Sad Kitten?

     This delightful kitten image was drawn by my blogging buddy, Teresa, at Tickell Expressions, and she labelled it "Sad Kitten."  I told her I didn't think the kitten was sad, only intrigued by something he'd seen.  She told me I had a good imagination so I had to do a card to see if I could prove my point.   I sent her the photo and she asked if she could showcase it on her blog.  I was honored by that.   :-D

     The little snail and mushrooms image came from Drawn by Krista and it seemed perfect for the line-of-sight object which caught the kitten's attention.  I colored both images with my ProMarkers and a couple of Copics, then die cut with simple circle dies (QuicKutz.)  Both papers were scraps left over from scrapbooking and the blue background is the actual card front.  I used one of my bow-tie bows for embellishment, keeping it pretty flat and CAS.  I haven't decided on a sentiment yet but I'd guess that when it grows up, it's going to be a masculine birthday card.

     Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Create and Inspire
Creative Fingers
Hiding in My Craft Room
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Girls
Send a Smile 4 Kids
SUYP Cats Only

     I leave in another 2 days and will be gone for about 12 days.  I have a few posts pre-scheduled.  I've tried to get around to visiting each of your blogs this week but admit that time has just gotten away from me.  My internet connection may or may not exist while I'm gone but I promise to catch up when I return.  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.

Smooshy Cat

     Those of you who follow my blog have heard me talk about my blogging buddy, Teresa, of Tickell Expressions.  Although we have never met face-to-face because we live on opposite sides of the North American continent (she in Eastern Canada and I in western USA), in the past we've served together on a DT or two, and have just become really good friends over the years.

     She's such a wonderful artist and is always stretching into new media and techniques to polish and perfect her skills.  I've done other cards using several of her images which she so kindly posts as freebies on Sundays.  As a way of improving her art, she offers anyone who uses one of her images the opportunity to ask her for something specific.

     I used one of her really elegant stags a few weeks ago and, when she asked me what I'd like for a new image, I asked her for something inspired by Sebastian, the adorable, ragdoll kitten who lives with her family, and that he be doing something cute.  Yesterday, she sent me an early preview of the digi, and said the kitten is named "Smooshy."

     I was so "Tickell"ed, I jumped right in and made this card.  (Sorry for that horrible pun, Teresa!)

I used colors from the challenge at Sketchy Colors.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then die cut it and the CS mat with one of my die sets from QuicKutz.  The shaped card and the background dp were cut with another QuicKutz die.  The "Smooshy Says..." sentiment is also Teresa's and comes along with the Smooshy image.  I added the rest of the sentiment about "Play" using a computer font.  The bow is one of those I make and toss into my stash for later use but it started as white ribbon and I 'dyed' it with ProMarker.

     Challenges:

Cat's Pajamas

City Crafter

Crafting for all Seasons

Crafty Cardmakers

Crafty Sentiments

Create and Inspire

Creative Card Crew

Creative Inspirations

I {heart} ProMarkers

Not Just Cards

One Stitch at a Time (top row)

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Ruby's Rainbow

     I hope you find Smooshy as adorable as I do and that you'll want to use him for something sweet.  Remember, if you use him and post it to your blog, let Teresa know and she'll no doubt give you the opportunity to request an image you want.  :-D  

Here's the actual image and you can get it today simply by visiting Teresa's blog.

     Look around her blog while you're there and if you like her artwork, become a follower so that you won't miss any of it.  I follow her via email so that I get a reminder in my mailbox whenever she has posted something new.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Elk

     I needed one more masculine card for family because we've added a couple of people to our Christmas Day celebration.  There's a story behind the image on this one.  A month or so ago, my friend, Teresa (Tickell Expressions), granted me the honor of selecting something which she would then draw as an image.  Not realizing how difficult the choice might be, I asked her for a stag or an elk.  Of course, she did it in style.  :-D  You can find this elk as a freebie on her blog.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a hexagon die.  I matted that with brown CS.  I cut a second brown hexagon using two dies one size apart and layered that on top of the image.  Putting it on top of the image made it looked like a the image was double stamped, a somewhat unexpected result but one I'm going to try again; might even try a triple stamped look.

     The sentiment is also from Teresa and I die cut it into a hexagon, then matted it with the same brown CS.  I mounted everything onto icy blue paper and then onto a white card blank.  I chose to tie a bow using red polka dot ribbon as a salute to Christmas.  That's the only embellishment because this is a masculine card and I wanted it CAS.

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Christmas Cards All Year Long
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Digitally Sweet
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Morgan's Artworld
My Time to Craft
Not Just Cards
Ribbon Girl
Sisters of Craft

     I hope you'll check out Teresa's blog and look for this wonderful elk as well as other images she's drawn and offered as freebies.  Give her a shout out while you're there, too.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

No Bah, Humbug Here!

     My dear blogging friend, Teresa of Tickell Expressions, drew this sweet little skunk (yes, skunks can be sweet!) and the first time I saw it, I just knew it belonged on a Christmas card. The sentiment popped into my head instantly.  Today was the first time I had the opportunity to get that envisioned card made and here it is.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and a white gel pen, then die cut with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The mat was cut from dp with a larger die.  The bow is also a die cut (die from Cottage Cuts) and I cut three layers of it (white, navy blue, and patterned) for some dimension.  Both papers are from DCWV.  The Christmas tree charm was in my stash.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs (bow, digi, sentiment)
I (heart) ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Our Daily Bread
Paper Shelter
Scrapper's Delights
Sisterhood of Crafters

     I hope your week is going well and that the weather is being decent.  If the weather is nasty, then I hope you're warm and toasty inside, playing with your favorite crafty things.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Willow Goldfinch

     My dear friend, Teresa (of Tickell Expressions,) drew this beautiful Goldfinch and shared it as a freebie on her blog earlier this week.  I found some time last night to get him colored and he just comes to life!  Go get the digi and color him yourself.  You'll see what I mean.

I based this on the sketch from Mojo Monday,

turned a quarter turn.

     This was going to be totally CAS with just the colored (ProMarkers) & die cut (QuicKutz) image and sentiment on the front of the card but then the lace and the little punched flowers crept on, and the flowers needed some leaves (Cheery Lynn), and then the butterfly (Cheery Lynn) danced by and lit on the top corner...   Well, you've heard of "If you give a mouse a cookie..." right?  It was kind of like that.  :-D  Still, it does have a lot of open space so maybe it is somewhat clean, hmmm?

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Artistic Inspirations
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Colors
              
Everybody-Art
Great Impressions
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Inky Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Top Tip Tuesday

     I hope you'll visit Teresa's blog and check out all the freebies she has available.  This lovely Goldfinch is only one of  what she has over there.  Go browse her blog.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie