Missing in Action???

     I can think of no better way to make my apologies for being MIA and not stopping by to leave comments on the blogs of those I visit regularly (and who visit me often) than to just do a general mea culpa right here on my own blog.

     I have already told all of you that my summer is going to be a bit crazy with continuing at my regular day job and then adding an evening teaching job for the next 8 weeks, but I honestly had no idea just how time consuming it was going to be.  I've been unable to visit my regular "blog route" or to do any commenting on anything other than my DT commitments.  There are already more than 100 unanswered e-mails in my box and I have little chance of getting them answered.

     I love you all dearly, and I hate not having the time to comment as I would like.  The best I can do is promise that I'll visit as often as I can, even if I can't always leave a comment, and that it will all get back to normal in August when the teaching ends.

     I so appreciate your understanding.  Hugs to all of you!  NanaConnie

Cooking It Up with Katie Meets The Perfect Sentiment for a Birthday

     Today I'm doing something I've never done before but time is really precious right now and the two challenges for which I'm wearing a DT/GDT hat today blended perfectly!   At Cooking It Up with Katie we have a new recipe:  Celebrate with Ribbon and use a Die Cut.  Over at The Perfect Sentiment, where this is my last Guest DT card on this almost last day of May, we have an Anything Goes challenge but we threw in the twist of No Scrapbook Pages!  TPS is sponsored by Limited Runs this week and I chose a Limited Runs sentiment stamp as the focus piece of my card.

My sketch came from Sketches by Carly.

     Yesterday's card was so super CAS, I decided to make up for it with today's card.  I started with a kraft card base, wrapped with sparkly green ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I made a separate bow from the same ribbon.

     For the main sentiment (used as the image) from Limited Runs, I printed it on spring green paper, cut it with a square die, then matted it onto kraft and brown CS die cuts.  The butterfly is also a Limited Runs digi which I printed out very small, then colored with Sakura Glaze & Souffle pens.   She's fussy cut and added to the card after the image piece was layered on.

     I added the bow, all the flowers, and the tiny owl feather.  I curled the wire stems of the flowers with very small, needle-nose pliers.  I saw someone doing that on their cards and I love the look of it.  So now, instead of cutting off the stems, I curl them.  Of course, the flowers I make by hand don't usually have stems but I'm working on that, too.  :-D  The middle flower is made from brown velvet ribbon with a pearl in the center.

     Challenges:
Allsorts -- Happy Birthday to someone special
Delightful Challenges -- 5 or more flowers
Hotshot Craft -- Die cuts
My Cheri Crafts -- Summer
Outlawz PAM -- Remembering -- My childhood best friend's summer birthday which we always celebrated the weekend right after school ended!  Thinkin' of ya, Cookie!
Poodles Parlour -- Monochromatic
Robyn's Fetish -- Birthday w/ sentiment on front

     I hope you're going to play along in both challenges this week.  The recipe at Katie's is a fun one, and what could be simpler than Anything Goes at The Perfect Sentiment?  BTW, I want to say a huge "Thanks" to everyone on the DT at TPS for welcoming me so warmly this Merry Month of May.  It's been delightful working with all of you and you'll find me hanging around, playing in the challenges if I have even one spare minute over the next 2 months!

     To all of my fun and faithful followers: if I'm not posting as much as usual in June and July, it has to do with a very busy schedule over the next 8 weeks and not from any loss of interest in crafting and card making.  I have worked ahead as much as possible on my DT commitments, and may have a surprise or two hidden up my sleeve as I find spare moments of leisure.  I hope you'll continue to visit with me and leave me comments.  That way, I'll have something to sustain me and I won't think I've been abandoned.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Tuesday Throwdown & Dude Time Doodles

     You have no idea how much fun I had with this card!  Last year, I had the honor of being on the Design Team at Dude Time Doodles, and that's still the first place I go when I want a fun image for a masculine card.  There's something about Boni's digi stamps that brings out my humor, though sometimes it's a bit twisted.  Today, Tuesday Throwdown is being sponsored by Dude Time Doodles so I got to combine DT work with an old favorite.

                                             

Dude Time Doodles

     Our theme is simply -- "No Girls Allowed."  Before you moan and groan because you "can't" do masculine cards, take a hint from me.  Go to Dude Time Doodles store, look at all the digis and sentiments, and then throw something together.  Boni's digis make doing guy cards a simple thing and so easy!

Colors came from 4 Crafty Chicks.

     This is "Kill It Kevin", doing one of the required male chores -- keeping his home and family safe from creepy crawlers, a thing no woman should have to do!   The "Guy Thing" sentiment is from TLC.  I printed it and then sized Kevin to fit within the circle, and printed him.   He's colored with Copics, fussy cut and adhered to the center of the sentiment circle. I turned the sentiment sideways so that Kevin wouldn't block any of the lettering.

     OK, let's talk embellishments.  Other than matting the image with a circle die cut, the only thing I added to the card front is a piece of an old, bamboo-strip, place mat that I've kept in my stash because someday I knew I'd use it for something!  :-D  I cut it, removed one strip from the side, used "Fray Check" on the strings to 'glue' them together and then adhered the bamboo mat to the card front, leaving the strings to stick out on the side, adding a bit of fiber texture.  That's it.  No flowers, no gems, no brads, no twine, no ribbons, no bows, ...  just a really simple card that took less than 1/2 an hour to assemble. The bamboo gives such a great texture to the card and I love the striped effect.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Bring on the Boys
ATCs & Cards with Attitude -- Anything goes
Aud Sentiments -- Any sentiment
Charisma Cardz -- No flowers allowed
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards -- For the boys
Creations by Gill M -- Stripes and Spots
Dynamic Duos -- Monochromatic Blues
DRS Designs -- Masculine
Fat Pages & Cards with Attitude -- Anything goes
Little Claire's - Male theme
Little Miss Muffet -- Anything goes
One Stop Craft -- For the boys
SJ Papercrafts -- All about boys + something old (the place mat)
Southern Girls -- Die cuts or punch

     Alright, no more fussing about it -- you can make a simple guy card and you can have fun doing it.  Besides, we all need birthday and Father's Day cards for those special dudes in our lives so have one (or more) ready!  Come play along at Tuesday Throwdown this week.  You could win a gift certificate for Dude Time digi/sentiments and not have to worry about having masculine images on hand the next time you need one.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Last Post for Lexi's Creations Design Team

     Yes, it's a sad day for me since this is my last post as a member of the Lexi's Creations Design Team.  I'm stepping down because of my extremely busy teaching summer which officially starts next week but, in fact, has already consumed several hours with course work preparation.  I'll still be around this entire fortnight to leave comments on your marvelous creations!  This week the theme is "For the man/boy in your life."  Our sponsor is The Crop Stop.  I can hear some of you groaning because you don't like doing guy cards but I want you to try one, just for my last challenge, won't you?

     The image (brand new to me) is from Lexi's and is called "Monkeying Around."  It seemed like a perfect image for a young boy's birthday card.  I colored it with Promarkers, then used a die cut on the image and for the offset, framing piece.  The dp is from Colorbok, the Sorbet stack, and the flowers on it are embossed.  I hate to admit that I've hoarded that in my stash for more than a year!  The flowery ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and it's also been in my stash since before St. Patrick's last year!  I added the die cut/embossed leaves because I thought they added to the jungle feel, and they complemented the vine in the image.  The Cheery Lynn die I used for those is brand new and this is the first time I've cut with it.

     I wanted it mostly uncluttered by embellishments since it's a guy card but felt that it was perfectly fine to use bright papers, green leaves, and ribbon since it's a birthday card for a young boy.  Of course, we all know this card might very well work for a grown up (?) male, too, since they never seem to tire of scratching their armpits and making monkey noises, no matter how old they are!  lol

     Challenges:

Desert Islands Crafters -- 3 from the list: For a boy, something old, something new

Die Cuttin' Divas -- Buttons, Banners OR Birthdays

I Love Promarkers -- Die cuts

Just Keep on Creating -- Anything goes

Paper Pretties -- Bold, bright colors

Passion for Promarkers -- Birthday

Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Anything goes

Robyn's Fetish -- Birthday w/ sentiment on front

Send a Smile for Kids -- Anything goes

Sweet Stamps -- Anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday -- Dig out the old (dp and ribbon)

Use It Tuesday -- Use 2 hoarded items (ribbon and paper)

     OK, find yourself a reason to make a card for a man or boy in your life, then submit it for the Lexi's Creations challenge.  It runs until June 10 so you have plenty of time.  Don't disappoint me on my last challenge as a DT, OK?  I'll be coming around to comment.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Back Roads and Dads

     Today's card is done in honor of my dad, though he's been gone for many years.  I can't make Father's Day cards for him anymore, but I still think of him every June.  His birthday was also in June.  So, this one's for you, Dad.  He loved just traveling the back roads with no particular destination in mind and no real time limit, taking whichever turn seemed the most interesting at that moment.  I like to think that's what life is all about -- the journey, not the destination.  :-D

The sketch came from Card Positioning Systems, and I flipped it.

     The digital stamp is from Sandi Huggett at the CFC challenge on Outlawz.  It's been colored with Copic markers and sparkle gel pen (windows and side mirror.)  However, if that had been Dad's Jeep, it would have had a good coating of mud or dust!  :-D

     The black paper with the tiny polka dots is Basic Grey, from the Out of Print collection and all the rest are My Mind's Eye (collection unknown.)  Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and the only other embellishments are the little brads in the lower corner.

     Dad would have loved this card not only for the sentiment (printed on my computer) but because blue was his favorite color.

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps -- Black, White and 1 other color
Anything Goes Challenge -- Black with 1 color
Basic Grey -- Anything goes
Creations by Gill M -- Stripes and Spots
Just Keep on Creating -- Anything goes with 'Travel'
Little Claire's -- Male theme
Mad for Markers -- Masculine colors
Make it Monday -- Mix patterned papers
Pile It On -- Mix the scale (size) of your paper patterns
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Father's Day or masculine
Speedy & Friends -- Father's Day
Twisted Tuesday -- Vacation + keep it simple

     I hope you're enjoying both this post and the first one I had for today with the Just Inspirational challenge.  That post will be my last for the Just Inspirational Challenges.  I've loved being on that design team but my upcoming busy, busy summer means that something has to be cut so I'll be leaving the DTs at both Just Inspirational and Lexi's Creations after next week.  I love and will miss all my teamies out there.  Hugs to all of you and thanks for adding me to your list of blogging friends.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Queen's Jubilee at Just Inspirational Challenges

  Yes, yes, I know I'm on the colonial side of the Atlantic 'pond' and therefore not a British subject, but that doesn't change the fact that the Queen's Jubilee is coming up in June.  Over at Just Inspirational this week (a challenge based in England), we have a wonderful inspiration photo and the colors and leaves inspired me most.  I'm sure many who are getting ready to celebrate the Jubilee will do the more traditional red, white, & blue, but I thought these colors were spectacular and they put me in mind of fall colors.

     We are being sponsored by Lily of the Valley this time, and I shouldn't have to tell you how difficult it is to get LOTV stamps over here in the US.  So, the sad part is that I have no LOTV stamps, not even one small sentiment stamp, though I drool over them whenever I see them!  However, I found this Impression Obsession stamp tucked away in my "wood-mounted rubber stamps" drawer and it hasn't been used in 2 years!  This seemed like a good time to ink it up.

     I love the combination of yellow, red, orange, and green.  They aren't colors I use in combo much except for fall or Thanksgiving cards, but the leaves in the inspiration photo drew me to the colors I used.  

     The image is stamped on yellow, linen-finish CS so that it has a more textured look, then colored with ProMarkers.  See the cat hiding behind the pumpkin?   I matted the image with pumpkin CS, and then recycled a green piece of chipboard that was packaging for some paper flowers I bought.  The vine of leaves and butterflies were already there.  Seemed a shame to throw it away and now I'm glad I didn't.  :-D

     The ribbon (from Really Reasonable Ribbon) was wrapped around that chipboard piece and tied into a bow.  I added tiny rhinestones to the scallops and layered that entire piece onto a yellow card base.  I liked the way the ribbon looked and didn't want to take away from it with any additional embellishments -- it seemed enough all by itself.

     Challenges:

Annabelle Stamps -- Lime and Orange

Craft Your Days Away -- All creatures great and small

Paper Pretties -- Use your school colors (HS was green & orange)

Rogue Redhead Designs -- Warm tones for gents

Secret Crafter -- In the Garden

Stamptacular Sunday -- In the Garden

     I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit and, yes, I really do know that summer hasn't officially begun yet, even though I've done a fall card.  :-D  I hope you're going to be inspired by the photo.  Let your imagination run free.  Be inspired by the colors, the leaves, the Queen's Jubilee, anything you like.  Let us know how the photo inspiration relates to your project and come play at Just Inspirational Challenges.  

     Finally, I must say a fond farewell to my JIC teamies.  This will be my last post as a member of the DT.  I'll do my best to stop by and play along in the challenges.  My upcoming busy, busy summer means that I had to make some tough decisions and dropping out of two of my current DTs became a necessary thing.   Next Monday will be my last post for Lexi's Creations, too.  I'm going to miss all my teammates, most of whom have become great blogland friends.  I'll continue to haunt your blogs and leave comments so I won't be completely out of touch.  :-D  Hugs to all of you.   Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Special Man and No Patterned DP

     It's Wednesday again and I'm still guest designing for The Perfect Sentiment.  What a fun group and their challenges are always fun and inspiring.  This week, they want to see a card for 'A Special Man' but the twist is 'No Patterned Papers!'  You could do a Father's Day card, as I did, or any kind of card for a special guy in your life; birthday, missing you, love you -- let your imagination fly.  Remember, you MUST have a sentiment on the front and follow the theme.

     This week, we're sponsored by Pattie's Creations, but I didn't have any of her images to use.  I guess I'll have to go on a shopping spree and remedy that!  :-D  The winner of this week's challenge will win a prize package from Pattie and then will have Pattie's Creations digis, for sure!  In any case, I found this wonderful Popcorn Bear stamp which was perfect for Father's Day.

   
     I stamped and heat embossed the image with Teddy Brown EP (what else!), colored only Popcorn Bear and the duck (Copics), fussy cut the entire image and matted it on blue, textured CS.  One final fussy cut and the whole thing went onto the card base of dark chocolate CS, linen textured.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment as well.  It was part of the stamp set (available at Crafter's Companion, monthly challenge theme is "Here Comes Summer".)

     I added the baker's twine and tied a bow from complementing blue cord, and found some tiny blue pearls for the bottom corner.  I thought that was enough embellishments since I wanted to keep this CAS for a guy card.

    Next week will be the start of a very busy 2 months for me.  I am going to be teaching a college class 5 nights a week all of June and July.  I am keeping up with my DT commitments (and am even ahead a little bit on one or two of them) but if I seem to be doing very little posting other than for my DTs, it's because I just don't have much spare time.  I continue to work my regular job (even though it's not full time, it does take up a significant part of my week each week), and am now adding 20 more hours per week to the schedule, not counting prep time and grading.  :-D  So, if I seem to be 'in absentia' (absent), trust that I'll be back to normal in August.

     Challenges:
A&T Digital Designs (Emerald Faeries) -- Embossing
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards -- For the guys
Desert Islands Crafters -- from the list: for a guy; something old (card base); something new (stamp and baker's twine); something blue (blue cord)
Mad for Markers -- Masculine colors
My Heart Pieces -- Anything goes
Pattie's Creations -- 3 or more from list: gems (pearls), ribbon (is twine OK?), sentiment
Phindy's Place -- Summer is Coming
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Masculine/Father's Day + ribbon or trim/twine

     Appreciate your visit and I hope you'll come and play along with The Perfect Sentiment this week.  I'm looking forward to your creations.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

3-D Vase for Tuesday Throwdown

     Our challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week is to make a 3-D project or add something 3-D to your card.  Now, I have to confess that I've never done a 3-D paper crafting project before but our sponsor this week, Creations by AR, makes it so easy with patterns and instructions that I'm now hooked on 3-D!  Here's my vase, using "Let's Vase It" from the sponsor.  I admit this wasn't my first attempt, but it was only my second and I'm very happy with it.  No, I didn't photograph my first attempt!  lol

     I used 2 sided, designer CS from The Robin's Nest, "Stencil, Green/Plum".  You don't have to use double sided paper but your inside would be white.  After I made this one, I did another one using single sided paper and I randomly stamped the back (white) side with a background stamp, heat embossed it with a colored EP that matched one of the colors on the front and that gave a very different effect, still very pretty.

     I added the lace, ribbon, and pearls, then tied the bow from some satin ribbon in my stash, and that made it very decorative.  I'm looking for paper flowers in various shades of purple and lavender to put in this vase.  It stands about 6 inches tall so I have to find not only the right colors but the right size flowers.  I want to give this to a friend of mine who is a florist and she'd love to have this sitting on the shelf above her desk.

    These are sooo easy to do, no matter how complicated it may look.  Head over to the Tuesday Throwdown blog and take a look at what the rest of the team created.  You're going to be so impressed!!!  If you are the least bit intrigued, check out our sponsor's store and try one for yourself.

     Enter our challenge and you could win one of these fabulous patterns for yourself!

     Challenges:
Bearly Mine -- Anything goes
Delightful Challenges - Add ribbon
Digi Doodle Shop's Best -- Work related (Vases and florists!)
Great Impressions -- Anything goes
LEJ Designs -- Anything but a Card
Little Miss Muffet -- Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time -- Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish -- Anything goes
Shelly's Images -- Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge -- 3-D

    I hope you'll do something 3-D for our challenge this week, even a card with a 3-D feature.  See you at Tuesday Throwdown.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Remembering Our Troops

     Next Monday we celebrate Memorial Day and it's a time for remembering those who have served our country.  My own family has a long military service history over several generations, and my eldest grandson is currently a Marine with a couple of foreign tours under his belt.  Today's card celebrates not only the day, but salutes those who have served and who currently serve to protect us.

The image is "Kidlet Army" from Bugaboo and the sketch is from Stella Says Sketch.

    I chose colors from the CAS challenge at Outlawz (pink, green and yellow) but most of the pink was on Kidlet's face and it got a little buried under his camo makeup!  I colored him with ProMarkers, then fussy cut him and layered him onto a diamond die cut, matted with another black diamond die cut.

     The two ribbons, one on top of the other, are from my stash -- probably came from Really Reasonable Ribbon but I'm not sure.  The black ribbon I used for the bow definitely came from RRR.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font and I added the three pearls to the top.  I think that was enough embellishment for a CAS card.

     Challenges:
Digistamps 4 Joy -- Gratitude
Friends of Speedy TV -- Memorial Day
I Love Promarkers -- Anything goes
Little Claire's -- Male theme
Ooh La La -- Ribbon or Twine
Simon Says Stamp -- CAS
Simon Says Stamp & Show... -- Summer holiday (I got very literal with this theme since Memorial Day is considered to be the first of the summer days we celebrate.)
Southern Girls -- About the Boys
Stemplesonnen -- Head gear
That Craft Place -- Monochromatic
Totally Stampalicious -- Thank you
Truly Scrumptious -- Anything goes
Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     I hope you'll spend some time thinking about and thanking those service people who serve us and protect our freedoms.  Without them, none of us would be free.  Fly your flag on Monday!

Happy stamping.  NanaConnie

Mayzy Arts Challenge - Flowers

     When I saw that Mayzy Arts now has challenges, I just had to play.  I first saw Mayzy's digis over at The Outlawz and fell in love.  She had a freebie for all of the members and then I did a shopping spree, bought several, and just did another shopping venture today.  Let me show you the card I did for their first challenge, "Flowers", and I'll bet you'll fall in love, too!

Sketch I used was from Cardabilities though I turned it upside down so there's more space at the bottom than at the top.

     I colored the ballerina with Touch Twin markers, then fussy cut her and popped her up on a die cut doily with dimensional dots.  CS is all from my stash, and the design papers are from the 'Londondery' stack by Prima.  The sentiment was printed with a computer font.  I added the ribbon, which is my favorite striped, sparkly ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Yes, I did order more of it in all the various colors because I had run out and now I have it again.  :-D

    The flowers are all from Prima, but I added Stickles to the edges of the petals and also added a tiny drop to the bow in the ballerina's hair.  I also used pearl brads to attach the doily to the dp before mounting the entire thing onto the card base.  I was beginning to think I'd never use those pearl brads.  They are larger than I tend to use, but they were a bargain at a yard sale so I grabbed them up.  I'm glad to finally be able to use some of them.  There were 50 of them in a small plastic box so I only have 40 some-odd to go.  (giggle)

     Other Challenges:
Alota Rubber Stamps -- TicTacToe: Die cuts/Brads/Ribbon
Card and Scrap -- Vintage
Card Makin' Mamas -- May Flowers
Corrosive Challenge -- Flowers and Doilies and Bling, Oh, My!
Crafty Pad -- Bingo: ribbon, flowers, bling
I Brake for Challenges -- Florals
Lia Stampz -- May Flowers
Oozak -- Spring colors
Pile it On -- Mix the size of your dp patterns
Stampin' Sisters in Christ -- Build it up with lots of layers and embellies
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle -- Flowers

     OK, there's still plenty of daylight left so I'm going back to my garden for a bit.  I just had to enter the challenge at Mayzy's.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

May Artist Trading Cards

     I've finally gotten some inspiration for my Artist Trading Card for May by looking at various challenges and putting together a list of them so I have a start on them.  I belong to a group which exchanges Trading Cards each month.  If you're part of my group and want to be surprised when Tracy mails them out to everyone, don't look any further than this.  :-D

     The inspiration started when I saw this card from CASE Study, where the challenge is to use that card as inspiration and CASE it.

    Don't those butterflies just grab your heart?

     To start my ATCs, I dug through my stash because I was sure I had some wood grain papers, but I couldn't find them.  I could have made some, I'm sure, but that seemed very time consuming considering how many of these I have to make.  Since our theme for the month is either 'Mom' or 'May Flowers', I decided on flowers and butterflies, which I found at Doodle Pantry.  I sized them for an ATC (3 1/2" X 2 1/2") and printed them, one dozen per sheet of paper.  The butterflies are just over 1/2" wide, printed on colored paper, and I fussy cut each one of them.

     OK, I should be far enough down the page that this picture won't be visible for those who clicked away because they didn't want to spoil their surprise.

     Everything on the card came from my stash; the blue and green textured CS was found in a drawer I haven't checked in 8 months!!  Of course, that's only fair since I haven't used that rose image in more than a year.  Even the green rhinestone in the upper corner has been hiding for a long time.  To add a little interest and dimension, I curled up the butterfly wings a bit.

     Challenges I'll enter:
ATCs and Cards with Attitude -- Anything goes w/ butterflies + blooms
Bunny Zoe's Crafts -- Anything goes
Crafty Calendar -- Things with Wings
Crafty Ribbons -- Flowers
Drunken Stampers -- It's Not Easy Being Green
Forever Friends -- 2 images (I hope butterflies count as animals)
Hanna and Friends -- Anything but  a Card (Again, I hope butterflies count as animals)
Hybrid Chick Card Caravan -- Flowers
Oldie but Goodie -- Things with wings
Pile It On -- CAS (+ as many challenges as possible)
Stampin Sisters in Christ -- Animal, Bird, or Bug
Totally Stampalicious -- CAS

     I hope your day is going well.  Tomorrow starts the weekend and I'm going to play outside for most of it since the weather is supposed to be just perfect; cool mornings and into the mid-80s by late afternoon.  Now doesn't that sound like gardening weather to you?  Enjoy your own play time, whatever you decide to do.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Butterflies and Blossoms

     Our weather has cooled again to the wonderful mid-80s instead of high-90s and it feels like spring again.  More time to think of gardens and flowers and butterflies so when I was picking an image from Doodle Pantry, this one just jumped out at me.  OK, so I have purple 'bluebells'.  It's probably just their extra rich diet of fertilizer!  :-D

Sketch is from Kimbee's Creations and colors were inspired by three different challenges: Outlawz Greetings Challenge (Purple for Peace), Party Time Tuesdays (Orchid, Violet & Lilac) and the Bingo line I chose at Shopping Our Stash (buttons, distress, purple, and jewels, + freebie square.)

     I know I've used my favorite colors of purple, lavender, or lilac to make cards a few times already in the last couple of weeks, but when two different challenges both have purple themes in the same week, well....  

     This time the image is colored using watercolors, as in paints not pencils.  For my distressing, I tore the image on all four sides and then tore one side of the CS I used for the mat.  Both dps are from the same "Dreamcatcher" pad by First Edition, and the darker of them is a doily (cut with a die) with butterflies in the pattern.  Everything else on the card was in my stash and needed to be found and used.  The white ribbon and bow are recycled from a Mother's Day gift -- much too pretty to just throw away.  :-D  Even the image is a digi which I've had much too long and have never used.

     Those teeny-tiny butterflies on the image are lifted from the doily and glued on.  Think teeny-tiny tweezers, too.  :-D  The sentiment was printed with a computer font, matted and adhered, and the buttons and rhinestones were added last.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters -- Make it girly

By the Cute and Girly -- Spring is all around

Catch the Bug -- Things with Wings

Corrosive Challenges -- Flowers, Doilies, & bling

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges -- May flowers

Di's Digis Designs -- Spring

Great Impressions -- Anything goes

Paper Creations Ink -- In the garden

Oozak -- Spring Colors

Stamp & Create -- One for the Ladies

Sundays with Crissy -- Things with Wings

Tammy's Scrapin Corner -- Show us flowers

Whoopsi Daisy -- Spring Colors

     Alright, another weekend approaches and if the weather stays as nice as it is now, I'll have to find an excuse to play in the garden.  Not that I need much encouragement to do that but I'll have to crunch crafting into the schedule and not stay outside the entire weekend.  Hope you have a grand time and find a bit of space in your schedule to relax and craft and enjoy.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

   

Perfect Sentiments Teddy Bears and Banners

     Another 'Guest Designer' card from me this week for the challenge at The Perfect Sentiment.  Our theme is "Birthdays" and the twist is "Banners", so make a birthday card and add a banner.  Your card must have a sentiment on the front.  We're sponsored by Stitchy Bear this week and this delightful image is called "Share Bear."  The sentiment comes with him as part of the set, and my 'Happy Birthday' wish happens to be on the inside this time because I thought that particular sentiment was too good to share space with another.  :-D  I have a grand-nephew who'll be turning 2 at his next birthday and this will be a perfect card for him.  For those of you who don't know, 2 year-olds rarely share anything, and certainly not birthday presents!!

     I colored the image using a combination of pastel chalks and ProMarkers, then matted both the image and sentiment onto dp from DCWV 'Linen Closet' stack.  The other two dps are also from that same stack and the flowered one is embossed and glittered.  I hung my  banner pieces from the ribbon wrapped around the card and tied a double bow.  I think next time I would use a more solid ribbon to blend better with the little banner bits but since they were firmly glued down before I decided that...  I added the small white flowers after I put gems in the middle.

     Challenges:
Critter Sketch -- Flowers
Dynamic Duos -- Colors: saffron and blue
Love to Create -- Bingo; Ribbon, punches, & flowers
Ooh La La -- Ribbon or twine
Ready, Teddy, Go -- Bingo: Emboss, Ribbon, Flowers
Send a Smile for Kids -- Buttons, Ribbons, or Flowers
Sentimental Sundays -- Birthday + Embellishments that start w/ "B": Bow and banner
Simon Says Stamp & Show -- Anything goes
Speedy and Friends -- Use chalks

    This is such a fun challenge this week.  Aren't you going to play along with us at The Perfect Sentiment?  You could win some digis from Stitchy Bear!  Hope to see you there. Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

"Dog" Days of Summer?

     Wednesday and another challenge recipe from the Chefs at Cooking It Up with Katie.  Our recipe has the following ingredients for you to mix together to create your project:  Brads, Twine, and this time, a rubber stamped image -- no digis!  I used this darling stamp from Stampin' Up and all the papers are SU, scraps from other projects I've done.  I was happy to find a way to use them up.  I don't know if this really shows the "Dog" Days of Summer,since that's an orange tabby cat lounging in the Adirondack chair, but it definitely depicts a lazy, summer activity!

     I actually CASEd a card done by my friend Lynn at "Creative Crafts by Lynn" (<----click here to see it), although I added a focus image and couldn't possibly have re-created that incredible bow she tied!  My stamped image is heat embossed and colored with Copic markers.  I used a Spellbinders die on the image and a hand punch on the strips of dp.  I added brads, rhinestones (amethyst and diamonds to enhance the purple and white colors in the combo), and baker's twine matched with cord as the embellishments.  Even so, it's a pretty CAS design compared to what I've been doing over the last month.  :-D

     Challenges:
CMC Copics -- Anything goes
Crafter's Companion -- Here Comes Summer
Craft Your Days Away -- All creatures great and small
Crafty Emma's -- Anything goes
Fairy Fun Fridays -- Color inspiration
Guylou's Inimitability -- Punches, dies, and diamonds
Wags & Whiskers -- 1 image, 2 ribbons (twine and cord), 3 papers

     Hope to see you playing again at Cooking It Up with Katie.  Remember, Twine, Brads and a stamped image (not a digi) are all you need to enter the challenge.  See you then.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Digital Delights Owl for Tuesday Throwdown

     I absolutely adore this digital image from Digital Delights, our sponsor this week at Tuesday Throwdown, and our challenge theme is to "use fabric."  Although they kindly supplied the DT with digis to use this week, I chose Luvey Owl, which I already had in my collection.  I did add the sentiment before I printed him.

The sketch I used came from Crafting Life's Pieces.

     A few days ago, I told you I thought I had only one May birthday left in my family but I was Sooooo Wrong!  I forgot about my absolutely favorite cousin, who happens to live in Australia, and his birthday was yesterday.  I'm so sorry I forgot it and didn't get a card out to him so I'm going to e-mail him a link to this post and wish him Happy Birthday across the miles of ocean between us.  Love you, Cuz!

     I tried to figure out how I was going to use fabric on this.  I wanted to use a textured burlap but didn't have any.  I searched my fabric stash (and I have a ton of it) and finally decided to use some t-shirt material that I ironed onto transfer paper (so it would go through the printer) and just printed the pre-colored image right onto the fabric.  Clever, no?  I've never done that before but it worked.  :-D

     All the papers are from DCWV's "Le Creme" stack, and the ribbon is from my stash.  I kept this one really clean and simple since it's a 'guy' card and since I'm actually going to mail it off to Australia even though it will be very belated by the time it gets there.

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug -- Things with wings
Crafty Catz -- Birthday
Delicious Doodles -- Try something new (printing digi on fabric)
Emergency Crafters -- Spots and Stripes
Glitter Geeks -- Wings & Things
Outlawz CAS -- Birthday
Paper Crafting Journey -- Black + one color
Pixie Dust Studio -- For the boys
Polka Doodles -- Monochromatic
Totally Papercrafts -- No Pesky Girls

     Hope we're going to see you play along in the Tuesday Throwdown challenge this week.  Dig through your own bits of fabric and create something wonderful for us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Dancing at Lexi's Creations

     Welcome to another fortnight challenge at Lexi's Creations.  Our sponsor this time is Fairy Dust Crafts, where you can buy Lexi's adorable digis, and our challenge theme is "Black, White and 1 other color."  The image I used today is called "Ballerina Trio."  I have granddaughters who love to dance, as I did when I was a child.  I have loved ballet and ballerinas since before I started school.  This card was a joy to make.

Once again, I used the sketch from Chocolate, Coffee & Cards, but turned a 1/4 turn this time.

    

     I took my '1 other color' from the inspiration photo at Fairy Fun Fridays.  What coloring I did was done with Prisma pencils.  Most of the color is in the ribbon which came from the May monthly selection at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I added the three pearls and three flowers and matted a sentiment which had been printed on my computer.  The black and white dp is a scrap that's been hanging around waiting for a place to get used, and the black CS is dry embossed with a CB folder.

     Other Challenges:

Card Cupids -- Polka Dots

Clearly Inspired -- What goes up must come down.  I know everyone is thinking balloons and birds but if you've ever danced in toe shoes, you'll KNOW you have to come down!  :-D

Craftymess -- Pink and Cute

Freshly Brewed -- TicTacToe: Flowers, Patterned dp, Bling

Jellypark Friends -- Girly Girl

Just Tracy's Crafts -- Anything goes

     Hope your week is starting out wonderfully.  Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to see you create something for the challenge at Lexi's Creations this time around.  Black and white plus one other color -- how can you go wrong?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Not Begging

     Today's card is supposed to be an example of "not begging."  Uh huh, sure.  Who could resist this face, anyway?  The digi, called "Just Kona", was a freebie from Oak Pond Creations.  Kona would tell you he's just sitting, kickin' back, thinkin', but not begging.  Hmmmmm...

I used the sketch from Sassy Studio Designs Dare to be Sassy Thursdays.

     I'm sad to say my favorite place to find a sketch on Thursdays (Eat, Sleep, Stamp) has had to close the sketch challenge.  But I did find this sketch instead and it intrigued me.   When I saw all the various DT cards using it, I just had to play along.

     Kona is colored with Prisma pencils and highlighted/shadowed with Copics, die cut using an out-of-the-box technique, and matted with a large die cut of the same shape.  Colors came from Outlawz Color Challenge, although I must admit that the photography washed my 'palm' greens (card base and image mat) into a pale turquoise green.   The twist was to add a red embellishment and mine is the red rhinestone in the flower center.

     Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and I did a wrapped bow (instead of tied) then added the white flower.

     Other Challenges:
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days -- CAS
Cards for Men -- Kickin' Back
Creative Craft Challenges -- Anything goes
Forever Friends -- Spring (bright spring colors)
Just Keep on Creating -- Anything goes
Make It Monday -- Anything goes
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- Bingo (die cuts, ribbon, flowers)
Paper Shelter Challenges -- Anything goes
Papertake Weekly -- Cute, cute, cute!
Southern Girls - About the Boys
Totally Papercrafts -- No Pesky Girls

     I traveled to be with family in southern California this weekend so even though you think I'm here, I'm not.  I've taken a lovely, relaxing, train ride on Amtrak, and don't have to think about traffic or gasoline prices or anything else that causes headaches.  :-D  I hope you're enjoying your weekend and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie