Trick or Treat Cats

      When I ran across this adorable clip art image, I just had to see how it would look printed in grayscale and colored.  That's exactly what I did!  I colored with Ohuhu markers, added white highlights to their eyes and collars with a gel pen, then cut the image with a Spellbinders die.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners.

     Although it's hard to see in the photo, I used my Linen EF to emboss the background, charcoal gray, CS.  The sentiment was printed and trimmed on my paper trimmer.  I sewed the little bow and dyed it orange, using a marker.  Bows have to be my favorite embellishment, partly because it's so easy to use them as the only embellishment.  There's a tiny, half-pearl in the center of the bow.  Very CAS design.

I pulled colors from AAA Colourful.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creative Knockouts

Inspired By

Outlawz Thursday

Starz Stamps

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Witch Wisdom

      I've discovered not only a new artist (new to me, anyway) but also a new challenge.  The company is called Conjurer of Dreams and Kim, the artist, does incredible things with AI !  I have to admit that I have already gone on a shopping spree in her Etsy shop.  :-D

     Today's card is an A2 size, a standard rectangle which happens to be the shape I make most often.  It's a favorite of mine simply because it fits easily into a regular size envelope and I don't have to go on a search for odd size envelopes or make my own envelopes (something I truly detest!)  I do make the occasional round or other shaped card and then I find myself scrambling for an envelope to fit.  Grrrr

     This is actually a pre-colored image which I printed in grayscale, and my sis-in-law did the coloring with Ohuhu markers so this is another collaboration.  I have another version of the image printed and I'll color it later this afternoon.  If I find the time, I'll edit this post and you can see both of them.

     The image and the frame were each cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. The background dp is from a Recollections stack and has gold embossing on the stars.  I left the card unembellished beyond that paper because I really wanted the image to have center stage.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Daisy Chain

Outlawz Friday

Outlawz Thursday

Two Old Bats

     Edited to add:  Yesterday I promised you that I would edit this post to share with you my version of coloring this image after printing it in grayscale.  I chose to use watercolors and colored her with a more purple palette, that being one of the modern Halloween colors.  I used ProMarkers to add orange to the flowers and the potion pots, and to color her skin.  I kept this card design very CAS with just the colored image on a white card front and I inked the edges of the card with a Tim Holtz inkpad.

      I'm going to enter this version into these challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Gem of a Challenge

I Love ProMarkers

Let's Craft & Create

Penny's P-C

Simply CAS

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Field Mouse

     It's time for another challenge to start over at FarmQuest, where our underlying theme is always something "farm or country."  On top of that, we have a specific theme for each challenge and this time we want to see "Critters that eat grain" or something closely related to that.

     I searched my clip art files for something appropriate and came across this little mouse on a wheat stem.  What could be more perfect?  I had a lot of fun figuring out how I wanted to best display the image and finally decided to make the background for the image by water coloring some wheat onto water color paper, letting it dry overnight, ironing it flat (since it has a tendency to curl up while drying), and putting that piece of paper into the printer, then printing the clip art image directly onto the background.  I used colored pencils and white gel pen to add highlights and deeper color to the mouse.  What do you think?

     I cut the image with a Spellbinders die, matted it with some light brown CS, and trimmed that with my paper cutter.  I made the background by digging through the scrap basket and finding a couple of dp and a strip of reddish-brown CS.  I ran the strip of CS through my Linen EF, then layered all three scraps onto the card front.  The image went on top of those, as did the sentiment which had been printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     I hope to see you playing along in our challenge this fortnight.  There are so many options for you in finding a critter that eats grains; rodents, birds, deer, horses and cows, ... the list is endless!  Let your imagination flow and share with us what you create.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bear-ly Old

      Today we begin our latest challenge at FarmQuest and our theme is "Things Found in a Forest."   I interpreted that very broadly and decided to find an animal that would inhabit the forest instead of just trees or plants.  This image of a bear is pencil sketched clip art.  I wish I knew the name of the artist but it came from a book of clip art coloring pages available online and there is no company or artist names on any of them.

     Although it may be difficult to see in the photo, after I printed the image I used a very pale, blue wash of watercolor paint over the entire image, then darkened the sketch using blue colored pencils and gamsol.  

     I cut the finished image with a Tonic Studios die, then printed the 2-part sentiment and cut those with dies from Avery Elle.  Everything was mounted onto a dark blue card front which I had embossed using my 'Linen' EF.  I made this as a birthday card for one of my grandsons who celebrated just a week ago.

      Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Can You Handle ...?

Crafty Calendar

Lil Patch of ...

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

WordArt Weds

     It would be wonderful if you'd come and play in our challenge.  Think of a forest, choose something you might find there, let it inspire your creativity, and enter it into our challenge.  We can't wait to see what you create!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower Puppy

      This is my last DT card for Crafty Catz and I've enjoyed my time with that team more than I can express!  We have a new challenge starting today, and our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL theme if you choose to use it.  The option this fortnight is "Make It Cute."  We are sponsored by Last Minute Manda and I chose to use one of their oh, so cute "Flower Puppies."

     I colored the image with Sanjoki markers and the highlights were done with a white gel pen.  It was cut with one of my oldest dies from QuicKutz.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with a die from Avery Elle.  The background was made using 2 scraps of CS, each of which I embossed with my "Linen" EF.  I inked the edges of the image and layered it onto the background.  Quick and very CAS.

Colors came from the challenge at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

I Love Markers

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Word Art Weds

     That's all for today.  Please think about playing in our challenge.  We get so inspired by what you create and we love visiting your blogs.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Eve Bedtime

      I've done a few Christmas cards over the last month or so but haven't gotten very many of them posted, just one which I did for the FarmQuest Country Christmas last week (click HERE to see it.)  But today, I thought it would be fun to show you another of them, and this one will be for one of the newest great-grands this year.

     This is an older image from QKR Stampede, called "Baby Bear" and I colored him in traditional Christmas colors of red and green.  I used my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a Tonic Studios die.  I cut a scrap of dp to make the frame around the image but I can't tell you who the maker of that dp was.  The background was made with strips of paper from an old EK Success Christmas stack.  Some of the strips have gold embossing on them.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulips for a Birthday

      Today I'm using an image from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz and I've printed three of them in adjusted sizes.  I colored the tulips with my Sanjoki markers, then fussy cut them with scissors.  I stacked them together and added a few bits of dimensional dots.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     I found two scraps of CS and embossed each of them with my Linen EF.  I loved the way the tulips took center stage and decided not to add any other embellishments because I didn't want to detract from them.

I was inspired by the sketch at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

(The) Crafting ...

Crafts Galore Encore

Die Cut Divas

Do Al(l) Kreatives

If You Give a Crafter ...

Mirtillamente

Outlawz Tuesday

Triple B

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa Sketch

      This is our last challenge for the year at Crafty Catz and our next one will begin on Friday, January 12.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and usually we have an optional theme to go with that, but this time it's just Anything Goes.

     I chose to use this delightful, clip art sketch of Santa and I printed it in a very light grayscale.  I colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a large die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was added before printing the image.  I hand tied the bow, using 1/8" ribbon.  The background has embossed gold stripes.

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

Polkadoodles

Use Your Stuff

     Come play along with us this week if you can pull yourself away from the the madhouse of the holiday preparations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Count Your Blessings

      Sharing another Thanksgiving card today and this one was really quick and simple.  The image is clip art, printed in gray scale, and colored with markers.  What made it quick is that I had colored this image months ago but it was in a folder of images waiting to be used.

      I cut the image piece with a QuicKutz die, then cut brown CS with another QuicKutz die for the mat behind the image.  I searched the scrap basket and found those two bits of dp which originally came from a DCWV stack.  The tiny leaves on the left hand paper are heat embossed with glittery EP.  The pumpkin is fabric and was cut from a strip of ribbon pumpkins.

     Challenges:

Classic Designs

Creatalicious

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Monday

Path of Positivity

Triple B

     I'll have another card to share tomorrow and even one for Thanksgiving Day.  Hope you'll stop by on those days, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Time for Pie

     Another of the cards I finished while I was doing the local Craft Fair on Saturday and this one will go to one of the grandkids on Thanksgiving Day.  

    The digital image was printed in reverse, colored polychromos pencils, blended with gamsol, and shading was added with alcohol markers.  I used one of my very first Spellbinders dies to cut the image, and the sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background strip of dp was a scrap from the fall basket; the pumpkins are embossed for texture and touched with glitter for just the smallest amount of sparkle.  I hand-tied the bow using satin ribbon and called it finished.  Isn't she the sweetest little mouse ever?

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Coloring w Pencils

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Moments

Cutie Pie

Inspiration Station (fall colors)

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz SAR (Thanksgiving Pies)

Pammie's IP

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

Nutcrackers

      Conie Fong has a new image set, released just this week and perfect for Christmas.  It's a fabulous set of Nutcrackers which includes a King, a Soldier, and a Drummer.  Click on the word "Nutcrackers" in the previous sentence and that will take you right to them in store.  They are so perfect and I went a little crazy making DT projects with them.  :-D

     I started with this card, using the Nutcracker King image.  He's colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  I used a Sizzix embossing folder on a scrap of CS (Stampin' Up) to make the blue panel, then cut the snowflakes with dies from Impression Obsession.  They have glitter added to them for a tiny bit of sparkle but it just doesn't show up in the photo.  The Noel sentiment was cut with a Die-Versions die.  The final touch was the hand-sewn, satin bow with a pearl.

     Challenges:

     Feeling that the other two Nutcracker images shouldn't be left out, and because my daughter collects nutcrackers as Christmas decorations and displays, I made a two-sided, tree ornament for her.  Both images were colored with Sanjoki markers, then I cut each one with the same Spellbinders die.  

 

     After cutting the images with that die, I cut 7 more of that shape from plain white CS.  I sandwiched all those layers together using double stick tape to make the ornament thick and heavy, and added a scrap of ribbon as the hanger.  (Note: As an afterthought, after the photos had been taken, I applied Mod Podge to both sides and along the edges of the ornament, letting it dry between applications.  It's now very sturdy and can be used year after year.)

     These snowflakes were cut with a die from Cottage Cuts.  Here are photos of both sides of the ornament.

Drummer

 

Soldier

     Challenges:

     Don't forget that we have a monthly challenge going over on the Conie Fong Facebook site with an Anything Goes theme.  All you have to do is use a Conie Fong image (there are freebies available on the site which you can download and use.)  Or, if you've fallen in love with the Nutcrackers, you can pick up all 3 of them in the set for only $4.00!  Again, all you have to do is click on the word "Nutcrackers" in the first paragraph of this post and that link will take you right to them in the Etsy store.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Calico Cat

      This card was inspired by a wonderful and serendipitous brunch I had yesterday.  I was invited to join my daughter and her next door neighbor, Margaret, for a brunch.  Margaret and I happen to have brother and sister cats (same litter) who are now 12 years old.  Her sweet Gracie is a calico.  We spent nearly 2 hours regaling each other with cat stories about the two of them and it was amazing how much alike they are even though they've not seen each other since they were separated at about 5 weeks old after being abandoned by their feral mother.  Margaret and I were just two kindred hearts (translate:  crazy cat ladies!)

     Anyway, Margaret insisted on picking up the check for our meals and I wanted to send her a Thank You so I made this card, using a new die I got from Poppy Stamps.  I cut the cat from heavy white CS, then colored it with my Sanjoki markers.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut with scissors.

     The background papers are from an old (old, old, OLD!) DCWV stack and the orange square was embossed with a polka dot EF.  The die cut cat had it's own embossing to enhance the 'fur' lines.  When I layered everything together, I used Pop Dots under the head of the cat so that it's raised up for a bit of dimension.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...?

Crafts Galore ...

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Let's Craft and ...

Outlawz Friday

Polkadoodles

Poppy Stamps

SUYP Cats

     Have yourself a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragon's 'Ooops'

      Dragons are mighty and fearsome creatures, but they are also as full of curiosity as any kitten you've ever met.  This young dragon is experiencing his first ever Christmas and the glimmering gold star on the Christmas tree apparently caught his eye.  Whether he just wanted to taste it or if he's trying to claim it for his own toy box may never be known, but the result is some unintended UNdecorating of the tree.    :-D

     This image is from a digital coloring book (all lovely grayscale images), reduced in size, printed on water color paper, and colored with water color paints.   The highlights on the snow (on the tree) and the ornaments were done with a white gel pen.  The fur on the dragon's Santa hat was made using SnowTex and it's dimensional.

      I cut the image and the frame for it with dies from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background CS was embossed using a Sizzix EF.  I added a wrap of sheer ribbon with glitter spots on it, giving the card a bit of sparkle.   As a final embellishment, I added some Jolee's snowflakes.

      Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...?

Crafty Gals Corner

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble

Happy...Stampers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

     Hope you enjoyed the quick lesson about dragons. :-D Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snow Globe Christmas

      One week into July and I'm still doing Christmas cards.  My stash has grown but only a little bit considering that I need around 100 cards this year.  I think I now have 5 done, maybe 6.  lol  But I'm making 1 (sometimes 2) each day so by the end of this month, I should be more than 1/3 of the way to my goal.

     This lovely image comes from Conie Fong and it's called "Snow Globe Wishes."  Amazingly, Conie has put her entire Etsy store on sale at 25% off for three days, July 7, 8 and 9, calling it a 'Christmas in July' sale!  But all the images in the store are on sale, not just Christmas images.  It started yesterday and two more days isn't very long so better get over there right now.  

     I colored this lovely lady with Sanjoki markers, then cut her out using a Spellbinders die.  I layered her onto a snowflake-embossed panel and that was layered onto a scrap of dp from K & Co. which has die cut borders.  I fussy cut the sentiment, added it to a lower corner, then added the three tiny pearls to the upper corner.  I think this is a delightfully 'elegant' Christmas card.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

Birthstone

Can You Handle...?

Christmas Bingo ('O' free/pattern dp/emboss)

Classic Design

Crafts Galore ...

Dragonfly Dreams

Mirtillamente

Outlawz SAR

Polkadoodles

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge over on Facebook.  All you need to do is use a Conie Fong image (and since you are now rushing off to the 25% off sale, you'll have that part handled!) and the theme is always Anything Goes.  Come on over and play.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Strawberry Time !

      I love summer!  Not so much the miserable heat but for the fact that it's berry season; blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, huckleberries, loganberries, but most of all STRAWBERRIES!!!  In celebration of strawberries, I played with images from different Beccy's Place sets.  

     Before printing, I reversed the sweet mouse and then merged him with the basket of strawberries (also reversed.)  I have to say that when that sweet mouse was by himself (not yet merged with the basket), he looked like an industrious little guy, harvesting a berry from his carefully tended strawberry patch to take home for a delicious dinner.  Once merged, he looks more like a sneak thief  running off with berries which came from my garden!  lol

     I colored with ProMarkers, then did the intricate fussy cutting with scissors.  The green background is plain CS which has been cut and embossed with a Hero Arts die.  I love how the white card front peeps through, accentuating the dimension of the embossed and lifted leaves, flower petals, and butterflies.  

     After fussy cutting the mouse and his strawberry, I mounted it onto dimensional tape so that it would stand above the green background.  The sentiment was also fussy cut and adhered directly onto the card front.  I didn't want anything interfering with the cut background so I did without any added embellishments.

     Challenges:

4 Season

Can You Handle ... ?

Crafty Calendar

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Dream Valley

Gem of a Challenge

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     Wishing you a lovely day on this start of a new week and thanks for stopping by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Panda Birthday

      My sister-in-law and her granddaughter have birthdays this week and they will be celebrating them together.  My niece (SIL's daughter and granddaughter's mother) decided on a theme of panda bears.  While she and my daughter are working madly on decorations for the party, including making "bamboo" out of pool noodles and card stock leaves, I got started on birthday cards for each of them, and, yes, I did stick with the theme.  :-D  Today I'm sharing the one I made for my grandniece and will share the one for my SIL tomorrow.

     I searched for clip art, panda images, preferably pre-colored to save time, and found two which I thought really worked well together.  I had to check with my niece to ascertain her daughter's favorite color and it turns out it's the same as my own favorite, PURPLE !  How delightful that it worked so well with the image I had chosen.

     I embossed a scrap of CS and found another scrap, this time of dp, in the basket, using them to make the background.  The card was cut with a Tonic Studios die, then matted in white.  The sentiment came from Beccy's Place.  I finished the card by adding flowers and gems from Petaloo.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore ...

Happy ... Stampers

Morgan's ArtWorld

Paper Funday

The Four Seasons

YSBP

     I hope you'll stop by tomorrow to see the card for my SIL.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puddle Jumping

      A new challenge is starting over at FarmQuest and our theme this time is "Rain Gear."  Of course, it must always have that farm/country feel to it.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew it was time to dig out one of my House Mouse stamps.  I adore this stamp and will find any excuse to use it, including "Don't rain on my parade" days.  :-D

     This time, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Cuts.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sky blue CS I used for the background was embossed with my Linen folder before attaching it to the card front, just for a touch of texture.   I grabbed one of my white, hand-sewn, signature bows from the stash, 'dyed' it with a marker, and added a sequin before gluing it to the card.

     Pretty CAS, plus nice and flat for mailing.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says (Rainy Days and Mondays)

     That's it for FarmQuest this fortnight.  Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Meet Me at the Barn

      Here it is, time for another challenge over at FarmQuest General Store, where our theme is always "Anything Country Goes."  You can't get more farm country than a barn and I love this old Barn image from Bugaboo Stamps (I miss them!  ;-( )  The cow and the pig are also from Bugaboo and I had such fun merging all three images to create this scene.  The scene makes me think of the old, old WWII song, "How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (after they've seen Paris.)"

     I colored with my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners.  The 2 scraps of golden CS in the background were embossed with my Linen EF, and I used another scrap of charcoal CS between them to cover the entire card front.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Digi Choosday

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Park Hopping (Knott's Berry Farm)

Passion for Markers

Pattie's Creations

Simon Says Stamp

Worldwide ...

YSBP

     Why don't you create something country and come play in our challenge?  It's a monthly challenge and runs until June 5 and then a new one starts on June 7.  We'd love to see you there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Bees & Blossoms

      We are actually having a delightful spring day today and I did this card to celebrate it.  It's also another card for my Birthday stash.  It features one of my favorite spring images from SheepSki Designs, called "Bee n Blossom."  I seem to use it at least one time every spring.  :-D

     Colored with Sanjoki markers, with sparkle gel pen used on the wings, then cut with a fancy Spellbinders die.  Both of the papers are from Recollections and the background has embossed suede texture.  The stripes are shiny gold and also have texture.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

I used colors from the palette at Not2Shabby.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Bastel-Traum

Beautiful Blossoms

Country View ...

Crafter's Cafe

Happy...Stampers

Papercraft

SheepSki Designs

Star Stampz

     May your weather be gorgeous and mild, and feel like spring.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Don't Egg Me On

      When the Easter bunny says, "Don't egg me on," he's 'punny'!   This guy seems to be only half listening to the 'egging on.'  But at least he's attentive with one ear.  :-D

     The image was printed on a scrap of beige dp which has a 'linen' texture to it.  I colored his ears with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The frame was also cut with another QuicKutz die, then run through my "Linen" EF.

     The butterfly dp was a scrap from the basket, as was the deep burgundy CS strip at the bottom.  The sentiment is from QKR Stampede and I colored it with my new Sanjoki markers and gel pens.  The bow was hand tied and stitched in the middle to give it more of a butterfly shape.  I wanted the butterflies to emphasize the spring colors and theme.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (Tent fold, Tango Pink)

Creations in Pink

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Outlawz Friday

Papercraft

Paperminutes

Paper Funday

Simon Says

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today.  Check back tomorrow when I'll have more Easter to share.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie