Sunflowers or Dahlias?

      The image I used today is a new one from Conie Fong called "Sunflower Bouquet."  But I was in the mood for Spring and for a monochromatic card so I treated the sunflowers as if they were dahlias and discovered that the image was very versatile!   I can use this in summer and again in fall for cards which have a more appropriate color scheme for those seasons.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers and gel pens

Image and doily cut w Spellbinders dies

Doily is a scrap of pearl CS

Image edges inked w ProMarker

Sentiment hand cut and edges inked

Three gems added + 3 tiny butterflies

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Castle

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

Your Scrapbook Place

     Conie Fong always has 2 challenges going each month over on the Facebook page; one is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects.  You do have to use a Conie Fong image to enter but there are freebies available HERE.  You'll fall in love with them, then you'll buy a couple from the Etsy store, and the next thing you know, you'll be playing along every month which means your chances of winning images is even greater!  How can you resist?  

     Happy crafting (and coloring.)  NanaConnie

Crafty Chefs for February

      Last week I shared with you my card for the January Recipe at Crafty Chefs and now it's my turn to create the recipe for February.  I know it's not February yet but consider this a gift in case you want to join us at Crafty Chefs.  It's open to any who care to join (free) and there's never a deadline for completing any project.  You're free to use and share any of the monthly recipes whenever you like.  We are just a group of crafters who are trying to get out of our own personal comfort zones now and again and try some things we may not have done before by following someone else's recipe.  Also fun is finding a recipe which exactly fits your own style or the things in your craft stash and whipping up something to share with the rest of us for inspiration.

     Since I just did a recipe in December, some of the other gals who play over there gave me some help on the recipe for February.  Appreciation to Margaret for suggesting "Stamp - rubber or digi," "Pink & Purple," plus "pattern dp."  Karen, our Master Chef from January, gave me "Fun Fold" (the previous chef always gives the next chef one MUST DO item.)  So, here's the February recipe:

MUST DO: Image + Purple/Pink combo + Pattern paper + Fun Fold

CAN DO: Embossing Folder OR Doily OR Flowers

Offset Gate Fold card

Image from A Day from Daisies

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Quickutz die

Doily sprayed w inks

Pink dp from scrap basket

Sentiment unknown rubber stamp

    (cut w Avery Elle die)

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creations in Pink

Double D

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paper Funday

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

Uniko

Word Art Weds

     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 visit us at Crafty Chefs.  Join us if you'd like.  You can even sign up be a Master Chef and pick a month this year to create the recipe for all of us to follow.  Check out all the recipes in the respective monthly albums and try a few. It's fun!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

We Should Dance

     I love all of the images from Beccy's Place but her cats are the absolute best!  The theme in the monthly challenge is always Anything Goes and there's always an optional twist if you want to use it.  This month, the twist is a sketch.  Both the image and the sentiment are from Beccy's.

Sketch adjusted for square instead of rectangle

Image and sentiment printed onto scrap CS
Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Gina Marie die
Sentiment cut with QuicKutz die
Both are mounted onto a gray, CS scrap
Paper strip is a scrap from the basket
Doily is a scrap cut off
Jute cord from The Twinery

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Classic Design
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Galore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Dream Valley
Ike's Art
Passion for ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Cake Sprite

     I fell in love with the sprites at AuroraWings when I saw the first one and have a huge collection of them now.  This one, Birthday Cake Sprite, I picked up along the way but have never used her before.  I need a few more feminine birthday cards in my stash so now seemed an appropriate time.

Colored with ProMarkers
Out-of-the-Box cut with Sizzix die
Doily dyed with ProMarkers
Wide ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Hand wrapped, lace bow
Metal brads
Navy blue card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Stash
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Star Stampz (die cut/digi/blue)
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kisses at Conie Fong

     I'm so enjoying my Guest Designer stint at Conie Fong and will truly miss it when I'm done.  I'd give anything to be a regular DT for Conie.  :-D  In any case, today I used "Butterfly Kisses" and I think she's an absolute delight to color!  Again, she's on sale!

     Everything on the card was made from scraps and leftovers, including the CS on which the image and sentiment were printed.

I started with one of the sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.

but added embellies in the corner.

Colored with ProMarkers, chalks & gel pens
Cut with Memory Box stitched die
Edges of image were inked with ProMarkers
Heart and flower are both embroidered
Leaves cut from scrap w Cheery Lynn die
Blue doily is a partial piece, left over from another card
Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon (scrap)
Everything is layered onto a scrap of kraft CS

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly (Unbleached Silk & Dies)
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Creations
Creative Knockouts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
I {heart} ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp

     Wishing you all a crafty day.  :-D  NanaConnie

Chocolate Kind of Love

     Catch the Bug has a theme of "Child's Play" and I'm still thinking back to those fun childhood days of Valentine exchanges in school but wishing someone had put chocolates in my Valentine box.  :-D  This adorable little sunbonnet girl is an image from Bugaboo Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image is fussy cut with scissors & mounted on dimensional dots
Heart doily cut from mulberry paper
Scrap strip of CS added to bottom & gems applied
Pearls added to sunbonnet & apron
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Brown Sugar
Crafty Friends
Do Al(l) Creatives
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Friendship
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Funday

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Kitten Love and Lady with Roses

     Today I have two more recycled, vintage Valentines to share.  Of course, the one with the kittens has to come first.  -D

     This time, I fussy cut the kittens and added them to a heart shaped doily with dimensional tape.  I found two scraps of red dp from a stack by Paper House, and used those to cover the front of a square card base.  The doily went on top of that and I added a red, epoxy flower with a heart in the middle.  The bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Cute N Crafty
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp & Show
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Unicorn 

     The second card has a fantastic image of a Victorian lady with roses.

                               

     I cut the image from the original card with a QuicKutz rectangle die.  The "frame" behind it was a negative left over from cutting out a frame with a die from Spellbinders.  I took that piece, cut it diagonally, and offset the pieces behind the image.  That piece was previously embossed but I don't remember which of my embossing folders was used.

     The deep, pink card front is dry embossed and I used a scrap of white lace threaded with a piece of pink, satin ribbon and layered those along the left side of the card front.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Cupcake Inspirations

Cuttlebug Mania
Dream Valley
Double Trouble (Flowers + Bouquet)
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Girls
Outlawz SAR

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dressed for the Ball

     The current challenge at AuroraWings has a theme of "Joyous Occasions" and what could be more joyous for a debutante than her first ball of the summer season?  It's Cinderella time.  :-D

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added glitter to her wings.  I cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders and framed her with deep violet CS which was cut with a stitched die from CUT-plorations.  The corner dp was  in my scrap basket and was embossed with my "Linen" folder before adding it to the purple CS background.  The doily was also a scrap, a leftover from cutting one in two for another project.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment and then left the card design alone.  The bright and bold pattern in the corner dp and the delicate, lacy border of the doily enticed the eye enough and I still wanted that gorgeous image to be the main focus.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Cute Card Thurs
Cut It Up
Pattie's Creations
Sasayaki Glitter

     Happy Weekend (or what may be left of it) and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

An Iris Birthday

     The current challenge for Ching-Chou Kuik on their FB site has a theme of "Black and White plus 1 color."  Of course, I had to use my favorite color, purple!

     I colored all the gray scale with ProMarkers and then added the bits of purple to the image.  I fussy cut the image and inked the edges with ProMarkers.  I added white highlights with a gel pen.

     I decided on a card base made from 'confetti' CS, then found the doily and colored it purple.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges.  I layered everything onto the card front and left it very CAS - no embellishments, just lots of open space.

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Everybody Art
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown  (middle row)

     Here in the US, we're celebrating Memorial Day on Monday and many are already gone for a long weekend.  Personally, I'm saving all my travel time up for summer which is officially just around the corner.  But that means I'll have lots of quiet, relaxing time to craft my little heart away for the next 3 days.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Family Christmas

     If you're looking for the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies DT card, scroll down one post.  It's a busy First Friday of the Month and I'll have a total of 4 posts!

     This is my DT card for the challenge at Emerald City Crafts.  The wonderful vintage image is ephemera from Linda Simpson Designs and came from the Joyeux Noel set.  Although the image is from a time much earlier, it makes me think of childhood Christmas days at my Grammy's house.

     This card looks much more complex in design than it really is 

but I based it on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

    The sentiment, the image, the red striped paper and the sheet of music are actually all part of the image.  I cut that and matted it with red CS.

     I used more red CS on the card front, but cut it lengthwise so that it was only 2.5 inches wide on an A2 card front.  I added a lace doily, then layered on the image piece.  For embellishment, I added the double layer, distressed wreath at the edge of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Ellen Hutson Pinsights
Inspiration Destination
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us at Emerald City Crafts this month.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image from any company.  The challenge runs for 3 weeks, ending at the 3rd Friday, and that gives the DT a week to vote on winners and Top 3, which are announced when the next challenge starts on the first Friday of the following month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Posies for Mom

     This delightful image is the April freebie for the Progressive challenge at The Outlawz.  Right before printing this image, I was looking out my front window at the two large daisy bushes which are overflowing with pale yellow flowers everywhere.  My coloring was influenced by them.

     I colored with chalks, then die cut both the image and the mat with dies from Spellbinders.  Actually, this time it's a frame more than a mat since the smaller die cut is inlaid into the larger one.  The doily was in my last order from 7 Kids College Fund and I think they're made by Bo Bunny.

     I added only the little bow for embellishment, keeping this one CAS for mailing.

     Challenges:
7 Kids College Fund
CAS on Sunday
Chalk N Stock
Colour Your World
Cupcake Inspirations
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
My Time to Craft
Pencil Case
Scrapper's Delights
Stamping Sensations

      Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Vintage Moment

     I've been into doing CAS cards for a couple of weeks now and I've almost forgotten what it feels like to add on an entire bouquet's worth of flowers to a card!  But the challenge at Digi Haven this week is "Days Gone By" and they'd like us to do something Vintage so I scoured around and found this gorgeous digital freebie over at Graphics Fairy (click here for the freebie).  Remember that one of the things you must do for the Digi Haven challenge is to find and use a freebie which will be available throughout the week of the challenge.  This one is permanently available.  Oh, yes, -- they are also having a DT call and I am soooo tempted to apply because I just love the whole idea of using freebies found on the web to enter the challenges.  We'll see.  It isn't like I'm not already serving on enough design teams.  :-D  OK, here's the card:

Sketch from Digital Tuesday.

     The image was already colored so I fussy cut it and layered it onto the pea soup dp, then layered that onto a lacy square doily, die cut from pale lavender dp.  Don't ask me who made either of the dps -- they were just scraps left on my table which needed to be used.

     All the flowers are roses from Prima and the leaves have been punched from a sheet of sparkly foam.  Sounds weird, I know, but it looks really great IRL, and not bad in the photo, either.  Finally, instead of pearls or gemstones which would have worked well with vintage, I thought the purple ribbon with the little gold stripe was the perfect thing so I tied a tiny bow for the doily corner.  No sentiment because I haven't decided how this card will be used.

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Punches/dies
Can You Digi It? -- Purple, please
Cheery Lynn -- Use doilies
Eureka Stamps -- Anything goes
LEJ Designs -- Vintage
Lollipop Crafts -- Anything goes
Shopping Our Stash -- Use any sketch, old or current
The Cutie Pie -- Borders and frames

     So, half your weekend is gone.  I hope you've been using it for fun and enjoyable activities.  No point in stressing on your days off.  :-D  Thanks for the visit, and I'll have another post tomorrow, then start the week with DT cards and new challenges for you.  Hugs and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cat Bath

     It's another beautiful Bugaboo summer day and today I want to share an image called "Cat Birdbath" which I used for my Guest DT card.  The theme at Catch the Bug this week is the easiest in the world -- Anything Goes!  So, I want to see you playing along.

      Isn't this the cutest little digi stamp?  I'm not sure kitty planned on getting wet when he went sneaking around the birdbath, but he probably deserves whatever he gets!  :-D

    Sketch (with some slight modifications) came from Digi Darla's and this is the second time I've used it.
 
      I colored the image with water color pencils and alcohol markers, die cut the circle and the black CS mat, then framed it with a doily (Spellbinders.)  The ribbon is sparkly and comes from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  All the flowers are Prima.  Clean and simple design with flower embellishments.  The card came together pretty quickly once the coloring was done.

     Challenges:
Creative Craft -- Tweet, Tweets
Flourishes -- Summer
Jackson's Digital Expressions -- Anything goes w/ optional flowers
LEJ Designs -- Fabulous flowers
Paper Pretties -- Summer fun
Scrapbook Sisters -- Use only 1 stamp on your card
Shopping Our Stash -- Triple Threat: ribbon, die cut doily, flowers
The Paper Girls -- Colors from the photo inspiration

     Don't forget that Bugaboo's "Christmas in July" starts in just another week and there will be ooodles of games, mini-challenges, and prizes.  I hope you're going to play along as much as possible.  I'm going to use it as an excuse to finally get a start on my Christmas cards.  Hope we see you at our Anything Goes challenge this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie