Queen of Hearts

    For those of us in the USA, we still have a few hours of January left but for the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, based in Australia, it's already February 1st and that means a new challenge has started.  Our theme is "Anything Goes."  We have three new sponsors this fortnight:
Faery Ink  https://www.etsy.com/shop/FaeryInk (3 images),
Oddball Arts  https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/OddballArtCo (3 images),
That Craft Place   https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ThatCraftPlaceLtd (3 images).
     Each company supplied images for the team to use and I used "Queen of Hearts" from Faery Ink.

I chose to use the sketch from Technostampers

and used Warm Colors for the Papertake Weekly challenge.

     I wanted something really CAS so colored the image (with aqua markers - totally new way to color for me and I have lots to learn!), then cut and matted it with dies from QuicKutz.  The sentiment is also die cut with a die from Spellbinders.  The polka Dot ribbon is from my stash, probably from Really Reasonable Ribbon but it's been in my stash for a long time so I'm not totally sure about that.  I added a bit of sparkle to the hearts she's holding and to the gems in her crown.  How's that for totally CAS in less than 15 minutes, with most of that spent coloring it?

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Bunny Zoe's
C.R.A.F.T.
Crafts 4 Eternity
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Digitally Sweet
DL.ART
Eureka Stamps
Fairytale
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Not Just Cards
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Speed Craft
Wags n Whiskers

     I hope your weekend is going well and that you're finding some time just for yourself.  Come play with us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Love You More

     Happy Friday -- that wonderful, glorious day which ushers in the weekend!  It also heralds a new challenge at QKR Stampede and this week our theme is "Hearts."  Obviously, that gave me a chance to do another Valentine card using Digi 24266, "Love You Mouse."

I started the card design by using

the sketch from The Sweetest Thing.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and fussy cut the mouse.  In the original image, he has a shadow mouse on the right hand side but I cut it off and used just the mouse.  The heart shapes are all cut with dies from Spellbinders, except the actual white sentiment piece which is cut by hand.  The papers are from Authentique and BoBunny, new papers for me and I absolutely love them!

    The mouse is raised from the plaid heart on dimensional dots, though that doesn't really show very well in the photograph.  The little gems in the middle of the smallest hearts were in my stash for who-knows-how-long!

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Country View Crafts
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Crafty Sentiments Designs
Creative Card Crew
Design Team Showcase
Die Cut Divas
Fitztown
Kit and Clowder
Loves Rubber Stamps
My Artistic Adventures
Not Just Cards
Perfectly Rustics
Pile It On
Squigglefly
That Craft Place
Tinker-Dream
We Do Doobadoo

     What a great day.  The massive storm has subsided in the northeast, it's foggy and quiet here in my neck of the woods, the cats are all curled up together keeping each other warm, and it's a perfect day for crafting!  Enjoy and I hope we'll see you playing at QKR Stampede this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

How Does Your Garden Grow?

     Thursday and that means another new challenge theme over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge.  This week our theme is that all time favorite, "Anything Goes."  We still have the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps as our sponsor and I'm using a delightful garden theme image.  For those of you buried under gray skies and snow storms, I hope this serves as a little pick-me-up for your soul.

I chose to use the sketch from Sketchtanten

and colors from Creative Colors, plus brads and lace.

  

     I used ProMarkers to color the image and the polka dot papers are from Bo Bunny.  I cut the scalloped piece with a die from Cheery Lynn and both the image and the mat are cut with dies from Spellbinders.  The decorative corner was made by cutting a triangle out of a brown lace doily I had in my stash.

     Challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper
Little Claire's
Mema's
My Craft Creations
Paper Creator's Crafts
Passion for ProMarkers
Pile It On
Pink Elephant
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     I hope we're going to see you playing along at The Outlawz this week.  Not a member?  Join up now!  It's free, there's a new challenge each day of the week with differing themes, and the crafters over there are such a fun and friendly bunch.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Chocolate Coffee

     When the cold days of winter hit hard, as they are doing on the East Coast today, it's always a debate for me whether to make coffee or hot chocolate.  This morning my pot is filled with chocolate-flavored coffee and that solved the problem.  :-D

     We have a new challenge at Through the Craft Room Door starting this morning and our sponsor is Paola Jofre, who generously supplied digis for the team to use.  You could be the winner of the wonderful prize package she's offering if you come and play along.  The theme is "Anything Goes" so what do you have to lose?  I used her image called "Warm Wishes."

     This was a pretty simple design and I used feathers again, this time taken from an old goose-down pillow  which needs to be tossed.  Doesn't that count as being 'green aware' by recycling?  :-D  The image is colored with ProMarkers and the dies are from Spellbinders and QuicKutz.
   
     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Art Impressions
C.R.A.F.T.
Die Cut Divas
Kreativeinkauf
Lady Bug Crafts
Sister Act
Stempelsonnen
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'

     Sadly, this will be my last DT card for Through the Craft Room Door.  My term is up and I'm going to really miss the wonderful gals at TTCRD.  On the other hand, I can go back to playing in the challenges as an entrant instead of a DT.  :-D  Thanks so much for stopping by.and Happy Stamping!  NanaConnie

It's a Thank You Raccoon !

     When I first saw this January released set from Doodle Pantry, called Little Critters, I fell in love with the raccoon.  Since I need a couple more Thank You cards and since the sentiment is also part of the set, it seemed perfect.  There are lovely digital papers, too.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then die cut it and edged it with purple ink.  I took the purple lace from my stash of brand new goodies and adhered them to the card front, then layered the image on top.  The flowers were a simple embellishing touch.  Obviously, purple is my fdavorite color.  :-D

     Challenges:

Allsorts

Baffies Kreativladen

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Craft Cottage

Digistamps 4 Joy (flowers/2 layers)

Dragonfly Dreams

Robyn's Fetish

Scrap & Craft

Scrapper's Delights

Scribble & Scrap

Send a Smile 4 Kids

STAMPlorations

Sweet Stampin'

Word Art Weds.

     The challenge for this month at Doodle Pantry has ended but there'll be another one next month so get ready to play in that one.  In hte meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Vintage Silhouette

     In my head, this started out to be a really CAS card but it had a mind of its own and just took off.  :-D

     I ran the green CS through my "Linen" embossing folder and then did the silhouette on top of the embossing.  I added the swirly lace (a left over scrap trimmed to fit) as a collar piece and realized then how vintage she looked.  At that point, I wrote out the sentiment across the top using a black gel ink pen.

     I remembered that I had just purchased some lace this morning so I dug it out of the bag (not even put away yet!), trimmed a piece to fit and adhered it to the top of the card front.  Hmmm, the CAS look was pretty much gone at that point, so I found some feathers in my stash, both black and white, and added them to the hair as though they were on a hat.  I love feathers as an embellie but forget to use them often enough.

     I used a pearl flower and a few green gems to give a bit of definition to the hat and that gave me the idea of using more green gems to make a necklace.  I added three green gems to the corner.  You can't believe how much sparkle that adds, even though it doesn't show really well in the photo.

     After realizing that all hope of staying CAS was totally gone, and that the design was really unbalanced from side to side, I dug out the white flowers (three glittered and two plain), added yellow pearls to them and made the v shape below the lace.  I think this would make a fabulous birthday card for a lady, don't you?

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Allsorts
Aud Sentiments
City Crafter
Glitter n Sparkle
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations
Inspiration Destination
Just Inspirational
Penny's Paper Crafty
Red Rubber Inspirationals
Sister Act
Top Tip Tuesday
Tuesday Throwdown

     Hope you enjoy this card and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Just an Old Country Cowboy

     We have a dear family friend who loves his cowboy boots and 10 gallon hat, and who is (in my opinion) rather graceful about aging (although the truth is that he's a year or so younger than my oldest son so from my perspective he isn't very "old.")  He's also one of those guys who offers a helping hand to anyone in need, a positive thought to anyone who might be a bit down in the dumps, and who is a mover & shaker in local community activities; truly, a unique individual.  His birthday was last week, and I made this card specifically for him.

     My blogging friend from Texas, Lynn, sent me the stamped image and it was just soooo perfect!  Thanks so much, Lynn.  :-D

     Here's a close up of the image, colored with ProMarkers, but I wanted to show you the amount of detail in the stamp.  Isn't that detail just fantastic?

I used the colors from Love to Create, 

but I just had to do his jeans and shirt in blue-grays!

Forgive me for not sticking to the exact palette.

     I die cut the image with a Spellbinders die set and added two more die cut ovals, all layered together.  The sentiment is mine, printed using a computer font, and I hope it added a bit of humor.  But, because this is a card for a guy, I did no other embellishing.

     Challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Sentiments Designs
I {heart} ProMarkers
Inspiration Destination
Loves Rubber Stamps (Boots, Blue, Brown, Bronc Buster)
Paper Minutes
Path of Positivity
Whoopsi Daisy

     The weekend is here and I hope you'll have lots of positive, creative time to refresh and charge your batteries.  Remember, if you have nothing stored up in your soul, you have nothing to give to anyone else.  It's like a bank balance -- zero put in equals zero to take out.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Friendship Roses

     A good Friday morning to you, my friends and followers.  Friday means a new challenge at QKR Stampede.  This week, our theme is a "Shaped Card."  Although my craft room seems to be overflowing with die cut sets from various makers, I don't have many dies large enough for cutting shaped cards.  So, I did a technique I had seen on Pinterest for making a 'shaped' card by cutting it with scissors.

     I used a QKR Stampede image called "Roses", digi 3601 and a QKR sentiment, "Friendships & Gardens," digi 16813.   I hate to admit that the image was one of the first digis I bought when I first discovered QKR Stampede nearly 2 years ago and I've never used it until this card!

     I know I normally reach for my ProMarkers but this time I wanted to try something different so I colored the roses with my chalks, then cut them by hand with scissors.  I adhered the image to green CS, embossed with my "Linen" folder. I added the sentiment piece, layered everything onto the card front, and then hand cut the shape for the card.  I thought all the hand cut pieces created enough interest so I didn't embellish it.  I like the CAS feel of it.

     Challenges:
Chalk N Stock
Craft Your Passion
Creative Craft Cottage
Design Team Showcase
Dream Valley
Fairytale Stampers
Flashback Fridays
Inky Chicks
Ladybug Crafts
Melonheadz Friends
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Paper Minutes
Paper Nest Dolls

     I hope we'll see you playing along at QKR Stampede this week.  Remember, you don't have to use a QKR digi or rubber stamp but if you do, you're in a separate drawing just for those who used them.  That greatly increases your chance of winning!  :-D  See you over there.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Hibernating Birds?

     It's Thursday and time for another fun challenge at Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme and then we have an additional but optional twist if you want to use it.  Our optional twist this week is "Lovely as a Tree."  Our sponsor this month is Bugaboo Stamps and they were generous in providing images for the DT to use.  Thanks, Jodie!

     I'm not sure if these birds think their 'tree' is all that lovely this time of year but that's their fault for not migrating before winter set in, right?

My sketch also came from Outlawz this week.

     I used my ProMarkers (favorites of all the brands I have) to color the image and added a bit of sparkle and white gel pen to the snow.  Obviously, I used some of my favorite color, too -- purple!  The sentiment is mine and I printed it right below the image, then die cut both in the same piece and embossed around the inside edge.  I die cut the blue background pieces and used the waste pieces to make the edging along the right side of the card.  Both die sets are from Spellbinders.  I also used a hand punch on three of the corners.  Almost CAS (but for the layers) with minimal embellishing and lots of open space, even if it isn't 'white' space.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug (emboss/stripes/animal)
Corrosive Challenge
Creatalicious
Die Cut Divas
Dragonfly Dream
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Hiding in My Craft Room
Kit and Clowder
Kreativeinkauf
My Sheri Crafts
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Creator's Crafts
Scrap It Girl

     That's all I have for today.  Unfortunately, I'm under the weather with this flu that's making the rounds and I just don't feel like being up and around for very long at a time.  Hope things are healthier at your house.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  DT

Winter Bliss at Lacy Sunshine

     I do love Lacy Sunshine images and this one is no exception.  Although I'm sure it was originally designed as a Christmas image, I'm using it for a winter birthday being celebrated by a lady who loves all things Victorian.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and then I dug out one of my old snowflake stamps and one of my newest ones to stamp the snowflakes.  I added glitter, sparkle, and ribbon, plus the bow completed with sparkly sequin.  The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts, and inside it says "...on your birthday."

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Addicted to Stamps
Artbymiran
Brown Sugar
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafts 4 Eternity
Creatalicious
Di's Digi Designs
East Wind
Emerald Faeries
Lacy Sunshine
My Sheri Crafts
Oddball Art Stamps
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Sweeties
Robyn's Fetish
Scrap It Girl
Sister Act
Stamping Boutique
STAMPlorations
Tinker Dream
Your Scrapbook Place

     Long list of challenges today but I managed to work in every single one that was on my list before I started work on the card.  Usually, I end up tossing out anywhere from one or two up to half a dozen or more just because I can't squeeze everything onto one card without it looking really junky.  But today the list seemed to just mesh.  :-D   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Lady Bug Hugs

     I'm trying to get a few Valentine cards done and when I saw this new set from Doodle Pantry, called "Lady Bug Hugs," I couldn't resist using one of the images and one of the sentiments.

     Very quick and simple card since I used a pre-colored version of the image and cut it with a die from QuicKutz.  I also printed and cut the sentiment with a smaller die from that same set.  The die cut image I matted with a scrap square of red CS and I added both pieces to a black card front.  The polka dot ribbon is wrapped and tied with a square knot, then I used the last scrap of that ribbon to make the 'bow' which I adhered with ribbon glue.  

     The entire thing took me exactly 15 minutes to put together.  My friend, Lynn, would call this a "git 'er done" card.  :-D  I love that expression!

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Cuttlebug Mania

Digistamps 4 Joy (die/free/fav - ribbon)

DL.ART

Inky Impressions

Inspired by Stamping color combo  

Kitty Bee Designs

Little Claire's

My Time to Craft

     Below is a photo of the entire set and don't forget that we have challenge going this month, too, with a theme of "dairy."  You can read all the details about the challenge by clicking right here.  Meanwhile, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

7 Days Without You

     I decided it was time to start making cards for Operation Write Home again since I haven't done any for a while.  If you're not familiar with OWH, check out the badge on my side bar.  Just click on it and you'll go right to their website.

     This card uses an image from Sassy Cheryl's.  In this post, I'll also have to give you an update on the "Battle for the Window Seat" between Honey and my newest fur baby, Molly, since they were working out terms while I was making this card.  Of course, all the negotiations (including objections) had to take place with me as the arbitrator at the same time I'm trying to create something wonderful  :-D  Scroll down one post to get the full scoop on Molly, how she came to live with me, and how the window seat battle started.

I used the sketch from Tuesday Throwdown this week.

(Shout out to my former teamies!)

     The image is colored with my Prism watercolor pencils, then cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The "7" is from an old page of pre-cut pop-outs which came with a stack of scrapbooking paper.  I never use those pop-out things so these have been kicking around as much as 5 or 6 years!  But my friend, Vicki, from "Stamp Smiles" is doing a Flashback Friday challenge each week where she asks that we use something from our stash that's more than a year old and this week she wanted to see letters or numbers.  Since a number worked better for my sentiment, I dug out the '7.'  

     The card base is a pre-cut card from DCWV and I used one of their flowery "Linen Closet" prints.  All I added for embellishment were the 3 tiny pearls.  I wanted this card as flat as possible since it will have to be mailed.

     Challenges:
Baffies Kreativladen
Crafty Gals Corner  
Cuttlebug Mania
Inky Chicks
Jo's Scrap Shack
Moving Along with the Times
Paper Minutes
Scrap & Craft
Sister Act
Top Tip Tuesday

     OK, now the update on Honey and Molly and who gets to peek out which window.  I made another 'window seat' a bit higher than the previous one (which Molly had seen fit to claim) and suggested to Honey that perhaps it would work even better than the original one since it was a bit higher (hinting that it gave additional status to the user.)  Honey looked very skeptical but did deign investigate it.

     Molly, aware that I was being very attentive to Honey for several minutes without a single glance in her direction, began purring and mewing, hoping to attract my attention away from Honey.  Here's what I mean...

     Notice that's the original window seat and Molly does look simply smashing on purple!  Who needs a red carpet when you're that cute?

     Glancing back to Honey, here's what I found...

     However, 15 minutes after these photos were taken I discovered that the two fur babies had exchanged places and were just as happy with either spot.  Currently they are each taking a long feline nap in the respective window seats.  Who knew it could be that simple -- just make an additional fur baby bed.  Do they have their human trained or what?  I think I'll put these two photos on the side bar just so that I have continuing proof that issue resolution between felines is possible when one puts one's mind to it.  :-D

     BTW, Molly is a real cuddle cat -- she loves to be petted, held, stroked, or carried around.  Her purring motor runs constantly and she sleeps on the bed as close to me as she can get.  She seems to be truly happy here in her new home and I love having her here.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Newest Fur Baby

     I cheerfully admit that this card was inspired by a new fur baby who has come to live at my house.  I'll have some photos of her later in the post and the story of how she came to adopt me.  In the meantime, this card is done for the challenge at Lacy Sunshine, where the theme is "Sparkly and New."  This is one of Heather's sweet animal images, just too cute for words and perfect for anyone celebrating a new fluffy member of the family.

     I wanted a completely CAS card so I printed the image right onto the card front and added the sentiment above it.  I did no coloring at all because I like the black and white of the drawn image.  I did brush some glue onto the bow she's wearing and the flower centers, then added loose yellow glitter.  I brushed glue onto the flower petals and added clear glitter.  Finally, I added some glue to the shadowed portions of the bow and added copper glitter.  What a great way to have lots of sparkle and bling but still have a very CAS card.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Card Mania
City Crafter
Corrosive Challenge
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting from the Heart
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations
Inspiration Destination
Little Miss Muffet
Outlawz Greetings
Paper Girls
Quirky Crafts
Scrap & Craft
Sparkle N Sprinkle
Top Tip Tuesday

      OK, now for a peek at my new fur baby, whose name is Molly B Katniss, but she prefers to be called just Molly.  She's about 8 months old and had to find a new home when her previous owners moved.  Through one source or another (translate that to read 'my daughter'), Molly and her humans became aware that I was a sucker for being adopted and that there was already a good start on a 'pride' if she could just manage to be cute and sweet and lovable so that the other two (Cleo and Honey) felines would accept her.

     It took two nights and a full day before Cleo and Honey were willing to fully accept that there was an unfamiliar feline sharing the living space, but here's Molly, checking out the very spot where Honey likes to sit and stare out the craft room window.

     Once she decided that the nesting site was the proper shade of purple and soft enough to suit her delicate paws...

     ...she checked me out (I was at the craft desk about 2 feet away) to see if I was going to give her any verbal grief about being up there.

     Receiving no objections from me, she settled in, perhaps hoping for a quick bath and a long snooze.  Unfortunately, before either of those could happen, Honey voiced an opinion and they had a long conversation about who gets to sit in the window and when.  Although considerably smaller in size, Molly is not to be intimidated and she stood (sat?) her ground.  I don't think the issue has been completely resolved but for the time being that's where she likes to be whenever I'm in the craft room.  More to come, I'm sure.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Cupid Bear

     Another challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and we want to see you do something that relates to "Cupid," that mythical guy with the bow and arrows who makes people fall in love.  :-D  I used a fun image called "Cupid Bear" - Digi 10602 and a sentiment called "Hooked on Love" - Digi 14612.

     With the New Year behind us, it's time to think about "New Love" but I'm not sure that means shooting yourself in the foot.  lol

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and I added metallic paint to the wings and stars which really shines.  The inlaid decorative corners are die cut using one of my new die sets from Scrappy Land.  I fussy cut the sentiment into a vague heart shape and tied the bow with some pink ribbon.  For bling, I added the sequin to the bow and some gold sparkle ink to the bow and the arrows, plus a tiny bit of glitter to the star on the sentiment.

     This card is an interesting combination of new (the image, the dies, and the sequins) and old or hoarded items (markers, CS, ribbon, & paint.)  New Year's mean it's time to get rid of stashed and hoarded items by using them up.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Come and Get It
Craft Hoarders Anonymous
Crafty Boots
Get Creative
Glitter n Sparkle
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
One Stitch at a Time
Passion for ProMarkers
Perfectly Rustics
Robyn's Fetish
Scribble and Scrap
Sweet 7

     The week is over, I'm finally back online with a new U-Verse Internet connector and I'm going to get caught up on everything I missed, including visiting favorite blogs and getting a post done which should have gone live last Tuesday.  Look for it later today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Flaky Friends

     What with the problems I've had getting an internet connection all week long and also not having pre-scheduled my post for the Through the Craft Room Door challenge which started last Tuesday, this post wasn't ready and I couldn't get online to get it ready.  So sorry.  Better late than never, I guess.  :-D

     Our sponsor this week is Dr. Digi and they supplied digis to the DT members this week.  The one I used is called "Lonely This Christmas" but I used it as a simple winter card instead.

     This card will be published in the TTCRD magazine for March/April and all the details about how it was made and what I used will be in there.  If you subscribe to the magazine, you can read all about it in the next issue.

     I will tell you that I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches, turned a quarter turn.

     Challenges:
Card Mania
Crafter's Cafe
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Little Red Wagon
Mod Squad
Paper Shelter
Paper Sweeties
Party Time Tuesday
Scrapy Land (Spellbinders dies)
Seemacrafts
Top Tip Tuesday

     Again, my apologies for this being late but there's still time to play in the challenge before it ends on Monday.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New Love for the Young

     (Edited to add:  Sorry this is late today but I've been denied internet access by my provider -- cable box problems -- for several days now and I didn't have this post pre-scheduled.)

     Once again, Valentine's Day looms just over the horizon and in honor of that, I've used a really fun image from Bugaboo Stamps (our sponsor) to make a card for the new challenge at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  As always, our theme is "Anything Goes" but we have an optional twist of "Use Brads or Eyelets" on your card.  I chose brads and I'll give you a tip on getting brad colors you need but might not have in your collection.  First, the card:

     The image (new to me) is colored in stripes with red ProMarkers (I wanted a black, white, and red monochromatic combo for this one), corner punched, matted and corner punched again.  The two dp are from one of my new stacks by Authentique.  I have been so good for months and months, using up my stash and my scraps of dp and not buying any papers at all but when I saw this particular stack, I simply had to have it!  What's the point of using up what you already have if you don't get to buy something new to replace it?

     I added stitching to the black striped dp and used a red heart brad in the corner.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the scallops are die cuts using one of my new dies (Cheery Lynn) and yes, I am in love with that new die in case you think you've seen it once or twice already.  :-D  Finally, I finished off this celebration of 'New Love' by adding three different sizes of round brads.

     Now, the tip I promised you -- I wanted to match the color of the heart brad as closely as possible but when I looked, I had no red brads anywhere!  I did have some red embossing powder that was really close in color so I embossed the brads.  How, you ask?  I held each brad with very long tweezers (which also have a hard rubber covering on the handle), heated the brad head with my heat gun, then quickly dipped it into the EP, removing it immediately.  The EP melts right onto the brad because the brad is hot.  On a couple of them, I had to do two coats of EP but amazingly, the color was an exact match to the heart brad.  I was so happy.  Never again will I have to worry about having brads in the color I want because I have EP in every color of the rainbow.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
Catch the Bug (ribbon/scallops/stitching)
Crafting Cafe
Crafting Musketeers
Crafty Calendar
Design Team Showcase
My Time to Craft
Nataliie and Amy's
One Stitch at a Time
Paper Creator's Crafts
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Sweet Stampin'
That Craft Place

     I hope your week is going well and that we'll see you playing in the Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz this week.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie  

Milk Bath Spa

     It's time for another weekly release at Doodle Pantry and we have a challenge running for January with a silly theme, celebrating National Milk Day or something similar.  We want to see you use something dairy related on your projects -- milk, cheese, cows, etc.  I used one of the new release sets called "Bath Ants" and I did it so that they are all celebrating at the local Milk Bath Spa.  Hope this brings a grin to your face.  :-D

     That's one of the pre-colored images but I added white to the 'bath water' so that it would look more like milk.  The scallops were cut with one of my brand-spanking-new die sets by Cheery Lynn (Scrapy Land.)  The flowers were punched with two new hand punches and I added some beads from my stash to three of them and a rhinestone to the fourth.  The sentiment is computer printed and hand cut.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Country View Crafts

Crafts Galore Encore

Die Cut Divas

Ladybug Crafts

Lia Stampz

Mema's

My Artistic Adventures

Scrapy Land

Seemacrafts

Sparkles Forum

Sister Act

Sisters of Craft

Vandicrafts

     That's it for today.  Hope we see you at the Doodle Pantry challenge this month.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Celebrate New Snow with a Smile

     A really quick post which I'll schedule to go live on Monday.  For the last two or three days, I've had real problems connecting to the internet and staying on once I do connect.  I want to share this fun and CAS card using a sweet image from Rick St. Dennis which makes a new layer of snow seem like something to be celebrated.  :-D

I used the sketch from CAS - Colours and Sketches.

     I colored the image in reds and pinks with ProMarkers and chalked the edges after die cutting it.  I cut the "arrow" piece, layered it to the back of the image and put that whole thing on the textured card front.   The sentiment was cut with one of my new dies from Creative Dies by Penny Black.  Voila' - done in no time at all.

     Challenges:
A Creative Need
Artbymiran
Brown Sugar
Chalk 'n Stock
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
DL.ART
Fairy Tale
In the Pink
Pattie's Creations
Wags 'n Whiskers

     Well, I've been punted off line 5 times while typing up this post!  Grrrr.  I'm going to have to rethink my internet provider and maybe make a change.  Hopefully, I'll see you again for my DT posts.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

No Cold Shoulders

     Friday morning and another new challenge at QKR Stampede.  Our theme this week is "Baby, It's cold outside" which, in many parts of the US and Canada at least, is a totally true statement!   I used this darling snowman digi (Digi 23701 "Snowman Scene") and the sentiment "Cold Shoulder" Digi 10801.

My sketch came from the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz.

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and I added bits of glitter to the overall scene for snowflakes and to the snowman for a bit of sparkle.  I know that pale blues are the traditional colors for snowy winter cards, but I wanted to see if I could make green look cold and icy.  What do you think?  Both the image and the sentiment are hand cut.

     I heat embossed the card front with white EP from Sparkle n Sprinkle before layering on the image piece.  I added green sequins.  The sheer ribbon has been hiding in my stash and I added a scrap of narrow, dark-green ribbon before I tied the bow.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Card Mania
Come and Get It
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Eureka Stamps
Friends of Speedy TV
Glitter n Sparkle
Great Impressions
Paper Minutes
Papertake Weekly
Party Time Tuesday
Robyn's Fetish
Stamp and Create

      That's it for me today.  I hope your weekend means staying inside where it's warm and doing some fun and enriching crafting, just to recharge your soul.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Twisted Thursday Gate Fold with Bugaboo

     It's Thursday and that means a new challenge at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday.  Remember, our theme is always "Anything Goes" but there's an optional twist each week.  This week, the twist is to do a 'gate fold' card.  If you do just the Anything Goes part, then you can enter only once.  If you add the twist, you can enter a second time.

     Our sponsor for January is Bugaboo Stamps and I chose to use an image new for me, called "ggtouchcoffee" and the sentiment which goes with that stamp.  Here are photos showing the front, the inside, and one which emphasizes the gate fold.

  

     I colored the digi with ProMarkers and added a bit of glitter to her glasses.  I used some gold mesh and made the bow from a bit of lace (a new bow making technique for me and something I'll be doing more and more since I really love these!)   I used punches on the corners of the matted image and sentiment and called it finished, a nice CAS design with lots of open, white areas.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Art Impressions Stamps
Catch the Bug
Crazy 4 Challenges
Love to Create
My Craft Creations
Not Just Cards
Quirky Crafts
Scribble and Scrap
Suzy Bee's Bloomin'

     If you're not yet a member of The Outlawz, come join.  It's a fantastic place to share your crafting and card making, meet other like-minded folks, get some fabulous inspiration, and there are seven new challenges each week!   I joined nearly 3 1/2 years ago and have met some of the most wonderful and supportive crafters over that time.  Last Thanksgiving, give or take a few days, I became a DT for the Twisted Thursday group and I love being there.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Girl

     Long before I ever became a DT member over at The Outlawz, I played regularly in most of the challenges each week.  Now, they've added a monthly Progressive Challenge with a new freebie from a different digi company each month (provided you've joined and played during the previous month.)  Joining is easy and all you have to do is to e-mail to get the digi for the month you join.

     This month, we're using a sweet digi by All Dressed Up called "Winter Girl."  Here's what I did with her.

My underlying sketch came from Stella Says Sketch,

turned a quarter turn.

     I colorerd her with ProMarkers, then die cut the image.  I did a second die cut from dp to make the frame and finally a third die cut from black CS (new die from Santa), then layered them all.  All those dies are from Spellbinders and both the dp and the CS have been languishing in my stash forever (more or less.)

     I used shiny black ribbon from my stash and yet another die cut (brand new from Cheery Lynn -- thanks again, Santa!) for the "snowflake" behind the bow.  I heat embossed the snowflake to give it some shine.  The black bow is made from lace which I've been hoarding instead of using but it's time to show it off.  :-D  I love ribbon and lace and they are probably my favorite embellishments to add to cards.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Catch the Bug
Clear It Out
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Boots
Fussy and Fancy
Glitter n Sparkle
Graph'It
Hiding in My Craft Room
Kit and Clowder
Love to Scrap (L, S, B)
Lunagirl Moonbeam
Party Time Tuesday
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Tuesday Throwdown (waving to all my former Teamies -- miss you!)

     I hope your week is going well -- you're half way to the weekend already.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Winter Woods

          I'm still so excited that Deedee's Digis has found a way to stay open despite the changes in the EU VAT tax laws.  I would have missed Deedee's lovely images if she'd had to close permanently.

     Today I'm sharing one of my after-Christmas 'Thank You' cards which I designed using images from Deedee's "Winter Woods" set.  I used pre-colored images, combining two of them into one scene.

     I printed the full scene with the one deer in the snowy forest, added the 'Thank You' sentiment (my favorite post-Christmas words), and then die cut it with a square die from Spellbinders.  I did add some sparkle to the snow in the background and in the trees with some "Diamond" Stickles.  The card base is embossed with a folder but for some reason that doesn't show in the photo.

     I matted the image with black CS and printed one of the single deer, increasing the size so that he was just slightly larger than the other one in the scene.  I fussy cut him (no easy job around the antlers!) and added him to the scene so that he was standing closer and in front of the trees.  Although it doesn't show well in the photo, he's on dimensional dots.  The two bows were in my stash and worked so well together, I used both of them instead of trying to choose one over the other.

     Challenges:
Color My Heart
Craft for the Craic
Di's Digi Designs
Fairy Tale
Frosted Designs
Fussy & Fancy
Just Us Girls
Pattie's Creations
Pile It On
Polka Doodles (top row across)
Word Art Weds.  (Deedee's is sponsoring this one)

     Don't forget that we have a new Digi of the Month challenge going and if you enter it, you'll get February's digi as a freebie.  It's the start of a new year and if you go to the shop (see the information on the challenge post), you'll get the DOM set for free this month.  Use an image from the set to enter the DOM challenge, and you'll get the next one free.  We'd love to see you there this month and many months in the future.  :-D

     That's all I have for today.  It's so nice to be back in my routine after the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  If I haven't visited your blog yet, I'm still getting around to everything I missed over the last couple of weeks.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Please just ignore the annoying Verification thingy.  You can write and post your comment without entering anything in the box (at least until Blogger decides to change that, too.)  Thank you.