Bunny Love

     One more card which I'm using as a Valentine but which has great general appeal as well.  This is an image from Gerda Steiner Designs.  I started by coloring the bunnies with ProMarkers, then I fussy cut them and added a hot pink CS mat which is also fussy cut.  I used one of my Gina Marie quilt dies to cut 4 different scrap papers from the basket on my desk, then mounted the fussy cut image (using dimensional tape) on top of the quilt design. 

     I chose a soft pink CS for the background, cut it to size for an A2 card, and wrapped sheer, golden ribbon around it before adding the quilted design and image.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then tied a bow from some pink lace, adding it above the sheer ribbon.

 

     

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dare 2B Artzy

Die Cut Divas

Dies R Us

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz SAR

Simon Says Stamp

Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dress Up Day

      Sorry this post for the new Your Scrapbook Place challenge is late but there was a mix up as to whether I was sharing it for the start of the challenge month or as a mid-month reminder.  :-D  I'm posting it now and will do another card for the mid-month.  

     Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and our sponsor this month is Paper Nest Dolls.  They generously provided images to the DT and I'm using "Dress Up Avery."  I remember those long ago, childhood, days of playing dress up.  My Grammy had a fabulous attic with trunks of old clothing and the attic was given over to being a playroom for the grandkids.  The trunks were always available to us as long as we put things back in them when we were finished.

     My blog is named for that wonderful space.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, then found the frame in a stack of scraps which I save just for things like this.  The frame is on top of the image and it's the leftover negative of a Dare 2B Artzy die cut.  I trimmed the image piece to fit it.  The background is ombre CS from a stack by Recollections.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and the edges were inked.  I tied the bowtie bow using a scrap of lace and narrow satin ribbon for the wrap.

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Creations in Pink

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Greetings

Outlawz PAM

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Three Room Studio

Word Art Weds

World Wide DT

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

Day 1 - Cat Lovers Hop 2021

   

 

     Well, here it is the last weekend of October and that means it's time for the 2021 Cat Lovers Hop which starts today and will run through Saturday, October 30.  I've been playing in the hop each year for at least 5 years but I honestly don't remember if I started in 2015 or 2016 but it's become an annual ritual in my creativity routine.  :-D  This year I was invited by Janis to be one of the Guest Designers and I did GDT cards for Tuesday and Thursday so be sure to check those out when they post here on my blog.

     For today, I did a card using an image from Hetty Clare which I think is absolutely adorable.  I colored with my ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  It's 'framed' by cutting an aperture window in the card front (card base was made from flocked CS by Doodlebug) with a larger QuicKutz die from that same set, then attaching a square of charcoal-gray CS inside the front, and layering the image piece into the center of the gray.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I tied a quick bowtie made from lace and wrapped around the middle with satin ribbon.  The butterfly is machine embroidered.  I did a dozen or more of those last summer and tossed them into my stash, forgetting they were there until just yesterday.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creations in Pink

Creative Moments

LeAnn's World

Paperbabe

SUYP Cats

     I hope you are signed up for all the prizes and are going to play in the hop each day between now and the end on Saturday.  Obviously, you need to have one or more cats on your entries.  There are daily games and lots of wonderful inspiration so please come and join us.  Every cat lover will have something to share and those of you who are new to the Hop will find a ton of new 'cat crazy' friends.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

Why We Have Friends

      I love the sentiment on this card (QKR, called "Friends") which I paired with this delightful image, also from QKR Stampede, called "Checking Shadows."  The image is colored with my ProMarkers, and cut with a die from Cuts.  The delicate frame was a Sue Wilson die cut.  The sentiment was fussy cut and matted.

     I added satin & sheer, aqua ribbon to the top of the card, and a bow tied using brown lace, folded in half lengthwise before tying.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Crafter's Cafe

Craft's Galore Encore

Cute Card Thurs

Morgan's ArtWorld

Outlawz Twist Thurs

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

WordArt Weds

     Our challenge at QKR Stampede runs from today through the 14th of October, then a new challenge starts on the 15th and runs through the end of the month.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we love to see you playing along with us.  Won't you please come and play?

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Walk for an English Lady

      It's time for another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this week is Star Stampz and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose "English Lady" - isn't she elegant out for her first spring walk?

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Frantic Stamper die

Pink lace scrap from stash

Pink dp scrap

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Framed w Frantic Stamper die

Hand-tied, pink lace bow

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Creative Craft Cottage

Creative Moments

Dies R Us

Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this week.  Our sponsor, Star Stampz, has such cute digital images and you could win some of them!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Maisy Mouse

      Another DT card for Conie Fong, featuring Maisy Mouse from the Maisy and Cory Mouse bundle.  You'll see my DT card using Cory Mouse later on.  I adore these little mice - they are some of the cutest mice ever drawn and I hope Conie will be doing more of them in the future.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders die

Embossed edges w Spellbinders

Edges inked w ink pad

Lace bow hand-tied

Background dp from DCWV

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Dare 2B Artzy

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

Dream Valley

Incy Wincy

Lil Patch of...

Outlawz SAR

Simon Says Stamp

     Remember, there are two month-long challenges at Conie Fong every month; one is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects.  Both require the use of Conie Fong images but they are all so cute, how could anyone resist?  The Maisy and Cory Mouse Bundle is only $2.00 and you get 6 different images!  Use the link up above and go check them out.  There are several other $2 digis as well so look for all of them.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Princess Kiara Fairytale Castle

     Wait until you see the new fairy tale princess from Conie Fong!  There's another princess, too, but she's waiting in the wings and you'll have to wait to see her.  :-D  In the meantime, here's my DT card with Princess Kiara Fairytale Castle.  When you purchase the set, you also get Princess Kiara without the background and she's just as beautiful, perhaps even more versatile.

Colored w ProMarkers & a touch of glitter
Image cut w scissors
Pink die cut = Spellbinders
Navy Blue dp DCWV, cut w Unbranded die
Pink border done w blending chalks
Bow-tie style, lace bow

     Challenge:
A Bit More Time...
Archi-Scraps
Arty Divas
Colour It, Create It...
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creatalicious
Creations in Pink
Do Al(l) Creatives 
   (A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes)
Double D
Morgan's ArtWorld

     The Conie Fong FB page has two new challenges, one for colored images only and the other for completed projects.  Both require the use of Conie Fong images.  Come play with us this month, won't you?

     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

Friends and Flowers

     Welcome to my blog on another Friday, the day our new challenges always start over at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image or other products from any company.  However, keep in  mind that if you do use QKR images (or their sister company, Eureka), your entry goes into as separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge margin!

     My DT card today uses both an image and a sentiment from Eureka Stamps - "Bouquet" and "Friends are the Flowers."  Can you tell I'm ready for spring to be here?  Our temperatures on Wednesday broke a record which had stood since the mid-1900s - we hit 82 F and it did feel like spring!  Today they say we'll hit 83.  My apologies to those of you still buried in snow (and/or getting more) for even mentioning that.

Colored with ProMarkers and water colors
Image is fussy cut with scissors
    then mounted on Pop Dots
Green oval mat is Spellbinders die cut
Ribbon is scrap from my stash
Hand tied lace bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Outlawz Twist Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers

     Come play in our challenge this week, won't you?  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Love You

     Can you believe that this is the last day of January and Valentine's day is only two weeks away?  Weren't we tossing out the torn Christmas wrap just last night?  It's also a Friday which means that today's card is my DT card for the latest weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.

     Our challenge theme is always Anything Goes but I chose to make a Valentine card.  This is my second Valentine this year but the image I chose (with it's own sentiment as part of the image) is a favorite of mine.  It's called "Love You" and I just adore the little rag doll.  It's the 'ragged" part of her that inspired me to do lots of distressing on this card.

     I do love the typical "warm" colors of Valentine's Day because they are really our first chance to add warm colors to our otherwise cold winter palette.  The red, pink, and deep burgundy are such a delight.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers and chalk ink pad
Pink and burgundy color combo
Image and mat cut with Spellbinders dies, 2 corners curled
Edges distressed with kraft knife
2 corners shaped with Fiskars punch
Kitty ribbon from Crafty Ribbons
Lace bow made with bow maker

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapper's Delights
Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Calico Cats

     While I was fur-baby sitting three additional cats last week, my sweet SIL sent me photos of the most precious calico cat which had apparently been abandoned when a family moved away.  She's friendly, healthy, and my SIL has been feeding her on the back patio.  She was hoping that I'd adopt the little calico girl but I'm still debating.  In honor of the possible new feline, I did this card, using an image from Ike's World.  Aren't they precious?  Clearly best friends.      :-D

     These are the easy kind of calico cats - no feeding and no litter box!  lol  

I started with the colors from My Favorite Things.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I found two scraps of dp on the desk and cut them with the same die, then offset them behind the image.  I wrapped a strip of satin ribbon around a bit of lace, making it into a bow, and added that.  A really quick and easy design but one which looks much more complex and time consuming because of the frilly die cuts and the fancy lace bow.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Cardz TV

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

I {heart} ProMarkers

Scrappy Land

SUYP Cats

     For those of you who get a day off for Easter Monday, enjoy the long weekend and take a deep, refreshing breath of that spring air.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn Love

     When this image from All Dressed Up begged to be used as an expression of love, I had a moment of doubt but then I remembered a saying from my childhood when my dad said, "Love from a puppy is the best kind of love" and I knew that had to be true about unicorns, too.  Maybe even better than puppy love since unicorns are so rare.      :-D

      I did my usual coloring with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  The background paper is the last scrap of a 12x12 scrapbooking paper from my stash.  I'm sad to see it used up and will have to look for more.  I love that it has hearts and flowers and is PURPLE!!!

     I knew I wanted a really different kind of bow for this one so I used a scrap bit of lace, rolled and pinched it in the middle, then wrapped with satin ribbon.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut, then added to the bottom.  Not quite CAS but not overdone either.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up
Angie's Digital Stamps
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Cute N Crafty
Dare 2B Artzy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Path of Positivity
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Tuesday to all of you and thanks so much for stopping by.  If I haven't visited you in the last week or so, hang in there and be patient with me.  I'm getting there in between home school projects for my grandson, trips to the doctor for my daughter (torn tendon in her ankle & can't drive), grocery runs for everyone, plus celebrating my oldest granddaughter's birthday this week!  I can't remember when I've been so busy day after day after day.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Final Vintage Valentine Cards

Happy St. Valentine's Day !

     I want to share with you my last three vintage Valentines.  These were done at the last minute after I got a call yesterday from a friend who had seen the earlier ones I did and asked if there was still time for me to make two cards for her grand-daughters (ages 4 and 6) and one for her daughter.  

It took me about 3 hours to get these done and she's on her way over to pick them up.  :-D

     Here are the two for the grand-daughters.  She told me they both love kittens so...

 

     On both cards, the kittens were originally gray scale images so I used ProMarkers to add some color.  On the top one, I used white gel pen to add the sentiment to the hearts.  I fussy cut the kittens and added them to a red heart with Pop Dots, then layered that onto a white doily.  I used 'confetti' CS to make the card base, added two scraps of red dp (Paper House) and one of my signature, hand-sewn, bows with a pearl.

     Challenges for this card:

Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Double D
If You Give a Crafter...
Southern Girls

     For this second card, the kittens were already in a heart shape so I fussy cut that allowing for the pink bow and the rose to be "out-of-the-box."  I used dimensional tape to add the kitten/heart piece to the inside of a filigree heart stamp.  I cut that piece with a Gina Marie die and added the sentiment to the top and bottom.  I used chalks to 'sponge' the border.  The card base is embossed, burgundy CS and I added a scrap of dp from my stash plus 2 blue doilies.

     Challenges for this card:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations

     Finally, this is the card for her daughter.

     On this one, I highlighted the roses with white gel pen on one of the images and popped up the roses and the bow in her hair with Pop Dots for added dimension.  The lace behind the image is from my stash and the pink half-frame is a scrap of CS which was on the craft desk.  The bright pink bow was made with lace, wrapped with satin ribbon.  I added the tiny, epoxy, flower/heart and called it finished.

     Challenges for this card:
Aloha Friday
Crafty Addicts
Creative Inspirations

Mod Squad
Paper Fundays

     That's it for today.  Spread the love this Valentine's Day and don't forget to love yourself, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas at a Snail's Pace

    Good Friday Morning all of you!  If it's Friday, it must be time for another QKR Stampede challenge.  I want to share a card with you this morning which will explain why your Christmas packages may arrive late or even not at all.  You can use the information to explain to all the kids and grandkids why there are no presents under the tree for them.

     Santa apparently ran short of reindeer this year, or maybe they're all in the stable, hung over from too much Christmas cheer but, whatever the reason, Santa seems to have hired a snail to replace them.  Unfortunately, like most snails, he's completely unused to the ice and cold which explains the blue color of his skin.  He's traveling awfully slowly; maybe he's frozen solid and not going anywhere!  But then, he's carrying his home with him, so maybe he doesn't care.  :-D

I used colors from the TicTacToe Color Dare at Color My Heart

only this time I did the diagonal bottom left to top right.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  I inked the edges and cut a tiny, decorative corner (also Spellbinders) which is off -the-edge of the image piece.

     I used a Darice EF to emboss the scrap of distressed, red CS.  I added grosgrain ribbon and a lace, bow-tie bow which I dyed red with a Copic marker.  It didn't really need any more embellishment so I left it rather CAS.  It's going to be a perfect masculine Christmas card.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
 
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Time Out

     That's it for today but I do hope you're going to come and play with us at QKR Stampede this week.  Remember, you can use any image from any company and our theme is Always Anything Goes.  However, if you do use a QKR image, your entry goes into a completely separate draw for only QKR (or Eureka Stamps) and your chances of winning in that draw are huge!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dance of the Snow People

     I'm finally getting my card for the November Outlawz Progressive Challenge posted.  The freebie this month is from Drawn by Krista and it is actually 2 separate images but called Snowman Couple.  I merged them together so they look like they're dancing in the snow.  This is another card made primarily from scraps which were already on the craft table.

I started with the sketch from the Outlawz.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers, Copics, and gel inks for highlights, then cut them with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Makers.  I matted them with a hexagon (QuicKutz die) cut from a dp scrap and I inked the edges with teal ink. 

     The cityscape paper is another scrap, this one from Doodlebug, and the turquoise strip was a scrap from my Christmas stash, probably DCWV.  The narrow, sparkly ribbon was in my basket of ribbon scraps.  The final touch was to tie a bow-tie bow from long scrap of lace and die it with an alcohol marker.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets

     I'll have a second post again today for the next in the 30 Days of Holiday cards at Beccy's Place.  Check back later today to see it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flying In

     Today is another double post day and all because of the Cat Lovers Hop.  It's the last day and I've had so much fun visiting all the other folks who've been doing feline related projects.  Lots of wonderful inspiration!

     I've tried to do cards for varied occasions and this one is for a birthday, though I think it could pass for Halloween as well with a different sentiment.  I used to have a friend in Arizona whose birthday was on Halloween, and I loved making cards for her each year.

 I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

reversed with sentiment on top.

My colors came from the 3rd column of the tic tac toe

challenge at Color My Heart's Color Dare

along with Mink and a neutral, beige.

 

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to do the coloring, then cut the image piece and wrapped it with lemon yellow ribbon.  I used one of my lace bow tie bows to set off the ribbon.

     After I had those steps complete, I added the layer of mulberry paper.  The card front itself sparkles with glitter and embossing, but it's a bit difficult to see in the photo.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Cardz TV
Cute Card Thurs
If You Give a Crafter...
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri
Outlawz PAM

     Stop back later for my second post of the day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Halloween Party

     Happy Friday and happy new challenge over at QKR Stampede.  Of course, I have another Halloween card to share today because QKR has some of the cutest jack-o-lantern and ghost images ever.  Any time you get three or more jack-o-lanterns together, it just naturally turns into a party.  Add a ghost or two and it must be a Halloween party!  lol  I used this delightful QKR image, "Halloween Fun."

I was influenced by the marvelous autumn colors 

in the inspirational photo at House of Cards.

     I colored with ProMarkers and Studio 71 markers, then die cut the image with a double stitched die from Die-namics.  I used a piece of heat embossed and glittered, polka dot, CS for the background, cutting it with the same Die-namics die and then inlaid the image into it.  I distressed the corners with chalks.

     The diamond texture ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I layered the sentiment onto it.  The bow was tied from lace ribbon, wrapped with satin ribbon, and 'dyed' orange with a ProMarker.  Everything was layered onto a kraft card base.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Classic DT Open
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Do Al(l) Creatives
Joy Claire
LeAnne's World 101
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Come play with us this week.  It's always Anything Goes and there's no requirement to use a QKR Stampede image.  However, if you do use one (or an image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps) your entry will go into a completely separate draw and that increases your chance of winning by a huge amount!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Staying in Shape

     I'm playing in one of my favorite progressive challenges today - the one over at The Outlawz.    The image this month is from Sandra Caldwell and I like this hippo's idea of a perfect diet (and a perfect shape!)  :-D

     She's colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a die from Spellbinders. I backed the image piece with deep pink CS, then cut it again with another die from that set.  I used that outer die to cut the card front and inlaid the image, making it a single layer card (but for the bow and sentiment.) 

     The bow is made from a strip of lace.  I did several of those all in one afternoon, trying to use up various scraps of lace which were in my ribbon stash.  I got more than two dozen bows using those scraps.

     The sentiment was printed, hand cut, matted, and hand cut again.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Fussy and Fancy
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie