Butterfly Kind of Day

      Is anyone else out there looking forward to spring?  Yesterday,  the groundhog said another 6 weeks of Winter but I'm thinking of spring and butterflies and buds on the trees.  This challenge inspiration photo from Inspiration Station pretty much says it all.  :-D

     A new challenge starts today and, as always, we give you a photo for inspiration.  You can do nearly anything but we do want to know how you were inspired.  Was it the butterfly?  The colors?  The season?  A memory?  Tell us and add your project to the link up for the entries.

     Here's my card ad I've already told you that the butterfly was my inspiration.  The image is a clip art photo, edited so that the background stayed pre-colored but the butterfly was gray scale, and I colored it with ProMarkers and gel pens.  I cut the image with a Spellbinders die, and added a frame made with pumpkin CS and trimmed to fit.  I layered that onto two pieces of kraft CS, added to diagonal corners top and bottom.  

     The plaid background dp came from a Recollections stack which has been in my stash almost forever!  I ran across the stack last month, hidden away in a craft room cabinet, and decided it was time to start using the papers before they got brittle and crumbled to bits.  :-D

     Challenges:

Lil Patch of ...

Love ...Pretty Papers

Neglected Stuff

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

Triple B

     Come play in our challenge, won't you?  We love being inspired by what you create and enter.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Thankful ?

      I think the image I used on today's card is an old one from Eureka Stamps but to tell the truth, I printed it out last year, didn't label it, and am guessing.  If I'm wrong and you know who drew this image, please let me know.  I believe in giving credit to the artists when I know who they are.

     I colored the image with Ohuhu markers and added highlights with a white gel pen.  I cut the image with a  QuicKutz die and cut the frame with a second die from that same set.  The frame is brown CS.   The background paper is dry embossed with one of my EF, but I don't remember which one.  It has a 'leather' look and feel.  I added a tiny, double layer, butterfly which had a little seed bead for the body.  Despite the butterfly, I plan to use this as a masculine card for one of my great-grandsons.

      Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Simon Says Stamp

     Have yourself a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Reaping

      Today we start a new challenge over at FarmQuest and our specific theme is "Farm tools that cut."  We always have an underlying theme of Farm or Country, meaning outdoors, farm house, farm fields, crops, animals, etc.  We don't want to see city streets or cityscapes with high rises.  :-D

     I chose a fun, vintage clip art showing a woman reaping with a hand sickle.  I'll bet the farmers and farm wives are glad they don't have to do an entire field that way any more!  This is a pre-colored image and I used it 'as is' instead of printing it in grayscale and coloring it myself.  I was running short of time that day and pre-colored seemed the easiest.  

     I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die and framed it with a scrap of polka dot CS from an old DCWV stack.  The upper background is handmade using watercolor paper and watercolor paints.  The gingham check is from the scrap basket and seemed perfect for this card. 

     The butterfly embellishment was made using a Cottage Cuts die, cutting twice, making a double layer and adding a long, wooden bead for the butterfly body.

     Challenges:

     Come play in our challenge this next fortnight.  We love being inspired by what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Hello Butterfly !

      I absolutely adore the image on today's card!  Of course, I also love the nod to cathood.  :-D  The image is a grayscale, digital, photo which I colored with my ProMarkers and white gel pen.  I cut the image with a large Tonic Studios die.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     The background was made by using a scrap of lavender CS laid diagonally across the card front and then trimmed at the corners.  I liked it in that CAS format so added no other embellishments.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Classic Design

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's IP

Passion for Markers

SUYP Cats

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

November Turkeys

      Here it is, the 14th of another month and that means we have a new challenge starting over at FarmQuest, where we always want to see something "farm or country" and this time with the specific theme of "Turkey."  What better for a November challenge than to feature the star of a Thanksgiving feast?

     The sentiment and image were printed together, then the image was colored with Sanjoki markers, and the white highlights were done using a gel pen.  The image was cut with a QuicKutz die and I used brown gauze paper for the background (DCWV.)  The double layer butterfly was in my stash of pieces cut and waiting to be used so I don't remember which die was used to cut it, but the tiny wooden bead for the body was in an old Stampin' Up package which I found when I was cleaning out and organizing a stack of drawers with old embellishments.  

     I really like the CAS look to the finished card.

     Challenges:

AAA Cards

Creative Moments

Dream Valley

Happy...Stampers

Jan's Digi Stamps

Outlawz Sunday (Thanksgiving is...near)

Pammie's IP

Simon Says Stamp

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this fortnight.  Show us your turkeys!   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Turkey Time

     It's time for the next FarmQuest General Store challenge, and our themes are always "Anything Country Goes."  Yes, it has to have a 'country' look or feel but beyond that, it's anything goes.

     Since this is our Thanksgiving month here in the USA, I focused on the most traditional part of a family Thanksgiving feast, the turkey.  This turkey image is a gray-scale sketch but I used Sanjoki markers to change it to sepia-toned.  The sentiment was merged at the bottom of the image before printing.  I cut the image with a die from Tonic Studios and inked the edges with a coffee brown Sanjoki marker.

     The background dp came from a 'Calico' stack by DCWV and the colors and scattering of blossoms seemed perfect for a late fall card.  There's a small swipe of Stickles added to each tiny flower for just a hint of sparkle.  I die cut a bit of creamy burlap paper using a butterfly die from Poppy (Memory Box) and added a tiny seed bead to the center (old, old, OLD Stampin' Up stash which I found after cleaning out and reorganizing a desk drawer!) 

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Poppy Stamps

Simon Says Stamp

Star Stampz

Triple B

     I have a second post going live in just a couple of minutes for the November FQ Country Christmas Challenge so be sure to check out that one, too.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Princess

      Another day to celebrate spring butterflies (even though we're still stuck in the high 90s F for our weather) and this time I used a beautiful image from Conie Fong called "Butterfly Princess."  I decided on a sweetly feminine color palette of mostly pink.

      The image was printed onto textured, water color paper and colored with water colors and a very thin paint brush.  Even the sentiment was done with a brush and water color.  I cut the image with one of my oldest Spellbinders dies, embossing the edges as I ran it through the Caliber machine.  The background dp is from Stampin' Up and the lace came from my stash.  I finished it with one of my signature bows, hand-sewn with a pearl, and 'dyed' with a ProMarker.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ...

Ally's Angels

Crafts Galore ...

Creations in Pink

Die Cut Divas (bottom row)

Happy ... Stampers

Morgan's ArtWorld

Papercraft

Rabisco

Worldwide Crafters ...

     Don't forget that we have a monthly challenge running over on the Conie Fong FB site, and you still have plenty of time to color up a Conie Fong image and get something entered.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

First Edition

      I'm sharing an image today that's new to me, and it came from Beccy's Place.  The set is called "Book Lovers" and I merged one of the sentiments from the set with this particular image to turn it into a birthday card.  

     I colored the image using my Sanjoki markers, added a few highlights with gel pens, then cut it with a square die from QuicKutz.  I trimmed each of the corners to make it an uneven, octagon shape.  I inked the edges with an ink pad.  The background CS was embossed twice; first with my 'Linen' EF, then with a dandelion folder by Darice.   My final touch was the gemstone butterfly, which has been in my stash for ages.  In fact, everything, including the embossing folders, came from my stash.

     Challenges:

Butterfly (pink, persimmon, plum, pistachio)

Can You Handle ...?

C.R.A.F.T.

CRAFT-alnica

Creative Fingers

Creative Knockouts

Paper Funday

Pammie's IP

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Lazy Days

      I got so intrigued with the challenge options at the Butterfly Challenge that I decided to try a Faux Stepper card using all four of the color options (Fandango, Fulvos, Forest Green, and Flirt), plus faux stitching.  I followed the instructions available on the Butterfly website for the faux stepper shaped card, then colored my image and added the faux stitching.  I've played before but this is the first time I've used all the options and it really was fun!

     The image was colored with ProMarkers, pencils, and watercolors on the background, then cut with a Tonic Studios die.  Papers are from a Recollections stack.  I did the faux stitching with a purple gel pen.  The sentiment was cut with an Avrey Elle die.

Here's a shot which shows the faux step better.

     Challenges:

As You Like It  (Cats are my favs because there is so much you can do in coloring their fur)

Colour Crazy

Creative Creases

Creative Fingers

Paper Dragonfly

Scor-Pal

There's a Stamp ...

Word Art Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Greeting

      It's the 15th of the month and a new challenge is starting over at QKR Stampede.  Our theme is always "Anything Goes" and you can play in as many other challenges in addition to ours as you choose to enter.  Remember, while you may use any image from any company, if you use a QKR (or Eureka) image, your entry goes into a separate challenge just for those entries.  That means your chances of being a winner are much higher!

     For my DT card today, I used an image from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, called Butterfly & Daisy Flower.  The image was colored using water colors and cut with a QuicKutz large square die.  I merged the sentiment before printing the image.  I inked the edges of the image to give it some definition before layering it onto the pink CS background.  That pink CS was embossed using my old 'Linen' EF.  

     I had already decided on a very CAS design before I ever started water coloring, primarily because most of my supplies were still stored away in preparation for a move out of state.  That's now behind us and I can unpack all the crafty things I've been missing.  But first, I'm going to celebrate "National Relaxation Day" with a stroll through my garden to smell the flowers and watch the butterflies.  :-D

     Challenges:

613 Ave Create

Crafter's Cafe

Creative Inspirations

Double Trouble

Lil Patch of ...

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Paper Funday

We Love Stamping

Word Art Weds

     I hope to see your projects entered into our challenge these next two weeks.  We love visiting your blogs and social media sites.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Smiles to Get Well

      It's another new challenge at I Love ProMarkers, the first one of the new year.  Our theme this time is "Get Well" and we are sponsored by Ike's Art.  I adore this cat (my favorite kind of animal), called "Cat Smiles" and you can find it in the section under 'Animals' on her site.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers (of course), then cut the image with a long rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I rounded the corners with a punch from Uchida.  The pink frame and the plaid dp (Lawn Fawn) were cut with dies from Spellbinder.  The sentiment was also cut with a Spellbinders' die but trimmed along the bottom so that it wouldn't hang over the edge.  All the pink CS is from Park Lane.  The butterfly is made by sewing machine embroidery.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafter's Cafe

Creations in Pink

Ike's World

Outlawz Stash

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

SUYP Cats

 

     Come play with us this fortnight.  We love being inspired by you every bit as much as we like to offer you some inspiration.  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie 

Day 1 - Cat Lovers Hop 2021

   

 

     Well, here it is the last weekend of October and that means it's time for the 2021 Cat Lovers Hop which starts today and will run through Saturday, October 30.  I've been playing in the hop each year for at least 5 years but I honestly don't remember if I started in 2015 or 2016 but it's become an annual ritual in my creativity routine.  :-D  This year I was invited by Janis to be one of the Guest Designers and I did GDT cards for Tuesday and Thursday so be sure to check those out when they post here on my blog.

     For today, I did a card using an image from Hetty Clare which I think is absolutely adorable.  I colored with my ProMarkers and cut the image with a die from QuicKutz.  It's 'framed' by cutting an aperture window in the card front (card base was made from flocked CS by Doodlebug) with a larger QuicKutz die from that same set, then attaching a square of charcoal-gray CS inside the front, and layering the image piece into the center of the gray.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I tied a quick bowtie made from lace and wrapped around the middle with satin ribbon.  The butterfly is machine embroidered.  I did a dozen or more of those last summer and tossed them into my stash, forgetting they were there until just yesterday.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's

Creations in Pink

Creative Moments

LeAnn's World

Paperbabe

SUYP Cats

     I hope you are signed up for all the prizes and are going to play in the hop each day between now and the end on Saturday.  Obviously, you need to have one or more cats on your entries.  There are daily games and lots of wonderful inspiration so please come and join us.  Every cat lover will have something to share and those of you who are new to the Hop will find a ton of new 'cat crazy' friends.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

An Elephant Never Forgets

      Nothing better than using an elephant on a belated birthday card !  lol  This fun image from QKR Stampede, called "Elephant and Butterfly," seemed perfect for those occasional birthdays which really aren't forgotten but somehow I forget to put the card in the mail on time.  This is my DT card for the July mid-month challenge at QKR Stampede.  The challenge will run until the end of the month and a new one will begin on August 1st.  I do hope we see you playing along.

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to color the image, then cut it with a Dare 2B Artzy stitched circle die.   The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The double loop bow was tied using baker's twine.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the blue strip of CS and the dp bits (also scraps) are from a very old stack by DCWV.

I chose the colors from the My Favorite Things challenge,

including the tiny bits of  'Coral' in the butterfly wings.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Scrapping4Fun

     Now, let's see what you can do for our "Anything Goes" theme this fortnight.  We love b eing inspired by you.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Tulips and Pansies

      My post today is a "2 for 1" in that a new challenge starts today at QKR Stampede and another new one starts at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies , plus QKR Stampede is sponsoring the challenge at 2 CCC!  So, because I'm on the DT of each of those challenges, I've used the same card for both.  The image is from QKR's sister company, Eureka Stamps, and it's called "Tulip & Pansy Frame."

     By the way, as of this month, the challenge at QKR Stampede will now be twice per month, on the 1st and the 15th of each month, allowing you to enter two challenge each month instead of just one.     :-D

I was inspired by the sketch at Stella Says Sketch

but I flipped it side to side.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
'Out of the Box' technique to cut w/ QuicKutz die
Purple CS frame cut w/ CUTplorations die
Sheer yellow bow hand tied
Machine embroidered butterfly
Sentiment printed & hand cut
Satin & sheer ribbon scrap

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Butterfly (coloring pens & orange)
Cardz TV
Colour Crazy
Creative Craft Cottage
Lemon Shortbread
Polkadoodles
Star Stampz
Word Art Weds

     I want to see you playing along with us at both 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (Anything Goes with a Critter) and at QKR Stampede (Anything Goes.)  Thanks for visiting my blog.    :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Set Your Goals High

     I have two posts today and this is the first.  I hope you'll come by later this morning to see my second post featuring another card for the Christmas in July event I'm following all this week.

     This morning I have a delightful inspiration card as my DT post for the mid-month reminder at Jan's Digi Stamps.  I've used a perfect summer-y (or fall) image called "Boy Climbing Tree" and the sentiment is also from that set.  I think this is a magnificent image for a masculine card.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers and pencil
Cut with QuicKutz die
Vertical strip done w watercolors
Butterfly cut w Impression Obsession die
CAS design to go w masculine theme

     Challenges:
Butterfly (apricot & aquamarine)
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Cutie Pie
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds
Lemon Shortbread
Paper Funday
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds

     You still have time to come play in our "Anything Goes" challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps which runs until Sunday, August 2nd.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Watermelon Girl

     I love fun summertime images of people eating watermelon (my favorite summer fruit!) and this is another of the older images I found when I was browsing through my files of digital images from companies which have gone out of business.  This one is also from Karen's Digis as was the one on my post from yesterday and I probably added it to my collection in 2011 or 2012.

Colored w/ ProMarkers
Image cut with QuicKutz die
Ivy cut with Sue Wilson die
Green butterfly is machine embroidered

     Challenges:
Arty Divas
Crafty Friends
Crafty Sentiments
Creative Moments
Cutie Pie
Lemon Shortbread
Mod Squad
Passion for ProMarkers
TTCRD

     Well, even though our weather has cooled considerably after those really hot, hot, hot four days of temperatures over 100, I'm going to go cut a piece of watermelon and add it to my lunch plate.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Peony Hello

     I don't know what it is lately but I've become almost obsessed with coloring peonies.  Maybe it's because my own peonies haven't been blooming much the last couple of years and I do miss them.  I think it's time to dig them up and replace them.

     In any case, the peonies I used on today's CAS card are an image from AuroraWings and I just got it so it's brand new to me!  It colors up beautifully and I really like the finished result.  One of our local groups has put out a call for donations of hand made cards which they are going to include in bags of groceries for seniors who are house bound or who have problems otherwise getting out to shop for groceries.  This is one of the cards I'm donating but I have also gone through my stash and I have more than a dozen others ready to go.

     By the way, if you have time to stop by the AuroraWings FB page, Mitzi has a freebie Angel you can use if you want to brighten someone's lock down day.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Sentiment die from Poppy Stamps
Butterfly die from Memory Box
Glitter added to Butterfly
Butterfly and sentiment were cut from small scraps headed for the trash bin

     Challenges:
Allsorts (new image)
Artsy Stamper
Colouring in Scrapland
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Friends
Dare 2B Artsy
Dragonfly Dreams
Paper Girls
Pixie's Snippets

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Look !

     These two cats have spied the largest butterfly ever and their attention is riveted.  I'm sure they are trying to figure out how to catch it.  The floral cat image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I did two of them, flipped one horizontally, and adjusted the sizes so that one was just barely smaller.

I followed the sketch at Stella Says Sketch.

Colored with ProMarkers and white gel ink
Cut with die from QuicKutz (moved to get the shape and 2 cuts done)
Edges of cut image inked with ProMarker
Striped dp from K & Co.
Butterfly machine embroidered onto sheer fabric
Metallic brads added to image and butterfly
Sentiment hand printed

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Butterfly  (used die)
Catch the Bug
Creative Moments
Dragonfly Dreams
Lil Patch of ...
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Prika Crafts
Stamping Sensations (in the cats)

     Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Love Bears

     These two darling little bears, who are probably in love, came from the Scrapper's Delights Progressive challenge.  They are separate images but I merged them so that they would be looking at each other with their sweet daisies in their hands.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders die
Edges inked
DP scrap from the basket
Embossed background paper scrap from Doodlebug
Butterfly from Spellbinders die cut from a scrap

     Challenges:
Artsy Stamper
Coloring in Scrapland
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Incy Wincy
Lil Patch of ...
Outlawz SAR
Pixie's Snippets

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Butterfly Kitten

     You mean you didn't know that fairies have kittens?  They do.  Look at this image from Paper Shelter and you'll see they have butterfly kittens!  :-D  What a delightful fantasy concept.

Colors inspired by House that Stamps Built.

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter on the wings
Image & frame cut with Cottage Cutz pinpoint die
Border cuts with Spellbinders die
Paper from the scrap basket
Hand sewn bows w/ pearls

     Challenges:
Butterfly  (Kobe hair)
Cut It Up
Double D
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Festive Fri.
Polkadoodles
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie