Scarecrow Needs a Story

      Today I'm playing with an old, old, who-knows-how-old image which comes from Whimsy Stamps.  It's called Scarecrow and Friend and I don't even know if it's still in their store.  I know I got it more than 5 years ago, maybe longer.  I made it for a new challenge I found several days ago, There's a Stamp for That, and they have 3 concurrent themes for their challenge.  I chose the one about books and/or reading.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image and the mat with dies from Tonic Studios.  The mat was cut from a scrap of dp in the basket.  The books were hand drawn and fussy cut with scissors.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

I Love ProMarkers

Paper Funday

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Whimsey Inspiration

Word Art Weds

     That's all for today but check back this weekend for another post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Baby Dragon Adventures

     Baby dragons are the most curious creatures ever and each new thing they encounter is a complete adventure in itself !   Purple leaves are amazing and watching them drift on a breeze is reason for giggles or even outright laughter.  :-D

     This sweet image is from Whimsy Stamps and the card will eventually find it's way into my eldest granddaughter's mailbox because she adores dragons (as do I!)

My color inspiration came from the challenge at The Outlawz

where they want to see lavender/purple monochromatics.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with dies from Little B
All three ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Metal brads
Signature bow w pearl

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Cute Card Thurs
Die Cut Divas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
SheepSki Designs
Time Out
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Cleaning the Cat

     Spring cleaning is one of those things we humans do, often as a way of shaking off the "cabin fever" after months of  cold weather.  Felines often have a different attitude about the bustle of spring cleaning, preferring that things remain exactly the way they were and not get moved around or rearranged. 

     The three cats who think they own my house and that I'm only there to feed them and clean their litter box, have to thoroughly investigate (and hesitate to approach) even a closet door which now is open an inch when before it was completely closed.  Sigh...

     The feline on today's card has taken a firm stand against her part of the spring cleaning.  lol  Image from Whimsy Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Sparkle gel ink on bubbles
Cut with oval dies from QuicKutz
Darice embossing folder
Polka dot washi tape on left border
Signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on a Blog
A Bit More Time... Extra
A Gem of a Challenge
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Die Cut Divas
Pearly Sparkles
Star Stampz (middle row)

     Have a wonderful weekend - the first one of spring!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sandy Claws

     Today couldn't have jelled any better.  I needed a cat card for the Cat Lovers Hop which started yesterday and I wanted to share this adorable cat image from Whimsy Stamps!  Isn't that the best form of  "2 Birds with 1 Stone?"

     My oldest granddaughter is in college and has her own home (with roommates), and has adopted her first felines.  When she has to be out of town, I get to fur-babysit her two felines (brothers, now aged 5 months) and I love it.  Here's a photo of them which I took last month when they were here with me for a week and which I used to make a card for my granddaughter.

     But my card today (which will be her Christmas card) looks like this.

     I colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut the image with scissors.  I used a Sue Wilson die to cut red CS twice and white CS once.  I layered those die cuts onto the front of a confetti CS base.  I added the image on top of those die cuts and printed the sentiment.  Once printed, I cut it by hand and added it below the image.

     For embellishment (kept to a minimum), I sewed one of my signature bows and added a sparkly, red sequin.  The entire card took me less than 20 minutes to put together, including the die cuts, so a very quick card.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Ike's Art
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     I'll see you tomorrow with another Fabulous Feline for the Cat Lovers Hop.  I'll probably have one each day the rest of this week.  I may even have 2 posts on Friday!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Scarecrow and Bird

     I've been revisiting my collection of Whimsy Stamps and I can't believe how many I have that I'd forgotten.  So it's time to bring them back and let them see daylight again.  :-D  Today, I'm letting this darling scarecrow with his bird friend enjoy the spotlight.  It's been at least 4 years since I used him (hanging head in shame.)

     I colored him with ProMarkers, then used a die from Tonic Studios to cut the image.  I inked the edges with a stamp pad.  Next, I printed the sentiment and used a Gina Marie die to cut it.  I used the same stamp pad to ink the edges of it.

     The geometric background design was cut with a Memory Box die and I laced glittery, gold, ribbon through one side of it.  I layered that piece onto honey gold CS, then added the image and the sentiment, and put it all onto the card blank.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
DL.ART
Double D
Ellibelles's Crafty Weds.
If You Give...a Cookie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Quick Quotes
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa Mouse

     A few days ago, I told you I had done my last Christmas card and, at the time, I meant it.  But then, I remembered this darling "Santa Mouse" image, drawn by Kathy at Stamp Art by Kathryn and available through Whimsy Stamps, which I had to buy the first instant I saw it.  I had bought it before Thanksgiving, printed it out and slipped it into my folder of 'Things to Color' which is always nearby, no matter where I am.  I forgot about it until I saw it again yesterday and then just had to color it and turn it into a card.  It's just so cute; I know it's now a favorite of mine and will get used every year.  So, let me share with you my absolutely, very last, Christmas card.  :-D

I followed this week's sketch from The Outlawz

and took my colors from Color My Heart: "ruby and juniper."

  

     I colored Santa Mouse with a combination of ProMarkers and colored pencils.  He was already die cut before coloring but I matted him and all the papers with black CS.   The background dp I used is scrap booking paper from Paper Pizazz, called "Santa Plaid."   The corner dp were just scraps which I cut to size.  I added strips of gold colored gemstones to each corner and then found the bits of ribbon and holly leaves in some dp and cut them out by hand, backed them with CS, and added them to the corners.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas -- Make own embellies
A Creative Romance -- Sparkle at Christmas
As You Like It -- Fav Christmas digi & why (It's too cute to resist!)
Baffies Kreativladen -- Last minute Christmas
Catch the Bug -- Fav Christmas song (Here Comes Santa Claus)
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- Happy holidays
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas -- Last minute Christmas
Digi Haven -- Colors of the season
Di's Digis Designs -- Christmas
DL.ART Thankful Thursday -- Christmas
House That Stamps Built -- Last minute Christmas card
MilkCoffee -- Anything Christmas
Pumpkin Spice -- Anything holiday
QKR Stampede -- Happy holidays
Simon Says Stamp -- Bling
Stampin' w/ the Dragon -- Last minute Christmas
Stempelsonnen -- Anything goes
The Squirrel & the Fox -- Christmas
Whimsy Inspirations -- Party time (Christmas party)

     Well, it's the last Monday before Christmas and I'm totally ready.  No last minute shopping, not even at the grocery store.  My time is my own and I'm enjoying being close to family this year.  Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Silent Night for Whimsy Inspirations

     In the midst of everything else going on in my life (sorting, packing, moving), I was invited to be a Guest Designer for Whimsy Inspiration's challenge this week.  It goes live today at noon Eastern time so my post is a couple hours early but this was when I could get it linked up so... I guess you get a quick preview of the theme.

     I've played in their challenges so often over the last year or two that I just couldn't say "No."  :-D  The theme is "Shabby Chic/Vintage" and I immediately thought of that lacy die cut frame when I saw this image in the Whimsy Stamps store.   It's called "Silent Night," perfect for a Christmas card and lovely with a vintage-y look.  I know vintage is usually piled with flowers, lace, and glittery embellies but I didn't want to cover up the stamp.  I thought the frame was enough and I just did my best to balance CAS and Vintage.

I based this on a sketch from Sketchbook Saturday adapted for a square card.

     I know there's a bit of an angle to the photo but I used gold, metallic CS to mat the image and sentiment and it gives off a terrific glare in a straight-on shot.  The image is colored with ProMarkers and sparkle gel ink on the star and on her wings, although it's hard to see because of the angle.  I die cut both the image and the sentiment with frame dies from Spellbinders.  The bow is one of those I make by the dozens (hand sewn) and the star embellies are metal and enamel brads.  The blue background dp is from DCWV's Juniper Berry stack.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps -- Create a scene
A Gem of a Challenge -- Use black (the wolf)
Challenges 4 Everybody -- Anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges -- Anything Christmas goes
Crazy 4 Challenges -- Use a bow
Di's Digi Designs -- Show your coloring skills
Drunken Stampers -- Die cuts
Glitter n Sparkle -- Something metallic (CS & brads)
Outlawz CAS Sunday -- Baby related (Birth of the Christ child)
Sweet Stampin' -- Things w/ wings

     I think this one may be my favorite Christmas card so far this year.  I know it has to go to someone really special but haven't decided which of the family members will get it.  I do have a friend who just loves wolves so maybe it'll end up in his mailbox instead.  We'll just have to wait and see.  I don't know how many other posts I'll have this week but since yesterday had 3 posts, I know there'll be lots for you to see.  In the mean time, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie