Snowman Joy

     It's the first Thursday of the month and that means our newest challenge is starting for December at Crafting with an Attitude.  This is my last post as a DT member as I've taken on additional responsibilities on other teams I serve and I have to cut back some place.  I'm sad to leave but will be visiting as a player as often as possible.  Hugs to all my teamies.  :-D

     This month, our challenge is sponsored by Beccy's Place and, if you were visiting me at all last month, you already know how much I adore her images!  She generously gave images to the DT for them to use but I chose one from my own collection.  This is "Boxed Snowman" but I can't find it in the store now so it may have been retired.

Inspired by Sketch #569 at Sketch Saturday.

 

Colored with ProMarkers w/ white gel ink on highlights

Fussy cut with scissors
Ribbon and bow done with scraps
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Black CS for the base

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Friends
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Time Out

     Won't you please come play with us this month?  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this will be the last of our 'sponsored' challenges.  Starting in January, they will be JFF challenges.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 21 at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas - Use Scraps

     Much as I love the alphabet prompts for the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place, when Beccy said to "Use Scraps," that was right up my alley!  I love using scraps.  It means I buy fewer papers overall but at the same time, it makes me feel justified in buying new paper stacks when supplies get low.  No, of course that's not a justification!  lol

     This card is made entirely from scraps, including the piece of CS on which I printed the image and the one from which I cut the sentiment.

     After I shared in my previous post that it doesn't snow where I live, here I am doing another of my typical Christmas cards featuring snow and snow people.  Maybe it's because we don't have snow on the ground that I feel so drawn to it for Christmas cards.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Cut with QuicKutz dies
Matted with scalloped die from Memory Box
Faux stitching done with white gel pen
Background scrap papers from DCWV (I think)
Sentiment die cut with Die-namics die

    Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Cupcake Inspirations
Double D (My style is "snowy")
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Colors
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 9, Letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Day 9 means the letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and I'm using a few fairly simple "H"s - Happy family, Happy Holidays, Holly, "...our House to yours...", Hats, and Holly berries.  I absolutely love this Happy snowman family with a Houseful of baby snowkids from Beccys!

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with QuicKutz dies
Frame dp from Doodlebug
Holly leaves (from Beccy's Place) fussy cut
Front panel embossed w/ "Linen" folder
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Snowflake button w/ glitter
Sentiment (Beccy's Place) hand cut and matted

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
CCC Digi Creations
Christmas Crafts All Year ...
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Scrappy Land

     That's it for today.  I'm heading back to the craft room to work on another card for Beccy's Place and you'll see it posted in the next day or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holder for Gift Certificate

     When the Christmas season rolls around, I find I'm always in need of gift card and gift certificate holders.  No matter how many I make, I'm always one or two short.  Maybe that's because my family comes and asks if I have any "spares" they can take.  :-D

     Once more, I'm playing in the Christmas in July challenges at Catch the Bug and today they want us to do Anything but a Card.  I love the adorable snowmen in this pre-colored image and the sentiment is inspired by the movie "Santa Claus is Coming to Town.".

Here's the Gift Certificate spot.

Pre Colored image
QuicKutz square die
Sentiment with computer font
Inked edges on the image

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Bastel-Traum
CCC Digi Creations
Christmas Crafts AYR
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty
Di's Digi Designs
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Chaos - Day 6

     The Holiday Chaos week of daily challenges at Catch the Bug is almost over, with only one more day to go after today.  The inspiration theme is a color challenge, using this photo inspiration.

    Here's what I did with it.

     I started with a pre-colored image, then used ProMarkers to add orange and yellow to the birds and carrot noses on the snowmen, and a bit of gray to the sky.  I cut the image square with my largest die from QuicKutz, then cut two straight lines to run the ribbon behind the image.

     I tied a simple, plaid bow, added it at the bottom, and used a Die-Versions die to cut the red sentiment.  Again, a card design that's pretty CAS overall and definitely flat enough to mail.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp & Show (bow, birds, bells)

     That's all I have for today but 2 posts in one day should be enough.  I'll have 2 posts tomorrow, too; the last of the Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos projects and a new one for the challenge at QKR Stampede.  Be sure to check in for those.

    Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Making a Joyful Noise with Music

     Yep, another card for the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place but then, if you've been visiting me at all this month, you already suspected that.  :-D  The alphabet prompt is the letter "M" and we're at the midway point of both the month and the alphabet.  My "M"s to day are related to Music.  I adore these 3 snowmen Making Music, singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs (do snowmen have lungs?)

I started with the sketch from Tuesday Morning.

     I colored with ProMarkers, my favorite alcohol Markers, and cut the image with a Lawn Fawn, stitched, square die, turned on point to make a diamond shape.  The silver and white ribbon is wired & glittered and I wrapped the card front with it.

     I printed and hand-cut the sentiment and began layering on all the different bits and pieces.  The bow is from my stash, one of those I make by the dozens and toss into the stash for future use.  The snowflake charm was in my Christmas stash and I'm sure it's been there for 3 years, forgotten and unused.  It seemed awfully happy to see the light of day when I took it out.  :-D  I added glitter to it and put it in a prominent place at the top of the card.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Cardz TV
Crafty Sentiments
Digistamp4Joy
Outlawz Festive Friday
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrap from Your Heart
Try Stampin' on Tues.

     This is my first post of the day and in about an hour, I'll be posting my DT card for Creations in Pink so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowmen or Flakes

     Our latest challenge is starting today at QKR Stampede and we have our usual "Anything Goes" theme but if you want to use the twist, it's "Snowman or Snowflakes."  I've used a sweet little snowmen image called "Father and Son" 15901 and the sentiment is also from QKR,  "All the Years" 17308.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and die cut it on an angle with a die from Spellbinders.  I printed the sentiment onto sky blue paper, cut it with a small rectangle die from QuicKutz, and added it to the image piece.  All of that went onto turquoise CS. 

     I hand tied a small bow using polka dot ribbon and layered it on just below the sentiment piece. The card design is really pretty CAS but looks more complex because of the fancy die.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Color
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Only the weekend to go before the New Year arrives.  May your partying be safe and sane.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Let It Snow !

     I can say "Let it snow!" all I want because I live where it doesn't snow and I don't have to shovel it to get out of my driveway or down my steps to the sidewalk.  lol  But this card is for Day 6 of the Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug challenge.  I think I've used this Bugaboo Stamps image every Christmas since I got it a few years back.

We have to use this inspiration for our theme.

     I started by coloring with my ProMarkers, then cut it into a square.  I cut a narrow frame for it by using two dies (inside and outside) from Sue Wilson.  I also cut out the shaped piece with another die from that same set and used it tucked under the side of the image, as a mat for the hand tied bow.

     This was extremely difficult to photograph because I used shiny silver-white CS for the card base and it had a glare regardless of the angle at which I shot it.  But I love the look of it IRL !

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrappy Land
Star Stampz
Time Out (prints, patterns & snowflakes)

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowmen Selfie

     Welcome to my 4th post of the day today, this one for SheepSki Designs.  Be sure to scroll down to see the other DT projects I did for today.

     The theme for our challenge at Sheepski this month is to make it "Sparkle and Shine."  I chose a fun image called "Snowman Selfie" and I absolutely love the idea of a snow family taking selfies at their winter reunions.  I'm sure they use them for their Christmas cards.  :-D

     I did a monochromatic of reds (with neutral grays) using my ProMarkers.  I cut the image with a simple, square die from QuicKutz, then inked the edges.  The red CS is dry embossed with a poinsettia folder from Darice and I layered the image onto it, then added it to a card base made from gray CS.

     Each of the tiny ornament embellies has glitter added for sparkle and is cut from shiny silver paper.  The white star is a die cut (Cheery Lynn) and I covered it in glitter.  The silver ribbon is sparkly and the red satin ribbon, including the hand tied bow, has a polished shine.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Classic DT Open
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us ("Winter Wonderland")
Do-Al(l) Kreatives
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     Whew, last post of the day and I'm exhausted!  Hope to see you playing along  with us this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Kristmas Karaoke

     OK, silly title for the post but it's the day for "K" in the 30 days of Holidays over at Beccy's Place and when I saw these three snowmen in her shop, singing from their hearts, they looked just like a Karaoke group and that was perfect for a "K" !  Yes, I took some liberties with the spelling of Kristmas but I needed to stick with the "K"s.  :-D

I based my card on the sketch at Die Cuttin' Divas.

     Image is Kolored with ProMarkers, trimmed into a square, and Korner punched (Fiskars.)  The background was made by die Kutting gray-blue CS (Memory Box die.)  Once the piece was Kut, I had a "frame" with a more-or-less 'oval' opening but the opening wasn't large enough to let the image show through.  So, I Kut the frame into 2 pieces, patched it with a strip of that same CS, and added it to the card front.

     I used a glitter gel pen to Kolor some of the open spaces in the frame making them look like sparkly snowflakes.  I also used it to cast shadows on the snow beneath the snowmen.  Then I added the red ribbon and layered on the image.  I used one of my hand sewn bows which had been white but I dyed it with a marker.  (Don't you just hate the way I turned all those hard "C"s into "K"s?  lol)

     Challenges:
Beccy's Place
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Unicorn

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Icicles

     Yep, it's another card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and today is the letter "I" so I opted for Icicles as my theme.  I chose to use Beccy's lovely family of snow people.

     I colored them with my ProMarkers, Inked the background, then cut them with a die from Gina Marie.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with another die from that same Gina Marie set.  I mounted those onto an Ice Blue card base.

     I cut the Icicles by hand from glittered CS and added them across the top of the card.  Finally,  I added three snowflakes, two silver and one Iridescent white, each with a gemstone.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Beccy's Place
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Ike's World
Kraftin' Kimmie
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters

     I have cards made up through the letter L and hope to work on more of the alphabet over the weekend.  I know this month is going to get crazy with Thanksgiving right around the corner so I'm trying to get as many cards as possible done ahead for Beccy's alphabet challenges.  See you tomorrow with two posts, one of which will be my QKR Stampede DT card.  Come check them out.  Happy Crafting.  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

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

     Friday morning, only a week before Thanksgiving here in the US, and many states and cities have already had snow.  That seemed to be a good reason to celebrate "Snowmen" in our new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.

I used colors from the inspiration photo at City Crafter.

     QKR has so many adorable snowmen in its collection but I chose this one, Digi 13004 "Winter Friends" and paired it with Digi 13804 "Cold Hands" for the sentiment.   I used my ProMarkers to color the image and then used a scalloped border die from Spellbinders to cut one side of it.  The sentiment is hand cut and inked on the edges.

     The background dp is from the "Winter Magic" stack by DCWV.  I added the striped ribbon, lacing it through the scallops and then added the sentiment piece over the ribbon by using dimensional dots.  It's a pretty simple design which looks more complex because of the patterns in the dp and the ribbon.

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Colour Your World
Crafting with Dragonflies
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Love to Scrap
Papertake Weekly
Scrapy Land
Sweet Stamps
Through the Craft Room Door
Where the HeART Is
WordArt Wednesday

     The weekend is here already - can you believe it?  This will be the last one I have to get things ready for Thanksgiving.  Tomorrow, I'm spending the day (and night) with my granddaughters, getting the last bits and final touches of costumes sewn for their big day at our local Comicon.

     It's been a project which has taken up the greater part of two weekends and several weekday afternoons but I've had so much fun spending that time teaching the first steps in sewing.  Nothing like picking a very complex costume pattern for the first sewing project!  But, then, that's my granddaughter.  Tackle big projects with absolute faith that they can be accomplished. :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friends Across the Miles

     It's so good to be back posting with The Crafter's Cafe again after taking a leave while I was doing all that moving.  Having gotten the craft room into a manageable state (which is not to say it's organized or even completely unpacked), I'm excited to be fulfilling my DT obligations again.

     This challenge our theme is "Friends" and our wonderful sponsor is QKR Stampede.  I love QKR digis and I found this image in my own collection, although QKR provided images to the team.  I wanted to do something that would celebrate all those friends and loved ones who are so many miles away but are still counted among those dear to us.

I chose to use the sketch at CAS on Sunday.

     I really love coloring QKR digis and watching them come to life.  I used my favorite ProMarkers, and then added Metallic Silver EP from WOW! to the mailbox and the larger gift.   I used a glitter gel pen to make the snowflakes and shadow the snow on which the snowman is standing.

     I used a VersaMark pen on the bits I wanted to emboss, then sprinkled on the EP and used my heat gun. That's one of my favorite ways to heat emboss digital images.  I always color the image first, then use an Embossing Buddy to powder the image before applying the EP.  That way,  I don't get unwanted spots of EP on the digi.  Here's a tip for you:  When you want to heat emboss really small areas of a digital image, use a very small 'spotter' type paint brush, stroke it across your embossing ink pad (or dip it into your refill bottle if you have one) and then 'paint' the area you want to emboss.  The embossing ink sticks to the paper and you can emboss smaller areas than the VersaMark pen tip would allow.  The biggest problem with VersaMark pens, I think, is the relatively large size of the nibs.

     The bow is one of those I sew and I used ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon to make it.  Paper came from DCWV, their "Winter Magic" stack from a couple of years ago.  I used a strip of washi tape and mounted the sentiment on it.  The rhinestone bling was in my stash.  (It's amazing what you can find when you have to pack and then unpack due to a move!!)   After all I've done on this card (or should I say "haven't done" -- meaning I left off most of the embellishments I wanted to use), I certainly hope it has a CAS feel to it.  I know the open space isn't 'white' space but there was so much white in the image piece, it just needed a patterned background to showcase it.  At least the bow & rhinestones are the only embellishments and it will definitely fit in to a standard envelope.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Christmas with no red or green
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Ribbon/lace & bling
A Little Bit Crafty -- Sparkle and shine
Card and Scrap -- Christmas cards
Catered Crop -- Washi tape
Challenges 4 Everybody -- Anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge -- Dimension
Christmas Cards All Year Round -- Winter wonderland
Corrosive Challenges -- TicTacToe: bling/ image/ layers
Crafting Cafe -- Winter blues
Die Cut Divas -- Holidays and celebrations
Flat Friends -- Christmas cards
Great Impressions -- Holiday card or tag
Hobbycutz -- Song inspired (Blue Christmas)
One Crazy Stamper -- Christmas
Outlawz PAM -- Snowmen
Really Reasonable  Ribbon -- Christmas + ribbon
Tok Bobok -- Christmas
Whoopsi Daisy -- Monochromatic
WOW Embossing Powders -- Christmas/Winter

     Goodness, I haven't done a single card for that many challenges in many months!  But this week/month seems to have so many challenges with Christmas or winter themes, how could I resist?  :-D  I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge at The Crafter's Cafe.  Remember, it doesn't have to be Christmas -- just anything that fits our "Friends" theme.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Caroling Snowmen

     I'm so excited to announce that I was invited to join Beccy's Place as a Guest Designer for a blog hop that is being done by Sparkle N Sprinkle, where you can find many of Beccy's images. 

     Today the Beccy's Place designers have teamed up with Sparkle N Sprinkle for the release of the new "Snow One Like You" set of images.  The girls over at SNS have been working with the rubber stamp version, while we have been using the digital set that contains a couple of additional images.

Keep reading to learn how you can win one of Beccy's digital sets!

The digital set is available for purchase from Beccy's online store.

Here is the card I created using the set. 

     I went a little wild with the circles but that just makes it a "well-rounded" card, right?    I used ProMarkers to color the image and added glitter to them and to the ice for a bit of sparkle.  I used the same shades of blue to color the "joy" in the sentiment.

     I die cut everything; image, dp, sentiment, then layered everything onto a sapphire blue card base.  I added pearls to the corners for embellishment and then left it alone.  I thought the papers were busy enough that nothing more was needed.

     Beccy is giving away three sets of the "Snow One Like You" digital stamps.  All you have to do is leave a comment on one of her designers blogs during the hop.  Three random comments will be chosen and those people will receive the full set of digital images.  You can leave a comment on as many of the designers blogs as you like... visit them all to increase your chances of winning!

Monika's Blog

Aurore's Blog

Christine's Blog

Karin's Blog

Cynthia's Blog

Ema's Blog

Donna's Blog

Angela's Blog

NanaConnie's Blog  <----that's me!

Charlene's Blog

     Challenges I'm entering with this card:
2 Sisters -- Anything goes
Crafts-Too Challenge You -- Texture + glittery
Creative Corner -- Great Outdoors (if they weren't outdoors, they'd melt!)
Cut It Up -- Going in circles
Digi Haven -- 2 colors (blue & white; just for you, Lynn!)
Drunken Stampers -- Die cuts
My Creative Moments -- Seasons (winter)
Outlawz Monday -- Anything goes
Sister Act -- Anything goes

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stitchy Bear Sponsors Tuesday Throwdown

     Good morning, all my lovely followers and friends.  It's a glorious Tuesday morning here in Northern California after a weekend of rain or snow, depending on your elevation.  While my own back yard doesn't get snow, after seeing all the beautiful pictures of the fresh snow, today's card is done to celebrate snowy, white Christmases.  The challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week is sponsored by Stitchy Bear (they generously supplied all the images to the DT), and our theme is Favorite Color Combo.  While most of you know that purple is my favorite color, teal/turquoise and white is one of my favorite color combos for cards.

     Isn't this the most adorable snowman (hmmm, snowpeople) family, all together for Christmas?  The sketch is from Eat, Sleep, Stamp and I had to push it a bit to get the window effect I wanted.  I think Tracy will forgive me for that since square cards and window cards are things I rarely do but I took it as a challenge and did both in one card!  Thanks, Tracy, for the inspiration.  :-D   Christmas Stamping All Year Long wants us to use a favorite sketch, and you all know by now that Tracy's Eat, Sleep, Stamp is my favorite place to find a sketch.

     The image is colored with teal, turquoise, and blue-gray Touch Twin markers (loving those more and more all the time!) and I added almost no other colors because I wanted to stay with the teal, which is the color challenge this week at Do You Stack Up?  I added Stickles Diamonds and also Stickles Frosted Lace for all the sparklies on the image.  There is also sparkle in the dp, which is from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV.  I chose it because it looked like it could be wallpaper.   I used 1/16" teal, satin ribbon to make the window, and a scrap of lace from my stash for the curtain.  That lace has flowers in it so they have to serve as the flowers on my card.  Crafty Ribbons had a Bingo chart this week (Glitter, Flowers, Gems), as did Truly Scrumptious, (Lace, Flowers, Ribbon.)

     My final touch was the sparkly gem swirl for some added bling.  I have to say this is one of those cards which pleases me greatly!  I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't look the way I had it pictured in my mind, but it is even better than what I imagined!

     Other challenges (and there are a ton of them this time):

Allways Something Creative - sparkle

Crafty Purple Frog - sparkle

Delightful Challenges - sparkly Christmas

Crafter's Companion - Celebrate a Holiday

Bah, Humbug - Snowmen

Crop Stop - Make a Snowman

Cupcake Craftroom - Sweet Christmas

Floweret - Christmas

I Did It Creations - Winter/Christmas (also sponsored by Stitchy Bear this week!)

Freshly Brewed - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Christmas

Jellypark Friends - non-traditional Christmas colors

Sundays with Chrissy - Christmas in non-traditional colors

Crimbo Crackers - (must be Christmas) Anything Goes

Fabulous Friday - Family

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi

Winter Wonderland - Make it sparkle

The Squirrel & The Fox - Hats or Flowers

Party Time Tuesday - sparkle and bling

Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes

     Hope to see you playing this week at Tuesday Throwdown.  How much easier can it be?  Just pick a favorite color combo and play along.  See you there.  NanaConnie