Dandelions in the Wind

     I remember as a child discovering how much fun it was to blow on dandelions and watch their delicate seeds drift all over the yard.  I also remember my mom telling me not to do that because she hated having to dig the dandelion plants out of the lawn.  But the temptation was just soooo great.  lol

     Anyway, when I first saw the Dandelion Sprite image at AuroraWings, I bought it and I'm using it on this card today to celebrate a friend's birthday. 

AuroraWings has a sketch challenge this month.

      I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter to the dandelion and seeds, and used Nuvo Crystal Drops on the sprite's flower petals.  The image was cut with stitched dies from Die-Namics.  I also cut the yellow background CS with the largest of those dies and inlaid the image.

     The leaves were cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and the butterfly was cut from burlap paper with a Cottage Cuts die.  I added a strip of Nuvo Crystal Drops for the butterfly's body and added little touches of it to the flowers, too.  The flowers were in  my stash as was the net 'ribbon.' 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges and adhered it to the card.  I added the birthday sentiment to the inside but forgot to photograph it and the card is already in the mail.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafting by Designs
Creates and Makes
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Hey, do you realize that we're halfway to the weekend?  Only 2 more days to go.  Woohoo!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Light of the World

     I decided it was time to play in the challenge over at Delicious Doodles.  I'm not sure when I played there last but since I wanted to use this beautiful image of the lamp post, drawn by Teri a couple of years ago, it seemed the right time to play again.

I used colors from Outlawz Color Challenge

(first column) and made sure I added one extra layer.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used my newest set of Pinpoint Rectangle Dies from Memory Box to cut the image and two layers of CS for matting the image.  I cut the aqua background and adhered all the layers together on the card front.  The bow is die cut with a Cottage Cutz die. 

     Pretty CAS even with 4 layers.  Unfortunately, the bow in the image looks more red than it actually is.  IRL, it nearly matches the lighter pink of the die cut bow.  Oh, well, chalk that up to the magic of photography.

     Challenges:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Crafting by Designs

Craft Rocket

Crafty Gals Corner

Jo's Scrap Shack

Just Add Ink (Christmas, candle)

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Papertake Weekly

Scrap & Craft

Whimsy Inspiration

Winter Wonderland

WordArt Wednesday

     OK, I've made a serious dent in the number of cards which have been commissioned and I'll still have time to make all the extra cards I want to donate to the senior center near my home.  I remember how much pleasure they got from the ones I dropped off last year.  So many seniors simply can't get out to buy cards or gift tags for their family or friends and having a stack of cards there at the center which they can then give to those people makes them oh, so happy.  :-D  So, you're going to see lots more Christmas cards from me over the next 2+ weeks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not a Creature was Stirring...

     When I saw this freebie image in The East Wind newsletter, of course I fell in love with the darling felines curled up inside a Christmas bauble and had to use it right away.  This is the card for my gift to the fur babies and I'll include a couple catnip toy mice, which they will love.  :-D

I chose to use the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.2 for this card

and I love the way it turned out.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then added glitter gel ink to the bauble (unfortunately invisible in the photo!)    The image and the green mat are both die cut with one of my new stitched die sets (Memory Box.)  The trees are die cuts (Cottage Cutz) and I added loose glitter to make them sparkle.

     The sparkly ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I have no idea who made the strip of dp.  It was a scrap. The bow with the pearl is one of those I make by the dozens and keep in my stash.  Again, this was made with white ribbon and I used my ProMarker to 'dye' it.  The sentiment, of course, comes from the "T'was the Night Before Christmas" poem but it fit so perfectly -- just look at those two totally zonked-out cats.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Snowflakes Promise
Colour Your World
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Addicts  FB Group
DL.ART
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Little Red Wagon
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrap & Craft
Show Us Your Pussy-Cats Only
Star Stampz

     Thanks for stopping by.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

No Bah, Humbug Here!

     My dear blogging friend, Teresa of Tickell Expressions, drew this sweet little skunk (yes, skunks can be sweet!) and the first time I saw it, I just knew it belonged on a Christmas card. The sentiment popped into my head instantly.  Today was the first time I had the opportunity to get that envisioned card made and here it is.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and a white gel pen, then die cut with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The mat was cut from dp with a larger die.  The bow is also a die cut (die from Cottage Cuts) and I cut three layers of it (white, navy blue, and patterned) for some dimension.  Both papers are from DCWV.  The Christmas tree charm was in my stash.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs (bow, digi, sentiment)
I (heart) ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Our Daily Bread
Paper Shelter
Scrapper's Delights
Sisterhood of Crafters

     I hope your week is going well and that the weather is being decent.  If the weather is nasty, then I hope you're warm and toasty inside, playing with your favorite crafty things.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie