Watermelon Girl

     I love fun summertime images of people eating watermelon (my favorite summer fruit!) and this is another of the older images I found when I was browsing through my files of digital images from companies which have gone out of business.  This one is also from Karen's Digis as was the one on my post from yesterday and I probably added it to my collection in 2011 or 2012.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Ivy cut with Sue Wilson die
Green butterfly is machine embroidered

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Well, even though our weather has cooled considerably after those really hot, hot, hot four days of temperatures over 100, I'm going to go cut a piece of watermelon and add it to my lunch plate.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dad's BBQ

     It feels very odd not to be posting a DT card for QKR Stampede on a Friday morning but this is the week before we start our monthly challenges for the summer so our challenge from last week is still running until Sunday evening.  We will be starting our monthly challenges on the 1st of each month and that's next Monday.  You still have a couple of days to enter something in our previous challenge so check it out.  It's an Anything Goes theme so how can you lose?

     I spent some time the other day going through folders I have of digital images from companies which have closed their doors and stopped selling.  I found this in my folder of images from Karen's Digis.  While I was there, I printed out three or four additional images which I will color and share in upcoming days.  But with this image, I'm making two cards, and both of them are Father's Day cards.

     You see, I have one son and one SIL who are equally adept at the BBQ grill and feeding their families.  Fortunately, they live 1,000 miles apart in different states and they'll never share their cards with each other so they'll never know I used the same image.  The fun part is that this image would work well for any weekend day in either of their homes and even for a birthday.  I wouldn't have to wait for Father's Day.  :-D  The fun part is that I have a son and a grandson who have back to back birthdays in June and this card would definitely work for either of them.

     This is my next foray into the world of water coloring while trying to get decent shading and highlights.  I don't know if there's any real improvement over my last one but I did get some good shadows where they seem to belong.  lol

Colored with water color paints
Cut w/ Sizzix die
Mounted onto red card base
Baker's twine added
Masculine, CAS

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Artsy Stamper
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paper Girls
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp...

     I'll show you the other one when I get it finished.   In the meantime, I hope your weather is cool and decent.  Ours has been over 100 degrees F (I mean like 102, 103, 106 and they are saying 107 today) for 4 days and we're still three weeks away from summer!  Yuck, why do I live here?

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Peace and Quiet

     I went on a shopping spree at Lili of the Valley during their half-off sale last weekend.  I've always loved their images since the first time I saw one and if they have a sale, you can bet I'm over there buying new (to me) stamps.

     Today, I'm going to share with you something I bought which is slightly different for me but it sure makes for quick and easy, git 'er done, cards!  These are files which contain three different sizes of digital images (A2, A6,& A7 card sizes), pre-colored and ready to print.  All you need is to trim them to fit the card.

     Here's an A2 card made with the smallest image size.  The image is called Peace and Quiet.  I think it took me less than 10 minutes to have the card finished.

In order to use all the colors from Tuesday Throwdown,

I used dark blue CS for the frame and I chose

the pre-made card base with the flowers.

Pre-colored
Cut with QuicKutz die
Dark blue frame cut with Tutti Designs die
Card base is from DCWV Linen Closet set

     Challenges for 1st card:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Arty Divas
Crafty Sentiments
Lemon Shortbread
SUYP Cats
Time Out

     Now, having done that really quick card, I decided to play around a bit and see what else I could do with them.  Here's the result using exactly the same size image but this time I adjusted the pre-colored version into gray-scale before I printed it.  This card took me about 15 minutes, including working in MS Word to get the preferred lever of gray-scale before printing.

Yellow ProMarker used to color the bees and pansies
Black, fine line, gel pen used on sentiment
Image cut with Tutti Designs die
Card front embossed w/ "Linen" folder
CAS design w/ no embellishment

     Challenges for 2nd card:
Colour Crazy
Crafty Calendar
Creative Fingers
Outlawz SAR
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Path of Positivity
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flowery Hello

     Catch the Bug had such a great inspiration photo this week that I just had to get a card made using flowers, butterflies, and the colors.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  Everything on the card, including the CS on which the image was printed, came from a scrap.  I love it when I can make cards like that.  Using up scraps and snippets makes me feel so justified when I buy new papers.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with QuicKutz die
"Hello" from Tutti Designs dies
Leaf branches from Creative Expressions dies
CAS design

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Dare 2B Artzy
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty...
Outlawz SAR
Pixie's Snippets
TTCRD

     We're halfway through this week (for those of you who may have lost track of which day this is) and I hope all is well with each of you.  I'm so ready to get everything back to normal.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Making Beautiful Music

     I want to share one more DT card I've done for Digi Doodle Studios and this one features an image called "Violinist Janie."  She looks so happy playing her violin for that little song bird.  What a duet that must be!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Cut and framed with dies by Spellbinders
Net ribbon is sparkly (hard to see) and a scrap
White grosgrain bow from 1" ribbon
Yellow 'dots' in the corners are drop out bits from frame

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspiration
Double D  (music)
Dream Valley
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Get Creative
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Word Art Weds.

     Have a wonderful week, my friends, and find some creative time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Coffee Loving Monster

     On this Memorial Day, let's remember

why it's on our calendars and honor those 

who fought for and even gave their own lives

that we might enjoy our Freedom.

     This fun and slightly distressed (ok, a lot distressed!) monster is the Progressive Challenge image from Limited Runs for May/June.  The expression on his face just shouted that he had tasted his coffee and found something horribly wrong.

     It reminded me of an incident when I was probably 10 or 11.  I wanted to do something really special for my dad on Father's Day.  He was never one for big, noisy, celebrations, especially when he was the object of them, and he had announced that he planned on going off early in the morning to spend the day fishing; no fuss, no muss, no celebration.  After a few minutes of begging to go with him, he agreed and I said I'd fix the picnic basket of lunch and snacks.

     I suppose I made sandwiches or maybe even potato salad (one of his favorites) but what I really remember was the thermos of coffee.  He loved coffee and drank it year round, cold weather or hot.  His coffee thermos went everywhere with him.  I made coffee as soon as I woke up and, because I might end up drinking some of it myself if there was nothing else available, I added a bit of sugar since I really didn't care for the taste of coffee back then.  It's an acquired taste, you know.  :-D

     We were probably 10 or 15 miles from home when Dad had me pour him his first cup from the thermos, and his face turned an apoplectic red, then white as he swallowed a big mouthful.  Dad took his coffee black - no adulteration allowed!  He looked just like that Coffee Monster!  lol  As I remember, we turned around, went back home, remade the coffee, and then went fishing.  He never scolded me about it but it remained a long-standing joke between us for the rest of his life.  :-D

     OK, after that rather long story, here's my card. Consider it a salute to the greatest dad who ever lived (and a WWII vet, also!)

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and sentiment cut with Dare 2B Artzy dies
Background CS cut with same D2BA dies
Die cut circles inlaid into background
Satin bow dyed with ProMarker, pearl added
CAS design

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Creative Craft Cottage
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Take a moment and thank a veteran, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy Hugs

     I'm sneaking into the computer room, having shut the door so that the cats can't get in, because I'm posting a card I made in the middle of the night when they weren't watching.  Despite the fact that I'm really an animal person (all sorts and species), many of my friends (and all three of the cats who let me share their abode) see me as a cat person.  Well, truthfully, the cats see me as their human, put on this earth just to feed them, to clean their litter box, and to cuddle them when they feel the need for human contact (but not otherwise.)  They would make life miserable for me if they knew I had done a card featuring a Dog!!

     I don't know how long ago I got this sweet image from Lili of the Valley but it was some weeks ago and this is the first time I've used it.  I've been trying to improve my highlighting and shading with watercolors but it's not easy.  I have a friend who does spectacular free hand watercolor paintings and she keeps telling me, "Let it dry, let it dry, then go back over it to make it darker."  I'm impatient, I guess, trying to darken it while the first layer is still damp.  Sigh... I'll just have to keep trying.

Image and sentiment printed together
Colored with water colors
Cut and framed with Memory Box dies
Sheer ribbon for the wrap and the bow

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Lemon Shortbread
Paperminutes
Path of Positivity
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown (bow/green/image)

     Enjoy the rest of your weekend, although if you're like me, the weekdays and weekends all seem to be running together and are hard to distinguish.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

March to Your Own Drummer

     The instant I saw this image from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World, I knew I had to do a CAS card in blues.  OK, so it's not as CAS as my friend, Lynn, does but she's an absolute master at making them (and she loves blue!)  I got carried away with a couple of background layers but there's no ribbon, no bows, no flowers, no twine, no embellies beyond the 3 tiny dots which dropped out of the die cut frame!

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Frame cut with Tutti Designs die
Polka dot paper from DCWV
Corner punch from Fiskars
Linen EF used on card base
Sentiment printed and cut with QuicKutz

 Challenges:
A Gem of a ...
Artsy Stamper
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Lil Patch of Crafty...
MFT Colors
Outlawz PAM
Time Out

     That's all I have for today but I'll probably have a new post tomorrow.  I'm retiring to the craft room right now to see what strikes my fancy.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Long Hot Summer

     As we are starting the Memorial Day weekend, locked down and unable to run away to the beach or mountains, where I live we are also facing our first triple digit days of the summer and a heat wave of 100+F for three days in a row!  So, my DT card for the newest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede features a cute QKR image called "Weiner Dog" and I think he looks like he's suffering through one of those looong, hot, summer days!  I know we'll have many more of them this summer but I really hate it when they start as early as May.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die
Wood Grain = Darice EF w/ torn edge
Sheer "butterfly" bow was 'dyed' with ProMarker
Card base made from Summer Gold CS

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly
(butterfly bow + yarrow, yam, and choice; wood grain)
Cardz TV
CCC Digi Creations
Colour Crazy
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Southern Girls
STAMPlorations CAS
    

     That's all I have for today but I do hope you're going to come and play with us this challenge.  We have some changes taking place over at QKR Stampede and this current challenge will run until May 31.  The next challenge will start on June 1 and it will run for the entire month.  We're going to be a monthly challenge for now, at least during the summer, so you'll have lots of time to enter.  Our themes will continue to be Always Anything Goes.  Have fun.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sally's Christmas Friends

     Finally, my first Christmas card this year!  I usually start in either March or April and given that those were both lock-down months, I can't really claim that I was too busy to get any done but still I didn't get any made at all.  So, here we are, two-thirds of the way through May and I'm finally posting my first Christmas card for 2020.

     I used one of Conie Fong's new releases, called "Sally's Christmas Friends."  As anyone who lives in snow country knows, our lovely feathered friends need a bit of help finding seeds for sustenance so I had Sally hanging not ornaments but suet & seed balls for her sweet little cardinal friends.

Yes, I used the traditional Christmas colors of red and green but that's my favorite color combo for the holidays.  What do you think?

Colored with ProMarkers & silver glitter pen
Cut with Unbranded, cross-stitch die
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die
Background paper from Graphic 45
Sparkly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bow - hand tied w/ gem

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Craft-Dee BowZ
Friendship
Lemon Shortbread
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Fri
Sparkles Christmas
Winter Wonderland

     Don't forget that each month on the Conie Fong Facebook page we have two challenges; one for coloring only and the other for finished cards.  We do require the use of Conie Fong images to enter those challenges but how could you resist those darling images?  There are freebies available on the FB site and there's also a 25% off sale going on at the Etsy Store right now!  Check it out to see if one of your favorite images that you've been wanting to get is one of those on sale.   :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower Cart

     Here's my mid-month post for the Jan's Digi Stamps challenge where our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any products by any company.  However, if you do use a Jan's image, your entry goes into a completely separate draw for those entries only and that increases your chances of winning by quite a lot.  :-D

     I used a lovely image plus one of the sentiments from the set called "Flower Cart 798J" and I found a perfect dp to use for the background.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens
Cut with Spellbinders die (sponged edge)
Sentiment cut w/ Avery Elle die (sponged edge)
Lace scraps from the basket
Paper from My Fav Things - heat embossed w/ clear EP
Double bow hand-tied

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Dream Valley
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Southern Girls
Tuesday Throwdown (bow/die/blue)

     Happy Crafting and come play with us.  NanaConnie

Party with a Fire Permit

     This is the kind of party I want on my next birthday!  I've worked really hard to earn all those candles and I think the family should do whatever it takes to get the fire permit and then throw the biggest, wildest party anyone has ever seen.  lol  I'll probably be sleeping in the corner of the couch.

     This stamp is from Art Impressions and I think it's hysterically funny.  :-D

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sizzix die
Polka Dot paper cut with QuicKutz die
Both papers from DCWV
Hand tied bow

     Challenges:
A Gem of a ...
Aud Sentiments
Allsorts
Coloring in Scrapland
C.R.A.F.T.
Cute Card Thurs
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...

     Be sure to stop by in the morning when I'll have another DT card for the challenge reminder at Jan's Digi Stamps.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Flowers and a Ladybug

     It's a beautiful spring day where I am, although the prediction is that we'll get an afternoon shower or two but they won't last long or bring much rain.  The sprinkles are fine with me, as are the cooler temperatures we're going to have over the next three days.

     Let's celebrate gardens and flowers and even ladybugs!  This is an image from Bugaboo Stamps and I adore all of their Fancy Sunbonnet images.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers and watercolors
Cut with die from Spellbinders
Lace scraps used behind the image
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Red satin bow made to be a butterfly
3 'heart' bits added to side (came from the die cut)

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Catch the Bug (middle row - choice is lace)
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
House Stamps Built (1st column)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Word Art Weds

     Happy Monday (for those of you who are keeping track of the days of the weeks) and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Dreams

     Today I have another Conie Fong image to share with you and this one is called "Summer Dreams."  Don't forget that on the Facebook page, Conie Fong has two challenges running each month; one is for just coloring of Conie Fong images and the other is for completed projects using a Conie Fong image.  The themes are always Anything Goes but there are options if you choose to use them.  For May, the optional theme is "Females/Mothers."

     I did a very CAS design, even though it looks more complex.  It's nothing more than 2 die cuts inlaid into each other and placed onto the card front.  No embellishments at all.

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Image and frame cut with dies from Spellbinders
     inlaid to make a single layer
Die cuts are embossed
Frame is DCWV paper
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
All Fun
Angie's Digitals
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Dare 2B Artzy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

     It's a lovely Saturday and whatever the weather where you are, I hope you're going to enjoy some "me" time in the craft room.  Maybe you'll make something to enter into one of our challenges.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Naptime Bear

     So we've all been isolating for longer than a bear hibernates and it's getting difficult to find new and entertaining things for the kids, much less the adults!  My advice is when all else fails, take a nap.  :-D

     For we crafters, we can always slip into the craft room and find something to do for hours.  We over at QKR Stampede are suggesting you make something to enter into our latest "Anything Goes" challenge which started today and runs for a week.  I found this delightful QKR stamp called "Snuggle Up" and used it for a very CAS design.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with CUTplorations stitched die
Sentiment printed & cut
Inked edges of image and sentiment
Blue ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand-sewn, signature bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It
Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting (or napping, whichever pleases you at the moment.)  NanaConnie

Top Hat Teddy Bear

     I somehow got inspired by a color palette at Outlawz Color challenge, which is surprising considering that I rarely use yellows and oranges except for autumn cards.  They just aren't in the range of my favorite colors.  Nope, I'm a cool colors person for sure, loving purples, blues, and greens.  I often pair yellow with one of those colors when I want a particular color combo of cool and warm colors but beyond that, it's rare to see yellow or orange in my creations.

     But today, this just called out to me.  I used a sweet teddy bear image from Bugaboo Stamps and the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

  

Colored with ProMarkers w/ glitter on flower
Image cut with oval die from QuicKutz
Frame cut with Spellbinders
   & overlapped to get rectangle shape
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die
Background scrap paper from DCWV
2 layers of ribbon - both scraps
Mulberry flowers dyed, glitter added, & gem in center

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Cardz TV
Crafty Sentiments
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
TTCRD

     Have yourself a fabulous day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dahlia's Blooms

     I absolutely adore this bright, sunny image from Digi Doodle Studios called "Dahlia's Blooms" and think it would also be great in autumn colors but for now, spring reigns!  :-D  I'm sharing this as inspiration for our monthly challenge where the theme is "Flower Power."  You can enter any card which uses flowers, either in the image or as embellishments.  You can use any images by any company but if you use a DDS image, you can win twice as many images for your prize.

     If you use a DDS image, you can also enter the monthly challenge on our Facebook page.

     Here's my DT card:

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
   (Fav spring color combo!)
Image & frame cut w/ Spellbinders' dies
Hand tied, polka dot, bow
Wide ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sentiment printed, edges inked

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs
Dream Valley
House ... Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inkly Pinkies
Paper Funday
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you're going to come join us in one or both of our challenges.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guest Designing at Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

     This fortnight, I have the honor of acting as a Guest Designer at The Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge which is sponsored this time by Jan's Digi Stamps.  Since I'm on the DT at JDS, it seemed only natural to be one of their Guest Designers.  Their theme is an easy one; Button, Lace & Blue Ribbon.  I chose this adorable image, called "Awesome Chick" from Jan's for my card.

     I actually used this as a Mother's Day card for a new mom.  :-D

   

Colored with ProMarkers

Image & sentiment cut with Unbranded dies

Lace w/ ribbon and turquoise stones (stash)

Sheer blue ribbon, double bow

Square button from stash

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Cuttlebug Mania

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.

Lemon Shortbread

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Paper Funday

Simon Says Stamp

WordArt Weds.

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in the Monday Greetings challenge at the Outlawz.  If you're not a member yet, it's free to join and very easy.  They have a different challenge for each day of the week plus a couple of monthly challenges and you can join as many of those individually as you choose.  Check them out.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ladybugs on their Night Out

     HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms!

     How about a fun but silly idea for a card - celebrating with ladybugs on a night out?  OK, I'm probably bending the theme a bit from the Catch the Bug challenge - Ladies Night - but this ladybug image from Bugaboo Stamps caught my eye so I used it.

     Can't you just picture this as a mom ladybug with 4 of her daughters out exploring their night time world of flowers and butterflies?  lol

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Glitter on the butterfly wings
Cut with MFT Die-namics dies
Inlaid die cuts
CAS Design

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
All Fun
Angie's Digitals
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Crafty Friends
Digi Choosday
Paper Girls
TTCRD

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Born on Mother's Day

     I have a friend just down the street who was born on Mother's Day.  Of  course, the date for Mother's Day moves around each year so she only gets to celebrate her birthday on Mother's Day once every few years.  As long as her mother was alive, they always had a big family celebration celebrating both occasions together.  Her own children tried to carry on the tradition but over time it evolved into a birthday celebration on the Saturday of the weekend (regardless of the date) and a Mother's Day celebration on the Sunday.  Since they can't go out to dinner this year, her daughter is doing a back yard BBQ at her house today, then the family is coming to my friend's home for an order-in, family meal tomorrow.  What a great tradition!

     I made her a card and I used one of my favorite Conie Fong images, "Emma Rose."  Don't forget that we have two challenges over on our Facebook page every month.  One is for colored images only and the other is for the finished products.  Both of them require that a Conie Fong image be used but beyond that, the theme is always "Anything Goes" along with an optional twist which this month is "Females/Mothers."

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut w/ die from Spellbinders
Glitter paper from CTMH, QuicKutz die
Sheer & satin ribbon
Signature bow w/ pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a ...
Allsorts
Angie's Digitals
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Dare 2B Artzy
Get Creative
Lil Patch of ...
Paper Girls
Stamping Sensations

     Have a great weekend and I'm wishing all the moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Get Well Wishes

     I'm trying to get my stock of Get Well cards replenished and when I saw this adorable QKR Stampede image, called "Sick Angel" (but misspelled in the shop as Angle), I knew I had to use it for my DT card for the newest weekly challenge which starts today.

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to wings and halo
Glossy Accents added to stars
Image cut with Tutti Designs die
Paper scraps cut with Impression Obsession dies
Background embossed with Couture Creations EF
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Funday
Pattie's Creations
Simon Says Stamps
Word Art Weds.
Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Another Social Distancing Day

     This is such a fun image (from Elena Zinski Art) and it made me think about the social distancing issues which can arise when everyone is trying to use the backyard swimming pool all at once.  I think I'll just run away to the tropics and stand in the  ocean.  Oh, yeah, all the air travel is shut down.  :-P   This is the image for the Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz this month.

  
All oval shapes cut from scrap CS 
Colored with ProMarkers
Everything cut with QuicKutz dies
Double matting
Hand-sewn, signature bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
A Bit More...EXTRA
Coloring in Scrapland
Craft-Dee Bowz
Creatalicious
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pixie's Snippets
STAMPlorations
Your Scrapbook Place

     Have a wonderful day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

We Should Dance

     I love all of the images from Beccy's Place but her cats are the absolute best!  The theme in the monthly challenge is always Anything Goes and there's always an optional twist if you want to use it.  This month, the twist is a sketch.  Both the image and the sentiment are from Beccy's.

Sketch adjusted for square instead of rectangle

Image and sentiment printed onto scrap CS
Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Gina Marie die
Sentiment cut with QuicKutz die
Both are mounted onto a gray, CS scrap
Paper strip is a scrap from the basket
Doily is a scrap cut off
Jute cord from The Twinery

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Classic Design
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Galore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Dream Valley
Ike's Art
Passion for ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pansies for Mom

     Today I'm showcasing one of the newer image and sentiment sets from Jan's Digi Stamps, released just last month.  Our new monthly challenge starts today and the theme is always Anything Goes.  There's no requirement that you use any of Jan's products but if you do use a JDS image, your entry goes into a separate draw only for entries featuring one of those images.  That increases your chance of being a winner by a huge amount!  :-D

     Here's my card using one of the pre-colored images from "Pansies for Mom" and I did it as a very CAS card.  Pre-colored images are so fantastic for really quick cards and I did my Mother's Day cards at the last minute this year.  For this one, both the image and the sentiment were printed directly onto the card front.  I folded and cut the card to size, then added the sheer ribbon and tied the double bow by hand (not an easy feat and that took more time than anything else on the card!)  :-D

     Mother's Day may just be my favorite 'occasion' (short of my own birthday when I can score presents AND cake!) because it gives me an excuse to make cards with flowers.  I love flower images and usually find that I like the simplest ones the best.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Come play with us this month.  The challenge runs from today clear through May 31.  We ove being inspired by all the people who play along.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Tulip Silhouette for Mom

     I've finally finished my last Mother's Day card (you'll see two others later this week) and can now get them into the mail (if I can find some stamps!)  Even though my own mother has been gone for many years, I still make Mother's Day cards to send to the moms of my 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grands. 

     Today's card features spring colors and a delightful silhouette stamp of tulips in the garden plus a hand-colored butterfly.  It came from Bugaboo Stamps and I adore it.  This is one of  those "git 'er done" cards my friend, Lynn, is so fond of making.  Thanks, Lynn.  I know this is your kind of CAS and I'm doing my best to mimic you.  :-D  The sentiment and the image are both printed on one piece of CS, cut with a die and added to the front of a pre-made card base.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Sheer bow tied by hand
CAS design

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Allsorts
Butterfly  (Xiketic/Xanthic/Xtra colors)
Catch the Bug
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Crafty Gals Corner
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Stamping Sensations

     That's all for today.  Tomorrow we'll have a new challenge starting at Jan's Digi Stamps and I'll be sharing another of my Mother's Day cards using one of her beautiful images!  Be sure to stop by. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet Angel

     I want to share a lovely, little, Conie Fong angel with you this morning, called "Angel Wishes" and she's my DT inspiration for the new May challenge.  You must use a Conie Fong image but the theme is always "Anything Goes" with an option and this month you can make it for a Mom or a Female, but remember, that part is optional.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter on the wings & skirt hem
Cut with QuicKutz die
Pink image frame cut with QuicKutz die
Triangle paper is a scrap
Sentiment printed and cut with QuicKutz die
Bow is hand tied w a gem added
Card base is pink, metallic CS

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Sentiments
Creations in Pink
Cute Card Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.

     I hope you're going to come play with us this month.  Remember, our challenges are held on our Facebook page and it's so easy to join us.  We have both a coloring-only challenge (no need to make a card or other project - just color your image) and a completed projects challenge (for your cards and other projects) and if you're a winner in either one, you can win fabulous images from Conie Fong!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Ruff" Day

     We are starting a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede today where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   So many of my friends and family are beginning to chafe under (what some consider overly-restrictive) regulations about quarantine and isolation, I thought a fun card about rough days might cheer them up.

     The image is from QKR, called "Good Boy" and the expression on his face is exactly like what I suspect others have on their faces.  lol

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with My Favorite Things Die-namics dies
   - creating three lines of stitching on image and frame
Paper is a scrap from the basket
Sentiment cut w/ Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Dream Valley
I heart ProMarkers
Paperbabe Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds

     Please come and play with us this week.  Anything goes with any products from any company!  If you do use a QKR image or even one from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, your entry will go into a separate draw just for those and that increases your chances of being a winner!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summertime Treats

     Out here where I live, we've been feeling temperatures which are 10 to almost 20 degrees F above normal for the end of April/early May.  The grandkids (and the dog!) are already enjoying the swimming pool in the back yard while I've been sitting inside with the air conditioning on.  So my DT card for the latest monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies this week is a perfect preview of what we're going to be enjoying this weekend.  :-D

     Our sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy and I used their image called "Sweet Tooth Hedgehog."

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Quickutz dies for image & frame
Avery Elle die for sentiment
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
CAS design

     Challenges:
A Gem of a ...
Arty Divas
Crafty Friends
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky ...
Paperminutes
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     I hope you're gong to come and play with us this month.  Remember, our themes are always "Anything Goes featuring a Critter."  We love being inspired by you.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie