Basket Buddies

     My card today is for the 16th Challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies where our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter."  You can do any kind of project - cards, scrapbook pages, clothing, painting, watercolors, ... and submit it.  It just has to feature some kind of animal, insect, bird, fish - any animal, real or fantasy.

     This month our sponsor is Createful Heart and they supplied four different images to the team and those same four images are the prize for the winner.  I used "Lex and Boo" which hasn't yet made it's way into the new store but you can keep looking for it by visiting the store occasionally.

     This is a really CAS design because I really wanted the image to be the focus.  I colored with ProMarkers and cut the image into a large square.  I inked the edges and layered it onto the card base.  The inking made the image pop off the background.

     The sentiment is printed and hand cut, then applied at the bottom of the image.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Moments
Jo's Scrap Shack
Paper Shelter
Path of Positivity
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     This is the first of two posts for today and I really want you to check back because I have some wonderful news to share.  No more hints - you'll have to come back.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Penny Farthing

     Several years before he passed on, my hubby owned a bicycle shop and his trademark symbol was a hand drawn penny farthing bicycle with a quirky little guy riding it.  After the shop was sold to his partner, hubby kept the reproduction penny farthing I had bought for him which hung in the shop window as an advertisement.

     A dear blogging buddy (and now fellow DT  once again), Lynn H., sent me this fabulous die cut and I had to get it made into a card as soon as possible.  Sorry, I don't know the maker of the die.  In Lynn's honor, the design is CAS because she does the most incredible CAS designs I've seen.  Thanks, Lynn!

     I started with a red card blank and added the die cut bicycle (which looks like it's climbing a hill so I'm going to pretend that was my intent all along as opposed to an error in placement which couldn't be undone!)

     The sentiment is done with VersaMark ink, then heat embossed with white embossing powder.   I really love heat embossing!  There's nothing like watching it as the powder melts and takes on a shine.  As many years as I've been doing it, it still fascinates.

     I found a scrap of gingham ribbon, tied a bow and added it as the only embellishment.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Card Makers
Crafty Catz
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Paper Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Creek and Paddle

     We've all heard the old expression "Up a creek without a paddle" but this little turtle (QKR Stampede - "Out at Sea") has everything securely in hand.  Our newest challenge starts today and our theme is always Anything Goes.  You can find the challenge by clicking on this QKR Stampede link.

     I colored him using ProMarkers, cut the image with a square die from Spellbinders, and punched 2 corners with a Fiskar's corner punch.  The blue die cut "splash" is a discard scrap from a die by Amy's Designs which I cut in half before using.

     Everything is laid out on a sea foam card blank.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the bow is one of those I make by the dozens and I dyed it green with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House that Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Scrappy Land
Simon Says Stamp
That's Crafty
Work It Weds.

     I hope to see you playing with us this week.  We're always inspired by what you enter.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Dragon's Gift

     Today I'm sharing my card for another of the progressive challenges in which I play regularly, this one at Dragon's Lair.  I'm using it for one more masculine birthday card since I use quite a few of those throughout the summer months.  Males were popular in my family from May through September.  :-D

     I wasn't sure what color combo I was going to use when I started coloring this image but I love what happened to it during the process.  Can you believe I started with pale green dragons?  They just didn't work once I decided on the purple wings.  So, I grabbed both khaki and tan ProMarkers to cover the green, blending the colors with the blender as I went along. 

     I cut the image and the frame with dies from QuicKutz.  The image was printed on a piece of scrap CS, and the frame piece was also in the scrap basket.  There was just enough of it to cut the frame.  The three purple dp strips all came from cutting a scrap and I inked the edges of them once they were cut.

     I thought three sets of three, tiny pearls would be a simple embellishment and they dressed up the card without making it feminine instead of masculine.  I printed the sentiment, hand-cut it, and again, inked the edges.  Still a simple design and flat enough to mail easily.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Digi Choosday
Dragonfly Dreams
Everybody Art
Pile It On
Pixie's Snippets
TTCRD
Unicorn

     I'm already thinking about some more vacation time next month and trying to make sure all my various DT projects are done and pre-scheduled.  I'll have to figure out how to get all the progressive challenges done.  Fortunately, I'll be home the early part of the month and the last part so I'm sure I can make it work out.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Birthday Cupcakes

     I love cupcakes as birthday cakes!  It saves having to cut a large cake, makes decorating so much easier, and eliminates all the fights between kids (and adults?) over who gets the frosting flower.  lol

     This cupcake is the image from Limited Runs for their Progressive Challenge this month.

I used the sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday.

     I used ProMarkers to color the cupcake, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  The background started as a left over scrap of pink CS which was cut with my Lattice die (Spellbinders.)  The five narrow strips of dp are also scraps.

     The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges.   I found two scraps of pink ribbon in my stash basket, used one to wrap around the card front and the other one to tie a bow.  I really hope I can get more of that ribbon because I really like the way it looks and it was a dream working with it.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Dream Valley
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp & Show
TTCRD

     Halfway to the weekend, folks, for those of you who are keeping track.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Water Spirit

     Most of us are drawn to cool waters during summer's hot days and the coast, with it's crashing waves, is often the first option for a getaway.  Last summer was extraordinarily hot in my area and I headed for ocean breezes as soon as I could.   This spectacular silhouette from Crackerbox Palace says it all.

     I used ProMarkers to color the sky and the ocean, then cut the image with a rectangle die from Spellbinders.  The scalloped frame is also a die cut (Spellbinders.)  I added two more layers of framing, one a simple rectangle and the bottom one punched with two different Fiskars corner punches.

     All of that went onto an eggshell white card base.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, matted it, and added it to the top of the card.  The only embellishment was the one, hand-sewn bow.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to CAS
C.R.A.F.T.
Cupcake Inspirations
Get Creative
Outlawz PAM
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On
So Suzy/Crackerbox

     With the weather hot already, I'm looking forward to some time away in July.  The ocean breezes are calling to me.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fairy Tale Masquerade

     Every great fairy tale has (or should have) a masquerade ball.  Since AuroraWings has a theme for their challenge of  "Once Upon a Time," in which they want us to do something inspired by a fairy tale, I've used their masquerade mask to celebrate every fairy tale ever told.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.  The image is fussy cut with a craft knife - not easily done!  I found the sparkly silver ribbon in my Christmas stash and used two strips of it to border the image.  I added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows, but this time I added a glittered flower instead of the usual pearl.

     Challenges:
AuroraWings
Brown Sugar
Crafty Catz
CARDZ TV
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Friends
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pile It On
Simon Says Stamp

     Have a great week and thanks so much for visiting.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

New Summer Hat

Back in  the day, ladies wore hats - highly decorated and decorative hats.  Going out without a hat was very bad taste and just not done.  I love hats and I do wish that wearing them was still in style.  Nothing starts off the summer fun more than getting a new summer hat.  :-D

     This adorable image is from Di's Digi Stamps and I knew the minute I saw it that it called for blues and purples.  I colored with watercolor paints then cut the image with a die from Sizzix.  I inked the scalloped edges and started thinking about how I'd do the background.

     Lying on my craft desk was a scrap of white lace but white just didn't make the image pop.  I grabbed my Dylusions Ink Spray (Grape) and used it to dye the lace.  The lace was marvelous when put onto white CS and really made the image the focus. 

     I found a scrap of dp in the basket, trimmed it to size, and placed it diagonally across the lace, then I added the image circle.   I sewed together one of my signature bows with a dark pearl and added it for embellishment.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, and inked on the edges to match the image piece. 

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     That's it for today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Raspberry Abode

     I started this card with a particular idea in mind but it took off on its own and I admit I like it even better now.  :-D  The image is from Beccy's Place.

Beccy's had an optional sketch this month which I used,

and I used colors from 2 Sisters on the Blog.

   

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image and I added highlights to the berries with white gel ink.  I cut the image with a Spellbinders die.  Both dp strips were in the scrap basket and I dug them out because they matched the colors in the berries.

     I did faux stitching on one of the strips, scored the longer strip 4 times with my new Scor-Pal (which added some great texture!), and then added a pink, satin bow with a gem placed in the middle of the knot.  The sentiment is printed, hand-cut, and inked on the edges.

    Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Crafts Galore Encore
Create with TLC
Creative Craft Cottage
Let's Craft and Create
More than 1 Score
Not Just Cards
Paper Nest Dolls
Scrappy Land

     Hope your weekend is going well and that you are enjoying some down time.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

For an Old Goat

     This is my second post today so be sure to scroll down to see the GDT card I did for Colour Crazy.

     I've done another masculine birthday card for the challenge which starts today at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and it doesn't matter whether or not you use an image from QKR, but if you do, your entry goes into a separate draw and that increases your chance of winning by a huge amount.

     This image is called "Old Goat digi 13206" and so is the sentiment ("Old Goat digi 14506.")

I was inspired by the colors at My Favorite Things.

     I colored with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut the image with my paper trimmer and cut out the inside of the yellow, overlaid, frame with a die from Cheapo Dies.  I wrapped that in gold, satin ribbon and layered it onto a black card base.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then inked the edges before applying it.  Finally, I added one of my signature bows.

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Cute N Crafty
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Outlawz Festive Friday

     I hope you have lots of "me" time planned for the upcoming weekend.  Our minds deserve rest as much as our bodies, you know.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bloomin' Boots

     This is my last GDT card for Colour Crazy but I've been invited to join the team next fall.  :-D  The theme is always "Anything Goes" and we do require hand coloring on your projects.  My card today uses an image from Conie Fong called "Bootiful Bouquet."

     I colored with ProMarkers and gel inks, then cut the image with an Unbranded die from Cheapo Dies.   I framed the die cut with pearls and added one of my signature, hand-sewn bows.

     I printed the sentiment, cut it by hand, and added it below the boots.  I really love that image!  This is the first time I've used it but definitely not the last.

     Challenges:
Conie Fong Designs
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Gals Corner
Dream Valley
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
Take It, Make It
Word Art Weds.

     I have 2 posts today so be sure to stop by and take a look at my DT card for QKR Stampede, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beach Birthday

     I always envied my school-days friends who had summer birthday because, even though they complained about the lack of classroom recognition of their special day, they could go to the beach for their birthday!

     This cute image from Sasayaki Glitter is my way of celebrating all that summer fun.  Ice cream, the beach, and her kitty - what else could a gal need on a summer day?

I started with the sketch from Tuesday Morning,

turned sideways,

and the Color Sisters had some great inspiration.

   

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I inset that cut into the frame die, also from that Spellbinders set.   I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, matted it with CS, hand cut that, and applied it at the bottom of the image.

     The bow is one of those I sew together by the dozens and toss in my stash for future use.  I mounted everything onto turquoise CS which became the card front.  CAS but more complex looking because of the complexity of the framing die.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Everybody Art
Lemon Shortbread
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Catching up on all my 'favorite blog' visits is turning out to be very time consuming!  Even though I checked email pretty regularly, I had more than 200 in my inbox yesterday and that's without Blogger sending me any notifications of comments on my blog.  Whew!  So, I'm working on it but if I leave you one comment on all your posts, please forgive and understand.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Under the Sea

     OK, now that I have all those who read the post title humming that song in their heads...  :-D   This sweet mermaid image is from Lemon Shortbread and this is one of the images I chose when I was a winner at one of their recent challenges.  Of course, I also went on a shopping spree so maybe this is one I bought - I don't actually remember.

     I colored with ProMarkers, added glitter ink to the bubbles, then cut both the image and the dp frame with Wonky Square dies from Spellbinders.  Instead of lining up the frame exactly with the image, I turned the frame a quarter turn which seemed to accent the 'wonkiness' of the die cuts.  I also cut the printed sentiment with the smallest wonky die but this time I had to do it in two cuts, moving the die before the second cut to fit the size of the sentiment.

     I used a scrap of mesh 'ribbon' and I think it added to the ocean theme.  I found the seahorse charm in my stash and used it as the primary embellishment.  I wanted the design to be as CAS as possible so that the image would be showcased.

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Ike's World
Outlawz Festive Fri
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
That's Crafty!
Work It Weds.

     That's all I have for today but it's good to be back into my normal routine.  I'll be catching up on all my missed visits and comments so bear with me.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Break

     I don't know about your family but summer break from school always meant splashing in the creek, catching pollywogs, toads and frogs, and maybe a little baseball for the sons or grandsons.  This adorable little guy from Bugaboo Stamps made me think of those lazy summer days.

     Believe it or not, I dug out the papers and the ribbon before I ever started coloring the image.  I already knew I wanted to do something 'distressed' so I chose the two distressed papers and die cut the flower petals from soft foam (Cheery Lynn), THEN I started coloring with my ProMarkers.  I so rarely remember to choose my papers first and, in this case, because I chose very neutral papers, it made no difference in the coloring.

     However, the ribbon inspired me to use the various shades of blue in coloring the image.  Once finished, I cut the image with a rectangle die from QuicKutz, and I used a craft knife to distress the edges.  I did the same with the first paper but left the background paper as it was.  I punched one corner of each of the papers plus one on the image, using a Fiskars corner punch.

     The dragonflies were done with a die from Die-Versions.  I printed and matted the sentiment, cutting both by hand, then added the two layers of flower petals with a pearl in their center.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Catch the Bug (middle row)
Crafty Friends
Di's Digi Designs
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Garden Kitty

     This kitty image from Pink Gem just stole my heart and I turned him into a birthday card.

     I started with the sketch from Sweet Sketch Weds,

turned a quarter turn to better fit the image shape.

     I use ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with stitched border dies from Spellbinders.  The dp are scrap pieces from the basket and the card base is textured CS.

     I found sheer ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the card front.  I decided to make a flower out of two layers of petals, then glittered the top petals.  I added one pearl to the flower embellie and complemented that with pearls in the centers of the flowers in the image. 

     The sentiment is heat embossed.

     Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge

Crafty Calendar (3 flowers, 3 pearls)

Crafty Gals Corner

House that Stamps Built (Pearls/Embossing/Ribbon)

Jo's Scrap Shack

Paper Shelter

Sisterhood of Crafters

SUYP Cats

     I hope your weekend was fantastic and that you had lot of "me" time to do whatever pleased you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Father's Day Celebration !

Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

     Today I have another Father's Day card made with a Penny Black stamp.  I love this stamp and have used it several times for either gal or guys cards.  Today, it's on a very simple, masculine, card.

     This little hedgie just seems so content and happy sitting in his garden, communing with the bees about his daisy.  Wonderful summer fun.  :-D  

     I colored him with a combination of water colors and ProMarkers.  I wanted a really CAS design which would be easy to put in an envelope and mail so all I did was cut the colored image with a die from QuicKutz and mount it onto a turquoise card front.

     I printed and hand cut the sentiment, then added it.  A perfect masculine card.  :-D

     Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers

Crafty Creations

Die Cuttin' Divas

Digi Choosday

Di's Digi Designs

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny Black & More

Penny Black Saturday

TTCRD

Unicorn

     Have a marvelous day and celebrate all the dads in your life!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Father's Day Dog

     I do cards for all the "Dads" in my family every year and those include my son, grandson, and SIL.  My own dad has been gone many years now but I was so close to him, I always think of him on Father's Day.

     Today's card has one of the happiest little mutts ever and would have been perfect for my dad who was a true animal lover, but mostly dogs populated his life in the years when I was growing up.  The image is a Penny Black stamp.

     I colored with watercolor paints and a brush, then cut the image and frame with dies from Amy Designs.  The die cuts were so detailed that I simply layered the image onto the yellow card front, added the sentiment, and left it without embellishment.  It's a pretty CAS design that looks more complex.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Dragonfly Dreams
Jo's Scrap Shack
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Penny Black & More
Penny Black Saturday
Pile It On

     Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be home soon and back to normal - whatever 'normal' is!  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Heaven's Angels

     Another Friday morning means another challenge starting over at QKR Stampede.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything goes" and you can use any image you choose, from any company.  However, if you use an image from QKR or their sister company, Eureka Stamps, your entry will be put into a separate draw, significantly increasing your chances of winning some fabulous QKR Stampede images!

     For my card this week, I used "Heaven's Angels" for the sentiment and "Dancing Angel" for the image.

     I colored the image with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it with scissors.  The yellow die cut in the background is a frame cut with dies from Cheapo Dies.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut.  Everything was layered onto an embossed card base.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra
Aud Sentiments
CCC Digi Creations
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Creatalicious
Pattie's Creations
Southern Girls
Sparkles Monthly

     I hope you'll be playing along with us this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Guardian Angel

     Time for the June challenge at World Wide Open DT Challenge.  You'll want to check out the winners post, too, just in case you might be one of them.  For my DT card this month, I've used the Julia Spiri image, "Ofelia Angel."  Isn't she lovely?

     The coloring of the image is done with a combination of ProMarkers and polychromos pencils.  I used dies from a Spellbinders set to cut both the image and the sentiment.  I used one of my ProMarkers to ink the edges of the die cuts.

     The dp is from the Linen Closet stack by DCWV (my favorite stack ever!)  The card front is embossed with my "Linen" folder.  For embellishment, I used a 'bow tie' bow.  I can't tie those by hand - I have to use my bow maker.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft
Aud Sentiments
CARDZ TV
CCC Digi Creations
Color Sisters
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Craft Cottage
Morgan's ArtWorld
My Favorite Things
Paper Nest Dolls

     Come play with us this month, won't you?  Our theme is always Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Make a Splash

     The theme at Catch the Bug this week is "Make a Splash."   While my first thought was a card with either ocean or swimming pool images, as I was watering my garden in the heat of the evening  (wishing we had rain instead of 100F+ daytime temperatures), I decided that perhaps a salute to the rain gods might help.  :-D

I started with the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

adapted for a gate fold.

     As I was coloring this adorable Bugaboo Stamps image with ProMarkers, I thought it would be fun to do a gate fold card since I hadn't done one in who-knows-how-long!  I added a bit of sparkle gel ink to the raindrops which you might be able to see if you enlarge the photo.  I used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image, then inked the edges with a ProMarker.

     I made the gate fold and added more score lines to each side for a bit of texture and visual interest.  The dp was in my scrap basket and I trimmed each scrap to size for the front of the card.  I printed the sentiment onto a scrap of white CS, then hand cut it before adding it.

     The final touch was one of my hand-sewn, signature bows, and I dyed it with the same ProMarker as I had used to ink the edges of the image.

     Challenges:
Crafter's Castle
Dragonfly Dreams
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pixie's Snippets
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations

     Tomorrow's upcoming attractions include my DT cards for both World Wide DT Open and QKR Stampede.  Hope you'll be stopping by to check them out.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie