Time for the Dreaded "Q"

       It's another challenge with an alphabet letter and this time it's the dreaded "Q" for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and our letter prompt is "Q."   Not an easy one for sure.  I pretty much think of quilting or quilling and I haven't done any quilling in more than 10 years so I turned to Quilted.  I used Beccy's Three French Hens image from her 12 Days of Christmas set, along with one of my Quilting dies.

      The quilted hens were colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The Quilt die I used is from Sizzix.  The glitter CS is by Recollections and the green polka dot dp came from an old K & Co. stack.  The red CS was dry embossed with my Linen EF.  These are all scrap papers cut with the quilt die.  I looked through all my Christmas dies and found a holly leaves die which is from SU.  I had the mini buttons in my stash and have no idea what company made them.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut with scissors.

I based this on the sketch #289 at Sweet Sketch Weds 2

turned sideways so that the oval is horizontal and adjusted for an A2.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C
Simon Says Stamp

Snippets Playground

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy as a ...

      Yep, if you read the post title, right now in your head you're finishing that sentence with "pig in mud!"  lol  At FarmQuest this next two weeks, we have a theme of "Pigs," plus we've partnered with Double Trouble and that means also using something with a wood grain on our cards.  

If you enter our challenge and you use a wood grain, you can enter at Double Trouble, too.

     I used a clip art image of two pigs happily sharing a mud puddle, colored it with watercolor paints, and cut it with a Sizzix scalloped die.  I printed the sentiment and deliberately cut it on an angle using an Avery Elle die.  The wood grain dp is from a Brutus Monroe paper stack.

I pulled colors from the challenge at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Butterfly

CRAFTalnica

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Happy ... Stampers

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play along this challenge.  All you need is something 'farm country' and as long as your pigs aren't dressed in tuxedos or spats, I'm pretty sure any pig will be 'farm country' enough.  Use something wood grain and you can play at Double Trouble, too.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

2 Year Old's Birthday

      I have a great granddaughter who is turning 2 at the end of this month, and although I've not yet met her (being in different states and nearly 1,000 miles apart), she knows that her NanaConnie is the one who sends hand made cards.  This is the card I'm sending this time.

     It's another card put together with all die cuts and this time, I used some negative portions of dies, things which either fall our of the die's design or what's left behind when the original die cut piece has already been used for another project.

     On this one, I stared by using my 'Linen' EF to dry emboss the card front.  The sentiment is the 'left behind' negative which I just couldn't bear to toss out.  It's from a Sizzix - Tim Holtz set of word dies.   The 'happy' and the 'birthday' are individual dies which I laid out, cut, and used on another birthday card but the way I laid them out meant that I had a scrap which could be trimmed into an interesting shape and used for this card.

     The giraffe die is from Cuts, and I cut them from orange and pink CS, then layered them onto the card front for a double exposure look.  The little stars are bits which fell out of a Hero Arts background die and I kept them for future use instead of throwing them away.  The final touch was to add the teeny-tiny gems (Recollections) to the center of the stars.

     Pretty quick and easy but a card which will be loved by a 2 year old.   :-D

       Challenges: 

Crafter's Cafe

Creations in Pink

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Happy...Stampers Birthday

Happy...Stampers Dies

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

     That's it for today.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Kitchen Curator

      This card has one of those images which I exchanged at a group or which was sent to me by someone and, unfortunately, I have nothing telling me the artist's name.  There's a notation on the back (not my handwriting) which says, "Mrs Beat Em" and I take that to be the name of the stamp.  Whether it is or not, it's a great title!

     I'm sending this card to one of my granddaughters-in-law for her Mother's Day card.  I think she'll get a giggle out of it.  

     I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers, and cut it with a scalloped Sizzix die.  The round frame was cut with a QuicKutz die and I cut it from some chunky glitter paper from a DCWV stack.  The dp is from Paper House and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  No embellishments because I wanted it flat for mailing, besides which the glitter paper was embellishment enough.  :-D

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

I Love Markers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

Word Art Weds

     Wishing you all a wonderful day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Zinnia

      I'm finally back with a post after a few days off with a cold or maybe a sinus infection, but whichever it is, it has just laid me low with no energy to even get out of bed.  But I'm on the upswing and decided to get this one posted before I forget it again.

     Last month, I was posting my card for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz on the last possible day at almost the last possible hour and I don't want to do that again.  The image they gave us is this lovely zinnia in a bottle and I made another card to add to my birthday stash.

     I colored with a combination of Sanjoki markers, gel pens, and water colors.  Can you guess which part is with which medium?  No, no, I'm not going to tell; I'll just let you guess.  :-D  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and inked the edges with a marker.  The background dp is from a Paper House stack.  The butterflies were cut with a Memory Box die and the "Celebrate" sentiment was done with a Tim Holtz die by Sizzix.

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Creative Inspiration

Creative Knockouts

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Triple B

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow for the new challenge at Crafty Catz.  Do stop by then, won't you?  NanaConnie

Bunny Birthday Card

      Here I go featuring another Mariola Budek image on my card, this one a commissioned birthday card for a young girl who loves bunnies.  I colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The happy birthday sentiment was cut with a die from Sizzix.  The papers are scraps which originally came from a Recollections stack.   (...and, yes, she loved the card!  :-D)

     Challenges:

Butterfly (salmon, sea green, sky blue)

Creative Inspirations

Double D

I Love Markers

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     That's it for today.  See you tomorrow with anther new post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Moonflower Lullaby

      I absolutely LOVE this image from Conie Fong, called "Moonflower Lullaby."  I've used it before on my DT cards but each time I change the color combo and it looks completely different each time.  This time I colored her with my Sanjoki markers and used white gel pen for highlights. 

     I'm just mad about her hair and how it turned out.  I think this may very well be the best "redhead" I've ever done.  I give full credit to the Sanjoki marker colors and the fabulous way they blend!  :-D  I think orchids may be my favorite flower to color since I can always use purple and that's my fav color.  

     The image was cut with a die from Sizzix, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background dp came from a Recollections stack.  Once it was all layered together, I left it alone, no embellishments.  I thought the paper was enough and I really wanted the image to be the focus.  :-D

Colors came from the challenge at Dragonfly Dreams.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

I Love Markers

Outlawz Thurs

Paper Funday

WordArt Weds

     I think I'm going to have a post for every day this week; getting back to my old routine before the eyesight problems came along, I think.  My vision has improved so much in the last 2 months and I'm really grateful.

     Don't forget that our challenge is still running and there's time to get an entry in.  You have to use a Conie Fong image, but if you don't have any, there are freebies available on the FB page.  We'd love to see what you create.

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Long Winter's Nap

      It's time for another new challenge at QKR Stampede and, while most of us in the northern hemisphere are really hoping spring will arrive any minute now, this adorable "Santa Bear" from QKR is ready for his winter nap.  Unfortunately, I can't give you a link to it in the store right now because the store is being revamped.  Once that's done I'll update my post with a link to the new store.

     I used water color paints on the image, then cut it with a scalloped die from Sizzix.  I inked the edges with a ProMarker.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and I inked those edges also.  The background paper came from a Coffee Lovers stack which was given to me by my friend, Vicki.  Thanks!  :-D

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

     Come play in our challenge!  It runs through April 14 and the next challenge starts on April 15.  Our  theme is always Anything Goes and we really look forward to seeing what you've created.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Color Those Easter Eggs!

      Here's the next in my series of recent Easter cards.  Somehow, a family member (who shall remain nameless) convinced me to be a vendor at a craft fair at the end of this month and show some of my cards for sale.  Big on the list will be Easter cards because Easter will only be 9 or 10 days away by that time.  So, in addition to getting enough Easter cards done for family and friends, I now need another dozen or two for sale!

     In the interest of making the job as fast and easy as possible, I've decided to use pre-colored images on some of them and I also searched the web for free, printable, Easter images, including several vintage images.  I see several CAS cards coming up!

      But this one for today features a pre-colored image from Beccy's Place and I love how the Easter Bunny is not only dressed in his finest but has carefully colored his eggs, readying them for delivery.  The image was cut with a Sizzix die, and the sentiment was cut with a die from Avery Elle.  The plaid background dp is a scrap from the basket.  I took a bit of twine, doubled it, and tied the bow.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Cutie Pie (B = bunny)

Die Cut Divas

Happy ... Stampers

Not Too Shabby

Outlawz Mon

Pammie's IP

Papercraft

Rabisco

Simon Says Stamp

     OK, back to the crafting desk to see how many more Easter cards I can finish today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pig Out on Your Birthday !

      Today's card is my DT project for FarmQuest and our theme this fortnight is "Troughs, Crates, or Buckets."  They can be metal or wood as long as they are one of those things and reflect the "farm country" requirement for all of our challenges.

     I used a fun image from Angie's Digital Stamps and it's one I've had for a long, looong time.  I don't even know if Angie's shop is still open.  The barnyard pig just looks so happy munching his way through the full trough and I thought he'd make a great birthday card.  :-D  The image was colored with water color paints, then cut with a Sizzix scalloped circle die.  The frame was cut with another die from that same set, a size larger.

     I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die, then I used a ProMarker to ink the edges of it.  The flowers with gem centers are from Petaloo and I thought they gave a nice finishing touch to the card.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Outlawz Thurs (middle row)

Pammie's IP

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge.  Dig out those tub, trough, or bucket images, add a few things to emphasize the 'farm' or 'country' quality, and come enter our challenge.  It runs until March 13 so you have plenty of time.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Set My Heart Awhirl

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !      

     I made another card with this image from Jan's Digi Stamps last month but the penguin with his top hat and his handful of roses is just so precious, he had to be seen again!  He's from a set called "Putting on the Ritz" and this time I took a shortcut and used the pre-colored image, which I reversed before printing.

     I love making card for my friends and family but cards about Love made for special people (the kind we celebrate on Valentine's Day) are my favorites, primarily because I make fewer of them so they are even more special.  :-D

     I cut the image with a Sizzix scalloped die and added a tiny Petaloo flower with a gemstone in the center.  The background dp is a scrap from an old Recollections 12x12 stack.  Aside from the busy design in the paper, it's a pretty CAS card and took less than 15 minutes to make.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Creative Knockouts

Cutie Pie

Double Trouble

Inspiration Station

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Color

Outlawz Thursday (1st Column)

     Have a wonderful Valentine's Day and hug everyone you love!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Most Magical Time of the Year

      Today is the kickoff for Most Magical Time of the Year, a new challenge blog which features any combination of Fall-o-Ween, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Christmas, Christmas in July, Creepmas, Winter, Hanukkah, Diwali - Festival of Lights, Kwanzaa, etc. throughout the year!  We are a monthly challenge and we have a series of delightful sponsors who offer prizes to the winners. 

     Today, I've done both a Halloween card and a Christmas card, featuring images from our October sponsor, LeighSB Designs.  The first image, on the Halloween card, is Witch of Furness Forest and the second is Santa Whiskers.

     I colored this image with water color paints (and a very fine brush), then fussy cut it with scissors.  I went over the face color with a ProMarker to give her skin a greenish cast.  The background was made by die cutting purple CS with an Altenew die and then layering it over paper which had been water colored to create an orange ombre.

 

     The baker's twine came from Ellen Hutson and the black cat is a Poppystamps die cut.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

This is also my Day 1 entry into the 

LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. 

     This one was colored with ProMarkers and glitter pen on the fur cuff and pompom on the Santa hat.  I cut the image with a scallop die from Sizzix.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  I hand-sewed the red satin bow.  The background dp is from a Recollections stack (and it's been in my Christmas stash for at least 10 years!)

     Challenges for Witch:

Colour Crazy

Outlawz Festive Fri

LeighSBDesigns

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

    Challenges for Cat:

Aud Sentiments

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Winter Wonderland

Word Art Weds

     We'd love to see you playing along in our new challenges, this month and every month.  We're planning on having plenty of fun and it would be great if you'd come play along.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy Birthday Wishes

      A post today featuring an image from an artist I discovered late last summer and I'm still using images I bought on my first shopping spree in her shop!  I bought quite a few that day and this image is the one which inspired me to do a search and check out what was available. 

      I saw this girl with her tiny fairy friend bringing her a gift and it was on a card made by someone entering a challenge.  I just had to know more about the image and the artist.  I went to her blog, hoping to find a link to the image (or at least the artist, Mariola Budek) but there was nothing.  So I used a search engine, tracked down her store, and bought images and coloring books that first day!  This image can be found in one of her coloring books, called "Cute Friends."

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then used a Sizzix scalloped die to cut the image.  I used a die from Dare 2B Artzy, cut two dp (Recollections), mounted the image onto 1 of them, and used the second one as the background paper, then inlaid the image piece into it.  I found some sheer ribbon in my stash, wrapped the card front and used my bow maker to tie a triple-loop bow and add it.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Dare 2B Artzy

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hanging the Christmas Bunting

      Another new weekly challenge is starting now at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  We're being sponsored by Polkadoodles and they were generous enough to supply images for the team to use on their sample projects.  I used "Wanda Penguin Hanging Bunting," a sweet little penguin.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and added highlights with gel pen.  The image was cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy and framed with a scalloped die cut (Sizzix.)  The tiny snowmen and trees on the banner were done with mini punches and I added 3 tiny, sparkly red, Dew Drops.  The dp is from Recollections, and the green polka dot ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The black bow is one of my hand-sewn, signature bows with a pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

Dare 2B Artzy

Dragonfly Dreams

Kerst Christmas

Outlawz Festive Fri

     Don't forget that the challenges at PIP are always Anything Goes except on a 5th Monday when we have a specific theme.   I really want to see you playing along with us this week and every week.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

In the Pink

      Today I'm sharing another DT card for Conie Fong and I've merged two images (#3and #4) from the Peonies set.  Can you believe the set is on sale right now?  What luck!  If you love it, go get it.  There's a total of 4 images plus a sentiment in the set and they are a joy to color.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then cut it with a scalloped die from Sizzix. The strip of dp is a scrap from a Recollections stack and the bit of green burlap is another scrap which I found in the "left overs" basket.  The green and pink ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is hand tied, dyed with a ProMarker, and I added a sequin for a little sparkle.

I pulled Pink, Green, & Yellow from Color Dare #450.

  

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     Don't forget to grab a Conie Fong image and come play with us in one of our two challenges on FB.  One is for coloring only and the other is for hand-colored images used on completed projects.  You can find them both on this page under "More/Media/Albums."

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Penny for Your Thoughts

      Out where I live in California, on the West Coast of the USA, we're suffering through our third heat wave of the summer and we're barely finished with June!  We get heat waves (any stretch of 3 or more days of temps 100F and over) every summer but the temperatures we've had in these three are higher than what we usually get in August, much less June!

     In any case, July 1 starts a new fortnightly challenge at QKR Stampede where the theme is always "Anything Goes."  This adorable little mouse, called "For Your Thoughts," is hoping someone has thoughts about anything other than the heat!  :-D  Or maybe thoughts about how to stay cool despite being 107F outside.

     I used ProMarkers to color him and used a Sizzix die to cut the image.   I managed to find copper paper the same color as the penny and added 4 squares (scraps) of it to the background.  The little metal coins were things I've had in my stash for years and I ran across them when I was cleaning out little drawers in one of the craft cabinets.  I'll bet I hadn't opened any of those four little drawers in 2 years!  There were the tiny coins, just waiting for this perfect card.  

     The black bow is hand-tied  and trimmed into dove tails.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

      Come play with us this challenge and your could win some of these fun and fabulous images from QKR.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Birthday Celebration

      This darling image is a freebie from LeAnn's World  FB site to help celebrate LeAnn's birthday this month. 

Colored w ProMarkers

Image & frame cut w Sizzix dies

Background = dp scrap

Really Reasonable Ribbon - polka dot ribbon

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Tassel made from silky embroidery thread

     Challenges:

Crafty Girls Corner

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble (all 3)

LeAnn's World

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Passion for Markers (spots)

Simon Says Stamp

Stinkin' Inkers

     I hope your weekend is going well and that you'll have time for some "me time" crafting during what's left of it.  Enjoy and stay safe.   NanaConnie

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:

Allsorts

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Inspiration Station

Paperbabe

    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

All About the Heart

     This is the first of 3 posts today which is what happens when the first of the month falls on a first Monday.  :-D  This is the one for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies but be sure to check back in just minutes for the post for Jan's Digi Stamps and in a couple of hours for the post for QKR Stampede.

     Here it is the first of another month and, since it's February, our thoughts turn to deep friendship or love and things of the heart.  Our latest monthly "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge starts right now at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We are sponsored this month by Beccy's Place, who generously supplied images for the DT.  

     I actually used the freebie image from the January challenge at Beccy's Place.  That challenge has ended but the image is still available.  He's perfect if you still have Valentines to make.  :-D

I used sketch #199 from Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix die

Papers from Neenah

Satin edged ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Mulberry paper flowers from stash

Pink gems from stash

Hand-tied pink bow w gem

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Double Trouble (all 3)

   partner w Heart 2 Heart

Dream Valley

Outlawz Stash

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play this month.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  We want to see a critter featured prominently on your project, not just a teeny butterfly or an almost unseen animal down in the corner.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ice Fishing

      My dad loved fishing, any day of the week, and time of the year, and that included winter time in the mountains.  Although we didn't live in snow country when I was growing up, my grandfather had a cabin up in the mountains and if we stayed there for a long weekend in the winter months, ice fishing was something he was going to do while we were there.  I used to tease him that all the fish must have gone south for the winter because  I don't remember that he ever caught anything.  lol

     Anyway, when I was looking for a Bugaboo Stamps image to use for their color combo over at the Catch the Bug Challenge this week, I saw this Ice Fishing image.  The colors immediately reminded me of my dad's ratty, old, fishing jacket that was stained and had a few patched holes in it but he loved it and always wore it when sitting out on the ice.  He called the color "rusty mustard."  lol  So, even though they aren't winter colors, I chose this Ice Fishing image in honor of my dad.  :-D

     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. 

Catch the Bug colors.                       Stella Says Sketch (reversed)

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Sizzix die

Sentiment printed & hand cut (scrap)

Sentiment mounted on Spellbinders die cut (scrap)

Orange polka dot washi tape (scraps)

Black satin & sheer ribbon (scrap)

Background made from dp scraps

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Cutie Pie

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of Crafty...

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

     Wishing you warmth in the middle of winter or cooling breezes if you're south of the equator in a heat wave.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie