Snow Cowboy

      Time for the next challenge at FarmQuest, which always has a requirement that your projects have a "country" feel to them, plus a theme and this fortnight the theme is "Decorated Farmhouse Exterior or other structure."  I decided to combine a barn with Christmas decorations and a cowboy snowman; now I have one more family Christmas card finished.

     I printed the image in very light grayscale, then colored it with my Sanjoki markers and with white gel pen on the snow.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and made the frame for it from two scraps of CS which were on the desk.

     The background piece is dp I made myself using a red work embroidery pattern, sized down and then did copy/paste procedures several times to scatter the image over the paper.  I used the last bit of a washi tape roll as decorative ribbon, then added the image piece on top of it all.  I think it makes a great masculine card with a wonderful country flair.

     Challenges:

     That's it for this time.  Come play in our challenge, won't you?  It runs until December 26 and we love seeing what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat in the Window

      I've been going through my boxes of dies again and this one popped out at me.  It's been a long time since I used it and I thought it would make a good autumn card, but with non-traditional colors.  The Cat in the Window die is an Unbranded die and the cloud was cut with a Memory Box die.

     The card base was dry embossed with an EF from Darice.  The "ribbon" along the left side is actually washi tape but the signature, hand-sewn bow was sewn using satin ribbon and I added a pearl.

Today is the third day of the six day Cat Lovers Hop 2022.

     Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

Crafty Catz

Happy Li'l Stampers

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

There's a Stamp ...

World Wide Open

     If you're signed up for the 2022 Cat Lovers Hop but haven't started playing yet, you can still enter up to 5 cat themed projects before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Saturday, October 29.  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

Basket of Hope

      This lovely fall image is from the "Basket of Hope" set at Jan's Digi Stamps.  The challenges have been on a long summer break and we on the DT are really missing creating inspiration for all of you who play along over there.   But we'll be back in November and in the meantime, some of us are making cards featuring Jan's images just to keep our hand in , so to speak.  

     Every set Jan creates contains both black & white line images, pre-colored images, and multiple sentiments (images in both jpg and png formats.)  They are so worth the cost especially when compared to other artists who offer single images for the same price Jan has on full sets!  

     I colored this one with my ProMarkers and cut it with a square QuicKutz die.  I used metallic copper paper for the background and added a double strip of washi tape before adding the image piece.  The bow-tie bow was in my stash and I'm sure it's one I made in a large batch of 2 dozen probably 3 years ago.  The sentiment is part of the set and I think it will work well for sending Thanksgiving wishes.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

I love ProMarkers

Passion for Markers (basket, berries, bow)

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mousers (Meow-sers) on the Hunt

      When I saw these two adorable felines over at Kinda Cute, this card idea popped into my head instantly!  So I decided to use them for the monthly progressive challenge on their FB page.  :-D

     I colored them with my ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I cut another circle with a smaller die from that same set and added the two, tiny, mice cut with Gina Marie dies.  The background dp was a left over from a large piece of scrapbook paper which has been in my stash for longer than I can remember and it was definitely time to use it.  I printed and then cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die.

     What looks like a strip of polka dot ribbon is actually washi tape, but I used 1/16" satin ribbon to tie the double bow.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Cute Card Thurs

Dare 2B Artzy

I love ProMarkers

Outlawz Greetings

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scrapping4Fun

SUYP Cats

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Just for You on Halloween

      The latest challenge at Beccy's Place has the usual "Anything Goes" theme but the optional twist this time is to CASE yourself.  When I sat down to do this card, another Halloween card was sitting on my table and I decided to CASE it.  Here's that card:  

and here's my Beccy's card, using an image

from the "Witch Starter Kit":

I was inspired by the colors in this photo from Archiscraps.

      I reversed the diagonal and used a simple rectangle die from QuicKutz to cut the image.  I inked the image edges with  black ProMarker to make it pop from the background.  The striped paper is also from Beccy's (Little Witch set - which may be retired since I don't see it in the store  <----- Edited to add this note from Beccy: The "Little Witch" paper is actually a freebie that you can find on my blog... it comes with the Little Witch free image. ) and the bat paper came from a left over scrap, maker unknown.

     I added a strip of polka dot, orange, washi tape and a strip of lace (which is purple even though it looks almost black!) before layering on the image.  

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Ike's World

Incy Wincy

Lemon Shortbread

TTCRD

Two Old Bats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat, Skull, & Pumpkin

      This first card for September (I have a total of 4 posts today!) is doing double duty for both Paper Funday and for Jan's Digi Stamps.  Although Jan's Digi Stamps is still on a break from their own challenges, they are sponsoring Paper Funday this month.  They will start their monthly challenges again in November.

     For Paper Funday, our September theme is "Autumn/Fall" and I chose to do a Halloween card which features autumn colors.  I merged images from three of Jan's sets; the black cat (reversed) is from a new set called "Pumpkin People," the skull is from "Hocus Pocus," and the pumpkin is from "Autumn Corn Sheaves."  All of them are secondary images to the main image in each set.  The sentiment is from the new Pumpkin People set.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used my Fiskars paper cutter to cut the image square.  I inked the edges with a marker, added polka dot washi tape diagonally across two corners, and tied a double-loop bow from satin ribbon.  The card front was embossed with my "Linen" EF.  

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy 

Crafty Sentiments

Double D

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

SUYP Cats

     Come play in our 'Autumn/Fall' challenge at Paper Funday this month and check out what some of the Jan's DT have done in the interim before the challenges begin again in November.  Jan's Digi Stamps.

      Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ice Fishing

      My dad loved fishing, any day of the week, and time of the year, and that included winter time in the mountains.  Although we didn't live in snow country when I was growing up, my grandfather had a cabin up in the mountains and if we stayed there for a long weekend in the winter months, ice fishing was something he was going to do while we were there.  I used to tease him that all the fish must have gone south for the winter because  I don't remember that he ever caught anything.  lol

     Anyway, when I was looking for a Bugaboo Stamps image to use for their color combo over at the Catch the Bug Challenge this week, I saw this Ice Fishing image.  The colors immediately reminded me of my dad's ratty, old, fishing jacket that was stained and had a few patched holes in it but he loved it and always wore it when sitting out on the ice.  He called the color "rusty mustard."  lol  So, even though they aren't winter colors, I chose this Ice Fishing image in honor of my dad.  :-D

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season. 

Catch the Bug colors.                       Stella Says Sketch (reversed)

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Sizzix die

Sentiment printed & hand cut (scrap)

Sentiment mounted on Spellbinders die cut (scrap)

Orange polka dot washi tape (scraps)

Black satin & sheer ribbon (scrap)

Background made from dp scraps

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Cutie Pie

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

Lil Patch of Crafty...

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

     Wishing you warmth in the middle of winter or cooling breezes if you're south of the equator in a heat wave.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Standing in for Santa

      We all know about the 2020 pandemic and have lived through the worst imaginable restrictions (to no apparent avail, sigh...) but few of us thought it would impact Santa's travels.  Mrs. Santa was so concerned about his health, due mostly to Santa's great age (did you know he's well over 125 years old - not counting all his years as Father Christmas or Sinter Klaus?), so she has forbidden him to leave the North Pole!

     Consequently, Santa has recruited the much younger, 109 year old, Christmas Gnome from Conie Fong to stand in for him.  The sack full of toys is an image from Conie Fong's "Santa Sack" and I merged them before printing.  BTW, both of those sets (and many others) are on sale until Christmas Day so if you want them, go and grab them RIGHT NOW!

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Dare 2B Artsy die

Corners rounded w Fiskars corner punch

Glitter paper is die cut from wide washi tape (DCWV)

Hand-sewn, signature style, bow

     Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart

C.R.A.F.T.

Cute Card Thurs

House...Stamps Built

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperminutes

Paper Shelter

Simon Says Stamp

     If you are on a last minute scramble to get everything done before this Christmas Eve has ended, good luck.  For this upcoming weekend, may you have many hours of  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thin Ice

      Reindeer rarely ice skate because, unknown to most of us, they have a pathological fear of thin ice!  lol  The only time you can get a reindeer to cross a frozen pond or river is if it has recently snowed so that the snow hides the ice.  

     The Bugaboo Stamps image below (which is the Friday Freebie for the last day of the Holiday Chaos challenges and is still available if you want to grab it) will show you what I mean.  I reversed the image before printing it.

The theme is a color palette.

Colored w ProMarkers

Liquid Pearls used for snow

Cut w Gina Marie Die

DCWV washi tape for image mat

Hand-tied bow w pearl (my signature style)

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Hazelnut's

Cutie Pie

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Guest Designer for LeAnn's World 101

      I was thrilled to be a winner at LeAnn's World 101 a few weeks back and when they invited me to also be  Guest Designer, I jumped at the chance.  Since I would be 'guest'ing in October, a Halloween card seemed appropriate.  This cutie image is called, very simply, "Kate" and I did my best to color her entirely in my favorite color, Purple!  

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut & framed w cuts from Dare 2B Artsy

Bow is made by hand

Pumpkin is fabric

Leaf is a Cheery Lynn die cut

Polka dot washi tape

Bat is a button

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Cuttlebug Mania

Dare 2B Artsy

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Festive Fri

Pattie's Creations

Simon Says Stamp

SUY Pussycats

     Come play along this month.  We're looking forward to seeing what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Double Trouble Once Again

     Once again, I'm posting a project I did as a Guest Designer at Double Trouble this month.  This challenge the theme is things which are related to Spring and our Double Trouble partner is Artsy Stamper and their theme is also "Spring."
 
               

     This time, I did something a bit different for me - all die cuts; no hand colored image.  But I managed to incorporate ocean waves as my "water" and also included a cat so how bad can that be?  My "Spring Things" are birds, vines, butterflies, and a feline staring out the window.

Dies:  Window = Unbranded Dies
           Butterflies = Impression Obsession
           Sentiment = CUTplorations
Glossy Accents on the waves
Wood grain washi tape
Pearls for butterfly bodies
Metal brads

     Challenges:
Butterfly (everything except card type)
Creative Knockouts
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Paper Funday
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp (wood grain tape)
Time Out

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Cleaning the Cat

     Spring cleaning is one of those things we humans do, often as a way of shaking off the "cabin fever" after months of  cold weather.  Felines often have a different attitude about the bustle of spring cleaning, preferring that things remain exactly the way they were and not get moved around or rearranged. 

     The three cats who think they own my house and that I'm only there to feed them and clean their litter box, have to thoroughly investigate (and hesitate to approach) even a closet door which now is open an inch when before it was completely closed.  Sigh...

     The feline on today's card has taken a firm stand against her part of the spring cleaning.  lol  Image from Whimsy Stamps.

Colored with ProMarkers
Sparkle gel ink on bubbles
Cut with oval dies from QuicKutz
Darice embossing folder
Polka dot washi tape on left border
Signature bow w pearl
Sentiment printed and hand cut

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on a Blog
A Bit More Time... Extra
A Gem of a Challenge
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Die Cut Divas
Pearly Sparkles
Star Stampz (middle row)

     Have a wonderful weekend - the first one of spring!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Best Friend Puppy

     Today I'm working with the All Dressed Up image provided for the Outlawz Progressive challenge.  This sweet little gal with her darling puppy just called out for a bright, spring card.  All the papers and CS are from old stash or scraps.

I used the sketch from Crafting Vicky,

which I turned 1/4 turn and I played a bit with the triangles.

Colored with ProMarkers

Cut with Spellbinders die

Triangles cut w/ Memory Box dies

Butterflies - Spellbinders die & Fiskars punch

Faux stitching

Polka dot washi tape from old stash

     Challenges:
Butterfly (Sky blue, Salmon, Sage, Spots, Stitching)
Crafty Sentiments
Double Trouble (+ Use Your Stuff)  (all 3)
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guest Designer at Mo's Digital Pencil

     I was so honored to be asked to Guest Design at Mo's Digital Pencil this month.  The DT ladies over there are all so talented and they all color so magnificently, I consider myself to be in High Company!

     I adore all the images at Mo's Digital Pencil but this one, called "Mummu's Kissa," is among my absolute favorites.  I love all the Mummu images but toss in a cat and I'm over the moon!   In this one, you can tell that Kissa simply adores his human and can't wait for her to feed him.  I think she feels the same way.  I'm not sure which of them is more grateful for the other.  :-D 

     Btw, the floor is not in the original image.  I added that myself.

ProMarkers for the coloring
Cut with Tonic Studios die
Metallic butterfly dp from a prize pack (Butterfly challenge)
Signature bow w pearl

     Challenges:
Butterfly (Old Gold, Embellie)
Cut It Up
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri
Pattie's Creations
Simon Says Stamp
Work It Weds

     This is the last of the 5 posts I had today.  It was just one of those unusual times when my regular Friday post combined with the 1st of the month and the 1st Friday of the month.  :-D   Mo's challenges usually start on Saturdays and this one will run until December 4.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Unicorn in Autumn

     We all know about unicorns, though some will tell you they are only a mythical creature.  I am of a different persuasion.  I believe unicorns are like pocket dragons - just because you don't see them doesn't mean they are only a fantasy.

     I've been told by a lovely garden fairy that unicorns change the colors of their manes and tales seasonally, like the leaves of a tree.  Hmmm, that would give them an advantage when it comes to hiding in plain sight, wouldn't it?  Let me give you an example of what might happen.

     Fabrika Fantasy has one of the most magnificent unicorn images which I chose for this card.  Notice how his mane, tail, and hooves blend in perfectly with the fall foliage, and his body takes on the pale shadows of the low-light dawn?

I used the sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

Colored with ProMarkers and gel inks plus sparkle on the horn
Die cut with Spellbinders and distressed on the edges
Polka dot washi tape
Doily colored dark brown
Hand made bow with polka dots
Kraft card base

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
Crafter's Cafe
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Friendship
Morgan's ArtWorld
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Bird in His Garden

     This image from the Progressive Challenge at Limited Runs is so perfect for spring (which hasn't arrived at my house yet - how about yours?)  Each day with a freezing temperature makes me wish more strongly for spring. 

     Before I had decided what to do for the background, I saw that the Color challenge at The Outlawz gave us one color (green), an option to choose two other colors from the inspiration photo (see below) - I chose pink and pale blue - and the twist was to make our own background.  I sorted through the dp scraps on my desk, added a strip of washi tape, and laid them all together on the card front to make the background.  Fortunately, all the dp scraps were distressed and worked well together.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and cut it with a stitched Unbranded die.  The glossy, pink frame was cut with a Cottage Cutz pinpoint die.  I thought they complemented each other.  The pale pink satin ribbon was a left over scrap and the deep pink ribbon for the bow was in my stash.  I added a tiny gemstone to it.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Papercraft
Passion for ProMarkers
{PIN}spirational
TTCRD

     Thanks for visiting.  Please stop by again tomorrow when I'll have my weekly post for QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stockings Were Hung...(and filled!)

     Day 4 of the Christmas in July daily challenges at Catch the Bug and I'm still on target for playing along each day.  Today I used a Bugaboo Stamps image with the cutest little teddy bear filling up a stocking - with himself, not with toys.  :-D

     The theme for today is a BINGO challenge and I managed to use all the items listed on the board.

     I started by coloring with ProMarkers, then I fussy cut the image with scissors.  I die cut a stitched circle to go behind the image (Die-namics) and mounted the image onto Pop Dots before putting it onto the circle.  It gave some great dimension.

     I found a scrap of burlap and used that behind the image/circle which added wonderful texture.  The rectangle of dp was a scrap from my Christmas paper stash and I inked the edges before adding the sparkly washi tape to it.  

     I dug through my stash of handmade bows, found one made from ivory ribbon instead of white, and used it.  It better matched the beige card base.  I printed, hand cut, matted, and added the sentiment, then put three small pearls in the lower corner of the burlap.

     Challenges:

Card Mania

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore Encore

Create with TLC

Creative Craft Cottage
Die Cuttin' Divas

Digi Doodle Studios

Morgan's ArtWorld

Not Just Cards
Passion for ProMarkers

Sparkles Christmas

     That's it for me today.  Hopefully, I'll  be back tomorrow with a project for Day 5 of the Christmas in July challenges.  See you then.  

     Also, don't forget to check out the Birthday Bash with all the great prizes over at Challenges for Days!   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

Top o' the Mornin'

     For all my good intentions of working on things for an upcoming yard sale, I got hit with a flu bug and have spent most of the last 48 hours either in bed or hugging the porcelain throne!   However, I had this card made and thought I had pre-scheduled the post but when I dragged myself out of bed to link it up to the various challenges, I discovered I hadn't even written the post.  Arrrg! 

     The image is from Rick St. Dennis and is one of most most delightful of my "leprechaun" images.  I know I haven't used it before even though I've had it a while.

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

but I turned it a quarter turn and

 then flipped it side to side.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers, then cut him with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I cut the frame with another die in that same set, using a scrap of dp from the leftovers basket.  The striped background paper was also a scrap.

     I used glittered washi tape to make the gold stripes and added on of my hand-sewn bows with a tiny pearl.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and layered it onto the image piece so that it went out-of-the-box.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Crafts Galore Encore
Cards in Envy
Createful Heart
Die Cuttin' Divas
DL.ART
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pattie's Creations
Scribbles Designs
Star Stampz
Sum More Fun

     OK, I've taken more than 2 hours to type up this post but it was punctuated with more than a few ache-y muscles and a wave or two of nausea, so I'm going to crawl back in bed and see if the world will just go away for a while.  If I'm MIA for a couple of days, you'll know why.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie