Easter Blessings

     Today I want to share some of my oldest images which came from the now closed "Clearly Digital Stamps" store and they are both perfect for Easter.  I combined the two images by hand this time because I wanted to run the ribbon between them.

     I colored the rose with ProMarkers and used colored pencils and gamsol on the rest of the sentiment piece.  I left the Bible white and added the "Easter Blessings" sentiment to it.  I fussy cut both pieces.

     I had that scrap of green dp which had been cut along the border with a die from Spellbinders.  I trimmed it to fit the card front, ran it through an embossing folder (sorry, I don't remember the name), and adhered it, purposely leaving some white along the cut edge.

     I played around with how to layer things together, including the green satin ribbon, and finally decided I like this layout design the best.  I tied a bow from a scrap of matching ribbon and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps 
Angie's Digital Stamps
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Paper Funday
Paper Shelter
Pile It On
Scrappy Land
Stamping Sensations
Work It Weds.

     Thanks for visiting and I appreciate those of you who leave comments.  They inspire me and keep me posting.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Bunny's Bonnet

     I found this darling image in my collection of A Day for Daisies digis and thought it needed to be on a spring card.  What a fun idea - a bunny wearing her new spring bonnet!

     I colored with ProMarkers, adding glitter to the bonnet, then cut the image with an Unbranded oval die.  The bonnet in the image isn't actually that shape but I cut a tiny scrap with a very small scalloped die (Spellbinders), covered it with glitter, and adhered it onto the bonnet, giving the piece some great texture and sparkle.

     I found two scraps, one of pale lavender and the other of purple CS, on my desk.  One I trimmed into a simple rectangle and the other I cut into the sentiment with a die from CUTplorations.  I added all the elements to a light blue card front and chose one of my signature bows as embellishment.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Catz
Crafty Gals Corner
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
I {heart} ProMarkers
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.

     I hope your weekend was restful and creative and that you're ready for the new week.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Easter Ewe

     When it comes to Easter 'critters,' most of us think of bunnies and chicks, but not sheep.  I just laughed out loud when I saw this image from Bugaboo Stamps.  It felt like a take-off on the Cadbury Chocolate commercials about everyone wanting to be the Easter Bunny.  :-D

     I started by coloring the image with ProMarkers and pencils, then I cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  The frame behind it was cut from blue CS with a Sue Wilson die.  Because the die cut was narrower than what I wanted, I cut it in the middle (lengthwise) and attached one half to each side of my image rectangle.

     I wrapped stitched, satin ribbon around the card front, added the framed image, and then used one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.  Quick and easy design but the fancy frame makes it look much more complex.

    Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Crafter's Castle
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Path of Positivity

     Well, my weekend is winding down and I still have weeds to pull and plants to put in the family vegetable garden.  My granddaughter is going to help out and I'll be most grateful for that.  These old bones don't bend over as easily as they used to do.  Well, bending isn't really the problem - it's getting back to an upright stance that doesn't happen the way it did a few years ago.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Outlawz Progressive Challenge

     Another of my favorite progressive challenges, one I've been entering each and every month since they started it almost 4 1/2 years ago, Outlawz Progressive.   This month, Oddball Art has supplied the image for us to use and I turned it into a birthday card.

      I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image and both frames with simple rectangle dies from QuicKutz.  The background dp was a scrap that was on my desk and I think it was from Doodlebug.  I trimmed it to fit the card front.

     The little bit of white ribbon was also a scrap on my desk and I saw no point in tossing it out when it fit perfectly here.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, inked the edge, and layered it onto the ribbon strip.  I added one of my signature, hand-tied bows to which I added a flat gem.

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's
Lemon Shortbread
Oddball Art
Paper Girls
Paper Nest Dolls
Passion for ProMarkers

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

No Place like "Gnome"

     Happy Friday to all of you and welcome to my usual Friday QKR Stampede post. It's our latest challenge and our theme is always Anything Goes.  I'm a huge fan of all the QKR stamps but I do love the gnomes especially.  This one is called "Sitting Gnome" - inadvertently misspelled as 'knome.'

     I colored him with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then cut him with a stitched die from CUTplorations.  I matted him with a scrap of bleached, green CS.  I did the bleaching on that myself, using a Q-tip and 'dotting' spots, then letting it dry.  I got on a huge kick of that a few years back and did probably 50 sheets of CS in different colors.  Some of those sheets I still have in my stash.  Because it's so time consuming to make, I keep every little scrap and try to use it up.

     I cut the sentiment with the same CUTplorations die, but I adjusted the placement of the die and cut it twice to get the size I wanted.  The polka dot ribbon was in my stash and I used a separate scrap to tie the bow.

     I added everything to a golden yellow background, putting the image and sentiment on Pop Dots for some dimension.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
Cupcake Inspirations
  
Digi Choosday
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Friday
Passion for ProMarkers

     That's it for today and I hope you'll have a fabulous weekend!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Hatchlings?

     Here we are on the fist Thursday of a new month and that means a new challenge is starting over at Crafting with an Attitude.  As always, our theme is "Anything goes" and this month our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps.

     Did you ever think when you were hunting for all the eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny that some of them might hatch?  I think that's what happened to this little gal as she was putting all her eggs into her garden wagon.  Now she has a garden blooming with chicks and eggs!  :-D  You can find her by clicking HERE.

     I grabbed my ProMarkers to color the image, adding grass and sky to make it a scene, then cut it with a stitched die from Die-namics (My Favorite Things.)  I printed the sentiment and cut that with a Die-namics die also.  I matted both the image and the sentiment with cross stitch, die cut, papers (Unbranded dies.)

     I used pink CS to make the gate fold card base, leaving one flap very long and the other one narrower but just long enough to tuck in behind the long side.  I embossed the long side with a folder from Couture Creations.  The borders of the long side, both pink and white, were cut with a Poppy Stamps die.  I simply layered everything together onto the long side of the gate fold, playing with the layout until it all looked 'finished.'

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafty Sentiments
Cute and Crafty
Cupcake Inspirations

Double Trouble (Taking Suzanne's suggestion - the cart is wooden!)
Ike's World
Incy Wincy
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
Poppystamps

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Smile !

     Over the weekend, I was visiting the Playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop and found this post by Di, in which she describes the steps she took to get a perfect line up of striped paper die cuts and scraps.  I was so fascinated by her technique, I knew I had to try it.  Take the time to go and read her post. The bold words up above are a link which will take you directly there.  I'm not going to try to describe each step here when she's done such a great job of explaining the step-by-step.  Thanks, Di!!

     I woke up super early this morning and had empty time on my hands so I grabbed a patterned paper scrap (DCWV), some dies, and my Cuttlebug.  In under half an hour, this is what I had !

    I know the pattern in the paper triangles doesn't look straight but here's the scrap I cut and you can see the perfect way everything lines up when the pieces are laid into the background CS.

     Dies for cutting the triangles are from a set by Memory Box and the "Smile" die is from Penny Black.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Fingers
Dies R Us
Jo's Scrap Shack
Scrap from Your Heart
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Something Wonderful Easter

     Today I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Through the Craft Room Door.  Their theme is always "Anything Goes" and I decided on something for Easter.  Over the years, I've given up most of my rubber stamps, changing primarily to digital images because they require so little storage space.  I did keep this rubber Easter stamp (Bankes Vintage Stamps), mostly because I love the vintage aspect, and how it can look 'lineless' if stamped with light ink.  I used an ink pad called "Old Photo," a pale, sepia-brown ink.

I was inspired by the colors at Prika Crafts.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added the 'sponging' with chalks.  I chose two different Fiskars corner punches to shape the image corners after cutting it with a plain rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I printed the top sentiment and hand cut it, but the bottom sentiment (Always Believe) comes from Clear Dollar Stamps (now closed.)

     The leafy vines were cut with a Cheery Lynn die and the mulberry paper flower was cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I added glitter to the flower petals and a gem stone to the center.  Everything was mounted onto an aqua card base.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Country View Crafts
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Moments
Dies R Us
Friendship
Outlawz Greetings
Scrap from Your Heart

     That's all I have for today but I'm wishing you Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Spring Butterflies

     New challenge today at SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Wings."  What's more spring-like than butterfly wings?   This delightful SheepSki image is called "Butterfly Curl."

     I colored all the butterflies with ProMarkers, then added loose glitter (Sparkle n Sprinkle "Azul") to the wings of the largest butterfly.  The lattice work was cut with a Memory Box die.  I printed and handcut the sentiment, inked the edges, and added it to the top corner.

     The blue background is actually a scrap of suede cloth, trimmed to size for the card front.  It gives a soft, fuzzy look and feel to the card.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows to the lower corner because the shape of it mimics a butterfly and is a perfect complement.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Gals Corner
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twist Thurs.
Simon Says Stamp
Sparkle n Sprinkle
Time Out
Word Art Weds.

     Come play with u this month!  We can't wait to see what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cuddle a Kitty

     Common wisdom says when you're feeling down, you probably need a hug.  At my house, it's a sure sign you need to cuddle a kitty.  :-D

     The April challenge has started over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (no April Fool gag!) and our theme (as always) is Anything Goes with a Critter featured.  Our delightful sponsor this month is Digi Doodle Studios.  Although they generously supplied the DT with images to use, I chose one I already had in my collection, called "Kitty."

     I used ProMarkers, chalks, and gel inks to color the image, then cut it with a die from Sizzix.  I printed and cut the sentiment with a die from QuicKutz.  I used a larger Sizzix die to cut the mulberry paper, then dampened the edge and 'feathered' it.

     The satin ribbon was the last piece of it I had in my stash and I wrapped it around the card front.  I used my bow maker to tie the double layer, bow tie bow, using gingham ribbon.

     Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this month.  Remember, you are not limited to cards for your entries.  You can enter anything which features a 'critter' on it.  We love being inspired by your creations.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snakes and Rainy Days

     I'm not sure there's really any correlation between snakes and rainy days, other than the fact that I feel pretty much the same about both of them; I don't mind them but they can be annoying if they happen every day.  :-D

     It's Friday again so that means it's time for a new challenge at QKR Stampede.  We always have a theme of "Anything Goes" so there's no reason for you not to enter.  You could win some fun and funny images from QKR Stampede.

     The one I used today is called "Wrapped Up" and the sentiment is called "A Little Rain."  I'm sure this little snake would adopt that sentiment as his life's philosophy!  After all, there's probably nothing nastier than trying to navigate across wet and slippery tree branches.

     I colored with ProMarkers (my absolute favorites for coloring because I love the way alcohol ink blends), then cut the image with a stitched die from My Favorite Things - Die-namics.  The background pieces are cut with a die from Sue Wilson.  I cut two and offset them behind the image because the cut pieces were too small for just one to frame the image.  One more way to make my smaller dies more flexible.

     I added green jute cord, wrapped around the card front, then tied into a bow.

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
As You Like It
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting by Designs
Crafts Galore Encore
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Let's Craft & Create
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     That's all I have for today.  I hope you're looking forward to the weekend.  It's officially spring now (in the Northern Hemisphere) so get out and enjoy the outdoors.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Days

     Ok, now that we've had consistently warm days for more than a week, I can believe that summer is right around the corner.  Unfortunately for me, I live in an area where it gets really HOT during our summer months and I hate the heat.  :-(  But I do love summer grilling so this cute image from Limited Runs for the latest Progressive Challenge was just what I needed.  I'll probably use this as a birthday card for my son since he not only has a summer birthday but he's a master at the grill (just ask him - he'll tell you!)

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Sizzix die. The pale yellow circle was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.  I found a bit of golden, satin ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the kraft CS front.  I used one of my signature bows, leaving it white this time, and added only a pearl as I was sewing it.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafty Creations
Dream Valley
House that Stamps Built
Incy Wincy
Jo's Scrap Shack
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Layered Easter Card

     I'm still working on all the Easter cards I need for next month and this one has a sweet image and sentiment combo which came from Limited Runs.

     Colored with chalks and cut with stitched dies from Die-namics by My Favorite Things.  The border cut was done with a Cheery Lynn die.  Papers are from  Doodlebug and DCWV.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Creative Fingers
Cut It Up
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Scrappy Land

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Live Simply

     I adore the image at the Progressive Challenge for LeAnn's World 101 this month, which you'll find on their FB page.  It reminds me of how wonderful it can be to just live simply.

     This is a one layer card and I printed the image right onto the card front, then colored with my ProMarkers, adding a few highlights with white gel pen.  The die cut sentiment was made with a die from Die-versions.  The original sentiment was inside a circle but I cut that away and used just the words.  No embellishments because I wanted this to be very CAS in keeping with the sentiment.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafting by Designs
Creative Inspirations
Cute N Crafty
Double Trouble
I {heart} ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Words to Crafty By

     A short post today but my time at the computer is limited.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Outlawz Guest Designer for Songs and Lyrics

     Today I have the honor of being an invited Guest Designer for the Songs and Lyrics challenge at The Outlawz.  Every fortnight they choose a new set of lyrics to use as their challenge theme and the lyrics for today are from the old song "Anything Goes."

Song:  Anything Goes

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking 
Was looked on as something shocking. 
But now, God knows, 
Anything goes. 
Good authors too who once knew better words 
Now only use four-letter words 
Writing prose. 
Anything goes. 
If driving fast cars you like, 
If low bars you like, 
If old hymns you like, 
If bare limbs you like, 
If Mae West you like, 
Or me undressed you like, 
Why, nobody will oppose. 
When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in- 
'Truding in nudist parties in 
Studios. 
Anything goes.

     Yes, after all of that, all it means is that the theme is "Anything Goes" but I decided to try something that fit in with the lyrics.  I found this digital image over at TLC Creations.

     I printed out the image, enhancing the sepia tone with tools in Word, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  Once it was cut, I used Ivory and Vanilla ProMarkers to color the frame parts of the die cut, leaving the image itself in sepia.

     I added a dark brown mat to it which had been embossed with my ScorPal and stylus to add a bit of texture.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show up that well in the photo but if you look at the very top of the brown piece, you can see how close I put the score lines.

     I printed the lyrics, cut out the first two lines and used those for the sentiment.  The background piece is paper-thin cork and everything is mounted onto a light brown card base.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Aloha Friday

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Jo's Scrap Shack

More than 1 Score

Scrappy Land

TTCRD

     Almost half of your weekend is gone but you still have time to tuck away in the craft room and enjoy some time just for yourself.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Carrot Basket

     I think the Easter Bunny got lost somewhere along the way or perhaps was distracted by something irresistible.  :-D

     The image is an old one from Beary Wishes, which I think is now closed.  I colored it with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The plaid scrap was cut with a die from QuicKutz.

     Everything went onto a deep, blue, card base.  I knew this was going to be used as an Easter card for a boy so I kept it simple and unembellished, letting the paper and die cut give all the visual interest.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Dare 2B Artzy
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Passion for ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bribery Works

     Good morning on a lovely spring Friday!  We have another new challenge starting at QKR Stampede and our theme is always Anything Goes.  I have a fun card today, which is not only a total fantasy but is a take off on the old Tortoise and Hare fairy tale.  In this version, it takes a bit of bribery to keep the old turtle moving along.  lol

     The image is from QKR and is called "Bribery Goes Far."  I did my best to make it look like springtime since yesterday was the first day of Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere.  :-D

I used the colors from My Favorite Things

although my blue background is not quite dark enough

the rest of the colors are found in the image.

     I used ProMarkers and water color pencils on the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The blue background piece was cut with an Altenew die.  I put everything onto a kraft card base and added the metal brads to the upper and lower corners.

     I want to share with you a new technique I tried with the Altenew die.  I prefer dies over stencils but that's mostly because I have so many dies and so few stencils.  So I cut some very heavy CS with this particular Altenew die, then used the cut CS as a stencil to get perfectly aligned polka dots on a background piece.  I need a bit more practice but I'll share the results with you in a few more days.

     I printed the sentiment and cut it with the smallest Lawn Fawn die but I had to adjust the placement and cut twice to get the long rectangle shape out of a square die.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy
Cute Card Thurs.
Double Trouble  (all 3)
Outlawz Greetings
Penny's Paper Crafty
Take It, Make It

     Please come play along in our challenge this week, won't you?  You are NOT required to use images from QKR Stampede but if you do (or use one from our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge amount!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bunny Girl's Special Egg

     OK, we're back to Easter cards again.  The image for this one comes from Scrapper's Delights and is the one for their Progressive Challenge.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I trimmed the left side of the die cut so that I could use it "off center."  I used hot pink CS to make the card base.

     The ribbon has glittered dots and a metallic edging.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and adhered across the ribbon.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Crafter's Castle
Crafting with Friends
Happy Craft
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Shelter
Scrappy Land

     That's it for today.  I have a really busy schedule the next two days but I'll have a DT post tomorrow for QKR Stampede so be sure to come by again.  Thanks for visiting.  NanaConnie

Meant to Be

     A really quick post this morning with only short prattling about how the card was made.  When I saw this sentiment/image at Bugaboo Stamps, I grabbed it right away but this is the first chance I've had to use it.  It's a sentiment I truly believe.  :-D

I based this on the sketch at The Outlawz.

     I used ProMarkers to color the flowers, then cut the image piece with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, inking the edges before adding it to the striped background dp (Echo Park.)  I used a scrap of mulberry paper which has been on the desk for at least a month and grabbed the gingham ribbons, one to wrap and one to make into a bow.  I thought the 3 pearls on each side of the image piece would set that off a bit.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (third column)
Crafting by Designs
Creative Knockouts (Pearls/Image/Ribbon)
Double D
Scrappy Land
Words 2 Craft By

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Momma Bunny

     At first glance, you're going to think this is another Easter card, but look again.  It's about a Momma's Love.  :-D  The image is from Whoopsi Daisy and I think it's so precious!

     I used ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I used a second Spellbinders die to cut the frame and I inked around the inside edge before I layered it onto the image piece.  All the little circles were cut with dies from QuicKutz.

     The metallic ribbon was in  my stash and I made a small cut in the frame, wrapped the ribbon around the card front, threaded it through the small cut, then tied it into a bow to secure it.  I printed, hand cut, and added the sentiment across the 3 circles at the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Angie's Digital Stamps
Creations in Pink
Cute Card Thurs.
Dragonfly Dreams
Get Creative
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pile It On
Word Art Weds.

     I hope your week is going well.  Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Great Idea!

     I'm adding Mother's Day cards to the list of what cards I need to make over the next few weeks.  In the US, we celebrate our moms in May, not March, but there's nothing wrong with having them done well ahead of time.  Besides, I always get friends who call and ask if I have any 'extra' cards for Mother's Day that they can get from me.  :-D

     Flowers work so well for Mother's Day and this image from Conie Fong just struck me as something I could happily color and use for such a card.

I started with the sketch at Cheerful Sketches.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it with a stitched Lawn Fawn die.  I cut the golden yellow square with another die from that same Lawn Fawn set.  The green square was cut with a die from Cottage Cutz.  The pink strip was in my scrap basket and all I did was ink the edges.  In fact, all of the die cuts were made with scraps.

     The plaid dp is also from  Lawn Fawn and is a left over from the plaid paper I used a couple of days ago but this time I used the reverse side.  The bottom strip with the little flowers is a scrap left over from that previous card.   It feels like I'm CASEing myself.  :-D   Here's a link to that post.

     The sentiment was printed, hand cut, inked on the edges, and added to the lower, right side of the image.  The final touch was to tie a bow from a scrap of satin & sheer ribbon.

     Challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking
A Gem of a Challenge
A Perfect Time to Craft
CCC Digi Creations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's
Die Cut Divas
Friendship
Lawn Fawnatics
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pixie's Snippets
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Basket of Chicks

                                HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

     A huge "Thank You" to my dear friend, Donna, for this adorable Irish dancer!  Now, let's get to my post for today...

     Probably the best way to get little spring chicks to 'follow you home' is to transport them in a basket!   As a child, "It followed me home" was always the best excuse I could muster for keeping the latest stray pet who needed to be loved and cuddled.  Those were usually kittens or puppies, but bunnies or baby chicks would have been welcome, too.  I admit I didn't think about transporting them home in a basket but if I had, I would have done it!

     This sweet Penny Black stamp takes me back to childhood.  :-D

     I colored with a combination of water colors and ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Sizzix die.  Both of the smaller circles were cut with Sizzix dies also.

     I wanted the card design to be CAS so I added no embellishment beyond the die cut circles, simply laying those onto a deep gray, CS, background.  The CS was embossed with my Linen folder.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
Addicted to CAS
A Gem of a Challenge
Brown Sugar (Carried in a basket? lol)
Ching-Chou Kuik
Jo's Scrap Shack
Penny Black Saturday
Penny Black and More
Scrap from Your Heart
SUYP Cats

     I think this will be the only post for today but since I gave you a twofer yesterday, that should be sufficient.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Chick or Duckling?

     I just had to give you a second post today.  I fell in love with this adorable image.

     Remember the age-old question about which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Well, for today, we want to know if what's in the egg is a chick or a duckling?  I'm doing more Easter cards, some of them for a friend who needs 8 cards total, and she and I are having a debate over which this is.  I think it's a little chicken but maybe it's the way I colored the beak that makes it look like it could be a duck.

     The image is from Angie's Digital Stamps.

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the image with a Tonic Studios die.  The background is a piece of scrap dp as is the plaid strip across the bottom.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inking the edges before applying it on top of the plaid strip.

     I found another scrap of yellow, gingham, ribbon and tied the bow using my bow maker.

     Challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Cute N Crafty
Get Creative
Happy Craft
House that Stamps Built (middle row)
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Rose for Mom

     Isn't this the cutest image?   It's from Di's Digi Designs and their current challenge is a TicTacToe board.  I did the top row of  Sentiment/ Flower/ Hand-colored.

I stared with colors in the Color Dare #333 challenge at

Color My Heart.  I used colors from the first column

plus Clover green (3rd column) and neutrals of gray and brown.

     I colored with ProMarkers and added little highlights with gel inks.  I cut a square, then used a Fiskars corner punch on all four corners.  I did the same with the two matting layers.

     I chose a plaid paper from Lawn Fawn and used it for my card front.  The little strip is also from that same dp. 

     I printed and matted the sentiment, hand cutting each layer.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut the two white flowers from mulberry paper and used a mat behind them before adding the sentiment piece.

     Challenges:
Crafty Friends
Crafter's Castle
Dragonfly Dreams
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz SAR
Sasayaki Glitter
SUYP Cats

     Thanks for visiting.  I hope to be able to get around to some of my favorite blogs this weekend.  I do miss seeing what you've posted when time is so crunched.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie