Way to Go, Graduate!

     I'm having to do several graduation cards this year.  There's a group of ladies at a nearby Senior Center (where I donate many of my cards) who have asked about graduation cards for their grandkids and even twin nephews in one case.  I've been trying to find out what the school colors are for each of our middle and high schools in my town but so far, I only know the colors for one school.

I took my sketch from the challenge at I {heart} Sketches

and the image also belongs to From the Heart Stamps.

     I had forgotten how much I love red and yellow as a color combo on cards but this is definitely a favorite of mine.  I colored this image with ProMarkers and a gold paint pen.  I cut the image and the red mat with my newest die set from Gina Marie.  The polka dot triangle was cut with another Gina Marie die, then trimmed to fit the card corner.

     I added one tiny, red, bow and left it rather CAS.  I don't know if this card is going to a girl or a boy so I wanted it to be appropriate for either one.

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Get Creative
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pattie's Creations
Scrapper's Delights
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back tomorrow with another DT card for QKR Stampede so be sure to stop by.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Lucky Bird

     I think this will be my last St. Paddy's card, at least the last one which has to go in the mail.  The image is from the progressive challenge at From the Heart Stamps and it was just perfect for one last "Luck of the Irish" salutes.

I also used the sketch I found this week at I (heart) Sketches.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and cut with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The green CS for the mat is also cut with a Lawn Fawn die.  The little dp flags were cut with a die from Spellbinders, and shortened on the back end as needed.  I printed the sentiment and used one of the Lawn Fawn dies to cut it, moving the die as needed to get the narrow flag shape, but the dovetail end was cut with scissors.

     The polka dot ribbon was in my stash and I used the last of it to tie the bow.  I love that particular shade of green and have already begun searching online stores to try to find more of it.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

Colour Crazy Craft

Cut It Up

Outlawz Festive Friday

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

Take It, Make It

     Happy Stamping and I hope you'll return again tomorrow for the latest challenge at QKR Stampede.   NanaConnie

No Calories in Easter Chocolates

     If the subject line on this post grabs you as much as it does me, I am hoping there's truth in the sentiment on this Easter card.  :-D

The image, sentiment and sketch are all by

From the Heart Stamps

and I tried to use the colors as well.

     Colored with my ProMarkers and die cut with a die from Die-namics.  I cut a frame by using the same Die-namics die inside a die by Memory Box.  That's a new technique for me - layering dies from different sets and even different companies together to make frames for the image pieces.  I really like the results so I'm going to be doing a lot more of that.  :-D

     I added just ribbon and the small handmade bow for embellishment and and now I have another Easter card which will be easy to mail.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Cute Card Thursday
Double D
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Word Art Weds.

     You get a 2 for 1 today so if you missed my first post, please scroll down to the next post to see it.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Pigwit for St. Pat's

     OK, I was going crazy doing all the things needed to get the new challenge blog ready for it's April 1st debut (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com) instead of doing some actual crafting so this morning I simply stole an hour out of my scheduled tasks to make this St. Patrick's Day card.

     I was born on St. Paddy's and my heritage is Irish on both sides of the family tree so you know I make St. Paddy's cards for all the grandkids.  Afterall, I want them celebrating their heritage, too.  :-D

Both the Pigwit image and the sketch can be found at From the Heart Stamps.

     I colored Pigwit with my ProMarkers, then cut him, the green mat, and the sentiment with oval dies from QuicKutz.  I added leaves, flowers, and the bow to the lower part of the card.  The flowers seemed to need gem centers, so I added those and then die cut the butterfly from a scrap of burlap paper and added another gem to it.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs

Crafting from the Heart

Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Sentiments
Crazy Challenge
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
Lemon Shortbread
Scrapy Land

      Well, since I'm on a roll with this one, and since I can stay up late tonight and work on the blog updates when it's quiet, I think I'll try to get one more card made for one of the progressive challenges I do each month.  Have a great afternoon and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Digging in the Dirt

     I'm just so happy to be playing in challenges again at From the Heart Stamps, including their "I {heart} Sketches" challenges.  I've also been on a couple of new shopping binges in their store since Faith got back and the challenges started up again.  However, the image I used today is one I've had for a while but just hadn't used before now.

I used I {heart} Sketches and also the colors.

     I used both chalks and ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it and distressed the edges.  I matted it with some pink CS, trimmed it to fit, and distressed those edges also.  The sentiment is from that same set and worked so perfectly with all the dog bones buried in the garden.  :-D

     The ribbon was hiding in my stash and I think it came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Chalk n Stock
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Awesomeness
Creatalicious
Not Just Cards
Open-Minded Crafting Friends
Outlawz Greetings (flower/layers/pink)
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Petal Lu

     Well, we're half way through the week and the weekend will be here before you know it.  We've had the driest day today since the long weekend started last Friday with pouring rain and more washed out streets and highways.  Yesterday and today they've been able to get repair crews working so the the roads are open again, although there are still cautions and warnings on some of the less traveled streets where repairs haven't yet been done.  Fortunately, nothing like that close to my home.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

No More Snow!

     I'm in complete sympathy with those of you who have been buried under the latest winter storms and those who are still experiencing snowflakes falling from the sky.  That kind of weather is a big part of the reason I only spent two years in Alaska before heading to California.  But I do want you to know I was thinking about you and this card was made just for you, but most especially my friend, Donna H, buried in the snowdrifts somewhere in the wilds of Northeast USA.  :-D

I used the sketch found at From the Heart  (I{heart}Sketches),

turned 1/4 turn, and the Birdbrain image is also one of theirs.

I followed the colors and "Snow Day" theme, as well.

     Birdbrain is colored with ProMarkers and I used some silver metallic marker on the shovel.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I'm beginning to think that my die cutting machine (manual) has to be my favorite crafting tool ever.  I hardly make a card or layout without using die cuts and often find ways to incorporate them into other projects.  By now, I must have well over 200 die sets!

     The two ice-gray strips were scraps of white CS to which I applied some micro-glitter for a really sparkly paper.  The sentiment is mine, printed with two different computer fonts.  For embellishment, I dug through my stash of winter goodies, found the snowflakes and added them.  I used two scrap pieces of jute cord to tie the bow.  Both of those things added some great texture to the card without being too heavy or thick to mail.

     Challenges:
A Snowflake's Promise
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Creates and Makes
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp

     I'm sending really warm wishes to all of you surrounded by all that white stuff, and no, I'm not talking about being surrounded by white sand on the beaches in Hawaii.  But I'll bet that's where you'd all rather be.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Need a Bigger Cake?

     OK, here's my second post this month for From the Heart Stamps, this time using their sketch and both optional twists: colors and "Birthday," as well as a fun image.  Have you ever seen such a funny, pouty, spoiled cat?

     

Here's what I did with it.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  The pink, striped dp is cut with a border die from Spellbinders, one side at a time.  

     The sentiment is also by From the Heart.  Since I've reached the age where I have to wish for larger cakes just to hold all the candles (not because I want to eat more of it, you understand!), I love that sentiment.  :-D

     I was thinking as I did the bow (the bow was white and I 'dyed' it charcoal gray to co-ordinate with the color of the cat and the darker gray in the color combo) that much as I love lace, I always reach for ribbon first.  I think it's because I have so much more ribbon in my stash or maybe because ribbon works on both feminine and masculine cards.

     I know you must be thinking that I missed the green in the combo but check out his eyes.  OK, it's not much but it's there!

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
As You Like It
Brown Sugar

Crafting with an Attitude
Creative Corner

DL.ART

Polkadoodles
Scrapper's Delights

Take It, Make It

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Chocolate Kisses with Pigwit

     I'm just so excited that From the Heart is back with their Progressive Challenges again but mostly I'm excited that Faith is so much better.  Blessings, Faith!  The freebie image for the challenge is Pigwit Hogs and Kisses and he's adorable!  Of course, this being February I had to make a Valentine card.

     I decided that something CAS would best showcase Pigwit so I started by using ProMarkers to color him, then I cut him with a simple, square die from Spellbinders (my very first set of dies purchased probably about 6 years ago.  Boy, have I added to my collection of dies since then!)

     I added tissue paper behind him, and tore the edges.  I mounted all of that onto a red card base, leaving room at the top for the sentiment piece.  For embellishment, I added only the red bow.

    Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Hiding in My Craft Room
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
Kraftin' Kimmie
Pattie's Creations
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sweet Stampin'

     How has your weekend gone so far?   Mine has been very productive and creative.  I've managed to make 7 cards since Friday afternoon, and I have images colored for 3 more.  How's that for a stamping frenzy?  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Cool

     Okay, let me start by reporting that our temperatures have dropped out of the 100 - 110F range and yesterday we sat at a chilling 99!  lol  Our weather men and ladies made that sound as if it was a near freezing temperature.

     Today's card was inspired by my thoughts on how best to stay cool.  :-D

The image and the sketch are both by From the Heart Stamps,

although I turned the sketch sideways.

     I colored the image with my Copic Markers (where I have a better range of soft blues) and die cut it with an older die from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges of both the die cut pieces and the hand cut sentiment.  The bow is one of those "bowties" I've been doing lately, made with satin, polka dot, ribbon.  A CAS design without a lot of bulk or embellishment.

     Challenges:
Bunny Zoe's
Cards in Envy
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Double D
Marker POP
Outlawz Colors
Tuesday Throwdown (flower/marker/ribbon)

     It's Saturday, the weekend has started for most of us and, if you're in a place with cool(er) weather, count your blessings.  You could be in hot, drought-stricken, central California wondering if the indoor air conditioning is ever going to stop running!  Mine has been on since March 30.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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.

Christmas Kisses

     Another Christmas card for the stash and I'm finally beginning to feel like I might get the 75 cards done that I will need for family, friends, and donating to the senior center this year.   Today's card uses an image by From the Heart Stamps, and adorable little snowman blowing Christmas Kisses.  Are you humming "Frosty, the Snowman" yet?   :-D

I used the sketch at I {Heart} Sketches.

     I colored that cute snowman with my ProMarkers and then die cut it with a stitched circle die from Die-namics.  The doily die behind it was cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  I cut the little banner pieces from dp that has been in my Christmas/Winter stash nearly forever (like 5 years!)  Finally, I added the sentiment and the sparkly gem snowflakes and called it done.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Country View Crafts (July)
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Digistamps 4 Joy
Holly Jolly Christmas
Melonheadz Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
{Pin}spirational
Sparkles Forum
Sparkles Forum Christmas

     Hot weather is back again so I'm hoping some Christmas/Winter projects will make it feel cooler.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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.

Way Too Long

     Another winter-y, Christmas card which I plan to use as a long-distance holiday greeting for a friend who lives out-of-state and whom I've not had the opportunity to visit in many years.  Hence, the outside sentiment of "Way too long..." runs into one inside which says "...since we shared coffee."

I started with the sketch from I {heart} Sketches

and a From the Heart image.

I turned the sketch a quarter turn so that the

 3 snowflakes could be at the bottom instead of the side.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and then played with a die from Spellbinders which was much longer than I wanted based on the size of my image.  I cut the image and then moved the die so that the top of it was at the bottom of the image and what was the "outside" edge of the die was what cut the bottom line of the image.  Wish I had taken a photo as I did it so that it could be more easily understood.

     Next, I used the same die to cut the sentiment, turning it upside down to get the 'mirror image' cut along the bottom.  I trimmed away unwanted parts with scissors to get that shape and inset the top of it into the bottom of the image piece.  Everything is mounted onto navy blue CS.

     I added the three little snowflakes (also die cuts) and popped a dab of glitter into the center of each one.  It took a bit of figuring to get the die to work out but I do love the end result.  Even the planning was fun, although time consuming.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Craft Your Passion
Crimbo Crackers
Di's Digi Designs
Great Impressions
Moving Along with the Times
Sweet Stampin' Christmas
Time Out

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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.

New Driver on the Road !

     A couple of weeks ago, my eldest granddaughter took and passed her driving test, and now she's a fully licensed driver!  I had already decided that I had to do a card for her, that being a huge milestone in the life of any teen.  I had already decided to use this image I won at From the Heart Stamps but before I got the card finished, an incident occurred which also needed to be memorialized.

     The story goes like this: on the second day after getting her license, her mom asked her to run to the grocery store and pick up a couple of items needed for dinner.  The store is two blocks away from home.  She did as asked and was on her way back home when she saw red lights flashing behind her!  She pulled over and was scared to death, totally unable to figure out what she could possibly have done to merit being stopped by the police.  Keep in mind, she's driving her mom's car, not yet having one of her own.

     The officer asked to see her license and registration, then advised her that she had a tail light which was out.  When she told him that she'd only had her license for two days and that it was her mom's car, he told her to make sure it got fixed but was nice enough not to write her a ticket.

     Here's how I changed the planned card design following that incident.  :-D

     Colored with my ProMarkers and the police officer is clip art I found online, fussy cut and mounted on dimensional dots.  I used a stitched die to cut the image and inlaid it into black CS, also cut with that same stitched die although the stitching doesn't show on the black.  The checkered flag is another image from the race car set, printed, fussy cut, and added on a dimensional dot.  Sentiment was computer printed.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Catch the Bug
City Crafter
Crafty Addicts
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thursday
Pencil Case
Scrapper's Delights
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Congrats again, #1 Granddaughter.  I'm so proud of you!  Happy Stamping to all.  NanaConnie

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.