By-Gone Days

      I had a request last month for a masculine card for my neighbor's father.  He's turning 91 in mid-January and has been a lifelong farmer in the central valley of California.  The request fit in perfectly with the new challenge starting today at FarmQuest General Store (Anything Goes but must have a farm or country feel) and I decided on blues and browns.  That's almost always a perfect color combo for a masculine card.

      What could be better for a lifelong farmer than an image of long forgotten farm equipment, tucked away in a dusty corner of an old barn?   This is a pre-colored, clipart image to which I added the sentiment before printing it.  I cut it with a square, QuicKutz die, added a frame made from white CS, cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The striped dp is from an old DCWV stack, and I added a bit of left over burlap fabric from another project I had worked on last month.  It seemed to give perfect texture and eye appeal without being too frou-frou as an embellishment.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

GMGC

Love Those...Papers

Outlawz Friday (used blue)

Pattie's Creations

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge this month.  Anything with a country or farm flair can be entered and we'd love to be inspired by you.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bluebonnets for a Texan

    I have three grandchildren who were born in Texas, to say nothing of several friends who live there.  I have always thought of the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet - from the lupin family, as one of the most fascinating flowers.  I'm just now learning to color them and I have a long ways to go before I achieve perfection, but I used this image for a Texas birthday card.  :-D

     Colored with water colors, and cut with a QuicKutz die.  The sentiment was also cut with a small die from QuicKutz.  All the paper stripes were scraps bits from the basket.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the navy blue and cranberry pieces before layering them onto an an aqua card front.  

     The patterned ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and I used sheer ribbon to sew one of my signature bows with a pearl.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (Wisteria & Wild Blue Yonder)

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Leigh SB Designs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Have yourself a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

You're my Best Friend

      This morning I'm sharing another card with an image by Mariola Budek, an artist I discovered early this summer.  Can't you tell these two are Best Friends?  I haven't added the sentiment yet because I'm considering using it as a birthday card but haven't decided positively.  I have  great-granddaughter who would love it regardless of the occasion.  :-D

     The image is colored using ProMarkers in a rainbow of fall colors, then cut with an Unbranded die.  I cut an oval from orange CS using a die from Spellbinders and mounted the image on top of it so that the orange would show through the negative, open spaces.  I mounted that onto gray CS which had been dry embossed with my Linen EF.

     I trimmed a scrap of striped dp to fit the A2 card front and added a narrow strip of washi tape to the left edge.  I did a hand-made bow using grosgrain ribbon to which I added sequins, one on top of the other.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

I love ProMarkers

Incy Wincy

Lemon Shortbread

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

WordArt Weds

     Have yourself a wonderful and creative day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cheetah

     Friday morning and another weekly challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  I've been on that DT for a lot of years (I may be the oldest one still on the team by now!  :-D) but over all those weeks and months, I can't believe that I've consistently overlooked this Cheetah image!  Personally, I think it looks more like a jaguar but isn't it gorgeous?

I used colors from the first column of board #186

at Colour Dare plus Vanilla and Mink.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with die by Spellbinders
Matted with pale blue CS
Striped paper from DCWV
Twine bow
Sentiment printed and hand cut
CAS design

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Creative Fingers
Creative Knockouts
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls

     Come play with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mouse Catcher

     I've been a Sparkle N Sprinkle customer since before I started blogging or got seriously into card making and I still love playing in their challenges.  If you have even glanced at my sidebar, you know I'm a nut for cats.  So, when I found this image in the SnS shop, I had to grab it up right away.

     I colored the cat with ProMarkers, adding a bit of white gel ink to the chest and paws.  I die cut it with a plain but large, square die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges with a 'coffee' ink pad.

     I made my card base with kraft CS, then added scraps of dp which came from Echo Park and Now & Then.  I happen to love a combo of polka dots and stripes.  The image piece went on top of that and my final touch was to add one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, this time with a sparkly gem instead of the usual pearl.  I think this is simple enough to make a great masculine card.

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Creative Inspirations
Get Creative
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Papercraft
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     The weekend is flying by and I still have 3 cards to finish for posts due next week!  Yikes, I'd better get on the ball.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snake in a Barrel

     If you're one of those folks who hates snakes, WARNING!!!  But this is a friendly one, bringing a gift.  Don't let it scare you off.  :-D  It's a cutie which is new from Sasayaki Glitter.  I bought it the instant I saw it.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from STAMPlorations.  The background green CS was also cut with a die from that same set.  The ribbon is new, some I picked up the day after Christmas at the craft shop sales.  I had a wonderful time browsing shops that were new to me and found things for 70% or 75% off.  Even though I spent more than $50 that day on all sorts of bits, pieces, and embellishments, how can I complain at prices like that?

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter
Simon Says Stamp
Whoopsi Daisy

     Much as I enjoyed the holidays and family celebrations, it feels good to be getting back into my routine.  Today is a day for being home and getting laundry done.  Of course, I want to be busy and productive during the time the loads are in the washer and dryer so what better excuse for cluttering up the craft desk while making some fun new cards?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie