Welcome Country

      Our newest challenge has begun at FarmQuest General Store, where our theme is always "Anything Country Goes."  No cityscapes, shopping malls, crowded freeways, or high rises; just calm and lovely country scenes.

     The image I used on my DT card today is a clip art image, colored with Sanjoki markers to give it a sepia effect, with yellow and white gel pens used to give the lights their warm glow.  The sentiments at top and bottom were originally white but I used a beige marker to tone things down a bit.

     The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, then I cut a white CS frame for it (also a Tonic Studios die from the same set.)  I inked the edges of that before adding the piece to the background dp, which came from an old DCWV stack.  That pad of papers has been in my stash for probably 5 years, unused, and that page seemed to be perfect for this "country" card!

     Challenges:

     I'll have a second post today for FQ Country Christmas so be sure to scroll up to see it, too.  Hope you'll come over and play in our challenge this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Things Found in a Pond or Creek

      We have a new challenge and a new theme starting today at FarmQuest, and the theme is "Things Found in a Pond or Creek."  My dad would have immediately thought of fish because he loved fishing more than nearly any other outdoor activity and I often got to join him on those fishing treks.  Oh, what fabulous childhood memories!

     This image is clip art which I printed in sepia tone, then colored with my Sanjoki markers.  The card front was embossed with my Linen EF before adding the image.  I cut the colored image with a die from Spellbinders, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The strip of polka dot dp came from an old DCWV stack.  Pretty CAS and masculine, and I really like it.  :-D

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

Alphabet 

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Outlawz Friday

     I hope you'll use your creativity and come up with something you might find in a pond or creek, then you can create something fun and enter it into our challenge before July 13.  You could end up taking top honors!

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Snow Couple

      Once again, a new challenge has started over at FarmQuest Country Christmas.  Our theme is always "Anything Country Christmas Goes."  For today's card, I chose a clip art snow couple, happily dancing in the yard of their country home.

     The image started out in black and white but I used computer software to change it into sepia tone before printing it.  I love the vintage feel it gave the card.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and the sentiment was cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack.  I used very narrow, 1/8" ribbon which is wrapped around the card front and tied into a simple bow.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Holly & Ivy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this month.  If you make something to enter into our Country Christmas challenge each month of the year, you'll have 12 cards done before the holiday rush hits you next Christmas.  :-D  Besides, we love being inspired by what you create and share with us.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Turkey Time

     It's time for the next FarmQuest General Store challenge, and our themes are always "Anything Country Goes."  Yes, it has to have a 'country' look or feel but beyond that, it's anything goes.

     Since this is our Thanksgiving month here in the USA, I focused on the most traditional part of a family Thanksgiving feast, the turkey.  This turkey image is a gray-scale sketch but I used Sanjoki markers to change it to sepia-toned.  The sentiment was merged at the bottom of the image before printing.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios and inked the edges with a coffee brown Sanjoki marker.

     The background dp came from a 'Calico' stack by DCWV and the colors and scattering of blossoms seemed perfect for a late fall card.  There's a small swipe of Stickles added to each tiny flower for just a hint of sparkle.  I die cut a bit of creamy burlap paper using a butterfly die from Poppy (Memory Box) and added a tiny seed bead to the center (old, old, OLD Stampin' Up stash which I found after cleaning out and reorganizing a desk drawer!) 

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Poppy Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Triple B

     I have a second post going live in just a couple of minutes for the November FQ Country Christmas Challenge so be sure to check out that one, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hat and Boots

      I made Father's Day cards for my two grandsons who are fathers and this is one of them.  I found this image on a clip art page and printed it in grayscale.  I used my Sanjoki markers to give it a sepia tone, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I printed the sentiment onto white CS and cut it to make the frame for the image.

     The background dp came from a Paper Studio stack.  I made the 'lariat' from twine and glued it in place with a dot of  Tacky Glue.  Another simple and relatively flat design for mailing to my grandson.  Doesn't it make you think of something from an old John Wayne movie or maybe "Centennial"?  :-D

     Challenges:

2 Sisters on the ...

Crafts Galore ...

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Do Al(l) Kreatives

I Love Markers

Pattie's Creations

SheepSki Designs

Word Art Weds

YSBP

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nesting?

      Today's card is another DT card for the challenge starting today at FarmQuest.  For this challenge, our theme is all about Hay, Straw Bales, Hay Mows, or Lofts.  I don't know if haystacks count as Straw Bales but they certainly fit into the larger category of Hay.   

     The image is actually an old photograph.  I found it online and no credit was given as to the name of the photographer but it may be that the photo is old enough that nobody actually knows who took it.  I printed it in gray scale, then I used my ProMarkers to make it look like an old sepia photo, and added lots of yellow tones to the haystacks.  I highlighted the storks with white gel pens and black to make them pop off the background.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and layered onto the image piece.  I framed it with scraps of white and old newsprint paper.  The brown patterned dp for the background (from DCWV) was also a scrap and I chose it because it felt right for our underlying "country" theme for everything done at FarmQuest.  I think warm beiges and browns are my favorite colors for anything with a country feel; those colors (neutrals?) just seem to enhance "outdoors" and "country."  The double twine bow added to that feel.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Our challenge runs through February 13 and the new one will start on the 14th.  Come play with us and make something that celebrates "country" and features hay.  We'd love to see what you create!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bookshelf Treasures

      If you're a person who adores books, despite everything now being on electronic readers or in audio formats, you'll understand why a full bookshelf can feel like a treasure trove.  I've loved books and reading since I was a child, when bedtime meant one parent or the other reading a story.  As I grew older, I loved the feel of the paper pages, the hard cover, and the creaky binding as one opened and closed the book.  No electronic reader can replace those things.

     This delightful fantasy image of a pixie perched on a shelf with book in hand intrigued me right away and I had to use it for a card which I'll be sending to my youngest granddaughter, who just moved several states away for college.  I miss her already!

     I thought a monochrome, sepia-brown would work and stamped the image in coffee brown ink.  I added shading using colored pencil.  I cut it with a Tonic Studios die, then sponged the sides and corners using the same ink pad.  I found the striped dp in a DCWV "Basics" stack and chose it because it made the image pop off the background while maintaining the monochrome color combo.  The hand sewn bow is the only embellishment.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Digi Choosday

Incy Wincy

Let's Craft & ...

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

TTCRD

Your Scrapbook ...

     Have yourself a wonderful day and see if you can find some time to enjoy an old fashion book.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

For the First Time, Almost-a-Father, Grandson

      This card is for my #2 grandson who is about to become a father for the first time.  :-D  He has one of those wacky senses of humor and he'll love this card.

     I added the sentiment and adjusted the image into a grayscale before I printed it, then used ProMarkers to create the sepia-tone look.  The image was cut with a QuicKutz die and mounted on a black card base.  I left it completely embellishment free for a more masculine look.  I do love doing CAS cards because they have no bulk and therefore, are easy to mail.  Most of the men in my family live out of state from me so I mail a lot of cards every year.  :-D

     Challenges:

Allsorts

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Dare 2B Artsy

Dragonfly Dreams

House Stamps Built

Mod Squad

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Scrapping4Fun

Simon Says Stamp

     Wishing you the best start to a new week and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Cottage

      It's time for the Letter "V" for 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place.  I used one of her images showing a delightful cottage and I printed it in sepia tone to enhance the Vintage look.  The sentiment about Visitors gave me one additional "V" for the prompt.  

     My fear is that with all the Covid quarantine rules, we'll have a solitary Christmas without visitors just like we did Thanksgiving.

Door wreath colored w pencil

Single layer card

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

CAS

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...

Aud Sentiments

Bastel-Traum

Cardz TV

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Knockouts

Creative Moments

Outlawz PAM

Time Out

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Baby Doll

     Today starts the first challenge at the new Emerald City Crafts blog and I'm happy to be part of the team.  :-D   The rules are so simple:  1. Anything Goes all the time.  2. Challenges post on the first Friday of each month and run for 3 weeks.  3. The last week the team chooses a winner and Top 3 and those are posted with the new challenge.

     If you love vintage ephemera, you're going to love this new blog and shop!  Let me show you an example.

     The image is from the "Nostalgia" collection and I simply adore the little girl hugging her favorite baby doll.  No coloring on this one but lots of wonderful, feminine embellies like the lace and cream-colored ribbon, the sparkly ribbon at the side of the image, and the pearls.  The roses and bow (dyed with ProMarker) were in my stash, just waiting for this card so that they could be used.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments
A Vintage Journey
Fab'nFunky
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     I hope you'll come and join in this month.  Remember, you have until July 28 to make something and get it entered.  We'll be looking for you.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie