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

Ride 'em Cowboy!

     Another wonderful Friday to start the weekend and that means a new challenge over at QKR Stampede.  We've made a change since it's a new year and we're going to be an "Anything Goes" challenge from now on but we will also offer an OPTIONAL twist if you care to use it.  So, our theme this week is "Anything Goes" and our twist is "For the Kids."  If you want to use the twist, just do a card that's meant especially for a child.  You're not required to use a stamp from QKR Stampede, but if you do, your card will be entered into a special drawing just for QKR users.  That really increases your chances of winning!  :-D

     This week, I used two images from QKR; Digi 7704 "Ride 'em Cowboy" and Digi 17009 "Western Sign" which I used for the sentiment.  In the actual image, the sign is blank - I added that sentiment so that I could use the card as a congratulations card for a child.

     I started by coloring the image and I used a combo of ProMarkers, chalks, and a couple of Copics to get all the subtle shades I wanted.  Although I use other things for coloring, I have to admit that alcohol markers are still my favorite.

     The image is cut with a simple square die from Spellbinders, and the blue mat is cut with a simple rectangle, also from Spellbinders.  The "Western Sign" image is hand cut, as is the sentiment, and the sign is mounted on Pop Dots.  The gingham ribbon was in my stash and the bow is hand tied from satin ribbon.  Since this is a masculine card for a boy, I left off any other embellishment, opting for a CAS design instead.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
Sasayaki Glitter
Take It, Make It
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown
World Wide Open DT

     I hope you're going to come and play along this week.  I can't wait to see what you create.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cowboy Bath

     We start a new challenge today over at QKR Stampede and it has everyone's favorite theme - "Anything Goes."   That means it's the perfect time for a fun, masculine card with a bit of humor.  Ever since I discovered it in the store, I've been trying to find an excuse to use this image (Digi 23901, Cowboy Bath) in one of our challenges and this is it.  :-D

I pulled my colors from the inspiration photo at Time Out.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, making sure I included the "Cowboy Tan."  I admit I had to work a bit to figure out exactly how to do it but I laid colors onto a scrap piece of paper to see what would work.  I didn't leave his untanned skin uncolored; I used a "Satin" ProMarker which gave it a rather pasty-white look.

     After it was completely colored, I used a rectangle die and did an out-of-the-box technique on his feet, on the cattails, and his hat.  I ran the front of my card base through my "Linen" embossing folder for a tiny bit of texture, added the strip of wide black ribbon, the image, and the sentiment, then wrapped the twine around it on top of the ribbon.  The horseshoes are cut with a Cheery Lynn die.

     The sentiment is a play on meaning since I plan to use this as a birthday card for a friend who thinks of himself as a cowboy but hates celebrating each year.  He thinks once you reach 50, birthdays should only come around once every five years or so.  :-D  Like I said, a fun masculine card.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Ribbons
Crazy Challenge
Cutie Pie
Outlawz CAS
Pencil Case
Unicorn

     That's all I have for today but since this is my 5th post in the last three days, I think I may be overwhelming you.  Maybe I'll take a break and not post at all for a couple of days.  I hope you'll come play in our "Anything Goes" challenge this week.  What do you have to lose?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" BOX 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.

Cowboys

     I don't pretend to know anything about cowboys but my dad did hail from Montana, my SIL is from Texas, and three of my grandkids were born in Texas.  I live in the cow-filled Central Valley of California and I've been known to date a cowboy or two in my time.  However, since most cowboys are the strong, silent type, I still don't know anything about cowboys except that in the Old West movies, they were good at moving cows around.  lol

     We are focusing on "Cowboys" in our new challenge at QKR Stampede and there are some really fun cowboy or cowboy-related images over there.  Check some of them out by visiting the QKR Challenge blog and see what the DT ladies have put together.  I've used a digi called "Whistling Cowboy" (digi 16010) and a sentiment called "Moove Me" (digi 15518.)

     I colored this whimsical cowboy with my ProMarkers and added a bit of color to the printed sentiment.  I used one of my old (but sadly, somewhat forgotten) die sets from Spellbinders to cut and mat the image and the sentiment.  I also used some jute cord in both black and white, then added the three metal brads in the bottom corner.  Very CAS, which seemed appropriate for a 'silent type' cowboy.  :-D

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More

Colour Your World

Come and Get It

Crafty Boots

Crafty Cardmakers

Get Creative

Lacy Sunshine

Not Just Cards

Robyn's Fetish

Through the Craft Room Door

     That's it for me today.  Come play with us this week, won't you?  We'd love to see what you do with our "Cowboys" theme.  Be sure to check out all the DT inspiration over at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hang Yer Hat

     I recently met someone who truly is an old fashioned American cowboy.  Soft spoken, very dry sense of humor, and not at all given to sentences much longer than 5 or 6 words.   He doesn't care at all about fancy or frilly.  So, when I decided to make a Valentine card for him (and he got wind of it from his daughter), he sent a message which indicated that cards weren't really necessary, that a simple "Hang yer hat" would be sufficient.

     That made me think about the new releases from Doodle Pantry, which included this fabulous cowboy hat from the Cowboy Gear set and also the Old Parchment set, which I used as though it was background dp.

I took my sketch from The Sweet Stop, modified a bit to be very CAS.  The lariat takes the place of the banner and the hat replaces the image square.

     This is actually a small card, only 4 1/4" X 4 1/4", so I'm going to have to make an envelope for it.  The hat is fussy cut and then popped up on dimensional dots, although that really doesn't show in the photo.  The lariat is made from jute cord.  I truly couldn't resist a little bit of "fancy", so I added four tiny, topaz-colored gems to the hat band.  While they are sparkly in the picture, they barely show on the card IRL unless the light happens to catch them.

     Challenges:
Cards Galore -- 1 for the men
Crafting Cafe -- Anything goes
Here Come the Boys -- Westerns
Hot Shot Crafts -- CAS
Natalie and Amy's -- Something old (cord) & something new (images)
One Stop Craft -- Anything goes
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ fav colors (mine are fav neutrals -- browns)
Outlawz CAS -- "Short" cards
Sentimental Sundays -- Celebrating 'new' (new person!)
Stamptacular Sunday -- Gents and gems (Does a gent's hat count?)
Word Play Saturday -- Anything goes

     We'll see if this card appeals to that dry sense of humor.  :-D  Below are pictures of the two new release sets I used for this card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

          

Boot Scootin' with Doodle Pantry

     Today's card uses another of the newly released images from Doodle Pantry.  I always knew I could easily get addicted to Doodle Pantry digis and now that I'm on the DT -- Oh, My!!  I have to discipline myself or I'd be doing nothing but coloring up Doodle Pantry images all day long, whether I had a specific purpose for them or not.  :-D

     I love these boots from the "Cowboy Gear" set and actually thought about my daughter when I saw them.  While she rarely wears boots, she's really into line dancing and West Coast Swing, so the sentiment, "Time to Boot Scoot" (also from the set), really reminded me of her.  I've done this one as a masculine card with lots of layers, pieces that are die cut and punched, and dp suitable for a guy, but is still a CAS design.  Why does everyone say masculine cards are hard to do?  They are easy in design planning, and usually quick to make.

     I colored the digi with Promarkers this time, then die cut a piece of CS and used the negative piece as the frame for the boots.  That's matted with black CS.  The background dp was in my stash of "autumn" papers and I have no idea who made it.  Too bad, because this is almost the last of it and I'd love to get some more.  The sentiment is corner punched, then matted twice and both mat pieces are corner punched also.   The double twine bow is the only embellishment, in keeping with the CAS idea.

     Challenges:
Bearly Mine -- Fall colors
Divas by Design -- Lovely layers
Lady Anne's Technique Wednesdays -- Anything goes
Papalitos Stamps -- Anything goes
Papertake Weekly -- Autumn colors
Passion for Promarkers -- CAS cards
Stamp n Doodle -- Anything goes
Stamptacular Sunday -- Less is more
Sweet Stamps -- Shades of autumn
The Crafty Pad -- Autumn colors

     Well, it's now the weekend and work chores are behind us (except for the household drudgery we all face!)  It's time to relax, have fun, and be creative.  Our weather has cooled considerably this past week (must be all that wishing and hoping I was doing) and I'm just soooo happy about that.  I shall not mourn the end of the hot summer weather and am delighted with the onset of fall.  Thanks for visiting, and please feel free to browse around while you're here.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie