Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The Evening Gown

     LeAnn's World 101 has the most fantastic image for their Progressive Challenge this month.  It made me want to get all dressed up and go out on the town!  Isn't she elegant?


Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Pink glitter
Spellbinders die
1.5 inch Sheer ribbon
Paper scrap frames
Pink card base
Hand tied bows

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Creations in Pink
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, July 28, 2019

A New Fur Baby at Our House

     A few months ago I shared with some of you that my sister-in-law had begged me to take a cat which had been abandoned by someone in her neighborhood when they moved away, a sweet calico cat.  My friend, Lynn, even commented that I just had to take her (bless Lynn's heart.)

     But it turned out the cat was pregnant and I just could not see myself saddled with a litter plus the momma plus the fur babies I already have so I declined.  However, when the kittens were born, I fell in love with one of them (OK, I fell in love with all six of them but one more than the others!) and I agreed to take her when she was weaned.


     My granddaughter brought her home to me when she was 7 weeks old, and she's a calico like her momma.  Here are a couple of photos taken the day she arrived.




She has a chess board pattern on the top of her head so she was quickly dubbed "Queenie."


     She's now a week away from being 4 months old and these photos show how much she's changed in those few, short weeks.  She's discovered the scratching post and everything must be tested by mouth, paws, and claws.

 

     She is totally fearless!  The other cats have adjusted to her being here, after a few days of cautious watching.  Queenie and Molly have become fast friends, tussling, chasing, sleeping together, while Honey somewhat grudgingly accepts attention from Queenie but really prefers to be "unmolested" by her.

     Both Molly and Honey are huge by comparison - Molly is about 7 pounds and Honey is easily 10 pounds, compared to Queenie's less than 1 pound - but she believes she's the alpha cat, regardless of her size.  See what I mean?


     Have a marvelous day.  NanaConnie


Saturday, July 27, 2019

Last Day of Christmas in July

     Yesterday was Day 7 of the Christmas in July challenges at Catch the Bug and it's a color challenge plus inspiration from the movie, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  I'm just now posting the card I made because I wanted to wait until I could get the Friday Freebie from Bugaboo Stamps, which I used as my salute to Rudolph.

     I waited until this morning to write the post because my shoulder needed a rest after all the cards I've done this week.  :-D


Here are the colors we had to use.


ProMarkers
QuicKutz rectangle dies
Glitter on the stars
Scrap bits of dp
Signature bow w/ candy cane added

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday
Paperbabe Stamps

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, July 26, 2019

Shared Bravery

     Ever notice when one friend is acting bravely, everybody else feels more brave?  I'm celebrating bravery with my DT card for the challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  This time, instead of a QKR image, I've used a darling image from our sister brand, Eureka Stamps, called "Best Friends 47501."

     I've used a color combo which is a bit outside my usual combos which always utilize purples/ aquas/ pinks.


This color combo inspired by the colors
 in the inspiration photo at C.R.A.F.T..


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz square die
Inked edges
Scrap papers
Satin ribbon + hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Happy Craft
House that Stamps Built
Paper Shelter
Scrapper's Delights (top row)
Scrappy  Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, July 25, 2019

White Christmas

     Day 6 of the week-long Christmas in July challenge at Catch the Bug and there is both an inspiration photo of a lovely Christmas tree and inspiration from the White Christmas movie.  I chose a Christmas Tree image from Bugaboo Stamps and a more-or-less white-on-white design.


ProMarkers
Tim Holtz & Darice embossing folders
Glittered & wired ribbon bow
Fussy cutting
Dimension with Pop Dots

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paperbabe Stamps
Work It Weds.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Three Wise Cats

     It's the 5th day in the week-long challenges at Catch the Bug's Christmas in July.  The theme today is to use humor and be inspired by one of three Christmas movies: Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, or A Christmas Story.

   

ProMarkers
Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn, Memory box dies
Satin ribbons (Crafty Ribbons)
Star made from die cut scraps

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Tis the Season of Magical Reindeer and Elves

     Day 4 in the week-long, Christmas in July challenges at Catch the Bug and today's theme is BINGO + "Inspired by the movie Elf."  My BINGO choices were Ribbon & Bow/ Bugaboo image/ Die cut. 

     I have several Elf images in my collection of Bugaboo Stamps but the one I used today is one of my absolute favorites.   It has a sense of magic with a reindeer that flies and an elf who makes toys for Santa.


Don't they look like they're waiting for Santa to come back from vacation?  lol

ProMarkers
Sue Wilson (background panel) & Die-Versions (sentiment) dies
Satin ribbon & bow
3 gems
Kraft CS for card base
Almost everything was cut or put together from scraps, including the ribbon strip and bow.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls
Pile It On
Pixie's Snippets
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, July 22, 2019

Holder for Gift Certificate

     When the Christmas season rolls around, I find I'm always in need of gift card and gift certificate holders.  No matter how many I make, I'm always one or two short.  Maybe that's because my family comes and asks if I have any "spares" they can take.  :-D

     Once more, I'm playing in the Christmas in July challenges at Catch the Bug and today they want us to do Anything but a Card.  I love the adorable snowmen in this pre-colored image and the sentiment is inspired by the movie "Santa Claus is Coming to Town.".


Here's the Gift Certificate spot.


Pre Colored image
QuicKutz square die
Sentiment with computer font
Inked edges on the image

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Bastel-Traum
CCC Digi Creations
Christmas Crafts AYR
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty
Di's Digi Designs
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Jingle All the Way !

     Day 2 of the Christmas in July, week-long, challenges at Catch the Bug and they have a sketch for us.  I had to turn the sketch a quarter turn due to the shape of my image but it still works.  Another card for the Christmas stash.  :-D  Bugaboo Stamps image.



ProMarkers
QuicKutz oval & rectangle dies
Strips cut from Christmas dp
Sparkly brads

     Challenges:
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gal's Corner
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Di's Digi Designs
Mod Squad
Outlawz Greetings

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Christmas in July

     OK, it's official - I'm doing Christmas cards this entire week.  Catch the Bug is holding its annual, week long, Christmas in July challenge and there will be 7 challenges, one each day.  Here's my first card inspired by the movie, "The Santa Claus."  Image from Bugaboo Stamps.


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz square die
Fiskars corner punch
Wide satin ribbon from my stash
Scored lines top and bottom
Kraft CS for card base

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
CCC Digi
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Cut It Up
Mod Squad
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paper Minutes
Pile It On
Scor-Pal More Than One Score
Tales from the Craft Room

     See you tomorrow with another Christmas card.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, July 19, 2019

Roasted Chicken

     Considering how long I've been on the DT at QKR Stampede (where we start a new, weekly, Anything Goes challenge today), I can't believe that I've overlooked this fun, summery, image.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it during this hot weather we're having.  If he's not careful, we're going to have roasted chicken!  lol  The image is called "Basking."


Colored with ProMarkers
Memory Box dies
Dark Brown stitched ribbon (Crafty Ribbons)
Gold, satin ribbon (stash)
Double loop bow (tied w/ bow maker)
Sentiment - Eureka Stamps (Fun in the Sun)
Kraft card base
Polka dot dp - DCWV

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments (die cuts/image/ribbon)
Colour Crazy
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Happy Craft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Pizza for Your Birthday

     This image for the Scrapper's Delights July progressive challenge came at exactly the right time.  A friend of mine was telling me that during her growing up years, birthday parties for each of the kids (there were 9 of them!) just weren't in the plan but the birthday child was allowed to choose what the family would have for dinner on the night of his/her birthday.  Pizza was an incredible treat and not regularly on the family menu due to the cost.  She loved pizza and that was her annual request for several years in a row.

     When she went away for college, she practically lived on pizza.  It was still expensive on a student's budget but since she was one of the few students who lived in a house instead of the dorms, she would offer to host parties as long as her friends brought the pizza.  Genius!

     In light of that story, this is her birthday card.  And, yes, I'm ordering a pizza for her.  :-D

     Note:  This is the first time I've colored black hair which was good enough that I was willing to share the result.  It's a long learning process and I'm getting there slowly.  I know it can stand improvement but give me credit for even using the image instead of just trashing it and starting over on the coloring. 


I used the sketch from The Outlawz
and colors from My Favorite Things.

  

Coloring with ProMarkers
QuicKutz dies
DCWV dp
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand tied bow
Die cut butterfly (Cheery Lynn)

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (iceberg blue, digi, inks)
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
Cutie Pie
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pattie's Creations

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Dance on Your Birthday

      It feels like forever since I used an AuroraWings image and I'd almost forgotten how wonderful they are to color.  I really wish the sparkle in the ribbon had photographed better but I guess you'll just have to take my word for how bright and blingy it is.


I started with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds.,
turned a quarter turn.

blin

Colored with ProMarkers
Sue Wilson dies
Sparkle ribbon
Bow tied with bow maker (double layer, double loop)

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creations in Pink
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, July 15, 2019

The Flower Basket

     Today I'm using my favorite image from Conie Fong.  Although I have quite a collection of her images, this is the one I have used the most often, this time for a birthday card.


Coloring with ProMarkers
Fav color combo - Purple and Green
Spellbinders die
Gingham Ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Hand tied satin bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments  (3rd column)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Catz
Cutie Pie
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Life is a Garden

     This beautiful girl surrounded by zinnias is from Ching-Chou Kuik and I've returned to one of my more usual color combos, something with purple, blue, or pink.  However, still in the interest of branching out and trying new things, I added yellow to the pink, a color I rarely use except for fall themed cards.


Although I took a bit of a liberty with it, my card was
 inspired by the 'quilted' background in the sketch at

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Sue Wilson die
Background hand-pieced using Spellbinders dies
White satin ribbon
Pink satin, hand-sewn, bows w/ pearls.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Ching-Chou Kuik FB
Crafty Sentiments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Color Up a Dream

     Nothing makes me happier than coloring, unless it's crafting, and when I can combine the two, I'm in heaven.  I guess that's why I love card making so much.  If anyone had told me when I was a child that I could color up a dream and make it come true, I'd have laughed.  :-D

     This cute Little Blue Button image is from the progressive challenge at Outlawz and I decided to try a color combo that's outside of my normal blue/purple/pink range.


Coloring - ProMarkers and watercolors
Memory Box dies
Gingham ribbon & bow (scrap) - Crafty Ribbons
All papers are scraps

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Creative Fingers
Pixie's Snippets
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, July 12, 2019

Live Out Loud !

     You all know how much I love the weekly challenges at QKR Stampede and working with their images but this "Baby Donkey" image is one of my favorites.  I used it on my DT card this week and am already thinking of other possibilities.


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sue Wilson die
Paper from Linen Closet stack by DCWV
Dots on dp are embossed w/ sparkle EP
Sentiment printed on vellum
Background made with burlap
Sheer ribbon & hand tied bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments (top row)
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
Outlawz Festive Friday
Scribbles Designs
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

A Summer of Reading

     I have a dear friend, a retired teacher, who spends her summers as a volunteer working with 1st and 2nd grade school kids, reading stories to them and encouraging them to explore the fun and mystery of books on their own.  Her birthday is next week and I did this card for her as a birthday present.

     The image is from Di's Digi Designs.


I chose 3 of the colors from Coloring in Scrapland - green, blue & yellow.


Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut and matted with dies from Spellbinders
Stitched ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Signature hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
TTCRD

     I'm posting this early instead of waiting until the witching hour because I have someone here who can link up to all the challenges and that means I can stay away from the keyboard.  I'm still having serious shoulder problems when I try to type.  Coloring and crafting are getting better but there's something about the position in which I hold my shoulder when I'm at the keyboard that aggravates my shoulder injury.

     Happy crafting.  NanaConnie

Lazy Days of Summer

     I absolutely adore this image from Polkadoodles!  What a great image for a summer card. 


ProMarkers for coloring
QuicKutz die for the image
Cottage Cutz die for the cork frame
Sheer ribbon

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

...Not even a Mouse

     So it's nearly the middle of July, and definitely the middle of the year and I'm finally doing my first Christmas tag for the year!  It's 4" x 4" and the perfect size for the stamp.  The stamp is from Mo's Digital Pencil and I think it's the first one I ever got from Mo's.  I know I've had it a long time, maybe as much as 10 years, and I've used it for several cards over the years.  If you're not familiar with her delightful art, do go check them out!

   

ProMarkers to color
Die-Versions to cut sentiment (cut from scrap)
Bo Bunny dp scraps
Scrap of ribbon from stash

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Aloha Friday
Crafty Calendar
Cute N Crafty
Cute N Crafty Christmas
Double Trouble
Outlawz Greetings
Retro Rubber
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, July 8, 2019

Birthday Wishes

     This card was made using a wonderful freebie image from Beccy's Place.  The monthly challenges over there are almost like having a progressive challenge because Beccy always gives a freebie but even better, you can use the freebie or any other Beccy's image you have.


     In addition, Beccy gives an OPTIONAL twist and this month the option is to CASE yourself.  You can see the card I CASEd by going to my post from May 20.  Not only is it also a birthday card, but it has the same short-side, gate fold card.  I also added a die cut panel to the opposite flap.

ProMarkers
Lawn Fawn dies on image
Die-Versions die on panel
Signature bow

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Friendly Seahorse

    The image is from Fabrika Fantasy and seems perfect for a summer card celebrating times near the sea.


Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut 'splash' is a negative, inside scrap from a Memory Box die
Image is fussy cut and mounted on Pop Dots
Ribbon is a scrap from my stash

      Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Digi Doodle Studios
Friendship
Prika Crafts
Three Amigos

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, July 6, 2019

You're the Best !

     I have a grandson who adores baseball and plays Little League every season.  He's made a team each year since he was 7 or 8 and has been on playoff teams twice.  This will probably be his birthday card this year.

     The image is the freebie from the progressive challenge at LeAnn's World 101.


    Colored with ProMarkers
    QuicKutz oval dies
    Papers from DCWV 'Linen Closet' stack
    Stitched ribbon

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Friends (baseball, bat, ball, blue, best)
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Di's Digi Designs
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, July 5, 2019

Bandaid for the Bullfrog

     Today is the start of another "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede and I had fun making a 'Get Well' card for my stash using "Frog 24148."


I chose Willow, Clover, and Peach 
from the colors at Color My Heart challenge.


Colored with ProMarkers
Fussy cut with scissors
Gingham panel cut with Poppy Stamps die
Sentiment printed and fussy cut
Set of 3 pearls - top and bottom
All scrap papers

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz PAM
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, July 4, 2019

She Sells Sea Shells...

     This one is for the July Crafting with an Attitude challenge and the image was donated by our sponsor, Colour of Love (formerly Lacy Sunshine.)  It's called "Sandi Boo Collecting Sea Shells."


ProMarkers
Alcohol ink used for the hand made background paper
QuicKutz oval dies
3 gems on each side of oval

     Challenges:
Archi-Scraps
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends (beach, babe,blue)
Creative Fingers
Di's Digi Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Taking a Hike

     This card was made for my grandson who is heading off for summer camp in a few days.  My daughter asked for 5 masculine (and somewhat camp related) cards to mail to him while he's there.  I used a Penny Black stamp and modified it to look like a cliff drop-off.  I think it's fun and funny.  :-D


Sketch #565 from Sketch Saturday.

     Colored with Promarkers
     Die cut with Memory Box
     Scraps of CS and burlap
     3 gems

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Addicted to Stamps
Crafts Galore Encore
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Friendship
Outlawz SAR
Penny Black Saturday
Pile It On

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, July 1, 2019

Curiosity

     Good morning!  Today we start a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and we're sponsored by A Day for Daisies.   They graciously supplied images for the DT to use and I chose this cutie called "Cat and Fish."  The sentiment says it all.  :-D


Colored with ProMarkers
Fussy cut image
DP from DCWV "Linen Closet" stack
Signature, hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends (Bowl, Bow, Blue)
Creative Fingers
House that Stamps Built
Sasayaki Glitter
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out
Word Art Weds.

That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie