Meow-y Christmas

     This adorable kitten in a stocking came from Limited Runs and is their current progressive challenge image.  I don't have to tell you how much I love it!

     I decided on a fairly CAS card right away because I really wanted the kitten to be showcased, not buried in embellishments.  I colored the image with ProMarkers, added glitter to the red stripes on the stocking, and fussy cut it after the glue for the glitter dried.

     I printed the sentiment and hand cut it.  I found a scrap of green CS, die cut it with a square die from Lawn Fawn, and added the stocking to the top of it, using dimensional tape.  I made a small double bow by stitching together one of my tiny bows and a bow made from gingham ribbon, then I attached both of those to the green square along with the sentiment.

     The polka dot papers are from SU and both were scraps in my stash.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards  
City Crafter
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Crazy Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
SUYP Cats

     Today I had 2 posts and tomorrow I'll have 4!  That happens every once in a while when the first of the month falls on a Friday and then I end up with 4 DT cards which all have to post on the same day.  Whew, I'd better go get those posts scheduled.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

First Ever Blog Hop at Createful Heart

     Welcome to our first ever Blog Hop - November, 2017!  We’re so glad you decided to join us.  We hope that you’ll not only join in on the Blog Hop, but the current Challenge #7.  We have an Overall Winner and Top 3 each challenge.  Our theme for Challenge #7 is "CHRISTMAS."

     Before I go on, there are some simple rules to follow to be eligible for the Blog Hop Door Prize (20% Coupon toward any digi purchase of $10 or more in Createful Heart’s Etsy Store):

1.  You MUST leave a comment on each Design Team member’s blog, including the Createful Heart Blog.
2.  You MUST be a follower of the CHDD blog.
3.  Winner will be announced on the next Challenge #8 and also on our Facebook Page: Createful Heart Digis & Designs.

4.  The date of this Blog Hop will run throughout the duration of the current Challenge #7, November 30th through December 13th, 2017.  

    Now let me show you what I created for the Challenge #7 - Blog Hop!

     I used this adorable "Snow Family" image from Createful Heart, colored with my ProMarkers, and cut with an Unbranded die.  I cut the frame for it with another die from that same set, only one size larger.  That has to be my favorite die for making lace ovals or doilies.  The printed sentiment was also cut with a die from that set.

     Everything was mounted onto a colored card base.  I added narrow green ribbon and tied a double bow, then added the green, sparkly candy cane, and called it finished.  I wanted it to be as flat as possible for mailing.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Passion for ProMarkers
Tuesday Throwdown

     Okay, there you have it folks.  This is my last card as a DT member for Createful Heart and I wish them all the best.  Be sure to get to “hopping” and also get your own Christmas card entered into the challenge.  Have fun with it and Happy Stamping!  NanaConnie

Fat Pants for Christmas

     This is the last day of the 30 Days of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place and I've done it!  I've played each and every day!  I've had so much fun this month and I adore Beccy's images so I know I'm going to miss doing that many cards, all with her sweet stamps.  Maybe I'll have to apply to be part of her DT next time she has a space open.  :-D

     Since the alphabet is finished and we have no more letters to use as themes, today we get to use whatever we love.  I fell in love with this silly sentiment which is in one of Beccy's sets (wish I could remember which one but I have too many.)  "It's Christmas - Get your Fat Pants ready!"  I knew I wanted to use that sentiment so I looked through my growing collection of her stamps until I found all these wonderful Christmas goodies with which we stuff ourselves from now until the New Year.  (giggle)

     I found the Christmas Puddings, a bundle of candy canes decorated with holly and ribbon, and a single candy cane, which I printed twice, reversing one of them.

     I used ProMarkers to color the candy canes, the holly, and the ribbons, then I fussy cut all of those with scissors.  I printed the main bundle of candy canes one more time, colored it also, and then die cut it with a lacy doily Unbranded die. 

     I used my paper cutter to cut the large square around all Christmas Puddings and layered that onto the white card front.  I placed the die cut candy cane bundle onto the very middle of the puddings, adhered with ultra sticky tape.  I took the single candy canes and added them to the fussy cut bundle canes.  I used mini Pop Dots and added them on top of the die cut canes.  That not only gave great dimension but also some wonderful texture. 

     I found some lovely sheer gold ribbon, wrapped it around the top of the card front. then added one of my hand sewn bows which I 'dyed' red with a marker.  I inked the edges of the sentiment and added it.  Yes, indeed, definitely time for the "fat pants!"

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
TTCRD

     Thank you, Beccy, for such a fun month of Christmas cards.  See you for the next regular challenge.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Christmas at the Zoo

     Last day of the alphabet themes at the Month of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place.  That means today has to use the letter "Z" and what's a better Z than at the Zoo?  I thought Milton, the Giraffe, was a perfect Zoo animal and here he is, dressed in all his Christmas finery!

I started with the sketch from Viva la Verve. 

I ended up not using the vertical strip because 

I didn't want to introduce an additional patterned dp

and only had that much of the one I used for the

horizontal strip.  It was a scrap from a Bo Bunny pad.

     He's pre-colored but the sky and ground are colored with ProMarkers.  It's amazing how much depth is added to an image when you color in a background.  I die cut him with a tall, skinny, rectangle die (QuicKutz) and added a dark green mat, also die cut.

     I used the smallest dies from that set to cut the sentiment and the mat for it.  The lightly striped background paper was in my stash.  I chose sparkly, metallic ribbon, wrapped it around the card front and tied a quadruple loop bow with the help of my bow maker.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
TTCRD
Winter Wonderland

     I've had so much fun playing at Beccy's Place every day this month and when all is finished, I'll have an additional 30 Christmas cards in my stash.  That's an exceptionally good thing since this year I need 75 for the senior center where I donate cards each December.  Most of the seniors who attend the daily activities there don't have the opportunity or perhaps the resources to get out and shop for Christmas cards for family and friends.  I've been donating handmade cards there for the past 3 Christmas seasons and now it's to the point where some of the longer term seniors even ask me if I can do a certain style or design.  I love it!  Makes me feel so good to be able to do something for them that makes them feel special.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Yuletide Blessings

     We're getting so close to the end of the Month of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place and I can now say for sure that I've done each day with an alphabet letter as the theme and there should be only two additional days of as-yet-unknown themes.  I'm beginning to think that I'll be able to complete cards for each of the 30 days.  :-D  Considering that I missed last year altogether, that's pretty exciting.  Even more exciting is the fact that with the exception of the very first day, I've used images from Beccy's Place for every card!

     Today is the letter "Y" and it's an easier choice than yesterday's "X" but still not as easy as some of  the other letters.  I went with Yuletide.  I started out looking for a Yule Log but fell in love with this image from Beccy's, bought it, and did a Yuletide Blessings sentiment instead.

I stared with the color inspiration from House of Cards.

    The image is colored with ProMarkers, and I added tiny dots of white gel ink to the berries as light reflection.  I used an Unbranded die to cut the image.  There was a scrap of that snowflake plaid paper left on the desk after using it for another project a day or two before but it had a couple of small tears in it.  I dug through my dies and found the one from Memory Box which cut out the 2 tears perfectly!  It also added some really great texture to the card.

     I decided that the only things I'd add as embellishment was one, tiny bow so I took a white satin bow I had already sewn together and 'dyed' it with one of my green ProMarkers.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Color Inspiration
Crafting from the Heart
Crazy Challenge
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     That's all I have for today but do check back tomorrow for the next in the series.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"X" Marks the Spot !

     We're closing in on the end of the Month of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place and I've managed to play each day - a fact of which I'm really proud!  Beccy is using the letters of the alphabet as the daily challenge themes and today is the letter "X."  Yeah, go ahead - figure out an "X" you can use to make a Christmas card.  lol

     My daughter came up with "X" Marks the Spot and I looked through my collection of Beccy's images until I found this darling house with a Christmas tree.  I did have to add the snow but more about that in the "how I did it" description.  I just knew Santa wouldn't be able to land his sleigh on that tiny roof so I added a sign and an "X" to the front yard to tell him where to land.  :-D

     I started with a pre-colored image, added some shading with my ProMarkers, then used a white gel pen to add all the snow to the roof, the tree, the windows and door sill, and the ground.  With all respect to Beccy (who's in Australia), I added the snow for all of my friends up here in the Northern Hemisphere who celebrate Christmas in the winter.  :-D

     I printed the sentiment, then made the sign to go around it.   I printed the X when I printed the image.  I used a narrow rectangle die from QuicKutz to cut the image and added ink to the edges.  The paper came from a very old paper stack by DCWV and the silver, snowflake ribbon was new this season.  I added the sparkly snowflake embellies and called it finished.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Passion for ProMarkers
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Leaves of Autumn

     Today it's my pleasure to be a Guest Designer for the CAS Challenge at the Outlawz.  The theme, in addition to being CAS, is to use at least one button.

     I have no idea who made the image for this since I forgot to properly label it when I saved it into my collection of miscellaneous images.  I printed it twice in slightly different sizes, then colored both with ProMarkers.  I used rectangle dies from Spellbinders and QuicKutz to cut them, then layered them with dimensional tape to make a kind of pyramid stack.

     I added tiny buttons to the corner and did the sentiment on mini Pop Dots.  This one is CAS in design but with a more complex look.  This card has to be my salute to the end of fall and with perfect timing.  Our temperatures are expected to take a 25 degree drop between yesterday and tomorrow!

     Challenges:
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Digistamps4Joy
Let's Craft and Create
Paper Creator's Crafts
Scribbles Designs

     If you decide on a CAS card this week, add a button and come play in the CAS challenge at the Outlawz.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beautiful Christmas Wreath

     My second post today and another for the Month of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place.  We're back to using the alphabet as the theme and today is "W" so one of Beccy's Wreaths was an easy choice. :-D

     I decided on a CAS card right from the get-go so I printed the outline image onto White card stock, then colored the image with my ProMarkers.  I used two circle dies (QuicKuts) to cut the image into a doughnut shape leaving quite a bit of White to contrast with the background.  I found a scrap of plaid Christmas paper in my stash and used it for the background, layering the image on top.

     I added the "Merry Christmas" sentiment plus the ribbon bow and this CAS beauty was finished.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Beccy's Place
Catch the Bug
Colour Crazy #46
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Winter Wonderland

     I hope your weekend is going well and that the weather is gentle wherever you are.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Freebie at Beccy's Place

     Today I'll have 2 posts for you, both for cards I've done in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  Last year I missed playing altogether but this year I've been able to do a card for each day.  Beccy has been using the letters of the alphabet as daily themes, with a couple of curves thrown in since there are only 26 letters in the alphabet but 30 days in November.

     Yesterday was one of the 'curve' days and we are to use one of the freebies on her (massive!) list of freebies found on her Challenge Blog.  Just check the tabs at the top of the blog.  I used Mop Hat Cat.

     I know she isn't necessarily a Christmas image but she reminds me of my own Grammy who always baked apple pies for every winter holiday occasion and lots of times she baked one just for the family's Sunday dinner, with no need for a holiday.  Best Grammy ever and my blog is named for her!

     Because I had very limited time for this one, I used a pre-colored image, cut it with a rectangle die (Spellbinders), punched the corners with a hand punch (Fiskars), and added the image to a red card blank.  The plaid ribbon is some I picked up at a local crafting store (on sale!) and the candy canes, holly, and bow are all hologram stickers.  The "Noel" sentiment was printed and die cut (QuicKutz)  using the out-of-the-box technique.  Fast and easy card made with things easily found in local stores, inexpensive and extras are easily taken home and put in the stash.

     Challenges:
Allsorts (Noel)
Beccy's Place
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Morgan's Art World
Outlawz Festive Friday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sharing at Christmas

     The Christmas spirit has really hit me this month and I'm truly tied up in the idea that it's all about the sharing so I wanted to do a serious card for QKR Stampede and share that joy of sharing with all of you.  We have a new challenge starting today and our theme is "Anything Goes."  Normally we have an optional theme if you want to follow it but this week it's all about "Anything Goes" and we've dispensed with the optional theme.

     I used this delightful "Happy Dog 13203" image.  Remember now - serious card!

     Colored with ProMarkers, and fussy cut with scissors.  The red frame was cut with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I found a scrap of metallic red paper and added it between the card front and the image frame, then added small, glittered presents with gold metallic bows.

     The large bow in the upper corner was tied with the help of my bow maker.  There are two metallic ribbons and a total of seven loops between the two ribbons.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Crea Chicky's
Daisy Chain
Star Stampz
Stempelsonnen
World Wide Open DT

     I hope your Thanksgiving was delightful and that you can look forward to the long weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tim Burton's Crow

     OK, most of you know that Tim Burton is the one who created the movie "Nightmare Before Christmas" but you may not know that it was all because of his miserly, Humbug-type, Grinch of a crow, a feathered pet who insisted on an equal share of the holiday season.   His name is Vincent (after Vincent Price, the king of all silver screen, classic, horror movies!) and he never says "Humbug" even though he thinks it all the time.

     No, his favorite phrase is "Very Merry NOT-Christmas" and he says it with a sarcastic croak in his Voice.  All of that fits in with the letter "V" theme for today at Beccy's Place.  Here's a shot of how he decorates for NOT-Christmas.

     The birdhouse image is from Beccy and it's pre-colored.  I found the Halloween tree on a free clip art site, printed it, and colored it with polychromos pencils and warm gray ProMarkers.  I cut it with a double stitched die from Die-namics.  I used the same die to cut the background Vermilion paper and I inlaid the image into it.

     The sentiment is my own (I admit to having an oddball sense of humor) and I printed it with a computer font, then used stitched dies from the same set to cut it.  I had to adjust the placement of the die and do 2 cuts to get it the size I wanted.  The final touch was the handmade white bow.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Ellen Hutson Pin-sights
Fab n Funky
House that Stamps Built
Kraftin' Kimmie
Mod Squad
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Happiest Thanksgiving to all my Blogland Friends

and Thank You for all your support and visits!

Image by TLC Creations.

Blessings.  NanaConnie

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Moments

Frilly and Funky

Scrappy Land

Sisterhood of Crafters

Ugly Sweater Contests

     OK, as we get to the bottom of the alphabet over at Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards, it gets more and more difficult to find suitable Christmas topics that match up with the letters of the alphabet.  But today was no challenge whatsoever.  The letter is "U" and it couldn't stand for anything other than Ugly Sweaters!

     I'm sure some of you who have Beccy's 12 Days of Christmas set will think these were meant to be the 2 Turtle Doves, but you'd be wrong.  Look at those facial expressions.  They are clearly the sad winners of their hometown Ugly Sweater Contest!

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then paper pieced the sweaters, using papers from Bo Bunny.  No insult intended to Bo Bunny - the papers are great on Christmas cards or scrapbook pages but as sweaters?  Not so much.  :-D   I did have to do some work to get the design variations on the two papers in exactly the right places to accentuate the Ugly part of the sweaters.

     I added the sentiment and one tiny ribbon bow and then left it without any further embellishment.  I wanted those sweaters to be front and center.  lol

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Beccy's Place
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I hope you got a tickle on your funny bone today and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"T" for Toys

     One more day at Beccy's Place, playing in the Month of Holiday Cards, and using the alphabet for the daily themes.  Today is "T" and I used it to represent all the Toys Santa brings.  I used one of Beccy's images, this adorable rocking horse.

     I've strained my brain each day coming up with either image or crafting terms that match up with the letter of the day, and after I decided on Toys, my brain just ran dry!  lol

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and used dies from QuicKutz to cut both it and the printed sentiment.  The background paper was a scrap that originally came from a pad by Bo Bunny.  Because it was a scrap, the image hid most of it so I cut it diagonally, put the pieces into the corners, and then added the image and sentiment on top.  I love how that allowed the phrase "Toys for all the ..." to show on both the top and bottom of the image.

     I did another of my fan fold bows with the wrapped center, leaving it the original tan (Hey! Tan!  Another "T") to compliment the background color of the paper.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Beccy's Place
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Daisy Chain
Digi Choosday
Everybody Art
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Gremlins

    I know, I know, gremlins aren't really well known as Christmas critters.  Grinches, yes, and certainly elves but I happen to have personal experience with Christmas gremlins!  Ever have a package disappear after you wrapped it?  Or have favorite ornaments fall off the tree when the cat is locked outside?  Yep, it's the Christmas gremlins!

     Fortunately for you, someone managed to get a photo of a Christmas gremlin celebrating his latest raid on the Christmas tree.  Look at that evidence!  Wrapped presents and stolen candy canes.

   
     This image is from the Progressive Challenge at Sasayaki Glitter, and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  I used a die from Little B to cut it.  The deep burgundy CS in the background was embossed with my Linen folder.

     The three candy cane embellishments and the sentiment are from Recollections and I like the CAS design which focuses the attention on the image.  I debated for a while about which color candy canes to use, decided on both of the traditional Christmas colors although I admit to a preference for green most of the time.  It makes me think of the scents of Christmas - pine, bayberry, and balsam.  Mmmmm, good holiday smells.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Moments
Dream Valley
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Star Stampz
Word Art Weds.

     Stop by again later to see the next card I've done for the 30 Days of Holiday Cards at Beccy's Place.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bundle Up and Catch Snowflakes

     Today is "S" day at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Holiday Cards and and I'm using Milton Giraffe who's catching Snowflakes while he stays warm all wrapped up in his Scarves.  Scarves are very necessary for a long-necked giraffe who lives on the savanna in Africa and definitely isn't used to Snow!  Just think how bad a Sore throat would be in a neck that size.  :-D

     I used a pre-colored image but I added Seafoam glitter to one of the Scarves and to the Snowflake.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and layered it onto a Scrap of burlap cloth, then added those to the card front.

     I wrapped Snowflake ribbon around one side of the card front and added Sparkly Snowflakes on top of the ribbon.  The Sentiment was printed and die cut with another die from Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Beccy's Place
Crafty Addicts
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Unicorn

     That's it for today.  Hope you can scroll down and see my first post of the day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Winter Wishes

     I'm writing up 2 posts for today and hoping that you will stop by later for the next in the Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards that I've managed to do each day this month.  Holding my breath that I can do every day, even with the Thanksgiving holiday this week.  :-D

     But this first post is for the blog challenge over at Fabrika Fantasy with a theme of "Winter."  I used two images and combined them onto one card.

     I started with a pre-colored image because I wanted the background, then I colored the kids and their sled plus the bunny with my ProMarkers.  I printed the baby polar bear separately, colored him with ProMarkers, too, and then fussy cut him.

     I trimmed the kids and sled image to fit an A2 card, then added it to a turquoise card base.  I added the polar bear by mounting him on dimensional tape.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, adding it to the top of the card.  I did no other embellishments because I wanted the images and the dimension to be the focus.

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Crazy Challenge
Cutie Pie
Fabrika Fantasy
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Sorry this post went up so late but Blogger was giving me fits and wouldn't let me add the image!  That seems to be fixed now so I can finally post this one.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Morning

     My latest card for Beccy's Place, using the letter "R," is all about Santa sleeping in on Christmas morning.  While the rest of us are scrambling out of bed at daybreak to see what he stuffed in the stockings the night before, Santa is doing his best to get a few winks of sleep after his marathon tour of the world on Christmas Eve.  What he doesn't need is a Raucus Rooster Rarin' to crow, even if that Rooster is out in the toy barn.  lol

I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

but I turned it a 1/4 turn and used a circle instead of an oval.

     I used my ProMarkers to color this image, another of Beccy's quilted critters, all in Ruby Red and Rain forest green.  I die cut it with a stitched circle die from Die-namites.   I found two scraps of Christmas dp, cut them with the same circle die, and framed the Rooster with them.

     The sentiment is computer generated and hand cut, then added to the card front below the image.  The two little embellies, a Christmas tree and a Christmas stocking, are mounted on Raised foam dots.  I hand tied a Ribbon bow and added it to the top corner.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Christmas Cards
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in my Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Q for Quilted

     There are certain letters of the alphabet which are nearly impossible to use as themes in crafting and card making, and "Q" is one of them.  "X" is another and I'm not looking forward to that one!  But I've managed one more card in the Month of Holidays at Beccy's Place and I thank my years of Quilting for the inspiration.  Beccy has a whole zoo of Quilted animals and I'm using the deer (reindeer?) for today's Quilted card.

     All of the Quilting is done by paper piecing with 4 different Christmas papers and beige or tan ProMakers to fill in the areas I didn't paper piece.  I used both gold and silver paint pens to color the jingle bell collar and bells.  After that was done, I fussy cut the reindeer.

     I die cut the light background piece (Spellbinders) and mounted the deer onto it with dimensional tape.  I added that whole piece onto the forest green card base, then added ribbon and 3D embellies.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Ching-Chou Kuik
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's
Daisy Chain
Do Al(l) Kreatives
Get Creative
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Tinker Dream
TTCRD

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

    What Christmas would be complete without a Partridge in a Pear Tree?  Or without that age old Christmas carol, for that matter?   I knew Beccy was close to pitching us another curve ball and today she gave us a sketch.  I love sketches so I jumped right on this one, using Beccy's image! 

Here's the sketch.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, die cut with a die from Spellbinders, and layered it onto another die cut, also Spellbinders.  The red plaid paper was in my stash of Christmas papers.  I added the hand cut sentiment, the Merry Christmas circle and the double bow with a button - hand made with the help of my bow maker.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Beccy's Place
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Scrapper's Delights

     See you again  tomorrow with my next Beccy's 30 Days of Holidays card.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

All About Gratitude

     "No matter how much or how little," my dad used to say, "it's all about the gratitude."  I borrowed that for the sentiment on my card for the challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist of "Give Thanks."  I used the image "Dog with Bone" and put this fun card together.  Can't you just see the gratitude for that huge bone oozing out of him?  Look at that contented smile.

     I used my ProMarkers to color that handsome rascal, and cut him with a square die from Spellbinders.   All of the papers were scraps which were destined for the trash unless they weren't used so, of course, I used them.  That means I get to buy more papers to reward myself, you know.
 :-D

     I thought that combo of two ribbons, one sheer and one satin, were enough embellishment since this one is in the mail to one of the fellows in the family and it needed to be CAS rather than overwhelmingly embellished.

     Challenges:
Classic DT Open
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Create and Inspire
Creatalicious
Creative Ladybirds
Die Cut Divas
Let's Craft and Create
Outlawz Festive Friday
Paper Creator' Crafts
Sunsational Stamps

     A quick post today but I'll have a second one later on so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Poinsettia Garden

     I love this angelic snowman tending his lovely Poinsettia garden.  With that capital "P" on Poinsettia, can you tell it's another card for the Month of Holidays at Beccy's Place?  Yep, today we are to use the letter "P."

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and added glittery gel ink to the snowflake halo and used dots of Wink of Stella on the Poinsettia centers.  I cut the image with a stitched die from CUTplorations and then framed it with another die cut (Gina Marie Dies.)  I mounted the image piece onto Pop Dots before layering it onto the frame and then put that entire thing onto a lime green card base.  The sentiment was computer printed, hand cut, and added to the image piece.  Aside from the dimension (which doesn't show too well in the photo), it's a fairly CAS card.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Beccy's Place
CCC Digi
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Crea Chicky's 
Create with TLC 
Stempelsonnen
World Wide DT Open

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Opera

     One more day in the Month of Holidays at Beccy's Place and today our alphabet theme is "O" so naturally, I thought of Opera!  Doesn't everybody think Opera at Christmas time?  lol  I used the Three Tenors from Beccy's Place.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  I wrapped it with a metallic backing to turn it into an Ornament.   I used an Ombre paper for the background and found a scrap of burgundy red CS to make the little pocket on the card front.

     The image/Ornament slides into the pocket but I forgot to take a photo of it with the image inside the pocket.  I added the Merry Christmas sentiment and the glittery wreath as the only embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Beccy's Place
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     Well, I'm off to run some errands and I'll be back in time to link up to all the challenges.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Naughty or Nice?

     OK, I know these are supposed to be innocent milk maids, as in "8 Maids a'Milking," but come on -- their "We're Partying!" smiles tell me that's more likely to be vodka than milk in their glasses!   Hence, the sentiment "It's all fun and games till Santa checks the naughty list!"  Both the image and the sentiment are from Beccy's Place and I think they work perfectly for the "N" day of the alphabet challenges.  I leave it totally up to you to decide if that stands for Naughty or Nice.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and Copics (tending toward the Neon reds), then cut the image with a square die from Spellbinders.  I had to adjust the die and cut twice to make it a rectangle because I wanted it slightly more rectangle than square to accommodate the shape of the image.

     I mounted that onto black CS for the mat.   I found the black and red dp in my stash of scraps and put it on top of some burgundy CS I had chosen for the card front.  The kraft ribbon with the snowflakes seemed to work with the color of the cow.  I made a fan-fold bow and wrapped it with Narrow linen ribbon.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Color Inspiration Mon.
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Digi Choosday
Merry Monday
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Well, I'm later getting this posted than normal but my day got away from me from the very moment I got out of bed this morning.  Maybe tomorrow will be less frantic.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mother and Child

     It's the letter "M" for today's challenge in the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  We're half way through the alphabet and I've played every day!  Having missed out on it completely last year, I'm really proud of myself for accomplishing that much this year.

     I decided on Mary for my "M" but it could also be Mother and Child or Madonna and Child, and of course, there's always the Manger.  Clearly this is a Nativity image from Beccy's Place and I added one of the shepherds from the set.  The sentiment is also from the set.

     I printed the image on some scrap CS, colored it with watercolor pencils and ProMarkers, then cut it to size on my paper cutter.  I used a Fiskars corner punch on all 4 corners, then did a black Mat for it (also a scrap saved from the trash can) the same way.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with yet another tiny scrap, and hand cut again.

     The silver ribbons were in my stash and both are left over pieces from other projects.  Not a bad CAS card made entirely from saved snippets.  :-D

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Beccy's Place
Crafty Addicts
Glitter n Sparkle
Outlawz CAS
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pixie's Snippets
Sisterhood of Crafters

     A new week has started and we're just 6 weeks now until Christmas.  For those in the USA, Thanksgiving is next week - Yikes!  Too much still to do in that more or less 10 days, not the least of which is my youngest granddaughter's Sweet 16 Birthday to be celebrated this coming Friday.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Crisp Autumn Nights

     This beautiful image is drawn by Shell Becker and is for the Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz for November.  It's such a delightful, late-fall image.

I took color inspiration from the challenge at Aloha Friday.

      Of course, I used my ProMarkers to color it including a bit of gray and pale yellow on the sentiment piece to tone down the otherwise too bright white of the CS on which the sentiment was printed.

     I cut the image and the sentiment with dies from a Gina Marie Designs set.  I matted both pieces with deep brown CS and added them to a pre-made, yellow card blank.  I added only two strands of orange and brown twine and then left it completely CAS.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Mon.
Crafty Catz
Double D
Passion for ProMarkers
Star Stampz
SUYP Cats
Word Art Weds.

     Later today, I'll have my next card for Beccy's Month of Holiday challenges.  I can hardly believe I've managed to have a card for each day so far!  Of course, working ahead is possible when you know that the entire alphabet will be used as themes, with an occasional curve thrown in to cover the other days since there are more days than letters in the alphabet.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Lantern

     Assuming Beccy doesn't throw us another curve, today should be the letter "L" in the Month of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  I chose a Christmas Lantern from Beccy's store and did a sentiment which has lots of other "L"s in it.  :-D

     I was thinking about candles or other Lights being left in windows as a way of welcoming those who are returning home after an absence.  That was connected to the idea of Love for the person returning so all of those ideas went into the sentiment.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, specifically using Lemon yellow for the Lamplight from the Lantern.  I cut it with a Link-edge Oval (Unbranded die.)

     I decided that doing Layers would be a Lovely design idea so I started with a Lemon colored card base, Layered on a Lattice die cut (Memory Box) and added a Layer of burlap fabric on top of that.  Finally, I added the image, the sentiment, and one of my hand sewn bows.

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafty Creations
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Kraftin' Kimmie
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Thankful Mouse

     For several years now, the family Thanksgiving dinner has been at my daughter and son-in-law's home, leaving me free to make one or two desserts which I take along and add to the table, and leaving me free of the massive clean up which always happens after a dozen people have graced your home for a holiday meal.  Do I love it?  You bet I do!

     But I always make a Thank You card (in addition to the Thanksgiving cards which I do for everyone) for my SIL since he's the one who prepares the major portions of the meal.  Here's the one I'm giving him this year.  I guarantee he's going to tell me the card is for a child - and I'm going to remind him that he IS my child, by virtue of having married my daughter, and always will be no matter how old he gets!

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz, but flipped it upside down.

     I used my ProMarkers and polychromos pencils (plus white gel ink for one or two highlights) to color this cute image from Paper Shelter, then cut it and the mat with dies from Sizzix.  I found the very subtle dp for the background in an old Bo Bunny pad and cut it to fit the card front.

     I added a strip of sparkly brown ribbon which had been in my stash for quite a while.  I am pretty sure it came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Then I tied a bow using glittery orange ribbon.  It has real glitter on it and that glitter sheds everywhere as you tie the bow!  Sheesh!

     The "Gratitude" and "Oh, Yeah" sentiments were printed, hand-cut, and added on top of the image piece.  The "Thanks" sentiment is hand cut, inked on the edges, and adhered with Pop Dots.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Allsorts
Crafty Calendar
Creates and Makes
Cuttlebug Mania
Outlawz PAM
Paper Shelter
Ribbon Girl
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie