Blowing Bubble Hearts

      One more Penny Black stamp from those given to me by my neighbor and, happily, it's another hedgie!  What could be cuter for Valentine's Day than a little hedgie blowing bubble hearts?

     Water colored and then cut with stitched, circle die from Tutti Designs.  The background papers were saved from the scrap pile and the sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The hand tied bow was made with sparkly, metallic ribbon.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog (red/lavender/blue)

Ally's Angels

Classic Design

Country View Craft

Crafty Friends

Heart's Quest

LeAnne's World

Papercraft

Penny Black Sat.

Your Scrapbook Place

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Mouse Tree

     It's the first Friday in December and a new challenge is starting over at Crazy for Cats.  We are using images from Ike's Art in honor of her memory.  This one is called Catmouse Tree.

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker.   The background paper is from a stack by Graphic 45.  I used a bit of metallic, glittery, ribbon to tie a double-loop bow with the help of my bow maker.  The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  Be sure to use a cat somewhere on your project.  We are going to be giving images from Ike's Art as the prize for this challenge.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Noel for Benny

      This is my second DT card for Conie Fong using an image from the "Benny's Christmas" set, and the set just happens to be On Sale for a few more days!  This time I used the image with the adorable long-eared pup in it.

     The coloring was done with water color paints and a fine-line brush.  I'm getting better at controlling where the paint goes and how much I apply but water colors do have a mind of their own, especially when the image is printed onto water color paper.  

     I used dies from QuicKutz to cut the image and the red mat.  The dp is from an old Doodlebug stack which I've had maybe as much as 3 years so don't go looking for it in your local craft store.  The ribbon is metallic and I used it for both the wrap around the card front and to make the hand tied bow.  The 'Noel' sentiment was cut with a Cottage Cutz die.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Creatalicious

Creative Moments

Dare 2B Artzy

Double Trouble

Lil Patch of ...

Papercraft

Peace on Earth

There's a Stamp for ...

World Wide DT Open

     That's it for today but I have one or two more to post this week so be sure to stop by and check things out.  I'm slowly getting back into my routine of posting nearly every day but, because of the vision issues, it still takes me a lot of time to get images colored and ready to turn into a completed project.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puppy in a Boot

      It's time for the latest weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and we have a theme this time instead of our usual anything goes because this is a 5th Monday.  So, this challenge we want to see "Animals."  Our fabulous sponsor is Sweet N Sassy and I used one of their images called "Christmas Puppy" which I already had in my collection.  Isn't he darling?  

     I colored with my ProMarkers and water color pencils, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I colored the outside border of the image piece so that it looks like a separate frame.  The background dp is from an old Graphic 45 stack, and the two different gold ribbons are both metallic, wired on the edges, and sparkly!  I tied the bow using my bow maker.  The sentiment was printed and cut with Tonic Studios die and I inked the edges.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas w Cuties

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Incy Wincy

Mod Squad

Paperminutes

Penny's Paper Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our "Animal" theme challenge this week.  I know it seems odd since you are probably used to it always being anything goes, but remember, every 5th Monday challenge (they happen 3 or 4 times a year) has a theme instead.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Candy

      Edited to add:  ...and the Winner is:  

Bunny, Mr. Random.org chose your name from the comments on my blog and that means you're the winner of the B&W Candy Jar image from the set at Jan's Digi Stamps.  Please contact me at the email address shown on the sidebar, using the email address where you want me to send your image.  :-D

Congratulations!!   NanaConnie

     Welcome to the Paper Funday "Christmas in July' Blog Hop, in conjunction with Inspiration Station.  You should have arrived here from Anita's blog but if you've missed any of the stops, you can go to the main post at Paper Funday and start at the beginning.

     I've used one of the beautiful images from a set called "Holiday Candy Deluxe" by Jan's Digi Stamps.  I'll be offering the main image in black and white as a prize for one of the commenters on my blog.  It colors up so beautifully and I chose the traditional Christmas colors of red and green.  

     Although it's not easily visible in my first photo, the candy jar itself has been fussy cut and mounted onto Pop Dots, then applied to the main candy jar image (cut with a QuicKutz die) which gives it delightful dimension.  I added a corner bit (also from the Holiday Candy set) and the sentiment at the bottom, then layered the image onto a deep green frame (also cut with QuicKutz die.)

     The background dp is from Recollections.  I dug through my scrap ribbon stash and found both the white netting and the gold metallic ribbon  I decided the dp was busy enough that the card needed nothing more than the ribbon for embellishment.

Here's a close up; a better shot for showing the dimension.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

ABC Christmas

Digi Doodle Studios

Di's Digi Designs

Ike's World

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Taylormadecards ...

    HOP IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

     BTW, I visited the JDS store and discovered that all her Christmas sets are on sale this month.  The set I used, Holiday Candy Deluxe, is reduced from $7.00 to only $5.25!   Here's a shot of the entire set, including 12 pre-colored & B&W images, plus 5 sentiments.  You could do all the Christmas cards you need from just this one set!  :-D  

 

Summer Sunbonnet

      I remember my mother saying, "It's summertime.  Put on your sunbonnet!"  lol  I was far too much of a tomboy to worry about fussy things like sunbonnets and not at all worried about things like sunburn.  

     For my DT inspiration for the new mid-month challenge at QKR Stampede, I've used a very cute image called "Hello."   I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with one of my favorite Spellbinders dies.  The sentiment is cut with a die from Avery Elle.  Both the ribbon and the bow are metallic-edged ribbon.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

Paperbabe

Passion for Markers

Scrapping4Fun

TTCRD

Word Art Weds.

     Come play with us in this challenge.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can use any images from any company.  However, if you do choose an image from QKR Stampede (or our sister company Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a separate draw just for those and that increases your chances of being a winner by a huge amount.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Your "Tequila" Birthday?

      For those of you who don't yet know about "tequila" birthdays, this card should give you all the explanation you need to figure it out.  Personally, I passed the 'Tequila Birthday' several years ago and now I don't even think about how many of them I've had.  Each year that rolls by becomes a badge of honor for living that many years.  lol  I have anther birthday celebration rolling around next month and I'll be proud of it, too - no tequila needed!   :-D

Colored w gel pens & distress markers

Cut w Memory Box dies

SU dp for background

Metallic ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Sheer ribbon bow tied w bow maker

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Clever Dexter

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studios

Imagine That

Outside the Box

Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

TSF Fairy

      Welcome!  Let me tell you about to the latest "Anything Goes" challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps which started today.  Although it's like every other challenge at JDS, this month we also want to share a bit about an important blog hop at Turner Syndrome Foundation. 

     Turner Syndrome is a medical condition which affects only girls and women.  Read more about it on the TSF site. TSF works to heighten awareness and promote more research by doing an annual fundraiser in February each year.  As she has done in the past, again this year Jan has again created a lovely digital stamp set specifically for TSF, and Jan herself is a sponsor of the blog hop.  All proceeds from the sales of this year's TSF Fairy set (and last year's TSF Key set) will be donated to the Foundation.

     Here's my DT card using the TSF Fairy.

Hair, wings, & butterfly colored w ProMarkers

   (the rest is pre-colored)

Cut & embossed w Spellbinders die

Pink ribbon is metallic

Sentiment from same set

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Stamping Sensations

TTCRD

Turner Syndrome Blog Hop

     We really hope you'll play along with us this month and don't forget to check out the blog hop at TSF!  Also, for each person who purchases the TSF Fairy or TSF Key set fromJan's Digi Stamps and uses it to enter our February challenge, Jan's is offering a separate prize of $12 to spend in the JDS Shop!  Get in on this one before the end of the month.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Kimono Kayuki

     I adore this sweet little geisha girl in her fancy kimono!  She's called "Kimono Kayuki" and she's from Conie Fong.  Don't forget, we have 2 separate challenges at Conie Fong each month; 1 for just hand-colored images and the second for finished projects.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Spellbinders die

Sentiment cut w Spellbinders die

Silver metallic ribbon strips

Black gems

  

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colouring in Scrapland

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs (blue/digi/sentiment)

Incy Wincy

Polkadoodles

    We'd love to see you playing along with us.  Since we're so close to the end  of the month, you might prefer to wait until Monday when our newest challenges begin but there is still the weekend so if you have a Conie Fong image already colored up and ready, why not enter it?

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Valentine for You

      One of my favorite Progressive Challenges is at LeAnn's World and this month we're using this adorable "Susie" image.  Doesn't she make a perfect Valentine?  I took inspiration from her heart shaped pockets.  

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season. 

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Unbranded die

Metallic ribbon

Red signature bow w pearl, hand sewn

Sentiment cut w QuicKutz die

     Challenges:

Angie's Digitals

Aud Sentiments

Color Dare (Color = Red/ Metallic = ribbon/ Neutral = hair)

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Castle

Dare 2B Artzy

Get Creative

Outlawz Festive Fri

Scrapping4Fun

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cats and Christmas !

      It's time for the next weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and, this being a 5th Monday, we have a theme: "Animals."  Since it's also the last day of November, Thanksgiving is behind us, and we're thinking about Christmas, I did a fun Christmas gift card holder which is long enough to hold money.  

     The image is from Mo's Digital Pencil and Pammie is giving a gift certificate to Mo's store as the prize for this challenge.

Here's what it looks like from the inside when open.

 

Colored with ProMarkers

Image cut w/ QuicKutz die

Embossed with Holly Leaves EF

Tri-Fold to make the wallet

Metallic sparkle ribbon

     Challenges:

Christmas w/ Cuties

Cuttlebug Mania

Dragonfly Dreams

House that Stamps Built

Lemon Shortbread

Paperminutes

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting and I hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  NanaConnie

Day 13, Letter "K" - Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     We're close to the half way point in the 30 Days of Christmas cards for Beccy's Place and our letter prompt is "K."  I've used Beccy's three separate images of the Kings, put together as though they are one image.  While I make many more cutesy Christmas cards with Santas, elves, cute little animals, etc., I admit that traditional Christmas images are my favorites and that's mostly because they celebrate the true reason for the season (which has nothing to do with shopping ourselves into debt!)  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Tonic Studio die
Metallic gold 'lace' ribbon for a border
DCWV striped dp
CAS design

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Knockouts
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bunny Girl's Special Egg

     OK, we're back to Easter cards again.  The image for this one comes from Scrapper's Delights and is the one for their Progressive Challenge.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I trimmed the left side of the die cut so that I could use it "off center."  I used hot pink CS to make the card base.

     The ribbon has glittered dots and a metallic edging.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and adhered across the ribbon.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     That's it for today.  I have a really busy schedule the next two days but I'll have a DT post tomorrow for QKR Stampede so be sure to come by again.  Thanks for visiting.  NanaConnie