Old Time Santa

     If it's Friday (and it is!) then it must be time for another new "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede.  I'm really into Christmas recently and am getting those last minute cards finished and ready for the mail box. 

     This QKR image is called "Old Time Santa" and the sentiment is from our sister stamp company, Eureka Stamps, "Merry Christmas."

Colored with ProMarkers and Copics
Scalloped die cut - Memory Box
Gray frame die cut w/ Tonic Studios die
Frame is embossed w/ 'Linen' folder
Red dp is a scrap
Holly & berries embellie cut w/ circle hand punch, glued
      & covered w Glossy Accents
Wide red ribbon has gold edges and is a scrap

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
A Bit More Time ...
Creatalicous
Christmas Crafts All Year ...
Classic Design Team
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Do Al(l) Creatives
Friendship
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bounty of Blessings for QKR Stampede

     Another Friday morning and that means another weekly challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you may use whatever image you like, whether it's from QKR or not.  However, you should know that any card entered which has a QKR (or Eureka Stamps - our sister company) image will be put into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     Today, I used a QKR image (Cornstalk and Pumpkin) and a sentiment from Eureka Stamps (Bounty of Blessings.)  Together, they made a fabulous Thanksgiving card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Inked edges of image & plaid dp (ProMarkers)
Image cut with QuicKutz die
CAS design
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz PAM
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Take It, Make It

     Please come play with us this week.  We love seeing what you create.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thanksgiving Turkey

     Well, Halloween is behind us and now we can begin to put our focus on Thanksgiving and Christmas/Winter.  It's Friday morning and that means another weekly challenge has started over at QKR Stampede.  This is my second post of the day and I'll have 3 more over the next 18 hours!  Be sure to come by to see them all.  I say that as if you had nothing else to do today.  :-D

     Our challenge theme, as always, is "Anything Goes" and there is no requirement to use QKR image.  However, if you do use QKR or an image from the sister company, Eureka Stamps (which I did), your entry will go into a separate draw and that means you could win much more easily.

     I used the "Double Line Turkey" image from Eureka Stamps and the "Bold Happy Thanksgiving" sentiment from QKR Stampede.

Colored with ProMarkers & water colors
Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon
CAS design

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
Digi Choosday
Outlawz PAM
Polkadoodles
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Wed.
Work It Weds.

     Hope you'll come play with us this week and stop by again to see the other First of the Month posts. Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Bountiful Blessings

     One more really quick post because I want to get this entered at Double D in their Orange and White challenge before it closes.  The acorn and leaves image is by Anne Fenton and the sentiment is from Eureka Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Sentiment cut with Tonic Studios die
Edges inked with ProMarker
Sheer ribbon with pumpkins

     Challenges:
Cute N Crafty
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Outlawz Greetings
Papercraft
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

     Have a great week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Silhouette Ghosts

     I'm racing the clock to get this post written and pre-scheduled so that I don't miss out on showing you my DT card for the new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  I live in California and our power may be shut off any minute now for an unknown length of time - hours or even days.  The power company says it's for 'fire danger prevention.'  Yeah, I know - I've never heard of that in all the years I've lived in California but a good share of the northern end of the state is already without power.

     Anyway, my card today features 2 images from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, and each one is called "Dark Ghost" (4007) and "Dark Ghost" (4002).  The sentiment is from QKR Stampede and is called "Boo" (how appropriate!)

     The two silhouette images were printed as they are and the sentiment was colored with ProMarkers.  I wanted a very CAS card so did no embellishments at all.  I did ink the edges of the card front with purple.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Fingers
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Take It, Make It
Tales from the Craft Room

     Edited at midnight on Thursday - we have power right now and it looks like we'll have power during the day on Friday if the wind diminishes as predicted.  Strangely enough, there are wild fires to the east and the south of us started by downed power lines!  I guess they shut down the wrong power grids.  :-D
 
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Summer Pig

     In the hot, hot, HOT! temperatures of summer this year, one happy pig is cooling his heels in the closest mud puddle.  This image is called "Happy as a Pig 24202" and it's from QKR Stampede.  Our newest weekly challenge started today and our theme is always Anything Goes.  Hope we're going to see you playing along with us.

Colored with ProMarkers
Memory Box dies
Couture Creations embossing folder
Crafty Ribbons stitched ribbon
Eureka Stamps sentiment "Being Cool"
Metal brads

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Cute Card Thurs
Di's Digi Designs
Happy Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie       

Shared Bravery

     Ever notice when one friend is acting bravely, everybody else feels more brave?  I'm celebrating bravery with my DT card for the challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  This time, instead of a QKR image, I've used a darling image from our sister brand, Eureka Stamps, called "Best Friends 47501."

     I've used a color combo which is a bit outside my usual combos which always utilize purples/ aquas/ pinks.

This color combo inspired by the colors

 in the inspiration photo at C.R.A.F.T..

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz square die
Inked edges
Scrap papers
Satin ribbon + hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Happy Craft
House that Stamps Built
Paper Shelter
Scrapper's Delights (top row)
Scrappy  Land
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Roasted Chicken

     Considering how long I've been on the DT at QKR Stampede (where we start a new, weekly, Anything Goes challenge today), I can't believe that I've overlooked this fun, summery, image.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it during this hot weather we're having.  If he's not careful, we're going to have roasted chicken!  lol  The image is called "Basking."

Colored with ProMarkers
Memory Box dies
Dark Brown stitched ribbon (Crafty Ribbons)
Gold, satin ribbon (stash)
Double loop bow (tied w/ bow maker)
Sentiment - Eureka Stamps (Fun in the Sun)
Kraft card base
Polka dot dp - DCWV

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments (die cuts/image/ribbon)
Colour Crazy
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Happy Craft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Lupin and Butterflies

     It's a great Friday morning and we're starting a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede today.  My card features a stamp from our sister store, Eureka Stamps, called "Dear Friend."  The sentiment is included as part of the image making it perfect for a quick and easy card.  In addition, all the CS used were mere scraps that I put to work instead of letting it end up in the trash, including the piece for the image.

I chose the greens, purple, and lilac from the Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die, out-of-the-box
Matted with deep purple CS, distressed edges
Butterfly die from Spellbinders
Heat Embossed w clear EP + glitter

     Challenges:
Angie's Digi Stamps
Butterfly (Hunter Green, Heliotrope & Heat Embossing)
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beware of ...

     Welcome to the start of another weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and it's open to any player using any products they choose.  I decided on more silliness because that's what I love best.  :-D

     The image is from QKR and is called "All Tied Up" and the sentiment is from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Beware of Children."

     I colored with my ProMarkers, distressed them lightly with extra fine sandpaper, then used a stitched die from Die-namics (My Favorite Things) to cut the image.  The background is embossed with a folder by Couture Creations. 

     I had that textured red ribbon in my stash and it seemed to match up with his shirt so I wrapped it around the card front.  I have to admit that I much prefer using ribbon over flowers because not only is it flatter for mailing but it's easily used on masculine or feminine cards and flowers seem limited to feminine cards only. 

     The single 'gem' I added to the ribbon was made by adding loose glitter to a tiny circle of metallic foil.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
Cute N Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out

     Thanks for coming by to visit and come play with us!  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's a Cat's Party!

     New challenge at QKR Stampede this week, where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  I thought it was time for a party so I got busy making up invitations.  While I was away from the computer, coloring images, the feline fur babies took over and printed out this image, which they then insisted I use!

     It's from QKR's sister shop, Eureka, and is called "Kitty Party."  I told the fur babies since they chose the image, it was up to them to color it.  I think they did a pretty awesome job considering they had a bit of trouble holding the markers in their furry paws.  :-D

     The coloring was done with ProMarkers and the image was cut with an Unbranded oval die.  I found some of my favorite plaid paper in a stack by Your Next Stamp, called Mint Cocoa Kisses.

     The both the light and dark ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons and I hand tied the lighter ribbon into a bow.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a smaller die from that same Unbranded set.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Digi Choosday
Happy Craft
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Passion for ProMarkers
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this week.  After today, I'll be taking a two or three week break (my first one since joining the team more than 4 years ago!) while crafting resources are packed away during the reorganizing process.  I'll be back with more QKR posts as soon as I can.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Decked Out for Christmas

     Yesterday, when I did an extra QKR Stampede card, I promised you that today your would see my regular, Friday, QKR Stampede DT card and here it is!  Our newest "Anything Goes" challenge starts today so please come and join us.  I used a delightful image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Christmas Kitties."

     For those of you who don't share your lives with furry felines, you're missing out on the loveliest way to have 'Warm Wishes' - when they cuddle in your lap and snuggle in your bed on cold, winter nights.

I used the colors from Cupcake Inspirations,

red, green, & white.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with an Unbranded die.  I printed and cut the sentiment with another die from that same set.

     I wanted a very simple design, flat and easy to mail, so I mounted both the image and the sentiment on a red card base, then added the narrow, sparkly, ribbon, finishing the wrap around with a bow.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show
SUYP Cats

      I hope we're going to see you come and play with us.  I know Christmas is nearly here but surely you can take a bit of crafty time just for yourself?  You need a break from the hustle and bustle!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Reindeer are Loose!

     It's Friday and we have a new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.   Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but I stayed with the Christmas theme I've been doing since the beginning of last month.  This time, I used an image from our sister brand, Eureka Stamps, and it's called "Jumping Reindeer ES3202."

     In order to get the sense of a team of Santa's reindeer, I used the image 3 times in a row.  I colored with ProMarkers and Copics, plus white gel ink.  I used a border die from Spellbinders to cut the image, then layered them onto polka dot paper from DCWV. 

     I wrapped that with red, grosgrain, ribbon and added a hand-sewn bow with a tiny button in  the middle.  I printed the silly sentiment because they do look like they ditched the sleigh and are off on a joyriding (joy flying?) trip without Santa.  :-D

     I used my "Linen" embossing folder on deep blue CS, then used that for the card front.  Simple, fun, and flat for mailing!

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Cute Card Thurs.
DL.ART
Double D
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out

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

And the Turkey Says, "Eat Beef"

     It's Friday and we have another new challenge beginning at QKR Stampede and we always have an "Anything Goes" theme.   I managed to get this one done early so it was completed before the flu symptoms hit me last week.

     I used an image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Eat Beef."  You can believe he's saying "Thanks" to all who take his advice about the menu.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  Both the dp and the golden CS were scraps on my craft desk and they worked with the colors of the image.  I used brown jute cord to make the bow and added three sets of three brads to corners of the image.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Fingers
Cute N Crafty
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Fussy and Fancy
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bounty of Blessings

     Friday morning and another new "Anything Goes" challenge over at QKR Stampede.  There is no requirement that you use an image from QKR --any stamp from any company is fine.  But if you decide to use an image from QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will be put into a separate draw for QKR only and that really increases your chance of winning!  Think about it.  :-D

     I decided on a Thanksgiving card today, and I used two images plus a sentiment, all three are from Eureka Stamps:  Pilgrim Boy ES2302, PilgrimGirl ES2303, and Bounty of Blessings.  I merged the Pilgrim images and printed the sentiment separately.

I took some inspiration from this photo at Cupcake Inspirations.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut it with a Cross Stitch Rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  I cut the sentiment with another die from that same set.  Because of the cross stitching on the die, I dug out the dp from my fall holiday stash and used it to make the card front.

     I added two ribbons, one is ribbed grosgrain and the other is a satin with a leaf print on it.  I layered those together and wrapped them around the card front.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn, bows to which I had added a button.

     This card is going to be mailed so I left it CAS and flat for easy mailing.

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
Bastel-Traum
Crafts Dreamy
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Dies R Us
Digi Choosday
Kreativeinkauf

     Come play along this week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Patch

     Friday morning and I'm sharing another DT card for the weekly challenge at QKR Stampede which started this morning.  It really is fall (according to the calendar if not the weather) and that means Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner.  If you want to play along in our challenge this week, you could make something for either of those occasions or anything else you choose because we always have an "Anything Goes" theme.  I chose a beautiful autumn image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Pumpkins and Fence."

I started with the sketch from Sum More Fun

and colors from The House that Stamps Built.

  

     I colored with ProMarkers and used water colors for the muted sky and ground.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I had one piece of that lovely dp left in a DCWV stack and I though it went perfectly with the image.

     If you look closely, you'll see that the background dp is also cut with a stitched die from that set and the image is inlaid into the background.  I added the wider, paler, polka dot ribbon before inlaying the image, then I wrapped that whole piece with a deep orange, polka dot, ribbon before putting it onto the card front.

     I love how the vertical and horizontal stripes in the background make a box for each pumpkin or leaf or other fall item.  Stripes, squares, and polka dots are wonderful geometric shapes for visual interest and texture.

     On this card, rather than leaving it completely CAS, I added a white, hand-sewn, bow with a button, and the stitched pumpkin.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     I hope you'll come and play along with us this week.  We want to be inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Jumping in Leaves

     Nothing is more fun in the fall than jumping in leaves!  Kids love doing it and grown ups love remembering when their bodies were young enough to do it.  Well, at least I do.  :-D

     Another Friday and another "Anything Goes" challenge from QKR Stampede.  I'm sticking with doing autumn cards in hopes that the fall weather will finally arrive and today's card is no exception.  I've used an image and a sentiment from QKR's sister company, Eureka Stamps.  The image is called "Lady Throwing Leaves" and the sentiment is "Jump into Pile of Leaves."

I was inspired by the sketch at AAA Cards

turned sideways.

     I chose the scrap of paper before I started coloring with ProMarkers and pulled colors from it.  I cut the image and the brown frame with Sizzix dies.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and inked the edges with a ProMarker. 

     I took the scrap of paper and tore the edges all the way around for a distressed look.  I layered everything onto a kraft card base.  I dub out black and gold jute cord and wrapped the card front with them, tying a knot.  I also tied a small, black, polka dot, bowtie bow and added it.  I really liked the CAS look of the design so I left it as it was.

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Time Out
Word Art Weds

     OK, now it's all up to you.  Come enter our challenge this week and you might win some fabulous QKR Stampede images!  See you there.  NanaConnie

Best Buddies

     Another Friday so another new challenge at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and there's no requirement to use a QKR image (or Eureka - our sister brand which I used this week) or sentiment.  However, if you do use one of those, your entry will be in a completely separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by quite a lot.

     This week, I used an image from Eureka Stamps called "Big n Little Cat."  We all know that cats are my favorite animals but, in truth, I'm a general animal lover -- all animals!  I'm required to say that cats are my favorites because my feline fur babies would throw me out of 'their' house if they thought for one second that dogs or rabbits or horses might have even a second or third place in  my heart.

     Although the the fur babies spend a lot of time watching over my shoulder as I'm drafting my blog posts, neither has yet learned to read so I'm safe sharing that fact with you.  :-D

I chose a color combo from

My Favorite Things.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and framed it with a scrap of embossed CS which had been cut with a die from Cheapo dies.  The 'ribbon' strip is also a scrap and I added one of my signature bows.  Instead of sewing on a pearl, I used blue Pearl Drops in the center.

     Another of my CAS design with lots of open space, even if not the usual "white" space, which will be perfect for another masculine card.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
House That Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     Come play with us this week!  We love being inspired by you and your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Yellow Rose

     Today we start a new challenge at QKR Stampede with our usual "Anything Goes" theme and our optional theme is also Anything Goes so how can you not play along this week?

     I chose an image from our sister shop, Eureka Stamps, and it's called "Rose."  You can't get any simpler than that so I've done a very simple card design to go with it.

     The rose is colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I cut the polka dot piece with another die from Spellbinders and mounted the rose on dimensional dots before layering it onto the dp.

     Both of those pieces went onto a white card front and I added the sheer bow with a gold pearl for a single embellishment to keep the card CAS.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Digistamps 4 Joy
Love to Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Stempelsonnen
World Wide Open DT

     Hope to see you playing along this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Coolest Dad Ever!

     I think this "cool cat" from Eureka Stamps is the funniest thing ever!  I decided it was perfect for another Father's Day card.  My own dad having been gone for many years, I now make them for family members who are dads.  :-D  This one will go to my #1 grandson.

     Because it's going to be mailed, I kept it as simple as I could.  I colored the image with my ProMarkers, added white gel ink as reflection on the sunglasses, and fussy cut it by hand.  That was time consuming and detailed but it's a technique I love to do every now and then.  I matted it with an embossed frame ("Linen" folder) of white CS which had been die cut it with a stitched die.

     Both the multi-colored frame (cut with a die from a CUTplorations set) and the background paper are from a Recollections stack.  I added sparkly twine, tied into a knot and with the ends feathered, as a salute to embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Fab 'n' Funky
Great Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Outlawz CAS
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Monday
STAMPlorations

     I hope you have wonderful plans for your weekend even if you are mostly staying home.  Find time for enjoyment and reflection.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie