Christmas Girl

      For all my promises last week about having posts each day for the past 7 days, the "To Do" list just got the best of me and, even though I've been very busy creating in the midst of the Christmas preparations, I didn't have time to sit down and write posts.  But today, I finally finished the Progressive Challenge image from Moondrea Designs and I want to get her posted to the Challenge.

     I colored with my Ohuhu markers, then added Stickles to the holly leaves, the berries, and the candle flame in the lantern.  After it all dried, I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, and decorated the corners with Fiskars and Uchida punches.  I framed the image with a die cut rectangle of green CS (Spellbinders die.)  The background dp is a scrap from the Christmas stash (probably DCWV) and the sentiment was printed and cut with another Tonic Studios die.

     Challenges:

4 Season

613 Ave Create

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Peace on Earth

     Hopefully, I'll have additional posts this week.  We aren't celebrating our Christmas holiday until Saturday when my college-attending, granddaughter gets home for her Christmas holidays.  Maybe I'll have posts all week long of Christmas cards I've made even though Christmas will be on Wednesday.  You won't mind, will you?  The Christmas holidays don't really end until the New Year, right?

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      Here it is, my final card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  The last day theme is always "Do What You Love," kind of like Anything Goes but better because we get to use things we love.  For me, there are so many things I love to put on Christmas cards, but I think snowmen have to be at the top of the list.  Actually, if I could find a good reason, I'd do snowmen cards all year round.  :-D

     Today's card features one of Beccy's new snowmen, named Winston and released this year.  I thought he'd look great dressed in a burgundy hat and scarf with gold fringe and earmuffs.  I colored him with ProMarkers and added gold Stickles to the star.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch.  

     I wanted the card to sparkle so I dug through my stash of glitter CS scraps and pieced together the background on the card.  I love glitter and when it comes to Christmas cards, I always debate with myself about whether silver glitter or gold glitter is best.  In this case, I was able to use mostly silver glitter but the star has gold sparkle, so a combination of them is the absolute best!

     The image and the "Snowball Fight" sentiment were layered on, using a good amount of craft glue (which I've found is the most effective for attaching CS to glitter.)  Even the stickiest of double sided tapes tends to come loose and peel off of glittered CS after just a short time so glue it is.  

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Jingle Bells (sparkle & colors)

My Time to Craft

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

     The Christmas season is really on top of us now but it's nice to have another 30 cards in my stash.  Ok, maybe 25 instead of 30 since I did use Thanksgiving as the holiday on 4 or 5 of my cards this month.  Still, my Christmas card stash is looking good this year because of all the other cards I've done between January and October.  I still have colored Christmas images waiting to be made into cards so I'll have several additional posts throughout December.

  

    In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nutcracker Mouse

      I've fallen in love with another artist who draws the most adorable critters!   You can check them out on Etsy - Pawfect Art Creations.   So far I have three different sets of the cutest little mice and today's card features a Nutcracker Mouse, complete with his uniform, his sword, and the most elegant hat.  

     All the images come pre-colored but this one I printed in grayscale, then colored it with Sanjoki alcohol markers, and a bit of gold Stickles on his hat emblem.  I cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used glittered CS for the card base and layered the image and the sentiment onto the card front.  Not counting the coloring time, it took me less than 10 minutes to make the card.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

A Perfect Time ...

Critter Crazy

Die Cut Divas

Kerst Christmas

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

SheepSki Designs

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back later this afternoon or maybe tomorrow with another one for Beccy's Place and the 30 Days of Holidays.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Letter "S" - 30 Days of Holidays

     I think this is my favorite Beccy's Place image!  At least I know that I've used it every Christmas season since I first bought the set, how many years ago?  Too many to count.  :-D  It's the Winter Window and the sentiment is also from Beccy's.

     For the letter "S" I have: Stripes, Sparkle, Satin ribbon, Sanjoki markers, Stones in the wall, Snow, Scraps, & Stickles.

     In the past, I've colored the stone in red-orange shades to look more like brick, blue stones with dark accents, even brown stones with black accents but this time, I colored it with several different, light gray and blue gray markers to enhance the winter feel, and light brown-gray markers on the branch, all from Sanjoki.  I added a few white highlights to the snow on the branch with a gel pen.  I used a deep yellow marker on the candle and added Stickles to the candle flame so that it would sparkle.

     The image was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The striped dp used for the background came from an old DCWV stack and it was a scrap in the basket.  The satin ribbon was from my stash and I'm pretty sure it was from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  It has a very nice, but rather subtle, sparkle in it.  I used my bowmaker to get the double loop bow.  I really do think ribbon and bows are my favorite embellies because they are so easy to add and work perfectly on nearly any card.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Just Us Girls (winter & snow)

Night Owls

Simon Says Stamp

     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

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

A Thank You for Mom

      I'm still working on Mother's Day cards, trying to get several ready for the upcoming vendor event at the Classic Car Show next weekend.  I know the cards with classic cars on them will sell the best, but since Mother's Day is just around the corner, I thought it wouldn't hurt to have some on hand at the event.

     I've done half a dozen with Mariola Budek images on them and I'll be sharing those with you between now and our actual Mother's Day in the USA which is always the second Sunday in May.  My card for today features an image Mariola called "Women Secret" and I think she's lovely.  She's also free if you check out Mariola's Freebie FB site.  I reversed the image before printing it, which is why Mariola's signature on the image is backwards.  :-D

     I colored with Sanjoki markers (roses) and water color paints (hair & skin), then cut both the image and frame with dies from Tonic Studios.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The paper strip was a scrap which originally came from a Recollections stack.  I added dots of 'Diamond' Stickles for a tiny bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Die Cut Divas

Happy...Stampers

Morgan's ArtWorld

Rabisco

YSBP

     Happy Crafting, my friends.  NanaConnie

Yellow Roses

      Another Mother's Day card and another Mariola Budek image, this one called, appropriately, "Roses."  What mom wouldn't love roses for Mother's Day?  My daughter loves yellow roses so I decided that would be the color of these.  I've printed three different copies of this black and white image so the other two will probably be red and pink, but I'm also thinking of white roses if I can figure out how to make them stand out from a white background.  :-D

     The image has been colored with a combo of  Sanjoki markers and water color paints, with tiny dots of Diamond Stickles added as dew drops to 2 of the rose petals.  I cut the shape of the image by laying on a Spellbinders die and drawing around it in pencil.  Then I used scissors to cut on the pencil line.  I inked the edges of the shape with a dark gray ink pad.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and I inked the edges of it, also.

     I found twill ribbon in my stash and the yellow chevrons on it worked so well with the color of the roses.  The bow was made with a bit of muslin fabric, folded accordion style and wrapped in the middle, then hand-stitched on the back to make it stay in that shape.  Everything was mounted onto an olive green CS placed on the card front.

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Double Trouble (all 3)

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Passion for Markers

Penny's P-C

Triple B

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bow in Her Hair

       When I first saw this image by Mariola Budek, my thoughts went straight to my mom who combed out my hair every day for the first 14 years of my life and dressed it in some sort of braid, with bows tied into it most days.  By the time I was 14, my hair was long enough that I could sit on it, even when braided.  Up to that point, I had never had it cut.  What a patient woman she was!  :-D

     I colored this image (sorry, I can't remember the name of it but it probably came in one of the many hairstyle images books she has available) with Sanjoki markers and used water color paints on the background.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios, and inked the edges with an ink pad.  

     The card front has been water colored, then run through my Linen embossing folder for texture.  The sentiment was cut with  QuicKutz die and the flower layers were Spellbinders cuts.  I added Wink of Stella and glitter to the larger flower layer, and just a tiny spot of Stickles to the tiny flower layer.  The bow in her hair was hand-tied using a bit of sparkle twine.

     Challenges:

Di's Digi Designs (bow)

Gem of a Challenge

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Thurs

Paper Funday

Pattie's Creations

There's a Stamp ...

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow so I hope you'll stop by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

One Hot Pepper!

      My SIL is a fabulous cook, BBQ Master, and gardener.  One of his specialties is hot sauce which he makes from peppers he's grown in his own garden.  I'm definitely NOT a fan of things which are spicy hot so I've never tasted any of his hot sauces, but lots of others rave about them.  So, when I found this fun QKR Stampede image in the shop, called "Hot Pepper,"  I knew it would make a perfect birthday card for him.  His birthday is in 2 days.  :-D  Inside it says, "Here's one for your BIRTHDAY!"

     Since this is Day 1 of our latest challenge at QKR Stampede, I thought this would be an appropriate time to share this card with you.  Don't forget, we have a DT Call going and we'd love to see you apply.  It will close this week, so get your application in!  

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, and cut it with an Unbranded die.  In honor of the 'sparkle' that comes from spicy heat, I added Stickles glitter to the negative parts of the die cut.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut, using scissors.  The card front was made from scrap of orange CS.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafter's Cafe

Digi Choosday

Girlz Rebel

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp ...

Worldwide Crafters ...

    

     Come by and play in our challenge.  It runs until the end of the month and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  We'd love to see you there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Luck o' the Irish

      Top o' the Mornin' to ya, as the Irish would say.  We're celebrating a new challenge this week at Creative Knockouts and our theme is "Sparkle and Shine."  We are sponsored by LeAnn's World and they generously supplied the two images used by the team.  I used "Luck of the Irish" which I reversed before printing.

     I used both colored pencils and ProMarkers to color the image, adding Stickles to make the sparkly elements.  The image was cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy, and the frame piece was cut with a QuicKutz die.  All of the papers are from a K & Co. stack.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  Finally, I sewed one of my signature bows using shiny, satin ribbon which I dyed gold with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

As You Like It (Definitely NOT interactive cards because the very idea of making them intimidates me!  Besides, I mail the majority of my cards and need them to be flat and simple.)

Colour Crazy

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      It's the last day of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and Beccy always lets us do whatever we love on the last day, so an "Anything Goes" theme.  I chose to use this beautiful candle by Beccy and to use the last I have of a Graphic 45 Christmas paper.

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then used a Sue Wilson die to cut the image piece.  I used another die from that same set to cut the white glitter CS from Doodlebug and layer it over the image with the center open to let the candle 'shine' as the star of the card!  :-D

     The Graphic 45 paper has lovely candles on it and I added a bit of Stickles to each candle flame on that dp.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place and I cut it with a Tutti Designs die.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

Uniko

Word Art Weds

Your Next Stamp

     It's sad to see the end of the 30 Days of Holidays but I have so many cards added to my stash this year!  As in other years, I always make lots of extra cards to give to my local senior center because so many of those seniors have transportation complications and they simply can't get out to buy Christmas cards for their children and grandchildren.  Each year the cards I leave with them are welcomed happily and I get such sweet "thank you"s from those who pick out something they consider special for a family member or friend.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"J" for Joy

      I don't even know how many days out of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place are behind us but if my count is correct, I'm actually posting this card on the actual day the letter "J" is being used.  lol   My own "J"s are: Joy (an image from Beccy's), Jade green, & Jungle green.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and added glitter to both words.  The sentiment/image is cut with a Spellbinders die.  The background die cut is also  cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I used two ribbons, one a deep red satin and the top one a sheer ribbon which glittered circles.  The bow is hand-tied using a strip of folded over netting.  I added a few drops of Stickles to the bow for a tiny glint of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studios

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Stamping Sensations

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Screechy Witch

      This fun but spooky witch is a freebie image from the Beccy's Place challenge this month and it's just too good to miss!  I was also invited to be a Guest Designer for the Tic  Tac Toe Challenge and the Board for this challenge looks like this:

and here's my card using the top row of Sparkle/ Embossing/ Any shape die:

     Everything was made using scraps, including the CS on which I printed the image.  I colored the witch with my ProMarkers, giving her skin a slight greenish tinge and making the band on her hat a dirty purple so that you know it's as old as she is and had never been cleaned.  lol

    The black paper with the bats was cut with a Cheery Lynn doily die.  I stamped the bats with Versamark ink and heat embossed them with shiny gold EP.  The pumpkins (Die-namics die) were heat embossed with glitter EP and I added yellow Stickles to the faces.  It was fun getting both the sparkle and the embossing done with embossing powder.  :-D

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Crafty Calendar

Creative Embellishments

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Paper Shelter

Taylormade ...

     If you've never played at Tic Tac Toe Challenge before, this would be a great week to start!  Hope to see you there.  NanaConnie

Christmas Feet

      It's Day 6 of the daily challenges for Holiday Chaos at Catch the Bug and today there's an Inspiration Photo for all to follow.  I used the colors from the photo, focusing on the red, white, and gray, plus reindeer feet (among the others).

And here's my project, a gift card holder, using a Bugaboo Stamps image.

Colored w ProMarkers

Stickles "Diamond" used on the snow

Cut w QuicKutz die

Mounted onto embossed CS

Off-the-Edge design; opens upward

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Funday

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Summer

     Today I want to share one more DT card on which I used a beautiful fairy from Conie Fong, called "Crystal Fairy 3."  As you can guess, there's more than one version of this image and you can receive them when you purchase the image.  I used the one without the crystals for this card, so the name may seem a bit confusing.  But if you click on the link (image name), you can look at the actual image in the store and that will clear it up for you.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers +
   2 colors of Stickles on wings
Cut w/ Spellbinders die
Green CS (scrap) cut & embossed w/ Spellbinders
Background dp - scrap from basket
Green "lace" - scrap
Sheer ribbon bow tied on bow maker
Sentiment printed & cut with Avery Elle die, inked edges

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Sentiments
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Paperbabe
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Snippets
Your Next Stamp

     Our July challenge ends today but a new one starts tomorrow.  Actually, 2 new challenges begin at the same time; one is for coloring only and the other for completed projects, like mine.  Both can be found on the Conie Fong Facebook page.  We hope to see you playing long.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cardinal Christmas

     It's the first Monday in July and that means it's time for the newest monthly challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps.  In honor of the fact that Jan's is running a 25% off sale on all the Christmas Sets for the entire month of July, I've done a card using one of the newest sets called "Christmas Cardinals."  There are 21 Christmas sets altogether!

Colors from Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles used on the snow
Cut with QuicKutz die
Sheer ribbon has glitter added
Red card base embossed w "Linen" EF
2 layer CAS design

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Art Impressions
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this month.  The challenge runs until Sunday, August 2, and you can enter up to five times.  The theme is always Anything Goes and if you use a JDS image on your project, your entry will be put into a separate draw which increases your chance of winning by quite a lot.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Top Hat Teddy Bear

     I somehow got inspired by a color palette at Outlawz Color challenge, which is surprising considering that I rarely use yellows and oranges except for autumn cards.  They just aren't in the range of my favorite colors.  Nope, I'm a cool colors person for sure, loving purples, blues, and greens.  I often pair yellow with one of those colors when I want a particular color combo of cool and warm colors but beyond that, it's rare to see yellow or orange in my creations.

     But today, this just called out to me.  I used a sweet teddy bear image from Bugaboo Stamps and the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

  

Colored with ProMarkers w/ glitter on flower
Image cut with oval die from QuicKutz
Frame cut with Spellbinders
   & overlapped to get rectangle shape
Sentiment cut with Avery Elle die
Background scrap paper from DCWV
2 layers of ribbon - both scraps
Mulberry flowers dyed, glitter added, & gem in center

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Cardz TV
Crafty Sentiments
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
TTCRD

     Have yourself a fabulous day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Get Well Wishes

     I'm trying to get my stock of Get Well cards replenished and when I saw this adorable QKR Stampede image, called "Sick Angel" (but misspelled in the shop as Angle), I knew I had to use it for my DT card for the newest weekly challenge which starts today.

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to wings and halo
Glossy Accents added to stars
Image cut with Tutti Designs die
Paper scraps cut with Impression Obsession dies
Background embossed with Couture Creations EF
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Funday
Pattie's Creations
Simon Says Stamps
Word Art Weds.
Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guest Designer at The Outlawz Sketch Challenge

     I was honored to have been invited to be a Guest Designer at the sketch challenge at The Outlawz and I'm thrilled to announce that Jan's Digi Stamps is sponsoring the sketch challenges for the entire month of April.

     I decided it would be great to use one of the images and a sentiment from Jan's "April Showers Promise 920J" set.  Here's my card and the sketch, which I reversed.

 

Colored with ProMarkers and water color paints
Stickles added to the raindrops
Image and sentiment cut with Unbranded dies
Oval backing pieces cut with QuicKutz dies
Right Angle triangles embossed with Linen EF
Metal brads added to opposite corners

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Lemon Shortbread
Word Art Weds.

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in the challenge at Outlawz.  It lasts 2 weeks and then there's a new sketch for the following 2 weeks.  Because of the way the Wednesdays fall in April, there will be a third sketch at the end of the month (April 29th) and Jan's will be sponsoring all three of them.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie