Tic Tac Toe at Catch the Bug Critter Chaos

     Now we have a Tic Tac Toe board for the theme at Catch the Bug's Critter Chaos challenges.  Here's the board and I used the diagonal from bottom left to top right - Tree/Free/Ribbon.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps, of course and I used the sketch from Outlawz, but I flipped it side to side.

  

My card:

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to hat 'fur' & star on tree
Gold and silver paint pens used on ornaments
Sizzix and QuicKutz dies
Hand tied, polka dot bow
Gold sparkly ribbon

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Mod Squad
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's Critter Chaos at Catch the Bug

     Each year there's a week long celebration of Christmas over at Catch the Bug, with a new challenge each day and a new theme.  This year they are all "Critter" related.  I'm running late on getting things done but most of that has to do with family fun and activities so now I'm playing catch up.  I find that the late night hours are currently best for accessing the internet but managed some time this morning so I'm doing two posts with projects I managed to finish yesterday.

     This is the first one using the Day 1 theme of "Use a Christmas Critter and use Snow."  Bugaboo Stamps image of these cute snowmen surrounded by a flock of cardinals (my 'critters'.)

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to the snowflakes
Aleene's MemorySnow added to the snowmen
Die cut with a Memory Box die
Glitter paper - source unknown
White ribbon is a scrap

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Perfect Time ...
Carlin's Card Paradise
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Lil Patch of ...
Sparkles Christmas

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Jan's New Year's Eve Set

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gnome for Christmas

     Our newest monthly challenge has begun today over at SheepSki Designs.  Our theme this month is "Favorite Things" and Gnomes falls right into that category for me.  The image I used is called "Gnome for Christmas."

Colored with pencils and ProMarkers
Aleene's Snow on beard
Stickles added to ornaments
Frame cut with Die-namics stitched die
Stitches enhanced with ProMarker
Signature, hand-sewn bow
Sentiment done with white gel ink

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Aud Sentiments
Christmas w the Cuties
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Outlawz PAM

     I really want to see you playing along in our challenge this month.  Sadly, this is my last month on the DT at SheepSki Designs and I'm going to miss being there.  My blogging life is taking me down a slightly different path which includes more responsibilities starting in the new year and I'm having to cut back on the number of teams I currently serve.  To those of you still on the SheepSki team, I'm waving a sad goodbye but I'll come by as often as possible and play in the upcoming challenges.
 
     Hugs and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 22, Letter "S" - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     It's Day 22, and we're using the Letter "S" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas.  I've used the following "S"s:  Snowman, Snowflakes, Sue Wilson die, Sparkle, Satin ribbon, embossed Snowflakes, Stickles, Special fold.  I've made one more of my gift card holders.  Here's a link to the YouTube video that inspired me to start making these gift card holders.

     The inside looks like this, although this is a photo of one of the other holders I did.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Cut with a QuicKutz die
Sparkle mat cut with Sue Wilson die, trimmed to fit
Glitter paper from Recollections
Stickles used on the snowflakes hanging from his hat
1/8" satin ribbon used for the tie
Folder made with embossed CS

     Challenges:
Double Trouble combined with Cupcake Inspiration
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy (black, white, red)
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz SAR
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers

     This s my second post to day and I'll have my regular Friday DT post for QKR early tomorrow morning so I hope you'll be back to see that one, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"I" at Beccy's 30 Days of Christmas

     In the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy' Place, we return to the alphabetical prompts today with the letter "I" and I chose Image, Ice, Icicles, Ice Skates, Inlaid die cuts, and Ice blue.  I think Beccy has some of the best "realistic" Christmas and winter images and these skates are definitely among them.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & frame cut w/ QuicKutz die, then Inlaid
Paper by Doodlebug
Icicles added with Stickles
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Gemstone added to one snowflake

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Creative Inspirations
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Paper Girls
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 1 - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     OK, this is my first official post for this year's 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and, as usual, we start with the first letter of the alphabet as a theme.  I chose to do an Angel, colored with Alcohol markers, added to an A Frame, A2 card.

     Beccy's image is actually supposed to be a Holly Fairy but for this card, I turned her into an Angel, one with jingle bells on her collar and hem.  :-D  This was one of the first Beccy's Christmas images I ever bought and I've used her a lot over the years but never before substituting as an Angel.

Colored with  ProMarkers
Cut with an oval die from QuicKutz
Gold frame cut with QuicKutz die
Glittered papers from Recollections (gold) and DCWV (red)
Stickles Icicle added to her Holly wings
Stickles Frosted Lace added to hat and leggings
Silver paint pen added to the jingle bells on her tunic
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Christmas Kickstart
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's  (Holly for her wings)
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     I'll have one more post a bit later for the second day of the 30 Days of Christmas, featuring the letter "B."  See you then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Christmas Mouse with Holly

     Digi Doodle Studios has a sketch challenge over on Facebook this month and I pulled this adorable little mouse with his holly sprig out of my collection of DDS images and now I can add one more Christmas card to my stash.

     I love using creatures that are wearing Santa caps for Christmas cards rather than actual Santa images but that's probably because I don't have very many images of Santa or Father Christmas but lots of animal images.

     Here's my card and the sketch.

     

Colored with ProMarkers and Copics
Stickles added to the "O" in the Noel, the snowflake on his hat, and the ornament in his hand
Image and frame cut with Memory Box pinpoint dies
Strip of dp from scraps - stitched die from Unbranded dies
Snowflakes with glitter added (glitter is my fav embellie for Christmas cards!)
Gems from STAMPendous

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Digi Doodle Studios
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Winter Wonderland
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Forest Friends

     Today we start a new challenge at Colour Crazy and our wonderful sponsor is Polkadoodles.  They were generous and supplied images for the DT to use.  Mine is called "Forest Friends" and I think it's one of the most delightful images I've seen this season.  It features an adorable woodland fairy with two of her little forest friends; a deer and and a bunny.  I think deer are my favorite Christmas animals but that's probably because of the association with Santa's reindeer, which are favorites of all children because they deliver Santa and the presents!

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and added "Frosted Lace" Stickles to the furry pieces of her dress and scarf.  I used loose glitter on her halo and added touches of white gel ink to the snow on the tree.  I used gold paint pen on her little wings.

     The frame for the image and the large snowflake were cut with dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment pieces were cut with a Die-Versions die.  I used that deep, burgundy red for all the die cuts because it's my favorite when combined with traditional Christmas greens.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Butterfly
Crafting by Designs
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Days

     Here it is the first Thursday in September and our latest challenge is starting over at Crafting with an Attitude.  Our sponsor this month is Bugaboo Stamps and our theme is the usual "Anything Goes."

     Bugaboo Stamps generously provided images for the DT to use and I chose one from Floral Set 2.

     I had such fun coloring this image in lovely autumn colors and I went a little bit crazy with new ideas.  I started with my usual ProMarkers, then added Stickles to the butterfly.  While I was waiting for that to dry, I did a very light spritz of Heidi Swapp Amethyst mist.  I printed the sentiment, spritzed it, hand cut it, and inked the edges before adding it.

     Once the Stickles glitter on the butterfly was completely dry, I fussy cut the image circle, leaving the flower and one leaf  "out-of-the-box."   I still had the scrap of white CS on which I had laid the pieces for spritzing and I decided to cut it with one of my Amy Designs dies.  I wasn't sure that was going to work but I actually loved the way it looked so I layered on the image piece and added loose, "Grape" glitter to some of the tiny butterflies in the die cut, leaving others just spritzed.

     That entire thing went onto a Harvest Gold piece of CS, cut to the size of the card front.  As the final embellishment, I added three lavender pearls to diagonal, top and bottom, corners of the card.

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge (electric yellow and embellishment)
Catch the Bug
Crafting by Designs
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters
Work It Weds.

      I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this month.  You can't lose with an Anything Goes theme so join us and inspire us with your creations.  :-D  NanaConnie

Words for Christmas

     I have two more Christmas cards to share today, both using image sentiments as the focus.  These are from Limited Runs and I've used four of these Christmas sentiments to make a dozen  CAS Christmas cards for my stash.

     The coloring on each one was done with ProMarkers.  On the top one, I used "Frosted Lace" Stickles for the snow on the letters.  The snowflakes are rub-ons which have been in my stash at least 5 years.  It was about time  I used them!  

     I'm still working on getting the weather to cool down and feel like fall instead of a sweltering 100+F day after day so this card is actually a plea more than a statement.  lol

     On the bottom one, I used ribbon from my Christmas stash and tied a tiny bow, white originally but dyed red with a ProMarker.  The Santa and the snowflakes on that one are simple foam stickers to which I added glitter.  

     That's two more quick, CAS cards for the Christmas stash.

     Challenges:  (Cold Outside)

Color Sisters

Creative Craft Cottage

Joy Clair

Morgan's ArtWorld

Paper Nest Dolls

     Challenges:  (Santa Stop)

12 Months of Christmas

A Bit More Time to Craft

Christmas Crafts All Year Round

Classic Design Team Open

Not Just Cards

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Give a Hoot

     Good Morning, all.  I hope your week is going well and if it isn't, just think of today as being halfway to the weekend.  :-D  I'm sharing an owl which is a freebie image for the Progressive Challenge on the FB page over at Limited Runs.

     I just knew he deserved rich, warm, fall colors so I grabbed my ProMarkers and started coloring.  When I finished that, I cut him with a scalloped circle die from Spellbinders and used a die one size larger to make the golden frame.  I layered those together, then added Stickles to his eyes and to the eyebrow feathers and tummy.

     I printed and cut the sentiment, then matted it with a larger die cut (also Spellbinders), echoing the shape of the image.  To add just a bit more sparkle, I cut a strip of orange sparkle CS, trimmed the end into a point and added it to the sentiment piece.

     Everything was layered onto a dark brown card base.  I thought it needed one last touch so I dug through my ribbon stash and found that lovely gold ribbon, tied it into a bow, and adhered it above the image.

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Creative Inspirations
Digi Choosday
DL.ART
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gift Tag in Purple

     It's now Day 3 at Catch the Bug's Christmas in July challenges and this time they want to see something related to wrapping gifts but in non-traditional colors.  Well, for me that always means something in my favorite color - purple!  Here's my card-sized, snowman tag made with another Bugaboo Stamps image.

     I used my ProMarkers to color and, although it's hard to see in the photo, I added glitter to the snowflakes, to the snow on the ground, to the huge snowball, and to the large snowflake above the sentiment.  I chose a purple satin ribbon from my stash and tied it through the hole in the tag.  Simple, quick and easy.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bugaboo Crafty
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Create and Inspire
Creative Craft Cottage
Not Just Cards
Sunsational Stamps

     My second post for today will be up shortly and it's not a Christmas card!  lol  Happy Monday and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowball Fight

     At least once every winter there should be a good, old fashion snowball fight!  I remember my dad telling stories about growing up as the middle child of 13, having mostly brothers who were older and mostly sisters who were younger.  His older brothers somehow managed to make him the leader of the team of younger kids every time while they, themselves, banded together, built up huge piles of ammunition, and absolutely wholloped the younger kids every time.  There was always a lilt of humor in his voice when he told those stories and I knew they held great memories for him.

     I have a feeling in today's world, where children are so protected and there are so many rules to follow for every kind of activity, where children don't have to strive for top honors because they are rewarded with trophies just for participating, and where there are never any real winners (heaven forbid we should injure their little psyches by demanding effort for achievement and recognition) that a modern day snowball fight would be more like this:

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I colored it with ProMarkers and added Stickles to both the snowman and the snowflakes for a little sparkle.  Once that was completely dry, I cut the image with a square die from QuicKutz.  The image originally had a completely different saying on it, but I changed it for the purposes of this card.  That sentiment square was also cut with a die from QuicKutz and I added the banner above the image about the time for the snowball fight.

     The papers are from DCWV.   I'm still using up the last of my "Winter Magic" stack which I've had for more than 4 years!!   That purchase was obviously a great investment.  I did a very CAS design, partly to make it masculine looking (in honor of my dad who would have loved it) and partly to make it easy to mail.  I'll probably use it as a birthday card.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Brown Sugar
Cutie Pie
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes

     I trust your week is starting out well and that whatever challenges life hands you this week, you will meet them with courage and grace, and may you win your snowball fight!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Too Much Eggnog!

     I have a dear friend who loves giraffes so I make cards for her for all kinds of occasions but it's often hard to work them into a Christmas card.  This image (From the Heart Stamps) made me think of Christmas because his expression makes it so obvious that he's really been dipping into the eggnog!  LOL  I know she's going to love it.

     He's colored in yellowy-beige and bright Christmas red with ProMarkers and I added red Stickles to the spots on his head.   The holly and berries which make his tie (I added that myself - it's not part of the image) are also sparkly.  I managed that by paper piecing with sparkled, hologram paper.

     I die cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and layered that onto berry red CS.  The sparkly ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I used a scrap of white crocheted lace ribbon to tie the bow.  Finally I added the glittery poinsettia next to the bow to give it even more Christmas flair.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Love to Scrap
Melonheadz Friends
Our Crafty Corner
Shabby Tea Room
Simon Says Stamp

     Hope your week is going well and that you're right on target to have all your holiday preparations done before Christmas lands smack in our laps.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Deck the Halls

     Good morning.  I'm doing a card for the Progressive Challenge at From the Heart using their Bird Brain image for this month.  I think the look on his face is hysterical!  That's probably what I look like when trying to get everything decorated and ready for Christmas.  :-D

     I colored this little Birdbrain with my ProMarkers and used one of my new dies from Spellbinders.  To balance off using something brand new, I dug out my collection of Stickles (unused since last Christmas season -- I've recently been doing mostly loose glitter for some reason) and used three of them on the ornaments and on the negative spaces of the die cut frame.

     I matted the image with red and mounted it onto a black card front, then added the snowflake button embellies from my stash (also from last year.)  The sentiment is computer printed, cut and embossed.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Snowflakes Promise
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments - bottom row
Craft for the Craic
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Girls Creations
Graph' It
Inspiration Destination
Julie Spiri
Little Miss Muffet
Male Room
Paper Shelter
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrapy Land
Unicorn Challenge

     I had a fantastic day sewing with my granddaughter yesterday, but spent so much time there that I didn't get my post written and scheduled.  So, I had to do it this morning.  Now I'm off to run some errands, do some grocery shopping, pick up a few forgotten items to finish the sewing project(s) on Wednesday, and wait for the next round of rain to wash my car for me.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie