Saturday, September 30, 2017

Lost and Found Cat

     When I saw this image in the store at Createful Hearts, my own heart just melted.  Our newest challenge starts today and this just seemed like a perfect autumn image for my DT card.  It's called "Pumpkin Patch Kitty" and I know you're going to love it, too (even if you're not a 'crazy cat lady.')  Our theme is "Anything Goes" and you can use whatever image you want to enter.


     I colored this one with ProMarkers and cut the frame for it with a die from Sue Wilson.  In this case, the frame is the negative piece of the cut and it's placed over the image, not the other way round.

     The two papers for the background are both from the Linen Closet stack (DCWV), one of my absolute favorites of all time because the colors and patterns are just so versatile.  The brown one with the tiny leaves is embossed and glittered.  I added sheer ribbon and tied it into a bow.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More
As You Like It
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
House That Stamps Built
Outlawz PAM
Paper Shelter
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp

     I really hope you're going to come and play with us this time in our Challenge #3.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes" and now we're bi-monthly on the 15th and 30th so you have twice the number of chances to win fantastic images from Createful Hearts!  See you over there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, September 29, 2017

Cats Are ...

     Cats are the Funniest People - just ask me, I'll tell you.  :-D  My card today for the newest challenge at QKR Stampede proves the point.  I used a fun image called "Christmas Lights Kitty" and the sentiment is called "Cats Are."

     As usual, our theme this week is "Anything Goes" but our optional twist is "Cut It Up."  Die Cuts, Punches, cutting machines, or scissors -- just cut it.  :-D


     I colored this one with ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Cottage Cutz.  I cut the sentiment and both offset, matting pieces with dies from that same set.  The silvery ribbon and handmade bow sparkle IRL, adding to the holiday feel of this otherwise very simple Christmas card.

      Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Christmas with the Cuties
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Craft-Dee Bowz
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments
Kraftin' Kimmie
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     Looking forward to seeing you play in our challenge and good luck.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Woodland Christmas

     I seem to be bouncing back and forth between Christmas and Halloween this week but that's what I've been creating for the last week so...

    This image is another of the ones my friend stamped for me and this one was such fun to color!  It reminded me so much of the song "Winter Wonderland" and the lines about building a snowman in the meadow only, this time, it's all the woodland friends who are building the snowman.   I suspect that may have been easier for them than putting up and decorating a tree.  :-D


     I colored with watercolor pencils and gamsol, then cut the image with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  I matted that with blue CS and added two scraps of red CS to a couple of the corners.  The musical score paper came from my stash (it may have been Bo Bunny) and I wrapped it with red, snowflake ribbon.  The sentiment was in my stash from QKR Stampede.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Halloween Ghouls

     This morning I have a fun, spooky Halloween card to share.  This is one of those 'git 'er done' cards that took very little time to make.  I think I spent more time planning the design than I did putting it together.


     No coloring on this one at all and the two main characters are buttons!  They add great dimension to the card.  The background is just a black card blank and I found a scrap of orange CS, trimmed it to size, wrapped it with an orange & black ribbon, and put it onto the card front.

     I used craft glue to adhere the button characters after adding the ribbon sentiment.  The bat & moon and the black cat are flat embellishments but they added a bit more interest to an otherwise CAS card.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafty Friends
Creative Fingers
Cute Card Thurs
Everybody Art
Fussy and Fancy
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Take It, Make It

     Have yourself a fabulous day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, September 25, 2017

Christmas Owls

     My daughter adores owls and has collected them in many forms for several years now.  I tend to think of them as creatures for fall but when I got this image (kindly stamped for me by a friend), I knew it would be perfect for her Christmas card this year.


     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with my Fiskars paper cutter and inked the edges.  I chose papers from my favorite Christmas pad, "Father Christmas" by Bo Bunny.  It has such perfect shades of red and green, along with the light distressing which make delightful Christmas cards.

     I added three wraps of very narrow, green, satin ribbon before layering on the image piece.  I cut two strips of stripped paper, glittered and embossed, and put those along the top and bottom.  The sentiment is from a kit I purchased a few years back, and the little wreath had been in my stash since last year.

     For a tiny bit more sparkle, I added the diamond-shaped "gems" and at that point, it was finished.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
As You Like It
Christmas with the Cuties
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Morgan's Art World
Outlawz Festive Friday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Cats in the Pumpkin Patch

     I'm doing a really quick post this morning because I want to share a Halloween card I made yesterday but I have made a commitment to get birthday party invitations done for my grandson's birthday and my daughter will be here in a couple of hours to pick them up.  Yikes!


     It's time for some of those luscious yellows and oranges that are my favorite fall colors.  This is one of those images I printed or stamped who knows how many years ago and it was in my folder of "Color These Someday."  Unfortunately, I made no notation of any kind about where I got it but it must have been a borrowed stamp because I don't recall ever having one like it.

I used colors from House that Stamps Built.

s2017

     I colored with ProMarkers and cut it into a tall and skinny rectangle with a Spellbinders die, then inked the edges.  That die was shorter than I wanted for this image so I cut halfway along the image, then shifted the die and cut halfway again from the opposite end, getting the exact length I wanted.  It's amazing how you can increase the options you have just by adjusting how you have the dies laid onto the papers.

     The golden plaid dp was cut with that same Spellbinders die (actual size this time) from a scrap I found in my collection of fall-colors paper and the dark orange is a scrap of CS from the same box.  I had left over, orange, polka dot, ribbon so I cut a short bit and added it to the top of the CS.  I used a bow that was white, dyed it with my ProMarkers, and used it at the cut end of the ribbon.

     I added three tiny metal brads and it was done.

     Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Scrappy Land
Star Stampz

    Have yourself a fabulous Sunday.  When I come back, maybe I'll share with you what we did for the birthday party invitations.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, September 22, 2017

No More Housework -- I'm On Strike !

     Hey, folks, it's Friday again and that means another challenge is starting at QKR Stampede.  It also means that I'm very late writing up this post but not so late that it won't go live on time.  :-D  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" and the optional theme, if you want to use it, is "Embossing"  -- wet or dry.

     This QKR image (Parked Broom) always tickles me.  I'm sure it was meant to be used for Halloween but at my house, it's been enlarged, colored, and made into a poster which I can hang on the broom closet door whenever I feel more like crafting than cleaning.  For today, I used it on a card.


     I colored those lovely autumn golds and oranges with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die from Die-namics.  I found a scrap bit of pale orange CS, ran it through a "Lattice" folder by Stampin' Up, and used it offset behind the image.

     The blue background was cut with a die from Altenew (one of my new favorites which I dig out whenever possible!) and I layered that onto a white card base before adding the rest of the pieces.  I managed to collect a short bit of plaid ribbon and tied a bow, then added a bit of black feather and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
C.R.A.F.T.
Creative Moments
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Scrapy Land
Southern Girls
Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come and play with us this week.  Remember, you don't have to use a QKR (or Eureka) image but if you do, then your entry is put into a separate draw just for those and that increases your chances of winning by more than you can imagine.  Either way, come play!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Christmas Cards for Relay for Life

     A couple of weekends ago I told you about how I had committed to participating in a craft show to support Relay for Life and that I was making cards to sell (proceeds go to RfL) and putting together simple kits to do Make It and Take It with kids.  Today I want to share with you a couple of the cards I've finished and cards which are samples for some of the kits.  Settle in because it's a long post with several photos.

     This first card has a lovely vintage church scene (a friend stamped up a dozen of these onto CS and gave them to me to use either for sale or for Make It, Take It kits.)  This has to be one of my favorite Christmas stamps and I'm trying to buy it from her!


     I colored it with ProMarkers, then fussy cut it to preserve the places where the leaves and berries are outside the box.  I matted it with a stitched rectangle die cut (Memory Box.)  I added lace from my stash and backed it with green CS before layering it onto the background dp (Recollections.)  I added a red, bow-tie bow and called it finished.  If I use this vintage image for kits, I'll let the kids use it in black and white or they can choose to color it with pencils I'll have available for them.

     Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie
Mod Squad
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Work It Wednesday

     This second card is done with a pre-colored image which I found on a clip art site.  I just did a Google search for "Christmas Images" and chose this one from the first freebie clip art page I found.  Very fast and simple because the coloring was already done.  Again, it could be used for kits for kids because of the simplicity.


     I cut the image, matted it twice with white and blue, then mounted it onto silver wrapping paper which became the card front.  I added a strip of silver ribbon which I cut at one end into a dovetail.  I added the silver bow (one of those I make by the dozens and toss into my stash for future use) and the printed sentiment.  This one took me about 15 minutes to complete.

     Challenges:
Crafting with an Attitude
Creative Inspirations
Paper Shelter
Winter Wonderland

     Finally, here's one for which I've already started making the kits and I have it in two, very similar versions.



     Again, pre-colored clip art with inked edges and backed with simple rectangles of red and blue, and strips of jute cord or baker's twine.  Both of the sentiments are by QKR Stampede.   These kits are pretty simple to put together and really cost effective for doing give-away activities for kids attending the craft fair.  I plan to make lots of spare kits in case there are parents or grandparents who want to take some home for kid activities during the school break over the holidays.  These can be easily put together with the kit contents and a glue stick.  :-D

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Outlawz Festive Friday

     That does it for today.  Thanks for sticking around to see all of the cards and have a wonderful day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Beach Frog

     This card really showcases the run of luck my neighbors have been having and I know they'll appreciate it.  They came by last evening to borrow a couple of folding beach chairs, deciding that one last sunny day at the beach before the Autumnal Equinox hits us here in California would be perfect.   We've had such a miserably hot summer that they had opted not to do anything much all summer long so this was to be their one and only day-trip before fall hits.

     An hour ago, I received a text message from them saying that it's cloudy and raining and they wish they had borrowed umbrellas instead of chairs!  lol


     I used ProMarkers to color the image then cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I kept everything very simple, putting the image piece onto a dark blue card front and adding only the two polka-dot bows.  The sentiment was printed, hand cut, matted, and hand cut again.

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafty Creations
Digi Choosday
Outlawz Color
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Passion for ProMarkers
Sasayaki Glitter (FB Progressive)
Scrapy Land
Sisterhood of Crafters
TTCRD

     I hope you make your day pleasant and fun regardless of where you are or what the weather may be.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Merry UnBirthday!

     Many years ago, I had a dear friend who celebrated "Not My Birthday" exactly 6 months after her birthday.  That was my first introduction to what today is called an "UnBirthday."  But now I have a friend who says birthdays stopped being fun when she was too old for childhood birthday parties and she simply refuses to celebrate (or even tell anyone) when it's her birthday.

     So, this card is for her and may she have many more "Not My Birthdays."


     The image is by Rick St. Dennis and I colored it with ProMarkers.  The two side cuts were done with a border die from Spellbinders and I had to carefully line up the top corner where the cuts meet in order to get the scallop.  I did that by lining up the hole in the middle of the scallop.

     I used shiny purple paper for the card front and then found charcoal CS to use as the background for the image piece.  I layered those together, wrapped with sparkly, silver ribbon and added the image on top.  The little silver bow was the only added embellishment.

     Challenges:
Color Inspiration Monday
Crafty Creations
Crafty Sentiments
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
Sparkle n Glitter
Unicorn

     I hope your week is going well and that a mild sun is shining in your part of the world.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, September 18, 2017

Cactus Blossom

     When I got this image for the Facebook Progressive challenge at Limited Runs, I laughed out loud!  Let me show you the card first, then I'll give you the story about laughing over it.


     I've become friends with a lady who lives on the same street and we have a running joke about "Crazy Cat Lady" and "Crazy Dog Lady."  Just to keep things in perspective, I am (currently) owned by 2 cats and she owns 3 dogs - all small ones, I admit, but come on -- how did I become a crazy cat lady with fewer cats than she has dogs?

     In addition to that, one of her dogs is named "Cactus Blossom" !  Whaaat??  When I asked her why, she said, "Well, I don't really know.  But she answers to it."

     So, I've done this card which I will take to her tomorrow to show her what an actual cactus blossom is!  Trust me when I tell you it looks nothing like her dog.  :-D

     The image was printed onto a scrap of white CS, then colored mostly with ProMarkers but a khaki green Copic snuck in there somehow.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  The background is made from three pieces of scrap dp, one of which is pieced together to look like one piece.  The pale orange dp is embossed and glittered.  I made the bow just for this card and used the scrap end of some pink ribbon, barely having enough to tie one of my standard hand-sewn bows.

     Challenges:
Angie's Digital Stamps
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Kraftin' Kimmie
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pixie's Snippets

     I'll have another post tomorrow and I can't wait to share it with you.  See you then and Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Goldfish and Seahorses

     I have two cards to share with you today - both of which I made this morning and I couldn't decide which one to share today so I'm sharing both of them in the same post.

    This first one features an image from MHK Designs and I can't remember the last time I did an image with such gorgeous fish in it!


I used a number of the colors from Stamping Sensations,
although my "pink" turned a bit coral.


     I colored the fish bowl and fish with ProMarkers and chalks, then cut the image with a stitch, scalloped die from Memory Box.  The black background piece is cut with a die from Altenew and I love the way it gives the impression of bubbles in water.  I found sparkly, silver ribbon in my stash and used it to wrap the card front and tie the bow.

     The sentiment is from the same MHK Designs set.

     Challenges: (for this card only)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Pile It On
Ribbon Girl

     My next card stays with the water creature theme and this time I've used a seahorse image called "Barbie Mate" from the challenge on Sasayaki Glitter's Facebook page.  I must admit, I'm not sure this seahorse is actually underwater since that would have a negative effect on his BBQ fire but he's grilling for all he's worth, regardless.     :-D


     Again, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, sticking with ocean blues and greens, and this time I die cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I added strips of double sided tape and used loose glitter to make all the sparkles around the frame.

     I kept everything very CAS, adding only two scrap strips of embossed ("Linen" folder) CS and one tiny bow which I dyed to match with ProMarkers.

     Challenges: (for this card only)
A Gem of a Challenge
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz CAS
Scrapper's Delights
Scrapy Land

     The weekend is fast disappearing and I hope you've stretched yours as far as possible.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Jingle Bells with Father Christmas

     This is going to be a short post because it's really late, I'm still awake, but about to fall asleep.  I told you that I had worked on Christmas cards all last weekend and here's one of them with a delightful vintage flair.


     This is the best of recycling and upcycling at the same time.  The image started out a plain black and white image on a boxed Christmas card which I cut out by hand.  I colored with both ProMarkers and chalks, then I cut frames for it in green, red, and brown using rectangle dies from QuicKutz.  It's mounted using pop dots to raise it from the background.

     The background paper is wrapping paper which I cut and added to the card front, then wrapped it with sheer, beige ribbon.  I tied a triple loop bow and added it to the front.  Then I designed a wreath and candle made from gemstones and added it below the bow. There's lots of dimension and texture on the card.

     Challenges:
Chalk n Stock
Colour Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Morgan's Artworld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Outlawz PAM
Polkadoodles
Winter Wonderland

     That's all for now.  I'll see you all again after I've had some sleep.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, September 15, 2017

Yellow Rose

     Today we start a new challenge at QKR Stampede with our usual "Anything Goes" theme and our optional theme is also Anything Goes so how can you not play along this week?

     I chose an image from our sister shop, Eureka Stamps, and it's called "Rose."  You can't get any simpler than that so I've done a very simple card design to go with it.



     The rose is colored with my ProMarkers, then cut with a die from Spellbinders.  I cut the polka dot piece with another die from Spellbinders and mounted the rose on dimensional dots before layering it onto the dp.

     Both of those pieces went onto a white card front and I added the sheer bow with a gold pearl for a single embellishment to keep the card CAS.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Digistamps 4 Joy
Love to Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Stempelsonnen
World Wide Open DT

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

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Decorating for Christmas

     A couple of days ago I told you that I had been working on Christmas cards all weekend and here is the first of them.  I have two additional reasons for needing lots of additional cards this year and both involve a local craft fair which we will be holding as a fund raiser in support of our local "Relay for Life."  I just committed to doing this so all the cards I'll need are in addition to the ones for family and for donating to our local senior center.

     Not only will I have a booth to sell Christmas cards but I'll be doing a Make and Take for kids with Christmas card kits which I'm putting together myself.  Those will be fairly CAS, mostly die cuts or black and white/sepia Vintage images and mats/frames of holiday colored CS, made with really simple die cuts.

     But today's card has a Sarah Kay image and is actually going to be used for family, probably my great-granddaughter.  :-D


     I adore this darling girl getting ready to make her house warm and inviting for the holidays.  She's cut with an Unbranded die.  Both papers are scraps which originally came from a Recollections stack.   The sentiment came from QKR Stampede.  The sparkly gold ribbon was in my stash and I dyed a hand-made, white, satin bow with my ProMarkers.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy   
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Morgan's Artworld
Outlawz Festive Friday
Polkadoodles
Take It, Make It
Winter Wonderland

     Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Keep Your Chin Up

    The card I'm sharing today is made with all my East Texas and Florida friends in mind.  I thought they all could do with a bit of humor in their lives right now.  :-D  We're praying for all of you every day and acknowledge you for your strength and bravery in the face of horrendous hurricanes.



I did my best to use all the colors from


     I colored this image (Bugaboo Stamps) with my ProMarkers, then cut it with a Gina Marie Designs die.  I found the plaid dp in my stash and used it for the full background.  I wrapped a strip of gray-blue lace around it before adhering it to the card front.

     I had a scrap of yellow leaves dp left over from an earlier project so matted it with dark gray CS and layered it onto the card front.  Next came the image piece, two strips of orange dp and the sentiment.  The final touch was the bow, dyed golden orange with a marker.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Allsorts
A Perfect Time to Craft
Bugaboo Crafty
Card Mania
Catch the Bug
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's PP
Hiding in My Craft Room

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Lighting Up Christmas

     Limited Runs has this happy Christmas bulb as the image for their current Progressive Challenge.


     This time, I printed the bulb twice, then colored with Pro-Markers and a silver paint pen, and fussy cut them.  The green dp with the leaves is an old one from Bo Bunny and the other one is from Recollections.  Both have been in my stash for a while and both pieces were scraps.

     I added the printed sentiment and a white bow, then made a glittered paper bow with a single gem to put on top of the white bow.

     Challenges:

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, September 11, 2017

Thanksgiving Ham?

     I've been working on Christmas cards all weekend long but this is a Thanksgiving card for today.  I know, I know - no turkey, no Pilgrims, no Indians but if you read the sentiment, you'll see that it's all about being thankful.  :-D     


This is my take on the sketch from The Outlawz
but I shifted the horizontal piece upward.


     This image is from Angie's Digital Stamps and I colored it with my ProMarkers.  Both the image and the beige frame were cut with a stitched die from Die-namics and the image is inlaid into the frame.  I matted that with some olive green CS which I ran through my "Linen " embossing folder.  Both papers are from the "Autumn Leaves" stack by DCWV and the yellow leaves dp is also matted with die cut beige CS.  With the exception of the green background paper, everything else on the card was cut from scraps.

     Finally, I added a hand tied bow made from burlap ribbon.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Glitter 'N' Sparkle
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Schack
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes
Ribbon Girl

     Happy Monday and Happy Crafting!   NanaConnie

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Fairy Godmothers

     If you take even the briefest glance at my sidebar, it's obvious that I love cats so whenever I find a new feline image, I have to use as quickly as possible.  This one is from Sasayaki Glitter and I just know this is the Fairy Godmother for a rambunctious, unstoppable cat who's probably out testing one of his nine lives.   Just look at the expression on the face of the Fairy Godmother Cat as she watches him tempt fate - yet again!


     I colored this with my ProMarkers, then cut it with an Unbranded die.  The sentiment is a computer font and I cut it with another of the dies in that same set.

     The lace with the brown ribbon has been in my stash for a while and it just worked so well against the "Linen" embossed brown and beige card stocks on the card front.  I added the double loop bow decorated with a tiny button.

     Challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Friends
Delicious Doodles
Di's Digi Designs
Jo's Scrap Shack
Ribbon Girl
Scrapper's Delights
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Too Much Halloween!

     When I found this fun and funny jack-o-lantern in my collection of Limited Runs images, I thought he looked totally worn out by all the Halloween festivities and, rather than looking very scary, I thought that looked like the biggest pumpkin yawn I'd ever seen.  :-D  So, I decided to get one more Halloween card out of the way.  It'll be time to mail them before we know it!


     Last year, I saw white pumpkins in the stores for the first time.  I know they've been around for years and popular for at least the last decade but that was the first time I'd seen them in my local stores.  Being influenced by that, I decided to color only the shading and the stem with my ProMarkers and the end result was this beautiful white pumpkin.  It's fussy cut - no dies and no electronic cutters.

     The background is done with two scraps of CS which were on my craft table and I used them instead of discarding them into the trash.  I printed and hand-cut the sentiment, then added one of my hand-made bows.  This one will be CAS, flat, and easily mailed.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with an Attitude
Colour Crazy
Crafting with Friends
Creative Fingers
Scrapper's Delights
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Friday, September 8, 2017

Skinny Turkey

     I'm doing fall and Thanksgiving cards this week so my DT card for the challenge over at QKR Stampede had to include something with fall colors and I made it into a Thanksgiving card while I was there.  This QKR image is called "Skinny Turkey" and I can tell he's been starving himself since August so that he'll be too skinny to end up on the Thanksgiving table.  At this point, he's nothing but bones and feathers.  lol


I used colors from House of Cards.


     I colored him with my ProMarkers and used two different border dies from Spellbinders to cut him out.  I chose three different papers and used one of those border dies on them, then layered them to make the background.  I wrapped the layered papers with gold satin ribbon before adding the turkey image.

     I tied a little bow using yellow gingham ribbon and then left it at that.  It's a card which will work well for one of the many guys in my family where gals are outnumbered nearly 2 to 1.  You know I make a lot of guy cards!

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More
Color Inspiration Monday
Creates and Makes
Cuttlebug Mania
I {heart} ProMarkers
Kraftin' Kimmie
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On

     Come play with us this week!  Our overall theme is always "Anything Goes" and the optional theme this week is "Fall Colors" so take that as encouragement to get your Halloween or Thanksgiving cards started.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thursday, September 7, 2017

It's Always About the Chocolate

     Each month I play along in the Progressive Challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs and this cute little mouse is the image for the September challenge.  What better than a chocolatier working away the hours in his kitchen, especially when he's making fancy chocolates just for me?!  I can smell the melting chocolate from here in the craft room!

     This is going to be a birthday card for a friend who thinks that chocolate is the only thing which never disappoints.  :-D

     I colored with my ProMarkers and used a die from Spellbinders to cut the image.  That die happens to cut the image and makes a frame at the same time.  I took the image piece and fussy cut around the top 3/4, basically from the floor upward so that the mouse and his bowl were standing alone, with no white paper aroundthem.

     I cut the striped 'wallpaper' dp with the same die, took the inside part (saving the 'frame' from that cut for another project) and laid the mouse image onto it.  I inlaid the entire image piece into the white frame (from the original image cut.)

     I used deep purple CS for the card front, wrapping it with a piece of satin-border, sheer ribbon.  I added the framed image and the sentiment and called it finished.

    Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Cuttlebug Mania
Digi Choosday
Incy Wincy (inspired by colors)
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD
Tuesday Throwdown

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Potted Cat(tails)?

     I adore this darling image of a kitty in a garden pot!  It came from the Outlawz Progressive challenge and it was drawn by Anne Fenton.  You know it thrilled me to pieces.  :-D




     I colored with my ProMarkers, then used a die from Cheery Lynn to cut it.  I took the glitter idea from my dear friend, Donna, at Creative Smiles.  She gave a great tutorial on one way to accomplish adding glitter to the negative spaces in a die cut and you can see it here.  Thanks, Donna.  :-D

    I wish my glitter showed up better in the photo and I forgot to take a close up shot before sending the card off to it's final destination.  :-(

     I used a gray-green card base, added a bow made from gingham ribbon, and finally printed the sentiment and added it.

     Challenges:
Brown Sugar
Color Inspiration
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp
SUYP Cats

     That's it for me today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

De-Light-ful Christmas !

     I love everything about the Christmas holiday - making cards, planning menus, wrapping gifts, making personalized tags for them, decorating... hmmm, maybe not the decorating part so much, at least not when it comes to lights on the tree.  :-(  I think this poor zebra agrees with me on that one!


     The image is from Sasayaki Glitter's Progressive challenge on Facebook. I colored with my ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from Cheery Lynn.  The striped paper is embossed and glittered, and the red snowflake ribbon was in my stash.  The bow is one of those I sew together by the dozens to have ready as needed and I dyed it red with a ProMarker.

     The bow is the only real embellishment because I wanted a masculine Christmas card.  I have many more guys in my family than gals so 'guy cards' are kind of necessary.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Die Cut Divas
Love to Craft
Not Just Cards
Petal Lu

     Does it feel like Monday today?  Don't concern yourself - it IS Tuesday.  Our internal clocks are just disarranged because of the holiday yesterday.   However, because there's always a chance of serious mental illness due to internal clock disarray, I suggest calling in sick and taking the day to craft and create.  Those two things, along with lots of laughter, are the best medicine for that insidious illness.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Monday, September 4, 2017

GDT at Connie Can Crop

HAPPY LABOR DAY !     

     Good morning!   Today I have the honor of being a Guest Designer for the Anything Goes challenge at Connie Can Crop - September challenge.  

     The sponsor for this challenge is Treasure Box and they have some really marvelous digital stamps, papers, and cutting files.  You can learn more about them and find a link to their website on the challenge post at Connie Can Crop.  

     I chose to use this darling little kitten from the "Pound Pals One" set of images.  They also have some cute little birds in some of their sets, but when it came to a choice between fur or feathers, I had to go with fur or my own feline fur babies would have been pouting.  Besides, it's easier to color fur than it is to get really good feathers.  :-D

     From the look on his face, I just knew that he was feeling alone and left behind when his human kids went back to school and didn't take him along and that generated the sentiment.



     This card took off in an unplanned direction while I was working on it.  Ever have that happen to you?  I got it all colored using my ProMarkers, cut it with a simple rectangle die (Spellbinders), and then saw a scad of bits and pieces which were on my desk, left over from a previous project.  Because the golden yellow seemed to fit right in with his calico colors, I added the die cuts (all Impression Obsession dies), framed out the printed sentiment, and added the corner triangle.  Voila'!  The card layout was done and all it needed was a bit of ribbon for a bow.


Enjoy, and come play at Connie Can Crop this month, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Broom Rides

     What's the first thing that happens when new crafting supplies arrive in the mail?  We sit right down and make something with them, right?  Well, I had ordered some new dies and they were waiting for me when I got home which gave me an excuse to do crafting (instead of doing house work and a load of laundry) and this is the result.


     This one is all die cuts and papers so it was really quick and easy.  The card base is made from purple CS which I ran through my "Linen" embossing folder.  The black witch is done with a die from Yvonne Creations and I also used it on the orange frame so the image is inlaid into the frame instead of being adhered on top of it.

     The pumpkins were created with a die from Die-mensions.  I used Fiskars corner punches on the orange frame, then dug through my Halloween stash for the dp with the spiders and web.  The sentiment came from an old card kit and it seemed perfect for the witch on her broom.

     Oh, yes, the bat -- it was cut from charcoal gray CS with a punch which is so old the brand name has worn off.

     Challenges:
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Creates and Makes
Creative Moments
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Penny' Paper Crafty
Pixie's Snippets
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie  

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Building Friendships

     As some of you know, I've been participating each month in the Card Chain Challenge.  It's such fun to receive a card in the mailbox from someone new each month and it gives me one more reason to make and mail a card.  :-D

     Here's the one I sent last month:


     The image is from Beccy's Place and I colored it with my ProMarkers, using colors from the optional color palette at CCC and basing it on the sketch.

       

     I cut it with a pinpoint die from Memory Box and then inked the edges before putting it onto the white card front.  I added metal brads and the sentiment, then popped it into an envelope and sent it on its way.

     Challenges:
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Dream Valley
Kraftin' Kimmie
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

   I hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend and that you'll find time for creativity, relaxation, and fun.  Does it seem odd to anyone else that we celebrate "Labor" by letting all those who 'labor' stay home from work and not labor?  lol  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie