A fun place for card making, crafting, playing, sharing creativity, and maybe a little inspiration now and then.
I managed a very CAS card for the progressive challenge at The Outlawz. The image is from MMedal and I think it's adorable.
I don't know where this month has gone but I've missed most of the progressive challenges I enjoy so much due to poor health and sore hands so I guess I'll be starting over in January. But for today, I have this one to share featuring a delightful snowman in a snow globe, both of which are from Kinda Cute and I merged the images before printing them for coloring.
This may be all I have until posts for my new DT cards on January 1st. If I get really inspired (and have the energy), I may post something else on either Thursday or Friday, but if not, I'm wishing you a Happy New Year and a safe and sane New Year's Eve right now. :-D NanaConnie
It's time for the mid-way reminder for the December challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps and my DT card today features another of Jan's Christmas sets, all of which are on sale this month. This set is called "Santa's Gift" and it's adorable! Both the image and the sentiment are from that set.
For those of you who are Type 1 Diabetics or who might have a Type 1 child as we have in our family, you'll appreciate the humor (and maybe the truth) of this inside sentiment. I have to give credit for this card theme to my daughter (mother to my diabetic grandson who was diagnosed as a T1D 7 1/2 years ago at the age of 7) who asked me for a card with this specific sentiment to put on the plate which would otherwise hold Santa's cookies. I wish I had thought of it myself. :-D Fortunately, all the grandkids are pretty much grown (youngest just turned 15 a couple of months ago) so they really don't miss Santa, although they still put out a plate of cookies every year, right next to their mantle-hung stockings.
The image is a House Mouse stamp and I kept the card pretty CAS other than die cutting the image with a Spellbinders die and using a QuicKutz die on the red CS frames around both the image and the inside sentiment.
Today I'm sharing two more of the 'all die cut' cards I made last month. These were all donated to a local Senior Center so that seniors who use that center but who have transportation limitations could choose card to give to family and friends. Not everyone can just run down to the Hallmark store to buy Christmas cards for their grandkids, :-D
The two cards feature both the positive and the negative of the same die cut Nativity scene (die from Die-namics), which is why I wanted to share them in the same post.
Please take notice of the two sentiments - they are my favorite Christmas sentiments because they both proclaim the basis of Christmas celebrations. We all love the fun Santa and Elf themes, and woodland critters in the snow are a joy, but Christmas and the birth of the Christ Child is what I celebrate, personally, so these are my favorite sentiments. :-D
First, the positive:
Today we start a new challenge at QKR Stampede and it will run through the rest of this year. Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but I decided to give it one last Christmas flair for this year. The QKR image is called "Later Gator" and I thought she looked like she was out doing last minute Christmas shopping, hence the sentiment I added.
Today we start a new challenge over at I Love ProMarkers and our sponsor is Colour of Love. I'm getting on well with all my pre-scheduled December posts and I hope to be back into my normal routine for January posts. This image is called "Rory - Tis the Season."
After making nearly 75 Christmas cards to donate to my local Seniors Center, I had scraps of small this and that lying all over my work table so I dug out all of my metal Christmas dies and started cutting up the scraps. Before I knew it, I had another dozen cards and a plastic baggie full of cut but not yet used pieces. :-D
It seems that each card I put together became a favorite but I think this one best shows off what can be made from simple scraps of plain CS. The snowman dies are from Cheery Lynn and the tree die is made by Dee's Distinctively. I cut the tree twice from 2 different shades of green and when layered all together, it almost looks like there's snow on the tree.
The sentiment was cut with Die-Versions dies.
I think this may be my favorite Christmas card this year. Image is from Beccy's Place and it's a pre-colored image which made this card very quick and easy. I made it for my spot this fortnight as a GDT at The Outlawz Tuesday color challenge and Beccy's Place is our sponsor. The theme is a very easy "Anything Goes" as long as it's inspired by their chosen photo. Obviously, my inspiration was the little bear. :-D
In my opinion, House Mouse meeses can do no wrong but when it comes to these three cookies thieves, Santa may not agree with me! lol Colored with ProMarkers, cut with a QuicKutz die, and framed with glitter CS (also cut with a QuicKutz die.) The tree is made using a Dee's Distinctively die. The snow was add to the tree with a white gel pen.
Sorry to be late with my post this morning but I needed a little bit of help before I could get it posted. This morning there's a new monthly challenge starting at Jan's Digi Stamps and our theme is always "Anything Goes."
I've used Jan's beautiful image called "Holiday Sleigh" and the sentiment is from that same set. I merged the image and the sentiment before printing, then I used my ProMarkers to color the image with highlights added using gel pens. I cut it with a QuicKutz die and inked the edges. I used some doilies from my stash and made the bow from 1 inch wide, grosgrain ribbon.
Today I'm sharing a pre-scheduled post while I'm off doing other things that are not nearly as much fun as crafting and making Christmas cards. But in the last 24 hours, I've made no fewer than 15 all die-cuts cards which will be donated (along with about 60 others) to my local senior center to be used by the seniors who are otherwise limited by transportation issues and can't just run down to the local card store to get Christmas cards for their family and friends.
This one is a simple, monochromatic red with white card on which I used a Cuts die for the snowflakes and a die from Die-Versions for the "Noel" sentiment. I used a red card base and tore a piece of white CS for the bottom/right side of the card front. Despite how fussy and fancy it looks, this card took less than 15 minutes to make and most of that time was spent gluing down the various snowflakes using a glue pen.
Happy Crafting. NanaConnie
It's time for you to check out the new weekly challenge at Creative Knockouts where we are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy and our theme is "Winter Wonderland." I'm using a sponsor image from my own collection called Happy Puppy and it can be found in their Christmas coloring book.
I know my card isn't filled with snow and ice but, for me, this image of the Christmas puppy brings back childhood memories of the Christmas when I got a puppy and that was all I needed to make the whole living room a 'wonderland' ! My dad had to sleep with the puppy the night before to keep him from whining all night and possibly waking up two, not-so-sleepy, kids who were waiting for Santa. I think for the puppy that night in a new (and strange) house had the effect of imprinting my dad into the puppy's mind as the human who "rescued" him because he really was my dad's dog from that point on. Oh, I don't mean that he never came and played with me or slept on my bed, but Dad was always the favorite person for that little pooch. We named him "Buster" and he had exactly these colors on him - brown body, dark ears and nose, and white feet/legs. :-D
I did a spotlight technique with my coloring. I printed the image twice, colored a section on one of them with my ProMarkers, cut the section with a round die from Tonic Studios, and layered it onto the black and white second printing of the same image. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.
I matted both the image and the sentiment with red CS. I sewed one of my signature bows but this time without any adornment (I usually add either a pearl or a sequin.) The background dp was a scrap left over from another project I posted yesterday and it came from a Graphic 45 stack.
My second "1st of the Month" post and this time I'm sharing my DT card for the new challenge at Paper Funday. Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this time we have an Optional theme of "Holidays." We have two sponsors: My Besties and Polkadoodles. I was given an image from My Besties called "Oh, Christmas Tree." I have to admit I haven't used a My Besties image in a long time but this one was generously provided by the sponsor.
I colored with my ProMarkers and added a few highlights with gel pens. The image was cut with a Spellbinders die. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. The background dp came from an old, old, very old (!) Graphic 45 stack. I used one of my hand-sewn, signature bows with a pearl this time. It was a white bow and I 'dyed' it red with one of my Copic markers. Everything was mounted onto a burgundy card front which I had dry embossed using my 'Linen' EF.
Hey, it's time for a new challenge over at I Love ProMarkers! The theme is pretty simple - "Christmas" - and our sponsor this time is the wonderful Ike's Art. The image I used is called "Catmouse Tree." I think it's exactly how my felines would decorate their Christmas tree if they had one, including the garland made of mice! Instead my cats spend their time 'undecorating' my tree. :-D
I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a square, QuicKutz die. It's not as large as it looks since the card is only 4" x 4" making the die about 3.25" x 3.25". I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker. The background papers are from a Christmas Animals stack by Recollections. I used a bit of fiber/twine to tie a simple bow. The sentiment was printed, fussy cut, matted and fussy cut again.
It's the last day of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and Beccy always lets us do whatever we love on the last day, so an "Anything Goes" theme. I chose to use this beautiful candle by Beccy and to use the last I have of a Graphic 45 Christmas paper.
I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then used a Sue Wilson die to cut the image piece. I used another die from that same set to cut the white glitter CS from Doodlebug and layer it over the image with the center open to let the candle 'shine' as the star of the card! :-D
The Graphic 45 paper has lovely candles on it and I added a bit of Stickles to each candle flame on that dp. The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place and I cut it with a Tutti Designs die.
This Winter Window image from Beccy's Place is for the 30 Days of Holidays and it's one of my favorite images. I think I've used it for a Christmas card each year since it was released. I love the candle in the window, calling the entire family home for the holidays.
My other two "W"s are White and Warm gray. I colored with my ProMarkers, added sparkle to snow with glitter pens, then cut the inset image and the frame with a die from Spellbinders. The sentiment was printed and cut with a Tonic Studios die and matted with warm gray CS. I really wanted that delicate, fancy frame to be the only embellishment so I did nothing else to the card. The frame keeps it from looking CAS but it's nothing more than the image/frame piece on the card front so that seems pretty CAS to me. :-D
It's time for the latest weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and we have a theme this time instead of our usual anything goes because this is a 5th Monday. So, this challenge we want to see "Animals." Our fabulous sponsor is Sweet N Sassy and I used one of their images called "Christmas Puppy" which I already had in my collection. Isn't he darling?
I colored with my ProMarkers and water color pencils, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders. I colored the outside border of the image piece so that it looks like a separate frame. The background dp is from an old Graphic 45 stack, and the two different gold ribbons are both metallic, wired on the edges, and sparkly! I tied the bow using my bow maker. The sentiment was printed and cut with Tonic Studios die and I inked the edges.
My first post today was for the letter "U" and now this one is for the letter "V" at the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place. My "V"s are: Very Vintage, Vermilion, & Verdigris.
The little gnome is from Beccy's Place and I colored with ProMarkers, adding a few highlights with gel pens. I cut the shape with scissors so that I could pop him up on dimensional tape. Once that was done, I dug through my scrap basket and found bit and pieces which I could cut with dies. I cut a larger piece of white CS with a framing die from Amy Design. The glittery poinsettia pieces were cut with Impression Obsession dies from silver and gold scraps.
The red plaid dp is a scrap from Graphic 45 and I added spots of Stickles to it for s little sparkle. The larger green dp is a scrap of 12 x 12 paper by K & Co. I printed and fussy cut the sentiment.
This card is going to a very special friend of mine who dearly loves anything and everything vintage. :-D
That's all I have until late tonight. Come play in the daily challenges at Beccy's Place. The 30 Days of Holidays are almost over. :-D NanaConnie
This card is for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and it features things with the letter "T" - Tent card, Toys, & Tying the bow (too bad he Tied his beard into the bow!) These gnomes are from Beccy's Place, and while they aren't specifically for Christmas, they certainly do work well on Christmas cards. But they are versatile enough to be great for birthdays or other gift giving occasions.
These two gnomes are from the same set but I merged them into one image. I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from QuicKutz. I used two scraps of CS for the corners behind the image. The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die, and matted with green CS.
The dp with the text greetings came from a Recollections stack (don't ask me which one since it was separated from the stack) and the toy embellies are from K & Co., along with the one tiny present in the bottom corner. Ribbons are from my stash and the double, quad-loop bow was tied using my bow maker.
OK, this finishes my posts for today but I'll have another post or two tomorrow. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie
This morning, I'm sharing a card for another of the Progressive Challenges I play each month and this time the merged images are from Stampers Delights. I used the image three times, adjusting the sizes so that some would look closer or further away. Once printed, I cut them as one image.
Colored with ProMarkers, then both the image and the frame were cut with dies from Tonic Studios. The white glitter paper is embossed and comes from Doodlebug. The green CS strip was just scrap. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. Very CAS for easy mailing.
Beccy has slipped in another of the non-alphabetical themes over at the 30 Days of Holidays and today we're working with "Something Sweet." I've used an image and sentiment from her latest set of elves, in particular the Baker Elf who has baked up some deliciously sweet, gingerbread cookies!
I colored with ProMarkers and added gel sparkle pen to his shirt stripes, then cut & framed the image using dies from Spellbinders. The strip of dp is a scrap from the Christmas papers basket. The sentiment is hand cut and the poinsettia is a Jolee's embellishment and it's fuzzy. I added a little peppermint candy embellie to the center of it.
Creatures of all sorts and sizes are grateful for food and love and comfort. They may not all celebrate it with a Thanksgiving feast but I thought this delightful bunny image from Kinda Cute could easily be turned into a gratitude/Thanksgiving card with the use of autumn colors and a proper sentiment. :-D
I colored the image with ProMarkers and then cut it with a Cuts die. I used a large scrap of kraft CS for the card front, and layered on a scrap piece of dp which had been cut with a lattice die from Tonic Studio. I found a strip of olive green burlap, pulled a few threads from the sides, and put it on top of the lattice piece. Everything was put on angles for a bit of visual interest.
I inked the edge of the image and used the threads of burlap to tie the bow, then added the image to everything else.
Happy Crafting. NanaConnie
We're getting close to the end of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and I'm still trying to get caught up. What with the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow here in the US, I won't get any crafting done that day and possibly not on Friday, either, so I'm really trying to do double duty with two pre-scheduled posts each day over the weekend.
Today I've used merged images from Beccy's again and the focus is on the letter "S": Shepherd, Sheep, Shading, Shaped card, Scallops, and Stitching. I used ProMarkers to color, and the image was cut with a scalloped and stitched die from Memory Box. The shaped card itself was cut with a QuicKutz die.
The background dp is from K & Co. I used silver, satin ribbon from my Stash that has Sparkle along the edges. The deep green bow was hand-tied using very, very narrow ribbon (also a scrap from the stash.)
Happy Crafting and a warm Thanksgiving wish to all my US friends. NanaConnie
OK, I'm now up to the letter "R" in my cards for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and it stands for Red and Rocker card. I'm going to pretend that the birds are Robins (both are images from Beccy's and I merged them) and I used wide Ribbon to make the bow.
The rocker shape was cut with a die from Tattered Lace, as was the image itself. The red snowflake dp is from Recollections.
