Christmas in July (Almost)

     We start our new challenge at QKR Stampede with our usual "Anything Goes" theme but this week we've added a fun optional theme of "Christmas in July." Yes, we know today is still June 30 but many of you will be seeing this post or the one on the QKR challenge blog on the weekend or even as late as the July 4th holiday, so it'll be Christmas in July by the time you make your card and post it.  :-D

     For mine, I used "Decorations" as my image and "Happy Holly Days" for my sentiment.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and a red Copic marker for his hat and the berries.  I also added tiny dots of glitter to the berries in the sentiment, though it's nearly impossible to see in the photo.  I applied Wink of Stella to the white reflection spots on the Christmas decoration.  I love the traditional red and green for Christmas but must admit that green is my more favored of those colors.

     I die cut the image (Gina Marie) and also die cut a circle (QuicKutz) which I dry embossed with my "Linen" folder.  I cut the sentiment and its mat with other QuicKutz dies from the same set.

     The plaid ribbon was 'rescued' from one of last year's packages (waste not, want not) and I still have a strip of it long enough to make another bow for later this year.  I find that I usually wrap my ribbon around the card front so that the cards look 'gift wrapped' with the ribbon saying "I'm finished!"   I also love how ribbon lets me tie in colors I've used in the image or papers.  Sometimes I take plain white ribbon and 'dye' it with markers to get the exact shade I want.

     Other than that ribbon and bow, I left this card pretty CAS because I'm sure it'll get sent to one of the many guys in my family.  They outnumber the gals almost 2:1.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Through the Craft Room Door
Time Out

     Get on your Christmas cheer and come play with us this week.  You can use any image by any company to enter the challenge but if you have one by QKR and you use it, your entry will go into a separate draw just for QKR users, and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!  See you at the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Great Hair Day

     I hate to admit how long it's been since I used a Whoopsi Daisy image but I'm making up for it.  In the last week, I've colored three WD images and will be sharing them with you over the next couple of weeks.

     As I looked at this image before coloring it, I could just see my granddaughter pulling her hair back in either braids or pony tails and looking like summer sunshine.  :-D  So, out came the yellows and summer-y coral pink ProMarkers for coloring the image.

     After she was colored, I did an out-of-the-box technique, cutting her with a simple scalloped die from Spellbinders, and I inked the edges all the way around.  I cut the matting oval with a die from another Spellbinders set but I ran that CS through my Linen embossing folder before I cut it.

     I added the sentiment on top of the image, then layered everything onto striped dp (DCWV) and found the gingham ribbon and fabric flower, which I knew would be prefect embellies.  I put all of that onto the pale, pinky-beige, card front and called it finished.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Ribbon Girl
Sweet Stampin'

     I dearly love this image and can hardly wait to share the others with you but I still have to finish making those cards.  As I said, I have those planned for pre-scheduled posts over the next couple of weeks so don't give up on them.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hyacinth Sprite

     I absolutely adore all the little flower sprites at AuroraWings and I bought a few more a couple of weeks ago, this being one of them.  Isn't she sweet?

     More coloring with my polychromos pencils and I do believe I'm getting the hang of it.  I find myself more and more satisfied with the end results.  The colors get richer, the shading gets more accurate, and I'm liking the results almost as much as my coloring with ProMarkers.  :-D

    The image was cut with another of my Unbranded die frames and I layered it onto paper from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV.  I'm on a crusade to use only things from my stash (especially papers and CS) until I have used a significant portion of the huge mountains I piled up over the last couple of years.  I'm digging out things I had forgotten and falling in love with them all over again.  It's kind of fun to find something and remember why I bought it in the first place.  :-D

     I hand tied the bow, then printed the sentiment, matted it, and added it on top of all the layers.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Morgan's ArtWorld
Ribbon Girl
Tuesday Throwdown

      That's it for today.  We're half-way to the weekend and then 4th of July is shortly upon those of us in the US.  Some of you will have both Monday and Tuesday off, giving you a very long weekend.  Whether you have a long weekend or just the day of the 4th, be safe and sane with fireworks and driving.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Home Sweet (Fairy) Home

     I have new neighbors moving in down the street and did a card to welcome them to the neighborhood.  This sweet, little, mushroom-fairy-house is from Sasayaki Glitter.

     I colored this one with my Lyra polychromos pencils (practice, practice, practice!) and cut it with a stitched scalloped circle die from Memory Box.  I cut another circle with the same die and off set it behind the image.  I had a small scrap of that dp left after the circle was cut so I added it below the circles.  The only embellishment I added was the pewter gray bow with the pearl.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Colour Crazy
Come and Get It
Fussy and Fancy
Not Just Cards
Polkadoodles
Stempelsonnen
Sweet Stampin'
World Wide DT Open

     The week marches on and time is getting away from me already!  My list grows longer and the number of things accomplished each day gets shorter.  Sigh... ah, well, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Coffee Cat

     My second post this morning.  Be sure to scroll down for the first one.

     This sweet image from Sami Stamps is perfect for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Although I prefer my coffee iced in the summer months, this little feline would settle for any kind of coffee at this point!

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut.  Although it doesn't show up very well, the lightest part of the coffee mug is covered with Wink of Stella for some shine.

     The background is made using textured dp from that same, really old, DCWV stack with a missing cover so I still don't know the name.  These were all three scrap pieces which I had tucked away in the middle of the stack (probably left over from a Valentine card) and I distressed the edges to hide the fact that the scraps were a bit tattered-looking already.  :-D

     I tied twine around the card front and left it CAS.

     Challenges:
Coffee Loving Cardmakers
Crazy Challenge
Glitter n Sparkle
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pixie's Snippets
Ribbon Girl
TTCRD

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rosy Birthday

     Adding to my collection of birthday cards, although this one will be going out fairly soon for a summer birthday.  The image from Lemon Shortbread was so much fun to color and made me think of summer so I used summer-y colors!  One of the 'fun' summer things I get to do is tend my roses, and make lots of rose bouquets for the breakfast bar and dining table.  For me, roses mean summer every bit as much as trip to the seashore.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from one of my sets by Spellbinders.  I layered the die cut onto a coral pink card front and added one of my little hand-made bows, dyed with a ProMarker to get the exact color I wanted.

     The die cut was so detailed and feminine that the card really didn't need any other embellishment so I opted for leaving it rather simple.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Fab'n Funky
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Word Art Weds.

     I have another post in a few hours so be sure to stop back and visit again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Sea Dragon

     I love sea dragons - I think they are the most elegant and dramatic of  all the seahorses.  When I spotted this one from AuroraWings, I grabbed it and have used it several times as an iconic image for summer cards.  Nothing could be more indicative of a relaxing summer day than a sea dragon drifting with the waves.

     I'm practicing again with my polychromos pencils, trying for deeper, richer colors.  Once colored, I cut the image (and the green frame) with inside/outside stitched rectangle dies from Die-namics.  The image is inlaid into the frame.

     The dp is from one of my old (very old!) DCWV stacks, so old I can't even tell you the name of it because the cover is missing.  But I love the seaside colors in it - including the sky blues, warm sunshine yellows, and coral pinks.  I layered everything onto a pale green card front and then added the few sequins.  I left it very simple beyond that bit of sequin sparkle because I really wanted to showcase the sea dragon and not the embellishments.  :-D

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Cardmakers
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
Inspiration Destination
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Work It Weds.

     I think I'll have two posts again tomorrow; one for sure and maybe two if I get the second card done on time.  I'm not that far away from being gone to the California beaches for a few days and am trying to get everything prepared for my absence, including a few card which need to be posted before the month runs out, hence the double posts on a few days this week.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Holly Hedgie

     Time for another Christmas card.  I'm not yet caught up on my promise to myself to do one card per week between January and August, then 2 or more from September to Christmas, but that's because I simply did none at all in January, February and March.  So much for promises to self.  lol  But once I started in, I've been pretty consistent and have made several to make up for the missing 12 weeks.

     This darling little hedgie (Penny Black), prancing about with the holly branch, dropping berries everywhere, in sheer love of the season, is a favorite stamp of mine and perfect for a sweet but simple Christmas card.  I wanted to be able to use it for one of the many men/boys in my family so I held back on the embellies.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, then the oval is cut with an Unbranded die.  Both the papers are from the scrap basket and the green ribbon is also a tail-end left over.  The sentiment is from QKR Stampede and it's cut by hand.

     I must tell you that after I photographed the "finished" card, I kept looking at how flat it was and I went back and added tiny, red, pom poms to each of the holly berries.  It gave it great dimension and texture but I didn't have time to re-photograph it.  You'll just have to imagine it in your mind.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Snowflakes Promise
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Sentiments
Holly & Ivy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black and More
Penny Black Saturday

     I'll have another post this afternoon, much more appropriate to our summer activities, but I did want to slip in one of the Christmas cards I've been doing.  I must have about 10 now that I've not yet shared but you'll see most of them as pre-scheduled posts when I'm traveling away from my blog this summer.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Summer

     I wanted to do a summery card in cool colors to make my mind think that our temperatures were well below the 110 degree mark.  I chose this image from Ching-Chou Kuik and colored it all in blues and purples.  You know butterflies wouldn't be out in heat that high, right?

     I used my ProMarkers to color her and the butterflies, then cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  I backed the die cut with medium blue paper and mounted it onto a light blue card front.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added a dimensional butterfly.  The die cut was so delicate and complex, that I decided the butterfly was the only embellishment needed but I did add glitter to her wings.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Delicious Doodles
Di's Digi Designs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Morgan's ArtWorld
Polkadoodles
Scrapper's Delights

     OK, I'm now pretending that it's 85 outside instead of 101 at midnight!  The butterflies are going to be flitting about in the afternoon instead of hiding in the shade away from the heat.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cat Out of the Bag

     You can't hide your birthday or your age any more - the cat is out of the bag!  And a new challenge starts today at QKR Stampede, where our "Always Anything Goes" theme is on tap but we also have the optional twist of "Paper Piecing," if you want to use it.  The image I used is "Cat in Bag" and  the sentiment is "Cat is Out."

     I'm using this as a birthday card for a man who many years ago was a co-worker and with whom I still exchange Christmas and birthday cards.  He steadfastly refuses to tell his age but I do know he's at least a decade older than I so he definitely fits into the older end of the senior citizen pool.  :-D

     His favorite color is golden yellow (not the namby-pamby, pastel yellows that barely whisper their name) so, of course, that was the first color I chose.  I found some rich yellow dp in my scrap booking stash and used it not only for the background but also to paper piece the bag.  After coloring that sassy cat with ProMarkers, and adding the paper pieced bag, I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image.  The black die cut was done with another die from that same set, as was the sentiment and black die cut offset behind it.

     The tiny black bow was the only embellishment needed.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creates and Makes
Creative Inspirations
Dragonfly Journeys
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you'll come and play along with us this week.  We do get inspired by what you create and share with us on the challenge.  Hope to see you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Rick St. Dennis Christmas - Winter Friends

     I love my collection of Rick St. Dennis images which is still growing and, while I've used thisone several times, it looks different each time I use it.  This time, I did a bit of Christmas red, some icy winter blue and gray, and some metal snowflakes and ornaments.  What do you think?

I based my card on the sketch at Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I printed the sentiment and added it to the bottom of the image.  I put two long, silver-metal, ornaments over the tiny round ones which had been on the dp, then added a metal snowflake charm to the image.

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Sparkle and Glitter
Sweet Stampin' Christmas
Through the Craft Room Door
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

One Fuzzy, Purple, Monster

     So, I'm playing with this fun image from the Limited Runs Progressive Challenge this month, using my favorite periwinkles and lavenders, when a grandchild looking over my shoulder says, "Why are you coloring ugly monsters? "  I'm wasn't sure that I agreed with that assessment but I did go back and change the sentiment, discarding the one I had originally planned, substituting this one instead.  :-D

     I think he's adorable - and definitely loveable!    I used my ProMarkers to color him and cut him out with a die from Spellbinders.  I inked the outer edges of the die cut to make a "frame" and layered it onto three different papers, all scraps from my basket of leftovers.

     I know the middle strip looks almost black but it's actually deep purple with a slight pattern in it.  Blame the photographer!  The bottom strip is embossed and glittered.  I added the metallic, silver ribbon and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments (top tow)
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Dream Valley
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     I'm hoping the weather where you are is considerably cooler than what we have out here on the West Coast of the US.  We have an incredible, high-pressure system just plunked down on top of us and we have already broken high heat records two days in a row.  One of those records went back to 1946 and we broke it by 2 degrees.  The weather folks say temps of 107 to 114 are very likely to last another 10 to 12 days.  Can you believe they were looking at the 7 day forecast and said that on Saturday we might get a "cool down" to 101 degrees?  You can imagine what the temperatures are like before Saturday comes around!

     Good excuse to stay inside.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Blue Christmas in July

     A new challenge starts today and it's also my last card as a member of Ike'sworld DT.  I have loved working with Ike and the team but I'm going to be so busy this summer, including travels away from home and even away from the internet, that I simply had to cut some of the DTs on which I serve, and Ike's was one of them.   Can you believe I was on 6 different teams?  Yikes!  For the remaining teams, I'm working madly to pre-schedule posts.

     Anyway, at Ike'sworld this fortnight, we have our usual "Anything Goes" theme but our optional twist is "Blue Christmas (in July)" and you can do anything Christmas if you want to use the twist.  I found this fun and funny "Bah Humbug Bulldog" in Ike's store and decided to do him in non-traditional blues instead of red for his Santa suit and hat.  Don't you just love the expression on his face?

     I used my ProMarkers to color him, then die cut him with a stitched circle die from Die-namics.  The dark blue frame is cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I added dp from an old DCWV Winter stack and found the sparkly snowflake borders in my Christmas stash.  No telling how old those are but they still sparkle brightly even though it doesn't show much in the photo.  They're also 3D so it gives some great dimension to the card.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Angie's Digital Stamps
Christmas Cards
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
World Wide Open DT

     Please come play along with us.  Remember, it's always "Anything Goes" but you can use the twist if you desire.  You may use any images from any company but if you have Ike's Art images, we'd love to see them!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

An Orchid Thank You

     I have a dear friend who is always doing something wonderful and unexpected for others, including me.  I'm not sure I really show my appreciation often enough so I've done this card to say "Thank You."  She adores orchids, grows them rather well in her greenhouse, and I thought this image from Tiddly Inks would be perfect for her.

     This one took a bit of imagination because I created the background on a blank page working with one of the Picture Format options in Word.  However, I didn't have a .png version of the image so I couldn't merge it onto the background before printing.  Instead, I printed the background, put that sheet of paper back into the printer, and then printed the orchid image onto it.

     I colored it with ProMarkers and gel inks, then cut the background into a rectangle the size I wanted for this card.  The blue frame was cut with an Gina Marie die and I added a scrap of lace to one side of it, then layered on the image and the matted sentiment.

     I tied the triple bow using my bow maker and adhered it.  This card was really quick and easy although the design looks more complex than the amount of work required to make it, which is an effect I truly love.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Craft-Dee BowZ
DL.ART
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sisterhood of Crafters
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hedgehog Celebration

     Today I'm sharing a birthday card, this time with a very masculine color combo.  Last week, I used one of the Penny Black images with mice.  Since I always have trouble deciding whether I like the PB mice or hedgies best, I didn't want any of my hedgie stamps to feel left out.  Hence, today's card with hedgies celebrating a birthday.  :-D

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut (Spellbinders) and matted twice with other die cut layers.  The sentiment is hand cut and matted twice with the same colors.  I love using stripes and polka dots together for kid's cards but I had no striped ribbon in these colors.  Instead, I added stripes to the candle on the cake.  The two birthday hats also have polka dots and stripes so I guess those will have to do.  :-D

     The final touch was to 'dye' two, sheer ribbon bows (using ProMarkers) and add them as the embellishments.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Craft-D BowZ
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Outlawz PAM
Penny Black and More
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'

     Here we are, half-way through the weekend, and I've made 6 new cards so far.  I'm trying to work on things which I can schedule to post during the weeks I'll be gone during the summer.  I'm also working on more Christmas cards, some of which will be sent to the Card Drive for Little Hearts.  I'll have more about that in another post later this week but I made the name into a link to Christina Hor's post about it if you want to go and check it out now.  The card drive starts in July and runs through August.  You could be a part of it, too.  :-D

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cats in the Bath

     Have you ever glanced at an image and just had to giggle out loud?  That's how this one from Create with TLC struck me and I had to use it right away.

     I printed the image twice, colored both of them with my ProMarkers, and glued one of them to two layers of white CS.  Then I fussy cut the cats from the one with three layers and glued the cats onto the first image.  This gave some great texture without the kind of open dimension I would have gotten using pop dots or foam tape.  The white border I left around the cats when cutting makes them pop off the background.

     I used a punch (Fiskars) on the corners of the image, then matted it with a die cut, rounded rectangle (Spellbinders), and a second, larger frame cut out of dp with the next larger size of die.  Those were mounted onto a second dp with a scrap of text dp added to one side.  I finished it with metallic twine and the sentiment, which was also corner punched.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Aud Sentiments (Top L to Bottom R)
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Fussy and Fancy Fridays
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Ribbon Girl
SUYP - Cat's Only

     The weekend stretches before us and beckons us to be creative and happy.  So, I wish you - Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

All Tucked in for the Night

     It's Friday again and we have a new, weekly, challenge starting at QKR Stampede.  As usual, we have our "Anything Goes" theme but we also have our optional twist - the theme of "Quilting or Stitching."  I did my best to accomplish both on this one card.  I used the QKR image "All Tucked In" and I think it's totally adorable!

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from an unbranded die maker.  The polka dot frame for the image is also cut with another die from that same set.  I cut the denim and yellow papers for background "quilt" with a chain stitched die from Gina Marie Dies.  The sentiment is printed and matted with blue and yellow layers.

     I decided not to add any embellishments because I wanted the quilt background to showcase the image.  I felt that anything added on top of it would take away from that effect.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Classic DT Open
Colour Crazy
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Creative Ladybirds
Polkadoodles
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Take it, Make It
Time Out

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Remember, while we'd love to see you using a QKR Stampede image (and you'll be in a separate draw just for QKR users), you can use any image from any company to enter our challenge.  See you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Walk in the Woods

     The best place to be on a hot summer day is walking through the shade of the woods.  We had a mild weekend but our temperatures are rising rapidly and we're in for some really hot ones so this image from the progressive challenge over at Dragon's Lair was a perfect way to think cool.

     For this one, I got out my tray of watercolor paints and a couple of brushes, then colored the entire thing in watercolor.  I managed the cloud by swirling water on the already painted and dry sky, then let it dry.  That lifted out some of the sky color and created some fabulous shadows in the cloud.

     I cut the image and the frame with dies from QuicKutz.  Everything else was done with scraps which were already on my desk; paper, ribbon, mesh, sentiment and mat for it..  The foxes and the bird are tiny die cuts (Memory Box and Die-namics) which were double layered before gluing them to the image piece.  I added a bit of ribbon and some mesh, then tied a bow of a lighter green scrap of ribbon.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafting from the Heart
Hiding in My Craft Room
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Ribbon Girl
Sweet Stampin'
Sunsational Stamps

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Lemonade Summer

     I have four masculine birthdays in my family that fall in June and July, and another one in August so I'm adding to my supply of birthday cards for guys.  This one, with a Penny Black stamp (it's always a toss up for me whether I love the mice the best or the hedgies!), seemed a natural for a birthday that always rolls around during the hottest weather.

     I used my ProMarkers (and a blender) to color those sweet mice (clearly my favorites this week!), then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The die is actually one of their lattice frames but I used it to cut the image as the center piece and saved the actual frame for another project.

     I layered the image onto dark blue CS, and put that whole thing onto sky blue CS.  After adding the two scraps of satin ribbon, I put the light blue onto a medium gray CS and that went onto the card front.  Because this is a guy card, the only embellishment I added were the two scraps of baker's twine which I tied into a bow around the two ribbons.  The sentiment was computer printed and matted before adding it to the front.

     The white flower is not part of the card; it's only there for visual dimension in the photo.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Mod Squad
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black & More
Outlawz Greetings
Stamping Sensations

     Mid-way through the week and no plans for the weekend so that means I can do lots of crafting or absolutely nothing depending on how the mood strikes me.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Making Friends

     Another progressive challenge card, this time using a sweet image from Gerda Steiner.  I love friendship cards or those done and sent for no particular reason at all.  This is one which won't stay in my stash very long.

     Not only does this card have lots of distressing, it's put together completely from left over scraps.  Even the image was printed onto a half sheet of white CS which was left behind from printing a single image onto a full 8 1/2 X 11 sheet.

     I colored the image with chalk markers and pale tan ProMarkers for the turtle's actual body.  The embossed leaves were from an earlier project.  I matted the printed sentiment and then tore the edges.  The little butterflies were die cuts (the negative bits from a Spellbinders die which are usually tossed into the trash can) and I added a green bow (dyed with ProMarkers.)  I did keep adding various distressed layers but overall I tried to keep it simple and flat.  Who knows, it may end up going to a guy friend instead of a gal friend.  :-D

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Butterfly Challenge
Chalk and Stock
Colour Crazy 
Creative Fingers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pixie's Snippets
Sweet Stampin'
Take It, Make It

     How can it be Tuesday already?  I'm still operating on weekend time.  :-D  Oh, well, fortunately I only have one truly busy day this week so I can still be lazy this morning.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hangin' Out at the Pad

     Usually when asked about how he wanted to celebrate Father's Day, my dad would choose to stay home and just hang out around the "pad."  Although he's been gone for many years now, I'm going to honor him with the sentiment on this card.  Of course, the image had to fit the sentiment and we all know that frogs love (lily) pads!.  :-D

     The image came from Beccy's Place and I just adore the expression on his face!  I colored him with chalks and added shading with my ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the green mat with an inside/outside stitched die from Die-namics, and then cut the background CS with that same die so that the image was inlaid into the background except for the place where the scrap of polka dot dp was applied.

     I added the fussy cut sentiment piece and the tiny bow and left it alone.  It's a masculine card and simply didn't need anything else.  :-D

    Challenges:
Aussie Digital Artists Open
Cards in Envy
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Cute Card Thursday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Nest Dolls
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Roses for a Friend

     A second post today for no particular reason except that I woke somewhat early, felt a bit creative, and got this card made after an hour of detailed coloring.  I haven't used any of my Magnolia stamps in a very long time so I thought it was time to dig them out.  This sweet Tilda with the bouquet of roses just seemed perfect for a friendship card.

     I colored her with my ProMarkers and added a touch of glitter to the sparkle points in her hair and to the center of each rose in the bouquet.  Unfortunately, as with most of my photos, the sparkle just doesn't show.  But it's definitely there IRL.  The card front is embossed with one of my folders.

     Both the image and the purple mat were cut with Unbranded dies.  I used gel ink to highlight the stitching on each die cut.  The sentiment was printed and die cut, adhered to the bottom of the card front and then trimmed along the bottom.  I used bits of two different ribbons layered on top of each other and then used two of the bows I make by the dozens and toss into my stash for future use.  This time, I used white bows (one satin & one sheer) then 'dyed' each bow with ProMarkers to get the color I wanted.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments

Crafting from the Heart

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafty Catz

Digi Choosday

Glitter n Sparkle

Lemon Shortbread

Marvelous Magnolia

Morgan's ArtWorld

TTCRD

     Hope your weekend is going well and I wish you Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Last Dance

     Today's card is for yet another of my favorite progressive challenges; this one at the Sasayaki Glitter FB challenge.  I used lots of gray on it so that I could enter it into their blog challenge also.  What could be cuter than chameleons dancing on a summer beach 'til the sun comes up?

I used the sketch from MojoMonday 

and this is their last challenge.

Sadly, they are closing.

     Those cute dancing lizards are colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Sue Wilson.  The zig zag pattern across the middle of the card was cut with a die from CCC Designs.  I added sparkly rhinestones to both the top and bottom corners but left it rather plain after that since, once again, this is a card which has to be mailed.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Delicious Doodles
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Paper Craft Happy
Sasayaki Glitter (blog)
Scrapper's Delights
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Coolest Dad Ever!

     I think this "cool cat" from Eureka Stamps is the funniest thing ever!  I decided it was perfect for another Father's Day card.  My own dad having been gone for many years, I now make them for family members who are dads.  :-D  This one will go to my #1 grandson.

     Because it's going to be mailed, I kept it as simple as I could.  I colored the image with my ProMarkers, added white gel ink as reflection on the sunglasses, and fussy cut it by hand.  That was time consuming and detailed but it's a technique I love to do every now and then.  I matted it with an embossed frame ("Linen" folder) of white CS which had been die cut it with a stitched die.

     Both the multi-colored frame (cut with a die from a CUTplorations set) and the background paper are from a Recollections stack.  I added sparkly twine, tied into a knot and with the ends feathered, as a salute to embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Fab 'n' Funky
Great Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Outlawz CAS
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Monday
STAMPlorations

     I hope you have wonderful plans for your weekend even if you are mostly staying home.  Find time for enjoyment and reflection.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

America's Sport

     It's Friday and, as you know, that means a new challenge over at QKR Stampede.  We always have our "Anything Goes" theme but each week we offer you an optional theme if you choose to use it.  This week our optional theme is "For the Guys."

     I always hear the old expression that Baseball is "America's Sport" but have never really understood why.  Basketball is the most watched on television and football (the kind we play here in the US, not soccer) is the most attended in person.  So how does baseball rank as America's Sport?

     However it got that way, my grandson plays baseball and loves it so having this card on hand for him seemed a natural.  I used the QKR image "Baseball Bunny."

     I used a pretty simple design but also did lots of layers.  I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers then cut it with a Gina Marie die.  The sentiment was also done on smaller die cut piece using a die from that same set.

     I matted each of those pieces with navy blue dp from the scrap stash.  I found two more scraps of dp and used them for the background, then layered on the image and sentiment.  Finally, I found some blue baker's twine, wrapped it around the card front and tied a square knot, then trimmed the tails fairly short.  A fun, masculine design.

     Challenges:
Connie Can Crop
Crafty Animals
Crafty Awesomeness
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper
Creatalicious
Cute as a Button
Delicious Doodles
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Open-Minded Crafting Fun

     Please come and play in our challenge this week.  You're not required to use a QKR image but if you do, your card will be entered into a separate draw for QKR Stampede images only.  Believe me when I say that significantly increases your chances of winning!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Old Pirate

     I'm going all out with Fabrika Fantasy and adding to my masculine birthday card stash at the same time.  I absolutely adore this Parrot Pirate image.  He's just too fun and funny!

I used the colors from the inspiration photo on the 

Tuesday Color challenge at The Outlawz.

     OK, so that silly parrot isn't as elegant as a peacock but I colored him in peacock colors with my ProMarkers, then die cut both the image and the light green frame with a pierced rectangle die from Memory Box.  I die cut the sentiment the same way.

     The lattice background is cut with another Memory Box die and I backed it with yellow CS.  Because of all the die cuts, it looks like a rather fancy card design, but it's really very simple - 4 layers, 3 of them cut with dies.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Fabrika Fantasy FB
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers

     I hope your week is going week and that you find a bit of time for some craftiness.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie     

Coy Kittens

     A really quick post this morning because I'm leaving here very early, will be gone most of the day (much to the dismay of my own two feline fur babies!) and must get this posted.  I'm adding yet another birthday card to my stash and, because I didn't really have anyone specific in mind when I was making it, it's done in monochromatic neutrals.  This is an old stamp from CDS, no longer available because they're no longer in business.  But it is a sweet image and worth using over and over.

     The die cut frame was done with an Unbranded die.  I backed it with a scrap of tan CS.  The polka dot paper came from a stack by Recollections and was a scrap on my table with a hole in it from another die cut I had done but since the hole was going to be covered with the kittens, that didn't matter.  Nobody can tell it isn't a full piece of paper.

     The bow (ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon) is hand-tied with the help of my bow maker.  The sentiment is printed, hand cut, and applied over the image.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Angie's Digital Stamps
Come and Get It
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafting with Dragonflies
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Ribbon Girl
Scrapper's Delights
SUYP
Take It, Make It

     That's it for now.  I'll see you again tomorrow.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Geraniums

     I have to admit that geraniums are one of my favorite flowers to grow.  They're so easy and can be grown from a simple cutting.  Where I live, they grow and blossom nearly year 'round.  I was delighted to be able to use both the "Geranium Pot" and the "Greek Window" images from Ike's Art in our newest Ike's World challenge which begins today.  We have a delightful optional photo inspiration for you.

  Isn't that a gorgeous Greek scene?   I turned it into this:

I based this design on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

but I made everything more vertical because that better fit

the shapes of my window image and the

embossed brick background pieces.

     I started by printing out one window image and three geranium pot images, two the same size and one slightly smaller.  I colored the geranium pots and the window with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut everything.  It took some time to cut out the geraniums but it was worth it when I stacked them all together on dimensional dots for a fabulous 3D effect.

     Next, I took two scraps of CS, one gray and one deep burgundy, and ran them through my "Brick Wall" embossing folder.  I layered those together for the background, then added the image pieces and the printed sentiment.

     For the final embellishment, I added a hand tied bow with a glittered flower.  The design has lots of dimension but is still fairly simple and will mail easily.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Gals Corner
Inspiration Destination
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

    I hope you're going to come and play along with us this fortnight.  Let your imagination run with whatever inspires you from that photo or just play using the "Anything Goes" theme which is there every time.  Don't forget that Ike always offers a freebie image which you can find on the challenge post and use if you wish.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie