December Challenge at Brown Sugar

     Good morning and happy Friday morning.  We're starting a new monthly challenge today over at Brown Sugar.  Our sponsor this month is The Paper Shelter and they supplied us with an image set called "Holy Night."  Paper Shelter is having a sale this month and the image we all used is included in the sale.

     Interestingly enough, I used this very same image for a DT card last month but with a different team.  You can see what I did for them by clicking this LINK.  Rather than duplicate something I had just done, I decided to use the beautiful background that came with the set and build a scene on top of it with die cut deer and Liquid Pearls.

Background paper from The Paper Shelter (Holy Night digi set)
Cottage Cutz dies for deer - colored w/ metallic ProMarkers
Sentiment cut with Die-versions dies
Liquid Pearls for deer hoof prints in the snow
Snowflake cut with Art Impressions die
Blue rhinestone added to snowflake center

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Dare 2B Artsy
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Outlawz SAR
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Sparkles Christmas
Tales from the Craft Room
Your Scrapbook Place

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  This is my last month on the Brown Sugar DT but I'll be visiting many of you before the month ends.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Joy

     It's the first Thursday of the month and that means our newest challenge is starting for December at Crafting with an Attitude.  This is my last post as a DT member as I've taken on additional responsibilities on other teams I serve and I have to cut back some place.  I'm sad to leave but will be visiting as a player as often as possible.  Hugs to all my teamies.  :-D

     This month, our challenge is sponsored by Beccy's Place and, if you were visiting me at all last month, you already know how much I adore her images!  She generously gave images to the DT for them to use but I chose one from my own collection.  This is "Boxed Snowman" but I can't find it in the store now so it may have been retired.

Inspired by Sketch #569 at Sketch Saturday.

 

Colored with ProMarkers w/ white gel ink on highlights

Fussy cut with scissors
Ribbon and bow done with scraps
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Black CS for the base

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Friends
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Time Out

     Won't you please come play with us this month?  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this will be the last of our 'sponsored' challenges.  Starting in January, they will be JFF challenges.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Final Day at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Here we are on Day 30 of the Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and we get to do whatever we love best - a classic Anything Goes theme.  I opted for this vase of holly branches, one of my favorite Beccy's images.  In Beccy's colored version, the vase is purple, my favorite color.  In my version, I opted for a red-violet vase so that I could use more traditional embellishments for Christmas.  Other than the red-violet, I pulled my colors from Paperbabe Stamps, including the papers I used (see below.)

I used the sketch from The Outlawz, turned 1/4 turn,

and the color palette found at Paperbabe Stamps.

  

Colored with ProMarker
Image cut with Die-namics stitched die
Snowflakes cut with AI dies
Sentiment cut with Die-versions die
Scrap pieces from Graphic 45

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Challenge #2 at Jan's Digi Stamps

     Our second challenge has started at Jan's Digi Stamps today and once again we have an "Anything Goes" theme for you.  I'm sharing two cards I've done using pre-colored images from the "Holiday Candy Deluxe 947" set.  I've been doing Christmas cards for the last couple of months but when time runs short or when you need a last minute card for an unexpected guest the in-laws brought along (!), pre-colored images can save the day.  Nearly every set from Jan's has both black and white outline images and pre-colored versions included in the same set.

Cut w/ Sizzix scalloped circle die

Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies

Sentiment (from this set) was hand cut

Wide ribbon with glittered edges

Red CS base

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Penny's Paper Crafty

Time Out

Die-namics dies for image and frame, inlaid dies
Sentiment hand cut
Doodlebug dp
Lavender ribbon w/ hand tied bow

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"I" at Beccy's 30 Days of Christmas

     In the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy' Place, we return to the alphabetical prompts today with the letter "I" and I chose Image, Ice, Icicles, Ice Skates, Inlaid die cuts, and Ice blue.  I think Beccy has some of the best "realistic" Christmas and winter images and these skates are definitely among them.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & frame cut w/ QuicKutz die, then Inlaid
Paper by Doodlebug
Icicles added with Stickles
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Gemstone added to one snowflake

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Creative Inspirations
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Paper Girls
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Non-Christmas Image for Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     So today is another of the curves Beccy throws out to compensate for the 4 days without alphabet prompts during the 30 Days of Christmas.  Today the requirement is to use an image which is NOT a Christmas or holiday image and use it for a holiday/Christmas card.

     Honestly, it took me longer to decide what image(s) to use than it did to color and create the card.  How many of you could guess that I'd choose felines for my card?  There are 2 separate images here, one is Alley Cat and the other is Moggie, both from Beccy's Cattitude set.  The sentiment can be blamed only on me but with those facial expressions, what else could it be?  Such disbelief and discouragement!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die
Snowflakes cut from scrap bits with AI dies
Card front embossed with "Linen" EF (another scrap)

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Dragonfly Dreams
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Stamping Sensations
SUYP Cats
Tues Throwdown

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 9, Letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Day 9 means the letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and I'm using a few fairly simple "H"s - Happy family, Happy Holidays, Holly, "...our House to yours...", Hats, and Holly berries.  I absolutely love this Happy snowman family with a Houseful of baby snowkids from Beccys!

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with QuicKutz dies
Frame dp from Doodlebug
Holly leaves (from Beccy's Place) fussy cut
Front panel embossed w/ "Linen" folder
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Snowflake button w/ glitter
Sentiment (Beccy's Place) hand cut and matted

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
CCC Digi Creations
Christmas Crafts All Year ...
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Scrappy Land

     That's it for today.  I'm heading back to the craft room to work on another card for Beccy's Place and you'll see it posted in the next day or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Feed the Birds for Christmas

     I'm sharing another of my favorite images from Mo's Digital Pencil which has the sweetest little urchin feeding the birds during the cold days of Christmas.  They have a color challenge for the theme this month which includes one of my favorite color combos - purples and aquas.

  

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die
Papers from Doodlebug
Plaid paper cut with QuicKutz dies
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Glitter added to snowflakes
White background paper textured with embossing

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty Christmas
House that Stamps Built (diagonal: die cut/ square card/ blue or purple)
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Oldest You've Ever Been

     How about a card that has a total focus on the sentiment?  I think this sentiment is from Aud Sentiments but since I had it in a folder of things waiting to be used and who knows how long it's been in there, I simply don't remember.  Unfortunately, I didn't write anything on the back.

Sentiment cut with border die from Spellbinders
Gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Stars cut with Art Impressions dies
Mini-hearts from Cheery Lynn die

     Challenges:
Cardz  TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Take it, Make It

     Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Latte Good Wishes

     What could be better than a morning latte with the girls?  Nothing, as this fun stamp from Art Impressions shows!

ProMarkers for coloring
QuicKutz dies for card shape and circle cuts
Art Impressions die for snowflake

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Color Crazy
Crafty Calendar
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Polkadoodles
Time Out

     I'll have a second post later today so be sure to check back.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Here Comes Santa Claus

     This morning, I have the honor of being a Guest Designer for the Songs and Rhymes challenge at The Outlawz.  The challenge always uses lyrics as the inspiration for their challenge and this week it's "Here Come Santa Claus."

     I've done a pretty simple card using all die cuts instead of a hand colored image but I really like it even though it's different from what I normally create.

     I used dies from Die-Versions (Santa Sleigh and Reindeer), Art Impressions (Snowflakes), and Die-namics (North Pole sign.)  All of the snowflakes are heat embossed with clear EP.  Everything was adhered to blue CS.  No embellies, just the die cuts.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner
Cute N Crafty Christmas
Double D
Double Trouble  (all 3)
Dream Valley
Paper Girls
{Pin}spirational
Scrappy Land
Three Amigos

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Chaos Day 3 - Gift Card Holder

     Today is Day 3 of the week-long, Holiday Chaos daily challenges at Catch the Bug.  I'm up to date on making projects for the challenges and today we need to make some form of gift wrap, gift bags, gift card holders - you get the idea.  I did a gift card holder using this cute little Santa from Bugaboo Stamps.

     This is the front of the gift cardholder.  I decided to use basic red and white, my favorite Christmas color combo, then colored the image with ProMarkers and paint pens (a tiny touch of silver and gold.)  I cut it with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Die-Versions and all the little snowflakes were done with Art Impressions dies.

     The inside looks like this:

     The card is actually a gate fold card, but the inside flap is adhered at top and bottom to make the pocket for the gift card.  I don't have the gift card yet so I just tucked a piece of CS into the pocket for visual definition.  The plaid paper bits were scraps from my desk and came from a stack by Your Next Stamp.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
Cute N Crafty
Paper Girls
Winter Wonderland

     I'll see you tomorrow with another post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wreath of Poinsettias

     A new alphabet prompt at Beccy's Place today.  "W" is a little bit easier than U and V were but I did try to get creative with the Wreath so that it wasn't ordinary or expected.

I was inspired by the sketch at

The Outlawz, although I took a liberty or two -

turning it a 1/4 turn and offsetting the middle band.

     Beccy has a lovely set of poinsettia images and one of them is the three-poinsettia floral spray I used here.  I printed it off three times, cutting each one with a round die from QuicKutz.  I cut those circles in half, fussy cutting the portion next to the petals on each one.  I placed those three cut images into a Wreath shape and mounted them onto a green, die cut, circle (also QuicKutz.)

     I chose a piece of deep red CS, ran it through my "Linen" embossing folder, and Wrapped it with Wide, Wired ribbon.   I added the image on top of that, then printed the "Wishing you...." sentiment.   I wanted something as a focal point in the center of the Wreath so I cut a snowflake with a die from Art Impressions and put a tiny gem on it.  I added a handmade bow and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Die Cut Divas
Lemon Shortbread
Scrap from Your Heart
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     The new week is starting and the rush to Christmas is upon us.  Thankfully, I don't have to brave any of the shopping crowds this year so I can stay inside where it's warm and cozy, crafting and humming Christmas carols while the rest of the country tears their hair and fights for the perfect gift, all the while losing patience along with the true Christmas spirit.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Reindeer in Training

     You may not be aware that Santa has to train new reindeer for a very long time before they can become the next Dancer or Prancer.  Since we're doing "R" as a prompt at Beccy's Place today, I decided on one of her Reindeer images.  Doesn't he look like he's training to pull a full sleigh one day?

      I thought it would be fun to do a Rocker card since I haven't done one in at least a year!  The Rocker part is cut with a QuicKutz die.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a Sizzix scalloped die.  I used Red CS for the upper part of the card and layered the image circle onto it and the Rocker.  I added one tiny snowflake (AI die) onto the card as embellishment and used one of my hand-sewn, satin Ribbon bows (left white this time) to use in the other corner.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and matted it with deep Rust CS, then hand cut that, also, before adding it at the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Addicted to CAS
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Polkadoodles
Sasayaki Glitter

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Waiting

     It's time for the next monthly challenge at World Wide Open Design Team and, as usual, we have an Anything Goes theme.  I used this sweet image from Julia Spiri called "Little Lori."  It wasn't designed to be a winter or Christmas image, but I used gel inks to add the snow and it made a perfect Christmas Eve image.  Can't you just feel Little Lori missing all those who are due to come for Christmas?

I was influenced by the sketch from My Favorite Things

but I flipped it a quarter turn so that my card would be horizontal instead of vertical

and moved the vertical bow off the image to the side.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used dies from Art Impressions to cut both the image and the frame.  I chose a pre-made card base from DCWV and the "Holly Jolly" design is printed right onto the card front.

     I went through my stash of Christmas ribbons, found two that were gold and glittery, used one to wrap the card front and the other to tie a double loop, double layer bow with the help of my Bow It All.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Fingers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Simon Says Stamp
Words to Craft By

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie