Card Chain Challenge Exchange

     As some of you know, each month I've been participating in the card exchange at Card Chain Challenge.  It's such fun to get envelopes from others around the world with handmade cards in the mailbox!  I love sending them out, too, and generally I try to tuck in a few little embellishment or die cut surprises for the recipient.

     Here's the one I sent last month, with delightful fall colors in mind for the changing of the seasons.

     On this card, I used 3 of the options for the challenge - the sketch, the colors, and 2 of the theme options, Autumn (colors) and Cats.

 Color Palette   Sketch
or Theme Options: Autumn/ Cats / Friendship

     Everything was done with die cuts this time - the cats (Impressions Obsession), the sentiment (Poppy Stamps), and the diamonds (Spellbinders.)  All the different papers (not including the deep brown for the cats) are embossed with my Linen folder before cutting.  I also embossed the card front so there's lots of texture on the card.

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft

A Perfect Time to Craft

Crafty Gals Corner

Dies R Us

Inky Chicks

Scrappy Land

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Building Friendships

     As some of you know, I've been participating each month in the Card Chain Challenge.  It's such fun to receive a card in the mailbox from someone new each month and it gives me one more reason to make and mail a card.  :-D

     Here's the one I sent last month:

     The image is from Beccy's Place and I colored it with my ProMarkers, using colors from the optional color palette at CCC and basing it on the sketch.

       

     I cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box and then inked the edges before putting it onto the white card front.  I added metal brads and the sentiment, then popped it into an envelope and sent it on its way.

     Challenges:
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

   I hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend and that you'll find time for creativity, relaxation, and fun.  Does it seem odd to anyone else that we celebrate "Labor" by letting all those who 'labor' stay home from work and not labor?  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mushroom Gnomes

     I've been participating in the card exchange at Card Chain Challenge for about 4 months now and I'm already signed up to play again in August.  Click on the link above if you think you might want to get involved.

     Today I'm showing you the exchange card I sent out in July.  I used a sweet image from Toadstool Printables.

I started with the sketch from CCC:

and also used one of the theme options, "Mythical Creatures."

     Every month you get lots of options: a sketch, colors, at least three possible themes, usually three optional products you can use, and there's always the option of ignoring all of those and just doing a "Friendship" card.  

     I hand-colored with my ProMarkers, then did an out-of-the-box die cutting technique, using an Unbranded die.   I added yellow ribbon and a few scattered sequins, plus a fabric daisy, then added the sentiment.  All of that went onto an embossed card front.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friendship Blooms

     Just as I was getting ready to make my card last month for the May Card Chain Challenge (where we make cards and exchange them with other crafters and card makers around the world), I got some new dies in my mailbox (my favorite things!) so I decided it was best to put them right to work!

     We always get several choices of themes, techniques, or other things we can use on our cards and, for May, I used both the colors and the sketch.

                                          

     Notice that the die cut vases (Die-namics) and the butterflies (Press Cut) stand in for the stripes on the circles.  I cut the circles with dies from QuicKutz.  I wanted it really CAS for easy mailing but I did decorate the inside with strips of the same dark pink paper from which I had cut the circles.  I cut three of the pink vase, and stacked them together into one for a bit of dimension.  It may be hard to see in the photo but you can definitely feel it on the card itself.

     Everything on this card was made from bits and pieces of left over CS, a great way to use up leftovers.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Creative Inspirations
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
Double D
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says
Word Art Weds.

     I'll have another post today showcasing my DT card for our new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Be sure to check back later.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friendships

      I have had such a hectic week this past week that I completely forgot to post my card I did for the Card Chain Challenge in April.  I was supposed to post on  May 2 when they did the big reveal of who sent what to whom but that whole day escaped me.  Maybe it was because I didn't have my post written and pre-scheduled, and the card had already been mailed so it wasn't in the stack of cards to be posted.  In any case, here it is, late but not completely forgotten.

     We had options of using any of the things shown below and I think I managed all four:

Color Palette  

OR Sketch  

OR a theme of: Fruit&Vegetables or Rabbits or Friendship 

OR One of the following products: Perfect Pearls/Die Cuts/Stencils and Embossing Paste.  I managed to do all four.

     I hand colored the image with my ProMarkers, hand cut it and the mat, then used a Spellbinders die to cut the "fish tail" in the beige CS behind the image.  My blogger friend, Christi, (see her blog post with instructions HERE) showed me how to make that kind of cut.  Thanks, Christi.

     A little ribbon, a few glittery flowers and it was ready to mail.

     Challenges:
Aurora Wings
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Creates and Makes
Creative Moments
Fab n' Funky
House that Stamps Built
{PIN}spirational
Word Art Weds.   

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie