Nesting?

      Today's card is another DT card for the challenge starting today at FarmQuest.  For this challenge, our theme is all about Hay, Straw Bales, Hay Mows, or Lofts.  I don't know if haystacks count as Straw Bales but they certainly fit into the larger category of Hay.   

     The image is actually an old photograph.  I found it online and no credit was given as to the name of the photographer but it may be that the photo is old enough that nobody actually knows who took it.  I printed it in gray scale, then I used my ProMarkers to make it look like an old sepia photo, and added lots of yellow tones to the haystacks.  I highlighted the storks with white gel pens and black to make them pop off the background.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die, and layered onto the image piece.  I framed it with scraps of white and old newsprint paper.  The brown patterned dp for the background (from DCWV) was also a scrap and I chose it because it felt right for our underlying "country" theme for everything done at FarmQuest.  I think warm beiges and browns are my favorite colors for anything with a country feel; those colors (neutrals?) just seem to enhance "outdoors" and "country."  The double twine bow added to that feel.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Our challenge runs through February 13 and the new one will start on the 14th.  Come play with us and make something that celebrates "country" and features hay.  We'd love to see what you create!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Music for Your Birthday

      Aside from DT cards, I'm going to see if I can finish out this month with birthday cards and return to Valentine cards once we're into February.  Today's card features the January Progressive Challenge image from LeAnn's World.  

     The images was colored with water color paints, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The purple and blue CS pieces were all cut from scraps and QuicKutz dies were used.  The sentiment was cut with a die from Avery Elle.  I added the tiny yellow gemstones to fit in with the sketch I used (see below.)

The sketch came from Sweet Sketch Weds, turned a 1/4 turn.

     Challenges:

Birthstone (Amethyst)

Classic Design

Crafty Friends

LeAnn's World

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blue Zinnias

      This beautiful image was drawn by Sandra at The Outlawz for their monthly Progressive Challenge.  I spent a lot of the month trying to decide between another Valentine card or a birthday card for my annual stash.  For the second day in a row, birthday won out.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers and white gel pen, then carefully fussy cut the image with scissors.  I wanted to use the sketch I found at There's a Stamp for That, so I added a delicate frame, cut from glittery, sticker paper with a die from Sue Wilson.  That frame is so detailed it's nearly impossible to add glue to the back so cutting from sticker paper is the only way to go.  Before cutting, I used Versamark clear ink, then added glittery, yellow embossing powder, and heat embossed the entire sheet.  

     I used textured fiber paper from DCWV which has been in my stash for so long, I had completely forgotten about it.  I added the glittery frame (deliberately tilted on an angle), then layered on the zinnia image, using an out-of-the-box technique with the leaves.  The sentiment was printed and cut with dies from Avery Elle.

Here's a shot of the sketch:

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Di's Digi Designs

Gem of a Challenge

I Love ProMarkers

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat on the Fishbowl

      How's this for a complete break from Valentines?  I was inspired once again by the new "No Stamps" challenge over at The Outlawz.  I'm putting together birthday cards for family which I'll use throughout the year.  I usually try to have them all done in January but since this month seems to have been dedicated to Valentine cards, I'm pretty sure making the birthday cards will be dribbling on throughout February.  :-D

     This card was made by die cutting three different pieces of scrap watercolor paper, and one of regular CS, which I colored appropriately before cutting them.  I used the same die on each colored scrap, then cut the parts I wanted from each of those die cuts and pieced them together to make the whole.  The die came from Cheapo Dies.

     The green background scrap was embossed with my Linen EF before layering it onto the card front.  The sentiment was printed and fussy cut.  I found a scrap of burlap, added it to the right side, and trimmed it to fit.  The bow was hand-tied using sparkle twine from We Are Memory Keepers.

     The birthday sentiment is on the inside.

     Challenges:

Crafty Catz

Digi Choosday

Pammie's IP