Letter "Z" - 30 Days of Holidays

       Last letter of the alphabet and tomorrow is the last day of the Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas challenges.  "Z" is another one of those difficult prompts because very few Z words relate easily to Christmas but I did use a tutorial at Beccy's and made a Double Z Fold Card.  This one isn't in the  A - Z Folds tab but I did give you a link to the blog post where Beccy showed us the Double Z Fold.  There is a tutorial for a single Z fold in the A - Z Folds tab and it's much easier but I wanted the challenge of doing the Double Z fold.

     The candy cane image is from Beccy's Place and everything was done using up scraps, including the piece of CS on which the image was printed.  I colored the canes with ProMarkers (I used 'Vanilla' instead of white on the candy canes so it would better match the beige in the papers), then cut the image with a Die-namics stitched die.  I used my Scor-Pal board to make all the scores for fold lines, much more precise than trying to make the folds by hand without first scoring.  

     All the paper scraps were in the Christmas scrap stash and originally came from a stack by Graphic 45.  That particular stack of Christmas papers had to be one of my all time favorites. Unfortunately, that stack is used up except for the few scraps left in the basket, but then, it was probably 8 or 9 years old!

 

Here's a shot from the top showing the Z folds.

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz

Creative Creases

Creative Fingers

Cut It Up

Rudolph Days

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Mouse Tree

     It's the first Friday in December and a new challenge is starting over at Crazy for Cats.  We are using images from Ike's Art in honor of her memory.  This one is called Catmouse Tree.

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker.   The background paper is from a stack by Graphic 45.  I used a bit of metallic, glittery, ribbon to tie a double-loop bow with the help of my bow maker.  The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  Be sure to use a cat somewhere on your project.  We are going to be giving images from Ike's Art as the prize for this challenge.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Whose Christmas Stocking?

      I have two posts today; this one as my DT card for Conie Fong and a second one coming up for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.

     This Conie Fong image is called "Christmas Stocking" and it's ON SALE right now!  You might want to also check out "Molly's Christmas Stocking" which is a related set and like this one, it's on sale, too.

     For the image on my card, I colored with water color paints, added glitter to the laces and the package, then used an Unbranded die to cut it.  I took a bit of a liberty with the image when I added a die cut kitten to the stocking, but the image reminded me of every cat I've ever had who climbed the Christmas tree and did everything possible to explore the stockings as they hung from the mantle piece.  The kitten was cut from a Cheapo die.  The die actually has the kitten climbing on the side of a goldfish bowl but I fussy cut just the cat from the overall die cut, then added him to the stocking.

     The background dp was from the (Christmas) scrap basket.  I think it was from a Graphic 45 stack.  I tied a simple bow, then heat embossed the sentiment, cut it with a Tonic Studios die, and mounted it diagonally at the top of the image.

I based this on the sketch from The Outlawz, turned vertical.

     Challenges:

Dare 2B Artzy

Dragonfly Dreams

Kerst Christmas

Morgan's Art World

Paperbabe

Peace on Earth

Penny's Paper-Crafty

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds

     Please come and play in our Conie Fong challenge.  All you have to do is use a CF image, color it, and enter your project on the Facebook page!  You could win more fabulous Conie Fong images.  BTW, there are freebies available on the Facebook site!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Spotlight Puppy

     It's time for you to check out the new weekly challenge at Creative Knockouts where we are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy and our theme is "Winter Wonderland."  I'm using a sponsor image from my own collection called Happy Puppy and it can be found in their Christmas coloring book.

     I know my card isn't filled with snow and ice but, for me, this image of the Christmas puppy brings back childhood memories of the Christmas when I got a puppy and that was all I needed to make the whole living room a 'wonderland' !  My dad had to sleep with the puppy the night before to keep him from whining all night and possibly waking up two, not-so-sleepy, kids who were waiting for Santa.  I think for the puppy that night in a new (and strange) house had the effect of imprinting my dad into the puppy's mind as the human who "rescued" him because he really was my dad's dog from that point on.  Oh, I don't mean that he never came and played with me or slept on my bed, but Dad was always the favorite person for that little pooch.  We named him "Buster" and he had exactly these colors on him - brown body, dark ears and nose, and white feet/legs.  :-D 

     I did a spotlight technique with my coloring.  I printed the image twice, colored a section on one of them with my ProMarkers, cut the section with a round die from Tonic Studios, and layered it onto the black and white second printing of the same image.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  

     I matted both the image and the sentiment with red CS.  I sewed one of my signature bows but this time without any adornment (I usually add either a pearl or a sequin.)  The background dp was a scrap left over from another project I posted yesterday and it came from a Graphic 45 stack.

My card was inspired by the sketch at My Favorite Things,

but I flipped it top to bottom, turned it sideways, and used the area

with the three dots for my sentiment.

     Challenges:

Country View

Crafty Creations

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Inspirations

Dies R Us

Kerst Christmas

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

      We look forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ready for Christmas

      My second "1st of the Month" post and this time I'm sharing my DT card for the new challenge at Paper Funday.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this time we have an Optional theme of "Holidays."  We have two sponsors: My Besties and Polkadoodles.  I was given an image from My Besties called "Oh, Christmas Tree."   I have to admit I haven't used a My Besties image in a long time but this one was generously provided by the sponsor.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and added a few highlights with gel pens.  The image was cut with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background dp came from an old, old, very old (!) Graphic 45 stack.  I used one of my hand-sewn, signature bows with a pearl this time.  It was a white bow and I 'dyed' it red with one of my Copic markers.  Everything was mounted onto a burgundy card front which I had dry embossed using my 'Linen' EF.

     Challenges:

Colour It, Create It ...

Clever Dexter

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

My Besties International

     Are you going to come and play with us at Paper Funday this month?    We'd love to see what you create and we get as inspired by your creations as you might be from seeing our samples.  :-D  Come play!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      It's the last day of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and Beccy always lets us do whatever we love on the last day, so an "Anything Goes" theme.  I chose to use this beautiful candle by Beccy and to use the last I have of a Graphic 45 Christmas paper.

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then used a Sue Wilson die to cut the image piece.  I used another die from that same set to cut the white glitter CS from Doodlebug and layer it over the image with the center open to let the candle 'shine' as the star of the card!  :-D

     The Graphic 45 paper has lovely candles on it and I added a bit of Stickles to each candle flame on that dp.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place and I cut it with a Tutti Designs die.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

Uniko

Word Art Weds

Your Next Stamp

     It's sad to see the end of the 30 Days of Holidays but I have so many cards added to my stash this year!  As in other years, I always make lots of extra cards to give to my local senior center because so many of those seniors have transportation complications and they simply can't get out to buy Christmas cards for their children and grandchildren.  Each year the cards I leave with them are welcomed happily and I get such sweet "thank you"s from those who pick out something they consider special for a family member or friend.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy in a Boot

      It's time for the latest weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and we have a theme this time instead of our usual anything goes because this is a 5th Monday.  So, this challenge we want to see "Animals."  Our fabulous sponsor is Sweet N Sassy and I used one of their images called "Christmas Puppy" which I already had in my collection.  Isn't he darling?  

     I colored with my ProMarkers and water color pencils, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I colored the outside border of the image piece so that it looks like a separate frame.  The background dp is from an old Graphic 45 stack, and the two different gold ribbons are both metallic, wired on the edges, and sparkly!  I tied the bow using my bow maker.  The sentiment was printed and cut with Tonic Studios die and I inked the edges.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas w Cuties

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Incy Wincy

Mod Squad

Paperminutes

Penny's Paper Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our "Animal" theme challenge this week.  I know it seems odd since you are probably used to it always being anything goes, but remember, every 5th Monday challenge (they happen 3 or 4 times a year) has a theme instead.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Christmas Gnome

      My first post today was for the letter "U" and now this one is for the letter "V" at the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  My "V"s are: Very Vintage, Vermilion, & Verdigris.  

      The little gnome is from Beccy's Place and I colored with ProMarkers, adding a few highlights with gel pens.  I cut the shape with scissors so that I could pop him up on dimensional tape.  Once that was done, I dug through my scrap basket and found bit and pieces which I could cut with dies.  I cut a larger piece of white CS with a framing die from Amy Design.  The glittery poinsettia pieces were cut with Impression Obsession dies from silver and gold scraps.

     The red plaid dp is a scrap from Graphic 45 and I added spots of Stickles to it for s little sparkle.  The larger green dp is a scrap of 12 x 12 paper by K & Co.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment.

     This card is going to a very special friend of mine who dearly loves anything and everything vintage.  :-D

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas Kickstart

Christmas w Cuties

Double D

Paperminutes

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     That's all I have until late tonight.  Come play in the daily challenges at Beccy's Place.  The 30 Days of Holidays are almost over.  :-D  NanaConnie

Christmas 'Gifting'

      Here it is the start of another week and another new "Anything Goes" challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  Our fantastic sponsor is Polkadoodles and I've used a darling image called "Christmas Bella Bear."  Isn't she sweet?

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut her with a filigree, framing die from Spellbinders.  I thought the open work would look great if I put metallic gold paper behind the image piece and once I tried it, it was perfect!  I used a scrap of red and green plaid paper (Graphic 45) behind the image and also a tiny bit to at the sentiment which had been cut with an Avery Elle die.

     I left it unadorned other than the die cut and papers because this one is going to be mailed so flatter was better.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Castle

Creative Fingers

Dream Valley

Incy Wincy

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Peace on Earth

Three Room Studio

Winter Wonderland

     Come play in our Anything Goes challenge this week.  With that simple theme, what do you have to lose?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is This Dasher? Dancer? Donder?

      Today I have another card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and I'm showcasing the letter "D."  On this one we have: Dasher (or maybe Dancer or Donder; I can't tell them apart!), Die cuts, Digi image (from Beccy's), Dry embossing, Dimension, & Deep Red (did I forget Deer?)

     The reindeer is colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, than cut with a die from CUTplorations.  The deep red frame is also cut with one of the dies from that set, then dry embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  I used scraps of dp from Graphic 45 and matted each of them with deep red CS.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The image is mounted onto dimensional dots before adding it to the card front.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas (W)

Aud Sentiments

Bastle-Traum

Christmas Crafts AYR (Whimsy)

Creative Inspirations

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

STAMPlorations

Winter Wonderland

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Christmas Cookies in a Mitten

      This is my second post today for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and it's for the letter "C."  Again, this is one of Beccy's fun images and my "C"s include Cookies, Christmas, glitter papers from Crafty Home, & Crimson.  

     The image is cut with a Spellbinders die, embossed around the edges.  The Christmas sentiment is cut from a scrap of gold glitter paper using a Die-Namics die and backed with another scrap of silver glitter paper.  I put those onto a scrap of crimson paper.  The background dp is from Graphic 45.  I hand-tied the white satin bow.

     Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart

Crafty Sentiments

Gem of a Challenge

Lemon Shortbread

Peace on Earth

Simon Says Stamp

     Have yourself a wonderful weekend (what's left of it) and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

CASEd Mistletoe Card

      This card is for the first of the random themes Beccy has on the 30 Days of Holidays this month.  Instead of a letter of the alphabet, she wants you to CASE one of your own cards.  I've cased lots of cards by other people but I don't know if I've ever CASEd one of my own.

      Here's the one I did as the CASE card for this year, with the image reversed, and adjusted to a slim line card.  The greens are pastel and I stayed with beige for both the bow in the image and the one the card.  I had to use different dp because I didn't have any more of what I used last year but I also wanted to stay with my pastel Christmas colors.  The dp on this card is from Graphic 45.  

      The image corners are done with a Fiskars punch.  I used burlap twine and a scrap of fabric to make the bow.  I took some of the negative pieces from the corner punch to make the 3 dots in each of the diagonal corners.

      Using punched out circles/dots is one of my favorite things to do.  It means I'm making embellishments without any cost, I'm not tossing out scraps, and I can make the dots look like gems if I put a little glitter on them or 'color' them with shiny gel ink.  This time I left them white because that had the most contrast against the black card front.

     And here's the card I did last year using the same Mistletoe image from Beccy's Place.  "Mistletoe Kisses"

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Aud Sentiments

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Inspirations

Outlawz Twist Thurs

Paperminutes

Paper Shelter

WordArt Weds

     This was a fun challenge and I truly enjoyed CASEing myself.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmouse Wishes

      Today I'm sharing my DT card for I Love Promarkers, featuring an image from our sponsor, Hetty Clare, which is called "Christmouse Wishes."   Our theme for this challenge is "Dies or Masks" and now I have one more card for the Christmas stash!

     I colored with my ProMarkers and used a QuicKutz die to cut the image.  The red circle behind the image was cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  The image was layered onto a piece of dp from DCWV.  The background is a piece of Graphic 45 dp.  

     I found some lovely satin, snowflake, ribbon and used it for the strip across the card front and for the hand tied bow.  The single sparkly snowflake was cut from glitter paper with a Die-namics die.

My colors came from the CMH Color Dare 

board #465, first column plus gold.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Hazelnut's

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

Word Art Weds

     It would be great to see you playing along in our challenge.  We do love being inspired by you and your creations.  So grab a die or a mask and make something wonderful to inspire us!  

     

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Owls and Stockings

      I supposed all creatures hang stockings for Santa to fill and I remember seeing this darling Penny Black stamp for the first time.  I fell in love and it went right into my cart.  :-D   That was a few years back and I've used it before on Christmas cards but I used non-traditional colors.  I think this is the first time I've done it all in red and green.

     Colored with ProMarkers and pencils, with gel pens for highlights.  I cut the image and the sentiment with Die-namics dies.  For the sentiment piece, I cut it once, then shifted the die and cut again to get the size/shape I needed.  

     The diagonal dp is a scrap left over from another project and is from a Graphic 45 stack.  The snowflake is cut from felt.  I kept the card as flat as possible because it's going to be mailed.

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Double D

House...Stamps Built

I love ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Penny Black Sat

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa's Jalopy

      My first post was for Halloween, and this one is for Christmas.  Even though our challenges at Jan's Digi Stamps don't start again until the first Monday in November, my card today features one of the new releases from Jan's Digi Stamps, which is on sale the entire month of October!   It's called "Santa's Jalopy" and I think it's adorable!  I merged the image and the sentiment (also from the set), then colored with Pro-Markers, sparkle gel pen, and silver paint pen.

     The background dp is from Graphic 45 (an old 'Joy to the World' stack)  and I added sparkle twine, tied into a bow with a sequin added.  Very CAS and flat for mailing.

I pulled my colors from this inspiration photo

at CMH Color Dare #463 - red, green, gold, brown, white gray

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Allsorts (Christmas, Santa, ProMarkers)

Colour Crazy

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Paperbabe

Peace on Earth

Polkadoodles

     You really should check out the other sets on sale this month.  Just click on this link to get to the store.  Also, take a moment and go see what the rest of the DT have created by accessing the Jan's Digi Stamps blog.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Newest Reindeer

      This adorable image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World.  It's called "Dillon" and I reversed the image before printing it.  I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut both it and the frame with oval dies from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     The background dp came from a Graphic 45 stack and it's really old.  I've probably had that in my Christmas stash since 2014!  I added a wrap of satin ribbon plus a hand-sewn, polka dot bow with blingy gemstones.  The bow is made from grosgrain ribbon and gives wonderful texture, both actual and visual.  :-D

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on the Blog

12 Months...Christmas

Christmas Crafts ... (reindeer, ribbon)

Clever Dexter (sparkly gems + opt colors)

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Moments

Cute Card Thurs

I love ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

All My Polar Friends

 Edited to add: My apologies for this post being late.  I incorrectly scheduled it for tomorrow.  I've corrected it now.

     Today is the beginning of our last challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies this year but we'll be back on January 4.  Our theme is always Anything Goes (except on a 5th Monday) and our sponsor for this week's challenge is Polkadoodles.  They have some of the cutest stamps anywhere!  They provided images for the DT to use and I got to color up this sweet Winnie image called  "Polar Friends."

Colored w ProMarkers

'Snow' on tree = Glitter & Liquid Pearls

Cut w Spellbinders border die

Matted w red CS; trimmed by hand

Graphic 45 dp; scraps

Signature bow w pearl

Sentiment hand cut

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday

House that Stamps Built (3d column)

I {heart} ProMarkers

Paper Funday

Passion for ProMarkers

Polkadoodles

     Come play with us this week.  It's another Anything Goes week so you have no excuse not to play.  Then, we take a break until Monday, January 4.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas - Letter "F"

      I crafted like crazy yesterday, went to bed last night feeling very content about having gotten an extra day done for Beccy's Place, and fell asleep for what turned out to be a nap for 2 hours!  After about 20  minutes, during which it became apparent the I was definitely AWAKE, I got up and made 2 more cards, plus got half-way through a stack of nearly 30 gift card holders requested by my daughter and two of her friends.  Then I went back to bed and slept another 3 hours.

     So, today I will have 3 posts, starting with this one and ending with the card for the Letter "H."  I still have to photograph the other two cards for today but I should have all the posts written and published within a couple of hours.

     Here's what I've done for the letter "F" -- F is for Frosty Snowmen and this Frosty's Frozen Family including his Father wearing a Fedora.  They all look very Festive in their Forest Green and red.  The image is called (very appropriately) "Family Reunion."

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders die

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Paper from Graphic 45

     Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

CCAYR

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Creations

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Friendship

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

SheepSki Designs

     Remember, there will be two more posts today so be sure to check back later.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bad Boy Gus - Day 4 Catch the Bug CIJ

     Here we are, on Day 4 of the daily challenges this week over at Catch the Bug and the theme today is a TicTacToe board.  I've used everything on the board except for 'distressed' and 'twine' (unless the gold cord counts as twine.)  Bugaboo image of Gus in Santa's sled.  The sentiment is totally mine. :-D  There's also a flash freebie which you can grab between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. today only

     If the papers look familiar, I've done enough Christmas cards over the last week that the scraps are piling up in the basket.  I decided to use up as many of the scraps as I can by reaching into the basket instead of cutting new sheet of paper.

 

I used 1st & 3rd columns plus the diagonals.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Both image & mat cut w/ QuicKutz die
Glitter added to openings in frame
Paper scraps from Graphic 45 and DCWV
Gold cord + sparkly ribbon for bow
Sentiment cut w/ Spellbinders die
3 metal brads

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Fingers
Double Trouble (fav tool = dies)
Outlawz PAM
Paper Girls
Winter Wonderland

     Another CIJ day down and I'm already looking forward to tomorrow when we get to use humor as the theme.  lol  I think all of mine so far have had an element of humor but check back anyway.  You might get a smile.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sally's Christmas Friends

     Finally, my first Christmas card this year!  I usually start in either March or April and given that those were both lock-down months, I can't really claim that I was too busy to get any done but still I didn't get any made at all.  So, here we are, two-thirds of the way through May and I'm finally posting my first Christmas card for 2020.

     I used one of Conie Fong's new releases, called "Sally's Christmas Friends."  As anyone who lives in snow country knows, our lovely feathered friends need a bit of help finding seeds for sustenance so I had Sally hanging not ornaments but suet & seed balls for her sweet little cardinal friends.

Yes, I used the traditional Christmas colors of red and green but that's my favorite color combo for the holidays.  What do you think?

Colored with ProMarkers & silver glitter pen
Cut with Unbranded, cross-stitch die
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die
Background paper from Graphic 45
Sparkly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bow - hand tied w/ gem

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Craft-Dee BowZ
Friendship
Lemon Shortbread
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Fri
Sparkles Christmas
Winter Wonderland

     Don't forget that each month on the Conie Fong Facebook page we have two challenges; one for coloring only and the other for finished cards.  We do require the use of Conie Fong images to enter those challenges but how could you resist those darling images?  There are freebies available on the FB site and there's also a 25% off sale going on at the Etsy Store right now!  Check it out to see if one of your favorite images that you've been wanting to get is one of those on sale.   :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie