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

Downhill

     Happy Friday to all of you!  Today starts another weekly challenge at QKR Stampede and I seem to be on a birthday card binge.  I'm definitely getting my stash of them filled up.  Today I did a card perfect for any winter birthday, using a fun QKR image called "Sledding."  This one comes in either rubber or digi, whichever is your personal preference.

Colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut
Oval die from QuicKutz used to cut the snow hill
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Polka dot paper from DCWV
Sentiment printed and cut by hand
One of my signature bows w/ pearl

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Pattie's Creations
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Take It, Make It
Your Next Stamp

     Please come play with us this week.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any images from any company.  However, if you do use an image from QKR Stampede, your entry  goes into a separate drawing and that increases your chance of winning by a huge amount.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Not Too Happy (about another) Birthday

     Day 5 in the week long, 10th annual, Birthday celebration at Catch the Bug which has a different challenge with a different theme each day.  Today is Wednesday and Wednesdays are always "Humor Me" days so that's the theme for today.

     This Party Bird from Bugaboo Stamps looks none too happy about having yet another birthday creep up on him.  Either that or he's just hung over from too much partying!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Image was cut with an octagon die from QuicKutz
Background is navy blue CS
Two ribbons from my stash
Sentiment printed and cut by hand
Two gemstones

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Making Birthday Wishes

     I was invited to be a Guest Designer for Carlin's Card Paradise and their theme is "Birthday for a Child w/ Stripes or Squares."  My squares and stripes are in the background dp.  The exclusive sponsor is Beccy's Place and I used this really fun birthday cupcake image from Beccy's.  I think the image has been  retired because I couldn't find it in the store.  :(

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to the candle flames
Image cut with QuicKutz octagon die; one side fussy cut
Plaid dp scrap cut with Spellbinders square die
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bow tied with bow maker
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Creative Knockouts
Creative Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pattie's Creations
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting and we hope to see you playing in the challenge this month.  NanaConnie

Birthdays Creeping Up

     Since my own St. Paddy's Day birthday is creeping up on me, I used all the Irish greens on this card that I could manage, even though the card isn't for me.  lol  The image (from SheepSki Designs) just made me think about things that creep around the corner and catch you unaware.  This is my first month since leaving the team and I miss them all already.  :-D

I used the sketch from Crafting Vicky Sketch,

a new challenge that just started.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders Die, trimmed on 2 sides
dp used as wallpaper - old scrap from my stash
Burlap fabric - new to the stash, but replaces some I used up
Sentiments printed & hand cut
Metal brads added to 2 corners

     Challenges:
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Papercraft
Scrappy Land
Tuesday Morning

     I'm back into my regular routine!  It feels so good to be able to sit and create or post whenever I choose.  :-D  I've even gotten a start on my commenting and visits to favorite blogs.  If I haven't visited yours yet, I will within the next day or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

December Birthdays

     My favorite DIL has one of those December birthdays so close to Christmas that it often gets lost in the holiday shuffle.  Each year since she joined the family (a long time ago!), I've tried to make sure that she got both a birthday card and a Christmas card along with separate gifts for each.

     Then, this year, I found this really fun image at The Paper Shelter and knew I could use it for a joint Birthday/Christmas celebration.  See how Mama Snow has both a birthday present and Christmas stocking for Little Snow Boy?  Perfect!  (I'll probably return to my separate cards and separate gifts for DIL but this year I couldn't resist!)  :-D

Color/ shading enhancements w/ ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz die
Hand tied, polka dot bow
CAS design

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     I have a pre-scheduled post tomorrow for my QKR Stampede DT inspiration and then several which are already pre-scheduled for the week-long, annual, Christmas celebration at Catch the Bug.  After that, it may be a bit hit-and-miss as I spend time with family and focus on the joy of holidays surrounded by them.  If I seem to be MIA when it comes to visiting your blogs, my apologies, but my focus is more apt to be on family than friends through Christmas and the New Year.  Once we get to January, I'm sure my return will mean all is back to the normal routine.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Slay the Day !

     Today I'm sharing a birthday card instead of a Christmas card but tomorrow, I'll be back to Christmas.  My oldest granddaughter is absolutely mad about dragons and this cutie image from The Paper Shelter just seemed perfect for her birthday card.  I'm not the least worried about her seeing it ahead of time for two reasons; first, she rarely visits my blog and second, her birthday isn't until February so even if she sees it now, she won't remember what's on the card until she opens the envelope.  lol

I was inspired by the sketch at Tuesday Morning but turned it on end.

Image cut with Memory Box stitched die
Sentiment cut with Memory Box stitched die
Ribbon from scrap basket
Bow, hand tied and 'dyed' pale blue with ProMarker
Aqua card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD
Tues Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thanksgiving Birthdays

     I have a friend and also a granddaughter whose birthdays tend to bracket Thanksgiving; one on the 21st of November and one on the 28th of November.  Every few years one of them has their birthday coincide with Thanksgiving and this year it was my friend.

     My DT card for QKR Stampede was done for her and I hope she loves it as much as I did when I was making it.  Our new Anything Goes challenge starts today and I'd love it if you'd come and play with us this week.  The image is called "Birthday Bear" and it's available in either rubber or as a digi.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and frame cut with Bo Bunny dies
Embossed card base
Signature bow, dyed with ProMarkers, pearl added

     Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
 TTCRD 

     Happy crafting.  NanaConnie

No Candles - Just Cake

     Do you have someone close who's about to celebrate one of those landmark birthdays but they just don't want anything to tattletale their age?  Yeah?  Me, too, but my daughter shall remain anonymous.  lol  She's less than a month from her birthday and, no, I won't tell you which one.  I mean, really, however old she is, her age makes me so much older!

     This card with an image from Mo's Digital Pencil is in honor of not saying or doing anything which might tell her age.

Colors from the challenge at Mo's.

This was easy since purple is my fav color 

and the purple/aqua combo is also my fav.

 Colored with ProMarkers
 Glitter added to the stars and the ruffle on her skirt
     (click on the photo for a better view)
Polka Dot ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Bow hand tied with satin ribbon scrap

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Catz
Cutie Pie
Dare 2B Artsy
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Golden Libra

     One of my grandsons was born under the sign of Libra and, while I don't usually care much for the Zodiac images I've seen, the set recently released at AuroraWings appealed to me.  I grabbed images for the family birthdays (and there are a lot of them, many duplicated) and this is the first one I've used.  Grandson's birthday is only a couple of months away so...

I was inspired by the "Gold or Silver + 2 Accent colors"

(#356) at Color My Heart's Color Dare.

I chose Gold, plus olive green and kraft.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with double stitched die from Die-namics by MFT
Inlaid into gold foil also cut with the same die
Sentiment cut with stitched die, adjusted to get proper shape
Gold jute cord

     Challenges:
AuroraWings
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Polkadoodles

     That's all for today.  Enjoy your weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Oldest You've Ever Been

     How about a card that has a total focus on the sentiment?  I think this sentiment is from Aud Sentiments but since I had it in a folder of things waiting to be used and who knows how long it's been in there, I simply don't remember.  Unfortunately, I didn't write anything on the back.

Sentiment cut with border die from Spellbinders
Gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Stars cut with Art Impressions dies
Mini-hearts from Cheery Lynn die

     Challenges:
Cardz  TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Take it, Make It

     Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Birthday

     Beccy's Place always has an Anything Goes theme for its monthly challenges but they also give an optional theme or inspiration which is just that, optional.  This month Beccy has used a wonderful photo as the optional inspiration.  The brick walk made me think of the seasonal 'Windows' images she has and I used "Summer Window" and the colors for my masculine birthday card.

 Inspiration photo

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks

Cut with Lawn Fawn stitched die

Papers from DCWV "Basics" stack

Handmade accordion bow

     Challenges:

a2z Scrapbooking

A Bit More Time...

Classic Design Team

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Sentiments

Lemon Shortbread

Simon Says Stamp

Southern Girls

     That's it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dance on Your Birthday

      It feels like forever since I used an AuroraWings image and I'd almost forgotten how wonderful they are to color.  I really wish the sparkle in the ribbon had photographed better but I guess you'll just have to take my word for how bright and blingy it is.

I started with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds.,

turned a quarter turn.

blin

Colored with ProMarkers
Sue Wilson dies
Sparkle ribbon
Bow tied with bow maker (double layer, double loop)

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creations in Pink
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Summer of Reading

     I have a dear friend, a retired teacher, who spends her summers as a volunteer working with 1st and 2nd grade school kids, reading stories to them and encouraging them to explore the fun and mystery of books on their own.  Her birthday is next week and I did this card for her as a birthday present.

     The image is from Di's Digi Designs.

I chose 3 of the colors from Coloring in Scrapland - green, blue & yellow.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Cut and matted with dies from Spellbinders
Stitched ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Signature hand-sewn bow w/ pearl

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
TTCRD

     I'm posting this early instead of waiting until the witching hour because I have someone here who can link up to all the challenges and that means I can stay away from the keyboard.  I'm still having serious shoulder problems when I try to type.  Coloring and crafting are getting better but there's something about the position in which I hold my shoulder when I'm at the keyboard that aggravates my shoulder injury.

     Happy crafting.  NanaConnie

Skating Giraffe

     This one is for the young grandson of a friend who adores giraffes.  I'm sending it for his 3rd birthday.  Image from Kitty Bee Designs.

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a QuicKutz oval die, as was the sentiment.  The rectangle frame was cut a Memory Box die and the piece was run through my Linen embossing folder.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Inside it says, "To wish you Happy Birthday!"

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafty Catz
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.

     My "secretary" who types posts for me while my shoulder is healing is unavailable today so this short post was prepared by me and I wish now I had just waited until she was here again.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Simple Birthday

     Quick update on my shoulder problems:  I was feeling better and had less pain in my shoulder (tendon injury) so I did some crafting and, of course, got so enthralled with it that I seriously overdid it.  The next three days were pure agony.  Doctors have now put me on "Do NOTHING" orders for the next 3 weeks and have specifically forbidden any work at the keyboard.  Fortunately, I have family and friends who are willing to type up personal blog posts as I dictate them and to help out with DT blog duties as needed.  Also fortunately, by using markers I can still color while lying down so I'm not completely "craftless."  lol

     I got enough done during my crafting binge that I will have things to post but doctors say if my shoulder doesn't improve during the next 3 weeks, they will put me into some kind of a restrictive brace.  For now, it looks like complete recovery may take as much as 2 months.

     So, if I'm not visiting and commenting on your blog, it's because of the restriction on being at the computer.  I'm not ignoring you - just unable to communicate in blogland for a while.  :-D

     Here's one of the cards I created during the last creative binge.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  (I went a little crazy and colored up three or four Bugaboo images!)

     Colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a rectangle die from QuicKutz using an out-of-the-box technique on three sides.  That was mounted onto a golden yellow card base.  I added pale yellow ribbon and one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which had been dyed blue with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Paperbabe Stamps
Pattie's Creations

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

Make a Wish Birthday

     Today I'm featuring an image from Bugaboo Stamps on another birthday card for my stash.  I did the design as a gate fold with the short flap on the right hand side.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image and the frames with simple, square dies from QuicKutz.  The butterfly piece on the left flap was cut with a die which was loaned to me by a crafting buddy and I think it's by Memory Box but I can't swear to that.  I added faux stitching to each frame.

I added glittery gel ink to the dandelions and here's a close up photo to show the sparkle.

     I  made the card base from kraft CS.  Before adding the framed image to the right hand flap, I wrapped the flap with ribbon.  I dug through my scrap ribbons and found the two white flowers, adding them above and below the image.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Butterfly Challenge (flap fold/French Rose/flowers)
Catch the Bug (top row)
Crafty Gals Corner
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrate Life !

     I've been practicing my coloring on roses, using ProMarkers, or pencil, or charcoals, even pastel chalks.  I'll be sharing more of those in the upcoming days but today I wanted to show you what I did with a combination of ProMarkers, gel pens, and water color pencils.

     The image is from LeAnn's World 101.

     After coloring the image, I cut it with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  I used another, larger die from that set to cut the solid golden piece used as an offset mat.  The 'damask' background is a scrap of DCWV dp and the stitched bronze ribbon was a scrap I found in my stash.

     I printed the sentiment and hand cut it before adhering it below the image.  This one goes in my stash of birthday cards.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Pile It On
Take It, Make It

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Flight for Pegasus

     Welcome to another Friday and the start of another challenge week at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use products or images from any company.  If you do choose to use a QKR Stampede image (or even one from our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go onto a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     This QKR image is called "Pegasus" and I love him to bits!

I based this card on the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches

but I reversed it and adjusted it for a vertical card.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a stitched die from Card Deco.  I used my favorite purple paper with hearts and flowers on it as the background and added the sentiment to it.  I die cut all the flowers (Spellbinders), added glitter to two of them and to the lavender flower, then added tiny gems.  I added Glossy Accents to his eyes and wings but none of that shows up very well in the photo.

     This is my oldest granddaughter's birthday card and I can share it on my blog because she's already seen it.  Her birthday was yesterday and she loved this card!  She's the one who really loves dragons but she also has a passion for Greek Mythology so this aging Pegasus was a definite hit.  :-D

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Dream Valley
Double Trouble (all 3 - middle row of TicTacToe)
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Papercraft
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrapy Land
Use Your Stuff

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this  week.  How can you lose with an Anything Goes theme?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Let Them Eat Cupcakes!

     Hey, guess who found her ProMarkers?  One more craft room box unpacked and put into the new space.  :-D  Having organized them, it was necessary to immediately use them.  You understand, I had to test them to see if any had gone dry or leaked or changed color.  Besides, the progressive challenge at Limited Runs comes to an end in just a few more days and I had to get something made and submitted.

     I colored the cupcake with ProMarkers, then used a stitched die from Lawn Fawn to cut the image and the two framing pieces.  The dp is from 7 Gypsies and each little diamond in the pattern echos the stitching.  I decided on a CAS design, letting the pattern in the dp do all the visual work.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lawn Fawnatics
                
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz SAR
Path of Positivity

     That's it for today.  I really do have to get back into the craft room but not for play this time.  I have to get things completely reorganized so that play will be something enjoyable again.  Hang in there with me -- I promise to get back into my routine soon.  NanaConnie