Welcome Country

      Our newest challenge has begun at FarmQuest General Store, where our theme is always "Anything Country Goes."  No cityscapes, shopping malls, crowded freeways, or high rises; just calm and lovely country scenes.

     The image I used on my DT card today is a clip art image, colored with Sanjoki markers to give it a sepia effect, with yellow and white gel pens used to give the lights their warm glow.  The sentiments at top and bottom were originally white but I used a beige marker to tone things down a bit.

     The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, then I cut a white CS frame for it (also a Tonic Studios die from the same set.)  I inked the edges of that before adding the piece to the background dp, which came from an old DCWV stack.  That pad of papers has been in my stash for probably 5 years, unused, and that page seemed to be perfect for this "country" card!

     Challenges:

     I'll have a second post today for FQ Country Christmas so be sure to scroll up to see it, too.  Hope you'll come over and play in our challenge this month.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gothic Valentines

      Today is my turn to share my DT projects for the February challenge at Conjuror of Dreams.  The theme is Anything Goes but we give you an optional theme and this month, it's "Gothic Hearts."

     I did three cards using fabulous Conjuror images from two different sets.  This first one is from the "High Priestess of the Heart" set.  I printed her in grayscale, then colored her with Ohuhu markers.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, matted her with white CS, and then inked the edges.  The background dp (both of them) came from a Lawn Fawn stack.

     Challenges:

Girlz Creative Fun

Hand Stamped ...

Lawn Fawnatics

Pammie's IP

     This second card is from the same "High Priestess..." set and again, I printed it in light grayscale, colored it with markers (Sanjoki, this time), and cut it with a Spellbinders die.  Again, the dp came from that same Lawn Fawn stack.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

A Place to Start

Aud Sentiments

Simon Says Stamp

ZieloneKoty

     Finally, this last card features an image from the Conjuror set called "Love Potion."  This time, I used the pre-colored version but used Word to adjust the color tone and brightness before printing it.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios, and inked the edges with a black marker.  The background dp came from that same Lawn Fawn stack and the red strip is CS cut with a long punch on one side.  I dropped this one into a neighbor's mail box anonymously.  She collects old, fancy, perfume bottles so I knew she'd love this image!

   

     Challenges:

Night Owls

Path of Positivity

  

     I know Valentine's Day is gone for this year but our challenge is still open and you can enter it but only for the rest of this week.  Our next challenge starts on Saturday, March 1.  I hope you're going to play along with us this month.  Don't forget that we also have a Progressive Challenge on our Facebook page.  You need to use a Conjuror of Dreams image to enter the Progressive challenge, but then you get the image for the following month free!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cute Heart Valentine

      I'm posting my DT card today for the challenge over at Star Stampz.  Our themes are always "Anything Goes" with an optional subtheme, which is "Hearts" this month, in honor of Valentine's Day.

     I used the darling Star Stampz image called "Cute Heart Valentine."  I colored her with Ohuhu and Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I added a frame to it, also cut with a QuicKutz die from that same set.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack which has been in my stash for at least 5 years!   The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Aud Sentiments
Cupcake Inspirations

Lil Patch of ...

Neglected Stuff

Outlawz SAR

Pammie's IP

     That's all I have for today.  Wishing you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day on Friday.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Carnation Lady

      I'm finally getting around to posting a card for the progressive challenge over at Moondrea Designs this month.  I had problems for several days getting the image to print out but Wendy managed to send me a Word document with the image and I was ale to print that just fine.  Thanks so much, Wendy!

     The image is called "Carnations" and once I had it printed, I was able to color it with a combo of Sanjoki and Ohuhu markers.  After coloring it, I cut it with a Tonic Studios die.  The pink CS frame was cut with my Fiskars paper cutter and I mounted the image piece onto it.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack.  I found that delightful, embroidered ribbon in my stash of Christmas ribbons and I'm pretty sure it came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

     Challenges:

     That's all I have today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Be a Unicorn

      I made two DT cards this month for Star Stampz, where our OPTIONAL theme is "Inspired by a Song."  My first card was inspired by "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and this one is inspired by "The Unicorn Song," sung by the Irish Rovers.  If you click on the song name, it will take you to a YouTube site where you can hear the song (and see all the lyrics) if you're not familiar with it.

     And if you are familiar with it, I can just about guarantee that the refrain is running through your head right now and it will be hours before you can get rid of it!  lol 

     Anyway, my card features the Star Stampz image called "Unicorn Princess" and I think she's adorable.  I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I used a Fiskars punch on the corners for some visual interest, then layered the image onto a square of purple CS and rounded those corners with a punch from Uchida.

     The plaid dp came from a DCWV stack and the ribbon was in my stash.  The gold butterfly is a sticker from Stamp On It.

     Challenges:

     That's all for today.  You still have almost a week to join in our challenge and we'd love to see you playing there.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Feed the Birds

      I'm honored to be a guest designer for Penny's Paper-Crafty this fortnight and the sponsor of the image I used is All Dressed Up.  They supplied images for the DT and GD to use.  I used an image called "Feeding the Birds."  I thought it made a perfect winter card.  

     Colour of Love is the second sponsor for the challenge this month.

     I colored the image with a combination of Sanjoki and ProMarkers, then cut it with a die from Tonic Studios.  I used a Fiskars punch on the four corners.  That piece was mounted onto a rectangle of deep blue CS.  I cut the sentiment with a QuicKutz die and framed it with a scrap of the blue CS that framed the image.

     The snowflake dp came from a DCWV stack and I added some texture by dry embossing it with a brand new folder from Sizzix (thank you, Santa!)  My final touch was to embellish the card with a hand-tied, double loop bow made with simple red twine.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Creative Moments

Dream Valley

Make My Monday

Outlawz Tues

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we see you playing in the challenge this time around.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Gnome for Christmas

      It's the day for a new challenge over at FarmQuest Country Christmas where our theme is always "Anything Country Christmas Goes."  We want to see outdoor Christmas scenes or decorations on the farmhouse, or nearly anything that is both Christmas and outdoorsy, but not big city streets or shopping malls or cityscapes.  

     I chose this clip art image with three gnomes on the Christmas Tree Farm.  I don't know the artist but if you do, please let me know.  I love to give proper credit where possible.  I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers, added highlights to their beards with a white gel pen, and cut the image with an old QuicKutz die.  I love the shape of it.  I inked the edges in red, then layered it onto a background of glittery, golden holly leaves.  That CS came from Paper Studios and the dp strip along the right hand side is a scrap from a DCWV stack.

     The glittery golden bow is from K & Co. and I thought it added exactly the proper amount of sparkle and glitz.  I admit, when it's Christmas, glitter is my absolute favorite and when it's combined with gold, that takes it over the top!  The sparkle adds so much to the festive feel of the holiday.  :-D

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Aloha Friday

Colorful Options

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Kerst / Christmas

Outlawz Friday

     I hope we're going to see you playing along in this challenge.  Just create something that celebrates both country and Christmas and you're in!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nutcracker Mouse

      I've fallen in love with another artist who draws the most adorable critters!   You can check them out on Etsy - Pawfect Art Creations.   So far I have three different sets of the cutest little mice and today's card features a Nutcracker Mouse, complete with his uniform, his sword, and the most elegant hat.  

     All the images come pre-colored but this one I printed in grayscale, then colored it with Sanjoki alcohol markers, and a bit of gold Stickles on his hat emblem.  I cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I used glittered CS for the card base and layered the image and the sentiment onto the card front.  Not counting the coloring time, it took me less than 10 minutes to make the card.

     Challenges:

12 Months...Christmas

A Perfect Time ...

Critter Crazy

Die Cut Divas

Kerst Christmas

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

SheepSki Designs

     That's all I have for today but I'll be back later this afternoon or maybe tomorrow with another one for Beccy's Place and the 30 Days of Holidays.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Letter "S" - 30 Days of Holidays

     I think this is my favorite Beccy's Place image!  At least I know that I've used it every Christmas season since I first bought the set, how many years ago?  Too many to count.  :-D  It's the Winter Window and the sentiment is also from Beccy's.

     For the letter "S" I have: Stripes, Sparkle, Satin ribbon, Sanjoki markers, Stones in the wall, Snow, Scraps, & Stickles.

     In the past, I've colored the stone in red-orange shades to look more like brick, blue stones with dark accents, even brown stones with black accents but this time, I colored it with several different, light gray and blue gray markers to enhance the winter feel, and light brown-gray markers on the branch, all from Sanjoki.  I added a few white highlights to the snow on the branch with a gel pen.  I used a deep yellow marker on the candle and added Stickles to the candle flame so that it would sparkle.

     The image was cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The striped dp used for the background came from an old DCWV stack and it was a scrap in the basket.  The satin ribbon was from my stash and I'm pretty sure it was from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  It has a very nice, but rather subtle, sparkle in it.  I used my bowmaker to get the double loop bow.  I really do think ribbon and bows are my favorite embellies because they are so easy to add and work perfectly on nearly any card.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Just Us Girls (winter & snow)

Night Owls

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Time for the Dreaded "Q"

       It's another challenge with an alphabet letter and this time it's the dreaded "Q" for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place and our letter prompt is "Q."   Not an easy one for sure.  I pretty much think of quilting or quilling and I haven't done any quilling in more than 10 years so I turned to Quilted.  I used Beccy's Three French Hens image from her 12 Days of Christmas set, along with one of my Quilting dies.

      The quilted hens were colored with Sanjoki markers, then cut with an oval die from QuicKutz.  The Quilt die I used is from Sizzix.  The glitter CS is by Recollections and the green polka dot dp came from an old K & Co. stack.  The red CS was dry embossed with my Linen EF.  These are all scrap papers cut with the quilt die.  I looked through all my Christmas dies and found a holly leaves die which is from SU.  I had the mini buttons in my stash and have no idea what company made them.  The sentiment was printed and hand cut with scissors.

I based this on the sketch #289 at Sweet Sketch Weds 2

turned sideways so that the oval is horizontal and adjusted for an A2.

     Challenges:

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C
Simon Says Stamp

Snippets Playground

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Tartan Theme - 30 Days of Holidays

      This darling elf is an image from Beccy's Place and I love how proudly he's carrying those presents.  The challenge for today is one of the themed challenges rather than an alphabetical one and Beccy chose "Tartans or Plaids."  I immediately thought about this paper I knew was in my Christmas stash and chose the elf as the image I wanted on the card.

     I printed the pre-colored version, adjusted it to almost grayscale before printing it, and then enhanced all the reds with one of my Sanjoki markers, chosen because it was an almost exact match to the red in the dp.  The sentiment came from an old magazine.  I cut it out with a Tonic Studios die, matted it with red CS, and layered it onto the image piece after I cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  The three snowflakes are from Jolee's.

     Challenges:

Christmas...Throwdown

Crafty Calendar

Gem of a Challenge

Love Those...Papers

Outlawz Tuesday

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

Sweet Stampin'

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

"J" Means Joy

      Today is the day for letter "J" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Holidays November challenges.  The sentiment image saying "JOY" is from Beccy's Place and I do love it.  I featured it on a Joy Fold card and you can find a tutorial for that kind of card over on the Beccy's Place blog.  Check out the A - Z Card Folds tab at the top of the page.

     I colored the image using Sanjoki markers, with Jungle Green on the "Y", Jade Green on the holly, and Jerusalem Red on the "J."  The holly is another Beccy's Place image which I merged with the JOY before printing.  I hand tied a small bow with a scrap of ribbon.  The papers are all from a DCWV stack that was in my Christmas stash.

Card front when closed.

Inside when open.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Crafter's Cafe

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Love Those...Papers

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

Star Stampz

Word Power

     That's all for today.  Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with another post for the 30 Days of Holidays challenges at Beccy's Place.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Ice Skates for Letter "I"

      I'm running a bit behind in the 30 Days of Holidays over at Beccy's Place but I'm fighting a bad bout of RSV or some kind of respiratory virus and I'm pretty much staying in bed.  I get up for about a half an hour, work some on coloring an image or designing a card, nd then I have to go rest again.  As you can imagine, it's taking me a long time to complete just one card.  But today, I have a card done for the letter "I" and I'm sharing it with you.  If I finish another one, I'll do a second post today.

     To start off the "I"s I used, I chose a Jan's Digi Stamps Ice Skates image to feature on an Interlocking Gate fold card.  This is the first time I've made one of these but I followed the tutorial from Beccy's Place, which you can find in the "A - Z Card Folds" section on her blog.  Check the tabs at the top of the page.

     I colored the image with Sanjoki markers, using Ivory on the Ice skates.  I chose some Icy dp for the background which sparkles with Iridescent glitter.  I cut the image and the frame with dies from Die-Versions.  I printed the sentiment in an Italics font and cut it with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     OK, time for me to go and rest again.  I really want to get over this whatever-it-is sickness.  It's definitely more than just a cold.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

30 Days of Holidays - Change the Colors

      This is going to be a quick post because I've come down with some sort of respiratory bug and I'm feeling pretty miserable.  

     Today, Beccy (Beccy's Place) gave us our first challenge theme which isn't a letter of the alphabet and she challenged us to use the same image on two different cards, but changing the colors of the image.  I chose to use one of her quilted stocking images, doing it first in red (Ohuhu & Copic markers), then again in green (Sanjoki markers.)  I also decided to reverse the images from each other before printing them, just to accentuate the difference.

     I used glitter CS for the card fronts and did no embellishments.  The images were both cut with QuicKutz dies but on the green image, I rounded the corners with a Fiskars punch.  Both sentiments were printed and cut with Avery Elle dies.  Very fast and very CAS - just what I needed today so that I can go lie in bed as soon as my post is finished.  :-D

 

     Challenges:

     Enjoy your day.  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Old Time Santa

      This CAS card is my DT sample for the FarmQuest General Store challenge which starts today.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and we are always sponsored by QKR Stampede.  The DT use three images from QKR and those are the prize for the challenge winner.

     I chose to use the Old Time Santa image and I colored him with Sanjoki markers, then cut the image and the two mats with Tonic Studios dies.  I used a Uchida punch of each of the corners and then layered them all together.  The card font was dry embossed with my Linen EF.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  A delightfully CAS card and very masculine.

     Challenges:

Colorful Options

Holly & Ivy

Outlawz Sketch

Paper Shelter

Word Art Weds

     Come play with us this month.  We love being inspired by you and what you make.  Who knows, you might even end up the winner of the three QKR Stampede images.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bedtime on Christmas Eve

      Welcome to another challenge at FarmQuest General Store where our theme is always "Anything Farm/Country Goes."  We are sponsored by QKR Stampede and the prize is the QKR Stampede images which have been used by the DT in their inspiration cards.  The challenge runs until the  November 6th so you have plenty of time to get an entry done.

     For my card today, I used 'Night Time Owl' and decided to color him appropriately for a Christmas card.  The image is colored with Sanjoki markers and water colors.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and also cut the green CS frame around the image with a die one size larger.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  

     The striped and polka dot dp, which looks like one piece, is actually made using scrap strips of two different papers.  The sparkly CS was also a leftover found in the basket of holiday scraps.

     My "country" elements are: the owl, polka dots, & stripes.

     Challenges:

52 Weeks to Christmas

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Friday

Peace on Earth

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

    Come join our challenge this month.  We love seeing what you create!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Hat that Doesn't Fit

      There's a story behind this card today and I will share with you the short version.  Belladona, the cat image from Beccy's Place, really wanted his own witch hat to wear on Halloween.  But his witch was so busy preparing potions and spells for the big, spooky night that she had no time to make one for him.  So she found one of her old hats (also a Beccy's Place image and it's a freebie on the challenge post today) and tossed it over to Belladona.  

     You can see Belladona's reaction in both his expression and in the sentiment.  :-D

     I merged the images together before printing it.  Even though the images are mostly silhouettes, I used Sanjoki markers to color the cat's eyes and the flowers on the hat.  They are from different sets but I think they work perfectly together.  I cut the merged images with a QuicKutz die, then rounded the corners with a Fiskars punch.

     The dp is from Recollections, the glitter CS is a scrap, and the bow is hand-tied, then dyed with a marker to get the exact orange I wanted.  The ribbon started out white.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I inked the edges of both the image piece and the sentiment with a marker.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Conjurer of Dreams

Crafting Challenge

Crafts Galore Encore

Critter Crazy

Die Cut Divas

Passion for Markers

SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Halloween Shuffle

      This Country Couple really knows how to shuffle it on the dance floor!   I adore this image and can hardly believe this is the first time I've used it, considering how long I've had this set.  It came from Jan's Digi Stamps and the set is called "Pumpkin People."  

      For this card, I started with one of the pre-colored images, printed it in grayscale, then colored it with my Sanjoki markers and colored pencils.  The cat image (and the sentiment) was merged with the pumpkin people before printing, and I kept it as printed, no additional coloring.

     I cut the image with an old QuicKutz square die.  I found a scrap of Halloween paper for the background, layered the image onto it, and kept it very simple with no embellishment of any kind.

     Challenges:

I Love Markers

I Spy with My ...

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Magical

      We're a third of the way through September and I'm finally getting my card done using the new image for the Progressive Challenge at Moondrea.  She's called Lilly Cinderela and I flipped the image side to side before printing it for coloring.

     Once printed, I colored her with a combination of Ohuhu and Sanjoki alcohol ink markers.  Once I finished that, I die cut her with a Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  I chose that single word sentiment because of all the magic associated with Cinderella's Godmother.

     I used a scrap of glitter CS for the background.  You know how hard it is to toss out scraps, even those with holes from precious die cuts?  That's especially true for me with glittery sparkle papers.  Believe it or not, beneath the image piece, there's a hole!  lol  I added the mulberry paper flower as a single embellishment and it seemed to just be a perfect finish to the card.

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Colorful Options

Digi Choosday

Get Creative (Cinderella)

Let's Craft & Create

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Polkadoodles

     I now have nearly a dozen Thanksgiving cards and another more-than-a-dozen Halloween cards made and I'll be sharing those with you over the next month or so.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fright Night

      One more Halloween card with images from Beccy's Place.  Each of these spooky cats is a separate image and I merged them before printing so that they became a single image.  

     Although they are silhouette images, I used markers to darken the printed version since it had faded out somewhat during the printing process.  I also colored their eyes green which actually increased the cats' "spookiness."  The sentiment is also from Beccy's.  Both the image and the sentiment were cut with Spellbinders dies.

     The two background papers were left-over scraps, originally from a  Recollections stack.  The spiderwebs are embossed for a bit of texture.

I based my card design on the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

      Challenges:

Colorful Options

Critter Crazy

Let's Craft & ...

Love...Pretty Papers

Mirtillamente

SUYP Cats

Two Old Bats

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie