Christmas Candles

     Quick post this morning since I'm probably sleeping in after a week at the beach.  It's exhausting watching all those waves roll in hour after hour, you know.  :-D Actually, I got home in the middle of the night and then added this post and toddled off to bed.

     One more card for my Christmas stash with this lovely Poinsettia Candle image from Delicious Doodles.

     I've had this image for two or three years and I don't think I've used it but now that I realize how lovely it is to color, I'll probably use it at least once each season, maybe more.

     The holly leaf frame is also one from Delicious Doodles.  I colored both of the images with Shinhan markers, then die cut the frame with a rectangle die from Spellbinders, and fussy cut the candles before adding them to the frame with dimensional tape.

     I wrapped lace and ribbon around the card front and layered on the frame, also using dimensional tape.  I 'dyed' the bow with ProMarkers so that it would match the ribbon I had woven through the lace.  Finally, I added sequins to the frame corners for a bit of sparkle.

     This photo just doesn't do justice to the dimension or to the sparkle but it was the best I could do and still get this post done before heading off to bed.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Cute Card Thurs.
Fussy and Fancy
MarkerPOP
Merry Monday
Outlawz Greetings
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls (flowers/image/ribbon)
Stamping Sensations

     Today I'll be starting on my long "catch up" visits to all my favorite blogs.  I wish I was going to have time to comment on every post all my fav bloggers have made while I've been gone but that just isn't going to happen.  Still, I have to see all the marvelous creations everyone has posted so I'll be visiting everyone later today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dad's Dog

     For years, my SIL said, "No!" to all requests from the kids about adding a dog to the family.  After a few years, he amended that to, "If we ever have a dog, it'll be a working dog for bird hunting or retrieving."   Finally, about 3 years ago, he brought home a darling Brittany Spaniel puppy and and she was named Samantha.  Not Sam or Sammi or any version of a nickname -- she was to be "Samantha" and he started with her training immediately.

     But kids will have their own influence and within a few weeks she had become Sammi.  SIL found he really didn't have the time to dedicate to her training for bird hunting and, once they were beyond the house breaking stage and the basics of "sit," "lie down," and "stay" (which she never did learn completely!), she was clearly a pet more than a working dog, with tons of instincts which came from generations of breeding but little sense of control when it came to chasing birds.  lol

     So, this card is for my SIL on Father's Day.  The image (from Bugaboo) is a perfect representation of Sammi's reality.  :-D  She does love her "Papa" but let's face it, she's a pet!

I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

and pulled my colors from the inspiration

at MarkerPOP.

   

     I colored with a combination of Shin Han Touch Twin and Copic markers, then die cut the image with a simple rectangle die from Spellbinders.  I rounded the corners and distressed all the edges, then mounted it onto a die cut diamond (also Spellbinders) from which I trimmed and rounded two of the corners, distressing the edges of that piece, too.

     I used scraps of dp from one of my Recollections stacks for the background and the strips, including the brown mats behind each of the strips.  Again, I distressed the edges of everything.  Before layering on the image piece, I used a bit of string which I had dyed that color with a Copic marker, and tied it with a simple square knot.

     There are no other embellishments on the card  because SIL just hates anything "fussy" and I usually opt for as simple as I can get.  He'll probably think this one is too fussy since it has more than just a single layer.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes
Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowman Couple

     Nobody could possibly be as much in love as these two darling snow people.  That image is from QKR Stampede (Digi 21202 Snowman Couple and the sentiment is Digi 15116 This Much.)  Our new challenge starts today and our theme is "Snowmen."

     I did the coloring with Shinhan Touch Twin markers and then used a die from Sue Wilson to cut the image.  I mounted that onto a die cut Pinpoint Rectangle (a new die from Memory Box - hooray!) and layered that onto another rectangle.  I printed and die cut the sentiment (Spellbinders Ovals) and added the hand-sewn bow and all the sparkly snowflakes for some embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Boots
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
MarkerPOP
One Stitch at a Time
Sweet Stampers
Words 2 Craft By
Work It Weds.

     I know you're all still in holiday mode but I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Dig out your snowmen or visit the QKR store and grab one from there.  You aren't required to use one of our images but if you do, your entry goes into a special draw just for QKR users so your chances of winning are much greater..  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Tags

     Friday always means that a new challenge is starting over at QKR Stampede and our theme this week will help you get your "Christmas Tags" done.  I don't know why these are always the last things I get done each year when they are so simple and fast!  But here are a couple I managed and more will follow, I'm sure.

       

Colors came from MarkerPOP.

      The first one is done with Digi 15702 Pine Sprig and the second uses the sentiment Digi 14804 Peace and Love.

     The Pine Sprig is colored with Shin Han Touch markers, enhanced by Lyra colored pencils, then I added glitter to everything but the pine cones.  The sentiment is printed onto a scrap of white CS and both of the tag shapes are cut and punched.  I added the sparkly jute cord and called the project finished.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Crafting From the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Crazy Challenge
Die Cuttin' Divas
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets

     I hope we're going to see you play along this week and get a few of those gift tags done.  You know you're going to need them before the season ends.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie