Butterfly Hair at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     It's August 1st and that means another new monthly "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge is starting at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!  Our sponsor this month is SheepSki Designs and Andrea generously donated all the images used by the DT.   I chose one from my own collection of SheepSki images and it's called "Butterfly Hair."  I merged one, larger, butterfly above the image so don't expect it to be there if you go look at the image in the store.  :-D

     2CCC is also partnering with Double Trouble for the first two weeks of August (starting on Monday, August 3).  The theme at Double Trouble will be/is "Dog Days of Summer" and you can enter using any image of a dog or a cat or any of your favorite creatures.  I chose butterflies, but don't tell my feline fur babies - they'll be so jealous!  As an additional twist you can do either heat embossing or dry embossing.  I did dry embossing.

I was inspired by the sketch at House that Stamps Built.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut w/ QuicKutz die
Embossed w/ Swiss Dots folder
Ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bow tied using bow maker
Paper from DCWV "Basics" stack

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Butterfly (Beau Blue)
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Gals Corner
Paper Funday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     Come play with us at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies this month.  The challenge is open until 3:00 p.m. on the 25th of August and all you need is to have a critter featured on your project, whether that's a card or otherwise. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas in July - Day 2 - Sketch

     Here we are on Day 2 of the Christmas in July daily challenges at Catch the Bug and today we get to use their sketch.  I used this cute, silly bird who's in the process of decorating for Christmas.  He's definitely an "early bird" on Christmas decorating since it's only July.  :-D

Here's the sketch & you can see I adjusted it 

slightly for a square card.

I also used colors from House that Stamps Built.

 

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut with Unbranded die

Frame cut w QuicKutz die

Sentiment cut w Die-Versions die

Papers from DCWV Basics stack

Satin ribbon and Twine bows

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Angie's Digitals

Arty Divas

Christmas w the Cuties

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Simon Says Stamp
Tuesday Throwdown

     So far, I'm right on course with doing a card each day of the Christmas in July event and I already have the next project done so check back tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragon Rider

     My oldest granddaughter has a passion for dragons (something she no doubt gets from me!) and I thought this would make a perfect birthday card for her.  Personally, I think dragons are the most perfect creatures in the world, especially my favorites, Pocket Dragons. 

     You haven't heard about pocket dragons?  I referred to them in a post a long while back but let me tell you again why they are favorites of mine.  Pocket dragons are so tiny they are nearly invisible.  They always come in your favorite color, whatever it is.  People are rarely aware that they are hosting pocket dragons because the dragons are so quiet and peaceful.  They sleep in the pockets of your clothing, which is generally what they are doing when they spend time with humans.  If you reach your hand down into the pocket of your coat or your jeans and find a tiny bit of lint, puffed into a soft pillow shape, for sure you have a pocket dragon who's been napping in your pocket!

     I'm not sure if this is a pocket dragon in his daytime form but he's in my favorite color so he might turn into one at night when he's sleeping.  :-D  The image is from LeAnne's World 101.

I used colors from House that Stamps Built

and the sketch from the Outlawz.

  

Colored with ProMarkers & gel inks
Image and mat cut with dies from QuicKutz
Leaves cut w Cheery Lynn die (scraps)
Mulberry flowers cut w Memory Box die (scraps)
Gems added to flowers

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrate with Selfies

     This all started yesterday when I read the newest challenge title at Double Trouble, which said "Say Cheese."  I immediately thought about family reunion photos and selfies where everyone has to 'say cheese' to get a proper smile on their face.  I ran to my file of printed images, found the one from LeAnn's World for their progressive challenge because it has this fun couple celebrating and taking selfies.

     As it turns out, the 'cheese' was in honor of National Cheese Day and one of the options was to do something with your favorite cheesy food - sorry, no cheesy food at this party.  But the other option was show something which "makes you smile" and for me that would be parties and friends (and making cards.)

     Double Trouble is also partnering with Atlantic Hearts Sketch for the next 2 weeks (with a different sketch each week) so I chose this week's sketch and used it.

   

                             Colors came from House that Stamps Built

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & Sentiment cut with Unbranded dies
Blue CS cut with Memory Box dies
Both blue and orange CS embossed w/ Linen EF
Butterfly is machine embroidered

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Colouring in Scrapland
Double D
Pammies Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land

     This is my first post today and I'll have a second one in a couple more hours so be sure to stop back and check out that one, too.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Butterfly Kitten

     You mean you didn't know that fairies have kittens?  They do.  Look at this image from Paper Shelter and you'll see they have butterfly kittens!  :-D  What a delightful fantasy concept.

Colors inspired by House that Stamps Built.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter on the wings
Image & frame cut with Cottage Cutz pinpoint die
Border cuts with Spellbinders die
Paper from the scrap basket
Hand sewn bows w/ pearls

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (Kobe hair)
Cut It Up
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulips for Easter

     Today I'm sharing my first Easter card of the year and I used a lovely tulip image from Beccy's Place. 

I used the colors in the palette from 

The House that Stamps Built.

     I started by coloring with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is also cut with another die from that same set.  The background dp was a left over on my desk and worked perfectly with the color combo. 

     I find that when I'm using 12 x 12 scrap booking paper, I tend to leave the scraps on my desk after I've cut into a new sheet.  Over the next few days of crafting, I'll grab and use up those scraps as they work with whatever I'm creating at the moment.  Often, the scraps themselves will inspire the next color combo.

     I added two of my signature, hand-tied, bows with pearls.  I used a ProMarker to 'dye' them the color I wanted, choosing the lilac color of two of the tulips.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Craft-D BowZ
Crafty Creations
Happy Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land

     That's all I have for today but I'm headed to the crafting table so who know what else you might see the rest of this week.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Trees in the Forest

     Edited to add:  Beccy's Place threw me a curve giving us a non-alphabet letter prompt for today but I'd worked ahead on and pre-scheduled  my "T" card since it's Thanksgiving and I won't be posting until I'm back home.  I'll get caught up as soon as I can.
   
      One more post with a card for the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place and the prompt is "T."  Trees is a pretty obvious choice but I chose this image from Beccy's with pine Trees in the forest instead of a decorated Tree in the house.

I admit I was heavily inspired by the color combo photo

which I found at House that Stamps Built.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a simple, rectangle die from Tonic Studios.  I added Teal ink to the edges of the cut piece.  The mulberry paper is called Teak Brown.  The Trees have a Tapered shape, adding yet another T !

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Digi Choosday
Paper Shelter
{Pin}spirational
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today but I have two posts pre-scheduled for Friday; one for QKR Stampede and one for the next Beccy's Place daily challenge and the rather difficult letter "U."  I'm good so far at having been able to post each day of 30 days and it looks like I may get all the days in, even if I have to play catch up again after the weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beccy's Place Color Challenge

     It turns out that today (Day 5 of the 30 Days of Christmas) is one of the days when Beccy tosses us a theme instead of using a letter of the alphabet as a prompt.  The challenge colors are: custard, moss, cocoa, and bisque.

  

     I read through the Day 5 post at Beccy's, then went back to bed for a while since this flu hasn't gone completely.  When I got up again, I did this CAS card using these two really cute stockings from Beccy's Place.

I based my design on the sketch from

The House that Stamps Built, but flipped side to side.

     Last year during her 30 Days of Holiday Cards, Beccy gave us a tutorial on recoloring a pre-colored image and I decided to try it.  I chose this image of the two stockings because the original colors were as close to what I needed as possible.  I also adjusted the pre-coloring to make it as light as possible before I printed it, editing it with my Word software.

     I used my ProMarkers to add a golden orange to the red, making it bisque, and turned the green darker and more mossy with a "Moss" Promarker.  The yellow in the striped stocking only needed the addition of a "Mustard" ProMarker to change it to the custard shade.

     To get the "cocoa," I used a Bo Bunny die to cut the frame out of CS and I inset the image into it.  The background paper (also Bo Bunny) was a delightful bisque color and worked perfectly as a complementary background for the image.  Both of those went onto a white card base and, beyond that, I left it very CAS.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
Stamping Sensations

     OK, that's it.  I'm going back for another nap and I'll see you tomorrow when, hopefully, I'll be feeling stronger and not need two naps in the same day.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Patch

     Friday morning and I'm sharing another DT card for the weekly challenge at QKR Stampede which started this morning.  It really is fall (according to the calendar if not the weather) and that means Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner.  If you want to play along in our challenge this week, you could make something for either of those occasions or anything else you choose because we always have an "Anything Goes" theme.  I chose a beautiful autumn image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Pumpkins and Fence."

I started with the sketch from Sum More Fun

and colors from The House that Stamps Built.

  

     I colored with ProMarkers and used water colors for the muted sky and ground.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I had one piece of that lovely dp left in a DCWV stack and I though it went perfectly with the image.

     If you look closely, you'll see that the background dp is also cut with a stitched die from that set and the image is inlaid into the background.  I added the wider, paler, polka dot ribbon before inlaying the image, then I wrapped that whole piece with a deep orange, polka dot, ribbon before putting it onto the card front.

     I love how the vertical and horizontal stripes in the background make a box for each pumpkin or leaf or other fall item.  Stripes, squares, and polka dots are wonderful geometric shapes for visual interest and texture.

     On this card, rather than leaving it completely CAS, I added a white, hand-sewn, bow with a button, and the stitched pumpkin.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     I hope you'll come and play along with us this week.  We want to be inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Remembering Marilyn

     It seems strange to think of Marilyn Monroe as anything but a thirty-something person but, had she lived, she would be 90 years old this year!  Her death was 54 years ago last Friday and she's still an icon of the silver screen.

     As a tribute, this image by The East Wind came with their monthly newsletter and is called, appropriately enough, Aurora "Marilyn."

I used the sketch from Outlawz

and colors that came from House That Stamps Built.

  

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut and corner punched the image.  I matted it with black dp which does have a print in it but it's rather faint and difficult to see.  Again, I punched the corners.  I added a polka dot background and then dug out my Memory Box dies.

     I cut gray butterflies, then pink vines and flowers, stacking layers of flower petals to make the two larger flowers which are adhered on top of the black ribbon.  I added sparkly gems, scattering them across the image and the die cuts.  After all, Marilyn did believe that "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend!"

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Ribbons
Double D
Incy Wincy
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
{PIN}spirational
Sasayaki Glitter
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls
Sweet Stampin'
The East Wind
Through the Craft Room Door
Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope you're having yourself a wonderful weekend and that you get in lots of fun and relaxation.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Rock It, Girl !

     The latest monthly freebie is in the newsletter from The East Wind and their challenge theme is "Use Corrugated Paper."  I decided to use that freebie image on my card for their challenge.

I used the sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas

and colors from House That Stamps Built.

  

    I used my ProMarkers to color the image and die cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  I used markers (red and yellow) to ink the edges.  The corrugated paper was cut with another Spellbinders' die.  For the background, I used a dp which I found in my 12" x 12" scrapbooking papers.  The dried flowers also came from my stash and they've been there at least a year but obviously, they were meant just for this card.  :-D

     I have a feeling this might get used as a birthday card for one of my granddaughters, or more likely, just a 'thinking of you' card for one of them.

     Challenges:

Card and Scrap

Crafting Musketeers

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Galore

Di's Digi Designs

Incy Wincy

My Sheri Crafts

My Time to Craft

Not Just Cards

Our Creative Corner

Scrapy Land

      There's another post scheduled for later tonight, all about the new September challenge at Pattie's Creations.  You don't want to miss that one.  Then tomorrow, there's a new challenge at QKR Stampede and my DT card for that will post in the wee hours of morning (my time) but it's worth a peek, too.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie