Dandi-lion

     I've fallen madly in love with AuroraWings' darling little sprites and this Dandelion Sprite is no exception.   Their challenge theme this time is "Sprite Delight" and you just have to use a hand-colored sprite on your project to enter.

I chose my colors from the challenge at The Outlawz.

I used the center diagonal row of yellow, lt brown, & green 

and added the gold mesh for the lace.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and I added glitter gel ink to the dandelion seeds but it just doesn't show in the photo.  The sentiment was printed on the same piece as the image.  The fancy edge was made with a Cheery Lynn border die and the flower is from Recollections, dyed with a marker.  Everything is put onto a dark brown CS base.

     Challenges:

Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Inspiration Destination
Love to Scrap
Paper Shelter
Papertake Weekly
Penny's Paper Crafty
Through the Craft Room Door
Vintage Stamping

     Yesterday was day 7 in our over-100 degree heat wave and there's just no relief in sight.  The weather folks are predicting that on Monday we'll be at 99 instead of 100 but, I'm sorry, my body fails to detect the difference.  Hot is hot!  If you're also suffering from high heat, be sane and stay indoors.  Craft your heart out and post lots of inspiration for the rest of us.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Cow Country

     I don't think I've ever had more fun coloring an image!  We have a new challenge at QKR Stampede starting today and our theme is "Cows."  Yes, I said "Cows."   I hope you'll check out all the different cows used by the gals on the DT.  We all giggled over our images and cards this week.

     Both my sentiment (Digi 11207 - Cow Country) and my image (Digi 1004 - Long Horn) came from QKR Stampede.

     I'm happily dedicating this card to my friend and blogging buddy, Lynn (Creative Crafts by Lynn,) who lives in Cow Country somewhere out there in the middle of Texas.  Some time back, she made a card and discovered that her hubby was very confused about the difference between a pig and a cow, which is a bit embarrassing for a Texas cowboy!  She had me laughing for a week with her story about that one.

     So, Lynn, I personally challenge you to do something with a cow this week and enter it into the QKR challenge.  And, yes, I know you have some kind of a cowboy charm to add to it!  :-D

     I colored this image with ProMarkers then cut it out and punched the corners.  I used dark brown CS to mat the image and punched those corners, too.  I printed the sentiment, rounded the corners, matted it and rounded those corners.  Everything was adhered to a square, white card base.

     I added the twine, used a bit more of it to make the lariat, and finally added the cowboy hat charm.  There you go, another CAS, masculine card filled with fun and who knows what else.  After all, as the sentiment says, "You're in cow country..."

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Come and Get It
Crafting for all Seasons
Creative Moments
Deep Ocean
DL.ART
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Loves Rubber Stamps
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Minutes
Petal Lu
SLS Lines
Sunday Stamps

     I really hope you'll come and play with us this week.  While it isn't necessary to use a QKR image to enter or to win, there are some awfully cute cow images in the shop.  Plus, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for entries which use QKR Stampede images and that increases your chances of winning dramatically!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

"Chocolate" Holiday

     There are all kinds of holidays throughout the year and many people talk of their "holidays" instead of their "vacation."  We card makers prepare for various holidays by making cards to celebrate the occasion.   Calendars list all sorts of silly holidays like "National Take a Crab for a Walk Day" or "International Sneeze Day."  Personally, I believe in keeping things more basic and simple and I've announced my philosophy on happiness and holidays in the sentiment on this CAS card.

I took my colors from the challenge at

Digitally Sweet. 

      This is another of my single layer CAS cards with the sentiment printed directly onto the card front before stamping the House Mouse image.   I stamped it using gray instead of black ink so that the outline was less distinct once it had been colored.  I colored the image with ProMarkers and chalks.

      Both the green and pink ribbons came from my stash and were probably originally found at Joann Crafts or Michael's.  I made the double bow by folding some lace and adding a small pink bow on top of that.  The small bow I tied using my Craft-Dee BowZ bow maker.  One simple gem was added to the bow.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Bunny Zoe's
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Catz
House Mouse
Our Creative Corner
Paper Creator's Crafts
Path of Positivity
Simply Papercrafts
Sister Act
Wags n Whiskers

     I hope your week is starting well and that summer will bless you with warm but not hot temperatures.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Willow Goldfinch

     My dear friend, Teresa (of Tickell Expressions,) drew this beautiful Goldfinch and shared it as a freebie on her blog earlier this week.  I found some time last night to get him colored and he just comes to life!  Go get the digi and color him yourself.  You'll see what I mean.

I based this on the sketch from Mojo Monday,

turned a quarter turn.

     This was going to be totally CAS with just the colored (ProMarkers) & die cut (QuicKutz) image and sentiment on the front of the card but then the lace and the little punched flowers crept on, and the flowers needed some leaves (Cheery Lynn), and then the butterfly (Cheery Lynn) danced by and lit on the top corner...   Well, you've heard of "If you give a mouse a cookie..." right?  It was kind of like that.  :-D  Still, it does have a lot of open space so maybe it is somewhat clean, hmmm?

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Artistic Inspirations
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Colors
              
Everybody-Art
Great Impressions
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Inky Impressions
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Top Tip Tuesday

     I hope you'll visit Teresa's blog and check out all the freebies she has available.  This lovely Goldfinch is only one of  what she has over there.  Go browse her blog.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Golf is Hard Work!

     For those of you who don't play golf, I want you to know that it is hard work and takes a great deal of concentration.  I don't play either, but I've been told by experts and I believe them.  I do, I really do!  :-D  For a quick primer on all the things a good golfer must do, see the sentiments listed on my QKR Stampede DT card below.

     Our latest weekly challenge starts today and our new theme is "Golfing."  I used Digi 15309, "Golfing Bear."

     The image is hand-colored using ProMarkers, and then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I chalked the edges before I removed it from the die.  The sentiments are all printed using a computer font, then hand cut and added to the card front.  I added some doodling around the sentiments to make them stand out a little bit from the background.  The square metallic brads are the only embellishments because I really wanted that image to be the primary focus.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Artistic Inspirations
Card Mania
Chalk n Stock
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Fussy & Fancy
Glitter n Sparkle
Love to Scrap
Mema's Crafts
Outlawz CAS Sunday
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls
Scrapy Land
Through the Craft Room Door
Whoopsi Daisy

     Have a great Friday, a wonderful weekend, and, oh, yes -- Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Father's Boots

     When I found this "Western Boots" image at Pattie's Creations, I knew I needed to use it for a Father's Day card.  Since the theme for our new June challenge at Pattie's is "Father's Day or Graduation," I knew it would work perfectly for my DT card this month.

     The image and the sentiment were printed at the same time.  I used my ProMarkers to color the boots and then I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.   I added a brown CS backing and hand cut it to the outside shape of the die.  I found those pieces of gingham check dp in the scrap basket and rescued them just for this card.  I layered those onto some red CS which I first ran through my 'Linen' embossing folder.  The twine was the final touch and I frayed the ends to make it more distressed looking.  All of that went onto the card front and everything was from my stash.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Loves Rubber Stamps
Love to Scrap
Mema's Crafts
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Papertake Weekly
Quirky Crafts
Scribble & Scrap
Vintage Stamping

     You have all the rest of the month to play along with us so get going on those Father's Day or Graduation cards, then get your entry posted on the challenge blog.  See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie.  

A Chicken in the Bath

     Another Friday and another DT card for the challenge at QKR Stampede.  I'm just so crazy about their images and it tickles me to be on the DT.  Our theme this week is "Bath Time" and I don't want you to be confused by my choice of image.

     I did everything possible to get this little chicken (rooster?) to add some warm water and suds to the 'bath' but ran into an obstinate refusal.  As you can see from the outside and inside sentiments, it simply wasn't going to happen!  Whichever he or she may be, s/he's certainly not a DUCK!  :-D

I based the outside design on the sketch from The Outlawz.

     The image is called  "Resting", Digi 24122 and the sentiments are mine.  I colored the whole thing with ProMarkers, cut it with a die from QuicKutz, and matted it with another larger die cut from the same set.  The two different ribbons for the wraps and the bows were in my stash and the flowers are punched and embossed by hand.  Pretty simple overall.

     Challenges:
CAS on Sunday (diagonal top R to L)
Come and Get It (diagonal top L to R)
Craft for the Craic
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals
Crazy Challenge
Creative Moments
Fairy Tale
Inspiration Destination
Mema's Crafts
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simply Papercraft
Sister Act
Stamp and Create
Tuesday Throwdown
Whoopsi Daisy

     Remember, while you do have to follow the theme, you are not required to use an image from QKR Stampede.  However, if you do, your entry will be placed into a separate drawing and that really increases your chances of winning.  All other entries are placed into a drawing and there are always more people in that group so your chance of winning three more QKR digis of your choice are reduced accordingly.  I hope we're going to see you playing along and doing something with the "Bath Time" theme.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Birthdays for Kids

     In my family, we have a lot of spring and summer birthdays to celebrate so any time I can make another birthday card for the stash, that's wonderful.   Our new challenge this week at QKR Stampede has a theme of "Birthday Cards for Kids."   Perfect!  I chose to use Digi 24134 "Birthday Turtle" and the sentiment Digi 17206 "Birthday Again", both from QKR.

I used the sketch I found at Sketch Saturday,

and I pulled my colors from The Male Room.

 

     The image is colored with ProMarkers (my absolute favorites!), then die cut and matted.  I dug around in the scrap basket and found those wonderful bits of green CS.  The 'blingy' ribbon was in my box of miscellaneous ribbons (meaning I don't remember where I got it) and the bow is one of those I make by the dozen and toss in my stash for future use.  The metal charm has been hiding in my things and I decided it was time to use it.

     Challenges:

Come and Get It

Crafty Boots

Crafty Sentiments Designs

Cutie Pie

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Choosday

Fan-Tastic Tuesday

Going Grey with Scrap Creations

Inspiration Destination

Love to Scrap

Melonheadz Friends

Paper Girls

Paper Nest Dolls

Sentimental Sundays

     I hope your week has gone well.  For those of you in the USA, when you're celebrating the long weekend this Memorial Day, try to remember the meaning of the holiday; salute a Veteran and say a prayer for our currently serving military guys and gals, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Sleepy Lamb Agnes from Lacy Sunshine

          We have a new challenge starting today over at Aud Sentiments.  Our theme this time is "Make it Cute" and you must use a sentiment.   Our sponsor this fortnight is Lacy Sunshine.  They generously supplied images for the DT to use on their inspiration cards and I used 'Sleepy Lamb Agnes.'  Isn't she precious?

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, then die cut and matted with a larger die cut.  The dp came from a stack by Paper Studio.  The bow is one of those I found at Hobby Lobby and the little flowers were punched and glittered.  The leaves are cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (center column)
Craft and Smash
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Ribbons
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Hanna & Friends
Mema's
Natalie and Amy's
Paper Creator's Crafts
Robyn's Fetish
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp (yellow)
Stamp and Create
Wags 'n Whiskers

     You have two weeks to get a "Cute" card made, making sure it has a sentiment on it, and enter it into the challenge.  I hope we're going to see you playing in this challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

It Only Seems Impossible

     QKR Stampede has another new challenge starting this morning and our theme this week is "Balloons."  For me, balloons just lend themselves to celebrations, especially birthdays.  But for this fun guy (Digi 15401 "Floating Away"), it may just mean sticking to something until the impossible is accomplished.  :-D

I chose to use the sketch from Digi Sketch,

turned one-quarter turn.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then I cut the image with a hexagon die set from QuicKutz.  I cut a mat from blue polka dot dp, plus two other hexagons from green and pink dp (The Paper Studio.)  I layered them together, offsetting the green and pink to each side.

     The ribbon is sparkly and sheer, and I added three tiny buttons.  Another relatively CAS design and I really like it.  I AM learning!  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Bunny Zoe's
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
Loves Rubber Stamps
Melonheadz Friends
Party Time Tuesday
Path of Positivity
Perfectly Rustics
Pile It On
Robyn's Fetish
Ribbon Girl

     Come play this week!  Don't have a stamp with a balloon?  Check out the QKR Stampede store where you can find either rubber or digi stamps.  Remember, you don't have to use QKR images but if you do, you'll be entered into a separate drawing which increases your chances of winning.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Just Peeking In

     This is my last post as a Design Teamie on the Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge.  I'll still be playing in challenges over there because I love the people and the challenges but this is the last day of my DT term.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but the optional twist this week is "Flowers," either in the image or added as embellies.

     Our sponsor for the month of May is Sami Stamps and they generously supplied images to each of the DT members.  This one is called "Flower Hat."  Doesn't she look like the most special lady in the world wearing her fabulous spring hat?  :-D

I used the sketch I found over at Sketch Saturday

modified a little to keep it more simple.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers.  I found that luscious sparkly ribbon in my stash and also the narrow 1/8" ribbon I used to make the double bow.  I think they both came from The Ribbon Girl.   The sentiment is printed with a computer font and fussy cut, then matted with the same CS that I used for the card front.  The pearls were also in my stash.

     Challenges
CAS on Sunday
Catch the Bug
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Digi Choosday
Digi Sketch
Eureka Stamps
Great Impressions
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz PAM
Paper Girls
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl
Sami Stamps
Scrapper's Delights
Stamp and Create
Top Tip Tuesday

      A fond farewell to all my DT mates at Twisted Thursday and I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Don't forget, it's all about "Flowers" if you decide to add the twist which allows you to enter two projects instead of only one, increasing your chances of winning.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Long Stretch...

     It's Thursday and we have a brand new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday where our theme is always Anything Goes but we offer an optional twist.  The twist this week is "Add a Charm."  We have a terrific sponsor this entire month, Sami Stamps.

     The image is printed on a piece of scrap CS and then colored with ProMarkers.  Both the sheer ribbon and the twine are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, but they've been in my stash for a long time.  I decided that it was definitely time to use them.  I used three pieces of twine to tie the bow.  The kitty charm was in my stash.

     CAS and quick to complete.  As my friend, Lynn, (who loves cards done in blues,) would say, "Just git 'er done!"

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
CAS on Sunday
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Digi Chooseday
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Not Just Cards
Paper Minutes
Papertake Weekly
Perfectly Rustics
Scribble & Scrap
Sisterhood of Crafters
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our Twisted Thursday "Anything Goes" challenge this week.  If you don't belong to The Outlawz yet, use this link to get to the main page and join up.  It's free and you'll find a different challenge each and every day plus a Progressive Challenge once a month.  The crafters over there are so warm and wonderfully friendly; you'll love the people you meet.  Come join us, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Classic Mom

     I absolutely love this Rick St. Dennis image!  I'm using it to do this classic Mother's Day card and to enter it into Part 1 of their May/June Progressive Challenge.  It was a wonderful image to color and, of course, that sweet little feline sharing favorite, cuddly moments with mom didn't hurt either.  :-D

     I decided on a beige and pink color combo after seeing the inspiration photo from Kit and Clowder and also because it was something I hadn't done so far as I could remember.

     I colored her with ProMarkers and then added the strip of ribbon which runs behind the image.  I added another strip of it to a lovely bit of beige lace I found in my stash and that became the border along the left side of the card.  I didn't want any other embellishments taking attention away from the lace or that gorgeous image so I left it at that.  The sentiment is computer printed and then die cut (Spellbinders) before adding it to the corner.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
ABC Challenge
A Creative Need
A Vintage Journey
Brown Sugar
Come and Get It
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Ribbons
Fairytale Stampers (1st column)
Glitter and Sparkle
In the Pink
One Stitch at as Time
Paper Creator's Crafts
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl
Simon Says Stamp
Whimsy Inspiration

     I hope your day is going well even if it is a Monday.  Think positive thoughts and before you know it, it'll be the weekend again.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rest Easy

     Friday means a new challenge is starting at QKR Stampede and we have a new theme of "Mother's Day."  Most of you who follow me already know that I have a weird, perhaps even bizarre sense of humor so hopefully you'll appreciate this card I made for a wonderful lady who has a family of 5 and says all she does is laundry, laundry, laundry every day of the week.  I, on the other hand, live alone and sometimes go a full 2 weeks with barely enough laundry to separate it into different loads.  Remember, we're conserving water out here in drought stricken California so I have to have a big load before I run the machine!  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Laziness has nothing to do with it!  :-D

     This is Digi 24224 "Resting Heavy" and, while I had good intentions of using a sentiment from QKR, I have to take the full blame for the sentiment this time.  :-D  It just popped into my head as I was getting ready to print the digi.

     I added the 'frame' and the sentiment with some editing software before I printed it, a new technique for me.   Then I used ProMarkers to color the image, and cut it out - frame, sentiment, and all - with my Fiskars paper cutter.

     I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the card front before adding the image piece.  The ribbon has been in my stash for at least 2 years, maybe 3.  I found the yellow feathers last week when I reorganizing the craft space so I knew exactly where to put my hands on them.  The flower is from Recollections.  This card took less than 15 minutes to put together (not counting coloring time) even though it looks complex rather than simple.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Boots
Crazy 4 Challenges
Design Team Showcase
Hiding in My Craft Room
Love to Scrap
Perfectly Rustics
Pink Elephant
Sister Act

     That's it for this post.  Come play with us this week and have a great weekend, folks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Overdose

     OK, so I wasn't going to have another post for today but I saw this image lying on my desk and had a sudden idea of how to use it.  All that time last month when I was without a computer, or rather between computers, I spent some time with my rubber stamps (the ones which have been languishing in the storage drawers) and got into stamping and coloring them since I couldn't access any of the digis stored on flash drives.  I didn't necessarily know how or where I was going to use the colored images but doing them kept me sane when I had couldn't play online.

     Today, I made a Get Well card from one of those images I had colored, a cute House Mouse stamp.  I know this wasn't intended for a "Get Well" sentiment but I think it works.  I've seen my grandson look a bit like this when he hasn't tracked his carb count properly.  :-D

     I hope my friend Lynn, Creative Crafts by Lynn, has a chance to see this.  I know she's going to love it since blue is her favorite color and she loves CAS designs and cute images.   Are you smiling yet, Lynn?  :-D

I knew I wanted to do a patchwork design of 

polka dots and checks and went looking for a sketch to use.  

I found this one at Sketch Saturday,

and I turned it sideways.

     I used ProMarkers on the image and the papers are old.  I think they're from DCWV's "Basics" stack.   I added the stitching using gel pens.  Everything was cut by hand.  The bow is one of those I've had in my stash from the last time I made a batch of two dozen.  This one may even have been in the stash from the batch before the last one but in any case, it's been a good 6 months.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
ArtbyMiran
Artistic Inspirations
Brown Sugar
Clear It Out
Digi Chooseday
Friday Mashup
Gruffies & Guests
House Mouse
Inky Chicks
Jo's Scrap Shack
Simply Papercrafts
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope your week is going well and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Guy Card for QKR Stampede

     Second post of the day and I'm still playing catch up due to the camera glitch.  This card was done for the challenge which started last Friday at QKR Stampede.  Our challenge this week is "Cards for Guys" so we want to see something with a masculine flair.

     This silly grasshopper is an image from QKR Stampede (Digi 24173 "Lounging") and the sentiment is also from QKR (Digi 13506 "Sometimes...")  I colored the image with ProMarkers and used chalks on the sky.  I wrapped the twine around the card front before I added the hand cut sentiment.  Very CAS and definitely a masculine card.  I might even use it for a Father's Day Card.

     Can you believe that as much as I love humor and cute images, I've never used this one before?

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Brown Sugar
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Catz
Fairy Tale
I (heart) ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Mod Squad
Scrap & Craft
Sister Act
Whimsy Inspiration

     OK, I'm feeling so much better now that my camera glitch has been cured and I have my camera back again.  It must be an addiction -- I was climbing the walls all those days without it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring Flowers at QKR Stampede

     Happy Friday and enjoy the start to your weekend.  We have a new challenge at QKR Stampede this week and our theme is "Spring Flowers."  There are so many gorgeous flower images at QKR that it took me a while to choose this one to use (Digi 16220 "Bouquet") but the search was fun in itself.

I found this sketch at Digi Sketch

and flipped it top to bottom.  I also took some liberties

 with the placement of the gemstones.

     I printed the image and sentiment onto a scrap of CS, then used my ProMarkers to color the image.  I used a die set from QuicKutz to cut the image and the mat.  I believe all the dp is from DCWV but again, those are mainly scraps from the stash so don't hold me to that.  I know they came from 12" x 12" scrapbooking paper originally.  

     The wide sheer ribbon was another scrap in my stash and I added a layer of gold mesh on top of it.  The satin ribbon I used to tie the double bow (bless my Craft-Dee Bowz bow maker!) may have come from Really Reasonable Ribbon but I'm not sure.  I added the small paper flower and the gem stones and pronounced it finished.  Another card that pleases me, even more so because it's all from things in my stash.  The more I use things up, the better my excuse to buy some new things.  :-D

     Challenges:

613 Avenue Create

Addicted to Stamps

Artistic Inspirations

Clear It Out

Corrosive Challenge

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Sentiment Designs

Crazy Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams
Fussy and Fancy

Great Impressions
Kit and Clowder

Melonheadz Friends

Ribbon Girl

Through the Craft Room Door

Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope you're going to enter the challenge at QKR this week.  Find some flowers suitable for spring and make something wonderful.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Aloha (and I wish I was in Hawaii)

     Fair warning to those of you who've gotten used to my doing CAS lately -- this one is NOT clean and simple!  Although I'm becoming very fond of my CAS designs, I reverted to something more in line with frilly, fancy, and over-the-top.  :-D

    I used this image which came from the Rick St. Dennis Progressive Challenge.

I chose to use the colors from Color My Heart

although I admit that my "juniper" feather looks more emerald green

but IRL it is that blue-green of a juniper bush.

     I used ProMarkers to color my image, then die cut it and the mat with dies from Spellbinders.  I used one of my favorite embossing folders (SU) to emboss the pink CS.  I added Flower Soft to her arm and neck leis, and glitter to the stamen of the flowers in her hair.  I used lace ribbon to make the wrapped bow and found three perfect feathers in my stash.  The rose embellies are from Recollections.

     Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks

Allsorts (middle row)

ArtbyMiran

Card Mania

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafts 4 Eternity

Die Cut Divas

Emerald Faeries

Graph'It

Our Creative Corner

Paper Creator's Crafts

Ribbon Girl

Sentimental Sundays

     Is it OK if I tell you that I'm very pleased with this card?  It's been a while since I did that much embellishing and it felt good to just let things go with no worries about having to be minimalist this time around.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Got an Itch

     Friday and QKR Stampede just go together, don't they?   Well, they do on my blog!  So we're starting a new challenge today and our theme this time is: "Bunnies."  Very simple, very sweet, very ... romantic?  You decide after you see this image (Digi 15203) and sentiment.  lol

I chose to use the sketch from Creaine.

     I used ProMarkers and Copics to color the image, then die cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I found a old stack of burlap papers with prints on the pages (hidden in my stash for how long???) and decided that one of them would be perfect for adding some texture to this masculine card.

     The rest of the card is done with things from my stash, mainly kraft and white CS, although in the photo the kraft looks brown.  I think it must be the lighting.  The sentiment is mine, printed and hand cut, then inked on the edge.  The image is mounted on dimensional dots.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Clear It Out
Country View Crafts
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafting Musketeers
Creatalicious
Cutie Pie
Cut It Up
Dies R Us
Digi Chooseday
Digi Sketch
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Sisters of Craft
Tuesday Throwdown (shout out to my former teamies -- miss you all!)

     Here we are, 1/3 of the way through April and that means we're nearly 1/3 of the way through 2015.  It's true, time does go faster the older you get.  :-D  Come play with us at QKR Stampede and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cuddle a Dragon

     My second post of the day but my old computer is about to be replaced by the new one and that means I have to learn a completely new operating system!  Since I don't learn things as quickly as I once did, and since there's no "Operating System for Dummies" manual, I can only hope that it's not as difficult as I've heard from certain trusted sources.  In any case, I decided to get this one posted before the old computer goes away forever, even if I do get punted offline every few minutes.  :-D

     This image came from AuroraWings and I decided that it should be a "Bucket List" card.  That's a card which celebrates things you can now scratch from your Bucket List.

     That sweet little Snapdragon Sprite is colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a Spellbinders die.  I added glitter to his little wings for a bit of sparkle.  The mat is also cut with a larger die from the same set.  Both ribbons were n my stash and I tied a double bow.  I added the February gemstone butterfly (amethyst) and three small pearls for embellishment.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Crafting for all Seasons
Creative Corner
Moving Along with the Times
Quick Quotes
Outlawz Greetings
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Scrapy Land
Sister Act
Whimsy Inspiration

     That's it for today.  I do have a few posts scheduled this week so we'll see how things go with the new computer and, hopefully, I'll be able to get back online without any problems.  If there are problems, at least you'll have some things to see when you come over to visit my blog.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Trash or Treasure?

     It's the first Friday in April and I simply can't believe how fast 2015 is moving along!  Friday means a new challenge at QKR Stampede and this week our theme is "April Showers."  The possibilities with that theme are endless.  I decided to see if  I could find an image that was seemingly unrelated (meaning no baby ducks, umbrellas, or cloudy skies) and then work the theme into it.  What do you think?  I used an image (Digi 7102 "One Man's Trash") and an inside sentiment (Digi 16411) which are both from QKR Stampede.

     The snail image is colored with ProMarkers and mounted onto a sea blue card front.  That front sentiment is mine.  I used blue gems to make the raindrops.  I printed the QKR sentiment onto paper and added some aqua lace before adhering it to the inside of the card.  A simple card with a delightfully CAS design.

     Challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz (snail)
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Everybody-Art
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greetings
Party Time Tues.
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     I absolutely love this silly card, mostly because of that crazy snail.  Don't you just love his expression?  I'm thinking of using this same image for some kind of tea party or coffee klatch card, but with different sentiments, of course.  :-D

     I really hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Remember, you can use any image by any company but if you use a QKR image, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for those who have used QKR stamps.  That increases your chances of winning by quite a lot!  See you at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Birthday Bear

     Well, it seems my internet connection isn't as reliable as I had hoped.  Nevertheless, I'm able to connect right now so will get my QKR Stampede card posted, even if it is two days after the challenge began.  :-D  Our theme this week is to "Add a Sentiment."

     Another very CAS, single layer card using digi and sentiment from QKR Stampede: digi 24181 "Birthday Bear" and Digi 23902 "Birthdays are..."   The image and sentiment are printed directly onto the card front, then colored with ProMarkers.  I added some yellow to the top of his face as reflection from the candles.

     Both yellow ribbons were in my stash and I used lace to make the orange bow behind the yellow one.  The inside is decorated with dp from DCWV, carrying through the touch of orange in the design.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Ribbons
DRS Designs
Inspiration Destination
Just Inspirational
Mema's
Party Time Tuesday
Scrapper's Delights
Time Out

     Short and sweet today but I have to get this posted before my internet connection is gone again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie