Happy Scarecrow Salutes Changing Seasons

     It's very early on a Tuesday and that means a new challenge at Tuesday Throwdown.  Our theme this week is "For a Child" and our sponsor is Sweet n Sassy.  They generously provided images for the team to use and I chose to use "Happy Scarecrow."   He just looks like something a child put together and is a perfect image for a happy child's card.

This is based on the sketch at Sketch Saturday,

although I took the liberty of lowering the horizontal line

and angling things a bit differently.

     The image is colored with a combination of ProMarkers and Copics, then die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and also die cut.  I used sheer ribbon to wrap the card and the tied a triple bow with that same sheer ribbon plus two others that were all in my stash.

     All the papers and card stock pieces were scraps left over from other fall themed cards I've been making this past week.  I always feel so good when I can use up scraps -- like it gives me permission to cut into a new, full sheet of something for the next project.  :-D  Because this is a boy card, the bow is the only embellishment.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends (bow)
Crafty Girls Creations
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Morgan's ArtWorld
My Sheri Crafts
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Outlawz Coloring Friday
Ribbon Girl
Scrapper's Delights
Word Art Weds

     Hey, I hope you're going to come and play in our "For a Child" challenge this week.  I'd love to be inspired by what you create.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fairy Hats

     I love fairy images and when I find a new one, I just have to grab it.  This one I bought at Sweet Pea Stamps so that I could begin entering their Progressive Challenge on their FB page.  I missed out on playing last month so I'm starting this month.  The image is called "How Do I Look?" and I love that she's trying on various flowers as hats.  Obviously, her tiny bunny friend is offering an opinion.  What do you think?

I was influenced by the simple sketch at Die Cut Divas, turned on end.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and a couple of chalk markers and then cut with a Cheery Lynn die.  These are my favorite kinds of dies -- the ones which make a fancy, delicate frame around the image allowing a CAS design which doesn't look at all CAS.   Usually, I separate the inside and outside pieces, and use a colored piece for the outside frame.  This time, I kept both pieces together and mounted them on top of forest green CS, cut to size.

     For embellishments, I kept it minimal by adding only three small pearls on the left side and one bow, handmade and 'dyed' with marker to get the shade of green I wanted.

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
As You Like It
Cheery Lynn
Crafting with Friends
Digitally Sweet
Inspiration Destination
Little Red Wagon
Lunagirl Moonbeam
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Petal Lu
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simply Papercraft
Time Out
WordArt Wednesday

     I hope your weekend went well.  Yesterday, we finally got a break from the 100+ degree temps and it looks like we'll be out of the high 90s in a day or two.  I'm so ready for fall with that chill snap in the air, saying summer is really gone and the weather will be livable once again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Magic (of) Animals

     Today, and for the next two weeks, I have the honor be being a GDT at Quirky Crafts.   Their challenge has two sponsors, Bugaboo Stamps and Sweet Pea Stamps.  The theme is a fun one, "Magic of Animals," which I interpreted as animals which may have magic, like dragons!  :-D

     This darling dragon is from Sweet Pea Stamps and it's called "Snowflake Wonder."  I colored the image with ProMarkers and then used pale blue chalk to color in the snowy sky.  I added the darker blue clouds because that snowflake had to come from somewhere; I've never seen one fall from a clear sky!  :-D

     I added some sparkle to the snowflake and cut the image piece by using a square die as a border die on two sides.  What you're seeing is the 'outside' of the die cut.   I added a large, die cut snowflake (Cheery Lynn die), and put some sparkle on it before layering on the sentiment.  The tiny snowflake embellie was in my stash.  I added the bling of two rows of small rhinestones to the lower corner.  Lots of glitter and bling on this card which celebrates every child's wish for snow on Christmas.

     Challenges:
Artistic Stampers
Aud Sentiments
Card Mania
Craft and Smash
Crafting by Designs
Crafting for All Seasons - mid column
Crafting with Dragonflies
Crafty Friends (blue)
DRS Designs
Inky Impressions
Moving Along with the Times
Simply Papercraft
Unicorn Challenge

     I'll see you again next week with another card for the Quirky Crafts mid-challenge reminder.  In the meantime, find something showing the magic of animals and come play along, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Music for the Soul

     This is my second card as Guest Designer for the CAS challenge at The Outlawz.  Our theme this week is "Musical" -- and that can have a wide interpretation.  I chose to use a rubber stamp image from Sparkle n Sprinkle, one I've had for a long, long time (before I even started blogging!) but still love.  In fact, this card is overwhelmingly filled with Sparkle n Sprinkle goodies -- embossing powder, glitter, and image.

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz

and colors came from Connie Can Crop.

    

     Before stamping my image, I used chalks to color and blend the background and then I stamped the image with embossing ink, used black EP and heat set it.  I used ProMarkers to add a bit of color to the butterfly in the image.  I die cut it with one of my favorite types of dies (framing) from Spellbinders, making a fancy frame for it.  The three little butterflies are die cut negatives and I added glitter to two of them.  I mounted the image onto a pre-made, colored card front, added the bit of sheer ribbon and the corner brads.  Another lovely, CAS design.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cards in Envy
City Crafter
Crafty Gals Corner (mid row)
Everybody Art
Inspiration Destination
Not Just Cards
Papertake Weekly
Pencil Case
{Pin}spirational
Scrap & Craft
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Stamplorations

     Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll have another Guest Designer post in a few hours.  Shhhh, it's a secret until then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"Bad" Witch?

     I started coloring this fabulous witch I found at Sweet Pea Stamps, having nothing more in mind than using typical colors for a Halloween card.  Originally, I had the usual orange, purple, green, black, etc. in my mind, but kept looking at the color palette offered by Our Crafty Corner (see below).  I loved how spectacular her clothing looked at this point (a rather wonderful surprise) so I left off the purple and green.  Besides, I remember when Halloween colors were just orange and black!  :-D

I was inspired by the colors from Our Crafty Corner.

     The image is colored with my Copics (where I have a better selection of fall colors) and then I used one of my framing dies from Spellbinders to cut it.  I popped up the sentiment on dimensional dots and added a tiny bit of glitter to the tip of her hat.  I didn't want to take away from that fancy frame or the image so there's no other embellishment at all.  I like it just the way it is, frilly and feminine looking while actually CAS.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
City Crafter
Crafty Catz
Dragonfly Dreams
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Great Impressions
MarkerPOP
One Sweet Challenge

     In case you hadn't figured it out, I'm really happy with today's card!  :-D  It's odd how much I love doing Halloween, Thanksgiving or other fall cards since yellows and oranges are colors I rarely use at any other time of the year.  I did manage to incorporate them into a few of my other cards this past year but I really tend much more toward the purples, pinks, blues, and greens when choosing color combos for my cards.  Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Raccoons Celebrate Thanksgiving?

     Welcome to the end of the week.  The weekend is just over the horizon and that means it's time for another challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our fun theme this week is "Midnight Snacking" and you can pretty much define that any way you like as long as it relates to some kind of food or snack.  There were so many fun images available at QKR Stampede for this one but I wanted to try coloring a cute raccoon, a new critter that I've not colored before.

     Do raccoons have light tummies or dark?  Or is their tummy striped like their tail?  Is their face light with a dark mask or dark with a light mask?  And most important for my card and sentiment, do raccoons celebrate Thanksgiving?  This image is Digi 2424263, "Thieving Raccoon."  Personally, I think raccoons probably celebrate anything that has to do with food.

     They were certainly celebrating the leftovers of my garden this week.  :-D   Two immature, late-setting watermelons, a zucchini, a few carrots, four or five cherry tomatoes, and three ears of corn!  Still, I don't begrudge any of them -- I'm just grateful to have had a well-producing garden this year.  I really missed having one last year but there was no time to get one in due to all the landscaping that was going in at my new house all that spring and most of the summer.

I used colors from the Tuesday Color challenge at The Outlawz.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and then die cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment is printed and also cut with a die from that same set.  The dp for the background came from scraps in my stash and the three little leaves were punched from bits of scraps.  The ribbons and cord were left over pieces and I tied the bow by hand, layering the ribbons and cord together before using my Craft-Dee Bowz to tie them.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Cardz 4 Guyz
Clear It Out
Color Your World
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Creative Moments
Cuttlebug Mania
Going Grey with Scrap Creations
House That Stamps Built
Little Red Wagon
One Stitch at a Time
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp

     I want to wish you a happy weekend, and I hope your weather is great - whatever it might be.  Come play with us this week.  You don't have to use a QKR image but if you don't have anything in your collection that will work as a 'snack' image, head over to the QKR Stampede store, scroll down to digi images (for quick delivery), find something you love (that won't be hard!), and come play with us.  Remember, using a QKR image (digi or rubber) means that you are entered into a special category just for QKR users and that increases your chance of winning by a huge amount.  :-D  See you at the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kitten & Witch

     So, over the weekend I started my Halloween cards and next thing you know, one of my neighbors wants 10 cards to mail to her grandkids and nieces.  Now I'm working to get all those done plus the cards I'll need for my own family and friends.  Fortunately, I keep finding all these darling stamps so there's no excuse not to get them done right away.  This one is from AuroraWings.

On the AuroraWings FB page,

this is the inspiration photo for the September challenge

and I think I used all the colors in it.

I  also used the sketch from

Always Playing with Paper, turned 1/4 turn.

  

     I used my ProMarkers again to color the image, then cut it with a plain square die.  I printed the sentiment on white CS and added it below the image.  I used one layer of dp and two layers of  'Linen' embossed CS to frame out the image and then put all of that onto a square card front.

     I used sparkly copper ribbon from my stash and found another scrap of lavender ribbon to make the bow.  The butterfly is from Petaloo.

     Challenges:
Ching-Chou Kuik
Colour Your World
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Di's Digi Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Nest Dolls
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     We're back in the 100+ temps this week and I was so convinced that normal fall temperatures would control from now on but I guess we have to endure one more heat wave before summer lets go completely.  I'm ready for that nip in the air that says autumn is here.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Vintage Flower Child

     I am completely mad about this image from Nicecrane!  It was the freebie this month from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz and I can't  think of a better reason to belong to Outlawz or to keep playing in the Progressive Challenge each month.  :-D  It came from a set called "Flower Children."

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and used some of my framing dies from Spellbinders to cut and frame her.  The plaid paper is from K & Co. and had been in my stash for way too long.  All the ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I think the flower and butterfly embellies are Recollections but, again, they have been in my stash for a while so I'm not sure.  I added a faint line of stitching beside the ribbon but it doesn't show up very well in the photo.  It was made using a very sharp #4 pencil.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Catch the Bug
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Crafty Ribbons
Dragon's Lair
In the Pink
My Time to Craft
Scrap & Craft
Scrapper's Delights

     The last two days, I seem to have been on a 'pink' kick but mostly I was using up scraps from the "leftovers" tub on my desk.  It's time to clear things out and throw away the smallest scraps which I always think I'll use but never do.  I have two photo storage boxes of little scraps which would only work if I cut them into 'inchies' for a patchwork background.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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