Birthday Balloons

     I need to add several more birthday cards to my stash and most of them need to be CAS and masculine.  Fortunately, I love doing both of those and even better when I can combine them.

     I've had this balloon image (Bugaboo Stamps) for a while and I can't remember ever using it but I love the color combo from the Catch the Bug challenge this week and knew it would work wonderfully with this image.

Color Palette from Catch the Bug and 

sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

   

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  I inked the edges of the rectangle.  Both of the papers I used were in my scrap basket and they were perfect for the color combo.  The green, polka dot, paper is from Stampin' Up and it was in the very first batch of SU papers I ever bought so it has to be among the oldest things in my paper stash, if not the oldest.  :-D

     The scalloped border piece, which I used across the middle of the card, was cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, matted it with dark green CS, and added it to the top of the card.  I found the three, blue pearls and added them to the bottom corner.  That was it - a CAS and masculine card for the birthday stash.

     Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
TTCRD

     The weekend is almost here and, for those of us in the US, it's a long weekend as we celebrate Labor Day.  That particular 'holiday' has always intrigued me.  We are celebrating "Labor" by doing our absolute best to not labor for the entire 3 days.  lol

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgie Witches on the Move

     I haven't done a tall and skinny card for ages, it seems, but this one for Halloween (done with a Penny Black stamp) just had to be tall to get the effect of the entire scene.  Take a look - you'll see right away what I mean.

     I adore hedgies and finding these two as witches on their broom just made me happy!  I also love making Halloween cards so that made me even happier.  :-D

     I colored the cute hedgie witches on their broom with my ProMarkers and die cut them with a Sizzix die.  I inked the edges with a deep, purple marker.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another Sizzix die.

     The background is done entirely with papers from a Making Memories Halloween stack.  I had to trim things to fit the card size but I loved figuring out the how and where of placement for the papers and scrap bits.

     I decided that I only needed minimal embellishment so I tied a black ribbon bow and added a tiny gem to it.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black Saturday
Penny Black and More
Scrappy Land

     OK, I'm going to take all my happiness to the kitchen and fix some dinner, then do an early bedtime.  I was up at 4:30 this morning, didn't have a nap, and sleepy time is fast setting in.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Wagon

     The pumpkins in the garden are getting bigger, fatter, and more orange each day.  The rest of the crops are pretty much done for the year even though my tomato plants are still looking healthy and are massive in size.  I was inspired to dig out this delightful image from Sandi Huggett which I used nearly every fall; sometimes for Halloween, sometimes for Thanksgiving.  This year it's just for a celebration of the harvest season.

     I started with water colors on the sky and ground, then colored the rest of wagons and pumpkins with ProMarkers.  I cut the image with an Unbranded, Cross Stitch Rectangle die.  I wanted dp which had fall colors but also had blue.  I found two scraps of dp in my basket, neither of which was large enough to cover the entire card front so I combined them.

     The brown strip is the back side of one of those papers.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another die from that same Cross Stitch set.  I inked the edges before adhering it to the top corner.  I added the three metal brads and the wrapped-string bow and called it finished before it got away from me.  :-D

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR
Simon Says Stamp Mon.
Simon Says Stamp Weds. (this is pumpkin pie in its raw form! :-D)
Sum More Fun
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Hedgies with Poppies

     I think hedgies are my favorite critters (don't tell the cats!) especially for making cards.  Poppies are one of my favorite flowers so this darling image from Di's Digi Designs was a delight to color.  When I checked their current challenge theme, they want to see Fancy Folds so I took a standard gate fold card and turned it sideways so that the 'gate' opens top and bottom.  Sounds weird, I know, but let me show you the pic and you'll immediately see what I mean.

     I used water colors on the image and cut it and the frame with scalloped circle dies from Sizzix.

     I used kraft CS to make the card base and scored an 8.5 inch x 5.5 inch piece at the 1.5 inch line and the 2.5 inch line, leaving the middle section 5.5 x 4.25 (standard A2 size.)  The dp (Recollections) was a scrap and it worked perfectly with the color combo - beige background to complement the kraft and red flowers to pair up with the image and frame.

     I folded on the score lines and adhered the image to the top flap.  I tied a bowtie bow, dyed it red with a ProMarker, and added it to the bottom of the image.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and matted it with a scrap of red CS, then hand cut it again, attaching it at the top of the card.

     My next door neighbor loves poppies - any color, any size, and any variety so I'm giving this one to her for her birthday next month.  That should 'brighten her day' and make it an occasion.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Everybody Art
Hiding in My Craft Room
House that Stamps Built
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     That's all I have for this first day of the work week.  Have a great week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Words for Christmas

     I have two more Christmas cards to share today, both using image sentiments as the focus.  These are from Limited Runs and I've used four of these Christmas sentiments to make a dozen  CAS Christmas cards for my stash.

     The coloring on each one was done with ProMarkers.  On the top one, I used "Frosted Lace" Stickles for the snow on the letters.  The snowflakes are rub-ons which have been in my stash at least 5 years.  It was about time  I used them!  

     I'm still working on getting the weather to cool down and feel like fall instead of a sweltering 100+F day after day so this card is actually a plea more than a statement.  lol

     On the bottom one, I used ribbon from my Christmas stash and tied a tiny bow, white originally but dyed red with a ProMarker.  The Santa and the snowflakes on that one are simple foam stickers to which I added glitter.  

     That's two more quick, CAS cards for the Christmas stash.

     Challenges:  (Cold Outside)

Color Sisters

Creative Craft Cottage

Joy Clair

Morgan's ArtWorld

Paper Nest Dolls

     Challenges:  (Santa Stop)

12 Months of Christmas

A Bit More Time to Craft

Christmas Crafts All Year Round

Classic Design Team Open

Not Just Cards

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sketch Saturday Guest Designer

     This is my fourth (and final) card as a Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday and I'm having so much fun with the sketches and sponsors.  This week, we're sponsored by Little Miss Muffet and I've used their darling "Pippa" image.   She definitely looks like she's ready to conquer her first day at school !  Don't tell her it could also be used for someone's birthday.  lol

     Here's the sketch for this week but I turned it a quarter turn and reversed the layers because that better fit my image shape.

Here's my card:

     I used ProMarkers to color sweet Pippa, then cut her with a Bo Bunny die.  I used another die from that same set to cut the delicate, pink frame and inlaid the two.  The dp rectangle came from my scrap basket and didn't even need trimming; it was the perfect size as it was.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then began looking for a single embellishment.  I thought about a flower but decided on the two-tone, bowtie, bow.  I'm loving the monochromatic pink of this card.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Bastel-Traum

CASual Friday

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Sentiments

Cute Card Thurs.

I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp

Time Out

     Have yourselves a great little weekend and feel free to come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Building Dreams

     The newest challenge starts today over at QKR Stampede and our theme is the usual "Anything Goes."  I made this card for a friend who has donated more than 1500 hours of labor to Habitat for Humanity over the last 10 years.  He doesn't even talk about the amount of materials he's also donated.  I just wanted to give him a pat on the back and this QKR Stampede image called "Carpenter Rabbit" seemed perfect.

I was inspired by the sketch at My Favorite Things.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I used chalk to highlight the embossing around the edges of the die cut.

     I chose dp from Recollections, cutting a strip from the chevron paper and trimmed down the background scrap to fit the card front.  I layered everything together, printed and hand cut the sentiment, and after that, left the card very plain and un-embellished.   It had to be mailed and it's for a guy so plain is better.  :-D

     Challenges:
Cute N Crafty
Crafty Creations
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     I hope we'll see you playing along at QKR Stampede this week.  I mean, how can you go wrong with an Anything Goes theme?  See you over there.  NanaConnie

Sparkling Christmas

     As I said before in an earlier post, I spent most of last weekend making Halloween and Christmas cards and today I'm sharing another of the Christmas cards.  If there's someone on your list who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I suppose it could be used for a celebration of the Winter Solstice.  But I celebrate Christmas so it's a Christmas card.  ;-D

     The sentiment image is from Limited Runs and I printed it large enough to take up almost 3/4 of this card.  I used sparkle gel pen to 'color' the snowflakes in the letters and used "Diamond" glitter to make the frame. 

     I had the very narrow white and gold ribbon in my Christmas stash and I wrapped it around the card front before adding the sentiment piece.  The iridescent glittered bow is made from die cut pieces.  Unfortunately, I don't know who made the die.  I made half a dozen of the bows at a crafting party we set up for exchanging the use of dies.  Someone brought that die as her contribution to the party and anyone interested could use it.

     If you've never done that kind of crafting party, you really should think about organizing one.  I think we had about 10 ladies who attended, each one bringing some kind of unusual die (it could be any crafting tool or supply, depending on what interests the group) and each person brought their own paper and CS supplies.  I also took images I had already colored because I knew one of the ladies was bringing a set of framing dies which I could use to cut them.

     But, back to this bow - I assembled it (totally new for me - I've never "assembled" bows before - tied them, yes, but not "assembled"!) and added it to the narrow ribbon, nearly obscuring  that poor ribbon altogether!  With all that sparkle, I called it finished and added it to my Christmas stash. 

     I realize that card is mostly black and white but the glitter on the bow is a lovely shade of winter-y lavender and it's just so stunning.  I love any shade of purple (my favorite color) but in this case I love it because, with everything else black and white, it adds a deliciously icy sheen to this winter weather card!

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Catch the Bug
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Limited Runs
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dandelions in the Wind

     I remember as a child discovering how much fun it was to blow on dandelions and watch their delicate seeds drift all over the yard.  I also remember my mom telling me not to do that because she hated having to dig the dandelion plants out of the lawn.  But the temptation was just soooo great.  lol

     Anyway, when I first saw the Dandelion Sprite image at AuroraWings, I bought it and I'm using it on this card today to celebrate a friend's birthday. 

AuroraWings has a sketch challenge this month.

      I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter to the dandelion and seeds, and used Nuvo Crystal Drops on the sprite's flower petals.  The image was cut with stitched dies from Die-Namics.  I also cut the yellow background CS with the largest of those dies and inlaid the image.

     The leaves were cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and the butterfly was cut from burlap paper with a Cottage Cuts die.  I added a strip of Nuvo Crystal Drops for the butterfly's body and added little touches of it to the flowers, too.  The flowers were in  my stash as was the net 'ribbon.' 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges and adhered it to the card.  I added the birthday sentiment to the inside but forgot to photograph it and the card is already in the mail.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafting by Designs
Creates and Makes
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Hey, do you realize that we're halfway to the weekend?  Only 2 more days to go.  Woohoo!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower of the Family

     Since I was the baby and only girl among the siblings, my dad always said I was the "Flower" of the family.  In my teen years, my older brother said that was because I was a "bloomin' idiot!"  lol  Whatever the reason, I used that phrase as the sentiment on this card which features an image from All Dressed Up.

I was inspired by the colors at House of Cards.

     This one is colored with a combo of polychromos pencils and ProMarkers, then cut with an Unbranded die.  I matted the die cut image piece with light blue CS and trimmed the corners.  I mounted that onto dark blue CS and put that onto a kraft card base.

     I dug through my stash of ribbon and found two, matching-in-color, ribbons from completely different companies.  I used one to wrap the card front and the other to make a 'ruched' bow to which I added a row of pearls.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, then matted it with a scrap of kraft CS.  I added that to the bottom of the dark blue CS.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up
A Perfect Time to Craft
Carlin's Card Paradise
CCC Digi Creations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Joy Clair
Let's Craft and Create
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Have a wonderful, crafty day and Happy Stamping!   NanaConnie

Pumpkin Time

     I've spent the weekend doing both Christmas and Halloween themed cards and today I'm sharing one of the fall/Halloween cards.  The stamp is from Digistamps4Joy and I think it's adorable.

I was inspired by the colors in the mood board at Sum More Fun.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and white gel ink to make the stars.  I cut the moon from white CS (colored with ProMarkers), added it to the corner, then cut the entire image with a Tonic Studios die.

    I printed the sentiment, cut it with another Tonic Studios die, matted it with yellow CS, and cut that with my paper cutter.  I added everything to an embossed card front and found a lace bowtie to add.  I left it CAS because it will be sent to one of the guys in my family.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Tuesday
Paper Shelter
Polkadoodles
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

CAS Christmas

     This is my second post today so if you missed the first one, be sure to scroll down to the previous post.  It's worth a look.  :-D

     Limited Runs has some wonderful Christmas images but I'm showcasing a very simple and large sentiment.  I'm going to make at least a dozen cards just like this one because it's one of those really quick, "git 'er done" (as my friend, Lynn, says) cards which is flat enough to mail.

I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

flipped side to side.

     I used ProMarkers to color the candy cane letters in the sentiment and also the border around the sentiment.  I used die cut holly leaves and berries, adhered them with Pop Dots, and added Glossy Accents to the berries for some sparkle and shine.   Plain but bright, CAS and fast.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Addicted to CAS
Aud Sentiments
Catch the Bug
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Creative Inspirations
Everybody Art 
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Time Out

     Have a great rest of your weekend, my friends.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Too Cute to Spook

     OK, this weekend I've gotten inspired to make a few Halloween cards and I started with this darling little witch from Conie Fong.  Who could resist that cute face and that sweet little kitten cuddled in her arm?

I took inspiration from the sketch at The Outlawz

turning it a quarter turn and I also took a bit of a liberty with it.

     She's colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut.  I used a set of framing dies from Spellbinders to cut the black piece behind the image.  I cut those from different pieces of scrap CS and inlaid them to make the one, large framing piece.

     The 'moon' is cut with a plain circle die from QuicKutz and the bats are cut with a Cottage Cutz die.  Those were also cut from scrap bits rescued from the trash can.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment.  The three tiny dots are negative pieces which fell out of the Spellbinders die cut and I just used them like gem embellies.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafting by Designs
Double D
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippet's
Scrappy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I'll have another post later this afternoon - not Halloween, but Christmas instead.  I'm still hoping our 103F weather will change and get cooler.  Throughout the summer this year, 5 out of every 6 days have been 100 degrees or higher, and even those which have been below 100, have been 98 or 99.  That started the last week of May and I'm really tired of it!  I'm trying to entice fall by doing cold weather cards.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make Your Own Sunshine

     Here it is, Week 3 of my Guest Designing with Sketch Saturday and the challenge is being sponsored by The Paper Shelter this week.  They supplied two images for the DT to use and I chose "Sunshine."  I think it had something to do with the hot weather.  lol

Here's the sketch for this week.

     I started with a pre-colored image and then used ProMarkers to change the colors of the hat, hair and dress on little Miss Sunshine.   I cut the image with a large, rectangle die from QuicKutz, then I fussy cut her along the right side.  The background paper is from that Paper Shelter set, too. 

    The little flower and star embellishments are large sequins.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges before adding it to the card front.  Aside from the sequins, the card design is pretty CAS.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Crafty Friends
Digi Choosday
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Tennis Star

     I love Fridays!  It means I get to share another fun card with a silly and delightful QKR Stampede image.  Our newest challenge starts today and will run for a week.  I've used "Playing Tennis."

     I colored the tennis star with ProMarkers and used water colors on the background.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders. 

     I found two scraps of paper in the basket, neither of them big enough to make the frame, so I cut each one (again, Spellbinders) and then layered them together on a diagonal to frame the image.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges before adding it to the card.  I used tiny gems from Stampendous for a bit of sparkle.

     Oh, you want to know what the sentiment means?    You haven't figured it out?   It was on a personalized license plate the first time I saw it.  Give up?  OK, how about "Tennis, anyone?"  lol

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Cutie Pie
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Southern Girls
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD
Words to Craft By

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Staying in Shape

     I'm playing in one of my favorite progressive challenges today - the one over at The Outlawz.    The image this month is from Sandra Caldwell and I like this hippo's idea of a perfect diet (and a perfect shape!)  :-D

     She's colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a die from Spellbinders. I backed the image piece with deep pink CS, then cut it again with another die from that set.  I used that outer die to cut the card front and inlaid the image, making it a single layer card (but for the bow and sentiment.) 

     The bow is made from a strip of lace.  I did several of those all in one afternoon, trying to use up various scraps of lace which were in my ribbon stash.  I got more than two dozen bows using those scraps.

     The sentiment was printed, hand cut, matted, and hand cut again.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy Land

     There's a brand new challenge starting today called "Creations in Pink" and I'm delighted to tell you that I was chosen as one of the DT members!   In simple terms, the challenge runs monthly on the 15th of each month and the primary requirement is to use lots of pink on your projects.  Other than that, it's pretty much Anything Goes.   How easy is that?

     This month, our sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I used "Water Fairy, who looks so lovely and "summer-y."  Isn't she a fabulous stamp?

     I colored her with ProMarkers and cut her with an Unbranded die.  I cut the pink frame with a larger die from that same set.  The swans are also cut with Unbranded dies.  I added narrow pink ribbon and a pink ribbon bow.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, matted, hand cut again, and added between the swans.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
CARDZ TV
Crafty Sentiments
DL.ART
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz

     I hope you'll bookmark our challenge and come play along each month.  You can also find us on the "By Date, Not Days" list at Challenges for Days, a great resource for finding challenges you may want to enter.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Portrait of a Lady

     It's mid-month and that means a new challenge is starting at World Wide Open DT, always sponsored by Julia Spiri and her magnificent images!  I've used one of the newer images, "Portrait Girl" which is done in gray scale and I used water colors to bring her to life.

    After water coloring, the image was die cut and the edges were distressed.  I used a larger Tonic Studios scalloped die to cut the white frame and the another to cut the pink CS piece.  Those were layered together before printing and fussy cutting the sentiment.  I matted the sentiment with a scrap of pink CS and added it to the image piece.

     I found the scrap of black dp in my stash and it's been around for so long, I don't even know who made it.  The pink bow is one I sewed together by hand and then added a tiny gem to it.  I love the soft feel of this image and I hope it carried over to the entire card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Creations
Digi Choosday
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Friday
Southern Girls
TTCRD
Work It Weds.

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our Anything Goes challenge at World Wide Open this month.  For my US & Canada friends, remember that this challenges runs from the 15th of this month through the 14th of next month but that's on Australia time so think a day ahead.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Peacock

     I'm sharing a card this morning which was the result of my daughter challenging me to CASE a photo she found on the internet.  It was this picture of a beautiful peacock.

     Now, what you need to know is that I love peacocks but coloring them is something that intimidates me.  I don't think she knows that or she probably wouldn't have challenged me to CASE that one.  But we can't disappoint our children, so...

     I searched my files for a peacock image but the only two I had were pre-colored and I felt that wouldn't fit what she wanted to see from me.  I haven't collected many peacock images just because coloring them intimidates me.  However, I did find an embroidery pattern which I scanned and reduced to make it feel a bit like a digi image.  I've never tried coloring embroidery patterns before although I've embroidered my share of them with embroidery floss.  :-D  Here's what it looks like after I scanned it.

     And here's what I did with it.

     I colored with ProMarkers, adding super fine glitter to the head and neck and using gold paint pen on the lattice work.   I also used gold paint on the edges of the image after die cutting it with a rectangle die from Tonic Studios.  I'm thinking that I might like to try coloring this one again but using my polychromos pencils.  I'm sure it will give a very different look to that magnificent bird.

     I knew I wanted to bring out the main colors in the peacock so I used another Tonic Studios rectangle die to cut scraps of turquoise and green CS.  I put those together on an angle, then layered on the image.  I chose a purple CS scrap to make the card front and added a scrap of lace to it before adding the image.

     I added the sentiment but did not embellish the card because I didn't want anything to distract from the peacock.

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creates and Makes
Hiding in My Craft Room
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pile It On
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     I rather like my first attempt at coloring a peacock and I'm proud enough of it to share it on my blog.  I did send a photo of it to my daughter as soon as it was finished (rather than making her wait until she came over or we had coffee together) and she pronounced it "Beautiful!"  lol

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day in the Garden

     I dearly love this sweet image of a girl in her garden for the Sasayaki Glitter Progressive Challenge this month.  It's called "Butterfly Garden."

     I colored with ProMarkers, the cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  That got mounted onto purple CS which became the card front.  I printed the sentiment , hand cut it, and added it below the image.

     For embellishment, I die cut a butterfly out of burlap paper, dyed it purple with a ProMarker, added a gem to the body, and glued it to the top corner.  I found the two orchids in my flower stash
and thought they'd look good on each side of the sentiment

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly Challenge (flowers & frame)
CARDZ TV
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Colors
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pattie's Creations
Word Art Weds.

     The week is rolling by and before you know it, we'll pass the halfway point and then it'll be the weekend.  When time passes that quickly, it means Christmas is just around the corner.  Have you started on your cards yet?  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy Nightsong

     I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at The Outlawz Songs and Rhymes challenge today.   Each week, they choose lyrics from a song or poem as inspiration for a crafty project.  This week, it's "Fairy Nightsongs."  Fairy NightSongs

Dancing a spiral we sing unaware
On fairy night wings our songs fill the air
Making a circle of magic and light
Watched silently by the Fey of the night

     Here's my card with an image from Anne Fenton and she's the sponsor for the entire month of August.

I started with a sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas, turned to stand vertical.

     I used ProMarkers to color her, added copper glitter to her wings, then fussy cut the image.  I adhered her to a double oval die cut (Spellbinders.)  I found a scrap of lace in my stash, cut it in two, and added the strips to the card front.  I layered on the image and added one of my hand-sewn bows to the bottom of the ovals.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
CARDZ TV
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pegasus in Purple

     I'm a Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday this month and this is my second card for them but a completely new sketch.  They have new sketches and new challenges each week.  The sketch this week was both fun and fancy.

     The sponsor for this week is LeAnn's World 101.  She has some of the most adorable images!  Go check them out.  I used one called "Daisy's Friend" and was delighted that the friend is Pegasus.  :-D

     A quick personal story - I first discovered Pegasus through reading.  As a child, summer meant plenty of reading time (without any teachers telling you what you had to read) and one summer, I discovered Greek Mythology.  That led to a love of all fantasy creatures and to this day, unicorns, fairies, mermaids, and especially Pegasus, all mean summer time to me.

Here's the sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, deciding to use a monochromatic range of my favorite color, purple.  I cut the image and purple frame with dies from my newest Tonic Studios set.  I love that die set.  It has alternating sizes of plain and scalloped rectangles.  Once I had the image cut with the  die, I carefully cut it into 6 "inchie" squares.

     I laid those out on the frame piece, spacing them carefully to get the 'window' look.  Once adhered, I layered that entire piece onto the background dp (Stampin' Up), then put that onto deep purple CS.

     I printed and added the sentiment, substituting it for the little flag piece.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

As You Like It (Fur or feathers?  How about both!  But fur is still easier to color.)

Aud Sentiments

Cut It Up

DL.ART

Outlawz PAM

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

Take It, Make It

     I'll see you again next Saturday with another sketch.  In the meantime, come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Little Birdie Told Me...

     Good Friday Morning!  We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   I took the opportunity to add another birthday card to my stash with this CAS design using QKR image "Birdhouses" and sentiment "Birdie Told Me."  Remember that QKR Stampede images come in both rubber and digital, whichever is your preference.

     I colored the birdhouses and background in the image with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then fussy cut it leaving two spots where the image went 'off the edge.'  To give a little texture and dimension, I stacked the image onto 3 more layers of CS, hand cutting each one as I added it so that the final image piece is 4 layers of CS.  I inked the edges to make it pop a bit.

     I adhered that onto a confetti CS base.  I printed the sentiment, matted it with turquoise CS, and hand cut that.  I used baker's twine to wrap the card and die cut (Cheery Lynn) a butterfly out of burlap paper.  I 'dyed' it with a ProMarker, then added one tiny rhinestone to the butterfly body for a bit of sparkle and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
CARDZ TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
House that Stamps Built (1st column)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper Crafty
Victorine Originals

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you and you certainly can't go wrong with an Anything Goes theme.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Fall Yet?

     OK, I'm done with summer!  I officially hate hot weather, I'm tired of day after day of temperatures over 100F, I'm tired of heat waves, and I don't want to hear the meteorologists tell us one more time to stay indoors because of bad air quality!   That part is really sad because outside is my favorite place to be if I'm not in the craft room.  I want it to be autumn and I want crisp, cool nights, not Hot August Nights. 

     I'm not doing any more summer cards - only fall and winter.  Maybe that will bring in cooler temperatures.  :-D  The image on this autumn card is from Bugaboo Stamps and I love this autumn deer.

I started with the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used one of my Stitched Border dies from Lawn Fawn along each side of it.  I trimmed it top and bottom with a paper cutter and distressed the edges.  Both papers came from one of my DCWV autumn stacks which have been in my stash for more than 5 years now.  I use them up slowly but surely and, while they last, I don't have to buy any new fall paper stacks.  

     I found the orange, polka dot ribbon in my stash, wrapped it around and then hand tied the bow.  I printed the sentiments, cut it by hand, matted it, hand cut it again, then added it to the top corner.

     Challenges:

Angie's Digital Stamps

Catch the Bug

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Calender

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's Paper

Lawn Fanatics (outside)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Well, I went outside to check but fall hasn't arrived yet.  Back to the craft room to make more winter cards.  Maybe visions of snow will help.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie