Sky's the Limit!

     It was wonderful to receive the freebie image for the May Progressive challenge at Imagine That!  It meant I was back as one of the participants over there and that made me feel that things were definitely getting back to 'normal.'  :-D

     I thought this would be perfect for an encouragement card or just to let someone know I was thinking about them.

I based this on the sketch from The Outlawz.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz oval die

Polka dot dp - DCWV scrap

Flags cut w IO die

Flags colored w watercolors

Metal brads & gray pearls

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Calendar

Di's Digi Designs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweet as Sweetpeas

      I can hardly believe that I've done 4 daily posts in a row!  I'm beginning to get back to my normal "every day" postings and, in my mind, that means my COVID recovery is moving right along.  :-D

     This is my card for the monthly challenge over at Beccy's Place where the theme is "Anything Goes" but there's an optional theme of flowers, plants, & foliage.  I used Beccy's Sweetpeas image, which I think has been retired.  I took the shortcut of using a pre-colored image and it's really gorgeous!  I'm sorry for the glare on the photo but the green background is metallic CS and every photo I took had that shiny glare.  :-(

I used the sketch from The Outlawz

Pre-colored image

Image was fussy cut

Mounted on Pop Dots

Circle cut w Dare 2B Artsy die

Green metallic CS

Black, glitter CS

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Hand tied bow w gemstone

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Carlin's Card Paradise

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Gals Corner

Dare 2B Artzy

House that Stamps Built

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ain't No Sunshine...

      This image took me quite a while to color but that was because I had to take several rest breaks during the process.  I've had a couple of 'not-so-good' days with low oxygen levels and a bit of dizziness now and then but I did manage to get this card finished.

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I think she's just adorable!  In my part of the world, we're wishing we had rain instead of the drought conditions we've had most of the winter and the short bit of spring so far.

I was inspired by the sketch from The Outlawz

although you can see I twisted it a bit.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz dies

Frame dp is a scrap

Flag pieces cut w Impression Obsession dies

Metal Brads

     I also decorated the inside:

Umbrella cut w Spellbinders die

     Challenges:

Catch the Bug

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Creations

Crafty Gals Corner

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Taylormade...

Word Art Weds

     I'm keeping this short because I'm ready to rest again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Joy

     Let me start by apologizing to all of you whose blogs I follow because I haven't been around to visit or comment in a couple of weeks.  Right now, I'm having painful back problems and I can only sit at the computer keyboard for so long and then I have to quit.  The break periods are getting longer and more frequent and the periods of actual productivity are getting shorter and there are fewer of them.  I'm down to about 20 minutes of work, then a break of an hour or so before I can go back to the keyboard.

     By the time I get my DT commenting obligations done, and type up a post for the day, my back is pretty much done so there is little time for visiting and commenting on the blogs of those of you I dearly love.  I'm hoping it will get better with more rest so forgive me if you are visiting me regularly and I'm not returning the huge compliment that is.  My visits will return, I promise!

     Today I want to share a card I did for the Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz, which Jan's Digi Stamps is sponsoring this month.  My card features one of Jan's older sets, called "Holiday Joy," and it's one of my favorites.  It reminds me of those childhood days when we watched the mailbox, hoping for Christmas cards with interesting stamps and post marks, and even the occasional package because everything went through the US mail back in those days before Fed Ex.  Even though I know UPS existed back then, we rarely saw their brown trucks in residential neighborhoods because mostly they delivered big boxes which were beyond the weight limits of the post office and those went primarily to businesses.

     By the way, Jan's has a fantastic sale going on many of her holiday sets and there's even a freebie available over at the store.  Check it out by clicking right there ----->  Jan's Digi Stamps

 

I flipped the sketch top to bottom because the merged sentiment

fit better at the bottom than it did at the top.

Colored w ProMarkers

Highlights added w white gel pens

Image cut w QuicKutz die

Papers from Recollections

Glitter strips made using loose glitter & sticker paper

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Paperminutes

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

Bugs and Hugs

     I love this image and sentiment from QKR Stampede where a new challenge is starting today.  Our challenges over there were monthly challenges all summer long but now we've gone to 2 challenges per month, starting on the 1st and the 15th of each month.  Just in case you hadn't noticed, today is the 15th of September!  Yes, already!!  It's going to be Christmas before you know it.  :-D

     The image is called "Bug Hugs" and the sentiment is "Bugs and Kisses."

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz, turned lengthwise.

I also used 3 of the 4 colors from My Favorite Things.

  

Colored w ProMarkers
Image, sentiment, & mats cut w Quickutz dies
Papers from Jillibean Soup
Sparkle ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sheer ribbon for hand-tied, double loop bow

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Fingers
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts

     Wishing you a great day and hoping you're going to come and play with us in our challenge this time around.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Bonnet Bouquet

     This is my third card as a Guest Designer for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz.  The challenge is being sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps and since I'm on the DT at Jan's, I got to do extra cards this last month using some of Jan's best images.  This one today is called "Bonnet Bouquet" and I used it for a Mother's Day card by adding a sentiment from that same set.

Here's the sketch.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image fussy cut & mounted on Pop Dots
Circle behind image cut with Dare 2B Artzy die
Background dp DCWV "Basics" stack
Dovetail strip is wide, satin ribbon
Sentiment printed & hand cut
Bow is hand tied w/ gem added
Border around dp is colored w/ ProMarker

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Paperminutes
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Keeping in Touch

     It's Wednesday and this particular Wednesday a new sketch challenge is beginning over at The Outlawz where I'm a Guest Designer for the month of April.  Jan's Digi Stamps is sponsoring the sketch challenges there this month and I happily used this darling image & sentiment from Jan's "A Little Note" set.  I stuck with a very CAS design to show off the image.

Here's the sketch.  I adjusted it for a square card.

Colored with ProMarkers and pencils
Image & Sentiment cut with Spellbinders dies
Edges inked with ProMarker
Raffia wrap
Burlap twine bow

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
My Favorite Things
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Stroll

     For today's card I used a darling image from Paper Shelter where the theme is "Spring." Doesn't she look elegant in her latest Easter hat, taking a spring stroll with her tiny canine friend?

I based my card on the sketch at The Outlawz

and my colors came from the TicTacToe board at Color My Heart.

I used shades of all the colors on the board plus neutrals of brown and cream.

  

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with Unbranded die
Background dp leftover scrap
Sparkly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sheer ribbon for hand tied bow
Sentiment printed & cut with Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Cute Card Thurs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragon Rider

     My oldest granddaughter has a passion for dragons (something she no doubt gets from me!) and I thought this would make a perfect birthday card for her.  Personally, I think dragons are the most perfect creatures in the world, especially my favorites, Pocket Dragons. 

     You haven't heard about pocket dragons?  I referred to them in a post a long while back but let me tell you again why they are favorites of mine.  Pocket dragons are so tiny they are nearly invisible.  They always come in your favorite color, whatever it is.  People are rarely aware that they are hosting pocket dragons because the dragons are so quiet and peaceful.  They sleep in the pockets of your clothing, which is generally what they are doing when they spend time with humans.  If you reach your hand down into the pocket of your coat or your jeans and find a tiny bit of lint, puffed into a soft pillow shape, for sure you have a pocket dragon who's been napping in your pocket!

     I'm not sure if this is a pocket dragon in his daytime form but he's in my favorite color so he might turn into one at night when he's sleeping.  :-D  The image is from LeAnne's World 101.

I used colors from House that Stamps Built

and the sketch from the Outlawz.

  

Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Image and mat cut with dies from QuicKutz
Leaves cut w Cheery Lynn die (scraps)
Mulberry flowers cut w Memory Box die (scraps)
Gems added to flowers

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tic Tac Toe at Catch the Bug Critter Chaos

     Now we have a Tic Tac Toe board for the theme at Catch the Bug's Critter Chaos challenges.  Here's the board and I used the diagonal from bottom left to top right - Tree/Free/Ribbon.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps, of course and I used the sketch from Outlawz, but I flipped it side to side.

  

My card:

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to hat 'fur' & star on tree
Gold and silver paint pens used on ornaments
Sizzix and QuicKutz dies
Hand tied, polka dot bow
Gold sparkly ribbon

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Mod Squad
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Final Day at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Here we are on Day 30 of the Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and we get to do whatever we love best - a classic Anything Goes theme.  I opted for this vase of holly branches, one of my favorite Beccy's images.  In Beccy's colored version, the vase is purple, my favorite color.  In my version, I opted for a red-violet vase so that I could use more traditional embellishments for Christmas.  Other than the red-violet, I pulled my colors from Paperbabe Stamps, including the papers I used (see below.)

I used the sketch from The Outlawz, turned 1/4 turn,

and the color palette found at Paperbabe Stamps.

  

Colored with ProMarker
Image cut with Die-namics stitched die
Snowflakes cut with AI dies
Sentiment cut with Die-versions die
Scrap pieces from Graphic 45

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Witches' Stew

     My mother loved split pea soup - me, not so much.  She'd have a batch of it simmering on the stove as soon as the weather turned cold and, most often, that meant sometime in October.  With Halloween looming on the near horizon, she'd try to 'sell' the dish to me by calling it "The Witches' Stew."  Each year, she'd say it was a secret recipe which she'd procured with great difficulty from a dying witch and that it was guaranteed to cure all winter ills.  lol

     I'm celebrating that memory by using this fun image and sentiment from Jan's Digi Stamps.  Remember a couple of days ago when I was telling you how excited I was to have found Jan's new store after the closure of Sparkle N Sprinkle?  If you didn't see that post, check it out HERE. 

     Below is Gertie, the Witch with her bowl full of Witches' Stew.  (Image is actually named Witches' Brew.)  While I'm at it, let me share some fabulous news with you.  On Monday, November 4, 2019, Jan's Digi Stamps is going to be starting a new challenge blog!  Challenges will be posted on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month and they will have an Anything Goes theme.  You can  read all the Guidelines if you visit the blog.  Mark your calendars and be sure to become a follower so that you don't miss out on playing in them.

     OK, here's today's card:

I took a couple of liberties but was inspired by

the sketch at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and frame cut with Tonic Studios dies
Card front embossed with "Linen" EF
Scrap of ribbon
Signature bow with pearls
All the CS used were scraps, including the piece used for the image and the sentiment

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday
Passion for ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Scrappy Land
SUYP Cats

     That's it for today.  Please go check out the new challenge blog at Jan's Digi Stamps and mark your calendar for November 4th when our first challenge will go live.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Not-Very-Spooky Mummy

     I seem to be doing a lots of cards with Digi Doodle Studios stamps on them recently but I really have discovered several in  the store which I loved the instant I saw them.  Of course, they jumped right into my cart without even asking if it was OK so I had to use them.  :-D

     The image on this Halloween card is the freebie they gave for Kit and Clowder this month.  Isn't he adorable?

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers (Fav Halloween colors)
QuicKutz circle die
Distressed papers from Making Memories
Signature bows w pearls
Sentiment from QKR Stampede

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Cutie Pie
Dare 2B Artsy
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ladybugs and Sunflowers

     I found this wonderful image of ladybugs and sunflowers in my collection of Ching-Chou Kuik digis and decided I wanted to see what I could do using autumn colors on it.  I really like the end result and will probably use it as a birthday card.  I did my best to find the image in the store so that I could make a link for you but I just couldn't find it.  I'm sorry.

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz.

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Image is fussy cut
Orange frame is cut with QuicKutz die
Olive green CS is embossed with "Linen" folder
Card base is pre-embossed
Sheer ribbon and layered sequins

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Ching-Chou Kuik FB
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Cute Card Thurs.
Paperbabe Stamps
Pattie's Creations

     That's all I have for today.  I'm suffering from a bout of strep throat and am taking proper medications but mostly I sleep.  I guess my whole body needs the rest.  Hope to be back to normal in a day or two.  Wishing you Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Latte Gratitude

    It's time for another Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz and this month the freebie image has been provided by Imagine That !  It's a perfect image for a fall celebration and I'm going to use it for a Thanksgiving card.

I based this on the Outlawz sketch

turned sideways but still used as a vertical

due to the shape of the image.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Spellbinders die for the over-laid frame
Polka dot grosgrain ribbon
Satin ribbon for the bow
ProMarker used to 'dye' the bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Color Crazy
Crafty Catz
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Double Trouble
Get Creative

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pizza for Your Birthday

     This image for the Scrapper's Delights July progressive challenge came at exactly the right time.  A friend of mine was telling me that during her growing up years, birthday parties for each of the kids (there were 9 of them!) just weren't in the plan but the birthday child was allowed to choose what the family would have for dinner on the night of his/her birthday.  Pizza was an incredible treat and not regularly on the family menu due to the cost.  She loved pizza and that was her annual request for several years in a row.

     When she went away for college, she practically lived on pizza.  It was still expensive on a student's budget but since she was one of the few students who lived in a house instead of the dorms, she would offer to host parties as long as her friends brought the pizza.  Genius!

     In light of that story, this is her birthday card.  And, yes, I'm ordering a pizza for her.  :-D

     Note:  This is the first time I've colored black hair which was good enough that I was willing to share the result.  It's a long learning process and I'm getting there slowly.  I know it can stand improvement but give me credit for even using the image instead of just trashing it and starting over on the coloring. 

I used the sketch from The Outlawz

and colors from My Favorite Things.

  

Coloring with ProMarkers
QuicKutz dies
DCWV dp
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand tied bow
Die cut butterfly (Cheery Lynn)

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (iceberg blue, digi, inks)
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
Cutie Pie
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pattie's Creations

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Meant to Be

     A really quick post this morning with only short prattling about how the card was made.  When I saw this sentiment/image at Bugaboo Stamps, I grabbed it right away but this is the first chance I've had to use it.  It's a sentiment I truly believe.  :-D

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz.

     I used ProMarkers to color the flowers, then cut the image piece with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, inking the edges before adding it to the striped background dp (Echo Park.)  I used a scrap of mulberry paper which has been on the desk for at least a month and grabbed the gingham ribbons, one to wrap and one to make into a bow.  I thought the 3 pearls on each side of the image piece would set that off a bit.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (third column)
Crafting by Designs
Creative Knockouts (Pearls/Image/Ribbon)
Double D
Scrappy Land
Words 2 Craft By

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dance of the Snow People

     I'm finally getting my card for the November Outlawz Progressive Challenge posted.  The freebie this month is from Drawn by Krista and it is actually 2 separate images but called Snowman Couple.  I merged them together so they look like they're dancing in the snow.  This is another card made primarily from scraps which were already on the craft table.

I started with the sketch from the Outlawz.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers, Copics, and gel inks for highlights, then cut them with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Makers.  I matted them with a hexagon (QuicKutz die) cut from a dp scrap and I inked the edges with teal ink. 

     The cityscape paper is another scrap, this one from Doodlebug, and the turquoise strip was a scrap from my Christmas stash, probably DCWV.  The narrow, sparkly ribbon was in my basket of ribbon scraps.  The final touch was to tie a bow-tie bow from long scrap of lace and die it with an alcohol marker.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     I'll have a second post again today for the next in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  Check back later today to see it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fancy Sunbonnet's Thanksgiving

     One more quick post for you today because the rest of the week I have a ton of posts lined up, including 4 tomorrow for the first of the month! 

     For this one, I used a cute image from Bugaboo Stamps; one of their sweet Fancy Sunbonnet images, and this one is perfect for Thanksgiving.

I started with the sketch from the Outlawz

and color inspiration from Catch the Bug.

  

     I  love using autumn colors because they reflect my favorite season, mirroring the leaves drifting off the trees and the clear skies of a crisp fall day.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and a die from QuicKutz to cut it.  The sentiment was also cut with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I embossed the golden CS with my Linen folder.  The bits of dp above and below the sentiment were scraps left on my table from some other project.

     The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and the bow is one of my hand-sewn bows, made by the dozens and put into my stash for future use.  I added the pearl when I was making the bow.

      Challenges:
Art Impressions
As You Like It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Hiding in My Craft Room
Time Out

     That's it for today and I hope you'll visit all my posts tomorrow.  Feel free to take your time.  No need to rush though all of them in the morning.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Witch Way?

     I absolutely adore this little witch from Fabrika Fantasy!   I have all my Halloween cards done  and ready to mail but there are so many Halloween themed challenges that pop up in October, I can't resist making more cards.  I guess I'll have plenty made for next year.  Or maybe I'll just donate them to the local hospitals for the kids.

I decided to base my design on the sketch 

at The Outlawz this week.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a Lawn Fawn stitched die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Unbranded die.  I cut the dove tail part by hand.  The papers are from Graphic 45 and the two witch's hats were die cut from foam and glittered.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Double D
Lawn Fanatics
That's Crafty

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back tomorrow with a DT post for the latest challenge at Crafting with an Attitude.  I hope you'll come by to check it out.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie