Did Santa get Lost in the Critter Chaos?

     This reindeer thinks he knows the answer to the question "Where's Santa?" but I'm wondering if maybe he crowded Santa against the top of that chimney so that his own red reindeer nose could get all the glory.  lol  Who knows?

     It's the 6th theme this week at Catch the Bug's Critter Chaos and we have a delightful, subdued, Christmas/Winter inspiration.

Here's how I used them.

Colored with markers

Glitter on the ornaments around his antlers

Cut with a stitched die (maker unknown - it's a borrowed die)

Papers from Doodlebug

Shiny satin ribbon

     Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Addicted to Stamps

Colour Crazy

Crafty Friends

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Penny's Paper Crafty

Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

It's Critter Chaos at Catch the Bug

     Each year there's a week long celebration of Christmas over at Catch the Bug, with a new challenge each day and a new theme.  This year they are all "Critter" related.  I'm running late on getting things done but most of that has to do with family fun and activities so now I'm playing catch up.  I find that the late night hours are currently best for accessing the internet but managed some time this morning so I'm doing two posts with projects I managed to finish yesterday.

     This is the first one using the Day 1 theme of "Use a Christmas Critter and use Snow."  Bugaboo Stamps image of these cute snowmen surrounded by a flock of cardinals (my 'critters'.)

Colored with ProMarkers
Stickles added to the snowflakes
Aleene's MemorySnow added to the snowmen
Die cut with a Memory Box die
Glitter paper - source unknown
White ribbon is a scrap

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
A Perfect Time ...
Carlin's Card Paradise
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Lil Patch of ...
Sparkles Christmas

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Purr-fect

     I've been scrambling to get things done before the Holidays absences got in the way but on this card for the Progressive challenge at LeAnn's World FB, I was a day or two behind no matter what.  Still, I wanted to post this because this little Christmas Cat is just so cute!

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Memory Box stitched die
Sparkle ribbon (a scrap)
Linen embossing folder used on card front

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time ...
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Crafters
Cute Card Thurs
Dies R Us
LeAnn's World
SUYP Cats
Time Out
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cardinal Christmas

     Having done 30 Christmas cards with images from Beccy's Place over the month of November, here I am starting December with another of her images.  Beccy is sponsoring our challenge this month at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  All you need to do is feature a creature on your project and you can enter it.

     I've used one of Beccy's gorgeous cardinals, this one called Cardinal and Holly, and you can grab it as a freebie if you click on the image name above.

I used red and green from the colors at Color My Heart.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Memory Box die
Sentiment from Beccy's cut with Sizzix die
Red, stitched, satin ribbon
Wide, sheer ribbon for bow
Black card base

     Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Knockouts
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this month.  You have until the 25th of the month to link up your entries.  We love being inspired by you but the team probably won't be commenting this month because we give them time off so they can get ready for their own holiday celebrations.  Merry Christmas to all.  NanaConnie

Happy Halloween!

My card today is my greeting to all of you on this Halloween day.

     I've used an image that's been in my Halloween collection 
for so long I have no idea which company made it.

Moon & witch legs colored with ProMarkers

Image cut with MFT Die-namics die

Yellow frame was a scrap cut with Sue Wilson die

Embossed card front - Birch Trees

     Challenges:

Color My Heart

Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Choosday
Double Trouble (orange, yellow, purple + bats flying)
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Passion for ProMarker
Pattie's Creations
TTCRD

     Enjoy your Halloween day, and be safe tonight when the witches and goblins fly!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Golden Libra

     One of my grandsons was born under the sign of Libra and, while I don't usually care much for the Zodiac images I've seen, the set recently released at AuroraWings appealed to me.  I grabbed images for the family birthdays (and there are a lot of them, many duplicated) and this is the first one I've used.  Grandson's birthday is only a couple of months away so...

I was inspired by the "Gold or Silver + 2 Accent colors"

(#356) at Color My Heart's Color Dare.

I chose Gold, plus olive green and kraft.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with double stitched die from Die-namics by MFT
Inlaid into gold foil also cut with the same die
Sentiment cut with stitched die, adjusted to get proper shape
Gold jute cord

     Challenges:
AuroraWings
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Creative Knockouts
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe Stamps
Polkadoodles

     That's all for today.  Enjoy your weekend.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Celebrate Life !

     I've been practicing my coloring on roses, using ProMarkers, or pencil, or charcoals, even pastel chalks.  I'll be sharing more of those in the upcoming days but today I wanted to show you what I did with a combination of ProMarkers, gel pens, and water color pencils.

     The image is from LeAnn's World 101.

     After coloring the image, I cut it with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  I used another, larger die from that set to cut the solid golden piece used as an offset mat.  The 'damask' background is a scrap of DCWV dp and the stitched bronze ribbon was a scrap I found in my stash.

     I printed the sentiment and hand cut it before adhering it below the image.  This one goes in my stash of birthday cards.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafty Friends
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Pile It On
Take It, Make It

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is That All???

     Every neighborhood, every classroom, probably every family, has one - the kid who rips into a huge pile of presents, opens every one, and then wants to know if that's all there is!  lol  You'd think Santa would put them on a special Naughty List and bring them only one present next year.

     This fun image is the freebie from the Limited Runs Progressive Challenge on their Facebook page.  I colored the image with ProMarkers and gel inks, then die cut it with a stitched die from Cottage Cutz.  I cut a scrap of red CS with a CUTplorations, wonky-stitched, die and mounted the image onto it, offsetting it to one side.

     I found some silver, grosgrain ribbon in my stash and wrapped that around the CS piece, then I added the sentiment which had also been cut with a die from Cottage Cutz.  The die I used was larger than the sentiment so I had to make an adjustment and cut twice to get the size I wanted.

     Everything was mounted onto a navy blue card base and I added three glittered snowflakes with gems for a splash of bling.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog (ribbon/white/blue)
Card Mania
Christmas Crafts...
Country View Crafts
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Dreamy
Creative Craft Cottage
Dies R Us

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's Merry ChrisMoose Time!

     Another Friday and another "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede!   When I was looking through the Christmas images available from QKR, I found this sweet little she-moose.  Her expression said she'd just found out Christmas is tomorrow and she only has one present ready.  lol  The image is called "Christmas Moose" and I just love her. 

     Everything on this card came from scraps, including the white CS on which the image is printed.  I colored with ProMarkers, added a few tiny highlights with a gel pen, and then used a stitched die from Cottage Cutz to cut out the image.  I used that same die on two dp scraps which I used behind the image piece.

     I sewed a tiny bow from a scrap of white ribbon, dyed it with a marker, and added it at the bottom corner of the image.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and layered it onto the burgundy dp.

     Challenge:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you're going to come and play along with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Off We Go

     Today, I'm thinking of holiday travels - both for Thanksgiving and for Christmas/ New Year.  They are all cold weather traveling and require taking lots of warm clothing layers instead of packing the Bermuda shorts and bikinis.  These two little mice from Sasayaki Glitter's Progressive Challenge have the right idea.  They even come bearing gifts!  :-D

I used most of the colors from Ike's World

missing only my favorite - purple.  The pink seemed 

a better fit for this little lady.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  The background papers are from DCWV.  I sewed one of my favorite bows, dyed it royal blue, and added a glittery paper-punched bit to the center.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sasayaki Glitter
Scrappy Land
Unicorn
Word Art Weds.

     I'll have one more post today - yes, you guessed it - for Beccy's Place.  Be sure to stop by again in a couple of hours.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pumpkin Patch

     Friday morning and I'm sharing another DT card for the weekly challenge at QKR Stampede which started this morning.  It really is fall (according to the calendar if not the weather) and that means Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner.  If you want to play along in our challenge this week, you could make something for either of those occasions or anything else you choose because we always have an "Anything Goes" theme.  I chose a beautiful autumn image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called "Pumpkins and Fence."

I started with the sketch from Sum More Fun

and colors from The House that Stamps Built.

  

     I colored with ProMarkers and used water colors for the muted sky and ground.  I cut the image with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I had one piece of that lovely dp left in a DCWV stack and I though it went perfectly with the image.

     If you look closely, you'll see that the background dp is also cut with a stitched die from that set and the image is inlaid into the background.  I added the wider, paler, polka dot ribbon before inlaying the image, then I wrapped that whole piece with a deep orange, polka dot, ribbon before putting it onto the card front.

     I love how the vertical and horizontal stripes in the background make a box for each pumpkin or leaf or other fall item.  Stripes, squares, and polka dots are wonderful geometric shapes for visual interest and texture.

     On this card, rather than leaving it completely CAS, I added a white, hand-sewn, bow with a button, and the stitched pumpkin.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.

     Challenges:
Double D
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Words to Craft By

     I hope you'll come and play along with us this week.  We want to be inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Halloween Party

     Happy Friday and happy new challenge over at QKR Stampede.  Of course, I have another Halloween card to share today because QKR has some of the cutest jack-o-lantern and ghost images ever.  Any time you get three or more jack-o-lanterns together, it just naturally turns into a party.  Add a ghost or two and it must be a Halloween party!  lol  I used this delightful QKR image, "Halloween Fun."

I was influenced by the marvelous autumn colors 

in the inspirational photo at House of Cards.

     I colored with ProMarkers and Studio 71 markers, then die cut the image with a double stitched die from Die-namics.  I used a piece of heat embossed and glittered, polka dot, CS for the background, cutting it with the same Die-namics die and then inlaid the image into it.  I distressed the corners with chalks.

     The diamond texture ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I layered the sentiment onto it.  The bow was tied from lace ribbon, wrapped with satin ribbon, and 'dyed' orange with a ProMarker.  Everything was layered onto a kraft card base.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Classic DT Open
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Do Al(l) Creatives
Joy Claire
LeAnne's World 101
Morgan's ArtWorld

     Come play with us this week.  It's always Anything Goes and there's no requirement to use a QKR Stampede image.  However, if you do use one (or an image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps) your entry will go into a completely separate draw and that increases your chance of winning by a huge amount!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Witch Way?

     I absolutely adore this little witch from Fabrika Fantasy!   I have all my Halloween cards done  and ready to mail but there are so many Halloween themed challenges that pop up in October, I can't resist making more cards.  I guess I'll have plenty made for next year.  Or maybe I'll just donate them to the local hospitals for the kids.

I decided to base my design on the sketch 

at The Outlawz this week.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a Lawn Fawn stitched die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Unbranded die.  I cut the dove tail part by hand.  The papers are from Graphic 45 and the two witch's hats were die cut from foam and glittered.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Double D
Lawn Fanatics
That's Crafty

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back tomorrow with a DT post for the latest challenge at Crafting with an Attitude.  I hope you'll come by to check it out.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Welcome Home

     Neighbors on my street have been traveling the whole summer and got home just in time for the Labor Day holiday so they shuffled the things in their bags and took a weekend at the beach.  lol  I thought if I did a card welcoming them home, maybe they'd stay more than one day.

     My card features this sweet little girl collecting her travel bags and it's from Whoopsi Daisy.

I was inspired by the sketch at The Outlawz.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a stitched, scalloped die from Memory Box.  I cut the mat for the image with a larger die from that same set.  

     The butterfly dp was a large scrap I had in the basket and, with glitter and embossing, I thought it was the perfect way to enhance this card so I cut shapes dictated by the sketch and added them appropriately.  The sentiment was printed and added above the image and my final touch was the sheer bow with a tiny button.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (all 7 elements)

Crafty Gals Corner

Cute N Crafty

Dream Valley

Give a Crafter a Cookie

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

TTCRD

     Have a wonderful week and stop by again tomorrow for the next post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"Mistletoe" Fairy

     This is the second of today's posts and features another card for the week long Christmas in July challenges at Catch the Bug.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I've had a fun debate with myself about whether this is a Holly Fairy or a Mistletoe Fairy.  I insist that's holly she's holding but the image title in the store is "Mistletoe Fairy" so I've colored the berries the creamy white of mistletoe berries rather than the red of holly.

     I don't really care which she is - she's so adorable!

Today's theme at Catch the Bug is a sketch.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, the cut her with a stitched die from Die-namics.  The red frame is cut with another die from that same set.  Both of the patterned papers are from the scrap pile in my Christmas stash.  I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and matted it with a scrap of red CS shaped like an arrow.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Brown Sugar

Classic Design Team

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Calendar

Digistamps4Joy

Pixie's Snippets

So Suzy/Crackerbox

Sparkles

     Be sure to check out my first post of the day by scrolling down to the next post.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Apple a Day

     It's another Friday and another challenge starts at QKR Stampede today.  This post is another pre-scheduled one but I don't think you'll mind.   I know I have a few blog buddies who always stop by on Fridays to see what kind of silliness I've produced with the QKR image for that day.  And I know my friend, Lynn, will love this one if for no reason more than the blue color combo.

     Today I've played with "Happy Tummy" and this card is going to a diabetes diet technician in my doctor's office.   I know that sentiment will put a smile on her face.  :-D.

   I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from CUTplorations. The polka dot dp is a scrap rescued from the basket, and the background plaid was a leftover exactly the right size for this card base.

     I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges.  I found some navy-blue, jute cord and tied a double bow, then added it to the image piece.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls (middle row)
Time Out

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulips in My Garden

     My card today is done with the image from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.  The image just happens to have been donated by SheepSki Designs, where I've just rejoined the DT.   :-D
Is this a marvelous image?

     I think this may be the most CAS card I've done ever!  I do like CAS and try to do simple designs pretty regularly but this is literally nothing more than the image adhered right onto the card base.

     I used ProMarkers to color the tulips and to make a bit of a scene by adding ground and very pale sky.  The sentiment is printed right with the image.  I cut it with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn and added a bit of marker ink to the edges.

     The card base is single sided, 12"x12", distressed, scrap booking CS which I cut to size and scored to make a tent fold card.  No embellishments - no ribbon, no flowers, no bows, no bling... just the die cut image and the card base.  I like it!

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty
WordArt Weds.

     I'm off running today and will be only occasionally posting for the next couple of weeks.  I do have some posts pre-scheduled so I hope you'll stop by to see what's being posted in my absence.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My Heart is Irish

     Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and tomorrow is also the day I turn another year older, which is really fun since my family roots on both sides reach all the way back to Ireland.  I hear you asking, "Does she really mean being another year older is FUN?"  Absolutely!  Hey, getting older beats the alternative and I'd lots rather be over the hill than under it.  :-D

     Over at QKR Stampede, we have another "Anything Goes" challenge starting today and I'm celebrating St. Paddy's a day early with this adorable image, "Bouquet 13301."

     This is another of those images which really has nothing to do with St. Patrick but I colored it so that it looks like it was meant to be a specific holiday image.  I colored the 'flowers' as if they were shamrocks or 4 leaf clovers and that really cemented the illusion.

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

but I turned it a quarter turn so that the ribbon stripe

was vertical on a square card.

     This is a pretty simple design but I did have fun putting it all together.  I colored the bear with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils.  I cut the image and the white, stitched frame with dies from Die-namics.  Then I found the golden CS and cut it to the size of the card front, and ran it through my 'Linen" embossing folder.  Next, I used one of the Die-namics dies to cut a stitched 'window' in it and then I inlaid the image and frame pieces.  Instead of having layers, it's actually all in a single layer.

     I added glittered washi tape as though it was ribbon and made one of my tiny, hand-sewn bows.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it under the image.

     Challenges:
Creates and Makes
Cuttlebug Mania
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
Sparkles

     The weekend is nearly upon us and I hope you have plans which will bring you great pleasure, even if it's just to lie like a veggie on the couch!  :-D  If you have time, make a card and come pay with us at QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hug a Ladybug

     Yesterday we got up to 73F and I thought for sure spring was actually here.  Then, by bedtime, thick clouds rolled in and we're sure to have a storm tonight or tomorrow.  Oh, well, maybe it'll be a spring shower.  :-D  In either case, I know that when the ladybugs arrive, spring is here for sure.

I decided to use colors from the challenge at The Outlawz.

    This adorable image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and all three dp pieces with dies from Lawn Fawn (Large Stitched Squares.)  The 3 dp pieces (DCWV) were in my scrap basket and I cut each of the scraps as large as I could, wasting as little as possible. 

     The stitching part got a bit lost in the pattern of the dp so I highlighted the stitches with sparkly, white gel ink, although in the photo it looks mostly white.  The sparkle just didn't photograph. 

     I played a bit with how to arrange all the pieces but settled on what you see here.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then tied a tiny bow and 'dyed' it pink with a marker.  I added one sequin and a teensy drop of Liquid Pearls for a little touch of bling.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lawn Fawnatics
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Well, this weekend I have to turn my attention to getting things ready for a garage sale in a couple of weeks so I'm not  sure exactly how much crafting I'll get done.  I have a couple of things planned but they are for DT commitments and you won't see them this week.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting. NanaConnie     

When the Cat Naps...

     Cats nap about 19 hours out of every 24.  Remember that old saying "When the cat's away, the mice will play" ??  Well, what about when cats nap?  Do the mice get to play then, too?

     Check out this darling image by Gerda Steiner Designs and I think you'll find an answer hiding in the corner of the book shelf, although you may have to enlarge the photo to see it.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, and then cut it with a stitched, rectangle die from Die-namics.  I cut the two frames with dies from that same set, making the card look like it has 4 layers.  However, the image and both frames are all inset so it's actually a single layer.  I love doing single layer designs because the cards are easier to mail and require no extra postage but I like the look of complex layers so inlaid die cuts is a fabulous solution.

     I added only tiny pearls and metal brads for embellishment so it's pretty CAS as well as flat and light weight.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie