Useless Barnyard Cat

     Hey, it's June 1st and I'm sharing my newest DT card for the monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We're sponsored by Rick St. Dennis this month and our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter."

     We're also partnering with Double Trouble when their challenge begins on June 3.  Check out their requirements and options starting June 3.

     My card features a lazy (but cuddly) barnyard cat that refuses to hunt mice!  Who can blame him?  I wouldn't want to catch those nasty critters in my mouth either.  lol

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, highlighted with white gel ink, then cut with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The background was dry embossed with a Darice folder.  The mice were cut from a small scrap of ivory CS with a Gina Marie die.

     I used sheer ribbon from my stash, wrapped it around the card front and tied the bow.  Finally, I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Knockouts
Cutie Pie (center column)
Dare 2B Artsy
Outlawz Greetings
Pixie's Snippets

     Hoping to see you playing along this month and don't forget to check out Double Trouble on or after June 3rd.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Not Carmen Miranda!

     I think this Rick St. Dennis image is hysterically funny and hate to admit that it's been in my collection for a while, unused.  She may be a hot cha-cha dancer but she's no Carmen Miranda!  I love the whole idea of an elephant in Spanish Dancer costume.  :-D

I used the sketch I found at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

     I colored with ProMarkers, polychromos pencils, and gel pens.  I added glitter to the diamonds on her costume and used white gel ink on all the pearls.  The image is cut with an Unbranded die.

     The turquoise CS is embossed with my "Linen" folder and added to the card front.  I took a piece of patterned dp from another project (which went into the 'round file' after I saved some of the dp and embellies) and cut it with a border die from Spellbinders.  I added it on top to the CS to make the upper triangle.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with the same recycled dp, then added the satin bow, complete with a pearl.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Classic DT Open
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cut Divas
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Outlawz Songs and Rhymes
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge with Rick St. Dennis

     Here we are - another new challenge starts today at 2 Craft Critter Crazies and the sponsor is Rick St. Dennis.  They generously supplied images for each of the DT members so all of our inspiration projects are completely different this month.  Be sure to check the main challenge blog to see them all.

     I used a fabulous image called "Dragon" and, if you're into dragons the way my granddaughter is, be sure to check out the Zibbet store.  There are several fantastic dragon images over there.

     I colored the dragon using ProMarkers, then cut him on three sides with a border die from Spellbinders.  The scallops on the dp were also cut with another border die from Spellbinders. 

     The olive green dp came from Stampin' Up and I used 4 different scrap pieces to make all those layers.  I thought minimal embellishment would best feature that magnificent dragon so I limited the embellishing to three, tiny pearls in two corners and then left it alone.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Come play with us this month!   Out theme is always "Anything Goes" as long as you feature a creature.  Be sure to check the blog to find out who won last month's challenge and to see all the DT Favorites.  One of them might be you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Top o' the Mornin'

     For all my good intentions of working on things for an upcoming yard sale, I got hit with a flu bug and have spent most of the last 48 hours either in bed or hugging the porcelain throne!   However, I had this card made and thought I had pre-scheduled the post but when I dragged myself out of bed to link it up to the various challenges, I discovered I hadn't even written the post.  Arrrg! 

     The image is from Rick St. Dennis and is one of most most delightful of my "leprechaun" images.  I know I haven't used it before even though I've had it a while.

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

but I turned it a quarter turn and

 then flipped it side to side.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers, then cut him with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I cut the frame with another die in that same set, using a scrap of dp from the leftovers basket.  The striped background paper was also a scrap.

     I used glittered washi tape to make the gold stripes and added on of my hand-sewn bows with a tiny pearl.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and layered it onto the image piece so that it went out-of-the-box.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Crafts Galore Encore
Cards in Envy
Createful Heart
Die Cuttin' Divas
DL.ART
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pattie's Creations
Scribbles Designs
Star Stampz
Sum More Fun

     OK, I've taken more than 2 hours to type up this post but it was punctuated with more than a few ache-y muscles and a wave or two of nausea, so I'm going to crawl back in bed and see if the world will just go away for a while.  If I'm MIA for a couple of days, you'll know why.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Snow Queen

     I was so sad to find that one of my favorite artists has closed his challenge blog.  :-(  But I adore all his artwork and will continue to use his delightful images.  Yes, I'm talking about Rick St. Dennis.  This image is especially precious to me since I live with a couple of felines who think just like this!

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and added a tiny pearl to her scepter.  I fussy cut the image, and layered it onto a piece of foil paper.  The little snowflakes were embossed with a stylus and the corners were rounded with a Fiskars punch.  I did learn the hard way that the punch didn't work well on the heavy foil paper but at least the corners were rounded.

     Those two pieces were mounted onto a triangle scrap of mulberry paper before I added it to the card front, which had already been chalked around edges.  I added sets of three pearls to three corners and then added the sentiment.  I think she's a perfect Snow Queen!
:-D

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Digi Choosday
Ike's World
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Path of Positivity
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope you're having a marvelous Tuesday and that all is well in your world.  If the weather is nasty, either too cold or too hot, stay indoors in the craft room and enjoy.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bah, Hum-cat

     We all know about Scrooge's famous "Bah, Humbug" phrase but now there's "Bah, Hum-cat"and he's as Dickensonian as can be!  Image is from Rick St. Dennis.

Isn't he fabulous?

     I colored him with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image.  I used a die from Spellbinders to cut out an oval from a scrap of forest green CS, and trimmed it top and bottom to fit the size of the card.  I was actually using not the oval die cut but the negative piece left behind.  I saved the oval for some other project.  That went down on a white card base for a look of some winter snow behind the image.

     It looked a little bit plain with the image sent into the empty oval so I looked for something else to add.  I found another scrap of green CS, dug out a Sue Wilson die, and used it to cut the delicate, filigree frame.  I glued that down (a long and tedious process because of all the tiny curlicues) and then added the image and sentiment on top of it.

     Finally, I added a bit of red glitter to his bowtie for a tiny bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:
Crafty Catz
Color Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Fussy and Fancy
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Polkadoodles
Sparkle n Glitter
Vintage Journey

     We're only a week away from Christmas Eve.  Are you ready or nearly ready for the warmest holiday of the year?  I hope your plans include lots of time with family and close friends.  I'm truly enjoying the time I have with both this year.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Not a Creature Was Stirring...

     This is my second post of the day and it looks like I'm on a Christmas tour through all my stamps and images (inspired somewhat by my playing at Beccy's Place all this month - see previous post.)  I found this sweet little Christmas Mouse from Rick St. Dennis.  OK, so maybe he isn't specifically a Christmas mouse, but he turned into one for this card.  I thought he looked like something out of the Victorian era "Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore, so I had to dress him in Christmas red.  :-D

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz this week

although I turned it on end.

     I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers, then trimmed it to the size I needed for the red frame which had been cut with an Unbranded die.  I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it and layered it on top of the image piece.  For the borders, I did a modified version of what's in the sketch, using only one line of pearls down each side.  I added two of my hand sewn bows which also have pearls on them.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Merry Monday
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp
Sparkle and Glitter
Take It, Make It

     If you missed my previous post referred to above, click here.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

When Witches Party

     Everybody loves a good Halloween party but have you ever thought about whether witches party on Halloween?  What kind of costumes do they wear?  Do they put on human people masks?   Well, here's a sneak peek into at least 1 witch celebrating.

I started with the color combo at Outlawz Color.

     The witch image is by Rick St. Dennis and I colored her with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut her with some very sharp scissors to get really clean cutting lines.  The haunted house is die cut with an Unbranded die (new to me as of yesterday.)

     The house is adhered flat onto the card front and the witch is mounted on Pop Dots for some dimension.  Two of the bats in the sky have texture because I cut the house three times, took bats from those cuts and added them as layers to two of the bats here.  It doesn't show up in the photo, but IRL it's both visible and "feel"-able.

     Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
Ike's World ( Celebrate your 100th! Hooray!!)
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
{PIN}spirational
Sparkle n Glitter
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     It's almost the weekend and I'm so ready!  I've been retired long enough that the idea of getting up every morning and heading off for an 8 hour day, day after day and week after week, is totally foreign and leaves me feeling exhausted.  I'll be so glad when everything is back to my normal routine which often includes an afternoon nap. lol

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Merry UnBirthday!

     Many years ago, I had a dear friend who celebrated "Not My Birthday" exactly 6 months after her birthday.  That was my first introduction to what today is called an "UnBirthday."  But now I have a friend who says birthdays stopped being fun when she was too old for childhood birthday parties and she simply refuses to celebrate (or even tell anyone) when it's her birthday.

     So, this card is for her and may she have many more "Not My Birthdays."

     The image is by Rick St. Dennis and I colored it with ProMarkers.  The two side cuts were done with a border die from Spellbinders and I had to carefully line up the top corner where the cuts meet in order to get the scallop.  I did that by lining up the hole in the middle of the scallop.

     I used shiny purple paper for the card front and then found charcoal CS to use as the background for the image piece.  I layered those together, wrapped with sparkly, silver ribbon and added the image on top.  The little silver bow was the only added embellishment.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
Sparkle n Glitter
Unicorn

     I hope your week is going well and that a mild sun is shining in your part of the world.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Elegant Dining

     I love Rick St. Dennis images and the whimsy he builds into his images of critters large and small, but especially his sassy felines.  This is an image I've had for a while but somehow never used until now.  Based on Tomcat's fine, silk, smoking jacket and silver fork, I just know this is the best there is in a feline's elegant dining!

     I colored with my ProMarkers and then cut the image with a stitched die from Gina Marie.  The dies from that set are all rectangles, but I shifted the die over, cut a second time, and got a square for the image.  I cut a simple rectangle for the red CS background and added golden yellow, satin ribbon before mounting it onto the card front.  I tied the gingham bow by hand and then heat embossed the sentiment with silver EP.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Sparkle n Glitter
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz CAS
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations
SUYP Cats

     Now that he's won the fishing derby, and the rat catching contest, he's retiring to his chef's kitchen to see if he can take top honors in the cooking and eating competitions. lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hats Off to You

     The Rick St. Dennis Sparkle n Glitter challenge has a theme of  'Anything Goes' (with an image from RSD) and an option of  'Hats' if you want to use it.  I adore this RSD image "1935 Hat" and thought it would be perfect.

I started with sketch # 360 from Sketch Saturday

but I reversed it (side to side.)

     I loved the idea of just black and white with a tiny pop of a single color so I printed the image directly onto the card front, then used my ProMarkers to color only the roses, her lips, and her earring.  I used one of my Memory Box dies and cut black CS with it, then laid it onto the card front, using it to surround the image with a "frame."  I used a few of the negative pieces from the die cut as embellishment along the right border.  Finally, I added the sentiment and a tiny, black ribbon bow with one shiny pearl.

     Challenges:
Digi Choosday
Double D
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     While you're reading this, I'm in San Diego enjoying cooler weather.  I'm hoping to have morning fog and evening sea breezes, with mild sunny days in between.  Then maybe I can face the heat again when I come home.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Rick St. Dennis Christmas - Winter Friends

     I love my collection of Rick St. Dennis images which is still growing and, while I've used thisone several times, it looks different each time I use it.  This time, I did a bit of Christmas red, some icy winter blue and gray, and some metal snowflakes and ornaments.  What do you think?

I based my card on the sketch at Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I printed the sentiment and added it to the bottom of the image.  I put two long, silver-metal, ornaments over the tiny round ones which had been on the dp, then added a metal snowflake charm to the image.

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Sparkle and Glitter
Sweet Stampin' Christmas
Through the Craft Room Door
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Victorian Lady

     This is an image I've had in my collection for a while but I can't remember ever using it.  It came from Rick St. Dennis (Sparkle n Glitter) and it seemed perfect for doing a "Spotlight Technique."

     I started with two of the images, leaving one completely black and white and coloring most of the second one with my ProMarkers.  I really love subdued shades of pink, green, and yellow for vintage cards.

     I used one of my diamond shaped dies from Spellbinders to cut out an angled section of the colored image, but I trimmed that to make it narrower than the die shape.  I matted that colored piece with a double layer of sandalwood CS to give some dimension and texture, then layered it onto the black and white image, lining it up with the image below.

     I matted the white image piece with some green CS and wrapped that with pink and green polka dot ribbon.  I used my bow maker to tie a 5-loop bow using two different ribbons.  All of that went onto a pink card front.  I added a die cut butterfly (Cheery Lynn) and put pearls on it's body and also on the lower corner of the card.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cards in Envy
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Calendar
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Ribbon Girl
Scrapy Land
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I'm heading back into my craft room to work on some DT cards.  I like to be ahead a couple of weeks on those just so I'm not scrambling at the last minute but, somehow, time too often gets away from me despite my best intentions.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my friends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

World of Discovery

    A couple of weeks back I was invited to be a Guest Designer on the Clean and Simple Challenge over at the Outlawz and I was honored by the invitation.  It must have taken me at least 2 seconds (ok, nano seconds) to say yes!  Every project has to be CAS but in addition to that this week, we are only allowed to use limited supplies so we have to make our own backgrounds.  No dp!

     That darling dragon is from Rick St.Dennis and I colored him with ProMarkers and pencils.  The background is made by dabbing heavy card stock with a cotton swab which had been dipped in bleach.  It's a long process and it has to dry completely - overnight is best - before using it or the CS will begin to peel and shred on the bleached spots.

     I cut the image and the green frame with an oval die set from Spellbinders, then used another Spellbinders die on the brown frame.  The sentiment was stamped and I thought it was an appropriate one for an encouragement card.  I added only one embellishment - a tiny, brown bow.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Colour Crazy
Cut It Up
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Let's Craft and Create
Morgan's ArtWorld
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     I hope you'll come visit with us at The Outlawz.  If you're not a member yet, you really should join.  It's free and they have regular weekly challenges that start every day of the week and a monthly progressive challenge with freebie images from different artists.  It's a great way to get introduced to new artists or artists you've known and admired for a while.  See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Ice Skating Mice

     Well, you get to see a second post today and it's all because the weatherman was incorrect about sunshine.  :-D  It's cold, it's wet, the sky is completely gray and my heater stopped working!  I have a call in to the repairman but the estimate for their arrival is another 3 hours yet.  I'm bundled up in sweaters and heavy socks, and I'm in my craft room where I have a small, electric space heater under the desk.  There are also two furry felines under the desk, but since they are lying more or less on top of my feet, that's OK with me.  lol

     Here's what I created and it more or less reflects the ambient room temperature here.

I started by using the sketch at The Outlawz,

turned 1/4 turn..

     The image is by Rick St. Dennis and I colored it with my ProMarkers.   I used dies from Cheery Lynn (blue circle), Spellbinders (snowflake), and Fiskars (Image.)  I added sparkle to the snowflake with loose glitter and the bow is from my stash of hand sewn bows.  The pink background is made with glitter paper.

     Challenges:

AuroraWings

Crafty Sentiments

Creates and Makes

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Greetings

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

Tuesday Throwdown

     I'm still watching for that sunshine promised by the weather-geeks (and for the heater repairman) but right now, I'm going to go find a warm blanket and curl up with the TV or maybe a book.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Courageous Cat

     Today's card is one of those "I never knew I would make this" projects.  It all started when I was killing time, waiting for a friend to finish up an appointment.  There was a local craft store right next door so I went in just to window shop!  As I walked by a rack of clear stamp sets , I heard this set cry out to me, a pathetic little mewling sound like something that might come from a sad and abandoned kitten.

     The set not only had stamps and sentiments, it had matching dies.  I rarely use rubber stamps these days, but definitely prefer red rubber to clear polymer when I do use them, and haven't purchased any kind of rubber stamp in who-knows-how-long.  But this one jumped on me and forced me to buy it, even though it had clear polymer stamps and wasn't on sale -- jumped on ME, the "I-only-buy-at-sales-or-with-a-discount-coupon-lady."

     Once home, it was necessary to immediately make this card.  If you don't believe me on the "necessity" part, just ask the kitten!  You know I'm a sucker for a cute feline face.  Cats are my favorite because they are the one totally irresistible animal when they want attention.  :-D

     Sketch is from The Outlawz, turned sideways.

     The kitten image is colored with my ProMarkers, then die cut with the dies from the set.  (Stampendous)   There are three separate pieces to the kitten and I adhered it with Pop Dots on the head and bow for a little dimension.

     The mouse is from Rick St. Dennis, also colored with ProMarkers, then hand cut (whew, what a chore that was!)   The kitten's expression just called for something to be in that corner so I hunted up that perfect little mouse.

     The sentiment is hand stamped with three tiny sentiment stamps from Stampotique (which have been in my collection forever), then die cut with an oval die from Spellbinders.  I added gems for a bit of bling and a white, satin-ribbon bow.

     I thought this would make a perfect card of encouragement for a child.

     Challenges:
A Beautiful Mess
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Girls Creations
Creative Fingers
Cre8tive Hands Friends
I {heart} ProMarkers
Julia Spiri
Morgan's Artworld
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Stampotique

     Enjoy your weekend and do something just for yourself; recharge those batteries so that you have something to pass on to someone else when they are in need of a charge up.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hat Stands

     Once again, I'm playing along in the Rick St. Dennis Progressive Challenge at Sparkle and Glitter.  I love this image with the vintage hats and stands.  Can't you just see the Gay 90s Lady packing her best hats for a trip to Paris?

I started with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

     I used a combination of ProMarkers and Tim Holtz Distress Markers to color the image and used a die to cut it.  I matted it with pale pink CS and punched the corners.  The background papers are beautifully textured and both are from pads by DCWV, chosen to pick up the soft yellows and neutrals in the image.

     For embellishment, I chose a scrap of left over ribbon, and layered the sentiment onto it.  The die cut leaves (Cheery Lynn) were in my stash from some previous project so I used those and finally added the butterfly and gem.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
As You Like It
A Vintage Journey
Catch the Bug
Colour Your World
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Creative Corner
Digistamps 4 Joy
Let's Color Saturday
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrapper's Delights
Stamping Boutique

     Have you survived all the holiday weekends?  Are you ready to get back into the routine of  daily living?  Much as I love the holidays, it's always a relief to be in my own home, doing my usual weekend chores, and finding time in the craft room to recharge the batteries.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Skating Mice

     Another one of those totally adorable images from Rick St. Dennis!  How could I not use this one for a Christmas card?  On the RSD FB page, they have a challenge for "Sparkles" so, of course, this had to have tons of glitter.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added the glitter to the clothing, the tassels and her skates, and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I cut the "Believe..." sentiment with a border die from Spellbinders to give it the curve.  The ribbon is from my stash and I just curled it to make the bow.  Everything was layered onto green CS and then onto the card front.  I tried to make it look like a Christmas package and I think the curly ribbon accomplished that.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Animal Friends
Artistic Stamper
A Snowflakes Promise
Bunny Zoe's
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Time
Cuttlebug Mania
Dies R Us
I {heart} ProMarkers
Just Keep on Crafting
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Papertake Weekly
Passion for ProMarkers
Path of Positivity
Scrapy Land
Sparkles Forum Christmas
Tinker Dream
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mrs. Frosty Dressed for Christmas

     Time for the next part of the Progressive Challenge over at Sparkle and Glitter where Rick St Dennis' art is shown off so magnificently.  I do love his images!  This month we get to use any RSD image and I chose something that works for Christmas.  It's called "Mrs. Frosty" and she reminds me of the animated Christmas film for kids, "Frosty the Snowman."  Can't you just hear everyone singing "Winter Wonderland" all over the open meadow?

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz. 

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and die cut it with one of my scalloped dies from Spellbinders.  Then I framed the scallop oval with a cut from a Spellbinders' framing die.  The sentiment is also cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I mounted everything onto dark green CS, then added the ribbon.

    I hand cut the holly leaves from CS which I had already colored with watercolors and embossed them with a stylus.  I punched out three little dots of red CS and added red glitter to them.  I also added a tiny bit of glitter to the rose on her hat.  Not completely CAS but close.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas (+ DT Call!)
A Snowflakes Promise
Art Impressions Stamps
Card and Scrap
Christmas Challenge
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrapy Land
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn Challenge
Whimsy Inspirations

     That's all for today but I do have posts scheduled for the entire weekend and all the way through Tuesday. Aren't you impressed?  After more than 2 weeks with only spotty posting, I've managed an entire week with a post each day and three more still to come.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Alice in Halloween-land

     I had some wonderful inspiration for this card, not the least of which are some early childhood memories of Halloween and costumes.  Once I was beyond the age where my mom chose my costumes and dressed me for Halloween Trick or Treating, my first demand for a costume was to be Alice in Wonderland.  Don't ask me why -- my First Grader's thought process is not part of my memory.

     But my mother dutifully sewed an "Alice" costume for me from some blue and yellow fabrics she had on hand (no, there weren't any costume stores back in those days - we made our own.)   The following year, I still wanted to be Alice and fortunately, the costume still fit, although it was a bit short.  By Third Grade, when I wanted to be Alice again, my mom had to let out a couple of seams and add a ruffle to the hem so that the jumper would be long enough.  And there it ended.  By Fifth Grade, I'd had a growth spurt and no amount of costume alteration would let me wear it one more time.  But I still remember my first costume and whenever someone mentions Alice in Wonderland, I always think of Halloween.  Probably nobody else associates those two things, but I do.

     So this card, with a great "Alice" image by Rick St, Dennis, is a salute to childhood Halloween, even if it's done in the blue and yellow of my first costume instead of the traditional Halloween colors.  :-D

     I colored her with my ProMarkers but the background behind her is done with powdered chalks, applied with a cotton swab.  This is my second attempt at doing black hair and, while it's better than my first attempt, I still have lots to learn.  Practice, practice, practice.  :-D

     The scallops are done with a border die from Cheery Lynn and because they are a separate piece, I had to adhere them to the sides of the rectangles.  I added the sentiment and then left it alone to show off those wonderful scallops.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Chalk n Stock
Cheery Lynn Designs
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
My Time to Craft
Outlawz Coloring Friday
Rick St. Dennis Progressive
Stamping Boutique
Wags n Whiskers
WordArt Weds.

     OK, enjoy your day and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie