December Challenge at Brown Sugar

     Good morning and happy Friday morning.  We're starting a new monthly challenge today over at Brown Sugar.  Our sponsor this month is The Paper Shelter and they supplied us with an image set called "Holy Night."  Paper Shelter is having a sale this month and the image we all used is included in the sale.

     Interestingly enough, I used this very same image for a DT card last month but with a different team.  You can see what I did for them by clicking this LINK.  Rather than duplicate something I had just done, I decided to use the beautiful background that came with the set and build a scene on top of it with die cut deer and Liquid Pearls.

Background paper from The Paper Shelter (Holy Night digi set)
Cottage Cutz dies for deer - colored w/ metallic ProMarkers
Sentiment cut with Die-versions dies
Liquid Pearls for deer hoof prints in the snow
Snowflake cut with Art Impressions die
Blue rhinestone added to snowflake center

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Dare 2B Artsy
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Outlawz SAR
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Sparkles Christmas
Tales from the Craft Room
Your Scrapbook Place

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  This is my last month on the Brown Sugar DT but I'll be visiting many of you before the month ends.  :-D  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

Day 25, Letter "V" - Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     For me, "V" is for Vintage, Very Merry, Vermilion (red), and Viridian Green, and it's day 25 at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas.  The candle image is from Beccy's.

This is based on the sketch at My Favorite Things 

and the colors at My Favorite Things.

 

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz dies
Lace added for vintage look
Beads and snowflakes as embellies
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Double D (Vintage style)
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fri
Scrappy Land
Time Out
Word Art Weds

     We're only three days away from Thanksgiving here in the States and all the schools in my city are closed for the entire week.  My family are all focused on the Thanksgiving menu and harvest decorating.  On Friday, we'll change everything over to Christmas, putting away the autumn colors and setting up the tree, plus displaying the large collections of snowmen and nutcrackers.  What a great time for festive celebrations! 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 22, Letter "S" - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     It's Day 22, and we're using the Letter "S" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas.  I've used the following "S"s:  Snowman, Snowflakes, Sue Wilson die, Sparkle, Satin ribbon, embossed Snowflakes, Stickles, Special fold.  I've made one more of my gift card holders.  Here's a link to the YouTube video that inspired me to start making these gift card holders.

     The inside looks like this, although this is a photo of one of the other holders I did.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Cut with a QuicKutz die
Sparkle mat cut with Sue Wilson die, trimmed to fit
Glitter paper from Recollections
Stickles used on the snowflakes hanging from his hat
1/8" satin ribbon used for the tie
Folder made with embossed CS

     Challenges:
Double Trouble combined with Cupcake Inspiration
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy (black, white, red)
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz SAR
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers

     This s my second post to day and I'll have my regular Friday DT post for QKR early tomorrow morning so I hope you'll be back to see that one, too.  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

Sledding by ..

     A second post from me today so that I can share with you a card I made for a Christmas card exchange organized by Digi Doodle Studios.  We were assigned exchange partners (either within our country or international) and we had to use a Digi Doodle Studios image, which was no problem for me because I love every one I've ever seen.  :-D   I used Penguins Lottie and Tillie and I think they are so cute on their little sled.

Colored with ProMarkers
Fussy cut with scissors
Background by Paper Shelter
Sentiment hand cut
Image and sentiment mounted on Pop Dots
Glittered snowflakes and gem added

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thurs
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD

     Have a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"I" at Beccy's 30 Days of Christmas

     In the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy' Place, we return to the alphabetical prompts today with the letter "I" and I chose Image, Ice, Icicles, Ice Skates, Inlaid die cuts, and Ice blue.  I think Beccy has some of the best "realistic" Christmas and winter images and these skates are definitely among them.  The sentiment is also from Beccy's Place

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & frame cut w/ QuicKutz die, then Inlaid
Paper by Doodlebug
Icicles added with Stickles
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Gemstone added to one snowflake

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Creative Inspirations
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Paper Girls
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Non-Christmas Image for Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     So today is another of the curves Beccy throws out to compensate for the 4 days without alphabet prompts during the 30 Days of Christmas.  Today the requirement is to use an image which is NOT a Christmas or holiday image and use it for a holiday/Christmas card.

     Honestly, it took me longer to decide what image(s) to use than it did to color and create the card.  How many of you could guess that I'd choose felines for my card?  There are 2 separate images here, one is Alley Cat and the other is Moggie, both from Beccy's Cattitude set.  The sentiment can be blamed only on me but with those facial expressions, what else could it be?  Such disbelief and discouragement!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die
Snowflakes cut from scrap bits with AI dies
Card front embossed with "Linen" EF (another scrap)

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Dragonfly Dreams
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Pixie's Snippets
Stamping Sensations
SUYP Cats
Tues Throwdown

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 9, Letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas

     Day 9 means the letter "H" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and I'm using a few fairly simple "H"s - Happy family, Happy Holidays, Holly, "...our House to yours...", Hats, and Holly berries.  I absolutely love this Happy snowman family with a Houseful of baby snowkids from Beccys!

Colored with ProMarkers
Die cut with QuicKutz dies
Frame dp from Doodlebug
Holly leaves (from Beccy's Place) fussy cut
Front panel embossed w/ "Linen" folder
Snowflakes cut with Art Impressions dies
Snowflake button w/ glitter
Sentiment (Beccy's Place) hand cut and matted

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
CCC Digi Creations
Christmas Crafts All Year ...
Crafty Hazelnut's 
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Scrappy Land

     That's it for today.  I'm heading back to the craft room to work on another card for Beccy's Place and you'll see it posted in the next day or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Day 4, Letter "D" - 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place

     One more day at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas and since it's Day 4, we're using the letter "D" as a prompt.  This was a good one for me since I was able to wrap a lot of "D"s into just the image - Drummer, Drum, Drumsticks, Drumming, and Dark jungle green on the Drum (though it looks almost black.)  In addition, I used a Die, did Dry embossing, and used Deep burgundy CS behind the image.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Unbranded die
Embossing on card front
Snowflake button, glittered added

     Challenges:
Classic DT
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Friendship
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pearly Sparkles

     Another post shortly; I'm trying to get caught up.  Look for the letter "E" in the next post.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Skates

     THIS IS IT !  A new challenge blog, Jan's Digi Stamps, starts today and I'm so happy to be part of the DT!  Our theme is always Anything Goes and there is no requirement to use Jan's Digi Stamps, although they are the exclusive sponsor.  However, if you do use images from one of Jan's sets, there will be an extra reward for you if you are the random winner.

     The challenges will begin on the First and Third Mondays of each month and will run until 3 p.m. (Pacific time) the Sunday before the next challenge begins.  Winners and Top 3 will be posted on the Wednesday following the start of the new challenge.

     My card today features an image from Jan's set called "Christmas Skates" and I reversed the black and white image before printing it.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks
Image & red frame cut with die from Die-namics
White frame cut with Memory Box die
Hand tied bow with silver snowflake
Sentiment rubber stamp (unknown maker)

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
Cute Card Thurs
Outlawz Festive Fri
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

     Please come and play with us these next 2 weeks.  Our challenge is not limited to just cards.  You can enter anything you have hand-crafted so it truly is an "Anything Goes" challenge.  The winner is going to walk away with a gift certificate to Jan's Digi Stamps store and we already know you're going to fall in love with Jan's digital artwork so that prize to the random winner is something really special!  Hoping to see you at the challenge.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Keeping Warm

     This lovely image from the Scrapper's Delights Progressive Challenge should make anyone feel warm and cozy this winter.  Since the temperatures where I live have dropped from "hot, hot, HOT" all the way down to autumn comfortable with delightfully cool nights, I'm more than willing to start making "keep warm" cards.  :-D  I don't know if she's drinking tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot cider, or a hot toddy, but whatever it is, it seems to be working!

I used colors from the top row of the color board at

Color My Heart Color Dare.  

I also used Lemonade for her hair and Ballerina for her skin.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with QuicKutz circles
Background paper from Doodlebug
Sentiment also from Scrapper's Delights
Glittered snowflake embellies

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Creations
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Weds.

     Thanks for visiting.  I do appreciate the comment you leave.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Christmas Mouse with Holly

     Digi Doodle Studios has a sketch challenge over on Facebook this month and I pulled this adorable little mouse with his holly sprig out of my collection of DDS images and now I can add one more Christmas card to my stash.

     I love using creatures that are wearing Santa caps for Christmas cards rather than actual Santa images but that's probably because I don't have very many images of Santa or Father Christmas but lots of animal images.

     Here's my card and the sketch.

     

Colored with ProMarkers and Copics
Stickles added to the "O" in the Noel, the snowflake on his hat, and the ornament in his hand
Image and frame cut with Memory Box pinpoint dies
Strip of dp from scraps - stitched die from Unbranded dies
Snowflakes with glitter added (glitter is my fav embellie for Christmas cards!)
Gems from STAMPendous

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
As You Like It
C.R.A.F.T.
Digi Doodle Studios
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It
Winter Wonderland
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Feed the Birds for Christmas

     I'm sharing another of my favorite images from Mo's Digital Pencil which has the sweetest little urchin feeding the birds during the cold days of Christmas.  They have a color challenge for the theme this month which includes one of my favorite color combos - purples and aquas.

  

I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Spellbinders die
Papers from Doodlebug
Plaid paper cut with QuicKutz dies
Snowflakes cut with AI die
Glitter added to snowflakes
White background paper textured with embossing

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's
Cute N Crafty Christmas
House that Stamps Built (diagonal: die cut/ square card/ blue or purple)
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Digging In or Out?

     Happy New Year to all of you!  The first day of 2019 and the first day of our new January monthly challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and this month our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps.  They have their own challenge going - a Bingo board - which will be open through Friday.  I used the top row of that board to make my card - Texture/ No dp/ & a Bugaboo Stamps image.

     I love their cute images and have a quickly growing collection of them.  They generously provided the DT with images to use for this challenge and I'm using "Winter Bird Friend."

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then used a die from CUTplorations to cut the image.  I inked the edges and turned it on an angle on a square card.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges of it.

     I added the three, sparkly snowflakes and beyond that, left it CAS.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Stamping Sensations

     Please come and play with us this month.  The holidays are behind us (for the most part) and we have time to take a breath before Valentine's Day swoops in and inundates us.  We'd love to be inspired by you and your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

     I'm wishing each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas.  

     My card today celebrates the day and the blessings of the Christmas season which stretch back hundreds of years, including the era of Charles Dickens, the iconic author who brought us Tiny Tim, Scrooge, and all things Christmas from a classic Victorian period, including carolers in olde London.

     My dear friend and blogging buddy, Christi, sent me these die cut carolers (I don't know who made the dies) and I just had to use them before the rush of Christmas and spending time with family took over.  I thought it would make a perfect post for Christmas Day!

    Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
DL.ART
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Path of Positivity
Whoopsi Daisy

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flamingo and Unicorn Christmas

     I'm sharing another commission for two Christmas cards for 6 and 4 year old granddaughters.  The 6 year old loves unicorns and purple is her favorite color (mine, too!) and the 4 year old loves flamingos and her favorite color is pink.  Their Nana chose the images from many which I have in my collection and I did card designs which complement each other in style.

     First, the Flamingo:

     I don't know who drew this image.  It was in my collection of clip art.  I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then die cut it with an Unbranded die. 

     I dug out a Cheery Lynn die to cut the hat and scarf but had to add the pointy bit and the pompom myself since the hat was just a simple stocking cap and I wanted it to look more like a Santa hat.  I colored the brim with white gel ink.  I folded the scarf piece before adding it to the flamingo's neck.

     The sentiment was cut with a die from Die-Versions, and I added a glittery snowflake for some texture.

     Challenges for this card:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Outlawz Festive Friday

     Next, the Unicorn:

     This unicorn is an image from Bugaboo Stamps.  Again, I colored with ProMarkers, adding gold paint pen to the unicorn horn, then used the same Unbranded die to cut the image.  The hat is cut with that same Cheery Lynn die and I added the pointy bit and the pompom to make it into a Santa hat.  The 'fur' is done with white gel pen.

     I used the same die cut to cut the sentiment and added another glittered snowflake.  I think these two sisters will love their cards.  ;-D

     Challenges for the unicorn card:
Catch the Bug (Texture/ No dp/ Bugaboo image)
Crafty Calendar
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack

     That's it, my friends.  I trust you are on top of all the holiday things which seem to mount up during the last few days before Christmas.  How nice it is to NOT be the home to which the entire family will flock for Christmas dinner.  I love letting someone else in the family do all the cleaning and cooking and decorating while I simply travel to their house for the festivities.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie     

Here Comes Santa Claus

     This morning, I have the honor of being a Guest Designer for the Songs and Rhymes challenge at The Outlawz.  The challenge always uses lyrics as the inspiration for their challenge and this week it's "Here Come Santa Claus."

     I've done a pretty simple card using all die cuts instead of a hand colored image but I really like it even though it's different from what I normally create.

     I used dies from Die-Versions (Santa Sleigh and Reindeer), Art Impressions (Snowflakes), and Die-namics (North Pole sign.)  All of the snowflakes are heat embossed with clear EP.  Everything was adhered to blue CS.  No embellies, just the die cuts.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner
Cute N Crafty Christmas
Double D
Double Trouble  (all 3)
Dream Valley
Paper Girls
{Pin}spirational
Scrappy Land
Three Amigos

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Chaos - Day 6

     The Holiday Chaos week of daily challenges at Catch the Bug is almost over, with only one more day to go after today.  The inspiration theme is a color challenge, using this photo inspiration.

    Here's what I did with it.

     I started with a pre-colored image, then used ProMarkers to add orange and yellow to the birds and carrot noses on the snowmen, and a bit of gray to the sky.  I cut the image square with my largest die from QuicKutz, then cut two straight lines to run the ribbon behind the image.

     I tied a simple, plaid bow, added it at the bottom, and used a Die-Versions die to cut the red sentiment.  Again, a card design that's pretty CAS overall and definitely flat enough to mail.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy and Fancy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Polkadoodles
Simon Says Stamp & Show (bow, birds, bells)

     That's all I have for today but 2 posts in one day should be enough.  I'll have 2 posts tomorrow, too; the last of the Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos projects and a new one for the challenge at QKR Stampede.  Be sure to check in for those.

    Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Candle Light and Silent Night

     This post is all about the latest challenge which starts today over at Crafting with an Attitude.  As usual, our theme is "Anything Goes" and we have Lemon Shortbread as our fabulous sponsor!  They generously supplied us with images we could use and I fell in love with Candlelight Girl. Candle light at Christmas is probably my favorite thing during the holiday season.

     I think the image may have originally been intended for Halloween but it's so versatile, it worked perfectly for a Christmas card as well.  I think it could make a great birthday card, too.

     I colored with ProMarkers, made the stars with white gel pen, and cut it with a die from Gina Marie.  I used silver ribbon with glittery, silver spots which could be interpreted as winter snowflakes.  Everything went onto a navy blue card front, and I added a tiny, hand tied, bow below the image.  It's pretty CAS but that's what showcased the image.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Cardz TV
Creative Moments
Cute N Crafty Christmas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Southern Girls
That's Crafty!
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie