Ready for the Grill

      Last month I missed out on getting a card done for the "Anything Kitchen or Food" challenge at FQ HomeStyle Kitchen.  But this month, I'm on top of it!  With spring right around the corner, we're already thinking about BBQ grills and cook outs so this card celebrates the anticipation of those times.  At my house, the first sign of spring is not flowers blooming but the cleaning and preparation of the BBQ grill !  LOL

     The image is clip art, printed in very light grayscale, then colored with a combo of water color paints and alcohol markers, with gel pen highlights on the white flowers.  The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I inked the edges and layered those two together, putting them on the card front without further embellishment so that it makes a fabulous, masculine, CAS card.

     Can't you taste that grilled corn on the cob already?  Mmmmm, so good!

     Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms

Creative Knockouts

Double D

Let's Craft & Create

Simon Says Stamp

Worldwide Crafters

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sharing Recipes

      For many months now, I've been collecting recipes by searching for clip art recipe cards.  A friend of mine asked me to share this one with her and, rather than just writing it down or sending an email, I decided to print the clip art, add my own colors to  it, and make it into a card which I mailed to her yesterday.

     I also discovered a fun new challenge that's all about food and kitchens and farmer's markets, and I think this will make a perfect entry!  The challenge is part of the FarmQuest family of challenges, run by Becca Sadler.  Rather than join the challenge as another of her DT gals, I told her I wanted to be a play and share cards I make using many of the clip art recipes I've been collecting.  Since I have more than 25 of them at the moment (and will undoubtedly collect more of them), I'll be able to play along for a couple of years.  :-D  Here's a link to that challenge:  FarmQuest Homestyle Kitchen.

     This first one is for a fabulous Artichoke Dip and I really love it.  It's marvelous with freshly baked (and still warm) artisan breads, or even as a drizzle for a plate of corn chips or tortilla chips.  I printed the clip art at 20% color saturation, then used my Sanjoki markers to add somewhat softer colors to most of the image.  I used pencils on the tomatoes because I wanted them to be a bit more vibrant. 

     I framed the image with white CS, then added that piece to a layer of dp which I had used for the background.   I cut the leaves with an old Cheery Lynn die and layered them onto the top of the image.  I'm sure my friend will love this way of getting the recipe.

      Challenges:

Creative Inspiration

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Star Stampz

Word Art Weds

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

Corny Mom

     My daughter, two granddaughters, and I all enjoy puns and do our best to 'one up' each other whenever possible.  I made this 'punny' card for my granddaughters to give to their mom for Mother's Day.  It's my DT card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  The image is called "Corn digi24251."

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut both the image and the frame with dies from Spellbinders.   The background dp is from Your Next Stamp, and the shimmery, gold ribbon was a scrap in my stash from Crafty Ribbons.  The white bow is one of hand sewn bows.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Cut It Up
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Color
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Your Next Stamp

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

Land of Fruit and Nuts

     Beccy's Place is always one of my favorite places to play and Beccy always offers a freebie, which you can use if you wish.  I usually work with something from my collection of her images, as I did this time.  I adore this little critter and he was perfect for a Welcome card for a new neighbor who moved here (California) from Wisconsin.

     I colored with ProMarkers, adding highlights with a white gel pen, then cut the image with a hexagon die from Spellbinders.  The card base is made from smoky gray CS, embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  The dp was a left over scrap from previous projects which seemed to work well with the overall design.  I cut it so that I could line up one of the 'corners' of the hexagon with one of the half-diamonds on the paper. 

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it to the upper corner.  Finally, I 'dyed' one of my hand sewn bows with a lilac ProMarker, added a gem to it, and called the card finished.  It's a card for a guy so I kept embellishment to a minimum.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Southern Girls
Sparkles Forum
Take It, Make It
Your Scrapbook Place

     That's all I have for today.  I hope your weekend is going well and that you found a bit of crafting time.  I've been at it since very early yesterday morning since the weekend is pretty much when I do my crafting these days.  I've already completed 4 cards and have 3 more planned for completion today.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Apple a Day

     It's another Friday and another challenge starts at QKR Stampede today.  This post is another pre-scheduled one but I don't think you'll mind.   I know I have a few blog buddies who always stop by on Fridays to see what kind of silliness I've produced with the QKR image for that day.  And I know my friend, Lynn, will love this one if for no reason more than the blue color combo.

     Today I've played with "Happy Tummy" and this card is going to a diabetes diet technician in my doctor's office.   I know that sentiment will put a smile on her face.  :-D.

   I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from CUTplorations. The polka dot dp is a scrap rescued from the basket, and the background plaid was a leftover exactly the right size for this card base.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges.  I found some navy-blue, jute cord and tied a double bow, then added it to the image piece.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls (middle row)
Time Out

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Elegant Dining

     I love Rick St. Dennis images and the whimsy he builds into his images of critters large and small, but especially his sassy felines.  This is an image I've had for a while but somehow never used until now.  Based on Tomcat's fine, silk, smoking jacket and silver fork, I just know this is the best there is in a feline's elegant dining!

     I colored with my ProMarkers and then cut the image with a stitched die from Gina Marie.  The dies from that set are all rectangles, but I shifted the die over, cut a second time, and got a square for the image.  I cut a simple rectangle for the red CS background and added golden yellow, satin ribbon before mounting it onto the card front.  I tied the gingham bow by hand and then heat embossed the sentiment with silver EP.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Sparkle n Glitter
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz CAS
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Stamping Sensations
SUYP Cats

     Now that he's won the fishing derby, and the rat catching contest, he's retiring to his chef's kitchen to see if he can take top honors in the cooking and eating competitions. lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie