30 Days of Holidays - Letter "S"

      Another card done for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  I know I haven't posted my cards for the letters "Q" or "R" yet but I don't have them done.  The "Q" card is taking forever to finish because it's very detailed and complex, and I have to take rest breaks because I'm still recovering from some tough respiratory issues.  But I do have a card to post today and I get to say thanks my sweet daughter for the dies I used to make this one.  She gave me this die set and another one, both from DIY Scrapbooking.  So this is a Special card just for her.

     My "S" items for this card are: Sparkle, Stitching, Silver, Sequins, and Sentiment.   I die cut sparkle glitter paper, both gold and white, then layered them in alternating colors.  I added three extra white 'leaves' behind the flower.  When I'm not using the traditional Christmas colors of red and green, I love the combo of gold and white because it makes everything looks rich and elegant.  When those are also sparkly, it's just an additional bit of WOW!

     The sentiment was cut with a die from Die-versions  I used a gold paint pen to create the faux stitching on two edges.  The sparkly sequins in the lower corner are silver but also have a hologram quality so they reflect a bit of gold sparkle, too.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas (X-tra special)

As You Like It

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Thur Twist

     

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Don't Over-Shop!

      Doing anything for too long without taking a break can be harmful to your health and that includes "Retail Therapy!"  It's time for the start of a new weekly challenge over at Creative Knockouts and this week our theme is "All Stitched Up."  Add stitches; they can be real or faux.  Our fantastic sponsor is the most beloved Hetty Clare and she supplied images for the DT.  I chose "Ladies on a Seesaw" and this card is going to remind me (through an eye-level placement on the craft room door) that taking breaks is a wonderful thing.

     This image was such a perfect opportunity to make the entire card into a scene buy choosing papers which worked for both sky and ground.  I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers, then cutting it with a die from Cuts.  The die has stitching marks and I enhanced them by using a black gel pen on each stitch.

     Once colored, I chose papers from Recollections (green) and Lawn Fawn (blue) stacks which complimented the colors I used on the sky and ground in the image.  I added a wrap of aqua ribbon and tied a double-loop bow for the top of the card.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and the card was done!

     Challenges:

4 Season

Art Impressions

Crafter's Castle

Creative Inspirations

Cutie Pie

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Incy Wincy

Inspiration Station

Outlawz PAM

     Come play with us this week!  You could win a prize from Hetty Clare and we'd love to be inspired by what you make.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Outlawz December Progressive Challenge

     This cute image from Moon Flower is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.  I decided to use her for a Christmas card since she had the Santa hat and I dressed her all in red.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Tonic Studios die 

   (cut twice to get the long shape)

Ribbon scrap

Scrap of kraft dp from Love to Craft

Faux stitching in both black & white ink

Flat design for mailing

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas (Christmas IS my fav thing!)
Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Double D

House that Stamps Built (1st column)

I {heart} ProMarkers

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Penguins & the Christmas Moon

      We have another new recipe over at our Crafty Chefs FB page and this is the card I've done following it.  Carol gave us the recipe this month and, while you can check it out on the site, I'll also give it to you right after I show you my card.  The penguins & moon are from SheepSki Designs.

Recipe:

MUST DO:  

Add a tag, Make a pocket, Use analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel), Use a die

CAN DO:

Mirror CS, Charm, Stitching

I did all of the MUST DO and did Stitching from the CAN DO list.

Here's another photo showing how I used the pocket and tag for the sentiment.

Colors were pulled from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz octagon die

Red frame cut w QuicKutz

Moon, pocket piece, & tag cut w Spellbinders

Faux stitching done w gel pens

Soft twine for the tag

Gingham ribbon for the bow

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on Blog (Diagonal: Bottom left to Top right)

Arty Divas

Colour It, Create It...

Craft-Dee Bowz

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Animals

Dies R Us

Winter Wonderland

     Don't forget that Crafty Chefs is open to anyone who would care to join in and stretch their comfort zone a little bit.  Hope to see you over there.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thinking of You w Hetty Clare

     I'm honored to have been invited to be a Guest Designer at Penny's Paper-Crafty for the current challenge this fortnight.  The challenge is sponsored by Hetty Clare (who has some gorgeous digis!) and I used one called "Looking to the Future."

Colored w ProMarkers
Faux stitching done w gel pen
Cut with die from QuicKutz
Smaller background piece is water colored
Large pink background is dp from DCWV
Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Double loop bow tied using bow maker

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...
Artsy Stamper
Crafty Sentiments
Creations in Pink
Creative Crafters
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Come play in the Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge this time around, won't you?  We'd love to see what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Kitty in the Box

     I'm working on my Christmas card stash and am determined to have an additional 30 cards done by the end of this month.  I may not get them all posted this month but you'll see them over the upcoming weeks.  Today's card was made using an adorable image from AuroraWings.

Colored w ProMarkers
Dots in eyes done w white gel pen
Image cut with Unbranded die
"Noel" sentiment = Die-Versions
Holiday ribbon is a scrap
Background is glitter paper
Signature bow w pearl - 'dyed' w ProMarker

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
 (3 layers/rectangle/dots/ribbon/faux stitching)
Classic Design
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Morgan's ArtWorld
SheepSki Designs
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Coffee Loving Monster

     On this Memorial Day, let's remember

why it's on our calendars and honor those 

who fought for and even gave their own lives

that we might enjoy our Freedom.

     This fun and slightly distressed (ok, a lot distressed!) monster is the Progressive Challenge image from Limited Runs for May/June.  The expression on his face just shouted that he had tasted his coffee and found something horribly wrong.

     It reminded me of an incident when I was probably 10 or 11.  I wanted to do something really special for my dad on Father's Day.  He was never one for big, noisy, celebrations, especially when he was the object of them, and he had announced that he planned on going off early in the morning to spend the day fishing; no fuss, no muss, no celebration.  After a few minutes of begging to go with him, he agreed and I said I'd fix the picnic basket of lunch and snacks.

     I suppose I made sandwiches or maybe even potato salad (one of his favorites) but what I really remember was the thermos of coffee.  He loved coffee and drank it year round, cold weather or hot.  His coffee thermos went everywhere with him.  I made coffee as soon as I woke up and, because I might end up drinking some of it myself if there was nothing else available, I added a bit of sugar since I really didn't care for the taste of coffee back then.  It's an acquired taste, you know.  :-D

     We were probably 10 or 15 miles from home when Dad had me pour him his first cup from the thermos, and his face turned an apoplectic red, then white as he swallowed a big mouthful.  Dad took his coffee black - no adulteration allowed!  He looked just like that Coffee Monster!  lol  As I remember, we turned around, went back home, remade the coffee, and then went fishing.  He never scolded me about it but it remained a long-standing joke between us for the rest of his life.  :-D

     OK, after that rather long story, here's my card. Consider it a salute to the greatest dad who ever lived (and a WWII vet, also!)

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and sentiment cut with Dare 2B Artzy dies
Background CS cut with same D2BA dies
Die cut circles inlaid into background
Satin bow dyed with ProMarker, pearl added
CAS design

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Creative Craft Cottage
Incy Wincy
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Take a moment and thank a veteran, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Music in My Ear

     The image I used today came from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101.  The sentiment came from a memory that goes back 50 years!

     One of my first 'serious' boyfriends was drafted into the Army when he was 18 (3 weeks after signing up for the Selective Service as required by law and I thought it was the end of the world.)  The first time he was allowed to make a phone call when he was going through Basic Training, he called me - not his mom or anyone in the rest of his family, but me!!  lol  During that conversation he said to me, "Your voice is music in my ear."  Most telephone calls we had from that point on, he would repeat that phrase and it became a thing between the two of us.  As happens with puppy love, we drifted apart and moved on to meet and marry other people, each of us having families of our own.

     As soon as I saw this image, that phrase popped into my head and I thought about him even though we completely lost touch years ago.  Funny how memories stay with us even decades later.

     I'm using this one for a masculine birthday card.

Colored w/ ProMarkers and chalks
Cut w/ QuickKutz die
Matted w/ Unbranded die cut rectangle
CAS, masculine design
Sentiment cut w/ Unbranded die
Metallic photo corners

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Country View Crafts
Do Al(l) Creatives
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Stamper's Delights

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Winter's Night

     If it's Friday (and it is), then this has to be the start of another weekly challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."

     Today is also the last day of my Christmas and New Year holidays and I'll be back to my regular creating and posting routine over the weekend.  It may take me until mid-week to really get back to visiting blogs and commenting on your fabulous designs, but I'll get there somehow.  I don't promise to go back over the last 3 weeks and comment o every post you've done during that time, but I will get back to my routine of visiting as often as possible.   :-D

     I'm celebrating winter with this card, using a gorgeous image called "Snow Scene Circle" and it's from our sister company, Eureka Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers and chalks
Cut with Spellbinders embossing die
Embossed white CS for background (Doodlebug)
Blue strip has suede polka dots
Hand sewn bow with pearl
Sentiment is printed & hand cut, w/ inked edges

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Classic Design
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Knockouts
Dies R Us
Pattie's Creations
Polkadoodles
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gnome for Christmas

     Our newest monthly challenge has begun today over at SheepSki Designs.  Our theme this month is "Favorite Things" and Gnomes falls right into that category for me.  The image I used is called "Gnome for Christmas."

Colored with pencils and ProMarkers
Aleene's Snow on beard
Stickles added to ornaments
Frame cut with Die-namics stitched die
Stitches enhanced with ProMarker
Signature, hand-sewn bow
Sentiment done with white gel ink

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Aud Sentiments
Christmas w the Cuties
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Outlawz PAM

     I really want to see you playing along in our challenge this month.  Sadly, this is my last month on the DT at SheepSki Designs and I'm going to miss being there.  My blogging life is taking me down a slightly different path which includes more responsibilities starting in the new year and I'm having to cut back on the number of teams I currently serve.  To those of you still on the SheepSki team, I'm waving a sad goodbye but I'll come by as often as possible and play in the upcoming challenges.
 
     Hugs and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Dreaded "X" Day at 30 Days of Christmas

     Well, it's finally here - Day "X" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas.  I've been dreading this prompt all month long.  Having faced this prompt before in earlier years, I was pretty much stumped but still not wanting to do anything I've done before.  Then, day before yesterday, the idea of making the entire card an X shape popped into my head.  How to make that happen?  I chewed on that one for nearly 30 hours and this was the result.

The X was made by using one corner of a square die (Spellbinders) on the top and bottom of a tent fold card, and one point of a hexagon die (QuicKutz) on both sides of the card.  

Rocking chair image from Beccy's Place, colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Die-namics die
Stitching is fauX, done w/ green gel ink (another "X"?)
Paper from Graphic 45

     There's a story behind the sentiment.  All during my growing up years, the last few evenings before Christmas and especially Christmas Eve were spent listening to Christmas stories read by my mom (or sometimes my Grammy) as we sat curled in blankets, attentive and awed by the magic of her voice reading the story.  On Christmas Eve, we had two great favorites which had been reserved for that night alone - The Night Before Christmas and the Christmas story from the Bible.  Over the years, those evenings became known as "The Christmas Read" and they went on through the early years of my children's lives.

     I do love traditional Christmas!

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Creations
Double D  (traditional)
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 21 at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas - Use Scraps

     Much as I love the alphabet prompts for the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place, when Beccy said to "Use Scraps," that was right up my alley!  I love using scraps.  It means I buy fewer papers overall but at the same time, it makes me feel justified in buying new paper stacks when supplies get low.  No, of course that's not a justification!  lol

     This card is made entirely from scraps, including the piece of CS on which I printed the image and the one from which I cut the sentiment.

     After I shared in my previous post that it doesn't snow where I live, here I am doing another of my typical Christmas cards featuring snow and snow people.  Maybe it's because we don't have snow on the ground that I feel so drawn to it for Christmas cards.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Cut with QuicKutz dies
Matted with scalloped die from Memory Box
Faux stitching done with white gel pen
Background scrap papers from DCWV (I think)
Sentiment die cut with Die-namics die

    Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Cupcake Inspirations
Double D (My style is "snowy")
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Colors
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie