Lupin and Butterflies

     It's a great Friday morning and we're starting a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede today.  My card features a stamp from our sister store, Eureka Stamps, called "Dear Friend."  The sentiment is included as part of the image making it perfect for a quick and easy card.  In addition, all the CS used were mere scraps that I put to work instead of letting it end up in the trash, including the piece for the image.

I chose the greens, purple, and lilac from the Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die, out-of-the-box
Matted with deep purple CS, distressed edges
Butterfly die from Spellbinders
Heat Embossed w clear EP + glitter

     Challenges:
Angie's Digi Stamps
Butterfly (Hunter Green, Heliotrope & Heat Embossing)
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wild Roses

     I wish I could tell you more about the image on this card but it was given to me by a lady who orders cards from me.  She didn't ask for a card - just gave it as a gift.  :-D

Sketch from Sketch Saturday.

Colored with ProMarkers

Die cut with QuicKutz

Jute cord

Hand tied bow

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Craft-Dee BowZ

Cutie Pie

Dies R Us

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Color

Prika Crafts

Simon Says Stamp

Sparkles Monthly

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Visit

     I wish my summer garden looked this neat and tidy.  I'm afraid the weeds have taken over during these weeks of shoulder problems and doctor's orders to "do nothing."  I'm healing well now, but not enough to go out and undo the ravages of untended nature.  lol

     The image is from  Lemon Shortbread.

     ProMarkers
     QuicKutz dies
     Gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
   
     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Happy Craft
Passion for ProMarkers
Tues Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Mermaid Summer

     Summer is definitely here in my part of the world, with hot, hot, HOT weather, and I'm already wishing I was a mermaid !  This cute image is from Sasayaki Glitter.

I used the colors from The Outlawz.

     

     Colored with ProMarkers & glitter

     Cut with dies from Spellbinders

     Patterned papers are scraps from my stash

     Hand sewn bow 

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs.

Double D

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.

Scrappy Land

Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My #1

     This sweet little bear is from Conie Fong and makes a perfect anniversary card, I think.

     ProMarkers
     QuicKutz circle dies
     2 different CS for the circles
     Smaller 2 circles are embossed with Linen folder
     Embroidered flowers
     Pink, satin bow (hand tied)

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
CCC Digi
Classic DT Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creations in Pink
Digi Doodle Studios
Friendship
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Scribbles Designs

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Sparkle

     This weekend, I'm going to try making one card each day but they will no doubt continue to be CAS designs.  Yesterday, I managed to use my Cuttlebug left handed and that's a biggie!  Here's the card I made, using the freebie image from the Progressive challenge at The Outlawz, and I'm adding it to my stash of birthday cards.

     Everything was made by using scraps and left over bits, including the card stock on which the image was printed.  The coppery, sparkle paper was left over from a 12" x 12" sheet of scrapbooking paper.

     ProMarkers
     QuicKutz and Spellbinders dies
     Sheer ribbon
     Computer font for the sentiment
     Glittered paper

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Day at the Beach

     It's so hot here that all I can think is we should be at the beach where it's 35 degrees cooler!  This Beach Fence image from Pink Gems is about the best I can do at the moment.

ProMarkers to color
Cut with QuicKutz die using out-of-the-box technique
Stitched ribbon
3 aqua gemstones
Inked edges on image and sentiment

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Angie's Digital Stamps
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Sentiments
Cut It Up
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Take It, Make It
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Time with Cats and Friends

     It's another fun Friday over at QKR Stampede and we've started a new "Anything Goes" challenge.  You can use any image from any company to enter but if you use an image from QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a completely separate draw.  That means your chances of winning are increased significantly!

     Today, I've used a cutie of an image called "Cozy Kitty" and  you can find it by clicking on the name.

     Colored with ProMarkers
     Spellbinders dies
     QuicKutz rectangle dies (sentiment)
     Metal brads

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania  (top row)
Passion for ProMarkers
Prika Crafts
Scrapy Land
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Day Trips

     I have always loved day trips, beginning with trips to the beach when I was a child and continuing throughout my lifetime with outings for fishing and even photography jaunts.  Mostly, I loved the journeys which had no specific destination beyond picking a compass direction, heading out, and taking the first side road that looked interesting.  It was amazing how the summer exploration adventures unfolded trip after trip.

     This cute image from LeAnn's World 101 reminds me of those days.

     I used:
ProMarkers
Dies from Memory Box
Hand bleached CS
Ribbon
Hand-sewn Butterfly bow

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Butterfly (Granny Smith & Gingham + butterfly bow)
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug (ribbon/ die/ sentiment)
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hot as a Pepper

     My SIL is crazy about making hot sauce - the hotter the better!  He grows his own peppers and adds secret ingredients to raise the temperature even higher.  Personally, I don't like spicy-hot foods, much preferring to savor the actual taste of the meat or veggies I'm ingesting but I'm the oddball in the family.

     Speaking of Oddballs, this image is from Oddball Art and I used it to make a perfect card for Son-in-Law, probably for his birthday.

     Of course, it's also a great salute to the hot, summer weather we've had the last 10 days; above 100 F 6 days in a row, including one day at 108 F (!), then a cool down to 99 for 2 days and now we're supposed to be back in the 100+ for the next day or two.  Blaaah.  I hate hot weather even more than I dislike hot foods.

Colors selected from the challenge at Color Dare #346;

Candy Apple/ New England Ivy/ Linen

     Items Used:
ProMarkers
Spellbinders border die
Memory Box die for frame
Hand-sewn bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Catz
Cuttlebug Mania (top row)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Funday
Scrapy Land
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Counting Kittens instead of Sheep

     This sweet image is from the Sasayaki Glitter Progressive challenge and I think it's adorable, especially 'wrapped up' in my fav purple & kraft combo.

Coloring:  ProMarkers and water colors
Image: Fussy cut & adhered to die cut mat  (leftover scrap)
Dies: Memory Box
Ribbon: Scrap from my stash
Bow: Sheer, hand sewn, gem added

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (ribbon/ die/ sentiment)
Crafter's Castle
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Stamping Sensations
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rather Fish than Work

     This adorable, little bear from Imagine That! proves the point that any reasonable guy would rather fish than work.  To quote someone famous and silly (don't ask me who said it), "Give a man a fish and he'll eat one meal.  Teach a man to fish and he'll sit by the river and drink beer all day!"

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Burlap with distressed edges
Kraft CS for the card base

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrapper's Delights
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Seahorse for a Mermaid

     My "secretary/typist" spent a lot of time preparing posts for all of this upcoming week, clear through next Saturday.  I am so appreciative and have to say that I'm getting a little bit spoiled.  :-D

     I love coloring images from Ching-Chou Kuik!

     Things used:
Water colors
White gel ink
Memory Box dies
Dew Drops
CAS design

     Challenges:
Ching-Chou Kuik FB
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Friends
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Happy Craft
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations
Time Out
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Anniversary Cactus

     This image, from The Paper Shelter, was chosen by a gal who was trying to explain to me why she was giving her husband a cactus plant for an anniversary present.  To quote her as closely as I can, "He can be a bit prickly like a cactus, but I love him!"  :-D   I made this for her back in March but didn't get it posted until now.

    Colored with ProMarkers
    Cut with QuicKutz oval dies
    Ribbon & tiny buttons for embellishment

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

BBQ Grilling

     Welcome to another weekly challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always Anything Goes!  Today I've used a masculine image called "BBQ Grilling 15008" and it's perfect for the guy who always burns the steaks.  :-D  The sentiment is also from QKR and is called "Life is Grand."  Remember, most of the QKR images are available as either digis or rubber stamps.

     What I used for this card:
ProMarkers
QuicKutz large rectangle die
Fussy cutting on sentiment
CAS design

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Cute N Crafty
Get Creative
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Welcome Gnome

     Yes, the title is a deliberate pun and this card is going to new neighbors who just moved into the neighborhood.  They have a cute garden gnome in their yard so I thought this image would work well to welcome them.  Image is from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I did a CAS card with a masculine feel since I have no idea about their tastes or preferences and simple always works.

Sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

     I used:
ProMarkers
QuicKutz dies
Kraft CS
Linen embossing folder (yellow CS) (scrap)
Bleached CS (green) (scrap)

     Challenges:
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Craft Cottage
Creative Moments
Morgan's ArtWorld
Paper Funday
Your Scrapbook Place

     Update:  My shoulder is healing slowly and is better than it was even a week ago.  Most activities are still being done by using my left hand/arm but I'm able to piece together a CAS card or two as long as I don't overdo it.  Typing is still forbidden, except the occasional, one-handed, left hand, hunt-and-peck, 10 minute foray, and not much gets done in that short span of time.  But the healing process is ongoing and I hope to be back to normal (an odd word to describe me! lol) within the month.  I figure I can give up brushing my hair with my right hand if it means I can have a crafting session for half an hour.  Thanks for your prayers.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Skating Giraffe

     This one is for the young grandson of a friend who adores giraffes.  I'm sending it for his 3rd birthday.  Image from Kitty Bee Designs.

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a QuicKutz oval die, as was the sentiment.  The rectangle frame was cut a Memory Box die and the piece was run through my Linen embossing folder.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Inside it says, "To wish you Happy Birthday!"

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafty Catz
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.

     My "secretary" who types posts for me while my shoulder is healing is unavailable today so this short post was prepared by me and I wish now I had just waited until she was here again.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Violets

     Today I'm playing in the June challenge at Beccy's Place and they have a fun "Flip a Coin" theme.   Here's the chart and all you do is flip a coin to choose between the 2 options on each of the 4 rows.  I ended up with "Not a rectangle/ Kraft CS/ Digi/ & Recycled.  My lace is recycled from an old child's dress and that lovely image is from Beccy's Place.



     Here's my card:

     Here's a list of what I used:
ProMarkers
Stitched and inlaid dies from Memory Box
Alphabet letters die from Memory Box
Recycled lace
Sheer ribbon for hand-sewn bow
Dimensional Dots for mounting the fussy cut violets

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time
Aud Sentiments
Creatalicious
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs.
Scribbles Designs
Southern Girls
Sparkles Monthly
World Wide Open DT

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My Ink Runneth

     Good Friday Morning!  It's a wonderful day to start a new weekly challenge over at QKR Stampede and our theme is always Anything Goes.  On my card today, I used a stamp any crafter will understand - Running Ink.

     I used the following:
Multiple shapes - square, oval, circle, rectangle
ProMarkers
QuicKutz dies
Spellbinders die
Scraps
Bleached CS

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Scrappy Land
Sparkles Monthly
Word Art Weds.

     Hope you'll come and play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Correspondence School

     We're starting a new challenge at Crafting with an Attitude for this month and our sponsor is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps.  I used this clever Stella Calendar June image and sentiment but I reversed Stella, side to side.

     Here are the tools and supplies used:
ProMarkers
Copics
White gel inks
Sparkle gel ink (glasses)
QuicKutz rectangle die
Couture Creations embossing folder on metallic paper
Distressing & curled corners
Hand sewn bow with button

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
CCC Digi Creations
Classic DT Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Craft's Galore Encore
Digi Doodle Studio
Friendship
Your Scrapbook Place

     That's all I have until tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Simple Birthday

     Quick update on my shoulder problems:  I was feeling better and had less pain in my shoulder (tendon injury) so I did some crafting and, of course, got so enthralled with it that I seriously overdid it.  The next three days were pure agony.  Doctors have now put me on "Do NOTHING" orders for the next 3 weeks and have specifically forbidden any work at the keyboard.  Fortunately, I have family and friends who are willing to type up personal blog posts as I dictate them and to help out with DT blog duties as needed.  Also fortunately, by using markers I can still color while lying down so I'm not completely "craftless."  lol

     I got enough done during my crafting binge that I will have things to post but doctors say if my shoulder doesn't improve during the next 3 weeks, they will put me into some kind of a restrictive brace.  For now, it looks like complete recovery may take as much as 2 months.

     So, if I'm not visiting and commenting on your blog, it's because of the restriction on being at the computer.  I'm not ignoring you - just unable to communicate in blogland for a while.  :-D

     Here's one of the cards I created during the last creative binge.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  (I went a little crazy and colored up three or four Bugaboo images!)

     Colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a rectangle die from QuicKutz using an out-of-the-box technique on three sides.  That was mounted onto a golden yellow card base.  I added pale yellow ribbon and one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which had been dyed blue with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Paperbabe Stamps
Pattie's Creations

      That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Useless Barnyard Cat

     Hey, it's June 1st and I'm sharing my newest DT card for the monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We're sponsored by Rick St. Dennis this month and our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter."

     We're also partnering with Double Trouble when their challenge begins on June 3.  Check out their requirements and options starting June 3.

     My card features a lazy (but cuddly) barnyard cat that refuses to hunt mice!  Who can blame him?  I wouldn't want to catch those nasty critters in my mouth either.  lol

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, highlighted with white gel ink, then cut with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The background was dry embossed with a Darice folder.  The mice were cut from a small scrap of ivory CS with a Gina Marie die.

     I used sheer ribbon from my stash, wrapped it around the card front and tied the bow.  Finally, I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Knockouts
Cutie Pie (center column)
Dare 2B Artsy
Outlawz Greetings
Pixie's Snippets

     Hoping to see you playing along this month and don't forget to check out Double Trouble on or after June 3rd.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie