Happy Hermit Crab

     I saw this Hermit Crab image at Meljen's the other day and just had to buy it.  When I was at the Coast over Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and her kids, one of the things they did was play in tide pools.  One pool was absolutely swarming with tiny hermit crabs and the kids were so excited.  I don't think they had ever seen them in real life before so I knew I had to make a card for them using this image.

I used a sketch from The Sweet Stop (plus a twist of 'going buggy' -- the butterfly)

and took the colors from Just Us Girls.

   

     Doesn't this make you think of summer and beaches and warm sunshine?  I colored the image with Promarkers and added glittery gems and pearls (Meljen's Designs challenge is "Bejeweled Bliss"), plus added "Cotton Candy" Stickles to her bow and to the punched butterfly.

     It's hard to see but the grosgrain ribbon has polka dots on it which complement the spots/dots in the image to which I added glitter gel ink.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks -- Critters
All That Stickles -- Use Cotton Candy Stickles
Charisma Cardz -- Here comes summer
Crafty Ribbons -- Anything goes with ribbon
Joanna Sheen -- Girls, girls, girls
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Pastel Colors 4 Kids
Southern Girls -- Spotty dot

     So, today you get two posts instead of just one.  I'm trying to make up for the fact that I'm going to be gone but giving you lots to see over the long weekend.  I now have posts schedule for tomorrow, Saturday, 2 on Sunday, and Tuesday.  If I have time tonight, I'll write up a post for Monday and that way you won't miss me at all.  :-D
Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Aloha Girl

     This is my fourth card in the CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge for this second quarter of 2013, and the image is "Hawaii Girl" by Back to Paper.  I've now done cards using each of the four freebies given to us for the challenge.

     This is so different from my usual style but I enjoyed using all primary colors.   I colored the image with Copics and Promarkers, and then used my new hexagon dies (QuicKutz) to cut everything, including the card base for a shaped card.  The papers are from my scrapbooking stash and I thought they had a definite tropical feel.

     All the flowers and the ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) for the bow have also been hiding out in my stash.  I added gems to each of the flower centers.  This is the last of the red bows I made some time back so I see an afternoon sewing up more ribbon-and-pearl bows, mostly reds and pinks.

     Challenges:
By the Cute & Girly -- Flowers
Corrosive Challenges -- Sentiment on front
Di's Digi Designs -- Show your bling
Get Inky -- Die cuts
Glitter n Sparkle -- Bright funky colors
Love to Scrap -- Pastels or Primary colors
Mema's Crafts Monday -- May flowers
My Craft Creations -- Floral
My Sheri Crafts -- Flower Power
One Crazy Stamper -- Flowers
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Red, white, & blue + ribbon
Sandy's Crafty Creations -- Anything goes w/ flowers
Songbird -- Flowers
Three Scrappy Girls -- Flowers
Whoopsi Daisy -- May flowers

     Another day under our belt and my weekend starts tomorrow.  How wonderful is that?  I'm going away again and won't be back until Wednesday sometime.  The fur-babies are glaring at me as they see the suitcase coming out again.  lol  But they'll have company and plenty of attention, never fear.  If they tell you any differently when you come to visit over the next few days, trust me -- they're lying!  lol
Happy Stamping,  NanaConnie

It's Party Time!!

     I love this adorable image from Imagine That and decided it was perfect for party invitations.

I took the sketch from A Gem of a Challenge.

     The image is colored with Promarkers and both it and the sentiments are die cut with circle dies from QuicKutz.    Ribbon is from my stash and I used an EK Success border punch on the blue CS.  Flowers and bow are both from my stash.

     Believe it or not, what took the longest on these invitations was gluing the googly eyes onto the frog!  They kept wanting to be crooked.  :-D  Below is a close up of one set that is pretty straight.

     Challenges:
2 Creative Chicks -- Googly eyes
2 Sisters -- 1, 2, 3: 1 bow, 2 circles, 3 flowers
Crafty Bloggers Network -- TicTacToe: diecut/fowers/ribbon
Deep Ocean Challenge -- Ribbon or lace
Dream Valley -- Animals
Eclectic Ellapu -- Anything goes (Shout out to former teamies)
Forever Friends Biweekly -- For a child
Friends of Speedy TV -- Card for a child
Glitter n Sparkle -- Bright, funky colors
Kaboodle Doodles -- Stripes or Circles
Love to Create -- Something for kids
Passion for Promarkers -- Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish -- 4 legged animals

     What a great week this has been so far and we're on the downhill to the weekend once again.  In the US, we're celebrating Memorial Day this coming Monday so that means a long weekend for most folks, including me.  I'm going to be gone Sunday through Tuesday to celebrate my granddaughter's graduation day on Tuesday.  I'll have a couple of posts while I'm gone, but will have probably only DT work most of next week.  I hope your weekend is safe and sane, and why not say thanks to a Veteran or troop currently serving this great country while you're enjoying your freedom?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

High Seas

     Another card with a newly colored "Old Ship" image from Doodle Pantry.  On this one, I tried something new.  I used one of the pre-colored ships and then colored in a sea and sky, adding clouds and whitecaps on the wave tops.  Instead of having just a ship image, I now have a sailing scene and a fantastic masculine  birthday card.

The sketch came from Come and Get It.

     The paper I used is also part of that same Doodle Pantry set, and the sentiment is from the Birthday Birdie set, another release this month.  Check out the photo of the Old Ship set at the bottom of this post.

     Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks -- Birthday
Allsorts -- True blue
As You Like It -- Fav color combo:  Blue/Brown really works for guys
Craft a Scene -- Ships in the Night
Gingerloft -- Birthday
My Heart Pieces -- Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time -- Use a digi
Sarah Hurley -- Shades of blue
That Craft Place -- Makes for men

     Have a really wonderful Tuesday and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Santa's Christmas Sleigh

     Time for the next couple of cards in the Progressive Christmas Challenge at Lady Anne's, and the images this fortnight are from Eureka Stamps.  I'll have a second Christmas card later this week or maybe over the weekend.

I chose to use the sketch from Christmas Challenges.

Please check their blog to see the sketch.

     The image is colored with Promarkers and Copics, and I added a touch of glitter to the ornaments and garland on the Christmas tree at the back of the sleigh.  All of the dp was in my Christmas stash and I can't begin to tell you who made it.  It all came from 12 x 12 scrapbook paper.

     The poinsettia flower is embossed felt and the holly leaves are a button.  Although I do Christmas cards in lots of colors, I have to admit that the old standby of red and green is still my favorite.

     Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' -- Winter sport (sleigh riding)
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long -- Carols: Here Comes Santa Claus
C.R.A.F.T. -- Christmas
Creative Corner -- A song: Here Comes Santa Claus
Crimbo Crackers -- Kids (Santa is for kids!)
Jingle Bells -- Merry and Bright
My Time to Craft -- Christmas in May
Our Creative Corner -- Anything goes
Sparkles Forum Christmas -- Fav festive colors
Winter Wonderland -- Oh Christmas Tree (in the sleigh)

     I'm fully back to work today and in the regular routine once again.  I'll still try to find time for some crafting and card making this week, but I am playing catch-up a little bit.  Promise to be patient with me?  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Going Fishing Father's Day

     Another really quick post today with a Father's Day card that features an image from Mayzy Arts (colored with Promarkers), where their challenge theme is "For the Boys."

Sketch came from Tuesday Morning Sketches

and I took my Blue/Green colors from Flourishes Timeless Tuesday.

     The lattice work is a die cut and the bow was hand tied after coloring the fabric ribbon with a Promarker.  It had been black and white.

     Challenges:

Crafty Creations -- Keep it simple

Crafty Ribbons -- No dp

Digistamps 4 Joy -- Spring

House That Stamps Built  -- Masculine

Little Claire's -- Anything goes

One Stop Craft Shop -- Anything goes

Outlawz CAS -- Retirement

Outlaws PAM -- Anything goes

Paper Shelter -- Anything goes

Stamp n Doodle -- Anything goes

Sister Act -- Anything goes

Through the Cr aft Room Door -- Anything goes

Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     Hope you're having a great weekend.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Graduation Celebration

     I'm doing a couple of very quick posts which I'll schedule for Saturday and Sunday, and then I'll be back to my normal posting next week.  This card uses a Bugaboo image, and papers which I've held in my stash forever, not wanting to cut up either that lovely blue paper nor the linen-look white.  Colored with Promarkers and the flower is several layers of punched mulberry paper petals with a brad in the center.

Sketch came from House That Stamps Built

and colors are from the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge.

    

     Challenges:

Art Impressions -- Show your bow (handmade)

Card Makin' Mamas -- Punches

Catch the Bug -- Bingo: brad/diecut/ribbon

Crafts and Me -- Use a digi

Crafty Catz -- 3,2,1: 3 colors, 2 papers, 1 image

Delightful Challenges -- Bingo: dp/punches/flower

DRS Designs -- ConGRADulations

I {heart} Promarkers -- Simple

Inky Impressions -- School

Paper Pretties -- Graduation

QKR Stampede -- Childrens' cards

Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations

Simon Says Stamp -- Flowers

Stamp with Fun -- Self made flowers

There She Goes -- Moving along

Use It Tuesday -- Things hoarded & not used (papers

     Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Daisies and Butterflies

     Let me start by saying that I LOVE THIS CARD!  lol  Mostly, I'm crazy about the image -- "Daisies and Butterflies," which is from Delicious Doodles, of course, since this is my DT card for the new challenge starting today.   Our theme is to "Use Lace."

     I'm still in a mood for spring even though the weather has already turned hot.  Those of you in cooler climes, especially those getting rain, count your blessings.  We're hot and dry and our fire season has started already.  Maybe that inspired the colors I chose as much as the color challenge I'm entering.

My sketch came from Digi Sketch, turned 1/4 turn, 

and the colors are from Sparkle n Sprinkle.

 

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then added two different glitters (from Sparkle n Sprinkle) to the butterfly wings.  I used Fire Engine Red and Cyclamen.  The image is die cut with an oval die from QuicKutz and inked on the edges.

     The lace was in my recycle stash and came from an old dress sleeve.  I adhered it on top of red handmade paper, and that was adhered to a layer of white CS.  The ribbon for the bow was also in my stash, and the paper flowers are from Recollections.  I added the gems to the flower centers.  Finally, I dug out two rhinestones for a bit more bling.

     Challenges:
Artistic Inspirations -- Flowers and Lace
Cupcake Craft -- Layers
Love to Create -- Flowers
Marker POP -- May Flowers
Mema's Crafts Monday -- May Flowers
Ooh La La Creations -- Seeing red
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop -- Lace
Songbird -- Flowers

     I hope your week has gone well and that you have great plans for the weekend, even if those plans are like mine -- stay home, craft and play, & cook dinner for a friend.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Washington

     Today's card showcases the second of state sets, "Washington", drawn by Laurie at Doodle Pantry, and part of the new release for May.  I was delighted when I saw it because it meant that I could use it for a birthday card for any of four men in my family, all of whom either currently live in Washington or who were born there.  It would also work for a Father's Day card.  I did it this time as a birthday card but I'm not telling for which one of them.  :-D

The sketch comes from The Sweetest Thing.

     The background is simply the card front and a triangle of felt.  The image is pre-colored, printed, corner punched, and adhered to the card front.  The state flowers (rhododendrons) and the apples are separate images, also from the Washington state set, which I printed and fussy cut, popping them up on dimensional dots.  I used three different ribbons to make the banner and the bow, and added three punched butterflies above the sentiment.  Really very CAS.

     Challenges:
Corrosive Challenge -- Sentiment on front
Crafty Boots -- Celebrations
Digi Sketch -- (theme) For the boys
Forever Friends Monthly -- Anything goes
Great Impressions -- Celebrations
Love to Scrap -- Anything goes
Our Creative Corner -- Anything goes
Outlawz CAS -- CAS w/ butterflies
Paper Creator's Crafts -- For the boys
Pink Elephant Monday -- Masculine birthday
Scrappy Frogs -- Anything goes
Sweet Stampin' -- CAS

     It's Wednesday, we're halfway through the week, and also halfway through the month of May.  Don't forget the challenge at Doodle Pantry runs until the 24th of May.  You get free Doodle Pantry set just for playing in the challenge, and if you're the winner, you get another free set.  Be sure to check out all the new releases, too.
Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Smell the Roses

     Good Tuesday morning, everyone.  I hope your week is going well.  We have a fun new challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week, and a wonderful sponsor.  Pink Cat Studio is sponsoring our "Smell the Roses" challenge.  All you have to do is make a card or project that has flowers -- in the image, maybe in the dp, or as embellishment.
How simple is that?  You could win 5 Pink Cat digis!

     That flowery background 'paper' is actually a left over scrap of soft flannel fabric, with a slight touch of fuzzy texture.  I think I made a nightgown with it for one of the granddaughters at some point in the past.

     When I first tried to adhere it to the card base with double stick tape, and then with wet glue, it just didn't work.  So I pulled off the tape, washed out the glue, and then I adhered it to sticker paper, smoothing it carefully so that it would be completely flat and not have any wrinkles.  I love the way it worked with the other two papers (which were die cut out of scraps from my stash and I have no idea who made them.)

     Challenges:
Color My Heart -- colors: Hollyhock, Blush, Cotton Candy
Crafts 4 Eternity -- TicTacToe: Pink,/Use scraps/child theme
Delightful Challenges -- From your stash
DL.ART -- Flowers
Hiding in My Craft Room -- Use scraps
My Heart Pieces -- Anything goes
Outlawz Greeting Card Monday -- Anything goes


     I hope to see you playing along at Tuesday Throwdown this week.  Dig out those flower stamps or embellies and enter your card in the challenge.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Red Roses for Love

     It's said that in the language of roses, red ones stand for love.  If that's true, then today's card is just filled with love.  I was visiting favorite blogs last week and ran across this post on Crafting Vicky's blog and thereby discovered a new progressive challenge blog.   The images that have to be used are from Imagine That and each challenge requires you to use the latest free digital image.  Since they were already into the challenge, I had to purchase the rose digi but it's so gorgeous, who could resist.  From now on, as long as I enter the challenge with each new image, I'll get the next one as a freebie.

I used a sketch from Operation Write Home, one of my favorite groups.  You can find out more about them by clicking on their badge on my right sidebar.

I took the colors from Dynamic Duos.

  

     Coloring the image with Promarkers took some effort because I used only my lightest "red" marker.  I just added more color in layers (let it dry between covering strokes) to darken the shaded places.  The darker the red, the more it tends to 'bleed' over so I was very careful to darken it slowly and gently with light strokes.

     I also added touches of white to the rose, and covered the leaves with white after I had used a very light pastel green on them.  I really didn't want any color other than the red to go with the black and white, which was the reason for the white overlay on the leaves.

     The punched black butterfly idea came from Benzi Stampz and I already warned her that I was stealing -- CASEing it today!  I've never punched a butterfly from black CS before but I know I'll do it more often now.  Isn't it striking?  Thanks, Brenda. :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Things w/ wings
Charisma Cardz -- Black & White + 1 color
Color Me Creative -- Anything goes
Flutterby Weds. -- Open, Anything goes
Fresh Brewed Designs -- Flowers
Paper Shelter -- Love
Simon Says Stamp -- Things w/ wings

     Well, I had a marvelously restful and fun Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and grandkids.  I promise to post some photos of the beach house where we stayed, and some of the incredible scenery within either walking or driving distance.  But for now, I want to get this posted so I can get it entered into the Imagine That progressive challenge before it closes tomorrow.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Happy Mother's Day with a Lavender Lady

     I want to start by wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating today, either as mothers or as daughters.

     A couple of days ago I shared a Gibson Girl image with you and today I've used another similar image but this time it's a digital image and it's by the sponsor of our latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create, Rick St. Dennis.  This image is called 1935 Hat.  Isn't she just marvelous?
   
     This week, we'd love to see you do shaped cards.  Of course, our challenges are always "Anything Goes" but we always have an option, too.  So, do a shaped card, or come play along with just the "Anything Goes" -- we want to be inspired by your creativity.

     I used a brand new Grand Caliber die set from Spellbinders to cut the card shape from heavy duty CS, folded it in half, and then layered on another die cut of the same shape but one size smaller.  The smaller shape is embossed with a "Linen" embossing folder, and both layers are embossed around the fancy edge.  I bought this die set, the first for my Grand Caliber, specifically because I thought it would make really great shaped cards.  I was right, wasn't I?  Rather different from the usual round or oval or scalloped-something card, wouldn't you say?

     I colored the image with Promarkers, then die cut it, and inked the edges before adhering it to the card front.  The flower embellishment in made by layering together silk petals, silk ribbon, and then a large, mulberry paper rose.  The ribbon was recycled from an old gift bag on which it served as the handle.  

     Challenges:
As You Like It -- Favorite die or punch
Crafting for All Seasons -- Monochromatic
Crafty Creations -- Something old (ribbon), Something new (dies)
Crafty Ribbons -- No designer paper
Divas by Design -- Anything goes
Hanna & Friends -- Mother's Day
Live and Love Crafts -- 50 Shades of ... Lilac
Little Red Wagon -- All about Mom
Penny's Paper-Crafty -- Die cuts/punches
Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

     By the time you see this, I'll be starting my last day at the coast with my daughter and three of my grandkids.  We're going to take a leisurely drive home, winding our way through some of the coast redwoods, and then through some of the most beautiful wine country anywhere in the world.  I have my camera so if I get some really magnificent shots, I may share them with you this upcoming week.  That will mostly depend on how the weather was.  In the meantime, Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Gibson Girl Mother's Day

     OK, here it is, my first card as a member of the DT (Team Blue) over at Simply Create Too!  I'm pretty excited about this.  Our theme this challenge is a favorite of everyone, "Anything Goes."   I used a rubber stamp (yes, you read that correctly -- real rubber!) from Flonz this time.

The sketch came from Stella Says Sketch.

     I used Copic markers to color the image, die cut it with a hexagon die set and matted it with a doily die from Spellbinders (I think.)   I added another hexagon die cut in blue as a second mat.  The dp was in my stash and I honestly don't remember where I got it or who made it.

     The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the flowers are Prima.  I 'dyed' one of them with a blue marker.  Finally, I added little black gems to the points on the hexagon, to the doily die cut, and to the lower corner of the card.  You can barely see the sparkle and glint in the photo but IRL, it's really blingy!

     Challenges:
A&T Emerald Faeries -- Ribbon
Crafter's Cafe -- Mother's Day
Creative Card Crew -- Bling
Corrosive Challenges -- Mother's Day
Crafty Boots -- Stamped character
Creative Stamp Friends -- Mother's Day
Digi Haven -- Mother's Day
Forever Friends -- Anything goes
Hobby Cutz -- Mother's Day
Mad for Markers -- One for the Girls
Melonheadz -- Mother's Day
Ooh La La Creations -- Vintage/nostalgic
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- Sparkle, bling & ribbon
Twisted Tuesday -- Anything goes
Victorine Originals -- Mother's Day

     I hope you'll come and join us in our challenge this fortnight at Simply Create Too.  You have plenty of time to play since the challenge runs for two weeks, and with an Anything Goes theme, how can you lose?  Make something and share it with us just so that I know you're reading my posts.  lol

     I'm off for a long weekend at the California coast with my daughter and 3 of my grandkids, celebrating Mother's Day.  It's not very likely that I'll be online between now and Monday morning so if I'm not visiting your blog, it's because I'm having too much fun, playing with the kids.  I'll do my best to get caught up when I get back.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Poppies

     This card uses the second of the images (by Sandi Huggett) I got this fortnight for the Creative Freebie Challenge at Outlawz.  It's a progressive challenge and you can get in on it at any point.  You have to be a member of The Outlawz, and request the current two freebies from either Anne Fenton or Sandi Huggett, then make a card using at least one of the images in order to get the next two freebies.   It's so much fun and each challenge runs two weeks so there's always plenty of time to get something done.

I used a sketch from Just Us Girls 

and it's been a long time since I played over there. :-D

     I used Promarkers & Copics to color the image and added Creative Inspirations Paint to the vase for a bit of shimmer.  I've been searching for a hexagon die set and found one by QuicKutz which was delivered yesterday.  I jumped right in and used that set to cut the image and the secondary piece.  I know, I know, I didn't use squares but that set was just begging to be used right away.  I'm sure JUGS will forgive me for varying from the sketch just a bit.  :-D

     What's really unusual for me is the huge pattern in the background dp!  I don't think I've ever used paper with that large a pattern.  I admit I was inspired by a fellow crafter who used large pattern papers from this same DCWV Latte stack a while back, and I was impressed with what she did so I thought I'd try it.  I'm surprised to find that I actually like my card with it.  But, because it could be pretty overwhelming, I kept the embellies to a minimum; one ribbon, one bow, two punched butterflies.

     About the bow -- it's one of those I make by the dozens, throw in my stash, and then use as needed.  I learned how to make those quick, hand-sewn-with-a-pearl, bows years ago when I was making them as adornments for little girl dresses.  I see them in packages of three or four at fabric stores now and they are always so expensive.  I'd rather spend an afternoon making 2 or 3 dozen of them with ribbon I already have.  Anyway, this time I was digging through the stash because I wanted a pale green bow and I had none.  I also didn't have any ribbon the exact color I wanted so couldn't make a new one for this card.  I took from my stash a bow made from ivory satin ribbon and colored it with a Promarker.  Poof, the exact shade I needed!

     Challenges:
ABC Challenges -- TicTacToe: ribbon/punch/dp
Crafty Calendar -- Blooms and blossoms
Craft Your Passion -- Floral delights
Glitter n Sparkle -- Anything goes
Hybrid Chick Card Caravan -- Use flowers
One Stitch at a Time -- Anything goes
One Stop Craft - Flower Power
Sassy Studio Designs -- May Flowers

     One more day and then I'm off to play with daughter and grandkids for three days.  Can hardly wait!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New Design Team

I just want to do a quick post to tell you about a new Design Team on which I'm serving.  You'll see my first card for Simply Create Too this coming Friday.  I'm really excited to have joined that marvelous team and look forward to creating with them.

Be sure to stop by on Friday and then go check out the new challenge for that day.  I hope you'll decide to play along.

Happy Stamping,  NanaConnie

Anniversary

     I needed an anniversary card for one of my regular card customers and this image, drawn by Anne Fenton, came from the Creative Freebie Challenge at Outlawz just in time.  She told me brown and yellow were her wedding colors.

I used the sketch from Creative Inspiration Paint FB.

     The image is colored with Promarkers and I added 'Fairy Dust' Creative Inspirations Paints to her "gown" for some shimmer.  I die cut the image, inked the edges, and stippled it with "Old Tea" distress ink.  I added pearls to her necklace and to the middle of his bow tie.

     The brown die cut you see is actually the negative space from a die cut, left in the yellow CS after cutting.  I added the sheer, brown ribbon and then I adhered the yellow piece to the brown card base.   After that, I layered the oval image over the top so that it looks like the brown is a framing mat around the image.  The yellow CS wraps around the back of the card also.

     I tied a bow from that same sheer ribbon and attached it to the top of the oval.  The card front looks rather fancy and intricate but it's really pretty CAS.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments -- Use a sentiment
Creative Craft -- All about animals
Oozak -- Anything goes w/ earth tones
Our Daily Bread Designs -- At least 4 letters from "SPRING": Pearls, Ribbon, Negative Space, & Giraffes
Papertake Weekly -- Anything goes
Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations
Scrappy Frogs -- Anything goes
Vickie's @ Lady Anne's -- Anything goes

     Hey, it's Wednesday and that means we're half-way to the weekend.  Hooray!  In my case, it means only one more work day and then I get to start my long weekend away for Mother's Day, soaking in the beauty of the California coast and playing with grandkids.  What better way to celebrate.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Special Time with Mom

     Today I'm using a digi from A Day for Daisies (use something lace-y) which I just love.  This is a freebie to use in their challenge.  It brings back childhood memories for me and memories of my own kids when they were growing up.  My mother, who was a school teacher and an avid reader, made it a point to read to me from the time I was a very young child.  I did the same with my own kids and all of us are true story and book lovers.  My grandkids seem to be the same, too.

I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop.

     I use Promarkers to color the image, then die cut it and inked the edges.  The yellow-beige paper is parchment CS and the pink is handmade paper (done in my very own kitchen!) on which I tore the edges.  The sentiment is computer printed and die cut with a Lacy Rectangles die.  I tied three bows, one from lace, one from satin ribbon and one from sheer ribbon (sewn with a pearl), then stacked them.

     The leaf swirls are stamped and heat embossed with gold EP.  The paper flowers are punched and I added rhinestones to the centers.

     Challenges: There are a ton of them this time because there are so many Mother's Day themes this week.  I've listed all those first and then other themes afterward.

Mother's Day -- Broken Box;  Brown Sugar;  Chocolate, Coffee & Cards;  Crafting by Design;  Crafty Creations;  Creative Corner;  Cut It Up;  Digistamps 4 Joy;  Outlawz Greeting Card;  QKR Stampede;  Stamp n Doodle.

2 Sisters -- Bingo: die cuts/sentiment/flowers
ABC Challenge -- M is for Make it sparkle
Allsorts -- Add some sparkle
Crafting Musketeers -- Anything goes
Nutcrafters -- Bingo: no pattern dp/ free space/blooms
Perfect Sentiment -- Feminine (howdy, former teamies!)
Totally Gorjuss -- Anything goes w/ swirls
Whimsical Designs -- Bling
Whimsy Inspiration -- Pretty in pink

     I'm still buried at work this week.  Am I ever going to catch up?  After I get back from my 3 day weekend for Mother's Day, a vacation rotation starts for three other gals at the office and I'll be covering for each of them in turn.  Hmmmm, how come they have someone covering their work and all mine just piled up and waited for me?  :-D  Oh, well, not complaining -- that's what happens when you're in management.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Man Flu !

     Those of you with fathers, brothers, husbands, sons will understand this card the instant you read the sentiments, both outside and in.  :-D  The image is from Dr. Digi and is appropriately titled "Man Flu."  We all know that any illness suffered by a man is much worse than the same illness suffered by a female!  lol

I took my sketch from Sketch Saturday challenge.

     The image is colored with a combination of Copics and Promarkers, then die cut and matted.  I have so many die sets and at one time or another they've all been "favorites."  But this one, with the ticket corners, remains my favorite for CAS cards, especially masculine cards.  I think that's because it has its own simplicity of style.
   
     The papers are from DCWV, Linen Closet stack, matted with denim blue CS.  I added twine from my stash and three flat rhinestones to the corner.  Since it's a card for a guy, I kept it as simple as possible.

     Challenges:
2 Sisters -- Bingo: gems/image/sentiment
As You Like It -- Die cuts/punches
Catch the Bug -- Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons -- Monochromatic
Ladybug Crafts -- Get well soon
Moving Along with the Times -- One for the boys
Paper Creator's Crafts -- For the boys
Simon Says Stamp -- Happy mail (Just because)
The Stamping Chef -- All boy

     Well, it's back to the office for me today, which feels a bit strange since I've worked either at the office or on office files every day since I got home from my trip a week ago, and I usually only work 3 1/2 days a week.  My 'days off' haven't felt much like time off.  But this coming weekend, I'm going to be gone for three days, spending time with my youngest and her three kids at a cabin on the coast.  What a fun way to spend Mother's Day!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie