Under the Sea

     OK, now that I have all those who read the post title humming that song in their heads...  :-D   This sweet mermaid image is from Lemon Shortbread and this is one of the images I chose when I was a winner at one of their recent challenges.  Of course, I also went on a shopping spree so maybe this is one I bought - I don't actually remember.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter ink to the bubbles, then cut both the image and the dp frame with Wonky Square dies from Spellbinders.  Instead of lining up the frame exactly with the image, I turned the frame a quarter turn which seemed to accent the 'wonkiness' of the die cuts.  I also cut the printed sentiment with the smallest wonky die but this time I had to do it in two cuts, moving the die before the second cut to fit the size of the sentiment.

     I used a scrap of mesh 'ribbon' and I think it added to the ocean theme.  I found the seahorse charm in my stash and used it as the primary embellishment.  I wanted the design to be as CAS as possible so that the image would be showcased.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty!
Work It Weds.

     That's all I have for today but it's good to be back into my normal routine.  I'll be catching up on all my missed visits and comments so bear with me.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Break

     I don't know about your family but summer break from school always meant splashing in the creek, catching pollywogs, toads and frogs, and maybe a little baseball for the sons or grandsons.  This adorable little guy from Bugaboo Stamps made me think of those lazy summer days.

     Believe it or not, I dug out the papers and the ribbon before I ever started coloring the image.  I already knew I wanted to do something 'distressed' so I chose the two distressed papers and die cut the flower petals from soft foam (Cheery Lynn), THEN I started coloring with my ProMarkers.  I so rarely remember to choose my papers first and, in this case, because I chose very neutral papers, it made no difference in the coloring.

     However, the ribbon inspired me to use the various shades of blue in coloring the image.  Once finished, I cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, and I used a craft knife to distress the edges.  I did the same with the first paper but left the background paper as it was.  I punched one corner of each of the papers plus one on the image, using a Fiskars corner punch.

     The dragonflies were done with a die from Die-Versions.  I printed and matted the sentiment, cutting both by hand, then added the two layers of flower petals with a pearl in their center.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Catch the Bug (middle row)
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Kitty

     This kitty image from Pink Gem just stole my heart and I turned him into a birthday card.

     I started with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds,

turned a quarter turn to better fit the image shape.

     I use ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with stitched border dies from Spellbinders.  The dp are scrap pieces from the basket and the card base is textured CS.

     I found sheer ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the card front.  I decided to make a flower out of two layers of petals, then glittered the top petals.  I added one pearl to the flower embellie and complemented that with pearls in the centers of the flowers in the image. 

     The sentiment is heat embossed.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Crafty Calendar (3 flowers, 3 pearls)

Crafty Gals Corner

House that Stamps Built (Pearls/Embossing/Ribbon)

Jo's Scrap Shack

Paper Shelter

Sisterhood of Crafters

SUYP Cats

     I hope your weekend was fantastic and that you had lot of "me" time to do whatever pleased you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Father's Day Celebration !

Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

     Today I have another Father's Day card made with a Penny Black stamp.  I love this stamp and have used it several times for either gal or guys cards.  Today, it's on a very simple, masculine, card.

     This little hedgie just seems so content and happy sitting in his garden, communing with the bees about his daisy.  Wonderful summer fun.  :-D  

     I colored him with a combination of water colors and ProMarkers.  I wanted a really CAS design which would be easy to put in an envelope and mail so all I did was cut the colored image with a die from QuicKutz and mount it onto a turquoise card front.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it.  A perfect masculine card.  :-D

     Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers

Crafty Creations

Die Cuttin' Divas

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny Black & More

Penny Black Saturday

TTCRD

Unicorn

     Have a marvelous day and celebrate all the dads in your life!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Father's Day Dog

     I do cards for all the "Dads" in my family every year and those include my son, grandson, and SIL.  My own dad has been gone many years now but I was so close to him, I always think of him on Father's Day.

     Today's card has one of the happiest little mutts ever and would have been perfect for my dad who was a true animal lover, but mostly dogs populated his life in the years when I was growing up.  The image is a Penny Black stamp.

     I colored with watercolor paints and a brush, then cut the image and frame with dies from Amy Designs.  The die cuts were so detailed that I simply layered the image onto the yellow card front, added the sentiment, and left it without embellishment.  It's a pretty CAS design that looks more complex.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black & More
Penny Black Saturday
Pile It On

     Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be home soon and back to normal - whatever 'normal' is!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Heaven's Angels

     Another Friday morning means another challenge starting over at QKR Stampede.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything goes" and you can use any image you choose, from any company.  However, if you use an image from QKR or their sister company, Eureka Stamps, your entry will be put into a separate draw, significantly increasing your chances of winning some fabulous QKR Stampede images!

     For my card this week, I used "Heaven's Angels" for the sentiment and "Dancing Angel" for the image.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  The yellow die cut in the background is a frame cut with dies from Cheapo Dies.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.  Everything was layered onto an embossed card base.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Aud Sentiments
CCC Digi Creations
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creatalicious
Pattie's Creations
Southern Girls
Sparkles Monthly

     I hope you'll be playing along with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guardian Angel

     Time for the June challenge at World Wide Open DT Challenge.  You'll want to check out the winners post, too, just in case you might be one of them.  For my DT card this month, I've used the Julia Spiri image, "Ofelia Angel."  Isn't she lovely?

     The coloring of the image is done with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.  I used dies from a Spellbinders set to cut both the image and the sentiment.  I used one of my ProMarkers to ink the edges of the die cuts.

     The dp is from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV (my favorite stack ever!)  The card front is embossed with my "Linen" folder.  For embellishment, I used a 'bow tie' bow.  I can't tie those by hand - I have to use my bow maker.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
CCC Digi Creations
Color Sisters
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Craft Cottage
Morgan's ArtWorld
My Favorite Things
Paper Nest Dolls

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Our theme is always Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make a Splash

     The theme at Catch the Bug this week is "Make a Splash."   While my first thought was a card with either ocean or swimming pool images, as I was watering my garden in the heat of the evening  (wishing we had rain instead of 100F+ daytime temperatures), I decided that perhaps a salute to the rain gods might help.  :-D

I started with the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

adapted for a gate fold.

     As I was coloring this adorable Bugaboo Stamps image with ProMarkers, I thought it would be fun to do a gate fold card since I hadn't done one in who-knows-how-long!  I added a bit of sparkle gel ink to the raindrops which you might be able to see if you enlarge the photo.  I used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image, then inked the edges with a ProMarker.

     I made the gate fold and added more score lines to each side for a bit of texture and visual interest.  The dp was in my scrap basket and I trimmed each scrap to size for the front of the card.  I printed the sentiment onto a scrap of white CS, then hand cut it before adding it.

     The final touch was one of my hand-sewn, signature bows, and I dyed it with the same ProMarker as I had used to ink the edges of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Dragonfly Dreams
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Tomorrow's upcoming attractions include my DT cards for both World Wide DT Open and QKR Stampede.  Hope you'll be stopping by to check them out.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Daisy Kind of Day

     Before I show you my card for today, I want to tell you the back story as I heard it.  A neighbor of mine asked me to make an anniversary card for friends of hers and it had to have daisies on it.  Why daisies instead of romantic roses wrapped in diamonds?

     This couple went to see a movie on their first date and she said she decided he was "The One" that very evening because he chose the movie and it was a chick flick just for her!  He took her to see "You've Got Mail" and she loved the line in the movie about 'daisies being her favorite flower because they are so friendly.'    She had two little daisies tucked into her wedding bouquet and every year on their anniversary, hubby gets her daisies - even if he has to pick them from their own garden.  :-D  What a sweetheart of a man.

     So, here's my card done for their anniversary.  The image is from Di's Digi Designs.  I wasn't really sure about a woodland mouse as the main character on an anniversary card but, while I haven't had a report from the couple yet, my neighbor who commissioned it absolutely loved it.

I started with the sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

     I used watercolor paints and polychromos pencils to color the image, then die cut it with a die from Sizzix.  The two main dp pieces are scraps from my basket and were cut with rectangle dies from Spellbinders and QuicKutz.  The yellow strip is hand-bleached CS.  All of those pieces and the sentiment pieces were inked with a distressed ink pad from Tim Holtz.

     In my stash, I found three white daisies for embellishment and added them to the lower corner.  Everything is put onto textured, gold CS which I used for the card front.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cute N Crafty
Crafting from the Heart
Get Creative
Mod Squad
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz Songs & Rhymes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls

     That's all I have for today but I have yet another post pre-scheduled for tomorrow and a twofer for Friday.  Hope you'll be checking each day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thinking of You

     I think this is my first, or maybe second, time using an image from All Dressed Up and I think she's just as cute as a bug!

I started with the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday

even though I missed the deadline for their challenge.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  The small, red, hexagon was also cut with another die from that same set.  The card front is dry embossed.  The bits of dp are from my scrap basket.  I love the CAS design allowed by that sketch.

     Challenges:
All Dressed Up FB
CARDZ TV
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I hope your week is going well and that you're finding some time to relax in the heat of summer.  My home town is in the midst of a heat wave defined as 3 or more days of temperatures over 100 F.  Not my favorite kind of weather.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's All about the Purr

     My card today uses one of my favorite stamps from Kinda Cute and, of course, it's a cat!  :-D

I started with the sketch from Feeling Sketchy

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and an Unbranded die to cut it. The dp came from a DCWV stack and the baker's twine from The Twinery.  It's been in my stash for longer than I care to admit.

     The little bows were hand tied and I added the tiny glittered flowers for a bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Ching-Chou Kuik
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafter's Cafe (middle row)
Crafty Hazelnut's PP
Die Cut Divas
Fabrika Fantasy
Take It, Make It

     A simple post today to go with a simple card.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dressed for the Ball

     The current challenge at AuroraWings has a theme of "Joyous Occasions" and what could be more joyous for a debutante than her first ball of the summer season?  It's Cinderella time.  :-D

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added glitter to her wings.  I cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders and framed her with deep violet CS which was cut with a stitched die from CUT-plorations.  The corner dp was  in my scrap basket and was embossed with my "Linen" folder before adding it to the purple CS background.  The doily was also a scrap, a leftover from cutting one in two for another project.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment and then left the card design alone.  The bright and bold pattern in the corner dp and the delicate, lacy border of the doily enticed the eye enough and I still wanted that gorgeous image to be the main focus.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Cute Card Thurs
Cut It Up
Pattie's Creations
Sasayaki Glitter

     Happy Weekend (or what may be left of it) and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Not Carmen Miranda!

     I think this Rick St. Dennis image is hysterically funny and hate to admit that it's been in my collection for a while, unused.  She may be a hot cha-cha dancer but she's no Carmen Miranda!  I love the whole idea of an elephant in Spanish Dancer costume.  :-D

I used the sketch I found at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

     I colored with ProMarkers, polychromos pencils, and gel pens.  I added glitter to the diamonds on her costume and used white gel ink on all the pearls.  The image is cut with an Unbranded die.

     The turquoise CS is embossed with my "Linen" folder and added to the card front.  I took a piece of patterned dp from another project (which went into the 'round file' after I saved some of the dp and embellies) and cut it with a border die from Spellbinders.  I added it on top to the CS to make the upper triangle.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with the same recycled dp, then added the satin bow, complete with a pearl.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Classic DT Open
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cut Divas
Everybody Art
Ike's World
Outlawz Songs and Rhymes
Take It, Make It

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fishing Days

     Salute and a good Friday morning, my friends!   We have a new challenge starting over at QKR Stampede today and our theme is always Anything Goes.  It's definitely summer weather around here and I'm getting Father's Day cards done for the three dads in my family (son, SIL, and grandson.)  Anything related to fishing always reminds me of my own dad so I used "Gone Fishing 12601" from QKR for this card.

     He always said that any summer vacation had to include a place to fish and he liked it even better if the entire vacation was planned around every day spent fishing.  :-D

     I started with a simple A2 card  design.  I love A2 and it's probably my favorite card shape and size because I mail so many of my cards and that's a standard size accepted by the post office with no additional postage.  This one will be in the mail to my son.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the octagon shape with a die from QuicKutz.  I added a blue, CS, mat behind the image.

     The card front is embossed, though that doesn't show very well in the photo.  I added the image piece and then wrapped baker's twine around it.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it, and then adhered it at the top of the card.  A CAS design, perfect for a masculine Father's Day card.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Moments
Cute Card Thurs
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House That Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Time Out
That's Crafty
Work It Wednesday

     Thanks for stopping by and feel free to browse around while you're here.  I hope you'll come play at QKR this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

On Top of the World !

     On Top of the World is how I feel this morning!  It's my first official day as a member of the DT at Crafting with an Attitude.  We have a new challenge which begins on the first Thursday of each month and runs throughout the month.  Our challenges are always "Anything Goes."

     This month, we are sponsored by Di's Digi Designs.  The image I used is from my own collection and is called "King of the Castle."  However, when I searched the store I found only a different version of this stamp.  It has a butterfly instead of the little birds.  Still, it's really adorable so well worth checking out.

I was influenced by the colors in the Incy Wincy challenge.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with one of my border dies from Spellbinders.  I cut three scraps of CS with the same border die and layered them all together for some texture and dimension.  I did my best to match those to colors in the image.

     I made a "bow tie" bow from scraps of lace (dyed pink with a ProMarker) and satin ribbon for the wrap, then printed and hand cut the sentiment.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp & Show
SUYP Cats

     I hope you'll come and play along in our challenge.  Remember, it's Anything Goes so you can literally do anything for your entry.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

A Turtle Birthday

     Another fun and silly image from Sasayaki Glitter for their monthly progressive challenge.   Fortunately, by using it I've added one more birthday card to my stash and that's great because I have a whole series of masculine, family, birthdays coming up over the summer months.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it and the frame with dies from Gina Marie.  Sad note - after almost 8 years of faithful (and strenuous) service, my old Cuttlebug machine had to be replaced.  It worked so well for so long, I replaced it with new Cuttlebug and I'm happy I did.  :-D 

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it, hand cut again, and added it across the image piece.   I tied a little bow, using green satin ribbon, then left it CAS after that.  It IS a masculine card, after all.  :-D

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafty Cardmakers
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown
Unicorn

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beach Weather

     Well, they said the really hot weather would arrive last weekend but we jumped from 84F on Thursday to 100F on Saturday and 102F on Sunday!  I know it'll get hotter over the upcoming summer but an almost 20 degree jump over a single weekend nearly wiped me out.  I'm ready for a month at the beach!

     The image from Bugaboo Stamps was in my collection and I grabbed it to use for the Stella Says Sketch challenge (see below.)

Here's the sketch I followed.

     I use ProMarkers to color the image and added some sparkle gel ink to her sunglasses.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show in the photo so it looks like I did nothing.  :( 

     I cut the image with a Bo Bunny die which included the delicate frame that allowed me to inset the image.  The patterned, blue, dp is a left over scrap from a Recollections stack and the chevron dp is also a scrap but I can't remember the maker.  The textured, brown CS came from the scrap pile.  Come to think of it, even the image was printed onto a scrap.

     The bow is one of the wrapped-burlap bows I make but I 'dyed' this one with a purple ProMarker to match her bikini and flip flops.  Overall, this is a pretty CAS design but the dp patterns and fancy die cut make it look much more complex.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Crafting from the Heart
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Weatherman says we will "cool down" to the high 90s until next weekend when the 100+s will hit us again.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!  I can stay inside and do some Happy Crafting.  :-D  NanaConnie

A Summer Garden

     The newest Progressive Challenge is on at The Outlawz and I got my entry finished this morning.  The image is from We Are 3.

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors then cut the image with a plain square die from QuicKutz.  I inked the edges and added the sentiment. 

     The card front is dry embossed and I wrapped it with mesh fibers and sheer ribbon before adding the image piece, tipped on an angle.  The hand-sewn, satin bow was the final touch.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Cute Card Thurs.
Cuttlebug Mania
Die Cuttin' Divas
I {heart} ProMarkers
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     That's all I have for today.  Now I must concentrate on all those "must do" chores which have been on the list far too long.  The hot, hot, HOT weather is on it's way and I have to get outdoor and garden things prepared for it.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Daisies for Your Birthday

     By now most of you think of me as a Crazy Cat Lady and, while I share my life with felines at the moment, the truth is I'm an animal lover.  Any kind of animal; well, maybe not poisonous snakes but nearly anything else.  Never-the-less, I was  browsing the store at Di's Digi Designs, saw this darling kitty carrying a double arm full of daisies, and I fell in love.  Had to have it, had to use it right away!

     I colored with ProMarkers and pencils, then die cut the image with a Sizzix die.  I cut the pink frame with another die from that set and started my search for background dp.  I found an old Recollections stack and it had that lovely pale pink, sort-of-flowery paper.  Perfect!

     I added deep pink lace, then layered on the image.  I put 3 little, metal, brads in the corners and dug through my stash of  cut and embossed flower petals, selected a single layer, and added a small, pearl button to the center.  The last step was printing the sentiment and adding it above the image.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge (metal brads)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     It's the first weekend in a new month and my schedule is getting hectic.  What happened to being retired and having all the time in the world?  :-D  Maybe that'll happen again one day next week, like Tuesday or Wednesday -- or Friday.  Sigh...  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wisdom of an Owl

     This is my second post of the day.  If you're looking for the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies post, please click the link or scroll down one post.

     It's Friday again and that means another new challenge at QKR Stampede.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme so there's no reason not to enter.  For my card today, I saluted all the graduates with this "Graduate Owl 16911" image.

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then framed the image with a left over, negative, die cut (Spellbinders), meaning the die cut part is the plaid paper, not the white image.  I inked the edges of the frame before applying it to some pumpkin colored CS which then went onto the card front.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and applied.  I added faux stitching and a bow and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Cardmakers
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Passion for ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp and Show
TTCRD

     I hope you'll play along with us this week.  See you at the challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Purr More...

     How can it already be June?!  However it happened, today is the start of a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where the theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."   Our sponsor this month is Sparkle n Sprinkle and they generously supplied images to the DT.   You might want to check out their own challenge on their FB page, too.

     I fell in  love with this one (of course!) - "Sitting Pretty Kitty."  It's such a delightful 'summer-y' image.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then die cut the image with a plain rectangle die from Spellbinders.  I matted the image with another die cut rectangle using a stitched rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  That was cut from hand made paper which was colored with watercolor paints.

     The butterfly dp seemed a perfect background for that little kitty with the butterfly on his nose.  It came from a Recollections pad.  I found a tiny, die cut butterfly and put it by the sentiment.  The sentiment came with the image.

     I thought that dp was so busy that the wrapped, burlap, bow tie, bow was enough embellishment.

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge (hunter green and hot pink)
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Cutie Pie
Cuttlebug Mania
Lawn Fawnatics
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Songs and Rhymes
Send a Smile 4 Kids
SUYP Cats

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Any kind of crafting project is acceptable (yes, including cards :-D) as long as there is some kind of creature featured!  Challenge starts today and ends on June 25 so you have plenty of time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie     

Butterflies and Poppies

     I needed a birthday card for a gal who loves blue and is an industrial designer.  That's all I know about her since this is a commission card.  I had trouble deciding between flowers or some cute animal.  I prefer to use animals more than flowers because they seem warmer and more animated but this time, I had no idea what animals this gal might like, if any at all. 

     This image seemed like a good compromise between fauna and flora.  I thought the butterflies and the flowers made it a bit feminine and the hexagon shapes added a modern industrial flair.

I based my card on the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

     I started with an image (actually it's a coloring page which I reduced to size) from Delicious Doodles, colored with pencils and ProMarkers.  I printed and sized the image twice, gave both a light, gray scale background, then used a hexagon die from QuicKutz to cut the poppies from one of the images. 
   
     I inked the edges of each hexagon and layered it onto the same spots on the original image.  That gave it both texture and dimension but lining up the flower petals exactly took more time than cutting the shapes!  :-D 

     I cut the sentiment with another, smaller, hexagon die from that same set, inked the edges with a lighter ProMarker, and added it to the image.  I used three layers of sheer, blue, ribbon to wrap the card front, then tied a small bow with a single layer of the same ribbon.  I added a glittered flower to the center.

     The design is flat and simple enough to mail easily but has enough visual interest to feel 'fancy.'

     Challenges:
Allsorts
As You Like It
Butterfly Challenge
Delicious Doodles
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Sasayaki Glitter
Sisterhood of Crafters

      Today we crest the hill to the weekend and then it's an easy downhill to Friday night.  Hooray!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sympathy Card

     I don't make sympathy cards ahead of time - they just aren't the cards I want to do.  So I leave them until I need one and then make it in the midst of emotion.

     Unfortunately, I lost a sweet friend in my neighborhood on Friday and I've made this card for her two grown grandsons, the closest relatives she had.  Her own daughter passed on several years ago and the grandsons and 3 great-grands are all the family she had left.  They lived back east and she was in California so none of the family had seen her since her daughter passed on.

I used the sketch from Viva la Verve

to get some inspiration and a starting point.

     The image is from Digistamps4Joy and I kept in mind her favorite colors, pink and green.  I used my polychromos pencils and ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a Die-Versions double-stitched die.

     Other than the image, everything on the card is done from scraps.  The card front was embossed with my "Linen" folder, then I layered together the pink and green scraps and cut them with that same die, which gave me the second, outer row of stitching.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, adding it to one side.  I tied one of my bow tie bows using my bow maker.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations
Digistamps4Joy
Fussy and Fancy
Joy Clair
Sugar Pea Designs
That's Crafty!
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today but I hope to have another post tomorrow.  If not, I'll see you on Friday with a double post.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Catch Your Own Dinner!

     Happy Memorial Day and thanks to all our veterans!

      I dearly love Bugaboo Stamps and they had such a fun inspiration photo for their latest challenge on Catch the Bug - it brought back wonderful childhood memories of camping out and of fishing with my dad.  My mom was definitely NOT into camping but she agreed to try it if Dad would build a trailer complete with beds and kitchen.  She wasn't going anywhere without a stove for cooking.  To her, campfires were only for enjoyment and the occasional toasted marshmallow.  :-D

     But I loved time spent fishing with my dad and a majority of our camping trips included creeks, rivers, and ponds where fishing was abundant.  That meant lots of meals of trout, bass, and perch.  I wasn't crazy about eating fish but it wasn't like you could camp in the middle of nowhere and catch peanut and butter sandwiches!

   

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz.  I turned it

sideways to better fit the shape of my image.

      I colored the image with ProMarkers, then used a QuicKutz die to cut it.  The sentiment is also cut with a QuicKutz die.  The kraft side piece is cut with a stitched, border die from Spellbinders.  I dug through my stash until I found the kraft-colored jute cord, then tied it around the card front, knotting it into a small bow.  

     That seemed enough since this is not only a CAS card but a masculine one.  Wouldn't this make a great Father's Day card for a man who loves to either camp or fish?

     Challenges:

Brown Sugar

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Moments

House that Stamps Built

Scrappy Land

That's Crafty

Word Art Weds.

     Enjoy the last of the long weekend, all my fellow US Americans, and remember to thank a veteran and say prayers for our active military.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ruff Day?

     Shhh, don't tell the feline fur babies that I did a card with a pooch on it!  They get so jealous and behave outlandishly for hours afterward.  :-D

     This adorable little pup is from Crackerbox Palace and I'm entering their new challenge.  They are now combined with So Suzy Stamps and you can find the challenge by clicking on this LINK.

     Naturally, I colored with my ProMakers, then I cut the image with an octagon die from QuicKutz.  I cut a mat from red CS with a die one size larger.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked over it with a ProMarker and mounted that right onto the image piece.

     I added that to brown CS, embossed in my "Linen" folder.  I wrapped twine around it and added the metal bird charm which is popped up on dimension dots.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Crafty Friends (beagle, brown, bird)
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Path of Positivity
Penny's Paper Crafty
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown (die cut/digi/ribbon)

     I'm having a marvelous weekend ! It's quiet in my neighborhood because so many people are away for the long Memorial Day weekend and I've played in my garden, crafted, made a couple more cards, lazed with the cats, and generally been totally selfish for the last 36 hours!  It's wonderful.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Iris Birthday

     The current challenge for Ching-Chou Kuik on their FB site has a theme of "Black and White plus 1 color."  Of course, I had to use my favorite color, purple!

     I colored all the gray scale with ProMarkers and then added the bits of purple to the image.  I fussy cut the image and inked the edges with ProMarkers.  I added white highlights with a gel pen.

     I decided on a card base made from 'confetti' CS, then found the doily and colored it purple.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and inked the edges.  I layered everything onto the card front and left it very CAS - no embellishments, just lots of open space.

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Everybody Art
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown  (middle row)

     Here in the US, we're celebrating Memorial Day on Monday and many are already gone for a long weekend.  Personally, I'm saving all my travel time up for summer which is officially just around the corner.  But that means I'll have lots of quiet, relaxing time to craft my little heart away for the next 3 days.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie