Grammy's Attic

Sunday, September 19, 2021

In Sympathy

Time for the newest challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies where the theme is "Anything Goes" (unless it's a 5th Monday when we have a theme.) Our sponsor this week is Jan's Digi Stamps and while they provided images for the team to use, I chose one from my own collection. The lily image comes from a set called "Easter Blessings" but it's versatile enough to use on nearly any kind of card. I needed a sympathy card and it was perfect.

Because I needed this card right away, I used one of the pre-colored images in the set and fussy cut it with scissors. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. The faintly striped, background paper was a scrap left over from cutting a large scrapbook sheet of paper. The wide, green, grosgrain ribbon made a lovely bow for this otherwise CAS card.

Challenges:

Are you going to come and play along in our challenge this week? We'd love to see what you create. Maybe you'll inspire one of us! :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Magical Moments

I want to share another of my dance themed cards, this one in black and white monochrome and with a very CAS design. I'd love to say it was quick and easy but I spent a lot of time planning and executing the black silhouettes with the gray scale silhouettes, and putting the 'reflections' at the bottom.

The finished image was cut with my largest QuicKutz die, and matted with black CS. I added one of my signature bows with a pearl. My stash of those is getting a bit low and I'm going to have to spend a day hand-sewing another 2 or 3 dozen of them pretty soon. Once I had added the bow, it seemed finished and I decided to leave it that CAS.

Based on the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, September 17, 2021

Kitties in the Pumpkin Patch

These adorable kittens, all siblings from the same litter I'm sure, are spending November evening in the pumpkin patch under the full moon. The image, called "Pumpkin Kitties," is one of the newest releases from Conie Fong and it's on sale for another day or two.

I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a Die-Namics stitched die. I layered two of the dp together, then cut them with a CUT-plorations die. The background dp is from a K & Co. stack. I added a strip of grosgrain ribbon and tied a triple loop bow, using sheer ribbon from my stash of scraps. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

Challenges:

(Diagonal: Ribbon/ Coloring/ Animal)

Uniko

Don't forget to come and play in one of our two challenges this month. We have one for colored Conie Fong images only and a second one for completed projects using Conie Fong images. Both can be found on the Facebook site.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Moon and Stars

It's the middle of the month and that means a new challenge is starting over at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes." You may use any image from any company to enter the challenge but if you use a QKR image (or one from our sister company Eureka Stamps), your entry is put into a completely separate draw for those entries only and that increases your chance of winning by quite a lot!

For today's card, I used an image called "Full Moon." I reversed it before printing it. I used watercolors and Promarkers to color the image, then added a touch of glitter to the stars. I used a Spellbinders die to cut the image and an Avery Elle due to cut the printed sentiment.

The background paper is from a Lawn Fawn stack. The multi-loop, sheer ribbon, bow was hand tied using my bow maker. The ribbon for the bow was a left over scrap and I did as many loops as I could to use all of it. I think I trimmed less than 1/2 an inch to make the dove-tail ends.

Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

We would love to see you playing along with us in this challenge. Remember, it runs through the end of the month so you have plenty of time to get an entry linked up.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Basket of Hope

This lovely fall image is from the "Basket of Hope" set at Jan's Digi Stamps. The challenges have been on a long summer break and we on the DT are really missing creating inspiration for all of you who play along over there. But we'll be back in November and in the meantime, some of us are making cards featuring Jan's images just to keep our hand in , so to speak.

Every set Jan creates contains both black & white line images, pre-colored images, and multiple sentiments (images in both jpg and png formats.) They are so worth the cost especially when compared to other artists who offer single images for the same price Jan has on full sets!

I colored this one with my ProMarkers and cut it with a square QuicKutz die. I used metallic copper paper for the background and added a double strip of washi tape before adding the image piece. The bow-tie bow was in my stash and I'm sure it's one I made in a large batch of 2 dozen probably 3 years ago. The sentiment is part of the set and I think it will work well for sending Thanksgiving wishes.

Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Sentiments

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Ike's World

I love ProMarkers

Passion for Markers (basket, berries, bow)

Penny's Paper-Crafty

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, September 13, 2021

Mousers (Meow-sers) on the Hunt

When I saw these two adorable felines over at Kinda Cute, this card idea popped into my head instantly! So I decided to use them for the monthly progressive challenge on their FB page. :-D

I colored them with my ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from Dare 2B Artzy. I cut another circle with a smaller die from that same set and added the two, tiny, mice cut with Gina Marie dies. The background dp was a left over from a large piece of scrapbook paper which has been in my stash for longer than I can remember and it was definitely time to use it. I printed and then cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die.

What looks like a strip of polka dot ribbon is actually washi tape, but I used 1/16" satin ribbon to tie the double bow.

Challenges:

That's all for today. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Golden Birthday Flowers

I'm delighted that Monica has given a new breath of life to Crafty Chefs with recipes modified to only 2 ingredients and this month that means 1. Flower and 2. Something Gold. Come join us on our Facebook page and play along!

I decided on a shiny gold bouquet, sparkly ribbon, and a black background. The bouquet was cut with a Die-vesions die from gold, metallic, paper and the ribbon was in my Really Reasonable Ribbon stash. The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die. I kept it really CAS. Sadly, no matter how I photographed it, the metallic paper and the ribbon looked more orange than gold but I assure you, they are gold IRL.

I was inspired by the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches

modified for a more CAS design.

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Hope you're having a great weekend and Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Brewing Tricks or Treats?

Before I start this post, take a moment --

REMEMBER 9-11

THANK A FIRST RESPONDER

I now have so many kids, grandkids, and great-grands that I need a lot of Halloween cards and most of them get mailed to family who are out of state so flat or CAS cards are a priority. Too cute to spook cards are also important since most of the great-grands are young enough to like cute better than spooky. But the grownups all get wickedly spooky cards! lol

This card, with an image from the Stampers Delights progressive challenge, goes to one of the great-grands but I haven't decided just yet who gets it. I colored with ProMarkers and added glitter to the bubbles. The die cut 'frame' is actually the left over, outside piece from a cut done for another project (Spellbinders.) I laid it on top of the image piece and trimmed it to size.

I matted it with orange CS and used scraps of flocked paper from Doodlebug to make the background. I carefully pieced together strips of that flocked paper so that the seams would barely show. I added a narrow strip of purple flocked paper (also from the scrap basket) to the bottom of the image piece and then used two stitched, fabric pumpkins to give a bit of texture.

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, September 10, 2021

State Fair Gnomes

Conie Fong has some of the most adorable gnomes and I'm going to be sharing DT cards using some of the newly released gnomes this month. This is my first one and the image is called "Pumpkin Gnome." The set comes with 4 Gnome images (facing right and left) and 2 sentiments and it's ON SALE for $2.00 right now! Go check it out.

These happy gnomes seem to be so proud of their harvest and are on their way to enter them into the competition at the state fair. :-D

I merged the right and left facing gnomes into a single image, and added my own sentiment before printing. I colored it with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a large, square, QuicKutz die. I used a ProMarker to ink the edges of the image. The dp was a scrap which I cut into smaller pieces before adding it to the card front. I had embossed the card front with my Linen EF for a slight bit of texture.

I hand tied the double-loop, grosgrain, bow with the help of my bow maker and added it to the top corner. I think this is a card which could be used for either a guy or a gal.

Challenges:

As You Like It (squares over circles because they don't require a die to cut them. :-D )

Lil Patch of ...

Don't forget that Conie Fong has two challenges which each run for an entire month over on the Facebook page. One is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects like this one. You do have to use a Conie Fong image but with this one on sale (along with one or two others - check out the Pumpkin Kitties, too!) and with so many cute, cute, CUTE images, how can you resist? We hope to see you there.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Daffodil Card

A good Thursday morning to you! It's time for a new challenge to start over at Creative Knockouts and our wonderful sponsor is Laurie Furnell Ink! She supplied this darling image set for the DT to use and it's called "Little Girl." It's a great set that has 5 different images and the one I used is called 'Daffodil Card.' To see more of the images n the set, be sure to check out the rest of the DT projects. Our theme is everybody's favorite - Anything Goes!

I printed the image right onto my card front, colored it with my ProMarkers, and used a ruler to draw a black outline around the image so that it looked like a layered card when it actually is a single layer. The sentiment was printed and fussy cut, then inlaid into the space for it. I added a touch of glitter to the wings on the bee and the sparkle IRL is marvelous! :-D It's a really CAS design which looks more complex.

Challenges:

Come play with us this week. It's an Anything Goes week and you can use any image from any company. If you win, you'll be thrilled with the Laurie Furnell prize, but you can't win if you don't play. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Autumn Leaves

The DT has had such a long summer break at Jan's Digi Stamps that I'm feeling the need to share some JDS fall images with you. Autumn is right around the corner and the leaves on my neighborhood trees are already turning bright fall colors and a few have even dropped to the ground. In a couple more weeks, the rakes will be taken out and everyone will be making big leaf piles perfect for kids who want to jump into them. Or for adults who just want to share the joyful memories of such times. Sorry, I'm beyond any jumping into those piles any more but I can dream. :-D

I've used this fun image from a JDS set called "Autumn Friends." I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image with a stitched Die-namics die. All the papers are scraps left over from other projects. They were previously cut with dies from Spellbinders and Tonic Studios. I found a black feather which just seemed to shout "It's Fall!" and I hand-tied the little bow.

I pulled 6 colors from the chart at CMH Color Dare #460

(Smoothie/Canary/Almond/Blue Belle/Pebble/Lilac)

Challenges:

Cardz TV

Crafty Catz

Colour Crazy

Creative Inspirations

Our challenges at Jan's Digi Stamps will begin again in November. In the meantime, Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Just for You on Halloween

The latest challenge at Beccy's Place has the usual "Anything Goes" theme but the optional twist this time is to CASE yourself. When I sat down to do this card, another Halloween card was sitting on my table and I decided to CASE it. Here's that card:

and here's my Beccy's card, using an image

from the "Witch Starter Kit":

I was inspired by the colors in this photo from Archiscraps.

I reversed the diagonal and used a simple rectangle die from QuicKutz to cut the image. I inked the image edges with black ProMarker to make it pop from the background. The striped paper is also from Beccy's (Little Witch set - which may be retired since I don't see it in the store <----- Edited to add this note from Beccy: The "Little Witch" paper is actually a freebie that you can find on my blog... it comes with the Little Witch free image. ) and the bat paper came from a left over scrap, maker unknown.

I added a strip of polka dot, orange, washi tape and a strip of lace (which is purple even though it looks almost black!) before layering on the image.

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Is it a Pond or a Puddle?

I'm sharing with you my first DT card for Angie's Digital Stamps and this darling little girl, playing in the (is it a pond or a puddle?) is called Daisy Mae Playing in Water. Isn't she superb? :-D The theme for our fun challenge is "Anything Goes" but you may use the twist of "Fall Colors" if you like.

I colored with my favorite ProMarkers, then cut her with a square die from Cottage Cutz turned 'on point', as they say in quilting. The square of purple CS was a scrap I found in the basket and it worked so perfectly with the dots in her dress that it simply had to decorate the card front. I printed out the sentiment, cut it with a QuicKutz rectangle die, and added it to the CS just below where I had printed the first part of the sentiment using white gel pen.

I added a few wraps of sparkle twine tied into a bow to finish it. The background is ombre on water color paper. Although it has quite few pieces, it still looks rather clean if not completely simple. :-)

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Taylormade ...

Please come and play in our challenge this month. We love seeing what you create and you could win some fabulous images from Angie's. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, September 3, 2021

Meerkat Birthday

I fell in love with the image from this month's Digi of the Month from Imagine That ! I reversed the sweet little Meerkat before I printed the image. I colored with my ProMarkers, trimmed the image to fit my card size (4" x 4"), and used two different Fiskars punches to decorate the corners.

I had a scrap of the sparkly, white ribbon in my basket which was just the right size for this card. The bow is hand-tied using sheer ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Challenges:

I'm taking some time off from the craft room the rest of today and tomorrow so there may not be a post on Saturday but I'll be back on Sunday with a new post and a new team! Be sure to check in to see what I'll be doing on the First Sundays for the foreseeable future. :-D Happy Crafting NanaConnie

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Totally Innocent Devil Dragon

As some of you know (if you visit my blog with any regularity), I have a granddaughter who shares my great love of dragons and I've been using any excuse (birthday, Christmas, Easter, Summer Solstice, start or end of Daylight Savings time, etc.) to send her dragon cards for most of her 22 years now. Yes, she still loves them even as an adult. So, this one will be her Halloween card this year.

It's colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut and embossed with Sue Wilson dies. The background papers are scraps from a Recollections stack. The lace strip was in my stash and has been enhanced with suede strips before adhering it diagonally across the card front. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

I was influenced by the sketch at Paperminutes,

adjusted for a square card.

I did reverse the diagonal line and used a square shape

instead of a circle.

Challenges:

Cardz TV

Creative Inspirations

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

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

An "Oddball" Birthday

This is my fourth and last post for the new first of the month challenges where I'm sharing DT cards with you. If you missed the previous posts, just scroll down and you'll see them all. This one is for Your Scrapbook Place and we're sponsored by the fun and quirky Oddball Art. They supplied images for the DT and I used Big Eye Girl Bessy # 8.

I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die. I chose a die from Spellbinders to cut the frame from a scrap of patterned CS. I love the contrast of combining the two fancy filigree die cuts with the quirky image. I layered the frame and image onto ragged-edged, purple CS and put that onto a white card base. I added the sentiment after cutting it with an Avery Elle die. I wanted to showcase the image and the frames so decided not to embellish the card any further.

I put this into my stash of feminine birthday cards.

Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Creations

I love ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperbabe

Passion for Markers

Tic Tac Toe (center column)

Word Art Weds

Be sure to visit both the main Your Scrapbook Place challenge post and our fun sponsor, Oddball Art. We are looking forward to seeing your entries into our "Anything Goes" challenge this month.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Granting Wishes

OK, here's my third post for September 1st, and this time it's for the newest fortnightly challenge at QKR Stampede. Our theme is always Anything Goes and our challenges start on the 1st and 15th of each month. You may use any image from any company, but if you do use something from QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your project is put into a completely separate draw for QKR only and that really increases your chance of winning! Since QKR digital images are only $2.00 each, how can you lose? Rubber stamps of the same images run a little bit more but most of those are $4.00 or less. When is the last time you bought a rubber stamp for $4?

I merged two images from QKR Stampede, "Genie" and "Genie Lamp" and colored them both with my ProMarkers. I cut the image and the darker purple CS with Tonic Studios scalloped dies, and offset the image piece into an upper corner of the larger frame piece. I printed the sentiment, cut it with an Avery Elle die, and added it to the lower corner of the frame.

My final touches were jute cord twine and a sheer ribbon bow. I think it's CAS enough that it could work for either a male or a female recipient. :-D

Challenges:

A Bit More Time ...

I hope we see you playing along in this challenge. We love visiting your blogs and being inspired by you as much as we enjoy creating and perhaps inspiring you! Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Summer Rays

Our latest monthly challenge has started over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and I have to announce that it is also the last challenge after nearly 5 years. I really hate to see it close, but unless someone steps forward and is willing to take it over, when this challenge finishes on September 25th, it will be the last one.

Our theme has always been "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter" but that could be changed if someone else wants to take over. We've had sponsors each month and that, too, could be changed.

One of our first sponsors was QKR Stampede and they are our last sponsor as well. They have the most adorable images, many of them available in both digi and rubber stamps. I chose one called "Basking" and I just love the idea of a rooster soaking up the last rays of summer even if it means a bit of sunburn. :-D

The image is colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a pinpoint die from Dare 2B Artzy. The green dp square was cut with a QuicKutz die, and then I cut the center of it with the same Dare 2B Artzy die and inlaid the image cut into that piece.

The sunshine dp was also a scrap from the basket. It had been in there so long, I was pretty sure it would never get used but it was too big to throw away. This seemed the perfect card for it. :-D I tied a bow tie bow from satin ribbon; printed the sentiment and cut it with an Impression Obsession die. It's CAS enough to work as a masculine card.

Challenges:

I hope you'll come and play with us in what may be our last challenge. Or maybe you'll be the one to decide to take it over and keep it going. Many on the team are more than willing to stay and all will be most helpful. If you have any interest, please email 2 Crafty Critter Crazies. Here's the address: 2craftycrittercrazies@gmail.com

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Cat, Skull, & Pumpkin

This first card for September (I have a total of 4 posts today!) is doing double duty for both Paper Funday and for Jan's Digi Stamps. Although Jan's Digi Stamps is still on a break from their own challenges, they are sponsoring Paper Funday this month. They will start their monthly challenges again in November.

For Paper Funday, our September theme is "Autumn/Fall" and I chose to do a Halloween card which features autumn colors. I merged images from three of Jan's sets; the black cat (reversed) is from a new set called "Pumpkin People," the skull is from "Hocus Pocus," and the pumpkin is from "Autumn Corn Sheaves." All of them are secondary images to the main image in each set. The sentiment is from the new Pumpkin People set.

I colored with ProMarkers, then used my Fiskars paper cutter to cut the image square. I inked the edges with a marker, added polka dot washi tape diagonally across two corners, and tied a double-loop bow from satin ribbon. The card front was embossed with my "Linen" EF.

Challenges:

Come play in our 'Autumn/Fall' challenge at Paper Funday this month and check out what some of the Jan's DT have done in the interim before the challenges begin again in November. Jan's Digi Stamps.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Hard Days Knight

We're starting a new weekly challenge over at Creative Knockouts and our theme this week is "Funny Cards." Our fun sponsor is Dr. Digi and they provided images for the DT to use on our sample cards. I used an mage called "Hard Days Knight" and I think the brief, one-word sentiment says it all. :-D You do need to look closely and check out the knight's lance. The poor dragon can't even read his morning newspaper in peace. I'm sure the knight was trying to impress a fair lady but I doubt he succeeded.

I colored with my ProMarkers, then cut the image with a Gina Marie die. I used my Linen EF on the blue, CS background and found a scrap of starry night dp in the basket. The addition of sparkle twine was all the card needed to look finished.

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments

Colouring in Scrapland

That's all for today. Edited to add: I'm still suffering from the after effects of my second COVID vaccine (but marginally better - the nausea has stopped) so I'm squirreled away under the sheets for at least another day or two.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, August 23, 2021

Gnome's Wild Flower

First, quick apology for the late post. Unavoidable. :-(

Today we start another new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes." Our challenge is sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs and they provided images to the DT for our inspiration projects. Thank you, SheepSki!

I used one of Andrea's adorable Gnomes and this one is called "Wild Flower." I colored him with my ProMarkers, and used a QuicKutz die to cut both the image and the blue frame around it. I added a scrap piece of pale blue CS behind the image but there's a secret I'll share with you. The background dp is actually 2 pieces which I carefully matched together and the image and blue CS are covering up a 'hole' in one piece where a piece had been cut for some other project.

I keep saying, "Don't toss the scraps! They can be used." :-D

I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows which had been 'dyed' with ProMarker to match the flowers. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Bastel-Traum

Carlin's Card Paradise

We really want to see you playing in our challenge this week. Remember, "Anything Goes" and all you have to do is submit them with the link up tool on the challenge blog. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Appropriate Dress Code

We've all gotten so used to hanging out at home over the last year or so that most of us have completely forgotten about things like dress codes. It's just so easy to stay completely casual. Let's face it, even with Zoom calls, one can dress the top half and stay in jammies on the bottom.

This gentleman, an image for the progressive challenge at Kinda Cute, seems to have developed a new definition of "Business Casual" dress during the pandemic. I do hope he's not at the office! :-D

I colored with ProMarkers, cut both the image and sentiment with CUTplorations dies after adjusting them for a second cut to get the shape and size I needed. I used sky blue CS for the card base and added silk twine before putting on the image and sentiment pieces. I kept it very CAS because I intend to use it for a masculine birthday card.

I took the sketch from The Outlawz,

turned it 1/4 turn, and used the twine in place of the chevron border.

Challenges:

Hope your weekend has been wonderful. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Confirmation

This lovely little image is from LeAnn's World and is for their Progressive Challenge. I'm sure she was meant to be a bride but since I needed a confirmation card, and since she can easily pass for a young girl, she graces the front of this very CAS card.

Colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a Cuts stitched die. Sentiment printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. Edges of both die cuts inked with gold inkpad.

Challenges:

Taylormade ...

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

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