Friday, May 20, 2022

Singing Praises Thank You

      Well, it's been a round of one madhouse event after another for the last few weeks, including an emergency admission to a hospital!  I was discharged to come home day before yesterday.  Much as I don't want to relive any of those hospital days, the nurses & staff at the hospital were truly wonderful and I took some hours this morning to make a thank you card to mail to them.  It took me quite a while to color and get it all put together, which is a sure sign that the total recovery will be a process, not an instant event.  :-D

     I used this fun Three Tenors stamp from Beccy's Place and followed a modified version of their challenge sketch for May (square instead of A2.)  The idea of using this image and that fun sentiment came from my daughter and I really appreciate her suggestion.  It sure cut through the time I had to spend thinking of what to do and it's perfect for thanking all of the patient care staff at the hospital.

     Colored with ProMarkers (following the ideas from Beccy's pre-colored version which again saved me thinking time!), then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The papers are from a Recollections stack.  I tied one of my signature bows and added a pearl.



     Challenges:


     Time for a nap - my energy is seeping out in all directions and I can barely stay awake at the computer.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, May 2, 2022

Kitten Basket

      The new monthly challenge for May has started at Jan's Digi Stamps.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes."  We have 2 Winner prizes every month; one is for those of you who use a Jan's image on your project and the second is for everyone else.  Each winner gets a gift certificate to use in the Jan's Digi Stamps store.  Be sure to check out what Jan has on sale this month!  Just click the link to the store (above.)

     This sweet image I used on my card is one of the new releases which is on sale.  It's called "PAWS-itivity."

     I merged the sentiment with the image, then used my ProMarkers and gel pens to color the image.  I dug through my Spellbinders edge dies and used a curved one to cut the image.  In the interest of keeping the design CAS, I mounted the image onto a piece of glittery ombre CS from Recollections and called it finished with no embellishment whatsoever.  


     Challenges:

     That's all for today and maybe for the entire week.  I'm just so busy and am feeling buried by the work which needs to be done as we get the maintenance repairs underway on the house.  With each chore we scratch off the list, I find myself hoping that the next owners will appreciate the upgrades we're doing now.  But for me the biggest chore is making all the "Keep or Donate/Toss" decisions for each box sorted !  :-D

     Come play with us at Jan's Digi Stamps challenge this month.  We would love to see what you've created.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Master Recycler

     I'm recycling an old QKR Stampede DT card because I thought I had a card done for this May 1 challenge, and it turns out I missed making one even though I have worked ahead and have cards for the next 5 QKR Stampede challenges!  I've done a copy and paste of the original post from April, 2013, 9 years ago.  The image, "Alley Cat," is just as cute now as it was back then but now it has a die shaped for the image!  Check it out.

     For any of you who are regular followers of my blog, or even for those who are visiting for the first time but have seen the feline photos I have, it must be obvious that I'm a cat lover.  I use that to preface what I'm going to say next.

     Someone in my neighborhood has an orange tabby cat who must weight 50 pounds, can raid garbage cans better than a bear in a national park and, for some reason, he has decided that my particular can has the best 'recycle-ables' around!   There is no keeping him out if he decides to get in, and he doesn't clean up his messes!  Grrrrrrr  This card is done in his honor.  :-D


     The image is from QKR Stampede.  I colored it with ProMarkers, then die cut it with a Wonky Squares die from Spellbinders.  Both the chevron and striped papers are from DCWV's "Linen Closet" stack. 

     I used a stippling brush and three different Tim Holtz distress ink pads on the card base and the image.  Ever since I saw someone using a stippling brush at a craft get-togethers, I find that I like the effect even better than sponging.  I'm hooked!  I added the three hand-punched flowers with centers hand-colored as the only embellishments.  This is a masculine card so I prefer lots of layers to lots of flowery or glittery embellies.

     Challenges:

     Come play with us and remember that we choose two winners each challenge plus our Top 3 or 5.  One winner is someone who has used a QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps) image, and the second used an image from any other company.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie