Woodland Critters

     A second post today because I just had to share a tag I made using the mid-month freebie from Conjuror of Dreams for their Tag Challenge.  They do 2 tag challenges each month on their FB site and I didn't get one finished in time for the first challenge in November so I didn't want to be late with this one.  They offer freebies to use in the tag challenge and those alone make it totally worth playing.  :-D

     Isn't this the cutest collection of woodland critters building their winter snowman?  I used kraft CS for the tab and made the shape myself by cutting a rectangle with a die from QuicKutz and then cutting the top corners with a punch from EK Success.  The image is pre-colored and I used it "as is" instead of printing it in grayscale and coloring it myself.  I added pearls to the sides and bottom, then added a "To/From" stamp to the back.  Red twine was added through the hole on top finished it off.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

C.R.A.F.T.

Craft Rocket

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspiration

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The First "First Lady"

      My apologies for this post being late but I've had a couple of days where I think my computer went on vacation!  In any case, I couldn't get onto the internet to add this post for the latest challenge over at FarmQuest.  Our theme this time is to take inspiration from a Martha Washington quote:  “I am again fairly settled down to the pleasant duties of an old fashioned Virginia house-keeper, steady as a clock, busy as a bee, and as cheerful as a cricket.” (1797, Martha Washington)

     Having visited the Mount Vernon home of George and Martha Washington many years ago, I took this quote very literally and created this card using a post card I had purchased while I was there.  The background paper came from my scrap basket.  I used baker's twine for the simple bow.  I searched online for a picture of Martha Washington, found the cameo, sized it to fit onto the card, printed it, and cut it out with scissors.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

Paper Minutes

Paper Shelter

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Again, my apologies for being late with this post but I hope you might still be inspired to come play along in our challenge.  It runs for two weeks and our next challenge begins on February 28.  See you there.

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Just Like Daddy

     I have big news!  I'm now part of the DT over at Crafty Catz.  We have weekly challenges which go live every Friday morning and they are nearly always "Anything Goes" with an optional theme if you choose to use it.  Our optional this week is "For a Child."

    This is my first post for Crafty Catz and I was lucky enough to get to use an image from our sponsor, Conie Fong.  Most of you will know that I'm also on Conie's DT so this is a really delightful card to post and I'll be posting it on the Conie Fong April challenge as well.

     This fun image from Conie Fong is called "Just Like Daddy."  I colored it with ProMarkers (including the smudge on his t-shirt - typical boy thing, right?), and I cut the image with a Gina Marie die.  To cut it as a long, narrow rectangle, I had to cut once, then move the die and cut it a second time.  The die I used is actually about half again as wide.  That's just a tip for how to make your framing dies more versatile.  :-D

     I used a blue dp from a Recollections stack and the solid blue CS background has been embossed with my 'Linen' EF.  I added a wrap of baker's twine as the finishing touch on this CAS and masculine card.

I based this on the sketch from My Favorite Things.

      

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspiration

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Tuesday

Pammie's IP

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

     That's all I have for today.  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Nesting?

      Today's card is another DT card for the challenge starting today at FarmQuest.  For this challenge, our theme is all about Hay, Straw Bales, Hay Mows, or Lofts.  I don't know if haystacks count as Straw Bales but they certainly fit into the larger category of Hay.   

     The image is actually an old photograph.  I found it online and no credit was given as to the name of the photographer but it may be that the photo is old enough that nobody actually knows who took it.  I printed it in gray scale, then I used my ProMarkers to make it look like an old sepia photo, and added lots of yellow tones to the haystacks.  I highlighted the storks with white gel pens and black to make them pop off the background.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and layered onto the image piece.  I framed it with scraps of white and old newsprint paper.  The brown patterned dp for the background (from DCWV) was also a scrap and I chose it because it felt right for our underlying "country" theme for everything done at FarmQuest.  I think warm beiges and browns are my favorite colors for anything with a country feel; those colors (neutrals?) just seem to enhance "outdoors" and "country."  The double twine bow added to that feel.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Our challenge runs through February 13 and the new one will start on the 14th.  Come play with us and make something that celebrates "country" and features hay.  We'd love to see what you create!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Valentine Penguin

      This precious image from Jan's Digi Stamps, called "Puttin' on the Ritz," has been reversed for this card.  It's a pre-colored image so putting the card together was quicker than usual.  The image was printed, then cut with an Unbranded die.  I added a scrap of red CS behind the die cut and trimmed it to fit the rounded corners.

     I printed and fussy cut the sentiment (also part of the set), inked the edges with neon ProMarker to make it stand out, then added it to the image piece.  I used baker's twine to enhance the red, burlap ribbon, wrapping two pieces on each side of the ribbon.  The Petaloo flower covers the spot where the ribbon and twine ends overlapped.  

     

     Valentine's Day is getting closer by the minute so if you haven't started on your cards yet, let this be an inspiration.  Remember, you can get cards done very quickly with pre-colored images, especially if you do CAS cards (which this one isn't!)  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Elephant Never Forgets

      Nothing better than using an elephant on a belated birthday card !  lol  This fun image from QKR Stampede, called "Elephant and Butterfly," seemed perfect for those occasional birthdays which really aren't forgotten but somehow I forget to put the card in the mail on time.  This is my DT card for the July mid-month challenge at QKR Stampede.  The challenge will run until the end of the month and a new one will begin on August 1st.  I do hope we see you playing along.

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to color the image, then cut it with a Dare 2B Artzy stitched circle die.   The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The double loop bow was tied using baker's twine.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the blue strip of CS and the dp bits (also scraps) are from a very old stack by DCWV.

I chose the colors from the My Favorite Things challenge,

including the tiny bits of  'Coral' in the butterfly wings.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

     Now, let's see what you can do for our "Anything Goes" theme this fortnight.  We love b eing inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Shipwrecked

      Our latest challenge is starting at Creative Knockouts, where our theme for this challenge is "Anything Goes" and we're sponsored by Star Stampz.  They were generous and supplied the images used by the DT for our inspiration projects.  I used a sweet stamp called "Shipwrecked" and I'm going to use the card as a subtle message to my son who lives out of state and who hasn't called his momma in a month!  There's a "Get Well" sentiment inside because he must be sick. lol

     I used ProMarkers and pencils to color the image, then cut it with a Sizzix scalloped circle die.  I cut another scalloped circle with a smaller die from that same set for the sentiment.  The card base is made with kraft CS, and I tied a double bow using baker's twine.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Moments

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

Passion for Markers

Scribbles Designs

Star Stampz (layers/bow/sentiment + image)

World Wide ...

     That's all for today.  I've injured my wrist and it's in a brace which makes typing very difficult (one handed and for a 'touch typist' that's painful!)  Hope to see you playing along with us.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mortimer

      Late Sunday night in my time zone but it's already Monday over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies so a new weekly challenge has started.  Our theme is "Anything Goes" and our fantastic sponsor is Beccy's Place.  Beccy supplied images for the DT to use and I chose Mortimer from her fun and fabulous "Funny Farm" set.

     The facial expression said he really had doubts about how quickly birthdays arrive.  :-D

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and pencils, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The background die cut is also a Spellbinders die and the only other embellishment I added was the baker's twine/jute cord combination.  I did take a few of the pieces which fall out of a die cut and added them to the top corners of the image piece.  It looks fancier than it is because of the die cuts.  This card will go to one of my grandsons this summer so I left it pretty CAS.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps ...

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Any image, any occasion, any project, it's Anything Goes!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Brewing A Wish

      I'm having so much fun changing the purpose of images which were originally intended for a different  occasion.  I turned this one into a Father's Day card for my eldest son.  This is another of the images sent to me last fall after I lost my entire collection of digital images when a flash drive crashed.  I had a friend who must have spent hours and hours stamping and printing images of all sorts and then she mailed them to me in three different batches.  She wanted to make sure I didn't get discouraged and stop coloring and crafting.  lol  As though that would happen.  Nevertheless, I'm really grateful and it's fun using them.

     This was colored with ProMarkers, pencils, and gel pens.  The detail in this stamp is amazing and it took me the better part of 3 days to get it colored.  Almost as an afterthought, I used white gel pen on the cats changing them from charcoal gray to white and that made them just pop out of the background.

     I photographed the colored image and when I was editing it, I used my software to 'stretch' the image lengthwise by about 3/4 of an inch and I also gave it a smoky haze overlay.  I'm not sure I would do the smoky haze again but it's kind of interesting.  I was hoping it would look more like mist from the bottle but it is what it is.  I used Baker's twine for the only embellishment on a black card base and left it CAS.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colour Crazy

Crafty Gals Corner

Cute Card Thurs

Dare 2B Artzy

I {heart} ProMarkers

Mod Squad

Outlawz Twisted Thur

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all until tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My First Valentine for 2021

      I know we all wanted the New Year to arrive and for the whole Covid-19 thing to be over and done with the stroke of midnight, but I fear that a good majority of us will still be suffering from lockdowns and government restrictions on our activities for quite some time yet, so I'm already planning to mail Valentine cards to all the grandkids and great-grands in February.

     For my first one (though I have no idea which kidlet will get it), I used this darling Panda Love Drops from Imagine That!'s Progressive Challenge.

I laid this out to fit the sketch at My Favorite Things

but with the sketch flipped.

Single Layer, tent style, CAS card

Pre-colored image

Baker's twine scrap

I also want to tell you about a fun "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 and 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!

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Sentiments

Gem of a Challenge 

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Mod Squad

Outlawz PAM

     That's all I have for today but here's wishing all of you Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Naughty Giraffe

     I have a dear friend who adores giraffes (and who is kind enough to also adore the cards I make for her!) and she collects them in all forms.  When I saw this poem, I knew it described her love of giraffes perfectly.  I've already mailed this card to her so it's safe to post it here today.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Image & mat cut w/ Tonic Studios die
Plaid dp cut w/ Tonic Studios
All papers are scraps
Baker's twine in 2 colors

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Crafters
Creative Inspirations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Papercraft
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
World Wide Open

     I hope this one brought a smile to your face today and thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Independence Day !

     Here's a reminder that the June monthly challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps is still ongoing and you can enter projects until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5.  The July challenge starts on Monday, July 6.           My mid-month reminder card for June celebrates with one of Jan's newest sets, Independence Day Friends, and the set is on sale until the end of June!

     I'm so proud of this card because, while I used all pre-colored images from the set, I put a lot of work into merging the ladies, their picnic lunches, the fireworks, and the sentiment so that they would look like a single image.  I've been practicing but this is the first time I've merged more than just 2 images.  Each image becomes a 'layer' and this one has a total of 6 layers!  I can hardly believe I managed it.  :-D

     But if merging isn't your thing, fret not.  Jan has already merged images within the set so you can either use a single image or one of the pre-merged images.  You really should go and look at the entire set.  It's going to be so versatile.  I used the Independence Day sentiment to make this one a 4th of July card but leaving that sentiment out, all the rest of the individual images would make fabulous summer-themed cards or cards to celebrate nearly any occasion.

     You know, it's digi sets like this one that make me remember why I'm now so hooked on digis as opposed to real rubber.  Not only can you adjust the size of your images (which I love!) but there are so many images and sentiments in this set, if I had to store them all mounted on wood, I'd run out of room.  As digis, they store in a really small space on one of my flash drives.  Yep, digis for me forever!

This card has all the colors from the TicTacToe board

found at Color Dare this week except for the very

center, Laguna Blue.  I used top and bottom rows plus

first and third columns.

Pre-colored images
QuicKutz and Spellbinders dies for all cut shapes
Baker's twine in blue and red stripes

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
DreamValley
Stamping Sensations
Time Out (It was the celebration part that got to my creative juices!)

     If you haven't played in our June challenge yet, please come on over!  Our theme is always Anything Goes and, while you aren't required to use a Jan's stamp, if you do your entry will go into a separate draw just for JDS images.  That increases your chances of winning buy a huge amount! 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

#1 Dad !

     Today starts our latest monthly challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps and, since it's June, what better time to make a Father's Day card?  I used the fantastic new set (released last month) "#1 Dad."  I took two of the images and merged them into one before printing.

Images pre-colored but I added gray ProMarkers to the trophy
Cut w/ QuicKutz dies
Grosgrain ribbon
Baker's Twine
CAS design for masculine card

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Festive Fri

Outlawz Weds
Penny's Paper Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds.

     We want to see you playing along with us this month.  Don't forget that our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any products from any company.  If you happen to use a Jan's Digi Stamps image, your entry will go into a separate draw and your chances of winning are much better.  Come play!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 18, Letter "P" - 30 Days of Christmas

     Today we're using the letter "P" as our prompt in Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and I chose one of Beccy's lovely Poinsettia images.  I made another gift card holder made from embossed, Pine Green CS.  The image is cut with a Pin Point die and I also used a die to cut Pine needles for the background.  The folder is tied with Peppermint Candy, red and white twine.  This one is done in my favorite Christmas color combo of red and green.  It's also another of my favorite traditional Christmas images which work better (I think) for adult gifts than cute-sy, childish images.

Just to show you how the inside of the folder looks, although this photo is of another folder I made.

Here's a link to the YouTube video I used to make these.

Colored with Polychromos Pencils, blended with gamsol
Pin Point die from Poppy Stamps
Embossed CS
Pine Needle die from Die-namics
Baker's Twine in Peppermint candy colors

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Colour Crazy
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guest Designer for Tales from the Craft Room November Challenge

     OK, by now you are probably well into your Christmas or other holiday cards but have you started on all the gift tags you will need?  No?  I hadn't either until Jo invited me to be a Guest Designer at Tales from the Craft Room this month.  Because the challenge theme is "Tags," that got me started and I have 6 done plus two or three gift card holders.

     This one with the adorable little Panda from Digi Doodle Studios was the first one I made.  It's called "Chuie Panda Christmas Tag" if you go looking for it in their store.

Colored with ProMarkers & silver/gold paint pens
Glitter added to the snow
Punched with Fiskars corner punch
Baker's twine from The Twinery

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Christmas Crafts ...
Christmas with the Cuties
Colouring in Scrapland
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Floating By

     It's a lazy kind of weekend at our house.  I've been hiding in the craft room while grandson has a baseball game and the younger granddaughter is working.  Older granddaughter lives in her own house now so who knows what she might be doing.  Sleeping in, probably, if her fur babies allow.   I was working with this sweet image from Limited Runs Progressive Challenge and it seems to perfectly reflect how lazy the day is.

     The coloring on this one is a mix of ProMarkers, watercolor paints, and bleached dp (the pink half circle.)  The image and the sentiment are cut with oval dies from QuicKutz.  The blue rectangle with the cross-stitching was cut with an Unbranded die. 

     The pink circle had been cut with a die from My Favorite Things Die-namics.  I cut it in half for use on another project and this half was left over. 

     The bow was made with a bit of Baker's twine.  Everything (except the image piece) started out as a scrap and I cut them to suit based on how large or small they were.  Even the card base was a left over piece of 12" x 12" CS which had  been used in scrapbooking.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Pile It On
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Early Bird

     Today the theme at Beccy's Place, where I'm playing in the 30 Days of Holiday cards, is a BINGO board.  I've used the 3rd column:  Ice & Snow/ Ovals/ Kraft CS. 

     The little 'cardinal' (maybe he's an owl, but since I colored him red for Christmas, he's now a cardinal!) is one of Beccy's images and I did a take off on one of the sentiments that comes with this bird set.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment, "I woke up early but all the worms were under the snow!" was also cut with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I used kraft CS for my card base.

     I wrapped baker's twine around the card front and tied it in a square knot.  I used a few of the dots which dropped out of the image die cut to symbolize snow falling from the sky.  The "Merry Christmas" is a negative piece from an Elizabeth Craft Designs die.  I've used that one a lot this holiday season and you'll see it a couple of more times this week on upcoming cards.  It just seems foolish to let those negatives go into the trash bin when they are so usable!  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Dragonfly Dreams
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
That's Crafty!

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Life can be a Circus

     Happy 4th of July!  Hope your is safe and sane.

     This morning, I'm sharing a card with an image from Sasayaki Glitter for their Progressive Challenge on FB.

     I colored with ProMarkers (don't you love my subtle red, white, and blue?), and cut both the image and the sentiment with  dies from QuicKutz.  I inked all the edges and layered them onto dp from a large, 12x12, DCWV stack.  I added the baker's twine and CAS card which can be mailed easily.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD

     OK, I'm out of here for a day of celebrating freedom and thanking those who keep us free with their service.  Then back home for a couple of days before I take a couple of weeks off.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It's All about the Purr

     My card today uses one of my favorite stamps from Kinda Cute and, of course, it's a cat!  :-D

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and an Unbranded die to cut it. The dp came from a DCWV stack and the baker's twine from The Twinery.  It's been in my stash for longer than I care to admit.

     The little bows were hand tied and I added the tiny glittered flowers for a bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Ching-Chou Kuik
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe (middle row)
Crafty Hazelnut's PP
Die Cut Divas
Fabrika Fantasy
Take It, Make It

     A simple post today to go with a simple card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fishing Days

     Salute and a good Friday morning, my friends!   We have a new challenge starting over at QKR Stampede today and our theme is always Anything Goes.  It's definitely summer weather around here and I'm getting Father's Day cards done for the three dads in my family (son, SIL, and grandson.)  Anything related to fishing always reminds me of my own dad so I used "Gone Fishing 12601" from QKR for this card.

     He always said that any summer vacation had to include a place to fish and he liked it even better if the entire vacation was planned around every day spent fishing.  :-D

     I started with a simple A2 card  design.  I love A2 and it's probably my favorite card shape and size because I mail so many of my cards and that's a standard size accepted by the post office with no additional postage.  This one will be in the mail to my son.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the octagon shape with a die from QuicKutz.  I added a blue, CS, mat behind the image.

     The card front is embossed, though that doesn't show very well in the photo.  I added the image piece and then wrapped baker's twine around it.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it, and then adhered it at the top of the card.  A CAS design, perfect for a masculine Father's Day card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House That Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Time Out
That's Crafty
Work It Wednesday

     Thanks for stopping by and feel free to browse around while you're here.  I hope you'll come play at QKR this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie