Pegasus in Purple

     I'm a Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday this month and this is my second card for them but a completely new sketch.  They have new sketches and new challenges each week.  The sketch this week was both fun and fancy.

     The sponsor for this week is LeAnn's World 101.  She has some of the most adorable images!  Go check them out.  I used one called "Daisy's Friend" and was delighted that the friend is Pegasus.  :-D

     A quick personal story - I first discovered Pegasus through reading.  As a child, summer meant plenty of reading time (without any teachers telling you what you had to read) and one summer, I discovered Greek Mythology.  That led to a love of all fantasy creatures and to this day, unicorns, fairies, mermaids, and especially Pegasus, all mean summer time to me.

Here's the sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, deciding to use a monochromatic range of my favorite color, purple.  I cut the image and purple frame with dies from my newest Tonic Studios set.  I love that die set.  It has alternating sizes of plain and scalloped rectangles.  Once I had the image cut with the  die, I carefully cut it into 6 "inchie" squares.

     I laid those out on the frame piece, spacing them carefully to get the 'window' look.  Once adhered, I layered that entire piece onto the background dp (Stampin' Up), then put that onto deep purple CS.

     I printed and added the sentiment, substituting it for the little flag piece.

     Challenges:

Aloha Friday

As You Like It (Fur or feathers?  How about both!  But fur is still easier to color.)

Aud Sentiments

Cut It Up

DL.ART

Outlawz PAM

Pattie's Creations

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

Take It, Make It

     I'll see you again next Saturday with another sketch.  In the meantime, come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Little Birdie Told Me...

     Good Friday Morning!  We have a new challenge starting today at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."   I took the opportunity to add another birthday card to my stash with this CAS design using QKR image "Birdhouses" and sentiment "Birdie Told Me."  Remember that QKR Stampede images come in both rubber and digital, whichever is your preference.

     I colored the birdhouses and background in the image with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then fussy cut it leaving two spots where the image went 'off the edge.'  To give a little texture and dimension, I stacked the image onto 3 more layers of CS, hand cutting each one as I added it so that the final image piece is 4 layers of CS.  I inked the edges to make it pop a bit.

     I adhered that onto a confetti CS base.  I printed the sentiment, matted it with turquoise CS, and hand cut that.  I used baker's twine to wrap the card and die cut (Cheery Lynn) a butterfly out of burlap paper.  I 'dyed' it with a ProMarker, then added one tiny rhinestone to the butterfly body for a bit of sparkle and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
CARDZ TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Crafty Gals Corner
House that Stamps Built (1st column)
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Friday
Penny's Paper Crafty
Victorine Originals

     Come play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you and you certainly can't go wrong with an Anything Goes theme.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Is It Fall Yet?

     OK, I'm done with summer!  I officially hate hot weather, I'm tired of day after day of temperatures over 100F, I'm tired of heat waves, and I don't want to hear the meteorologists tell us one more time to stay indoors because of bad air quality!   That part is really sad because outside is my favorite place to be if I'm not in the craft room.  I want it to be autumn and I want crisp, cool nights, not Hot August Nights. 

     I'm not doing any more summer cards - only fall and winter.  Maybe that will bring in cooler temperatures.  :-D  The image on this autumn card is from Bugaboo Stamps and I love this autumn deer.

I started with the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used one of my Stitched Border dies from Lawn Fawn along each side of it.  I trimmed it top and bottom with a paper cutter and distressed the edges.  Both papers came from one of my DCWV autumn stacks which have been in my stash for more than 5 years now.  I use them up slowly but surely and, while they last, I don't have to buy any new fall paper stacks.  

     I found the orange, polka dot ribbon in my stash, wrapped it around and then hand tied the bow.  I printed the sentiments, cut it by hand, matted it, hand cut it again, then added it to the top corner.

     Challenges:

Angie's Digital Stamps

Catch the Bug

Craft-Dee BowZ

Crafty Calender

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's Paper

Lawn Fanatics (outside)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Well, I went outside to check but fall hasn't arrived yet.  Back to the craft room to make more winter cards.  Maybe visions of snow will help.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Zombie Ball

     Today's card was done for the Progressive Challenge at Limited Runs and it has a story line.  Did you know that every year the ghosties and goblins throw an annual Ball?  It's usually an "invitation only" event but this year a young zombie showed up, hoping to gain access.  He was excluded, however, for lacking the proper dress.

     Coloring was done with ProMarkers, and I used a Sizzix die to cut the inner scalloped circle and a Memory Box stitched scalloped die to cut the larger circle.  I inked the edges of each one and inlaid them.  The background dp (Making Memories) and the spidery ribbon were both in my Halloween stash and they seemed to work well with this particular design.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, matted it with a bit of dp, then 'dyed' the little bow black with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Sentiments
Cards in Envy  (new image)
Creates and Makes
Creative Fingers
Incy Wincy
Scrappy Land
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Felines Made Me Post This!

     I had no idea when I did the previous post that I'd be posting twice today.  But the feline fur babies simply wouldn't let me do a salute to the world of canines without a balancing post featuring a cat.   Sigh.  If you want to see what upset them, check out this post (or scroll down one post.)

     I found this image in my collection of Di's Digi Designs and decided that I would color it with my polychromos pencils.   When it was finished, I cut it with one of my newest dies, an Unbranded cross stitch rectangle, and I used the smallest one from that set to cut the sentiment.

     I needed to get this one done quickly (since the fur babies were glaring at me) and I had already spent a good 45 minutes coloring, so I looked through various sketches and settled on the one from Cheerful Sketches.  Without a sketch, I can spend an hour or more fiddling with design ideas, laying things out, re-arranging them, and re-arranging again.  No time for that this morning!

     Everything on the card came from scraps in my stash.  The bit of red ribbon and the polka dot dp worked well together so I grabbed them, trimmed the dp squares to a suitable size, distressed the edges a bit,  and layered them onto a card base made from a leftover piece of confetti CS.  

     I dug out one of those white bows I sew up by the dozens, used a marker to 'dye' it red, and added it as the one embellishment on the card.  I called it finished and rushed around to get it photographed and ready to post.  

     Sorry the ribbon is crooked in the photo but I didn't take time to adjust it and re-photograph.  At that point, the felines were pacing and making threatening noises so I just sat down and began typing up the post.  (If you don't see a post from me tomorrow, call the FBI!  The cats have probably done something horrible with my remains, like hiding the shredded pieces under the ribbon stash in the craft room.  lol)

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft

Digi Doodle Studios

Digistamps4Joy

Joy Clair

Lemon Shortbread

Not Just Cards

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

For Love of a Dog

     I want everyone to know that I closed the door and banned the feline fur babies from the craft room while I write up this post.  They'd be complaining if they knew I was honoring dogs in general and one canine in particular.  lol  Hey, at least I'm staying true to loving fur critters better than those with feathers.  For me, that's probably because I think it's easier to color fur than it is feathers.

     This darling image is from Dragon's Lair and is for their monthly progressive challenge.  But I'm using it to honor Rambo, the best friend of a dear blogging buddy of mine, Lynn.  Rambo is a ferocious guard dog, fiercely protecting his family and home from invading cats and squirrels, despite the fact that his legs are only inches tall.  Go get 'em, Rambo!

     Since Rambo is a red doxie instead of black, I mixed as many shades as I could of red-brown water colors to color the image.  I used ProMarkers to do the nose, the eyes, and his collar.  I used Tonic Studios dies to cut the image and the frame.  As a salute to Lynn, I did a CAS design and added twine, both of which she does on most of her cards.  I really like the CAS for this one because it showcases dear Rambo so beautifully and makes a great masculine card.  :-D

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
As You Like It
Crafty Addicts
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Lynn, I hope you love this and I can't wait to see your own version of this.  Hug Rambo for me but don't tell the cats!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Family Christmas Letter

     Each year during the Christmas holidays, my mother used to write out (by hand and with carbon paper - bet most of you don't remember carbon paper) a long Christmas letter to family and friends, with updates on our nuclear family's activities and accomplishments which had taken place during the previous year.  It's a tradition which has been lost over time with the exception of one cousin who has lived in Australia for 45 years now.  Even he now sends out his Christmas letter via email.

     But this year, I'm going to revive the tradition and send real, live, postage-paid, letters to many friends and distant family members.  I decided since card making has become one of my favorite activities, and since many of the family members expect to get a card from me, I'd combine the two and send out letters inside a tri-fold, CS cover which will also serve as the envelope.

     I've made a dozen of these and have another half dozen to finish.

     I've actually made two versions of this and this one uses the 'negative' die cut.  The dies are Memory Box.  On the other style, I used the positive, that is, the actual die cut words.  I haven't photographed one of that style yet but the words are mounted onto a long rectangle of light red CS for a red and green combo.

     I used tiny, metal brads in the center and dimensional holly and berries.  The letter will be on regular 8.5" X 11" paper and it will tri-fold inside the cover, being stapled to it at the top.  I'll use a small Christmas sticker to hold the flap closed for mailing.

     Challenges:
Crafts Galore Encore
Creative Inspirations
Die Cuttin' Divas
Let's Craft & Create
Not Just Cards
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Nest Dolls
Scrappy Land
TTCRD

     Having finally started my Christmas cards last month, I'm staying with my commitment to make at least 1 Christmas card per week between now and the beginning of October and then I may have to increase that.  We'll see how it goes but this is the one for this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Lover Thank You

     I've done another die cuts card but this one is a special Thank You for a cat lover friend of mine.   Her young daughter has 2 Siamese cats so I did my best to color them appropriately.  I know both of them are going to love this card.

     I used scraps of CS to do the die cuts.  The cat family die is from Cheery Lynn and the Thank You oval was cut with an Unbranded die.  I used ProMarkers to color the gray on the cats and the bit of purple on the ball of yarn.

     I dug in my stash to find one of my hand-sewn bows; it was white but I 'dyed' it with a violet ProMarker.  Once I learned that technique of dying with a marker, I only use white ribbon for my bows.  That way, I get bows which are exactly the color I want.

     I added a small gem to the center before adhering it to the card.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Die Cuttin' Divas
Digi Choosday
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets
Quick Quotes
Send a Smile 4 Kids
TTCRD

     That's all I have for today.  Maybe something else tomorrow.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Reading Journey

     I'm so tickled to be a Guest Designer at Sketch Saturday for the whole month of August!  Our sponsor for this sketch is Star Stampz and "Journey through a Book" is one of their images. 

     I love sketches for inspiration and Sketch Saturday has some of the best ones.  Let me show you my card and the sketch.

And here's the sketch:

     I colored with ProMarkers and the 'sky' is done with watercolors.  Both the image and frame are cut with dies from Spellbinders.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut, then layered onto the CS flag.  I used one of my signature bows which was originally white but I used a ProMarker to 'dye' it. 

     Finally, I added three tiny gems to the left hand side of the image but they're hard to see in the photo.  All the paper/CS on the card were scraps left on the craft table from other projects.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Scrappy Land
Take It, Make It

      Are you feeling stuck for a creative idea or did your mojo go on vacation?  Try using our sketch for inspiration and then come play in our challenge this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Old Friends

     It's Friday so another weekly challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  As always, we have an "Anything Goes" theme.

     When I was a young girl, I received my first Raggedy Ann doll.  She was precious and became my favorite right away.  Within a few months, I decided she needed a friend and begged for another rag doll to accompany her.  A second one arrived right around my birthday.  Over the next dozen or so years, I gathered up at least 6 more and each one of them was well loved, therefore also well worn.

     By the time they needed to be discarded (a heartbreaking occasion for me) I was old enough to have discovered quilting.  I can remember carefully removing their aprons and using that fabric in my first quilt.  I'm sure those memories have something to do with this card design, using "Girl Friends" (image) and "Best Antiques" (sentiment) from the QKR store.

     For coloring the image, I used a combination of ProMarkers and water colors.  I cut both the image and the frame with diamond dies from Spellbinders.  The frame piece was cut from a scrap of dp rescued from an ignominious death in the round file.

     I printed and cut the sentiment with another diamond die from that same set.  Instead of matting it, I just used a ProMarker to ink the edges.  The plaid background dp made me think of the apron fabric on one of my rag dolls so I decided it was the perfect choice for this card.

     I'm inspired now to use this image (printed onto plain white fabric) on a child's quilt.  Maybe I'll still be blogging by the time I get it done and I'll be able to share it with you.  On the other hand, quilting takes me a lot longer than it did when I was younger, so who knows?  :-D

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Crafting with Friends
Creative Knockouts
Cute Card Thursday
Digistamps4Joy
Not Just Cards

      Hope we see you playing along this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Just Chillin' at the Seaside

     Here's it is the first Thursday in August and we're starting a new challenge over at Crafting with an Attitude.  Our sponsor this month is Beccy's Place and I've used this magnificent Gull from her "Smooth Seas" set.

     I started by coloring with my ProMarkers and then did the background using a dried out marker as a water color 'paint brush.'   I dipped it into the water color, let it absorb quite a bit, dabbed it once on a paper towel, then used it to 'paint' both the sky and the water.  I had to dip several times to complete both the sky and the water.

     The marker I chose was actually an old blender so I didn't risk any color being left in the marker.  Old alcohol markers don't mix well with the water, even when they are dried out.  I really like the broad, chisel-tip look it gave me which I can't get with any of the water color paint brushes I have.

     I used a white gel pen to make the foam around the pilings.

     I cut the image with a stitched, Cheery Lynn, die.  I did the same with the printed sentiment but I trimmed off the top since the small square die was larger than I wanted.  Both of those pieces were mounted onto a confetti CS base.  I dug through my ribbon stash, found that blue ribbon, and used the last I had to wrap around the card front and then make the multi-loop bow with my bow maker.

     I think this made a wonderful masculine card and I'll have it in my stash for future use.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Bastel-Traum
Beccy's Place
Carlin's Card Paradise
Country View
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts Galore Encore
Digistamps4Joy
Scribbles Designs

     Come play in our challenge this month.  Our theme is "Anything Goes" and we can't wait to be inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cold Days & Hot Coffee

     This is my second post of the day so if you're looking for my DT card for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, please click here.

     The new challenge starts today at SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Favourite Things."  I used the SheepSki image called "Coffee Break" because two of my favorite things are cold autumn nights and coffee.  When those are put together it's a perfect evening!   Just so you know, I'm really tired of the hot, hot, HOT weather we've had for 33 days (in a row) and I'm wishing for autumn and crisp air and coffee.  Does the coffee part make that a 'Warm Wish' ? 

     She's colored with ProMarkers and cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I framed the image with a pinhole die cut (Cottage Cutz.)  Both of those are simple square dies turned on point.

     The background paper is from DCWV, pulled from the oldest part of my paper stash, and I used an ink pad to ink the edges before applying it to the card front.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, added it, and then used three small pearls on each side for embellishment, also from the stash.

     Challenges:
CARDZ  TV
Crafting by Designs
Die Cuttin' Divas
Di's Digi Designs
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Shelter
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
TTCRD
   
     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cherry Harvest

     It's August 1st (how did it get to be August???) and that means another new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where we always have an Anything Goes theme as long as you feature some sort of creature.  We're being sponsored by A Day for Daisies this month and they generously gave us images to use.  I chose "A Bite of Cherry" for my image and it makes me think of harvest time.  :-D

I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

and the colors from The Outlawz.

  

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and water color paints.  I cut the image with a Gina Marie die.  I found a scrap of marbled, rusty, CS and trimmed it to the exact size of the die cut, framing out the image in rusty reds for a feeling of fall harvest.

     I added a simple strip of sheer ribbon and red bow to which I added a tiny gem.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment, inked the edges, and added it to the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Simon Says Stamp & Show
Take It, Make It
Word Art Weds.

     I hope we'll see you playing along with us this month.  You can submit any kind of project as long as it features some kind of creature - 2 legged, 4 legged, feather, fur, wings or no wings, insects, even complete fantasy creatures.  Come play!  NanaConnie

Potted Roses

     Today I'm sharing another of my 'all die cuts' cards.  I love doing these when I travel and don't have all my coloring tools with me.  It's easy to do a bunch of die cuts of varied subjects and colors ahead of time, then pack them away carefully between 2 pieces of cardboard.  Pop those into a plastic bag, add a glue pen, and you have everything ready for card making on the run.  :-D

     For this one, I cut the roses twice, one green and one yellow, using a die from Cottage Cutz.  The plant pot was cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and the butterfly (both layers) is Impression Obsession.  The "Hello" sentiment was done with a Poppy Stamps die.  I had a scrap of pale green, checked, dp which I used for the background.

     For the roses, I cut the flowers off the yellow die cut and layered them onto the green die cut.  I used white gel ink to highlight them and added tiny gems for a touch of sparkle.  I used the gel  pen on the pot as well.  The butterfly was highlighted with pencil and gel ink before adding gold pearls to the body.

     The sentiment was added last.  I wanted the die cuts to be the focus so no ribbons, no 3D flowers, no embellies, just the dp and the die cuts for something CAS.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
CARDZ TV
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations
Crazy for CAS
Incy Wincy (1 word senti/creature/checks)
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Star Stampz

     That's all I have for this hot summer day.  We've already had more 100F+ days in a row than we normally have all summer long so I'm done with summer!  I'm ready for rain, cool days, falling leaves, and something better than the weathermen saying, "105 again today."  Yuck.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

One Last Christmas in July

     All last week, I did Christmas cards for the daily challenges at Catch the Bug.  Today, I have one last Christmas in July card but this time the image is from AuroraWings.  While their challenge theme has nothing to do with Christmas, how could I resist these adorable felines?  I got this image back in January and I've been waiting to use it so this week seemed the perfect time.

     I'm truly not sure if they are decorating or un-decorating the tree.  If it was my fur babies, they'd be taking it apart!  lol

      The image is printed right onto the card front for a very CAS design and I colored it with polychromos pencils, plus I added glitter to the tree ornaments.  The sentiment is done with a die from Die-Versions.  I cut it three times from red CS, stacked those together and glued them with a glue pen, then added them to the card front.

     The stacking gives some great dimension but also adds texture.  A CAS card, easy to mail.

     Challenges:
Christmas Crafts All Year Round
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Die Cuttin' Divas
Hiding in My Craft Room
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Outlawz PAM
Send a Smile 4 Kids
SUYP Cats

     This will be the last Christmas card for a couple of weeks.  But now that I've gotten a start, I'll be doing two or three each month for the rest of the summer, then I do at least one a week through the holidays.  I get my stash built up each year because I need 20 to 25 for family and close friends, and then I donate 50 to 75 to my local senior center.
   
     I started doing that when I moved here 5 years ago.  It happened quite by accident.  My first Christmas in my new home, I was busy unpacking through the late fall and finally ran across a box of Christmas cards I had done for family but by the time I found them, I had already made and mailed new ones because I couldn't find that particular box.  The senior center is literally 2 blocks away and I passed it on my way over to my daughter's house the very day I found the cards.

     I turned around, went back to the house, grabbed the box of cards, and took it over to the Senior Center just to see if anyone might be interested in having cards for their own family and friends.  I knew some of those attending activities at the center really don't have adequate transportation to get out to the Hallmark store to buy cards for family and friends.  There were only about 20 or so but I understand they were all taken that very afternoon.

     The next year, I did an extra 25 cards specifically to take to the Senior Center.  By year three, the center manager called me on December 1st to ask if there was any chance I was bringing cards that year also.  It seems she had requests and inquiries from many of the seniors asking if there would be cards that year.  :-D  Now I make as many cards as I can for the Senior Center and every year I get wonderful feedback and warm "Thank You"s so I keep on doing it.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Bash Winner from my Blog

     Just a quick post this morning to announce the winner of the Spellbinders' die set I offered for the Birthday Bash at Challenges for Days.  And the winner is....... (drum roll, please).....

                           VICKI from Stamped Smiles !! 

Woohoo, Vicki.  Please send your mailing address in an email to ChallengesForDays@yahoo.com and mention that you are the winner from NanaConnie's blog.

Congratulations.  :-D  

Embroidery Butterflies

     This is going to be a really fast post this morning.  I'm back to machine embroidered things which I can use on cards and this morning, it's pink butterflies! 

     Pink and silver seemed a great combo for a completely feminine card which is still on the CAS side.  The die cuts are done with Bo Bunny dies, and the scalloped dp is from the scrap basket.  I layered everything onto a pink card base and then added a silver, die cut sentiment (Unbranded die.)

     Challenges:
Butterfly Challenge (Old Rose)
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Victorine Originals

     That's it for me and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.  NanaConnie

Santa on Vacation

      This is my second post for today.  If you're looking for my QKR Stampede DT card, scroll down one post.

     This post features my card made for the final day of the Christmas in July daily challenges at Catch the Bug.  We had to make a project inspired by this photo.



     Here's where inspiration took me.  When the Christmas rush is over and supervising the elves in the toy shop isn't yet needed for next year, Santa takes a tropical vacation.  :-D

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and gel inks, then carefully fussy cut it.  The 'sand' and sea in the scene are made from patterned paper, but I used a white gel pen to make the breaking waves in the ocean.

     The sky is done on white CS with water color pencils and gamsol for blending.  I printed the sentiment, cut it by hand and added it to the card front.  The three tiny pearls are the only embellishment but there is great visual texture from the four layers - 3 dp plus the image.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas (on a beach - lol)
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Digi Doodle Studios
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Outlawz Festive Friday
Sasayaki Glitter
Sisterhood of Crafters
Star Stampz
That's Crafty

     Don't forget - today and tomorrow are the last days of the Challenges for Days Birthday Bash and all you have to do to win is to comment on my post (HERE) and on the Birthday Bash post at Challenges for Days.  There are great prizes to be won from not only some lovely sponsors on Saturday but also from each of the CfD List Manager volunteers who have offered prizes of crafting goodies.  Check it out and be sure to leave comments on all the blogs which are offering prizes.  See the list on the CfD blog.   

     That's all I have for today but you did get a "twofer" so no complaining.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Light My Fire

     It's Friday and time for the next weekly challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we love having you play along with us.

     For my card today, I used the QKR Stampede image, "Book of Matches" and this card has a double meaning - I'm sending it to a friend of mine and she's going to give it to her Hubby on their anniversary in early August.  He's the BBQ king of the neighborhood and still cooks over charcoal.  He says gas BBQs are for sissies.  lol

     While I don't do a lot of cooking over the home BBQ, I've done my share of camping vacations where all the cooking was done over a campfire so I'm intimately familiar with lighting those kinds of fires!

     I colored with ProMarkers and pencils, then cut the image with a stitched die from Cheery Lynn.  I found scraps of dp and used them behind the image.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a smaller Cheery Lynn die from that set, then adhered just at the bottom of the image.

     The only embellishment is the row of tiny pearls.  I think that design made a delightfully fun and CAS masculine card.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
CARDZ TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Creations
Cute Card Thurs.
House that Stamps Built
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters

     Don't forget - today and tomorrow are the last days of the Challenges for Days Birthday Bash and all you have to do to win is to comment on my post (HERE) and on the Birthday Bash post at Challenges for Days.  There are great prizes to be won from not only some lovely sponsors on Saturday but also from each of the CfD List Manager volunteers who have offered prizes of crafting goodies.  Check it out and be sure to leave comments on all the blogs which are offering prizes.  See the list on the CfD blog.

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

'Sno-one Like You

     It's Thursday and I have another entry into the Christmas in July daily challenges at Catch the Bug.  They asked players to use an Oldie but Goodie, meaning anything that isn't a "new" stamp.  Here's one I've had in my collection but I don't think I've ever used it.

     I tried something I saw on one of the blogs I follow and found it pretty easy.  It's an envelope card, meaning the image is in the very center of the envelope and the sides and top flaps all fold in to make the envelope.  It's held shut with a slip-on loop but you could close it with a ribbon, too.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a square die from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges with a ProMarker and centered it into the envelope.  I made the envelope from a leftover piece of scrapbook paper, putting the color on the inside and the white on what will be the outside when it's all folded.

     Because I wanted it to be flat, I added no embellishments of any kind so this is a very CAS card design.

     Challenges:
Crafting From the Heart
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp & Show
That's Crafty

     That's it for today but tomorrow I'll have 2 posts so be sure to check back then.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie