Snowman (From the Heart Stamps)

     Edited to add:  Blogger is messing with me!  This was scheduled to go live earlier today and it didn't post.  Grrrr.

     This is a tag for a Christmas gift, believe it or not.  Instead of doing it as a typical tag shape, I did it as a mini card style.  This is about 2.75 inches 'square.'  The inside has the typical "To:  From:" so that the receiver of the gift can be identified.

      The image was the August digi for the monthly progressive challenge at From the Heart.  I played in that challenge for a month or so last winter, I think, and then kind of fell off and didn't do it for a while.  I'm starting up again, and I promise that I'll be better at playing each month.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and I added loose glitter to the snow on the ground.  I cut the shape for the mini card with a die from Spellbinders.  The ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the little bow was tied using my bow maker.  It's a simple tag so there's not much else to say but I do love that cute image.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crimbo Crackers
Fab n Funky
Kitty Bee Designs
Moving Along with the Times
Paper Shelter
Polka Doodles
Stempelsonnen

     That's all I have today but there's another post scheduled for tomorrow with a new challenge starting at Tuesday Throwdown.  Hope to see you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Coffee Klatch

     I've done a set of simple note cards using new coffee mug designs from Paola at My Whimsical Little World.  She's also working on a set of Tea Cups and I plan to grab those as soon as they hit her shop for another set of note cards.  I've done 3 of each design for a set of 9 cards and I'll probably use them as gifts during the holidays.

     Two of the mugs are paper pieced and the third is colored with Copics.  Copics were also used to color the coffee and the donut on the paper pieced designs.  I used the same dp from the paper piecing to frame the images.  Because these took some time to color and piece, and because they probably will have to go in the mail when used, I left them very CAS - no embellishments at all.

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Crafts Galore Encore
Digistamps 4 Joy
Inspiration Destination
MarkerPOP
Petal Lu
Sugar and Betty

     I hope your weekend is going well and that your weather is perfect.  Did you find time to craft at all?  You may still have time to find something relaxing and refreshing to do with the rest of your Sunday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Beauty

     A quick bit of background for this card:  I played in one of the games at Dragon's Lair FB page this past week and was one of the players who won a freebie image (of my choice.)   Dragon's Lair used to be Stamping with the Dragon and I have many of their darling dragon images.  But this time I fell in love with this glorious "Winter Beauty" digi the instant I saw her.

     I got her this morning and immediately started planning a hugely fancy or vintage card with the image done in lots of sparkle and shimmer and glimmer and embellishments all over.   Then I printed her and started coloring and suddenly I knew this had to be a totally one-layer, CAS card with the image done as simply as possible.

     I colored her with ProMarkers and used chalks to burnish the edges of the card front.  The sentiment just belonged at the top (though I usually put them at the bottom of single layer cards) and the only adornment is done with the three tiny pearls, added mainly so I could enter the challenge at Dragon's Lair, "Three of a kind."  I inked the edges of the card front so that there would be some sort of 'frame.'

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Chalk n Stock
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Friends
Crafty Girls Creations
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Journeys
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
Not Just Cards
Outlawz CAS
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz Friday Coloring
Simon Says Stamp
Simply Papercraft
WordArt Weds.
   
     This is a second post today but I was just so excited about getting this beautiful image turned into another card for the Christmas stash that I couldn't wait to post it.  I may have another post for tomorrow if I get the card pieces lying on my desk finished.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Magical Dragon Day

     Is it OK if I start this post by saying that I LOVE THIS CARD! ?

     This is one of those that just came together after I made my list of more than a dozen challenges I wanted to enter (not counting A/G challenges.)  The list included themes like fancy folds, vintage, pockets, die cuts, lace, layers, flowers, sentiments, animals... you get the idea.  Most of the time, when my list of challenge themes is that long, the card is finished long before I get all the challenges included and I end up eliminating some of them.  Not this time!  I used them all and I think they really worked.

      The card is made from a piece 12 x 5.5 inches, cut on angles from the top to the outer corners, then folded to make the front flaps cross.  The bottom is sealed to make a pocket and the image piece slips into the pocket.  Here's a close-up of the image piece.

     I wish I knew what I did differently in photographing this time so that my purples stayed purple.  Well, come to think of it, I used red violets and now they look purple and lavender.  :-D  Maybe that's the secret -- use red-violet instead of purple to get purple in the photographs.  When I use purples, they turn blue in the photographs.

     I've used this image at least twice in the two years I've had it but this time I colored the dragons ("Dragon Babies" from AuroraWings) with ProMarkers, adding glitter to their wings before I cut them with one of my new Pinpoint Rectangle dies from Memory Box (Scrapy Land purchase.)  The mat is also cut with another die from that set.  All the papers are from Stampin' Up (old and from my stash) and I think the lace came from one of my local craft stores, but it's been in my stash for so long that I really can't remember.  

     The gem swirl has been in my stash for well over a year and the butterfly was cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  I had cut that as an extra several months ago and put it into a drawer full of die cut bits and pieces.  It worked perfectly on this card, so I dug it out, colored the body, and added glitter to the wings and body.  The small flowers are punched (Fiskars punch), colored, layered, and added on top of the lace.  The sentiment is printed, hand cut, and edged with a marker.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Vintage Journey
ArtbyMiran
AuroraWings
Cheery Lynn
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Clear It Out
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Card Crew
Creative Moments
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Love to Scrap
Lunagirl Moonbeam
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Nest Dolls
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrapy Land
Stamp and Create
Vintage Stamping

     I hope your weekend has started well and that you have lots of crafty plans for the weekend.  The weather predictors say that we're going to "cool down" to the upper 90s (is that some kind of a joke?)  I guess that's better than the 101 and 102 we've had for the last 4 days, but I'd love it even more if the cool down was going to be into the low 80s with a chance of a shower.  :-D  Maybe next month.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cowboys

     I don't pretend to know anything about cowboys but my dad did hail from Montana, my SIL is from Texas, and three of my grandkids were born in Texas.  I live in the cow-filled Central Valley of California and I've been known to date a cowboy or two in my time.  However, since most cowboys are the strong, silent type, I still don't know anything about cowboys except that in the Old West movies, they were good at moving cows around.  lol

     We are focusing on "Cowboys" in our new challenge at QKR Stampede and there are some really fun cowboy or cowboy-related images over there.  Check some of them out by visiting the QKR Challenge blog and see what the DT ladies have put together.  I've used a digi called "Whistling Cowboy" (digi 16010) and a sentiment called "Moove Me" (digi 15518.)

     I colored this whimsical cowboy with my ProMarkers and added a bit of color to the printed sentiment.  I used one of my old (but sadly, somewhat forgotten) die sets from Spellbinders to cut and mat the image and the sentiment.  I also used some jute cord in both black and white, then added the three metal brads in the bottom corner.  Very CAS, which seemed appropriate for a 'silent type' cowboy.  :-D

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More

Colour Your World

Come and Get It

Crafty Boots

Crafty Cardmakers

Get Creative

Lacy Sunshine

Not Just Cards

Robyn's Fetish

Through the Craft Room Door

     That's it for me today.  Come play with us this week, won't you?  We'd love to see what you do with our "Cowboys" theme.  Be sure to check out all the DT inspiration over at QKR Stampede.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Drop to Drink...

     Out here on the West Coast, in California, Oregon, and Washington, most of you know we've had a 4-year drought and are suffering the effects of raging wildfires, though about 25% of those are now out or under control.  Still, we are hoping for an El Nino fall and winter which will bring water to the parched land.

     So, what does all that have to do with today's card?  This is what most of us out here feel like, waiting for one little drop of water, for the opportunity to quench our thirsts.  LOL  On the other hand, that one drop is a huge mouthful of water for that tiny mouse so maybe it's all how you view it.   In any case, how could I resist an adorable little mousie like this one?  I think this is Monica (from House Mouse) but they do tend to all look alike so who really knows?

I was inspired by the colors in the 

inspiration photo at Sketchy Colors.

Unfortunately, all my lilac/purple tones turned blue in the photograph.

     House Mouse image colored with ProMarkers and chalk markers, papers from Stampin' Up, and ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Boots
Crafty Catz
Cutie Pie
Gruffies & Guests
House Mouse
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Nest Dolls
Path of Positivity
Robyn's Fetish
Sister Act
Sweet Stampin'

     I don't know if I'll have anything else before Friday but do check back then for my QKR Stampede DT card.  New challenge and new theme which you should enjoy.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cow and Kitty -- True Friends

     I have started collecting images from a new artist -- well, new to me at least.   A Teamie friend of mine was kind enough to add me as a member of the FB page for MHK Designs and that started my love affair with these new digis.  I went on a shopping spree after Mynn's newest release and this is the first time I've been able to use one of them.  It's called "Animal Friends" and it's the main image in the "Friendship" set.  The sentiment is from the "Beauty" set.

I took my inspiration for the colors from the

Outlawz Coloring Challenge 

and I think both the image and the colors 

reflect a perfect, late-summer, lazy day.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  I matted that with dark brown CS and added brown ribbon at the top.  The bow I hand-tied using my bow maker and that ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I kept it pretty CAS because this card is going to the father of a friend who asked for a card that had animals on it.  They live on a farm and have a whole passel of farm cats in the barnyard.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Digi Choosday
Di's Digi Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Add Ink
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
My Sheri Crafts
One Stitch at a Time
Sassy Studio Designs
Scrapper's Delights
WordArt Weds.

     Thanks, Asha, for introducing me to Mynn's beautiful work.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Big Apple

     Just in case the post title made you think you'd see something from or about New York -- nope, we're talking real apples, the kind a kid takes to his teacher.  At Pile It On this fortnight, our challenge theme is "Animals Dressed Up" and our fabulous sponsor is QKR Stampede, where you'll find dozens of cute images of animals in human clothing.  I happen to adore QKR images, and they have both rubber stamps and digis.  This one is a digi called, appropriately enough, "Big Apple."  Go find a "dressed up animal" image and then come play in our challenge.

   
     My daughter actually requested a card that would go along with a gift basket of classroom supplies she's donating to my youngest grandson's school.   I did a super CAS, single-layer design, and the image is hand-colored with ProMarkers.  The only embellishment is the little red bow.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Creative Craft Cottage
Digistamps 4 Joy
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Melonheadz Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Shelter
Petal Lu
{Pin}spirational
Simon Says Stamp
Sisters of Craft
Through the Craft Room Door

     Is everyone in your family already back  to school?  Or does your school district start after Labor Day?   When I was a kid, we always started on either the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day Monday, which seemed to mark the 'official' end-of-summer, at least for the kids.   Of course, we didn't get out of school until the end of the second week in June.  My grandkids all start in mid-August now, and get out sometime in May -- always before Memorial Day, in any case.

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this time.  Just get your animals dressed up and come play.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Rockin' G'Maw

     I'm so tickled about the image I used for the new challenge at QKR Stampede this week.  Our theme is "Use Die Cuts."   Both my image (Digi 17202 Rocking and Reading) and my sentiment (Digi 22902 Birthday Candles) are from QKR Stampede.

I loved the inspiration photo at Shabby Tea Room.

     I'm convinced that lady in the rocking chair is a retired, first-grade teacher -- can't you just hear her reading aloud to a classroom of 6 year olds?  lol  Or maybe I just see in her my mother, a grammar school teacher for 37 years before her retirement.  In any case, I'm going to send it to another retired school teacher for her birthday, hence the fun, birthday-related sentiment.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, and cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is printed, hand cut and inked on the edges.  The ribbon has been in my fall stash for more seasons than I care to admit and the pearls just called out to be used here.  I added a little twist to my otherwise predictable designing by finding and using that little wooden leaf for another touch of fall and maybe more thoughts of returning to school.  I used a ProMarker to color the leaf.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee Bows
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cuttin' Divas
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz GC
Paper Minutes
Papertake Weekly
Simon Says Stamp
Stamp and Create
Through the Craft Room Door
Vintage Stamping/Flonz

     I hope you'll come and play along this week.  Dig out those dies, make a few cuts, and put something together that you'll want to enter into our fun challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Pelican

     Pelicans and the shore just go together for me, and they always remind me of beach vacations.   You may have already noticed that this is the second pelican image I've used this week.  :-D

     We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede and our theme is "Day at the Beach."
I used this image and this sentiment from QKR: Digi 18511 "Happy Pelican" and Digi 15103 "Ruffle Feathers".

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers, then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  Another larger die from that same set was used to cut the mat piece.  I used the smallest die from that set to cut the sentiment but I had to adjust it, cutting the top first and then sliding the die up to cut the bottom because it was larger than I wanted.  I used the same blue CS (but hand cut it) to mat the sentiment.  The small blue bow was hand tied.  Everything went onto brown CS embossed with my "Linen" folder and then onto the card front.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Colour Your World
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Boots
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
House that Stamps Built
Incy Wincy Designs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Male Room
Passion for ProMarkers
Ribbon Girl
Robyn's Fetish
Scrapy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Come play with us this week won't you?  Just show us something that you'd find on a "Day at the Beach" and enter it into our challenge.  Remember, you don't have to use QKR images to enter but if you do, your card will be put into a separate drawing just for QKR Stampede users and that increases your chances of winning significantly.  See you there.  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

It's a Beaver Christmas

     OK, ok, I know the whole "Christmas in July" thing is over now that it's August but since our challenge theme at QKR Stampede this week is "Anything Goes," and since I adore this image, it just seemed a good day to add one more Christmas card to my stash.  I used both an image (Digi 9802 "Fresh Cut Tree") and a sentiment (Digi 8717 "Merry Christmas") from QKR Stampede on this card.

     I knew I wanted an absolutely CAS card this time so I printed both the sentiment and the image onto what would become the card front, then cut the card to size (5.5 x 5.5), and colored it with my ProMarkers.  That was it -- no embellishment of any kind; no ribbon, no bows, no washi tape, no brads or bling.  And you know what?  I love it!  I think this is the first time I've done a single layer with absolutely NO embellishment of any kind.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Animal Friends
Colour Your World
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Karleigh Sue
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz CAS
Sparkles Forum Christmas
Sister Act
Sisters of Craft

     Not posting every single day is kind of fun.  :-D  Other than pre-scheduled DT cards, I'll see you when I'm back and into my old routine.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hawaii Mouse

     Look what I did last night!  Too many "vacation" days without crafting and I begin to twitch.  :-D  I used this darling little traveling mouse from Rick St. Dennis.  It's the image we got for playing in Part 1 of the Progressive Challenge over there last month.  This is Part 2, using the image.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and then hand cut it for that out-of-the-box look.  The really fun part is that all the papers, including the black CS for the matting, were scrap pieces.  Even the two ribbons were scraps.  That's what I had with me so...  Because I had those scraps, I had decided on a pink color palette for the image but then discovered I only had yellow and blue card bases and everything looked better on the yellow than the blue.  The image is popped up on dimensional dots.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Animal Friends
Clear It Out
Country View Crafts
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Boots
Creative Craft Cottage
Deep Ocean
DL.ART
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Outlawz Coloring
Ribbon Girl
Stamp and Create
Tinker-Dream
Whoopsi Daisy

     OK, I'm gone again (until Friday with DT posts for Pattie's Creations and QKR Stampede.)  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Getting Somewhere

     New challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and our theme is "Washi Tape."  I've used washi exactly one time before and if I hadn't been given a kit with matching dp and washi tape, I wouldn't have had any to use on my card.   The card I did for QKR last week had the paper that was in the kit.

     This card used Digi 163115 Turtle and Digi 16317 If a Turtle... .

         I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then did an out-of-the-box cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I matted it with another die cut.  The sentiment was printed and die cut, and I layered everything onto the card front, some pieces on top of washie tape and using washi tape to adhere the sentiment piece.  I added one little bow for embellishment and called it done.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Gals Corner
Crazy Challenge
Digi Choosday
Eureka Stamps
Glitter n Sparkle (blue, bow)
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Stamp and Create
Through the Craft Room Door

     Are you going to come play with us this week?  It's pretty simple.  You can do pretty much anything you like as long as you  use washi tape.  Hope we're going to see you.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Owl Masquerade

     This lovely image, called "Owl Masquerade," is from AuroraWings and the challenge theme over there is "Anything with Wings."

I used the sketch from The Outlawz.

     The image is colored with my trusty ProMarkers and die cut with one of my framing dies from Spellbinders.  Her earring is made with a Pearl Pen and I flattened the pearl just before it was completely dry.  The lace was in my box of hoarded laces and the brown, polka dot ribbon came from Joann Crafts.  The tiny flowers were punched and glittered, with beads added to the centers.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Brown Sugar
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Gals Corner
Craft Your Passion
Eureka Stamps
Hanna & Friends
Love to Scrap
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greetings
Scrapy Land

     Well, the plumbing problem on Saturday was indeed a burst pipe and it has now been repaired but a lot of my yard was damaged during the repair.  Still, the crew was fast and efficient and got it done as quickly as it could be.  Only a few hours with no water of any kind (it was shut off at the valve) and then it was back to normal operating.  However, take my suggestion when I say, "Never have a burst pipe on a weekend!"  That 'little' repair bill took a huge bite out of the budget.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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