Dragonfly

      Today I want to share a card I made using a fun image from Pattie's Creations, which is called "Dragonfly 1."  I really love the way this came together.  

     I used water color paints to color the dragonfly, added loose glitter to the wings, and let it dry.  I used a Fiskars punch to round the corners after first cutting the image with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment is mine, printed and cut by hand.

     The plaid background dp came from a stack by Your Next Stamp and the triple-loop bow was tied using my bow maker.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Double D

Gem of a Challenge

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Daffodils for a Birthday

      Can you believe April 1st is here?  No joke, no trick.  :-D  That means it's time for new monthly challenges and my first DT post is this one for Pattie's Creations.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes," which makes it very simple for you to participate.  :-D  

     The image I used is from Pattie's Creations and it's called Potted Spring Daffodils."   I colored with ProMarkers, then cut both the image and the sentiment with dies from Spellbinders.  I used scraps of dp for the background and tied a bow using crinkle ribbon (which was also a scrap from the basket.)

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafts Galore Encore

Die Cut Divas (1st column)

Digi Doodle Studio

Friendship

Morgan's ArtWorld

     Be sure to come and join us!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

St. Patrick's Gnome

      Our March challenge is starting over at Pattie's Creations, where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   March is my birthday month, and I'm Irish on both sides of my family tree.  In addition to that, I celebrate my birthday on St. Patrick's Day!  Can an Irishman (woman) get any luckier than that?   Yes, when I saw this delightful Clover Leaf, the Gnome in Pattie's store.  :-D

      Everything I used on this card came from scraps including the CS on which I printed the image.  I used my ProMarkers to color the image, adding a few highlights with gel pens.  The image was cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The background papers were scraps and I tied a bow with a scrap of shamrock ribbon.  The sentiment was printed onto a scrap, then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     Come play along with us this month.  Enter any card you've created after the date the challenge began.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Patch & Gretta - Gnome Admirers

       After a long hiatus from Pattie's Creations, I'm happy to announce that I'm back on the DT!  Our challenges are now monthly, starting on the first Friday of each month and ending on the Thursday before the next challenge starts.  We do encourage you to use Pattie's Creations images on your projects but images from other companies are allowed.  You can find a Freebie !! posted with each challenge and you are free to use it for your entry but that's not required.  In 2022, our theme is going to be "Anything Goes" for every challenge.  

     I combined two of Pattie's gnome images for this card; Patch the Gnome and Gretta the Gnome.  I thought they worked as a cute friendship couple for Valentine's Day.  Although I made a ton of Valentine cards this year because I have a craft fair just 2 days before Valentine's Day, I generally make only a few each year, much preferring friendship to love cards.  After all, I have many more friends than lovers!  :-D

     The images are colored with my ProMarkers, and cut with a Tonic Studios scalloped die.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the red card front before applying the image piece.  I used a Memory Box die for the heart and a die from Marianne Design for the red bow.  Those were also embossed with the Linen EF before I added them.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Bastel-Traum

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studios

Outlawz Stash

SheepSki Designs

       I'm so happy to be back with Pattie's Creations and I hope you'll come play in our Anything Goes challenges each month.  We love being inspired by you.  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog and grab the freebie for this month.  It's only there while the challenge is ongoing.  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Celebrating Snow Days !

      It's our first challenge of 2022 at Creative Knockouts and our theme this time is "Celebrations!"  I chose to celebrate every school child's winter wish, a "snow day" when all the schools close.  :-D  Growing up in southern California, I never got to experience snow days but if we'd had one, we would have really celebrated in a big way.

     Our sponsor is Pattie's Creations and, while she provided images for the DT to use, I decided to use the December freebie from Pattie's blog.  Such a cute pair of Winter Mittens shouldn't go unused.  :-D

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  I inked the edges of the frame.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Spellbinders die.  I chose 2 different glitter papers from Recollections for the diagonal-split background.  The sheer, glitter-spotted, wide ribbon was used to wrap around the card front and also to make the hand-tied bow.

I based this on Sketch #201 from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

    I really hope to see you playing along in our challenge this week.  Any kind of celebration will qualify for our theme.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragonfly Day

     This is my second post today so if you missed the first one, click HERE or scroll down one post.

     I was looking through my folder of older images which were waiting to be colored and found this one from Pattie's Creations.  I know it's been a long time since I used it and it just appealed to me as a sign that spring will be here before we know it.

Sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds 2

Colored with ProMarkers and chalks
Glitter added to the wings
Image cut with QuicKutz square die
Scrap below image cut with Spellbinders die
Background dp from my old stash (DCWV)
Metal brads

     Challenges:
Allsorts
As You Like It
Cardz TV
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Creative Inspirations
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mums and Butterflies

     It's time for the next monthly challenge over at Pattie's Creations and our new theme is "Fall or Halloween."  In honor of a new month and a new challenge, I bought a new type of die (new for me) and used it for the first time.  It's a reverse die, by Memory Box, meaning that when you use it, you have the negative space showing instead of the cut out piece.  Check out these butterflies.

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday as my start

(using the butterflies as my diagonal)

and took the colors from Catch the Bug

and Crafting for all Seasons.

     

   
     The image is called Pumpkin Watering Can with Mums and I love it!  It was fantastic to color and I used a die from Spellbinders to frame it.  The sentiment is mine.  I used two different colors of CS, both of which have been embossed with my 'Linen' folder.

     I chose glitter-striped ribbon to add some sparkle, put a few pearls on the butterflies, and finally added a little bling to the bottom corner.  Do I even need to tell you that I LOVE this card?  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
Classy Cards n Such
Colour Your World
Crafting by Designs
Craft Your Passion
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dream Valley (Top row)
Little Claire's
Not Just Cards
Pencil Case
Through the Craft Room Door

     I have no idea how much crafting I'm going to get done this upcoming week.  I have some doctor appointments, some classes related  to Type 2 Diabetes, and am also going to be out of town for a couple of days during the week.  I'll get my DT work done and pre-scheduled but may not have much else to post.  I'll play it by ear and see what gets done.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Time for School

     Well, August is gone and September has arrived so that means another monthly challenge has started at Pattie's Creations.  Our theme is a salute to all those who are returning to another school term, "Back to School."  Personally, having taught college classes for many years, I think that theme includes teachers as well as students.  :-D

I based this on the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

     Both the Pocket Watch and the Bookworm are images from Pattie's Creations.  I thought combining them really emphasized the "Time for School" aspect of the card.  The watch is printed onto lavender paper and Mr. Bookworm is colored with ProMarkers and pencils.  I printed the sentiment onto a piece of scrap CS, then hand cut it and layered it on.   The rosette is made from two layers of punched flower petals (also from scraps) and bits of left over ribbon.

     I trust Pattie will forgive me for adding the rosette in the middle of her lovely pocket watch but the actual time shown on her image is 6:00 and that was just too early for the school day to begin so I covered the hour hand with the rosette and added another one at the 9.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
Clear It Out
Colour Your World
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Inspiration Destination
Lacy Sunshine
Melonheadz Friends
Oddball Art Stamps
Sisterhood of Crafters

     Dig out your school related images and embellies and come play with us.  :-D  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

A Father's Boots

     When I found this "Western Boots" image at Pattie's Creations, I knew I needed to use it for a Father's Day card.  Since the theme for our new June challenge at Pattie's is "Father's Day or Graduation," I knew it would work perfectly for my DT card this month.

     The image and the sentiment were printed at the same time.  I used my ProMarkers to color the boots and then I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.   I added a brown CS backing and hand cut it to the outside shape of the die.  I found those pieces of gingham check dp in the scrap basket and rescued them just for this card.  I layered those onto some red CS which I first ran through my 'Linen' embossing folder.  The twine was the final touch and I frayed the ends to make it more distressed looking.  All of that went onto the card front and everything was from my stash.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Loves Rubber Stamps
Love to Scrap
Mema's Crafts
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Papertake Weekly
Quirky Crafts
Scribble & Scrap
Vintage Stamping

     You have all the rest of the month to play along with us so get going on those Father's Day or Graduation cards, then get your entry posted on the challenge blog.  See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie.  

Roses in a Milk Bottle

     I was so lucky last week, winning some digi images from Pattie's Creations!  Pattie has a challenge going on, too, and she wants us to either alter or recycle something.  Well, of course, I had to get one of the digis I won colored up right away and turned into a birthday card.  (I keep trying to get my stock of birthday cards above one or two but I seem to be sending them out as fast as I get them made.   This is another of those which will be going to a sweet gal with a February birthday. :-D )

     I want  you to look carefully because I took apart three cards I had done a few months back but they just didn't please me.  Rather than throw them away whole, I saved as much as I could from them, then tossed them.  The butterflies and the bow are recycled onto this card.  I had to add pearls to cover up a tiny tear at the head of one of the butterflies.  I also had to make them into 2 layers to cover other tiny blemishes (there had originally been 4 butterflies.)

My sketch is from Seize the Birthday.  In addition to the sketch, 

it has to be a feminine birthday card. 

     Don't you just love those roses in a simple milk bottle?  I thought they were so gorgeous and could be used for so many things, even a Valentine card.  Maybe next time.   I took my color cue from DL.ART Thankful Thursday -- red or pink.  I colored the image with Promarkers (Passion for Promarkers -- fav color combo) and, since I just love pink and red together, I used both colors.    The die set is from Spellbinders and the butterflies were cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  Everything else is from my stash of CS.

     Challenges:
Can You Digi It?  -- Getting girly
Digistamps 4 Joy -- Anything goes
Forever Friends -- Birthdays
Inky Chicks -- Bingo: Sentiment, Image, Bow
Moving Along with the Times -- Bling it on
My Time to Craft -- Things with Wings
Oozak -- Anything goes with pink and bling
Outlawz Copics/Promarkers -- Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey -- For a girl
Sparkles Forum -- Die cuts and flowers
Top Tip Tuesday -- Lavishly luscious layers

     Well, it's a great Monday morning here on the West Coast.  Temps are supposed to warm a bit so that there will be no need to bundle up so completely that one cannot see past the end of one's nose.  lol  It's a work day for me so I'll be indoors anyway and need only brave the weather to go out to check and post the mail.  Have a good day, whatever your weather.  Happy stamping.  NanaConnie 

Encouraging Words at Perfect Sentiment Challenge

     I wasn't sure I was going to have a post today because of printer problems and a glitch in my camera's downloading software.  I couldn't get anything out of the camera and into the computer hard drive.  But that's resolved now, and so I get to tell you about the new challenge today over at Perfect Sentiment.  We have two magnificent sponsors this week; Crafty City, which will have a Gift Certificate for one winner (US only) and Pattie's Creations, which is giving away 3 free digis!

     For our theme, we want to see you do a card with a sentiment of encouragement for someone and also use ribbon.  Pattie's Creations supplied images for the DT to use and I chose Mom and Baby Polar Bear for my card.  Nothing is more encouraging than a parent teaching a child.  :-D

My card is based on the sketch from Hanna and Friends this week.

     I feel like every card I've done in January is blue and white, but it's such a perfect color combo for anything depicting chilly weather.  Besides, my friend, Lynn, will absolutely love it!  She's the queen of blue combos.  :-D

     The snow/ice, sky, and dusty white on the bears are done using chalks, and the shadowing on the polar bears is done with markers.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font.  The ovals and circles are die cut and matted with black.  The papers are from my stash and I don't even know how long they've been there.  I used two different ribbons, layered together, and they are both from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The flower embellishments are either hand punched and layered together or from my stash of Prima roses.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create -- Anything goes
Allsorts -- Dies or Punches
Card Makin' Mamas -- Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity -- Moody blues
Dream Valley -- Anything goes
Gingerloft -- Let it snow
Jellypark Friends -- Winter animals
One Stitch at a Time -- Anything goes
Pattie's Creations -- Fun in the Snow
{Pin}spirational  -- Photo inspiration (colors)
Tammy's Scrapin Corner -- Punch cards (dies and punches)
Totally Papercrafts -- Ribbon

     I have one more post today but it's running late because of the camera problems so check back later for my post using the Outlawz Wednesday sketch.

     In the meantime, won't you come along and play in our "Encouragement with a Ribbon" challenge at Perfect Sentiment this week?  I'd really love to see what you create and share with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie