Did Santa get Lost in the Critter Chaos?

     This reindeer thinks he knows the answer to the question "Where's Santa?" but I'm wondering if maybe he crowded Santa against the top of that chimney so that his own red reindeer nose could get all the glory.  lol  Who knows?

     It's the 6th theme this week at Catch the Bug's Critter Chaos and we have a delightful, subdued, Christmas/Winter inspiration.

Here's how I used them.

Colored with markers

Glitter on the ornaments around his antlers

Cut with a stitched die (maker unknown - it's a borrowed die)

Papers from Doodlebug

Shiny satin ribbon

     Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Addicted to Stamps

Colour Crazy

Crafty Friends

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper Crafty

Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Day 2 of Critter Chaos at Catch the Bug

     This card is for Day 2 at Catch the Bug and, instead of a theme, we have a sketch.  I turned it a quarter turn to better fit the length of my image, one of the Bugaboo Stamps lovable birds.  I colored and cut all the Bugaboo images I used while I still had access to my craft room.  Then I put the cards together with supplies I took with me or "borrowed" from family and friends.

Here's the sketch and you can see how I turned it.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with oval die from QuicKutz
Embossed red CS
Glitter paper (source unknown)
Bow made with Bowmaker
Ribbon scrap

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Creative Moments
Prika Crafts
Scribbles Designs
Stamping Sensations
Star Stampz

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sittin' on the Roof, Waitin' for Santa

     This is one of those last minute Christmas cards which get done because your daughter or one of the grandkids says, "Nana, Can you make me a card for ..." and you've already mailed or donated every card you've made for the entire season.  Not a big deal normally but they need 5 additional cards,not just one!  (Yes, I'm making them but 4 are still being processed.  I'll share them this upcoming week before my hiatus for the holidays.)

     This is a pre-colored image from Bugaboo Stamps which really saved me a lot of time, as did the CAS design.  The elf and the reindeer are patiently (?) waiting for Santa to arrive with his bag full of toys.

Cut with Spellbinders die
Sparkly mesh ribbon & sheer ribbon w/ snowflakes
Card base embossed with 'Linen" folder
Sentiment printed & hand cut

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Art Impressions
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Catz
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Joy

     It's the first Thursday of the month and that means our newest challenge is starting for December at Crafting with an Attitude.  This is my last post as a DT member as I've taken on additional responsibilities on other teams I serve and I have to cut back some place.  I'm sad to leave but will be visiting as a player as often as possible.  Hugs to all my teamies.  :-D

     This month, our challenge is sponsored by Beccy's Place and, if you were visiting me at all last month, you already know how much I adore her images!  She generously gave images to the DT for them to use but I chose one from my own collection.  This is "Boxed Snowman" but I can't find it in the store now so it may have been retired.

Inspired by Sketch #569 at Sketch Saturday.

 

Colored with ProMarkers w/ white gel ink on highlights

Fussy cut with scissors
Ribbon and bow done with scraps
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Black CS for the base

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Friends
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Time Out

     Won't you please come play with us this month?  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this will be the last of our 'sponsored' challenges.  Starting in January, they will be JFF challenges.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hugs for Thanksgiving

     If it's Friday, you know that means a new weekly challenge has started at QKR Stampede.  This is the most recent (and I think the last) of my Thanksgiving cards.  I used a darling image called "Bear Hugs" and I'm using this as a way to give some holiday support to a sweet lady who is facing her first holidays following the loss of her husband.  She's going to be at our house for Thanksgiving and I want her to know that she has family and friends who love her.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image and mat cut with Tonic Studios & Spellbinders dies
Orange CS embossed with "Linen" folder
Textured ribbon
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Funday
Paper Girls
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Come play with us this week.  Our theme is always Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Challenge #2 at Jan's Digi Stamps

     Our second challenge has started at Jan's Digi Stamps today and once again we have an "Anything Goes" theme for you.  I'm sharing two cards I've done using pre-colored images from the "Holiday Candy Deluxe 947" set.  I've been doing Christmas cards for the last couple of months but when time runs short or when you need a last minute card for an unexpected guest the in-laws brought along (!), pre-colored images can save the day.  Nearly every set from Jan's has both black and white outline images and pre-colored versions included in the same set.

Cut w/ Sizzix scalloped circle die

Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies

Sentiment (from this set) was hand cut

Wide ribbon with glittered edges

Red CS base

     Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Penny's Paper Crafty

Time Out

Die-namics dies for image and frame, inlaid dies
Sentiment hand cut
Doodlebug dp
Lavender ribbon w/ hand tied bow

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 17,"O" - Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     One more day and another letter of the alphabet ("O") for a prompt in the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place.  Instead of doing another card, I've started making gift card holders using instructions I found on YouTube.  You'll see several of them over the next 10 days or so.  Not only do I need some, my daughter wants a half dozen or so for her stash.  :-D

     Here's the first one, inspired by the letter "O" - Ornament and Octagon.  The image is Beccy's "Stanley's Bauble", which I think of as an Ornament.

Colored with pencil, blended with gamsol
Glitter added to the Ornament
Image cut with Octagon die from QuicKutz
Embossed CS used to make the folder
White satin ribbon for the tie

     Here's a photo of the inside of one of these gift card folders, although not this one as you can tell from the color of the folder and the embossing.

     I'm making a sentiment piece for the other slot but it has glitter on it and that's still drying.
 
     Challenges:
AAA Cards
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Get Creative
Lil Patch of ...
TTCRD

     Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.  For those of you already out Christmas shopping, take a breath!  You still have more than a month.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Batdog to the Rescue!

     OK, OK, I know there's no "Batdog" in real life or even in the comics but think of him as a recent, mythical creature!  I adore the cute image we received this month from Polkadoodles for the Outlawz Progressive Challenge.  Perfect for another Halloween card with her little pup all dressed in his bat costume.  :-D

I pulled my colors from the

Ike's World challenge.

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with an Unbranded die
Ribbons (black sparkle and orange/white stripes) - both are scraps
Gemstone bling on the bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     That's all for today and I hope your weekend is going well.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Thyme

     I've rediscovered Jan's Digi Stamps, which I used to get through Sparkle N Sprinkle.  When SnS closed, I was afraid I'd lost Jan's beautiful images forever but then I found that she has her own store, which you can check out here.

     These images are from two of her new autumn sets, which I'm using on a Thanksgiving card.  I merged the images and I love the effect of distance between them.

Colored with ProMarkers
Spellbinders square die plus an out-of-the-box technique
Fussy cutting with scissor on the pumpkins in the tub
2 diamond texture ribbons
Raffia triple-loop bow
Everything done on kraft card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Autumn Sprite

     Another of the sprites from AuroraWings, this one called Autumn Sprite.  I'm going  to use this one for a Thanksgiving card.

Colored with ProMarkers
Spellbinders die
Sheer and grosgrain ribbons
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Word Art Weds.

     We're almost mid-way through the week, more than mid-way through September, and in my part of the country it's still hot, hot, hot!   I'm praying for fall and the cool, crisp evenings that make the mildly warm days enjoyable.  Hope things are cooler in your neck of the woods.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Magical Birthday

     Welcome to another Friday, that magical day when the weekend begins (or at least hopes of it begin.)  Fridays are also the day we start our newest challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and while the DT gals use QKR or Eureka (our sister company) images, you may use any image you choose to enter the challenge.  If you do choose a QKR (or Eureka) image, you increase your chances of winning by a considerable amount because those projects are put into a separate draw.

     For my card today, I'm using "Mouse Magician" from QKR and it comes as either a digital image or a rubber stamp.  This is a birthday card for a 10 year old who has recently been introduced to the Harry Potter books - yes, the books, not the movies, though I'm sure those will follow immediately!  But right now, he loves old fashioned books with pages and covers.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut with Lawn Fawn Stitched die

Sparkly satin ribbon

Signature bow w/ pearl

Sentiment - computer font

     Challenges:

Crafting by Designs

Cute Card Thurs

Ellibelle's Crafty Weds (Blue, Bow, Birthday)

House that Stamps Built (Blue, Bow, Birthday)

If You Give a Crafter Cookie

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Scrappy Land

Tales from the Craft Room

Work It Weds

     Come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fall Fashions

     I'm playing with another House Mouse stamp today, still hoping to encourage autumn to arrive and the hot summer temperatures to go away.  We're Day 3 into yet another heat wave (temps of 100F or more 3 or more days in a row) and I'm really tired of it.  A week ago, I had hopes that we were done with 100F temperatures until next summer but no such luck.  Ah, well, maybe by the end of this week...?

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut and framed w/ Spellbinders dies
Stitched satin ribbon
Fabric pumpkin w/ added pearl
Sentiment - printed and hand cut
Striped dp - DCWV "Basics" stack

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Double Trouble (paired w/ The Paper Girls)
Get Creative
Outlawz Greetings
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sneezes and Sniffles

     I've done a Get Well card using a House Mouse image and I have no doubt it'll get used rather quickly although, at the moment, it's in my stash.  Cold season is just around the corner and I've learned those can go through the entire household very quickly (and predictably!)

Colored with ProMarkers and colored pencils
Frame cut with Spellbinders die
Stripes created with ribbon
2 polka dot, bow tie bows (tied on my bow maker)
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
Bastel-Traum
Crafter's Cafe
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
House Mouse
Papercraft
Simon Says Stamp & Show (Sniffles, Sneezes)
TTCRD
Tues. Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Worm in an Apple

     Mr. & Mrs. Worm have found a new home in a left over, picnic apple!  I know, I know, it's usually ants who show up at our picnics, but this couple was in serious need of a home and a meal so an apple, deliberately left behind by some kindly person after the last picnic of the summer, seemed a perfect choice.

     (Sorry, I had to take a break right there.  Queenie, the new kitten, decided it was nap time and that somehow required that I hold her in the crook of my elbow while she 'nursed' on my hand.  Of course, I couldn't put her down until she woke up.  Sigh....)

     The image on this card is for the latest Progressive Challenge at Limited Runs.  Actually, it's two images which I combined for the card.

ProMarkers
Fiskars corner punch
Polka dot ribbon for hand tied bow (scrap)
Scraps for the dp and the white frame
Linen embossing folder on the card front

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Coloring in Scrapland
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Dream Valley
Outlawz PAM
Path of Positivity
Pixie's Snippets
Words to Craft By

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beyond the Wall

     Scrapper's Delights has started their latest progressive challenge and you have your choice between two images; one a wall, the other a fence.  I chose the wall and I love how the card developed.  :-D  The lovely sunbonnet girl is also one of their images.

Colored with ProMarkers
Wall image cut with Spellbinders die
Sunbonnet girl is fussy cut
Sheer ribbon used for double bow
Green CS pieces are scraps
Pop Dots for dimension on girl

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Colour Crazy
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Creations
Creative Fingers
Dare 2B Artsy
Dream Valley
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrapper's Delights

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Three Wise Cats

     It's the 5th day in the week-long challenges at Catch the Bug's Christmas in July.  The theme today is to use humor and be inspired by one of three Christmas movies: Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, or A Christmas Story.

   

ProMarkers

Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn, Memory box dies

Satin ribbons (Crafty Ribbons)

Star made from die cut scraps

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Crafting by Designs

Crafty Catz

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

...Not even a Mouse

     So it's nearly the middle of July, and definitely the middle of the year and I'm finally doing my first Christmas tag for the year!  It's 4" x 4" and the perfect size for the stamp.  The stamp is from Mo's Digital Pencil and I think it's the first one I ever got from Mo's.  I know I've had it a long time, maybe as much as 10 years, and I've used it for several cards over the years.  If you're not familiar with her delightful art, do go check them out!

   

ProMarkers to color
Die-Versions to cut sentiment (cut from scrap)
Bo Bunny dp scraps
Scrap of ribbon from stash

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Aloha Friday
Crafty Calendar
Cute N Crafty
Cute N Crafty Christmas
Double Trouble
Outlawz Greetings
Retro Rubber
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Day Trips

     I have always loved day trips, beginning with trips to the beach when I was a child and continuing throughout my lifetime with outings for fishing and even photography jaunts.  Mostly, I loved the journeys which had no specific destination beyond picking a compass direction, heading out, and taking the first side road that looked interesting.  It was amazing how the summer exploration adventures unfolded trip after trip.

     This cute image from LeAnn's World 101 reminds me of those days.

     I used:
ProMarkers
Dies from Memory Box
Hand bleached CS
Ribbon
Hand-sewn Butterfly bow

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Butterfly (Granny Smith & Gingham + butterfly bow)
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug (ribbon/ die/ sentiment)
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Pile It On
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

I'm Late !

     It's not often that I forget a birthday or forget to mail birthday cards I've already made, but it does happen and it annoys me when it does.  :-D   Best I can say is that I try to be prepared by having a belated card my stash which I can grab and send as soon as I realize I've missed a birthday.  Best I can do when I forget to mail a card already made it to put it in the mail that day!

     I used one of my QKR Stampede DT cards as an opportunity to add a belated card to my stash.  Today starts a new weekly challenge at QKR and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  The image I used for this card is called "Jogging 24211."

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an embossed, Spellbinders' die.  I chose a black card base, wrapped silver ribbon around the front, added a polka dot, bowtie, bow, and adhered the printed sentiment.  Clean, simple, and masculine.  I love doing masculine cards - they are simpler than frilly and feminine projects, are usually easy to mail being flat, and simple cards are usually take less time to make.  Besides, I have more males in my family than females.  :-D

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Art Impressions
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie (center column)
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

     Happy Crafting and come play with us this week.  NanaConnie

Outlawz Progressive Challenge

     Another of my favorite progressive challenges, one I've been entering each and every month since they started it almost 4 1/2 years ago, Outlawz Progressive.   This month, Oddball Art has supplied the image for us to use and I turned it into a birthday card.

      I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image and both frames with simple rectangle dies from QuicKutz.  The background dp was a scrap that was on my desk and I think it was from Doodlebug.  I trimmed it to fit the card front.

     The little bit of white ribbon was also a scrap on my desk and I saw no point in tossing it out when it fit perfectly here.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edge, and layered it onto the ribbon strip.  I added one of my signature, hand-tied bows to which I added a flat gem.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Lemon Shortbread
Oddball Art
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Passion for ProMarkers

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie