It's All about the Candy Corn!

      When I was a kid, Halloween was all about the candy corn (my whole family called it "Corn Candy," don't ask me why) and I waited all year long for the Trick or Treat night which would reap at least 2 good portions of the luscious treat, more if luck was on my side.  

     This adorable Candy Corn Witch from Jan's Digi Stamps was merged with a candy corn border which is part of the set.  The sentiment also comes in the set.  I used the pre-colored image this time and cut the image with a framing die from Spellbinders.  I mounted that on top of polka dot dp from Your Next Stamp and called it finished.  It's a CAS card which looks fancy and complicated.

This is also my Day 5 entry into the 

LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. 

     Challenges:

Double Trouble

Inspiration Station

Jan's Digi Stamps

LeighSB 31 Days

Lil Patch of  ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Outlawz SAR

There's a Stamp  ...

Two Old Bats

Your Next Stamp

     See you again tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Halloween Spooks?

      These two little Halloween critters (from Mariola Budek) don't look very spooky but they are darling, so who could resist them?  This card will go to my youngest great-granddaughter this year, her first Halloween card from Nana.  :-D

     This is one of her images which isn't done in grayscale so I had to do my own shading and highlights.  I colored the image with a combination of  ProMarkers and water colors, then used a QuicKutz die to cut the rectangle.  The corners were done with a Fiskars punch.  

     The triangle in the lower, left corner came from a scrap of Making Memories dp, and the rust CS for the card front was in my stash.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Get Creative

I Love ProMarkers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Pammie's

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

     I hope you're as charmed with Mariola Budek's art and images as I am.  I find them absolutely adorable and her sweet critters always steal my heart.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tall & Slim and Thankful

      If I was tall and slim, I'd definitely be thankful but the tall/slim part actually refers to the slimline card I made in my role as a Guest Designer for the Monday Greetings challenge at The Outlawz (which seems to be a little bit late posting today.)  The sponsor is Twinkle Lane Designs, and the Helenium Flowers image is one of my favorites.  It really colored up nicely in autumn colors.

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, then cut the image with an octagon die from QuicKutz.  The center ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I made the fall wreath by cutting tiny leaves (Cheery Lynn dies) from colored CS, gluing them in layers in a wreath shape.  I added itty bitty corn ears, a flower made from layering petal cuts (Spellbinders dies) and adding a bead to the center, and two gem embellies (a butterfly and a round dot) at the bottom of the wreath. 

     The sentiment was written in gold paint pen onto a wood grain banner (fussy cut) and the autumn leaves are stickers from Recollections.  I had it all put together, then decided I needed something in the middle of the wreath, so found the little tag that says "Autumn", sewed thread into the top and glued the middle of the thread to the underside of the topmost leaf so that it hangs free.  Nothing CAS about this one!  lol

Colors came from the inspiration at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Butterfly  (all 3 colors)

Crafty Creations

Creative Fingers

Die Cut Divas

Double D

Double Trouble (tall/thin dies/T = thankful/ taupe/ tree leaves/ thread)

Ellibelle's Crafty

House that Stamps Built

Outlawz SAR

STAMPlorations

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fall Flower Garden

     I'm finally getting my card done for the Progressive Challenge at Outlaws this month.  The image is from Oddball Art.

     I colored her with ProMarkers and cut her with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow was made from ribbon in my stash.

     Challenges:

Clever Dexter

Country View Crafts

Crafts Galore Encore

Creative Moments

Digi Doodle Studios

Four Seasons

Inspiration Station

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie      

Harvest Wishes

      When pumpkins turn into jack-o-lanterns, it's a pretty sure bet that harvest celebrations are turning into Halloween celebrations.  This pumpkin/jack-o-lantern, which is the freebie this month from Stampers Delights, is covering both bases by sending everyone harvest wishes.  :-D

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut the image using scissors.  The background is a scrap of 12" x 12" paper from Off the Press and the sentiment came with the image.  I mounted the pumpkin onto dimensional tape, added a silk leaf to the back and put it all on top of the background piece.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colouring in Scrapland

Double D

Double Trouble  (all 3)

Inspiration Station (colors + fall)

Mod Squad

Pattie's Creations

Taylormadecards ...

Use Your Stuff

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

State Fair Gnomes

      Conie Fong has some of the most adorable gnomes and I'm going to be sharing DT cards using some of the newly released gnomes this month.  This is my first one and the image is called "Pumpkin Gnome."  The set comes with 4 Gnome images (facing right and left) and 2 sentiments and it's ON SALE for $2.00 right now!  Go check it out.  

     These happy gnomes seem to be so proud of their harvest and are on their way to enter them into the competition at the state fair.  :-D

     I merged the right and left facing gnomes into a single image, and added my own sentiment before printing.  I colored it with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a large, square, QuicKutz die.  I used a ProMarker to ink the edges of the image.  The dp was a scrap which I cut into smaller pieces before adding it to the card front.  I had embossed the card front with my Linen EF for a slight bit of texture.

     I hand tied the double-loop, grosgrain, bow with the help of my bow maker and added it to the top corner.  I think this is a card which could be used for either a guy or a gal.

          Challenges:

As You Like It (squares over circles because they don't require a die to cut them.  :-D )

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Dare 2B Artzy

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     Don't forget that Conie Fong has two challenges which each run for an entire month over on the Facebook page.  One is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects like this one.  You do have to use a Conie Fong image but with this one on sale (along with one or two others - check out the Pumpkin Kitties, too!) and with so many cute, cute, CUTE images, how can you resist?  We hope to see you there.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Greetings

     It's time for the latest Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz and this month, Jan's Digi Stamps is sponsoring that challenge.  The image I used was provided as a freebie to those who played in last month's Progressive but being on the DT for Jan's I had an advantage in that I had the entire set so I merged not only the acorns but also the sentiment which is part of the entire set called "Signs of Autumn."

CAS design -image printed onto actual card front
Colored w ProMarkers
Sheer double-loop bow, hand tied

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Double D
Paper Funday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Time Out
WordArt Weds

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Why They Call it Fall !

     I know we're only a third of the way through August but I get tired of the miserably hot weather some time in early July each summer and I begin pining for fall leaves and changing colors that come with the cooler evenings of autumn.  Here's my salute to the end of summer this year!  :-D

     I have this adorable kitten from Mo's Digital Pencil which I don't think I've used before (shame on me!) and it seemed a perfect time to dig it out and color it.  Since we're talking fall colors, I made the kitten a calico, patterned after my own sweet Queenie (see the right-hand sidebar.)

Inspired by the sketch at Sketch Saturday,

turned 1/4 turn.

Colored w ProMarkers
Image and both frames cut w/ Tonic Studios dies
Sentiment printed & cut w/ Tutti Designs die
Mesh ribbon was a scrap on the table
Jute cord used for the triple loop bow

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz PAM
Penny's Paper-Crafty
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat with the Coffee

     Today's card is late for the Coffee Lovers Hop but the image came from Limited Runs .  :-D   Doesn't he look like the dollop of whipped cream for his latte ended up on his head?  No wonder he wanted just the coffee.  lol

My colors came from this challenge at Color My Heart.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with pinpoint, Memory Box die
Matting layers cut with Memory Box dies
Background paper from DCWV
Burlap twine, triple loop, bow

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Cute Card Thurs
Double Trouble
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paperbabe Stamps
Pattie's Creations
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Polkadoodles

     Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Batdog to the Rescue!

     OK, OK, I know there's no "Batdog" in real life or even in the comics but think of him as a recent, mythical creature!  I adore the cute image we received this month from Polkadoodles for the Outlawz Progressive Challenge.  Perfect for another Halloween card with her little pup all dressed in his bat costume.  :-D

I pulled my colors from the

Ike's World challenge.

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with an Unbranded die
Ribbons (black sparkle and orange/white stripes) - both are scraps
Gemstone bling on the bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     That's all for today and I hope your weekend is going well.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

October Challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

     Good morning (or evening, or afternoon, depending on when you came by for a visit.)  It's October 1st and that means we're starting a new monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.

     Before I show you my DT creation for this month, I want to share with you some information which may inspire you or which you might want to pass on to someone else you know.

2 CCC IS LOOKING FOR NEW DT MEMBERS!

     2 Crafty Critter Crazies is looking for a couple of new DT members and we have some rather different criteria than most challenge blogs.  We're looking for people who are relatively NEW to either blogging or Design Team work or both!   That doesn't necessarily mean you just started yesterday but if you'd like to serve on a team for perhaps the first time and feel like you might need some assistance along the way, we're the team for you.  It's only a 3 month position so no long term commitment which you might find just isn't for you after all.

      If you are willing to use Sponsor digital images, willing to make one project per month, willing to pre-schedule it to go live on your blog at the same time as the main challenge on the 1st of each month, and willing to leave comments on an assigned rotation of entries, then we'd love to hear from you.  Please email us at 2craftycrittercrazies@gmail.com and let us know little bit about you, give us the name of your blog and a link to it, if you are familiar with how to do that.  If not, don't worry, that's something we can explain to you.

     OK, now my card using a retired image and sentiment from Beccy's Place.  I'm apologizing ahead of time because I know you're going to fall in love with this image and ask me where to get it but it's no longer available.  I am sorry.

I used colors from Color My Heart Color Dare.

Colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink on the eyes and legs
Cut with a square die from Spellbinders
Both ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Bats are die cut with Impression Obsession dies

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this moth.  Remember, all you need is a project which features a creature of some kind.  Beyond that one requirement, it's anything goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie
     

Sasayaki Witch

     I'm finally getting my card made for the Progressive Challenge at Sasayaki Glitter.  The image is one of the most adorable witches this season.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Bo Bunny die.    I matted the image with a wonky stitched die from CUTplorations.   I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and matted it with a scrap of purple CS.

     The jack-o-lantern doily is die cut from glittered paper and the Happy Bat die cut was sent to me by my friend, Christi, who loves Halloween almost as much as I do.  :-D  Thanks so much, Christi!

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafty Friends
Cute N Crafty
Cutie Pie
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Path of Positivity
Whoopsi Daisy

     I'll have a second post today in the early afternoon (my time) featuring my DT card for the World Wide Open DT Challenge.  Be sure to stop by and see what's happening with our newest challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gratitude

     For today's card, I've used "Earth Fairy" from Fabrika Fantasy.  She colored up so beautifully!

     I colored with ProMarkers, cut the image with a die from Spellbinders, and backed it with orange CS.  I printed the sentiment, matted it with a scrap of that same CS, and added it to the top of the image piece.

     I made a card base from kraft CS and added a scrap of dp which had been lying on my desk.  I wrapped the card front with some sparkly brown ribbon, then layered on the image.  I cut tiny pumpkins with an Impression Obsession die and added them to the bottom of the image.

     The double layer butterfly was cut with a die from Cottage Cuts and I added pearls to make the body.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cards in Envy
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Catz
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations (Bounty, Butterfly, Brown ribbon)
TTCRD

    I'll have another post tonight, around 6:00 p.m Pacific time.  I don't normally pre-schedule my posts for that hour but in this case, I'm guest designing and that's when the Outlawz Monday challenge goes live.  So think of it as being my post for Monday and check back when you have time.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Perfect Pumpkin

     When was the last time you wandered through a pumpkin patch (with or without kids/grandkids) searching for that one perfect pumpkin?  I remember the days when we actually went out to the farmer's field and found pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Now, they come to us by way of our super markets and a good number of grandkids don't even know that pumpkins grow on vines which are found trailing across acres and acres of ground.  Sigh...

     I absolutely love this darling image from Ching-Chou Kuik and I know that she didn't find her perfect pumpkin in a grocery store.  Nope, she and her kitten found that one in the field and picked it straight off the vine.  :-D

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then use dies from Sizzix to cut it and the frame piece.  I had already decided on a CAS design so I grabbed a scrap of kraft CS which was not large enough to made a standard A2 size card.  I left the back side as a 4.25" x 5.5" rectangle but the front flap was only 3" wide.

     I used my Scor-Pal to make the score lines vertically on that front flap, then added the scalloped circle image.  Although it's not really clear in the photograph, it gives a very interesting shape to the card.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, adding it below the image.  There are no additional embellishments, only the score lines.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Cardz TV
Ching-chou Kuik FB
Creative Fingers
Fussy and Fancy
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pattie's Creations
Scor-Pal
Take It, Make It

     It's the start of the weekend and we still have another few sweltering days before cooler air moves in from the Canadian north.  Weatherman is saying we'll be down in the 80s before the end of next week and I can hardly wait!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Jumping in Leaves

     Nothing is more fun in the fall than jumping in leaves!  Kids love doing it and grown ups love remembering when their bodies were young enough to do it.  Well, at least I do.  :-D

     Another Friday and another "Anything Goes" challenge from QKR Stampede.  I'm sticking with doing autumn cards in hopes that the fall weather will finally arrive and today's card is no exception.  I've used an image and a sentiment from QKR's sister company, Eureka Stamps.  The image is called "Lady Throwing Leaves" and the sentiment is "Jump into Pile of Leaves."

I was inspired by the sketch at AAA Cards

turned sideways.

     I chose the scrap of paper before I started coloring with ProMarkers and pulled colors from it.  I cut the image and the brown frame with Sizzix dies.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and inked the edges with a ProMarker. 

     I took the scrap of paper and tore the edges all the way around for a distressed look.  I layered everything onto a kraft card base.  I dub out black and gold jute cord and wrapped the card front with them, tying a knot.  I also tied a small, black, polka dot, bowtie bow and added it.  I really liked the CAS look of the design so I left it as it was.

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Time Out
Word Art Weds

     OK, now it's all up to you.  Come enter our challenge this week and you might win some fabulous QKR Stampede images!  See you there.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Wagon

     The pumpkins in the garden are getting bigger, fatter, and more orange each day.  The rest of the crops are pretty much done for the year even though my tomato plants are still looking healthy and are massive in size.  I was inspired to dig out this delightful image from Sandi Huggett which I used nearly every fall; sometimes for Halloween, sometimes for Thanksgiving.  This year it's just for a celebration of the harvest season.

     I started with water colors on the sky and ground, then colored the rest of wagons and pumpkins with ProMarkers.  I cut the image with an Unbranded, Cross Stitch Rectangle die.  I wanted dp which had fall colors but also had blue.  I found two scraps of dp in my basket, neither of which was large enough to cover the entire card front so I combined them.

     The brown strip is the back side of one of those papers.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another die from that same Cross Stitch set.  I inked the edges before adhering it to the top corner.  I added the three metal brads and the wrapped-string bow and called it finished before it got away from me.  :-D

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz SAR
Simon Says Stamp Mon.
Simon Says Stamp Weds. (this is pumpkin pie in its raw form! :-D)
Sum More Fun
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Pumpkin Time

     I've spent the weekend doing both Christmas and Halloween themed cards and today I'm sharing one of the fall/Halloween cards.  The stamp is from Digistamps4Joy and I think it's adorable.

I was inspired by the colors in the mood board at Sum More Fun.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and white gel ink to make the stars.  I cut the moon from white CS (colored with ProMarkers), added it to the corner, then cut the entire image with a Tonic Studios die.

    I printed the sentiment, cut it with another Tonic Studios die, matted it with yellow CS, and cut that with my paper cutter.  I added everything to an embossed card front and found a lace bowtie to add.  I left it CAS because it will be sent to one of the guys in my family.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Tuesday
Paper Shelter
Polkadoodles
SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Fall Yet?

     OK, I'm done with summer!  I officially hate hot weather, I'm tired of day after day of temperatures over 100F, I'm tired of heat waves, and I don't want to hear the meteorologists tell us one more time to stay indoors because of bad air quality!   That part is really sad because outside is my favorite place to be if I'm not in the craft room.  I want it to be autumn and I want crisp, cool nights, not Hot August Nights. 

     I'm not doing any more summer cards - only fall and winter.  Maybe that will bring in cooler temperatures.  :-D  The image on this autumn card is from Bugaboo Stamps and I love this autumn deer.

I started with the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used one of my Stitched Border dies from Lawn Fawn along each side of it.  I trimmed it top and bottom with a paper cutter and distressed the edges.  Both papers came from one of my DCWV autumn stacks which have been in my stash for more than 5 years now.  I use them up slowly but surely and, while they last, I don't have to buy any new fall paper stacks.  

     I found the orange, polka dot ribbon in my stash, wrapped it around and then hand tied the bow.  I printed the sentiments, cut it by hand, matted it, hand cut it again, then added it to the top corner.

     Challenges:

Angie's Digital Stamps

Catch the Bug

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Calender

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's Paper

Lawn Fanatics (outside)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Well, I went outside to check but fall hasn't arrived yet.  Back to the craft room to make more winter cards.  Maybe visions of snow will help.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cold Days & Hot Coffee

     This is my second post of the day so if you're looking for my DT card for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, please click here.

     The new challenge starts today at SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Favourite Things."  I used the SheepSki image called "Coffee Break" because two of my favorite things are cold autumn nights and coffee.  When those are put together it's a perfect evening!   Just so you know, I'm really tired of the hot, hot, HOT weather we've had for 33 days (in a row) and I'm wishing for autumn and crisp air and coffee.  Does the coffee part make that a 'Warm Wish' ? 

     She's colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I framed the image with a pinhole die cut (Cottage Cutz.)  Both of those are simple square dies turned on point.

     The background paper is from DCWV, pulled from the oldest part of my paper stash, and I used an ink pad to ink the edges before applying it to the card front.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, added it, and then used three small pearls on each side for embellishment, also from the stash.

     Challenges:
CARDZ  TV
Crafting by Designs
Die Cuttin' Divas
Di's Digi Designs
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
TTCRD
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ding Dong, the Wicked Witch...

     OK, now that I know that song is running firmly through your mind and will for the rest of the day, I want to share with you two versions of a card I did using my newest Cheery Lynn Halloween dies, including the sentiment which I did my best to feature on each card.  Everything on both cards was cut from leftover snippets of CS.

     This is the card with a black background and the main part of the witch cut from purple CS with orange inlays.  The sentiment (Cheery Lynn) is the negative part of the die cut trimmed into a rectangle with a die from QuicKutz.

     My second card uses the same witch die but I cut off the top part of the skirt and cut that piece from orange CS, layered onto purple background which had one corner punched with a Fiskar's punch.  This time the background just shows through the stockings; no inlay done.

     For the sentiment, I used the cut outs from the previous card's sentiment and layered those onto a stitch circle die cut (Die-namics) which I trimmed to fit the upper part of this card.  Everything was put onto green card CS and that was added to a white card blank.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Delicious Doodles
DL.ART
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pile It On
Pixie's Snippets Playground
Star Stampz

     I know I've been MIA for a few days, but I'm just overwhelmed with civic duties (serving on a jury for a trial which may last as much as 5 to 6 weeks) and my only down time is on the weekends so crafting must necessarily share with or give way to some household chores and grocery shopping.  It's like suddenly being "Un"retired!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie