Morning Chocolate

     This delightful image comes from Rick St. Dennis and I'm using this card to enter the September Progressive Challenge at his blog Sparkle and Glitter.

     I love this "Morning Goddess" and her curlers-in-hair, elegant splendor, as she is properly attended by her feline butler delivering a morning rose to go with the chocolates.  But she definitely has the right idea about how to start her day.

     I've been told by an authority on the subject that chocolates eaten before 9:00 a.m. have absolutely no calories!  However, those eaten at bedtime double their calories and trans fats.

I used colors from the challenge at

Color My Heart.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then die cut it and added a die cut mat from CS which had been embossed with my 'Linen' folder.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and matted with more of that same CS.    I added glitter to the jewels in her hair and a bit more to the dressing gown shoulder and sleeve.  Finally, I did a touch of glitter on each of the flowers, but it barely shows in the photo.

     The pink leaves behind the flowers in the lower corner are made with a Cheery Lynn die.  I can't believe I ever debated with myself about buying that particular die.  It's become my favorite die for leaves, for leaf borders, and for anything calling for a bit of "greenery" -- even though my 'greenery' this time is a rather bright pink.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
ArtbyMiran
Card and Scrap
Cheery Lynn
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Dragonfly Dreams
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lia Stampz
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb
Petal Lu
Quick Quotes

     Happy Labor Day to all my friends here in the US.  I hope you're having a wonderful long weekend and have done something both relaxing and fun, wherever your travels (near or far) might have taken you.  For those of you in other countries, enjoy the start of  another week whatever you're doing.  Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

Happy Everything

     Bright and early on a Sunday morning and another great challenge starts at Pile It On.   Our theme this fortnight is "Fur" -- use anything that has fur to make your creation.  We have a wonderful sponsor, Oak Pond Creations, who generously provided images for the DT to use.  The one I used is called "Trash Cat Lamp Post."   I took the opportunity to do a card that covers all the fall holidays and laments those who are far from home during them.

     The cat is colored with ProMarkers and die cut with a rectangle die.  I used two different polka dot papers and one solid black CS to make layers framing the image, all of which have been in my stash for a while.  The ribbon was also in my stash and the bow is one of those I make by the dozens and then keep in my stash for later use.  The leaves seemed a natural embellishment for a fall card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cards in Envy
Clear It Out
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Creative Moments
Deep Ocean
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Inspiration Destination
Little Red Wagon
Moving Along with the Times
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper Crafty
Time Out

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our "Fur" challenge this time.  You have two weeks to complete a project and get it entered.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Can a Witch Fly Backwards?

     Edited to add:  This is posting sooner than I  had planned but since the challenge is already live at The Outlawz, I doubt that I'll be breaking any rules.  :-D

     I'm so tickled and honored to be a Guest Designer this month in the CAS challenge at The Outlawz.   Some of you know that I'm constantly working to improve my CAS designs so being asked to Guest Design on a CAS challenge was really thrilling.  Our theme this week is "Use Geometric Shapes."  I chose hexagons and cut everything using dies from QuicKutz.

     I've used a cute silhouette image from MHK Designs and I love the fact that the witch is flying her broom backwards. Too funny!  But, since flying a broom is a strange form of transport anyway, I guess if she's magical enough to fly a broom, she can probably handle it forward or backward.  :-D

     I colored the moon with ProMarkers, then printed and die cut the sentiment (also from MHK Designs.)  I die cut lavender and yellow CS and layered the image and the sentiment.  I figured the shapes were enough embellishment so added nothing else.  After all, this is a CAS challenge so less is more.

     Challenges:
Crafts Galore Encore
Craft Your Passion
Cuttlebug Mania
Little Red Wagon
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Petal Lu
Silhouette Challenge
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn Challenge
Your Scrapbook Place

     That's it for me today and I'll have another post early in the morning.  Be sure to check back, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Trick or Treat Night

     I'm thinking Halloween this week since I need a few cards to mail out come October and I'm trying to squeeze them in between doing my DT commitments and the various progressive challenges I love.  I chose this cute image from Rick St. Dennis.  I've used her before but each time the card looks different.

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz

and since Rick St. Dennis is the sponsor for the sketch

challenge this time, that just seemed a perfect fit.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then die cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  Both ribbons (the one under the orange strip and the plaid for the bow) have been in my stash forever it seems.  The little die cut pumpkin is doubled and embossed, then popped up on a dimensional dot.  I added Wink of Stella to it for a bit of shine.

    Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
Aud Sentiments (Shout out to all my former DTeamies!)
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Card Makers
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Galore
Digistamps 4 Joy
Kreativeinkauf
Scrapy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp
Sisters of Craft
Whoopsi Daisy

     For tomorrow (9:00 p.m. Pacific time tonight), I'll  have a card I did for a GDT spot so I hope you'll be stopping by.  Then in the morning (5:00 a.m. Pacific) I'll be posting my DT card for the new challenge at Pile It On.   No, no, ... no hints.  You'll just have to check either my blog or the Pile It On challenge blog to find out about the new theme.  See you then, I hope.  Happy Stamping.   NanaConnie

It's for the Birds!

     Today we have a new challenge for you over at QKR Stampede and our theme this week is "Birds."  Any bird, flying, standing, strutting, dancing, drinking -- you get the idea.  QKR has a ton of fun bird images and, while you don't have to use a QKR Stampede image to play along in the challenge, if you do use one, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for those who use a QKR image.  That increases your chance of winning immensely!

     I chose to use "Farmer Crow, digi 24241."  Isn't he a hoot?  He's probably the only albino crow in the world.  Or maybe he's really a white leghorn rooster, pretending to be a crow?  :-D

I used this sketch from Atlantic Hearts.

     Albino or not, I had a lot of fun coloring this farmer bird with my Promarkers.  I die cut and matted him, then added a half-piece cut with a die one size larger, layered behind him.  I die cut the long oval and both of those papers are from SU.  For embellishment, I added the 'straw' and the bow.

     Edited to  add:  I've had so many comments about the "straw" embellishment that I guess I should have told the story behind it.  I thought a stick of hay would make a cute embellie but I didn't have any in my stash.   Not even a bit of crumpled raffia was hiding away.  So, necessity being the mother of invention...  I cut a strip of plastic bag, up near the handle where there were already folds, and then folded it over a couple of times lengthwise.  I adhered it (under the bow) to keep it from unfolding, then took a pair of scissors and snipped into each end to make it look frayed.  It actually looks more like straw in the photo than IRL but it's good enough.  :-D

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Cardz for Guyz
Crafting by Designs
Crafting for all Seasons (center column)
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafts Galore Encore
CCC Digi Creations
Deep Ocean
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
I {heart} ProMarkers
Incy Wincy
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Greeting 
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you entering our challenge this week .  Show us one of your favorite bird images and give us some inspiration.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Time for School

     Well, August is gone and September has arrived so that means another monthly challenge has started at Pattie's Creations.  Our theme is a salute to all those who are returning to another school term, "Back to School."  Personally, having taught college classes for many years, I think that theme includes teachers as well as students.  :-D

I based this on the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

     Both the Pocket Watch and the Bookworm are images from Pattie's Creations.  I thought combining them really emphasized the "Time for School" aspect of the card.  The watch is printed onto lavender paper and Mr. Bookworm is colored with ProMarkers and pencils.  I printed the sentiment onto a piece of scrap CS, then hand cut it and layered it on.   The rosette is made from two layers of punched flower petals (also from scraps) and bits of left over ribbon.

     I trust Pattie will forgive me for adding the rosette in the middle of her lovely pocket watch but the actual time shown on her image is 6:00 and that was just too early for the school day to begin so I covered the hour hand with the rosette and added another one at the 9.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
Clear It Out
Colour Your World
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Get Creative
Inspiration Destination
Lacy Sunshine
Melonheadz Friends
Oddball Art Stamps
Sisterhood of Crafters

     Dig out your school related images and embellies and come play with us.  :-D  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

Rock It, Girl !

     The latest monthly freebie is in the newsletter from The East Wind and their challenge theme is "Use Corrugated Paper."  I decided to use that freebie image on my card for their challenge.

I used the sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas

and colors from House That Stamps Built.

  

    I used my ProMarkers to color the image and die cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  I used markers (red and yellow) to ink the edges.  The corrugated paper was cut with another Spellbinders' die.  For the background, I used a dp which I found in my 12" x 12" scrapbooking papers.  The dried flowers also came from my stash and they've been there at least a year but obviously, they were meant just for this card.  :-D

     I have a feeling this might get used as a birthday card for one of my granddaughters, or more likely, just a 'thinking of you' card for one of them.

     Challenges:

Card and Scrap

Crafting Musketeers

Cuttlebug Mania

Digi Galore

Di's Digi Designs

Incy Wincy

My Sheri Crafts

My Time to Craft

Not Just Cards

Our Creative Corner

Scrapy Land

      There's another post scheduled for later tonight, all about the new September challenge at Pattie's Creations.  You don't want to miss that one.  Then tomorrow, there's a new challenge at QKR Stampede and my DT card for that will post in the wee hours of morning (my time) but it's worth a peek, too.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Carve Me a Pumpkin

     OK, I'm not waiting until the last day to get my card done for the From the Heart Progressive Challenge this month.  I'm determined to keep up with this challenge each month now that I'm back on track.  :-D  The freebie is a perfect image for general fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving cards.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then trimmed and corner punched it.  I matted it and used a different corner punch to round the corners.  The papers are all from Lawn Fawn and both ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I used the original corner punch on one lower corner of the card front, too, using that same repeated shape for design continuity.  My final touch was the gem stones at the top of the image and in the bottom, left corner of the image piece.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs 
Crafting for all Seasons (middle row)
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Journeys
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
{Pin}spirational
Robyn's Fetish
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door

     Between now and the beginning of next week, I have so many scheduled posts!   Not only are my regular DT cards going to be posted but I have a couple of Guest Designer spots that I'm honored to do.  You'll have to keep checking back each day to find out the who, what, where, when details and believe me when I say there are some fun challenges and themes coming up.  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

Grammy Bakes for Santa

     It's Tuesday and that means a new challenge at Tuesday Throwdown.  Our theme this week is "Treats" and our wonderful sponsor is Robyn's Fetish, who supplied images for the DT members to use.  I happened to use one which I've had in my stash more than two years.  I'm trying to do at least 2 Christmas cards per week between now and the holidays and, while this image is great year round, she also works perfectly for Christmas baking.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color her in traditional red and green, and then used my newest die set (Pinpoint Rectangles from Memory Box) to cut out the image and the two CS rectangles.  I used very narrow ribbon from my stash to wrap each colored rectangle.  The sentiment was computer printed and matted with both red and green.  I added the sparkly holly leaves for embellishment, leaving the card both CAS and very flat for ease in mailing.

     Challenges:
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Crafty Girls Creations
Digital Delights
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in  My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Friday Coloring
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pencil Case
Simply Papercraft

     I hope you're going to come and play along with us this week in our "Treats" challenge.  We'd love to see what you create.  Never forget -- DTs get a lot of their inspiration from the things you create and submit.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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