Magic Window Card

     This is my first ever Magic Window card and I got both the inspiration and instructions at the Butterfly Challenge.  Each fortnight they have a new 'wheel' with six different options which you can use in making your entries.  This time, I used all six of the options in one card: Mandarin, Mint, Magnolia (colors); markers, metal charms, and the Magic Window technique.

  

Here's the card front, a gate fold,

 

and the inside.  When the card is opened,

the diamond-shaped 'window' slides open as if by magic!

ProMarker used to 'dye' the embroidered butterfly mandarin orange

The butterfly paper was in a prize pack from Butterfly Challenges

The Medallion doily was also part of the prize pack

2 Metal Charms - glued together on the medallion

QuicKutz die used inside

     This card made me think about one of my favorite activities when I was a much younger version of myself - chasing butterflies!  I didn't catch many but lots of happy, free time, hours were filled with anticipation of having the largest collection of butterflies ever!  lol  

     Challenges:

Butterfly  (all 6 + butterflies)

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Catz

Die Cut Divas

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.

Get Creative

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Scrappy Land

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Big Wheel Sheriff

     That post title should have piqued your curiosity!  :-D  It's Friday and we have another new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist each time which you can use if you choose.  This week the optional twist is "Wheels."  I know, I know, my mind jumped right to cars, trains, wagons, etc., too, but this little guy caught my eye and I just had to use him!  This is a QKR image called "Little Cowboy."

     I just love that his stick pony has a wheel on it (just in case you missed it.)  I was thinking about my friend, Lynn, from Texas when I was putting this card together and, since her favorite color is blue, that became the focus of this color combo.  I colored with my ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a Sue Wilson die.

     I used the same die to cut the dp (from Stampin' Up) and inlaid the image into it.  I did the sentiment in white on a blue background just to emphasize why our little sheriff is wearing all white. :-D  Everything went onto a black card front.  Finally, I added the twine and the cowboy charm and called it finished.  I think it's going to make a great masculine birthday card for some young boy.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Everybody Art
House that Stamps Built
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     Hey, everyone, the weekend starts in just a few hours now!  I hope you have time scheduled for lots of creativity and relaxation.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dragon Friend

     This darling little dragon from Sasayaki Glitter has been in my collection of images for many months without ever being used.  I decided it was time - in fact past time! - to get him colored up and onto a card.  Since Sasayaki Glitter wants us to "Use Purple" for their current challenge, he's decked out in his best purple and green for spring.  :-D

I started with the sketch from Outlawz.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers and cut him with a die from Spellbinders.  The butterflies are cut with dies from QuicKutz and I layered two different sizes to make a double layer butterfly.  The white butterfly bodies are made from the bits which dropped out of the Spellbinders' die.

     The ribbons were in my stash and are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I found the butterfly charm in my stash and it just seemed to be perfect for this card.

     Challenges:
Aussie Artists Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Gals Corner
Crazy Challenge
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Fairy and Unicorn
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Sunday and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Gator in the Ocean

     Another Friday so another challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "By the Seaside"  and we want to see projects with images of oceans, beaches, sand, sandcastles, seashells -- you decide what to use that meets the theme and then come show us your creations.

     I got a bit silly and used two cute QKR images:  Digi 5602 "Floating Gator" and Digi 6702 "Wondering" and then added my own sentiment.

     I did a really simple design, coloring the images with my ProMarkers, then cutting them and placing them in appropriate positions on scrap strips of blue dp which I had added to the card front as background.  I used the strip with the sentiment as a divider to differentiate the above and below parts of the ocean.

     I had already wrapped the ribbon around the card front and I tied the bow separately, adding the anchor charm before attaching the bow.

     I love the expression on the face of the octopus!  He really does seem to be wondering about the gator, doesn't he?

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Colour Your World
Come and Get It
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Delicious Doodles
Great Impressions
One Stitch at a Time
Passion for ProMarkers
Through the Craft Room Door

    Come play with us this week, won't you?  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

A Long Stretch...

     It's Thursday and we have a brand new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday where our theme is always Anything Goes but we offer an optional twist.  The twist this week is "Add a Charm."  We have a terrific sponsor this entire month, Sami Stamps.

     The image is printed on a piece of scrap CS and then colored with ProMarkers.  Both the sheer ribbon and the twine are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, but they've been in my stash for a long time.  I decided that it was definitely time to use them.  I used three pieces of twine to tie the bow.  The kitty charm was in my stash.

     CAS and quick to complete.  As my friend, Lynn, (who loves cards done in blues,) would say, "Just git 'er done!"

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
CAS on Sunday
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Digi Chooseday
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Not Just Cards
Paper Minutes
Papertake Weekly
Perfectly Rustics
Scribble & Scrap
Sisterhood of Crafters
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Twisted Thursday "Anything Goes" challenge this week.  If you don't belong to The Outlawz yet, use this link to get to the main page and join up.  It's free and you'll find a different challenge each and every day plus a Progressive Challenge once a month.  The crafters over there are so warm and wonderfully friendly; you'll love the people you meet.  Come join us, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Priscilla Pilgrim

     Welcome to another challenge at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog.  Our fabulous sponsor (whose images I just love) is Rick St. Dennis and our theme this time is "Heavy Metal" -- use something metal on your card.  I chose an image which happened to be the freebie for Rick St. Dennis challenge but "Priscilla Pilgrim" was just what I needed for the "ear of corn " charm I wanted to use.  That charm was sent to me by a dear blogging friend, Cely, from "Creating in Carolina."  Thanks so much, Cely.  It was absolutely perfect for this Thanksgiving card.

     The image itself is colored with a combination of ProMarkers and Graph'It pens (which a friend loaned me so I could try them), then die cut with a lacy frame and matted with another plain circle die cut.  To add a bit more metal, the image is mounted onto a sheet of embossed, sparkly metallic gift wrap, the good, heavy-duty kind which embosses so well.  What a glittery shine it has!  I matted that with brown CS and added it to the card after I stippled the front with both brown and gray ink.  The gold ribbon, from Really Reasonable Ribbon, had a fine, metallic border on each edge and I added a sheer ribbon to it before making the double bow.   The corn charm is tied on with hemp cord.

     Challenges:

2 Creative Chicks -- Thanksgiving

A Creative Need -- Ribbons or buttons

A Little Bit Crafty -- Sparkle & shine
Brown Sugar -- Thanksgiving
Cards Galore -- Animals
Craftitude -- Anything goes/falling leaves
Die Cut Divas -- Holidays & celebrations
Digi Haven -- Fall
Digitally Sweet -- Ribbon or lace
Graph'It -- Anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Die cuts
Jo's Scrap Shack -- Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts -- Autumn colors
Mema's -- Anything goes
Outlawz Alcohol Markers -- Thanksgiving
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Gift packaging (metallic gift wrap) & ribbon
Sister Act -- Anything goes
So Artful -- Trees (in the embossing)
The Stamping Boutique -- Fall colors

     I know there's a ton of challenges on my list today but there are just so many with fall, fall colors, or Thanksgiving variations, to say nothing of the 'Anything Goes' themes, how could I not play in every one of them?  :-D  With that, I hope we're going to see you playing along with us at The Crafter's Cafe and remember, our theme is "Heavy Metal" so lets see some metal on your cards!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie