Finding Ladybugs

      Once again, I'm featuring a Mariola Budek image.  No, I'm not on a DT for her, nor do I have any connection to her other than my love for her fabulous artwork.  She does magnificent images of women and hair, but I also dearly love her cute images of children and critters, not the least of which are her images of cats.  I bet that's a surprise to you, right?  :-D

     I've colored and used this image more than once but this is the first time I've done her as a redhead.  I decided on a spring/summer color palette and did the coloring with water color paints.  The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, and I inked the edges.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The green flower strip was embossed with a Darice EF.  

     The red butterfly is machine embroidered and I thought it was a great complement to the hair tie and the ladybug.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Art Impressions

Butterfly

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Paper Dragonfly

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

April Showers

     Where I live we had nearly twice as much rain in March as is normal but now into April, we've had no rain at all.  Having had severe drought over the last 5 or 6 years, we really need more rain so I'm hoping for a few more April Showers.  Maybe this card, featuring a darling image from Bugaboo Stamps, will help.

     Of course, I used ProMarkers to color the image (my go-to favorites!) and then I cut it with a Tonic Studios scalloped die.  I added some Dew Drops to a few of the raindrops in the image, enhancing the water aspect.

     I found a denim blue card base and wrapped it with some gingham ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, adding the image piece on top of that.  I did one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, shaping it to look like a butterfly to complement those in the image.  I added a tiny pompom as the butterfly's head.

     Finally, I printed the sentiment and added it to the lower corner.

     Challenge:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Denim Blue/Digi)
CCC Digis
Catch the Bug
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Creations
Die Cut Divas
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House That Stamps Built (right hand column)
Outlawz SAR

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bugs or Windshields

     It's Friday again and you know that means another new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Any of you who visit my blog regularly also know that working with QKR images tends to bring our my quirky sense of humor and today is no exception.  I love that we have an "Anything Goes" theme every week.  It allows me to explore a whole new bunch of images that perhaps didn't fit into particular themes before.

     This morning I've used "Splatted Bug 14502" for the image and "Sometimes 13506" for the sentiment.

     For coloring, I used ProMarkers, sparkle gel pen, and chalks.  I cut both the image and the frame with a die set from Sue Wilson.  Included in that set were the butterflies and I cut those and the flowers from yellow CS, then scattered them across the frame piece.  Of the dozen or so Sue Wilson dies that I own, this set is my absolute favorite and I don't even remember the name of it!  I love the versatility of it and even though on this card it has a "spring" look, it's good for any season of the year.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment before adding it below the image.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
That's Crafty

     I hope you're going to come and play along with us this week.  No requirement to use QKR Stampede images but if you do, your entries will be put into a separate drawing and that will increase your chance of winning by a huge marfin.  :-D  Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gas Mask & Birthday

     I know, I know, - - that seems like a strange title for a blog about crafting and card making and a bit of inspiration now and then but if you just take a look at my card, you'll understand.  You'll also immediately recognize my odd sense of humor.  Maybe you'll even get a little grin from it.  :-D

     The image came from Limited Runs for their Facebook progressive challenge this month.  I thought it was hysterical !  :-D  Naturally, the sentiment is all mine.

     I'm using this for a birthday card for a gentleman who claims he's going to outlive all of his friends and family so that nobody can fight over his estate.  I love that idea!  Maybe he'll take some inspiration from this silly card and shoot for 25 million years!

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a stitched die from Die-namics.  The die I used was a rectangle die but wasn't as narrow as I wanted so I just cut the image once, then moved the die over to one side and cut it a second time to get it as narrow as I wanted.  The larger rectangle frame is the actual size of the next bigger die in the set.  I cut that one and added turquoise CS behind it, then layered on the image piece.

     I did one more really narrow die cut, wrapped it with ribbon, and added one of my bow tie bows.  The sentiment was printed and die cut with another stitched die from that same set, again adjusted to make it the width I needed.  All of those stitched die cuts were cut from scraps waiting to be tossed into the round file.  The turquoise CS was also a scrap.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl

     Hope your day is fun now that you got to start it with a smile.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cuddly Bug

     A new challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and our theme is "For a Child."   I chose this charming and huggable little bug image from QKR (Digi 7601 "Happy Feet") and added the sentiment (Digi 15810 "Huggable".)

I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps.

     I  used my ProMarkers to color the image and then added the spots along the caterpillar's back with white gel ink.  Notice how nicely that complements the polka dots in the background dp and, at the same time, gives the illusion of light along his back?  

     I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image and another oval die to cut the wood grain dp.  The striped dp was a scrap rescued from the Deep 6 bin and the ribbon was also a left over scrap.  The sentiment is hand cut and matted, then hand cut again.  The leaf is cut with a die from Cheery Lynn (also a scrap) and I added the tiny flower, then glittered it for a tiny bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps (bottom row)

Cardz 4 Guyz (bug, bow)

Crafting by Designs

Crafting for all Seasons

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafty Ribbons

Crazy Challenge

Cuttlebug Mania

Die Cuttin' Diva

Inspiration Destination

Mod Squad

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper Crafty

Scrapy Land

Through the Craft Room Door

     Here it is, the end of a long week and this afternoon I get to catch up on house chores and grocery shopping.  That way, I can play all day on the 4th and even on Sunday, if I choose.  Come play with us in our challenge this week, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie