Be a Unicorn

      I made two DT cards this month for Star Stampz, where our OPTIONAL theme is "Inspired by a Song."  My first card was inspired by "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and this one is inspired by "The Unicorn Song," sung by the Irish Rovers.  If you click on the song name, it will take you to a YouTube site where you can hear the song (and see all the lyrics) if you're not familiar with it.

     And if you are familiar with it, I can just about guarantee that the refrain is running through your head right now and it will be hours before you can get rid of it!  lol 

     Anyway, my card features the Star Stampz image called "Unicorn Princess" and I think she's adorable.  I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners for some visual interest, then layered the image onto a square of purple CS and rounded those corners with a punch from Uchida.

     The plaid dp came from a DCWV stack and the ribbon was in my stash.  The gold butterfly is a sticker from Stamp On It.

     Challenges:

     That's all for today.  You still have almost a week to join in our challenge and we'd love to see you playing there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy & Unicorn

      Here we are at the mid-week point and I have a darling little fairy and unicorn to share with you.  One of my granddaughters adores unicorns and I try to make her at least one unicorn card each year, though it usually turns into three or four.  :-D  This image is from Polkadoodles and I won it in a challenge.

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came not only from the stash but from the scrap stash! 

Colors from The Outlawz + "F" for Fairy

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix scalloped die

Papers are all from the scrap basket

Sentiment printed and hand cut

Lace scraps from basket

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

House that Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn in Autumn

     We all know about unicorns, though some will tell you they are only a mythical creature.  I am of a different persuasion.  I believe unicorns are like pocket dragons - just because you don't see them doesn't mean they are only a fantasy.

     I've been told by a lovely garden fairy that unicorns change the colors of their manes and tales seasonally, like the leaves of a tree.  Hmmm, that would give them an advantage when it comes to hiding in plain sight, wouldn't it?  Let me give you an example of what might happen.

     Fabrika Fantasy has one of the most magnificent unicorn images which I chose for this card.  Notice how his mane, tail, and hooves blend in perfectly with the fall foliage, and his body takes on the pale shadows of the low-light dawn?

I used the sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks plus sparkle on the horn
Die cut with Spellbinders and distressed on the edges
Polka dot washi tape
Doily colored dark brown
Hand made bow with polka dots
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
Crafter's Cafe
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Friendship
Morgan's ArtWorld
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Dreams

     New challenge today at the SheepSki Designs blog and our theme is "Dies and/or Punches."  I used this fantastic "Unicorn" image drawn by Andrea and I'm so crazy about it, I know I'm going to use it again and again.  This time, it's being used as a birthday card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to unicorn horn
Tonic Studios dies
Double loop, double layer, bow (ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Sheer, plaid, ribbon strip (also from Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Metallic CS base
Sentiment printed and die cut with Tonic Studios die
Inked edges - ProMarker

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the  Blog
a2z Scrapbooking
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafter's Cafe
Digi Doodle Studio
Dream Valley
Your Scrapbook Place

      Come play this month.  We love being inspired by you and your creations.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Graduate

     Another short post due to shoulder problems which are interfering with both my crafting and my being able to sit at a keyboard to prepare posts

     I have two grandkids who are each graduating from high school this year.  The older one is an honor student and has already been accepted into the culinary school he wanted, on a full scholarship I might add!

    The other one is also an honor student and is graduating a year early, having done double classes all year in order to complete all her necessary units.  That was in addition to working a regular, part-time job and being on the cheer leading team at her high school.

     This is her graduation card.  She's totally crazy about unicorns so I used this image from Bugaboo Stamps, added the grad cap by printing another image which had a cap (you'll see it when I finish the card for my grandson), then cutting it out and adding it to the unicorn.

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with QuicKutz dies.  I added micro-fine glitter from Sparkle n Sprinkle to the mane and tail.  The bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, this time with a pearl.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     For now, I've typed as much as I can and must go rest for a bit.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Love

     When this image from All Dressed Up begged to be used as an expression of love, I had a moment of doubt but then I remembered a saying from my childhood when my dad said, "Love from a puppy is the best kind of love" and I knew that had to be true about unicorns, too.  Maybe even better than puppy love since unicorns are so rare.      :-D

      I did my usual coloring with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  The background paper is the last scrap of a 12x12 scrapbooking paper from my stash.  I'm sad to see it used up and will have to look for more.  I love that it has hearts and flowers and is PURPLE!!!

     I knew I wanted a really different kind of bow for this one so I used a scrap bit of lace, rolled and pinched it in the middle, then wrapped with satin ribbon.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut, then added to the bottom.  Not quite CAS but not overdone either.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up
Angie's Digital Stamps
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Cute N Crafty
Dare 2B Artzy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Path of Positivity
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Tuesday to all of you and thanks so much for stopping by.  If I haven't visited you in the last week or so, hang in there and be patient with me.  I'm getting there in between home school projects for my grandson, trips to the doctor for my daughter (torn tendon in her ankle & can't drive), grocery runs for everyone, plus celebrating my oldest granddaughter's birthday this week!  I can't remember when I've been so busy day after day after day.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rare Breed

     It's time for the latest challenge to start at World Wide Open DT and our theme is always "Anything Goes."   Our challenges are sponsored by Julia Spiri and she is generous enough to give images to the DT members to use on their projects.

     This month I've used "Spirit Dreamer."  I created the sentiment as a tribute to my younger granddaughter who adores unicorns.  :-D

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, polychromos pencils, and gel pen.  Although it's difficult to see in the photo, the unicorn's horn is silver but the reflection from it makes it look white in the photo.

     I fussy cut the image and set it inside a die cut frame (Amy Designs) which I trimmed to eliminate the bottom portion.  I put the image inside the frame when I mounted them onto the green card front.
I used white gel pen to highlight the flowers, then added tiny dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flower centers and butterfly wings.  Finally, I sewed together a tiny, purple bow and added it.

     I love this card!

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly Challenge (hunter green)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Cute Card Weds.
Elliebelle's Crafty Weds.
Pammie's Inky Pinkie
Sasayaki Glitter
Sisterhood of Crafters

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this month.  Remember, our challenges run from the 15th of the month to the 14th of the following month but that's Australia time!  That means my posts always go up on the 14th since I'm in the USA.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrate a Rainbow

     That sounds like a fitting title for a month known for its showers!  But in this case, it's a way of celebrating a boy's April birthday.  :-D

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps (Catch the Bug) and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  The dark blue CS frame is a leftover, negative, scrap laid on top of the image and then trimmed to fit.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and adhered it to the bottom of the frame.  The lavender CS (also a scrap) is embossed and used for the card front.  It actually has a die cut hole in it but I covered that by tilting the image slightly when I adhered it. 

     I added no embellishments at all because I wanted a very CAS card for a boy.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Crafting from the Heart
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz CAS
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     That's the best I can do for typing with this shoulder injury.  Writing up the post in 10 minute increments at the keyboard means that it's taken me well over two hours to do this short little post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Moon

     The spring equinox is always special, bringing a subtle change from the dark days of winter but even more magical is the first full moon of spring.  I always knew it was a time of fantastical creatures and now we have proof!  :-D

     The unicorn image is from Dragon's Lair Designs and, once again, I colored with polychromos pencils.  If I keep practicing with them, I might actually get good.  I did add a few glittery stars to the sky with a sparkle gel pen but they just don't show in the photo.  After coloring, I cut the image with a plain square die (QuicKutz) and mounted it in the center of a larger blue CS square, which I put on the front of the card base.

     All the leaves were cut from scrap CS with a die from Cheery Lynn and they are embossed, giving the card some great texture.  The orchid flowers were in my stash.  I have no idea how long I've had them but I don't think I've ever used them so it definitely was time.  They, too, added texture.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy Craft
Come and Get It
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     That's all for me today.  Have a wonderful Monday and may your week be filled with creative pursuits.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie