Last Surf'n of Summer

      It's the 3rd of the month and that means the newest Anything Goes challenge is starting over at the LeAnn's World 101 blog.  I'm doing a final salute to summer and I'm hoping to see an end to the hot days of summer and am ready to welcome the crisp evenings of fall, but in  the meantime, I'm going to let this guy, "Byron Surf'n," enjoy his last few waves.

     I colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut the image with a stitched CUTplorations die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Avery Elle.  I put everything onto a black card front and added a wrap of twine to the left side.  A CAS masculine card design.

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Die Cut Divas

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Pattie's Creations

YSBP

     Now that we're back, we hope to see you entering our Blog Challenge and don't forget our Progressive Challenge each month over on our FB site.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1836531013324656  

     

     NanaConnie DT

Butterfly Kisses

      Today I want to share one of Conie Fong's most gorgeous image, called "Butterfly Kisses."  I've used it before and each time I color it, I see something new in it.  This time I chose to do a mostly pink pallet with touches of aqua and purple (pink and purple being my favorite 2-color combo.)  I've also done her (previously) in purple and yellow, and in teal with spring green.  They were all delightful but this one pleases me the most.

     I used Sanjoki markers to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations, stitched die.  That die set has been left on my desk the last couple of weeks and I seem to grab it whenever I need a rectangle.  :-D  I also cut the sentiment with a die from that same set but because the set didn't have a die small enough, I cut it twice, adjusting the die in between cuts.  The sentiment is also from Conie Fong but please don't ask me which set because I don't have my Conie Fong files saved in 'sets;' I just keep a separate folder for sentiments.

     The background for this card is double embossed, meaning that I first embossed the entire front with my "Linen" EF, then went back and used a Roses EF from Cuttlebug to emboss all but the bottom portion where the ribbon and sentiment would go.  The sentiment was framed with a scrap of the background CS.  The ribbon is satin-edged, sheer ribbon and I think it's probably my favorite kind of ribbon.  At least, it's the one I hoard the most.  lol  I used my bow maker to tied the double-loop bow.

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Fingers

Scribbles Designs

Star Stampz

Worldwide Crafters ...

     Don't forget that we have an Anything Goes challenge over on the Facebook site. All  you have to do is use a Conie Fong image (there are freebies available on the site so not having a CF image is not a valid excuse!)  If you haven't yet joined the Conie Fong FB site, it's free, quick, and easy to do that.  Come play in our challenge.  We  love seeing what people create.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gray Wolf

      I'm finally posting a card I made several weeks ago using this fabulous image "Wolf" from Eureka Stamps, sister brand to QKR Stampede.  Challenges over there are still on hold while we await the sale of the QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps brands.  In the meantime, I'm using cards I put in my stash for masculine birthdays and this is one of them.

     I used a combo of Sanjoki alcohol markers and water color paints to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Die-namics.  The paw print embossing was done with a Darice EF.  As a final masculine touch, I added the three, tiny, metal brads.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle...?

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Late for the Party

      I hate to say it but the days got away from me these last couple of weeks and I was late getting a grandson's birthday card done and mailed on time.  I knew when I started this card that it was already too late to mail it and have it arrive on or before his birthday but I knew I had the perfect Penny Black stamp to make a "belated birthday" card.  What do you think?

     I colored with my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a CUTplorations stitched die.  That die is actually a rectangle, but I cut once, then adjusted the die, and cut a second time to make it square.  I added mats to the image and the sentiment so that they would stand out from the background CS.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the blue background.

     The 'ribbon' is actually dyed raffia and I shredded the ends after tying the knot.  

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Country View

Die Cut Divas

Digi Choosday

Happy...Stampers

Let's Craft and ...

Lil Patch of ...

Mirtillamente

Pammie's IP

Penny Black Sat.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Even Gators Have to Shop!

      It's Friday and that means another challenge is starting at Crafty Catz, where our themes are always "Anything Goes" but we give you an OPTIONAL theme each time which you may use if you like.  This week, the theme is: Sparkle or Shine.  We don't have a sponsor this week so the DT were free to use whatever images they chose.  

     I decided on a Christmas Gator from QKR Stampede mostly because I wanted to add to my Christmas card stash but also because it's fun to use sparkly, shiny things on Christmas projects.  I went through my stash of Christmas scraps, pulled a few bits of dp which were long enough to make the striped background, and included in those a delightful green glitter paper.

     I added the sentiment before printing the image, colored it with ProMarkers and Copics, then cut it with a CUTplorations stitched die.  I found a bit of twine and tied a bow.  Pretty simple except for putting all the scraps together for the background but it looks far more complex than it is.

     Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Carlin's Card ...

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Dragonfly Dreams

Happy ... Stampers

Let's Craft and Create

Lil Patch of ...

Merry Little Christmas

Star Stampz

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  It's Anything Goes and you can use the Sparkle or Shine if you choose but it's not required.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Duchess

      My card today features one of my favorite roses, the Duchess.  I remember my mother had one of these bushes in her rose garden when I was a young child.  It was such a delicate pink with a hint of lavender and white edges on the petals.  I used this for a Mother's Day card in honor of my mom who's been gone for more than 30 years now.

     I used my Sanjoki markers to color the rose and leaves, then cut the image with a stitched die from CUTplorations.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper came from a Paper House stack.  I added 3 rows of tiny gems along the right side and added one gem to the center of the rose.  It just didn't need any further embellishment.  :-D

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Classic Design

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Cupcake Inspirations

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

SheepSki Designs

The Four Seasons

Triple B

     That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Singing in the (April) Shower

      Today I was inspired to dig into the House Mouse stash and I came up with this stamp which I've probably used a million times over the years!  To say it's a favorite of mine is to understate the obvious.  :-D

     I thought it would be fun to go back and use a technique I like but haven't used in quite a while, called a "Spotlight."  As you can see, it involves stamping or printing an image twice, then coloring only a portion of the image and cutting it with a die (or scissors, if you have a steady hand.)  I used a simple circle die from QuicKutz this time but I've done squares, rectangles, scalloped edges; all sorts of options are available depending on your own preferences.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the 'spotlight' image, and used a coffee brown ink pad to ink the edges.  I stamped the background image with a Stone Gray ink pad and colored it with 3 shades of gray alcohol markers because the stamp looked so plain in just it's 'native' state.  I cut the gray image with a die from CUTplorations and inked the edges of it.

     I mounted the spotlight image onto Pop Dots and carefully lined it up with the gray background image and, voila' - a Spotlight card!  I printed and cut the sentiment using a die from Avery Elle, inking the edges of it before applying it to the upper corner of the card.  A fun technique for focusing attention but really quite a CAS design without any embellishment aside from the faux stitching of the die.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Double D

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

      That's it for today but I've been on a coloring binge with Mariola Budek images so you may see another card or two featuring her images in the next couple of days.  Then, on the 14th, a new challenge starts over at FarmQuest and I'll be posting a DT card for that one, plus I have NEWS !! on Friday so be sure to come by then.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie   

Easter's Over?

      We all know about the Easter Bunny, but did you ever think about how long any one bunny can serve as the Easter Bunny?  I mean, that's a tough job hiding all those eggs and it's hard on the back and legs.  Easter Bunnies get worn out pretty quickly and have to retire to the Senior Bunny Center.  

     That means new (and younger) bunnies have to be trained to become the official Easter Bunny.  Classes of younger bunnies have to show their stuff and their suitability for that lofty position.  The competition is fierce and those who apply only have about 4 months to learn everything and be appointed for the job when there's an opening.  If they run late on their education, they'll miss their chance, and then it's over.  They'll never become the official Easter Bunny.

     I had to tell you that story so that your heart would be touched by this sad image from Beccy's Place.  I'm sure Beccy is one of the few people who already knew the story, as evidenced by this sweet "Little Bunny" image.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The background for the card front was made by coloring with water based markers on wet paper, then ironing it dry to set the colors.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a Cutz die.  It's a CAS design which will work for anyone.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on the ...

Ally's Angels

Classic Design

Crafts Galore ...

Die Cut Divas

Happy Li'l Stamp ..

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

There's a Stamp ...

     See you again tomorrow, probably with another bunny.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkins and Sunflowers

      I'm posting this particular card (for Beccy's 30 Days of Holidays) completely out of the alphabetical order but there's a quick story behind it.  Late last month, I was invited to become part of a DT where I had only begun playing, FarmQuest.  It's a fun challenge with easy themes, all of which are in some way farm/country related.  No limit on what kinds of projects you can submit; cards, journals, scrapbooking, ATCs, tags, bookmarks, whatever you desire as long as it meets the theme.  Challenges start on the 14th and the 28th of each month.

     The theme at FarmQuest this challenge is "Pumpkins or Turkeys or Cranberries."  Because we don't use sponsors, I was free to use whatever image I wanted and I chose this one from Beccy's Place because of the fabulous Pumpkins.  Obviously, that plays right in to the letter "P" so I'm posting this one a few days before the Letter "P" actually comes up.  I also have ProMarkers, Papers, and Printing.  The image was cut with a CUTplorations die, as was the background paper.  The sentiment was hand printed and fussy cut.  I used sheer ribbon and my bow maker to tie the multi-loop bow.  I added a fabric pumpkin to the bow.

I used colors from the challenge at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Gals Corner

I Love ProMarkers

Inspiration Station

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperbabe

Paper Funday

Word Art Weds

     If you haven't played in the challenge at FarmQuest before this, I invite you to create something with a Pumpkin or a Turkey or Cranberries (or two or all of them!) and come play in the challenge.  We'd love to see our player-ship grow.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

How to Slice a Turkey?

      My card today is for the first of the non-alphabet themes for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  Beccy chose a theme of "Complimentary Colors" which are colors that are across the color wheel from each other.  I chose blue and orange for this Thanksgiving card.

     I decided it was time for a gate fold card, and I actually started with a pre-colored image from Beccy's Place.  Because I wanted to emphasize the orange, I grabbed a ProMarker and made the yellow parts of the calico fur orange.  Those patches were also brighter and more defined once I colored them.

     The image was cut with a CUTplorations stitched die and I matted it with a scrap of bright orange CS.  Then I found a scrap of paper which was water colored (the blue) and another scrap from Taylor Made (leaves.)  The sentiment is my own and I cut it with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog

613 Ave Create

Digi Choosday

Jan's Digi Stamps

Pammie's Inky ...

Passion for Markers

Polkadoodles

Scor-Pal

Taylormade ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunflower Pumpkin

      Today I'm sharing another DT card for Conie Fong and this one features a gorgeous (and fun to color) new image called "Sunflower Pumpkin."  It comes in either a .png version or in jpg and it's ON SALE!  I used the .png version and I merged in 1 individual pumpkin on the left side of the image, reversed.  The sentiment is also by Conie Fong and comes with the set.  I merged it below the image before printing.

     I used water color paints and ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from CUTplorations.  I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker.  The background paper was a scrap I found in the basket which had perfect autumn colors in it which enhanced the image.  I'm pretty sure it was from a DCWV scrapbooking stack.

     The bow was hand-tied and 'dyed' orange with ProMarkers.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

CRAFT-alnica

I Love ProMarkers

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Not 2 Shabby

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paper Funday

Rabisco

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge!  You can use any Conie Fong image and there are even freebies available on the Challenge site on FB if you don't already have some in your collection.  

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Book Learnin'

      As my Grandpa used to say, "There's a time for book learnin' and a time for doin'."  By that, he meant hands on learning instead of studying books.  Since the start of school is right around the corner, I decided to use this delightful House Mouse stamp to celebrate going 'back to school' during the hottest month of summer but the warm, summer colors take care of that aspect.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and pencils, then cut with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The papers came from DCWV's "Basics" stack (both polka dot dp), and one of their (very old) 12" x 12" scrapbooking paper stacks (the flowery dp) and all were scraps.  I inked the edges of the image and the sentiment with ProMarkers.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges: 

Aud Sentiments

Classic Design

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

SheepSki Designs

There's a Stamp ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

April Showers in the Garden

      This morning I awoke to cooler temperatures and am hoping that's a sign that spring is actually going to get here and stay a bit.  I know that sounds strange to say cooler temperatures must be a sign of spring but we had record high temperatures over the last three days (90, 91, & 89) and it felt like we had winter on one day, then jumped directly into summer with no spring at all !  The prediction is for a chance of rain today so I'm hopeful.  :-D  (Yeah, the rain has arrived and we really need it !!)

     As soon as I was fully awake, I decided on this adorable image to celebrate the cooler temps and the chance of rain.  It's a House Mouse image, of course, and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the light blue frame with CUTplorations dies.  I used my Linen embossing folder on both the frame and the dark blue background CS.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and matted twice.  Very CAS with lots of blue space instead of white.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Clever Dexter

Colour Crazy

Crafts Galore ...

Cut It Up

House Mouse

Paperbabe

STAMPlorations

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kris Kringle Kristmas

      Just from the title of this post, you should be able to figure out this card is for the letter "K" in the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  I've used Kris Kringle, Kristmas, Kraft, & Khaki.  The Kris Kringle image is from Beccy's.

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens for highlights, including a silver sparkle pen on the bell.  Then, I cut the image with a CUTplorations stitched die.  I inked the edges of both the image and the card with a Khaki ProMarker.  The ribbon edges were also colored with a khaki marker.  The trees in the ribbon are shiny metallic gold.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and the edges were inked with khaki.  

     Obviously, everything was laid onto a kraft card base.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Fingers

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

     I'm heading back to the kraft room.  It seems to be taking me forever to get things done these days but I keep working on them and eventually they do get done.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Girl

      It's the start of a new challenge at Creative Knockouts and we have a fun & fabulous sponsor, Twinkle Lane Designs, who provided images for the DT to use.  My card features one called Autumn Girl and the sentiment comes with her.  This is an "Anything Goes" theme this time.

     This card actually is for Thanksgiving, the perfect day to celebrate the gorgeous fall colors in the foliage and all of the falling leaves, so it's also getting posted for the "F" day at the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.

      I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with as CUTplorations stitched die.  The sentiment was cut with a QuicKutz die the edges were inked, and I added it to the image piece.  All the papers and even the dry embossed CS pieces are just scraps from the basket.  It's amazing what can be done with little snippets of this and that, so I never throw anything away.  If I don't go through the baskets f scraps regularly, my crafting 'room' becomes 'no room anywhere' and then it's impossible to craft.  lol

     The tiny single leaf was included in the image set so I printed it onto a scrap of paper, trimmed it to size, and added it on the left side.   I hand-sewed one of my signature bows, adding a pearl this time.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

A Perfect Time ...

Art Impressions

Creative Moments

LeAnn's World

Pixie's Snippets

Stamplorations 

Taylormade ...

World Wide Open

     We really want to see you playing along in this challenge so get things lined up and come join us.  With an "Anything Goes" theme, you can't lose.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is This Dasher? Dancer? Donder?

      Today I have another card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and I'm showcasing the letter "D."  On this one we have: Dasher (or maybe Dancer or Donder; I can't tell them apart!), Die cuts, Digi image (from Beccy's), Dry embossing, Dimension, & Deep Red (did I forget Deer?)

     The reindeer is colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, than cut with a die from CUTplorations.  The deep red frame is also cut with one of the dies from that set, then dry embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  I used scraps of dp from Graphic 45 and matted each of them with deep red CS.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The image is mounted onto dimensional dots before adding it to the card front.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas (W)

Aud Sentiments

Bastle-Traum

Christmas Crafts AYR (Whimsy)

Creative Inspirations

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

STAMPlorations

Winter Wonderland

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Birthday Wishes

      A new weekly challenge is starting over at Creative Knockouts today and our theme is "Lots of Layers."  Our sponsor is the wonderful Hetty Clare and I used an adorable image called "Macdoodle Dog."  

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations die.  I added shiny highlights on the balloons with a white gel pen.  Everything else on the card was made from scraps!  I cut 2 tags, one purple and the other yellow, then cut the sentiment out of the purple one with a Dove Craft die (a gift from a dear friend in the UK.  :-D)  I layered the yellow tag behind the purple one and, voila', a bright sentiment peeking through the dark purple!  

     The fancy frame around the whole card front was a leftover which had been cut with a Spellbinders die.  I added the image to it with part of the image behind the frame piece but with one corner peeking out.  I used a scrap of gingham ribbon to make a double layer bowtie and layered everything onto an aqua card base.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

Incy Wincy

Outlawz Tues

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Just put together any kind of design and, if you want, add some layers to it, then enter it into our challenge.  We love being inspired by you and you might win some of Hetty Clare's sweet image.  Go check out her Etsy store if you're not familiar with her art work.  You'll fall in love and then you'll definitely want to play in our challenge.  :-D

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fox for Halloween

      One of the best things about celebrating Halloween is getting to see all the adorable costumes that the kids wear.  This image from Kinda Cute is the freebie for their Progressive Challenge this month.  Isn't it darling?

      I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The Trick or Treat  was cut from a scrap of black CS and the die is from Impression Obsession.  The spider web was cut with a Memory Box die and the bats came from a Die-versions die.  The sentiment was cut with n Avery Elle die.

      I left it as simple as possible so that it would be flat for mailing by adding all the elements to a brown card front.  For you purists who believe that open space must be white in order for something to be CAS, you'll be disappointed by this card, but I think the brown adds an autumn flavor and make the little fox pop..  :-D

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Outlawz PAM

Outside the Box

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope your weekend is going great and that you find lots of "me" time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cutest Witch Ever !

      It's almost the end of September and we've started my favorite season of the year, Autumn!  Why is it my favorite?  Because the miserably hot summer temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing colors, the kids are headed back to school, and now nobody questions the Halloween cards I've been making all year round !  lol  

     That being true, it's time for me to share another of my DT cards for Conie Fong.  The image is called "Witchy Broomstick Gnome" and she's on sale for a few more days.  If you love her as much as I do, go to the store (click the name above) and grab her before she's full price.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color her and her happy little kitten, and then cut the image with a CUTplorations stitched die.   I put everything on a black card base which made the image and the ribbon pop.  The sentiment was 'stitched' to match the die for the image.  The diamond-pattern ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I pulled some sheer ribbon from my stash to make the quad-loop bow.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Art Imprssions

As You Like It

CCC Digi Creations

Creative Moments

Cute Card Thurs

Let's Craft and ...

Star Stampz

The Four Seasons

Two Old Bats

     Don't forget you still have 6 days to color one of Conie Fong's images and enter either our Coloring Only challenge or our Completed Projects challenge.  You could win Conie Fong images as your prize.  Come play with us!  

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Kitties in the Pumpkin Patch

      These adorable kittens, all siblings from the same litter I'm sure, are spending November evening in the pumpkin patch under the full moon.  The image, called "Pumpkin Kitties," is one of the newest releases from Conie Fong and it's on sale for another day or two.  

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a Die-Namics stitched die.  I layered two of the dp together, then cut them with a CUT-plorations die.  The background dp is from a K & Co. stack.  I added a strip of grosgrain ribbon and tied a triple loop bow, using sheer ribbon from my stash of scraps.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Cute Card Thurs

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Scrapping4Fun

TicTacToe

 (Diagonal: Ribbon/ Coloring/ Animal)

Uniko

     Don't forget to come and play in one of our two challenges this month.  We have one for colored Conie Fong images only and a second one for completed projects using Conie Fong images.  Both can be found on the Facebook site.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie