Showing posts with label die cut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label die cut. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

King of the World?

      It's time to start our next challenge over at FarmQuest General Store where the theme is always "Anything Farm/Country Goes."  We are sponsored again by QKR Stampede and the prize for the winner is 3 images, the ones used by the DT on their inspiration cards.  This challenge runs from February 7 through March 5, and our next challenge begins of the 7th of March.

     I made a birthday card with the "Pig Stack" image.  What's more 'farm' than a pen filled with pigs?  :-D  I colored the image with my Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut it with one of my oldest rectangular dies from an old Spellbinders set.  I cut a bit of DCWV paper for the background, which reminded me of a calico print design, also giving more of a country feel to the card.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Tonic Studios.


     Challenges:

     Be sure to check out the FarmQuest General Store blog to see the other two QKR Stampede images, then come play with us.  We love seeing what you create and you could be a winner of some really cute and delightful images!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Love Letter Gnome

     Our latest challenge is starting today over at 613 Avenue Create and our theme this month is Anything Goes with an optional theme of  "Love Letters" (make the letters in the sentiment the focus.)  What could be more perfect for February?

     I found some really cute gnome images at Serene Dove which does delightful clip art images.  I printed this one in very light gray scale, then colored it with Sanjoki markers.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and double-embossed the edges.  I found a piece of dp from a Hobby Lobby pad in my basket, trimmed it to fit the card front, and used scraps from the trimming to make the 'bow.'  I cut two slits in the card front and slipped the folded bow into them.  The edges of the bow were inked before I slipped it into the slits, just to make it stand out from the background paper.


     Challenges:

     Make a Valentine and come play in our challenge this month.  We'd love to see what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, May 8, 2023

The Duchess

      My card today features one of my favorite roses, the Duchess.  I remember my mother had one of these bushes in her rose garden when I was a young child.  It was such a delicate pink with a hint of lavender and white edges on the petals.  I used this for a Mother's Day card in honor of my mom who's been gone for more than 30 years now.

     I used my Sanjoki markers to color the rose and leaves, then cut the image with a stitched die from CUTplorations.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper came from a Paper House stack.  I added 3 rows of tiny gems along the right side and added one gem to the center of the rose.  It just didn't need any further embellishment.  :-D


     Challenges:
The Four Seasons
Triple B

     That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Nativity in Kraft

     My sweet daughter bought me another new die this year, also from DIY Scrapbooking, and I wanted to test it right away, right out of the package.  I was siting at my craft desk and the closest paper to me was a scrap of kraft CS so I grabbed it and ran it through the Big Shot.  I really had no intention of using the cut but when I tossed it aside, it landed on some black CS and the design just popped!

     Next thing I knew, I was trimming the black CS to size, gluing down the Nativity, and coloring the star with gold paint pen.  I made a square card from kraft CS and cut the sentiment from cream colored, sparkly CS, using a die from Die-Versions.  This made a really CAS card which looks far more complex than it is.

     Not exactly traditional Christmas colors but I love the end result !


     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, November 21, 2022

Pumpkin Kisses

      I love the images in this set from Jan's Digi Stamps!  The set is called "Fresh from the Farm" and I've used some of the lesser image, merged together to create this image.  The sentiment is also part of the set.

     The image and the frame were each cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The "butterfly" bow was one I tied and wrapped using 1 inch grosgrain ribbon and 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon, plus my bow maker.  The ribbons were originally white but I dyed them with ProMarkers to get the colors I wanted.  Pretty CAS card even though it looks a lot more complex.


     Challenges:
Inspiration Station (autumn colors & harvest)
Word Art Weds
Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, November 7, 2022

Beccy's Place - "D"

      Yes, I know this one is out of order since I did Letter "E" yesterday but I finished yesterday's card before I got this one done.  Besides, keeping things completely alphabetical only matters if you're a librarian or a file clerk.  I'm neither, plus I'm retired so I can do it any way I like!  lol  This is for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.

     I followed another of Beccy's fabulous (and easy to follow) tutorials, this time for a Diamond Point card fold.  You can find it in the long, (long, long!) list of Beccy's Tutorials on her blog.  Just search by alphabetical order!  The card also has these "D"s: Decorations, Decorating, Diagonals, Deep red, Digital stamp, Die cutting, and Dimension.

     I used a pre-colored image, added glitter to each of the lights on the string decorating the giraffe (whose name is "Merle"), to the star over his head, to the Christmas ball hanging from his tail, and to hiss Santa stocking.  Merle was cut with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place, and I printed and fussy cut it.  I matted it with a scrap of the same dp which is on the pieces behind the image (those are scraps, too), and trimmed that with scissors to fit the space.


     Challenges:

     See you with another 30 Days of Holidays post tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Broom and Caldron

      The image I used today is another one of those which was exchanged in my group of crafters and I think it was done with a stencil but it may have been a silhouette rubber stamp.  I thought it was fun and fabulous so I did a bit of coloring with ProMarkers, then used gold paint pen on the witch's hat and sparkle gel pen on the cauldron handle and rim.

     The image was cut with a Sue Wilson die and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper is from Taylor Made.


Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Live in the Clouds!

      It's time for the next challenge at QKR Stampede, where our challenge theme is always "Anything Goes."   For my DT card today, I used a fun and fabulous image called "Castle in the Sky."  All my life I've been a very "feet-firmly-on-the-ground" kind of person and I have to be reminded that occasionally it's OK to live in the clouds!  Here's my salute to that idea.  :-D


     This card was actually made before my craft room was sorted in preparation for moving so I still had dies and fancy dp and all my crafting supplies close at hand.  The image was colored using ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  Both of the papers came from an old (and favorite!) 'Linen Closet' stack by DCWV.  The sentiment is my own and it was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:
Tues Morning  turned vertically 

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge.  Remember, we have two winners each challenge; one for people who use QKR Stampede images (or Eureka Stamps images - our sister company) and a second for people who use non-QKR images.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Peony Valentine

      These peonies are from Beccy's Place and I think they made a perfect Valentine card, even though roses seem to be the favorite for a Valentine.  :-D   Colored with my ProMarkers, cut with a QuicKutz rectangle die, and the corners were done with a Fiskars punch.  The pink background dp is from a stack by C .C. Designs.  I used sheer ribbon and my bowmaker for the quad-loop bow.  The sentiment was printed and then cut with an Avery Elle die.


     Challenges:
Mirtillamente
Morgan's ArtWorld

     That's all for this post but I'll have another one late evening tonight so check it out or come by again in the morning.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Tea Time Valentine

      A new week and a new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies, where our theme is always "Anything Goes" except on the occasional 5th Monday in a month (which will be NEXT Monday, as a matter of fact!)  :-D  Our sponsor this week is Gerda Steiner Designs, and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose this darling little Mouse in a Cup and turned it into another Valentine card.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then paper pieced the tea cup with a dp scrap.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The dp for the background probably came from a Paper Shack stack.  I added the sheer ribbons in Thistle and Tan for a bit of contrast and also because they were colors, along with Tickle Me Pink, in the Butterfly Challenge. 



     Challenges:

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  It's "Anything Goes" so create something fun and enter it into our  challenge.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, January 15, 2022

Snowy Best Friend

      Here it is, already the middle of January and we're starting a new challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  I've used a sweet QKR image called "Best Friends" and I love the idea that if you can't be with your BFF (pandemic or weather or whatever), you can just build one!  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I created the 'snowy' looking background by wrapping a piece of aqua CS with a wide, white lace.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and called it finished.  How's that for a simple design that looks really complex?


     Challenges:

     Come play in our challenge.  It runs until the last day of the month so you have plenty of time to enter.  Remember, Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, January 3, 2022

Dress Up Day

      Sorry this post for the new Your Scrapbook Place challenge is late but there was a mix up as to whether I was sharing it for the start of the challenge month or as a mid-month reminder.  :-D  I'm posting it now and will do another card for the mid-month.  

     Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and our sponsor this month is Paper Nest Dolls.  They generously provided images to the DT and I'm using "Dress Up Avery."  I remember those long ago, childhood, days of playing dress up.  My Grammy had a fabulous attic with trunks of old clothing and the attic was given over to being a playroom for the grandkids.  The trunks were always available to us as long as we put things back in them when we were finished.

     My blog is named for that wonderful space.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, then found the frame in a stack of scraps which I save just for things like this.  The frame is on top of the image and it's the leftover negative of a Dare 2B Artzy die cut.  I trimmed the image piece to fit it.  The background is ombre CS from a stack by Recollections.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and the edges were inked.  I tied the bowtie bow using a scrap of lace and narrow satin ribbon for the wrap.


     Challenges:

      Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Summer Campfire

      As the state of California opens up again after 15 months of lockdown due to COVID-19, I'm looking forward to summer campouts, camp fires, and toasted marshmallows!  Another new challenge has started at Pammie's Inky Pinkies today and the theme is our usual "Anything Goes."  

     Our sponsor this week is Jan's Digi Stamps and they provided images for the DT to use in their inspiration projects.  I used "Alone Together" and I love the end result of merging images from that set.  I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from Spellbinders.   

     I love using a 'fancy' die to cut an image and then make a CAS card which looks very fancy simply because of the die cut.  This card is quite literally nothing more than the cut image and the green card base.  CAS cards are always easier to mail than those which are too fat with embellishments to fit into an envelope!

     I added one of my signature bows, made from white ribbon which has been 'dyed' with a ProMarker, and with a single pearl sewn on.  Once I learned to 'dye' ribbon, this became a technique I love because I can use nothing but white ribbon and I can make the color match one of the colors in the image or in dp if I've used any.


     Challenges:
Stamping Sensations

     I hope we're going to see yo0u playing in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's Anything Goes and you certainly can't lose with that theme.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Valentine Cupcake

      This adorable image is the one for the February Progressive Challenge at Imagine That!   It's called Birthday Bunny but it makes a perfect Valentine, as you can see.   

Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w Gina Marie die
Background dp from SU
CTMH glittered flower embellie

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Crafty Chefs January Recipe

      I can't believe how long it took me to get to the January recipe for Crafty Chefs but my time since Christmas seems to have rushed by at three times normal speed so here it is January 21 and I'm just now getting my card posted.

     In case you don't know about Crafty Chefs, it's a group of crafters who want to try things which may be outside their comfort zone.  Each month, one member makes a card or other project using a recipe which they have put together themselves, and they post the recipe for everyone else to use.  I've been doing that for about a year now and it's fun.  You get to choose whether or not you want to use any given recipe and there are no deadlines for when or how soon you must enter your project.  If you want to skip a recipe, you can.  There are no prizes, no sponsors, no obligations - just good fun and the opportunity to try something new with lots of encouragement from others who are trying the same thing.  Come check us out and join in.  All it takes is a Facebook account.  :-D

     The recipe this month was - MUST USE: Stencil Paste (I didn't have any so the Master Chef suggested I try embossing powder instead), Glitz or Sparkle, Slimline design, Use at least 1 die.  The CAN USE (Optional) items were: Stencil, Fun Fold, Acetate.  

     I made my first ever stencil by using a border punch on acetate!  So, a brand new technique added to my crafty options and I didn't violate my commitment to using only things already in my stash. See the paragraph at the end of this post for a full understanding of that. :-D


3 layers of sparkly black, double thick EP
     (first layer: embossing ink applied thru stencil;
      that was thick enough that I could swipe the ink
      for the next 2 layers across the top, 
      then apply more double thick EP and heat)
Stencil hand-made w Fiskars punches
Memory Box die for sentiment
Glitter paper background
Slimline card design

     Challenges:

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season. 

     Come see us at Crafty Chefs.  You never know what you might find there that will intrigue and challenge you.  You might even decide to join us!  :-D  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Cats Sleep Anywhere

     Today I have the honor of being a Guest Designer for the Songs and Rhymes Challenge at The Outlawz.  Each challenge runs for two weeks and uses song lyrics or a poem as the theme for each challenge.  The challenge starting today is using this delightful poem which is all about cats - right up my alley!

Cats Sleep, Anywhere - Eleanor Farjeon

Cats sleep, anywhere,
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window-ledge,
In the middle, on the edge,
Open drawer, empty shoe,
Anybody's lap will do,
Fitted in a cardboard box,
In the cupboard, with your frocks-
Anywhere! They don't care!
Cats sleep anywhere.

     The sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps and I've merged two Bugaboo images to make this card.


Colored w ProMarkers
Cut w QuicKutz die & edges inked
Paper is a DCWV scrap, embossed
Blue CS embossed w Swiss Dots EF
Hand-tied, gingham bow

     Challenges:

     I hope you'll come and play with us in this challenge.  Not a member of The Outlawz?  It's quick and easy to join, and it's free!         :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Little Gnomes

     Beccy's Place has a fabulous (and optional!) "Flip a Coin" board on their challenge this month.  The theme is always Anything Goes with a Beccy's image but the optional board made the challenge that much more fun.  :-D

     I used two of Beccy's gnomes, merged before printing (which wasn't all that easy because they are jpg files, not png files!)


(Decorated envelope)

Here's the board and a list of those I used:

1.  Blues, purples, greens
2.  Square card
3. Ribbon or Lace
4. Something shiny
5.  Decorate the envelope

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Glossy Accents added to lantern glow (for the shine)
Cut with QuicKutz lg square die
Corners done w/ Fiskars punch
Striped paper from DCWV
Lacy mesh ribbon
Dot embellies made w/ dots punched from corners
Envelope liner and decoration made w/ same dp

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Carlin's Card Paradise
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Stamping Sensations

     Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.  I appreciate all who leave comments of encouragement and who follow my blog.  In these times when we can't physically reach out to friends and family IRL, having contact from blogging and crafting friends makes the days feel brighter and cheerier.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Awesome !

     This morning, I want to share with you something both fun and awesome!  Most of you who follow my blog or who have browsed around it are aware that I tend toward coloring images when I'm making cards and I rarely vary from that tried and true formula (OK, so it's a rut.  Give me a rut and I'll furnish it!) 

     However, I've joined a small group of crafty ladies (3 of us so far but we hope more of you will join us, thereby increasing the fun) who are trying to stretch their comfort zone by following a 'recipe' of four "Must Do" things and another three "Can Do if you choose" things in making a card or other project.  One of us chooses the Must Dos and the Can Dos, makes a sample card (or other project), emails a photo of it to each person in the group, along with the list of Must and Can Dos.  The single catch is that one of the Must Dos is given to the next 'Cook' (cook = recipe) by the person who made up the previous recipe.  It does NOT have to be something they had in their recipe, just something they have designated as a Must Do for the new recipe.

     This is only the second month we've done this and it was my turn to choose the recipe items.  I was given the first Must Do of  Make it Monochromatic.  I added three more items to the Must Do list:

1.  Make it Monochromatic
2.  Make the Sentiment your focus - Sentiment can be die cut, stamped (digi or rubber), &/or typed/ computer font/ hand written
3.  Use "Paint Chips" - If you can't get any of those from your local paint store, make your own by coloring card stock "chips" to look like paint chips
4.  Use patterned paper in the background - if you don't have any dp, make your own & use as much or as little as you like

The additional three Can Do items are:

1. Use a Die Cut
2. Use your favorite color
3. Use summer fruits

     Here's my sample which I photographed & emailed to the other gals this morning (actually, I emailed the URL of this post to them but they'll get all the info when they visit.)  They are NOT required to CASE this card; they are only required to follow the four Must Do parts of the recipe to make anything they like.


Paint chips (scraps) in purples (my favorite color)
"Awesome" sentiment cut w/ Your Next Stamp die
Stampin' Up dp scrap used for the sentiment
Background dp is a scrap from the basket

     The other players have as much time as they want to complete their projects, post them to their blogs whenever they are finished, and send the rest of the group a link to their blog post, but the next Recipe will be sent out by our next 'Cook' on or just before August 1, regardless of how many have or haven't finished the July Recipe.  There's no deadline for completing the July Recipe because there are no rules other than the four Must Do items and there are no kits to send or receive, no prizes, no pressures, and no drama.  We are in this simply because we want to try some new things with a little shared inspiration.

     Think you might like to try this one or to join our fun Recipe group?  Email me and I'll get you added to the list.   Does a particular recipe not appeal to you?  Fine, don't use it; just wait for the next one.  We'll keep emailing you the new recipes once a month as they are ready.  And every few months (depending on how many Cooks we get on our list) your name will come up in the rotation and it'll be your turn to make up a recipe with one Must Do item supplied by the previous Cook.  :-D

     Challenges:

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Puppy Hugs

     I'm sneaking into the computer room, having shut the door so that the cats can't get in, because I'm posting a card I made in the middle of the night when they weren't watching.  Despite the fact that I'm really an animal person (all sorts and species), many of my friends (and all three of the cats who let me share their abode) see me as a cat person.  Well, truthfully, the cats see me as their human, put on this earth just to feed them, to clean their litter box, and to cuddle them when they feel the need for human contact (but not otherwise.)  They would make life miserable for me if they knew I had done a card featuring a Dog!!

     I don't know how long ago I got this sweet image from Lili of the Valley but it was some weeks ago and this is the first time I've used it.  I've been trying to improve my highlighting and shading with watercolors but it's not easy.  I have a friend who does spectacular free hand watercolor paintings and she keeps telling me, "Let it dry, let it dry, then go back over it to make it darker."  I'm impatient, I guess, trying to darken it while the first layer is still damp.  Sigh... I'll just have to keep trying.


Image and sentiment printed together
Colored with water colors
Cut and framed with Memory Box dies
Sheer ribbon for the wrap and the bow

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Lemon Shortbread
Paperminutes
Path of Positivity
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown (bow/green/image)

     Enjoy the rest of your weekend, although if you're like me, the weekdays and weekends all seem to be running together and are hard to distinguish.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, May 1, 2020

"Ruff" Day

     We are starting a new weekly challenge at QKR Stampede today where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   So many of my friends and family are beginning to chafe under (what some consider overly-restrictive) regulations about quarantine and isolation, I thought a fun card about rough days might cheer them up.

     The image is from QKR, called "Good Boy" and the expression on his face is exactly like what I suspect others have on their faces.  lol


Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with My Favorite Things Die-namics dies
   - creating three lines of stitching on image and frame
Paper is a scrap from the basket
Sentiment cut w/ Avery Elle die

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Dream Valley
I heart ProMarkers
Paperbabe Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds

     Please come and play with us this week.  Anything goes with any products from any company!  If you do use a QKR image or even one from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, your entry will go into a separate draw just for those and that increases your chances of being a winner!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie