Showing posts with label Sheepski Designs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheepski Designs. Show all posts

Sunday, December 15, 2024

A Steampunk-y Christmas

      It's been ages since I did anything steampunk but my sis-in-law has a grandson who adores steampunk and when she saw this steampunk rabbit image in my collection of images from SheepSki Designs, she wanted to turn it into a Christmas image, even though it wasn't drawn as one.  I think she did a fantastic job by using traditional Christmas colors to get the effect she wanted.

     I took her colored image (pencils), cut it and the red frame with QuicKutz dies, and decorated the corners of each with Fiskars punches.  I found a scrap of dp for the background in my Christmas papers stash and thought it worked well with the steampunk aspect.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a Tonic Studios die.

     For embellishment that heightened the steampunk, I dug through my drawer full of charms and found a little baggie filled with tiny gears and cogs and other metal bits, many of them actual old watch parts.  I bought those more than a dozen years ago at a Michael's store and haven't used them in longer than I can remember.  But they were perfect for this card!


     Challenges:

     I may have an additional post today if I can find the time to sit down and write it.  My list of things still be be done before Christmas arrives grows longer and the number of hours I have to accomplish all of them grows shorter, and desperation is setting in!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, October 14, 2024

Honey Bee

      The next challenge is starting over at FarmQuest, where we always want to see farm/country influenced creations but where we also have a specific theme for each challenge.  The specific theme this fortnight is "All About Bees."  That could be bees, honey, beehives, honeycomb, honey jars, even hexagons!  

     I chose this delightful image from SheepSki Designs showing the very first step in the process of making honey, a bee collecting nectar.  I colored the image with Ohuhu markers, then cut it with a QuicKutz die, and rounded the corners with a Fiskars punch.  The two papers for the background came from the scrap basket and they just worked so well together to give it that country flair, like a good old calico print paired with stripes.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.


     Challenges:

     Come play with us in this challenge.  We'd love to see what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, June 28, 2024

Butterfly Birthday

      We're starting a new challenge at Crafty Catz today.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL theme for those of you who are adventurous enough to try it.  The option this time is "Embellishments."  

     We are sponsored this fortnight by SheepSki Designs.  They provided the team with images we could use but I chose one from my own collection, called "Butterfly Curl."  This card will go into my "Birthday" collection for future use.

     I printed the image, added a birthday sentiment to it, and printed it onto pale blue CS.  I colored a few of the butterflies with Sanjoki markers and gel pens, leaving most of the butterflies as uncolored, outline sketches.  I decided to use my favorite color combo of all times, aqua and purple.  Purple is my favorite color and aqua goes so well with it that I use them together often.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die.

     The two, horizontal, strips of paper came from the scrap basket.  The blue butterfly embellishment is machine embroidered and the purple butterfly is a ribbon bow, tied and trimmed to look like a butterfly shape.  It was white, initially, but I 'dyed' it with a Sanjoki marker.


     Challenges:
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Pammie's IPnull
Pattie's Creationsnull

     Come play with us this fortnight, won't you?  Remember, Anything Goes unless you prefer to challenge yourself to "Embellish" your project.  Be sure to check out all the DT cards over on the main challenge site.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, December 1, 2023

Santa Takes a Break

      Anyone Santa's age (or even near it) can certainly understand the need for a quick rest break during a long night of delivering presents to all the kids in the world!  This cute image from SheepSki Designs (our sponsor at the Crafty Catz challenge this week) brought a smile to my face, and "Make us Smile" is our optional theme for this challenge.  Of course, you can always do just the Anything Goes theme, but it's almost Christmas - make someone smile.  :-D  SheepSki Designs provided the DT with images to use and this one is called "Taking a Break."  Isn't it a delight?

     To color the image, I used my new set of markers from Altenew (purchased with a challenge prize gift certificate!), then I cut it with a die from Tonic Studios.  Both background papers are from Doodlebug, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I tied a tiny, double loop bow and called it finished.


     Challenges:


    Come play in our challenge this week.  We love seeing what you create.  Then, take yourself a little rest break before the holiday hustle and bustle wear you down!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Thanksgiving in the Leaf Pile

      To answer your unasked question, "No, I don't think it's odd to be grateful for piles of leaves!"  Have you ever seen the joy of the faces of children as they jump and play in the leaf piles?  Be thankful for that joy.  :-D

     It's another first Sunday of the month and that means we have a new challenge starting at 613 Avenue Create.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but there's an optional theme each time and this month the option is "Embossing, wet or dry."  We have a sponsor this month, SheepSki Designs, and they provided images for the DT to use on their inspiration cards.  I chose to use "Catching Leaves."

     The image is colored with watercolors and white gel pen.  I cut the image with a Spellbinders die, and mounted it onto burlap paper from DCWV.  The dp in the background is a scrap of digital paper that was in the basket of autumn scraps.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.


     Challenges:
  
     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, June 30, 2023

Wild Roses

      It's Friday morning and that means it's time for another "Anything Goes" challenge at Crafty Cats.  We always offer an OPTIONAL second theme and, this week, it is "Embossing."  Our sponsor for this challenge is SheepSki Designs and they provided images for the DT to use on their inspiration cards.  However, I happen to have a large collection of SheepSki images and I chose this one for my card:  Wild Roses.

     The roses were colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then hand-cut with scissors.  I chose a delightful, flowery, Cuttlebug embossing folder to do the dry embossing but first I used my very old (brand name unknown), "Linen" EF on the CS, then embossed over that with the Cuttlebug folder, which also happens to be called "Wild Roses."  :-D  

     I chose ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and wrapped it around the card front.  I cut the sentiment with a die from Avery Elle and added it on top of the ribbon.  The bow was made from felt, folded and wrapped around the middle.


      Challenges:

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  I know you think we on the DT just do cards to inspire you but the truth is that we love being inspired by what you create and enter, too.  See you there and Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Monday, April 17, 2023

Spring Bees & Blossoms

      We are actually having a delightful spring day today and I did this card to celebrate it.  It's also another card for my Birthday stash.  It features one of my favorite spring images from SheepSki Designs, called "Bee n Blossom."  I seem to use it at least one time every spring.  :-D

     Colored with Sanjoki markers, with sparkle gel pen used on the wings, then cut with a fancy Spellbinders die.  Both of the papers are from Recollections and the background has embossed suede texture.  The stripes are shiny gold and also have texture.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.


I used colors from the palette at Not2Shabby.

     Challenges:

     May your weather be gorgeous and mild, and feel like spring.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Tropical Toucan

     Today a new "Anything Goes" challenge is starting at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and we're sponsored by the fun and fabulous SheepSki Designs.  Andrea provided images for the DT to use for this challenge and I chose this one called "Tropical."

     It's cold enough today that I can wish I was somewhere tropical, chattering with a toucan, with a hibiscus flower in my hair.  :-D  No worry, spring will be here in another 24 hours and the temperatures will quickly rise, to a point beyond anyone's comfort zone and we'll all be wishing for the cooler, crispier temps of early fall.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I dry embossed a piece of spring green CS with my Linen EF (which I've used quite a lot this month), and mounted both of those onto the card front.  The sentiment is fussy cut and I hand-tied the large bow using 1" grosgrain ribbon.  Final touch - 3 sequins.

I used the colors from Cupcake Inspirations.

     Challenges:
Cutie Pie (B for Bird)

     Happy Crafting and we'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Birthday Card for His Valentine

     Today starts our newest challenge at I Love ProMarkers and we're sponsored by SheepSki Designs this month.  Our theme this challenge is "Birthday" and my card was actually one commissioned by a gentleman whose wife’s birthday falls on Valentine’s Day!  I used a SheepSki Designs image called 'Bumble Bee Blossom' to go with the specific sentiment he wanted, ‘Honey Bee Mine.’   He really liked Andrea's images (which I have in a binder for people to view) and he was very impressed with her art.

     I used ProMarkers, water color paints, and water color pencils to color the bee and blossom, adding sparkle gel ink to the wings, then used pale blue watercolor paint for the sky/background.  Instead of cutting the image itself, I used one of my dies from Spellbinders to cut a scrap of pink CS, then trimmed it to fit the card front so that the aperture was on an angle.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then tied gold satin ribbon into a small bow and added it to the upper corner.  I thought the die cut shape was so 'fancy' that little else was needed in the way of embellishment.  I really wanted the image to be the focus.


     Challenges:

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge.  All of us can use an extra 'Birthday' card in our stash so even if you don't have someone specific in mind, I'm sure you can make one for your stash.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie     

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Candle & Poinsettias

      The idea of candle light at Christmas is one of my favorite things and I love images which allow for coloring the candle glow.  This image is from SheepSki Designs, the sponsor for the newest challenge at I Love ProMarkers which starts right now.  The image is called "Candles and Poinsettias" and our theme for the challenge is "Anything Goes" with an Option of  "No Patterned Design Paper."

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a Lawn Fawn stitched die.  The sentiment was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I framed both the image and the sentiment with green glitter paper.  I used a stencil on the card front, brushing it with glue and using some very old flocking powder from my stash enhance the pink card front.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:

     Come play in our challenge.  Grab your ProMarkers, FlexMarkers, AquaMarkers, or Trias, color an image, leave out the patterned dp, and come enter your project in our challenge.  You could win some really fab images from SheepSki Designs.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, August 23, 2021

Gnome's Wild Flower

      First, quick apology for the late post.  Unavoidable.  :-(

     Today we start another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  Our challenge is sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs and they provided images to the DT for our inspiration projects.  Thank you, SheepSki!    

     I used one of Andrea's adorable Gnomes and this one is called "Wild Flower."  I colored him with my ProMarkers, and used a QuicKutz die to cut both the image and the blue frame around it.  I added a scrap piece of pale blue CS behind the image but there's a secret I'll share with you.  The background dp is actually 2 pieces which I carefully matched together and the image and blue CS are covering up a 'hole' in one piece where a piece had been cut for some other project.

     I keep saying, "Don't toss the scraps!  They can be used."  :-D

     I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which had been 'dyed' with ProMarker to match the flowers.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.


     Challenges:

     We really want to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Remember, "Anything Goes" and all you have to do is submit them with the link up tool on the challenge blog.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Walking the Cat(erpillar)

      How did it get to be August 1st already?!?  This year is flying by but I'm so ready for it to be fall with the heat of summer behind us.  Regardless, it's the start of a new month and a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  Our sponsor this month is the fantastic SheepSki Designs.  They supplied images for the DT to use and I chose this adorable "Walkies" image.  Andrea's shop can now be found on her SheepSki Designs blog.  You can also find SheepSki Designs on their Facebook page.

     Did you know that August 8 is "International Cat Day?"  It is, and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies is partnering with the Double Trouble challenge from today until August 19.  In honor of International Cat Day, they have a "Critters" theme and anything you enter into our 2 Crafty Critter Crazies challenge will qualify to be entered into their challenge during those dates.

     I know this isn't an actual "Cat" image, but I thought this Cat(erpillar) might do just as well.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Die-namics.  The outer wide, green, frame was also cut with that same die and I inset the image into that frame so that it  has a double row of 'stitching.'  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, then framed with a scrap of that same green CS.  I added the sparkly baker's twine and tied it into a square knot.  Rather CAS but this way it works as either a feminine or masculine card.


     Challenges:

     Be sure to come and play with us this month.  The challenge runs until the 25th of the month and winners/Top 3 are chosen and posted a day or two later.  We love seeing you play with us each month and love being inspired by what you create.
 
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Acorn Ale on a Hot Summer Day

      When the days are hot and the summer sun shines bright, gnomes cool off with a bit of Acorn Ale.   They love it so much, they keep drinking it right through until Thanksgiving!  "Acorn Ale" is the name of this adorable image from SheepSki Designs and they are the sponsor for the challenges at both Creative Knockouts this week and for Your Scrapbook Place this month so this card is doing double duty as a DT inspiration piece.  :-D

     The image was colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The two framing pieces were cut with QuicKutz dies.  Background CS made with scraps from the basket.  The ribbon for the bow and the wrapped strip were also left over scraps and I have no idea what company made them.  Sentiment printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.


     Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     I sure hope you're going to come and play with us in both challenges.  We love being inspired by you!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Blackberry Summer

      A new challenge is starting at Your Scrapbook Place and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Andrea from SheepSki Designs!   They supplied wonderful images for the DT but I chose to use one from my own collection called "Berries."

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to color the berries, opting for blackberries this time, although I've used this image before and did them as raspberries.  I kept the card design fairly CAS but it looks much fancier because of the Spellbinders die I used to cut the image.  It's inlaid into the background which was also cut with the same die.  Notice the embossing on both the image and the background?  All from that same die.

     I wanted the open spaces from the die to be dark so I used the die one more time and cut a piece of navy blue CS.  I inlaid the bits which fell out of the navy blue die cut into the white image piece.  Again, a way to make a CAS card look fancier.  The bow is one of my signature bows with a purple pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.


I used Purple, Green and Navy Blue from the
color board at CMH Color Dare.


     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting and come play with us this month.  :-D  NanaConnie

Saturday, June 26, 2021

When I am Old...

      More than 25 years ago, a friend introduced me to a poem called "Warning" by Jenny Jones.  She knew that purple was my favorite color but also noticed that I never wore it, settling mostly for navy blues, charcoal grays, and black.  Nothing too daring or outrageous.  lol  

     The message of the poem changed my entire life!  

Warning

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple,
With a red hat which doesn’t suit.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves,
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired,
And gobble up samples in shops, and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain,
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens,
And learn to spit.
 
(When you're old) you can wear terrible shirts, and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickles for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils, and beermats, and things in boxes.
 
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent, and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
 
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
                                                                         -- Jenny Joseph

     I immediately started wearing purple and it's the predominant color in my wardrobe to this day!  
:-D

     A few weeks back, I was asked if I'd be a Guest Designer at The Outlawz Sunday "Songs and Rhymes" challenge and I was given two or three dates from which I chose today.  By happy coincidence, "Warning" was the poem scheduled for that date and I had no idea at the time I picked that date!  It was just meant to be.  :-D

     So, I chose this image, called "Emmy's Hat," from SheepSki Designs.  


     I colored the image with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut it with a Spellbinders die.  The background dp is one of the chenille papers from Doodlebug, a leftover scrap from some other project.  What you can't see is that the chenille dp has a die cut hole in it.  By covering the hole with the image piece, I saved that (rather large) scrap from the trash can.   Always think twice before throwing anything away.   :-D 

     The sentiment was printed onto a scrap bit of CS & cut with an Avery Elle die.  I found a few scraps of mulberry paper and tucked one behind the image and another couple bits on the sentiment.  Two sparkly red Dew Drops and a white, mulberry paper, rose from Recollections for embellishment and the card was finished. 

     Challenges:

      If you're not a member of The Outlawz, you really should visit and join.  It's completely free and they have fortnightly challenges for each day of the week, plus two month long challenges each month, one of which is a progressive challenge so you can get free images from different companies each month.  Go check it out!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Get Well Fowers

      This card was not only fun to make, it allowed me to try some new design ideas.  The freesia image is from SheepSki Designs.   What looks like dp for the background is actually pics of pink freesias which I printed from online to help me decide how to color the flowers in the image.  When I was finished coloring the image, it seemed a shame to just throw out what I had printed so I fussy cut the flowers and added them to 2 corners of the card before wrapping the ribbon and layering on the image piece.


Colored w ProMarkers; glitter on the vase
Cut w Spellbinders die
Large freesias fussy cut
Butterfly embellies colored; glitter added
Ribbon scrap (RRR)
Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (Naples Yellow, NY Pink)

     That's all I have for now but check back late tonight (or tomorrow) when the Pammie's Inky Pinkies challenge begins for the upcoming week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Foxy Elsa

      Here we are in  April and I'm not fooling when I say it's time for the next challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, where our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  We are sponsored this month by SheepSki Designs and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  I used a cute little fox called "Elsa."

     I've managed to get cards done for 3 of my DTs, which you'll see posted this upcoming week but it still takes me a day or two to get one card made.  Sitting up to do the coloring is the most time consuming and I find that my attention drifts and I tend to call it 'finished' before I add all the shading and highlighting I normally would do.  I think it's because I'm afraid I'll take too long and miss the deadline, and I just want to get on to the actual card making part of it.  So, be patient with me and my coloring will get back to my usual painstaking detail.  


Colored with watercolor pencils & ProMarkers
Cut w Sizzix die
Scraps of dp from my stash - 1 cut w Sizzix die
Grosgrain ribbon from my stash
Hand-tied bow

     Challenges:

    Come play with us this month and don't forget to visit the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies blog to see what everyone else has done with SheepSki Designs images for this challenge.  Happy Crafting   NanaConnie

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Peonies for My Valentine

      It's Monday and thank you for checking out my DT card for the newest challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies!  We are sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Anything Goes."   This image is called "Peonies" and it was a dream to color.

     This card was a special request for a gentleman who says that pink peonies are his wife's favorite flower and he wanted something hand made and special for her Valentine card this year.  


Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w Spellbinders die
Sentiment cut w Avery Elle Die
CAS design requested by customer

     Challenges:

     Come play with us this week and while you're at it, check out the challenge at SheepSki Designs, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Sweeping for Spring

      Good morning and welcome to my next DT post for Creative Knockouts!   Our theme this week is "Die Cuts or Punches" and we're being sponsored by SheepSki Designs.  I absolutely adore gnomes and the ones drawn by Andrea at SheepSki are some of my favorites so I jumped at the chance to use "Sno' Worries" as soon as I saw it.  :-D

     If you look closely at my card, you'll see that he's sweeping away the snow, all the way down to bare ground, hoping perhaps to encourage Spring to arrive.  After all, when you're as small as a gnome and you live in the forest without benefit of a heating system, winter can be your least favorite season!


Colored w ProMarkers
Cut & embossed w Spellbinders die
Paper from DCWV "Winter" stack
Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you!

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Penguins & the Christmas Moon

      We have another new recipe over at our Crafty Chefs FB page and this is the card I've done following it.  Carol gave us the recipe this month and, while you can check it out on the site, I'll also give it to you right after I show you my card.  The penguins & moon are from SheepSki Designs.


Recipe:
MUST DO:  
Add a tag, Make a pocket, Use analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel), Use a die
CAN DO:
Mirror CS, Charm, Stitching

I did all of the MUST DO and did Stitching from the CAN DO list.

Here's another photo showing how I used the pocket and tag for the sentiment.


Colors were pulled from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w QuicKutz octagon die
Red frame cut w QuicKutz
Moon, pocket piece, & tag cut w Spellbinders
Faux stitching done w gel pens
Soft twine for the tag
Gingham ribbon for the bow

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on Blog (Diagonal: Bottom left to Top right)
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Animals
Winter Wonderland

     Don't forget that Crafty Chefs is open to anyone who would care to join in and stretch their comfort zone a little bit.  Hope to see you over there.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie