Lilacs for You

     I'm really on a kick of using some of my sprites from AuroraWings and here's my second one in a week.  This image is the Lilac Sprite.  I remember the beautiful lilacs I had at my house before I moved.  I spent several years tending them and training them to grow up over the railing on the second-story deck I had.  Each year that they bloomed, they'd hang down over the drive which ran underneath the deck.  Oh, they were so marvelous in the late spring and early summer!  Their scent filled the air.

     I colored with ProMarkers, and cut her with a die from Spellbinders.  The delicate, lacy frame is also cut with a Spellbinders die.  I had that gingham paper left on my craft desk from doing another project a couple of days ago and decided to use it up instead of tossing it out.

     I tied a 'bowtie' bow from a bit of white lace, then "dyed" it with one of my ProMarkers.  I made that the only embellishment because I really wanted the image and the frame to be the central focus on this card.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
AuroraWings
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cutie Pie
Di's Digi Designs
Fussy and Fancy
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp

     That's all I have for today except to say that we're halfway through the week.  It's been Easter break here in my neighborhood, with all the kids out of school.  They don't go back until Tuesday and they all get to celebrate Easter before then.  Thanks for visiting, and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Prince Charming must be Lost

     When the Outlawz sketch came out last Wednesday, I knew right away I wanted to use it on one of my projects.  I just had to decide what and how.  Then, as I was scrolling through my TLC collection, I found this delightfully funny sentiment and knew exactly how I wanted to put together a card.  And you thought Prince Charming was a myth!  lol

Here's the sketch from Outlawz.

     I started with the paper scraps which were on my crafting table, cutting and trimming them to the sizes I wanted, keeping the sketch in mind.  While I took a couple of liberties, I stayed pretty close to the original this time.  I inked the edges of each piece with a purple ProMarker, setting them off from the lavender and red violet colors.

     I printed out the sentiment image and cut it with a Gina Marie die, then inked the edges of that piece.  I began layering everything together and decided to put them onto an embossed piece of white CS.  I had used my "Linen" embossing folder on several pieces of CS and one of them was still on the desk so I used it.

     I dug out my Nuvo Crystal Drops and added three tiny dots of it to the bottom corner of the gingham check dp.  That was it - almost CAS with all the open space, except for the patterns in the dp.  Still, it's very flat and will mail easily.
   
     Challenges:
Create with TLC
Creative Moments
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Incy Wincy
Paper Girls
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Unicorn

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Goin' for a Ride?

     I remember one of my favorite animals from childhood was a white, toy terrier who had the blackest nose and a black blotch on his otherwise white back.  His name was Buster and more than anything, he loved to ride in cars.

     My dad had his own business building custom furniture and kitchen cabinets so he was able to take Buster with him nearly everywhere he went.  Buster was well known at the local hardware store, at the lumber yard, and even at the fire department which was located 1/2 a block from the hardware store.  All the firemen spoiled him by giving him treats any time they saw him.  Usually, once he had greeted everyone at the hardware store, he made a beeline straight for the fire station.  :-D

     This fun pup, which is the image for the new Progressive Challenge at Ike's Art FB site, reminded me of Buster (although Buster's black blotch was up closer to his shoulder) and that partially accounts for the way I colored this pup.  Based on that coloring, I decided to do a black-and-white, mono card.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the dog.  I layered him onto a black die cut (Spellbinders) which was in my scrap stash.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack called "Midnight Chic."

     I found that black and white ribbon in my stash of Crafty Ribbons stock.  The final touch was the polka dot, bow-tie bow that I tied using my bow maker.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment in honor of Buster who had to go for a  ride at least once every day!  :-D

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Send a Smile 4 Kids
TTCRD

     So glad you came by for a visit today, however brief it might be.  Enjoy a browse around if you have time and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Boot Full of Flowers

     I'm so excited about today's card.  I made it because I was invited to be a Guest Designer at Pixie's Crafty Workshop, better known as "The Playground."  Each challenge runs for two weeks and we're already one week into the current challenge so this card serves as the half-way reminder.  Themes are always Anything Goes but there is a requirement that you use 'snippets' - you know, those bits and pieces of scrap that we feel so good about using up instead of tossing them into the trash.

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps, printed onto a scrap of white CS, and colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.   I used a Sue Wilson die to cut it.

     The striped dp is from Stampin' Up and it, too, was a scrap.  I trimmed it into a rectangle, then used a Memory Box die to cut the scallops.  The die is actually a circle but because the paper was a scrap, that's the shape which resulted from cutting a narrow rectangle with a circle die.  I rather like it!  :-D

     The yellow dp on the upper part of the card is another scrap and I trimmed it to fit the width of the card.  I cut the double butterfly with another die, this one from Presscut, and the paper was double sided so I got two layers for the butterfly even though the paper was nothing more than a very tiny scrap.  I layered them together and added three tiny pearls which were left over from another project.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Fingers
DL.ART
Dream Valley
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Path of Positivity

     Check out The Playground this weekend and then come play along.  Dig out some of those left over snippets and join us.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Rambling Rose

     This lovely little sprite from AuroraWings caught my attention when I was at their store choosing images from my win in last month's challenge.  :-D  She's called Wild Rose Sprite but I colored her in peachy gold colors to look like the rambling roses my mom cultivated along the back porch arbor when I was growing up.  That's my absolute favorite color for roses to this day!

I started by using the sketch from Viva la Verve

but I flipped it side to side so that it's reversed

and lengthened the horizontal to better fit the

shape of my image.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with one of my Spellbinders dies.  I inked the edges with black ProMarker.   I started digging through my scrap basket and found that beautiful paper which mirrored the colors I had used in the image.  What is odd about it is that I simply don't remember ever having seen that paper before!  It was the only scrap like it and I did a quick look-through of my paper stacks but nothing like it exists in my stash.  Hmmm, oh well, call it a lucky find or a miracle, I love how it "made" this card !

     The black strip is fabric ribbon that came in a card kit but I didn't use it for either of those projects so it was waiting for me when I wanted something out of the ordinary for this one.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then sewed together the tiny, pink bow with the pearl.  It looks bright pink in the photo but is actually a perfect match for the pink card base, visible around the edges of the card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments (dp/digi/fav color)
Colour Crazy
Crafty Catz
DL.ART
Fussy and Fancy
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Southern Girls

     Thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Egg Delivery

     Two Easter cards within a few hours of each other!  Well, I did warn you last weekend that I was behind on getting Easter cards finished so I've been playing catch up.   This one I did as my DT card for the QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" challenge which starts this morning.

     Bunnies at Easter time have always been my favorites, despite all the cute little chicks and ducklings.   When I was a child, bunnies were more fun because they would sit quietly in one's lap and let you stroke their soft fur while chicks and ducklings wanted to jump down and scramble around looking for bugs or seeds or something-or-other.  The idea of a bunny hiding eggs was a delightful and somewhat unexpected fantasy since bunnies don't lay eggs.  :-D

     On this card, I combined two different images from one of our sister companies, Eureka Stamps; "Bunch of Bunnies" and "Bunch of Eggs."  Remember, even though I give you links to the digi stamps, nearly all the QKR and Eureka stamps come in rubber as well.  These two do.

     I kept this one as CAS as I could.  I colored using ProMarkers, then cut the Bunch of Bunnies with an oval die from Spellbinders, and embossed around the edge.  I fussy cut the Bunch of Eggs, then arranged the images one above the other so that the bunnies were looking down at the eggs.

     I printed and hand-cut the sentiment and put it below the images.  I found one of my Fiskars corner punches and used it on the lower corners.  Finally, I found sheer, burgundy ribbon to wrap and tie around the top of the card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments (ribbon/stamp/die cut)
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting with an Attitude
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
SumMore Fun
Take It, Make It
   
     Have a fantastic first day of your weekend (or last day of your work week) and enjoy some wonderful "me" time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hoppy Bunnies

     I'm sure every child believes that an Easter celebration must be filled with hopping bunnies so I'm doing my best to give them that. 
:-D

I started with the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

but I had to eliminate the half-circle 

because I just couldn't get it to work.

I used the purple crocuses instead.

     That darling image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with my polychromos pencils and ProMarkers.  I cut the image with a die from Sue Wilson and then cut the backing for it with another die from that same set.

     I had already decided that I wanted to do a monochromatic theme so I chose my favorite color, purple.  The background CS is hand bleached with a Q-tip, a long process but I take an entire weekend to do several sheets of different colors all at once and then keep them for future use.

     I added lilac ribbon to the white lace and wrapped it around the card front before adding the image and sentiment.  I tied a tiny bow using purple baker's twine and then added the flower embellies, plus pearl gems at the top of the image.  The flowers are sparkly with glitter for a tiny bit more bling.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Angie's Digital Stamps
Catch the Bug (gems/mono/twine)
Crafter's Castle
Crafting from the Heart
Hiding in My Craft Room (top row & middle column)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Check back in a few more hours when the QKR Stampede challenge will go live (midnight Eastern time or 3:00 a.m. Pacific time) and you'll see the DT card I did for this week.  In the meantime, those of you on the other side of the world who are awake when I'm sleeping, good morning to all of you and thanks for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

B is for Butterfly

     I found a different challenge the other day and made this card from their inspiration 'wheel.'  It's Called Butterfly Challenge and each time they choose as letter from the alphabet and give three color options and three theme options, and you can choose any one color and one theme to combine plus you must use a butterfly.

     I did this card using all the colors and themes: lavender, lemon, & light blue plus lace, layers & letters.  What do you think?

     The quilt die is from Gina Marie and I used it to cut scrap paper from my stash plus light/medium blue and lavender CS.  I used the light blue as the 'frame' then inset the blue and lavender CS pieces.  I filled the remaining spots with the flowery dp.

     I layered white lace onto lemon yellow CS, then added the quilt piece on top.  I printed the sentiment and hand cut it, layering it onto a banner flag.  The final touch was the embroidered butterfly, done in lemon yellow.  It was quite a challenge getting all 7 items but it felt good when I finished and I really love the result.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
Double D
House that Stamps Built
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty
WordArt Weds.

      I hope you enjoyed my project for today and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cuddles

     I've been coloring House Mouse stamps for the last couple of days and am now in the process of turning them into cards.  This one with the bunny and mouse is one of my favorites.

     I colored this one with ProMarkers and gel inks, then fussy cut it and inked the edges with a ProMarker.  The background frame was cut from a scrap bit of dp with a Spellbinders 'Romantic Rose' die.  I dug through my stash of ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon and wrapped the card front with that lovely, flowered ribbon.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added one of my hand-sewn bows, this time leaving it white instead of dying it to match one of the colors on the card.

     Again, I've used one of my favorite techniques - making a rather CAS card look much more complex by using an intricate die cut.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania
Dream Valley
Everybody Art
House Mouse
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sugar Pea Designs

     My goodness, we're halfway through the work week already!  How did that happen so quickly?  Where did all my crafting time go this week?  Sigh...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Missing You

     This little pixie from Sasayaki Glitter (for their Progressive Challenge on FB) is called "Missing You" and that facial expression seems to say it all.  :-)

     I started with the Weds. sketch from The Outlawz

but didn't use an oval shape for my image.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychrome pencils, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I added some sparkle get ink to the wings and, IRL, it shines like crazy!  Both of the papers are scraps left over from another project and came from stacks by DCWV.  I layered everything onto a golden yellow CS base to pick up some of the tones in the pixie's hair.

     I found a tail end bit of twine in my stash and it was perfect for wrapping around the card front.  The butterfly is another of those cut from a scrap of stiff, taffeta, fabric.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Catz
Cut It Up
Cuttlebug Mania
Lemon Shortbread
Pixie's Snippets
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hugs for Easter

     I've fallen behind on getting Easter cards done for my grandkids (most of whom are of an age not to really mind) and being sick for the last week didn't help but I did get a couple done this weekend.

    Let me share the Easter card most recently completed.

     The image is from House Mouse and I used two different polychromos pencils on the individual hairs of the fur and did the rest with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and the pink frame with stitched dies from Memory Box.  The purple frame was cut with a die from Sizzix and then I layered all the die cuts together,

     The dp rectangle was cut with a die from QuicKutz and was just a scrap I found in my stash. I think it may have been a paper from DCWV originally.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.  I used one of my hand sewn bows, dyed pink with a ProMarker, and to which I added a button and some twine.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
CRAFT
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Hiding in My Craft Room (top row)
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Tuesday Throwdown

     I have another card with a House Mouse image ready to go but you'll see it later this week.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Chick

     This darling little chick from Limited Runs is the image for their Progressive Challenge on FB.  Although it isn't necessarily intended to be an Easter image, I thought it would make a really cute Easter card.

     I colored with my ProMarkers, and use a stitched die from CUTplorations.  I matted that by cutting some glittered CS (with great texture!) with a die from Gina Marie.  That piece went onto a turquoise card base, then I added white ribbon and the shiny butterfly, die cut (Cottage Cutz) from stiff taffeta fabric.  It's 3D and adds more great texture.  Rather CAS but easily mailed without bulk or extra postage.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
House that Stamps Built (center column)
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters
WordArt Weds.

     Halfway through the weekend and I think I can say that the flu is now on the run; I've survived it or beaten it, whichever.  :-D  I have lots of catching up to do before the month runs out so I'm heading back into the craft room.m  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flower Fairy

     Some of you know that I've been down with the flu for several days but, for the rest of you, let me start by sending apologies to all the favorite blogs which I follow because I haven't been around to visit or comment and, truthfully, there are so many posts, I'll never catch up on the commenting.  My plan is to visit and absorb but I may not be able to leave individual comments.

     I managed to get this card done for posting and today is the first day I've felt up to spending any amount of time at the computer, at least enough to check email and write up a post.  I did this card for a birthday.

      I colored that darling fairy image (A Day for Daisies) with ProMarkers and cut it and the other two mats with dies from QuicKutz.  I used scraps of dp for the pink and blue mats.  The purple striped dp was also a scrap but it was just the perfect size for an A2 card. 

     I wrapped the card front with sheer ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and added a rose and rose bud.  The purple leaves were cut with my favorite Cheery Lynn die.   Finally, I printed the sentiment and cut it with a QuicKutz die, then added it to the card front.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments (1st and 3rd columns)
Colour Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Cute Card Thursday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
Time Out

     That's it for today.  I'm off to spend my birthday with a granddaughter or two.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

My Heart is Irish

     Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and tomorrow is also the day I turn another year older, which is really fun since my family roots on both sides reach all the way back to Ireland.  I hear you asking, "Does she really mean being another year older is FUN?"  Absolutely!  Hey, getting older beats the alternative and I'd lots rather be over the hill than under it.  :-D

     Over at QKR Stampede, we have another "Anything Goes" challenge starting today and I'm celebrating St. Paddy's a day early with this adorable image, "Bouquet 13301."

     This is another of those images which really has nothing to do with St. Patrick but I colored it so that it looks like it was meant to be a specific holiday image.  I colored the 'flowers' as if they were shamrocks or 4 leaf clovers and that really cemented the illusion.

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

but I turned it a quarter turn so that the ribbon stripe

was vertical on a square card.

     This is a pretty simple design but I did have fun putting it all together.  I colored the bear with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils.  I cut the image and the white, stitched frame with dies from Die-namics.  Then I found the golden CS and cut it to the size of the card front, and ran it through my 'Linen" embossing folder.  Next, I used one of the Die-namics dies to cut a stitched 'window' in it and then I inlaid the image and frame pieces.  Instead of having layers, it's actually all in a single layer.

     I added glittered washi tape as though it was ribbon and made one of my tiny, hand-sewn bows.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and added it under the image.

     Challenges:
Creates and Makes
Cuttlebug Mania
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Lemon Shortbread
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
Sparkles

     The weekend is nearly upon us and I hope you have plans which will bring you great pleasure, even if it's just to lie like a veggie on the couch!  :-D  If you have time, make a card and come pay with us at QKR Stampede.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Roses

     I have the most exciting announcement - I was selected to join the DT at World Wide DT Open !!  As I type up this blog post, it dawns on me that I need to calculate the time difference between California, in the USA and Sydney, in AU.  My apologies to my teamies for being so late getting this post up and live.  I'll be on time next month, I promise.

     Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but you must be a member of a Design Team somewhere or a member of the Julia Spiri FB group in order to enter.  We are sponsored by Julia Spiri and that means we get to use the fabulous images she supplies to us.  Anyone cans be a winner but if you also use one of her images, you qualify to be one of our "Spotlight Winners."  I started by using "The Victorian Hat."

     I printed the image and the sentiment directly onto the card front since I knew I wanted a fairly CAS card design.  I used my favorite purple and lavender ProMarkers to color this image, adding skin tones and hair color ProMarkers as well.

     For a touch of vintage, I found some lovely lace, added a violet ribbon behind it, and wrapped it around a bit of CS before adding it to the card front.  I tied one of my bow-tie bows, using lavender satin ribbon.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It

     I hope you'll come and join our challenge this month.  It's open for entries from the 15th of each month until the 13th of the following month, but remember those are Sydney, NSW, Australia times.  See you soon.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friendship

     The biggest difference between family and friends is that we get to choose our friends!  And the best friends are the ones who support and encourage us as we strive to meet our goals.  I love this image from Sasayaki Glitter which gives a whole different slant to the word "support!"

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then fussy cut it with a craft knife.  I haven't cut with a craft knife in so long that I'd almost forgotten how to do it but I persisted and it turned out fine.

     I dug through my scrap stash, found the fancy die cut oval (Spellbinders), and decided that it made a perfect background for the kittens.  I mounted them onto dimensional dots and then added it to the oval.

     I put that piece onto confetti CS, added the printed sentiment, and called it finished!  Another of my CAS cards good for a guy or a gal.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creates and Makes
Cupcake Inspirations
Cutie Pie
Digi Choosday
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Top o' the Mornin'

     For all my good intentions of working on things for an upcoming yard sale, I got hit with a flu bug and have spent most of the last 48 hours either in bed or hugging the porcelain throne!   However, I had this card made and thought I had pre-scheduled the post but when I dragged myself out of bed to link it up to the various challenges, I discovered I hadn't even written the post.  Arrrg! 

     The image is from Rick St. Dennis and is one of most most delightful of my "leprechaun" images.  I know I haven't used it before even though I've had it a while.

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

but I turned it a quarter turn and

 then flipped it side to side.

     I colored him with my ProMarkers, then cut him with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I cut the frame with another die in that same set, using a scrap of dp from the leftovers basket.  The striped background paper was also a scrap.

     I used glittered washi tape to make the gold stripes and added on of my hand-sewn bows with a tiny pearl.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and layered it onto the image piece so that it went out-of-the-box.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Crafts Galore Encore
Cards in Envy
Createful Heart
Die Cuttin' Divas
DL.ART
Morgan's ArtWorld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pattie's Creations
Scribbles Designs
Star Stampz
Sum More Fun

     OK, I've taken more than 2 hours to type up this post but it was punctuated with more than a few ache-y muscles and a wave or two of nausea, so I'm going to crawl back in bed and see if the world will just go away for a while.  If I'm MIA for a couple of days, you'll know why.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hug a Ladybug

     Yesterday we got up to 73F and I thought for sure spring was actually here.  Then, by bedtime, thick clouds rolled in and we're sure to have a storm tonight or tomorrow.  Oh, well, maybe it'll be a spring shower.  :-D  In either case, I know that when the ladybugs arrive, spring is here for sure.

I decided to use colors from the challenge at The Outlawz.

    This adorable image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I colored it with ProMarkers.  I cut the image and all three dp pieces with dies from Lawn Fawn (Large Stitched Squares.)  The 3 dp pieces (DCWV) were in my scrap basket and I cut each of the scraps as large as I could, wasting as little as possible. 

     The stitching part got a bit lost in the pattern of the dp so I highlighted the stitches with sparkly, white gel ink, although in the photo it looks mostly white.  The sparkle just didn't photograph. 

     I played a bit with how to arrange all the pieces but settled on what you see here.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then tied a tiny bow and 'dyed' it pink with a marker.  I added one sequin and a teensy drop of Liquid Pearls for a little touch of bling.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lawn Fawnatics
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Well, this weekend I have to turn my attention to getting things ready for a garage sale in a couple of weeks so I'm not  sure exactly how much crafting I'll get done.  I have a couple of things planned but they are for DT commitments and you won't see them this week.  In the meantime, Happy Crafting. NanaConnie     

Welcome Home

     I'm really into birdhouses this week but I'm still trying to convince Mother Nature that it's time for Spring.  :-D  We start a new challenge today at QKR Stampede and our theme is always Anything Goes.  This sweet little image came from QKR and is called "Birdhouse and Vines."

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut it with a Bo Bunny die.  The dark green frame is also a Bo Bunny cut.  The background paper is embossed with a Swiss Dots folder but I had added embossing ink to the dot side before I ran the folder through the Cuttlebug.  When it came out, I sprinkled it with glittery EP and heat embossed it.  It had to be trimmed to the size I wanted and I mounted the image pieces onto it.  This is a new technique for me and I'm going to be doing more of it.

     I printed the sentiment and mounted it onto a scrap of the embossed paper.  Finally, I added bakers' twine and the die cut, burlap, butterfly.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper Crafty
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty

     Come play along with us this week, won't you?  We love being inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Great Adventures in Reading

     I grew up in a family which treasured reading and one of my great pleasures was reading in bed before lights out.  I can remember asking about going to bed early so that I could read longer.  There were great adventures in those pages!

     However, when I look at this image from Sasayaki Glitter (for their Progressive Challenge) I think there may be Great Adventures in store for her FROM her avid reading.  lol

     I started  by coloring with ProMarkers, then cut the image with one of my Gina Marie dies.  I've used this die set quite a bit recently but it's so versatile and has 3 perfect sizes.  I knew I wanted the card to be completely CAS so I used one of my favorite techniques - die cut and let the die cut be the focus.

     I found a sky blue card base, printed the sentiment, and added both the image piece and the sentiment, then left it alone!

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafter's Castle
Crafting from the Heart
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz CAS
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Butterfly Spring

     I keep running across images I'd forgotten or just haven't used in my collection of Ching-Chou Kuik images and this one just seemed to shout "Spring!"

     I colored this magnificent image with my ProMarkers and cut it with a border die from Spellbinders.  The border is also embossed.  I was so intrigued with all the circles along that border that I decided to duplicate by cutting two borders more from green and lavender CS, then adding them as layers on the card front.  The card base itself is the gold.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges, and added it to the top of the image piece.  I found the burlap butterfly in my stash of die cut embellies and added it.  I felt like that was enough.  I didn't want to take away from that image.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Card Mania
CCC Digi Creations
Dies R Us
Do Al(l) Creatives
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On

     OK, I have to go color another Ching-Chou Kuik image which I found in the collection.  I just couldn't decide between the two of them so prepared both of them for coloring and started with the one on top of the pile.  Now I need to get to the second one.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Be Irish

     St. Patrick's Day in America is the one day each year when everyone wants to be Irish (or at least join in the parties which flourish.)  I have the honor of actually having an Irish heritage along with celebrating my birthday each March 17th.  Life is good! :-D

     When I saw this darling March Hedgie with his shamrocks from Bugaboo Stamps, I grabbed it right away. 

I used the sketch from Stella Says Sketch.

        I started by coloring the image with my ProMarkers , then I cut it with an octagon die from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges with a ProMarker.  I dug through my stash of green papers until I found that gorgeous plaid.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the perfect paper for a monochromatic, green, St. Patrick's card.  I checked my basket of scraps and found the striped paper which went across the middle.

     I printed, hand cut, and inked the sentiment before applying it.  The final touch was the quadruple loop bow which I made using my bow maker. 

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Catch the Bug
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Animals
Crafty Awesomeness Bugaboo
Crafty Creations
Cuttlebug Mania
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz PAM

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Welcome Home

     I had so much fun with this card !  I started with a pre-colored image from Beccy's Place which best matched the optional colors from their challenge this month.  I also used a sketch which I found at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

  

     I used an oval die from QuicKutz to cut the image, then inked the edges with a ProMarker.  The patterned background paper is from one of my DCWV stacks, but since it was a scrap, I have no idea which one.  I matted it with pistachio green paper.  

     The three strips were cut from textured 'leather' CS and backed with stone-washed denim.  All of those were also scraps.  I added baker's twine and a die cut flower.  I colored the flower with ProMarkers, then added glitter for a bit of sparkle.  The center is a peach colored, Liquid Pearls drop.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More

Aud Sentiments

Brown Sugar

Crafty Friends

House that Stamps Built

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

      The weekend is over, Monday has arrived, and those of you not already retired have started your work week routine.  I envy you - not at all !  :-D  Happy Crafting.   NanaConnie

Kickin' Back Fishing Day

     While everyone else in the world was counting crocus buds as the first sign of spring, my dad always said that spring had arrived when you could grab a pole and sneak away for an afternoon of lazy fishing without freezing from sitting still.  :-D  Here's a salute to spring and my dad.

     The image is from Anne Fenton at Anne's Digital Art and is the freebie this month for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  While the die is a rectangle, it wasn't narrow enough for what I wanted so I cut twice, moving the die to narrow the original cut.

     The "quilting" is cut with a Gina Marie die, cutting two different papers and inlaying them to get the quilt look.  I printed the sentiment, matted it, and added it across the quilting.

     I used three metallic chevrons on each side.  (Secret - but don't tell anyone - those are metallic, self-stick, photo corners!  I don't mount photos anymore but I have a ton of those still in my stash and they make great embellishments for guy cards.)

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Crafter's Castle
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Friends
Dies R Us
Digistamps4Joy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Joy Clair
Sunsational Stamps

     Thanks for visiting and I hope you're having a fantastic weekend!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

When the Cat Naps...

     Cats nap about 19 hours out of every 24.  Remember that old saying "When the cat's away, the mice will play" ??  Well, what about when cats nap?  Do the mice get to play then, too?

     Check out this darling image by Gerda Steiner Designs and I think you'll find an answer hiding in the corner of the book shelf, although you may have to enlarge the photo to see it.  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, and then cut it with a stitched, rectangle die from Die-namics.  I cut the two frames with dies from that same set, making the card look like it has 4 layers.  However, the image and both frames are all inset so it's actually a single layer.  I love doing single layer designs because the cards are easier to mail and require no extra postage but I like the look of complex layers so inlaid die cuts is a fabulous solution.

     I added only tiny pearls and metal brads for embellishment so it's pretty CAS as well as flat and light weight.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Where is Spring?

     Happy Friday and we have another new challenge starting at QKR Stampede today.   Our themes are always "Anything Goes" and you can use any kind of image you like.  However, if you use an image from QKR, your entry is put into a special draw only for QKR (or Eureka Stamps - our sister company) and that increases your chances of winning by a lot.  :-D

     I picked a fun image called "Ant Hill" and turned it into a 'wishing for spring' card.  The expression on that ant's face looks like he missed out on the groundhog saying there would be six more weeks of winter.  lol

     The coloring was done using ProMarkers and gel ink, then I cut the image and the circle frame with stitched dies from Die-Namics.  The embossed background paper is from Doodlebug Designs.  The ribbon is layered onto gray washi tape and adhered across the top of the card.  I added two sets of 3 pearls to each end of the ribbon.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment and added one tiny pearl to it, too.  I wanted to keep the design fairly CAS because it's going to a guy who's back east in the midst of a miserably cold and nasty winter storm.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
House that Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz CAS
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     That's it for today.  Hope to see you playing along with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bloom Where You're Planted

     It's the 1st of March and we're starting a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter" and that means anything 4 legged, 2 legged, 6 or 8 (or more) legged; animal, bug, fish, bird, whether real or fantasy, as long as it's some kind of creature and you feature it on your project, it's eligible.

     Our sponsor this month is Limited Runs and they have such a wide range of fun and funny images.  Check them out.

     I'm celebrating spring and I fell in love with this cute little bird, gardening in a pot.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and colored pencils.  I used dies from Sizzix to cut the image and the dp frame.  I used glittered washi tape as though it was ribbon and added a tiny, hand-sewn, sheer ribbon bow, then adhered the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Allsorts (bird, bloom)
Colour Crazy
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Friends
Cut It Up
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pile It On
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp & Show

     Remember, our challenge runs all month but it now closes on the 25th of each month.  That gives time for the DT to each choose their favorite entry for the month and we publish all of those on the 1st of the following month, along with the random winner, and the new challenge.  Hope to see you playing along with us. And Thank You, Limited Runs, for sponsoring us.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie