Gratitude is Where You Find It

     Our new challenge at the Perfect Sentiments Challenge this week is do a card with a Thanksgiving or Autumn sentiment, and add some Baker's twine.  Our prize this week is offered by Shelly's Images.

My sketch came from A Die for a Sketch, and the image is from Digi Doodles, called "Hobo's Thanksgiving."  The Digi Doodle shop is going to be closing soon (sniff) so I went over there and bought a bunch of digis before they're gone forever.

     I thought this image was a great reminder that we all need to be grateful for what we have, because it's probably a lot more than many others have.   I didn't do a lot of coloring, wanting to leave the hobo looking a bit vague and 'empty', but I did use pastel Promarkers on the crates and for shadowing around the figure.  I had to use a fine point, black pen on the line drawing so that it would show up a little better.  It tended to fade out without coloring.

     The sentiment is printed with a computer font.  I loved the brown, gingham check dp and found another complementary dp for the background, both from DCWV.  I pulled the tiny bits of golden orange from the background dp by matching CS for the stripes down the left side.  I added the Baker's twine, the layered flower and the leaf plus pearls, and knew it was finished.  This will make a perfect Thanksgiving card for one of the guys in my family this year.  Guys outnumber gals in my extended family more than 2 to 1, just in case you're wondering why I learned to make masculine cards!  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge -- W for Wishes (called prayers on this card)
Card and Scrap -- Use a die
Cards for Men -- Going Digital
Creative Craft Challenge -- All about the Boys
Hooked on Crafts - Cards for men
Love to Create -- Ribbon or twine
Paper Playtime -- gingham and die cut
Raise the Bar -- Celebrate fall

     I hope you're enjoying this mid-week-Wednesday.  It'll be the weekend before you know it and then you'll have time to craft something to submit to our "Thanksgiving/ Autumn with Baker's Twine" challenge.  Don't forget the sentiment!  Happy crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrating Gardens

     Some of you may think this card celebrates Easter bunnies by growing carrots for them, but it really is a birthday card for a friend of mine who's celebrating his 78th birthday tomorrow and he still plants a vegetable garden every spring and tends it all summer long.  I added the sentiment "God doesn't deduct the hours spent in a garden" because I believe it's true, at least in his case.  :-D

Sketch is from Eat, Sleep, Stamp and the image is one from Shelly's Images, where the challenge is "Show Us Your Stripes."

     The colors were inspired by the photo at Freshly Brewed's monthly challenge and I colored it all with ProMarkers.  The papers are from my stash, as is the baker's twine and the little Dew Drops.  I added the leaf charm as a final touch.  I'm not sure why it photographed so darkly -- it's more an emerald green IRL.

     Other Challenges:

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days -- Die Cuts or punches

Cards for Men -- Great outdoors (well, that's his great outdoors!)

Crafty Catz -- Use a digi

Crazy Challenge -- Add a sentiment

Digi Makeover -- For the boys

Kaboodle Doodles -- Circles and squares

Karen's Doodles -- For a man

Little Darlings -- Outside

Love to Create -- Masculine

Pattie's Creations -- Anything goes

Pile It On -- Masculine cards

Sentimental Sundays -- Spring

     I think that's it for today.  I may get one more posted before I leave but if not, then you'll see my post on Monday for Lexi's Creations DT and the new challenge over there.  Enjoy yourselves.  I'll be without internet or e-mail for several days but I'll post something when I get back.  I won't be ignoring any of you -- just incommunicado and relaxing with family.  Hugs and happy stamping.  NanaConnie