Saturday, February 29, 2020

Easter Bunnies?

    The thing about bunnies is that they multiply like rabbits!  The problem with Easter Bunny is that he doesn't multiply and, therefore, has to do all the egg decorating and hiding all by himself.  lol  Here's a little gal who's trying to change that.  Image by Bugaboo Stamps.


I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch,
flipped horizontally.


Colored w ProMarkers
Highlighted with Gel inks
Cut with Tutti Designs die (die is square but cut 2X to get rectangle)
Inked edges on image piece
White glitter paper for background
Papers are from the scrap basket
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand tied, triple loop, bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania (critter/die cut/ sentiment)
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown (purple)

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, February 28, 2020

Friends and Flowers

     Welcome to my blog on another Friday, the day our new challenges always start over at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image or other products from any company.  However, keep in  mind that if you do use QKR images (or their sister company, Eureka), your entry goes into as separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     My DT card today uses both an image and a sentiment from Eureka Stamps - "Bouquet" and "Friends are the Flowers."  Can you tell I'm ready for spring to be here?  Our temperatures on Wednesday broke a record which had stood since the mid-1900s - we hit 82 F and it did feel like spring!  Today they say we'll hit 83.  My apologies to those of you still buried in snow (and/or getting more) for even mentioning that.


Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Image is fussy cut with scissors
    then mounted on Pop Dots
Green oval mat is Spellbinders die cut
Ribbon is scrap from my stash
Hand tied lace bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Outlawz Twist Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers

     Come play in our challenge this week, won't you?  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Date Night

     I seem to have been on a LeAnn's World 101 kick recently but this card is for the Progressive challenge this month and they provide the image.  I think this darling couple is is so sweet and since Valentine's Day is already past, I thought a Date Night card was in order.  :-D


Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens
Cut with cross stitch, Tutti Designs dies
Signature, hand-sewn bow w pearl

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Outlaw Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Skating By

     A few days back, my oldest granddaughter (she just turned 21) was over again and we got involved in crafting cards.  She loved this LeAnn's World image of a skater which I had already colored and die cut so she asked if she could use it to design a card.  Making cards is very new to her, although she's watched me make them the majority of her life.  She has even assisted me on a few cards but this was the first one she's done where she took the lead and had all the design decisions.

     I love where her creativity took her, especially the hand-folded frame she put around the image.  Very difficult and I never would have tried that myself!  I did suggest the snowflakes in lieu of flowers for this card and she agreed.  :-D


Colored with ProMarkers
Loose glitter added to her crown
Cut with QuicKutz oval die
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Accordion folded CS to frame image
Accordion folded CS for the fan
"Diamond" Stickles added to frame & 1 snowflake
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Allsorts
Classic Design
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Calendar
LeAnn's World 101
Morgan's Art World
PaperCraft
Scribbles Designs
World Wide Open

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, February 24, 2020

Tea Party Hello

     A quick post to show you something a little bit different from me this morning.  I got a few new dies in the mail last week and decided that I wanted to try a card with all die cuts and these happen to be Tutti Designs dies.


    It's also a card made from all scraps and both the pink CS and the dp are the last scraps I had of those particular papers. The butterflies are the drop out pieces from the teacups.  The "Hello" sentiment was cut 4 times; 3 out of a white scrap and once from the deep purple background but the 'hole' that left is covered by the dp strip.  I stacked them to give dimension and texture.

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Cuttlebug Mania
Double D
Pixie's Snippets
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, February 23, 2020

A Fairy's Dream World

     Most of you probably know that I'm a Guest Designer for Conie Fong during February and March, and this is my fourth card for them this month.  Each month there's a challenge over on the Conie Fong Facebook page and the theme is always Anything Goes with  Conie Fong image.

     This image is called Sitting Pretty on Mushroom and it's the version with butterflies surrounding the fairy.


Colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils
Glitter added to the butterflies and clovers
Image cut with Tonic Studios die and distressed
Background circles cut with Spellbinders dies
Signature, hand-sewn, bow with gem
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafter's Castle
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Calendar
Creative Moments
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Wishing you a fabulous day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Dragon Rider

     My oldest granddaughter has a passion for dragons (something she no doubt gets from me!) and I thought this would make a perfect birthday card for her.  Personally, I think dragons are the most perfect creatures in the world, especially my favorites, Pocket Dragons. 

     You haven't heard about pocket dragons?  I referred to them in a post a long while back but let me tell you again why they are favorites of mine.  Pocket dragons are so tiny they are nearly invisible.  They always come in your favorite color, whatever it is.  People are rarely aware that they are hosting pocket dragons because the dragons are so quiet and peaceful.  They sleep in the pockets of your clothing, which is generally what they are doing when they spend time with humans.  If you reach your hand down into the pocket of your coat or your jeans and find a tiny bit of lint, puffed into a soft pillow shape, for sure you have a pocket dragon who's been napping in your pocket!

     I'm not sure if this is a pocket dragon in his daytime form but he's in my favorite color so he might turn into one at night when he's sleeping.  :-D  The image is from LeAnne's World 101.


I used colors from House that Stamps Built
and the sketch from the Outlawz.

The House That Stamps Built Inspiration Palette Challenge F1920  

Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Image and mat cut with dies from QuicKutz
Leaves cut w Cheery Lynn die (scraps)
Mulberry flowers cut w Memory Box die (scraps)
Gems added to flowers

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, February 21, 2020

Book Plate

     A new challenge has started this morning at QKR Stampede, and our theme is always Anything Goes.  In addition to that, you can use any stamp or digital image you like, from any company.  However, if you decide to use a QKR image, your entry will go into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by quite a bit.

     I've done something a bit different from my usual DT card today - a book plate to tell everyone who owns the book.  Book plates are a bit out of style these days, what with electronic books and books on tape (even movies have had an impact), and with people reading only things from the internet.  But my granddaughter (who's celebrating her birthday on Saturday) still loves books and I've made this book plate for her. 

     I used a QKR Stampede image called "Bookend" with a darling rag doll.  The rectangular "holes" were all cut using 3 different size dies, then the plate was backed with some very old, SU, paper.


Colored with ProMarkers
3 Avery Elle dies used to"frame" the image
Stampin' Up dp scrap

     Challenges:
Dream Valley
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Southern Girls
TTCRD

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by your creations!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Bubbles Everywhere

     This fun and silly image is from the Limited Runs Progressive Challenge and if you haven't played before, you can check out how to get the image on the Facebook page.  Just click on the Limited Runs name above and the link will take you there.

     The expression on this fish's face made me think he was suffering from severe indigestion or heartburn and this was the end result of my thought process.  lol


I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning and 3 colors from
Color My Heart #381 (Glacier/Lagoon/Nectarine.)
  

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Cut with Memory Box die
Inked edges
Glitter added to bubbles
Background paper from scrap box
Paper used for strips also scraps & cut w/ Memory Box die
Blue pearls added
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
House that Stamps Built (middle row)
Ike's World
Paperbabe Stamps
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Puppy Love from Digi Doodle Studios

     My next DT card as a reminder that our challenge at Digi Doodle Studios is still open and you have time to play.  Our theme for February is all about Love & Friendship and this time I used an adorable image called "Puppy Love" for my card.


I was influenced by Sketch 176 at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored with ProMarkers & pencil
Image and mat cut with QuicKutz octagon dies
Background scored with ScorPal board
Sheer ribbon and signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Creative Inspirations
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Southern Girls
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

    Come join our challenge or visit us on Facebook.  We'd love to see you enter the challenge.  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Monday, February 17, 2020

Leprechaun Days

     Edited to add:  Sorry this is late.  I set the timer incorrectly when I pre-scheduled the post and just now realized it.  All fixed now.  :-D

     Good Morning and Happy President's Day!  It's time for the start of another challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps where our theme is Always Anything Goes.  I hope you're going to play along and maybe win a gift certificate for some of Jan' fabulous image sets.

     Today, one month ahead of St. Patrick's Day, I've used this fantastic image of a fun Leprechaun 3154J.   Both the leprechaun and the pot of gold are images in the set; I just combined them for this card. 

     Each year, I make St. Patrick's cards and send them to my grandchildren because I celebrate my birthday on St. Paddy's and I'm Irish on both sides of my family tree!  I want to remind them of their Irish heritage.  My dad used to say, "Irishmen never father anything but Irishmen, regardless of what's on the other side."  lol


Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mats cut with QuicKutz dies
Polka dot paper from DCWV
Glitter paper from CTMH
Grosgrain bow 'dyed' with ProMarker

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Creative Crafters
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Star Stampz

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Life Can be a Breeze

     I love this fabulous image from Conie Fong where I am still doing projects as a Guest Designer.  Her challenges can be found on the Facebook page where you can enter either just colored Conie Fong images or completed projects which feature Conie Fong images.  This image is called "Serenity."

     I thought a soft pink, monochramatic theme would work for her and I love the way it turned out!  I did allow one, tiny, purple, butterfly.  :-D


Colored with ProMarkers and gel ink
Image cut with Spellbinders framing die
Leaves cut with Cheery Lynn die
White flowers die cut from mulberry paper
Gems added to flower centers
Background was made by stamping a pattern with gray ink
        and coloring over it with an ink pad

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creations in Pink
Creative Inspirations
Cuttlebug Mania
Do Al(l) Kreatives
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tues Throwdown
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, February 14, 2020

Cave Man Love

    HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !


     In days of old... and I mean REALLY old!  Yes, people fell in love way back  then, too.  lol  Today starts a new "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede and I decided that one more Valentine would be appropriate since today is Valentine's Day.  I merged two QKR images, each called "Cave Man" (yes, even the Cave Woman is titled as a Cave MAN!) but they have different numbering designations: 24292 & 24293.


Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens
Cut with Gina Marie die
    (do you see all the little hearts or do you only see 4 leaf clovers?)
Mounted onto red card stock base
CAS design which looks more complex due to die cut

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creatalicious
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Friendship
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
SheepSki Designs
Tales from the Craft Room

     Hoping to see you playing along with us this week and in the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Chocolate Kind of Love

     Catch the Bug has a theme of "Child's Play" and I'm still thinking back to those fun childhood days of Valentine exchanges in school but wishing someone had put chocolates in my Valentine box.  :-D  This adorable little sunbonnet girl is an image from Bugaboo Stamps.


Colored with ProMarkers
Image is fussy cut with scissors & mounted on dimensional dots
Heart doily cut from mulberry paper
Scrap strip of CS added to bottom & gems applied
Pearls added to sunbonnet & apron
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Crafty Friends
Do Al(l) Creatives
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Friendship
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

A Mousie Kind of Love

     I adore House Mouse stamps but have very few which work as Valentine images.  This one, however, brings back childhood memories of candy hearts with words on them and how we looked forward to the Valentine card exchange in our classrooms.  :-D  Do kids even do that any more?


I pulled color and hearts inspiration from 
this photo at Passion for ProMarkers.


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz rectangle die
CAS design
Card front is embossed with "Linen" folder
Hand tied bow with sequin

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Coloring in Scrapland
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Get Creative
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, February 10, 2020

Spring Beauty

     Here's another card I've done as a Guest Designer for Conie Fong.   This image is called "Braid in My Hair."  I just had to do it in my favorite purples and lavenders.  :-D  I also layered several frame die cuts to make my own background for the image.


I played a bit with Sketch 177 from Sweet Sketch Weds.
but that was my take on this sketch.


Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Fussy cut with scissors
Layered frames cut with Spellbinders dies
Dry embossing on layered frames
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Hand sewn bow w/ pearl
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Ike's World
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Weds.

     Enjoy your week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Love Bears

     These two darling little bears, who are probably in love, came from the Scrapper's Delights Progressive challenge.  They are separate images but I merged them so that they would be looking at each other with their sweet daisies in their hands.


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders die
Edges inked
DP scrap from the basket
Embossed background paper scrap from Doodlebug
Butterfly from Spellbinders die cut from a scrap

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Coloring in Scrapland
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
Pixie's Snippets

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Best Friend Puppy

     Today I'm working with the All Dressed Up image provided for the Outlawz Progressive challenge.  This sweet little gal with her darling puppy just called out for a bright, spring card.  All the papers and CS are from old stash or scraps.


I used the sketch from Crafting Vicky,
which I turned 1/4 turn and I played a bit with the triangles.


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders die
Triangles cut w/ Memory Box dies
Butterflies - Spellbinders die & Fiskars punch
Faux stitching
Polka dot washi tape from old stash

     Challenges:
Butterfly (Sky blue, Salmon, Sage, Spots, Stitching)
Crafty Sentiments
Double Trouble (+ Use Your Stuff)  (all 3)
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, February 7, 2020

Bee Mine

     It's Friday again (already!) and that mean a new weekly, Anything Goes, challenge at QKR Stampede.  Unfortunately, I'm suffering from a head cold so this post will be very short and sweet.  I used an image and a sentiment from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, "Bee 6703" and "Bee Mine 13303."


I used colors (red, yellow, pale blue) from the inspiration at Color My Heart Color Dare.


ProMarkers
Image - Sizzix die
Sentiment - Gina Marie die
Hearts are negatives from die cut frame

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Girly Hugs and Kisses

     Last Saturday, Catch the Bug  started their Anything Goes challenge for February and on Sunday the new Stella Says Sketch challenge started so this card combines an image from Bugbaoo Stamps with the sketch.


Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die
DCWV dp
Pink CS embossed w/ "Linen" EF
Tiny die cut hearts (negatives from Gina Marie die)
Hand tied bow
Sentiment from Bugaboo, hand cut

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Artsy Stamper
Dare 2B Artzy
Dies R Us
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Sweets for a Sweetheart

     Time for a card featuring an image from Beccy's Place where the optional theme is "All About Animals."  I'm doing a few Valentine's since it's early February and I thought this sweet bear was perfect for someone who loves home baked goodies.  All it took was a combo of traditional Valentine colors.  :-D


Colored with ProMarkers
Layered onto rose red and pink CS
Hearts cut with Memory Box dies
Sentiment printed in red and hand cut
Matted with pink CS

     Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania
Dies R Us
Double D
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Memory Box #58
Mod Squad
Paper Funday
Paperminutes
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     Have a very Happy Crafting day.  :-D  NanaConnie

Monday, February 3, 2020

Challenge #7 at Jan's Digi Stamps

     Today I'm posting my DT card for the newest challenge at Jan's Digital Stamps.  Our challenges are always "Anything Goes" and you can use any products from any company but we'd love to see some Jan's images in the mix.  :-D

     This is a preview of one of the two new set Jan has created for February.  This one has some delightful block sentiments, in both bright colors and as black and white line drawings.  I used a pre-colored version of the Block Sentiment 3250J.  I also used a butterfly from the "Friendship Flowers 702J."


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Matting rectangles cut with QuicKutz dies
Butterfly is fussy cut w/ scissors
Lace bow made with bow maker

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Crafty Catz
Creative Knockouts
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Girls
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     I hope you are going to come and play with us this month.  We love being inspired by you and visiting your blogs.  You have until February 16 to enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Guest Designer at Conie Fong !

     I can hardly tell you how excited I am today.  I've been invited to be a Guest Designer at Conie Fong's Facebook challenges for February and March!!  I discovered and fell in love with Conie's lovely artwork way back when and being a Guest Designer is such a delight.  Maybe some day I can join the team on a more permanent basis and that would be just as exciting but for today, I'm looking forward to the opportunities to share with you my designs as GDT.

     This sweet image is called Bella with Rose and I thought it made a perfect Valentine card.  Of course, a certain member of my family seem to think it should serve as her birthday card but that's not my intention this time.  :-D


Design based on the sketch at Sketch Saturday.


Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with Spellbinders dies
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die
Papers are scraps from DCWV
Heart is in the dp but embellished with get ink
Hand tied and sewn bow
Metal brads

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Dare 2B Artsy
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Come visit the Conie Fong Facebook site.  We'd love to see you there.  There are both Coloring Only and Completed Project challenges, but you must use a Conie Fong image.  Check out the Etsy store - you'll fall in love.  :-D  Happy Crafting.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Gracie & Nibbles

     I'm so tickled to announce that after having served last month as a Guest Designer for Digi Doodle Studios, I've been invited to be part of the DT!  I'm thrilled and have fallen in love with all of Dina's sweet images.  I can hardly wait to share with you what I've done with them as time moves along.  :-D

     Here's my first card as a DT for the challenge which begins today, with a theme of "It's a Love Thing."  I used a darling image called "Gracie & Nibbles" which is perfect for another Valentine card to add to my stash.


This is a fancy fold card and here's how it looks with the top flap open:


     The card base is a triangle, cut on the diagonal across a full sheet of CS, 11 x 8.5 inches.  The points are scored to make an A2 size card, 5.5 x 4.25 inches, when folded.  I used my Scor-Pal to get perfectly straight score lines.  I added the rectangle of white CS to the inside which can be used for writing the message.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image is fussy cut with scissors
Circle cut with QuicKutz die
Pink satin bow is hand tied and stitched

Colors from the inspiration at Color My Heart.

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting and come share your creations with us in our "It's a Love Thing" challenge.  NanaConnie

In the Garden

     It's time for a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and this month we're sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps.  I'm delighted to be on that DT as well and Jan's will have a new fortnightly challenge starting on Monday, February 3.  Jan's current challenge ends tomorrow at 3 p.m. Pacific time.

 

     I used a couple of the supplemental images from Jan's "Little Garden Cottage 943J" set, leaving the cottage itself for another creation later down the road.  The snail and mushrooms made a perfect Welcome Home card.


Colored with ProMarkers
Snail is fussy cut
Mushrooms cut with Unbranded die
Green CS hand bleached
Strip of dp from scrap basket (DCWV?)
Machine embroidered flowers

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Digi Choosday
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Polkadoodles
TTCRD

     Come play with us this month.  You could be the winner and take home some wonderful Jan's Digi Stamps sets!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie