Carpenters & Handymen

      Time for a new challenge at FarmQuest General Store, sponsored by QKR Stampede, and the 3 images supplied by them will be the prize for this challenge.  Check out the main challenge post to see both of the Carpenter images (one person, one rabbit) and the adorable "Couch Potato" image.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes."

    I used both of the Carpenter images on separate cards so you get a double treat in this post.  The first one is the Carpenter Rabbit.  I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, then cut it with a Tonic Studios die.  The blue CS background for it was embossed with my "Linen" EF.  I had a strip of plaid dp (Your Next Stamp) in the scrap basket and I thought it worked perfectly to enhance the color palette on the card.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

      Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Inspiration

Krafty Chicks

Not Too Shabby (color)

Outlawz Thurs

     The second card features the other Carpenter image (one of my oldest digital images), and I colored it with my newest ProMarkers and some gel pens.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and, again, I embossed the background card front with my "Linen" folder.  In case you haven't figured it out, I much prefer dry embossing to wet embossing and that's because it's so much quicker and much less messy!  lol  

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The striped strip of dp was another scrap from the basket and I have no idea what company made it.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Colorful Options

Double D (old, new, blue)

Double Trouble

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge this month.  Remember, it runs until the 5th of July and the next challenge starts on the 7th of July.  We love seeing what you create so come and inspire us.  Remember, it's Anything Goes!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's All about the Candy Corn!

      When I was a kid, Halloween was all about the candy corn (my whole family called it "Corn Candy," don't ask me why) and I waited all year long for the Trick or Treat night which would reap at least 2 good portions of the luscious treat, more if luck was on my side.  

     This adorable Candy Corn Witch from Jan's Digi Stamps was merged with a candy corn border which is part of the set.  The sentiment also comes in the set.  I used the pre-colored image this time and cut the image with a framing die from Spellbinders.  I mounted that on top of polka dot dp from Your Next Stamp and called it finished.  It's a CAS card which looks fancy and complicated.

This is also my Day 5 entry into the 

LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. 

     Challenges:

Double Trouble

Inspiration Station

Jan's Digi Stamps

LeighSB 31 Days

Lil Patch of  ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Outlawz SAR

There's a Stamp  ...

Two Old Bats

Your Next Stamp

     See you again tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Over the Fence

      I'm really excited about today's card !  The image (a grayscale, digital coloring book page, reduced in size) of this curious cat peeking over the fence into the neighbor's yard reminds me so much of my sweet Cleo (who passed over the Rainbow Bridge in 2015.)   She was one of my favorite feline fur babies ever.  She was primarily a house cat but on those few occasions when she begged to go outside, she had such a curiosity about everything around her.  However, she was still a bit fearful of anything other than her own yard.  She wasn't a cat to wander about, much preferring the security of her own fenced back yard.  But she did love to climb the fence for a peep out into the world beyond, even when that "world" was only the neighbor's yard next door.

     So, this card celebrates the best of her curiosity and brings warm memories of her flooding into my mind.  The image was colored with water colors, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The green CS in the background was dry embossed with my 'Linen' embossing folder.  The squares of dp are from Your Next Stamp and they were scraps left in the basket from another project.  I cut them with a Spellbinders die.  They perfectly fit this color combo.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Avery Elle.  I inked the edges of both the sentiment and the image before layering them onto the background.  For a tiny bit of embellishment, I added the three gems in the upper corner and called it finished.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Classic Design

Colour Crazy

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dare 2B Artzy

Happy Little Stamper

Polkadoodles

SheepSki Designs

SUYP Cats

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragonfly

      Today I want to share a card I made using a fun image from Pattie's Creations, which is called "Dragonfly 1."  I really love the way this came together.  

     I used water color paints to color the dragonfly, added loose glitter to the wings, and let it dry.  I used a Fiskars punch to round the corners after first cutting the image with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment is mine, printed and cut by hand.

     The plaid background dp came from a stack by Your Next Stamp and the triple-loop bow was tied using my bow maker.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Double D

Gem of a Challenge

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garbage Can Bandit

      A month or 2 ago, I reached back several years and posted a card which featured the "Alley Cat" image from QKR Stampede, where our newest "Anything Goes" challenge starts today.  This time, I've combined that image with the "Guard Dog" and added  my own sentiment.

     The images were merged, then colored with ProMarkers, and cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The plaid dp is from a stack by Your Next Stamp.  I layered that on a peach card front, printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die, and called it finished.  I like the masculine feel to the relatively CAS design.

     I love using warm colors for summer cards because it fits the season.  I do the same with cool colors for winter cards, but that's a topic for later.  Today is predicted to be 106F where I live and it's been over 100F each day for the last 4 days and those will run for at least another week.  Yuck!

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

I Love ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this fortnight. It's anything goes and you can use any image from any company.  But remember, if you do  use a QKR Stampede image, your entry qualifies for a separate draw and that increases your chances of being a winner!  

    

     Good luck and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Greener Grass

      If you follow my blog at all, you know by now how much I love progressive challenges and the one at Imagine That! DOTM is no exception.  This is the June image, perfect for any dad or any man who loves his yard and wants it pristine.  I'm using it as a Father's Day card for my son-in-law who has a wonderfully dry sense of humor.

     I used ProMarkers to color it and added a few wispy clouds with a white gel pen.  I cut the image with an Unbranded die.  The plaid paper is a left over scrap, originally from a Your Next Stamp stack.  The bow was tied from a double strip of jute cord.  Because it's a masculine card, I kept it simple with little embellishment.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Taylormade ...

Uniko

     Happy Stamping to each of you.  :-D  NanaConnie

Sowing vs Reaping

      We're all familiar with the phrase "Reap what you sow" but this cute image from House Mouse Stamps makes me wonder about the wisdom of a tiny mouse sowing Catnip seeds!   If, indeed, he reaps what he sows, he may have a field full of cats which isn't really what a mouse would want!  On the other hand, maybe he's just warm and neighborly and believes in taking care of all creatures, friends or foes.  

      Or maybe he's like me and any excuse will do to get out into the garden, my favorite place to be!  :-D

Colors chosen from Color Dare challenge.

Canary/ Mink/ Blue Belle/ Ivy Green w a neutral of Brown

Colored with ProMarkers  

   (my fav coloring medium because of the way they blend)

Cut w Lawn Fawn die

Matted w Cottage Cutz die cut

Texture burlap scrap

Plaid paper from Your Next Stamp stack

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Watering Can charm

Fiber bow

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Cutie Pie

House Mouse

Lawn Fanatics (used LF die)

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     I think I'll get away from the computer and go play in the garden for a bit.  The weather this morning is a perfect balance of warm and still cool enough to be comfortable outside but that is slated to change drastically this afternoon and over the Memorial Day weekend.  We'll be in the mid to high nineties later today and they are predicting a 5 day (or more) run of temps over 100 F starting on Monday.  Yuck!  I guess summer is officially here even though the calendar says it's still 3 weeks away.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Absolute Pear-fection!

      I'm tickled to be posting my first DT card for Creative Knockouts and our theme this time is "Something to Say" (use a sentiment.)   The challenge is sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps (another of the DTs I serve :-D) and the prize is  $10 (US) gift certificate for a shopping spree at their store.

     I chose an image & sentiment from the "Fall Pear-fection" set.  I thought it made a lovely 'Friendship' card. 

     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 from the stash! 

Tuesday Morning sketch (flipped & turned)

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders die

Plaid dp scrap from Your Next Stamp

Satin-edge, sheer ribbon for bow

Sentiment cut w Memory Box die

     Challenges:

Cookin' Up

Crafty Sentiments

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     Come play in our fun challenges at Creative Knockouts.  We always have fun themes and great sponsors, plus we love being inspired by your fab creations!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Birthday Starts a New Year

      I've never figured out why we celebrate only one New Year each year.  I mean, think about it - each time you have a birthday, you are starting a new year of your life.  Every school child starts a new year when s/he moves from one grade level to the next.  Anyone who changes jobs or gets a promotion starts a new year in that position.  So, this card is my salute to a new birthday year.  :-D

     This House Mouse stamp is also new but I spent no money to get it.  I was lucky enough to win one of the House Mouse challenges and I chose this as my prize!  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 from the stash. 

     I want you to know that these cute little mice looked everywhere, trying to find a 'cupcake' for the birthday cake but all they could find was a box of stale donuts so this has to do as a substitute for the cupcake.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Gina Marie die

Background dp from Your Next Stamp

Sentiment printed & hand cut

Scraps of lace from my stash

Gems from stash

     Challenges:

Crafty Creations

Creative Inspirations

Double D

Double Trouble (all 3) w Color Dare

   

House Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

SSS&S

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Be What You Want to Be!

      We've all heard the ditty about being who you are unless you want to be a Unicorn but this image from Mo's Digital Pencil tells me that sometimes other dreams are possible!  lol  This card is only 4" x 4".

I used traditional colors from Color Dare #423.

Colored w ProMarkers

Sparkle gel ink on collar bells

Glitter added to snow

Cut w Spellbinders die

Sentiment hand cut  & mounted on Pop Dots

Plaid dp from Your Next Stamp

All dp were scraps

Green dp frame cut w Spellbinders die

Red, 1/16" ribbon wrapped & tied

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafter's Castle

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Jesus - the Reason for the Season

     Saying Thank You to all Military Veterans and their families!

     Today is the day for the Letter "J" in the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and my card not only features the Baby Jesus but also an altered "Joy-fold" card which Beccy showed us a week or so ago.  It was fun to make but I had to look up instructions for a regular "Joy-fold" and then look back at Beccy's alteration in order to figure it all out.  I also used Jonquil marker for the straw in the manger.

     I hope my photos will help you see how it works, but be sure to check out Beccy's instructions, too. 

  Front

Inside

Colored w ProMarkers

Image is fussy cut

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Papers from Your Next Stamp

Sparkle cord for hand-tied bow

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Di's Digi Designs

I {heart} ProMarkers

Pattie's Creations

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Confections Queen

     We're starting our newest challenge today over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and this month we are sponsored by Digi Doodle Studios.  Many of you may know that I have the honor of being on the DDS DT also and I'll have another post for them later this morning (in about 7 hours.)

     Actually, I have a total of  4 posts for the 1st this month (no April Fool in there, either), the first of which started last night at 9:00 my time and the last of which will post at 9:00 p.m. tonight and that one has some exciting news which I'll be sharing with you.  :-D   Be sure to check back later today and tonight.

     For 2CCC, I used an image from Digi Doodle Studios called "Linda's Confectionery."  I don't need to tell you that I adore the kittens in this image but I do see myself in my own kitchen with cats at my feet, each of whom is convinced that I was baking just for them.  lol

I was inspired by the colors in the inspiration photo

at Paperbabe Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and frames cut with QuicKutz dies
Polka dot papers are scraps (DCWV & Your Next Stamp)
Lattice die from Memory Box
Embroidered flower 'ribbon'
Hand sewn bow
Sentiment printed, matted & hand cut

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Craft Cottage
Digi Choosday
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Stamper's Delights
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Your Next Stamp

     Come play with us this month.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes featuring a Critter."  Our challenge closes o the 25th of each month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make a Wish

     A new Friday today and it's even a Friday, the 13th!  Since I'm not the least superstitious, other than noting the date, my day will be just like any other day including telling you about the new weekly challenge starting today at QKR Stampede.  As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes" and you can use any image from any company.  However, if you do use either a QKR image or an image from Eureka, our sister company, your entry will be put into a separate draw only for people using our images.  That increases your chances of winning by a huge amount.

     For my card today, which I'm adding to my stash of birthday cards, I used a cute QKR Stampede image called "Wish Bone 7005."  Maybe he'll be the lucky one when the Wish Bone is snapped.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and frame cut w/ Spellbinders dies
Corners made w/ Fiskars punch
Plaid dp from Your Next Stamp
Sheer ribbon and bow from stash
Sentiment printed and hand cut, edges inked

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out
Word Art Weds
Your Next Stamp

     Come play with us and Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie