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

Blue Valentine

     I wanted to try something a bit different today so I made a card that focuses on Love but did it all in wintery blues.  What do you think?

I used both an image (Stamp of the Month) 

and a sketch from the challenges at

From the Heart Stamps.

     I printed the image and the "Stay Warm..." sentiment at that same time, then colored the image with ProMarkers; cut and then matted it twice.  The layered hearts were die cut with my newest die set from Lawn Fawn, then stacked up on top of each other to make the two hearts.  The "Love" sentiment is also a die cut (Sizzix.)

     I added glitter (which barely shows in the photo) to the snowflakes, the tassel on his hat, the top layer of the hearts, and his eyes.  IRL, it's very sparkly.  :-D  I decided that was enough embellishment and kept it pretty CAS.

     Challenges:

Ching-chou Kuik

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafting Musketeers

Crafts and Me

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Kreativeinkauf

Lunagirl Moonbeam

My Crafting Stories

Oddball Art

Paper Creator's Crafts

Scrapy Land

Scribble Designs

Sparkles Forum

Tinker Dream

     Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Not Open 'Til Christmas

     Another day with two posts.  This darling image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at From the Heart Stamps and it clearly is the fulfillment of every child's biggest Christmas wish -- lots of packages just for him!

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, including gold, silver and copper metallic markers on some of the presents.  I heat embossed the sentiment with gold EP.  That image piece was layered onto shiny, gold CS and I added a leftover scrap of gold ribbon for the bow.  That was it --again, I wanted a CAS design, easier to mail.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More
Frilly and Funkie
Holly Jolly Christmas
Kitty Bee Designs
Southern Ridge Trading Co.
Stempelsonnen
Sweet Stamps Technique
Through the Purple Haze

     I'll see you again tomorrow with my DT post for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Student Pilot

     Yes, I know birds learn to fly at a young age and aren't required to have a license but that's only when they use their own wings to fly.  Flying a broom like a witch is a totally different thing!  Check out the example below and you'll see what I mean about being a Student Pilot.

I used the sketch at I {Heart} Sketches (turned sideways)

and also followed their "CAS with paper strips" twist.

     That silly bird is a digi I got at From the Heart Stamps and those Bird Brains are fast becoming favorites of mine.  I used my ProMarkers to color the image then added strips cut from dp scraps and three little black gems.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Girls
Crazy 4 Challenges
Fairy Tale
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie
Oddball Art Stamps
Star Stampz

     I'm trying to get caught up on things after being gone last week so if I haven't made it over to visit your blog yet, be patient with me, won't you?  I have more classes this week and have to find time to get my car registered, have some lab work done, and still find some time for relaxation and fun in the craft room.

     There's so much to learn about diabetes and so many lifestyle changes that must be made and, at the moment, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.  But a healthier life is one of the advantageous results I expect to see so I'm ready to do whatever is required by the docs and dieticians.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring, Spring, Beautiful Spring

     I know most of the country is looking forward to spring being here and I'm no exception so I'm making springtime cards.  I've been sniffling and sneezing and coughing with the last of the winter colds (I hope it's the last) so my crafting has taken second place to resting and getting better but I did manage to make this card this morning.   I used an image called "Bouquet Chick" by  From the Heart and also used their sketch.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, die cut and added to a die cut mat.  The background dp is from Anna Griffin, her "Georgette" stack.  That was one of those "must have" purchases which has now lain idle in my stash for more than a year!  Polka dot ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the 7 flowers were in my stash.  I added a bit of color to each of them with a marker, then put rhinestones in the centers.  The leaves were cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  Can you  believe all those flowers but still a ton of open space?  The sentiment is mine, printed with a computer font and ink outlined.  I added the stitching using a white gel pen.  Finally, I added 5 rhinestones to the lower corner.

     Challenges:

ABC Challenge -- "G" is for Girls

A&T Emerald Faeries -- Girly: Pretty in pink

Bearly Mine -- For the girls

Card Mania -- Sentiment

Crafting from the Heart -- Use dies

Crafty Sentiments -- Spot or Dots

Created with Love -- Think spring

Deep Ocean -- Just for a girl

Fairies -- Spring

Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- Anything goes

Just Inspirational -- photo of flowers

Natalie and Amy's -- Flowers

Oldie but a Goodie --  Spring has sprung

Passion for Promarkers -- Flowers

Stamp and Create -- Ready for spring

Tok Bobok -- Spring flowers

Top Tip Tuesday -- Use 3, 5, or 7 of something (3 large flowers in image, 5 rhinestones in the corner, 7 embellishment flowers)

     I know spring is just around the corner now but we could use a lot more rain out here in the West before summer hits us with all its heat and sizzle.  Those of you with snow still in your yards, would you be so kind as to ship it out to us?  We need it and you don't !  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Melting Snowman

     A happy Saturday to you and yours.  Another new challenge starts today at Open-Minded Crafting Fun and our theme is "Warmth -- Food or Clothing."  We have five different and fabulous sponsors and I've listed each of them with their badges at the end of this post.  They are:  Digi Darla's, Digital Delights, Digistamps 4 Joy, QKR Stampede, and Sentimental Susan.  Most of them supplied images for the DT members to use and you can find lots of inspiration from the team if you just go visit the Open-Minded blog.

     I'm using a wonderful image from QKR Stampede called "Melting Snowman" (digi #13712.)  It's just such a perfect image for the "Warmth" theme.  Even though he's only wearing a scarf and top hat, he's obviously waaaay too warm!  I'm sure he'd prefer more snow and ice.  Come to think of it, most of us out here in drought-worn California would love to see more snow and ice.  When it melts, it would help fill our rather empty lakes and rivers.  We've had record breaking, warm, January temperatures so we fit right in with this theme. :-D

My sketch is from I {heart} Sketches (reversed)

and I took my colors from the Alcohol Markers challenge at Outlawz.

  

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with another die cut.  The ribbon is sparkly and is part of a whole bunch of ribbon I bought in the after-Christmas sales.  The paper is from Colorbok and the snowflakes were also part of the after-Christmas shopping spree.  Although it's hard to see in the photo, I added sparkle to the snow, the water drips, and the edges of the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Crazy Challenge -- Cards for men
Cuttin' and Stampin' -- A/G about Winter
Eureka Stamps -- Bundle up
Everybody Art -- Snow
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations -- Snowman
Kaboodle Doodles -- Winter Wonderland
Stamp and Create -- Winter Wonderland
Without Words -- Spots or stripes

     Here are the badges for all our sponsors this challenge.  Just think, five sponsors means five chances to win!  So, dig out those warm images -- those with clothes or food that just shout warmth and comfort -- and come play along with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie