Snowflake Santa

      I have to share a card with a spectacular image which was colored by my sis-in-law using pastel Ohuhu markers and white gel pens.  Didn't she do an incredible job?  The image is clip art and I think originally it was a digital coloring book page but I sized it for a card before printing it.  

     After she colored it, I cut it with a QuicKutz die, then used a Fiskars punch on the corners.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a Tonic Studios die.  I decided to use blue glitter paper on the card front to enhance the soft blues in the image.  The two snowflake embellies are die cut foam and the dies were from Cottage Cuts.

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

I Spy ...

Passion for Markers

Male Room

Penny's P-C

     Christmas is less than 2 weeks away and I'm still making cards!  Yikes!  Have you finished all of yours?  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

Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      Here it is, my final card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  The last day theme is always "Do What You Love," kind of like Anything Goes but better because we get to use things we love.  For me, there are so many things I love to put on Christmas cards, but I think snowmen have to be at the top of the list.  Actually, if I could find a good reason, I'd do snowmen cards all year round.  :-D

     Today's card features one of Beccy's new snowmen, named Winston and released this year.  I thought he'd look great dressed in a burgundy hat and scarf with gold fringe and earmuffs.  I colored him with ProMarkers and added gold Stickles to the star.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch.  

     I wanted the card to sparkle so I dug through my stash of glitter CS scraps and pieced together the background on the card.  I love glitter and when it comes to Christmas cards, I always debate with myself about whether silver glitter or gold glitter is best.  In this case, I was able to use mostly silver glitter but the star has gold sparkle, so a combination of them is the absolute best!

     The image and the "Snowball Fight" sentiment were layered on, using a good amount of craft glue (which I've found is the most effective for attaching CS to glitter.)  Even the stickiest of double sided tapes tends to come loose and peel off of glittered CS after just a short time so glue it is.  

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Jingle Bells (sparkle & colors)

My Time to Craft

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

     The Christmas season is really on top of us now but it's nice to have another 30 cards in my stash.  Ok, maybe 25 instead of 30 since I did use Thanksgiving as the holiday on 4 or 5 of my cards this month.  Still, my Christmas card stash is looking good this year because of all the other cards I've done between January and October.  I still have colored Christmas images waiting to be made into cards so I'll have several additional posts throughout December.

  

    In the meantime, 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

Three Kings

      I've done a really simple card for the letter "K" at Beccy's Place 30 Days of Holidays challenges which are running every day in November.  I chose the 3 Kings image from Beccy's Place and put it onto a card front made with Kraft CS.

     The images are pre-colored and merged together to make a single image.  The sentiment was added before printing.  I cut the image piece with a die from Cottage Cuts.  The 'strip' of glittered CS across the middle of the card is actually scrap bits from the basket of Christmas papers but I layered them on so that the empty space between them is covered by the image piece.

     Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Christmas Kickstart

Crafts Galore

Do Al(l) Kreatives

Incy Wincy

Kerst Christmas

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

     See you again tomorrow, I hope.  This respiratory infection or virus, whatever it is, is really wearing me out!  The fatigue factor is definitely in charge.  :-D

   

     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

If the Shoe Fits ...

      One more Halloween card which is another collaboration between my sis-in-law's coloring and my card making.  Everything I used on the card today came from my stash - no new products, not even the image!  I think this is an old Bugaboo Stamps image but I printed it so long ago that I can't really remember.  I found it in a file folder of things waiting to be colored.  I miss Bugboo!  :-(

     Colored with Ohuhu markers (with a salute to Pink for October Breast Cancer Awareness), cut with a Tonic Studios die, and inked on the edges with a black stamp pad.  I used black glitter CS on the card front and layered on the image, adhering it with double stick tape and a bit of craft glue to make sure it was secure.  I find that even the stickiest of double sided tapes doesn't always hold on glitter paper.

      I decided that the glitter was spectacular enough so went without any embellishments, just a CAS style card.

     Challenges:

CRAFT-alnica

Crafty Gals Corner

Digi Choosday

I Spy w My ... Eye

Paper Shelter

Penny's P-C

Shopping Our Stash

Simon Says Stamp

Try It on Tuesday

     That's it for today.  Maybe another post tomorrow depending on how much I get done today.  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

A Little Sparkle

      Hello, friends and followers.  I'm finally getting back to the monthly challenge over at Beccy's Place.  It's been a while since I played last and I want to get back into a regular routine of playing there each month.  For this card, I used her lovely "Hydrangea" image and one of her sentiments, also.

     This is a pre-colored image because I needed a fast and simple card for a friend.  I merged the sentiment onto the image before printing, then cut them with a Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment inspired me to dig through my collection of glittered CS stacks and this one seemed to bring out the bits of purple in the flower petals so it got the nod.  I cut a piece to the size of the card front, layered it on, then added the image.  Quick and easy card and really CAS but with lots of eye appeal.

     Challenges:

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

     Happy crafting to all.  NanaConnie

Easter Eggs for the Dragon

      Dragons are so fierce and fire-breathing that the Easter Bunny is rarely (if ever!) willing to brave their dens to leave Easter eggs for them.  But this brave bunny (hiding behind the rock) took the risk and this dragon is so excited, she may never breathe fire again.  lol  

     This card is obviously for my granddaughter who is crazy about dragons (as am I) and she expects all holiday cards to include dragons.  I search constantly to find images, clip art, digital stamps, whatever, so that I can make cards for her with appropriate dragons on them.  Sometimes, I have to just use a dragon image I already have and turn it into a celebration of the holiday but this time I found a wonderful dragon which I printed in grayscale and colored with Sanjoki markers.

     I cut the image using a Tonic Studios die, and the sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sparkle behind the dragon is a layer of glitter CS which covers the entire card front.  I added white gel pen to the "Happy Easter" part of the image to make it stand out a bit.

     Challenges:

Carlin's Card ...

Crafts Galore ...

Do-Al(l) Kreatives

Friendship

Mirtillamente

Perfect Time to ...

(PIN)spirational

Rabisco

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Nativity Cards

      I have two more Christmas cards to share with you this morning.  I hadn't really intended to make any more Christmas cards this month but I happened to get a new, Crafter's Companion, double die I had ordered and, since I've never had one of those before, I had to try it out right away.

     The die is made to cut two layers of CS at the same time, which then can be used on one card.  I used two shades of brown CS for the cuts, then layered them together.  I had already run them through my Cuttlebug using my Linen EF before cutting.  

     I chose some blue, glitter CS for the background, and I think it made a delightful night sky.  The 'star' is also part of the die (as you'll see on the second card.)  I used a gold paint pen on the star before adding it to the sky, and also used it on the cut outs of Mary and Joseph.  I saved the cut out pieces for yet another project.  The sentiment is from QKR Stampede and I fussy cut it.

     Being a frugal crafter, I simply couldn't bear to toss out the leftover negatives from the original die cutting, so I made a second card, layering the two pieces together after reversing the one which had the 'negative' star.  This time I used the two shades of brown CS, plus a bottom layer of cream CS. 

     I found a scrap of lavender CS for the background.  I added some sparkle to the star by coloring the space with a Sakura glitter pen.  The "Merry Christmas" sentiment is from Eureka Stamps, printed and fussy cut.

     Challenges:

12 Months Christmas

Christmas Crafts ... (7 palm trees)

Crafter's Cafe

Happy ... Stampers

Peace on Earth

Sparkles Christmas

     Happy Stamping (and die cutting!)  NanaConnie  

Count Your Easter Eggs

      It's a new month, this time April, so that makes today April Fool's Day but we have no tricks or jokes in the new challenge at QKR Stampede.  We just want you to have fun playing along with our Anything Goes theme, every 1st and 15th of each month.

     For my DT card this time, I chose to use an image called "Easter Girl."  I flipped the image side to side before printing.  I colored with ProMarkers using a combo of purple and turquoise green, one of my favorites.  I actually like purple and nearly any other color for color combos.  :-D

     I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders, then inlaid several of the pieces in the bottom half that drop out of the frame so that I could keep that portion of the image intact.  The background dp and CS (including the glitter CS) are all from different Recollections stacks and all 3 of them happen to be scraps or recycled bits left over from previous projects.  

     I printed the sentiment, cut it with an Avery Elle die, and matted it before adding it to the card.  My final touch was the row of recycled rhinestones (from an old cell phone case.)

      As You Like It asks if we prefer Recycling or buying new.  I always prefer using up a scrap or recycling something because I hate seeing things go to waste.  Only the tiniest scraps actually make it to trash can in my house.  It saves on the budget, too!  :-D 

      Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Country View Craft

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Incy Wincy

Mirtillamente

SheepSki Designs

The Four Seasons

      I hope you're going to come play in our challenge.  Remember, it's an Anything Goes theme.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Easter Bunny Gnome

      I'm sharing another image from @Conie Fong, this one from the Easter Bunny Gnome set.  There are several images in the set and a couple of sentiments.  Not only is this a darling gnome, all the bunnies are precious in their own right and could easily be used for any 'bunny' occasion apart from Easter.  :-D  Check out our challenges this month.  There's still almost a week to go before they end.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Dare 2B Artzy.  I ran a scrap of aqua CS through my Linen EF and attached that to the card front.  The glittery, silver strip was another scrap from the basket and I hand-tied the bow using gingham ribbon.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Catz

Dare 2B Artzy

Dream Valley

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Simon Says Stamp

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie