Puddle Jumping

      A new challenge is starting over at FarmQuest and our theme this time is "Rain Gear."  Of course, it must always have that farm/country feel to it.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew it was time to dig out one of my House Mouse stamps.  I adore this stamp and will find any excuse to use it, including "Don't rain on my parade" days.  :-D

     This time, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Cuts.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sky blue CS I used for the background was embossed with my Linen folder before attaching it to the card front, just for a touch of texture.   I grabbed one of my white, hand-sewn, signature bows from the stash, 'dyed' it with a marker, and added a sequin before gluing it to the card.

     Pretty CAS, plus nice and flat for mailing.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says (Rainy Days and Mondays)

     That's it for FarmQuest this fortnight.  Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

April Showers in the Garden

      This morning I awoke to cooler temperatures and am hoping that's a sign that spring is actually going to get here and stay a bit.  I know that sounds strange to say cooler temperatures must be a sign of spring but we had record high temperatures over the last three days (90, 91, & 89) and it felt like we had winter on one day, then jumped directly into summer with no spring at all !  The prediction is for a chance of rain today so I'm hopeful.  :-D  (Yeah, the rain has arrived and we really need it !!)

     As soon as I was fully awake, I decided on this adorable image to celebrate the cooler temps and the chance of rain.  It's a House Mouse image, of course, and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the light blue frame with CUTplorations dies.  I used my Linen embossing folder on both the frame and the dark blue background CS.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and matted twice.  Very CAS with lots of blue space instead of white.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Clever Dexter

Colour Crazy

Crafts Galore ...

Cut It Up

House Mouse

Paperbabe

STAMPlorations

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thankful

      So, another week has gone by, we're closer to the fall holidays, and another challenge has started at Creative Knockouts!   This week, our theme is "Thankful" and our fantastic sponsor is LeAnn's World 101.  I used a sweet image called "Rainy Walk" and out where I live we've had a terrible drought for more than two years now so I'd be really grateful for a bit of rain (or a lot of it!) :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz, as were the two sentiment phrases.  The background paper was water colored.  The pale orange, grosgrain, ribbon came from my stash and I added a flower sequin to the bow.  Pretty CAS design but that showcases the image.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

CCC Digi Creations

Clever Dexter

Country View

Crafter's Cafe

Dare 2B Artzy

Dies R Us

LeAnn's World

Lil Patch of ...

The Four Seasons

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  We love seeing what you create and you could win some really delightful digis from LeAnn's World.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rainy Days & Mondays...

      I did my best to keep this one CAS because I wanted the image to be the focus.  The girl with the umbrella is this month's image for the Progressive Challenge at Stamper's Delights, and I added the raindrops which are from a set by Jan's Digi Stamps called April Showers.  

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Dare 2B Artzy die

Frame cut w Dare 2B Artzy die

Sentiment hand cut & edges inked

Rhinestone raindrop embellies

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Lemon Shortbread

Paperbabe Stamps

Paper Funday

Scrapping4Fun

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rain or Shine

     The day I got this new image from LeAnn's World 101 progressive challenge, our weather was cool, even a bit nippy in the early morning.  Three days later, as I'm publishing this, they are predicting a high temperature of 92F and we hit 90F yesterday!  I know summers are much hotter than that out here where I live but c'mon, people, it's only April !  I'd prefer rain.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to raindrops & puddle
Cut with Sizzix die
Two mats cut with Poppystamps dies
Sentiment printed, matted, and hand cut
Large bow made w/ 1 inch ribbon

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Arty Divas
Colour Crazy
Craft-Dee Bowz
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Stash
Paper Girls
Poppystamps

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Snow?

     This month, I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Catch the Bug and that means I get to use lots of Bugaboo Stamps throughout the next four weeks!  Yes, I'm excited about that, just in case you hadn't guessed.  :-D

     My first card is for the "Anything Goes" theme on our Saturday challenge this week and it features an oldie-but-goodie image that I've had for a long time.  I adore sweet little "Abby Umbrella."

     I colored her with ProMarkers, and cut the image with a plain oval die from QuicKutz.  I used another oval die (Unbranded) to cut the deep aqua mat.  The polka Dot dp came from a stack by DCWV.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, then added one of my more-or-less 'signature' bows.  I make those by the dozens and toss them into my stash for future use.  I usually make them from white ribbon and then 'dye' them with ProMarkers to get the exact shade I want.  I did that with this one.

     Challenges:
Bugaboo Crafty Circle
Colour Crazy
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     I hope you'll come play at Catch the Bug this week.  You can use any image from any company but if you use one from Bugaboo Stamps and you win, the prize is much larger!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie
     

Trash or Treasure?

     It's the first Friday in April and I simply can't believe how fast 2015 is moving along!  Friday means a new challenge at QKR Stampede and this week our theme is "April Showers."  The possibilities with that theme are endless.  I decided to see if  I could find an image that was seemingly unrelated (meaning no baby ducks, umbrellas, or cloudy skies) and then work the theme into it.  What do you think?  I used an image (Digi 7102 "One Man's Trash") and an inside sentiment (Digi 16411) which are both from QKR Stampede.

     The snail image is colored with ProMarkers and mounted onto a sea blue card front.  That front sentiment is mine.  I used blue gems to make the raindrops.  I printed the QKR sentiment onto paper and added some aqua lace before adhering it to the inside of the card.  A simple card with a delightfully CAS design.

     Challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz (snail)
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Everybody-Art
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greetings
Party Time Tues.
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     I absolutely love this silly card, mostly because of that crazy snail.  Don't you just love his expression?  I'm thinking of using this same image for some kind of tea party or coffee klatch card, but with different sentiments, of course.  :-D

     I really hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Remember, you can use any image by any company but if you use a QKR image, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for those who have used QKR stamps.  That increases your chances of winning by quite a lot!  See you at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie