New Skates

     How many of you remember getting new skates for Christmas?   Those short hours in between opening the packages and sitting down to the family Christmas dinner barely gave enough time to get the skates on and adjusted to your feet, much less figure out how to get any forward mobility.  :-D  By the time Christmas dinner was done, it was getting dark and there was no more time to skate.  Those are the memories this image evokes.

     The image and the sentiment both came from MHK Designs and I colored with chalks, then cut the image with a die from Memory Box.  The embossing was done with a folder from Darice.  I think the bow speaks for itself.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
A Vintage Journey
Cards in Envy
Chalk n Stock
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Boots
Crafty Creations
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Ribbons
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Cut It Up
Digitally Sweet
Fussy and Fancy
Male Room
My Sheri Crafts
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Scrap & Craft
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Speedy Fox & Friends
Star Stampz
Where the HeART Is
Whimsy Inspirations
WordArt Weds.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Skating Mice

     Another one of those totally adorable images from Rick St. Dennis!  How could I not use this one for a Christmas card?  On the RSD FB page, they have a challenge for "Sparkles" so, of course, this had to have tons of glitter.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, added the glitter to the clothing, the tassels and her skates, and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I cut the "Believe..." sentiment with a border die from Spellbinders to give it the curve.  The ribbon is from my stash and I just curled it to make the bow.  Everything was layered onto green CS and then onto the card front.  I tried to make it look like a Christmas package and I think the curly ribbon accomplished that.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Animal Friends
Artistic Stamper
A Snowflakes Promise
Bunny Zoe's
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Time
Cuttlebug Mania
Dies R Us
I {heart} ProMarkers
Just Keep on Crafting
Mod Squad
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Papertake Weekly
Passion for ProMarkers
Path of Positivity
Scrapy Land
Sparkles Forum Christmas
Tinker Dream
Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Wonderland

    I have two posts again today and then things should slow down a bit.  This card is a bit different for me since it has no colored image but is all done with rubber stamps and embossing, and with a bit of sparkle from hologram papers.

     The trees, the sentiment, and the snowflakes are all heat embossed and then die cut with a simple circle die.  I used a kraft card blank, and layered on a leftover from a die cut frame I had used on another project.  I found a scrap of green, sparkly ribbon, wrapped it around the card front, and layered the embossed piece over it.   I  used the last bit of that scrap ribbon to make a folded bow, then added a candy cane across the mid-point of the bow.  The holly and leaves were punched from hologram paper.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Cardz 4 Guyz
Clear It Out
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Crazy Challenge
Creative Card Crew
Creative Moments
Get Creative
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Melonheadz Friends
Not Just Cards
Outlawz Colors 
Paper Girls
Through the Craft Room Door
Unicorn

     My second post of the day will be live in a few more hours so be sure to stop back by.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

White Christmas Snowman

     Our theme in the challenge at QKR Stampede this week is "Snow Scene."   There are so many delightful digi or rubber stamps at QKR Stampede which would work for this challenge but I chose Digi 23501, Snowman Scene.  With all the snow covered trees, it just seemed to lend itself to a monochromatic green color-combo.

     I used my ProMarkers and lots of glitter on the trees and snowflakes in the sky to color the scene and layered it onto a hand-punched background.  All of that was put onto another layer which is now the card front.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font , then hand cut and matted, then hand cut again.  That's it; really CAS with no embellishment.  I wanted the image to be front and center without any visual distractions.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Christmas Challenge
Colour Your World
Come and Get It
Country View Crafts
Crafting Musketeers
Creatalicious
Dragonfly Dreams
Emerald Faeries
Glitter n Sparkle
Lia Stampz
Lil Patch of Crafty Friend
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art Stamps
One Stitch at a Time
Pile It On
That Craft Place
Your Scrapbook Place

     I know everyone is busy with all the Christmas plans but I hope you'll find time to come play in our challenge this week.  You can use any image from any company but if you do use a QKR image, you'll be put into a separate drawing and that increases your chances of winning.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Not Open 'Til Christmas

     Another day with two posts.  This darling image is the freebie for the Progressive Challenge at From the Heart Stamps and it clearly is the fulfillment of every child's biggest Christmas wish -- lots of packages just for him!

     The image is colored with ProMarkers, including gold, silver and copper metallic markers on some of the presents.  I heat embossed the sentiment with gold EP.  That image piece was layered onto shiny, gold CS and I added a leftover scrap of gold ribbon for the bow.  That was it --again, I wanted a CAS design, easier to mail.

     Challenges:
ABC Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More
Frilly and Funkie
Holly Jolly Christmas
Kitty Bee Designs
Southern Ridge Trading Co.
Stempelsonnen
Sweet Stamps Technique
Through the Purple Haze

     I'll see you again tomorrow with my DT post for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Do Penguins Wait for Santa?

     I've never been able to confirm that penguins are excited about Santa's visits but this little guy seems to think it's worth watching the skies.  :-D  It's a Bugaboo image and this is the first card I've been able to get done in their week of Christmas themed challenges.  This one is for Catch the Bug's "Here Comes Santa" challenge.

     I colored with ProMarkers and die cut the image with one of my Stitched Rectangle Dies (Memory Box.)  I added two layers of mats and adhered it all onto a pre-made, colored, card base.  I used three little snowflakes, punched from red CS.  Hard as it is to see in the photo, I added glitter to the snow and to the snowflakes.  I left it CAS, partly because it's going to be a card for a guy.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Animal Friends
Card Mania
Christmas Cards All Year Round
CCC Digi
Digistamps 4 Joy
Hiding in My Craft Room
My Time to Craft
Natalie and Amy's
Petal Lu
Scrapy Land
Speedy Fox & Friends
Where the HeART Is

     Two weeks from tonight is Christmas Eve.  Are you ready?   Have you mailed your packages and cards, and wrapped all the gifts?  Have you baked those cookies for Santa?   Are the stockings hung by the chimney or do you wait until Christmas Eve for that little chore?  If you haven't done any of those things, you need to get a move on!    Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Too Much Eggnog!

     I have a dear friend who loves giraffes so I make cards for her for all kinds of occasions but it's often hard to work them into a Christmas card.  This image (From the Heart Stamps) made me think of Christmas because his expression makes it so obvious that he's really been dipping into the eggnog!  LOL  I know she's going to love it.

     He's colored in yellowy-beige and bright Christmas red with ProMarkers and I added red Stickles to the spots on his head.   The holly and berries which make his tie (I added that myself - it's not part of the image) are also sparkly.  I managed that by paper piecing with sparkled, hologram paper.

     I die cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and layered that onto berry red CS.  The sparkly ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I used a scrap of white crocheted lace ribbon to tie the bow.  Finally I added the glittery poinsettia next to the bow to give it even more Christmas flair.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Love to Scrap
Melonheadz Friends
Our Crafty Corner
Shabby Tea Room
Simon Says Stamp

     Hope your week is going well and that you're right on target to have all your holiday preparations done before Christmas lands smack in our laps.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

In the Meadow...

     I really do love snowmen and have used several of them on my Christmas cards this year.  This latest one is a freebie from A Day for Daisies, where they have a "Modern Christmas" theme for their challenge.  Isn't he darling?  I know my friend, Lynn, will love it -- all that blue!  :-D

I chose the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added loose glitter to the snowman, and die cut the image with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The rectangle pieces are also cut with dies from QuicKutz.  The snowflakes are cut from sparkle CS (ice blue and winter white) with one of my new dies from Memory Box.

     I used a scrap of ribbon, folded it, and tied it in the middle with sparkly twine.  I 'shredded' the twine ends so that I had individual fibers showing.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiran
Card and Scrap
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting with Dragonflies
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Catz
Crafty Enjoyments
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Dies R Us
Digitally Sweet
Di's Digi Designs
Emerald Faeries
Oddball Art Stamps
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simply Papercraft
Sisters of Craft
Sparkle Forum Christmas

     I may have one more post today but if not, then tomorrow for sure.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowflakes at Tuesday Throwdown

     A new challenge is starting today at Tuesday Throwdown and our theme is "Snowflakes."  We have a wonderful sponsor who gave the DT some really fun images to use - Sami Stamps.  The one I used is called "My Snowy Friend."

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then added Snow Tex and glitter to the snowman and the flakes in the sky.   I used a set of hexagon dies from QuicKutz to cut the image and the two mat layers.  The blue snowflakes are die cut (Memory Box) from sparkle CS and the ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Craft Rocket
Crafty Catz
Crafty Girls Creations
Creative Corner
Digitally Sweet
Di's Digi Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Friday Coloring
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simon Says Stamp
Sweet Stampin'
Time Out

     Christmas is so close now, it won't be long before most of us are heading out on our holiday travels.  Fear not, I've made so many Christmas cards, I'll be posting straight through until New Year's or the weekend after.  I'm sure I won't want to see another Christmas card until after Valentine's Day.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Child

     In case we forget in the midst of the season's rush, let's take a moment to recall that the greatest 'Christmas' gift ever was the birth of the Christ Child.  I used this image from Delicious Doodles, which was actually an image designed for Mother's Day, because I thought it could be used for a perfect depiction of Mother and Child at Christmas.

I used the sketch at Outlawz Sketch Challenge, reversed.

     The only coloring I did was on the faces and I used my chalks to do those.  The image and mat are cut with one of my newer Stitched Scalloped Circles dies from Memory Box.  The background is embossed with a folder from Cuttlebug.

     The star is also an image from Delicious Doodles and, though it's hard to see in the photo, I added a touch of glitter to it for some silver sparkle.  The 'banner' at the top is made from scrap which I was about to throw away.  :-D

     Challenges:
CAS on Sunday
Chalk N Stock
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
Christmas Stamping all Year Long
Digital Delights
DL.ART Thursday
Inspiration Destination
Jo's Scrap Shack
Just Add Ink (Christmas Child)
Little Red Wagon
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrapy Land
Simply Papercraft
WordArt Wednesday

     Have yourselves a great day, my friends and followers.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Vintage Santa

     Second past today but I'm using another image from MHK Designs this afternoon and I just couldn't wait to share it.  I started out wondering if I could do a CAS vintage card.  Those seem to be such opposites in my mind but I think this works.  What do you think?

I pulled my colors from the challenge at House that Stamps Built.

      The image and the "Santa Claus..." sentiment are printed together onto the card front for a single layer card.  I used ProMarkers to color the image, and then added gold glitter to the candle flames on the tree.  The "Jolly Christmas..." sentiment is done in shiny gold so the card has both shine and sparkle.  Everything is bordered in red CS so maybe this isn't technically a 'single' layer card.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
A Vintage Journey
Brown Sugar
Cardz 4 Galz
Crafting for all Seasons
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Girls Creations
Creative Corner
Creative Fingers
Creative Moments
Dragon's Lair
Graph'It
I {heart} ProMarkers
My Sheri Crafts
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Pattie's Creations  (Shout out to former teamies!)

     I hope your weekend is going well and that the holiday rush isn't too much for you.  Find some time to relax and do something refreshing for your soul.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Light of the World

     I decided it was time to play in the challenge over at Delicious Doodles.  I'm not sure when I played there last but since I wanted to use this beautiful image of the lamp post, drawn by Teri a couple of years ago, it seemed the right time to play again.

I used colors from Outlawz Color Challenge

(first column) and made sure I added one extra layer.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used my newest set of Pinpoint Rectangle Dies from Memory Box to cut the image and two layers of CS for matting the image.  I cut the aqua background and adhered all the layers together on the card front.  The bow is die cut with a Cottage Cutz die. 

     Pretty CAS even with 4 layers.  Unfortunately, the bow in the image looks more red than it actually is.  IRL, it nearly matches the lighter pink of the die cut bow.  Oh, well, chalk that up to the magic of photography.

     Challenges:

Cardz 4 Guyz

Crafting by Designs

Craft Rocket

Crafty Gals Corner

Jo's Scrap Shack

Just Add Ink (Christmas, candle)

Outlawz Twisted Thurs.

Papertake Weekly

Scrap & Craft

Whimsy Inspiration

Winter Wonderland

WordArt Wednesday

     OK, I've made a serious dent in the number of cards which have been commissioned and I'll still have time to make all the extra cards I want to donate to the senior center near my home.  I remember how much pleasure they got from the ones I dropped off last year.  So many seniors simply can't get out to buy cards or gift tags for their family or friends and having a stack of cards there at the center which they can then give to those people makes them oh, so happy.  :-D  So, you're going to see lots more Christmas cards from me over the next 2+ weeks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not a Creature was Stirring...

     When I saw this freebie image in The East Wind newsletter, of course I fell in love with the darling felines curled up inside a Christmas bauble and had to use it right away.  This is the card for my gift to the fur babies and I'll include a couple catnip toy mice, which they will love.  :-D

I chose to use the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.2 for this card

and I love the way it turned out.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then added glitter gel ink to the bauble (unfortunately invisible in the photo!)    The image and the green mat are both die cut with one of my new stitched die sets (Memory Box.)  The trees are die cuts (Cottage Cutz) and I added loose glitter to make them sparkle.

     The sparkly ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I have no idea who made the strip of dp.  It was a scrap. The bow with the pearl is one of those I make by the dozens and keep in my stash.  Again, this was made with white ribbon and I used my ProMarker to 'dye' it.  The sentiment, of course, comes from the "T'was the Night Before Christmas" poem but it fit so perfectly -- just look at those two totally zonked-out cats.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Snowflakes Promise
Colour Your World
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Addicts  FB Group
DL.ART
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Little Red Wagon
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrap & Craft
Show Us Your Pussy-Cats Only
Star Stampz

     Thanks for stopping by.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Stocking Critter

     Another challenge is starting today over at QKR Stampede and our theme is "Add Some Glitter."   Since we're well into the holiday season and most of us are working on Christmas or New Year cards, glittery sparkle is perfect for those projects.

     For this card, I used Digi 16304, "Stocking Mouse" and Digi 13802, "Ho Ho Ho."

     Even though the image is called "Stocking MOUSE," it looks more like a cat to me.  Or maybe that's just because I live with cats so I'm influenced to see cats everywhere, even when they might be mice.  :-D

     Whatever, that darling critter was colored in favorite Christmas colors with my ProMarkers and I added glitter to the holly leaves and berries.  I fussy cut the image and then used dimensional dots to layer him onto the die cuts (Spellbinders.)

     The "Christmas" sentiment was cut with a Memory Box die.  Earlier this week, I used the negative part of that die cut on another card.  Waste not, want not.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Christmas Card
Colour Your World
Come and Get It
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Cardmakers (Stockings were hung...)
Crafty Gals Corner
Crazy Challenge
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Little Red Wagon
Mod Squad (bottom row)
Scrapy Land

     I hope you'll add some glitter to a card and come play with us this week at QKR Stampede.  You can use any image from any company but if you decide to use one from QKR Stampede, you'll be entered into a separate drawing just for QKR images.  That will increase your chances of winning by quite a lot.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Penguin Weather

     Since penguins are birds who live in the southern hemisphere, does that mean they head north when winter closes in?  I guess, since they can't fly, they have to just stay put and weather the icy storms.  This one was smart enough to wrap up in his scarf and top hat.  :-D

     The stamp is from Sparkle n Sprinkle, and I used Black Detail Embossing Powder (also from SnS), heat embossed to get the glossy black on the penguin.  I used my ProMarkers to color the hat and scarf, and his cold little feet.  :-D  I added loose glitter to the snow and also to the spaces on the die cut (Spellbinders).

     I matted the die cut image with red CS, then layered it onto blue CS and die cut the corners.  The red ribbon is from my Christmas stash, probably from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The sentiment tag is also a die cut from Spellbinders.  I used silvery snowflakes which were in my stash and added the little white bow with the pearl for a bit of texture.  Finally, I added all the layers to a white card front.

     With the exception of the blue CS, everything on here was taken from deep hiding places in my stash.  :-D

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
A Snowflakes Promise
Cards in Envy
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Creative Card Crew
Cuttlebug Mania
Get Creative
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Love to Scrap
Paper Minutes
Scrapy Land
Unicorn Challenge

     I haven't done heat embossing for a couple of months and I had forgotten how much I enjoy both it and the results.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Holly and Berries

     A very CAS design on today's card which has an image from Doodle Pantry.

I started with a favorite sketch from Die Cut Divas,

(from May, 2015), turned upside down and modified to add the image.

I took my colors from the photo at {Pin}spirational.

  

     The sentiment is done with a die from Memory Box and it's actually the negative left behind from cutting out the word "Christmas" for another project.  I decided to use that left over scrap instead of throwing it away.  I paired it up with a scrap of dp I'd saved from last Christmas and the two were perfect for a 5.5" x 5.5" square card.

     I cut the holly image, added glitter to the berries, and inked the edges with distress ink before layering it on top of the papers.  I left it completely unembellished because I wanted that beautiful image to take center stage.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
ArtbyMiran
Cardz for Guyz
Come and Get It
Clear It Out
Crazy Challenge
Crazy 4 Challenges
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Papertake Weekly
Simply Papercraft

     More posts every day this week, I hope.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

More Tags

     Here are more of the Christmas gift tags I've been doing.  All of these use of Deedee's Digis images.  These first two came from the "Christmas Cookies" set.   Don't forget that everything in the shop is on sale at 75% off between now and the time the shop closes on December 31.  (Sniffs of sadness.)  This set is selling for 75 cents!  (See bottom of post for all the images, sentiments, and papers included in this one.)

  

     Both of these are pre-colored which made the tags very quick to make, although I did fussy cut them so that took a bit of time.  The holly berries and the ornaments on the tree  have glitter added to them for a bit of sparkle.  I kept these really simple because the tags just end up in the round file anyway.  :-D

     I've also made a few more tags with snowmen and nutcracker toy soldiers and, while I was going to wait to post them, I decided to add them to this post instead.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Artistic Inspirations
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Creative Fingers
Eureka Stamps
Get Creative
Shabby Tea Room
Stempelsonnen

     OK, last post of the day but there's another one coming tomorrow.  Hope you'll find time to stop by again.  Thanks for visiting and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

   

Nutcracker Christmas

     Here's another of the cards I did using a set from Deedee's Digis.  In case you haven't heard the sad news, Deedee's is going to be closing at the end of the year.  I've so enjoyed my time on her DT and I'll miss seeing new sets from her each month.  But for you folks, this means that you can get those "Wish List" sets you've wanted for 75% off!  Every set in the store is less than a dollar.  How can you beat that?!

     For this card, I used the "Nutcrackers" set.  You'll see a couple more of these from the set on some tags I made and I'll share those later.

     The image is fussy cut and adhered to the red, die cut, CS.  I used an embossing folder (Darice) on the glittered CS background piece (a scrap from another project) after it was cut with a die from Spellbinders. The sentiment was done with a computer font, then hand cut and mounted.   Everything was mounted using dimensional dots for depth and texture.

     Ribbon and hand tied bow are leftover scraps also and the green snowflakes are punched out pieces, scraps which I had tossed into my stash for use later.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge (March of the Toy Soldiers)
Aud Sentiments
Cards in Envy
Christmas Card Challenge
Come and Get It
Crafty Catz
Crafty Girls
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Creative Moments
Cuttlebug Mania
DL.ART Thursday
DRS Designs
Glitter n Sparkle
Graph'It
Jingle Belles
Melonheadz Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Quirky Crafts
Star Stampz
Whimsy Inspiration
Winter Wonderland

     I'll have another post later today so be sure to stop by again.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

 Nutcrackers

Santa's Cookies - House Mouse Style

     A really fast post this because I've been crafting and at the computer since 5:00 this morning and it's nearly midnight now.  I dug through my House Mouse collection and found this adorable stamp.  I'm sure this is what happens to lots of Santa's cookies.  :-D

I used the colors in the challenge at Color My Heart.

     I stamped with stone gray distress ink and colored with ProMarkers, then die cut with dies from Spellbinders.  I actually used the frames from the outside of the die cuts instead of cutting the image piece itself.  It gives some great texture and dimension.  The bow is made with satin ribbon from my stash.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Christmas Card
Crafting with Dragonflies
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Fussy and Fancy
Glitter n Sparkle
Graph'It
Gruffies & Guests
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lacy Sunshine
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Coloring
Outlawz PAM
Pile It On (waving to my former teamies!)

     I'll have to finish this post a bit later.  Right now, it's late enough that I'm about to fall asleep right here and now.  The bed is calling me and I'm going to answer by strolling down the hallway and taking advantage of the fact the the felines have been sleeping there for long enough to warm the covers with their little bodies.  Good night and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Away in a Manger

     I've been on a Deedee's Digis kick all weekend and have used several different sets to make Christmas cards and tags.  Just as I was thinking that I was pretty well caught up on the number of cards I need this year, I got another commission for eight cards.  Then my neighbor, who loves all my cards and has ordered several from me over the last year, wants ten MORE Christmas cards!  So now I'm hopping like a bunny to get everything done.

     I also want to let you know that Deedee's Digis is having a year end sale of 75% off all sets in the store!!  Nothing over $.88!  Can you believe those prices?  

     Since Deedee has so many pre-colored images, and since those make cards go really quickly, I printed out 4 images for tags, and another 4 for cards.  Here's the first one I finished from the "Away in a Manger" set.  Both the image and the sentiment are from that set.

     I used my newest scalloped dies (Memory Box) and I love the stitching on them.  The background embossing is done with a folder from Darice used on red CS which has stars on it.  The sentiment is also cut with one of the stitched dies.  The bow is tied with my bow maker.

     Challenges:
Christmas Card
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Dream Valley
Fab n Funky
Inky Impressions
Lemon Shortbread
Our Daily Bread
Paper Shelter

     That's it for me today but I'll be posting cards and tags all week long so that I can share what I've done with all the things I printed (and colored on many of them.)  Less than 4 weeks to Christmas now and I have even more to do than I did before the Thanksgiving holiday.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Angels Watching Over Us

     For those of you in the USA, I hope your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful and that you counted all your blessings.  We have so much in this country and others have so little.

     Today starts the real Christmas rush but I simply refuse to participate in 'Black Friday.'  I'd rather be crafting than fighting the crowds.  Today at QKR Stampede, we're starting a new challenge and our theme is "Angels," so appropriate for yet another Christmas card.  If you haven't started yet, Christmas is exactly 4 weeks away.  Yikes!

I based my design on the sketch from The Sweetest Thing.

     I used Digi 14809 "Sitting on the Moon" for the image and Digi 10804 "Angels Watching" for the top sentiment.  I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then added glitter to her wings and the moon.  It doesn't show very well in the main photo but here's a closeup that shows how much it actually sparkles.

     I used one of my newer die sets to cut the image and the frame for it.  The background dp with the 'polka dot' stars is from DCWV and the ribbon came from my stash.

     Challenges:
Always Playing with Paper
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
Christmas Card
Clear It Out
Colour Your World
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Boots
Eureka Stamps
Great Impressions
Lacy Sunshine
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Passion for ProMarkers
Ribbon Girl
Through the Craft Room Door
WordArt Wednesday

     I hope you'll find time to craft something with an angel and come play with us at QKR Stampede.  Remember, you can use any image but if you use something from QKR Stampede, your card will be entered into a draw just for those who used one of our images and that significantly increases your chances of winning.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Thanksgiving

To all of my Blogland Friends

and especially those who are celebrating Thanksgiving today:

Many Blessings on you and yours.  

NanaConnie

Wrapping it Up for Christmas

     It was finally time to do something other then a card for Christmas so I started on my gift bags.  This is the first one but I have some others I may get done in time to share them over the weekend.  This is a re-cycled vellum bag; originally it held a birthday gift but I wanted to combine the polka dots on the bag with the polka dots in the dp I chose.  I thought the white dots looked a bit like snow and that made it perfect for a Christmas theme.

     This is a fun image from Aurora Wings (Anything but a Card) and I wanted to stay very CAS on this bag.  I colored the kitten and lights image with my ProMarkers, then cut the image into a square and added the sparkly twine before adhering it onto the dp (SU.)  That entire piece went onto the bag and it was done.  I'll make a matching tag for it before using it this year.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge ("Deck the Halls")
CAS on Sunday
Christmas Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Di's Digi Designs
Fairy Tale
Love to Scrap
Not Just Cards
Paper Minutes
Passion for ProMarkers
Quirky Crafts

     Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm wishing all my USA friends warm blessings and good time spent with family and friends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Mail

     Many of us can still remember the days when postal lines were long and tiresome during the holidays and how we all waited by the mailbox to see who had sent us cards with lovely Christmas greetings.  Except for those of us who still love actual cards instead of email or text greetings, the lines now are mostly filled with those who must mail packages.  This card is in honor of post office lines of days gone by.

     This darling House Mouse stamp wasn't designed to be a Christmas stamp but after coloring it with my ProMarkers, I used a white gel pen to add snow to the fence and rooftop.  Suddenly, it WAS a Christmas image.  :-D

     I used punches and dies to frame out the image and the little bow is one of those I sew up by the dozens.  This one was made from white ribbon and I used a ProMarker to get it the particular shade of dark blue that I wanted.   I've almost quit using colored ribbon for making these because it's so easy to use white and then just "dye" them the color I need for any card on which I'm using them.

     Challenges:
Always Playing with Paper
Brown Sugar
Cardz 4 Guyz
Crafting-with-Friends
Crazy Challenge
Cutie Pie
Fairy Tale
Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Graph'It
House Mouse
Incy Wincy (diagonal: pearl/free/die)
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
Melonheadz Friends
My Time to Craft
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Quirky Crafts
Where the HeART Is

     I'm in a mad rush out the door right now but will hopefully have another post for you tomorrow.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie