Swimming Events

     Have you ever known a horse to participate in organized swimming events?  Nope, me neither.  But the challenge theme today over at QKR Stampede is "Swimming" and I had my favorite, fun, horse image I wanted to use...  So the only thing to do was to find a great QKR Stampede sentiment which would tie it all together.  :-D  Image:  Running Horse Digi 16111,  Sentiment:  You Can Lead...  Digi 13005

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is printed, then hand cut.  Both are inked on the edges.  The brown ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, as is the ribbon I used to tie the bow.

     The background paper is left  over from a kit someone gave me (maker unknown) but I had already used everything else in the kit except some matching washi tape and this paper just made me think of water so...

     One more really CAS design and you must all know by now how much I love humor on my cards.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Colour Your World
Corrosive Challenge
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Girlz
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Ribbons
Craft Your Passion
Great Impressions
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Love to Scrap
Not Just Cards

     I hope you're looking forward to the weekend and have some wonderful plans for refreshing the soul.  I also hope to see you playing along at QKR Stampede this week.  Dig out those images of swimming people, animals, teams, or champions, and enter the challenge before next Thursday ends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mushroom Fairy

     It's been a while since I had the free time to use a Delicious Doodles image but their challenge theme of "Myth or Magic" just inspired me so I grabbed this darling Mushroom Fairy and made a card.

I started with this sketch from Atlantic Hearts

and modified it for the size of my image.

     I colored with my yellow ProMarkers because I had done another card earlier using my yellow Copics and posted that I had better choices of yellows in my Copics collection.  But since I always reach for my ProMarkers first, I had to give them equal time.  :-D

     The satin ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and that was the last of it so it's time to order more.  I'm still practicing my CAS designing so I left off any other embellishments and yes, I do like this one.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Cardz 4 Guyz
Color Your World
Craft for the Craic
Craft Your Passion
Crafting with Friends
Creative Moments
Digitally Sweet
Little Miss Muffet
One Stitch at a Time
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Shabby Tea Room
Simply Papercraft
Through the Craft Room Door

     I'm off to harvest things from my garden.  Tomatoes are overwhelming me again, and carrots are ready plus yet another watermelon.  I think my strawberries are about done but there might be enough left to toss on a bowl of cereal.  I noticed yesterday that there were 2 zuchinis ready and they're going into a lunchtime salad today.  Enjoy your day and find some creative time this weekend.  Your soul needs it.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dear Santa, Define "Good"

     The week-long, Christmas-in-July challenge at Catch the Bug is more than half over and ends on Friday.  So far, I've managed to play each day and I only have two more to go.  I'm already working on a card for tomorrow but for Friday, I have to wait for the freebie image which will be posted that morning.  Today's theme is a Tic Tac Toe board and I did the first column; Bugaboo Stamps image, Funny sentiment, and Sparkly.

     I used my ProMarkers again then added glitter to the ornaments in the image for sparkle.  The ribbon has been in my Christmas stash for at least 3 years, although I've used it on several cards in that time and I still have a couple of yards left.  What I never noticed until I was editing the photograph is that the 'red' stripe down the middle of the ribbon can look green when turned the right way.  I guess it has to do with how the light strikes it.  Odd that I've never seen that before.

     I added the one red button to the upper corner to balance the 'weight' of the bow and pronounced this one finished.  :-D

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards
Colour Your World
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Extra
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Glory of Christmas
Kit and Clowder
Quirky Crafts
Sister Act

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

Red Rose

     Have you ever made a card and then fallen in love with it so much you doubt you'll ever be able to give it away?   This card with the gorgeous red rose (image from Morgan's ArtWorld) is one of those for me.

     I know you must be asking yourself why the leaves are blue instead of green but the answer is very simple.  I wanted to try yet another card which used a red, white, & blue combo without it being a flag-waving, patriotic card.

     I also wanted a very CAS card so the image is printed directly onto the card front.  The image is colored with ProMarkers.  I added three score lines to the top of the card and one tiny die cut butterfly for embellishment.  Actually, the butterfly is a negative piece which drops out of a circular die by Spellbinders.  Whenever I use the die, I scoop up all of those negative butterflies and put them into a little drawer where I keep negative die cut bits for use on other projects.  This one was almost an exact match to the blue I used to color the leaves.

     The sparkly, metallic, twine in red and blue were things I bought on clearance and then just never used.  I think it's because I tend to use cotton twine or jute cord most of the time and my mind just doesn't think of glitz in connection with twine.   This card seemed to call out for some sparkle so the twine worked perfectly.  Besides, I got to clear something out of my stash.  :-D

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Time
Creative Card Crew
Digitally Sweet
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Loves Rubber Stamps
Mod Squad
Natalie and Amy's
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Sweeties
Stamping Boutique
Through the Craft Room Door
Time Out
Your Scrapbook Place

     I have to tell you that I cut open my first watermelon from my garden yesterday and it was so beautifully ripe, it just split open as the knife sliced the rind.  Juicy, flavorful, and like nothing I've tasted since childhood.  No store-bought watermelon can compare to one ripened in your own garden.   Now, aren't you jealous and don't you just crave a cool slice of watermelon?  :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fishing

     Fishing is one of those things I associate with summer and with my father.  When I was a child, I was the one who loved to get up early, before sunrise, and drive with my dad down to the beach and fish off the pier.  During the summers, we could go fishing not only on the weekends but even during the week because there was no school.  My dad had his own business and could often get away during the week, so summer fishing was special father-daughter time.

     This week at QKR Stampede, "Fishing" is the theme for our newest challenge.   I used Digi 16814 "Fishing Boy" for the image and half of Digi 16808 "Hooked on You" as the sentiment.   I wish I could find cute girl fishing images but most of them are boy images.  That's OK.  This is a favorite stamp anyway because it so reminds me of days fishing with my dad.  :-D

I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

turned sideways.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then used a die from Spellbinders to cut it.  I printed out the sentiment and hand cut it so that I could use only the "I'm Hooked" part of it.  It actually says, "I'm Hooked on You."  Wanting to keep the design simple, I used only ribbon and a double bow for embellishment.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Creative Moments
Dragonfly Dreams
Great Impressions
I {heart} ProMarkers
Loves Rubber Stamps
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz CAS
Papertake Weekly
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl
Scrapy Land
Through the Craft Room Door
Top Tip Tuesday

     Come play with us this week.  Remember, you don't have to use a QKR stamp to play so you can dig out any of your stamps or digis that relate to "Fishing" and play along.  However, if you do use a QKR image (and there are so many really cute ones!) you'll be entered into a separate drawing for QKR users only, significantly increasing your odds of winning.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cuddly Bug

     A new challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and our theme is "For a Child."   I chose this charming and huggable little bug image from QKR (Digi 7601 "Happy Feet") and added the sentiment (Digi 15810 "Huggable".)

I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps.

     I  used my ProMarkers to color the image and then added the spots along the caterpillar's back with white gel ink.  Notice how nicely that complements the polka dots in the background dp and, at the same time, gives the illusion of light along his back?  

     I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image and another oval die to cut the wood grain dp.  The striped dp was a scrap rescued from the Deep 6 bin and the ribbon was also a left over scrap.  The sentiment is hand cut and matted, then hand cut again.  The leaf is cut with a die from Cheery Lynn (also a scrap) and I added the tiny flower, then glittered it for a tiny bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps (bottom row)

Cardz 4 Guyz (bug, bow)

Crafting by Designs

Crafting for all Seasons

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafty Ribbons

Crazy Challenge

Cuttlebug Mania

Die Cuttin' Diva

Inspiration Destination

Mod Squad

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper Crafty

Scrapy Land

Through the Craft Room Door

     Here it is, the end of a long week and this afternoon I get to catch up on house chores and grocery shopping.  That way, I can play all day on the 4th and even on Sunday, if I choose.  Come play with us in our challenge this week, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

This Way to the Fireworks!

     Another fun card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede where our latest theme is "Patriotic."   You may interpret that so that it works for your particular country, obviously, but with our 4th of July holiday right around the corner here in the USA, I thought of fireworks and Red, White, and Blue.  :-D  This image is from QKR (Digi 12501 "Firecracker".)

     This is another single layer card; yes, I'm still practicing my CAS style.  I printed it and the sentiment directly onto the white CS which would become the card base, then colored it with my ProMarkers.

     I've had several people ask me how I know where to put the image when I'm looking at the "page" on the computer screen.  I set my bottom margin at .50, then add the image and shift it down to the bottom.  I move it over from the left side margin to where I think it will work, then print onto inexpensive printer paper to make sure it's lined up where I want it.  I make any adjustments that might be needed, test print it again and, when all is perfect, I put the card stock into the printer and print for the final time.  I trim the page to the width I want for the card by cutting off the right hand side, using my paper trimmer.  I score and fold the card into a tent style.

      Just in case you want to know what happened when the ant lit the fuse, here's a shot of the inside of the card.

     I'm sure you think it's a bit odd for two ants to be running the fireworks show but those two little ants did a pretty good job, didn't they?  :-D

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Artistic Inspirations
CAS on Sunday
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Cardmakers
Creative Card Crew
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Glitter n Sparkle
Incy Wincy
Lacy Sunshine
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greetings
Sentimental Sunday
Stamp and Create

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our QKR Stampede challenge this week.  Think of something patriotic and get a card made.  Remember, if you use a QKR image to enter, your card will be in a completely separate draw only for those using QKR images and that really increases your chances of winning.  Come play and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Orchid Fairy

     I was looking through my images from Morgan Fitzsimons (now Morgan's ArtWorld instead of Fitztown) and found this one which I've never used before.   I remember falling madly in love with it but then it just languished in the file.  Today it got colored and now it graces a card which will probably end up being a birthday card.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and the wings have sparkle gel ink added to them.  Here's a close up so you can see the sparkle better.  This is my very first attempt at coloring black hair.  That will no doubt improve with more practice but I'm satisfied with it as a first effort.

     I don't know if the flowers were supposed to be orchids but they just called for pale orchid color so they became orchids no matter what they were originally.  :-D  Besides, that allowed me to use what is fast becoming a favorite color combo - yellow and lavender/purple.

     I wanted to keep this one CAS so the only embellishment is from the die cut butterflies (Cheery Lynn).  Those were cut from scrap CS.  The image itself was cut with a framing die from Spellbinders.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps (middle row down)
Cheery Lynn
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Corrosive Challenge
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Melonheadz Friends
Papertake Weekly
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft

     Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  If you still have your dad, I hope you are treating him to a day beyond his highest hopes.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

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