December 27, 2014

Doodle Pantry New Card Challenge & Give-Away

Just a quick post to let you know that Doodle Pantry will be starting a new card challenge starting in the new year. Also, Laurie is giving away some pretty amazing prizes. Also, you need to check out all the stunning digital images in the store. Here is a peek at some of the prizes. Some great stuff here to win.

Check out the Doodle Pantry Blog to learn about all the changes happening in the new year and for your chance to possible win this wonderful prize. Thanks for visiting.

December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas Greetings

Hi Everyone:

Just popping in real quick with a card that I made for some special folks for Christmas.

I am delighted to say that I had the opportunity to color this image for this card with Spectrum Noir Markers. I watched several tutorials on how to use these markers, and though the process was long, I am happy how it turned out in the end. This year I was determined to make some handmade cards for family and some of my friends. This is what I came up with.

The bottom portion of the image was colored using distress inks and the snowflake background was also colored using these same inks. Though I am not sure if the night of Christ birth was actually a snow filled night, I wanted to give the feel that it was, thus the use of a Snowflake Embossing Folder. All cardstock was Stampin' Up and the image itself was printed on Neenah Cardstock. When using Alcohol based markers it is important to use a heavy cardstock as it will seep through on the back of the paper. So it is important to lay an extra sheet of copy paper beneath.

Close-up of Use of Spectrum Noir Markers. To add highlights, I used the White Big Brush Maker from Faber-Castell to give even more dimension and depth.

I just love how this donkey turned out and he is a cute little fellow. This digital image comes from Mo's Digital Pencil and is called From Bethlehem. I just fell in love with it soon as I saw it and just had to buy it. No better version of that special time than this one. Mo's Images are amazing and be sure to check out more of her designs at her store.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge: Favorite Make of 201

DRS Designs - W, 1E, SIO, - #154 Winter Wonderand

Cute Card Thursday - W, C5 - #353 Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts W, 2E, C8 #69 Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. - W, 5E -#291 Anything Goes

Stampavie and More -2W, JFF - #227 Christmas

Elphine House - M, SIR - #66 Traditional Christmas colors (ends Feb17)

WordArt Wednesdays - 5E ,#155 - Anything goes (2nd week)

TIME OUT Challenges-2W (W2 of 2) #21 Christmas is Love With All The Trimmings

I trust that you are all enjoying this Christmas season and spending some quality time with your family & friends. For us Christmas really begins today and ends on January 6th, we celebrate Ephipany. So we have a while yet to visit and still have some fun. It is a green Christmas outside and it just doesn't feel like Christmas without it.

But regardless of the weather outside, or how we celebrate, Christmas will always come. It will be a time when so many receive so much, but hopefully a time to be thankful for all that we have. For all the friendships, all the support, and all blessings we have experienced since our last Christmas. It is also a time to be so thankful for that first Christmas morn when love came down in the form a precious baby. One who would grow up to be the Saviour of the world, and it is this gift that helps us hopefully to be a little more loving, kind, and grateful for all that life brings our way good or bad. And for this I am forever grateful. Praying God's blessing on your Holiday Season and the whole year through. May the Christ of Christmas fill your hearts & home with love, joy, peace, & happiness today and every day.

From my family to yours Merry Christmas & Happy New

December 20, 2014

Christmas Greetings

May 11, 2014

Happy Mothers Day

Just a quick note to say "yes" I am still alive and that I have been real busy with schooling. That will soon be over for another year and maybe, just maybe, I will find my creative side again soon. Lol.
Just wanted to share this video that really encourages us as Moms to not give up. That when the going gets tough, get tougher. That when the weakness comes admit it and find strength in God. That when sadness comes and you want to just cry, have a real good one, but than start over again. Why, because what we do doesn't require perfection but a heart that is full, that is unstoppable, that is in love with those who have been entrusted to us and because we have been given a heart to serve, to make the world a better place. So today of all days I would like to wish all of you who are mothers and all of you who are not, but still invest into the lives of others, the best day ever. May it be filled with much love, happiness, laughter, and peace.
Until next time, take care of yourself and each other.

March 1, 2014

Doodle Pantry March Release

Just popping in with this card that I made for the new release over at Doodle Pantry.

This card uses the Carousel Horse 2 Set

Check it out in the store.

I first started out making a card that used distress inks to create a background scene that

had the circus tent nestled behind some hills, but it really didn't look that great. After asking the opinion of others, I decided to cut out the portion that I had colored and adhere it to white cardstock and use it again. So in my second attempt, I decided the colored images would look better against kraft card stock which was mounted to a black card stock base. I wanted to give the idea that the Circus Horse broke away from the circus act and was now free to run wild! Not sure that I provided that or not, but I do like how it turned out. I used Ranger Distress Inks, a purple one called Seedless Preserves and Walnut to provide shading around the outside edge of the card panel. Tombow Markers were used to color the horse along with Staedtler watercolor pencils. I used my favorite white marker by Faber-Castell to out line and add highlights to random areas in this creation. I added pearls to complete the finished product.

Close - Up of Coloring

Card is being submitted to following challenges:

4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W2 of 2) # 12 Anything Goes

Delightful Challenges - W, 1E, SIO - Make it Simple

Little Miss Muffet Challenges - 2W, 1E, SIO (challenges listed in tab at top) - Anything Goes

WordArt Wednesdays - Anything goes (must be uplifting, no dark images or themes

7 Kids College Fund - 2W, 3E, SIR - #94 Anything goes

Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #37 Anything goes/Swirls and Pearl

Inklings and Yarns - 3E, JFF - Always Anything Goes

Doodle Pantry Challenge#44

This tent was a coloring book image I found on Google and isn't a part of

the stamp set. To see more of the new release make sure to check out the

company blog here. There is still time to play along with the Doodle Pantry sponsored challenge over at Cupcake Inspirations. Great way to win some digital stamps.

I trust that your all doing well and enjoying hopefully the last of these cold winter days. I love winter but it is time for some much needed warmer Sunny weather. Just want to let you know that I love your visiting and pray that I have inspired you in some special way. Wishing you many creative days.

Blessings

February 26, 2014

New Butterfly

Just a quick post to share another card using this beautiful set below. I so love the boldness and crispness of this set. Make sure to check it out in the store and get your set!!

New Butterfly Digital Stamp Set

I created this card using the colored version of this butterfly, but I did print out two copies. The second one was fussy cut and placed over top of the first one with pop dots to give some dimension and depth. The card front was distressed with Ranger Distress Inks and Blending Tool. I also added orange bling to the butterfly to tie in the dark orange/rust color ribbon. To bring it all together I adhered the front panel to another panel of white and then to the teal color card base. Love how the butterfly really makes the sentiment from this set pop!!!

This is a close up of how I popped up the image with pop dots and added the bling.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Everybody-Art-Challenge W - #267 Ribbon and Lace

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - W, E2, Must Be Square #25 Anything Goes

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday W- #260 Less Is More

Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #121

Party Time Tuesdays W, 3E (2E anything goes wk) - PTTYDD #161 Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E, - Always Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown W- #184 AnythingGoes

Eureka Stamps - W, 3E, F - Add a Butterfly

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the challenge over at Cupcake Inspirations and don't forget to check the blog on March 1st at noon for our new challenge. I trust that your all doing well and that it is not to cold in your part of the world. Sunny day here today but it is real cold.

Hopefully this butterfly reminds you that spring and summer are on their way. Lol.

Trusting that today is one filled with many wonderful blessings!!

February 12, 2014

A Flowery Thank You

Just wanted to pop in with another card that I created. This card is for a special lady who always seems to do so much and without ever being asked. Her faithfulness to others is always in the forefront and I have been on the receiving end of her kindness many times. I am so thankful to God for her caring ways.

Check out Doodle Pantry Challenge #43

This card was created based on this sketch. Love their sketches.

My circle cut out of the embossed card front is actually flipped around so the hole is towards the bottom portion of the card instead of near the top like you see in the sketch below.

I used the following Doodle Pantry stamps for this card.

Check out Hydrangea.

Religious Sentiments ( This one is a freebie)

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Miriam's Crafting Blog Monthly Challenge - M, 1st Wed., E4 - Flowers

Mod Squad Challenge - W, C5 - Flowers

The Sketch File M, JFF - Sketch*

Great Impressions - M, 3E, SIO - (February) (2nd Week) Floral Images.

Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #119

Thanks for dropping by and look forward to seeing you again.

Blessings

February 11, 2014

Pulling Out My Hair Over A Sticky Mess!! Lol.

Well a while back I shared in this post about a card that I was gonna show you all. It was a creation based on a childhood memory and it was a Bubble Gum Machine shape card. Well after looking it over several times I did not like the shape or how the coloring turned out. I decided to put it aside so that I could figure out what to do with it. The coloring hadn't turned out like I had hoped and I didn't want to throw it away due to this card being one that was paper pieced. A lot of cutting!!! Lol. So feeling frustrated, I put it aside but it almost went in the garbage. Have you ever had one of those creating moments where you could pull your hair out!! Well I was there!! Lol. Still have all my hair!

After much thought, I decided to take this card shape out again and see what I could do to fix the problem. After looking at the challenges last week I found a sketch challenge from

Cas(E) this Sketch and I had a light bulb moment. (This was my head conversation: Okay, so if I could fix the coloring on the Bubble Gum Machine and make it the focal point of my card, than maybe, just maybe I could get this to work and play along.) Lol.

So here is what I came up!! What do you think? It looks edgy, but still bright & cheerful.

A month ago I purchased a white Big Brush Marker by Faber Castelle and I am in love. It is the best one yet that I have used and I have used several, none top this one. It is totally awesome!!!

I broke out my Staedtler TriPlus Fine Tip Markers and decided that I would lay down ink
over the shaded areas on each piece of bubble gum, but with sketchy strokes.

This makes the image seem more of a sketch than an actually coloring or
shading technique. I also did this technique with this card, and I loved how it turned out.
Now this card today as less strokes and the strokes are different lengths.

After the shading was done I then took my Big Brush Marker and added high lights on random areas on the Bubble Gum Machine and actual gum balls. It is much darker and edgier then I had hoped for but I really do like it!! So this piece is my focal point. I wanted to show some black on this to enhance the Bubble Gum Machine. So I decided to cut little strips from the sides of the white panel and than place it over top of black cardstock to create some framing. This was than adhered to a white card base. To complete this card I added a sweet sentiment to tie everything together.

This card is for our Doodle Pantry challenge as well. Check out Challenge # 43.

Make sure to play along for your chance to win some amazing digital stamps

like the ones used here. This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - C10 - #82 Coloring

Loves Rubber Stamps W - #90 Paper Piecing

Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E, - Always Anything Goes

Make it Monday - W, papercrafts only - Always Anything Goes

My Craft Creations - 2W, Challenge links on top, occasionally SIR - (Week 2) Always Anything Goes

I used this sketch below to make this card.

Check out CTS #63

These are the digital stamp kits that I used.

Sweet Stuff Free W/Purchase

So Sweet Mice

So you are still here! Lol. Sorry such a long post but I just wanted to share the technique behind the card and to reassure you that our "creative mess-ups" can be fixed and used again. Lol. Thanks for dropping bye. More cards to share with beautiful flowers later. Stay tuned.........

Blessings

February 9, 2014

Reminders That Spring Is On Its Way!!!

Just wanted to pop in with a quick card to share for Doodle Pantry Challenge #43 and to also remind you that Spring is on its way!! These flowers below show their beauty in the spring but continue to grow through summer months as well. You can check out more flower images here.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Kraftyhands M 3E SIR (must be a follower) - Spring Flowers

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #118
The Hobby House - M,SIR - Anything Goes

The set that I used is from this month's new release.

Isn't it beautiful! Check it out!

I just love to color Digi images but these days I have been playing around with colored

ones. These came together so much faster than normal and I love how it turned out.

I used this sketch from Mojo Monday to make this card.

Play along with there most recent challenge here.

Card close-up

For many of us winter is still filled with snow days and cold weather, but spring will come. We hope so anyway. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy winter months, but spring sounds good right about now though! Lol. Stay warm and safe where ever you are today. And for those basking in the sun, enjoy it because you could be shoveling snow!! Lol.

Thanks for dropping bye and hope to see you again.

Blessings

February 8, 2014

Publication News

Hi Everyone:

I trust that your all doing well and enjoying your weekend. Well here in the Maritimes the snow is still falling and Winter seems to be staying put for a while. Won't be be long though and Spring will be here. Yay!! I wanted to share some exciting news with you all!! I am honored and humbled to say that my card below made the front cover of the Complete Cardmaking Magazine.

To check out this publication and to purchase it click here.

Here is a better view of the card.

To learn how to create the background check out the tutorial in this post.

Close-up of the coloring and details.

I used Little Frog and Cattail Pond for this card.

Thanks so much to Laurie Wilson for the beautiful digital stamp images. This would not have happened if she had not provided me with this great opportunity. Loads of new images in the store. Why not check them out and play along with two challenges that are going on right now at Doodle Pantry. First check out the Totally Papercrafts Sponsorship challenge. The theme is cute images. To check out what some of the Design Team Members created, check out the Doodle Pantry Post here. Also, check out Doodle Pantry Challenge #43. You can get this image below for free if you create a project using a Doodle Pantry image.

Thanks for dropping in and for being patient with me during this creative journey that I have been on. I know that things have been sporadic here and now that some things are settling down, I am getting more time to create. I trust that you are all having some great crafting moments as well.

Until next time .........

Take Care & God Bless

February 1, 2014

Doodle Pantry February Release Day

Hi Everyone:
Just popping in with my card for Doodle Pantry Release for this month. This release is filled with so many fun and practical stamp sets. I love the way that Laurie as created sets that are great for using any day of the year. For instance I used this set to make my card for today. I fell in love with it immediately when I saw it. The options are endless.

Check it out here!!

I also used this sketch from Mojo Monday from last week for my card.

And here is my card.

This time around, I used the pre-colored snowman image and adhered it to circle shape that had been embossed with a snowflake pattern.

A panel of snowflake patterned paper was adhered to black card stock for the background, along with a panel of dark blue patterned paper that had winter words. To make the dark blue pop, I decided to play off the green that was in the smallest panel with dots. The green was the color that was used the lease, so I cut very thin strips of green card stock and glued them over-top and beneath the dark blue panel to tie these two different patterns together. Before adding this panel to the card base, bakers twine was wrapped around the center panel to help balance out the color of red. This was then adhered to the white card base. To add dimension and depth, the circle portion was adhered with pop dots and tucked just inside the twine. Also, to give a whimsical feel to this card I outlined certain areas adding dashes and dots. To finish the card and to play off the circle shapes, a button was added. This was all done to complete a triangle focal point bringing the eye from the top of the card, then slightly off to the side and then down to the bottom, which leads the eye to the top again. I love using this kind of design, though I don't always set out with this goal in mind. Making a card or a page layout that has great color flow is one that you will not forget easily and will always be a joy to look at time and again.

These are just some of my favorites in this release.

This one is totally stunning to say the lease. Wow.

And this one is gorgeous with its vintage charm. Amazing coloring job Laurie. Wow. You could actually add a pair of Baby shoes to the rocking chair to make this a Baby Card as well. This is the Baby shoes set and it is so adorable.

I want to let you know about a special that is happening right now at Doodle Pantry.

FEBRUARY SPECIALS

February 1 thru 8

30% OFF the February NEW RELEASES only (minimum $2 purchase)

COUPON CODE: NEW4FEB

How to redeem:

For the easiest checkout, new customers need to get their new accounts created and registered before filling up your cart
Login to your account
Add items to your cart and click to view cart
Enter the code NEW4FEB in the field at the bottom of the cart contents and CLICK SUBMIT to see your discount get applied
Continue your checkout, agree to terms of use, and be sure to click CONFIRM ORDER
Make payment and then your downloads are emailed to you, but you can also access your downloads after payment, by going to account maintenance/order history and then clicking on your order, use green icons to download. (NOTE: Green icon download buttons will NOT work from order history until the payment is made and completely clears)