Showing posts with label Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Show all posts

Sunday, January 21, 2024

A Lavender Birthday

      I've finally felt up to getting a card made but it took so much time and energy that it may be the only one I make the rest of this month.  Good thing I had worked many weeks ahead on most of my DT card obligations.  :-D  

     This is a birthday card for a dear friend who loves lavender, especially the flowers themselves, although she's willing to have the scent of lavender in soaps, candles, and air fresheners as often as she can find them.  The image is from Beccy's Place and it works perfectly for their optional challenge theme this month - "Flowers."

     I printed the pre-colored version of the image in gray scale, then used my Sanjoki alcohol markers and white gel pen to color it.  I was inspired by the sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday (see below) and dug through the basket of scrap papers to find the two I used.  I'm pretty sure they are old (very old!) DCWV papers.  

     I matted each of them with a solid purple CS, and used another scrap of it right behind the fussy cut image.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place, but don't ask me from which set because I don't remember.


Sweet Sketch Weds. #269 - turned 1/4 turn

     That's it for today and I wish you Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, January 27, 2023

Music for Your Birthday

      Aside from DT cards, I'm going to see if I can finish out this month with birthday cards and return to Valentine cards once we're into February.  Today's card features the January Progressive Challenge image from LeAnn's World.  

     The images was colored with water color paints, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The purple and blue CS pieces were all cut from scraps and QuicKutz dies were used.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Avery Elle.  I added the tiny yellow gemstones to fit in with the sketch I used (see below.)


The sketch came from Sweet Sketch Weds, turned a 1/4 turn.

     Challenges:
Birthstone (Amethyst)

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Chasing Skunks

      Most animals have an instinct about what's dangerous or unpleasant, even when they're too young to have actually encountered the danger.  But some youngsters have to push the envelope and learn for themselves.  That's clearly what happened to this young ginger kitten.  Fortunately, he has friends who love and care for him.  :-D

     House Mouse image colored with ProMarkers and cut with cross-stitch die from Unbranded dies.  All the papers are scraps from the basket and I know the papers with the rows of dots came from Lawn Fawn.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the sheer bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Avery Elle.


I was inspired by Sketch #213 at Sweet Sketch Weds.
adjusted for an A2 card.


     Challenges:

     That's all I have for today but I'm heading back to the craft room so who knows what I might have for tomorrow?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Hedgie & Snail

      This is another image from Mariola Budek, the artist I recently discovered and I think it's a perfect spring showers image.  Around here, we WISH we'd had many more spring showers than we actually had but instead we are in a severe drought.  In addition, we are expecting our first over 100F heat wave for at least the next 5 days.  I think I'll stay inside in the air conditioning, stare at this cool green card, and dream of rainy days.  :-D


I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.


Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut w Unbranded die
Black mat cut w Unbranded die
Background papers are all scraps
Flower embellies made from negative die cuts 
   (the pieces which fall out when you use certain dies)
Sentiment fussy cut

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Early Halloween

      I know we're still 6 months away from Halloween but I love making Halloween cards for all the kids (all adults), grandkids (all adults but for 1 mid-teen), and great-grands (all below high school age.)  Besides, there's an all Halloween challenge which I missed last month due to my COVID rehab so I want to be sure I play this month.  I think you can pretty much count on at least 1 Halloween post per month from this point on because I want to play along regularly.

     My card for this month has an image from Beccy's Place, the cutest Halloween cat ever!


I used Sketch 205 from Sweet Sketch Weds 2, reversed.

Pre-colored image
Cut with QuicKutz dies
Spiderweb dp from Making Memories
Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, February 1, 2021

All About the Heart

     This is the first of 3 posts today which is what happens when the first of the month falls on a first Monday.  :-D  This is the one for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies but be sure to check back in just minutes for the post for Jan's Digi Stamps and in a couple of hours for the post for QKR Stampede.

     Here it is the first of another month and, since it's February, our thoughts turn to deep friendship or love and things of the heart.  Our latest monthly "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge starts right now at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  We are sponsored this month by Beccy's Place, who generously supplied images for the DT.  

     I actually used the freebie image from the January challenge at Beccy's Place.  That challenge has ended but the image is still available.  He's perfect if you still have Valentines to make.  :-D

I used sketch #199 from Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut w Sizzix die
Papers from Neenah
Satin edged ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Mulberry paper flowers from stash
Pink gems from stash
Hand-tied pink bow w gem

     Challenges:
   partner w Heart 2 Heart

     Come play this month.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  We want to see a critter featured prominently on your project, not just a teeny butterfly or an almost unseen animal down in the corner.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, December 7, 2020

Vintage Santa

      A second post today, something I haven't done in a while, but I wanted to let you see the freebie image from Beccy's Place for this month's challenge.  Isn't he a fantastic old time Santa?


I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds (#197)
turned 1/4 turn.

Colored w ProMarkers & silver sparkle gel ink
     (following the pattern on Beccy's pre-colored image)
Image & sentiment cut w Unbranded dies
Papers from Love to Craft
Snowflake embellies cut w mini punch

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

I for Ice, Ice Skates, and Impossible !

      We're on to the Letter "I" in the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and that's a difficult letter for me because my Imagination seems to have flagged a bit after yesterday's marathon of card making to get caught up.  :-D  But I did have this fun Ice Skating Santa image from Beccy's Place so I colored him in traditional colors but used Ivory for his face color.  I colored the ground beneath him to look like an Ice pond, making sure his Ice Skate was clearly touching it.  I used Icy-looking, glittered dp and ribbon to complete the cold winter scene.

     My one critique would be how nearly Impossible it would be for Santa to look so graceful while ice skating when he has all that bulk to carry around and keep balanced.  :-D


I used Sketch #194 from Sweet Sketch Wednesday,
turned a quarter turn so the rectangle
is at the bottom and adjusted for A2.


Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w Sizzix dies
Glittered white dp is a scrap
Silver snowflake ribbon is a scrap
Sentiment printed, fussy cut, and matted

     Challenges:
Passion for ProMarkers

     I will have a second post today but it won't be for Beccy's Place.  Nope, I actually made a couple of cards (during my marathon session the other night when I couldn't sleep) which have nothing to do with the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place, although they are Christmas themed cards.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Not So Wide Awake

      I admit that I gave up drinking caffeine ages ago but I want to show you why I chose to take that drastic step.  :-D   This fun image, which is the freebie for the Outlawz Progressive challenge this month, reminded me of how I used to look after dragging myself out of bed on a morning after too many night time cups of coffee!


I based this on Sketch 193 at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w Sue Wilson dies
Embossed card front
Signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Vintage Thoughts

     The title of this post should give you a clue that there is a vintage creation being presented today but there's so much more to the story!  So pour yourself a cuppa or something cool if it's hot where you are, and settle in for a bit of a read.

     Unlike most really hip crafters, I'm rather new to browsing on PINterest, much preferring to be in the craft room than at the computer.  :-D  I do very little on social media sites other than FB things required by the DTs on which I serve.  I don't have any Instagram, Twitter, Flick'r, Tick Tock, or whatever accounts and I don't waste my rather budgeted creative time with any of those things.

     However, I did take a glance at PINterest when I was looking for photos of some particular flowers to figure out how I wanted to color an image of them.  Did you know if you use search terms which are too general you will get millions and millions of hits?  OK, you probably knew that but remember, I don't spend my time searching PINterest.  lol  Anyway, one link led to another and suddenly I found myself on a place called "Deviant Art" and found some rather lovely vintage photos of flowers, bouquets, and tussy mussies.

     Tucked in among them, for no apparent rhyme or reason, were several sepia toned, vintage photos of people.  I was dumbstruck to see one photo which I recognized instantly!  In the interests of giving full and appropriate 'credit' to whomever now has the 'rights' to it (on Deviant Art the photo was credited to "peterpicture,") I have no idea who or what they may be and am in no way associated with them, nor do I know how they got access to it or ownership of it.  BUT, the reason I recognized the photo is because it's one of my mother, taken at a professional photography studio when she was a few weeks away from turning 16!  As was the custom back in the 1920s, girls had professional photos taken at age 16 as a way of saying they were now "coming of age."

     My mother gave me this photo of her when I turned 16.  I kept it on my dresser for many years until it finally got relegated to the 'keepsakes' box when I was in my late 40s.  Interesting side note - I had grown up in the town where my mother had been born and raised, and had been told throughout my entire childhood how much I looked like my mother when she was ... insert whatever age I was at that time.  It never really impressed me all that much, partly because I was a child but also because I was the youngest sibling and my mother turned 42 the year I was born so looking at her at whatever age she was then, I really couldn't see the similarity.  But this photo of her at age 16 could have been me at 16 (aside from the obvious age of the photo)!  Edited to add: In response to Bunny's comment - I can't put my hands on any photos of myself at age 16, 17, 18, or anything close to it, else I would have put one up for comparison.  :-D

     So, after all that, let me share the photo by showing you what I did with it.  My oldest granddaughter asked me if I would turn the photo into something she could keep on her desk or mantle piece so I made a large, tent fold style card.  And yes, if she had that hairstyle and was dressed in vintage clothing, it would look a lot like her.  :-D


I started with one of the current sketches at


Photo printed and cut with Spellbinders die
Framed with CS embossed with "linen" EF
Background dp is a scrap
Sentiment cut with Sizzix/Tim Holtz die
    (cut twice from white and gray CS)
Card front framed with 1/16" strips of CS
Gray CS circles punched w/ hand punch

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Caendar
Creative Fingers
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD
Word Art Weds

     I'm running way behind today but thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Peonies in a Jar

     Today I'm back with yet more peonies and I'm still not tired of coloring them.  :-D  This image is from Conie Fong, called Peonies in a Jar, and I thought it would be perfect as a Spring DT card.  On our FB page, we always have two challenges each month - one is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects.  On the completed projects, the theme is Always Anything Goes (with a Conie Fong image) but we give you an optional theme if you want to use it.

     This month it's all about Lace or Pearls.  I featured those on my first 2 DT cards but not this one.  The closest I got to lace was using the Little B die to cut the pink and green, scalloped, mat behind the image.  :-D  The image comes with or without the pebbles in the bottom of the jar.


I based this on one of the sketches at 


Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens
Cut with Little B die
Mats cut with Little B dies
All papers are scraps from the basket
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Metal Brads

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Colour Crazy
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspiration
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Happy Spring

     I found this image in my collection of images from All Dressed Up and realized I've never used it!  It's called "Butterflies" and believe it or not, it's currently a freebie on their challenge blog site!  The challenge theme this month is "Favorite Color" and my favorite color combo for anything spring is green and .....  :-D


I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds. #178


Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Cut with Spellbinders square die
K & Co green papers (scraps)
Sheer green ribbon
Hand tied bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut
Green card base

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Use Dies/Use Flower dp)
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Double D
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Funday

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Butterfly Kisses at Conie Fong

     I'm so enjoying my Guest Designer stint at Conie Fong and will truly miss it when I'm done.  I'd give anything to be a regular DT for Conie.  :-D  In any case, today I used "Butterfly Kisses" and I think she's an absolute delight to color!  Again, she's on sale!

     Everything on the card was made from scraps and leftovers, including the CS on which the image and sentiment were printed.


I started with one of the sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.
but added embellies in the corner.


Colored with ProMarkers, chalks & gel pens
Cut with Memory Box stitched die
Edges of image were inked with ProMarkers
Heart and flower are both embroidered
Leaves cut from scrap w Cheery Lynn die
Blue doily is a partial piece, left over from another card
Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon (scrap)
Everything is layered onto a scrap of kraft CS

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Unbleached Silk & Dies)
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
I {heart} ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp

     Wishing you all a crafty day.  :-D  NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Puppy Love from Digi Doodle Studios

     My next DT card as a reminder that our challenge at Digi Doodle Studios is still open and you have time to play.  Our theme for February is all about Love & Friendship and this time I used an adorable image called "Puppy Love" for my card.


I was influenced by Sketch 176 at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored with ProMarkers & pencil
Image and mat cut with QuicKutz octagon dies
Background scored with ScorPal board
Sheer ribbon and signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Creative Inspirations
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Southern Girls
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

    Come join our challenge or visit us on Facebook.  We'd love to see you enter the challenge.  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Dragonfly Day

     This is my second post today so if you missed the first one, click HERE or scroll down one post.

     I was looking through my folder of older images which were waiting to be colored and found this one from Pattie's Creations.  I know it's been a long time since I used it and it just appealed to me as a sign that spring will be here before we know it.


Sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds 2


Colored with ProMarkers and chalks
Glitter added to the wings
Image cut with QuicKutz square die
Scrap below image cut with Spellbinders die
Background dp from my old stash (DCWV)
Metal brads

     Challenges:
Allsorts
As You Like It
Cardz TV
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Creative Inspirations
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Tea 4 Two

     My card today is a salute to love and friendship expressed with the warmth of a cozy tea time.  For you golfers, that's TEA time, not tee time!  I used a delightful image from Conie Fong and decided to put the emphasis on the hearts by doing everything in gray scale except for the red hearts.  I love the overall effect of it.


I based the card design on this sketch from


Colored with ProMarkers and #2 pencil
Image cut with Spellbinders die adjusted to fit
Quilt die from Gina Marie
Papers in 'quilt' are DCWV; embossed and sparkly
Hand sewn ribbon for bow
Sentiment done w/ red heat embossing

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Country View Crafts
Creatalicious
Dies R Us
House that Stamps Built  (middle row)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Humor Me at Catch the Bug Critter Chaos

     Another fun Bugaboo Stamps image for today's Critter Chaos challenge at Catch the Bug where the theme this time is "Humor."  I love, love, LOVE stitched dies (because they make the faux stitching so much neater than anything I can do by hand!)


I used one of the sketches from Sweet Sketch Weds.2
but turned a quarter turn.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Die-namics stitched dies
Aleene's Snow
Papers from Doodlebug
Sparkle red ribbon and red satin ribbon for bow

     Challenges:
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Mod Squad
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Day 12, Letter "J" - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     My card today for Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas is a bit different from any of the others so far this month.  Instead of using one of Beccy's images, I'm using one of her digital papers (from her Rocking Horse set, which is now one of her free images!  Go grab it.  :-D )

     A blue and purple color combo is one of my absolute favorites, and I thought that using it for a Christmas card would be both challenging and fun.  My only "J" is in the Joyeux Noel sentiment.


I used a sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds.


Background paper from Beccy's Place.
Silver glitter paper from Recollections
Ornament shape cut from gold, iridescent, geometric CS (Spellbinders die)
Joyeux Noel cut with Die-versions die
White paper strips are embossed
Silver paint pen and white gel ink used to define the 'stitched' areas of the sketch
Flat gems added to diagonal corners

   Challenges:
Crafty Catz
Creative Inspirations
Elliebelle's Crafty Weds
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Time Out
Word Art Weds.

     Hard to believe we're nearly half way through November.  Good grief, I can barely believe we're right around the corner from all the winter holidays!  It seems like only yesterday I was complaining about the miserable heat of summer and now we have wonderful, crisp evenings and the TV ads are all about snow and Christmas.  (I do wish we could have the fun of Halloween and the warmth of Thanksgiving before they start running 24 hour a day ads to buy, buy, BUY!)  And here I am making Christmas cards!  lol  But that's different since I have to mail most of my cards and I have so many to make.  Besides, I don't plaster advertising all over the television waves.  OK, ranting finished.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, September 16, 2019

Feed the Birds for Christmas

     I'm sharing another of my favorite images from Mo's Digital Pencil which has the sweetest little urchin feeding the birds during the cold days of Christmas.  They have a color challenge for the theme this month which includes one of my favorite color combos - purples and aquas.

  

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.


Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die
Papers from Doodlebug
Plaid paper cut with QuicKutz dies
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Glitter added to snowflakes
White background paper textured with embossing

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty Christmas
House that Stamps Built (diagonal: die cut/ square card/ blue or purple)
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Fairy & The Unicorn

     Another birthday card today, this time for a young lady who loves fairies and unicorns.  The image, which comes from Digi Doodle Studios, couldn't have been better.


I started by using the colors from the 
and the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds.
No photo description available. 

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter on her hair & the unicorn's horn (enlarge photo to get better look)
Sue Wilson die (pink CS) & QuicKutz (circles)
Paper from DCWV "Basics" stack
Ribbon and hand tied bow w gem

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cupcake Inspirations
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie