Sibling Bonds

     In my world, nothing is more important than family.  If you think you've seen this before, you may have but today I'm using this as my DT card for the Crafting with an Attitude August challenge and the image, "Tiger Cubs," is from our wonderful sponsor, Morgan's Art World.  I had to dig back to cards I've previously created because I simply ran out of both time and ability to craft anything new due to the shoulder problems I've been having.  Too many Christmas cards last week, I guess.  :-D

Spotlight coloring with ProMarkers
Paper scraps
Distressing
Velveteen ribbon
Burlap twine bow
Kraft CS card base

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafting by Designs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friend
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's a Purple Spring

     This seems like a good day to think about spring and Morgan's Artworld has a new challenge starting today.  Our theme is "Add Flowers" and that certainly fits right in with spring.  One of the ways I know spring is arriving is the advent of my irises peeking out of the long green leaves on their plants and the blossoms bursting forth on the almond and apricot trees.

     I chose this image (Fae 37) because of all the spring flowers in it and it just seemed to shout "Spring!"  :-D

     The image is colored with chalks, applied with a cotton swab.  The shading is done with polychromos pencils.  I matted the image and decided that it called for a round card so used one of my QuicKutz dies to cut the card shape, then added the image piece.

     I dug through my stash, found the purple layer of flower petals, then pulled out a bit of sheer green lace to make the second layer of petals.  That was done by hand sewing a loose running stitch along one edge of the lace and then pulling on the thread until the petal shape was achieved.  I sewed the two layers together, adding a clear bead to the center to hide the running stitch.

     The sentiment is printed, hand cut, and matted with the same CS as the image mat.

     Challenges:
Classic DT Open
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafty Creations
Double D
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Petal Lu
Stempelsonnen

      Morgan's also has two new releases this month and here's a quick look at them.

  Oberon & Titania   Fae 6

     That's it for me today.  I do hope you're going to dig out some flowers and come play with us this fortnight.  This is my last post as a DT member for Morgan's but I'm looking forward to being inspired by what you submit.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Teddy Bear Valentine

     This adorable image is from Morgan's ArtWorld and we start a new challenge today.  We have everybody's favorite theme this time - Anything Goes!  Since I'm trying to get my Valentine cards done, I thought this delightful little "Teddy Heart" image was perfect.  It works perfectly for an anniversary card, too.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it and added the faux stitching.  The other two 'hearts' were cut with a leaf die from Spellbinders.  I cut a square of textured, metallic-green CS and layered everything together onto the card base. 

     I added more faux stitching in an outline around all the shapes.  I dug thorough my ribbon stash and found the stitched ribbon and a sheer ribbon which worked well together and wrapped them around the card front.  My final touch was the tiny, green bow.

     Challenges:
Creative Corner
Di's Digi Designs
Double D
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pattie's Creations
Scrapper's Delights
Scrapy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Take It, Make It

     I hope you're going to come play along with us this fortnight.  We love seeing what you create and we get as much inspiration from you as any you might get from our inspiration cards.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Image of the Month at Morgan's

     Friday morning starts the new challenge at Morgan's ArtWorld and I guess I'm the only one on the DT using the December Image of the Month.  I think he's an adorable penguin and he comes either pre-colored or simple outline!  :-D

     I decided to use somewhat vintage shades of the traditional Christmas colors since I've just done so many traditional Christmas cards this week.  I used my ProMarkers to color him and found a Cheery Lynn die to cut the red frame.  The polka dot paper was in my stash and I think it's from SU.  I added the 3 green candy canes for a bit of sparkly embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Animal Friends
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments

     If you're in the mid- or western- US, this challenge posts at night on Thursday, but for the rest of the world, it's already Friday morning so jump out of bed and get something made for our challenge before it ends in 2 weeks.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Dragon Queen

     Our newest challenge starts today over at Morgan's ArtWorld and this time we want you to "Use Something from Your Stash."   I used the image "Dragon" to make this card and I'll give you a running total of all the stash items I used.

     I colored the dragon with my Polychromos pencils and cut it with a simple rectangle die from Spellbinders (item 1 from my stash.)  I used an old embossing folder from Darice (item 2 from the stash) to emboss a scrap of vellum (item 3), then found two strips of ribbon to wrap around the card front (irtem 4.)

     The bow is one of those I sew together and toss into the stash (item 5) so that I have them when I need them.  This one was originally white but I 'dyed' it with a ProMarker to get the shade of coral/ orange I wanted.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Color Crazy Craft
Creative Fingers
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Pencil Case
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Dig out goodies from your stash and come play with us during this next fortnight.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Framed Christmas

     Another challenge is starting right now at Morgan's Artworld and this time around, we want to see you "Frame It."   I've added one more Christmas card to my stash while using two different Morgan's images: "Ivy Greenleaf", a beautiful woodland elf, and "Gothic Border."   Clicking on either name will take you to that Home page.  Then you can find those by simply using the search tool at the top of that page.

     I printed Ivy onto heavy white CS and colored her with ProMarkers and used aqua chalk on her dress and hair.  Next, I printed the Gothic Border, trimmed out the inside, and colored it with aqua and green chalks.  I laid the frame over the image and mounted both pieces onto darker green CS.  I added the decorative corners, which have been cut with a corner die from a die set by Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Chalk n Stock
Classic Design Team Open
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Fantasy Crafters
Not Just Cards
Petal Lu
Scribbles Designs
Twelve Months of Christmas

     I'll have another post in just a few hours with my DT card for QKR Stampede.  Be sure to stop by again, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Another Cameo

     New challenge today over at Morgan's Artworld and our theme is "More Than One Fold."  I've done an overlapping, gatefold card using one of Morgan's gorgeous Cameo images.  This one is "Cameo 17" which just happens to be our Monthly Stamp so it's at half price.  Of all the Cameo images at Morgan's, this one is my absolute favorite!

Here's another snap with a better view of the gatefold.

     I colored her with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut and layered that onto a die cut, vintage frame (Spellbinders.)  I used a snippet of plaid dp for the background on the left side of the card front.  I also found a scrap piece of pink CS on my desk and cut another frame piece from it which I adhered to the back of the left flap.

     The ribbon I chose came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is one of those I make by the dozens and toss in my stash for later use.  This one was originally white but I 'dyed' it with one of my ProMarkers.  The pearl was also white but I colored it with the same ProMarker.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Vintage Journey
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lemon Shortbread
Pixie's Snippets

     Come play along with us this fortnight, won't you?  Just make something that has more than one fold.  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.

Designing for Morgan's Art World !

     Woohoo!  If you had told me that I was going to pick up another DT position, I would have laughed but then I got an invitation from Morgan's ArtWorld and I just couldn't turn it down since I love her artwork so much!   I'm honored to be asked and this is my first project as a DT member.

     It's for the August 19 challenge which runs for two weeks and our theme is "Anything But a Card."  I do mostly cards so sometimes it's difficult for me to switch gears and think in terms of something else but not this time.  I had just picked up a new 16 month calendar/planner for the rest of 2016 and all of 2017.  It was very plain and just cried out to have something beautiful decorating it.  What do you think?

The image is "Kitty in Garden" and

you know how perfect that is for me.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, trimmed the image to fit the front of the planner book, and was very pleased with the fact that I'll get to look at that from now until the end of 2017.

     Because I didn't want it to get worn or dirty being slipped in and out of my purse or briefcase, after I photographed it I laminated it.  I also tied some ribbons to the top of  the spiral binding after I took this photo so there's some texture and I can use them to mark a particular page.  It's perfect now!

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Crafty Boots
Creative Moments
Delicious Doodles
Outlawz PAM
Sisterhood of Crafters
SUYP Cats
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown
Unicorn

     While this is getting posted late on a Thursday evening because I live in the Pacific Time Zone, the challenge starts officially at midnight, August 18/19, Eastern Time Zone and will run for a fortnight.  We'd love to see you playing along - just enter Anything But a Card.  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.

Jungle Jaguar

     I love this magnificent jaguar (Morgan's Artworld) and had a wonderful time coloring him.

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then die cut it with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  Both of the mats for the image were also cut but the dies are from QuicKutz.  I used distressed dps and scored and tore the papers by hand to get a rough edge on them.  All the papers were in my scrap pile which is why I have that particular combo of yellow, gold, and greens.

     The gold ribbon is from my stash and I used a five inch scrap of yellow satin ribbon to make the bow-tie bow.  The butterfly is cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  Finally, I added some punched snowflake shapes, but punched them from green CS so they'd look like flowers instead.  The sentiment is mine.

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge
Creative Corner
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
Cut It Up
Dragon's Lair
Little Claire's
Morgan's Artworld FB
Outlawz PAM
Pixie's Crafty Workshop
Simply Papercraft
SUYP Cats Only

     My week has been so productive already it almost feels like I should be able to take the rest of the week off.  :-D  Oh, well, two more days like the last two and I'll find a way to reward myself for everything that has gotten done.  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.

June Bride

     This delightful bride is from Morgan's ArtWorld and is the June image on their FB page.

The sketch came from Live and Love Crafts.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added glitter to her dress.  I made the inset, double frame by cutting two colors of CS (black and turquoise) with dies from Spellbinders, putting one inside the other.   The pale aqua die cut is done with a die set from Cheery Lynn, cut in half so I could elongate it since the part behind the image doesn't show anyway.

     The round doily is cut (Cheery Lynn) from CS by SU, as is the small rectangle in the bottom corner.   Everything is layered together on another piece of aqua CS, then put onto a white card base.

     While I was making this card, I had a conversation with one of my grandkids during which I said I was making "Sizzlin' Summer" cards.  When they objected that aqua was a cool color, not a sizzlin' color, I replied that as far as I was concerned there were no better colors when dealing with 102 degree temperatures outside.  So, these are MY "sizzling" colors!

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Crafting Musketeers
Crafts and Me
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Awesomeness
Die Cut Divas
Sisters of Craft
Stempelsonnen

     Well, if this hot weather keeps up, I'm going to run away again!  Sorry, but I'm just not cut out for 100+ temperatures day after day.  I swear, I should be a snow bird, living up north where there are cool summers and then I'd come south for the winter to stay out of the snow.   If I disappear from visiting your blogs, you can just bet that I've pre-scheduled a bunch of posts and headed for the arctic circle for two months.  I do have a right to some vacation time, right?  OK, I'm gone!!  :-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.

Sparkly Ballerina Fairy Bear

     I had so much fun making this card!  As a child, I did ballet classes until I was around 12 and, at that time, the family moved far enough away that it was impossible to continue due to the distance  we would have had to travel.  But I have maintained a love of all things ballet-related throughout the rest of my life.  This darling little bear from Morgan Fitzsimons tugged at my heart and I just had to use it to make a little girl's birthday card.

Colors came from Color My Heart

although in the photo my "Thistle" looks more pink and less violet

but the larger polka dot piece really is violet, not pink.

I also based my design on a sketch I found at Paper Play Sketches.

      

     I colored her with my ProMarkers and added glitter to her fairy wings before fussy cutting her.  I added a navy blue CS mat and fussy cut it.  The border is done with a Cheery Lynn die, as is the butterfly.  The polka dot papers are from a Paper Studio pad I bought weeks (months?) ago and have never used.  It was one of those "I must have these papers!" purchases and then it went into a drawer.  I matted them with the same navy blue CS.  The butterfly has three layers; pink, white, and navy blue CS, all glued together along the body.  I added more glitter to the wings and body on the top layer.  The image is mounted on dimensional dots.  Lots of texture going on this time.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiRan
Cheery Lynn Designs
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafty Gals Corner
Create and Inspire
Creative Moments
Cut It Up
Die Cuttin' Divas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Add Ink
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     Thanks for dropping by and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Princess Bear

     This is an image I bought ages ago from Morgan's Artworld and this is the first time I've colored it up and used it.  I thought it would make a great birthday card for a young girl.

     I started coloring with my ProMarkers but added a few strokes of gel ink to the fur and then put glitter on the flowers & on the bunting on her shoulders and skirt.   I also added glitter to the gems in her crown and colored the crown itself with gold paint pen.  I was attempting to make her skirt look somewhat iridescent, hence the blue, lavender, and pale pink colors.

     Everything was cut with stitched dies from either Lawn Fawn (the squares) or Die-Namics (the rectangles.)   I used two different ribbons from my stash and tied a double bow.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiRan
Brown Sugar
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Fussy and Fancy
Morgan's Artworld
Polka Doodles

     Have you had lots of crafting time this weekend?   Whatever you've had, I hope it has soothed and relaxed your soul so that you're recharged for the week ahead.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Red Rose

     Have you ever made a card and then fallen in love with it so much you doubt you'll ever be able to give it away?   This card with the gorgeous red rose (image from Morgan's ArtWorld) is one of those for me.

     I know you must be asking yourself why the leaves are blue instead of green but the answer is very simple.  I wanted to try yet another card which used a red, white, & blue combo without it being a flag-waving, patriotic card.

     I also wanted a very CAS card so the image is printed directly onto the card front.  The image is colored with ProMarkers.  I added three score lines to the top of the card and one tiny die cut butterfly for embellishment.  Actually, the butterfly is a negative piece which drops out of a circular die by Spellbinders.  Whenever I use the die, I scoop up all of those negative butterflies and put them into a little drawer where I keep negative die cut bits for use on other projects.  This one was almost an exact match to the blue I used to color the leaves.

     The sparkly, metallic, twine in red and blue were things I bought on clearance and then just never used.  I think it's because I tend to use cotton twine or jute cord most of the time and my mind just doesn't think of glitz in connection with twine.   This card seemed to call out for some sparkle so the twine worked perfectly.  Besides, I got to clear something out of my stash.  :-D

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Time
Creative Card Crew
Digitally Sweet
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Loves Rubber Stamps
Mod Squad
Natalie and Amy's
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Sweeties
Stamping Boutique
Through the Craft Room Door
Time Out
Your Scrapbook Place

     I have to tell you that I cut open my first watermelon from my garden yesterday and it was so beautifully ripe, it just split open as the knife sliced the rind.  Juicy, flavorful, and like nothing I've tasted since childhood.  No store-bought watermelon can compare to one ripened in your own garden.   Now, aren't you jealous and don't you just crave a cool slice of watermelon?  :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Orchid Fairy

     I was looking through my images from Morgan Fitzsimons (now Morgan's ArtWorld instead of Fitztown) and found this one which I've never used before.   I remember falling madly in love with it but then it just languished in the file.  Today it got colored and now it graces a card which will probably end up being a birthday card.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and the wings have sparkle gel ink added to them.  Here's a close up so you can see the sparkle better.  This is my very first attempt at coloring black hair.  That will no doubt improve with more practice but I'm satisfied with it as a first effort.

     I don't know if the flowers were supposed to be orchids but they just called for pale orchid color so they became orchids no matter what they were originally.  :-D  Besides, that allowed me to use what is fast becoming a favorite color combo - yellow and lavender/purple.

     I wanted to keep this one CAS so the only embellishment is from the die cut butterflies (Cheery Lynn).  Those were cut from scrap CS.  The image itself was cut with a framing die from Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps (middle row down)
Cheery Lynn
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Corrosive Challenge
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Melonheadz Friends
Papertake Weekly
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft

     Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  If you still have your dad, I hope you are treating him to a day beyond his highest hopes.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie