Last Day of 30 Days of Holidays

      Here it is, my final card for the 30 Days of Holidays at Beccy's Place.  The last day theme is always "Do What You Love," kind of like Anything Goes but better because we get to use things we love.  For me, there are so many things I love to put on Christmas cards, but I think snowmen have to be at the top of the list.  Actually, if I could find a good reason, I'd do snowmen cards all year round.  :-D

     Today's card features one of Beccy's new snowmen, named Winston and released this year.  I thought he'd look great dressed in a burgundy hat and scarf with gold fringe and earmuffs.  I colored him with ProMarkers and added gold Stickles to the star.  I cut the image with a Tonic Studios die, then trimmed the corners with a Fiskars punch.  

     I wanted the card to sparkle so I dug through my stash of glitter CS scraps and pieced together the background on the card.  I love glitter and when it comes to Christmas cards, I always debate with myself about whether silver glitter or gold glitter is best.  In this case, I was able to use mostly silver glitter but the star has gold sparkle, so a combination of them is the absolute best!

     The image and the "Snowball Fight" sentiment were layered on, using a good amount of craft glue (which I've found is the most effective for attaching CS to glitter.)  Even the stickiest of double sided tapes tends to come loose and peel off of glittered CS after just a short time so glue it is.  

     Challenges:

As You Like It

Di's Digi Designs

Jingle Bells (sparkle & colors)

My Time to Craft

Polkadoodles

Send a Smile ...

     The Christmas season is really on top of us now but it's nice to have another 30 cards in my stash.  Ok, maybe 25 instead of 30 since I did use Thanksgiving as the holiday on 4 or 5 of my cards this month.  Still, my Christmas card stash is looking good this year because of all the other cards I've done between January and October.  I still have colored Christmas images waiting to be made into cards so I'll have several additional posts throughout December.

  

    In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Snow Couple

      Once again, a new challenge has started over at FarmQuest Country Christmas.  Our theme is always "Anything Country Christmas Goes."  For today's card, I chose a clip art snow couple, happily dancing in the yard of their country home.

     The image started out in black and white but I used computer software to change it into sepia tone before printing it.  I love the vintage feel it gave the card.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and the sentiment was cut with a Tonic Studios die.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack.  I used very narrow, 1/8" ribbon which is wrapped around the card front and tied into a simple bow.

     Challenges:

Digi Choosday

Holly & Ivy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Pammie's IP

Peace on Earth

     I hope we're going to see you playing along this month.  If you make something to enter into our Country Christmas challenge each month of the year, you'll have 12 cards done before the holiday rush hits you next Christmas.  :-D  Besides, we love being inspired by what you create and share with us.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snow Cowboy

      Time for the next challenge at FarmQuest, which always has a requirement that your projects have a "country" feel to them, plus a theme and this fortnight the theme is "Decorated Farmhouse Exterior or other structure."  I decided to combine a barn with Christmas decorations and a cowboy snowman; now I have one more family Christmas card finished.

     I printed the image in very light grayscale, then colored it with my Sanjoki markers and with white gel pen on the snow.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and made the frame for it from two scraps of CS which were on the desk.

     The background piece is dp I made myself using a red work embroidery pattern, sized down and then did copy/paste procedures several times to scatter the image over the paper.  I used the last bit of a washi tape roll as decorative ribbon, then added the image piece on top of it all.  I think it makes a great masculine card with a wonderful country flair.

     Challenges:

     That's it for this time.  Come play in our challenge, won't you?  It runs until December 26 and we love seeing what you create.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Pipsqueak and Snowman

      It's Friday and that means another challenge is starting over at Crafty Catz.  We always have an "Anything Goes" theme but we offer you an optional theme if you choose to use it.  The option this week is "Sparkle."  Our delightful sponsor this week is Last Minute Manda and they supplied digis for the DT to use.  I chose "Pipsqueak and Little Snowman."  This image set actually has 6 different snowmen so it's really a bargain!

     I chose to water color the image this time, then I cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I printed and cut the sentiment with an Avery Elle die, added it on top of the image piece and trimmed the corners to fit the card.  I made the card base from green CS and added a sparkly silver mesh ribbon on the right.  I also finished the inside front flap but forgot to photograph it.  Very quick and simple, overall.

     Challenges:

     I'm looking forward to seeing you play in our challenge this week.  Remember, it's always Anything Goes but since it's definitely the time for making Christmas cards, it shouldn't be too difficult to add a bit of sparkle and do the optional theme, too.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Presents

      This is my last Conie Fong DT card for December and I've used one of the images from a set called Snowman Presents.  The image also comes inside a snow globe and the set has secondary images of pine branches included.  Good news, it's ON SALE right now.  Grab it quick!

     This one is colored with water color paints and was cut with a border die from Your Next Die.  The image was backed with burgundy CS and then framed with red metallic paper from DCWV.  The white glitter paper for the background is from Doodlebug.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  I added one tiny embellishment - a satin, hand-tied bow.

     Challenges:

Colorful Options

   (Rainbow of colors)

Colour Crazy

Craftlandia

Creative Moments

Di's Digi Designs

Double Trouble

   (Kaleidoscope colors)

Inspiration Station

    (The snowman obviously.  :-D)

Outlawz Festive Fri

Peace on Earth

There's a Stamp ...

Your Next Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowy Best Friend

      Here it is, already the middle of January and we're starting a new challenge at QKR Stampede where our theme is always "Anything Goes."  I've used a sweet QKR image called "Best Friends" and I love the idea that if you can't be with your BFF (pandemic or weather or whatever), you can just build one!  :-D

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I created the 'snowy' looking background by wrapping a piece of aqua CS with a wide, white lace.  I printed and fussy cut the sentiment, and called it finished.  How's that for a simple design that looks really complex?

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Aud Sentiments

Colour Crazy

Crafty Calendar

Creatalicious

Dies R Us

Gem ... Challenge

Paperbabe

Papercraft

     Come play in our challenge.  It runs until the last day of the month so you have plenty of time to enter.  Remember, Anything Goes.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Snowglobe

      I don't know where this month has gone but I've missed most of the progressive challenges I enjoy so much due to poor health and sore hands so I guess I'll be starting over in January.  But for today, I have this one to share featuring a delightful snowman in a snow globe, both of which are from Kinda Cute and I merged the images before printing them for coloring.

Colors came from Board #475 at CTMH Color Dare.

     I colored with ProMarkers and sparkle gel ink, then cut both the image and the glitter paper frame with dies from Dare 2B Artzy.  The background dp is from Doodlebug and the ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The sentiment was printed and then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Word Art Weds

     This may be all I have until posts for my new DT cards on January 1st.  If I get really inspired (and have the energy), I may post something else on either Thursday or Friday, but if not, I'm wishing you a Happy New Year and a safe and sane New Year's Eve right now.  :-D   NanaConnie

The Snowman's Christmas Tree

      After making nearly 75 Christmas cards to donate to my local Seniors Center, I had scraps of small this and that lying all over my work table so I dug out all of my metal Christmas dies and started cutting up the scraps.  Before I knew it, I had another dozen cards and a plastic baggie full of cut but not yet used pieces.  :-D

     It seems that each card I put together became a favorite but I think this one best shows off what can be made from simple scraps of plain CS.  The snowman dies are from Cheery Lynn and the tree die is made by Dee's Distinctively.  I cut the tree twice from 2 different shades of green and when layered all together, it almost looks like there's snow on the tree.

     The sentiment was cut with Die-Versions dies.

     Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Lemon Shortbread

Passion for Markers

Pixie's Snippets

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     That's all for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snow Globe Mom

      A new challenge starts this morning at Creative Knockouts and we're sponsored by Jan's Digi Stamps.  We have a fun TicTacToe board and I used both the Middle Row and the Right-hand Column.

     I started with the "Snowglobe Family" set from Jan's Digi Stamps.  I merged the Mother Snowman image into the Snow Globe, added the sentiment, and printed the whole thing.  I colored with my ProMarkers and white gel pen, then fussy cut the image.  I mounted the image on dimensional tape before adding it to the background.

     I made the background with a scrap of aqua CS which had been cut with a Memory Box die.  I added a wrap of Really Reasonable Ribbon and found the snowflakes in my Christmas embellishments box.

Inside sentiment, also from the JDS set -

     Challenges:

12 Months of Christmas

Christmas Crafts AYR (R for ribbon)

Crafty Hazelnut's

Crafty Sentiments

Die Cut Divas

Digi Choosday

Kerst Christmas

LeAnn's World

Outlawz Festive Fri   

Three Room Studio

     Hope we're going to see you playing along this week.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flaky Friends

      Growing up as I did in southern California, I had little chance to see snow much less make snowmen.  We would sometimes visit my grandfather's vacation cabin up in the mountains during the winter and I always did my best to make a snowman, even if it was only a small one.  When I accomplished that, I would then refer to it as my "flaky friend!"  To this day, I adore snowmen and I use them on winter cards whenever possible.  I'd use them on summer cards, too, but they might melt.  lol

      Here's one for the BINGO challenge at Catch the Bug this week.  I actually did two of the BINGO columns - a diagonal (Snowflakes/ Bugaboo Image/ Ribbon) and also the 3rd column (3 layers/ die or punch - I used both/ Ribbon.)

Colored w ProMarkers

Image & 2 circles cut w Sizzix dies

Blue dp from scrap stash

Snowflakes cut w AI dies

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Signature bow w pearl

Sheer, striped ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Bottom card corners rounded w Fiskars punch

     Challenges:

Cutie Pie

Cuttlebug Mania

Di's Digi Designs

Dragonfly Dreams

Dream Valley

House that Stamps Built

Paper Funday

Passion for ProMarkers

Penny's Paper-Crafty

     I'm still following the "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came from the stash! 

     Have a wonderful creative day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Snowman Mug

      Limited Runs was one of my favorite progressive challenges but they have now ended it.  However, they still have a Facebook page and I'm going to share this card over there.  Isn't this an adorable Snowman Mug?

     I also want to tell you about a fun "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link and find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came from the stash!

Colored w ProMarkers

Image is Fussy Cut

Doily behind the image cut w QuicKutz die

Background dp from DCWV

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

Twine bow hand tied

     Challenges:

A Bit More Time...Extra
A Perfect Time to...

Arty Divas

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Hazelnut's

Do Al(l) Creatives

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Morgan's ArtWorld

Your Scrapbook Place

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Scrappy Snowman!

      I'm finding myself changing how I'm making cards because of the painful back problems and I'm trying to use either pre-colored images or images I had colored already but put away for later use because it means less time spent sitting when I can eliminate the coloring time.  Fortunately, for the 30 Days of Christmas at Beccy's Place, I found half a dozen images in a folder which I had colored but not used last year.  Additionally, Beccy has pre-colored images in most of her sets and I can use those, too.

     Today's card uses one of  Beccy's images I had from last year and this is for the third of the "Wild Card" themes, which is 'Use Scraps.'  All the bits and pieces of dp on this card were left over from an Echo Park paper stack which I have been using for many of the Christmas cards I've done this month.  The exception to that are the two bits of glittered red paper.  Those are from a sheet I made previously using sticker paper and loose glitter.

     Doesn't this snowman look a bit like a gnome?  Does that make him a Gnowman?  lol  

     I adore snowmen and would use them year round if I could find a reason to do so.  Of all the Christmas/winter characters, my favorites are penguins and snowmen but I use more snowmen because I have more snowman images.  Well, I did have more before the thumb drive crash!  Sigh, now that I'm starting over, who knows?

Colored w ProMarkers

Paper scraps

Sentiment from Memory Box die

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

As You Like It

Colour Crazy

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

Paperminutes

TTCRD

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

N is for Noel

      My back problem is not getting any better and sitting for any activity (coloring, typing, eating) is getting more and more difficult so today I opted for a card made with a die cut image instead of using a Beccy's Place image on my "N" card at the 30 Days of Christmas challenges.  The NOEL sentiments were cut with a Die-Versions die.  The snowman was done with a Cheery Lynn die set.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Christmas Crafts...

Crafty Catz

Creative Inspirations

Creative Knockouts

Cute Card Thurs

Lil Patch of...

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie    

Jolly Snowman

      Limited Runs has such an adorable snowman for the Progressive Challenge this month and if you're not already playing along, you really should check it out.

Colors came from the My Favorite Things challenge.

Colored w ProMarkers

Image & 2 mats cut with QuicKutz dies

     (red mat is gold embossed)

Green snowflakes = Art Impressions dies

Glitter added to largest snowflake

Green CS embossed w Santa's Sleigh design

Sentiment = Die-Versions die

Sheer, gold-embossed ribbon 

Triple-loop bow tied on Bow Maker

     Challenges:

Cardz TV

Colour Crazy

Crafty Catz

Crafty Friends

Creative Fingers

Cute Card Thurs

Lil Patch of...

Outlawz Twisted Thurs

Paperbabe Stamps

     Have a creative day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

The Quiet Snowman

     This snowman is enjoying the hushed, white, silence that comes to the meadow when gentle snow falls and covers the ground around him.  But he will wish you a Merry Christmas if you speak to him.  :-D

     The image is from A Day for Daisies and is one of my favorite snowmen although I've not used him for a couple of years.  I found him waiting in a folder of "to be colored" images and decided it was time for another Christmas card to add to the stash.  Every bit of paper on this card is a left over scrap including the CS on which I printed the snowman.

Colored with ProMarkers & glitter pen
Image cut w Spellbinders die
Frame is scrap of dp cut w Spellbinders
Aqua frame is CS scrap cut & embossed w Spellbinders
Sentiment printed and cut w Avery Elle die
Sequins added for a bit of bling

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas (Quiet)
All Fun
Christmas w the Cuties
Crafty Hazelnut's
     (snowman, snowflakes, sequins,snippets, sentiment, Spellbinders)
Gem of a Challenge
House that Stamps Built
Pixie's Snippets
Simon Says Stamp
Time Out
Word Art Weds

     Enjoy the rest of your weekend (for those of you who can still tell the difference between week day and weekend.)   Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

CIJ Day 3 - "Wrap" a Gift

     Day 3 of the daily "Christmas in July" challenges at Catch the Bug and, in keeping with their usual "Anything but a Card" Mondays, today we are to make things that hold or go on gifts - gift card holders, money folders, boxes, bags, tags, etc.  Mine is a money folder with a cute Bugaboo Stamps snowman.

Here's a photo of the inside.

Image colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Gina Marie die
Scraps of Graphic 45 dp inside and out
Jute cord tie

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Dare 2B Artzy
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
I {heart} ProMarkers
Kerst Christmas
Lil Patch of Crafty...
Outlawz Festive Fri
Star Stampz

     That's all for today but I'll see you tomorrow with the next CIJ challenge at Catch the Bug.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Bundle Up Snowman

     It's Friday and you know that means another challenge is starting at QKR Stampede where the theme is always "Anything Goes."  I've used a sweet, bundled-up-because-he's-frozen, snowman from our sister company, Eureka Stamps, which is called "Snowman Block."  The sentiment is "Bundle Up."  This is a new-to-me stamp which I was happy to add to my collection of snowmen.  If I could find a reason to use snowmen all year 'round, I would!

Colored with ProMarkers and chalks
Papers are scraps from the basket
Stitched ribbon is also a scrap
Distressed edges on all layers
Sentiment is hand cut and inked on the edge

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Colour Crazy
C.R.A.F.T.  (new image)
Crafter's Castle
Crafty Friends
Creative Knockouts
Creative Moments
Outlawz PAM
Time Out (scarf)

     Please come and play with us this week.  We love being inspired by you and always look forward to visiting your blogs.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Always More Marshmallows!

     It's time for a BINGO challenge at Catch the Bug and I used the first diagonal: snowflake/ Bugaboo Image/ ribbon.  Since it's hard to have snowflakes without cold, winter weather, and since snowflakes combine to make snowmen, this card is done using chilly colors of ice blue, light lavender, and aqua. 

     I love this Bugaboo snowman with his warm mug of cocoa and extra marshmallows.  Hot cocoa is wonderful when it's cold but cocoa with marshmallows is always better and the more marshmallows, the better.  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Spellbinders die
Blue snowflakes cut with AI dies
Top 2 layers of dp cut with QuicKutz dies
Papers from Doodlebug
Wide grosgrain ribbon used for bow
Bow was white but 'dyed' with ProMarker
Sentiment from Bugaboo hand cut

     Challenges:
Coloring in Scrapland
Crafty Friends
Crafty Gals Corner
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creatalicious
Cuttlebug Mania
Dare 2B Artsy
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz PAM
Papercraft

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Digi Doodle Studio Guest Designer !

     I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer at Digi Doodle Studios this month and my card is being featured today on their FB page.  :-D  The image I used is called "Cocoa's Snowballs for Sale" and I think it's one of the most adorable little snowmen I've seen.  It's new and I fell in love the instant I saw it.

     Doesn't this remind you of every childhood snowball fight you ever joined? 

Colored with ProMarkers
Glitter added to snowflake on his cap
Image and kraft frame cut with QuicKutz die
Polka dot dp cut with Spellbinders die
Sentiment printed, hand cut, matted & hand cut again
Silver snowflake embellie

     Challenges:
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
House that Stamps Built
Paper Shelter
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Skinny Snowman - Too Much Workout?

     Most of us are worried about putting on a few pounds over Christmas but this "Skinny Snowman" from QKR Stampede, which I used on my DT card for the latest weekly challenge, seems to have been doing workouts on an overtime basis to stay this slim!

Colored with ProMarkers
Image & mat cut with oval dies from QuicKutz
Papers are scraps from Doodlebug
Ribbon from Crafty Ribbons

     Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Hazelnut's
Creative Crafters
Creative Knockouts
Morgan's ArtWorld
Pixie's Snippets
Prika Crafts
Star Stampz

     I hope you're going to come and play in our challenge this week.  Our theme is always Anything Goes and you can use any image from any company.  However, if you choose to use an image from QKR Stampede (or our sister company, Eureka Stamps), your entry will go into a completely separate draw, thereby enhancing your chances of winning by quite a lot.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie