Winter Snow

      I'm giving you a sneak preview of the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101 which starts tomorrow on the Facebook page.  The image for the month is "Winter Friends" and, if you played last month, it will be sent to you free of charge during the day tomorrow, December 5th.  For each month that you use the chosen monthly image, you will get the following month's image free.

     If you haven't been playing along but would like to start, click on the name of the image up above and that will take you right to the image in the store.  You can purchase it, use it this month, and then start getting the free images in January.

     I actually reduced the sides of the image when I cut it into the oval shape but you can see the full image if you click on the store link above.  I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, and cut it with the Poppy Stamps snowflakes die and the center oval is cut free of the snowflakes.  Next, I used that same die to cut silver glitter paper, this time keeping the outer frame to surround the image.

     I made a background of red and metallic gold CS scraps.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  That Poppy Stamps die was so fancy and delicate that I decided the card needed no additional embellishment.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Bastel-Traum

Crafter's Cafe

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Jan's Digi Stamps

Pammie's IP

Poppystamps

Star Stampz

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gift Card and Money Gift Holders

      Here it is the 3rd of December and a new blog challenge has begun at LeAnn's World 101, where our theme is always "Anything Goes" and where you can win fun and fabulous images from LeAnn's World.  For my DT card this time, I've used one of my favorite LeAnn's images, called "Abigail."

     I've been really focused on Christmas cards and have been trying a new style of card which incorporates a spot for either a gift card or cash inside the card.  I followed a tutorial which my daughter found for me on Facebook and have modified it on a few of the cards but all have the same basics.  Here's the first one I did which will work for Christmas but also for birthdays or other occasions where a gift card or cash seems appropriate.

     I colored the image with Altenew alcohol markers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  I added a black CS mat and fussy cut that to outline the image.  The silver glitter paper was cut with an oval Spellbinders die and I also added a 1 inch strip of it to the left edge of the inside of the card but since the card front is shorter than the card back, the glittery strip looks like it's part of the card front until you open the card.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

Here's a photo of the inside left of the card, showing the slot for cash or a gift card.

     Challenges:

Altenew (colors from Feb 2023)

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Inkspirational

Lil Patch of ...

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our blog challenge this month.  Don't forget that we also have a Progressive Challenge starting on December 5 over on our Facebook site.  If you haven't played before this month but are interested in joining in so that you can get a free image each month hereafter, just purchase the December image at the store, use it on a card, post it into the FB album for December, then in January, you'll get the newest image for that month's Progressive Challenge, at no charge!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

All About the Catnip

      This is a card that's doing double duty.  Since I'm on the Crafty Catz DT and since LeAnn's World 101 is sponsoring today's Crafty Catz challenge, for today's card I used the LeAnn's World 101 Progressive Challenge image for October as the focus.  It's called "Witches Brew." 

     While the name of the image indicates Halloween, I thought it would be fun to see if I could successfully use it on a non-Halloween card.  Since she has her witch hat on over her cute kitten ears, and since there's a kitty paw print on the teacup, I went with a catnip tea sentiment.  But you'll no doubt notice that I still used pretty traditional fall/Halloween colors

    The image is colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut with a die from Cutz Dies.  The background paper is from Recollections.  I added a small scrap of mulberry paper behind the image piece and feathered the edges of it.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die, then matted with a bit of orange dp.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

Crafty Calendar

Crazy for Cats

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

     We'd love to see you playing along in the LeAnn's Progressive Challenge which is on the Facebook page, and also in the Crafty Catz challenge where the theme is always Anything Goes.  But we also give you an optional twist each week and this week that twist is "Monochrome, except for the image."

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fall Wagon

      Today is the start of our October blog challenge at LeAnn's World 101 and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  The challenge will run through the last day of the month and winners will be posted on the 15th of November.  Don't forget that we also have a Progressive challenge on our Facebook site which begins on the 5th of each month.  If you've not played in it before, check it out here: Progressive Challenge.

     For the Blog challenge, I used a wonderful autumn image called "Fall Wagon" and I colored it using Sanjoki markers and water color paints.  I cut it with die from Unbranded.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and matted with a tiny scrap of one of the two textured papers I chose for the background.  Both of those were scraps also and they are from Recollections.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Crafts Galore ...

Digi Choosday

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

SheepSki Designs

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you'll come and play with us this month.  We'd love to see what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Surf'n of Summer

      It's the 3rd of the month and that means the newest Anything Goes challenge is starting over at the LeAnn's World 101 blog.  I'm doing a final salute to summer and I'm hoping to see an end to the hot days of summer and am ready to welcome the crisp evenings of fall, but in  the meantime, I'm going to let this guy, "Byron Surf'n," enjoy his last few waves.

     I colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut the image with a stitched CUTplorations die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Avery Elle.  I put everything onto a black card front and added a wrap of twine to the left side.  A CAS masculine card design.

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Die Cut Divas

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Pattie's Creations

YSBP

     Now that we're back, we hope to see you entering our Blog Challenge and don't forget our Progressive Challenge each month over on our FB site.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1836531013324656  

     

     NanaConnie DT

Puppy Walking

      How about a reminder that LeAnn's World 101 has a monthly Progressive Challenge over on their FB page and the freebie (if you played last month) image is Dog Walker Annie?  If you didn't play last month, you can purchase the image, make a card, enter it into the album on FB, and next month, you'll get a free image to play again.  Each month that you play, you get the image free the following month.

     I did a card with a lot more embellishment than is my normal "style" (if I even have a style!) but after mostly CAS or near CAS cards over the last couple of weeks, I just wanted to create something different.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I inked the edges on both the image and the sentiment (cut with an Avery Elle die), using a deep purple marker.  The background papers are both from Stampin' Up and they've been in my stash for at least 5 years, probably longer.  I found scraps of them in a folder and used a Darice EF on each one, carefully matching the embossed design when I layered them together on the card front.  

     The ivy vine was cut with a Sue Wilson die.  I decided on a bow and found the lovely, sparkly, copper ribbon, then used my bow maker to tie a triple-loop bow.  I thought the copper color was a great compliment to the color of the butterflies in the image.

     Challenges:

     We'd love to see you playing along in the Progressive Challenge at LeAnne's World 101.  If you played last month, this image has already been sent to you.  If you didn't play, head over to the store (see link to the image up above) and grab it.  Then play with us and get the image for next month free!  

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Back to School

      The three most dreaded words for any school kid who hasn't yet drained the last drops out of summer are "Back to School"!!    My youngest granddaughter claims to be ready for school instead of summer but then, she's in college and has spent her summer working to earn money to come home for a few days this month and again at Christmas break.

     I'm going to give her this card right before she heads back into classes.  It's my DT card for the August blog challenge starting today over at LeAnn's World 101.   The image is called "Bookworm" and you can find it in the store by clicking on the name.

     I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers, cut it and the frame behind it with QuicKutz dies.  I used 2 pieces of embossed CS to make the background and I used a Darice EF on the top piece with the diamond pattern, and a Sizzix EF for the leaves on the bottom.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut, then "framed" by inking the edges.  

     I used some fall ribbon from my stash to wrap the card front and to hand tie the bow.

I pulled colors from the challenge at My Favorite Things

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...?

Creative Inspiration

Double D

Outlawz Thurs

Penny's P-C

Thru...Purple Haze (center column)

Word Art Weds

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Blog Challenge.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and it runs until the end of the month.  Don't forget that our Progressive Challenge has also restarted on our FB site and it goes live on the 5th of each month.  Go check out the post and you'll find all the rules in the August Progressive album.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stockings were Hung ...

      Guess what?  After a 3 month hiatus, the Blog Challenge at LeAnn's World 101 is back!  And I've joined the DT.  :-D  Normally, the Blog Challenges will begin in the 3rd of each month and run through the last day of the month, but this month we're doing a 2 week challenge starting today and running through July 31, then the next challenge will begin on the normal August 3rd.  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can enter any kind of project using any paper products as long as you use a stamp or digital image (from any company.)

     We also have a challenge in our Facebook Group which is a Progressive Challenge (get an image one month, use it to enter the Challenge, then get another image free the following month.)  That challenge starts on the 5th of each month and runs through the end of the month.  If you're interested in getting those free images each month, get over to the FB page NOW, request the image, and play before the end of July, otherwise you'll have to buy the August image before you can play and then get the September image free.  :-D

     For the Blog Challenge, I chose to use this sweet LeAnn's image called "Stocking Stuffer."  I colored her with Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a Sue Wilson die.  I inlaid that into a scrap of red CS which had also been cut with that same die, used a Fiskars punch on the corners, and mounted that whole thing diagonally onto a piece of snowflake dp (DCWV), trimmed to fit the card front.  I cut the white snowflakes with two Spellbinders dies and added them to opposite corners, top and bottom.  Finally, I added the printed and fussy cut sentiment.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Double Trouble

Happy...Stampers

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

Worldwide Crafters

     We're so happy to be back and we really hope you're going to come play with us again!  Remember, the Blog Challenge theme is always "Anything Goes" so how can you go wrong?  See you there!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Chelsea's Christmas

      The Progressive Challenge over at LeAnn's World 101 (that's the one on Facebook) has started up again and "Chelsea" is the image for July.  She's perfect for all those 'Christmas in July' challenge themes you want to enter.  If you don't belong to the FB group yet, click on the name above and join.  It's free, simple, and will get you on the path to playing each month in the Progressive Challenge.  Just follow instructions once you see the featured post about it.  You could end up with a freebie image from LeAnn's World 101 starting on the 5th of every month.

     The LeAnn's World 101 Blog Challenge is also starting again this month but it will be a shortened one, starting on the 15th of July and ending on July 31.  After that, it will run each month from the 3rd through the last day of the month. 

     If you visit the blog, you'll also see that we're having a DT Call.  You could join this fun team and if you fall in love with LeAnn's cute digis, you can play with them even more!  Finally, LeAnn has put every one of her digis on sale at 50% off for the rest of July!  Pop over there and grab a handful.

     I colored Chelsea with Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a Unbranded die.  I put red CS behind it and trimmed it to fit.  The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.  The green dp for the background came from a very old, DCWV, Christmas stack.  I don't even know how long I've had that paper but I found it in an unmarked drawer in the craft room.  You know, one of those drawers which is in a cabinet that's half hidden by a chair, or an ironing board, or boxes that get stacked in front of it because you needed to put another little bookshelf in the spot where the boxes had been.  LOL

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

Happy...Stampers

LeighSBDesigns

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

     Well, this is my third post today and it's now really late so I'm going to bed.  I'll be back with another post in the morning.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Valentine Couple

      This cute image is from LeAnn's World and I think it's adorable.  It works as a Valentine card but would also be great for an anniversary, a dating couple, or any occasion where LOVE is being celebrated.

     I tried for a 'light line' version of the image but all that happened is the outline got a bit fuzzy.  Nevertheless, I used my water color paints to color the image, then fussy cut the couple using scissors.  The circle behind them was cut with a stitched circle die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I ran that circle through my Cuttlebug, using a new EF I got from Taylored Expressions.  

     The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and the butterflies were cut with dies from a Sue Wilson set.  Everything was layered onto a beige card front so that the pops of pink and red would stand out.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (Damson, Dandelion, Denim & Die cuts)

Can You Handle...?

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Outlawz Friday

Pattie's Creations

There's a Stamp...

     Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Musical Couple

      This cute couple came from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World and I love how they are sharing their music.  This is another image I printed very large so that I could color it (vision problems), then photographed it and reduced the size with my editing software before making my card.  I'm discovering that while that process allows me to color and then make cards with the reduced images, the photographing also tends to alter the colors.  Oh, well, at least I can continue to enjoy the coloring process.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, cut the image with a large QuicKutz die, and cut the corners with a Fiskars punch.  I dug through my stash of mulberry papers (which I haven't used in ages!) and used a scrap behind the image piece.  The background dp is from a stack by Recollections (which I got as a Christmas gift.)  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:

Art Piaskownica

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore ...

Crafty Hazelnut's

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

Outlawz CYS

Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stocking Girl

      The delightful image on this card is from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101, but it as for the November challenge and I had it firmly in mind that the challenge ran from the 5th through the 14th of each month.  Ooops, it now starts on the 5th of each month so I'm late posting my card but I posted it anyway and now I'm sharing it with all of you.  :-D

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  I mounted it onto a scrap of dp which came from an old stack by K & Co.  I added burgundy CS to an A2 card front, then layered on the image and added sparkly red ribbon to the edge.  I used that same ribbon to hand tie the bow.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Avery Elle.

     Challenges:

4 Season

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Inspiration Station

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Peace on Earth

Simon Says Stamp

Taylormade ...

There's a Stamp ...

Winter Wonderland

Your Next Stamp

     That's all for today but I'll be back tomorrow with a new card.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer's End

      It's the end of summer and all the vacationers are heading home.  Airports are filled, train terminals are jammed with people and luggage, even the highways are clogged with cars and trucks burdened with suitcases, backpacks, and boxes of souvenirs loaded into the trunk or tied onto the roof rack.

     This sweet image is from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World and it's perfect for today's Heading Home theme.  I colored with ProMarkers, and used Memory Box dies to cut  both the image and the embossed frame piece ('Linen' EF.)  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The butterfly background dp was a scrap in the basket.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Die Cut Divas

Leigh SB Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paper Dragonfly

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Warrior

      I simply adore the image for the Progressive Challenge at  LeAnn's World this month.  He's called "Callen" and I think he looks like a great warrior ready to defend his township.

     The coloring was done with my ProMarkers, and I cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges of it before putting it on the water color background.  I tried for an ombre effect with the water colors but I don't think I achieved enough difference between the light and the dark.  Both of the ribbons came from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and the bow was tied using my bow maker.

I pulled blue/ yellow/ orange/ & brown from

the board #468 at CMH Color Dare.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Cupcake Inspirations

Outlawz Festive Fri

Word Art Weds

World Wide Open

Your Next Stamp

     That's all I have for today but I'll probably have something for tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thankful

      So, another week has gone by, we're closer to the fall holidays, and another challenge has started at Creative Knockouts!   This week, our theme is "Thankful" and our fantastic sponsor is LeAnn's World 101.  I used a sweet image called "Rainy Walk" and out where I live we've had a terrible drought for more than two years now so I'd be really grateful for a bit of rain (or a lot of it!) :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz, as were the two sentiment phrases.  The background paper was water colored.  The pale orange, grosgrain, ribbon came from my stash and I added a flower sequin to the bow.  Pretty CAS design but that showcases the image.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

CCC Digi Creations

Clever Dexter

Country View

Crafter's Cafe

Dare 2B Artzy

Dies R Us

LeAnn's World

Lil Patch of ...

The Four Seasons

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  We love seeing what you create and you could win some really delightful digis from LeAnn's World.  :-D  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

Confirmation

      This lovely little image is from LeAnn's World and is for their Progressive Challenge.  I'm sure she was meant to be a bride but since I needed a confirmation card, and since she can easily pass for a young girl, she graces the front of this very CAS card.

     Colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a Cuts stitched die.  Sentiment printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  Edges of both die cuts inked with gold inkpad.

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Sentiments

Cutie Pie

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Taylormade ...

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Real Champion

      When my oldest son was a youngster, he got the nickname "Champ," mostly because of his absolute determination to conquer all odds.  :-D  When I saw this fabulous image from the progressive challenge at LeAnn's World this month, those memories came flooding back and I made this card.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it and the two rectangles of dp with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added tiny, shiny gold, gears and layered everything onto a Navy Blue card base.  

     By the way, those tiny gears were actually taken from an old watch which was inadvertently 'drowned' and couldn't be revived.  I always say, "Waste not, want not!"  I have a little plastic bag with other bits from that same watch and I know they are going to come in handy on other masculine cards which need a touch of bling or sparkle without becoming 'feminine.'

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Incy Wincy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Greetings

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shop 'til You Drop

      Welcome!  It's time for another new challenge at Creative Knockouts and this week we have a Recipe for our theme:  1 image, 1 sentiment, 2 dp, and 3 embellishments.  We are sponsored by LeAnn's World and they provided images to the DT for use on their inspiration projects.  I used "Shopping Day" and a blue color combo.  My three embellishments are ribbon, bow, and a pearl.

I used the 3 colors from Color Dare #446

(yellow/ blue/ gray) 

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Spellbinders die

Papers from DCWV & both are scraps

     (hidden by the image & small dp strip is a 'hole' 

      where something was cut out for another project -

      NEVER toss out those scraps! lol)

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

LeAnn's World 101

Morgan's ArtWorld

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pixie's Snippets

Polkadoodles

SheepSki Designs

     Have yourself a marvelous day and Happy Crafting!  We hope to see youplaying in our challenge this week.  NanaConnie

A Birthday Celebration

      This darling image is a freebie from LeAnn's World  FB site to help celebrate LeAnn's birthday this month. 

Colored w ProMarkers

Image & frame cut w Sizzix dies

Background = dp scrap

Really Reasonable Ribbon - polka dot ribbon

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Tassel made from silky embroidery thread

     Challenges:

Crafty Girls Corner

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble (all 3)

LeAnn's World

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Passion for Markers (spots)

Simon Says Stamp

Stinkin' Inkers

     I hope your weekend is going well and that you'll have time for some "me time" crafting during what's left of it.  Enjoy and stay safe.   NanaConnie