Guest Designer at The Outlawz Sketch Challenge

     I was honored to have been invited to be a Guest Designer at the sketch challenge at The Outlawz and I'm thrilled to announce that Jan's Digi Stamps is sponsoring the sketch challenges for the entire month of April.

     I decided it would be great to use one of the images and a sentiment from Jan's "April Showers Promise 920J" set.  Here's my card and the sketch, which I reversed.

 

Colored with ProMarkers and water color paints
Stickles added to the raindrops
Image and sentiment cut with Unbranded dies
Oval backing pieces cut with QuicKutz dies
Right Angle triangles embossed with Linen EF
Metal brads added to opposite corners

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Lemon Shortbread
Word Art Weds.

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in the challenge at Outlawz.  It lasts 2 weeks and then there's a new sketch for the following 2 weeks.  Because of the way the Wednesdays fall in April, there will be a third sketch at the end of the month (April 29th) and Jan's will be sponsoring all three of them.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Apologies

     I'm sending my apologies to all of you who have blogs which I follow and on which I generally leave comments.  My email notices about all your posts have piled up unbelievably while I've been fighting a cold and I doubt I'll be visiting them any time soon.

     It's nothing serious - not the dreaded COVID-19 - but this spring cold I have doesn't seem to be easily managed even with the rest and fluids I've been doing.  I'm completely exhausted and am going to take a couple of days away from the craft table and the computer altogether so if I seem to be MIA, I am! 

     I've pre-scheduled a couple of DT posts which will go live around April 1st (and no, that's not an April Fool prank) but depending on how I'm feeling by that time, I may or may not be up to sitting at the computer and visiting my online blog friends.

     I'll be back when I'm well again.  :-D  Hugs, NC

Cheetah

     Friday morning and another weekly challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  I've been on that DT for a lot of years (I may be the oldest one still on the team by now!  :-D) but over all those weeks and months, I can't believe that I've consistently overlooked this Cheetah image!  Personally, I think it looks more like a jaguar but isn't it gorgeous?

I used colors from the first column of board #186

at Colour Dare plus Vanilla and Mink.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with die by Spellbinders
Matted with pale blue CS
Striped paper from DCWV
Twine bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut
CAS design

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls

     Come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tiny Party

     Despite all the emphasis on 'Social Distancing' and either mandatory or voluntary home isolation, the fairies who live in this village have decided to host a party.  Of course, it's going to be a very tiny party because this is the only hall they could rent!  lol 

    The image is from the Progressive Challenge at Limited Runs this month.

Colored with ProMarkers and chalks
Image and metallic paper mat (scrap) cut with Tonic Studios dies
Filigree ribbon scrap
Gold metallic ribbon for multi-loop bow
3 mini buttons - Usually, I reach for the pearls but these buttons were exactly the right size and color so it was buttons instead of pearls!  :-D
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Creative Moments
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Cake Sprite

     I fell in love with the sprites at AuroraWings when I saw the first one and have a huge collection of them now.  This one, Birthday Cake Sprite, I picked up along the way but have never used her before.  I need a few more feminine birthday cards in my stash so now seemed an appropriate time.

Colored with ProMarkers
Out-of-the-Box cut with Sizzix die
Doily dyed with ProMarkers
Wide ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand wrapped, lace bow
Metal brads
Navy blue card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Stash
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Star Stampz (die cut/digi/blue)
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Music in My Ear

     The image I used today came from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101.  The sentiment came from a memory that goes back 50 years!

     One of my first 'serious' boyfriends was drafted into the Army when he was 18 (3 weeks after signing up for the Selective Service as required by law and I thought it was the end of the world.)  The first time he was allowed to make a phone call when he was going through Basic Training, he called me - not his mom or anyone in the rest of his family, but me!!  lol  During that conversation he said to me, "Your voice is music in my ear."  Most telephone calls we had from that point on, he would repeat that phrase and it became a thing between the two of us.  As happens with puppy love, we drifted apart and moved on to meet and marry other people, each of us having families of our own.

     As soon as I saw this image, that phrase popped into my head and I thought about him even though we completely lost touch years ago.  Funny how memories stay with us even decades later.

     I'm using this one for a masculine birthday card.

Colored w/ ProMarkers and chalks
Cut w/ QuickKutz die
Matted w/ Unbranded die cut rectangle
CAS, masculine design
Sentiment cut w/ Unbranded die
Metallic photo corners

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Country View Crafts
Do Al(l) Creatives
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Stamper's Delights

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Hellos

     I thought this Bunny Block Trio from Bugaboo Stamps was the cutest thing ever and I'm getting a start on my Easter cards for the grandkids and great-grands.  I wanted a 'child-like' look so deliberately cut the image with crooked sides and punched all around the edges without any attempt at lining up the holes. However, I die cut the mat and ran it through my Linen EF.

Colored with ProMarkers
Mat cut with Tutti die
Linen EF used on mat
Sparkle ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand sewn bow
Paper from DCWV 'Basics' stack

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Artsy Stamper
Aud Sentiments
Catch the Bug (3 layers/ image/ dp)
Cute Card Thurs
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dandelion Wishes

     This is my last GDT card this month for Conie Fong and I used this sweet image called Dandelion Wishes.  I chose pastel pinks for my monochromatic, color combo and even added pink glitter to her wings.  The sentiment is also from that same set of images which has fairies facing both right and left and has 2 sentiments.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to wings & dandelion seeds
Image cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Background cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Sentiment printed & cut with die from Dare 2B Artzy
Pink leaves cut w/ die from Cheery Lynn
Ribbon rose from Joann Crafts

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ... 
Bastel-Traum
Craftlandia
Creatalicious
Creations in Pink
Creative Moments
Dare 2B Artzy
Dies R Us
Papercraft
Scribbles Designs
Star Stampz (mid column)

     Happy Sunday, and to those of you under quarantine (mandatory or self-imposed for safety sake), make the most of it and craft your hearts out.  :-D  NanaConnie

Spring Cleaning the Cat

     Spring cleaning is one of those things we humans do, often as a way of shaking off the "cabin fever" after months of  cold weather.  Felines often have a different attitude about the bustle of spring cleaning, preferring that things remain exactly the way they were and not get moved around or rearranged. 

     The three cats who think they own my house and that I'm only there to feed them and clean their litter box, have to thoroughly investigate (and hesitate to approach) even a closet door which now is open an inch when before it was completely closed.  Sigh...

     The feline on today's card has taken a firm stand against her part of the spring cleaning.  lol  Image from Whimsy Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Sparkle gel ink on bubbles
Cut with oval dies from QuicKutz
Darice embossing folder
Polka dot washi tape on left border
Signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on a Blog
A Bit More Time... Extra
A Gem of a Challenge
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Die Cut Divas
Pearly Sparkles
Star Stampz (middle row)

     Have a wonderful weekend - the first one of spring!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Elephants Never Forget

     Is it Friday again, already?  OMG!  That means it's time for a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is Anything Goes (as always) and you can use any products you wish.  Remember though, if you use either a QKR Stampede or a Eureka Stamps image (our sister company), your entry is put into a separate draw and that increases greatly your chance of being a winner.

     My card today is another one for my stash of birthday cards (albeit, this for a belated birthday) and it features a great QKR image called "Being Silly."

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz square die
Frame cut with Spellbinders Die
Mat behind frame cut w Lawn Fawn die
Card base embossed with "Linen" EF
Silver leaves from my friend, Mia (Thanks, Mia!)
Sentiment printed and fussy cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It
Time Out

     I really hope we'll see you playing with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Hobbit's Home

     I have no idea who gave me this stamp but I've had it for a couple of years without using it so it was definitely time.  It was made by Cornish Heritage and that's pretty much all I know about it. 
   
     It reminds me of a Hobbit's house with the door curved at the top.  Of course, I suppose it might be a gnome hut or even belong to a fairy but whichever it is, I can tell it's spring because the snow is gone, the grass is green, and the daffodil plants are sprouting.  Don't you love the TV antenna?

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with CUTplorations die
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die
Signature bow 'dyed' w ProMarker

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time ...
Classic Design
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Crafters
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of ...
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Stamplorations


     Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Birthday in a Garden

     This is another Guest Designer card I've done using a beautiful image from Conie Fong, called "Garden Bouquet."  I reversed the image for this card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Highlights added with gel pens
Cut with Sue Wilson die
Sentiment printed and hand cut, edges inked
Velvet ribbon scrap
Hand tied tassel

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Time Out
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Don't forget that Conie Fong always has a challenge going on their Facebook page with a theme of "Anything Goes" and a different option each month.  This month's option is Spring/ Butterflies/or Die Cuts.  Remember to use a Conie Fong image.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Cat, Happy Owner

     The problem with the above title is, as we all know, nobody "owns" a cat!   But this adorable image from Digi Doodle Studios, called "Anna Lee," shows just how happy both cat and human can be when  mutually cuddled.  This is my DT card as a reminder that the Digi Doodle Studios challenge is still on going and the theme this month is "Ribbon or Lace."  Obviously, I chose Lace.  :-D

   

I used colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored with ProMarkers and watercolors

Cut with Spellbinders die

Lace from my large collection of laces

Strip of deep green CS used to showcase the lace

Light Green CS base was hand bleached using a cotton swab

Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:

Artsy Stamper

Cutie Pie

Lemon Shortbread

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Simon Says Stamps

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds

     You still have a coupe of weeks to enter our blog challenge and don't forget to check out our Facebook page while you're browsing around.  Over there, we have a challenge that's Anything Goes but you do have to use a DDS image.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Luck o' the Irish

     It's the second Monday of the month and that means a new challenge is starting at Jan's Digi Stamps!  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you may use any image from any company.

     Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day (also my birthday!) and since my heritage is Irish on both sides of the family tree, I'm using an image & a sentiment from the JDS set called "Lucky Charm 776J."

     I celebrate my heritage each year by sending St. Paddy's cards to my grandkids, reminding them that they are Irish.  As my father used to say, "Irishmen never father anything but Irishmen, regardless what's on the other side!"  lol

Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Cut with Memory Box die
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Shamrock ribbon by Paper Studio
Everything mounted onto kraft card base

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Coloring in Scrapland
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Colors
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Path of Positivity
TTCRD
Tues Throwdown

     I want to share with you another card which uses this beautiful Lucky Charm image (combined with one of her birthday cake images), made by the artist herself, who sent it to me to celebrate my birthday!  Isn't this gorgeous?

     Come play with us before April 5 when the JDS Challenge #10 closes.  We love being inspired by you!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Flowers Just for You

     I was digging through my collection of Penny Black stamps again, doing a clean out and organize of the craft room and supplies.  Ran across these two which I've used many times over the years but not recently (meaning not in the 6 years since I moved from northern California to southern California) and not in combination before.  Here's a more up to date, more my current style, card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Highlighted with gel pens
Cut with Spellbinders rectangle die
Punched with Fiskars corner punch
Mat around image is metallic pink paper
Sheer pink ribbon is a scrap
Signature bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafty Sentiments
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
Paperminutes
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny Black and More
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

In Time for Easter

     Some things arrive just in time, like Santa on Christmas Eve or a surprise gift in the mail on the morning of your birthday.  Today, I'm sharing an image from Angie's Digital Stamps featuring a tiny chick who arrived just in time for Easter.  :-D 

Colored with ProMarkers
Yellow frame cut w/ Sue Wilson die
   (scrap left over from another project)
Paper scrap from DCWV
Machine embroidered flowers
Sentiment printed, then cut & embossed w/ Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...Extra
Classic Design
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Moments
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
SheepSki Designs
Stamping Sensations

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make a Wish

     A new Friday today and it's even a Friday, the 13th!  Since I'm not the least superstitious, other than noting the date, my day will be just like any other day including telling you about the new weekly challenge starting today at QKR Stampede.  As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes" and you can use any image from any company.  However, if you do use either a QKR image or an image from Eureka, our sister company, your entry will be put into a separate draw only for people using our images.  That increases your chances of winning by a huge amount.

     For my card today, which I'm adding to my stash of birthday cards, I used a cute QKR Stampede image called "Wish Bone 7005."  Maybe he'll be the lucky one when the Wish Bone is snapped.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and frame cut w/ Spellbinders dies
Corners made w/ Fiskars punch
Plaid dp from Your Next Stamp
Sheer ribbon and bow from stash
Sentiment printed and hand cut, edges inked

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out
Word Art Weds
Your Next Stamp

     Come play with us and Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Dandelion Hedgie

     I had so much fun playing with this Penny Black image.  I don't know how long this has been in my collection but I'm sorting through supplies and tools, including wood mounted stamps, in order to clean out and trim down.  When I ran across this one, I couldn't remember ever using it before so the sorting and cleaning came to an abrupt halt and crafty play began. 

     I stamped several of these for future use, photographed the best one, and saved it into a file.  The wood mounted rubber stamp is going into the 'donate' pile.

Colored with ProMarkers
Highlights added w/ white gel pen
Stickles added to dandelion seeds
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Corner butterflies cut from Recollections glitter paper
        & embossed w/ Memory Box die
Sentiment cut  & embossed w/ Avery Elle die
Signature, hand-sewn bow w/ drop of Stickles
Yellow CS base hand-bleached with cotton swab

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafter's Castle
Dare 2B Artzy
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Penny Black and More
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Spring

     I found this image in my collection of images from All Dressed Up and realized I've never used it!  It's called "Butterflies" and believe it or not, it's currently a freebie on their challenge blog site!  The challenge theme this month is "Favorite Color" and my favorite color combo for anything spring is green and .....  :-D

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds. #178

Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Cut with Spellbinders square die
K & Co green papers (scraps)
Sheer green ribbon
Hand tied bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Green card base

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Use Dies/Use Flower dp)
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Double D
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Funday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Home Concert

     We all know there's no place like home; songwriters have given us lyrics about it and poets have written sonnets saluting home.  But my piano-playing spinster sings out her version in concert with her fur & feather babies from the living room, even if they are all a bit off key!  :-D

     Art Impressions stamp.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and card cut with QuicKutz dies
Strip of dp from scrap basket
Pearls for embellishment

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Get Creative (middle column)
Paperbabe Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
SUYP Cats 
Tales from the Craftroom
Time Out (home)

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Stroll

     For today's card I used a darling image from Paper Shelter where the theme is "Spring." Doesn't she look elegant in her latest Easter hat, taking a spring stroll with her tiny canine friend?

I based my card on the sketch at The Outlawz

and my colors came from the TicTacToe board at Color My Heart.

I used shades of all the colors on the board plus neutrals of brown and cream.

  

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with Unbranded die
Background dp leftover scrap
Sparkly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sheer ribbon for hand tied bow
Sentiment printed & cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Cute Card Thurs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kisses at Conie Fong

     I'm so enjoying my Guest Designer stint at Conie Fong and will truly miss it when I'm done.  I'd give anything to be a regular DT for Conie.  :-D  In any case, today I used "Butterfly Kisses" and I think she's an absolute delight to color!  Again, she's on sale!

     Everything on the card was made from scraps and leftovers, including the CS on which the image and sentiment were printed.

I started with one of the sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.

but added embellies in the corner.

Colored with ProMarkers, chalks & gel pens
Cut with Memory Box stitched die
Edges of image were inked with ProMarkers
Heart and flower are both embroidered
Leaves cut from scrap w Cheery Lynn die
Blue doily is a partial piece, left over from another card
Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon (scrap)
Everything is layered onto a scrap of kraft CS

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Unbleached Silk & Dies)
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
I {heart} ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp

     Wishing you all a crafty day.  :-D  NanaConnie

Look !

     These two cats have spied the largest butterfly ever and their attention is riveted.  I'm sure they are trying to figure out how to catch it.  The floral cat image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I did two of them, flipped one horizontally, and adjusted the sizes so that one was just barely smaller.

I followed the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

Colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink
Cut with die from QuicKutz (moved to get the shape and 2 cuts done)
Edges of cut image inked with ProMarker
Striped dp from K & Co.
Butterfly machine embroidered onto sheer fabric
Metallic brads added to image and butterfly
Sentiment hand printed

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Butterfly  (used die)
Catch the Bug
Creative Moments
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Prika Crafts
Stamping Sensations (in the cats)

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guest Designer at Arty Divas

     If you're looking for my QKR Stampede DT post, please click HERE or scroll down one post.

     LeAnne's World is sponsoring the latest challenge at Arty Divas, where the theme is "Anything Goes" and I'm a Guest Designer!  I used one of my favorite LeAnn's images, Katy, to make this card for St. Patrick's Day.

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with Spellbinders die, embossed edges
Paper strip from scrap basket - Recollections
Ribbon from local crafting store
Hand tied bow

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
CCC Digi Creations
Classic Design
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pearly Sparkles
Prika Crafts

     Come play along with us this fortnight and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Birthday Fish

     Stocking up again on birthday cards and this delightfully silly fish from QKR Stampede's sister brand, Eureka Stamps, seemed perfect for adding one more to the stash.  I used it as this week's DT card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede.  The image is called "Birthday Fish 14708."  The sentiment is also from Eureka, called "Another Year."  Don't you love that red eye?  lol

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Frame cut with Memory Box die
Background paper is a scrap
Signature, hand-sewn bow w/ pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut w/inked edge

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Colour Crazy
Country View Crafts
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Cute Card Thurs
Do Al(l) Creatives
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz Festive Fri
Outlawz PAM
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Welcome Gnome

     Any time gnomes are photographed on a large mushroom, it's a sure sign they have a new home!  They quickly email the pic to all their gnome friends so that the friends will know where they are, and then they disappear into the forest undergrowth so that no humans can find them.  True story - don't doubt me!   :-D

     This darling image came from SheepSki Designs, provided for the progressive challenge at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers & fussy cut
Bird is machine embroidered
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Metal brads for embellishment

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to...
A Perfect Time...
Angie's Digital
Art Impressions
Cardz TV
Crafty Friends
Dare 2B Artzy
Lil Patch of...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet Annabelle Celebrates March

     One more of my GDT cards for Conie Fong and this one is a nice blend of green and gold in honor of both Spring, which will arrive this month, and St. Patrick's Day, with colors of the Emerald Isle. I used a fantastic Conie Fong image called "Sweet Annabelle" and she's 25% off right now!

I used the sketch found at Crafting Vicky's Sketch Challenge.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Image fussy cut with Scissors
              & mounted on Pop Dots
Gold mat cut with Tonic Studios die
Glitter paper by Recollections
Light green, dye based, ink pad used to create background
Strip of dp from K&Co.
Green 'flower' cut from ribbon
Pearls added to 'flower' center
   
     Challenges:
A Gem of a ...
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Coloring in Scrapland
Cuttlebug Mania (mid column)
Colour Crazy
Double Trouble (with H2H))
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls

     Don't forget that Conie Fong has a challenge each month on their FB page.  It's always Anything Goes as long as you use a Conie Fong image. Come play!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Strawberry Birthday

     I'm working on my stash of birthday cards again because in my family we have a ton of summer and fall birthdays, and I begin running through my stash rather quickly starting in May each year.  For this card, I used an image from Beccy's Place.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens
Cut with QuicKutz die & inked on the edges
Metal corners (sent to me by my friend, Mia, all the way from Greece!  Thank you so much, Mia.)
Signature bow w/ gem
Sentiment printed and added below image

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...EXTRA
Classic Design
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Galore Encore
Do Al(l) Creatives
Incy Wincy
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Get Well Soon

     A new challenge starts today over at Jan's Digi Stamps where our theme is always "Anything Goes" and winners are chosen by a random draw.  I want to show off one of the cutest newly released sets, "Get Well Soon 3260J."  The sentiment is also part of the set.

     I want to share with you a technique I used for coloring this image.  I started with the pre-colored image that comes with the set instead of the black & white line drawing, even though I fully intended to color the image myself.  Before printing it, I adjusted the image to the far side of the gray scale.

     Why bother doing it that way when a B&W line drawing was available in the set?  Because the line drawing didn't have the excellent shadows & shading and the colored version did!  So, I printed the gray scale image, then colored it, and all the lovely shading and highlights came through, making my own coloring look almost 'professional.'  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Memory Box stitched die
Frame cut with QuicKutz die
Background CS old SU scrap
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Signature hand-sewn bow w pearl added
Sentiment hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It Feels Like Spring!

     We've had such beautiful weather out here in central California this last week (in the low 80s) and everything is blooming, bursting, or popping!   In the midst of all that, I simply had to do cards that have springtime images on them, including this one which is my DT card for Digi Doodle Studios, where our newest challenge theme is "Use Ribbon or Lace."  I added ribbon to my lace.  :-D

     The image is called "Keira" and I think she's fabulous with her shy, little puppy behind her.

I based this on the sketch at Tuesday Morning, running the division the length of the card

and offsetting it slightly. I also used the middle row of TicTacToe colors from Color Dare.

  

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with dies from QuicKutz
Background dp scrap embossed with 'Linen' EF
Lace woven with satin ribbon
"Pearls" added to ribbon with Pearl Drops
Sentiment printed and cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Colors
Outlawz Twist Thurs
Passion for ProMarkers

    I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge this month and don't forget to check out our Facebook page, too.  Over there, we have a "Forever" challenge each month which is always "Anything Goes with a DDS image."

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Great Horned Owl

    Another month and that means another new challenge is starting at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  We have a very special sponsor this month, our very own Donna Ellis who had to leave the team a month ago but who is sponsoring the challenge this month.   Her gorgeous "Great Horned Owl" digi set is going to be the prize this month and she supplied it for use by each of the DT ladies.  Be sure to check out the 2CCC blog to see all the versions that were used.

Image is a pre-colored version
Printed and fussy cut w/ scissors
Black card base
Black, mini sequin, mesh ribbon
Sentiment printed w/ white onto black CS
     & cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Friends
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper Crafty
Polkadoodles
Stamper's Delights
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie