Trick or Treat

YAY! I finally got the free image Jack w/cat finished. See the post below for yours free image. We have been rebuilding a fence around our backyard, so I am creating in between working with my DH.

Isn't this kitty cute?

There are new things I tried with this image and boy, oh boy, I need practice on this first one. I see on other blogs where they use a white Sharpie marker or gel pen and accent their images. I tried and failed. Yes, I do not like how it turned out, but I plan on practicing and getting better at this. I found out that less in more. I should have just highlighted the cat's hat and maybe once on the pumpkin, but I went gel pen CRAZY!

The second new "thing" that DID turn out was using my new Bow Easy to tie my bow. If you have followed my blog at all, you know I am bow challenged. This makes it so easy! Get it...Bow Easy! Now, if I can do it, anyone can. It took me a couple of tries and I did watch Suzanne Dean's video on YouTube. I am a visual person, so I needed this.

I wanted to tell you about Kristy Ketterlin's blog, Kuttin Kards. She is having a challenge on her blog with this free image. You can win another free image of your choice. Check it out!

Materials used:

Paper - orange, black, colonial white (CTMH), striped pattern paper (unknown)

Stamp set - Jack w/cat (DZ Doodles)

Ink - copics, clover meadow and hydrangea (CTMH)

Accessories - bigger black brad and black organdy ribbon (CTMH), Halloween ribbon (Michael's), bat punch (Martha Stewart), oval and scallop oval (Nestabilities), Pumpkin Harvest embossing folder (Cuttlebug), concave punch (EK Success), Trick or Treat charm (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

Watering Can

Here is another new image by DZ Doodles you can find under the summer section in Diane's store. I have had this image colored with my Copics for a while and felt like a pink and gray card. It is raining "big time" here today and the grass is so green and flowers have been vibrant.

The pink pattern paper is from CTMH; however, it is retired. I just can't part with some of my paper even though it retires. I used my Cuttlebug folder Stylized Flowers on the gray cardstock and tied bubblegum waxy flax around it. The sentiment is an adhesive bubble word I bought at Jo Ann Fabrics eons ago. The yellow with brown "Thanks" goes perfectly with my yellow and brown flowers. I love it when I find treasurers in my stash.

DZ Doodles is preparing for launching some new releases. I check you updated.

Happy Stamping!

Challenges

Are you ready to accept a challenge? You should be, because Paper Craft Planet and Copic Buzz have wonderful challenges for you this week with FANTASTIC prizes!

First, is the Stampendous - Back to Basics challenge at Paper Craft Planet. Click on the link and it will take you to the group, so you can play along.

They will be having a challenge each week to go along with each lesson. To play along, make a card, scrapbook page or 3D item using the simple stamping technique featured. This week it is basic stamping. Tag your photo b2b1 (this week) so they can pull your project into their gallery. Next Wednesday, they will pick one lucky random winner from the challenge players for the generous prize pictured at the end of the tutorial. Holy Moly!

I am hosting this week's challenge, so head over and check it out! Here is a card I made with Stampendous cling rubber stamps. The images are named Lift Spirits, Rooco Reach and Pumpkin Grin. I was inspired by Lynn Mercurio's card for my Rooco Raccoon.

The second challenge for you this week is being held at Copic Buzz and is sponsored by my friend's store, DZ Doodles. Diane is very generous this week by offering this free scarecrow image and for those of you who play along will have the chance to win gift certificates to her store. Wowie! Click on the Copic Buzz link to play along.

I colored my scarecrow with copics and used my copic airbrush system to spray the background I attached him to. The paper is a retired pack from CTMH and I used my Nestabilities for the long rectangle and scalloped rectangle.

Happy Stamping!

Fabulous

First, Tanner had a fabulous day at school on Tuesday. This is what he said to me that morning..."Mom, I am so excited! I bet you can't make me NOT smile!"....LOL! I had to laugh.

Here he is walking into school with his new Mario Galaxy backpack. I was so happy to be one of the parents whose child was not crying. Why? Because my third grader cries the first day of school still. Yes. I am hoping that doesn't rub off on Tanner....we will see.

I took the day off from creating to work on PTA "stuff". We kicked off our first fundraiser and I am writing letters to ask for donations for our Open House dinner in September. It is going to be a busy PTA year again, but there is a silver lining.................this is my last year as president....YAY!

Since school started and I have a very full schedule with all the meetings, etc. I started Fly Lady again. If you are familiar with Fly Lady, you know you receive a lot of emails. I didn't sign up for that part. I go in every day to get my task in the Baby Steps area right now. I don't want to start cleaning too fast...LOL! If you are not familiar with Fly Lady, here is the link. If you don't want a million (okay it just feels like a million) emails, don't sign up for that part. Just bookmark her and start flying!

Since Fly Lady, I am cleaning off my craft desk (still) and have another DZ Doodles image to share with you. This time I took apron 1 from the Kitchen section at DZ Doodles and colored it with my copics. For some reason when I think of kitchens I think of a cheery yellow. Now, my kitchen is blue, but I felt like yellow. Once I finished coloring, I thought of the Let's Get Together level 2 paper pack from CTMH. It is retiring this year, so if you want it you better order it soon.

I had to change one thing about the pattern paper. This paper has buttercup, which is a light yellow and I needed a brighter yellow. I took my regular paper punch and punched out sunkiss yellow circles (that matched my apron) and adhered them over the buttercup circles on the paper and ribbon. This solved my problem and gave the paper a little umph. I like how that turned out. Since I had Fabulous on the brain, I used the retired SU set, Many Happy Returns for the sentiment. Added bling flowers and buttons...viola!...card is finished!

Happy Stamping!

Contemplating

I have put a bunch of sentiments all over the front of this card and they just don't look right. Some times, an image speaks for herself. This image is from DZ Doodles called Shelby Contemplating. Since she is contemplating, I took her picture outside. Isn't she adorable? When I colored her dress purple, I knew I wanted to use my Whoops-A-Daisy paper pack from CTMH. It is so girly!

The paper already had the white and purple flourishes on it to make the perfect pattern paper for this card. I didn't want to cover the paper up, so I kept my card simple with some white daisy ric rac and purple bling flowers. I added the white pearls to the centers to bring the colors all together.

Tanner starts his first day of PreK tomorrow and is so excited. I can't wait to take pictures and talk to him about his first school day.

Happy Stamping!

SMILE

I made time to play along with Susanna's sketch this week at Paper Craft Planet. I love her card, so I just had to play. My Shelby images are still sitting on my desk waiting to jump onto a cards, so here is Shelby Sitting. I made her brunette this time. In the past, I have colored her hair blonde, but I am in a brunette mood lately. I found this rub-on in the bottom of my chipboard and rub-on drawer. It seemed perfect, since Shelby is sitting there with a cute smile on her face.

I hope you can play along with Susanna's sketch this week too. Check out the link above for more inspiration.

Materials used: Paper - Emporium Level 2 (CTMH); Ink - copics; Stamp Set - Shelby Sitting (DZ Doodles); Accessories - sweet leaf designer ribbon (CTMH), blue crystals (Mark Richards), rub-on (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

Wishing You Joy

I had time to play yesterday and my DZ Doodles images were sitting on my desk, so I got to create with them. This image is called Summer Swing, which is in the Girls section at DZ Doodles. She is just one of the girly images Diane has created. I remember swinging when I was young and still love to go in our backyard with my boys and swing with them.

Diane is pouring over all the Design Team submissions and will decide this coming weekend. She wanted me to let you know she is thankful for everyone who entered and it is going to be a tough decision.

Tomorrow, I have another Shelby card to show you. Have a great day!

Materials used: Paper - Whoops-A-Daisy Level 2 (CTMH), Stamp sets - Summer Swing (DZ Doodles), Wishing You Joy sentiment (Gina K Designs), Ink - copics, bubblegum (CTMH), Accessories - white pearls (Paper Studio), pink crystal stickers (Mark Richards), Just Blooms paper flowers (CTMH), lattice border punch (Martha Stewart), pop dots (SU)

Happy Stamping!

Driving by Birthday "Hi!"

I am so glad to be back to my craft room today. I have been sick the last couple days. Have you ever wished you could lay in bed all day and do nothing? Be careful what you wish for...it may happen. I have been laying in bed for the last two days wishing I could be up getting things done. I got to play with my DZ Doodles images today. This one is called Shelby Scooter. Click on the Shelby link and it will take you to all of her Shelby images. They are so cute!

Products used: Products are CTMH unless noted. Paper - dutch blue cs, white daisy cs, all pattern paper is retired CTMH, Stamps - Shelby Scooter (DZ Doodles), Loads of Love Accessories (SU), Accessories - white pearls (Paper Studio & Mark Richards), floral lace border punch (Martha Stewart), round tab punch (SU), pink ribbon (Offray), Just Blooms paper flowers

Happy Stamping!

Do you have an apron?

Actually, I do have a Christmas apron I received last year from my sister-in-law, Ann. I need to remember to get it out in December. I still love these apron images from DZ Doodles. If you don't have an apron, maybe you should visit her site and pick up one or two or...

I am so glad I took the time to play with these images. When I saw them I knew I wanted to use the That's Amore paper pack from CTMH. I started with one and decided to make another with the same color scheme. Love them! The sentiments are from the Oval All stamp set by SU.

These aprons are easy to paper piece and turn out fantastic every time. If you go to DZ Doodles, Diane has uploaded on of her cards with an apron image in the gallery. There isn't too much in the gallery yet, because she is busy uploading and drawing.

Apron 1

Apron 2

Other materials used: Ribbon - chocolate satin (SU), light brown ric rac (Penney's, years ago), corduroy buttons (CTMH and Archivers), large oval punch and scallop punch (SU), white pearls (Paper Studio)

Happy Stamping!

Design Team Call - DZ Doodles

My friend, Diane, has her digital stamp store up and running. She is adding images every day. Check it out with the link below.

AND

Design Team Call

We are so excited about the opening of DZ Doodles online digital store and we are looking for our first design team. We need help and passion promoting Diane's stamps through your personal blog and online galleries. It is exciting to see the talent that is out there and look forward to seeing your entries. To be on our team, you can use products you already have and you will have a lot of freedom to create. We are looking for five (5) designers.

General Requirements

• You will need the ability to photograph your art for submission to DZ Doodles.

• You will need to have a blog or website with regular updates.

• You will need to promote DZ Doodle stamps through your blog or website once a week and whenever you see the opportunity and linking back to DZ Doodles.

The Perks

• The opportunity to play with a generous range of brand new DZ Doodles digi stamps.

• Promoted as a DZ Doodles Design Team Member on DZ Doodles website and Paper Craft Planet.

• One free DZ Doodles stamp download once a week.

• Your bio and artwork will be spotlighted on DZ Doodles blog.

Term and Open Call

If chosen, your term will run for six (6) months beginning on September 1, 2009 – February 28, 2010. This call is open to all.

Application Process

All submissions must be received by 9 am CST, August 28, 2009. Those of you chosen will be emailed directly. We will make a formal announcement on or before Monday, August 31, 2009. We do not have the ability to contact all of those who were not chosen.

Please send an email containing the following information to stampfest@cox.net.

• Name

• Address

• Email

• Phone number

• Blog or website address

• Links to any online galleries you may have

• Three (3) cards, layouts, journals, altered pieces or 3-dimensional items using stamps as the main focus. Your submissions don’t need to be brand new and do not need to have DZ Doodles stamps used, but should not have been published or submitted for publication for a printed or online magazine. No past publication necessary. Creativity is your best qualification!

• Please note if you are a current or past design team member for any other companies. We do not expect you to work solely for us or have any design team member experience.

• Please tell us a few words about yourself and why you would make an asset to our Design Team.

Thanks!

Happy Stamping!

Sketch Challenge - August 15, 2009

I know I have been MIA lately. We have either been on vacation or have had guests staying at our house. We are trying to fit in everything we can before school starts this Monday. Yes, this Monday! ALREADY! I am not ready and neither are my boys. This summer flew by and we are finally having hot, swimming, weather.

In addition, I have been helping my friend, Diane, with my blog knowledge (which isn't a lot) for her new stamp site. She is relying on me (God help her!) for some technical support. Don't you remember her awesome Shelby images? She asked me a while ago to head up her Design Team once she got her site set up. Now, her site is up and she is adding images all the time. Check it out - DZ Doodles. She is working on her site all the time, so check back for more images and site improvements. I am so happy for her!

This week I am host for the sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet. I created the card first this time with my Shelby image from DZ Doodles. I hope you can play along. I can't wait to see your creations! Upload your card to the gallery here at PCP and remember to use sk081509 in the tag line. I'll snag the cards that are uploaded throughout the week, and add them to the album for this sketch.

Here is my card:

Have fun!