Creepy Graveyard

     I got inspired by the "Silhouettes" theme at Double D this fortnight and dug through old stamps and digi images I have which either were silhouettes or could be used as silhouettes with a little help from a black ProMarker or paint brush.  This was a rubber stamp (maker unknown due to its age) but not a silhouette stamp.  I had to make it a silhouette by coloring the open parts of the stamp with black.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Sentiment backing is 3 layers cut with a Spellbinders die
"Creepy" cut with Die-namics die
Eyelets used on sentiment layers
Bottom edge cut with Cheery Lynn die

     Challenges:
Crafter's Cafe
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Words to Craft By

     I have a few more Halloween cards coming over the next 3 or 4 days because I discovered that one of my friends, who is a social worker, has a need for several more to give to some of her clients.  What a great excuse for me to make another dozen Halloween cards!  Yippee.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mother's Day Silhouette

     I'm pretty much hooked on all the images from Bugaboo Stamps but I especially love their silhouettes!  I thought this one would make a lovely Mother's Day card.

I started with the inspiration photo from Catch the Bug

and the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

which I adjusted to fit a square card.

  

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a simple, square die from QuicKutz.  I cut another square one die size larger, cutting shiny, metallic, purple CS to use as the frame for the image.

     All the designer papers are from DCWV and all were scraps, including what I used for the background.  I added one of my signature bows, this time made from sheer ribbon and 'dyed' with ProMarkers to get the exact shade of purple that I wanted.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut, matted, and hand cut it again, then added it to the lower corner of the card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Addicted to Stamps
Allsorts
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets
Stamping Sensations

      Welcome to a new work week (for those of you who still have to report in or punch a time clock) and have a wonderful Monday.  Happy Crafting (to those who are home instead of at work.)  NanaConnie

Purple Winter Silhouette

     I tried something new with this card and I'm very pleased with the end result.  I mixed water coloring and heat embossing with a silhouette image.

      I started with watercolor paper, painting it with purple to make the ombre background.sky.  After letting that dry and ironing it flat (because it had curled from the water), I printed the Silhouette Scene image (Digi Set 493b) from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I drew around the image with a Versa-Mark pen and heat embossed it with matte, smoke gray EP.  After it was set, I drew around that with the Versa-Mark pen again and used white EP to make another border.  I cut the image by hand just outside the white, embossed border.

     The sentiment (part of that same set) is printed and cut with an Unbranded die.  I mounted both of those pieces onto black CS, then added the three tiny gems in the diagonal corners.  I wanted to pop out the lavender sky so I chose a purple card base and added a scrap of dp across the top.  Once I adhered the black CS piece with the image, it really pulled the lavender and purple to the fore.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Get Creative
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Sparkle n Sprinkle
Words to Craft By

     That's it for today and maybe for a few more days before I can manage to post again.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Halloween Silhouette

     I love silhouette images, whether rubber or digi, because you can get so much interest by manipulating the background.  This particular Halloween silhouette is from Bugaboo Stamps and, since Catch the Bug's theme is "Anything Goes" this week, what could be better?

     Before I printed the image, I used chalks to make the ombre paper and then used a warm gray, extra-fine point, ProMarker to write out the sentiment.  I used the chisel tip of that same ProMarker to make the borders around the ombre.  I was delighted that it came out looking like two layers of card stock.  It helped when I drew pencil lines around the ombre square.

     In order to make sure the placement was going to be correct, I printed the image onto plain copier paper, adjusting it so that it would be at the bottom of the card front, folded the tent card so that the blank part was at the back, and figured out where the sentiment would be printed on the actual card.  It took a bit of planning but it worked.

     After everything was printed, I added the hand-sewn bow and called it finished.  So, there you are - a Halloween card with a tail on the cat, wings on the bat, and wicked smiles on the pumpkins.  What could be spookier?

      Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Cardz TV
Cute Card Thurs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pattie's Creations

     Enjoy the other half of your weekend, or maybe a little more than half depending on whether or not you are celebrating Columbus Day on Monday.  Either way, find some creative time just for you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water Spirit

     Most of us are drawn to cool waters during summer's hot days and the coast, with it's crashing waves, is often the first option for a getaway.  Last summer was extraordinarily hot in my area and I headed for ocean breezes as soon as I could.   This spectacular silhouette from Crackerbox Palace says it all.

     I used ProMarkers to color the sky and the ocean, then cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The scalloped frame is also a die cut (Spellbinders.)  I added two more layers of framing, one a simple rectangle and the bottom one punched with two different Fiskars corner punches.

     All of that went onto an eggshell white card base.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, matted it, and added it to the top of the card.  The only embellishment was the one, hand-sewn bow.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to CAS
C.R.A.F.T.
Cupcake Inspirations
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
So Suzy/Crackerbox

     With the weather hot already, I'm looking forward to some time away in July.  The ocean breezes are calling to me.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Have a Merry "Pink" Christmas

     It's Friday morning and a new challenge has begun at QKR Stampede.  This week, we want to see you do something Christmas but in "Non-traditional Christmas colors."  I chose the brightest pinks I could find!

     The image is a wonderful silhouette, Digi 15705, Sleigh and Reindeer and the sentiment is Digi 13806, Merry Christmas.  I printed both the image and sentiment together onto pink CS, and used a black ProMarker to ink the edges of the die cut rectangle.

     I layered the image piece onto bright pink, polka dot dp, and mounted that whole thing onto burgundy mulberry paper.  I found the snowflake and snowman buttons in my stash and added them, along with some pale pink fibers as the embellishments.

     Challenges:
Cookie Challenge
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Ribbons
Cute Card Thurs.
DL.ART Thankful Thurs.
In the Pink
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Southern Girls

    There will be one more post today to show you the 4th of the MHK Designs releases for December.  Be sure to stop by in another hour or so.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Things that Go Bump in the Night

     I'm on a Halloween kick this week and have made no Christmas cards for my stash in over 10 days!  Pretty bad when I'm going to need at least 2 per week in order to have enough done for my Christmas needs.  Ah, well, that just means two weeks with four Christmas cards.

     This card uses a silhouette image from Bugaboo Stamps which is one of those fun, fun, fun images.

     I used ProMarkers to color the sky, the ground, the faces on the pumpkins, and the moon.  I put it on a black card base and added the strip of ribbon which was a scrap left on my craft table.  I dug out one golden topaz gemstone for embellishment, then left it alone.  This card will have to be mailed so flatter is better.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Mod Squad
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Seaside Silhouette

     Our new challenge theme at Scrapy Land is that all time favorite, "Anything Goes."  Here's my GDT card for the next two weeks, after which our next challenge starts and we'll have a different theme.  I have to tell you I'm having so much fun in this GDT position and I get as much inspiration from all of you who enter the challenges as anyone could possibly get from my projects.  :-D

     This silhouette is from Crackerbox Palace and the only thing I did was color the sky with my ProMarkers and add some white gel ink to the clouds and waves.  I die cut black CS and purple CS with dies from my Spellbinders set, "Decorative Labels Eight" and layered them behind the image.  The purple die cut is also embossed with my "Linen" folder.  The image itself was punched to round the corners.  I do believe this card contains most, if not all, of my favorite things for cardmaking: ProMarkers, die cuts, layers, dry embossing, silhouettes, color purple, and bows.

     I tied a bow using textured, satin ribbon and then left the card alone.  I wanted those gorgeous die cuts to frame the image and not get lost under other embellishments.

     Challenges:
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Everybody Art
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Melonheadz Friends
Passion for ProMarkers
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown (center row)

     That's it for me today.  I hope you're going to come and play in the challenge.  Remember, you can make anything you want but you do need to use at least one die from a brand carried by Scrapy Land.  Check out the store site for a list of all the different manufacturers -- there are more than 40!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Stencilled Rose

 It's my day to do the Designer Inspiration Post at MHK Designs and I hope everyone gets some kind of inspiration from this delicious card on which I used papers from the "Easter Flowers" digi paper set and an image from Mynn's lovely "Stencil in the Roses" set.  After the fabulous release of five new sets this month, I wanted to use an older set which is one of my 'go to' sets for all kinds of occasions.

     Since purple is my favorite color, you could have guessed that would be in use.  :-D

     I used a different printing technique than what I usually do and I really like the way it turned out.  I selected my digital paper, printed it and then put that sheet of paper back into the printer tray.  Then I went back, selected the rose image and printed it onto the original sheet of printed paper.

     Didn't that make a spectacular silhouette?  I trimmed the paper to size, turned it slightly on an angle, then trimmed off the corners which overlapped the edges of the card.   I added one bit of black lace before mounting everything onto a lavender card front.   I printed the sentiment  ("Tulip of Thanks" set) separately, cut it by hand, and adhered it last.

     Challenges:
A Vintage Journey
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Fussy and Fancy
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
MFP Stamps
Morgan's ArtWorld
Moving Along with the Times
Outlawz Tuesday

     Don't forget that our new challenge for April/May started last Thursday and you have until May 20th to get a card in.  We have an inspiration photo which you can use (colors, photo, whatever),
or, if you use any MHK Designs image, then the challenge theme for you is "Anything Goes."  Hope we see you playing along.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

   

Silhouette Christmas

     Lately, I'm finding myself really intrigued with silhouette images.  I did a couple of Halloween cards with them and now I've found this delightful set from MHK Designs just in time for Christmas.  I love the way Mynn has reversed the positive and negative on the silhouette!  The sentiment is also from that same set.

     This is a pretty CAS design.  I chalked the background before printing the image and then used an eraser to remove some of the chalk from the white silhouettes.  I added a button snowflake and made a 3-D poinsettia for the corner.  I also found a pinecone shank button, removed the shank, and added it next to the poinsettia.  Done!  The whole thing took less than 25 minutes, including making the flower.

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Christmas Challenge
Come and Get It
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Cutie Pie
Inky Chicks
One Layer Christmas
Scrapbook Blessings
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Vintage Stamping

     Countdown to Thanksgiving is on in my family and Christmas follows so quickly thereafter I can hardly believe it.  This year, I'll be spending time with my oldest grandson and his family so that means getting to spend Christmas with the great-grands for the first time ever.  :-D  I'm really looking forward to that.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Halloween at QKR Stampede

    QKR Stampede has some fabulous Halloween images and I could hardly wait to use this one.  Our theme this week is "Halloween" so that works perfectly.  :-D  I used Digi 16314 "Hanging" and Digi 16316 "Halloween High."

     This card was pretty simple compared to most of my QKR DT cards.  The background sky is done with watercolors and I printed the silhouette image right on top.  I printed the sentiment separately and used Lawn Fawn stitched square dies on each of them.  The bat is also a die cut; die from Impression Obsession, and I adhered only his body, lifting the wings to add a bit of dimension.  The orange ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and that's the last of it.  Will have to order more soon.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Colouring in Scrapland
Colour Your World
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Die Cuttin' Divas
Dies R Us
Eureka Stamps
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
Inky Chicks
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Love to Scrap
Oddball Art Stamps
One Stitch at a Time
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Girls
Through the Craft Room Door

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  Remember, you are not required to use a QKR image but if you do, your card will be entered into a separate drawing just for those who use QKR images.  Your chances of winning are increased by a huge amount.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie