Daisies and Butterflies

     Let me start by saying that I LOVE THIS CARD!  lol  Mostly, I'm crazy about the image -- "Daisies and Butterflies," which is from Delicious Doodles, of course, since this is my DT card for the new challenge starting today.   Our theme is to "Use Lace."

     I'm still in a mood for spring even though the weather has already turned hot.  Those of you in cooler climes, especially those getting rain, count your blessings.  We're hot and dry and our fire season has started already.  Maybe that inspired the colors I chose as much as the color challenge I'm entering.

My sketch came from Digi Sketch, turned 1/4 turn, 

and the colors are from Sparkle n Sprinkle.

 

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then added two different glitters (from Sparkle n Sprinkle) to the butterfly wings.  I used Fire Engine Red and Cyclamen.  The image is die cut with an oval die from QuicKutz and inked on the edges.

     The lace was in my recycle stash and came from an old dress sleeve.  I adhered it on top of red handmade paper, and that was adhered to a layer of white CS.  The ribbon for the bow was also in my stash, and the paper flowers are from Recollections.  I added the gems to the flower centers.  Finally, I dug out two rhinestones for a bit more bling.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Flowers and Lace
Cupcake Craft -- Layers
Love to Create -- Flowers
Marker POP -- May Flowers
Mema's Crafts Monday -- May Flowers
Ooh La La Creations -- Seeing red
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop -- Lace
Songbird -- Flowers

     I hope your week has gone well and that you have great plans for the weekend, even if those plans are like mine -- stay home, craft and play, & cook dinner for a friend.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Red Roses for Love

     It's said that in the language of roses, red ones stand for love.  If that's true, then today's card is just filled with love.  I was visiting favorite blogs last week and ran across this post on Crafting Vicky's blog and thereby discovered a new progressive challenge blog.   The images that have to be used are from Imagine That and each challenge requires you to use the latest free digital image.  Since they were already into the challenge, I had to purchase the rose digi but it's so gorgeous, who could resist.  From now on, as long as I enter the challenge with each new image, I'll get the next one as a freebie.

I used a sketch from Operation Write Home, one of my favorite groups.  You can find out more about them by clicking on their badge on my right sidebar.

I took the colors from Dynamic Duos.

  

     Coloring the image with Promarkers took some effort because I used only my lightest "red" marker.  I just added more color in layers (let it dry between covering strokes) to darken the shaded places.  The darker the red, the more it tends to 'bleed' over so I was very careful to darken it slowly and gently with light strokes.

     I also added touches of white to the rose, and covered the leaves with white after I had used a very light pastel green on them.  I really didn't want any color other than the red to go with the black and white, which was the reason for the white overlay on the leaves.

     The punched black butterfly idea came from Benzi Stampz and I already warned her that I was stealing -- CASEing it today!  I've never punched a butterfly from black CS before but I know I'll do it more often now.  Isn't it striking?  Thanks, Brenda. :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Things w/ wings
Charisma Cardz -- Black & White + 1 color
Color Me Creative -- Anything goes
Flutterby Weds. -- Open, Anything goes
Fresh Brewed Designs -- Flowers
Paper Shelter -- Love
Simon Says Stamp -- Things w/ wings

     Well, I had a marvelously restful and fun Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and grandkids.  I promise to post some photos of the beach house where we stayed, and some of the incredible scenery within either walking or driving distance.  But for now, I want to get this posted so I can get it entered into the Imagine That progressive challenge before it closes tomorrow.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Mother's Day with a Lavender Lady

     I want to start by wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating today, either as mothers or as daughters.

     A couple of days ago I shared a Gibson Girl image with you and today I've used another similar image but this time it's a digital image and it's by the sponsor of our latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create, Rick St. Dennis.  This image is called 1935 Hat.  Isn't she just marvelous?
   
     This week, we'd love to see you do shaped cards.  Of course, our challenges are always "Anything Goes" but we always have an option, too.  So, do a shaped card, or come play along with just the "Anything Goes" -- we want to be inspired by your creativity.

     I used a brand new Grand Caliber die set from Spellbinders to cut the card shape from heavy duty CS, folded it in half, and then layered on another die cut of the same shape but one size smaller.  The smaller shape is embossed with a "Linen" embossing folder, and both layers are embossed around the fancy edge.  I bought this die set, the first for my Grand Caliber, specifically because I thought it would make really great shaped cards.  I was right, wasn't I?  Rather different from the usual round or oval or scalloped-something card, wouldn't you say?

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then die cut it, and inked the edges before adhering it to the card front.  The flower embellishment in made by layering together silk petals, silk ribbon, and then a large, mulberry paper rose.  The ribbon was recycled from an old gift bag on which it served as the handle.  

     Challenges:
As You Like It -- Favorite die or punch
Crafting for All Seasons -- Monochromatic
Crafty Creations -- Something old (ribbon), Something new (dies)
Crafty Ribbons -- No designer paper
Divas by Design -- Anything goes
Hanna & Friends -- Mother's Day
Live and Love Crafts -- 50 Shades of ... Lilac
Little Red Wagon -- All about Mom
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Die cuts/punches
Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     By the time you see this, I'll be starting my last day at the coast with my daughter and three of my grandkids.  We're going to take a leisurely drive home, winding our way through some of the coast redwoods, and then through some of the most beautiful wine country anywhere in the world.  I have my camera so if I get some really magnificent shots, I may share them with you this upcoming week.  That will mostly depend on how the weather was.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Anniversary

     I needed an anniversary card for one of my regular card customers and this image, drawn by Anne Fenton, came from the Creative Freebie Challenge at Outlawz just in time.  She told me brown and yellow were her wedding colors.

I used the sketch from Creative Inspiration Paint FB.

     The image is colored with Promarkers and I added 'Fairy Dust' Creative Inspirations Paints to her "gown" for some shimmer.  I die cut the image, inked the edges, and stippled it with "Old Tea" distress ink.  I added pearls to her necklace and to the middle of his bow tie.

     The brown die cut you see is actually the negative space from a die cut, left in the yellow CS after cutting.  I added the sheer, brown ribbon and then I adhered the yellow piece to the brown card base.   After that, I layered the oval image over the top so that it looks like the brown is a framing mat around the image.  The yellow CS wraps around the back of the card also.

     I tied a bow from that same sheer ribbon and attached it to the top of the oval.  The card front looks rather fancy and intricate but it's really pretty CAS.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments -- Use a sentiment
Creative Craft -- All about animals
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ earth tones
Our Daily Bread Designs -- At least 4 letters from "SPRING": Pearls, Ribbon, Negative Space, & Giraffes
Papertake Weekly -- Anything goes
Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations
Scrappy Frogs -- Anything goes
Vickie's @ Lady Anne's -- Anything goes

     Hey, it's Wednesday and that means we're half-way to the weekend.  Hooray!  In my case, it means only one more work day and then I get to start my long weekend away for Mother's Day, soaking in the beauty of the California coast and playing with grandkids.  What better way to celebrate.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Flowers for Mom

     The first time I saw this image over at Mayzy Arts (challenge theme is "Rainbow" and my rainbow colors are in the flowers), I fell in love with it and bought it right off.  This is the first time I've had a chance to use it and I thought it made a perfect Mother's Day card.   My oldest son and DIL have 3 boys, no girls, and there just couldn't be a better image than this one for her card.  :-D

The sketch came from Crafting Life's Pieces (modified slightly),

and I chose the colors from the challenge at Scrappiness Designs.

  

     The image is colored with Promarkers, then die cut and stippled with both Red Brick and Old Burlap distress inks.  Both ribbons came from Really Reasonable Ribbon but have been in my stash for more than a year.  They seem to get used in the late summer and fall but not other seasons.  I spotted them in the ribbon basket while I was searching for something else and they just begged to be used.  :-D

     I tried adding the two angled pieces to the background but just couldn't make them work.  I don't know if it was the particular paper I selected or what, but they were a distraction from the image, so I took them out.  Apologies to the sketch designer.

     The background paper was also in my stash and I don't remember the manufacturer.  I distressed it slightly by sanding it very lightly with a super fine grit sander.

     Challenges:
Country View Crafts -- How does your garden grow?
Crafter's Cafe -- Mother's Day
Crafty Sentiment -- The letter "B" (boy, blue, bow)
Cuttlebug Mania -- One for Mum
Digital Tuesday -- Distressing
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Name your colors (Blue/brown/orange)
My Sheri Crafts -- Mother's Day
Our Creative Corner -- Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door -- Anything goes


     OK, I'm getting ready for church and will be back later today.  Hope your day goes well and that you find time to refresh and relax.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Thank Your Teacher

     Having grown up with a school teacher for a mother, and also having spent many years beyond high school in various classrooms getting my own education, saying thanks to a teacher comes high on my list.

     Tuesday Throwdown has a new challenge starting today and our theme is "Thank Your Teacher."  We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, who generously supplied images to the DT members.  I'm using "SBTeacher", and Sun Bonnet is one of my favorite characters at Bugaboo.

     I'm playing with the green/brown combo again and I still like it.  :-D  Sun Bonnet is colored with Promarkers, then die cut and matted with two different mats.  Both ribbons and all the flowers are from my stash.   The sentiment is computer generated and die cut.  Everything is mounted on a blank card base of spring green.

     Challenges:
Crafty Ribbons -- Anything goes w/ ribbon
Delightful Challenges -- I appreciate you
Docerela -- Flowers
DRS Designs -- Pastel colors
Fairies Challenges -- For a lady
Paper Crafting Journey -- Use a sentiment
QKR Stampede -- Favorite things (school)
Sassy Studio Designs -- Special Lady (or Mother's Day)
Southern Girls -- buttons, badges, OR Flair!
Stampin' for the Weekend -- die cuts/punches
Tammy's Scrappin Corner -- Layers

     OK, now we want to see you playing along with us at Tuesday Throwdown this week.  I know there are teachers who need to be thanked, and even if you don't have anyone in school in your own house, there are always others who need a card to give. My youngest granddaughter has already claimed this card to give to her teacher.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mother Nature's Baby

     This is the third card I've done in the CDAC Progressive Challenge, where the images are supplied free to those who are participating in the challenge.  This image is by Nana Vic's.  Isn't it adorable?  It feels almost magical.

I used a sketch I found at Sweet Sunday.

     I used Promarkers to color the image and have discovered that green and brown is fast becoming another favorite color combo.   The image is die cut and then stippled with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The brown lattice ribbon, originally white, was also stained with that same ink.  The polka dot dp is digital paper from a set by Doodle Pantry.  It was a scrap I packed with my supplies and it was perfect for this card.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions -- Layer it up
Bearly Mine -- Digital image and paper
Crafting by designs -- Anything goes
Creative Moments -- Spring
Everybody Art Challenge -- 2 colors (green and brown)
LEJ Designs -- Mystical, magical, mysterious
Memory Nest Whimsical Weds. -- Anything whimsical
Moving Along with the Times -- Baby
Outlawz Paper ala Mode -- Anything goes
Scrappy Frogs -- Think Spring
Sugar Creek Hollow -- Baby face
That Craft Place -- For a child

     All right, I'm posting this and then starting for home.  I doubt that I'll get much internet time until I'm back in my own surroundings later this afternoon, but I do have a couple of things to post for next week and I might even get something done over the weekend.  See you later.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fancy Shoes for Mom

     I'm doing Mother's Day cards for my DD and DILs.  My own mom has been gone many years now but I know she'd just love that I have daughter/daughters-in-law/granddaughter-in-law who get handmade cards for Mother's Day so I do that to please not only the younger generation gals, but to honor my own mom.  :-D

     Today's card is made using an image from the mid-month release at Doodle Pantry.  This is from the set "Fancy Shoe" and I love the Victorian feel of it.  This isn't a new set, but it is newly colored instead of just the black outline drawing.  It made for a fast card once I had the dies, papers, and embellishments chosen.

I used a sketch from A Die for a Sketch, turned 1/4 turn 

clockwise and using a square image instead of an oval.

     Is that a gorgeous image or not?  It comes in two different colors in the set, plus the outline drawings, plus sentiments, plus digital papers!  I'll add a photo of the set at the bottom of this post.

     I chose papers which were scraps, but I'm pretty sure they came from the DCWV "Linen Closet" stack -- at least I know the chevron pattern is Linen Closet.   The image and the sentiment are both die cut with a set from Spellbinders, and I stippled them with azure ink, then layered them together.  The sheer brown and blue ribbons were in my stash (who knows how long!) but they came originally from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  That flower has been hanging around, waiting to be used, since last fall.  I don't do much with browns and when I do, it's usually for a masculine card, so brown roses rarely get used.

     I'm terribly pleased with this card.  :-D  I love the vintage look even though it has relatively little embellishment.  I love vintage -- I'm just still practicing on perfecting it.

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries -- 1 image, 2 dp, 3 embellies (2 bows,1 flower)
Cards Galore -- Vintage
Card Mania --  Punches/Dies
CDAC Challenges -- Anything goes
Deep Ocean -- Flowers & Fantasy
Docerela Creations -- Mother's Day
Fashionista -- Mother's Day
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Mother's Day
Simply Create, Too -- Use your stash
Sparkle N Sprinkle -- Use a digi

   Go check out the rest of the new, mid-month releases at Doodle Pantry.  I know you're going to find something you love!   And there's still time to get something entered into the Doodle Pantry challenge (ends April 24th.)  Yes, you have to use a Doodle Pantry image, but then you get a free set (Berry Sweet Mice) just for entering.  And there's still a sale going on at the Doodle Pantry store.  How can you lose?  Go, run, don't delay!  See you at the challenge.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

       Free for entering the challenge

New DT Member at 613 Avenue Create

     I'm so excited that I get to announce a new DT position I have with 613 Avenue Create.  What a wonderful group of ladies over there.  Some of them I already know and share other teams with them, and others are new to me but they are all so full of inspiration and encouragement.  Thanks for inviting me, Kathi and Chana!

     A new challenge goes up every Sunday morning and this week we have a sketch for you.  I love this sketch and stayed pretty close to it, though I have learned that sometimes interpreting sketches not quite so literally is also OK.  ;-D  Our sponsor is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps, a company I simply adore, and they generously supplied images for the DT to use.  I happened to use one I already had in my collection (I have tons of Bugaboos!), called "Ava Swing."  I don't know who's more adorable, Ava or her kitten.

Here's the sketch, drawn by Kathi.

  

     I took my colors from Ooh La La where the challenge is to use 'Orange and Green.'  This time my image is colored completely with Promarkers, then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The lacy mat is also made with a die from Spellbinders.  Can you believe that all the papers and card stock on this card were cut from stuff in my scrap pile?  I'm on a mission to get scraps used up and to actually throw out the pieces which truly are too small for any effective purpose.  I've managed to get myself into that "only-4-square-inches-of-working-space" on my desktop again so I need a remedy.  lol

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Anything goes
Creative Creations -- Spring
Cupcake Craft -- Cats or dogs
Forever Friends Biweekly -- Die cuts &/or punches
Marker POP -- Anything goes
Mema's Crafts Monday -- Anything goes
Pink Elephant -- Spring colors
Sarah Hurley -- Projects with Character
Stamp and Create -- At least 1 die cut

     So, if you've never played at 613 Avenue Create, why not come join in.  If you have played there before, you'll love this week's challenge.  It's a fun and fanciful sketch and you can be as literal or as interpretive as you like, as long as we can see the basic sketch in there somewhere.  :-D  Hope to see you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Delicious Doodles Kingfisher

     Good Friday morning to you all, and that means it's another new challenge at Delicious Doodles.  This week we want to see "More than one fold" on your cards.  I've done an offset-left, gate fold card, using one of the "Kingfisher" images.  There are two images in the set, this is the more feminine of the two.  The more masculine one doesn't have the butterflies.

Sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp.

     Isn't he magnificent?  I colored him with Promarkers, then fussy cut the image and layered it onto an oval mat allowing the butterfly to be outside the frame.  I die cut a larger oval from digital paper, and then punched three small butterflies from that same dp.

     The card base is embossed with a folder which was in the blog candy I won over at Amanda's blog (more on that later today) and I really love it!  That one's going to get lots of use this spring.  :-D I took a piece of white CS 5 1/2" X 8 ", scored it at 1 3/4" and again at 6 1/4" for the folding.   That puts the front opening slightly left of center.  I embossed it by putting one side into the folder and embossing, then put the other side in (inserting it from the oposite side of the folder), lined it up so that the butterfly meets exactly, and embossed it.  That took some work and some pre-planning (because I wanted the butterflies flying in an upward direction) but I managed it.  :-D

     Finally, I adhered the punched butterflies over three of the embossed butterflies and decided it was finished without any further embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps -- White card (color in image OK)
A Little Bit Crafty -- Anything goes
CDAC Anything Goes -- Anything goes
Digi Makeover -- Anything Goes
Emma's Cards UK -- Butterflies
Lia Stampz -- Birds, nests, or eggs
Little Claire's -- Cards with folds
Marker POP -- Anything goes
Mema's Crafts -- Anything goes
Natalie and Amy's -- Monochromatic
One Stitch at a Time -- Spring
Sparkle n Sprinkle -- Use a digi
Sparkles Forum -- Birds
Stamp and Create -- Use a die cut

    OK, now, I want to see you playing along in our "More than one fold" challenge this week at Delicious Doodles.  You can be as fancy as you choose (step cards, easel cards, twisted easels, accordians, etc.) or do something more simple like my gate fold.  No excuses -- just come play along.  Remember, it's one entry per person (unless you use a Delicious Doodles image) and you could win 5 of Teri's gorgeous digis!   See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Recycling at Its Best!

     For any of you who are regular followers of my blog, or even for those who are visiting for the first time but have seen the feline photos I have, it must be obvious that I'm a cat lover.  I use that to preface what I'm going to say next.

     Someone in my neighborhood has an orange tabby cat who must weight 50 pounds, can raid garbage cans better than a raccoon or a bear in a national park, and for some reason he has decided that my particular can has the best 'recycle-ables' around!   There is no keeping him out if he decides to get in, and he doesn't clean up his messes!  Grrrrrrr  This card is done in his honor.  :-D

     The image is from QKR Stampede, where the challenge theme is "Animal Antics." I colored it with Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs, then die cut it with a Wonky Squares die from Spellbinders.  The chevron and the striped papers are from DCWV, "Linen Closet" stack again.  Told you it was a favorite of mine. :-D  

     I used a stippling brush and three different Tim Holtz distress ink pads on the card base and the image.  Ever since I saw someone using a stippling brush at one of my monthly craft get-togethers, I find that I like the effect even better than sponging.  I'm hooked!  I added the three hand-punched flowers with centers hand-colored as the only embellishments.  This is a masculine card so I prefer lots of layers to lots of flowery or glittery embellies.

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create -- Anything goes w/ flowers

Cards for Men -- Humorous

CDAC 1, 2, 3 -- 1 sentiment, 2 dp, 3 embellies (flowers)

Crafty Cardmakers -- Humour

Created with Love -- Funny cards

Digi Darla's -- Laughter is the Best Medicine

Glitter n Sparkle -- Cute

Pile It On -- Handmade flowers (punched and colored)
That Craft Place -- Animals

     BTW, if you do a card for the 1,2,3 Challenge over at CDAC this quarter (see link above), you'll get a set called "Watermelon Ants" from Doodle Pantry after the challenge closes just for playing in that challenge.  The challenge runs for an entire quarter (April through June) but since I'm on the Doodle Pantry Creative Team, I just wanted to give you a heads up.  :-D  

     Halfway point in the week, and it's supposed to be a gorgeous day, nearly 80 degrees F!  How's that for making those of you still buried under the snow pea-green with envy?  lol  Well, if it makes you feel better, they are saying rain for tomorrow.   Glad you stopped by and if I'm not here, I'm playing in the garden.  Pour yourself a cuppa whatever, and enjoy a browse around.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Delicious Doodles Easter

     Here's the last of the cards until my camera is back in my hands in just few hours.  Because of the camera problems, I missed getting my DT card done for the challenge at Delicious Doodles this week (where the theme is "Fairies") but I did paper piece this fun chick popping out of her egg.  This is a new image from Teri and you can find it here.  Isn't it an adorable image to use for Easter?

Sketch is from I {Heart} Sketches 

and the paper piecing idea came from Freshly Brewed.

     That paper has been in my stash for so long, I can't even remember when or where I got it.  I know it started as a 12" X 12" piece of scrapbook paper and this is about all that's left from other projects.  This piece would have ended up in the trash but it seemed perfect for this egg and background.  BTW, the part of the background dp covered by the matted image has the hole where I cut the bit for the eggshell.  How's that for frugality?  :-D

     The chick is colored with pencil.  Both the sheer ribbon and the bow were in my stash.  The sentiment is from a rubber stamp which I masked to get just the greeting part.

     Challenges:  (There's a ton of "Easter/spring" themes this time)
Craft Your Passion -- Ribbon or lace
Cutie Pie -- Easter
Digi Darla's -- Easter
Digi Makeover -- Pastels
Digi Sketch -- Easter/Spring
Kaboodle Doodles -- Bows. pearls; anything w/ frills
Outlawz Greeting Card -- Layers
Pink Elephant -- Easter
Rhedd & Rosie's -- Birds
Stamp and Create -- Fur or Feathers
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner -- Easter
Without Words -- Easter

     I hope your weekend is starting well.  I'll have another post this afternoon, just to show that my camera is back home, doing it's job as it should.  :-D  Thanks for visiting and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Pitcher and Basin

     First of the month and time for another fantastic release of digi sets from Doodle Pantry.  Oh, there are some marvelous sets this month!  Of course, I think that every month, but these just seem especially wonderful this time.  :-D    My card is made using an image from the "Pitcher and Basin" set (photo of the entire set is at the end of this post), a classic vintage set.

     I actually remember my Grammy (in whose honor my blog is named) having a bowl and pitcher on the dressing table in her bedroom which she had used since her childhood.  I didn't inherit that set but I do have another set which I found in an antique store and bought because it was perfect in my Victorian house.  I colored the image to look as much like Grammy's set as possible.  Her set was white porcelain with a slight lavender tinge to it, and it did have flowers on the side of the pitcher and inside on the bottom of the basin.

I based this on the sketch at Scrapper's Delight this week.

     The image is colored with Promarkers, then die cut and edged with ink.  The background lattice work is a die cut from Spellbinders.  I added the purple, rhinestone & pearls flourish to the top corner and then piled on the flowers (in classic Vintage style) at the bottom corner.  I love the way this card turned out, and not just because of the purple. :-D

     Although I didn't use them, the set comes with some wonderful digi papers, too.  See the photo below.  Oh, yes, one more thing from Laurie this weekend -- AND FOR 3 DAYS ONLY... A 20% OFF coupon!!!!! 

MARCH 1 - 3 ONLY 

COUPON CODE:     SPRINGME

How to add the discount to your cart:

• Fill your cart with desired products and click to view cart
• Add code in coupon field at bottom of cart and CLICK SUBMIT to see discount be applied
• Continue the checkout and pay

     Challenges:
Bearly Mine -- Anything goes
Crafting Cafe  -- Favorite color (purple)
Crafts and Me -- Dies or punches
Glitter n Sparkle -- Bling it on
Kaboodle Doodles -- Bling
Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge -- Anything goes
Party Time Tuesday -- Anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Use fav color (purple!)
Simon Says Stamp -- Anything goes

     I hope your week has gone well.  Don't forget that the new Doodle Pantry Challenge will begin at noon EST today, and Laurie always gives away a free set just for playing in the challenge.  Yes, you must use a Doodle Pantry image to enter, but then you get a free set in return!  How can you lose?  The photo on the right hand side below shows the Easter Egg Ants set which is free for playing in the challenge this month.  The Challenge only runs until the 24th so enter early and don't miss out.

     Can you believe it's already the First of March?  Easter in just another 4 weeks and 2 days.  Good heavens, I certainly do hope that spring is firmly established before that.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

       

Rose and Butterfly

     I intended to have this posted yesterday but I'm having internet connection problems for some reason.  So it gets posted this morning instead.   I used one of my newest images which came from Delicious Doodles (challenge theme -- Flowers for Spring), and I used the sketch from A Die for a Sketch, plus I chose the colors from Dynamic Duo this week.

   

     The image is colored completely with SN markers, and the image is cut with a square die, using the 'out of the box' technique on the butterfly in the top corner.  The tiny butterfly next to the sentiment is a leftover from another project I did where I used a Spellbinders die and the butterfly is one of the cut out pieces.  I'm not sure why it looks green.  It's a deep teal, IRL.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp and I don't remember what company for sure, but I think it was one I chose as a winner at DRS Designs.

     Both dp were in the Linen Closet stack from DCWV, and they are clear embossed.  I used two different ribbons and added pearls to both butterfly bodies for a few little gems.  I thought this made a very feminine and 'romantic' card.  

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Add a bow
Color Me Creative -- Color a feminine image
Craft Us Crazy -- Show us Favorites (Linen Closet dp & flowers)
Crazy 4 Challenges -- Texture (ribbon, embossing, butterfly)
DRS Designs -- Plaids
Heck of a Challenge -- Love and flowers
Outlawz Paper Ala Mode -- Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey -- Bingo: Gems, Emboss, Ribbon
Paper Creator's Crafts -- Flowery Delight
Paper Playtime -- Sentiment Stamp
Sparkle and Glitter -- All the things I love (flowers & butterflies)
Speedy Fox & Friends -- My State (CA, Rose Parade)
Sweet Stampin' -- Mother's Day or special lady

     OK, I hope Blogger works and posts this as scheduled.  (Edited to add: It didn't!  Had to post it manually as soon as I saw it hadn't gone as scheduled.)  I'm having a super busy week and don't know how much crafting I'll actually get done.  I'm just going with the flow so look for me when you see me a'comin' down the river!  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hang Yer Hat

     I recently met someone who truly is an old fashioned American cowboy.  Soft spoken, very dry sense of humor, and not at all given to sentences much longer than 5 or 6 words.   He doesn't care at all about fancy or frilly.  So, when I decided to make a Valentine card for him (and he got wind of it from his daughter), he sent a message which indicated that cards weren't really necessary, that a simple "Hang yer hat" would be sufficient.

     That made me think about the new releases from Doodle Pantry, which included this fabulous cowboy hat from the Cowboy Gear set and also the Old Parchment set, which I used as though it was background dp.

I took my sketch from The Sweet Stop, modified a bit to be very CAS.  The lariat takes the place of the banner and the hat replaces the image square.

     This is actually a small card, only 4 1/4" X 4 1/4", so I'm going to have to make an envelope for it.  The hat is fussy cut and then popped up on dimensional dots, although that really doesn't show in the photo.  The lariat is made from jute cord.  I truly couldn't resist a little bit of "fancy", so I added four tiny, topaz-colored gems to the hat band.  While they are sparkly in the picture, they barely show on the card IRL unless the light happens to catch them.

     Challenges:
Cards Galore -- 1 for the men
Crafting Cafe -- Anything goes
Here Come the Boys -- Westerns
Hot Shot Crafts -- CAS
Natalie and Amy's -- Something old (cord) & something new (images)
One Stop Craft -- Anything goes
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ fav colors (mine are fav neutrals -- browns)
Outlawz CAS -- "Short" cards
Sentimental Sundays -- Celebrating 'new' (new person!)
Stamptacular Sunday -- Gents and gems (Does a gent's hat count?)
Word Play Saturday -- Anything goes

     We'll see if this card appeals to that dry sense of humor.  :-D  Below are pictures of the two new release sets I used for this card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

          

Roses in a Milk Bottle

     I was so lucky last week, winning some digi images from Pattie's Creations!  Pattie has a challenge going on, too, and she wants us to either alter or recycle something.  Well, of course, I had to get one of the digis I won colored up right away and turned into a birthday card.  (I keep trying to get my stock of birthday cards above one or two but I seem to be sending them out as fast as I get them made.   This is another of those which will be going to a sweet gal with a February birthday. :-D )

     I want  you to look carefully because I took apart three cards I had done a few months back but they just didn't please me.  Rather than throw them away whole, I saved as much as I could from them, then tossed them.  The butterflies and the bow are recycled onto this card.  I had to add pearls to cover up a tiny tear at the head of one of the butterflies.  I also had to make them into 2 layers to cover other tiny blemishes (there had originally been 4 butterflies.)

My sketch is from Seize the Birthday.  In addition to the sketch, 

it has to be a feminine birthday card. 

     Don't you just love those roses in a simple milk bottle?  I thought they were so gorgeous and could be used for so many things, even a Valentine card.  Maybe next time.   I took my color cue from DL.ART Thankful Thursday -- red or pink.  I colored the image with Promarkers (Passion for Promarkers -- fav color combo) and, since I just love pink and red together, I used both colors.    The die set is from Spellbinders and the butterflies were cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  Everything else is from my stash of CS.

     Challenges:
Can You Digi It?  -- Getting girly
Digistamps 4 Joy -- Anything goes
Forever Friends -- Birthdays
Inky Chicks -- Bingo: Sentiment, Image, Bow
Moving Along with the Times -- Bling it on
My Time to Craft -- Things with Wings
Oozak -- Anything goes with pink and bling
Outlawz Copics/Promarkers -- Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey -- For a girl
Sparkles Forum -- Die cuts and flowers
Top Tip Tuesday -- Lavishly luscious layers

     Well, it's a great Monday morning here on the West Coast.  Temps are supposed to warm a bit so that there will be no need to bundle up so completely that one cannot see past the end of one's nose.  lol  It's a work day for me so I'll be indoors anyway and need only brave the weather to go out to check and post the mail.  Have a good day, whatever your weather.  Happy stamping.  NanaConnie 

Wolf Moon

     A card this morning with a new image I got over at Delicious Doodles.  I just thought this winter wolf was so gorgeous, and it seemed time to give canines a little time to play on this blog which seems to be overrun with felines.  :-D

My sketch came from There She Goes.

     Although the image didn't required a lot of coloring, I used my Promarkers to add blue to the sky, a touch of green to the tree, pale yellow to the moon, and gray to the wolf.  I added gel sparkle pen to the snow on the tree and a few of the snowflakes in the sky.

     The papers are from DCWV, either Linen Closet or Trade Winds stacks.  The 'ribbon' is actually jute cord, which seemed to work better on a masculine, CAS card.  I used an EK Success corner punch at top and bottom, and then added the punched out leaves to the bracket the image.

     Challenges:
Cards und More -- Ice and snow
Crafts 4 Eternity -- TicTacToe: blue, ribbon(twine), snowflakes
Creative Creations -- Keep it simple
Creative Stamp Friends -- Winter
I [heart] Promarkers  -- Anything goes
Lady Anne's Challenges (Weds.) -- Anything goes
Ribbon Carousel -- Winter spirit
Tuesday Alchemy -- Winter wonder
Without Words -- Baby, it's cold outside

     Have a great Saturday and check back this afternoon for the latest challenge from Eclectic Ellapu.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Encouraging Words at Perfect Sentiment Challenge

     I wasn't sure I was going to have a post today because of printer problems and a glitch in my camera's downloading software.  I couldn't get anything out of the camera and into the computer hard drive.  But that's resolved now, and so I get to tell you about the new challenge today over at Perfect Sentiment.  We have two magnificent sponsors this week; Crafty City, which will have a Gift Certificate for one winner (US only) and Pattie's Creations, which is giving away 3 free digis!

     For our theme, we want to see you do a card with a sentiment of encouragement for someone and also use ribbon.  Pattie's Creations supplied images for the DT to use and I chose Mom and Baby Polar Bear for my card.  Nothing is more encouraging than a parent teaching a child.  :-D

My card is based on the sketch from Hanna and Friends this week.

     I feel like every card I've done in January is blue and white, but it's such a perfect color combo for anything depicting chilly weather.  Besides, my friend, Lynn, will absolutely love it!  She's the queen of blue combos.  :-D

     The snow/ice, sky, and dusty white on the bears are done using chalks, and the shadowing on the polar bears is done with markers.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font.  The ovals and circles are die cut and matted with black.  The papers are from my stash and I don't even know how long they've been there.  I used two different ribbons, layered together, and they are both from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The flower embellishments are either hand punched and layered together or from my stash of Prima roses.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create -- Anything goes
Allsorts -- Dies or Punches
Card Makin' Mamas -- Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity -- Moody blues
Dream Valley -- Anything goes
Gingerloft -- Let it snow
Jellypark Friends -- Winter animals
One Stitch at a Time -- Anything goes
Pattie's Creations -- Fun in the Snow
{Pin}spirational  -- Photo inspiration (colors)
Tammy's Scrapin Corner -- Punch cards (dies and punches)
Totally Papercrafts -- Ribbon

     I have one more post today but it's running late because of the camera problems so check back later for my post using the Outlawz Wednesday sketch.

     In the meantime, won't you come along and play in our "Encouragement with a Ribbon" challenge at Perfect Sentiment this week?  I'd really love to see what you create and share with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Pink and Red Christmas with Penny Black

     I just have to share another Christmas card with you because I love the stamp so much.  It's one of my favorite Penny Black stamps and it doesn't even have one of the Hedgehogs in it (which just happen to be my favorite PB critters)!   Don't you just love the little bird bringing a gift for the girl in the swing?  Too precious!

     I'm not sure how I decided black, white and reds for the color combo but it just seemed to work.  The image is stamped and heat embossed, which gives it some sparkle, and then colored with watercolor pencils and Copic markers.  The card base is metallic maroon-red CS.   The sentiment paper was colored with a broad tipped, gold-metallic paint pen before adding the sentiment.  Afterward, I painted over the sentiment with Creative Inspirations "Fairy Dust" paint for some shimmer, and then fussy cut the sentiment.

     The best part of this card is that it's going to be given to a young girl who's getting a swing set from Santa, so the card is perfect!

     Challenges:
Color Me Creative Challenge -- Metallic gleam
Come and Get It -- Anything Christmas
Crazy Challenge -- Christmas Time
Cutie Pie Challenge -- Cute Christmas
Creative Inspirations Paints -- Christmas Gifts
Dream Valley -- Christmas
Friends of Speedy TV -- Happy Holiday
Kaboodle Doodles -- Christmas
Penny Black and More -- It's your choice
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Glitter and sparkle
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Winter fun 4 kids
Stamptacular Sunday -- Christmas Time
The Squirrel and the Fox -- Christmas
Without Words -- Monochrome Christmas

     We're creeping closer to the big day and Santa's really under pressure to get everything packed into his sleigh for Christmas Eve.  I'm having a wonderful time and feeling no pressure at all since my preparations were done by last weekend!  All that's left is enjoying family time and grandkids.  :-D  Happy Stamping, my friends.  NanaConnie   

Beating the Christmas Rush?

       This card is one of those that just worked exactly the way I had it visualized in my head.  That doesn't happen all that often, I'm afraid.  Anyway, that means I'm inordinately pleased with it.  :-D

The digi is "Turtle Santa" from QKR Stampede, where their theme is 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas', and the sketch I used is from Seems a Little Sketchy.

     I chose to use the Play Date Cafe challenge of "Black and white with a splash of maroon."  He's colored with maroon gel pen, which is hard to 'shade', but since I had one pen about to run out of ink, I managed to get some light maroon on one side of the bag and hat.   DP is from DCWV's Le Creme stack, and both the dp and the maroon CS I used for matting were pieces left over from other projects.  The flower was the last one I had of that color and it's been hiding in my stash for who-knows-how-long.   I'm still on a campaign to use up leftovers and bits.  You know the ones -- too big to throw out but too small for most projects.  :-D

    The tulle is from SU and I folded it to get a double layer for a bit more color.   I made it into an easel card, something I haven't done for a while, but I have a granddaughter who just thinks they are the 'kewl'est thing ever, so...

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Easel card
Catch the Bug -- Anything goes
City Crafter -- Christmas Easel card
Creative Stamp Friends -- Christmas
Cupcake Craft -- Black & white + one color
Eureka Stamps -- Holiday fun
Jackson's Digital Expressions -- Photo inspiration colors
LEJ Designs -- Favorite technique (easels)
Lexi's Creations -- Christmas
Ooh La La -- Spots and dots
Shopping Our Stash -- Odds and ends

     I hope your weekend has been going well.  We've had rain, and wind, and a bit more rain so it's a good crafting weekend.  I'm all caught up on my DT cards for next week but I have a couple more 'just for fun' projects I want to finish.   Maybe I'll be able to share them with you later in the week.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie