Burnt to a Crisp

     There is a running (but gentle) competition between my son and my SIL as to which of them is the best chef.  Needless to say, that includes BBQ foods as well.  So this card will end up being a birthday card for one of them, but I'm not sure which at this point.

I put the birthday sentiment on the inside.

That die cut sentiment was a gift from the lady who sent me 

her card this month in the Card Chain Challenge exchange.

Thanks, Denise!

     I used my ProMarkers to color the image (Bugaboo Stamps), then cut and framed it with a lattice die (Spellbinders.)  The image is actually inset into the frame.  The sentiment was printed and then adhered to another die cut (same Spellbinders set.)

     The card is really CAS but then, it's a masculine card and may have to be mailed if it goes to my son.  :-D

     Challenges:
Catch the Bug
City Crafter
Crafty Sentiments
Cutie Pie
Dream Valley
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Paper Girls
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     I'll be home, blogging and crafting, for a couple of days starting this evening, then I'm taking off again for the Labor Day weekend.  First thing I have to do is write up the last of my 4 posts for Friday (3 are already done and pre-scheduled) and then I can relax (?) in the record breaking heat that still holds California in its grip.  I'm thinking fondly of all of you who feel like you've had no summer at all.  And I'm saying prayers for all of Houston and New Orleans.  Happy Crafting to the rest of you.  NanaConnie

Window in Autumn

     Sharing another autumn card with a delightful image from Beccy's Place.  I think it's called Autumn Window but it's in the set of seasonal windows Beccy has done.  I love all four of the windows in the set - one for each season.  I've used this fall window a couple of times before but each time I color the stonework differently.  This time, I used dull yellows, browns, and grays.

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday

but turned it sideways.

     I colored it with my ProMarkers, using the ultra fine tips for the branches and the smallest leaves.  I cut it with the largest square die in the first die set I ever bought from Spellbinders.  I inked the edges twice to make it look matted and layered it onto patterned dp from Jillibean Soup.  Then, I did the sentiment, printed and hand cut.

     For simple embellishments, I used pumpkins in the lower corner (cut with dies from Impression Obsession) and leaves in the upper corner (cut with a die from Dies R Us.)  I added sheer beige ribbon which I tied by hand.

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy
Come and Get It
Craft-Dee BowZ
Glitter n Sparkle
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz PAM

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Embroidered Flowers

     I shared my embroidered kitten with you last week and promised you more cards with appliques as I got them made.  This one today was done using the very first patterns I tried on the new data card for my sewing machine, but these are not the first samples I did.

     For these, I invested in some spools of variegated embroidery threads which I used for the stems and leaves.  The darker threads in the pink and yellow flowers were done by using the computerized program and changing the thread when the program stops and tells you to change thread.  Very simple and those two parts of the program were done last.

     No coloring, obviously, but I adhered two colors of CS together, then cut them as one piece with a stitched die from Die-namics.  I used fabric glue to adhere the embroidery to that.  The background dp came from the Whimsy stack by DCWV and I wrapped it one time with a narrow, green ribbon.  I added one of my hand sewn bows and it was complete.  I didn't want anything to take away from the shine of the embroidery.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Crafts Galore Encore
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Not Just Cards
Petal Lu
World Wide Open DT

      I have a couple of posts scheduled for this week but the big day will be Friday when I'll have a total of 4 posts!  All of my DT work seemed to fall on the same day this time although only one is a regular Friday post.  The others were either for the 1st of the month or the 1st Friday and this month, they all came together on that day.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Love in Tennis

     Another Friday, another QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" challenge but, as usual, we also have an optional theme if you want to use it - "Any Sport with a Ball."   I thought "Tennis Duck" was a perfect image for that theme and grabbed him from the shop as quickly as I could.