Walking the Cat(erpillar)

      How did it get to be August 1st already?!?  This year is flying by but I'm so ready for it to be fall with the heat of summer behind us.  Regardless, it's the start of a new month and a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  Our sponsor this month is the fantastic SheepSki Designs.  They supplied images for the DT to use and I chose this adorable "Walkies" image.  Andrea's shop can now be found on her SheepSki Designs blog.  You can also find SheepSki Designs on their Facebook page.

     Did you know that August 8 is "International Cat Day?"  It is, and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies is partnering with the Double Trouble challenge from today until August 19.  In honor of International Cat Day, they have a "Critters" theme and anything you enter into our 2 Crafty Critter Crazies challenge will qualify to be entered into their challenge during those dates.

     I know this isn't an actual "Cat" image, but I thought this Cat(erpillar) might do just as well.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Die-namics.  The outer wide, green, frame was also cut with that same die and I inset the image into that frame so that it  has a double row of 'stitching.'  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, then framed with a scrap of that same green CS.  I added the sparkly baker's twine and tied it into a square knot.  Rather CAS but this way it works as either a feminine or masculine card.

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Fingers

Outlawz SAR

Paperbabe

Paperminutes

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Be sure to come and play with us this month.  The challenge runs until the 25th of the month and winners/Top 3 are chosen and posted a day or two later.  We love seeing you play with us each month and love being inspired by what you create.

 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Ballroom Kind of Evening

      It's funny how unexpected events influence what we do with our cards and crafting.  I recently found myself at a live Ballroom Dance Competition weekend.   In my childhood, I remember watching Ballroom competitions on television back when nobody had even thought of color TVs and we thought it was the most incredibly beautiful thing without any sense that it could also be colorful.  All the ladies were so elegant and the gentlemen so suave.  I fell in love with each of the couples as they danced and with ballroom dancing as a whole.

     After seeing the live event a week or so ago, I went on a search for dance images.  Most were black and white or gray scale but some were in color which I knew I could print in grayscale.  After some experimentation, I printed half a dozen images onto water color paper and dug out the water color paints.  But more about those in later posts except to say now that my love affair with watercolor has begun again.  

     This is the first card I completed.  The image is printed in gray scale onto a scrap of ivory/beige CS, then colored lightly with ProMarkers and gel ink highlights.  I cut it with a QuicKutz rectangle die and framed it with another rectangle cut with a die one size larger.  The background is a scrap of Recollections dp.  The large grosgrain bow is mounted onto a CS strip and added to the upper corner.  I'll add a sentiment when I decide how this one will be used.

I was inspired by this simple sketch at My Favorite Things.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

Digi Choosday

Double D

Lemon Shortbread

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Tomorrow starts a new month and I'll be posting 3 new DT cards in about a four hour span so be sure to stop by at some point during the day to check them out.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Light From Santa

      Another new challenge from Creative Knockouts is looming and the sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter!  They generously supplied the DT with this marvelous image set, called "Santa Leads the Way."  In case you can't tell, our theme is "Christmas in July" and it may be your last chance to do Christmas in July since the month ends on Saturday!  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.

     Please do come and play in our challenge this week.  We love being inspired by you and you could win a fantastic prize from The Paper Shelter!  See you there.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Does that Mean Prickly?

      Apologies for the post being late but I've been fighting back pain for the last few days and sitting a the keyboard of my computer was my least favorite thing to do during that time.

     Today is the start of a new weekly challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies, where our things are usually "Anything Goes" (unless there's a 5th Monday in a month and then we have a specific theme to follow.)  Our sponsor this month is the fun and fabulous We Are 3.  They supplied images, dp, and sentiments for the DT to use, all from this wonderful "Camille's Cactus" set.

     I merged the image and the sentiment onto the dp, then colored with my ProMarkers.  I used black gel pen to add more cactus spines and the noon-time shadow at the base of the cactus.  I found a tiny snippet of jute cord in my stash and hand-tied the bow.  Very CAS, very masculine, and I used it as a birthday card for one of my grandsons. 

     Challenges:

(I'll add these links when I can sit for a longer period)

     Come play with us and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Real Champion

      When my oldest son was a youngster, he got the nickname "Champ," mostly because of his absolute determination to conquer all odds.  :-D  When I saw this fabulous image from the progressive challenge at LeAnn's World this month, those memories came flooding back and I made this card.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it and the two rectangles of dp with a pinpoint die from Memory Box.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added tiny, shiny gold, gears and layered everything onto a Navy Blue card base.  

     By the way, those tiny gears were actually taken from an old watch which was inadvertently 'drowned' and couldn't be revived.  I always say, "Waste not, want not!"  I have a little plastic bag with other bits from that same watch and I know they are going to come in handy on other masculine cards which need a touch of bling or sparkle without becoming 'feminine.'

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Incy Wincy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Greetings

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

We 3 Mice

      One more card inspired by a progressive challenge, this time at Imagine That!   Aren't these kingly mice adorable?  

     I colored with my ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with an Unbranded die.  I inked the edges of the die cut to give it a bit more definition.  I dug through my Christmas dies, found the nativity by Die-namites and cut brown CS for the background.

     Actually, I cut one from brown CS and another from black CS because I wasn't sure which one I was going to use on this card but I'll show you what I did with the black one at the bottom of this post.

     I made one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, dyed it brown with a ProMarker, and used it for embellishment.  One more Christmas card for this year's stash.

     Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dare 2B Artzy

Di's Digi Designs

Double Trouble

Dragonfly Dreams

House ... Stamps Built

I (heart} ProMarkers

Gem of a Challenge

Taylormade ...

Three Room Studio

     Oh, I nearly forgot that I promised to show you what I did with the black nativity die cut.  A second card for the Christmas stash, quick and easy, and all scraps.

          Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

Crafty Gals Corner

Digi Doodle Studios

Ike's World

Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie 

Causing a Racket !

      I love this fun image from Scrapper's Delights, given to all who play in their Progressive Challenge this month.  What a great card she makes for a tennis fan!

     I colored with ProMarkers, cut her with a QuicKutz die, inked the edges, then found some wonderful Recollections dp scattered with stars.  The sheer and satin ribbon was perfect for wrapping the card front and tying a bow.  I kept it very simple because it's going to be mailed to a friend.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

Lemon Shortbread

Paper Shelter

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hug Your Dragon

      All dragons need hugs but that's especially true of the young ones.  When hugged often and gently, they train well and become lifelong companions, cuddling to keep you warm in the winter and fanning you softly with their wings to cool you in the summer.  

     My eldest granddaughter and I are both crazy about dragons and when I saw this image from Mariola Budek, I grabbed it right away.  It comes as a pdf file in one of her digital coloring books.  I'm sure this card will end up in the hands of my granddaughter, with or without an occasion, but celebrating dragons is always an occasion in itself!.

     I colored it with ProMarkers and pencils, cut it with a die from Memory Box, and framed it with a die cut rectangle (QuicKutz) of scrap dp.  The yellow background dp is from Recollections.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  For a bit of embellishment on the otherwise simple card design, I added the wrap of sparkle twine and fluffed the ends to make a tassel.

I used the colors found at Cupcake Inspirations challenge.

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Get Creative

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Color

Passion for Markers

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Moonflower Lullaby

      I love the name of this fabulous Conie Fong image almost as much as I love the image itself!  It's called "Moonflower Lullaby" and that makes your tongue happy just to say it.  :-D  In the store, the sample is colored in a pink pallet, but for my DT card I've done her in purples, lavenders, and magenta with a tiny bit of quince green in the leaves.

     I used my ProMarkers to color her, then cut the image with an Unbranded die.  The background die with the butterflies and flowers is from Cuts dies.  The sentiment was printed and cut with another Unbranded die.  I added quartz gems to the butterfly heads for just the tiniest bit of sparkle.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps ...

Butterfly (Quinacridone, Quartz, Quince)

Colouring in Scrapland

Dream Valley

I {heart} ProMarkers

Outlawz Greetings

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting and I hope you'll come and play in one of the challenges at Conie Fong this month.  We have 2 each month; one for just coloring of a Conie Fong image and the other for completed projects, like card, with a Conie Fong image.   

NanaConnie

Seahorse

      Today's card is in celebration of yet another Progressive Challenge, this one at Kinda Cute.  It just seemed perfect for a birthday card.  I reversed the image, then colored it with ProMarkers.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz, rectangle die and rounded two of the corners with a Fiskars punch.

     The dp and CS pieces were all scraps from the basket and I rounded those corners with scissors.  I hand tied a bow using two strands of  jute cord.

     Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps ...

Colour Crazy

Creative Inspirations

Cute Card Thurs

Inspiration Station (Sea & Sand)

Outlawz Color

Paperbabe

Scrapping4Fun

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Red Panda

      Today's card is for the Progressive Challenge over at The Outlawz.  The image provided for the challenge is from Fabrika Fantasy and it's called Red Panda.  I thought it was lovely and intriguing and decided to do only partial coloring on it.

     I colored with my ProMarkers and cut it with my paper cutter.  The frame behind it was a leftover from a Sue Wilson die cut for another project and I cut the scrap with a QuicKutz die, making it a rectangle with the cut out shape on the inside.  The background paper was a scrap from SU.  I made a mulberry paper flower and added a sparkly, red, Dew Drop to the center.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a QuicKutz die.

I based this on the left-hand sketch at Three Room Studio.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Lil Patch of ...

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Taylormade ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

An Elephant Never Forgets

      Nothing better than using an elephant on a belated birthday card !  lol  This fun image from QKR Stampede, called "Elephant and Butterfly," seemed perfect for those occasional birthdays which really aren't forgotten but somehow I forget to put the card in the mail on time.  This is my DT card for the July mid-month challenge at QKR Stampede.  The challenge will run until the end of the month and a new one will begin on August 1st.  I do hope we see you playing along.

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to color the image, then cut it with a Dare 2B Artzy stitched circle die.   The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The double loop bow was tied using baker's twine.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the blue strip of CS and the dp bits (also scraps) are from a very old stack by DCWV.

I chose the colors from the My Favorite Things challenge,

including the tiny bits of  'Coral' in the butterfly wings.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

     Now, let's see what you can do for our "Anything Goes" theme this fortnight.  We love b eing inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Acorn Ale on a Hot Summer Day

      When the days are hot and the summer sun shines bright, gnomes cool off with a bit of Acorn Ale.   They love it so much, they keep drinking it right through until Thanksgiving!  "Acorn Ale" is the name of this adorable image from SheepSki Designs and they are the sponsor for the challenges at both Creative Knockouts this week and for Your Scrapbook Place this month so this card is doing double duty as a DT inspiration piece.  :-D

     The image was colored with ProMarkers, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The two framing pieces were cut with QuicKutz dies.  Background CS made with scraps from the basket.  The ribbon for the bow and the wrapped strip were also left over scraps and I have no idea what company made them.  Sentiment printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley 

House ... Stamps Built

I {heart} ProMarkers

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

SheepSki Designs

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     I sure hope you're going to come and play with us in both challenges.  We love being inspired by you!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hanging the Christmas Bunting

      Another new weekly challenge is starting now at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes."  We're being sponsored by Polkadoodles and they were generous enough to supply images for the team to use on their sample projects.  I used "Wanda Penguin Hanging Bunting," a sweet little penguin.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and added highlights with gel pen.  The image was cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy and framed with a scalloped die cut (Sizzix.)  The tiny snowmen and trees on the banner were done with mini punches and I added 3 tiny, sparkly red, Dew Drops.  The dp is from Recollections, and the green polka dot ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The black bow is one of my hand-sewn, signature bows with a pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

Dare 2B Artzy

Dragonfly Dreams

Kerst Christmas

Outlawz Festive Fri

     Don't forget that the challenges at PIP are always Anything Goes except on a 5th Monday when we have a specific theme.   I really want to see you playing along with us this week and every week.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Holiday Candy

      Edited to add:  ...and the Winner is:  

Bunny, Mr. Random.org chose your name from the comments on my blog and that means you're the winner of the B&W Candy Jar image from the set at Jan's Digi Stamps.  Please contact me at the email address shown on the sidebar, using the email address where you want me to send your image.  :-D

Congratulations!!   NanaConnie

     Welcome to the Paper Funday "Christmas in July' Blog Hop, in conjunction with Inspiration Station.  You should have arrived here from Anita's blog but if you've missed any of the stops, you can go to the main post at Paper Funday and start at the beginning.

     I've used one of the beautiful images from a set called "Holiday Candy Deluxe" by Jan's Digi Stamps.  I'll be offering the main image in black and white as a prize for one of the commenters on my blog.  It colors up so beautifully and I chose the traditional Christmas colors of red and green.  

     Although it's not easily visible in my first photo, the candy jar itself has been fussy cut and mounted onto Pop Dots, then applied to the main candy jar image (cut with a QuicKutz die) which gives it delightful dimension.  I added a corner bit (also from the Holiday Candy set) and the sentiment at the bottom, then layered the image onto a deep green frame (also cut with QuicKutz die.)

     The background dp is from Recollections.  I dug through my scrap ribbon stash and found both the white netting and the gold metallic ribbon  I decided the dp was busy enough that the card needed nothing more than the ribbon for embellishment.

Here's a close up; a better shot for showing the dimension.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

ABC Christmas

Digi Doodle Studios

Di's Digi Designs

Ike's World

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Taylormadecards ...

    HOP IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN. 

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

     BTW, I visited the JDS store and discovered that all her Christmas sets are on sale this month.  The set I used, Holiday Candy Deluxe, is reduced from $7.00 to only $5.25!   Here's a shot of the entire set, including 12 pre-colored & B&W images, plus 5 sentiments.  You could do all the Christmas cards you need from just this one set!  :-D  

 

It's a Ladybug Birthday!

      I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Scrapping4Fun and we have a "Birthday" theme this time.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and I used an image called "Ladybug Floral Collage" and it was a dream to color!

     I used ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then fussy cut the image with scissors to get the 'out-of-the-box look around the border.  I used an old embossing folder on the card front and the dp is a scrap from an old (very old!) Recollections stack.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The flower border is an embroidered, fabric 'ribbon' which I cut apart and glued on with ribbon glue.  

     I'm not going to have access to my computer for a few days (I think it's getting over the flu or something) but I do have a couple of posts (like this one) pre-scheduled so you won't have time to miss me.  Hope to see you playing in the Birthday challenge.  :-D  NanaConnie

The Pug who Wanted to be a Reindeer

      New month-long challenge starting today at Paper Funday and our theme is Anything Goes with an OPTIONAL twist of  "Summer Fun."  Good thing it's an optional twist since I clearly used this fun "Pugsly" image from our sponsor Dr. Digi to do a Christmas theme.  :-D

     Pugsley is so disappointed to discover that Santa isn't hiring any new reindeer!  He had such high hopes and has been practicing his leaps into the sky (but he needs some additional magic flying dust.)  lol

     Colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I used scraps of dp from the basket and have no idea what company made them but one is a patterned dp and the other a soft but shimmery gold dp.  The image is framed with a red, QuicKutz die cut, and it's mounted on Pop Dots for dimension.  The mittens and the stocking are die cuts from Cheery Lynn.  

I used the sketch from My Favorite Things.

Enjoy the rest of your work week and come play with us this weekend (or sooner.)  You might want to check back this Saturday when Paper Funday is holding a "Christmas in July" blog hop with some lovely prizes and fun questions on each hop stop, including mine.  You can check my Saturday post and I'll have links to the staring point of the hop at Paper Funday.  :-D  

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Christmas Kickstart

Colour Crazy

Cute Card Thurs

Dream Valley

Outlawz Festive Fri

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Little Bit Batty

      It's time for the monthly Halloween challenge over at Two Old Bats, where the theme is always Anything Halloween but there's a mood board for inspiration, if needed.  Here's the mood board for this month:

     I was inspired by the cat and the witch's hat.  This is another of the images sent to me by my friend when I lost all my digital images due to a flash drive crash.  I colored with ProMarkers and pencils, then cut the image with a stitched die from Cuts.  I scored 3 lines along the left border and inked the scores with orange ProMarker.  The dp and the CS are scraps, and I added one of my signature bows with sewn-on pearl.

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

Crafter's Cafe

Crafts Galore Encore

Dies R Us

Scor-Pal

Scribbles Designs

     Come play with an early Halloween card!  If there are 50 entries, there will be a prize!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Multi-Panel Accordion Card

      I love trying new card styles and I find some of the best tutorials at Beccy's Place, including  this one for a multi-panel, accordion card.  I'd never tried one of these before but I loved the way Beccy's card looked when finished, and Beccy always gives very clear step-by-step instructions, so I jumped in and tried it.  Here's the result.  Fair warning, I took 14 different photographs of this card but managed to trim it down to just these 4 for my post.  :-D

     I colored the cat images (all from Beccy's Place) with ProMarkers and fussy cut each one.  The sentiments (front and inside) are also from Beccy's Place.  The papers came from a Paper Studio stack and I just had to use them since the color combo of purple and aqua is one of my favorites. I used dies from Spellbinders for cutting the openings and the rectangles of aqua dp.

     Here's the front of the card when folded but without the belly band which keeps it closed.

Here's what it looks like when completely unfolded.

These last 2 photos just give you a closer look 

at the cats and the inside sentiment.

     Challenges:

Angie's Digis 

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creatalicious

Creative Creases

Dies R Us

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Scor-Pal

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans and no hard feelings to my British 'cousins.'  :-D

  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge

      Today is July 3, 2021, and I've amended my post about the new challenge which started on July 1 at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies.  This month the challenge is sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps and I've finally gotten a card made with one of her newest, fantastic images.  This is from the set called "Splish Splash" and I merged two of the .png images to get this.  This set is on sale this month, too!  Go check it out.

     I've injured my wrist and it's in a brace so hand-crafting activities are difficult at the moment, as is typing at the keyboard.   It took me well over 20 minutes just to type these first two  paragraphs.  But I worked on this over a 3 day period and it's finished.  Quick rundown:  ProMarkers, QuicKutz die, dp from DCWV Linen Closet stack, sparkly with glitter, ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I used all six colors on the Color Dare #451 board

plus one neutral and a single embellishment of the bow.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Three Room Studio

     I did manage to get other DT cards done before the wrist injury, so check the other posts which will be live on my blog today.  Thank for visiting. 

In the Pink

      Today I'm sharing another DT card for Conie Fong and I've merged two images (#3and #4) from the Peonies set.  Can you believe the set is on sale right now?  What luck!  If you love it, go get it.  There's a total of 4 images plus a sentiment in the set and they are a joy to color.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and watercolor pencils, then cut it with a scalloped die from Sizzix. The strip of dp is a scrap from a Recollections stack and the bit of green burlap is another scrap which I found in the "left overs" basket.  The green and pink ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is hand tied, dyed with a ProMarker, and I added a sequin for a little sparkle.

I pulled Pink, Green, & Yellow from Color Dare #450.

  

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

     Don't forget to grab a Conie Fong image and come play with us in one of our two challenges on FB.  One is for coloring only and the other is for hand-colored images used on completed projects.  You can find them both on this page under "More/Media/Albums."

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blackberry Summer

      A new challenge is starting at Your Scrapbook Place and our theme is always "Anything Goes."  Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Andrea from SheepSki Designs!   They supplied wonderful images for the DT but I chose to use one from my own collection called "Berries."

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to color the berries, opting for blackberries this time, although I've used this image before and did them as raspberries.  I kept the card design fairly CAS but it looks much fancier because of the Spellbinders die I used to cut the image.  It's inlaid into the background which was also cut with the same die.  Notice the embossing on both the image and the background?  All from that same die.

     I wanted the open spaces from the die to be dark so I used the die one more time and cut a piece of navy blue CS.  I inlaid the bits which fell out of the navy blue die cut into the white image piece.  Again, a way to make a CAS card look fancier.  The bow is one of my signature bows with a purple pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

I used Purple, Green and Navy Blue from the

color board at CMH Color Dare.

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

Colour Crazy

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Craft ...

Cute Card Thurs

Di's Digi Designs

Dies R Us

Lil Patch of ...

     Happy Crafting and come play with us this month.  :-D  NanaConnie

Penny for Your Thoughts

      Out where I live in California, on the West Coast of the USA, we're suffering through our third heat wave of the summer and we're barely finished with June!  We get heat waves (any stretch of 3 or more days of temps 100F and over) every summer but the temperatures we've had in these three are higher than what we usually get in August, much less June!

     In any case, July 1 starts a new fortnightly challenge at QKR Stampede where the theme is always "Anything Goes."  This adorable little mouse, called "For Your Thoughts," is hoping someone has thoughts about anything other than the heat!  :-D  Or maybe thoughts about how to stay cool despite being 107F outside.

     I used ProMarkers to color him and used a Sizzix die to cut the image.   I managed to find copper paper the same color as the penny and added 4 squares (scraps) of it to the background.  The little metal coins were things I've had in my stash for years and I ran across them when I was cleaning out little drawers in one of the craft cabinets.  I'll bet I hadn't opened any of those four little drawers in 2 years!  There were the tiny coins, just waiting for this perfect card.  

     The black bow is hand-tied  and trimmed into dove tails.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

I {heart} ProMarkers

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz PAM

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

      Come play with us this challenge and your could win some of these fun and fabulous images from QKR.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie