Grammy's Attic

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Sweet Dreams Dragon

I intended to share this card with you back in February but then I got sick and was hospitalized with Covid-19 and the card never made it into a post. This was my eldest granddaughter's birthday card this year and she's the one who loves dragons as much as I do. Yes, she loved it! :-D She's also a lover of CAS cards so I kept this one pretty simple; just background, image, and a bit of fiber.

I'm sorry but I don't remember all the supplies I used to make this one but that might be because I was fighting the early days of Covid without realizing just how sick I was. I know the sentiment bits were cut with Avery Elle dies and the lighter blue background paper was done with water color paints but that's about all I know for sure. Oh, yeah, I used a white gel pen to add the highlights to the dragon and the fiber came from an old sweater.

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

3 Days to Make a Card

It's been nearly 2 weeks since I posted that I was home from the hospital and I had no idea that my recovery was going to be so slow. I figured that by now I'd be off the oxygen (NOT!), the daily nurse would have been sent packing (nope, but only coming twice a week now), and I'd be making at least one card every day (HA! Not.)

I didn't want to miss out on the Outlawz Progressive challenge which features this darling image from Paper Nest Dolls, called "Lulu Bee," so I sat down to color her (ProMarkers and sparkle gel pen) and discovered that I could only work on the image for about 15 to 20 minutes and then I had to lie down and rest. I spent 2 days getting the coloring done, then started on the card layout.

I figured if I did a really CAS design, it would go quickly. I picked two, different size, rectangle dies (QuicKutz) to cut the image and the black frame and, after that simple step, it was back to resting for an hour. I cut the sentiment with a die from Avery Elle, layered it onto the image, then put the image and black frame together. Another rest period. Sheesh, was I ever going to get this card made?

The yellow CS for the base was on the craft desk and worked well with the image colors so I grabbed it, scored it to make it an A2 card base, then added the image piece. I dug through the basket of signature bows I keep on hand, found a black one, and added it to the top corner. By that time, daylight had fled so I waited until this morning to photograph the card, edit it, and have it ready for the post.

But writing up the post has taken two sessions with rest breaks in between and I still don't have the photo posted. lol OK, finally, here's that CAS card.

Challenges:

Gathering all the links for the challenges took 3 sessions with 2 rest periods! lol Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Thursday, February 11, 2021

You Take the Cake!

Here's another cute image from Imagine That! where they are celebrating their 8th birthday with a new challenge theme each week in February. This week it's all about birthday cake and/or food. This is one of the cutest chefs Imagine That has. I think he's called "Chef Freddy."

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Gina Marie die

Patterned blue ribbon from RRR

Sheer ribbon for bow from RRR

Bow Maker used for bow

Background dp from DCWV

Challenges:

As You Like It (I have shifted over to digis 98% of the time because

storage is so easy and I can easily adjust the size)

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

Get Creative

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Passion for ProMarkers

Stamping Sensations

Uniko

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Gnome Couple

I'm back with yet another DT card for our newest weekly challenge at Creative Knockouts. This week our theme is "Love or Valentines" and we're sponsored by the fabulous Laurie Furnell Ink. I used this adorable Gnome Couple from Laurie's "Valentine Gnomes" set. Aren't they perfect for any Valentine celebration?

Card shape cut w Tattered Lace die

Colored w ProMarkers

Image cut w Tattered Lace die

Sentiment printed & hand cut

Challenges:

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

Be sure to come and play in our challenge this week! What better theme with Valentine's Day arriving on Sunday? It's a perfect chance to make that last minute card you forgot you would need. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Wishing it was Spring

While I know just how this little gal from All Dressed Up feels, I also know that right after spring comes the miserably hot temperatures of summer in my part of the world and I could do without those for as long as possible! This is the freebie image from the Progressive Challenge at Outlawz this month.

I based this on the sketch at Sketch Saturday

but reversed, side to side.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w QuicKutz die

Papers from Doodlebug

Small rectangles cut w QuicKutz die

Bow tied with bow maker

Challenges:

Angie's Digitals

Colouring in Scrapland

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Peonies for My Valentine

It's Monday and thank you for checking out my DT card for the newest challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies! We are sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs and our theme is "Anything Goes." This image is called "Peonies" and it was a dream to color.

This card was a special request for a gentleman who says that pink peonies are his wife's favorite flower and he wanted something hand made and special for her Valentine card this year.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Spellbinders die

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle Die

CAS design requested by customer

Challenges:

Creative Craft Cottage

Come play with us this week and while you're at it, check out the challenge at SheepSki Designs, too. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, February 6, 2021

A Fairy Ring

Childhood memory time: When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my family was spending the early part of the summer at my grandfather's cabin in the mountains. My dad and I were walking in the small forest area behind the cabin when we found a small patch of mushrooms (or they may have been toadstools; I didn't know the difference at that point) but Dad said it was a "Fairy Ring" because they were all growing in circle. I was so fascinated by that idea that I spent the next several years of my childhood believing in fairies and searching for their houses. Come to think of it, I still search for their houses whenever I see a mushroom sprouting somewhere so maybe I still believe in fairies! :-D

I made this card from bits of CS left in the scrap basket after all the fall cards last season. I made it specifically for this challenge at Pixie's Snippets and I'm donating a brand new package of those Memory Box mushroom & toadstool dies as a prize for that challenge as part of the new "Ruby's Memory challenges." You can read more about that and see the details about playing in the challenge by clicking on the Pixie's Snippets name above. Briefly, you must use scraps and snippets on your card and it's only one entry per person, per challenge.

Mushrooms & toadstools cut w Memory Box dies

Sentiment printed & cut w QuicKutz die

Bow is hand sewn w pearl accent

CAS design to showcase the die cuts

Challenges:

Be sure to check out Pixie's Snippets and come play along. You might even win a set of these fun, fabulous dies and you can make your own fairy forest. :-D Di has a couple of other wonderful prizes, too, so check it out! Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunflowers or Dahlias?

The image I used today is a new one from Conie Fong called "Sunflower Bouquet." But I was in the mood for Spring and for a monochromatic card so I treated the sunflowers as if they were dahlias and discovered that the image was very versatile! I can use this in summer and again in fall for cards which have a more appropriate color scheme for those seasons. :-D

Colored w ProMarkers and gel pens

Image and doily cut w Spellbinders dies

Doily is a scrap of pearl CS

Image edges inked w ProMarker

Sentiment hand cut and edges inked

Three gems added + 3 tiny butterflies

Challenges:

Conie Fong always has 2 challenges going each month over on the Facebook page; one is for coloring only and the other is for completed projects. You do have to use a Conie Fong image to enter but there are freebies available HERE. You'll fall in love with them, then you'll buy a couple from the Etsy store, and the next thing you know, you'll be playing along every month which means your chances of winning images is even greater! How can you resist?

Happy crafting (and coloring.) NanaConnie

Friday, February 5, 2021

Roses for You

I was lucky enough to be a challenge winner last week and the challenge was sponsored by Artsy Stamper. I chose a set of images called Vintage Birds and Roses and used this one to make a Valentine card for a friend who loves green and gold as a color combo. Her birthday just happens to fall on Valentine's Day so I've used her favorite colors. Roses are perfect for a Valentine card regardless of the colors.

I actually love making Valentine cards for friends more than for a special sweetie since I have many more friends than sweethearts. Besides, for friends I can change the color combos instead of having to use the traditional red/pink/white of Valentine cards and nobody questions it! :-D

When I printed this digi image, I first chose one of the pre-colored versions, then turned it into a grayscale image before printing it. I'm getting more and more experience with this technique and have even learned that with my MS Word software, I can lighten or darken the grayscale which gives me more or less shading before I color it myself.

Colored w ProMarkers

Image & frame cut w Spellbinders dies

Plaid dp was a scrap

White, pearl CS embossed w Wild Roses EF (Darice)

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Sheer, hand-tied, gold bow

Challenges:

Happy Crafting, my friends. NanaConnie

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Valentine Cupcake

This adorable image is the one for the February Progressive Challenge at Imagine That! It's called Birthday Bunny but it makes a perfect Valentine, as you can see.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Gina Marie die

Background dp from SU

CTMH glittered flower embellie

Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Passion for ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Is It Your "Tequila" Birthday?

For those of you who don't yet know about "tequila" birthdays, this card should give you all the explanation you need to figure it out. Personally, I passed the 'Tequila Birthday' several years ago and now I don't even think about how many of them I've had. Each year that rolls by becomes a badge of honor for living that many years. lol I have anther birthday celebration rolling around next month and I'll be proud of it, too - no tequila needed! :-D

Colored w gel pens & distress markers

Cut w Memory Box dies

SU dp for background

Metallic ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Sheer ribbon bow tied w bow maker

Challenges:

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Going Hog Wild

There's no better time to go Hog Wild than on Valentine's Day, right? This cutie of a hog is a Bugaboo Stamps image and I think he's adorable with his little gift of a spring flower for his special girl. :-D I kept the design fairly CAS although the background is dp instead of plain white but it has limited embellies and the focal point is clearly the image.

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w CUTplorations stitched die

Papers are old ones from SU

Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Heart 'buttons' from CTMH

(puff stickers which I made into

buttons but adding 'holes' w gel pen)

All last month I used only supplies from my stash and I've decided to continue that through this month as well. I can't believe how much money I've saved by not buying new things I just "had to have!" I really think I just didn't realize the depth and breadth of my stash. I've found things I've had for 8 or 10 YEARS which go unused and, even worse, forgotten! It's been fun (and a bit like Christmas morning all over again) discovering those things which have been hidden in drawers and on shelves and using them up.

I swear I must have 10,000 yards of ribbon! And papers? Oh, my! When I jokingly say I have a "ton of papers," I may actually have that much. Sheesh, talk about hoarding...

Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Allsorts

Catch the Bug (1 ribbon/ 2 buttons/ 3 layers)

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Monday, February 1, 2021

A Love Potion

Good morning, again. This is my 3rd post for today so be sure to scroll down for the other two if you came here first. This is my post sharing my DT card for the first of our two February challenges at QKR Stampede. My card actually has an image from Eureka Stamps, our sister company. It's called "A Love Potion." I wanted something I could use on a really simple, CAS design for a masculine Valentine.

Capital letters colored w ProMarkers

Edges inked w ProMarkers

Gingham ribbon

Hand-tied gingham bow

Challenges:

House that Stamps Built

Don't forget about our QKR Stampede challenge in the midst of all the other challenge which start on the first of the month. We always have an "Anything Goes" theme. You can use any image from any company but if you chose an image from QKR (or Eureka), your entry goes into a completely separate draw and that increases your chances of winning by a huge amount!

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

TSF Fairy

Welcome! Let me tell you about to the latest "Anything Goes" challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps which started today. Although it's like every other challenge at JDS, this month we also want to share a bit about an important blog hop at Turner Syndrome Foundation.

Turner Syndrome is a medical condition which affects only girls and women. Read more about it on the TSF site. TSF works to heighten awareness and promote more research by doing an annual fundraiser in February each year. As she has done in the past, again this year Jan has again created a lovely digital stamp set specifically for TSF, and Jan herself is a sponsor of the blog hop. All proceeds from the sales of this year's TSF Fairy set (and last year's TSF Key set) will be donated to the Foundation.

Here's my DT card using the TSF Fairy.

Hair, wings, & butterfly colored w ProMarkers

(the rest is pre-colored)

Cut & embossed w Spellbinders die

Pink ribbon is metallic

Sentiment from same set

Challenges:

Turner Syndrome Blog Hop

We really hope you'll play along with us this month and don't forget to check out the blog hop at TSF! Also, for each person who purchases the TSF Fairy or TSF Key set fromJan's Digi Stamps and uses it to enter our February challenge, Jan's is offering a separate prize of $12 to spend in the JDS Shop! Get in on this one before the end of the month.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

All About the Heart

This is the first of 3 posts today which is what happens when the first of the month falls on a first Monday. :-D This is the one for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies but be sure to check back in just minutes for the post for Jan's Digi Stamps and in a couple of hours for the post for QKR Stampede.

Here it is the first of another month and, since it's February, our thoughts turn to deep friendship or love and things of the heart. Our latest monthly "Anything Goes with a Critter" challenge starts right now at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies. We are sponsored this month by Beccy's Place, who generously supplied images for the DT.

I actually used the freebie image from the January challenge at Beccy's Place. That challenge has ended but the image is still available. He's perfect if you still have Valentines to make. :-D

I used sketch #199 from Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Sizzix die

Papers from Neenah

Satin edged ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Mulberry paper flowers from stash

Pink gems from stash

Hand-tied pink bow w gem

Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Double Trouble (all 3)

partner w Heart 2 Heart

Dream Valley

Outlawz Stash

Simon Says Stamp

Come play this month. Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes with a Critter." We want to see a critter featured prominently on your project, not just a teeny butterfly or an almost unseen animal down in the corner. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, January 29, 2021

Kimono Kayuki

I adore this sweet little geisha girl in her fancy kimono! She's called "Kimono Kayuki" and she's from Conie Fong. Don't forget, we have 2 separate challenges at Conie Fong each month; 1 for just hand-colored images and the second for finished projects.

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Spellbinders die

Sentiment cut w Spellbinders die

Silver metallic ribbon strips

Black gems

Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colouring in Scrapland

Di's Digi Designs (blue/digi/sentiment)

Incy Wincy

Polkadoodles

We'd love to see you playing along with us. Since we're so close to the end of the month, you might prefer to wait until Monday when our newest challenges begin but there is still the weekend so if you have a Conie Fong image already colored up and ready, why not enter it?

I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V. It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January! There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post. Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Sweeping for Spring

Good morning and welcome to my next DT post for Creative Knockouts! Our theme this week is "Die Cuts or Punches" and we're being sponsored by SheepSki Designs. I absolutely adore gnomes and the ones drawn by Andrea at SheepSki are some of my favorites so I jumped at the chance to use "Sno' Worries" as soon as I saw it. :-D

If you look closely at my card, you'll see that he's sweeping away the snow, all the way down to bare ground, hoping perhaps to encourage Spring to arrive. After all, when you're as small as a gnome and you live in the forest without benefit of a heating system, winter can be your least favorite season!

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut & embossed w Spellbinders die

Paper from DCWV "Winter" stack

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Come play with us this week. We love being inspired by you!

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Crafty Chefs for February

Last week I shared with you my card for the January Recipe at Crafty Chefs and now it's my turn to create the recipe for February. I know it's not February yet but consider this a gift in case you want to join us at Crafty Chefs. It's open to any who care to join (free) and there's never a deadline for completing any project. You're free to use and share any of the monthly recipes whenever you like. We are just a group of crafters who are trying to get out of our own personal comfort zones now and again and try some things we may not have done before by following someone else's recipe. Also fun is finding a recipe which exactly fits your own style or the things in your craft stash and whipping up something to share with the rest of us for inspiration.

Since I just did a recipe in December, some of the other gals who play over there gave me some help on the recipe for February. Appreciation to Margaret for suggesting "Stamp - rubber or digi," "Pink & Purple," plus "pattern dp." Karen, our Master Chef from January, gave me "Fun Fold" (the previous chef always gives the next chef one MUST DO item.) So, here's the February recipe:

MUST DO: Image + Purple/Pink combo + Pattern paper + Fun Fold

CAN DO: Embossing Folder OR Doily OR Flowers

Offset Gate Fold card

Image from A Day from Daisies

Colored w ProMarkers & gel pens

Cut w Quickutz die

Doily sprayed w inks

Pink dp from scrap basket

Sentiment unknown rubber stamp

(cut w Avery Elle die)

Challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Come visit us at Crafty Chefs. Join us if you'd like. You can even sign up be a Master Chef and pick a month this year to create the recipe for all of us to follow. Check out all the recipes in the respective monthly albums and try a few. It's fun! Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Floating in a Hot Air Balloon

It's another Monday and that means anther challenge starting over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies, where our theme is always Anything Goes (except on a 5th Monday.) Our sponsor this week is CAS-ual Friday Stamps and they were generous enough to provide stamps for each of us. I used "Floating," the hot air balloon made from flowers plus one of the sentiments in the set. These are clear, polymer stamps.

Stamped on scrap CS w Shaded Lilac ink pad

Colored w ProMarkers

Pink background put together w dp scraps

Used scraps for ribbon & bow

Challenges:

Come play in our challenge this week and Happy Crafting! NanaConnie

Ice Fishing

My dad loved fishing, any day of the week, and time of the year, and that included winter time in the mountains. Although we didn't live in snow country when I was growing up, my grandfather had a cabin up in the mountains and if we stayed there for a long weekend in the winter months, ice fishing was something he was going to do while we were there. I used to tease him that all the fish must have gone south for the winter because I don't remember that he ever caught anything. lol

Anyway, when I was looking for a Bugaboo Stamps image to use for their color combo over at the Catch the Bug Challenge this week, I saw this Ice Fishing image. The colors immediately reminded me of my dad's ratty, old, fishing jacket that was stained and had a few patched holes in it but he loved it and always wore it when sitting out on the ice. He called the color "rusty mustard." lol So, even though they aren't winter colors, I chose this Ice Fishing image in honor of my dad. :-D

Catch the Bug colors. Stella Says Sketch (reversed)

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Sizzix die

Sentiment printed & hand cut (scrap)

Sentiment mounted on Spellbinders die cut (scrap)

Orange polka dot washi tape (scraps)

Black satin & sheer ribbon (scrap)

Background made from dp scraps

Challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty...

Passion for ProMarkers

TTCRD

Wishing you warmth in the middle of winter or cooling breezes if you're south of the equator in a heat wave. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

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