Light Unto the World

      Today, we start another new challenge at FarmQuest, where 'country or farm' is a necessary part of our challenge.  In addition to that, we give you a theme to follow.  This fortnight, our theme is "Lights."  Since Christmas is right around the corner, I decided to feature the kinds of lights we might associate with that holiday.

     I had two favorite images and I simply could not choose between them, so I did two inspiration cards for this challenge.  This first one is a classic candle lantern with holiday greenery, and I colored it with water color paints and a little dab of Stickles to make the candle light sparkle.  I used white gel pen on the snow.

     The image was cut with an Unbranded die, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used red CS on the right side of the card front and a scrap from an old K & Co. stack on the left card front.  The tiny gem on the sentiment piece is from Stampin' Up.

     Challenges: (for this card)

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Jan's Digi Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

     The second card features a clip art image by Anton Peck, filled with street lamps and candles, printed in 10% gray scale (which leaves just a hint of original color), and colored with Sanjoki markers.  Again, I added Stickles to the candle flames, and highlighted the snow by using white gel pen on it.   I absolutely adore the old elves making their own music for Christmas caroling on a country village street.

     The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and both were layered onto a piece of red CS.  This card has to be mailed so I left it flat and CAS.

     Challenges: (for this card)

Christmas Kickstart

Digi Choosday

Holly & Ivy

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

     Come play along in our challenge.  It's open until December 13 and a new challenge will begin on December 14th.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gift Card Holder for Christmas

     Something a little different today - a gift card holder with a belly band holding it closed, featuring a Conie Fong image called Candy Cane Girl Elf on the front of the belly band. She's available as a single or in a group of 3 girl elves.  There are also boy elves available in a separate set, all the same poses but with boy elves instead of girls.  Check out the Conie Fong store HERE.  All of the new Elf images are on sale right now so grab them soon!

     I'll have some other gift card/money holders to post over the next few weeks so keep an eye out.  For this one, I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers, then fussy cut the image to add to the front of the belly band.  I folded and scored plain CS to make the holders (4" x 8" strip scored/folded at 3.5" and 7" which leaves a 1" fold-down flap on the back), added dp to the front, taped the sides together with double stick tape, then used a strip of that same dp to make the belly band and slid it over the card holder.  These could also be used for money gifts by folding the money.  The finished (outside) dimensions of the holder are 3.5" x 4".

     Challenges:

Creatalicious

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz No Cards

Pammie's I P

Peace on Earth

     Don't forget that Conie Fong has a challenge running over on our Facebook site and you can enter anything using a Conie Fong image.  Don't have any Conie Fong images?  Check out the sale over at the store (sale images are only $2.00!) or look at the freebies available on the FB site.  No excuse not to enter.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Leftovers

     We all have Christmas leftovers, some from the meal we shared, some from the decorating, and some that are still around simply because we haven't recovered adequately after the festivities to take care of them properly.  But I have a great idea.  What if we just made all the leftovers (candy canes, fruitcake, ornaments on the floor because the feline fur babies took them down...) the property (and responsibility) of the elves?  Problem solved!  lol

I decided on bold and bright traditional Christmas colors 

so I could play along in the Color Dare challenge.

     This cute image is from the Progressive challenge at Limited Runs and I used ProMarkers to color it.  I cut it with a scalloped die from Memory Box.  I printed the sentiment and cut it by hand.  I added the red, polka dot ribbon and the white bow with a pearl but left it rather CAS.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Butterfly
Cardz TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cupcake Inspirations

Cute N Crafty
Double Trouble
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paper Girls

     BTW, if you need a suggestion, I'm sending all our Christmas leftovers home with the Elf on the Shelf!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Merry Christmas Greetings

     OK, the theme today at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos is to use a Bingo board.  Instead of choosing a row or column (or even a diagonal), I did the entire board!  It's rare that I can manage that, but I did it today.  :-D 

     I'll show you my card and then a copy of the Bingo Board.

and here's the Bingo.

     I colored the Bugaboo Stamps image with my ProMarkers, adding a bit of silver or gold metallic inks to the bells and the snowflakes.  I decided to leave the little elves uncolored just for some contrast.

     I used an Unbranded die to cut the image, then matted it with forest green CS.  That went onto a layer of bleached and textured red CS with a strip of plaid paper between them.  I added metallic green and red ribbon along with a red ribbon bow, one of those I sew up by the dozens and toss in my stash for future use.

     In addition to the pearl on the bow, I added three gold pearls above the image.  Obviously, the image is also the sentiment.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bugaboo Crafty
Card Mania
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Awesomeness at Crafty Circle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crea Chicky's
Stempelsonnen

     See you tomorrow with another card for the Holiday Chaos.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Elves

     These darling elves (they may have been fairies but they're elves now!) are from Emerald Faeries and I used them for a Christmas card.  I love the idea that they are playing with winter Cardinals while they wait for Santa to show up with the list of tasks for the day.

     The elves are colored with my newest neon markers from ProMarkers (I think  I'm going to love those!) and I did my best to make the colors match the dp I planned to use.  I know the colors are more of a "summer bright" than a "Christmas red" but I love the way it looks.

     The scalloped border cuts were done with a die from Cheery Lynn, and the trees are also from a Cheery Lynn die.  Both the white ribbon and the red ribbon for the bow were in my stash.  The Cardinals are die cuts and I think they are from Memory Box but could be Die-namics.  I loaned the die to a friend so can't check it right now.

     I added sparkle to the wings of the elves and to the white ribbon but it just doesn't show up well in the photo.

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries
Allsorts
Cheery Lynn
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crimbo Crackers
Fab 'n' Funky
I {heart} ProMarkers
MFP Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sweet Stampin'


     My Christmas stash is growing and I feel so relieved.  By mid-June, I was thinking seriously that I'd never get enough cards done this year.  Now the anxiety is over.  Not that I don't have lots more to do, but I always get really motivated during the fall months so I'm sure it'll be OK.  1 or 2 each week should suffice.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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