Jan's New Year's Eve Set

     New Year's Eve is just under a month away and I've done my first New Year celebration card!  Jan's Digi Stamps has two really beautiful sets and I'm featuring an image from one of them for my DT card for the Third Challenge which starts today.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes."

     I don't do a lot of cards celebrating the New Year but the image options in the two sets (which are new releases) are so versatile they can be used for nearly any celebration.  I chose the hour glass from the New Year's Eve 3231J set because I can also imagine it on a birthday card with a sentiment about "Is time running out?" or something silly like that.  :-D  But this particular card is definitely for the New Year, as you can see from the sentiment which can be found in the Happy New Year 3030J set.

     This card was CAS and so quick to make.  It took me less than 15 minutes because I used the pre-colored image.

Pre-colored image (I wanted you all to see the incredible wood grain that's in the pre-colored image, but not on the black and white outline images.)
Image cut w/ Memory Box die
Frame cut w/ Memory Box stitched die
Frame edges inked w/ ProMarker
Sentiment cut w/ Sizzix die; Stickles added
Glitter paper from Recollections

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
A Perfect Time to ...
Carlin's Card Paradise
Dare 2B Artsy
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
Lil Patch of ...
Stamping Sensations
Your Scrapbook Place

     Come play with us.  The challenge runs until 3 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, December 15.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Challenge #2 at Jan's Digi Stamps

     Our second challenge has started at Jan's Digi Stamps today and once again we have an "Anything Goes" theme for you.  I'm sharing two cards I've done using pre-colored images from the "Holiday Candy Deluxe 947" set.  I've been doing Christmas cards for the last couple of months but when time runs short or when you need a last minute card for an unexpected guest the in-laws brought along (!), pre-colored images can save the day.  Nearly every set from Jan's has both black and white outline images and pre-colored versions included in the same set.

Cut w/ Sizzix scalloped circle die

Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies

Sentiment (from this set) was hand cut

Wide ribbon with glittered edges

Red CS base

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Penny's Paper Crafty

Time Out

Die-namics dies for image and frame, inlaid dies
Sentiment hand cut
Doodlebug dp
Lavender ribbon w/ hand tied bow

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 2 - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     At Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas, our second letter is "B" and I've used a Beautiful Berry wreath image for this card. I added one of my signature Bows and three, tiny, metal Brads at the bottom, and everything is on a Burgundy card base.  My sentiment is all about a "Berry, Merry Christmas."

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Scalloped dp mat cut with Sizzix die
Metal Brads
White Bow
Burgundy card base embossed with Linen EF

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Meowl-loween

     Hey, the 2019 Cat Lovers Hop starts today

 and this is my first project for it!

This is year #5.

Haven't played before and interested in joining?

Click HERE.

     Ready for another silhouette card?  This one was pretty quick and simple, and qualifies as a CAS card, I'm sure.  Have you noticed a fascination for cats in these silhouettes?   Back in the days when I was still buying rubber stamps instead of using digis (a looooong time ago!), I think I bought every single stamp I saw that had a cat in it.  Of course, when it comes to Halloween stamps, cats are easy to find, especially black cats which makes silhouettes a natural.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with a Sizzix die
Stitched black ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Bow tie bow added to the middle cat
Embossing on card front - Darice EF

     Challenges:
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Knockouts
Double D
Dragonfly Dreams
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
I {heart} ProMarkers
LeighSB Designs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     Happy Monday and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Mushroom Fairy for Fall

     This adorable little fairy, sitting in her mushroom garden enjoying the cooler days of fall, is from All Dressed Up. 

     The weather has stayed pretty hot where I live until today when they are predicting 83 instead of 93, and my blogging buddy, Lynn, a Texan from head to toe, says it's stayed awfully warm in her area, too.  So this card celebrates the arrival of fall and if it hasn't cooled off for her yet, maybe the weather is heading from my house to hers.  Hang in there, Lynn!

I chose colors from the middle column of color board #363

at Color My Heart Color Dare, plus I used "Ballerina"

for her face and arms.

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut image & frame with Sizzix dies

Gold CS base

Gold, glittered flower

CAS design

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Outlawz SAR

Pattie's Creations

Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Meow-lloween !

     This adorable image is a freebie from the SUYP Cats challenge and is by Ike's Art.  I tried to use as many shades of orange as I could as a salute to the color palette option offered by Ike's World.

My card design is based on one of the 

sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sizzix die
Background "bats" die cut piece was a gift - die unknown
Paper is a scrap from my basket
Hand tied bows 'dyed' with ProMarker

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
Ike's World
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Have a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gathering Nuts

     It must be fall; the squirrels are gathering nuts!   I'm delighted, for more than just the cooler temperatures.  Check out my card for this week's new challenge at QKR Stampede and you'll understand why.  If you enlarge the photo, you can more easily read that silly sentiment.  :-D   I used the QKR image "Writing Squirrel" and added "Acorn Accent" to give him an armful of nuts.  In the original image, he's holding a pencil.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die, inked edge
Acorns printed twice, hand cut, and added in layers
Background embossed with Sizzix folder
Wrapped burlap-twine bow
Hand cut sentiment, inked edge

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
Paperminutes
Scribbles Designs

     I'll have a second post today and some fun news so be sure to stop by a bit later.  In the meantime, think about creating something to enter into our Anything Goes challenge at QKR.  We love being inspired by the things you enter.  NanaConnie

The Artist

     Hello and welcome to the latest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  This week I seem to have been focused on all things artistic so what better idea than to showcase a darling little artist?  This image is called "Artist Bear" and I think he's adorable!

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with circle die from QuicKutz
Border made with pieces from Sizzix quilt die
Hand tied bow, dyed with ProMarker
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Creative Knockouts
Cute N Crafty
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twist Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Scrapper's Delights
Your Next Stamp

     Come play with us this week.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any products you choose from any company.  If you do use an image from QKR (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will be in a separate draw just for those images.  That increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Maple Sprite Celebrating Autumn

     I think I've fallen in love with every sprite image ever released at AuroraWings and this darling Maple Sprite is no exception!   I thought she was a perfect reason to Celebrate Autumn!  :-D

I used the sketch from Paperbabe Stamps,

turned a quarter turn.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image die cut (QuicKutz) and inked edge
Darice EF on yellow CS
Sizzix EF on card base
Sheer ribbon wrap and double bow
Sentiment hand cut and inked on the edge

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting and enjoy the last half of the weekend.  NanaConnie

Oktoberfest

     OK, OK, I know it's not October yet but this adorable "Taurus" image from Some Odd Girl, our sponsor this month at Crafting with an Attitude, just seemed to lend herself to an Oktoberfest theme.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die
Sentiment printed & cut with Unbranded die - - My favorite way to do sentiments is to print them with various computer fonts and then add them.  It allows me more options without overextending my budget.
Scraps of dp from the basket
Spellbinders border die
Wood grain EF - Sizzix

      Challenges:
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Double Trouble (paired w The Paper Girls)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Funday

     Come play with us this month.  We'd love to see what you create and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Butterflies

     Most of us think of spring when we think "butterflies" but I've noticed that there are more of them in my garden in the fall than in the spring.  I don't know what's growing there that time of year that they particularly like, but whatever it is, they prefer it to what's there in the spring.

     This image is from Conie Fong.

Image colored with ProMarkers
Image is hand cut with scissors
Background squares cut with Sizzix dies
Only scraps used for the background

     Challenges:
Butterfly wheel (jade, juicy orange)
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafting by Designs
Cute N Crafty
Dare 2B Artsy
Dragonfly Dreams
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets

     That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Giraffes

     I have a dear friend who moved away last year (I mean really away - like 350 miles away!) and she loves giraffes.  For as many years as we've known each other, I've made her birthday cards with giraffe images on them.  I decided just because she lives in another city now was no reason to change that pattern.  I just had to make her card flat and easy to mail.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a simple rectangle die from QuicKutz.  The card base is kraft CS, and I added an embossed scrap to the background.  I inked the edges of both the image piece and the embossed rectangle.

     The ribbon was in my stash and I used one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which I had 'dyed' with a yellow ProMarker.  Ribbons and bows are definitely my favorite embellies!  I put a tiny drop of Liquid Pearls on the bow to hide the thread I used when wrapping the center of the bow.  I also added three, flat, metal brads to the top corner.

     I put the birthday sentiment on the inside, made with die cut letters and words.  The letters were made with a Memory Box die and the word "birthday" was cut with a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die to which I added loose glitter.

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Creative Knockouts
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Wednesday

     That's all for today.  I doubt I'll even get any coloring or crafting done today.  I really need a day of doing nothing to get the shoulder healed up.  Happy Crafting to all of you.  NanaConnie

Birthday Wishes

     I know you've already seen my DT card for SheepSki Designs if you visited on Wednesday, but this morning I'm sharing a card with a stunning (and fun to color) image from SheepSki called "Peonies" because SheepSki is sponsoring the challenge over at Crafty Friends and I was lucky enough to be a Guest Designer.  :-D  The theme for the Crafty Friends challenge this fortnight is "Use 2 or more dies." 

   

I pulled all my colors from the inspiration board

at Color My Heart Color Dare #341.

     I colored the peonies with ProMarkers, then used a die from Sue Wilson to cut the image.  I trimmed one end of it so that there would be a straight side on the left.  I chose a golden yellow CS for the background and cut the butterflies into it with a Memory Box die.  

     I mounted that onto a kraft card base, then added the image and one of my signature, hand sewn, bows with a tiny pearl.  The bow was 'dyed' with a ProMarker to match the color of the sentiment.  The sentiment was cut with Tim Holtz word dies by Sizzix.

     This is one of those fun cards where I get to combine ribbon (for the bow) and flowers (in the image) and still have a flat card for easy mailing.  If I have to choose between ribbons and flowers as embellies, I'll almost always go with ribbon because the bulk of flower embellies make cards difficult to mail.  When I do use dimensional flowers, I almost always am giving the card personally, not mailing it.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Happy Craft

Outlawz Greetings

Paperbabe Stamps

Passion for ProMarkers

Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Persian Cat Says He's the Birthday Present !

     Here at Crafting with an Attitude we love seeing attitude in any form!  For our latest challenge, which starts today, we're being sponsored by Some Odd Girl and I fell in love with this "Angry Persian" image.  Look at the attitude showing in that expression!

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a hexagonal die from QuicKutz.  The aqua frame is also cut with another die from that set.  I made a shaped card by cutting the base with another Quickutz die.

     I printed and cut the small sentiment at the bottom of the image, trimming the shape to fit in with the hexagon.  The "happy birthday" sentiment was cut with a Tim Holtz - Sizzix die.  There was already so much going on with the borders of the card, I decided that it needed no embellishment beyond that created by the die cutting.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Colour Crazy
Crafting from the Heart
Cute N Crafty
Double Trouble
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri.
SUYP Cats
Time Out

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge this month.  Remember, our themes are always "Anything Goes."  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sweetpeas for Beccy's Place

    One of my favorite stamp artists is Beccy from Beccy's Place.  Her work is available in either rubber or digital stamps.  She runs a monthly challenge and the theme is always "Anything Goes" but each month she offers an optional twist.  You are required to use a Beccy's Place image but she gives a digital freebie every month which can be used if you wish.  I've been buying her images for so long that I have a really huge collection.  :-D

     This month she gave us a Tic Tac Toe twist and I've used the right hand column: Twine/ Flowers/ Embossing.

      I love these sweet peas and this time I started with a pre-colored image.  Before I printed it, I used tools in Word to lighten the image, making the background around the flower a softer and more pale blue.  Then, I used ProMarkers to intensify the sweet pea colors, plus pencils and gel inks to add highlights and shading to the petals and leaves. 

     The "Sweetpeas" sentiment is part of the image set and I printed it, then trimmed it to fit the banner space in the image.

     I fussy cut the image, then layered it onto a piece of white CS which I had cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The deep purple frame was cut with another, larger, Tonic Studios die from the same set.

     I double embossed the card front.  I started with periwinkle CS, embossed the front of it with my 'Linen' folder, then used a Sizzix 'Leaves' folder to emboss right over the 'Linen" embossing.  The spaces between the leaves still shows the 'Linen' embossing.  I layered everything together and added the jute cord twine and bow.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafty Creations
Di's Digi Designs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Cuddle a Kitty

     Common wisdom says when you're feeling down, you probably need a hug.  At my house, it's a sure sign you need to cuddle a kitty.  :-D

     The April challenge has started over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (no April Fool gag!) and our theme (as always) is Anything Goes with a Critter featured.  Our delightful sponsor this month is Digi Doodle Studios.  Although they generously supplied the DT with images to use, I chose one I already had in my collection, called "Kitty."

     I used ProMarkers, chalks, and gel inks to color the image, then cut it with a die from Sizzix.  I printed and cut the sentiment with a die from QuicKutz.  I used a larger Sizzix die to cut the mulberry paper, then dampened the edge and 'feathered' it.

     The satin ribbon was the last piece of it I had in my stash and I wrapped it around the card front.  I used my bow maker to tie the double layer, bow tie bow, using gingham ribbon.

     Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this month.  Remember, you are not limited to cards for your entries.  You can enter anything which features a 'critter' on it.  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Days

     Ok, now that we've had consistently warm days for more than a week, I can believe that summer is right around the corner.  Unfortunately for me, I live in an area where it gets really HOT during our summer months and I hate the heat.  :-(  But I do love summer grilling so this cute image from Limited Runs for the latest Progressive Challenge was just what I needed.  I'll probably use this as a birthday card for my son since he not only has a summer birthday but he's a master at the grill (just ask him - he'll tell you!)

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Sizzix die. The pale yellow circle was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.  I found a bit of golden, satin ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the kraft CS front.  I used one of my signature bows, leaving it white this time, and added only a pearl as I was sewing it.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Basket of Chicks

                                HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

     A huge "Thank You" to my dear friend, Donna, for this adorable Irish dancer!  Now, let's get to my post for today...

     Probably the best way to get little spring chicks to 'follow you home' is to transport them in a basket!   As a child, "It followed me home" was always the best excuse I could muster for keeping the latest stray pet who needed to be loved and cuddled.  Those were usually kittens or puppies, but bunnies or baby chicks would have been welcome, too.  I admit I didn't think about transporting them home in a basket but if I had, I would have done it!

     This sweet Penny Black stamp takes me back to childhood.  :-D

     I colored with a combination of water colors and ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Sizzix die.  Both of the smaller circles were cut with Sizzix dies also.

     I wanted the card design to be CAS so I added no embellishment beyond the die cut circles, simply laying those onto a deep gray, CS, background.  The CS was embossed with my Linen folder.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
Addicted to CAS
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar (Carried in a basket? lol)
Ching-Chou Kuik
Jo's Scrap Shack
Penny Black Saturday
Penny Black and More
Scrap from Your Heart
SUYP Cats

     I think this will be the only post for today but since I gave you a twofer yesterday, that should be sufficient.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Soft and Fluffy

     My card today is made with one of my favorite images from AuroraWings.  I think it's a perfect representation of a place where dreams come true, where kittens and chicks can be best friends, and where a kitten could be an Easter critter.  Sounds like an "Over the Rainbow" dream, right?  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, of course, then cut it with a scalloped, Sizzix die and matted it with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I decided on a kraft card base, wrapped it with green ribbon, and added the image piece.  I cut white flowers from mulberry paper (Spellbinders die), added one with a gem, and used die cut leaves (Cheery Lynn) cut from a scrap of white CS.

     I printed and hand cut the simple sentiment and decided that was just enough embellishment.  I wanted the image to be the focal point, unobscured by piles of embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cute Card Thurs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD
Words to Craft By

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

Easter Egg Surprise

     Another Easter card today and I'll have several more this upcoming week.  I awakened at an unearthly hour (2 a.m.) this morning and it was one of those wake ups where you're wide awake and you know there's no chance of just rolling over and drifting off again.  So, after about 10 minutes, I got up, tossed on a warm robe, and headed for the crafting table.  Can you believe the end result was an additional 5 Easter cards?!! 

     Here's the first one:

I used colors from the inspiration palette at 

Digi Doodle Studios.

      This image is one from ArtbyMiran which has been in my collection for quite a while and I've used her a few times.  This time, she seemed to be a perfect Easter image so I colored her with ProMarkers and colored pencils, then fussy cut her with scissors. 

     The open egg image behind her is from Any Old Craft (now closed, I think) and was meant for creating images of sugar eggs (do you remember those?) with scenes made inside them and an open aperture for peeking inside.  However, instead of actually putting that sweet girl inside, I adhered her with dimensional dots to the front of the egg.  I had colored the egg with ProMarkers and cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz.

     I used hot pink CS for the card base and embossed the front with a folder from Sizzix before wrapping it with white, polka dot, ribbon.  I quickly sewed together a scrap of pink ribbon to make the bow and added a tiny gem to it.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with another QuicKutz die, then added to the top corner.

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Gem of a Challenge
Classic DT Open
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Cardmakers
Friendship Challenge
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings

     Have a great weekend and don't forget to enjoy some recreational time just for you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie