Finding Ladybugs

      Once again, I'm featuring a Mariola Budek image.  No, I'm not on a DT for her, nor do I have any connection to her other than my love for her fabulous artwork.  She does magnificent images of women and hair, but I also dearly love her cute images of children and critters, not the least of which are her images of cats.  I bet that's a surprise to you, right?  :-D

     I've colored and used this image more than once but this is the first time I've done her as a redhead.  I decided on a spring/summer color palette and did the coloring with water color paints.  The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, and I inked the edges.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The green flower strip was embossed with a Darice EF.  

     The red butterfly is machine embroidered and I thought it was a great complement to the hair tie and the ladybug.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Art Impressions

Butterfly

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Paper Dragonfly

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     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

Maple Sprite Celebrating Autumn

     I think I've fallen in love with every sprite image ever released at AuroraWings and this darling Maple Sprite is no exception!   I thought she was a perfect reason to Celebrate Autumn!  :-D

I used the sketch from Paperbabe Stamps,

turned a quarter turn.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image die cut (QuicKutz) and inked edge
Darice EF on yellow CS
Sizzix EF on card base
Sheer ribbon wrap and double bow
Sentiment hand cut and inked on the edge

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting and enjoy the last half of the weekend.  NanaConnie

Useless Barnyard Cat

     Hey, it's June 1st and I'm sharing my newest DT card for the monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We're sponsored by Rick St. Dennis this month and our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter."

     We're also partnering with Double Trouble when their challenge begins on June 3.  Check out their requirements and options starting June 3.

     My card features a lazy (but cuddly) barnyard cat that refuses to hunt mice!  Who can blame him?  I wouldn't want to catch those nasty critters in my mouth either.  lol

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, highlighted with white gel ink, then cut with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The background was dry embossed with a Darice folder.  The mice were cut from a small scrap of ivory CS with a Gina Marie die.

     I used sheer ribbon from my stash, wrapped it around the card front and tied the bow.  Finally, I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Knockouts
Cutie Pie (center column)
Dare 2B Artsy
Outlawz Greetings
Pixie's Snippets

     Hoping to see you playing along this month and don't forget to check out Double Trouble on or after June 3rd.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas at a Snail's Pace

    Good Friday Morning all of you!  If it's Friday, it must be time for another QKR Stampede challenge.  I want to share a card with you this morning which will explain why your Christmas packages may arrive late or even not at all.  You can use the information to explain to all the kids and grandkids why there are no presents under the tree for them.

     Santa apparently ran short of reindeer this year, or maybe they're all in the stable, hung over from too much Christmas cheer but, whatever the reason, Santa seems to have hired a snail to replace them.  Unfortunately, like most snails, he's completely unused to the ice and cold which explains the blue color of his skin.  He's traveling awfully slowly; maybe he's frozen solid and not going anywhere!  But then, he's carrying his home with him, so maybe he doesn't care.  :-D

I used colors from the TicTacToe Color Dare at Color My Heart

only this time I did the diagonal bottom left to top right.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  I inked the edges and cut a tiny, decorative corner (also Spellbinders) which is off -the-edge of the image piece.

     I used a Darice EF to emboss the scrap of distressed, red CS.  I added grosgrain ribbon and a lace, bow-tie bow which I dyed red with a Copic marker.  It didn't really need any more embellishment so I left it rather CAS.  It's going to be a perfect masculine Christmas card.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
 
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out

     That's it for today but I do hope you're going to come and play with us at QKR Stampede this week.  Remember, you can use any image from any company and our theme is Always Anything Goes.  However, if you do use a QKR image, your entry goes into a completely separate draw for only QKR (or Eureka Stamps) and your chances of winning in that draw are huge!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flowers in a Honey Can

     I fell in love with this image from Sparkle n Sprinkle the instant I saw it.  I think it's by Jan Mahew.  In any case, it's lovely and I was so happy to color it up!

     I colored with ProMarkers and pencils, with little touches of white gel pan.  The background is dp from SU, dry embossed with a folder from Darice.

     The image is fussy cut with a very narrow, white, border.  I mounted it onto the two die cut, octagon, frames using dimensional dots.  The octagons are also embossed all around the edges.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it to the image piece.

     The final step was making two bows, one from lace & the other from satin ribbon, and mounting them together as a double bow.  There was so much going on visually that I decided the bows were all that was needed by way of embellishment.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Archi-Scraps
Beccy's Place (die cut/3 colors/lace & ribbon)
Card Mania
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Die Cut Diva's
TLC on Doing Life

     That's all I have for this weekend but my entire day is cleared so that I can work slowly, with lots of breaks to rest my shoulder, and still get a couple of cards made for later this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowball Fetch at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     Happy New Year to all!

     It's time for our new January challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and our sponsor this month is the fantastic Fabrika Fantasy!   Remember, the only thing you have to do is to showcase a critter of some kind of your project and everything else is Anything Goes.

     I'm using Winter Games 1.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I added a bit of glitter to the snowball and on the ground, then mounted the image piece onto a dry-embossed, blue-green card front.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut, with inked edges.  Other than the fact that the die cut is so fancy, it's a completely CAS card.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cards in Envy
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Delicious Doodles
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz PAM
Paper Girls
Send a Smile 4 Kids

    Happy Crafting and best wishes for a fun and creative 2018!  NanaConnie

Bundle Up Cat Buddies

     This is the second time this season that I've used this card but those kitties, all bundled up in their winter-wear, are just so cute, I couldn't resist using them again.  Can't you just see them trudging off to the family Christmas feast?

     They are from Bugaboo Stamps and I wanted to do a card that was very CAS and that could be used for a guy.

     I printed the image directly onto the card front and then colored it with my ProMarkers.  I added a bit of blue for the sky and ice but that was mostly to get the white kitties to pop off the background.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edges and fussed a bit before deciding that it should be up at the top of the card.

     I had planned a CAS design but it looked so plain that I pulled out some of my embossing folders to see what I might be able to do with them.   I found the snowflake and icy swirl folder from Darice and embossed right over the colored image.  Then I added the three, tiny, blue, pearls.  Finally, the sentiment piece was attached and the card was done - still CAS but with a bit more personality from the texture of the embossing.

     Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty
Catch the Bug (texture/pearl/blue)
CCC Digi
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Create and Inspire
Digistamps 4 Joy
Do-Al(l) Kreatives

     One more week 'til Christmas and I heard from my daughter that she's not going to get finished with everything on her list.  lol  My list is so short that I could travel to five other states and still have extra time for play!  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Autumn at the General Store

     I love being on the DT at Createful Hearts and I have been playing in the Progressive Freebie challenge at The Outlawz since it began nearly two and a half years ago so imagine how pleased I was to see one of Mary's fab designs offered as the freebie this month.  Don't you just love this old time "General Store" with the dog lazing on the foot-worn porch?

     I colored with my ProMarkers and cut it with a rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges to make it stand out from the background.  I embossed an orange scrap of CS using a "trees" folder from Darice.  The red background CS is distressed along the top edge.

     The butterfly was cut with a die from Spellbinders and the little pile of leaves was made with die cuts from Dies R Us.  I added a couple of pumpkins to the porch to complement the ones in the image and for those I used a die from Impression Obsession.   There was so much going on with the die cuts, the embossing, and the bright orange colors that I decided there just didn't need to be any other embellishment so no ribbons or flowers or sparkly gems on this one.

     Challenges:
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Sentiments
DL.ART
Inspiration Destination
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out
Words to Craft by

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stealing Cookies

     Today I'm sharing another darling and delightful House Mouse image which always reminds me of when my kids were little and everything got blamed either on each other or on the cat or dog!  lol

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut it with a die by Spellbinders.  Absolutely everything else on the card was made from scraps, including the embossed piece (Darice) and the both patterned papers.  The pink ribbon was a scrap and the white bow was in my stash, waiting to be used.

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets Playground
Through the Craft Room Door

     I'll see all of you again on Thursday when I do three different posts for my DT cards for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, Crafts Galore Encore, and SheepSki Designs -- each of which is a monthly challenge.  Enjoy the rest of May, short as it may be, and Happy Stamping.    NanaConnie

Stealing Hearts

     How could these sweet kittens NOT steal your heart?   The image is from Sasayaki Glitter and is the image this month from the Progressive Challenge over on Facebook.   I think it's called "Valentine Cats."

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added two, little, die cut, red hearts to their collars, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The die also pierces holes and embosses the paper.  I added more embossing with a "Hearts" folder from Darice and I used that for the mat behind the image.

     I dug through my stash of 12 x 12 scrapbooking papers, cut four squares (that paper is red, not burnt orange!) and added them to deep red CS, then layered the image piece on top of that.  I decided on two of my hand sewn bows (the ones with pearls) for embellishment and called it finished.  

     Challenges:
Aussie Digital Artists 
CCC Digi
Ching-chou Kuik
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Creatalicious
Cute as a Button
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Not Just Cards
Paper Creator's Crafts
Pearly Sparkles
Sasayaki Glitter
World Wide Open DT

     I'm doing more Valentine's this year than usual because I've had some requests from friends who want to share cards with their grandkids or friends.  I hope your week is going well and wish you lots of Happy Stamping.    NanaConnie

Floral Christmas with Ike's World

     Today we start a new challenge at Ike's World and our theme is this beautiful photo inspiration.  Let us know what inspired you.  I was moved by the florals and the red colors and used Ike's "Poinsettia Cluster" image.

 

     Here's my card:

     I printed the image directly onto some digital paper, then colored the leaves with ivy green ProMarker.  The green ink on the red paper made the leave look almost black gave it the feel of a silhouette image.  I added gold paint to the centers of the flowers with a teeny-tiny, spotter brush.

     I cut a strip of white CS and used a Darice embossing folder to do the sentiment, then added it to the bottom of the card front.  This is a very Clean and Simple design which will mail easily.

     Challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round

Country View Crafts

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper

Creatalicious

Open Minded Crafting Fun

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Paper Creator's Crafts     

Scribbles Designs

Sparkles Forum

Sweet Stampers

Tinker-Dream

     Please come play in our challenge at Ike's World.  We're looking forward to seeing what you will make.  And don't forget, Ike always has a freebie you can use if you want.  Then, later today (Tuesday), I'll have a post featuring the first of the December release sets from MHK Designs.  Be sure to come back and see what we're offering.  There will be a new release each day this week, through Saturday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thankful for Family

     This is the most adorable pair of owls!  The image is called Oliver and Olivia and I've used it as my DT card for the November challenge at Sheepski Designs.  The theme is "Anything Goes."  When you check it out on the Facebook page, just look for the album under "Photos" with the November/December challenge.

     I colored the owls with a combination of Lyra pencils and ProMarkers, then distressed the edges of the image after cutting it with a square die (Spellbinders.)   I matted the image and distressed the edges of the mat also.  I used an embossing folder on the background, added the lace bow and the sentiment, and left it very CAS since this one has to be mailed.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Die Cuttin' Diva
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
One Stitch at a Time
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters

     If you played in our challenge last month, be sure to stop by and see if you're a winner.  Then get something made and enter it for this newest challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

June/July Challenge at MHK Designs

     Hello, and welcome to our SURPRISE Birthday Beach Blog Hop for the lovely Asha!  You should have arrived here from MYNN KITCHEN's blog.  If not, start at the MHKDesigns blog to complete the hop for more chances to WIN !  We are celebrating a very special lady today, and we're doing so by creating beachy birthday cards to wish her many happy returns!

Here's our Inspiration Photo for this challenge which runs from June 21 to July 17.

 

And here's my card using the Anchor from the "Serene Seaside" set available at MHK Designs.

I originally intended this for a Father's Day card but realized it would
also make a great birthday card for either gender.  So, Happy Birthday, Asha !

     The personal greeting is on the inside.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the anchor and then cut it with a stitched scalloped circle die from Memory Box.  The plain circle is done with a die from Spellbinders.  I used a Darice embossing folder on the blue diamond and the brown CS strip.

     The ribbon is from my stash and the 'bow-tie' bow was made using yellow satin ribbon.  The sentiment is from the set, also die cut with a (Memory Box) stitched die and matted with a small circle (Spellbinders.)

     Challenges:

Brown Sugar

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Ribbons

Create and Inspire

Creative Fingers

Double D

Inky Chicks

Scrapy Land

     Thank you so much for joining in our hop to say "Happy Birthday" to a dear friend!  Your next stop on the hop is ROCKY CRAFTER's blog!  

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Serene Seaside


Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Totally in Love

     OK, you have a little over a week to get all your Valentine cards ready and we're going to encourage you over at QKR Stampede with a theme of "Valentine Cards" this week.   How can you miss with a theme that general?

     My card is made using a wonderful image and fun sentiment, both from QKR Stampede;  6905 "Totally in Love" and 14513 "Valentine." 

I used the colors from Colour Sisters

and Sketch #301 from Sketch Saturday.

         

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers and cut with a rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  The mat is cut with a stitched rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  I used a Darice embossing folder on the darker panel.  The card is embellished with a flower, a button, twine, and a bow with a pearl.

     Challenges:

Artistic Inspirations

Card Mania

Connie Can Crop

Crafts and Me

Crafty Boots

Crafty Time

Crazy Challenge

Die Cut Divas

Di's Digi Designs

DL.ART

Dragonfly Journeys

Fussy and Fancy

Glitter n Sparkle

Incy Wincy

Let's Color Saturday

Lunagirl Moonbeam

My Sheri Crafts

Oddball Art

Pearly Sparkles

Pencil Case

Scrapy Land

Scribbles Designs

Tinker-Dream

     I'm nearly done with all the Valentines I need for this year; only a couple more to make and a couple which still need to be finished.  Get yours done and come enter them in our QKR Stampede challenge this week.  Looking forward to seeing your fabby creations.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConie