Mistletoe Ornament

     Yesterday, we finished the entire alphabet prompts and today is the last of the daily challenges which have been running for an entire month at Beccy's Place.  Today we get to do "Anything We Love."  I loved the Mistletoe which came in this set from Beccy's and had to use it before the challenges ended altogether.

     However, I wanted to try something other than just another card so I turned it into a tree ornament!

Colors from Color My Heart #321, 3rd column

plus Gold on the twine bow.

     I printed the mistletoe image onto CS twice, added glitter to the mistletoe berries, then after it dried, cut both of them at the same time with a die from QuicKutz.  I wanted the ornament to have a bit of weight so I cut six more of the same shape from white CS.  I sandwiched those six pieces between the two image pieces and glued them all together, adding the ribbon hanger to the center of the layers.

     If I do another one I think, instead of gluing the layers, I'll try weaving narrow ribbon through the holes and I can tie the ends together to make the hanger.  It'll make it a bit more decorative and I could even add a splash of bright color simply by choosing the right ribbon.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Cardz TV
Crafting from the Heart
Crafting with Friends
Dream Valley
Get Creative
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Penny's Paper-Crafty

     Note especially for Beccy: Playing this month has been so much fun and I look forward to your 30 Days of Cards each November.  Thank you so much for all you do to make the daily challenges fun and fabulous!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

It's Merry ChrisMoose Time!

     Another Friday and another "Anything Goes" challenge at QKR Stampede!   When I was looking through the Christmas images available from QKR, I found this sweet little she-moose.  Her expression said she'd just found out Christmas is tomorrow and she only has one present ready.  lol  The image is called "Christmas Moose" and I just love her. 

     Everything on this card came from scraps, including the white CS on which the image is printed.  I colored with ProMarkers, added a few tiny highlights with a gel pen, and then used a stitched die from Cottage Cutz to cut out the image.  I used that same die on two dp scraps which I used behind the image piece.

     I sewed a tiny bow from a scrap of white ribbon, dyed it with a marker, and added it at the bottom corner of the image.  Finally, I printed the sentiment, hand cut it, and layered it onto the burgundy dp.

     Challenge:
Crafting by Designs
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp

     I hope you're going to come and play along with us this week.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Zoo's Who?

     When it's Christmas at the National Zoo, the giraffes have a 'high' time catching snowflakes!  It's the final day of the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place and the prompt for today is the letter "Z."  I did a Z-fold card and used a Zoo theme.  :-D

I started with the colors offered at My Favorite Things.

     I used ProMarkers to color, then cut the image and the sentiment with stitched dies from CUTplorations.  The red mat is also cut with another die from that same set.  I did the Z-fold on a slant, cutting off the top, right-hand, corner of the card front all the way to the middle fold before adding the image piece.

     I found some lovely silver ribbon, dotted with glittery snowflakes, and I wrapped it around the card front, behind the image piece.  I also added a glittered snowflake.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting by Designs
Crafty Creations
Double D
House That Stamps Built
I {heart} ProMarkers
Mod Squad
Work It Weds.

     I can hardly believe I managed to play each and every day of the 30 days at Beccy's Place and it was really fun.  I now have an additional 30 Christmas cards in my stash and that's a good thing since I plan to donate at least 75 Christmas cards to the Senior Center just down the block from my house.  Every year, those cards are so appreciated and I even get calls from the Center now asking if I'm bringing cards again this year.  :-D

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

XOXO Hugs and Kisses

     OK, we've reached the most impossible day for alphabet prompts - the dreaded "X" !!  Last year I did a card with "X Marks the Spot" but this year, I borrowed (CASEd?) an idea done by Donna at Popsicle Toes last year, Xs and Os.  What could be better than snuggling up for hugs and kisses at Christmas - with or without mistletoe?  The darling penguins are from Beccy's Place, appropriate for the 30 Days of Christmas daily challenges which have been going on there all month long.

I used the sketch at Stella Says Sketch,

flipping it side to side.

     I started with a pre-colored image, then used ProMarkers and white gel pen to add the shading and highlights.  The XOXOs and the sentiment were printed as part of the image.  The image piece was cut with a die from QuicKutz and matted with a square of green CS. 

     The plaid dp was a scrap as was the blue CS.  Everything was mounted onto a kraft card base.  I added the little snowflakes for sparkly embellishments.

     Challenges:
Crafting from the Heart
Creative Moments
Cupcake Inspirations

Digi Choosday
Double D
Outlawz Greetings
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pile It On

     We're counting down the last few days of November and Saturday will be the beginning of December.  Once again, I have no idea how the last year scrambled by so quickly!  Why is it kids think time passes so slowly?  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Wreath of Poinsettias

     A new alphabet prompt at Beccy's Place today.  "W" is a little bit easier than U and V were but I did try to get creative with the Wreath so that it wasn't ordinary or expected.

I was inspired by the sketch at

The Outlawz, although I took a liberty or two -

turning it a 1/4 turn and offsetting the middle band.

     Beccy has a lovely set of poinsettia images and one of them is the three-poinsettia floral spray I used here.  I printed it off three times, cutting each one with a round die from QuicKutz.  I cut those circles in half, fussy cutting the portion next to the petals on each one.  I placed those three cut images into a Wreath shape and mounted them onto a green, die cut, circle (also QuicKutz.)

     I chose a piece of deep red CS, ran it through my "Linen" embossing folder, and Wrapped it with Wide, Wired ribbon.   I added the image on top of that, then printed the "Wishing you...." sentiment.   I wanted something as a focal point in the center of the Wreath so I cut a snowflake with a die from Art Impressions and put a tiny gem on it.  I added a handmade bow and called it finished.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Cardz TV
Crafting with Friends
Die Cut Divas
Lemon Shortbread
Scrap from Your Heart
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.

     The new week is starting and the rush to Christmas is upon us.  Thankfully, I don't have to brave any of the shopping crowds this year so I can stay inside where it's warm and cozy, crafting and humming Christmas carols while the rest of the country tears their hair and fights for the perfect gift, all the while losing patience along with the true Christmas spirit.  :-D   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie