Clover Pixie for St. Patrick's

     I love doing St. Patrick's Day cards.  I know it's not a big holiday for most of us - certainly not Christmas or Easter.  But I'm Irish on both sides of the family tree and I was born on March 17 so how can I not love it?

     I also love taking images which weren't really intended to be for St. Paddy's and turning them into something fun and green.  That's what I did with this darling "Clover Pixie" from AuroraWings.

I started with the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday

but took a liberty with the placement of one of the 

doilies because the flower embellies were better

showcased that way.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Gina Marie.  Notice the 4-leaf clover shapes in the die cut?  I used two small, purple doilies and mounted everything onto cream CS.  I made one of my hand-sewn bows from sheer ribbon which was white and I 'dyed' it with a green ProMarker.

     I added the crocus embellishments because they were my Grammy's favorite flower.  She always said that they cheered her more than any other flower because they were always the first sign of spring, poking up through the snow, arriving even before their leaves had started, determined to show the world that spring was on its way.  :-D

     Challenges:
AuroraWings (1st column)
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Color
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Simon Says Stamp and Show
TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bad Hair Days ?

     While I had fun making today's card, there is a slight note of melancholy.  This image came from My Creative Scoop and their challenge is Color Inspiration Monday.  I was lucky enough to win one of their challenges and I chose this "Rapunzel" image as part of my prize.  Now, the story behind the wisp of sadness.

     I had my hair cut recently.  Not a big deal, right?  Everybody goes for haircuts and hair styling.  But my hairdresser cut 13 inches off my hair and it still hangs below the bottom of my shoulder blades!  So, cutting the hair felt like losing a rather well-loved part of myself.  But the truth is my hair was so long I couldn't sleep without first braiding it or pulling it up into a high ponytail and even then, I'd usually find myself unable to turn over in the night because I was lying on my hair.

     After the cut, I still put it into a ponytail or braid at night - that keeps it out of the way and I'm not sleeping on it.  It's actually kind of thrilling to run a comb through it and get to the end of the hair without having to first pick it up and lay it in my lap to comb the ends of it. 
:-D  So, here's the card that salutes my haircut!

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image and the green frame with an Unbranded die.  For the tail end of the hair, I used a circle die from QuicKutz.  I mounted everything onto a green card front, then added the printed and hand-cut sentiment.  Perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day - which I do every year because, not only am I Irish on both side of the family tree, I was born on St. Paddy's!  I was probably 9 or 10 before I discovered the whole country was celebrating something other than my birthday.  lol

     I tied the bow and added the butterfly.  I used left over bits that dropped out of one of my Spellbinders dies.  I took 3 of them, stacked them together, and added them to the front of the bow.  That was all the embellishment this card needed.

      Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Catz
Di's Digi Designs
Hiding in My Craft Room
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Greetings
Outlawz PAM
Pammie's Inky Pinkies

     I hope your weekend was both restful and productive, and that you found some creative time in there somewhere.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Stylish Belle

     My eldest granddaughter has developed a true love of old Hollywood, pin-up girls.  She celebrated her birthday this month and, while I didn't have anything from the actual WWII time period she likes best, this image from the "Madamoiselle" collection by Linda Simpson Designs seemed to fit the genre.  She loved the card so I guess it worked.  :-D  She and I also found some archive patterns and we're going to sew some pin-up outfits for her to wear when she volunteers at Veterans' and Honor Flight functions.

     Making the card was pretty simple.  I printed the image, wrapped a piece of black CS with wide, white lace, and added the black bow.  Done!

     Challenges:
Creative Moments
DL.ART
Ike's World
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Star Stampz
TTCRD
Word Art Weds.

     Short and sweet today but I have places to go and things to see.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Party Hardy Bird

     This poor bird (Birthday Bird 02