Love You

     Can you believe that this is the last day of January and Valentine's day is only two weeks away?  Weren't we tossing out the torn Christmas wrap just last night?  It's also a Friday which means that today's card is my DT card for the latest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.

     Our challenge theme is always Anything Goes but I chose to make a Valentine card.  This is my second Valentine this year but the image I chose (with it's own sentiment as part of the image) is a favorite of mine.  It's called "Love You" and I just adore the little rag doll.  It's the 'ragged" part of her that inspired me to do lots of distressing on this card.

     I do love the typical "warm" colors of Valentine's Day because they are really our first chance to add warm colors to our otherwise cold winter palette.  The red, pink, and deep burgundy are such a delight.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers and chalk ink pad
Pink and burgundy color combo
Image and mat cut with Spellbinders dies, 2 corners curled
Edges distressed with kraft knife
2 corners shaped with Fiskars punch
Kitty ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Lace bow made with bow maker

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapper's Delights
Your Next Stamp

     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

Roasted Chicken

     Considering how long I've been on the DT at QKR Stampede (where we start a new, weekly, Anything Goes challenge today), I can't believe that I've overlooked this fun, summery, image.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it during this hot weather we're having.  If he's not careful, we're going to have roasted chicken!  lol  The image is called "Basking."

Colored with ProMarkers
Memory Box dies
Dark Brown stitched ribbon (Crafty Ribbons)
Gold, satin ribbon (stash)
Double loop bow (tied w/ bow maker)
Sentiment - Eureka Stamps (Fun in the Sun)
Kraft card base
Polka dot dp - DCWV

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments (die cuts/image/ribbon)
Colour Crazy
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Happy Craft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  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

Bounty for Body and Soul

     This lovely image is from Digistamps4Joy and it's a freebie for their challenge for the next week or so.  I thought it made a perfect autumn bounty card so I pulled together a bunch of scraps bits and pieces which were on my craft desk and this is the result.

I was influenced by the colors in the middle column (willow, gold, apple) of the TicTacToe Color Dare challenge at Color My Heart and I also used lemon and nectarine from the board plus the neutrals black, white, and brown.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with an Unbranded oval die.  I had a scrap of dp left which had been cut with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I tucked it behind the image.  The gold ribbon scrap with the checkerboard pattern (Really Reasonable Ribbon) was just long enough to wrap around the card front and then I began putting on the other layers.  The sentiment was printed and cut with the smallest die from the Unbranded die set.

     My final embellishment was to tie a triple loop bow using my bow maker and I added it on top of the other RRR ribbon.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug (bottom row)
Crafty Calendar
Creative Fingers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Fri
Outlawz SAR
Pattie's Creations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Frankenstein Pumpkin

     Yes, it's time for the latest challenge over at QKR Stampede where our theme is alway 'Anything Goes.'   I'm still on my Halloween kick.  I first saw "Frankenstein Pumpkin" a few years back when I first joined the QKR DT and loved him at first sight!  I can't believe it's taken me this long to color him and put him on a card.  :-D

     I colored him with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image and inked the edges.  I found a yellow card blank and added the glittered ribbon, then layered on the image piece.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, matted it with some lavender CS, and added it to the top corner.

     The witch's hat is a die cut (Cheery Lynn) and I tied the little black bow using my bow maker.  Very CAS and it will mail easily.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Everybody Art  (middle column)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Have yourself a wonderful day and remember that the weekend is only hours away!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Angels Among Us

     Is it the end of the week already?  No worry - I have my DT card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede, where our theme is always Anything Goes.  How about an unusual angel?  You're never going to find a cuter one than this "Angel Mouse" image from QKR.  The sentiment, "Angel Baby" is also by QKR.  Now, I admit I've never seen a Mouse Angel but I'm sure it's something magical !  :-D

      I used ProMarkers and sparkle gel pen (on the wings) to color the image, then cut it with a die from Tonic Studios.  The sentiment was also cut with a die from that set.  The little star on the sentiment was colored with a silver paint pen.

    I found a scrap of blue star dp, cut it with a Memory Box, pinpoint, die and it made a perfect background for the image.  I also had a scrap of embossed CS to make the card front.  I inked the edges of it in dark blue before adding it.

     I layered everything together, adding the sheer ribbon between layers.  That ribbon is one of my favorites from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  It has a very light, plaid, pattern in pink and blue and is gorgeous.  I'm getting close to having to purchase it again after I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow which I added separately.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Gals Corner
Cute Card Thurs
Mod Squad
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
That's Crafty
Word Art Weds.

     I really hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Just Chillin' at the Seaside

     Here's it is the first Thursday in August and we're starting a new challenge over at Crafting with an Attitude.  Our sponsor this month is Beccy's Place and I've used this magnificent Gull from her "Smooth Seas" set.

     I started by coloring with my ProMarkers and then did the background using a dried out marker as a water color 'paint brush.'   I dipped it into the water color, let it absorb quite a bit, dabbed it once on a paper towel, then used it to 'paint' both the sky and the water.  I had to dip several times to complete both the sky and the water.

     The marker I chose was actually an old blender so I didn't risk any color being left in the marker.  Old alcohol markers don't mix well with the water, even when they are dried out.  I really like the broad, chisel-tip look it gave me which I can't get with any of the water color paint brushes I have.

     I used a white gel pen to make the foam around the pilings.

     I cut the image with a stitched, Cheery Lynn, die.  I did the same with the printed sentiment but I trimmed off the top since the small square die was larger than I wanted.  Both of those pieces were mounted onto a confetti CS base.  I dug through my ribbon stash, found that blue ribbon, and used the last I had to wrap around the card front and then make the multi-loop bow with my bow maker.

     I think this made a wonderful masculine card and I'll have it in my stash for future use.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Beccy's Place
Carlin's Card Paradise
Country View
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Galore Encore
Digistamps4Joy
Scribbles Designs

     Come play in our challenge this month.  Our theme is "Anything Goes" and we can't wait to be inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie