored with ProMarkers, added both gold and silver glitter, then cut the image with a simple, square die from Spellbinders.  I used gold paint pen to ink the edges of the image.  The green, metallic paper is a recycling effort - those are candy wrappers which I deliberately rolled up and unrolled, then smoothed out using just my fingers because I wanted the wrinkle lines.

     Everything is mounted onto a confetti CS card base and I added one of my hand sewn bows.  The bow was originally done using white ribbon but I 'dyed' it with marker to get the gold color to match the bows on the baubles.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crazy Challenge
House of Cards
Incy Wincy
Merry Monday
Outlawz Color
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Joy

     Good heavens, last month I did a card with a Beccy's Place image every single day and thought I had used all of the winter/Christmas images of hers that I had.  Then I found this delightful snowman with his arms full of poinsettia flowers which I've never used before!  I merged it with the poinsettia border before printing it.

I started with the colors in this photo from House of Cards.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added sparkly glitter to the pom pom on his hat, and cut both the image and the mat with dies from QuicKutz.  I layered those onto a pre-made card blank and added some silver and white baker's twine (which has also been in my stash forever, completely unused.)  I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and added it; a nice CAS design which will mail quite easily.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Beccy's Place
Come and Get It
Crazy Challenge
Cupcake Inspirations
Dream Valley
Glitter n Sparkle
Outlawz CAS
Path of Positivity

     Thanks for visiting and may the rest of your weekend be filled with creativity.  NanaConnie

Holly Jolly Christmas Fairy

     I love stamps from A Day for Daisies and was so sad when they closed their challenges.  Fortunately, their store is still open and active so I can find fun images like this darling Christmas Fairy.

     I printed the image onto a scrap of white CS, then colored with ProMarkers, and added loose glitter to her wings.  After it dried, I cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I used a square die from QuicKutz to cut another scrap of green polka dot dp.  I layered those together and put them onto the card front on an angle.

     I added three snowflakes, all glittered, and a few gems and left all the rest of the space white for a CAS card, easily mailed.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
A Gem of a Challenge
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Deck the Halls

     Last day of the week-long Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug and today we get a freebie to use plus an inspiration photo.  I'm so tickled that I managed to do a new card each day and to use a Bugaboo Stamps image each time.  That part wasn't required but I do love Bugaboo so why not?

Here's the inspiration photo:

     This image is the freebie from Bugaboo and I colored her face and hands with ProMarkers plus used metallic ink on the star and ornaments on the tree.  Then rest is paper pieced.  Both the image and the sentiment are printed directly onto the card front for a single layer card.  I added strips of gingham plaid ribbon and tied a bow from pale green gingham ribbon.  I thought a CAS design best matched the childlike drawing of the image.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Color Crazy
Color My Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Cute Card Thurs.
Di's Digi Designs
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
Winter Wonderland

     I'm going to take a few deep breaths this weekend and then get ready for family holidays (starting next week) with all the road trips, package wrapping, card mailing, and other travels that make up my annual Christmas and New Year holidays.  I'll have some scheduled posts while I'm away and will be visiting and commenting whenever I can get online.  In the meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and blessing of the season to you and yours.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

     We start another "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede today and we also have an optional theme of "Non-Traditional Colors."  I thought it would be great to contrast non-traditional and completely neutral colors with an image that is so traditional, it's really basic to the whole celebration of Christmas.  It's from QKR and is titled "Shepherd 8714."  The sentiment is "The Reason 8712."  It makes me think of the lovely Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

I colored the Shepherd with ProMarkers, did the ground and sky with polychromos colored pencils blended with gamsol, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I added the image to a kraft card base and dug through my stash for the snowflake and kraft ribbon.  I layered on the sentiment and added an off-white satin bow.  I really thought that a CAS design was best for showcasing the image.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Cut It Up
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Quick Quotes
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  We love seeing what you've created.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Let It Snow !

     I can say "Let it snow!" all I want because I live where it doesn't snow and I don't have to shovel it to get out of my driveway or down my steps to the sidewalk.  lol  But this card is for Day 6 of the Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug challenge.  I think I've used this Bugaboo Stamps image every Christmas since I got it a few years back.

We have to use this inspiration for our theme.

     I started by coloring with my ProMarkers, then cut it into a square.  I cut a narrow frame for it by using two dies (inside and outside) from Sue Wilson.  I also cut out the shaped piece with another die from that same set and used it tucked under the side of the image, as a mat for the hand tied bow.

     This was extremely difficult to photograph because I used shiny silver-white CS for the card base and it had a glare regardless of the angle at which I shot it.  But I love the look of it IRL !

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrappy Land
Star Stampz
Time Out (prints, patterns & snowflakes)

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mistletoe Fairy

     All of us know about Santa and his elves, plus his magical flying reindeer but how many of you know about Mistletoe Fairies?  Bugaboo Stamps knows about them!  And the theme at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos today is "Make It Funny."  I hope you get a grin out of this one.

     Once again, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  I added those to an embossed card base.  The sentiment is my own and it's also cut with another die from that same set.  I added glittered ribbon and one glittered snowflake.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
House that Stamps Built
Kraftin' Kimmie
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sugar Pea Designs 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Merry Christmas Greetings

     OK, the theme today at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos is to use a Bingo board.  Instead of choosing a row or column (or even a diagonal), I did the entire board!  It's rare that I can manage that, but I did it today.  :-D 

     I'll show you my card and then a copy of the Bingo Board.

and here's the Bingo.

     I colored the Bugaboo Stamps image with my ProMarkers, adding a bit of silver or gold metallic inks to the bells and the snowflakes.  I decided to leave the little elves uncolored just for some contrast.

     I used an Unbranded die to cut the image, then matted it with forest green CS.  That went onto a layer of bleached and textured red CS with a strip of plaid paper between them.  I added metallic green and red ribbon along with a red ribbon bow, one of those I sew up by the dozens and toss in my stash for future use.

     In addition to the pearl on the bow, I added three gold pearls above the image.  Obviously, the image is also the sentiment.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bugaboo Crafty
Card Mania
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Awesomeness at Crafty Circle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crea Chicky's
Stempelsonnen

     See you tomorrow with another card for the Holiday Chaos.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Angel Blessings

     Today I'm celebrating angels, blessings, and new life as it begins on Christmas day.  I chose this wonderful image from Ching-Chou Kuik with an angel guarding and nurturing a new polar bear cub.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, adding glitter to her wings, the snowflakes & the icicles in her hair.  I used a die from QuicKutz to cut the image, then backed that with mulberry paper which I 'feathered' along the edges.

     I added that piece to the card front, then left it CAS at that point.  I wanted the image and the sparkle to be the focus.

     Challenge:
Ching-Chou Kuik FB
Crafty Sentiments
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     I'll have one more post today for the latest entry in the Holiday Chaos daily challenges at Catch the Bug.  Stop by again this afternoon to see it.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gift Card Holder

     The theme today over at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos is to make a gift, or a gift holder, which can include gift card holders.   Since I needed a couple of gift card holders, I jumped in and made this one, using one of the Bugaboo Bears.  Teddy Bears are fun images any time of year, but at Christmas they are true favorites of mine whether they be polar bears, koala bears, or little brown teddy bear cubs.  I love them because they are just so cuddly compared to other Christmas animals.  When was the last time you hugged your penguin?  lol  Yes, teddy bears are definitely the best.

Here's a photo of the inside.

     I colored the bear with my ProMarkers and die cut him with a die from Cottage Cutz.  The die is actually a rounded square but I cut twice, adjusting the placement of the die on the second cut to get a rectangle instead of a square.  The "For You" sentiment was printed with a computer font and fussy cut before adding it to the rectangle of burgundy CS. 

     The initial measurements of the kraft CS are 6.5 inches x 4.75 inches.  I scored and folded at just short of 3 inches, flipped it around and scored and folded at .5 inch.  I cut a piece of the burgundy CS, added a piece of kraft CS on top and used doubled stick tape on both ends and the bottom, then adhered that on the inside to make the pocket for the gift card.

     The bear is adhered to the outside on the back of the card pocket flap. The narrow flap will fold down and can be sealed with double stick tape to keep the card safely secured inside.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Morgan's Art World
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

Cozy Mice

     I'm not sure how a cat person can also be so taken by cute mice but I am, especially those I find on Penny Black stamps.   Hmmm, now that I think of it, I love Penny Black cats, too.  :-D  Anyway, today felt like a 'cute mice' day so how's this one?

     This time I stamped on matte photo paper so there's a very slight shine to it, but it can still be colored with alcohol inks.  I used a combination of Copics and ProMarkers and, truthfully, the ProMarkers work a bit better on the photo paper.

     I cut it and the two other 'layers' with rectangle dies; the smaller one (red) from QuicKutz and the largest ones from Spellbinders.  Those really aren't layers because each rectangle is inlaid into the larger one around it so the entire image piece is only one layer, not four.

     I turned it and adhered it to some deep red CS (on an angle), then added the red ribbon before putting it onto the card base.  The wreath was in my stash of Christmas embellies.  The sentiment is also from Penny Black.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crazy Challenge
Dream Valley 
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Penny Black and More
Penny Black Saturday

     I'll have another post later today when I find out what the next theme is over at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Merry Cat-mas

     Here's my card for the sketch challenge at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos.  I'll show you a picture of the sketch below but I turned it a quarter turn so that it worked better with the shape of my image.

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with my ProMarkers, then added glitter to the snow and a touch of Glossy Accents to the white parts of the Santa hat.  I cut the image with a die from Gina Marie Dies.

     I used a red card base, added two different papers, one with handwritten text and the other embossed with a striped folder from Sizzix.  I cut the sentiment with a die from QuicKutz and added it to the embossed paper.  I dug out three tiny, red, buttons and a black bow for embellishments.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Cardmakers
Cuttlebug Mania
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bright and Brilliant (?) Christmas Animals

     This week I again have the honor of being a Guest Designer at The Outlawz CAS challenge and I chose an image from Bugaboo Stamps for my card.  I'm not sure just how "brilliant" these two critters are standing out in the snow with nothing to eat but a candy cane but they do look pretty 'merry' if not all that bright.  lol

     I printed the image on kraft CS and colored it with ProMarkers.  I used white gel ink for the snowflakes and snow.  I love the way white becomes so bright against the kraft.

     In the interests of keeping it CAS, I added the sentiment in white and decided on only one small bow plus a metallic brad in each of two opposite corners.    I used a white card front, added two small strips of red CS, then layered on the image piece.  Voila'!  Lots of open space, even though it's not white space.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Come and Get It
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Delicious Doodles
Di's Digi Designs
Imagine That
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM

     I'll have another post later this afternoon.  I'm playing in the week-long Holiday Chaos daily challenges at Catch the Bug and one or two days this week, I'll have more than one post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowmen Selfie

     Welcome to my 4th post of the day today, this one for SheepSki Designs.  Be sure to scroll down to see the other DT projects I did for today.

     The theme for our challenge at Sheepski this month is to make it "Sparkle and Shine."  I chose a fun image called "Snowman Selfie" and I absolutely love the idea of a snow family taking selfies at their winter reunions.  I'm sure they use them for their Christmas cards.  :-D

     I did a monochromatic of reds (with neutral grays) using my ProMarkers.  I cut the image with a simple, square die from QuicKutz, then inked the edges.  The red CS is dry embossed with a poinsettia folder from Darice and I layered the image onto it, then added it to a card base made from gray CS.

     Each of the tiny ornament embellies has glitter added for sparkle and is cut from shiny silver paper.  The white star is a die cut (Cheery Lynn) and I covered it in glitter.  The silver ribbon is sparkly and the red satin ribbon, including the hand tied bow, has a polished shine.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Classic DT Open
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us ("Winter Wonderland")
Do-Al(l) Kreatives
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     Whew, last post of the day and I'm exhausted!  Hope to see you playing along  with us this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Decorated Tree Gift Tag

     There are two earlier posts today so scroll down to see those.  This is an incredibly busy DT post day since the First of the Month fell on a Friday and I have a total of 4 DT posts for today.  :-D

     Another Friday and a new challenge at QKR Stampede, where our main theme is always Anything Goes.  But we also offer a twist which is optional and you can use it or not.  This week the option is to do "Christmas Tags."

     I chose the "Decorated Tree" image from QKR and cut my tag to fit the shape of the tree.

     I colored the tree with ProMarkers and added glitter to the star.  I used Wink of Stella on the ornaments for a bit of shine.  I punched a hole in the top and added sparkly metal ribbon.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Card Mania
Christmas Cards All Year Round
House of Cards
Kreativeinkauf

     I hope we're going to see you play along this week.  We always get as inspired by yours creations as you do from ours.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Family Christmas

     If you're looking for the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies DT card, scroll down one post.  It's a busy First Friday of the Month and I'll have a total of 4 posts!

     This is my DT card for the challenge at Emerald City Crafts.  The wonderful vintage image is ephemera from Linda Simpson Designs and came from the Joyeux Noel set.  Although the image is from a time much earlier, it makes me think of childhood Christmas days at my Grammy's house.

     This card looks much more complex in design than it really is 

but I based it on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

    The sentiment, the image, the red striped paper and the sheet of music are actually all part of the image.  I cut that and matted it with red CS.

     I used more red CS on the card front, but cut it lengthwise so that it was only 2.5 inches wide on an A2 card front.  I added a lace doily, then layered on the image piece.  For embellishment, I added the double layer, distressed wreath at the edge of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Ellen Hutson Pinsights
Inspiration Destination
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us at Emerald City Crafts this month.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image from any company.  The challenge runs for 3 weeks, ending at the 3rd Friday, and that gives the DT a week to vote on winners and Top 3, which are announced when the next challenge starts on the first Friday of the following month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa's Unusual Helper

     It's the last challenge of 2017 over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and we have a new sponsor, Sasayaki Glitter.  I've played in many of their challenges and progressives and I'm just tickled to pieces to have them as a sponsor.

     I'm using "Christmas Dragoon."  I know that dragons aren't typical Christmas animals but my eldest granddaughter loves dragons (as do I) and I see no reason why they can't participate in this wonderful winter holiday.  They beat out penguins (who are basking in their summer during December) and lazy mama polar bears hibernating away with tiny cubs, and certainly are more delightful than Calling Birds or Partridges.  Yes, they are definitely my favorites because they are so unexpected!

     Besides, Santa obviously can't deliver packages to Dragon Mountain (far too dangerous for Santa) so Dragoon is now Santa for all those deliveries.  For those of you who wanted to see the actual Santa, sorry.  This is as close as we get today.  :-D

     Santa has his sleigh and Dragoon has his sled.  I hope his tiny wings will be enough to take off with that heavy load.

     The image is printed right onto the card base because I wanted this one to be very CAS.   I used ProMarkers to color the image and added a bit of sparkly gold and silver to the package wrappings and the sled runners.  I did print the sentiment separately, then hand cut it and added it to the upper corner but other than that, it's a single layer card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Color My Heart
Cookie Challenge
C.R.A.F.T.
Cute Card Thurs.
Double D
Everybody Art
I {heart} ProMarkers

Come play with us.  Remember, we always have a theme of "Anything Goes with a Critter" and we have a very broad interpretation of "critter."  :-D  Happy Stamping.