New Baby

     I always love the challenge at Beccy's Place and, while the theme is always "Anything Goes," Beccy gives an optional theme each time as well.  She also gives away a freebie and this month the freebie has the optional colors in it.  I was influenced by both the colors and the horse.  I chose a different horse from my collection of Beccy's Place images but it definitely works for the card I made.

     Here's my card and the colors from the blog.  To check out the free image, go to the blog (link is above.)

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Scraps of turquoise CS and embossed brown CS
Sentiment printed w/ computer font & hand cut

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog (Stuffed animal)
A Perfect Time to Craft
Cardz TV
CCC Digi Creations
Classic DT Open
Colour Crazy
Friendship
Morgan's ArtWorld
Work It Weds.

     We've crested the mid-point of the week and are heading downhill to the weekend.  Woohoo!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Critters for a Baby

     It's August 1 and we are starting a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes Featuring a Critter."  This month, we're sponsored by SheepSki Designs.  Since I'm on that DT also, I'm letting this card do double duty for the new challenge over there which starts today, too.

     The fun part is that the theme at SheepSki is also "Critters" so any card you might make for 2CCC can also be entered in the SheepSki Designs challenge.  Here's my card using these adorable giraffes (Mini Me #174) for a new baby card.

I used colors from the challenge at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with Tonic Studios and QuicKutz dies
Paper from DCWV "Nanna's Nursery" stack
Twine and Jute cord

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Di's Digi Designs
Scrappy Land
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

New Hatchling

     My Great-niece is expecting her first baby and reports are that it will be a boy.  So, I'm already thinking of quilt patterns and baby showers.  This card uses an adorable image of a new owl hatchling which I thought would make a great card for a new baby boy.  The image came from the Dragon's Lair Progressive Challenge (on their Facebook page.)

     The little owlet is colored with chalks but I did his broken egg shell with ProMarkers.  I also used ProMarkers on the background.  I cut the image with one of my Pinpoint Rectangle dies from Memory Box.

     I added two frames, one in navy blue and one in sky blue, both cut with Gina Marie dies.  Since this is a masculine card, I kept it really CAS, adding only the tiny blue hearts and a simple, hand-tied, polka dot bow.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Chalk n Stock
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Stamping Sensations
Word Art Weds.

     Well, we're halfway to the work week and I've had a really busy three days so far.  As I glance at my calendar, it isn't going to get any quieter much before the weekend so for now, I'll just say "Happy Stamping" and be on my way.  :-D  NanaConnie

Sleepy Lamb Agnes from Lacy Sunshine

          We have a new challenge starting today over at Aud Sentiments.  Our theme this time is "Make it Cute" and you must use a sentiment.   Our sponsor this fortnight is Lacy Sunshine.  They generously supplied images for the DT to use on their inspiration cards and I used 'Sleepy Lamb Agnes.'  Isn't she precious?

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with a larger die cut.  The dp came from a stack by Paper Studio.  The bow is one of those I found at Hobby Lobby and the little flowers were punched and glittered.  The leaves are cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (center column)
Craft and Smash
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Ribbons
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Hanna & Friends
Mema's
Natalie and Amy's
Paper Creator's Crafts
Robyn's Fetish
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp (yellow)
Stamp and Create
Wags 'n Whiskers

     You have two weeks to get a "Cute" card made, making sure it has a sentiment on it, and enter it into the challenge.  I hope we're going to see you playing in this challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Baby Brother

     I was asked to make a card for a little guy who's waiting for his baby brother to arrive.  He's 3 and adores dinosaurs.  That fit in perfectly with the new challenge starting today at Tuesday Throwdown, sponsored by My Grafico who supplied digis to all the team members.  Even though I'm on leave from the TT team this summer, since I had a My Grafico digi available, I decided to get this made and the post scheduled during a lull in the "busy, busy, busy!"  :-D  My teamie, Lynn, will love this one, too, since it done with lots of blue.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and die cut.  Can you believe that's the first Spellbinders die set I ever purchased?  No wonder it's still my sentimental favorite.  :-D  Papers are from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV and the polka dots are embossed.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
4 Krafty Girlz
A Gem of a Challenge
A Little Bit Crafty
As You Like It
Bearly Mine
Brown Sugar 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting Musketeers
Delightful Challenges
Ladybug Crafts
Little Miss Muffet
Paper Crafting Journey
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Sister Act
Stamping Boutique

     Quick post today, but I really hope we'll see you playing along this week at Tuesday Throwdown. Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Baby Shoes

     Today's card is one I ended up really liking but wasn't sure about it when I first started designing it.  I used an adorable new release digi set from Doodle Pantry (see photo below) and believe me when I say that the image wasn't the problem!   In fact, this set came to the rescue and saved the day!  :-D  OK, let me give you the background first --

     I have a new neighbor who moved in next door last weekend (more about her on another post I'll get up this week).  I intended to get a plate of cookies made to take over but my extra busy work week last week just got in the way.  Anyway, she came over, introduced herself, and asked if I might have a light bulb to spare since she couldn't find the box containing hers and she had none for her bedroom lamps.  I had been working at the dining room table and she saw a couple of cards I was making.  I immediately got an order for a new baby card.  :-D

     However, her friend's daughter (the one expecting the baby) is having a boy and hates blue!   She refuses to do the whole 'blue for a boy' thing and is doing the nursery completely in neutrals, which works fine for a boy, but just isn't what we normally do for baby cards.  So, Doodle Pantry to the rescue!

I found the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

     Laurie included wonderful digital papers with the "Baby Shoes" set, including the two I used which are in wonderful neutral tones.  I die cut the image with a die I bought more than a year ago and haven't used recently and also die cut the sentiment (part of the Baby Shoes set) and matted them both with brown CS which has been in my stash for a good, long time.  I also matted the dp with it.

     I added a strip of sheer brown ribbon and adhered the three little pearls to it.  I thought that was still a very CAS design, lots of open space (though not white space,) and with an overall masculine feel to it.  I wasn't sure I was going to like a baby boy card without blue on it, but I am very pleased with it after all.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Male birthday (the actual birth!)
Art Impressions Stamps -- Masculine
City Crafter -- Clean and neutral
Craft Lovin' -- Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons -- Masculine
Digistamps 4 Joy -- Masculine
Little Claire's -- Male theme
Pollycraft -- Anything goes
Shopping Our Stash -- Geometric shapes
Sisterhood of Crafters -- Masculine
Top Tip Tuesday -- Masculine

     Half the weekend is now gone and I've done nothing but spoil myself !  I've done no laundry, no house chores beyond fixing something to eat when I got hungry, and haven't even run a dishwasher.  Guess what, the world hasn't ended and I've not been struck by lightening.  How refreshing.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie