Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon...

     My card this morning is made with an image from The East Wind called "Borum-dal" meaning Full Moon.  Every time I look at it, that song "Shine On, Shine on harvest moon up in the sky..." starts running through my head.  :-D

     I colored the image with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils plus a dash of gel pen.  I framed her with a die cut frame (Cheery Lynn - Dainty Dutch Deco) which I used today for the first time.  Oh, that die set is going to get lots of use -- I love it !   It gives such a pretty vintage touch to everything.

     I worked on a red CS base which I ran through my "Linen" embossing folder, then added the wide lace and the image on top of that.  I made a double bow with lace for one layer and satin for the other.  This is another of those cards which looks very complex because of the vintage framing and the lace but which was relatively simple to put together.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Gem of a Challenge
A Vintage Journey
Cheery Lynn
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Cuttlebug Mania
DRS Designs
Great Impressions
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Southern Girls

     I hope your weekend goes well and that you find plenty of down time for recharging the batteries.  Remember, without a recharge our creativity gets drained, too.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Arachnophobia

     I can't believe I made this card for the new challenge at QKR Stampede.  You have to understand that I hate spiders, I REALLY hate spiders!   But these two seemed so cute and friendly somehow (Digi 12301 "Spider" and Digi 12302 "Spider") that I decided to use them to fight my arachnophobia.  :-D  Besides, they were perfect for our theme of "Fall Colors."

     I colored the spiders with my new polychromos pencils but I did the shadows around them with my ProMarkers.  I used a Spellbinders' die to cut out the image, then trimmed one side of it.  I decided to add the gate and fence which gave it a Halloween feel.  One of my grandsons will love this one, I'm sure.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with an Attitude
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs.
Fab'n Funky
Kraftin' Kimmie
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Scrapper's Delights
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Take It, Make It

     Come play with us this week, won't you?   Just use any of the fall colors on your card.  You don't have to use QKR Stampede images but if you do, your card will be entered into a separate drawing and that really increases your chance of winning more QKR images.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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School of Life

     All the kids are returning to school, fall is just around the corner, we celebrated Labor Day last Monday which seems to always be the unofficial end of summer and, as I'm watching the kids catch the school bus, I'm thinking of what a great education we get just from living life every day.  So, here's a salute to the school called "Life."

     This sweet image from ArtbyMiRan is perfect for this idea since she's carrying her books with her.  I colored her with my ProMarkers, then cut with an Inside-Outside Stitched Rectangle Die by Die-namics (MFT.)   I cut two more rectangles with dies from that same set and inlaid them all.  All of that went onto an olive green card base.  I fussy cut the sentiment and added it at the bottom of the image, then used one of my bowtie bows and three tiny pearls as embellishment.

     Challenges:
ArtbyMiRan
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Calendar
Crazy Challenge
If You Give a Crafter...
Melonheadz Friends
Outlawz Festive Friday

     Tomorrow I'll have another DT card for the new QKR Stampede challenge and you know how much I love working with their digis!  Be sure to stop by.  You'll love it.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Whoo Loves Fall?

     A new challenge starts today at Scrapy Land with a theme of "Anything Goes" and I'm still with them as a Guest Designer for another month.  I admit I've gone overboard on new die sets since starting with them in July but what's a gal to do when there are so many fabulous dies and when that same gal loves dies of all kinds?  :-D

     I'm into fall/autumn cards now and this one is another which I'll probably use for a fall birthday.  There are several of those in my family; a daughter, a granddaughter, great granddaughter, a grandson... and three friends.  Yeah, several.

     The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and I used my new polychromos pencils again but I'm much happier with the coloring this time.  It's richer and darker, not at all pastel, so I am learning as I go along.  I think the blending is the best I've done, so far.  I'm hoping it continues to get better.  :-D

     I did all kinds of fun techniques on this card, starting with the die cuts which are framing the image.  Those are cut with two dies from the St. Lucia set in the Caribbean Collection by Sue Wilson Designs.  I cut two colors of cardstock and then inlaid them together.

     I also used die cuts for my embellies.  The leaf was cut twice (plaid dp and chocolate brown CS) with a "Maple Leaf Border" die from Die-namites, then I cut a single leaf from the row of leaves that make up the border.  For the pumpkins, I used the "Pumpkin Patch" die from Impression Obsession.  Again, I cut two colors of CS and offset them so that each orange pumpkin is shaded with brown.  It gives some amazing visual dimension while still being very flat and easy to mail.

     The sparkly flowers in the upper corner of the background are heat embossed using a stamp, Versamark ink, and a sparkly embossing powder from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Sienna Star.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Bit More Time to Craft
Card Mania
Classic Design Team Open
Crafter's Cafe
Crafts and Me
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Cute as a Button
Delicious Doodles
Die Cut Divas
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Petal Lu
Sisters of Craft
Sparkles Forum

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in our challenge this fortnight.  You can do anything you like as long as you use a die from one of the more than 40 companies carried by the Scrapy Land store.   You can find a complete list of manufacturers on the left sidebar of the main page on their site.   Come play, won't you?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie






St. Lucia 








Pumpkin Patch


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Christmas Snowflake

     I was visiting the Lacy Sunshine store the other day and saw this darling Christmas cat totally enthralled by a snowflake so you know I had to get it and make something right away.  In fairness to my impulse, I haven't been over there in a long time and besides, I've been so focused on Autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving these past couple of weeks that I completely forgot I have to make at least two cards per week between now and December if I'm going to get enough made for all my holiday needs.  :-D

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then die cut and matted it using two dies from Spellbinders.  I added some textured, red ribbon, lacing it through and behind the die cut.  I also used a leftover snippit of it behind the sentiment.  I added one of my hand-sewn white satin bows and a silvery snowflake as embellishments.  The final touch was a drop of Glossy Accents on the snowflake in the image.  The design is still pretty CAS despite the fancy die cuts.

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
Cards in Envy
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Ribbons
Crafty Sentiments
Crimbo Crackers
Cuttlebug Mania
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...
Sasayaki Glitter
Through the Craft Room Door
Winter Wonderland
Word Art Weds.

     OK, today you've gotten two for the price of one - two posts in one day.  It's been a couple of weeks since I did that and I hope you enjoyed both posts.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Bringing Dessert for Thanksgiving

     I found this delightful, pre-colored, image on Dearie Dolls where every day there are new freebies.   It's called "Pumpkin Everything" and it so reminded me of myself.  In recent years, Thanksgiving dinners have been at my daughter's house, partly because they have the biggest dining room table and partly because my SIL loves to cook for everyone.  I have to beg and grovel to be allowed to bring anything (he loves to do it all and never expects anyone else to help out, bless him) and what I bring usually ends up being dessert.

     To say that I love all things pumpkin is an understatement!  Whether I bake them myself or find them at the bakery, each year I try to find or make something a little bit different, but I always end up with at least three different pumpkin-somethings.  :-D

     Because I used the pre-colored image, I had plenty of time to do other fussy details on this card and that somehow turned into creating as much dimension as possible.  The image is printed onto plain white CS but I printed it three times.  The base image was cut to 5.25 x 5.25 inches.  I added the polka dot ribbon before layering that onto polka dot dp which made up the card front, 5.5 x 5.5 inches.

     I grabbed the other two printed images and hand cut the pie, the "I Love Pumpkin" flag, the pumpkin sign, the bag of pumpkin cookies, and her coffee cup.  I layered them up, using Pop Dots and that gave some really wonderful depth and dimension.  Here's a close up photo from the side.

     I added one of my bowtie bows, this one made from burlap ribbon and without the fancy dovetails I usually do, then layered the sentiment onto three layers of white CS, fussy cut it, and inked the edges before adding it on top of the ribbon.  It was a time consuming process for a rather CAS design but my granddaughter will love it.  She's the one who collects all the cards I make for members of her family, and that includes Thanksgiving cards for each person.  Regardless of who originally is given the card, they all end up in her stash of "Nana-made" cards.  I do believe she has cards from as far back as 6 or 7 years ago.  This one will serve as my Thank You card for the Host & Hostess.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Card Mania
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Ribbons
Creative Fingers
Creative Ladybirds Creations
Hiding in My Craft Room
My Crafting Stories
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I'll have a second post later today so I hope you check back.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

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Harvest Elf

     When I saw this adorable "Harvest Elf" over at AuroraWings, I knew I had to color it for a Thanksgiving card.

I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

but scrunched it together somewhat

because my image piece was so large.

     This one was difficult for me to color because I don't have the range of colors in my set of polychromos pencils that I have in my ProMarkers but I wanted to do some more practicing with the colored pencils so I stuck to them without using anything other coloring medium on this one.

     I have no skin tones at all in my set of pencils so I had to use one of the lighter rose-reds, apply it very gently, use an eraser on the highlight areas, then blend it as best I could.  Not what I consider great but adequate given the limitations of colors available.  :-D  However, I'm more than happy with the coloring on the rest of the image.

     Instead of die cutting the image, I die cut the frame and laid it over the image (Spellbinders.)  I did a small die cut using that same die set, then hand-cut the sentiment and laid it on top of the small die cut, then attached it to the top of the frame piece.

     I corner punched each of the corners on the frame and on the striped dp.  I wrapped orange polka dot ribbon around the dp, layered everything together onto kraft CS, and added the white flower embellies.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
A Gem of a Challenge
AuroraWings
Catch the Bug
Hiding in My Craft Room
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pencil Case
Scrapper's Delights
Time Out
   
     I hope your weekend was wonderful and if you're celebrating Labor Day in the US, enjoy your one more day off.  Find some time to play and craft and enjoy, OK?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Little Mousey Thanks

     As yet another month begins, The Outlawz has a new Progressive Challenge and this time the image is supplied by Di's Digi Designs.  While I definitely wouldn't want mice in my kitchen, I can't resist a cute little mouse image and this one just seemed perfect for a fall "Thank You" card.

I started with the sketch from The Outlawz also.

     The image is colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a "Delicate Garden" die by Sue Wilson.  The  golden background piece and the butterfly are also cut with dies from that same set.  The sentiment is stamped onto green CS, then cut with a Spellbinders tag die.  All the die cut pieces are also embossed.

     I added the flower and a scrap piece for the swirl, feeling like that was enough embellishment given the fancy framing.  I really wanted the frame and image to be showcased instead of covered with embellies.

     I was in the middle of coloring this image when I found an email in my box with news that Kit & Clowder was running a freebie class on all the basic fundamentals of coloring, including shading, highlighting and other important aspects.  While it utilizes alcohol markers for coloring, most of the principles can also be applied to colored pencils and, since I'm struggling with shading and highlighting with my new polychromos pencils, I signed up for the class.

     I've been hesitant to take any of the classes offered at Kit & Clowder because I have this irrational fear of making a mistake and having somebody point it out.  Silly, I know, but I said it was an irrational fear.  :-D  So, I gathered up my courage and signed up for this freebie class, thinking that if I was pleased with my progress, I'd probably pay for a couple (or more) other classes to increase my learning curve.  Does any of that sound interesting to you?  Here's a link you can use for information on the freebie class.  You work at your own pace and there's no pressure to complete it within any certain period of time.  I've done the first section on Lightsource Basics and I'm going to go through the rest of the course topics over the next couple of weeks.

     Challenges:
Colour Your World
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Die Cuttin' Divas
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Paper Shelter
Passion for ProMarkers
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Word Art Weds.

     I hope your weekend is going well and for those of us in the USA, we still have an extra day before our work week starts again.  Hope you have a great Labor Day but don't "labor" too hard.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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When Witches Go Riding...

     Several months ago, I discovered Fabrika Fantasy and all their darling images.  This month they have started a challenge and their first theme is the always fun and wonderful "Anything Goes."  That was all the inspiration I needed to make another cute Halloween card.

     I used my ProMarkers to color the Cat Witch, then die cut it with my Stitched Scallop Circle (Memory Box.)  I also used a plain Stitched Circle die to cut the purple mat and the black background but that one is a Die-namics die.  The  pumpkin was made with a die from Die-Versions.  The black cat on the back of the broom, the bats in the sky, and the 'Trick or Treat' sentiment are all cut with dies from Impression Obsession.

     I added some orange, polka dot, ribbon, a satin bow with a button on it, and three mini buttons along two of the scallops on the image piece.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafty Ribbons
Fussy and Fancy
If You Give a Crafter...
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Polkadoodles (F = flying)
Sasayaki Glitter

     That's all I have for today.  I'm burrowing in for more crafting time this whole Labor Day weekend so I should have lots to show you during the upcoming week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Scared Cat !

     It's Friday again and there's a new challenge starting at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is a recipe, a very easy one: 1 image, 2 design papers, 3 embellishments.   I've done yet another Halloween card using the fun silhouette image called "Scared Cat" (Digi 16506) and the sentiment is Digi 12907 "Happy Halloween."

     I colored the cat's eyes and the pumpkin's face with ProMarkers, then hand cut the image, mounting it onto die cut, orange CS (Memory Box.)  I also die cut both of my design papers (DCWV.)   The doily is another die cut (Spellbinders) made from shiny metallic paper, decorated with black bat die cuts (Die-namics.)  My other two embellies are the black cat in the lower corner and the sparkly, orange ribbon, bow right under the pumpkin.  Everything is adhered onto a purple, ombre background made using watercolors.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Crafty Addicts
Die Cuttin' Divas
If You Give a Crafter...
Ike's World
Krafting Kimmie
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Sisterhood of Crafters
SUYP Cats Only

     Come play with us this week.  It's a fun and really simple recipe and we'd all love to be inspired by what you create.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Autumn Window

     Welcome to September!  Where on earth has this year gone?  How can we already be 9 months into the year?  Yikes, do you realize that means the holidays are right around the corner?   I don't even want to talk about it.

     However, a new month means a new challenge over at Crafts Galore Encore ("Anything Goes" theme) and we're being sponsored by Beccy's Place!  I've been a fan of Beccy's artwork for ages and am so happy to be using an image that she generously provided.  This is called "Autumn Window" and I decided it would make a perfect Thanksgiving card.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, cut it into a large square with my paper cutter, and added the gingham ribbon to the top of it.  I added it to the front of a yellow card base and then hand cut the sentiment piece, matting it with yellow CS.  I used one of my bowtie bows and called it finished.  I love the CAS design and it will be easily mailed.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Gals Corner
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
House That Stamps Built
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
Tuesday Throwdown
Work It Wednesday

     Come play with us at Crafts Galore Encore this month.  How can you miss with an "Anything Goes" theme?   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Happy Fall Cat

     I was so lucky in a game over on the Facebook page of Sheepski Designs and I won this darling image!  I won in the very next game, also, and another digi was my prize.  You'll see that one in a day or two.

I started this card with the sketch at Mojo Monday,

where they want to see tall and skinny cards.

Mine is 7 1/4" x 4 1/2" and I had 

to make the envelope myself.

     While it doesn't show really well in the photo, this is a lapped, gatefold card.  The left flap is wider than the one on the right (but narrower than the overall width of the card) and the right flap tucks inside, under the left flap.  What you see as a colored strip on the right side is actually the outside edge of the right flap.

     I colored that darling cat with my ProMarkers, then cut him with one of my stitched rectangle dies from Die-namics.  I cut another piece with the next size larger die from that same set and used it to mat the image.  All the papers came from different stacks by DCWV and most of those are matted with kraft brown CS.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Die Cuttin' Divas
Everybody Art
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats
Through the Craft Room Door

     Middle of the week so it's down hill to the weekend.  I'm celebrating because we haven't had a 100 degree day in a week and none are predicted for at least another week.  I'm not going to say they are totally gone but September started tomorrow and then it's only another three weeks until autumn begins.  Can we at least hope?  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Earth's Bounty

     Today I did a card all in wonderful fall sepia tones and it's very different from my normal, inside-the-box, coloring ideas.  :-D  The image is "Earth Fairy" by Fabrika Fantasy.

     I used my polychromos pencils again but colored the fruits with my ProMarkers and added highlights to her wings with a white gel pen.  I knew I wanted it to be really CAS so I cut the image into a simple but fairly large square, inked the edges, then added it to a kraft card base, tilting it at an angle.   

     I do love large, square cards because they give lots of room for writing personal notes inside or even letting a group of people sign the card without having to squeeze their greetings and signatures into tiny spaces.  Square cards also make CAS look even more CAS because there's more 'white space' on the front.  :-D

     I used a scrap of paper lace and added die cut leaves (Die-namites) stacked together, and three tiny, hand-cut acorns to make an autumn embellishment.  It's CAS and flat, so it will be easy to mail.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Double D

Julia Spiri

Moving Along with the Times

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Pencil Case

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Pile It On

Pixie's Crafty Workshop

Simon Says Stamp

Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Monday everyone.  I understand that my friends in the UK are on a Bank Holiday today and I know my friends in the US are looking forward to a long weekend coming up with Labor Day being next Monday.  I'm going to be stamping and coloring both of those days.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Things that Go Bump in the Night

     I'm on a Halloween kick this week and have made no Christmas cards for my stash in over 10 days!  Pretty bad when I'm going to need at least 2 per week in order to have enough done for my Christmas needs.  Ah, well, that just means two weeks with four Christmas cards.

     This card uses a silhouette image from Bugaboo Stamps which is one of those fun, fun, fun images.

     I used ProMarkers to color the sky, the ground, the faces on the pumpkins, and the moon.  I put it on a black card base and added the strip of ribbon which was a scrap left on my craft table.  I dug out one golden topaz gemstone for embellishment, then left it alone.  This card will have to be mailed so flatter is better.

     Challenges:
Addicted to CAS
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Mod Squad
One Stitch at a Time
Outlawz PAM
Passion for ProMarkers
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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The Potion Mistress

     One more Halloween card for the stash and this one is using an image from The East Wind.  I did it for their Facebook challenge "R U Kidding Me?" which is all about kids.  I love this darling little witch, though she's hardly scary.  Maybe that's why I love her.  :-D

     I'm working with my new poly pencils again and, while I've gotten better at shading and highlighting, I can't seem to get away from a pastel look with my coloring.  More practice needed, obviously.   Her hair looks bluish in the photo but IRL, it's gray-green and her face is a pasty, witch-y, yellow-green.  My camera lens has a mind of its own!

     The image is fussy cut and mounted onto a black pumpkin doily from Recollections.  I added that to an orange, die cut, doily (Cheery Lynn), then put everything onto a warm gray card base.  The only embellishment I added was the black, satin ribbon, bow.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn
Kraftin' Kimmie
Melonheadz Friends
MFP Stamps
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Sasayaki Glitter
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope your week went well and that you are enjoying your weekend already.  I'm going to be lazy for a couple of days and then get back to my routine.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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MHK Designer Inspiration Post

     This is my second post today.  If you're looking for my QKR Stampede DT card, click HERE.


    Well, by now you've had a chance to see all the new releases for this month at MHK Designs and to check out the latest challenge inspiration photo so today I want to give you another way to be inspired by another of the images in the "Thankful Thoughts" set.   I used the cornucopia image last week and now this is the fabulous turkey.  I made a plain Thank You card but it could just as well have been a masculine birthday.  It would definitely make a great Thanksgiving card.

     I wanted to stick with monochromatic, fall neutrals but no matter what I did photographically, all the light browns in the dp turned to rust.  Hmmm, don't know how to correct that so you'll have to trust me that they are more brown and less rust than they look here.

     I colored with polychromos pencils but used ProMarker on his wattle for a deeper color.  I fussy cut the turkey and mounted him on dimensional tape.  I used satin lace to make the bow and the ribbon is velveteen.  The corners are decorated with sequins and pearls.

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Fingers
Digi Choosday
One Stitch at a Time
Pattie's Creations
Pixie's Crafty Workshop
Robyn's Fetish
Through the Craft Room Door

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in the August/September challenge which runs through until September 20.  Remember, if you use an MHK Designs image, then the theme is Anything Goes and you don't need to use the inspiration photo at all.  :-D  You can find the challenge on the main MHK Designs page by clicking on the tab at the top which says "Current Challenge."

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Keep Your Eye on the Ball

     This week at the QKR Stampede challenge, we want you to "Keep Your Eye on the Ball."   In other words, do cards showcasing any sport that uses a ball.  I chose golf because I love this darling 'Old Golfer' (Digi 16103.)  I also used the sentiment 'My Wife Said' (Digi 16409.)

     I've returned to using my ProMarkers to color, then I fussy cut the image and layered it with dimensional dots on top of a stitched, scalloped circle, die cut.  I also used another die cut of circles in the background.  Both die sets are from Memory Box.  The polka dot "bowtie" was added for embellishment but after that I left it alone.  I wanted a masculine card and it just didn't need any further embellishment.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
A Gem of a Challenge
Aud Sentiments
CCC Digi
Classic Design Team Open
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafts and Me
Cut It Up
Die Cut Divas
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art
Paper Creator's Crafts
Sasayaki Glitter
Sisters of Craft

     I hope we're going to see you playing in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's any sport, any at all, as long as it uses some kind of ball.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Soft Autumn

     I was over browsing around the Ching-Chou Kuik blog, then strolled over to their Etsy shop and found this image which jumped in my cart without even asking!  lol  I brought it home and made this early autumn card.

     The image is printed directly onto the card front.  I colored her with my ProMarkers, then inked the edges of the card front to give it a bit of a frame.  I printed the sentiment, hand cut it and inked the edges of it.  I added the dark brown pearls and decided it was finished.  A nicely CAS design.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Ching-Chou Kuik
Color Crazy Craft
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Catz
Craft Your Passion
Creative Moments
Double D
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
WordArt Weds.

     I do hope fall is truly right around the corner.  We've suffered through the longest, hottest summer recorded in the last 25 years!   We've had more than 50 days over 100 degrees F when we normally have 30 or 31.  At least yesterday and today we've been in the highest 90s but haven't broken into triple digits so there's hope.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

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Last Days of Summer

     When I first got this image from Sheepski Designs, I just knew it would make a perfect tribute to the last days of summer.  She reminds me so much of myself when I was a mid-teen, hating that summer was almost over; I would have to put away the comfy jeans with holes in the knees and put on new, not-yet-washed-the-first-time, back-to-school clothes.  Yes, back when I was a teen, there was a dress code and all girls wore dresses, even in public schools.     :-D

I based this on the sketch at Outlawz,

adjusted for the shape of my image,

and colors came from the challenge at DRS Designs.

  

         
     I colored with my ProMarkers again since I'm more comfortable shading and adding highlights with them than with my new pencils.   I die cut it with one of my very first dies, from a Spellbinders set, I think, but since the packaging was tossed out long ago, I can't be sure.   I trimmed one corner just for a different effect.

     I matted it with sparkle CS in both light blue and darker blue, rounding the corners of the darker blue with a hand punch before mounting that onto kraft CS which was also cut with another die from that same set.  I put everything onto a dark brown card blank.

     The striped ribbon was a scrap in my stash and I added fabric and mulberry paper flowers to the bow.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Calendar
Sasayaki Glitter
Sheepski Designs
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Weds.

     That's all I have for today and I hope you enjoy it and maybe even find a bit of inspiration.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.

Miss Mummy Beauty Contest

     I had so much fun making this card !  Each mummy is the exact same image but I flipped some of them and adjusted the size to get the row of beauties participating in the contest.  It's amazing what can be done with digital images.  :-D  Of course, I'm going to use this as a Halloween card.

Colors are from Color My Heart

and the sketch is from Kraftin' Kimmie.

    

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image (freebie from Scrapper's Delights for their FB Progressive Challenge) and the background.  The sentiment was printed at the same time I printed the image.  I added the ribbon (which is actually deep, apricot gold, not orange!  It matches the sand color in the image) before I matted it with black CS.   That entire piece is adhered with Pop Dots.

     I added the polka dot bow (also not orange!) and slipped a piece of torn cheesecloth behind the upper corner, then added the three embellie dots to the top corner.  Those are teeny pom poms so they give the card some great texture, as well as visual interest.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Cards in Envy
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafty Catz
Creative Corner
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Scrapper's Delights FB

     I do love fun Halloween cards.  Not too crazy about the dark and truly spooky ones.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please continue to leave comments.  The "Word Verification" really isn't on.  BLOGGER INSISTS ON SHOWING THE "CAPTCHA" ICON BUT IF YOU IGNORE IT AND JUST PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL POST JUST FINE.  I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT THERE'S NO OPTION FOR THAT WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN A SEPARATE BOX. SORRY.