Temptations

      This week, it's my turn to host the new challenge over at Crafty Catz, where our theme is always Anything Goes but we also give you an OPTIONAL theme if you choose to use it.  This fortnight (yes, our challenges go for 2 weeks now!), the optional theme is "Any Cute Critter."  We're sponsored by the fun and fabulous QKR Stampede and all the images used by the DT are the prize.

     I chose this fun and funny image "An Apple a Day" and made a rather simple card with it.  Don't you love the look of temptation on his face?  

     When I printed the image, I placed it so that it would print on the bottom of a tent fold card, therefore becoming the front of the card.  I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers and added the red frame which was a scrap left over from cutting something I used on another project.  The die I used is from Spellbinders.  

     I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die.  Very CAS even though it looks rather fancy because of the die.   I've probably done three or four cards using this image over the years that I've been associated with QKR Stampede.  

     Challenges:

     Come play with us in this challenge.  It runs until April 18 and you could win the three adorable images from QKR Stampede!

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Dreaded "X" Day at 30 Days of Christmas

     Well, it's finally here - Day "X" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Christmas.  I've been dreading this prompt all month long.  Having faced this prompt before in earlier years, I was pretty much stumped but still not wanting to do anything I've done before.  Then, day before yesterday, the idea of making the entire card an X shape popped into my head.  How to make that happen?  I chewed on that one for nearly 30 hours and this was the result.

The X was made by using one corner of a square die (Spellbinders) on the top and bottom of a tent fold card, and one point of a hexagon die (QuicKutz) on both sides of the card.  

Rocking chair image from Beccy's Place, colored with ProMarkers
Image cut with Die-namics die
Stitching is fauX, done w/ green gel ink (another "X"?)
Paper from Graphic 45

     There's a story behind the sentiment.  All during my growing up years, the last few evenings before Christmas and especially Christmas Eve were spent listening to Christmas stories read by my mom (or sometimes my Grammy) as we sat curled in blankets, attentive and awed by the magic of her voice reading the story.  On Christmas Eve, we had two great favorites which had been reserved for that night alone - The Night Before Christmas and the Christmas story from the Bible.  Over the years, those evenings became known as "The Christmas Read" and they went on through the early years of my children's lives.

     I do love traditional Christmas!

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Crafty Creations
Double D  (traditional)
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie