Song in Your Heart

     The image on this card is from A Day for Daisies and I found it in my folder of images I had colored up but never actually made into a card or other project.  It just touched me and I decided that a nice monochromatic blue card would be perfect on this cold and rainy day.  It's obviously winter in the image because there are no leaves on the tree.  :-D

     I had already colored the image with my ProMarkers so I used a Bo Bunny die to cut it and the frame, then I mounted both of those on a lighter blue rectangle.  The background is cut from paper by DCWV using a Memory Box die.  I layered that onto a piece of navy blue CS and put that onto a card base.

     I decided that there was enough texture and visual detail with the die cuts, so all I added for embellishment were the feather and the flower.  The sentiment is my statement about being positive in all circumstances; despite rain and floods and dark skies, I find something positive in the fact that we've had rain in the midst of this horrible, five-year drought.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Day for Daisies
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Get Creative
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Unicorn

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie     

Sending Blessings

     Today's card is one I'm going to use for a friend who's in need of a few prayers and blessings right now.  She's temporarily home bound and her city is buried under a huge amount of snow so a wintry color combo seemed appropriate.

     The image is from The East Wind.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added a frame cut with a stitched die (Die-Versions.)  It was left over from another project and worked perfectly as a scrap to frame this image.  The CS had been run through my "Linen" embossing folder.

     I added as snippet of ribbon, a bow, and snowflakes for minimal embellishment.  The dp is from one of my brand new paper pads by Graphic 45.  A very CAS design but flat for easy mailing.

     Challenges:

Ching-chou Kuik

Creatalicious

Kreativeinkauf

Outlawz CAS

Pammie's Inky Pinkie

Pixie's Snippets

Scribbles Designs

Stempelsonnen

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter's Wild Rose

     I was walking through a field near where I live and ran across a wild rose bush with two hardy and determined blooms proclaiming their love of the rain we've had over the last 2 weeks in the midst of year five of the worst drought in recorded weather statistics.  I was so impressed by that rose bush, I came home and made this card, using a beautiful image from MHK Designs.

     Since December was my last month on that DT, it feels good to be using one of Mynn's lovely images again.  And this time, I get to play in the challenge over there instead of having done a DT card for it!   :-D

I started off with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

but I flipped it top to bottom.

     I used chalk markers to color the rose then cut it and the light pink frame, which is patterned dp,  with dies from Sue Wilson.  The lace is new, one of the goodies I found at the after Christmas sales.  The deep pink dp is also from MHK Designs, but after I printed it, I ran it back through the printer to print outline images of the same rose onto it.

     The feather was in my stash and I only remembered to add it because I had been cleaning and reorganizing my craft room and ran across the box of feathers I have on hand.  Do you ever "lose" things in all the supplies you have?  No, no, don't fib to me about it!  lol

     I plan to use this one as a birthday card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Chalk n Stock
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Jo's Scrap Shack
MHK Designs
Not Just Cards
Outlawz PAM
Paper Creator's Crafts
Petal Lu
Sweet Stampin'

     OK, wishing wild roses to all those of you who are buried under snow or who are trying to avoid the flooding on the West Coast.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie    

First Valentine

     I was inspired to get my first Valentine card made when I saw the Progressive Challenge freebie from Sasayaki Glitter (FB) this month.  Not that the image was intended for a Valentine but with the right sentiment (my own), it turned into one.

I started with the sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas.

      The image is colored with ProMarkers and the background sky is done with chalk.  Both the image and the sentiment are cut with dies from Spellbinders, which are actually dies for cutting leaves, not hearts, but I love using them as quirky hearts.  :-D

     The green strip was embossed with a folder from SU, and the blue strip was die cut with a stitched die from Die-Versions.  The leaves are done with a Cherry Lynn die and the flowers are punched and tiny beads are added.   All of those were made from little scraps lying on the desktop.

     I learned to do those little daisies by seeing some commercial ones at one of the craft shops which were a bit expensive given the relatively small number in the package.  So I looked around for some tiny beads and bought a value pack which had wooden seed beads as well as glass beads, brought them home, dug out my daisy punch and made about 200 of them over a short weekend.  They are now all in my stash for use when I need them.  I spent less for the beads (of which I still have many left over for use on other projects) than I would have spent for a package of 15 flowers!

     OK, with that delightful new image, I'm going to enter the following -

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Perfect Time to Craft
Card Mania
Connie Can  Crop
Country View
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Sentiments
Dies R Us
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Passion for ProMarkers
Through the Craft Room Door

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Shoveling Beats Shivering!

     I didn't grow up in a part of this country where it snows in the winter so spending the better part of two years in Anchorage, Alaska, came as a real shock to my system!  Eight months of winter every year made me shiver clear into the summer months.  Usually, along about January hubby would tell me that if I shoveled the driveway, it would stop the shivering and make me warm.  lol

     I was reminded of that when I saw the theme for our latest challenge over at QKR Stampede this week, "Warm Thoughts."   I knew I could use this darling image (Digi 9207, "Shoveling") and it would be a perfect reflection of that memory.

     I colored the image with my favorite ProMarkers and added his shadow on the snow by heat embossing with a VersaMark pen and gray-blue EP.   The die cut was made with one of my new dies from Spellbinders and I can already tell you that the dies in that set are going to get lots and lots of use.  I LOVE them!

     Once it was cut, I added the image piece to glittered light blue CS and layered that onto dark blue glittered CS.  Unfortunately, the glitter really doesn't show up in the photo.  I did the sentiment and then I decided that the intricacy of the frame was something I wanted to showcase, so all I added were a few glittery snowflakes and tiny blue stars.  Now it's a CAS design that doesn't really look too simple.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
House That Stamps Built
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Work It Weds.

     Come play with us this week.  We'd love to see your interpretation of "Warm Thoughts."  Will you do something that focuses on a fireplace or maybe dream of warm, tropical beaches?   Enter it into our challenge and inspire all of us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie    

Snake in a Barrel

     If you're one of those folks who hates snakes, WARNING!!!  But this is a friendly one, bringing a gift.  Don't let it scare you off.  :-D  It's a cutie which is new from Sasayaki Glitter.  I bought it the instant I saw it.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from STAMPlorations.  The background green CS was also cut with a die from that same set.  The ribbon is new, some I picked up the day after Christmas at the craft shop sales.  I had a wonderful time browsing shops that were new to me and found things for 70% or 75% off.  Even though I spent more than $50 that day on all sorts of bits, pieces, and embellishments, how can I complain at prices like that?

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Get Creative
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter
Simon Says Stamp
Whoopsi Daisy

     Much as I enjoyed the holidays and family celebrations, it feels good to be getting back into my routine.  Today is a day for being home and getting laundry done.  Of course, I want to be busy and productive during the time the loads are in the washer and dryer so what better excuse for cluttering up the craft desk while making some fun new cards?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Mama's Girls

    We're starting a new challenge at Ike'sworld Challenges and we have an "Anything Goes" theme to make these early January days easy for you.  I adore this polar bear family drawn by Ike!

The colors are perfect for the challenge at Great Impressions.

     I colored the image with my Pro-Markers and then cut it with a Double Running Stitch die by STAMPlorations.   I've had this set of dies for a while now and the die is actually a rectangle but I needed a square, so I cut the image once, then moved the die up and cut the bottom off to make a square,  I love inventing new ways to use my dies!  :-D

     The dp is digital paper and I simply can't remember what digi stamp company created it so if you recognize it, please leave me a comment and tell me.  I'd love to give proper credit.  It's old paper I printed out some time ago and had left over from another project.  It was the exact size I needed for the background on this card so I used it instead of throwing it away.

     The silver snowflake embellie was made by cutting 3 layers of CS with a brand new die from Spellbinders,   I used dimensional dots to separate the die cut layers and attach them to the card front.  The top layer is silver and white stripe CS, made sparkly with extremely fine glitter, and the other layers are plain white.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Brown Sugar
Classic DT Open
C.R.A.F.T.
Cute Card Thursday
Cut It Up
Glitter n Sparkle
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Time Out
Tuesday Throwdown
Unicorn

     As this post goes live, the Christmas and New Year holidays are officially over and behind us for another year.  For me, that means I will be back and into my usual routine making cards and posting more regularly than I did during December.  I hope Santa treated you well and that you had a warm and wonderful New Year.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy New Year and New Challenge at Crafts Galore Encore

     Happy New Year, all my friends and followers!

     It's the first day of 2017 and the first day of a new monthly challenge at Crafts Galore Encore.  Our theme is "Anything Goes" and our wonderful sponsor is Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle.  They generously supplied images for our DT to use.  I chose one of their wonderful Hat Ladies, "Isobel."    I wanted something simple and elegant and she really fit the bill.

     The image is heat embossed with navy blue EP and I used a blue gel pen to color in her necklace.  I used one of my ProMarkers on her lips and another for her eyes.  The background is colored with chalk.  I used a simple rectangle die to cut the image (Spellbinders.)

     I found a scrap of blue CS and ran it through my 'Linen' embossing folder, then added it behind the image piece.  The bow is a double color, double loop bow and I cut the tails on a diagonal.  The sentiment was printed and colored with a ProMarker.   I love the contrast of chilly blues and her warm fur coat.  Obviously, she just came in from the New Year winter cold!  :-D

     Challenges:

Chalk n Stock
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe
Crafty Friends

Crafty Gals Corner

Kraftin' Kimmie

Mod Squad

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

Sparkle n Sprinkle

Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope you had a safe New Year's Eve and can enjoy a laid back day of parades and football, happily gathered in the warmth of family and friends.  Come play in our challenge.  We'd love to be inspired by you!   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Snowman Couple

     Nobody could possibly be as much in love as these two darling snow people.  That image is from QKR Stampede (Digi 21202 Snowman Couple and the sentiment is Digi 15116 This Much.)  Our new challenge starts today and our theme is "Snowmen."

     I did the coloring with Shinhan Touch Twin markers and then used a die from Sue Wilson to cut the image.  I mounted that onto a die cut Pinpoint Rectangle (a new die from Memory Box - hooray!) and layered that onto another rectangle.  I printed and die cut the sentiment (Spellbinders Ovals) and added the hand-sewn bow and all the sparkly snowflakes for some embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Crafty Boots
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
MarkerPOP
One Stitch at a Time
Sweet Stampers
Words 2 Craft By
Work It Weds.

     I know you're all still in holiday mode but I hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Dig out your snowmen or visit the QKR store and grab one from there.  You aren't required to use one of our images but if you do, your entry goes into a special draw just for QKR users so your chances of winning are much greater..  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Christmas Stag

     I have to share this one last Christmas card with all of you even though we're finished with Christmas for this year.  I just ran out of time to get this one posted to my blog before all the hustle and bustle of the holidays took over and started me running from place to place.

I started by reversing sketch #97 from 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

     The image is colored with a combination of chalks and ProMarkers, but for the pops of reds I used my Copics.   I hand cut the image and layered it onto aspen bark dp and then layered all of that onto white CS.  It was interesting getting the aspen bark dp added since  I had only bits and pieces of it left over and I had to piece them together to make a border that didn't look pieced out of snippets.  :-D

      I added the red and green Christmas twine (metallic), fraying the ends, and then added the single white flower for embellishment.  The gem in the middle of the flower is red but looks black in the photo.  The flower is adhered on a Pop Dot for a bit of dimension on this otherwise flat, CAS card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cookie Challenge
Chalk n Stock
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Inky Chicks
Outlawz CAS
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pixie's Snippets
WordArt Weds.

     I'll have another pre-scheduled post on Friday and I hope you all had a warm and wonderful Christmas last weekend.  Be safe and sane this coming weekend, please -- no drinking and driving on the New Year holiday!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Merry "Dragon" Christmas

     I couldn't post this card until today because it's my first Granddaughter's Christmas card and she does check my blog now and then.  I just didn't want her to see it before today.  Since she adores dragons, this will thrill her to pieces.

Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers.

May the blessings of the season be yours.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

A Snowflakes Promise

Brown Sugar

Crafting by Designs

Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Extra

Di's Digi Designs

Holly Jolly Christmas

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Paper Shelter

{PIN}spirational

Through the Craft Room Door

Winter Wonderland

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

House Mouse Angels

     It wouldn't have been Christmas at our house without a House Mouse card or two and since I have a dear friend who adores angels, she got this one.

     I decided on a very CAS design since I had to mail this one.  Colored with a combo of ProMarkers, chalk, and white gel pen, I then cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed onto the card front before I added the image.  I used one small, burlap, bow for embellishment but it's pretty flat so it was still easy to get the card into the mailing envelope.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiRan
Brown Sugar
Crazy Challenge
Fussy and Fancy
House Mouse
Melonheadz Friends
Paper Nest Dolls

        I hope your Christmas is warm and wonderful and that you hold those feelings all through the upcoming year.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Santa Skiing

     Friday, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we have another challenge that starts today at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is "Santa" and we're all waiting to see him with his sleigh and reindeer.  However, I want you to know that there are secondary arrangements made just in case the reindeer get sick or refuse to fly on Christmas Eve.  Here's evidence that Santa is a master on the skis although he may be running late to those areas without snow for Christms!

     I used Digi 16702 Santa Skiing and Digi 8717 Merry Christmas; colored the image with my Copics (because they have the best reds of any of the alcohol markers) and then used a red CS frame, die cut with a die from Impression Obsession.  The frame is actually something I would normally have thrown away after cutting another very intricate piece, but I was working on more than one card that morning and, as I looked at the outer frame piece, I saw that it could be used to frame the Skiing Santa so I distressed the edges, layered it on top of the image and made a tiny curl on one corner.

     I added the two bits of sparkly twine, one red and one gold, and tied them together in the upper corner.  I added the hand-cut and matted sentiment, then left it very CAS so that it can be easily mailed.  It makes a great masculine card.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafty Calendar
Cutie Pie
Delicious Doodles
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
MarkerPOP
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pattie's Creations
Pile It On

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Penguin at Sasayaki Glitter Progressive Challenge

     I think this is the silliest/ cutest/ most adorable penguin I've seen this season and he's the image for the Progressive Challenge at Sasayaki Glitter.  Of course, his reindeer antlers just "make" him!  lol

     I used my ProMarkers and Copics to color the image, added some glitter to the snow and snowflakes, then die cut it with stitched dies from Die-namics.  The snowflake border was cut with a die from Tutti.  The light blue frame and the image are mounted on Pop Dots to give some dimension.  The bow is one of those I make by the dozens and toss into my stash for future use.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Die Cuttin Divas
Glitter 'N Sparkle
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Melonheadz Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Unicorn

     That's it for today.  Tomorrow I'll have my regular Friday post for QKR Stampede and I hope you'll come by.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie    

Penguin Pals

     Today starts our latest challenge on the Facebook page of Sheepski Designs and we'd love to see you play along.  The winner of last month's challenge will also be announced today so be sure to check.

     My inspiration card uses Andrea's darling "Penguin Pals" and they are a real joy to color.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The frame is part of the same die.  I mounted it on top of green CS and added the sentiment and the hand made bow.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Cutie Pie
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Through the Craft Room Door
Tuesday Morning Sketches

     I still have some other pre-scheduled posts between now and the end of the year.  Hope you'll stop by to see what they are.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Special Christmas Delivery

     Hello to all of you on a wonderful Friday morning!  There's a new challenge starting today over at QKR Stampede and our theme is "Christmas Cards."   I know most of you have been making Christmas cards at least this whole month, but for those of you who aren't yet finished, this is another opportunity.

     I actually combined two QKR images for this one, adjusting the sizes as needed; Digi 13812 "Special Delivery" and Digi 13714 "Christmas Mouse."

     I colored the elf with my ProMarkers and glitter (on the bell and the package ribbon.)   The mouse is a silhouette stamp so I only added a bit of red to the ribbon on his package.  The sentiment is my own, printed and cut with a flag die (Spellbinders.)  Again, I stayed with a very CAS design for this one and will no doubt use it as a masculine card since I have far more men on my Christmas card list than women.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
A Snowflakes Promise
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Crafty Calendar
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Glitter n Sparkle
Holly Jolly
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz PAM
{Pin}spirational
Robyn's Fetish
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Tuesday Throwdown
Whoopsi Daisy

     OK, as busy as you are, I hope you find some time to come play in our challenge.  Remember, you're not required to use an image from QKR Stampede, but if you do, you'll be put into a separate draw just for QKR users and that will increase your chances of winning tremendously!   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Joyeux Noel

     I think this is one of my favorite Christmas cards this season!  Talk about CAS and quick - I've done more than two dozen of them, all in various shades of red, green, and neutrals.

     The die cuts were done with dies from Die-versions. Although it's hard to see in the photo, the sentiment is glittered and sparkly.   All the die cuts were made from leftover scraps and snippets - a really good way to use up the scraps instead of just filling the trash can with them.  Sometimes you have to move and adjust them so that the die will fit but it's worth it. 

     I used Sakura Quickie Glue (in a pen) to adhere them to the card front.  Including the cutting, it took me less than 15 minutes to do the first one.  After that, I did all the cutting at once and then just set up the assembly line to get them all glued.  These are being donated to a Senior Center near me so that those folks will have cards to give to family and friends.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Come and Get It
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting When We Can
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Craft Your Passion
Glitter n Sparkle
One Stitch at a Time
Pile It On
Pixie's Snippets Playground
Robyn's Fetish
Word Art Weds.

     I'm going to be MIA most of the rest of the month, except for a few pre-scheduled posts for DT work.  So, I want to be sure to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Koala Christmas

     I fell in love with this darling little koala bear from Sasayaki Glitter, an image for their Progressive Challenge.  But are there really snowflakes in December anywhere in Australia?

     This was a really fast design to put together.  I colored the koala with ProMarkers and added a bit of sparkle to the snowflakes in the image with a glitter pen.  I die cut him with a die from Spellbinders.  I also cut the snowflake layers, added loose glitter to them and glued them together to make the snowflake embellie.

     The paper was a left over scrap from an earlier project and the ribbon was in my stash.   The sentiment reflects my questioning of snow in Australia in December.  Since I have a cousin who lives in Sydney, I think I'll check with him about that. :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Boots
Crafty Sentiments
Dragonfly Dreams
Melonheadz Friends
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter Blog
Unicorn

     That's it for today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Write Stuff

     Here we are on the 5th and final day of the December release over at MHK Designs and I do believe this one, "The Write Stuff" set, is my favorite of all the sets this month.  Of course, I probably felt that way about each of the sets as I was using them.  :-D  You can see a photo of the entire set at the bottom of this post.  There are so many images and sentiments!

     Here's the one I chose for my card.

     I wanted a totally masculine card this time since I'm going to be using it as a birthday card for a friend who has a Christmas birthday.  I like to make two cards for him each year so that his birthday doesn't just get lost in the holiday.

     I used pale blue chalks to color the hand and the background shading, then I cut it with a plain rectangle die (Spellbinders.)  The frame was a leftover from another die cut project (Bo Bunny) which I trimmed to fit the rectangle.  I added texture mesh and ribbon to the background, added the image and the sentiment, and then tied the bow.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
ArtbyMiRan
Brown Sugar
Chalk n Stock
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pencil Case

     I'm sad to say that this is the last new card I'll make for the MHK Designs DT.  My term is up at the end of the month and it's with a sad heart that I have chosen to leave the team.  I just need more down time for a while longer.  I've already warned Mynn that I plan to apply again for following term.  I'm sending Christmas Blessings to all the friends I made at MHK Designs and I'll still be around playing in the challenges each month.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Fanciful Feathers

     This is the fourth release from MHK Designs for December and it's called "Fanciful Feathers."  I've added a photo of the complete set at the bottom of this post.  I love the sentiments included in this set!

     Of course I had to use my favorite color combo, turquoise and purple.  I colored the feather with chalks and fussy cut it.  I mounted it with dimensional dots onto some lovely purple dp from the MHK Designs set of papers, "Easter Flowers."  The turquoise paper is from that same set.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, and everything is matted with purple CS.  The ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is one of those I make up by the dozens but it was white and I used a ProMarker to "dye" it.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
CCC Digi
Classic DT Open
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts and Me
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Not Just Cards
Petal Lu
Stempelsonnen

     Don't forget there's still almost a week to play in our November/December challenge, which runs through December 15, and which has a lovely inspiration photo.  There is no December/January challenge since Mynn is giving time off to the DT so they can celebrate the holidays with their families.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Have a Merry "Pink" Christmas

     It's Friday morning and a new challenge has begun at QKR Stampede.  This week, we want to see you do something Christmas but in "Non-traditional Christmas colors."  I chose the brightest pinks I could find!

     The image is a wonderful silhouette, Digi 15705, Sleigh and Reindeer and the sentiment is Digi 13806, Merry Christmas.  I printed both the image and sentiment together onto pink CS, and used a black ProMarker to ink the edges of the die cut rectangle.

     I layered the image piece onto bright pink, polka dot dp, and mounted that whole thing onto burgundy mulberry paper.  I found the snowflake and snowman buttons in my stash and added them, along with some pale pink fibers as the embellishments.

     Challenges:
Cookie Challenge
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Ribbons
Cute Card Thurs.
DL.ART Thankful Thurs.
In the Pink
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Southern Girls

    There will be one more post today to show you the 4th of the MHK Designs releases for December.  Be sure to stop by in another hour or so.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Image of the Month at Morgan's

     Friday morning starts the new challenge at Morgan's ArtWorld and I guess I'm the only one on the DT using the December Image of the Month.  I think he's an adorable penguin and he comes either pre-colored or simple outline!  :-D

     I decided to use somewhat vintage shades of the traditional Christmas colors since I've just done so many traditional Christmas cards this week.  I used my ProMarkers to color him and found a Cheery Lynn die to cut the red frame.  The polka dot paper was in my stash and I think it's from SU.  I added the 3 green candy canes for a bit of sparkly embellishment.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Animal Friends
Christmas Cards All Year Round
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments

     If you're in the mid- or western- US, this challenge posts at night on Thursday, but for the rest of the world, it's already Friday morning so jump out of bed and get something made for our challenge before it ends in 2 weeks.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Stitched Tea Party

     Here it is Day 3 of the December releases at MHK Designs and today we're featuring projects using images and sentiments from the "Stitched Tea Party" set.  I love this set!  So versatile and the sentiments are fun and friendly.  There's a photo of the set at the bottom of this post.

     To 'color' the image I used papers from the "Get Well Flowers Papers" set and from the "French Country" papers set.  Of all the digital papers at MHK Designs, these are two of my all time favorites.  I did add glitter to the center of the purple star flower and the little daisy on the teapot.

     I cut the image and the green mat with a Stitched Circle die (Memory Box) and layered them in an offset design.  The sentiment is also cut with a die from that set.  I added the five little rhinestone flowers for embellishment but beyond that, left it clean and simple for easy mailing.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Path of Positivity
Pile It On
Robyn's Fetish
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope you'll go by the MHK Designs blog for the list of designers and then go check out what they've created using this set.  I think they've done some really magnificents things and you'll get plenty of fabulous inspiration!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Down the Chimney

     One more card for the Holiday Chaos challenges, Day 4 at Catch the Bug.  The theme today is CAS = Clean As Snow.  :-D

     This card has clean snow (with white glitter on the snow and the star) and it's another of my CAS designs.  It has a colored image (ProMarkers) which was die cut (Bo Bunny), an embossed frame (also Bo Bunny), a thin strip of ribbon, and a handmade bow for embellishment.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
AAA Cards
Allsorts
Cut It Up (top row)
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Glitter 'n Sparkle
Stella Says Sketch
Sweet Stampin'
Take It, Make It
Winter Wonderland

     Here's another Bugaboo card and this one is done for the Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos, Day 5 - "Humor."

I started with the sketch from Outlawz.

     I dearly love all the Crab Cat images and this one isn't actually intended to be a Christmas image but I was pretty sure it would work as one with that sentiment I made up and with traditional red and green colors. 

     He's colored with ProMarkers, and die cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The doily is also a Cheery Lynn die cut.  The twine has been in my Christmas stash for nearly 3 years and I decided it was time to use some of it.  

     Challenges:

Cheery Lynn

Crafting by Designs

Creative Inspirations

Inky Chicks

Kraftin' Kimmie

Work It Weds.

      I hope you're not tired of double post days yet.  I still have at least one more day of 2 posts.  Does it help that I've been alternating between holiday and non-holiday cards?  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Old World Santa for Holiday Chaos Day 1

     I said they were being posted out of order but this is my card for the Holiday Chaos Day 1 challenge at Catch the Bug, "All that Sparkles."  I've already shared the card for Day 2.

     I used one of the sweet 'Old World Santas' from Bugaboo Stamps for this really CAS card.  I printed the santa and the sentiment onto the same piece of scrap CS, then I colored it with ProMarkers, colored pencils, and lots of glitter on the tree and fur on Santa's coat.  Pretty simple with just three colors; red, green, and white.  I cut it into a simple rectangle, added ribbon, and put it on the front of a red card base.

     I found two, glittery candy canes in my stash and used those for embellishment.  I told you it was a really CAS design, one of my favorite techniques.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Christmas Cards
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Creative Inspirations
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Polkadoodles

     I won't be able to do Day 3 but with any luck I might be able to squeeze in the ones for Day 4 and Day 5.  Keeping my fingers crossed.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie    

Realistic Roses

     This post features the "Realistic Roses" set from the second of the December releases at MHK Designs.  I love these roses!  I've added a photo of the complete set at the bottom of this post.

     The sentiment and the roses are printed together and I colored this one with my ProMarkers and with gel ink pens for the highlights.  You'll notice that I flipped the image before I cut it with a simple rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The framing die cut is a piece left over from another project and the die set is called "Enchanted Forest" by Cheery Lynn.  It was such a perfect fit!

     The papers are from the "French Country" and the "Get Well Flowers Paper," both of which are from MHK Designs.  The flower embellie layers were cut from inked watercolor paper, run through an embossing folder, then sprayed with water so they would curl.  After they dried completely, I layered them together and added gem brads to hold them.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts and Me
Crafty Awesomeness
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Craft Your Passion
Digistamps 4 Joy
Petal Lu
Stempelsonnen
Sunsational Stamps

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Catch the Bug Day 2 Holiday Chaos

     I love Bugaboo Stamps and love playing in their week-long celebrations which they do in July and again in December.   I know I'm doing these a little bit out of order but I'm not going to be able to play in each of the 7 days of their Catch the Bug Holiday Chaos challenges anyway so I don't know that it really matters what gets posted on which day.  This card follows their sketch challenge for Day 2.

     Colored with Copics and ProMarkers, then cut with a stitched circle die from Memory Box.  The Stitched Scalloped die is by Die-namics.  The scalloped border (both top and bottom of the dp) was cut with a die from Cheery Lynn.  I added the sentiment and two silver snowflakes for embellishment.

     Challenges:
CAS-ual Fridays
Crafty Boots
Crazy Challenge
Dream Valley
Melonheadz Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Whoopsi Daisy

     Another day with more than one post and tomorrow, I'll have 2 also.  Enjoy the extras.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie