"N" is for Nutcracker - 30 Days of Holidays

      One more card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and today we're working with the letter "N" so a Nutcracker was a Natural.  Because I'm still fighting that nasty respiratory virus, I decided on something really quick and printed out a pre-colored version of one of Beccy's Nutcrackers. 

      I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios, then punched the corners of the image piece with a Fiskars corner punch.  After that, I began searching through my Christmas ribbons.  I was looking for a plaid ribbon and  was found in the scrap basket.  I really love the plaid on Christmas cards and I think it goes well with the masculine Nutcracker image.  I think ribbon is my favorite embellishment because it works so well with both feminine and masculine cards.

     I used an Art Impressions die to cut the snowflakes, made the center one with 2 layers, and added glitter and a gem to the top snowflake.  The NOEL sentiment was cut with a Die-Versions die and it gave me one more "N."

     Challenges:

52 Weeks Christmas

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Friday

Krafty Chicks

Outlawz Thurs (The Nutcracker, of course!)

Pattie's Creations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Special Noel

      I have loved House Mouse stamps since I first discovered them more than a decade ago,  I know they had been around for quite a while even back then but I was slow getting to the card making game.  I especially love their Christmas images and have several which I use nearly every year.  This is one of them.

     With my recurring (and somewhat permanent) vision problems, I'm finding new ways to color images.  For this one, the stamp was a bit smaller than I needed so I stamped it, photographed it with just the uncolored stamp, then used my photo editing software to enlarge it to a size I could see easily for coloring.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then photographed it again in order to reduce the size to what I needed for a square card.  A time consuming, multi-step process, but it allows me to still enjoy the pleasure of coloring for my card making.

     Once the colored image was reduced, I cut it with a Gina Marie die.  I made the background for the card using dp scraps (K & Co.) and a CS scrap (DCWV) which I ran through my Linen folder.  I cut those diagonally and layered them one on the other, then added the image piece.  The metallic ribbon is wired and glittered, and I used it for both the wrap around the card front and for the hand tied bow. 

     Challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

House Mouse

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Tuesday Morning ...

     That's it for today but hopefully I'll have another post tomorrow.  If not then, perhaps on Friday.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sketch for Holiday Chaos Week

      Here's my second post this morning and it's a short one because I want to get back to the craft room to work on cards for the rest of the week.  There will be another day (maybe even two) with double posts because I have DT projects to show off during the week, too.  

     Today at Catch the Bug's Holiday Chaos we have sketch to follow:

Here's what I did with it using a Reindeer Silhouette from Bugaboo Stamps.

Silhouette is fussy cut & mounted on sky blue paper

Papers are from the scrap basket

Poinsettia pieces cut w Impression Obsession die

"Noel" sentiment cut w Die-Versions

     Challenges:

Christmas w Cuties

Crafty Gals Corner

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of...

Outlawz PAM

Paper Girls

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

N is for Noel

      My back problem is not getting any better and sitting for any activity (coloring, typing, eating) is getting more and more difficult so today I opted for a card made with a die cut image instead of using a Beccy's Place image on my "N" card at the 30 Days of Christmas challenges.  The NOEL sentiments were cut with a Die-Versions die.  The snowman was done with a Cheery Lynn die set.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas Crafts...

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Lil Patch of...

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

Kitty in the Box

     I'm working on my Christmas card stash and am determined to have an additional 30 cards done by the end of this month.  I may not get them all posted this month but you'll see them over the upcoming weeks.  Today's card was made using an adorable image from AuroraWings.

Colored w ProMarkers
Dots in eyes done w white gel pen
Image cut with Unbranded die
"Noel" sentiment = Die-Versions
Holiday ribbon is a scrap
Background is glitter paper
Signature bow w pearl - 'dyed' w ProMarker

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
 (3 layers/rectangle/dots/ribbon/faux stitching)
Classic Design
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Morgan's ArtWorld
SheepSki Designs
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nativity Night

     Today Beccy's Place is using "N" as the inspiration prompt for the 30 Days of Christmas cards and I used various parts of the Nativity set, part of which I used for "Kings" a few days ago.  I couldn't use all the parts - it would have been too large for the card.  So this time, I used a different one of the kings and added a shepherd and lamb (reversed in Word so that he was facing the manger.) 

     I love using Nativity scenes at Christmas - it reminds me of the Reason for the Season.

     I remember, as a child, being completely fascinated by a Nativity set my Grammy had.  Her father had hand carved it from blocks of soap her mother made.  She told me that when the set was new, it was sparkling white (a huge feat for home made soaps in those days) but by the time I was seeing it, it was yellowed with age.  I thought that made it all the more spectacular.  :-D  It was passed on to my mother but I have no idea what became of it after that.  If it was still around, I'd be setting it out each Christmas.

I used colors from the Tic Tac Toe Color Dare at Color My Heart,

3rd column plus Saffron for the gold shades and neutrals of beige & brown.

     Once again, I started with a pre-colored image (printed with the Nativity Night sentiment) but I used ProMarkers to add highlights and even to change some colors on the clothing.  I used white gel pen on the lamb and on the beards of the shepherd and wise man.  I cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, inked the edges with gold ProMarker, and matted it with Natural Earth CS - CS which is made completely from recycled products.

     I layered additional papers behind the image onto the card front, all of which were scraps left on the crafting desk.  I swear, most of the time the only way the craft desk gets cleared off is because I'm using up things left over from other projects!

     I dug through my bag of spangles and sequins to find the two stars, one gold and one silver.  I layered those together with craft glue (not easy to do with things that tiny) and added them above the image.  I used the gold ProMarker to draw the lines of light downward.

     Finally, I found my Noel sentiment die (by Die-versions) and cut white CS, then added Neptune Green glitter to it.  Once that dried, I put it on the upper corner and called the card finished.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafts Dreamy
Creative Craft Cottages
Cute Card Thurs.
Paper Nest Dolls
Winter Wonderland

     There will be one more post today but not until 3 a.m. my time.  I'll be sharing my DT card with you for the challenge at QKR Stampede so feel free to check back.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie