Bow in Her Hair

       When I first saw this image by Mariola Budek, my thoughts went straight to my mom who combed out my hair every day for the first 14 years of my life and dressed it in some sort of braid, with bows tied into it most days.  By the time I was 14, my hair was long enough that I could sit on it, even when braided.  Up to that point, I had never had it cut.  What a patient woman she was!  :-D

     I colored this image (sorry, I can't remember the name of it but it probably came in one of the many hairstyle images books she has available) with Sanjoki markers and used water color paints on the background.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios, and inked the edges with an ink pad.  

     The card front has been water colored, then run through my Linen embossing folder for texture.  The sentiment was cut with  QuicKutz die and the flower layers were Spellbinders cuts.  I added Wink of Stella and glitter to the larger flower layer, and just a tiny spot of Stickles to the tiny flower layer.  The bow in her hair was hand-tied using a bit of sparkle twine.

     Challenges:

Di's Digi Designs (bow)

Gem of a Challenge

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Thurs

Paper Funday

Pattie's Creations

There's a Stamp ...

Word Art Weds

     That's it for today but I'll have another post tomorrow so I hope you'll stop by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat on the Fishbowl

      How's this for a complete break from Valentines?  I was inspired once again by the new "No Stamps" challenge over at The Outlawz.  I'm putting together birthday cards for family which I'll use throughout the year.  I usually try to have them all done in January but since this month seems to have been dedicated to Valentine cards, I'm pretty sure making the birthday cards will be dribbling on throughout February.  :-D

     This card was made by die cutting three different pieces of scrap watercolor paper, and one of regular CS, which I colored appropriately before cutting them.  I used the same die on each colored scrap, then cut the parts I wanted from each of those die cuts and pieced them together to make the whole.  The die came from Cheapo Dies.

     The green background scrap was embossed with my Linen EF before layering it onto the card front.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.  I found a scrap of burlap, added it to the right side, and trimmed it to fit.  The bow was hand-tied using sparkle twine from We Are Memory Keepers.

     The birthday sentiment is on the inside.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Digi Choosday

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Snippet's Playground

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds

     I love the end result of this card, especially the die cuts and I know I'll be trying that technique again.  Using the die on each water colored scrap means that I didn't really know how it would look until I was layering it all together.  I'm going to try the same thing again but this time by die cutting white CS and then coloring the different parts with ProMarkers.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa's Jalopy

      My first post was for Halloween, and this one is for Christmas.  Even though our challenges at Jan's Digi Stamps don't start again until the first Monday in November, my card today features one of the new releases from Jan's Digi Stamps, which is on sale the entire month of October!   It's called "Santa's Jalopy" and I think it's adorable!  I merged the image and the sentiment (also from the set), then colored with Pro-Markers, sparkle gel pen, and silver paint pen.

     The background dp is from Graphic 45 (an old 'Joy to the World' stack)  and I added sparkle twine, tied into a bow with a sequin added.  Very CAS and flat for mailing.

I pulled my colors from this inspiration photo

at CMH Color Dare #463 - red, green, gold, brown, white gray

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Allsorts (Christmas, Santa, ProMarkers)

Colour Crazy

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Paperbabe

Peace on Earth

Polkadoodles

     You really should check out the other sets on sale this month.  Just click on this link to get to the store.  Also, take a moment and go see what the rest of the DT have created by accessing the Jan's Digi Stamps blog.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Walking the Cat(erpillar)

      How did it get to be August 1st already?!?  This year is flying by but I'm so ready for it to be fall with the heat of summer behind us.  Regardless, it's the start of a new month and a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  Our sponsor this month is the fantastic SheepSki Designs.  They supplied images for the DT to use and I chose this adorable "Walkies" image.  Andrea's shop can now be found on her SheepSki Designs blog.  You can also find SheepSki Designs on their Facebook page.

     Did you know that August 8 is "International Cat Day?"  It is, and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies is partnering with the Double Trouble challenge from today until August 19.  In honor of International Cat Day, they have a "Critters" theme and anything you enter into our 2 Crafty Critter Crazies challenge will qualify to be entered into their challenge during those dates.

     I know this isn't an actual "Cat" image, but I thought this Cat(erpillar) might do just as well.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Die-namics.  The outer wide, green, frame was also cut with that same die and I inset the image into that frame so that it  has a double row of 'stitching.'  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, then framed with a scrap of that same green CS.  I added the sparkly baker's twine and tied it into a square knot.  Rather CAS but this way it works as either a feminine or masculine card.

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Outlawz SAR

Paperbabe

Paperminutes

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Be sure to come and play with us this month.  The challenge runs until the 25th of the month and winners/Top 3 are chosen and posted a day or two later.  We love seeing you play with us each month and love being inspired by what you create.

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie