See a Country Mile

      Here comes our latest challenge at FarmQuest General Store, where our theme is always "Anything Country Goes."  Just country, rural, farm, and open spaces - no cityscapes, high rises, shopping malls, nightclubs, or other 'citified' nonsense.  :-D

     The image I used today is from Anne Fenton and it's such a perfect country lane gate that it was perfect for turning into a country view of wide, open spaces.  I colored it with water colors and ProMarkers, then cut it with a square, QuicKutz die.  I use a Fiskars punch on all four corners.

     I used a scrap piece of Paper Studio dp to make the frame for the image, die cutting and corner punching it the same way as the image piece.   The background dp is from that same Paper Studio stack.  I seem to have used it a lot these past few days but it's been lying on my crafting desk so it was within reach and has some really great masculine papers in it.

     I added a wrap of black, organza ribbon and used it for the hand tied bow, too.  The sentiment was printed as part of the image.  I think the black and brown make the card very masculine.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Carlin's Card ...

Classic Design

Digi Choosday

Do Al(l) Kreatives

Mirtillamente

Outlawz Color

Rabisco

YSBP

     Come play with us this month.  Just make something with a country flavor and enter it into our challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blue Shelf

      Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

     Today I want to share the last Mother's Day card I made this year and it may be one of my favorites.  I love the blue monochrome and the homey feel of the shelf.  This would have been happy living in my mom's house and she would have loved it, especially all the different flowers in pots and baskets.  :-D

      This was a clip art image which I printed in grayscale, then colored with pale blue Copic markers.  I fussy cut the image and ran it through my Cuttlebug using my 'Linen' EF.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added half inch wide, sheer ribbon and used it to also tie a triple loop bow using my bow maker.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack.

     Challenges:

As You Like It (spring over summer because I love using spring flowers and pastel colors)

Can You Handle ...

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Knockouts

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Enjoy what's left of your weekend and, if you still have your mom, do something special for her.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

May Flowers

      It's Friday and you know what that means - another new challenge at Crafty Catz!  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL twist if you choose to use it.  The twist this week is "Use Ribbon, Lace, or Twine."  Our sponsor is the delightful All Dressed Up and they generously provided us with images to use.  I decided on "Watering Time" but reversed the image before printing it.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  That frame is so delicate, I think it looks like lace.  :-D  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, deliberately set on an angle.  The background paper came from the scrap basket and I think it was originally in a Lawn Fawn stack.  Finally, I wrapped sheer ribbon around the front of the card and tied a triple-loop bow with it, using my bow maker.

     Challenges:

All Dressed Up

Ally's Angels

Crafty Gals ...

Creations in Pink

Happy ... Stampers

I Love Markers

Papercraft

Star Stampz

Worldwide ...

     Won't you come play along in our challenge this week?  If you don't want to fuss with ribbon or lace or twine, feel free to just enter under the Anything Goes theme.  Who knows, you just might win digis from All Dressed Up.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie   

Turkey Day

      Welcome to my next DT post for Through the Craft Room Door!  Our challenge themes are always "Anything Goes" and they now run for 2 weeks at a time.  This time, our sponsor is Eureka Stamps, sold by Stamp on It!  I chose this really fun, scribble drawing, called "Double Line Turkey." 

      I printed the digital image onto kraft paper, then colored with a black ProMarker and a white gel pen.  I highlighted between the double lines with a gold paint pen.  I used an octagon die from QuicKutz to cut the image and I inked the edges with another ProMarker.  I found a scrap of DCWV dp and layered it on top of a piece of brown CS.  I used sheer ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon to wrap the card front and to tie the multi-loop bow.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Cupcake Inspiration

Dream Valley

Gem of a Challenge

LeAnn's World

Li'l Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Paperbabe

Scribbles Designs

     I hope you'll come and play in our challenge this fortnight.  Remember, Anything Goes so you have no excuse not to join.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's a Cat Birthday!

      I started coloring this Hetty Clare image back in the early spring, giving each kitty a different fur color but, with only that much done, I set it aside and it got buried in the pile of "to be completed" projects.  Shortly after that, I got sick and was hospitalized, suffered the vision problems which kept me from coloring for a couple of months, and when I found this one in the pile yesterday, I knew it was time to finish it.  After all, I'm on a very determined streak to get birthday cards finished and into the stash for the upcoming months between now and the end of the year which are filled with family birthdays.

     I pretty sure the kitties were colored with ProMarkers but the words and the balloons were done using water color paints.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The purple background was dry embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  The little purple bow was hand-sewn and I used a purple pearl in the center.

     Challenges:

Dare 2B Artzy

Digi Choosday

Dragonfly Dreams

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's Inky ...

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

     Have a wonderful day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Feeling Pretty

      I'm happy to announce that I was selected as a GDT for the Paper Dragonfly challenge and I'm using an image from All Dressed Up which I won in a previous challenge at Paper Dragonfly.  The image is called "Pretty in Plaits."

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I used a Fiskars punch on 3 of the corners and a Uchida punch on the last one.  The dragonfly was hand drawn and is NOT part of the original image.  The background piece was done with water color paints and the ombre is rather subtle but can still be seen.  The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.  I tied a double loop bow using my bow maker.  The wide ribbon behind the image was a scrap and I used it up on this project.  Everything on this card came from my stash - nothing new purchased.  :-D

I reversed the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Knockouts  (bow and ribbon)

Double Trouble

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of  ...

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

Your Scrapbook Place

     It would be great to see you playing in the challenge this month.  I look forward to seeing your projects.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mystic Journey

      This card was so easy, I almost hesitate to write up a blog post about it, but then, easy is sometimes exactly what we need !  I printed the digital stamp onto lavender CS, cut it with rectangle die from QuicKutz, and matted it with white CS.  The purple background was dry embossed with an embossing folder (but I don't remember the name of it - something about waffles) from Darice.  I wrapped the card front with dark blue, sheer ribbon and used purple sheer ribbon to sew one of my signature bows.  

I spend an afternoon & evening sewing up those bows and have them handy to just grab from the stash.  That allows me to combine my two biggest passions, sewing and card making.  :-D

The sentiment was printed and cut with another QuicKutz die.  

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Can You Handle ...

Crafting Techniques

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Di's Digi Designs

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Taylormade ...

There's a Stamp ...

     Have yourself a fantastic weekend !  I'm headed back to the craft room where I'm going to have myself a 2 day coloring binge.  I may even get another card done before the weekend is over but mostly, I want to color and color and color ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bunnies and Eggs

      I'm sharing one of Conie Fong's newest images which is only available as a freebie over at Kit & Clowder.  Please go check it out before it's gone!  :-D  For my card, I merged the darling "Bunny with Egg" with one of the smaller bunnies which can be found in Conie's set called "Easter Bunny Gnome" and that set is on sale throughout April.  The sentiment is also one of Conie's.

      I colored with ProMarkers, then used my largest QuicKutz square die to cut it.  The background paper is from a Recollections stack.  I found the sparkly sheer ribbon in my stash and used the last of it to wrap the card front and make the knotted bow.

I chose my colors from My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

CCC Digi

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

LeAnn's World

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperbabe

Taylormadecards ...

     Be sure to checkout our challenges on the Conie Fong FB site.  You do need to use a Conie Fong image but the freebie is available at Kit & Clowder so you have no excuse.  :-D  Come play with us.   NanaConnie

Fairy Birthday Wishes

      A post today featuring an image from an artist I discovered late last summer and I'm still using images I bought on my first shopping spree in her shop!  I bought quite a few that day and this image is the one which inspired me to do a search and check out what was available. 

      I saw this girl with her tiny fairy friend bringing her a gift and it was on a card made by someone entering a challenge.  I just had to know more about the image and the artist.  I went to her blog, hoping to find a link to the image (or at least the artist, Mariola Budek) but there was nothing.  So I used a search engine, tracked down her store, and bought images and coloring books that first day!  This image can be found in one of her coloring books, called "Cute Friends."

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then used a Sizzix scalloped die to cut the image.  I used a die from Dare 2B Artzy, cut two dp (Recollections), mounted the image onto 1 of them, and used the second one as the background paper, then inlaid the image piece into it.  I found some sheer ribbon in my stash, wrapped the card front and used my bow maker to tie a triple-loop bow and add it.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Dare 2B Artzy

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Some Bunny ...

      I've finally managed to get the card done for the Progressive challenge at Stamper's Delights this month which features this adorable bunny girl image.

     Colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a Cuts die.  The sentiment was printed and I used another Cuts die from that same set.  I used my Linen embossing folder on the CS background.  I found ribbon in the basket and used it for both the wrap around the card front and to hand tie the double loop bow.  Fun but simple.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Can You Handle ...?

Crafty Calendar

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Says Stamp

Stamping Sensations

     That's it for today.  I'm going back to the craft room for a coloring binge.  I have so many images printed and waiting, some of which are for looming DT commitments (!), and I feel the need to color them before they get discouraged about ever being used.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tricycle Gnome

      I absolutely adore Conie Fong's gnomes and I used one of her latest, "Tricycle Gnome" on this DT card.  I decided on soft, spring pastels (favorites of mine this time of year when the winter has just lasted too long!) and a birthday sentiment (also from this set.)   

     I think Birthdays are the best occasions of all.  Major holidays can be stressful with family commitments, gifts to buy for all, or heavy meals to plan, but simple birthdays put the focus on one person and sharing cake is always a joy, not a stress.  :-D

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a fancy die from Spellbinders.  I mounted that onto green dp from K & Co.  The final touch was to add sheer, pink ribbon, wrapped around the card front and tied into a bow.  Pretty quick and simple.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Colouring in Scrapland

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     We need a few more people to enter either one of the monthly challenges before they end on the 28th.  In order to award prizes, our policy is to have a minimum of 8 different people (not entries) enter either the 'coloring only' challenge or the 'completed projects' challenge, using one of Conie's darling images (there are freebies available if you don't have any of her images.)  Grab an image and enter one of the challenges.  You could end up being the person who wins images from Conie Fong!

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Peony Valentine

      These peonies are from Beccy's Place and I think they made a perfect Valentine card, even though roses seem to be the favorite for a Valentine.  :-D   Colored with my ProMarkers, cut with a QuicKutz rectangle die, and the corners were done with a Fiskars punch.  The pink background dp is from a stack by C .C. Designs.  I used sheer ribbon and my bowmaker for the quad-loop bow.  The sentiment was printed and then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

A Perfect Time

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafts Galore Encore

Die Cut Divas

Dies R Us

LeAnn's World

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

     That's all for this post but I'll have another one late evening tonight so check it out or come by again in the morning.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tea Time Valentine

      A new week and a new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies, where our theme is always "Anything Goes" except on the occasional 5th Monday in a month (which will be NEXT Monday, as a matter of fact!)  :-D  Our sponsor this week is Gerda Steiner Designs, and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I chose this darling little Mouse in a Cup and turned it into another Valentine card.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then paper pieced the tea cup with a dp scrap.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The dp for the background probably came from a Paper Shack stack.  I added the sheer ribbons in Thistle and Tan for a bit of contrast and also because they were colors, along with Tickle Me Pink, in the Butterfly Challenge. 

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Inspiration Station

Mod Squad

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper Crafty

Word Art Weds

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  It's "Anything Goes" so create something fun and enter it into our  challenge.   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrating Snow Days !

      It's our first challenge of 2022 at Creative Knockouts and our theme this time is "Celebrations!"  I chose to celebrate every school child's winter wish, a "snow day" when all the schools close.  :-D  Growing up in southern California, I never got to experience snow days but if we'd had one, we would have really celebrated in a big way.

     Our sponsor is Pattie's Creations and, while she provided images for the DT to use, I decided to use the December freebie from Pattie's blog.  Such a cute pair of Winter Mittens shouldn't go unused.  :-D

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  I inked the edges of the frame.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Spellbinders die.  I chose 2 different glitter papers from Recollections for the diagonal-split background.  The sheer, glitter-spotted, wide ribbon was used to wrap around the card front and also to make the hand-tied bow.

I based this on Sketch #201 from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

    I really hope to see you playing along in our challenge this week.  Any kind of celebration will qualify for our theme.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Candle & Poinsettias

      The idea of candle light at Christmas is one of my favorite things and I love images which allow for coloring the candle glow.  This image is from SheepSki Designs, the sponsor for the newest challenge at I Love ProMarkers which starts right now.  The image is called "Candles and Poinsettias" and our theme for the challenge is "Anything Goes" with an Option of  "No Patterned Design Paper."

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a Lawn Fawn stitched die.  The sentiment was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I framed both the image and the sentiment with green glitter paper.  I used a stencil on the card front, brushing it with glue and using some very old flocking powder from my stash enhance the pink card front.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Creatalicious

Creations in Pink

Dies R Us

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Stash

Penny's Paper-Crafty

SheepSki Designs

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge.  Grab your ProMarkers, FlexMarkers, AquaMarkers, or Trias, color an image, leave out the patterned dp, and come enter your project in our challenge.  You could win some really fab images from SheepSki Designs.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas FISH ???

      We're starting a new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  This challenge is sponsored by Star Stampz and they generously provided images for the DT to use.  I used one called "Polar Bear" but I had to change the ears slightly to turn him into a kitty.  Whether you're a polar bear or a kitty, fish would be a great way to celebrate Christmas!  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut both the image and the frame with Unbranded dies.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper is from a very old stack by DCWV called "Winter Magic."   I've been using papers from that stack for at least 5 years but I think it's actually more like 7 or 8.

     The ribbon is from my stash and I don't remember what company made it.  It has glittery, silver, circles on it that look a bit like snowflakes.  I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Aud Sentiments

Cardz TV

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Catz

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

     Come play with us this week.  How can you go wrong with an Anything Goes theme?  Hope to see you there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Don't Over-Shop!

      Doing anything for too long without taking a break can be harmful to your health and that includes "Retail Therapy!"  It's time for the start of a new weekly challenge over at Creative Knockouts and this week our theme is "All Stitched Up."  Add stitches; they can be real or faux.  Our fantastic sponsor is the most beloved Hetty Clare and she supplied images for the DT.  I chose "Ladies on a Seesaw" and this card is going to remind me (through an eye-level placement on the craft room door) that taking breaks is a wonderful thing.

     This image was such a perfect opportunity to make the entire card into a scene buy choosing papers which worked for both sky and ground.  I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers, then cutting it with a die from Cuts.  The die has stitching marks and I enhanced them by using a black gel pen on each stitch.

     Once colored, I chose papers from Recollections (green) and Lawn Fawn (blue) stacks which complimented the colors I used on the sky and ground in the image.  I added a wrap of aqua ribbon and tied a double-loop bow for the top of the card.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and the card was done!

     Challenges:

4 Season

Art Impressions

Crafter's Castle

Creative Inspirations

Cutie Pie

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Incy Wincy

Inspiration Station

Outlawz PAM

     Come play with us this week!  You could win a prize from Hetty Clare and we'd love to be inspired by what you make.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

An Orchid Thank You

      I love the way this card developed and the end result.  It features a wonderful "Orchid" image from Beccy's Place. Both the image and the paper I used are on Beccy's list of Freebies on her blog.  You really need to go and check those out.  She has so many wonderful images available there.

     I used ProMarkers ands white gel pen to color the image, then I cut it with a Spellbinders die.  I adjusted the color of the background dp before printing it, then cut it with the same Spellbinders die, and inlaid the image into the background dp.  I added colored CS behind the image so that it would show through the openings in the die cut.  Although it doesn't show very well, there's sparkle gel ink in the small 'circle' shapes of the 4 compass positions on the border of die cut,

     I added two strips of satin-edged, sheer, ribbon and used one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.  

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colour Crazy

Crafty Creations

Di's Digi Designs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     I hope your week is going well and that the weather isn't too extreme in either a hot or cold direction.  Take some time for yourself and do some Happy Crafting.  :-D  NanaConnie

Causing a Racket !

      I love this fun image from Scrapper's Delights, given to all who play in their Progressive Challenge this month.  What a great card she makes for a tennis fan!

     I colored with ProMarkers, cut her with a QuicKutz die, inked the edges, then found some wonderful Recollections dp scattered with stars.  The sheer and satin ribbon was perfect for wrapping the card front and tying a bow.  I kept it very simple because it's going to be mailed to a friend.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Real Puppy Love

      When people talk about "puppy love," they seem to be referring to love among young teens but I'm here to tell you there is only one kind of REAL puppy love and this is it!

     This darling image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I colored it with ProMarkers and cut it with a QuicKutz rectangle die.  I used a Fiskars punch to cut the corners on all the pieces - image, mats, sentiment, and dp.  The puppy paws dp is from Recollections.  The piece through which I threaded the sheer ribbon is a die cut done with a Spellbinders die.  Sentiment was printed and fussy cut, then mounted onto a tiny scrap of CS and two of those corners were punched.

This layout was inspired by the sketch at Stella Says Sketch,

turned 1/4 turn and using only 1 dp

because I wanted lots of puppy paws to show.  :-D

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

Catch the Bug

CCC Digi Creations

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Moments

Di's Digi Designs

Morgan's ArtWorld

SheepSki Designs

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie