Hugs for Thanksgiving

     If it's Friday, you know that means a new weekly challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  This is the most recent (and I think the last) of my Thanksgiving cards.  I used a darling image called "Bear Hugs" and I'm using this as a way to give some holiday support to a sweet lady who is facing her first holidays following the loss of her husband.  She's going to be at our house for Thanksgiving and I want her to know that she has family and friends who love her.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with Tonic Studios & Spellbinders dies
Orange CS embossed with "Linen" folder
Textured ribbon
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Paper Girls
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Come play with us this week.  Our theme is always Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Moving Day

     I really dislike moving and I've done it several times in my life, the latest major move from one city to another 300 miles away, having been some 6 years ago.   I still haven't recovered from that one!  lol  But this adorable image by Hetty Clare is the free image for the Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz.

Colors came from the challenge pallette #368

at Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Poppy Stamps die
Matted with Spellbinders die cut rectangle
Brown, diamond-texture ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Embossed card base

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Gals Corner
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paperminutes
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Work It Weds

     We finally have some rain today!  That may not be a big deal to those of you who are suffering under a pile of snowdrifts already but we haven't had rain in my part of the country for more than 8 months.  This is the second latest start of our annual rains since they started recording rainfall stats.  They are predicting we could get as much as 1/2 an inch this morning and we are braced for the possibility of some minor flooding in the underpasses and near the street drains which may not have had all the leaves and clutter cleared out.  That's OK.  We'll take it.  The rain is more important.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gratitude for All (Good) Things

     OK, I admit it - I'm an ice cream junkie!   I love nearly any flavor and I find myself craving it even in the midst of winter.   On the other hand, I do live in an area that never gets snow and we rarely reach the freezing temperatures but still, most people around here don't eat ice cream all winter long.

     My card today is my DT project for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede and I used an image called "Bear with Sundae."  I'm mailing this one to my #1 son for Thanksgiving.  :-D

I used colors from the challenge at Color Dare #368

and the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

 

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with QuicKutz die
Plaid paper from Your Next Stamp
Diamond ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Gold ribbon scrap from basket
Fabric pumpkin
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenge:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Cut It Up
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Your Next Stamp

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  Remember, the theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any image from any maker.  However, if you use a QKR Stampede image (or one from their sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry goes into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bounty of Blessings for QKR Stampede

     Another Friday morning and that means another weekly challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you may use whatever image you like, whether it's from QKR or not.  However, you should know that any card entered which has a QKR (or Eureka Stamps - our sister company) image will be put into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     Today, I used a QKR image (Cornstalk and Pumpkin) and a sentiment from Eureka Stamps (Bounty of Blessings.)  Together, they made a fabulous Thanksgiving card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Inked edges of image & plaid dp (ProMarkers)
Image cut with QuicKutz die
CAS design
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz PAM
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Take It, Make It

     Please come play with us this week.  We love seeing what you create.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Chilly Day

     It's the first Thursday in November and that means we have a new challenge starting over at Crafting with an Attitude.   Our sponsor is Lemon Shortbread and they were so generous in providing images to the team.  I've used one called "Chilly Days" and it's perfect for a fall card.

Colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut
Framed with a leftover negative from a Sue Wilson die
Sheer ribbon wrapped and hand-tied into a bow
Fabric pumpkin added
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Everything mounted onto a burgundy card base

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Cute Card Thurs
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Color Tues
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds
Work It Weds

     I hope you're going to come and play in our "Anything Goes" challenge this month.  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Halloween!

My card today is my greeting to all of you on this Halloween day.

     I've used an image that's been in my Halloween collection 
for so long I have no idea which company made it.

Moon & witch legs colored with ProMarkers

Image cut with MFT Die-namics die

Yellow frame was a scrap cut with Sue Wilson die

Embossed card front - Birch Trees

     Challenges:

Color My Heart

Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Choosday
Double Trouble (orange, yellow, purple + bats flying)
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Passion for ProMarker
Pattie's Creations
TTCRD

     Enjoy your Halloween day, and be safe tonight when the witches and goblins fly!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat, Bats, and a Full Moon

     Back to Halloween silhouettes.  I played a bit with my ProMarkers to create the background on this one.  I used a scrap piece of watercolor paper which lets alcohol inks spread naturally.  After applying the colors with ProMarkers, I wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol (damp, not sopping) and rubbed the entire background.  After that dried, I went back over just the moon with a yellow ProMarker to define it a bit more.

     The silhouette cat and bats, plus the sentiment went on after the background was completely dry.  I ironed the paper to make sure it was completely flat and that took the texture out of it and made it very smooth.  I colored the eyes, then added a sheer ribbon and bow, and finally adhered the image piece to a card base and trimmed the top and bottom to fit.

     Challenges:
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Papercraft
Paperminutes
Passion for ProMarkers
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and wake up creative on Monday.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cutest Purple Witch, Ever!

     When I was growing up, when we talked about "Halloween colors" we meant black and orange - only black and orange. Somewhere along the way, Ooze Green got added and then Purple.  Once Purple became a Halloween color, I was ecstatic!  It's my favorite color whatever time of the year, and getting to use it for Halloween was the greatest bonus ever.

     This little witch is following good advice when she digs out and dons her purple dress and purple hat.  :-D  The image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and sentiment cut with Tonic Studios dies
Background embossing w/ Darice EF
Sparkle ribbon
Signature bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Colour Crazy
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Dragonfly Dreams
LeAnne's World 101
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Scrapper's Delights

     That's it for today but more Halloween fun tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Are You Batty?

     Happy Friday!  The weekend is right around the corner and we have a new challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and you may use any image from any company to enter our weekly challenge.  However, if you choose to use an image by QKR (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a separate draw and your chances of winning are increased tremendously!

     For today's card, I chose to make a Halloween card and used both QKR (Bat and Moon) and Eureka (Bat - used 4 times) images, plus a sentiment from QKR (Happy Halloween.)

ProMarkers used for coloring
White gel ink for eyes and highlights
Textured ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Accordion bow 'dyed' with ProMarker
Black CS frame
Kraft card base
Sentiment was fussy cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV 
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Come play along with us this week, won't you?  We love  being inspired by what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fright Night

     Another silhouette card today and this one started as a silhouette.  I printed it onto golden CS to give the moon its glow.  I loved it because it had 2 of my favorite Halloween animals - cats and bats.

Distressed edges on the image
Hand curled corners
Grosgrain ribbon scrap
Sentiment sticker (edges colored w ProMarkers)
Spider in the tree is 3D

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
A Bit More Time ...
Archi-Scraps
Bastel-Traum
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Fabrika Fantasy
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pilgrims on Thanksgiving

     Bugaboo Stamps has some of the cutest Thanksgiving images and these two Bobbleheads are no exception.  There are a total of 3 images on this card and I simply put them together, adjusting the size of each one to make a single, CAS design.

ProMarkers using fall colors
Cut with a Spellbinders rectangle die
Hand-tied, raffia bow

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Catch the Bug
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Grateful Elf

     I love this Harvest Elf image from AuroraWings and I plan to use this as a Thanksgiving card.

I used the sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sue Wilson dies
Papers and CS from the scrap basket
Hand tied bow made with satin polka dot ribbon

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on  the Blog
a2z Scrapbooking
A Perfect Time to Craft
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Counting Blessings

     Fooled you!  No Halloween card today; instead I'm heading on down the road to Thanksgiving with this adorable image from Bugaboo Stamps.  Don't you just love that cute little owl sitting on his harvested pumpkins?

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Memory Box Pinpoint Rectangle die
Wide satin ribbon and sheer ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Jute cord added to bow

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Allsorts
Catch the Bug
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Calender
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
Passion for ProMarkers
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Meow-lloween !

     This adorable image is a freebie from the SUYP Cats challenge and is by Ike's Art.  I tried to use as many shades of orange as I could as a salute to the color palette option offered by Ike's World.

My card design is based on one of the 

sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sizzix die
Background "bats" die cut piece was a gift - die unknown
Paper is a scrap from my basket
Hand tied bows 'dyed' with ProMarker

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
Ike's World
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Have a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gathering Nuts

     It must be fall; the squirrels are gathering nuts!   I'm delighted, for more than just the cooler temperatures.  Check out my card for this week's new challenge at QKR Stampede and you'll understand why.  If you enlarge the photo, you can more easily read that silly sentiment.  :-D   I used the QKR image "Writing Squirrel" and added "Acorn Accent" to give him an armful of nuts.  In the original image, he's holding a pencil.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die, inked edge
Acorns printed twice, hand cut, and added in layers
Background embossed with Sizzix folder
Wrapped burlap-twine bow
Hand cut sentiment, inked edge

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
Paperminutes
Scribbles Designs

     I'll have a second post today and some fun news so be sure to stop by a bit later.  In the meantime, think about creating something to enter into our Anything Goes challenge at QKR.  We love being inspired by the things you enter.  NanaConnie

All Hallows Eve

     Welcome to my second post today and to my DT card for the new monthly challenge beginning at SheepSki Designs.  Our theme this month is "Autumn Colors" and I used those to make a Halloween card, using the "Duplicity" image.  This wasn't necessarily intended as a Halloween image but I thought I'd try it and see how it turned out.  I'm pleased with the result.

Colored with ProMarkers
Fussy cut with scissors
Sparkly ribbon
Black card base
White gel ink on sentiment

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Butterfly (Mandarin, Magnolia, Markers)
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Dream Valley
Outlawz Greetings
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Stamping Sensations

     Dig out all your lovely autumn colors and come play with us this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

October Challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     Good morning (or evening, or afternoon, depending on when you came by for a visit.)  It's October 1st and that means we're starting a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.

     Before I show you my DT creation for this month, I want to share with you some information which may inspire you or which you might want to pass on to someone else you know.

2 CCC IS LOOKING FOR NEW DT MEMBERS!

     2 Crafty Critter Crazies is looking for a couple of new DT members and we have some rather different criteria than most challenge blogs.  We're looking for people who are relatively NEW to either blogging or Design Team work or both!   That doesn't necessarily mean you just started yesterday but if you'd like to serve on a team for perhaps the first time and feel like you might need some assistance along the way, we're the team for you.  It's only a 3 month position so no long term commitment which you might find just isn't for you after all.

      If you are willing to use Sponsor digital images, willing to make one project per month, willing to pre-schedule it to go live on your blog at the same time as the main challenge on the 1st of each month, and willing to leave comments on an assigned rotation of entries, then we'd love to hear from you.  Please email us at 2craftycrittercrazies@gmail.com and let us know little bit about you, give us the name of your blog and a link to it, if you are familiar with how to do that.  If not, don't worry, that's something we can explain to you.

     OK, now my card using a retired image and sentiment from Beccy's Place.  I'm apologizing ahead of time because I know you're going to fall in love with this image and ask me where to get it but it's no longer available.  I am sorry.

I used colors from Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink on the eyes and legs
Cut with a square die from Spellbinders
Both ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bats are die cut with Impression Obsession dies

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this moth.  Remember, all you need is a project which features a creature of some kind.  Beyond that one requirement, it's anything goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie
     

Pumpkin Thyme

     I've rediscovered Jan's Digi Stamps, which I used to get through Sparkle N Sprinkle.  When SnS closed, I was afraid I'd lost Jan's beautiful images forever but then I found that she has her own store, which you can check out here.

     These images are from two of her new autumn sets, which I'm using on a Thanksgiving card.  I merged the images and I love the effect of distance between them.

Colored with ProMarkers
Spellbinders square die plus an out-of-the-box technique
Fussy cutting with scissor on the pumpkins in the tub
2 diamond texture ribbons
Raffia triple-loop bow
Everything done on kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Turkeys for Thanksgiving Dinner

     I wanted an exceptionally silly Thanksgiving card for my daughter and found both the sentiment and the image at Bugaboo Stamps.  Even though they are not part of the same set, they work perfectly together.

I based this card design on the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

Colored with ProMarkers
Sentiment die cut with QuicKutz die
Image fussy cut w scissors
Silk leaves with touches of glitter added
Background dp was a left over scrap
Dots on dp are embossed

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Catch the Bug (bottom row)
Crafty Sentiments
Double D
Outlawz Colors (bottom row)
Paper Funday
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Sprite

     Another of the sprites from AuroraWings, this one called Autumn Sprite.  I'm going  to use this one for a Thanksgiving card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Spellbinders die
Sheer and grosgrain ribbons
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Word Art Weds.

     We're almost mid-way through the week, more than mid-way through September, and in my part of the country it's still hot, hot, hot!   I'm praying for fall and the cool, crisp evenings that make the mildly warm days enjoyable.  Hope things are cooler in your neck of the woods.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie