Hugs for Thanksgiving

     If it's Friday, you know that means a new weekly challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  This is the most recent (and I think the last) of my Thanksgiving cards.  I used a darling image called "Bear Hugs" and I'm using this as a way to give some holiday support to a sweet lady who is facing her first holidays following the loss of her husband.  She's going to be at our house for Thanksgiving and I want her to know that she has family and friends who love her.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with Tonic Studios & Spellbinders dies
Orange CS embossed with "Linen" folder
Textured ribbon
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Paper Girls
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Come play with us this week.  Our theme is always Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Moving Day

     I really dislike moving and I've done it several times in my life, the latest major move from one city to another 300 miles away, having been some 6 years ago.   I still haven't recovered from that one!  lol  But this adorable image by Hetty Clare is the free image for the Progressive Challenge at the Outlawz.

Colors came from the challenge pallette #368

at Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Poppy Stamps die
Matted with Spellbinders die cut rectangle
Brown, diamond-texture ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Embossed card base

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Gals Corner
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paperminutes
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Work It Weds

     We finally have some rain today!  That may not be a big deal to those of you who are suffering under a pile of snowdrifts already but we haven't had rain in my part of the country for more than 8 months.  This is the second latest start of our annual rains since they started recording rainfall stats.  They are predicting we could get as much as 1/2 an inch this morning and we are braced for the possibility of some minor flooding in the underpasses and near the street drains which may not have had all the leaves and clutter cleared out.  That's OK.  We'll take it.  The rain is more important.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Letter "R" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     It's Day 20 already at Beccy's Place, since she's in Australia, and our alpha prompt is the letter "R" which I used by making another gift card holder featuring one of Beccy's adorable Reindeer.  I also added sparkly Ribbon for the tie to close the folder and Rainforest green glitter paper.

Colored with ProMarkers
Fussy cut image, mounted on Pop Dots
Strip of glitter paper to cover the Ribbon
Embossed CS for making the folder (I thought those words were enough as sentiments)
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

     Here's a photo of the inside and a link to the YouTube video I used in making these gift card holders.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards

Crafting by Designs
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute Card Thurs
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Word Art Weds

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gratitude for All (Good) Things

     OK, I admit it - I'm an ice cream junkie!   I love nearly any flavor and I find myself craving it even in the midst of winter.   On the other hand, I do live in an area that never gets snow and we rarely reach the freezing temperatures but still, most people around here don't eat ice cream all winter long.

     My card today is my DT project for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede and I used an image called "Bear with Sundae."  I'm mailing this one to my #1 son for Thanksgiving.  :-D

I used colors from the challenge at Color Dare #368

and the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

 

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with QuicKutz die
Plaid paper from Your Next Stamp
Diamond ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Gold ribbon scrap from basket
Fabric pumpkin
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenge:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Cut It Up
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Your Next Stamp

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  Remember, the theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any image from any maker.  However, if you use a QKR Stampede image (or one from their sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry goes into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Are You Batty?

     Happy Friday!  The weekend is right around the corner and we have a new challenge this week at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and you may use any image from any company to enter our weekly challenge.  However, if you choose to use an image by QKR (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a separate draw and your chances of winning are increased tremendously!

     For today's card, I chose to make a Halloween card and used both QKR (Bat and Moon) and Eureka (Bat - used 4 times) images, plus a sentiment from QKR (Happy Halloween.)

ProMarkers used for coloring
White gel ink for eyes and highlights
Textured ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Accordion bow 'dyed' with ProMarker
Black CS frame
Kraft card base
Sentiment was fussy cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV 
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Come play along with us this week, won't you?  We love  being inspired by what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Halloween High

     This is my second post today and I have wonderful news.  I've been invited to join the DT at Brown Sugar!   It's a monthly challenge which starts on the first Friday of each month.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we'd love to see you come and play along with us.

     Our sponsor this month is QKR Stampede and how much fun it is for me being on both teams!  :-D  I've done a Halloween card using the QKR image "Hanging" and "Halloween High" for the sentiment.

I pulled all my colors from the inspiration photo

at Color My Heart Color Dare #362.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Tonic Studio dies
Framed with glitter paper from Recollections
Sparkle ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand tied, stitched ribbon, bow

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Cute Card Thurs
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Outlawz Greetings

Happy Crafting and come play with us this month!  NanaConnie

October Challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     Good morning (or evening, or afternoon, depending on when you came by for a visit.)  It's October 1st and that means we're starting a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.

     Before I show you my DT creation for this month, I want to share with you some information which may inspire you or which you might want to pass on to someone else you know.

2 CCC IS LOOKING FOR NEW DT MEMBERS!

     2 Crafty Critter Crazies is looking for a couple of new DT members and we have some rather different criteria than most challenge blogs.  We're looking for people who are relatively NEW to either blogging or Design Team work or both!   That doesn't necessarily mean you just started yesterday but if you'd like to serve on a team for perhaps the first time and feel like you might need some assistance along the way, we're the team for you.  It's only a 3 month position so no long term commitment which you might find just isn't for you after all.

      If you are willing to use Sponsor digital images, willing to make one project per month, willing to pre-schedule it to go live on your blog at the same time as the main challenge on the 1st of each month, and willing to leave comments on an assigned rotation of entries, then we'd love to hear from you.  Please email us at 2craftycrittercrazies@gmail.com and let us know little bit about you, give us the name of your blog and a link to it, if you are familiar with how to do that.  If not, don't worry, that's something we can explain to you.

     OK, now my card using a retired image and sentiment from Beccy's Place.  I'm apologizing ahead of time because I know you're going to fall in love with this image and ask me where to get it but it's no longer available.  I am sorry.

I used colors from Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink on the eyes and legs
Cut with a square die from Spellbinders
Both ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bats are die cut with Impression Obsession dies

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this moth.  Remember, all you need is a project which features a creature of some kind.  Beyond that one requirement, it's anything goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie
     

Pumpkin Thyme

     I've rediscovered Jan's Digi Stamps, which I used to get through Sparkle N Sprinkle.  When SnS closed, I was afraid I'd lost Jan's beautiful images forever but then I found that she has her own store, which you can check out here.

     These images are from two of her new autumn sets, which I'm using on a Thanksgiving card.  I merged the images and I love the effect of distance between them.

Colored with ProMarkers
Spellbinders square die plus an out-of-the-box technique
Fussy cutting with scissor on the pumpkins in the tub
2 diamond texture ribbons
Raffia triple-loop bow
Everything done on kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Dreams

     New challenge today at the SheepSki Designs blog and our theme is "Dies and/or Punches."  I used this fantastic "Unicorn" image drawn by Andrea and I'm so crazy about it, I know I'm going to use it again and again.  This time, it's being used as a birthday card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to unicorn horn
Tonic Studios dies
Double loop, double layer, bow (ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Sheer, plaid, ribbon strip (also from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Metallic CS base
Sentiment printed and die cut with Tonic Studios die
Inked edges - ProMarker

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the  Blog
a2z Scrapbooking
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafter's Cafe
Digi Doodle Studio
Dream Valley
Your Scrapbook Place

      Come play this month.  We love being inspired by you and your creations.  NanaConnie

Cleaning Up

     Welcome to another Friday and another start to the weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  I have a DT card to share today which is filled with just plain silliness.  The image is called "Bathing Bear."  It comes in both digi and rubber stamps.

Again, using my favorite orange & brown fall colors.

ProMarkers
Sparkle gel ink on faucet
Spellbinders die
Stitched ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Plaid Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Brown CS for background embossed with 'Linen' EF

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Knockouts (digi/sentiment/ribbon)
Cute Card Thurs.
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Get Creative
Outlawz Greetings
Path of Positivity

     Come play with us, won't you?   We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water World Mermaid

     A summer card today, despite my recent focus on autumn cards in a desire to get summer over and done.  But this one has a cool color combo so it's almost as good.  :-D

     The image is from LeAnn's World 101 and is the freebie given for their monthly Progressive Challenge. 

I used the sketch again from Sketch Saturday 

but this time flipped side to side.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glossy Accents added to image
Image is fussy cut
Background splash cut with Memory Box die
DCWV background dp
Starfish ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

     Challenges:
CardsTV
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Creative Inspirations
LeAnn's World 101
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Evening Stroll

     I'm wishing and waiting for fall weather to set in so that I can get back to taking evening strolls through my lovely neighborhood.  That's something I have to give up during the hot summer months and I miss them.  As a salute to them, I've done this card using a wonderful image from Digi Doodle Studios.

ProMarkers
DCWV papers (Basics stack)
Sue Wilson die
Ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creations in Pink
Dare 2B Artsy
Dies R Us
Double Trouble (recipe only)
Scrap from Your Heart
World Wide Open DT
Your Scrapbook Place

     Hope your weekend is going well.  I may have a second post today if I get it finished.  Otherwise, I'll post it tomorrow.  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

Live Out Loud !

     You all know how much I love the weekly challenges at QKR Stampede and working with their images but this "Baby Donkey" image is one of my favorites.  I used it on my DT card this week and am already thinking of other possibilities.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sue Wilson die
Paper from Linen Closet stack by DCWV
Dots on dp are embossed w/ sparkle EP
Sentiment printed on vellum
Background made with burlap
Sheer ribbon & hand tied bow

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments (top row)
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
Outlawz Festive Friday
Scribbles Designs
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Skating Giraffe

     This one is for the young grandson of a friend who adores giraffes.  I'm sending it for his 3rd birthday.  Image from Kitty Bee Designs.

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a QuicKutz oval die, as was the sentiment.  The rectangle frame was cut a Memory Box die and the piece was run through my Linen embossing folder.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Inside it says, "To wish you Happy Birthday!"

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafty Catz
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.

     My "secretary" who types posts for me while my shoulder is healing is unavailable today so this short post was prepared by me and I wish now I had just waited until she was here again.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Golden Roses

     This gorgeous image, with all kinds of options for coloring it, is the freebie image for the Progressive challenge at LeAnn's World 101.  I colored them to look like roses which actually grow on a bush in my side yard.  I don't know the name of the rose because the bush was there when I moved in but they are a golden, buttery, yellow with pink on the edges.

     This time, I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.  I cut the image with a framing die from Spellbinders, then cut a piece of dp with a second die from Spellbinders, which I used as a mat behind the image.   

     The plaid background paper is a digital paper I created by changing the colors in a paper from Doodle Pantry (now closed - sadly.)

     The two ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I had them in my rather huge stash of ribbons.  The bow is another of the ones I sew up by the dozens and I 'dyed' it with ProMarkers.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Outlawz Colors
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Morning After

     Those of you with feline fur babies will completely understand this card because all of them sneak off to party when we're not watching the (cat) door and this is how they appear when finally they bring their bedraggled selves home!  In this case, the Siamese must have been the "designated driver" since he's showing few ill effects.  lol

I started with the sketch from Beccy's Place

and the images are also from Beccy.

I used colors from the challenge at C.R.A.F.T.

with the red and pink being in the dp "flags."

  

     I started by merging the three cat images, then colored them with my ProMarkers.  The gray background is washed with a muddle of watercolor paints and the image piece laid on top of it.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, then matted it and hand cut that.

     The 'flag' strips were all cut from a single, two-sided scrap of 7 Gypsies paper which had been slipped back into the stack.  Instead of throwing it away, I cut and used the little flags from it.  The diamond texture ribbon is from my (huge) stash of Really Reasonable Ribbon bits.  The dark brown, grosgrain, bow was hand made and I added a tiny sequin star to it.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     OK, I'm taking the rest of the day off to be a lazy couch potato!  I may even fall asleep with the TV on.  I'm tired of boxes and chores.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hanging the Star

     Today starts our newest challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and we're honored to have QKR Stampede as our sponsor.  Since I'm on the QKR DT as well as the 2CCC DT, I was tickled to have an excuse to share cards that used QKR images two days in a row! 

I started with the sketch from C.R.A.F.T. but, 

because I was using up dp scraps, my horizontal

strip is wider and a bit shorter than the one in the sketch

and I put my sentiment into a circle.

     This adorable little mouse is "Hanging the Star" on the Christmas tree  and the sentiment I used is also from QKR Stampede.  

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it and the mat for it with simple, circle, dies from Spellbinders.  I used additional circle dies from QuicKutz to cut the sentiment and its mat.  The Spellbinders set just didn't have any dies that small.  

     I found my well-worn "Linen" embossing folder and used it on the front of the card base before I wrapped diamond textured ribbon around it and added the hand-tied, sheer ribbon, bow.  Both of those ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     I added two scraps of dp behind the image, both of which had been inked along the edges.  For a final bit of embellishment, I added the three, pale green, pearls to the lower, left corner.

     Challenges:

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafting by Designs

Crafty Catz

Fussy and Fancy

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Festive Fri.

Scrappy Land

Word Art Weds.

Work It Weds.

     I really want to see you come and play in our "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge this month.  It runs from now until the end of the day on December 25th so there's plenty of time.  The DT is taking a well deserved break so you may not get any comments on your entry but the challenge is up and running and we have a delightful sponsor so how can you lose?    

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Laughing Kitty - Cat Lovers Day 4

     Day 4 of the Cat Lovers Hop and today's kitty is so tickled to be part of it, he has an irrepressible laugh going on!  If you can resist this face, check your pulse - you may need to call the undertaker.  :-D

     ProMarkers, Spellbinders dies, ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and a double bow tie bow.  All of those put onto a card front for a CAS design that looks much fancier than it it.  It took less than half an hour to put together.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Creations
House that Stamps Built
Polkadoodles
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Short, sweet, awesomely cute, and all I have for today.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 2

    This is my first of 2 posts today since I'm trying to get caught up on on the Cat Lovers Hop so that I can enter each day between now and Friday.  I did one yesterday for Day 1 but Wednesday is actually Day 3 so this one is for Tuesday.

I was inspired by the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

I turned it a quarter turn to better fit my image.

    It's a really quick post with only the most basic information:  Framing dies from Tonic Studios and CUTplorations.  Butterfly die cuts are out of a large circle die from Spellbinders - the 'negative' bits, if you will, and I added metal brads for the bodies.  (I save, and then use, everything!)  The mouse at the bottom was cut with a Cottage Cutz die.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     That's it for now.  Check back in a few hours for the next post in the Cat Lovers series.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie