Defining Gratitude !

      Once upon a time, way back when I first began serving on Design Teams, I was invited to join the team at 613 Avenue Create.  After a couple of years, I resigned because life just got waaay too busy.  Now, I'm pleased to announce that I'm happily back on that DT.  :-D

     As always, we have an "Anything Goes" theme but there's also an optional twist if you choose to use it and this month that option is "Autumn Colors." 

     This image is from QKR Stampede and I thought he was perfect for an autumn card - an old moonshine framer.  lol  I colored him with my Sanjoki markers, then cut him and the rust orange frame with octagon dies from QuicKutz.  I found a scrap of dp from DCWV and used a Taylor Made embossing folder on it.  The gauze paper for the background is also from DCWV.

     I found a strip of mesh ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) in my stash and added it for more texture.  I thought it worked really well with the gauze texture behind it.  The sentiments were printed and one was cut with a QuicKutz die, and the other was fussy cut and matted.

     Challenges:

Classic Design

Creatalicious

Creative Fingers

Double Trouble (all 3)

I Spy with My ...

Night Owls

Not2Shabby

Pammie's IP

Worldwide ...

     Pop on over to 613 Avenue Create and see what all the other DT have done for their inspiration cards, then get something made and come enter it into our challenge.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Polly Parrot

      It's Friday and that means another challenge over at Crafty Catz.  This week, our theme is "Spots or Stripes" and I went with spots.  We are being sponsored by QKR Stampede and the prize will be the three images used by the DT.  Be sure to check out the challenge post over at Crafty Catz to see all three of the images.

     I used the "Parrot" image, although I think it's really a macaw.  I colored with my Sanoki markers, then cut the image with a die from Cutz.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.  I found a lovely scrap of rain-forest-looking dp from DCWV for the full background, and cut another scrap for the band across the bottom with the 'spots' on it.

     Challenges:

Creative Fingers

Happy...Stampers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Lil Patch of Crafty ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Polkadoodles

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sunflowers for FarmQuest

      I know it's been more than a week since I posted anything but my daughter has a vendor booth at our local County Fair and I've been hanging out with her, pretending to be a valuable co-worker, managing the behind-the-scenes technical issues while she handles customers and sales.  I have to admit I'm really tired of making all the little sleeves and envelopes for the myriad of coupons and give away items that funnel through the booth, but it's filled with fun activities even if it is busy, busy, busy!  :-D

     Today, we have a new challenge starting over at FarmQuest and our new theme is "Sunflowers."  Don't forget that all entries must be 'country' or 'farm' related but it's pretty hard to focus on sunflowers without being at least a little bit country.   I found this delightful clip art image in my collection of flower digis, printed it in grayscale, then colored it with my polychromos pencils.  I used gamsol to blend the coloring.

     I knew as I was coloring that I wanted to do a very simple design, partly because I had printed such a large image piece but also because I wanted the sunflowers to take center stage and not have to compete with too much embellishment.  I had added the sentiment before printing the image, so I just cut it square, then rounded the corners with a Uchida punch.  I put that onto a bright orange card front and called it finished.  

     BTW, orange is definitely NOT one of my 'go to' colors but it is my favorite harvest/autumn color because I use it so rarely all the rest of the year that it's kind of refreshing to use it for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or other autumn cards.  :-D

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Bastel-Traum

Coloring w Pencils

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspiration

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

     I hope you're going to come play in our "Sunflowers" challenge this time.  You have a full 2 weeks (and a couple of extra days) because this challenge ends on October 13.  Don't let time run out on you.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Christmas Balloon

      A fast post this morning to show you a fast card I did at 1:00 this morning!  I'm pretty sure the balloon image is one from Eureka Stamps; I found it printed and in a folder of Christmas images from last year which were all waiting to be colored.

     The background piece is the image from the Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz for September.  I've been meaning to get something done with it all month long and here it is, the 27 of September and I still hadn't made a card !  I happened to drop both printed pieces onto the craft desk next to each other, and I realized what a great background the Outlawz image would make for the balloon.

     I grabbed my Sanjoki markers, did a bit of coloring on both the balloon and the background, then fussy cut the balloon, and layered it on top of the the card front where the background was already printed.  I though it need a bit more Christmas joy so I used a marker to add the red border on one side and at the bottom.  Done!  I had to wait until this morning to photograph it, but here it is.

     That's all I have for now but tomorrow I'll have a new post for the next challenge at FarmQuest.  Do stop by and see what's new over there.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie