Grammy's Attic: Unbranded Dies

Showing posts with label Unbranded Dies. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Light Unto the World

Today, we start another new challenge at FarmQuest, where 'country or farm' is a necessary part of our challenge. In addition to that, we give you a theme to follow. This fortnight, our theme is "Lights." Since Christmas is right around the corner, I decided to feature the kinds of lights we might associate with that holiday.

I had two favorite images and I simply could not choose between them, so I did two inspiration cards for this challenge. This first one is a classic candle lantern with holiday greenery, and I colored it with water color paints and a little dab of Stickles to make the candle light sparkle. I used white gel pen on the snow.

The image was cut with an Unbranded die, and the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. I used red CS on the right side of the card front and a scrap from an old K & Co. stack on the left card front. The tiny gem on the sentiment piece is from Stampin' Up.

Challenges: (for this card)

The second card features a clip art image by Anton Peck, filled with street lamps and candles, printed in 10% gray scale (which leaves just a hint of original color), and colored with Sanjoki markers. Again, I added Stickles to the candle flames, and highlighted the snow by using white gel pen on it. I absolutely adore the old elves making their own music for Christmas caroling on a country village street.

The image was cut with a Tonic Studios die, the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and both were layered onto a piece of red CS. This card has to be mailed so I left it flat and CAS.

Challenges: (for this card)

Come play along in our challenge. It's open until December 13 and a new challenge will begin on December 14th. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Fall Wagon

Today is the start of our October blog challenge at LeAnn's World 101 and our theme is always "Anything Goes." The challenge will run through the last day of the month and winners will be posted on the 15th of November. Don't forget that we also have a Progressive challenge on our Facebook site which begins on the 5th of each month. If you've not played in it before, check it out here: Progressive Challenge.

For the Blog challenge, I used a wonderful autumn image called "Fall Wagon" and I colored it using Sanjoki markers and water color paints. I cut it with die from Unbranded. The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die and matted with a tiny scrap of one of the two textured papers I chose for the background. Both of those were scraps also and they are from Recollections.

Challenges:

Crafts Galore ...

I hope you'll come and play with us this month. We'd love to see what you create. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The Cats' Christmas Tree

Any of you who share your house (or have shared your house) with one or more cats know how they absolutely take over the Christmas tree once it's up and decorated. It's like they think Santa brought that tree as a gift just for them! This adorable image from Conie Fong, called "Purrfect Christmas," goes so well with another DT card I shared the other day (see post here) which also has Christmas kittens and is from Conie Fong, that I decided I had to share both of these in the same week. :-D Besides, falling in love with one of those images made me fall in love with the other one, too!

For this image, I colored it with water color paints, added gold glitter to the star, and cut the image with an Unbranded die. I used a Darise embossing folder to make the brick background. I printed the sentiment (my own, inspired by the looks on the kittens' faces!) and cut it with an Avery Elle die. I did add a few tiny red pearls as ornaments but I left it without further embellishment because it will probably go a great grandson so it didn't need a lot of fiddly bits.

Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Carlin's Card ... (C for Cats & Christmas)

Lil Patch of ...

Don't forget that the Conie Fong Challenge is still running on the Facebook site and all you have to do is use a Conie Fong image to enter a card. If you haven't joined the FB group yet, that's free and easy to do. Don't have any Conie Fong images? You can find them in the Etsy store or there are even freebies available. :-D

We'd love to see what you create. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, July 7, 2023

Chelsea's Christmas

The Progressive Challenge over at LeAnn's World 101 (that's the one on Facebook) has started up again and "Chelsea" is the image for July. She's perfect for all those 'Christmas in July' challenge themes you want to enter. If you don't belong to the FB group yet, click on the name above and join. It's free, simple, and will get you on the path to playing each month in the Progressive Challenge. Just follow instructions once you see the featured post about it. You could end up with a freebie image from LeAnn's World 101 starting on the 5th of every month.

The LeAnn's World 101 Blog Challenge is also starting again this month but it will be a shortened one, starting on the 15th of July and ending on July 31. After that, it will run each month from the 3rd through the last day of the month.

If you visit the blog, you'll also see that we're having a DT Call. You could join this fun team and if you fall in love with LeAnn's cute digis, you can play with them even more! Finally, LeAnn has put every one of her digis on sale at 50% off for the rest of July! Pop over there and grab a handful.

I colored Chelsea with Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a Unbranded die. I put red CS behind it and trimmed it to fit. The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die. The green dp for the background came from a very old, DCWV, Christmas stack. I don't even know how long I've had that paper but I found it in an unmarked drawer in the craft room. You know, one of those drawers which is in a cabinet that's half hidden by a chair, or an ironing board, or boxes that get stacked in front of it because you needed to put another little bookshelf in the spot where the boxes had been. LOL

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Well, this is my third post today and it's now really late so I'm going to bed. I'll be back with another post in the morning. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Christmas Kitties

It's the first of the month and this is the day when the newest challenge would be starting over at QKR Stampede. However, sad news to tell. The challenges are on hold for the indefinite future. The QKR brand (with the Eureka Stamps brand) is up for sale and, until a buyer is found, there's no website for you to visit to look at or purchase those digital images (or the rubber stamp equivalent.)

However, as a DT member of the QKR Stampede challenge, I had prepared this card so I decided to share it here on my blog. In honor of the "Christmas in July" we all love so much (and because I haven't even started making cards for my Christmas stash this year), I chose this Christmas Cats image. I'm probably going to do mostly Christmas cards this month.

I colored with a combo of Sanjoki and Copic markers, then cut both the image and the frame with cross-stitched Unbranded dies. The dp is from Doodlebug. I left it pretty CAS because most of my Christmas cards get mailed so they need to be flat. Just a note - usually when I do CAS designs, I prefer a plain background instead of patterned paper but at Thanksgiving and Christmas, pretty dp seems to be so much more festive so it's dp as my favorite on holiday cards. :-D

I pulled colors from the mood board at Double D

upper right and lower left.

Challenges:

As You Like It

Carlin's Card ... "C" = Cats

Christmas BINGO "O"

(rectangle, free, pattern paper)

That's it for today but I'll be back tomorrow so stop by again. :-D NC

Friday, May 12, 2023

May Flowers

It's Friday and you know what that means - another new challenge at Crafty Catz! Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but we also offer an OPTIONAL twist if you choose to use it. The twist this week is "Use Ribbon, Lace, or Twine." Our sponsor is the delightful All Dressed Up and they generously provided us with images to use. I decided on "Watering Time" but reversed the image before printing it.

I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die. That frame is so delicate, I think it looks like lace. :-D The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, deliberately set on an angle. The background paper came from the scrap basket and I think it was originally in a Lawn Fawn stack. Finally, I wrapped sheer ribbon around the front of the card and tied a triple-loop bow with it, using my bow maker.

Challenges:

Crafty Gals ...

Worldwide ...

Won't you come play along in our challenge this week? If you don't want to fuss with ribbon or lace or twine, feel free to just enter under the Anything Goes theme. Who knows, you just might win digis from All Dressed Up. :-D

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

One Hot Pepper!

My SIL is a fabulous cook, BBQ Master, and gardener. One of his specialties is hot sauce which he makes from peppers he's grown in his own garden. I'm definitely NOT a fan of things which are spicy hot so I've never tasted any of his hot sauces, but lots of others rave about them. So, when I found this fun QKR Stampede image in the shop, called "Hot Pepper," I knew it would make a perfect birthday card for him. His birthday is in 2 days. :-D Inside it says, "Here's one for your BIRTHDAY!"

Since this is Day 1 of our latest challenge at QKR Stampede, I thought this would be an appropriate time to share this card with you. Don't forget, we have a DT Call going and we'd love to see you apply. It will close this week, so get your application in!

I colored the image with ProMarkers, and cut it with an Unbranded die. In honor of the 'sparkle' that comes from spicy heat, I added Stickles glitter to the negative parts of the die cut. The sentiment was printed and fussy cut, using scissors. The card front was made from scrap of orange CS.

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp ...

Worldwide Crafters ...

Come by and play in our challenge. It runs until the end of the month and our theme is always "Anything Goes." We'd love to see you there. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Valentine Penguin

This precious image from Jan's Digi Stamps, called "Puttin' on the Ritz," has been reversed for this card. It's a pre-colored image so putting the card together was quicker than usual. The image was printed, then cut with an Unbranded die. I added a scrap of red CS behind the die cut and trimmed it to fit the rounded corners.

I printed and fussy cut the sentiment (also part of the set), inked the edges with neon ProMarker to make it stand out, then added it to the image piece. I used baker's twine to enhance the red, burlap ribbon, wrapping two pieces on each side of the ribbon. The Petaloo flower covers the spot where the ribbon and twine ends overlapped.

Valentine's Day is getting closer by the minute so if you haven't started on your cards yet, let this be an inspiration. Remember, you can get cards done very quickly with pre-colored images, especially if you do CAS cards (which this one isn't!) Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Sweet Hedgies for a Valentine

Can you tell I was thrilled to discover that the neighbor who gifted me her Penny Black stamps was as enamored with the hedgehogs as I am? They are all just so cute! I turned this one into yet another Valentine card, although it will work well in the future for nearly any occasion - birthday, Mother's Day, graduation, any gift giving event, even a non-occasion when someone needs a bit of encouragement or support. Just add an appropriate sentiment and you're in!

This image is water colored, then cut with an Unbranded die. The sentiment was hand written. I wanted it pretty CAS so only added a scrap to frame it, and a tiny Petaloo flower with a teensy gem for a bit of flash and sparkle.

Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations (old stamp, new to me)

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Meowy Christmas

Late on Christmas Eve, the fur babies wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and they begged me for a card they could share with each of you. They unanimously approved this one because it looked like a party! :-D

This was a coloring book image which was colored with gel pens and metallic sparkle inks. I reduced it in size with my editing software after photographing it. I trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch, then mounted it onto a frame which was cut with an Unbranded die. The CS for the card front was dry embossed with my Linen folder before the other pieces were attached. The bow is satin and was hand-tied. The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die. Overall, very simple to make; took less than 15 minutes, so really perfect especially for a last minute card on demand.

Challenges:

Merry Christmas from the 3 fur babies and from me. May your Christmas be warm and wonderful, regardless of the weather outside. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Whose Christmas Stocking?

I have two posts today; this one as my DT card for Conie Fong and a second one coming up for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.

This Conie Fong image is called "Christmas Stocking" and it's ON SALE right now! You might want to also check out "Molly's Christmas Stocking" which is a related set and like this one, it's on sale, too.

For the image on my card, I colored with water color paints, added glitter to the laces and the package, then used an Unbranded die to cut it. I took a bit of a liberty with the image when I added a die cut kitten to the stocking, but the image reminded me of every cat I've ever had who climbed the Christmas tree and did everything possible to explore the stockings as they hung from the mantle piece. The kitten was cut from a Cheapo die. The die actually has the kitten climbing on the side of a goldfish bowl but I fussy cut just the cat from the overall die cut, then added him to the stocking.

The background dp was from the (Christmas) scrap basket. I think it was from a Graphic 45 stack. I tied a simple bow, then heat embossed the sentiment, cut it with a Tonic Studios die, and mounted it diagonally at the top of the image.

I based this on the sketch from The Outlawz, turned vertical.

Challenges:

Please come and play in our Conie Fong challenge. All you have to do is use a CF image, color it, and enter your project on the Facebook page! You could win more fabulous Conie Fong images. BTW, there are freebies available on the Facebook site!

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Cat in the Window

I've been going through my boxes of dies again and this one popped out at me. It's been a long time since I used it and I thought it would make a good autumn card, but with non-traditional colors. The Cat in the Window die is an Unbranded die and the cloud was cut with a Memory Box die.

The card base was dry embossed with an EF from Darice. The "ribbon" along the left side is actually washi tape but the signature, hand-sewn bow was sewn using satin ribbon and I added a pearl.

Today is the third day of the six day Cat Lovers Hop 2022.

Challenges:

Can You Handle ...

There's a Stamp ...

If you're signed up for the 2022 Cat Lovers Hop but haven't started playing yet, you can still enter up to 5 cat themed projects before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Saturday, October 29. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Too Tuckered for Treats

Remember those early days when the very youngest Trick or Treaters were completely worn out after trekking their way to maybe 5 houses? This card is a salute to all those intrepid little toddlers who were brave enough to give it a try and who then slept through the night as though they craved sleep more than the sweetest of treats!

The image was reduced in size from a digital coloring book page, printed in grayscale (along with the sentiment), and colored with ProMarkers. I used an Unbranded die to cut the image. The background dp was a scrap from a Memory Makers stack. I used sparkle ribbon and the bow was hand-tied using satin ribbon.

This is also my Day 16 entry for the
LeighSBDesigns 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

There's a Stamp ...

I hope your weekend has gone well and that you managed to find some relaxing time just for yourself. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

A Butterfly Birthday

Here's my first September DT card for Conie Fong. Once again, I'm using my favorite card base, a large, square card shape; my fav because it allows so much more room for design and embellishment. It features a delightful image called "Butterfly Princess" and the sentiment is also from that same set. I colored the image in rich, autumn, colors using water color paints, then cut the image with a Tutti Designs die. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Unbranded die.

The image and the sentiment pieces are backed with sparkly, holographic paper from Lawn Fawn, which I trimmed to the exact size of the die cut shapes. For the background, I chose paper from a Recollections stack. Both the metallic, sparkle ribbon and satin ribbon for the bow are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow.

Challenges:

Remember, Conie Fong has challenges each month into which you may submit either just coloring or completed projects using Conie Fong images. The August and September challenges have been combined into one album on the Facebook page. Because the challenges are run on the Facebook site, you'll have to join but that's a quick and easy procedure.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Friday, April 1, 2022

Gypsy Flower

Our April 1st challenge is starting at Your Scrapbook Place and our fabulous sponsor is Moon Flower Digi Stamps. They generously provided images to the DT and I've used one called "Gypsy Flower." Our theme is always "Anything Goes."

Colored with ProMarkers, then cut with an Unbranded die. The butterfly background was made with a Cuts die. The polka dot paper is from Recollections. I printed the sentiment and cut it with an Avery Elle die.

Challenges:

Butterfly (lettuce, lt pink)

We'd love to see you play in our challenge! Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Christmas FISH ???

We're starting a new challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies and our theme is "Anything Goes." This challenge is sponsored by Star Stampz and they generously provided images for the DT to use. I used one called "Polar Bear" but I had to change the ears slightly to turn him into a kitty. Whether you're a polar bear or a kitty, fish would be a great way to celebrate Christmas! :-D

I colored with ProMarkers and cut both the image and the frame with Unbranded dies. The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. The background paper is from a very old stack by DCWV called "Winter Magic." I've been using papers from that stack for at least 5 years but I think it's actually more like 7 or 8.

The ribbon is from my stash and I don't remember what company made it. It has glittery, silver, circles on it that look a bit like snowflakes. I used my bow maker to tie the double loop bow.

Challenges:

Come play with us this week. How can you go wrong with an Anything Goes theme? Hope to see you there. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Magical Halloween

Our next challenge at Paper Funday starts today and our theme is "Halloween or Use Purple." I love making Halloween cards and purple is my favorite color so I was in heaven with either option on this theme! Our fun sponsor is Paper Nest Dolls and they generously provided the team with images to use for our inspiration cards. I chose to use "Wizard Avery" and used standard Halloween colors of purple, green and black.

I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then added a bit of glitter to the light of her magic wand (difficult to see but if you enlarge the photo it might show) and Liquid Pearls (gold) to the teeny stars surrounding it. The image was cut with an Unbranded die, then the sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die. I used two different ribbons from my stash, (wide satin and shimmery 1/2") layered one on top of the other. Everything went onto a black card front which helps the image to pop off the card front.

Challenges:

I certainly hope we're going to see you playing along this month. For those of you who don't do Halloween cards, just grab your purple markers, pencils, or paper and ribbon, and show us what you create. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Sunday, September 26, 2021

You're my Best Friend

This morning I'm sharing another card with an image by Mariola Budek, an artist I discovered early this summer. Can't you tell these two are Best Friends? I haven't added the sentiment yet because I'm considering using it as a birthday card but haven't decided positively. I have great-granddaughter who would love it regardless of the occasion. :-D

The image is colored using ProMarkers in a rainbow of fall colors, then cut with an Unbranded die. I cut an oval from orange CS using a die from Spellbinders and mounted the image on top of it so that the orange would show through the negative, open spaces. I mounted that onto gray CS which had been dry embossed with my Linen EF.

I trimmed a scrap of striped dp to fit the A2 card front and added a narrow strip of washi tape to the left edge. I did a hand-made bow using grosgrain ribbon to which I added sequins, one on top of the other.

Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Have yourself a wonderful and creative day. Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

An "Oddball" Birthday

This is my fourth and last post for the new first of the month challenges where I'm sharing DT cards with you. If you missed the previous posts, just scroll down and you'll see them all. This one is for Your Scrapbook Place and we're sponsored by the fun and quirky Oddball Art. They supplied images for the DT and I used Big Eye Girl Bessy # 8.

I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with an Unbranded die. I chose a die from Spellbinders to cut the frame from a scrap of patterned CS. I love the contrast of combining the two fancy filigree die cuts with the quirky image. I layered the frame and image onto ragged-edged, purple CS and put that onto a white card base. I added the sentiment after cutting it with an Avery Elle die. I wanted to showcase the image and the frames so decided not to embellish the card any further.

I put this into my stash of feminine birthday cards.

Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Crafty Creations

I love ProMarkers

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperbabe

Passion for Markers

Tic Tac Toe (center column)

Word Art Weds

Be sure to visit both the main Your Scrapbook Place challenge post and our fun sponsor, Oddball Art. We are looking forward to seeing your entries into our "Anything Goes" challenge this month.

Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

A Pretty Calf for a Lovely Thank You

I noticed the other day that my stash of Thank You cards was getting pretty low and, just in time, this DOTM showed up from Imagine That! Along with the sweet calf image, there are sentiments and one of them was perfect for adding to my stash of Thank You cards. :-D

I colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut the image with a die from Tattered Lace. The die is actually made for cutting a shaped card so it has a blank space at the top without any cutting, but after cutting once, I turned the piece in the die and cut a second time so that I had a complete circle.

The sentiment is cut with an Unbranded die and the bottom corner of the flocked paper was cut with a Poppy Stamps die. The corner die also embosses but that doesn't show up very well on the flocked paper. I used a craft knife to distress the edges of the flocked paper but it's very heavy paper and the distressing doesn't show up very well in the photo. I didn't want to cover any more of that gorgeous Doodlebug paper so I let the design and the die cuts be their own embellishment.

Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Polkadoodles

Poppystamps

Hope your week is going well and that you can find some 'down time' just for you. :-D Happy Crafting. NanaConnie

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