Unicorn Dreams

     New challenge today at the SheepSki Designs blog and our theme is "Dies and/or Punches."  I used this fantastic "Unicorn" image drawn by Andrea and I'm so crazy about it, I know I'm going to use it again and again.  This time, it's being used as a birthday card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to unicorn horn
Tonic Studios dies
Double loop, double layer, bow (ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Sheer, plaid, ribbon strip (also from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Metallic CS base
Sentiment printed and die cut with Tonic Studios die
Inked edges - ProMarker

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the  Blog
a2z Scrapbooking
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafter's Cafe
Digi Doodle Studio
Dream Valley
Your Scrapbook Place

      Come play this month.  We love being inspired by you and your creations.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Graduate

     Another short post due to shoulder problems which are interfering with both my crafting and my being able to sit at a keyboard to prepare posts

     I have two grandkids who are each graduating from high school this year.  The older one is an honor student and has already been accepted into the culinary school he wanted, on a full scholarship I might add!

    The other one is also an honor student and is graduating a year early, having done double classes all year in order to complete all her necessary units.  That was in addition to working a regular, part-time job and being on the cheer leading team at her high school.

     This is her graduation card.  She's totally crazy about unicorns so I used this image from Bugaboo Stamps, added the grad cap by printing another image which had a cap (you'll see it when I finish the card for my grandson), then cutting it out and adding it to the unicorn.

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with QuicKutz dies.  I added micro-fine glitter from Sparkle n Sprinkle to the mane and tail.  The bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, this time with a pearl.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     For now, I've typed as much as I can and must go rest for a bit.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bookworm Fairy

     I'm so excited to share with you today as this is my first card done as a Guest Designer on the Colour Crazy Challenge.  Ching-Chou Kuik has graciously agreed to be our sponsor and has given us the images we used.  I chose Little Bookworm Fairy.  I've been a fan of Ching-Chou Kuik for a few years now and I do love coloring her images.  

I was inspired by the colors at Sugar Pea Designs.

    I used ProMarkers to color the image, adding purple Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flowers in her hair.  Sorry but I forgot to keep track of the exact colors but next time, I promise to have a list for you.  I also added glitter to her wings before cutting the image and its frame with dies from Sizzix.  

     I made a shaped card using a manual die from Tattered Lace.  The glittered "ribbon" is actually washi tape.  I tied a bow with sheer burgundy ribbon and added the white rose on top of it.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and added.

     Challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scrappy Land

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Tuesday Throwdown

     I'm really happy to be working with the Colour Crazy team as a guest designer for the next three months and look forward to sharing with you my creations.  Remember our theme is always "Anything Goes" and, even though we have a new challenge starting every week, each one runs for two weeks so they overlap each other by a week each time.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Home Sweet (Fairy) Home

     I have new neighbors moving in down the street and did a card to welcome them to the neighborhood.  This sweet, little, mushroom-fairy-house is from Sasayaki Glitter.

     I colored this one with my Lyra polychromos pencils (practice, practice, practice!) and cut it with a stitched scalloped circle die from Memory Box.  I cut another circle with the same die and off set it behind the image.  I had a small scrap of that dp left after the circle was cut so I added it below the circles.  The only embellishment I added was the pewter gray bow with the pearl.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Colour Crazy
Come and Get It
Fussy and Fancy
Not Just Cards
Polkadoodles
Stempelsonnen
Sweet Stampin'
World Wide DT Open

     The week marches on and time is getting away from me already!  My list grows longer and the number of things accomplished each day gets shorter.  Sigh... ah, well, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Challenge #2 at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     It's the first day of May and also the start of our second challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where we are truly an Anything Goes challenge - meaning you can create any kind of project with only one requirement - you must feature a creature on it.

     We are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy this month and they have all sorts of wonderful critters and creatures among their fun images.  I chose to use "Flying Pegasus" this time.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a stitched die from CUTplorations.    I matted it with a die cut frame (Gina Marie Dies.)   I found two different, sheer, ribbons in my stash and layered them together before wrapping them around the card front.  I added the image piece, angled for some interest, and then trimmed those corners of it which overhung the edges of the card front.

     I tied a bow with the topmost ribbon and then added the sentiment.  I know it's pretty CAS but I wanted to showcase the image in that marvelous frame, not cover it up with embellishments.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lemon Shortbread
Sisterhood of Crafters (Blue)
Through the Craft Room Door
Word Art Weds.

     If you didn't get a chance to play in our first challenge last month at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, be sure to come and play along this month.   Make anything you like just as long as it features some kind of critter.  Hope to see you playing along over there.  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

Unicorn Moon

     The spring equinox is always special, bringing a subtle change from the dark days of winter but even more magical is the first full moon of spring.  I always knew it was a time of fantastical creatures and now we have proof!  :-D

     The unicorn image is from Dragon's Lair Designs and, once again, I colored with polychromos pencils.  If I keep practicing with them, I might actually get good.  I did add a few glittery stars to the sky with a sparkle gel pen but they just don't show in the photo.  After coloring, I cut the image with a plain square die (QuicKutz) and mounted it in the center of a larger blue CS square, which I put on the front of the card base.

     All the leaves were cut from scrap CS with a die from Cheery Lynn and they are embossed, giving the card some great texture.  The orchid flowers were in my stash.  I have no idea how long I've had them but I don't think I've ever used them so it definitely was time.  They, too, added texture.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy Craft
Come and Get It
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     That's all for me today.  Have a wonderful Monday and may your week be filled with creative pursuits.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dragon Friend

     This darling little dragon from Sasayaki Glitter has been in my collection of images for many months without ever being used.  I decided it was time - in fact past time! - to get him colored up and onto a card.  Since Sasayaki Glitter wants us to "Use Purple" for their current challenge, he's decked out in his best purple and green for spring.  :-D

I started with the sketch from Outlawz.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers and cut him with a die from Spellbinders.  The butterflies are cut with dies from QuicKutz and I layered two different sizes to make a double layer butterfly.  The white butterfly bodies are made from the bits which dropped out of the Spellbinders' die.

     The ribbons were in my stash and are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I found the butterfly charm in my stash and it just seemed to be perfect for this card.

     Challenges:
Aussie Artists Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Gals Corner
Crazy Challenge
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Fairy and Unicorn
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Sunday and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Magical Birthday

     I've been fascinated with unicorns since I was a child.  The one in this image is so fantastic, I just had to use him for another birthday card.  I think I wish I could give this to myself.  :-D

I used the colors at The Outlawz.

I wish my purple doily had stayed purple instead of turning maroon!  Sigh...

    I used my ProMarkers and Copics to color the image, fussy cut the unicorn, then found a Cheery Lynn doily die to cut the mat.  I also cut a simple white circle and put it into the center of the doily, giving something of a 'full moon' look to the scene.

     I also used two pieces of dp, each of which had punched, rounded corners and those were found in my scrap basket, intended to be used on some previous project and then rejected in favor of something else.  How nice that they worked so well in this card design.  :-D

     The sparkly ribbon came from my stash and is probably from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I tied a quad-loop bow.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
City Crafter
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Create and Inspire
Fabrika Fantasy 
Kitty Bee Designs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
WordArt Weds.

     That's it for my second post of the day.  I'm going to have brunch with my daughter and then do a bit of craft shopping.  See you tomorrow.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"My Way" Dragon

     It did cool down somewhat on Sunday but I still stayed in and made cards.  This one had me smiling and thinking of my granddaughter who adores dragons.  The sentiment fits her pretty well, too, and it just seemed to express in words what's on the dragon's face.  :-D  The image is from QKR Stampede and their challenge this week is "Ribbons and Bows."

The sketch came from Sweet Stop.

     I used my Promarkers to color the image and added Stickles to a few spots on his wings and body.  He's die cut, then matted with a die cut a size larger.  The dp is from DCWV, Juniper Berry stack.  The sentiment is mine, done with a computer font and then die cut with a lacy die.  The lace ribbon was in my stash and the bow is one of those I make and keep ready in my stash.

     I know those can be found at Joann's and other fabric shops but they're so expensive that way, and since my mom taught me how to sew those together years ago, I prefer making my own.  That way, I have more variety in colors than I can get at the craft stores.  I did notice that I'm in need of more pearl beads soon, though, so have added that to my shopping list.  What a great excuse to head off to the craft store.  :-D

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- Fantasy or fairies
Crafty Calendar -- Things with wings
Digi Haven -- Anything goes
Digistamps 4 Joy -- To be young again
Heck of a Challenge -- Bingo: lace/ ribbon/ pearls
Natalie & Amy's -- Fantasy
Rhedd & Rosie's -- Ribbons and lace
Scrap It Girl -- Use your dies
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Anything goes for kids
Sister Act -- Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts -- Punches/dies

     We're starting the new work week today and I wish I could stay home instead of going to the office.  Ah well, it's the work days that make the days off more special.  Have a browse around while you're here and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie