Gnome for Christmas

      It's the day for a new challenge over at FarmQuest Country Christmas where our theme is always "Anything Country Christmas Goes."  We want to see outdoor Christmas scenes or decorations on the farmhouse, or nearly anything that is both Christmas and outdoorsy, but not big city streets or shopping malls or cityscapes.  

     I chose this clip art image with three gnomes on the Christmas Tree Farm.  I don't know the artist but if you do, please let me know.  I love to give proper credit where possible.  I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers, added highlights to their beards with a white gel pen, and cut the image with an old QuicKutz die.  I love the shape of it.  I inked the edges in red, then layered it onto a background of glittery, golden holly leaves.  That CS came from Paper Studios and the dp strip along the right hand side is a scrap from a DCWV stack.

     The glittery golden bow is from K & Co. and I thought it added exactly the proper amount of sparkle and glitz.  I admit, when it's Christmas, glitter is my absolute favorite and when it's combined with gold, that takes it over the top!  The sparkle adds so much to the festive feel of the holiday.  :-D

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Aloha Friday

Colorful Options

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Kerst / Christmas

Outlawz Friday

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in this challenge.  Just create something that celebrates both country and Christmas and you're in!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      Here it is, my final card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  The last day theme is always "Do What You Love," kind of like Anything Goes but better because we get to use things we love.  For me, there are so many things I love to put on Christmas cards, but I think snowmen have to be at the top of the list.  Actually, if I could find a good reason, I'd do snowmen cards all year round.  :-D

     Today's card features one of Beccy's new snowmen, named Winston and released this year.  I thought he'd look great dressed in a burgundy hat and scarf with gold fringe and earmuffs.  I colored him with ProMarkers and added gold Stickles to the star.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch.  

     I wanted the card to sparkle so I dug through my stash of glitter CS scraps and pieced together the background on the card.  I love glitter and when it comes to Christmas cards, I always debate with myself about whether silver glitter or gold glitter is best.  In this case, I was able to use mostly silver glitter but the star has gold sparkle, so a combination of them is the absolute best!

     The image and the "Snowball Fight" sentiment were layered on, using a good amount of craft glue (which I've found is the most effective for attaching CS to glitter.)  Even the stickiest of double sided tapes tends to come loose and peel off of glittered CS after just a short time so glue it is.  

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Jingle Bells (sparkle & colors)

My Time to Craft

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

     The Christmas season is really on top of us now but it's nice to have another 30 cards in my stash.  Ok, maybe 25 instead of 30 since I did use Thanksgiving as the holiday on 4 or 5 of my cards this month.  Still, my Christmas card stash is looking good this year because of all the other cards I've done between January and October.  I still have colored Christmas images waiting to be made into cards so I'll have several additional posts throughout December.

  

    In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Sparkle

      Today I'm sharing a Christmas card, maybe the first one I've done since my few "Christmas in July" cards.  This one is  little different in that only three markers were used (yellow ProMarker on the glow of the candle flame, green ProMarker on the fir foliage, and light gray ProMarker for the shadow behind the swag), then the rest of the coloring was done by layering on sparkle gel pens over the greenery and the flame.  It gives a very soft, sparkly, glow to the image.  White gel pen was used for adding highlights to the ornaments, too.

     Once colored, I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then inked the edges with a green ProMarker.  The sentiment came from a scrap of Christmas CS, probably from K & Co., and I cut it with the smallest die from that same set of Tonic Studios rectangle dies, & again inked the edges with a ProMarker.  The background dp is from a Recollections stack.  I found the strip of holly & berries dp in the scrap basket. applied it across the top of the card, and trimmed it to size.

     Challenges:

Gem of a Challenge

I Love ProMarkers

Penny's P-C

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bedtime on Christmas Eve

      Welcome to another challenge at FarmQuest General Store where our theme is always "Anything Farm/Country Goes."  We are sponsored by QKR Stampede and the prize is the QKR Stampede images which have been used by the DT in their inspiration cards.  The challenge runs until the  November 6th so you have plenty of time to get an entry done.

     For my card today, I used 'Night Time Owl' and decided to color him appropriately for a Christmas card.  The image is colored with Sanjoki markers and water colors.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and also cut the green CS frame around the image with a die one size larger.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  

     The striped and polka dot dp, which looks like one piece, is actually made using scrap strips of two different papers.  The sparkly CS was also a leftover found in the basket of holiday scraps.

     My "country" elements are: the owl, polka dots, & stripes.

     Challenges:

52 Weeks to Christmas

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Friday

Peace on Earth

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

    Come join our challenge this month.  We love seeing what you create!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Little Sparkle

      Hello, friends and followers.  I'm finally getting back to the monthly challenge over at Beccy's Place.  It's been a while since I played last and I want to get back into a regular routine of playing there each month.  For this card, I used her lovely "Hydrangea" image and one of her sentiments, also.

     This is a pre-colored image because I needed a fast and simple card for a friend.  I merged the sentiment onto the image before printing, then cut them with a Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment inspired me to dig through my collection of glittered CS stacks and this one seemed to bring out the bits of purple in the flower petals so it got the nod.  I cut a piece to the size of the card front, layered it on, then added the image.  Quick and easy card and really CAS but with lots of eye appeal.

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

     Happy crafting to all.  NanaConnie

Summer Garden

     Another Friday and we are starting a new 2-week challenge at Crafty Catz.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we also give you an OPTIONAL theme if you'd like to use it and this week, that option is "Summer."  We are sponsored by All Dressed Up and I used their adorable image called 'Garden Wheel Barrow.'   I reversed the image before printing it.

     The image was colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut with  die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges with  brown marker.   The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.  Although it's difficult to see in the photo, the paisleys in the background paper were heat embossed with sparkle EP.  Rather CAS but for the fancy paper.     

(EDITED to add this photo of the heat embossing)

     Challenges:

As You Like It  (for spring or summer, always soft colors because they just say pastels!)

Craft-alnica

Creative Inspiration

Double D

My Favorite Things

Outlawz Thurs

Simon Says Stamp

Triple B

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back in a day or two with another couple of posts for the FarmQuest challenges.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Pipsqueak and Snowman

      It's Friday and that means another challenge is starting over at Crafty Catz.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we offer you an optional theme if you choose to use it.  The option this week is "Sparkle."  Our delightful sponsor this week is Last Minute Manda and they supplied digis for the DT to use.  I chose "Pipsqueak and Little Snowman."  This image set actually has 6 different snowmen so it's really a bargain!

     I chose to water color the image this time, then I cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die, added it on top of the image piece and trimmed the corners to fit the card.  I made the card base from green CS and added a sparkly silver mesh ribbon on the right.  I also finished the inside front flap but forgot to photograph it.  Very quick and simple, overall.

     Challenges:

     I'm looking forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's always Anything Goes but since it's definitely the time for making Christmas cards, it shouldn't be too difficult to add a bit of sparkle and do the optional theme, too.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Caroling Hedgies

      Another Penny Black image but this time for another Christmas card.  I told you I was doubling down during this last full week of July.  :-D  I've made another four Christmas cards for the stash in the last 24 hours.  I've been digging through the folder of stamped and printed Christmas images left over from last year, none of which were colored yet, but having them stamped and ready made a huge difference in my crafting energy.

     I adore the Penny Black hedgies.  They are definitely favorites, second only to the cats and kittens.  I colored this image with my Sanjoki markers, then cut it with an octagon die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was already on the image piece when I pulled it from the folder.  I used papers from Doodlebug and Paper Pizazz, both of which were scraps.  I added a tiny bit of heat embossing to the blades on the skates in the background paper.  The embossing powder has a bit of glitter in it so there's a tiny touch of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Di's Digi Designs

Happy...Stampers

Let's Craft and ...

Penny Black Sat.

Polkadoodles

Rudolph Days

Star Stampz

Worldwide Crafters ...

     That's all I have for today but tomorrow I'll have another post.  Do stop by again, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Even Gators Have to Shop!

      It's Friday and that means another challenge is starting at Crafty Catz, where our themes are always "Anything Goes" but we give you an OPTIONAL theme each time which you may use if you like.  This week, the theme is: Sparkle or Shine.  We don't have a sponsor this week so the DT were free to use whatever images they chose.  

     I decided on a Christmas Gator from QKR Stampede mostly because I wanted to add to my Christmas card stash but also because it's fun to use sparkly, shiny things on Christmas projects.  I went through my stash of Christmas scraps, pulled a few bits of dp which were long enough to make the striped background, and included in those a delightful green glitter paper.

     I added the sentiment before printing the image, colored it with ProMarkers and Copics, then cut it with a CUTplorations stitched die.  I found a bit of twine and tied a bow.  Pretty simple except for putting all the scraps together for the background but it looks far more complex than it is.

     Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Carlin's Card ...

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Dragonfly Dreams

Happy ... Stampers

Let's Craft and Create

Lil Patch of ...

Merry Little Christmas

Star Stampz

     Come play with us this week, won't you?  It's Anything Goes and you can use the Sparkle or Shine if you choose but it's not required.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hedgehog's Love Letter

      Yesterday, I promised to post the second card, with another Penny Black hedgie image, made for the moms of college kids to ship off in the "care package" boxes with a Valentine theme.   I think this little guy is even cuter than the one yesterday (which you can find by scrolling down one post.)  The hedgies are new stamps for me, and I have another 3 which I'll be sharing through the month of January.

     On this one, also water colored, I used QuicKutz dies to cut the image and the paper frame, then added a glitter paper strip from the scrap basket.  The image is mounted on dimensional dots.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and the edges were inked to make it stand out from the white card front.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Knockouts

Outlawz Thurs Twist

Paper Funday

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

World Wide DT

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stocking Girl

      The delightful image on this card is from the Progressive Challenge at LeAnn's World 101, but it as for the November challenge and I had it firmly in mind that the challenge ran from the 5th through the 14th of each month.  Ooops, it now starts on the 5th of each month so I'm late posting my card but I posted it anyway and now I'm sharing it with all of you.  :-D

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  I mounted it onto a scrap of dp which came from an old stack by K & Co.  I added burgundy CS to an A2 card front, then layered on the image and added sparkly red ribbon to the edge.  I used that same ribbon to hand tie the bow.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Avery Elle.

     Challenges:

4 Season

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Inspiration Station

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Peace on Earth

Simon Says Stamp

Taylormade ...

There's a Stamp ...

Winter Wonderland

Your Next Stamp

     That's all for today but I'll be back tomorrow with a new card.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Mitten

      Today I'm sharing my Letter "M" card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  I've used one of Beccy's Mitten images, this one filled with delicious gingerbread men.  Other "M"s used on my card are: Markers, Metal glitter paper, Metallic gold paint, Mat, and Magenta.

     I colored with ProMarkers, plus gel pens and gold metallic paint on the gingerbread men, then cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I used a larger oval die from that same  QuicKutz set to cut the metal glitter paper I used for a mat behind the image.  The dp is from a DCWV stack and it's both embossed and sparkly.  I fussy cut the tags panels and used them as the sentiment.

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Letter "I" at Beccy's Place

     GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS
Thank you all for your service to your country.

      I'm up to the Letter "I" on the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and maybe, by the end of the weekend, I'll be up to date.  :-D  For the letter "I," I've incorporated Ice, Ice skating, Image, Inking (on the edges of the cut image and sentiment), and Iridescent (the snowflake dots ribbon.)

     The Beccy's image was colored using ProMarkers and white gel pen, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  I inked the edges using a ProMarker.  The background dp is from a "Stonewashed" stack by Paper Studio.  I thought it looked a bit like snow swirling in the air.  The glittered ribbon with the dots (snowflakes?) is iridescent but that doesn't show very well in the photo.  The sparkly red ribbon I used for the bow came from my stash.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Have a wonderful start to your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Too Tuckered for Treats

      Remember those early days when the very youngest Trick or Treaters were completely worn out after trekking their way to maybe 5 houses?  This card is a salute to all those intrepid little toddlers who were brave enough to give it a try and who then slept through the night as though they craved sleep more than the sweetest of treats!

     The image was reduced in size from a digital coloring book page, printed in grayscale (along with the sentiment), and colored with ProMarkers.  I used an Unbranded die to cut the image.  The background dp was a scrap from a Memory Makers stack.  I used sparkle ribbon and the bow was hand-tied using satin ribbon.

This is also my Day 16 entry for the
 LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

 

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Mirtillamente

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Rabisco

There's a Stamp ...

Your Next Stamp

     I hope your weekend has gone well and that you managed to find some relaxing time just for yourself.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Decoration Day

      When I was a child, my mother always talked about "Decoration Day" in the same tones one used to say "Valentines" or "Fourth of July."  I actually thought there was a national holiday called "Decoration Day."  Once I attained adulthood and she was no longer responsible for birthday celebrations for her children, I learned that "Decoration Day" meant the day she set aside to bake and decorate the birthday cakes for the celebrations.  lol

     This image from House Mouse brings back those childhood memories.  I used ProMarkers on the image, then cut it with a Tonic Studios die.  The two layers of dp scraps were also cut with dies from Tonic Studios.  The dark, sparkly background was done using DCWV card stock on the front before adding the 3 layers in the image piece and the additional 2 layers in the sentiment piece.  I added a hand-tied, gingham bow as the final touch.

     One more card for the birthday card stash which will get used for a grandchild this fall.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Happy Little Stampers

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Greetings

PIP

Rabisco

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Vintage Christmas Gnome

      My first post today was for the letter "U" and now this one is for the letter "V" at the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  My "V"s are: Very Vintage, Vermilion, & Verdigris.  

      The little gnome is from Beccy's Place and I colored with ProMarkers, adding a few highlights with gel pens.  I cut the shape with scissors so that I could pop him up on dimensional tape.  Once that was done, I dug through my scrap basket and found bit and pieces which I could cut with dies.  I cut a larger piece of white CS with a framing die from Amy Design.  The glittery poinsettia pieces were cut with Impression Obsession dies from silver and gold scraps.

     The red plaid dp is a scrap from Graphic 45 and I added spots of Stickles to it for s little sparkle.  The larger green dp is a scrap of 12 x 12 paper by K & Co.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment.

     This card is going to a very special friend of mine who dearly loves anything and everything vintage.  :-D

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas Kickstart

Christmas w Cuties

Double D

Paperminutes

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     That's all I have until late tonight.  Come play in the daily challenges at Beccy's Place.  The 30 Days of Holidays are almost over.  :-D  NanaConnie

"J" for Joy

      I don't even know how many days out of the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place are behind us but if my count is correct, I'm actually posting this card on the actual day the letter "J" is being used.  lol   My own "J"s are: Joy (an image from Beccy's), Jade green, & Jungle green.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and added glitter to both words.  The sentiment/image is cut with a Spellbinders die.  The background die cut is also  cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I used two ribbons, one a deep red satin and the top one a sheer ribbon which glittered circles.  The bow is hand-tied using a strip of folded over netting.  I added a few drops of Stickles to the bow for a tiny glint of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

Digi Doodle Studios

Dragonfly Dreams

Lil Patch of ...

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Stamping Sensations

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Embossed Dahlias

      I'm still trying new things but this time with an old, tried and true technique - heat embossing.  After all the hundreds of times I've done heat embossing, I still love it.  Nothing else gives the instant gratification of watching the embossing powder change from dull and grainy to shiny and smooth.  :-D  

     The dahlias in the focal image were recycled from an old birthday card (which was partially eaten by the felines before being rescued!) and I have no idea what company made or sold the digital image but I die cut it with an Unbranded die, then inked it by hand with a Versamark pen (not all that easy to do.)  I added sparkly EP  from my stash and heated it until it turned shiny.

     The sentiment was stamped with a rubber stamp (maker unknown) and cut with an Avery Elle die, then matted with a tiny scrap of the leftover CS after die cutting the image.  The dp is a scrap from Colorbok and everything is mounted onto a light pink card base.  The photo doesn't do justice to the sparkle and texture of the 'real life' dahlias!

     Challenges:

Angie's Digitals

Aud Sentiments

Crafty Creations

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Dream Valley

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of ...

Polkadoodles

Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wrong End of the Hourglass

      It's time for a new challenge at Creative Knockouts and this time we're sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps.  Our theme is to "Finish the Inside" of your cards.  I used the "Beach Friends" image and sentiment, which reminded me of my mom who used to say that age 45 was when the sands of time began running into the wrong end of the hour glass.  When I saw that sentiment, I just had to use it!  lol  However, in my case, I think they started running to the wrong end at about age 30.  :-(

And here's what I did on the inside...

Colored w ProMarkers

Background paper w sparkle from DCWV

Double-loop bow, hand-tied

Inside dp = K & Co.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Creations

Crafty Gals Corner

Double Trouble 

Get Creative

I {heart} ProMarkers

Paperminutes

Word Art Weds

     I hope we are going to see you playing along this week.  Remember to finish the inside of your card and then submit it as an entry.  We love being inspired by you!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stay Warm

      In these couple of days after Christmas, our temperatures have dropped drastically; below freezing overnight and then this morning it warmed enough to rain.  Now we have cold sunshine amid the scattering clouds.  I don't want any of you Canadians or Mid-Westerners laughing at me!  Remember, I'm in California where we only have snow in the high Sierra Nevadas and when it gets below freezing, we really feel it.  I don't even own a winter coat!  lol

     This card perfectly reveals what's happening in our neck of the Christmassy woods.  The image is from House Mouse.

I pulled colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter & Liquid Pearls on snow & pompoms

Cut w Fiskars

"Linen" EF used on blue CS

Snowflakes cut w AI dies

  (they sparkle but it doesn't show very well)

Sentiment printed & fussy cut

     Challenges:

Artsy Stamper

Craftlandia

Cute Card Thurs

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

House that Stamps Built

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Say Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie