Anna Griffin Carte Homme Anniversary Card

Dressing well is a form of good manners.  Tom Ford

Hey there from Nannyland,

I can't believe I finished my Anniversary card almost a month early this year! I love these adorable Anna Griffin Carte Homme dies so much, I just couldn't wait to use them.  I'm extremely proud of myself for creating a legit guy card, even though dressy suits with fancy patterned ties and pocket squares could be considered a little borderline.  

I chose a 6 x 6 paper pad from my stash in navys and grays with double-sided papers that work well for the folded lapels that expose the prints on the other side.  The patterned lapels and pockets added to the posh look I was going for.  I discovered another paper pad with small matching prints for the ties and pocket squares.  All the pieces in the die set make it possible to create many different looks with either a bow tie or a regular tie. So fun!!!

This card measures 5 x 1/2 by 8 1/2  (a standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of card stock folded in half) to accommodate all three suits easily in my design.  Envelopes are easy to find for this size but extra postage might be required.  I knew I would be delivering this one in person, so I wasn't worried.  I created the sentiment in Cricut Design Space with the cutting, writing and offset features.  I used foam tape behind the lapels and bowtie for dimension.  I also adhered the center suit to the card base with foam tape. I added tiny gold metallic embellishments for lapel pins and lined the red card base and sentiment with a gold leafing pen. 

Another masculine card for the books.  I'm getting there!

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

        Playing along with:

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #156

The Paper Funday Challenge #55

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #501

Dream Valley Challenge #297

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #450

Try it on Tuesday - Use 3 Colors (Red, White ,Blue)

Avenue 613 Create July Challenge 

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #7

Classic Design Challenge #7

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #113

Conie Fong Alanna Digital Stamp - You Are So Lovely

 If you must look back, do so forgivingly.  If you must look forward, do so prayerfully.  However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present...gratefully.   Maya Angelou

Hey there from Nannyland,

I often find myself reaching for Conie Fong images when I want to color something really soft and pretty.  This lovely image called  Alanna was such a joy to color in pastel shades of pink and aqua.  Conie creates the most luxurious tresses on her beautiful ladies, which makes them super fun to color.   

I've had this printed cardstock in my stash for ages, thinking its heavy weight would make a great card base. There are several different floral prints and the color palette on this one matched my image perfectly.  The black frame is a Heartfelt Creations 5 x 7 die cut embellished with pale pink pearls.  I fussy cut my image and attached her to a hand cut dp oval that fits the center of my frame.  After attaching my image with wet glue, I edged the panel with a gold leafing pen and adhered it to my frame with mounting tape.  I created the sentiment in Cricut Design Space with the cutting and writing features. 

I'm always looking for new card designs to spotlight my colored portraits, but my favorite standby is just a simple beautiful frame that makes my image the star.  I've noticed many of my favorite card makers have their own individual styles that define their masterpieces.  It makes their artwork recognizable and special.  I hope I have inspired you to discover your signature recipe to compliment your one-if-a-kind creations.  

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

 Playing along with:

Classic Design Challenge #7

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #7

A Place to Start July Challenge

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #7

Crafting Happiness Challenge#144

Dream Valley Challenge #297

CDSunday Plus Challenge #114

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Crafty Calendar July Challenge

Janna Prosvirina Daydreaming Digi - Kit and Clowder March 2020 Pencil Class

 Be brave enough to be bad at something new. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

I took a giant leap recently and landed in the monthly Kit and Clowder pencil classes.  I seriously want to learn this new coloring skill that has always been super challenging for me.  I've done a couple of Alyce's pencil classes in the past, here and here, and have found them surprisingly satisfying, if only because they stretch my artistic capabilities.   However, my frustration persists as I struggle though the process of laying down the color and trying to blend it out. It's nothing like the seamless Copic coloring I've grown to know and love. 

I adore this gorgeous fairy by Janna Prosvirina and was excited to color all the wonderful detail that only pencils can achieve. It took me what seemed like forever and the result certainly wasn't anything like what Alyce was doing on her instruction video.  But, to my amazement,  I still had fun following along and I'm determined to practice with my pencils until the blending becomes more natural.  I'm proud of myself for sticking it out and my result isn't awful.

Now I'll stop whining and explain how my card was created.  The round die that frames her is from Spellbinders.  I cut the base layer from water color dp and the second ornate frame layer out of gold foil cardstock. I used lavender decorative gems for accents.  I added mini die cut blooms to the green foliage at the bottom and a gold foil die cut "hello" sentiment to the corner. The details were added with a white gel pen. 

I hope I have inspired you to stick with a skill that takes extra time and effort to learn, even if you are tempted to quit.  Mastering new techniques not only adds to our artistic prowess, but it teaches us patience and confidence.  

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Paper Dragonfly Creative Challenge #19

Classic Design Challenge #7

Morgan's ArtWord Challenge #7

The Fairy and The Unicorn Challenge #7

Digi Choosday Challenge Wk 26

Crafting Happiness Challenge #144

Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #6

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #7

613 Avenue Create July Challenge

Ally's Angels Challenge #71

Charming Little Regency Miss - Mo Manning Kate Digital Stamp

There is no charm equal to tenderness of the heart.  Jane Austen

 Hey there from Nannyland,

This little Mo Manning miss is absolutely delightful, from her Regency style bonnet and frock to her pretty tulip and dainty slippers. She looks like she just stepped out of one of my favorite Jane Austen novels. Her name is Kate and you can find her in Mo's Digital Pencil shop HERE.  

I colored her darling gown and apron in Copic pastel blues, pinks and grays.  I showcased her fashionable straw hat with bright shades of yellow and adorned the pink ribbon with tiny Spellbinders flowers.  After fussy cutting her, I attached her with mounting tape to an ornate Anna Griffin die cut and embossed door, where she remains waiting for a visit from Mr. Darcy. The Jane Austen quote tag was created in Cricut Design Space using the cutting and writing features. The door and tag are lined with silver foil card stock. 

I hope I have inspired you to create a piece of art that transports you to a place and time you love to dream about. After all, imagination is the stuff that sparks creativity. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

    Playing along with:

Creative Fingers Challenge #258

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The Paper Funday Challenge #54

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #7

Classic Design Challenge #7

The Creative Crafters Challenge #65

Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #6

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Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge # 208