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    I don't do shaped cards very often because I only have a few dies which lend themselves to card shapes but for today's card, I cut the card by hand to loosely fit the shape of the birdhouse image.  It comes from QKR Stampede (Digi 23601 "Birdhouse") and today starts our latest weekly challenge with a theme of "Shaped Cards."

     I colored the image with my brand new, never-before-had, Lyra Rembrandt Polychromos colored pencils.  OK, so I have quite a bit to learn about blending polychromos pencils and maybe even about color selections but I remember back when I was first learning about alcohol markers, and I think I'll get it with more practice.  :-D  Pencil coloring gives a much softer, more pastel look to the finished product and sometimes, for what I want to do, that's perfect.

     Everything is hand cut this time and the only embellishment is the one mulberry paper flower.  Very CAS design.  It fits into a standard square envelope and since I had some black envelopes on hand, I used one of those.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps and More
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with an Attitude
Craft Your Passion
Glitter n Sparkle
Lemon Shortbread
Pencil Case

     Come play with us this week!

     I'll have another post in about an hour so be sure to check back.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Designing for Morgan's Art World !

     Woohoo!  If you had told me that I was going to pick up another DT position, I would have laughed but then I got an invitation from Morgan's ArtWorld and I just couldn't turn it down since I love her artwork so much!   I'm honored to be asked and this is my first project as a DT member.

     It's for the August 19 challenge which runs for two weeks and our theme is "Anything But a Card."  I do mostly cards so sometimes it's difficult for me to switch gears and think in terms of something else but not this time.  I had just picked up a new 16 month calendar/planner for the rest of 2016 and all of 2017.  It was very plain and just cried out to have something beautiful decorating it.  What do you think?

The image is "Kitty in Garden" and

you know how perfect that is for me.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, trimmed the image to fit the front of the planner book, and was very pleased with the fact that I'll get to look at that from now until the end of 2017.

     Because I didn't want it to get worn or dirty being slipped in and out of my purse or briefcase, after I photographed it I laminated it.  I also tied some ribbons to the top of  the spiral binding after I took this photo so there's some texture and I can use them to mark a particular page.  It's perfect now!

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Crafty Boots
Creative Moments
Delicious Doodles
Outlawz PAM
Sisterhood of Crafters
SUYP Cats
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown
Unicorn

     While this is getting posted late on a Thursday evening because I live in the Pacific Time Zone, the challenge starts officially at midnight, August 18/19, Eastern Time Zone and will run for a fortnight.  We'd love to see you playing along - just enter Anything But a Card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Thankful Thoughts - Next MHK Design Release

     Day Three in the August release from MHK Designs and Mynn has given us a fantastic set perfect for Thanksgiving or any other "thank"ful occasion, including sentiments for simple Thank You cards.  We all know we're going to need those over the holidays.  :-D  You can see a photo of the complete set at the bottom of this post.  Here's my card using an image and a sentiment from the "Thankful Thoughts" set.

     I colored the cornucopia with a combination of ProMarkers and Copics, then die cut it with an oval die from QuicKutz.  I used oval dies from that same set to cut the mat, the sentiment and the mats for it.  I found a die that's been in  my collection for a while but which I'd never used and decided this was the perfect card design for it.  The leaf die is made by Die-namics.  I used it to cut two different colors of CS and then offset them.

     Both the ribbon and the dp are scraps from my stash.

     Challenges:
Colour Your World
Crafting From the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Creative Fingers
Die Cuttin' Divas
Glitter n Sparkle
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Polkadoodles
Scrapper's Delights

     I haven't used the turkey image yet, but I already have plans for it bouncing around in my head.  At the moment, I think it would make a fabulous sepia tone, vintage card for Thanksgiving.  Don't you agree?  Maybe I'll do that card for one of my Designer Inspiration posts on the main MHK Designs blog.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

  Thankful Thoughts

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Beautiful Bottles - Second Day Release from MHK Designs

     When the title says "Beautiful Bottles," I know some of you are looking for beautiful wine bottles (you know who you are!) but that's not what we have for you today.  These are gorgeous vintage bottles from MHK Designs that are so versatile you'll want to have a whole stash of cards made with the bottles from this "Beautiful Bottles" set.  You can see a photo of the entire set at the end of this post.

     I used two of the bottles from the set for this card and I do believe I went a little crazy with design.  Both bottles are colored with my ProMarkers and the front bottle is fussy cut, while the other bottle is cut with a die.  The green mat behind it is first embossed with my "Linen" folder and then cut with another die.  The sentiment is printed and cut with another die, and all three of those dies are from the same Spellbinders set, "Radiant Rectangles."  All of those were cut from various scrap pieces lying on the table.

     The two bottles, the sentiment, and the mats behind them make up one half of the card front and they are actually layered onto the left side of a gatefold, overlapping the right hand gatefold which has the dp, ribbon strip, and bow.

     I found another scrap of dp on my desk, cut it with a plain, rectangle die and matted it with dark green CS.  The green ribbon was a leftover piece found in my stash and the white bow is one of those I make by the dozens and toss in the stash for later use.  On that one, I cut dovetails instead of just a diagonal slant. I may start doing that on all of them since I like it better.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Classic Design Team Open
Crafts and Me
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Lunagirl Moonbeam
Petal Lu
SLS Lines
Sparkles Forum
Stempelsonnen

     You still have a few days left to play in our July/August challenge.  The new one begins on August 21.  Check the MHK Designs blog for more information on it.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie



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A Robin's Christmas

     I have two posts today and the next one will be live in about an hour so be sure to check back, won't you?  I don't want you to miss either one of these.  :-D

     This card was made for my GDT post for the new challenge starting this morning at Scrapy Land where the theme is to "Use an Image" (digi or rubber.)   My image is from Delicious Doodles and is called "A Robin's Christmas."  Remember, in order to play along, you can use any image by any company but you do have to use at least one die from the more than 40 brands carried in the Scrapy Land store.

     I had so much fun playing with the die cuts and it must have taken me an hour just to decide which ones I was going to use.  I actually cut with several different dies, then laid them out with the image to see how they looked.  I decided on two wonderful Spellbinder's dies, Romantic Rose (white CS) and Medallion Five (blue CS.)

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then rounded the corners with a hand punch.  I layered on all the die cuts, added the satin ribbon (which has snowflakes in it) and bow, and used glittered snowflakes with gems for embellishment.

     I printed the sentiment with red ink, picking up the tiny spot of red on the robin's chest.  I like this so much, I'm going to do several more like it and donate them to the senior center near me.  I do that each year and the cards are so appreciated by the seniors since they can use them for family and friends at Christmas.  It's so very difficult for them to get out and buy cards and, after seeing me bring cards around the last three years, a few of the ladies now give me ideas for cards they'd like to see.  What fun!

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Delicious Doodles
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Noor! Designs
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art
Sisterhood of Crafters
Through the Craft Room Door
Tinker-Dream
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Weds.

     Come back a bit later to see the latest in the August releases from MHK Designs.  You're going to love it!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Tweet, Tweet - Starting New Release Week at MHK Designs

     It's the start of five new releases this month at MHK Designs and the first one we want to share is a set with delightful bird designs called "Tweet, Tweet."  I chose just one of them for this card but you can see the full set with all the images and sentiments at the bottom of this post.

     He's colored with my ProMarkers and fussy cut.  I mounted him onto a black die cut (Spellbinders) and then put that piece onto an ombre paper.  I hand cut the sentiment and added the big bow for texture and some 3D effect.  I really love this totally simple card!  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
CASual Friday
Come and Get It
Glitter n Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pencil Case
Sisterhood of Crafters
Unicorn

     Enjoy your day and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie



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Classy Lady

     I didn't have a card to post yesterday and I won't have another one until Tuesday because this month has been so busy for me!  I'll be away from my computer for several days at the end of the month, too, but I hope you'll bear with me.  I have two or three days of double posts this coming week so that should make up for it, right?

     I managed to get this card made early this morning, using the August Progressive Challenge image from the ArtbyMiRan FB page.  Isn't she darling?  I used her for a Thank You card because my stash of those is getting low.

     I colored her with my ProMarkers, then die cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  I mounted that onto another die cut (same set) and layered that onto a piece of silver glittered paper which had been die cut and embossed.  Everything went onto a black card base.  Obviously, I loved using my favorite purples and I adore how they worked so well with the silver!  What a great combo.  :-D

     I added the three tiny butterflies in the upper corner and the sheer ribbon bow with the purple pearl at the bottom.  Very complex looking but really rather simple and fast to make.

     Challenges:

ArtbyMiRan

Brown Sugar

Color Crazy Craft

Crafting by Designs

Crafty Addicts

Crafty Sentiments
Creative Corner
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     I'll be sharing five new releases from MHK Designs this week, starting on Tuesday.  Come by and check them out.  They're gorgeous!   Then on Thursday, in the evening *(my time), I'll have a post with some wonderful news to share.  Friday is another new challenge at QKR Stampede and I'll have my DT card for that one.  Finally, next Sunday, August 21, the new challenge will begin at MHK Designs but for now you still have time to enter the current one before it closes on Aug. 20.  Hope to see you there.

Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Kickin' Back

     Is it Friday morning already?  Where did this week go?  I woke up on Monday and now it's four days later.  lol  OK, well, Friday means a new challenge at QKR Stampede and our theme this week is "Monochromatic" so we want to see cards done in various shades of only one color.  Here's mine using Digi 9106 "Relaxing."

     I started by choosing blue-gray colors and used my ProMarkers to color the image which was printed directly onto the front of a tent card.  I die cut a frame from a leftover scrap of CS and laid it over the image.  I added a scrap of ribbon to the bottom and a bow to the top and called it finished.  A nicely simple design that shows off the image to its best advantage.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Colour Crazy Craft
Colour Your World
Corrosive
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Calendar
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs
Great Impressions
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pattie's Creations
Pencil Case
Pixie's Crafty Workshop

       Come play in our challenge this week.   Even though it's "Monochromatic," you can still use normal skin tones in coloring your image, if needed.  You're not required to use an image from QKR, but they are all so cute, why wouldn't you?  Besides, if you do use a QKR image, your card is put into a separate drawing and that really increases your chances of winning.  That means more images from QKR so it's a win-win!  See you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie
 
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Happy Day Under the Sea

     This is my first image from Cute as a Button but probably not my last.  :-D  I've just discovered them and I can feel a shopping spree coming on.  Oh, well, feeling a shopping spree is more fun than feeling a summer cold coming on!

    Speaking of summer, what could be better than celebrating a cool day under the sea?  I think I'll use this for a birthday card.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and chalks, then added a bit of glitter to her hips and upper tail.  I used a die from Sue Wilson to cut the piece that frames her.  On this card, I cut the blue CS and laid it over the image.  On top of that I layered the undersea die cut from Memory Box.  I used the little negative circles that dropped out to make the bubbles on the image.  The little fish is also a negative piece.  I thought that would be a great way to use those tiny scraps instead of just tossing them away.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Animal Friends
CCC Digi
Country View
Crafty Awesomeness
Creatalicious
Cute as a Button
Die Cut Divas
Dream Factory
Petal Lu
Sisters of Craft

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Outlawz Progressive Challenge for August

     I've been pretty faithful about playing in the monthly progressive challenge at The Outlawz since it started nearly 2 years ago and this month we get to use an image called "August" by Andrea Norris at Sheepski Designs.  I have to tell you that every time I look at this image, it brings back memories of my Grammy's summer garden.  She loved Freesias, Fiddlenecks, and Bleeding Hearts.  Seeing any of those flowers always reminds me of early childhood and summer days spent in her garden.

     I wanted to do something CAS but with a fancy die cut frame so I'm not sure this really is a CAS design but it certainly isn't over-the-top with embellies and froo-froo.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and had to do a little finagling with the frame die.  It's by Cheery Lynn but it's a rectangular die and the image is square.  I cut the frame from white CS and then cut a piece out of each side to make it into a square.  I added the flowers at the point on each side where the top and bottom halves of the frame meet.

     I colored the frame with watercolors, trying for an ombre effect but I couldn't get the top part of the frame pale enough so I'm not sure it really worked.  IRL, it's still very lovely and there is a delightful mix of purple shades.

     The background is completely glittered and I also glittered the little punched butterfly on the right hand side.  I added the bow at the bottom because it needed something to draw the eye down and anchor it.

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with Friends
Cut It Up
Fussy and Fancy
Outlawz CAS
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes
Scrapper's Delights

    Whether it qualifies as CAS or not, I'm very happy with this card.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

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Remembering Marilyn

     It seems strange to think of Marilyn Monroe as anything but a thirty-something person but, had she lived, she would be 90 years old this year!  Her death was 54 years ago last Friday and she's still an icon of the silver screen.

     As a tribute, this image by The East Wind came with their monthly newsletter and is called, appropriately enough, Aurora "Marilyn."

I used the sketch from Outlawz

and colors that came from House That Stamps Built.

  

     I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut and corner punched the image.  I matted it with black dp which does have a print in it but it's rather faint and difficult to see.  Again, I punched the corners.  I added a polka dot background and then dug out my Memory Box dies.

     I cut gray butterflies, then pink vines and flowers, stacking layers of flower petals to make the two larger flowers which are adhered on top of the black ribbon.  I added sparkly gems, scattering them across the image and the die cuts.  After all, Marilyn did believe that "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend!"

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Ribbons
Double D
Incy Wincy
Inky Chicks
Lemon Shortbread
{PIN}spirational
Sasayaki Glitter
Simon Says Stamp
Southern Girls
Sweet Stampin'
The East Wind
Through the Craft Room Door
Whoopsi Daisy

     I hope you're having yourself a wonderful weekend and that you get in lots of fun and relaxation.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Summer Cool

     Okay, let me start by reporting that our temperatures have dropped out of the 100 - 110F range and yesterday we sat at a chilling 99!  lol  Our weather men and ladies made that sound as if it was a near freezing temperature.

     Today's card was inspired by my thoughts on how best to stay cool.  :-D

The image and the sketch are both by From the Heart Stamps,

although I turned the sketch sideways.

     I colored the image with my Copic Markers (where I have a better range of soft blues) and die cut it with an older die from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges of both the die cut pieces and the hand cut sentiment.  The bow is one of those "bowties" I've been doing lately, made with satin, polka dot, ribbon.  A CAS design without a lot of bulk or embellishment.

     Challenges:
Bunny Zoe's
Cards in Envy
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Double D
Marker POP
Outlawz Colors
Tuesday Throwdown (flower/marker/ribbon)

     It's Saturday, the weekend has started for most of us and, if you're in a place with cool(er) weather, count your blessings.  You could be in hot, drought-stricken, central California wondering if the indoor air conditioning is ever going to stop running!  Mine has been on since March 30.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Emus and Snails

     New challenge today at QKR Stampede and our theme is "Things with Wings."  As I started looking through QKR images to see what I was going to use, I found a couple of fun emu images (Digi 1301), one of which had a snail in it (digi 1401) and I used just the snail by die cutting him from the overall image.

     I also wanted to use the "I Love Birds" sentiment (Digi 15523 Love Birds.)   The expression on the face of the snail was so adoring I just knew the sentiment had to be his.  That got me to thinking about emus and snails and I realized that emus would probably eat a snail, if they found one!   For the snail's sake, I hope he doesn't know that.  lol

I used colors from the challenge at CRAFT.

     I colored the images with ProMarkers, then cut the emu with a die from Spellbinders and cut just the snail with a die from QuicKutz.  The edges of the octagon are embossed and I inked the edges of both die cuts.  The sentiment is hand cut and also inked on the edges.

     I used two sheer ribbons, one white and one purple (yes, my favorite PURPLE but it turned navy blue in the photo!) to wrap the card front and then tie a large, double bow.

     Challenges:

Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Ribbon
DL.ART Thankful Thurs
Kitty Bee Aloha Friday
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Word Art Weds.

     Find an image of something with wings (birds, insects, fairies, bats, angels...whatever) and come play along with us this week.  You can use any image from any company but if you choose to use an image by QKR Stampede, you will be entered into a separate drawing just for those who use QKR and that will increase your chance of winning significantly.  See you in the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Christmas Elves

     These darling elves (they may have been fairies but they're elves now!) are from Emerald Faeries and I used them for a Christmas card.  I love the idea that they are playing with winter Cardinals while they wait for Santa to show up with the list of tasks for the day.

     The elves are colored with my newest neon markers from ProMarkers (I think  I'm going to love those!) and I did my best to make the colors match the dp I planned to use.  I know the colors are more of a "summer bright" than a "Christmas red" but I love the way it looks.

     The scalloped border cuts were done with a die from Cheery Lynn, and the trees are also from a Cheery Lynn die.  Both the white ribbon and the red ribbon for the bow were in my stash.  The Cardinals are die cuts and I think they are from Memory Box but could be Die-namics.  I loaned the die to a friend so can't check it right now.

     I added sparkle to the wings of the elves and to the white ribbon but it just doesn't show up well in the photo.

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries
Allsorts
Cheery Lynn
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crimbo Crackers
Fab 'n' Funky
I {heart} ProMarkers
MFP Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sweet Stampin'


     My Christmas stash is growing and I feel so relieved.  By mid-June, I was thinking seriously that I'd never get enough cards done this year.  Now the anxiety is over.  Not that I don't have lots more to do, but I always get really motivated during the fall months so I'm sure it'll be OK.  1 or 2 each week should suffice.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Seaside Silhouette

     Our new challenge theme at Scrapy Land is that all time favorite, "Anything Goes."  Here's my GDT card for the next two weeks, after which our next challenge starts and we'll have a different theme.  I have to tell you I'm having so much fun in this GDT position and I get as much inspiration from all of you who enter the challenges as anyone could possibly get from my projects.  :-D

     This silhouette is from Crackerbox Palace and the only thing I did was color the sky with my ProMarkers and add some white gel ink to the clouds and waves.  I die cut black CS and purple CS with dies from my Spellbinders set, "Decorative Labels Eight" and layered them behind the image.  The purple die cut is also embossed with my "Linen" folder.  The image itself was punched to round the corners.  I do believe this card contains most, if not all, of my favorite things for cardmaking: ProMarkers, die cuts, layers, dry embossing, silhouettes, color purple, and bows.

     I tied a bow using textured, satin ribbon and then left the card alone.  I wanted those gorgeous die cuts to frame the image and not get lost under other embellishments.

     Challenges:
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Boots
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Everybody Art
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Melonheadz Friends
Passion for ProMarkers
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Throwdown (center row)

     That's it for me today.  I hope you're going to come and play in the challenge.  Remember, you can make anything you want but you do need to use at least one die from a brand carried by Scrapy Land.  Check out the store site for a list of all the different manufacturers -- there are more than 40!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Staying Up for Santa - or Not

     This darling image isn't necessarily for Christmas but it just struck me as being a perfect representation of every 8-year-old girl (and her cat) who is determined to "stay awake for Santa" so I made this to add one more Christmas card to my stash.   I managed to get several done in response to all the "Christmas in July" inspirations but the reality is that I'm going to have to make one or two each week between now and December to have enough cards to cover all my needs this year.

     The image is by Sarah Kay and I colored it with my ProMarkers, then die cut it with a die from Cheery Lynn.  That cut is actually the center piece from one of their lovely, square, 'doily' die sets but I saved the frame piece for another project.

     The snowflake swirl is cut through the card front and green dp with a Memory Box die.  I added the printed sentiment and the burlap bow and left it without other embellishment.  A great majority of my Christmas cards have CAS designs because so many of them have to be mailed.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
Christmas Cards
Colour Your World
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Just Us Girls
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
SUYP Cats Only
Sweet Stampin'

     The weather seems to be cooling down a bit - by about 5 degrees F from Sunday, but when it's still 103, that just doesn't seem very cool to me.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge

     I've been sitting on a secret for a while now but today I get to share.  I've been asked to join the wonderful Design Team of Crafts Galore Encore!   I'm delighted to be working with them.  The challenges are monthly beginning on the first of each month and ending on the last day.  We have a new theme for each challenge and for this month the theme is "Use a digi or rubber stamp."

     Here's my first card as a DT member of CGE.  Throughout July, I was so focused on getting my Christmas cards started that I neglected nearly everything else I needed in my stash.  So, this time I did a birthday card since I am getting low on those and have several birthdays for family and friends coming up in the next couple of months.

     I started with the image printed right onto the card front along with the sentiment.  The meant I could do a very CAS design.  I used my colored pencils with Gamsol and coloring her took the most time in putting this card together.

     I chose a piece of lace from my stash, 'dyed' it the particular shade of salmon pink I wanted by using my ProMarkers to color it, then let it dry for several minutes.  I wrapped it around the card front and then added the string of pearls to one edge.  That's all - a fast, ten-minute card once the coloring was done.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with Friends
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Pencil Case
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope we're going to see you joining in our challenge this month.  It's a pretty simple one since all you have to do it use an image on your project, digi or rubber.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Fur Baby Mornings

     This feels like mornings at my house where the fur babies must be tended before anything else can possibly happen, sometimes including having to put off the just-out-of-bed trip to the bathroom until the food dish is filled to the brim!  :-D

     This image is from Sasayaki Glitter (CAS Challenge) and, unlike most of my coloring, this time it's done with a very tiny, liner brush and watercolors.  The decorative corners are cut with a Cheery Lynn die and I added glittered flowers to the opposite corners.  The sentiment is printed, hand cut, and adhered on thin foam tape.  The entire image piece is mounted onto a pre-made, pink card blank.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
SUYP Cats

     Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  I'm going to post this and then go give some attention to the feline fur babies who are yammering about having been ignored while I made this card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Harvest Days Owl

     I love the images I find at Morgan's Artworld, especially when I find something a bit different from her beautiful lady faeries and woodland nymphs.  This owl is one of those treasures and I decided to make a fall/ harvest-season card which I'll probably use for my daughter's Thanksgiving card this year.  She adores owls so it's perfect.

     The owl is colored with ProMarkers and I used some of my pale gray and blue Copics for the sky.  I used a negative die cut (left over from another project) to frame the image, and then punched the corners to add a bit more decorative shape.

     I added orange twine and a bow (dyed with ProMarkers for the color I wanted), and then found three die cut butterflies for embellishment.  I used loose glitter on them for a touch of sparkle.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
Butterfly Challenge
Colour Crazy Craft
Corrosive Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Morgan's Artworld
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Shelter
Simon Says Stamp

     I know it isn't fall yet, but since we're on day 8 of a heat wave which has put us into the 108 to 111 degree range, and which is predicted to run at least another 6 days of 103 or higher, I'm ready for fall to get here with some crisp mornings and cool evenings!  Yes, fall is my favorite season -- lovely days, not too cold but cool enough to open up the windows and enjoy the scents and sounds of the harvest season.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Down on the Farm with QKR Stampede

     New challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and our latest theme is "Down on the Farm."  I took the opportunity to make a card for a friend who always begs me to make Christmas cards for them to mail out.  Since they are horse people and live on a ranch, I thought this one would be perfect for them.  I've actually made a dozen of these and the little outhouses are all different colors.

     The image is Digi 16202 "Outhouse" and the sentiment is Digi 14104 "Our Ranch."  The "at Christmas" part is my own so don't waste time searching the store for it.  :-D

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and then cut it with a stitched square die from Cheery Lynn.  I also cut both sentiment pieces with a smaller die from that same set.  The ribbon was in my Christmas stash and the snowflakes were left over from last year's embellishments.  I'm pretty sure the sparkly dp in the background is DCWV but I've had it for so long, I have no idea what stack.

     Tons of delicious texture on this card from the layers and the embellishments.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Choosday
Fab 'n' Funky
Holly Jolly Christmas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
{Pin}spirational
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door
Word Art Wednesday
   
     Come play along with us this week.  It doesn't have to be Christmas; anything that fits the "Down on the Farm" theme is perfect.  Hope to see you there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Bluebell Sprite

     Have you ever gone on a shopping spree for images, bought several and then had one get lost in the shuffle?  That's the story behind this darling, little, bluebell sprite by AuroraWings.  I bought several sprites at the same time and for some reason this is the one I've never used.  Sorry, little sprite.  :-D

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers and framed with a leftover negative from a die cut I used on another project.  That scalloped circle, the outer edge of a doily cut (Cheery Lynn), was just too pretty to throw away and it worked perfectly here.

     I added a strip of dp (DCWV "Basics" stack) to one side and wrapped it with ribbon.  The leaves and little flowers were in my stash, again cuts left over from a previous project and the dies for those were Cheery Lynn and Memory Box.

     I tied a bow and added glitter to the flowers and the bow.  The sentiment is printed, then hand cut before matting and adhering to the card.  The different layers and design elements give some great texture to the card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
AuroraWings (die cuts/flowers/blue)
Bunny Zoe's
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Incy Wincy
Morgan's Artworld
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Color
Outlawz Festive Friday
Scribbles Designs
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Be sure to stop by again tomorrow when I'll be showing my DT card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede.  You won't want to miss that new theme.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Best Teacher

     I try to play each month in the Progressive Challenge at ArtbyMiRan and the image for this month is right up my alley since it has to do with teachers and school.  My mom was a teacher as were several of my aunts and I, myself, taught college for many years.  Maybe one of my grandkids will use this to acknowledge one of their teachers.  :-D

I chose my colors from the inspiration at DRS Designs

(where I was lucky enough to be a winner last week! Woohoo!)

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and then cut it with a rectangle die.  I framed it with one of my newest dies from Memory Box, called Blooming Flower Frame.  I used a strip of turquoise CS at the top which brought out the blues in the image.  I added the sentiment and decided that the only embellishment I wanted was one of the small bows I make by the dozens and keep in my stash.  I didn't want to bury that beautiful frame under a lot of embellishment.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Bit More Time to Craft
ArtbyMiRan
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Addicts
Creative Moments
Lemon Shortbread
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Greetings
Petal Lu
Sisters of Craft
Southern Girls
Sweet Stamps
Word Art Weds.

     Halfway through the week already and (hard as it is to believe) more than half way through the year!  I remember when my mom used to tell me that time goes faster and faster the older you get.  Since I was still in school in those days, and since waiting for summer or Christmas vacation was the hardest thing in the world, I simply could not understand what she meant.  Mom, I understand today.  Wish you were still here.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.

Beach Kitty in Purples

     If you follow my blog or even just visit regularly, you know how much I love purple and that it's my favorite color.  I incorporated some of my brighter purples into this card using a new digi I got from AuroraWings this weekend and I'm going to enter it over at their FB challenge.

     This darling beach kitty just looked so serene (kind of like the way I imagine my friend, Cely, who's a Carolina Girl and who loves the beach, would be sitting there.  This one is just for you, Cely!) that the sentiment needed to be something about not being stressed out.  Hence, the play on Meow and Out.  :-D

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a large rectangle die and mounted onto a pale purple card base.  The only embellishment that seemed necessary was the bow in the upper corner.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
AuroraWings
Catch the Bug
Creative Inspirations
Di's Digi Designs
Double D
Julia Spiri
Pattie's Creations
Sweet Stampin'

     I'm off to run some errands and will return late in the day.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX.  SORRY.