Easter in Blue

      Hey, guess what?  There's a new challenge starting today at Inspiration Station where we offer a different picture each month for inspiration.  Our challenges begin on the first Monday of each month and  ends on the Saturday before the next challenge begins.

     Here's our inspiration picture this month:

     Of course, it made me think of Easter and Easter bunnies so when I found the delightful image of Mrs. Bunny sporting her Easter bonnet, I had to use it (see card below.)  

     The image was originally a grayscale line drawing but I used blue colored pencil to go over each line and added white gel pen to each of the flowers for a highlighting effect. My favorite technique these days is to color grayscale images!  

     I added the sentiment to a scrap of white CS and mounted the colored image onto it.   Both of those were cut with QuicKutz dies.  That went onto a layer of gray, cross hatch dp.  I doodled around two edges of the dp and added everything to the card front.

     

     Challenges:

2 Sisters...Blog

Crafts Galore Encore

Critter Crazies

Die Cut Divas

Do-Al(l) Kreatives

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for today but I hope to see you playing along in our challenge.  Let us know what in the photo inspired you.  Was it the bunnies, or maybe the sense of spring?  the colors?  maybe the sweet little bunny kiss?  Make something and enter it into the challenge before Saturday, April 5.  Because of the way the dates fall, you get almost a week of extra time before the March challenge closes.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kind of Day

      Is anyone else out there looking forward to spring?  Yesterday,  the groundhog said another 6 weeks of Winter but I'm thinking of spring and butterflies and buds on the trees.  This challenge inspiration photo from Inspiration Station pretty much says it all.  :-D

     A new challenge starts today and, as always, we give you a photo for inspiration.  You can do nearly anything but we do want to know how you were inspired.  Was it the butterfly?  The colors?  The season?  A memory?  Tell us and add your project to the link up for the entries.

     Here's my card ad I've already told you that the butterfly was my inspiration.  The image is a clip art photo, edited so that the background stayed pre-colored but the butterfly was gray scale, and I colored it with ProMarkers and gel pens.  I cut the image with a Spellbinders die, and added a frame made with pumpkin CS and trimmed to fit.  I layered that onto two pieces of kraft CS, added to diagonal corners top and bottom.  

     The plaid background dp came from a Recollections stack which has been in my stash almost forever!  I ran across the stack last month, hidden away in a craft room cabinet, and decided it was time to start using the papers before they got brittle and crumbled to bits.  :-D

     Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Love ...Pretty Papers

Neglected Stuff

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

Triple B

     Come play in our challenge, won't you?  We love being inspired by what you create and enter.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Birthday

      We're at the mid-way point in our current challenge at FarmQuest where our theme this fortnight is "Bird Nests or Bird Houses" and, of course, every challenge entry must always feature a farm or country feel.  This time, I've done a second card using an image from Jan's Digi Stamps (now closed - sniff sniff) called Early Spring Nest.  I love this image!  I just know those are robin's eggs in the nest.  :-D

     I colored the image with Sanjoki and ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Cottage Cutz die.  I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die.  The background paper is a scrap from an old DCWV scrapbooking stack.  Pretty CAS overall, though it looks more complex because of the background.

     Challenges:

     Please come play with us during this upcoming week.  We love being inspired by what you create and enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puddle Jumping

      A new challenge is starting over at FarmQuest and our theme this time is "Rain Gear."  Of course, it must always have that farm/country feel to it.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew it was time to dig out one of my House Mouse stamps.  I adore this stamp and will find any excuse to use it, including "Don't rain on my parade" days.  :-D

     This time, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Cuts.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sky blue CS I used for the background was embossed with my Linen folder before attaching it to the card front, just for a touch of texture.   I grabbed one of my white, hand-sewn, signature bows from the stash, 'dyed' it with a marker, and added a sequin before gluing it to the card.

     Pretty CAS, plus nice and flat for mailing.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says (Rainy Days and Mondays)

     That's it for FarmQuest this fortnight.  Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bunny Birthday Card

      Here I go featuring another Mariola Budek image on my card, this one a commissioned birthday card for a young girl who loves bunnies.  I colored with Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The happy birthday sentiment was cut with a die from Sizzix.  The papers are scraps which originally came from a Recollections stack.   (...and, yes, she loved the card!  :-D)

     Challenges:

Butterfly (salmon, sea green, sky blue)

Creative Inspirations

Double D

I Love Markers

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     That's it for today.  See you tomorrow with anther new post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Bees & Blossoms

      We are actually having a delightful spring day today and I did this card to celebrate it.  It's also another card for my Birthday stash.  It features one of my favorite spring images from SheepSki Designs, called "Bee n Blossom."  I seem to use it at least one time every spring.  :-D

     Colored with Sanjoki markers, with sparkle gel pen used on the wings, then cut with a fancy Spellbinders die.  Both of the papers are from Recollections and the background has embossed suede texture.  The stripes are shiny gold and also have texture.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

I used colors from the palette at Not2Shabby.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Bastel-Traum

Beautiful Blossoms

Country View ...

Crafter's Cafe

Happy...Stampers

Papercraft

SheepSki Designs

Star Stampz

     May your weather be gorgeous and mild, and feel like spring.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Pastel Door Hanger Plaque

      If you have kids or grandkids who are into decorating the house (or even their part of the house) for Easter wouldn't this image from Birdie Brown make a perfect door hanger plaque?  I used it on a card because if I did a door hanger, my feline fur babies would just delight in pulling it down.  This image has been in my collection of digis for at least 5 years and I don't think I've used it before.

     I colored the image with my new Sanjoki alcohol markers, then cut it with a rectangle die from Tonic Studios.  I used a Fiskars punch to round the top corners.  I found the mint green lace in my stash (another old stash item that's been there well over 5 years!)   I thought it worked perfectly with the green in the image so I used it for the background by layering it onto the card front.  Don't you just love the faux stitching in the image?  It really adds to the delightful "primitive art" look.

     Challenges:

As You Like It (Critters because they are so much cuter than people!)

Craftlandia

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Crafty Gals Corner

Outlawz SAR (It's Spring!)

Outlawz Thurs

Polkadoodles

     Second post done and the third for today will be posted later this afternoon.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Dragon

      You're going to see probably 2 posts per day for at least the next week so that I can share all the Easter cards I've been making, trying to get all the ones for family and friends finished, plus the ones for the craft fair next Friday where I'm going to have a vendor booth.  I searched for and printed several free, clip art images (some pre-colored and some not) in addition to the ones I've hand colored and for hte last 2 days, I've been putting cards together.

     The one I'm sharing today will be my eldest granddaughter's card because she's the one who adores dragons as much as I do.  This image shows you exactly what happens when the wrong kind of eggs - meaning not CHOCOLATE! - get put into the Easter Basket. :-D  

     I colored the image (from Crafty Moments) with ProMarkers, then cut it with a Memory Box, pin point die.  The background papers are from BLD, a company new to me, but the paper pack was a gift and I really love them.  Those two papers happen to be from a single sheet of two sided paper which worked perfectly for my color combo.

     I added the sentiment after I cut it and inked the edges, then made a hand-sewed bow using satin ribbon.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Double D

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Simon Says

     Don't worry, my granddaughter never checks my blog so she won't see this until Easter.  But you can check again in about an hour wen my second post for today will be live.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Madness

      Everyone is talking about March Madness in the midst of the basketball playoffs, but since I rarely follow basketball, I wanted to share a card celebrating simple Spring Madness!  Maybe this will hurry it along and get this crazy winter behind us.  :-D

     This darling bunny is an image drawn by Mariola Budek (I love, love LOVE her images), and I think it's a perfect reflection of how every bunny must feel when spring makes the clover grow and the sky is blue beyond all imagination.  I colored the image with some of my new markers by Sanjoki, a brand I'm trying out for comparative purposes with both ProMarkers and Copics.  So far, I find them to be comparable in everything but price since the Sanjokis are far more affordable.  I have a set of 120 so finding the exact color I want for blending purposes isn't a problem.  I'm still adjusting to the brush tips because they seem to be a bit more flexible than Copics and, since I've been a dedicated ProMarker user for nearly a decade now, I need to hone my skills when it comes to brush tips anyway.  

     Once colored, I cut the image with a Gina Marie die, then layered it onto my card front.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, added it to the top of the image and called it finished!  :-D  I think it's cute enough to use for an Easter card.  What do you think?

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Polkadoodles

Simon Says Stamp ...

Taylormadecards ...

There's a Stamp ...

     That's all I have for today but I have more bunnies and more Easter card to post this week.  Easter isn't that far away and I still have several more cards to make for family and friends.  See you later and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Easter

      Our newest challenge starts today at QKR Stampede, where our theme is always Anything Goes and where there are 2 winners for each fortnightly challenge.  The first winner is someone who has used a QKR Stampede image (or one from our sister company, Eureka Stamps) and the second for any image from any company.  You can win fun and fabulous QKR images if your entry is chosen.

     For my DT card today, I used a cute Easter Bunny image called "Happy Easter."  I love working with 'cute' images, even more than flowery images because cute images are so much more versatile.  It's hard to use flowers on a masculine card but cute works no matter what.  :-D

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a Spellbinders rectangle die.  If I remember correctly, that set of dies was the first I ever bought and it's been well used.  It also generated a love for dies of all kinds, shapes, and sizes!  :-D  I used a 'grass' die from Your Next Stamp.  I sewed a quick, pink, satin bow, and then added a few sequins for just the tiniest bit of sparkle.  I used my 'Linen" EF on the green card front.

My color combo came from My Favorite Things.

     

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Colouring in Scrapland

C.R.A.F.T.

Cupcake Inspirations

Cutie Pie

Dragonfly Dreams

Get Creative

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

     With an Anything Goes theme, you have absolutely no reason not to enter something in our challenge.  Come  play.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Lessons from Dad

      I'd never really thought about how the next generation of Easter Bunnies were trained, or even about the fact that there must be 'next generations' since bunnies (Easter or otherwise) aren't all that long-lived.  But when I saw this image from Beccy's Place, a freebie for their April challenge, I knew immediately that Father Easter Bunny was schooling his children in the Easter Bunny arts.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a QuicKutz die.  The aqua framing was also cut with a QuicKutz die.  Both of the dp came from a Recollections stack.  I left it rather CAS because I wanted the bunnies to be the focus.  I know, I know, many people insist that only "white" open space counts as CAS but I prefer to accept any and all forms of open space, including dp patterns!  I don't believe in excluding all those other lovely colors.  :-D

     I think this one will make a great masculine Easter card.

 I used all 4 colors from 4 Season.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Colouring in Scrapland

Cupcake Inspirations

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Get Creative

Inspiration Station

Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for this weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

April Showers in the Garden

      This morning I awoke to cooler temperatures and am hoping that's a sign that spring is actually going to get here and stay a bit.  I know that sounds strange to say cooler temperatures must be a sign of spring but we had record high temperatures over the last three days (90, 91, & 89) and it felt like we had winter on one day, then jumped directly into summer with no spring at all !  The prediction is for a chance of rain today so I'm hopeful.  :-D  (Yeah, the rain has arrived and we really need it !!)

     As soon as I was fully awake, I decided on this adorable image to celebrate the cooler temps and the chance of rain.  It's a House Mouse image, of course, and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the light blue frame with CUTplorations dies.  I used my Linen embossing folder on both the frame and the dark blue background CS.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and matted twice.  Very CAS with lots of blue space instead of white.

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Clever Dexter

Colour Crazy

Crafts Galore ...

Cut It Up

House Mouse

Paperbabe

STAMPlorations

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Easter Bunny Gnome

      I'm sharing another image from @Conie Fong, this one from the Easter Bunny Gnome set.  There are several images in the set and a couple of sentiments.  Not only is this a darling gnome, all the bunnies are precious in their own right and could easily be used for any 'bunny' occasion apart from Easter.  :-D  Check out our challenges this month.  There's still almost a week to go before they end.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I ran a scrap of aqua CS through my Linen EF and attached that to the card front.  The glittery, silver strip was another scrap from the basket and I hand-tied the bow using gingham ribbon.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Catz

Dare 2B Artzy

Dream Valley

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Talking to Flowers

      This sweet little lady (fairy? pixie?), who's talking to the "spring flower," is an adorable image from Star Stampz, who just happens to be our challenge sponsor this week at Creative Knockouts.  Our theme this time is "Spring is in the Air."  

     I loved working with this image.  It colored so beautifully.  I used my ProMarkers, then cut a frame using a Sue Wilson die.  In this case, it's the frame which was cut, not the image piece.  I used another Sue Wilson die to cut the frame around the sentiment, and used a QuicKutz oval die to cut the actual sentiment piece.  I do love using dies - clearly one of my favorite things to do!  

     I added a mulberry paper flower to the sentiment frame.  I went a little crazy earlier this week cutting and embossing flower petals from mulberry paper and turning out finished flowers.  I think I've used one on every card this week.  :-D

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Creative Inspirations

Outlawz SAR

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says ... & Show

Stamping Sensations

Star Stampz (cranberry CS)

We Love Stamping

     We'd love to see you playing in our challenge this week.  "Spring" is such an easy theme this time of year when most of us are so tired of cold, rainy, snowy weather and are longing for those flowers to pop from the earth.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dragon Bouquet

      It's been a few days since I posted and I apologize but I've been a bit under the weather.  Resting seemed the best therapy.  :-D  

     But today I'm back!  I want to share one of my DT cards I made for Conie Fong which features one of her latest images, called "Dragon Bouquet."  Each month, we have 2 separate challenges, one for just coloring of Conie Fong images and the other for finished projects like this one, also with Conie Fong images.  We've just started a third monthly challenge, called Blast from the Past, into which you may enter older Conie Fong cards you've already posted to your blog or social media sites.  Click on the 'challenges' link above to get to the albums for any of those.  They are all on our FB site.

     Here's what I did with "Dragon Bouquet."  It's a fun spring card which I'm going to use as one of my Easter cards.  I used ProMarkers to color the image, then I cut one side of it with a border die from Your Next Stamp.  

     I used another of those border dies to cut a piece of glitter CS and I used those on each side of the card.  The pink CS background was embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  I used a Tonic Studios die to cut the sentiment.  The last thing was to tie a double loop bow for one upper corner and it was finished.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Paperbabe

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

Your Next Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you playing in one of our challenges this month.  We need to have at least 10 entries in each one for prizes to be awarded.  You must use Conie Fong images but there are freebies available on the FB site.  Check them out.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulip & Pansy Spring

      Welcome to my DT post for the Paper Funday March challenge.  This month our theme is a color combo, "Green and Gold" which you can use for lovely spring projects, or you can focus on St. Patrick's Day, or just create something wonderful with those colors .  They are a delicious combination!  

     Our sponsor this month is Eureka Stamps and I used a lovely image from Eureka called "Tulip and Pansy Frame."   I colored the image with my ProMarkers, adding a few highlights with gel pens.  I hand cut the image for an 'outside the frame' appearance, then mounted it onto a black rectangle which was cut with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The background dp is from Recollections.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Double Trouble

Outlawz SAR

Paperbabe

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting and come play in our challenge.  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

Traces of Spring

      Today, in honor of the February challenge starting over at Jan's Digi Stamps, I'm sharing one of Jan's spring releases, called "Traces of Spring."  It's on sale throughout February.

     I reversed the image before printing and then colored it as closely as I could to the pre-colored image, using my Promarkers.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz oval die and layered it onto a dp scrap from the basket.  The sparkly ribbon I used for the hand-tied bow was also a leftover scrap but it worked so perfectly for dressing up the card that I couldn't resist using it.

    The sweet dragonfly is machine embroidered with sheer taffeta fabric and iridescent thread used for the wings.

      Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Greetings

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Remember, our challenges at Jan's Digi Stamps are always "Anything Goes" and you may use any products from any company, but if you choose to use a JDS image, your card goes into a separate draw only for those using JDS and that increases your chances of winning by a huge amount!  Can't wait to see what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holy Cow !

      I was invited to be a Guest Designer at The Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge this fortnight and I happily said "Yes."  The sponsor is Hetty Clare and this adorable image is called "The Sun Hat."  I thought it was a fabulous image and I can tell you that it was fun to color!   

     I think I managed to get all the colors in the cue card for the challenge and, of course, used the twist of "Ribbon."  

     Doesn't she look like she's standing in a field of spring grass with a breeze blowing through all that hair?  :-D  I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Dare 2B Artzy die.  I cut the purple CS background with the same die, and inlaid the image into it after taping the strip of satin ribbon across the spot where the image would be.  

     The sentiment, cut with an Avery Elle die, was added on top of the image and I put the image into the background.  I laid that entire piece onto pink CS, wrapped the ends of the ribbon to the back side, and adhered that to the card front.  I used more of that satin ribbon to make the bow.

     Challenges:

Cutie Pie

Dream Valley

House...Stamps Built

Lemon Shortbread

Paperminutes

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     I hope to see you playing along in this challenge.  Not a member of  The Outlawz?  Consider joining; it's free, takes almost no time, and they have challenges for each day of the week plus one for using old stash items, and even a progressive challenge where you can get new images from a different artist once each month.  When you've joined, you can sign up to follow as many or as few of the different challenges as you like.  :-D

  

    Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flying Lessons

      It's Thursday and time for the latest challenge at Creative Knockouts!  Our theme this week is "Furry Friends" and our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps, who provided images for the DT to use.  

      I'm sure many of you, looking at this cute image for the first time, will presume that the 'Whimsical Cat' is looking for an opportunity to pounce on the little birds.  But, NO, you'd be wrong!  He's actually taking flying lessons from them!  lol

     Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a die from QuicKutz.  Framed with another QuicKutz die cut and the largest die in that set cut the striped frame.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The mesh ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  All the dp, including the wood grain background, came from a stack by DCWV.  The grosgrain 'butterfly' bow is one of my favorite styles, deliberately tied into a butterfly shape.

I used all 6 of the colors from Color Board #448 at Color Dare.

     Challenges:

Catch the Bug

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Scrapping4Fun

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our Furry Friends challenge this week!   You could win a fantastic prize from Bugaboo Stamps and we'll enjoy being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie