North Pole Express

     Welcome to my blog.  So good to see you visiting today.  It's Friday so that mean another challenge has begun at Crafty Catz  where our theme is always "Anything Goes" but with an OPTIONAL twist.  This week the twist is to use more than 1 fold.  Our sponsor is Last Minute Miranda.  They supplied image for the DT to use and I chose the one called "North Pole Express."

     I did a Gate Fold card and used three of the images which came with the set.  I started by coloring the images with by Sanjoki markers and a gold paint pen, then added highlights with a white gel pen.  I cut the three images using either QuicKutz dies (outside images) or a die from Tonic Studios (inside image.)  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  I cut plain red CS to mat the images and sentiment.

Card front

Inside

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Creative Creases

Creative Fingers

I Love Markers

My Favorite Things

Outlawz Friday

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Pattie's Creations

Penny's P-C

     This is my second post today and if you scroll down, you'll see the first one.  I'll be posting the third one later today so come back and see it, too.

     I hope you'll be inspired to make something and come enter it into our challenge.  If you get truly inspired, make a card with more than 1 fold but if not, Anything Goes is perfectly fine.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Train Home

     Remember those days when we all took a vacation trip in the summer?  When we got to go somewhere distant and special?  Some place other than our own back yard which is what most of us have been seeing this summer when we wanted an 'excursion' into the unknown.  What I really loved was being able to come home on some form of transportation which wasn't the same as our every day transports of automobiles!

     I'd love to be taking this vintage train home from some far reaching vacation destination as the summer was ending.

Image source unknown
Colored w/ blending chalks
Image & mat cut w/ Tonic Studios dies
Paper are all scraps
Card corners cut w/ Fiskars punch

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Cardz TV
Catch the Bug
Colour Crazy
Creative Fingers
Gem of a Challenge
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz Stash
Polkadoodles
Stamping Sensations

     That's all I have for this weekend but I'll be back in the morning with another card.  In hte meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Christmas Train

     So, it's Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend and I am back at the computer.  Two of my posts which were scheduled posted properly but one went astray.  I have reset it for tomorrow so we'll see what happens.  For today, I want to share with you a Christmas card I've made for a very special someone -- my youngest grandson, who (at 5 years old) happens to think that trains are the most fantastic things ever invented!  :-D

The sketch came from Paper Players.

     Don't you just love that vintage train, chugging along through the snow with smoke trailing along behind the smokestack?  Brrrr, winter is definitely here!   It's from Graphics Fairy.  The card is about as CAS as I could get, but I did add the one snowflake which is totally covered in glitter.  I also added glitter to the headlamps on the train, and then used Creative Inspirations paints to add some shimmer to the snow, the moon hiding behind the clouds, and the smoke.  I wish it showed up better in the photograph.

     Here are the challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - snowflakes

C.R.A.F.T. - unusual Christmas (not a typical Christmas card, but does have a Polar Express feel to it)

Crazy 4 Challenges - some kind of snow

Creative Card Crew - monochromatic

Divas by Design - monochromatic

Dream Valley Challenges - sparkle

Fashionable Stamping - "Dreaming of a White Christmas"

Gingerloft - Christmas & Winter

Here Come the Boys - for the Men in your life

House That Stamps Built - Christmas + snowflake

Hybrid Chick - Glitter

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Winter blues

Outlawz Twisted Thursday - No Copics or alcohol inks - Anything Goes

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - Cards for men

Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas

Send a Smile 4 Kids - Holiday card for a kid

Totally Gorjuss - sparkle

     That's it for the weekend.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you've made at least a dent in your Christmas shopping.  Keep warm and enjoy some crafting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie