Grammy's Attic: December 2020

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Stay Warm

In these couple of days after Christmas, our temperatures have dropped drastically; below freezing overnight and then this morning it warmed enough to rain. Now we have cold sunshine amid the scattering clouds. I don't want any of you Canadians or Mid-Westerners laughing at me! Remember, I'm in California where we only have snow in the high Sierra Nevadas and when it gets below freezing, we really feel it. I don't even own a winter coat! lol

This card perfectly reveals what's happening in our neck of the Christmassy woods. The image is from House Mouse.

I pulled colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter & Liquid Pearls on snow & pompoms

Cut w Fiskars

"Linen" EF used on blue CS

Snowflakes cut w AI dies

(they sparkle but it doesn't show very well)

Sentiment printed & fussy cut

Challenges:

House that Stamps Built

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Say Stamp

Word Art Weds

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas To All

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Let's not forget the reason for the season.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Standing in for Santa

We all know about the 2020 pandemic and have lived through the worst imaginable restrictions (to no apparent avail, sigh...) but few of us thought it would impact Santa's travels. Mrs. Santa was so concerned about his health, due mostly to Santa's great age (did you know he's well over 125 years old - not counting all his years as Father Christmas or Sinter Klaus?), so she has forbidden him to leave the North Pole!

Consequently, Santa has recruited the much younger, 109 year old, Christmas Gnome from Conie Fong to stand in for him. The sack full of toys is an image from Conie Fong's "Santa Sack" and I merged them before printing. BTW, both of those sets (and many others) are on sale until Christmas Day so if you want them, go and grab them RIGHT NOW!

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Dare 2B Artsy die

Corners rounded w Fiskars corner punch

Glitter paper is die cut from wide washi tape (DCWV)

Hand-sewn, signature style, bow

Challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperminutes

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

If you are on a last minute scramble to get everything done before this Christmas Eve has ended, good luck. For this upcoming weekend, may you have many hours of Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Cold Wieners

I did this card for my long-time, blogging buddy, Lynn, and her buddy, Rambo, who just happens to be a doxie. I can post it now because I know it arrived at their house within the last week. I did a very CAS design because that's what Lynn loves and she does it so well when creating her own cards.

Merry Christmas, Rambo!

Colored w ProMarkers, pencil, & gel pens

Glitter added to ornament and sweater

Cut w Tonic Studios die

Red CS mat cut w Tonic Studios die

Sentiment printed, matted & fussy cut

Challenges:

AAA Cards

Christmas w Cuties

Creative Inspirations

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Greetings

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, December 21, 2020

'Sailing' the River

I've loved Mo's Digital Pencil images since I saw my first one several years ago. The gnomes I used for this card were merged so that I could print them together with the sentiment onto a scrap bit of CS. In fact, everything except the card base is made from scraps.

One of my favorite things is ice skating - watching it, not doing it! lol It's a skill I never mastered.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pen

Cut w QuicKutz die

Blue and brown CS are scraps, cut w QuicKutz dies

Snowflakes cut from scrap w mini punch

Snowflake ribbon is also a scrap

Challenges:

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pixie's Snippets

Enjoy the holidays and Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Thin Ice

Reindeer rarely ice skate because, unknown to most of us, they have a pathological fear of thin ice! lol The only time you can get a reindeer to cross a frozen pond or river is if it has recently snowed so that the snow hides the ice.

The Bugaboo Stamps image below (which is the Friday Freebie for the last day of the Holiday Chaos challenges and is still available if you want to grab it) will show you what I mean. I reversed the image before printing it.

The theme is a color palette.

Colored w ProMarkers

Liquid Pearls used for snow

Cut w Gina Marie Die

DCWV washi tape for image mat

Hand-tied bow w pearl (my signature style)

Challenges:

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Basket of Candy Canes

It's time for our mid-month reminder at Jan's Digi Stamps and the challenge will run until Sunday, January 3. Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you may use images from any company. However, if you do use a Jan's Digi Stamps image, your entry goes into a separate draw just for entries which used JDS.

Here's my DT card featuring one of Jan's newest sets (and it's ON SALE until Christmas!) called Candy Cane Basket. This time, I've used the pre-colored image in the set and I've merged one of the sentiments so that it printed as part of the image.

This image brings back childhood memories of a round, wicker basket which sat on a table near the front door and during the Christmas season, it was always filled with candy canes. It was so hard not to sneak one out of the basket for secret eating when nobody was looking but they were there for friends and family who stopped by. Even the mail man or other delivery people who brought packages were rewarded with a candy cane treat from the basket. If there were any left on Christmas Eve, they were taken from the basket and put on the tree. If Santa didn't eat them instead of his cookies, then good little children could have one from the tree after Christmas dinner.

Thank you, Jan, for bringing back such delightful memories. :-D

Image cut w QuicKutz die

Matted w embossed red CS & kraft CS

Both mats cut w QuicKutz dies

Gold glitter paper for card front

Satin-edged, sheer ribbon

Triple-loop bow tied w bow maker

Challenges:

Come play with us this month! We love being inspired by you. Happy Crafting, my friends. NanaConnie

Friday, December 18, 2020

Teddy Bear Christmas

This "Precious" image (literally, that's the name of this image!) from Conie Fong wasn't intended as a Christmas image but with the pandemic, who knows if Santa is going to be willing or able to leave the North Pole? I thought this would be a perfect image for a young girl (or young-at-heart girl) just in case Santa doesn't make it this Christmas.

I used colors from House that Stamps Built.

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter on wings

Cut w Sizzix dies

Green CS is embossed

Recollections dp

Santa-head fussy cut from the dp

Sentiments cut w Avery Elle die

Challenges:

Come play in our FB challenges this month. We have two, each of which requires a Conie Fong image; one for just colored images and the other is for hand-colored, finished projects. You could win more Conie Fong images and look how cute they are!

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Christmas Feet

It's Day 6 of the daily challenges for Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug and today there's an Inspiration Photo for all to follow. I used the colors from the photo, focusing on the red, white, and gray, plus reindeer feet (among the others).

And here's my project, a gift card holder, using a Bugaboo Stamps image.

Colored w ProMarkers

Stickles "Diamond" used on the snow

Cut w QuicKutz die

Mounted onto embossed CS

Off-the-Edge design; opens upward

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Mailing Packages

In case you didn't know, yesterday was the LAST day to mail Christmas packages at regular rates within the US via the Postal Service if you want them to be there on time. Up to the 19th, you can pay the higher fees for rapid deliveries, and you can also pay the astronomical prices for overnight delivery if you want to wait until the 23rd. Personally, I decided to send my cards and packages last week.

But, I'm also very aware that this gal from Bugaboo Stamps understands how mailing Christmas packages actually works! This card is for Day 5 of the Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug and the theme is "Humor Us." This one was fast and easy to make with only the image, a glitter paper scrap, and a bow.

Colored w ProMarkers including Metallic Gold

Cut w Unbranded cross-stitch die

Glittery gold paper

Satin, polka dot bow, hand-tied

Red card base

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Tic Tac Toe at Holiday Chaos

We're at Day 4 of the Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug daily challenges and today we have a Tic Tac Toe board. I'm having problems with Blogger letting me copy and paste a photo of the board into this post but you can check it out by visiting the Day 4 post on the Catch the Bug blog. The important point here is that I managed to get everything but 'twine' so I have 8 out of 9 of the blocks and 6 of the 8 lines, including both diagonals.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Tutti Designs stitched circle die

Silver glitter paper cut w QuicKutz

Sentiment printed & cut w Avery Elle die

Red bow w pearl

Snowflake circles dp = Doodlebug

Distressed dp w stars = DCWV

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Polar Bear Present

Good morning, Friends. Today is the beginning of our final 2020 "Anything Goes" challenge over at QKR Stampede and it will run until the end of the month. We'll see you again on January 1 so let me wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Remember, for QKR challenges you are not required to use a QKR Stampede image but if you do, or if you use one from our sister company, Eureka stamps, your card will be put into a separate draw with others who have also used QKR/Eureka images and your chances of winning will be greatly increased. :-D

I've used a QKR sentiment called "I Know Santa" and a Eureka image called "Polar Bear Present."

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders dies

Die cut edges inked w ProMarkers

Snowflake ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Red grosgrain ribbon for bow

Challenges:

Double Trouble (dies + ribbon)

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, December 14, 2020

All My Polar Friends

Edited to add: My apologies for this post being late. I incorrectly scheduled it for tomorrow. I've corrected it now.

Today is the beginning of our last challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies this year but we'll be back on January 4. Our theme is always Anything Goes (except on a 5th Monday) and our sponsor for this week's challenge is Polkadoodles. They have some of the cutest stamps anywhere! They provided images for the DT to use and I got to color up this sweet Winnie image called "Polar Friends."

Colored w ProMarkers

'Snow' on tree = Glitter & Liquid Pearls

Cut w Spellbinders border die

Matted w red CS; trimmed by hand

Graphic 45 dp; scraps

Signature bow w pearl

Sentiment hand cut

Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday

House that Stamps Built (3d column)

I {heart} ProMarkers

Paper Funday

Passion for ProMarkers

Polkadoodles

Come play with us this week. It's another Anything Goes week so you have no excuse not to play. Then, we take a break until Monday, January 4. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Day 3 at Holiday Chaos - Anything But a Card

It's Day 3 at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos and we are doing "Anything But a Card." These are usually the themes I dislike because until recently, I had no good way to make either a box or a bag so I ended up doing gift card holders and that got boring after I had run through my standard 3 styles of them. But now I have a new, much larger, Scor-Pal and I can make boxes or bags of any size as long as my card stock/paper is large enough. This box is 4.5 x 5.5 x 2 inches and my paper size was 9.5 inches square at the start. I trimmed that on the 4.5 inch side after scoring all the lines.

I also did a 3" x 5" x 7" tall bag using white butcher paper (great because it comes on a large roll and you can make bags of nearly any size or height!) and decorated it with this same Bugaboo Stamps image and ribbon. Unfortunately, I used it for my neighbor's gift before I photographed it so you only get to see the box, not the bag.

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter added to stars & bulbs on antlers

Cut w Spellbinders

Red sheer ribbon

Red satin bow

Challenges:

Artsy Stamper

Christmas Crafts ...

Christmas w the Cuties

Colouring in Scrapland

More than 1 Score

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Sketch for Holiday Chaos Week

Here's my second post this morning and it's a short one because I want to get back to the craft room to work on cards for the rest of the week. There will be another day (maybe even two) with double posts because I have DT projects to show off during the week, too.

Today at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos we have sketch to follow:

Here's what I did with it using a Reindeer Silhouette from Bugaboo Stamps.

Silhouette is fussy cut & mounted on sky blue paper

Papers are from the scrap basket

Poinsettia pieces cut w Impression Obsession die

"Noel" sentiment cut w Die-Versions

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Reindeer Wishes

You'll see two back-to-back posts from me today because I didn't get my first one posted yesterday. Life just caught up with me and I spent the day doing house chores so that I could dedicate the rest of the weekend to getting cards done for the week-long, "Holiday Chaos" fest of daily challenges at Catch the Bug. This First Day there is a theme of "Reindeer Games." In fact, that's the overall theme for the entire week and I'll be sharing as many reindeer images from Bugaboo Stamps as I can. Here's the first:

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders & trimmed

(out of the box on antlers and hoof)

Paper from Love to Craft

Snowflakes cut w Art Impressions die

Twine bow

Challenges:

Double Trouble (dies/twine/dp)

Gem of a Challenge

Passion for ProMarkers

Check back in an hour or so for the second challenge which features the sketch for this week at Holiday Chaos. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, December 11, 2020

Christmas Gnomes

This is my latest DT card for Conie Fong featuring merged images from two different sets, "Santa's Sack" (the upper presents) and "Christmas Gnomes" (the lower gnomes and packages.) I absolutely adore gnomes (second only to dragons!) and Conie Fong has some of the cutest ones around. You really should check out all her gnome set which have Christmas or Winter themes. You can see them all simply by browsing the store.

I used red, green, plus neutrals from CMH Color Dare #423.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Gina Marie die

Background dp is a scrap

Satin ribbon

Sentiment heat embossed and hand cut

Snowflakes cut w Art Impressions dies

Challenges:

That's all I have today but remember that Conie Fong has two challenges every month on the Facebook page; one is for coloring only and the other for hand-colored, finished projects. Each challenges requires that you use a Conie Fong image. Come play. You could win more Conie Fong images!

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Outlawz December Progressive Challenge

This cute image from Moon Flower is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz. I decided to use her for a Christmas card since she had the Santa hat and I dressed her all in red. :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Tonic Studios die

(cut twice to get the long shape)

Ribbon scrap

Scrap of kraft dp from Love to Craft

Faux stitching in both black & white ink

Flat design for mailing

Challenges:

ABC Christmas (Christmas IS my fav thing!)
Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Double D

House that Stamps Built (1st column)

I {heart} ProMarkers

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Stockings on the Chimney?

I always thought it was Santa who went down the chimney but this image tells me the reindeer are also involved somehow! That silly reindeer is either trying to hang the stocking on the outside of the chimney (which would make it easier and faster for Santa to fill) or he's been down the chimney and is acting like the Grinch stealing Christmas. Hmmmm...

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I think it's delightful and funny. :-D

I started with the sketch from 2 Sisters on the Blog

and Colors from CMH Color Dare

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w CUTplorations die

Scraps of paper from Love to Craft

Scrap of glitter paper

Circle cut w Spellbinders die from scrap

Hand tied bow from sheer ribbon scrap

Sentiment cut w CUTplorations die

Challenges:

Bitten by the Bug

Die Cut Divas

Double Trouble (all 3)

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Celebrate Winter

Many of you know that Imagine That! has reopened and they are running the monthly Progressive Challenge again. This adorable image is for the December challenge.

Sentiment merged w image before printing

Colored w ProMarkers and while gel pen

Cut w QuicKutz die

Background dp from Love to Craft

Sparkle ribbon wrap

Velvet ribbon for hand-tied bow

Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp (hand coloring)

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, December 7, 2020

Vintage Santa

A second post today, something I haven't done in a while, but I wanted to let you see the freebie image from Beccy's Place for this month's challenge. Isn't he a fantastic old time Santa?

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds (#197)

turned 1/4 turn.

Colored w ProMarkers & silver sparkle gel ink

(following the pattern on Beccy's pre-colored image)

Image & sentiment cut w Unbranded dies

Papers from Love to Craft

Snowflake embellies cut w mini punch

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Merry Chris-Moose !

It's time to start our December challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps and our theme (as always) is "Anything Goes." My card today uses one of Jan's most recent sets, called "Merry Chris-Moose" and it's on sale for 20% off! Both the image and the sentiment are part of the featured set.

You really should check out Jan's store, even just the first page, because there are half a dozen or more sets on sale until Christmas and there's also a freebie! Although I'm using this as a Christmas card, I chose a color combo which could be used for any winter card. I tried to stay with a masculine theme so there is little embellishment other than the ribbon and the dp.

I chose a color combo of green, beige, & tan

from STAMPlorations as inspiration.

Image & sentiment printed on scrap CS

Colored w ProMarkers

Liquid Pearls used for shimmery snow

Cut with QuicKutz die

Edges inked w ProMarker

Sentiment cut with QuicKutz die

Dark green CS scrap is dry embossed w snowflakes EF

Tan dp is a scrap from the basket

Wide grosgrain bow made w ribbon scraps

Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Passion for ProMarkers

Happy Crafting to all. NanaConnie

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Be What You Want to Be!

We've all heard the ditty about being who you are unless you want to be a Unicorn but this image from Mo's Digital Pencil tells me that sometimes other dreams are possible! lol This card is only 4" x 4".

I used traditional colors from Color Dare #423.

Colored w ProMarkers

Sparkle gel ink on collar bells

Glitter added to snow

Cut w Spellbinders die

Sentiment hand cut & mounted on Pop Dots

Plaid dp from Your Next Stamp

All dp were scraps

Green dp frame cut w Spellbinders die

Red, 1/16" ribbon wrapped & tied

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, December 4, 2020

Angels Sending Peace

I feel like it's been forever since I did my last DT card for Conie Fong but my back problems last month meant that I just couldn't sit very long, and coloring was very difficult so I took some time off. Now I'm back with a card using two merged images, "Angel Messenger" and "Angel Prayers." Both sets have the angels facing both directions and in Angel Prayers, one of the angels has roses at her feet..

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter added to wings

Image is fussy cut

Both blue dp from DCWV

Ribbon is sheer and glittered

Sentiment printed and hand cut

Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Coloring is still a slow process for me because sitting too long aggravates my back but I can sit for a lot longer than the mere 10 minutes only a week or so ago. That feels great!

Don't forget that Conie Fong has two different challenges running each month; one for coloring only and the other for finished projects. Prizes are always Conie Fong images and you must use a Conie Fong image but how could you resist them?

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Cabin in the Snow

I've used this die a couple of times already on Christmas cards this season but the die is a new one for me and I'm discovering different ways to use it. This time I put it on a distressed, deep blue, background and colored a few parts to make them pop.

This card reminds me of my favorite Christmas movie, "White Christmas," with Bing Crosby. The cabin could be the barn where they rehearsed and put on the Christmas show with all the marvelous classic music and all the snow makes it look like a New England winter. Nobody before or since has had a voice like Bing Crosby!

Colored w ProMarkers

Snow scene die from Amy Designs

Gold glitter paper

Sentiment cut w Die-Versions die

Snowflakes are the centers of the upper snowflakes

Challenges:

That's all for today but my back is finally getting better so I'm going to try some coloring today (not too long at a time) and I hope to have new posts for you both tomorrow and Saturday. Are you already scrambling with Christmas plans?

I hope to have my cards which need to be mailed all finished and in the mailbox by Saturday, then I can finish those which go to local friends/family and distribute all the extra ones I donate to our local senior center, nearly 100 this year. This year, they will have to go to the volunteers at the Center who will take them to various seniors so that they have cards to give their family members. Most of these seniors have no way to get out on their own to buy cards so the donated cards are a perfect way for them to see the joy on family faces when they get a special card from Gran or Poppa. :-D

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Always Thankful

I don't know how I missed getting this one posted last month but I'm going to guess that somewhere in the mess of a sore back and the family loss we suffered, it just got overlooked. No worries, though, since I can post it now and still feel thankful about the blessings we share as a family. And I do appreciate all your kind thoughts and prayers.

This is the image for the Progressive challenge at LeAnn's World 101. It's called Thianna's Turkey Day.

Colored w chalks

Cut with Unbranded dies

Mounted on charcoal CS

Scrap dp for background

Sheer bow w pearl

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Slimline Card for QKR Stampede

My second Christmas card of the day and this one is for the challenge starting today at QKR Stampede which will run until the 15th. I used an adorable image from QKR called "Full Stocking." I decided to try the latest trend of slimline cards and I think it enhanced the long look of the image.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz die

Glittery EP added to stocking stripes

Snowflakes are foiled

Both the sentiments are hand lettered (!)

Papers = scrap from the Christmas stash

Challenges:

Passion for ProMarkers

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

White (on White) Christmas

Welcome to December! The year is almost over and most of us are ready to see it go. 2020 has been the strangest year in my lifetime and I'll bet in yours, too. While there have been memorable individual events, both good and not so good, in other years, I can't think of a single other year where so much has continued for so many days/weeks/months, one after the other.

But let's put that behind us for a bit and take time to celebrate the December holidays. Today begins a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies. This month, the challenge is self-sponsored and there is a full set of clear, polymer, "Winter" sentiment, stamps which will be mailed out to the challenge winner. So, each DT member was free to do whatever they chose in making their inspiration piece.

I tried something I rarely do - a white-on-white card for Christmas. I used dies to cut sparkly pieces and mounted them onto a white background for a CAS design. The sparkle comes from large, glittered snowflakes on the original paper, giving this card a cold, wintery look. That paper has been in my stash as long as I've had the 2 dies and that's a long time!

Glittery/silvery bits were snowflakes

Candle die from Die-Versions

"Merry" die from Memory Box

Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Double Trouble (stash, snowflakes, 2CCC)

Come play with us this week and stop by in a couple of hours to see my DT post for QKR Stampede. NanaConnie

Data Protection

Data Protection Policy Regarding general information on how data is used and stored: Commenting: If you leave me a comment on my blog, you do so in the knowledge that it will be visible to all who visit my blog. It will also be visible for anyone to collect. I personally don't collect any information stored on my blog. If you have left a comment and don't want it to be seen, you can always go and delete the comment. Followers: If you follow my blog you do so in the knowledge that my followers list is open to anyone who visits the blog so your photo, name, and links will appear and can be seen by anyone. If you don't want this data shared, please delete your blog from my followers list (which means you are no longer following my blog.) Associations: This blog may have associations with third parties, i.e. facebook, instagram, google, etc. I do not collect any information for any marketing purposes on this blog.