Day 19, Letter "Q"- Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Wow, this month is really rocketing by!  Here we are on Day 19 of the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and our letter prompt is "Q."   Not an easy one; I pretty much feel limited to quilting or quilling and since it's been years since I did any quilling, I turned to Quilted.  I used Beccy's (free) Three French Hens image from her 12 Days of Christmas set, along with one of my Quilting dies.

My card design was inspired by the sketch at Tuesday Morning

but I stretched it to allow for a horizontal design.

Quilted hens colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Oval die from QuicKutz
Quilt die from Sizzix
Glitter paper by Recollections
Green polka dot dp from K & Co.
Red CS embossed with Linen EF
Holly leaves die from SU
Mini buttons

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pegasus in Purple

     I'm a Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday this month and this is my second card for them but a completely new sketch.  They have new sketches and new challenges each week.  The sketch this week was both fun and fancy.

     The sponsor for this week is LeAnn's World 101.  She has some of the most adorable images!  Go check them out.  I used one called "Daisy's Friend" and was delighted that the friend is Pegasus.  :-D

     A quick personal story - I first discovered Pegasus through reading.  As a child, summer meant plenty of reading time (without any teachers telling you what you had to read) and one summer, I discovered Greek Mythology.  That led to a love of all fantasy creatures and to this day, unicorns, fairies, mermaids, and especially Pegasus, all mean summer time to me.

Here's the sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, deciding to use a monochromatic range of my favorite color, purple.  I cut the image and purple frame with dies from my newest Tonic Studios set.  I love that die set.  It has alternating sizes of plain and scalloped rectangles.  Once I had the image cut with the  die, I carefully cut it into 6 "inchie" squares.

     I laid those out on the frame piece, spacing them carefully to get the 'window' look.  Once adhered, I layered that entire piece onto the background dp (Stampin' Up), then put that onto deep purple CS.

     I printed and added the sentiment, substituting it for the little flag piece.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

As You Like It (Fur or feathers?  How about both!  But fur is still easier to color.)

Aud Sentiments

Cut It Up

DL.ART

Outlawz PAM

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

Take It, Make It

     I'll see you again next Saturday with another sketch.  In the meantime, come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge with Rick St. Dennis

     Here we are - another new challenge starts today at 2 Craft Critter Crazies and the sponsor is Rick St. Dennis.  They generously supplied images for each of the DT members so all of our inspiration projects are completely different this month.  Be sure to check the main challenge blog to see them all.

     I used a fabulous image called "Dragon" and, if you're into dragons the way my granddaughter is, be sure to check out the Zibbet store.  There are several fantastic dragon images over there.

     I colored the dragon using ProMarkers, then cut him on three sides with a border die from Spellbinders.  The scallops on the dp were also cut with another border die from Spellbinders. 

     The olive green dp came from Stampin' Up and I used 4 different scrap pieces to make all those layers.  I thought minimal embellishment would best feature that magnificent dragon so I limited the embellishing to three, tiny pearls in two corners and then left it alone.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Come play with us this month!   Out theme is always "Anything Goes" as long as you feature a creature.  Be sure to check the blog to find out who won last month's challenge and to see all the DT Favorites.  One of them might be you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thinking of You

     This beautiful lady, surrounded by dahlias, comes from Ching-Chou Kuik, where they want us to use our favorite colors.  Of course, you couldn't guess from the card below that my favorites are always in the purple family - everything from periwinkle blue to lavenders and lilacs, to the deepest red-violet or burgundy.

I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image and the oval frames with dies from both QuicKutz and Spellbinders.  Stacking them all together gives some wonderful dimension to the card.

     The strip of dp with the butterflies was in my scrap basket and I think it is from SU.  The background paper is digital and came from one of the sets at MHK Designs.

     The large butterfly is machine embroidered using purple, white and black thread.

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge (digi/die cut/dimension)
Crafty Friends
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
WordArt Weds.

     I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit.  If I haven't been by your blog over the last couple of weeks, it's because I'm still healing from a shoulder injury and, often, I have to decide whether to craft or spend time at the keyboard commenting.  I'll be around to catch up on my visits and comments as soon as I can.  In the meantime, I appreciate you visiting my blog even though I'm not reciprocating right away.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Boot Full of Flowers

     I'm so excited about today's card.  I made it because I was invited to be a Guest Designer at Pixie's Crafty Workshop, better known as "The Playground."  Each challenge runs for two weeks and we're already one week into the current challenge so this card serves as the half-way reminder.  Themes are always Anything Goes but there is a requirement that you use 'snippets' - you know, those bits and pieces of scrap that we feel so good about using up instead of tossing them into the trash.

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps, printed onto a scrap of white CS, and colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.   I used a Sue Wilson die to cut it.

     The striped dp is from Stampin' Up and it, too, was a scrap.  I trimmed it into a rectangle, then used a Memory Box die to cut the scallops.  The die is actually a circle but because the paper was a scrap, that's the shape which resulted from cutting a narrow rectangle with a circle die.  I rather like it!  :-D

     The yellow dp on the upper part of the card is another scrap and I trimmed it to fit the width of the card.  I cut the double butterfly with another die, this one from Presscut, and the paper was double sided so I got two layers for the butterfly even though the paper was nothing more than a very tiny scrap.  I layered them together and added three tiny pearls which were left over from another project.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
DL.ART
Dream Valley
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Path of Positivity

     Check out The Playground this weekend and then come play along.  Dig out some of those left over snippets and join us.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Chocolates Mean Love!

     I remember as a child growing up that there were a few special occasions when a box of fancy chocolates would show up and they were always occasions when love was being celebrated - Valentine's  Day, my parent's Anniversary, sometimes even Mother's Day.  If we were oh, so good, we could choose a piece from the box and that meant "Love!"

     My card today celebrates those lovely memories with an image from House Mouse.

I decided that I'd also use the color palette from Outlawz Color Challenge 

since it has all my favorite purples in it.  :-D

     I stamped and colored the image (using ProMarkers), then cut it with a plain rectangle die from Spellbinders.  I matted it with dp from SU and cut it again with another, larger die from that set.  The background dp came from a pad by Paper House.  I've used so much of it because of the entire pad is all purples and now I wish I'd purchased three of them instead of just the one.

     I wrapped the card front with sheer, lavender ribbon and dug out one of my hand-sewn bows, dyed it purple, and layered it onto the sheer ribbon.  The tiny flower is embroidered using purple floss for the flower itself and a combination of purple and green floss for the stem and leaf.

     Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it to the bottom corner of the image.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Cards in Envy
Color Inspiration Mon.
Creates and Makes
House Mouse
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Simon Says Stamp
Unicorn

     Have a great Monday and Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Happy Troll Day

     Once more I'm tickled to be sharing a card as a Guest Designer for Catch the Bug.  We have a new challenge that starts today and our theme is to use washi tape.  I'm using one of the newest images from Bugaboo Stamps, the "Birthday Troll."  I'm stocking up on birthday cards.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a diamond die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut before mounting it with washi tape bits. 

     All the washi tape pieces were cut with one of my quilting dies, this one from Stampin' Up.  Actually, those were all in my stash of scraps, having been cut from glittery washi for an earlier project.  I used the washi tape as the only embellishment so that I could keep it CAS.

     Everything is mounted on yellow, hand-bleached, CS (done with a Q-Tip dipped in bleach!)

     Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty 
Colour Inspiration Mon.
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Have yourself a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mousie Valentines by Air Mail

     I'm playing with House Mouse images again this weekend (I do love all the HM critters!) and decided to color up this one showing how the House Mousies handle their Valentine Mail.  This is an oldie but goodie which I've used at least a dozen times in the last 4 years.  :-D

I based my design on the sketch from Sketch Saturday

but turned it on its side.

     This is a pretty simple design and I got to play around with more washi tape.  I started by coloring with my ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then I used a rectangle die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  I inked the edges for a bit more definition.

     I decided on a pale yellow for the card front and used chalks to distress it.  Both the metallic and the glittery pieces are washi tape.  I added them along the bottom of the card front and added the image on top.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut.

     For the flower, I cut the deep blue leaves with my oldest die from Cheery Lynn (first one I ever bought!), then took layers of mulberry petals, stacked them, and added an enamel-head brad to hold them together.  Final touch was the little pieces of glittery washi tape.  Those were left over from another project and they were cut with a quilting die from Stampin' Up.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Colour Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creative Moments
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz PAM

     I'll see you tomorrow with another GDT card for The Outlawz CAS challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Never Forget" Belated Birthday

     I know the title of this post is a complete contradiction but I'm using this card for a birthday which I did forget so...  The cute little elephant is an image from Dragon's Lair January Progressive challenge

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a square die from QuicKutz.  The two rectangular pieces of dp are cut with Chain Link dies from Gina Marie.  Both of those papers are from SU.

     The card front is dry embossed with a bamboo embossing folder.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edge, and mounted it onto the card front.  Because this is a masculine birthday card, I did no fru-fru embellishing.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I'm off to get this into the mail so that it won't be any later reaching the recipient.  Bad enough that I forgot to get the card made in time for it to arrive on his birthday!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Post Holiday Thank You Cards

     One of the things about the Christmas holidays and all the gifts is that there is an immediate need for Thank You cards.  I usually start making them during the holidays and this year was no exception.  I made more than a dozen, some of which I shared with family members who needed them.  I'm still making a few more and will post those as they are completed.  In the meantime, here are the first two I finished and mailed.

     First card:

     This one was pretty simple to make; it's nothing more than die cuts, dp, and CS.  The background cut was done with one of my newest die sets from Sue Wilson (Merry Christmas to me!), cut from bleached dp.  The sentiment piece is actually the 'negative' piece left over from cutting out the word "Thanks."  That's a die from Memory Box and I think it looks like a cloud.

     I layered the cuts together, and layered them onto a pink card base which had been embossed with my "Linen" folder.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Digi Choosday
DL.ART
Everybody Art
TTCRD

     Second card:

     This is another card done all with die cuts but it's a bit more complex.  The card base is another pre-made card and, again, I ran the front of it through my "Linen" embossing folder to give it a bit of texture.  The sentiment is cut with the same Memory Box die as I used above but from different color CS.

     The "quilted" star was cut with my other brand new die (from Stampin' Up) and I know I'm going to have tons of fun with this one!   Talk about versatile - more design combinations than you can imagine.  Great value for the money.

     All of that glittered "paper" is actually cut from 6" x 6" sheets of washi tape.  The sheets have a clear backing paper which peals off to expose the adhesive.  I cut 4 different colors of the glittered washi sheets, then pieced together the shapes to make the star.

     That is my first stack of washi sheets and I plan to order more of them right away!  I can see all  kinds of possibilities for that kind of washi 'tape' and I don't want to run out of it in the first week of using it.  lol

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today but I am getting back into my routine so I'll probably have a post each day this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Potted Poinsettia

     One more Christmas card to share and I have a feeling I'll still be sharing some after Christmas!  This one uses an image from Bugaboo Stamps with one of my favorite characters, Fancy Sunbonnet.  She's just so precious and I adore nearly every image with her throughout seasons.  This one, in which she's bearing the gift of a poinsettia plant, is probably my favorite for the Christmas season. 
   
     Maybe that's because she reminds me of my mother who often gifted poinsettias to family members at Christmas.  Each had been lovingly snipped and pot-started from the massive poinsettia plant she tended in our yard.  She had more luck growing them than anyone else I've ever known.

     I started by coloring this with ProMarkers, then I fussy cut the image by hand.  I took a red card base and ran it through one of my Poinsettia embossing folders from SU.  I found a negative scrap frame (Spellbinders die) which I trimmed and adhered on top of the embossing.  I used dimensional tape to mount the image inside the frame.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and added it above the image.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug (top row)
Come and Get It
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack

     I have another pre-scheduled post tomorrow for my usual Friday at QKR Stampede so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Eve Party Mice

     Here's my second post today, again using a borrowed House Mouse stamp and other supplies.  I'm not sure which of the two images is the cutest.  If you haven't seen my previous post today, scroll down and check it out, then let me know which image is the cutest.  :-D

     This is what happens when the Mousies' Christmas Eve party runs too late into the evening and nobody has enough energy to tote the kids upstairs to their beds.  The parents stoke up the fire, tuck the sleepy kids into Santa caps, and stumble off to their own beds.  I'm not sure how Santa is going to get down that chimney with the fire roaring but since he has holiday magic, I'm sure he'll manage somehow.

     I colored with ProMarkers this time, then cut the image and punched the corners.  I added a rectangle of patterned dp (a scrap) as a mat for it and corner punched it, also.  The die cut doily was done with die from Spellbinders.  The dp is from SU and is double sided so I got to choose the side I liked best.

     I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and inked the edges with a marker.  I liked the lacy doily and decided that it was best without ribbon or other embellishments (which are currently in short supply.)

     Challenges:
Christmas with the Cuties
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
House Mouse
Incy Wincy
Merry Monday (1st column)
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp

     I think I have a post pre-scheduled for tomorrow but it may have been set for Thursday.  I know I have a post on Friday for QKR Stampede, so either way, stop by and visit again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Harvest Days

     A friend and I were crafting together yesterday and I used one of her fall stamps.  It turns out she bought it from Victorine Originals and she had a link to their website.  Can you believe I've never heard of them before and they even have a challenge!   This time they have a beautiful inspiration photo and that's the reason I chose this particular image to stamp and use on my card.  Let me show both of them to you and you can tell me what you think.

                               

I also used the sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas.

     I used Copics and colored pencils to color it, then die cut both the image and the frame using dies from Tattered Lace.  All the papers are from SU and the little Bird on a Branch was cut with a Cottage Cutz die.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafting by Designs
Cuttlebug Mania
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

     I hope those of you in the US are enjoying your Columbus Day holiday and that you'll find time to relax and enjoy the extra 'weekend' day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

No More Housework -- I'm On Strike !

     Hey, folks, it's Friday again and that means another challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  It also means that I'm very late writing up this post but not so late that it won't go live on time.  :-D  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and the optional theme, if you want to use it, is "Embossing"  -- wet or dry.

     This QKR image (Parked Broom) always tickles me.  I'm sure it was meant to be used for Halloween but at my house, it's been enlarged, colored, and made into a poster which I can hang on the broom closet door whenever I feel more like crafting than cleaning.  For today, I used it on a card.

     I colored those lovely autumn golds and oranges with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die from Die-namics.  I found a scrap bit of pale orange CS, ran it through a "Lattice" folder by Stampin' Up, and used it offset behind the image.

     The blue background was cut with a die from Altenew (one of my new favorites which I dig out whenever possible!) and I layered that onto a white card base before adding the rest of the pieces.  I managed to collect a short bit of plaid ribbon and tied a bow, then added a bit of black feather and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Southern Girls
Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  Remember, you don't have to use a QKR (or Eureka) image but if you do, then your entry is put into a separate draw just for those and that increases your chances of winning by more than you can imagine.  Either way, come play!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Down on the Farm

     It's Friday again and that means another "Anything Goes" challenge has begun at QKR Stampede.  Even though our primary theme is always "Anything Goes" we offer an optional twist if you want to use it.  This week, it's "Down on the Farm."  I used this fun and funny image from QKR called "Farmer."

     Farmer Pig (along with his 'moonshine' jug) is colored with ProMarkers, die cut with border dies from Spellbinders and the edges were inked with Promarkers, too.  The polka dot paper is from SU and the polka dot ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The fabric flower was in my stash and I added a tiny scrap of gingham ribbon to it before layering it onto the other ribbon.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Kraftin' Kimmie
Paper Shelter
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Little Hello

     I'm assuming that little mice would say little "hellos", don't you agree?

I started with the inspiration photo from Lawn Fawnatics

for my colors.  Bright colors are my favorites for anything summer.

     The image is from Toadstool Printables and I colored it with ProMarkers before cutting it with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The sentiment was also cut with a Lawn Fawn die but I had to adjust a square die so that it cut a rectangle.  I love being able to use dies in ways they weren't originally designed.

     I inked the edges of the image, then found a scrap of red polka dot dp (Stampin' Up) and adhered it directly to the card front, then layered on the image piece.  A polka dot bow was all I needed to finish this CAS card.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Inspirations
Get Creative
I {heart} ProMarkers
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sweet Stampers
Word Art Weds.

     I'm still on target for doing a card each day for the week-long, Christmas-in-July daily challenges at Catch the Bug so stop back later today for my post about that card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Can't Be Late!

     The latest Progressive Challenge has started over at The Outlawz and the freebie image this month is from Di's Digi Designs.  I loved it the minute I saw it and couldn't wait to use it so now I've added one more birthday card to my stash.

I based my card design on the sketch from Mojo Monday.

I had to modify it slightly so I could make a square card 

and so I wouldn't cover up any of the image.

     I used my ProMarkers to color it, then cut it with a double stitched die from Die-Versions.  I cut the two frames with larger dies from that same set and those are not layers but insets.  The orange papers are from Stampin' Up and the brown and beige are from my CS stash.

     I tied the double bow with 1/8th inch ribbon.  The sentiment was printed, die cut, and matted.  Now it's ready for a special occasion birthday.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn

     Well, from three posts yesterday to just one today.  Are you feeling deprived?  :-D  Hope not but if so, I'll have another post tomorrow so just wait a few more hours.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Big Wheel Sheriff

     That post title should have piqued your curiosity!  :-D  It's Friday and we have another new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist each time which you can use if you choose.  This week the optional twist is "Wheels."  I know, I know, my mind jumped right to cars, trains, wagons, etc., too, but this little guy caught my eye and I just had to use him!  This is a QKR image called "Little Cowboy."

     I just love that his stick pony has a wheel on it (just in case you missed it.)  I was thinking about my friend, Lynn, from Texas when I was putting this card together and, since her favorite color is blue, that became the focus of this color combo.  I colored with my ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a Sue Wilson die.

     I used the same die to cut the dp (from Stampin' Up) and inlaid the image into it.  I did the sentiment in white on a blue background just to emphasize why our little sheriff is wearing all white. :-D  Everything went onto a black card front.  Finally, I added the twine and the cowboy charm and called it finished.  I think it's going to make a great masculine birthday card for some young boy.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Everybody Art
House that Stamps Built
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     Hey, everyone, the weekend starts in just a few hours now!  I hope you have time scheduled for lots of creativity and relaxation.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not a Creature was Stirring...

     This will be a really fast post to day because my schedule is just so full but I wanted to share another of the Christmas images stamped and send to me by my friend, Sherryl, as a way of encouraging me to get started on my Christmas cards for 2017.  Thanks, dear friend.  This is the second card I've completed.

     Dies by Spellbinders and dp from Stampin' Up.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafting with an Attitude
Holly & Ivy
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Sweet Stampin' Christmas
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Flower Boot

     I'm a huge fan of Bugaboo Stamps and I can't even tell you how many I have in my collection but it has to be in the high hundreds.  This is one I've never used before making this card but it seems so clearly an image for spring.  Despite being sick, I'm so glad it's spring!  I know my allergies will kick in soon but I'm not going to let even that get me down.

    I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The background "Chicken Wire" die is also by Cheery Lynn.  Both of the papers came from SU and the bow is one of the bowties I learned to make as few months ago.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Catch the Bug (3rd column)
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Catz
Crafty Creations
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Outlawz Festive Friday
Time Out

     This week is flying by, or maybe it's just that I'm lacking sleep and have no real sense of time.  I know I've only been able to sleep in 2 or 3 hours blocks and then wake up because my head is so congested, I can't breathe.   I'll be glad when the cold progresses into the chest and I can breathe through my nose again.  :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie