Joie de Vivre

     The first Friday of the month is the day we start new challenges at Emerald City, using fabulous images and papers from Linda Simpson Designs, and this month I've used a stunning vintage image from the "Madamoiselle" ephemera collection.  Isn't she incredible?

     This one was fast and easy to make.  The image did all the work.  :-D  I cut the image piece into a rectangle and bordered it with black lace on each side.  I put the blue flowers together into a long shape and added them to the bottom of the card.  Honestly, I spent more time fiddling with the flower spray than anything else.  :-D

     I know you're going to see a lot more creations from me using other images and papers from this set!  I'm absolutely hooked on it.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Country View Crafts
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Digistamps 4 Joy
World Wide Open DT

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

So Cute !

     Today is the start of a brand new monthly challenge at Emerald City and I hope you're going to come play along with us.  This box lid is done using a wonderful and fun image from the "So Cute" ephemera collection at Linda Simpson Designs.  In addition to the wonderful images available, Linda Simpson Designs has sets of gorgeous digital papers and I used one of the pink ones from the Nostalgia Set #3.

     While there are lots of sweet images in this particular collection, I had to choose one with kitties, of course.  :-D   I made the lid using a box maker and have yet to complete the bottom.  I ran out of the heavy duty card I used for hte lid and have to get more before I can finish the box.

     I added lots of gems and pearls, plus bits of lace scraps and a wonderful white butterfly.  The "Smile" sentiment was cut with a die from Sizzix.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
A Vintage Journey
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Catz
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     Remember, we always have an "Anything Goes" theme and we'd love to see you create something and enter it into our challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Family Christmas

     If you're looking for the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies DT card, scroll down one post.  It's a busy First Friday of the Month and I'll have a total of 4 posts!

     This is my DT card for the challenge at Emerald City Crafts.  The wonderful vintage image is ephemera from Linda Simpson Designs and came from the Joyeux Noel set.  Although the image is from a time much earlier, it makes me think of childhood Christmas days at my Grammy's house.

     This card looks much more complex in design than it really is 

but I based it on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

    The sentiment, the image, the red striped paper and the sheet of music are actually all part of the image.  I cut that and matted it with red CS.

     I used more red CS on the card front, but cut it lengthwise so that it was only 2.5 inches wide on an A2 card front.  I added a lace doily, then layered on the image piece.  For embellishment, I added the double layer, distressed wreath at the edge of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Ellen Hutson Pinsights
Inspiration Destination
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us at Emerald City Crafts this month.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image from any company.  The challenge runs for 3 weeks, ending at the 3rd Friday, and that gives the DT a week to vote on winners and Top 3, which are announced when the next challenge starts on the first Friday of the following month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

In Autumn Beauty

     We're at the first Friday in October and that means a new challenge over at Emerald City Crafts.  This month I used a beautiful bird image from the "Les Beaux Oiseaux" ephemera collection by Linda Simpson Designs.  I love all the images in this particular collection (see at the bottom) but this one seemed so perfect for an autumn card.

     I also decided that this image called for a shabby chic card with lots of layers and plenty of laces, ribbons, and paper flowers for embellishment.  There are several layers to the image piece, then a twill ribbon, plus strips of gray lace all laid on top of a delightful vintage paper.

     The multi-loop bow was made on my bow maker and I added a wooden bead to it, matching the ones in the centers of the paper flowers.  I really love the final look of this card!

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Crazy Challenge
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Fussy and Fancy
Paper Girls
Ribbon Girl
TTCRD

     There will be another post in about 3 hours so be sure to stop by again for that one.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

 Click Here

Emerald City September Challenge

     I don't have to tell you how crazy I am about Linda Simpson Designs and her Emerald City Crafts Challenge, do I?  I love being part of her DT, a fabulous group of  fun, friendly, and creative ladies!  We do one challenge each month which runs for three weeks from the first Friday, then we take a week off to choose the winner and Top 3.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any kind of image.  Of course, we all use images from Linda Simpson Designs because they are sooo gorgeous, and we truly love it when you use them, too!

   

     This one with the sweet little Hoyt's Perfume girl is from the "So Cute" set and the papers are from the "Nostalgia" set.  I started with a yellow card base, added a matted scrap of the same background dp, and layered on a scrap of white lace.  I put the image piece together by using two of the images, offset against each other and then layered onto the matted background paper.  That whole thing went on top of the lace.

     I chose a pale pink rose and tiny pink bow (one of those that I make by the dozens from scraps of satin ribbon and keep ready in my stash) then called it finished.  How's that for a perfect vintage piece?  :-D

     Challenges:

Come and Get It

Digi Choosday

Glitter n Sparkle

In the Pink

Lemon Shortbread

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this month.  We love being inspired by you. Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Those Were the Days...

     Welcome to a hot August!  I got home from my trip to the beaches of San Diego only to find hot and very humid, weather.  Yuck!!!  Usually we have dry heat which makes it a tiny bit more bearable.

     But muggy heat aside, today starts a new monthly challenge over at Emerald City Crafts where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   I used one of the images from the "Nostalgia" collection and it makes me think of lazy summer days in my childhood (when I just know the weather was always cooler - lol.)  I was a tomboy kind of girl growing up and did everything to compete with my big brother and favorite boy cousin so there was lots of running and jumping and tree climbing and even leap frog games.  :-D

I started with the sketch I found at Stella Says Sketch.

     I debated about coloring this one but, in the end, decided that good, old fashioned, black-and-white with sepia, my favorites for vintage cards, was just perfect.  The papers are from a Recollections stack but I don't remember which one.  I do love the contrast of the circles in the bicycle wheels with all the rectangles and squares of the card design.

     I matted each piece with embossed CS (used my very old and very worn "Linen" folder) and added jute cord for the embellishment.

     Challenges:
Classic DT Open
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Dream Valley
Fussy and Fancy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Polkadoodles

     I hope you're going to come play with us this month.  Our challenges begin on the 1st Friday of the month, run for 3 weeks then close, and winners are announced on the following month's challenge post.  So this month, you have until August 24 to get your entries in.

     Be sure to stop by again in a few hours when my weekly post for QKR Stampede will be posted.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Baby Doll

     Today starts the first challenge at the new Emerald City Crafts blog and I'm happy to be part of the team.  :-D   The rules are so simple:  1. Anything Goes all the time.  2. Challenges post on the first Friday of each month and run for 3 weeks.  3. The last week the team chooses a winner and Top 3 and those are posted with the new challenge.

     If you love vintage ephemera, you're going to love this new blog and shop!  Let me show you an example.

     The image is from the "Nostalgia" collection and I simply adore the little girl hugging her favorite baby doll.  No coloring on this one but lots of wonderful, feminine embellies like the lace and cream-colored ribbon, the sparkly ribbon at the side of the image, and the pearls.  The roses and bow (dyed with ProMarker) were in my stash, just waiting for this card so that they could be used.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments
A Vintage Journey
Fab'nFunky
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     I hope you'll come and join in this month.  Remember, you have until July 28 to make something and get it entered.  We'll be looking for you.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie