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.  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

Light Unto the World

      Today, we start another new challenge at FarmQuest, where 'country or farm' is a necessary part of our challenge.  In addition to that, we give you a theme to follow.  This fortnight, our theme is "Lights."  Since Christmas is right around the corner, I decided to feature the kinds of lights we might associate with that holiday.

     I had two favorite images and I simply could not choose between them, so I did two inspiration cards for this challenge.  This first one is a classic candle lantern with holiday greenery, and I colored it with water color paints and a little dab of Stickles to make the candle light sparkle.  I used white gel pen on the snow.

     The image was cut with an Unbranded die, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used red CS on the right side of the card front and a scrap from an old K & Co. stack on the left card front.  The tiny gem on the sentiment piece is from Stampin' Up.

     Challenges: (for this card)

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Jan's Digi Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

     The second card features a clip art image by Anton Peck, filled with street lamps and candles, printed in 10% gray scale (which leaves just a hint of original color), and colored with Sanjoki markers.  Again, I added Stickles to the candle flames, and highlighted the snow by using white gel pen on it.   I absolutely adore the old elves making their own music for Christmas caroling on a country village street.

     The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and both were layered onto a piece of red CS.  This card has to be mailed so I left it flat and CAS.

     Challenges: (for this card)

Christmas Kickstart

Digi Choosday

Holly & Ivy

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

     Come play along in our challenge.  It's open until December 13 and a new challenge will begin on December 14th.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nutcrackers

      Conie Fong has a new image set, released just this week and perfect for Christmas.  It's a fabulous set of Nutcrackers which includes a King, a Soldier, and a Drummer.  Click on the word "Nutcrackers" in the previous sentence and that will take you right to them in store.  They are so perfect and I went a little crazy making DT projects with them.  :-D

     I started with this card, using the Nutcracker King image.  He's colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  I used a Sizzix embossing folder on a scrap of CS (Stampin' Up) to make the blue panel, then cut the snowflakes with dies from Impression Obsession.  They have glitter added to them for a tiny bit of sparkle but it just doesn't show up in the photo.  The Noel sentiment was cut with a Die-Versions die.  The final touch was the hand-sewn, satin bow with a pearl.

     Challenges:

     Feeling that the other two Nutcracker images shouldn't be left out, and because my daughter collects nutcrackers as Christmas decorations and displays, I made a two-sided, tree ornament for her.  Both images were colored with Sanjoki markers, then I cut each one with the same Spellbinders die.  

 

     After cutting the images with that die, I cut 7 more of that shape from plain white CS.  I sandwiched all those layers together using double stick tape to make the ornament thick and heavy, and added a scrap of ribbon as the hanger.  (Note: As an afterthought, after the photos had been taken, I applied Mod Podge to both sides and along the edges of the ornament, letting it dry between applications.  It's now very sturdy and can be used year after year.)

     These snowflakes were cut with a die from Cottage Cuts.  Here are photos of both sides of the ornament.

Drummer

 

Soldier

     Challenges:

     Don't forget that we have a monthly challenge going over on the Conie Fong Facebook site with an Anything Goes theme.  All you have to do is use a Conie Fong image (there are freebies available on the site which you can download and use.)  Or, if you've fallen in love with the Nutcrackers, you can pick up all 3 of them in the set for only $4.00!  Again, all you have to do is click on the word "Nutcrackers" in the first paragraph of this post and that link will take you right to them in the Etsy store.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

November Turkeys

      Here it is, the 14th of another month and that means we have a new challenge starting over at FarmQuest, where we always want to see something "farm or country" and this time with the specific theme of "Turkey."  What better for a November challenge than to feature the star of a Thanksgiving feast?

     The sentiment and image were printed together, then the image was colored with Sanjoki markers, and the white highlights were done using a gel pen.  The image was cut with a QuicKutz die and I used brown gauze paper for the background (DCWV.)  The double layer butterfly was in my stash of pieces cut and waiting to be used so I don't remember which die was used to cut it, but the tiny wooden bead for the body was in an old Stampin' Up package which I found when I was cleaning out and organizing a stack of drawers with old embellishments.  

     I really like the CAS look to the finished card.

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Creative Moments

Dream Valley

Happy...Stampers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Sunday (Thanksgiving is...near)

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this fortnight.  Show us your turkeys!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Turkey Time

     It's time for the next FarmQuest General Store challenge, and our themes are always "Anything Country Goes."  Yes, it has to have a 'country' look or feel but beyond that, it's anything goes.

     Since this is our Thanksgiving month here in the USA, I focused on the most traditional part of a family Thanksgiving feast, the turkey.  This turkey image is a gray-scale sketch but I used Sanjoki markers to change it to sepia-toned.  The sentiment was merged at the bottom of the image before printing.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios and inked the edges with a coffee brown Sanjoki marker.

     The background dp came from a 'Calico' stack by DCWV and the colors and scattering of blossoms seemed perfect for a late fall card.  There's a small swipe of Stickles added to each tiny flower for just a hint of sparkle.  I die cut a bit of creamy burlap paper using a butterfly die from Poppy (Memory Box) and added a tiny seed bead to the center (old, old, OLD Stampin' Up stash which I found after cleaning out and reorganizing a desk drawer!) 

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Poppy Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Triple B

     I have a second post going live in just a couple of minutes for the November FQ Country Christmas Challenge so be sure to check out that one, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy Walking

      How about a reminder that LeAnn's World 101 has a monthly Progressive Challenge over on their FB page and the freebie (if you played last month) image is Dog Walker Annie?  If you didn't play last month, you can purchase the image, make a card, enter it into the album on FB, and next month, you'll get a free image to play again.  Each month that you play, you get the image free the following month.

     I did a card with a lot more embellishment than is my normal "style" (if I even have a style!) but after mostly CAS or near CAS cards over the last couple of weeks, I just wanted to create something different.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I inked the edges on both the image and the sentiment (cut with an Avery Elle die), using a deep purple marker.  The background papers are both from Stampin' Up and they've been in my stash for at least 5 years, probably longer.  I found scraps of them in a folder and used a Darice EF on each one, carefully matching the embossed design when I layered them together on the card front.  

     The ivy vine was cut with a Sue Wilson die.  I decided on a bow and found the lovely, sparkly, copper ribbon, then used my bow maker to tie a triple-loop bow.  I thought the copper color was a great compliment to the color of the butterflies in the image.

     Challenges:

     We'd love to see you playing along in the Progressive Challenge at LeAnne's World 101.  If you played last month, this image has already been sent to you.  If you didn't play, head over to the store (see link to the image up above) and grab it.  Then play with us and get the image for next month free!  

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Princess

      Another day to celebrate spring butterflies (even though we're still stuck in the high 90s F for our weather) and this time I used a beautiful image from Conie Fong called "Butterfly Princess."  I decided on a sweetly feminine color palette of mostly pink.

      The image was printed onto textured, water color paper and colored with water colors and a very thin paint brush.  Even the sentiment was done with a brush and water color.  I cut the image with one of my oldest Spellbinders dies, embossing the edges as I ran it through the Caliber machine.  The background dp is from Stampin' Up and the lace came from my stash.  I finished it with one of my signature bows, hand-sewn with a pearl, and 'dyed' with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ...

Ally's Angels

Crafts Galore ...

Creations in Pink

Die Cut Divas (bottom row)

Happy ... Stampers

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

Rabisco

Worldwide Crafters ...

     Don't forget that we have a monthly challenge running over on the Conie Fong FB site, and you still have plenty of time to color up a Conie Fong image and get something entered.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Birthday

      The other day I made a card with a butterfly gem on it and, as I was photographing that card, a butterfly landed momentarily on my windowpane.  That reminded me that despite the really hot weather we're having this week (including 1 official day over 100 degree F!), it is still a month before spring turns into summer and I wanted to use a few more butterflies before spring was gone.

     I dug through my stash of cutting dies and came up with this die set from Brutus Monroe - relatively new but so far unused.  I decided then and there on a card with all die cuts and no stamping of any kind.  I went and checked on the theme options at The Butterfly Challenge.  What I love most about that challenge is that there are always lots of options, including colors, a theme, and a different card fold.  This time, I've used all 4 of the color options (plum, persimmon, pistachio, & pink), plus the theme (Pearls), plus butterflies, although I skipped the fancy card fold.

     All the papers and CS came from my scrap basket.  The pink dp for the first butterfly came from Stampin' Up, and the pistachio CS for the second butterfly was from Recollections.  I ran it through my 'Linen' EF before cutting it with the dies.  The butterflies themselves were cut from a plum CS scrap.  The sentiment was also part of the Brutus Monroe die set.

     The persimmon paper is a scrap from a Lawn Fawn stack, the back side of a dp with leaves but for this card, I preferred the solid side.   I added a row of small pearls to each butterfly body and then used 3 larger pearls at the top of the persimmon strip.  My final touch was to hand tie a bow using stitched, grosgrain ribbon.  Quite a lot done for such a CAS card with lots of white space.

I based this on the sketch from There's a Stamp for That.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz No Stamps

Outlawz SAR ("Butterfly and bug")

Penny's P-C 

Word Art Weds

     Have yourself a wonderful spring day.  Unfortunately, we're set for another hot, hot, HOT day in my part of the country, but maybe our weather will cool down again before summer actually arrives.  The weather forecasters say we might be back in the low 80s for a short while in another 10 days or so.  I'm hoping they're right!   

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Bicycle

      It's another Friday and another challenge starts over at Crafty Catz.  Our sponsor this week is Dr. Digi's and they kindly supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose to use "Brian's Brilliant Bicycle" and it was a delight to color.  They offer a prize to the winner of any 2 digis from their store and they have some of the fun and funniest digis around!  Be sure to check out our challenge to see what the rest of the DT used.

     Our theme this week is Anything Goes with an OPTIONAL twist of "Masculine" so I took the opportunity to make my first Father's Day card for this year.

     I used my new Sanjoki markers to color Brian and his bicycle and then decided to do a fancy fold card based on this one I found over at Beccy's Place.  It's an Overlapping Flap Fold, sometimes called a Double Flap fold.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image and then framed it with aqua CS, a scrap from the basket.  I put that onto a navy blue flap which had been dry embossed with my Linen EF (also a scrap.)

     Inside that flap was the second flap made with red CS scraps and also embossed with my Linen EF.  I added the first sentiment to that flap.  That sentiment was cut with a Tonic Studios die.

     Lift that flap and it shows the inside, to which I added the final sentiment, this time cut with a QuicKutz die.  I used a large scrap of red polka dot paper (Stampin' Up) that I found in my scrap basket.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...?

Country View ...

Creative Creases

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Pammie's IP

Paper Dragonfly

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Even if you dread making masculine cards (which is only an optional theme), just keep in mind that Father's Day is closer than you think!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Christmas Fireplace

     This is my second card as a DT at FarmQuest where we give you at least 2 theme options for each challenge!  For this challenge, our theme options are "Table or Fireplace."  I chose to do a Christmas fireplace and I used an image from Beccy's Place.  

     I can also use this as my card for Letter "F" in the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place even though it's terribly out of order given that we're currently at the end of the alphabet.  But I've been saving it for the start of this challenge.  :-D

     There are three different images, all from the same Beccy's Place set: the fireplace itself, the logs on fire, and the cat with his yarn.  All were fussy cut and put together on dimensional dots.  The images are pre-colored.  The dark green dp in the background is from Stampin' Up and the lighter greens are simple CS scraps.  The green ribbons were in my stash.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Die-Versions.

                   

     Challenges:

(links will be added shortly)

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this time.  The challenge will run until the 13th of December and all you need to do is make something that features either a table or a fireplace (or both, if you like.)  We look forward to seeing you there.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Teddy Hugs

      My card today features another image from Mariola Budek, one of my favorite artists (whom I discovered in the last year.)  I think this little girl is so sweet, hugging her teddy bear and giving (or getting) comfort.

     The image is colored with water colors, then cut with a pinpoint circle die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I inked the edges of the circle with a ProMarker.  The pale, yellow frame was cut and embossed with a die from Spellbinders.  The background dp came from Stampin' Up.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

LeighSB Designs

Pammie's Inky ...

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     If you're having one of those days, find your teddy and give him a hug.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Red Panda

      Today's card is for the Progressive Challenge over at The Outlawz.  The image provided for the challenge is from Fabrika Fantasy and it's called Red Panda.  I thought it was lovely and intriguing and decided to do only partial coloring on it.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and cut it with my paper cutter.  The frame behind it was a leftover from a Sue Wilson die cut for another project and I cut the scrap with a QuicKutz die, making it a rectangle with the cut out shape on the inside.  The background paper was a scrap from SU.  I made a mulberry paper flower and added a sparkly, red, Dew Drop to the center.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a QuicKutz die.

I based this on the left-hand sketch at Three Room Studio.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Taylormade ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Your "Tequila" Birthday?

      For those of you who don't yet know about "tequila" birthdays, this card should give you all the explanation you need to figure it out.  Personally, I passed the 'Tequila Birthday' several years ago and now I don't even think about how many of them I've had.  Each year that rolls by becomes a badge of honor for living that many years.  lol  I have anther birthday celebration rolling around next month and I'll be proud of it, too - no tequila needed!   :-D

Colored w gel pens & distress markers

Cut w Memory Box dies

SU dp for background

Metallic ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Sheer ribbon bow tied w bow maker

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Clever Dexter

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studios

Imagine That

Outside the Box

Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Going Hog Wild

      There's no better time to go Hog Wild than on Valentine's Day, right?   This cutie of a hog is a Bugaboo Stamps image and I think he's adorable with his little gift of a spring flower for his special girl.  :-D  I kept the design fairly CAS although the background is dp instead of plain white but it has limited embellies and the focal point is clearly the image.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w CUTplorations stitched die

Papers are old ones from SU

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Heart 'buttons' from CTMH

    (puff stickers which I made into 

     buttons but adding 'holes' w gel pen)

     All last month I used only supplies from my stash and I've decided to continue that through this month as well.  I can't believe how much money I've saved by not buying new things I just "had to have!"  I really think I just didn't realize the depth and breadth of my stash.  I've found things I've had for 8 or 10 YEARS which go unused and, even worse, forgotten!  It's been fun (and a bit like Christmas morning all over again) discovering those things which have been hidden in drawers and on shelves and using them up.  

     I swear I must have 10,000 yards of ribbon!  And papers?  Oh, my!  When I jokingly say I have a "ton of papers," I may actually have that much.  Sheesh, talk about hoarding...

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Allsorts

Catch the Bug (1 ribbon/ 2 buttons/ 3 layers)

Country View

Crafty Sentiments

Gem of a Challenge

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Q" for Quiet Christmas & Quilt

      I'm working on the letter prompt "Q" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and that's one of the hardest letters since there really isn't a lot in the crafting world which starts with a "Q" other than quilting and quilling, neither of which are all that specific to Christmas.  Nevertheless, I managed to use one of my Quilting dies and do a card reflecting a Quiet Christmas Day.  The image is from Beccy's and was one I had colored but not used when I was doing cards for this last year.  So happy to have it now.  :-D

     I wish I could have added that it was a Quick card but it wasn't.  I spent parts of 2 days getting this one made, what with all the fussing and fitting and trying to match directionality of the plaid!  Not really the thing to do with a sore back but it occupied both mind and body for Quite a lot of time.  This gentle image just felt right for this year when so many of us are having to trim down our Christmas celebrations due to the Covid-19 shut downs.

Colored w ProMarkers

Quilt die from Stampin' Up

Papers were all scrap bits from Echo Park

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Arty Divas

Christmas Crafts...

Classic Design

Colour It, Create It...

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Pixie's Snippets

SheepSki Designs

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Spice Gratitude

      Gratitude for what, you ask?  This is another of those Mondays when Jan's Digi Stamps not only starts their own new monthly challenge but also is sponsoring the new weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies so I get to use this one card as my DT inspiration for both of those challenges.  :-D

     I used a combination of Jan's Digi Stamps images from different sets -- The pumpkins are from the "Harvest Scarecrow" set and the wheat is from the "Fall Note" set.  I used the png images and merged them.

I used colors from the challenge at My Favorite Things.

All I'm getting are error messages when I try to 

copy and paste the color picture to my blog.  Sorry.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Lawn Fawn die

Edges inked w ProMarker

All papers are scraps & are from SU

Sentiment stamped & fussy cut

Wide grosgrain ribbon used for bow

Bow tied using bow maker

     Challenges:

All Fun

Artsy Stamper

Coloring in Scrapland

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Inspired By

Lil Patch of Crafty...

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     I'm really looking forward to seeing you play in both of these challenges so don't disappoint me!  Both challenges have "Anything Goes" themes so there's no excuse.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Walk in the Woods

      A week or so ago, I shared with you one of my DT cards for Conie Fong which featured the new Princess Aria Fairytale Cottage image (see that card here.)  Now Conie has released just the Fairytale Cottage Background Scene which is fabulous enough to stand alone or to be used a a mergeable background.  Here's what I did to showcase the image, making it a lovely autumn walk through the woods.

I pulled colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers & water colors

Square background 'marbled' w water colors

Cut w QuicKutz die

Polka dot dp from Stampin' Up

Sheer ribbon & triple loop bow

     Challenges:

Angie's Digi Stamps

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Castle

Crafty Catz

Inspired By ...

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Stamping Sensations

     Come play with us this month.  You still have time and you can enter either of our challenges; one for just coloring and one for completed projects.  Come to our Facebook page, find the challenge album you prefer, and enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Hyacinths

     My card today was done using the September recipe at the Crafty Chefs FB group - a group of crafters who play together each month because we like to stretch our comfort zone a bit.  One of the group puts together a 'recipe' of 4 things which MUST be used on your creation and another list of 3 things which CAN be used, and then each person shares their completed project by posting it to the FB page.  No prizes, no deadlines, no obligations, just a group of crafty friends having fun.  Feel free to join us any time you like.

     This month, Linda undertook the recipe and she came up with this:

MUST USE:
Simply square (square card base)
Glitter or Sparkle
Embossing (wet or dry)
Blue and Brown

Can Use:
Add flowers
Add pearls

     Here's my card - a small card, 4" x 4" and I made my own envelope for it.  I did use all the items on both lists.

Image printed in blue
Center hyacinth was white - colored w ProMarkers
Glitter added to center hyacinth (sorry - hard to see)
Image cut w Spellbinders die
Edges of image inked
Brown CS embossed with SU folder
Sentiment printed and cut w Avery Elle die
Pearls added to corner

     Challenges:
Angie's Digitals
Artsy Stampers
Aud Sentiments
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

New Hat Makes the Lady

     It's another Monday (ok, very late on Sunday evening in my area but it'll be Monday by the time you wake up and see this!) and that means another "Anything Goes" challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.  Our sponsor this week is the wonderful and whimsical Bugaboo Stamps.  I used a darling image called "Flower Bird."  I loved her hat and decided to focus on that when I added my sentiment.

 I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch, but reversed.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die
Wide ribbon by Really Reasonable Ribbon
Striped dp from Stampin' Up
Hand tied bow (scrap ribbon)
Sentiment printed & cut w/ die by Spellbinders

     Challenges:
Angie's Digitals
C.R.A.F.T. (Is shopping a sport or is it leisure? lol)
Crafty Creations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
My Favorite Things Colors
Paper Funday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp (dies)
WordArt Weds

     Come play with us, won't you?  It's Anything Goes so how can you lose?   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Teddy Bear Birthday Party

     One more birthday card today and this time it reflects what happens when you have a birthday in the middle of the pandemic shutdowns.  You have to gather all your teddy bears into one place and let them have the party without you.  Social distancing, you know!  lol

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and the card design is pretty CAS.

I based this on the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w die from Tutti Designs & edges inked
Paper is a SU scrap
Narrow, satin ribbon + gingham ribbon for bow
CAS design

     Challenges:
Allsorts (bears,bow)
Catch the Bug
Crafty Calendar
Cutie Pie
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Stamping Sensations
TTCRD

     Happy Tuesday and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie