Easter Lilies

     This is the last of the five newly released sets from MHK Designs this month and one of the most beautiful, I think.  The set is called "He is Risen" and you can see a photo of it at the end of this post.

     This is a single layer card with the image and the sentiment printed right onto the card front.   I used chalk markers and colored pencils to color the image and chalk markers to ink the edges of the card.  The corners are shaped with a punch.  I added lace ribbon from my stash and the three pearls.  That's all -- very simple card design.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations
Chalk n Stock
Colour Your World
Craft and Smash
Crafting from the Heart
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Catz
Crafty Friends
Creatalicious
Great Impressions
Let's Color
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Paper Nest Dolls
Path of Positivity
Pencil Case
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Sisters of Craft

     Don't forget that our second challenge at MHK Designs starts tomorrow and runs for a month.  Be sure to stop by there tomorrow to check out the inspiration photo for the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

Bunny Love

     This is the fourth new release set from MHK Designs this month and it's called "Bunny Love."  There are three separate images (most of which work well for spring or Easter) and four sentiments included in the set.  If you scroll all the way to the bottom of this post, you'll see a photo of the complete set.  Here's my card using the Bunny with Lily image.

     This is a pretty CAS card design.  I used ProMarkers to color the image and cut it with a die from Spellbinders.  I also cut the mat with another larger die from that same set.  The sentiment was printed and die cut, but hand trimmed along the bottom.

     I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the green CS and chose to mount it on an angle for a little visual interest.   Everything went onto a black card base which brought out the black in the bunny's tux and top hat.  The black bow is one of those I make by the dozens and keep in my stash for use as I need them.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
A Bit More Time to Craft
Addicted to Stamps
Card and Scrap
Craft Your Passion
Critters and Creatures
Digistamps4Joy
Eureka Stamps
Just Keep on Creating
Not Just Cards
Oddball Art
Petal Lu
Scrap N'
Scrapy Land
Send a Smile 4 Kids
Stamping Sensations
Sweet Stampin'
Your Scrapbook Place

     Thanks to all of you for bearing with me as I heal from an injury which keeps me from typing.  It means that others have to prepare and schedule my posts for me, and that there is little I can do towards commenting when I visit your blogs.  I do apologize for that.   Hopefully, I'll be back in harness soon.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

  Bunny Love

Good Shepherd

     Day Three of the February release at MHK Designs and the first of my Easter cards.  This spectacular image of the Good Shepherd is from the set called "Easter Blessings."  The sentiment is also from that same set.  Check the bottom of this post to see a photo of the entire set.

I started with the sketch from Sketchy Colors

but left off the diamond shape because I couldn't squeeze 

this image into a diamond shape.

     When I first began designing this card, I was thinking about how to color the image but the more I looked at it, the more I decided there wasn't much I could do to 'improve' it so I decided to leave it black and white; color could be added through the papers and embellishments I chose.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and backed that with a Swiss Dot embossed piece of CS.

     I layered that onto a background of blue dp from the MHK Designs "Going Gingham - Brights" set.  I added some of my favorite sheer ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) and also used it to tie a triple loop, triple layer bow - a perfect handmade embellishment!  I finally inked the edges of the card and it really gave it a finished look.

     Challenges:
Becka B (die,ink, layers)
CCC Digi
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Digistamps 4 Joy
Great Impressions
Just Keep on Creating
My Time to Craft
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Petal Lu
Pile It On
Scrapper's Delight
Sisters of Craft
Sparkles Forum
That Craft Place

     Check out the MHK Designs blog to see what all the other designers have made.  You can hop around all the blogs, leaving comments for everyone on the DT and on the main blog, and you could win one set or all of them in the February release.  Don't forget to join the Facebook group!  Links to  that group are on the MHK Designs blog.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

 Easter Blessings

Heartfelt Thank You

    If you're looking for the second February release from MHK Designs, please scroll down one post.

      This card uses the freebie image from Tickell Expressions given to us for the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.   Thank you, Teresa.  :-D

    Printed onto pastel parchment paper (not vellum but actual parchment, for those of you in the UK :-D), then colored with chalk, Copics & gel ink.  The bit of lace was a scrap left over from a blouse I made recently, and the ribbon for the bow was also in the bin filled with other scraps.  I tied it and then added the two pearls.

     Really short post today.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

A Girl and Her Cat

     This is the second day of the new releases over at MHK Designs and I have someone very special writing up my blog posts today and tomorrow and then we're back to the ones I already had pre-scheduled before my injury.  I dictate, they type.  I like this having a secretary!  :-D

     Today Mynn has released this adorable set called "Purr-Fect."  You can see the full set at the bottom of this post.  Here's my card using this precious image and one of the sentiments.

     I used chalks and ProMarkers to color this one and decided on pink as the primary color because I wanted to celebrate the kind of love that happens between a girl and her cat.  Can't you tell these two are BFFs?   I used a Darice embossing folder on the background CS and the black grosgrain ribbon came from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Fairly CAS but I think it looks suitably vintage and almost elegant.

     Challenges:
Animal Friends
Chalk n Stock
Crafting with Dragonflies
Docerela Creations
If You Give a Crafter as Cookie
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Friday
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Simply Papercraft
Through the Purple Haze

     Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll stop by the MHK Designs blog to see what everyone has created.  Remember, our new challenge (#2) starts next weekend, after the new releases have been completed and it would be great to see you playing along with us.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie


 Purr-Fect

Bird on a Branch

     Last month, I joined the MHK Designs DT and this is the first month I've gotten to celebrate a new release from the shop.  From today through Saturday, you'll see a newly released set each day and they are all so wonderful.  We start with the "Birds n Branches" set which has 3 images and 3 different sentiments.  I also used one of the MHK Designs papers from the "Going Gingham - Rustics" set (pine.)  See below for photos of both the sets.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers, then die cut it and matted it with another die cut in lime green (Spellbinders.)   I love the yellow on the bird, the green on the tree leaves, and the three different shades of green in the papers.   I thought about a really bright yellow to make him look more like a meadowlark but decided the vintage image called for something a bit more subtle.  :-D

      The octagon is cut with a die from QuicKutz.  The sentiment is printed and hand cut.  I tied a two-color, double bow (left over scrap ribbons from my stash) and used it as the only embellishment.  I really wanted to show off the image and that lovely gingham paper so left it as simple as possible.

     Much as I appreciate shaped cards, I still love the basic A2 card for size and shape; a single fold and a perfect size card for mailing without extra postage.

      Challenges:

As You Like It

Brown Sugar

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafting with an Attitude

Crafting with Friends

Crafty Ribbons

Creative Fingers

Dragon's Lair (bottom row)

Moving Along with the Times

Polka Doodles

     Be sure to come by tomorrow for the next release.  They are already all in the shop if you want to see them before you see the DT inspiration cards made with them.  But fair warning: you'll fall in love and want them all !  :-D  Happy Stamping  NanaConnie

     Edited to add:  I have several posts pre-scheduled and that's a good thing because, due to an injury, I'm currently unable to type or craft or even leave comments.  I can visit your blogs but leaving comments is just not going to happen.  Hopefully, I'll be back to normal in 2 or 3 weeks.

  

Raspberry Wishes

     I think this is the first of my spring cards, but it may actually be a card which celebrates summer berries more than spring.  Raspberries are a favorite and the new challenge theme at QKR Stampede this week was a perfect opportunity to use this fabulous Raspberry Label image (Digi 17901.)  Our theme is "Yummy, Yummy" and we want to see you include food on your cards.

I based this on the sketch from Stella Says Sketch

and used colors from The Outlawz 

(Green plus choose 2 from photo - pink & white).

   

     I also used Digi 12407 "Garden Grow" for the sentiment.  The image and sentiment are printed directly onto the card front, making this a one-layer card.  I used my ProMarkers to color the image and to outline the sentiment.  I added the bee, the ribbon, and the handmade flower with a yellow brad for embellishments.  Overall, it's still a very CAS card.  Mmmm, don't I wish those raspberries were growing in my yard right now!

     Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps
Colour Your World
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
I {heart} ProMarkers (1st diagonal)
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Pile It On
That Craft Place
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz Greetings
Simon Says Stamp
Through the Craft Room Door
WordArt Weds.

     I think that's it for today and I have a busy weekend with kids, grandkids, and even my 2 great-grands all in town for the Valentine weekend.  I don't know how much crafting I'll get done so I may not see you again until Monday or Tuesday.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Kissing Frogs

     Now that I've grabbed your attention with the title, I freely admit that the kissing going on in the image has little to do with frogs nor even with finding a handsome prince.  This is just a fun card with a silly sentiment I made up and it's a light hearted attempt at a Valentine for a guy who definitely has a sense of humor.  :-D

     I know my friend, Lynn (Creative Crafts by Lynn) will enjoy it, too, because I always check out her blog when I'm looking for CAS designs, and she has a fab sense of humor (which shows up on her cards all the time.)  Sorry it's not done all in your favorite blues, Lynn.  :-D

     The image is from Nutcrafters and I used my ProMarkers to color it.  It's cut with a die set from Spellbinders, as are the mat and the sentiment.  The twine was in my stash and is another salute to Lynn because she uses twine a lot.

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
AAA Cards
A Gem of a Challenge
Allsorts
ArtbyMiran
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
CAS on Sunday
Cards in Envy
Catch the Bug
Corrosive Challenge
Craft for the Craic
Crafting with an Attitude
Creative Corner