Doodle Pantry Nutty For You

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the challenge is to make cards for kids - how fun!  

For my card I used Doodle Pantry's Nutty For You digital stamp set the pre-colored version along with the digital papers that come in this fun set.  I've been playing with Spellbinders circles making frames so I framed the sentiment and cut out the two squirrels and added them to my card.  The other cardstock colors I've used are Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip & Barely Banana.  

It was a quick, easy and fun card to make - I love that about Doodle Pantry's pre-colored digital stamps.  Would you believe I couldn't sleep so I got up at 12:30 AM and made my card, I was back in bed by 1:30 AM and fast asleep :)  

I hope you'll join in our cards for kids challenge at Operation Write Home this week and maybe even stop by Doodle Pantry for some cute images to use!  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Doodle Pantry Stock The Pantry - Use a Doodle Pantry Image

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Cards For Kids
Cardmadfairy's - Add An Animal
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Get Punchy Use An Animal
I Did It Creations - Use An Animal
Craft Your Passion - Text It
Stamps & Fun - Digistamp

Summer Dreams by Make It Crafty

As you can see I'm stilling going in circles...

I'm having so much fun with my Spellbinders Circles, Grand Circles & Grand Scalloped Circles I don't want to stop.

I've had this cute image from Make It Crafty printed and waiting for me for several days.  Sometimes I'm a little intimidated by an image and this is one of those.  The folds in her dress are one of the reasons and then her hair, could I make it look real?

I colored her with Copic markers BG75, BG72, BG70, W7, W5, W3, E97, E95, E93, E0000, E000, E00, R20, C6, C3, B66, B63.  The cloud background is done with a template and BG70.  After coloring her I'm really happy with the way the folds in her dress look and I think her hair is believably black. 

The "happy birthday to you" is a sentiment circle from The Cutting Cafe and I used Cosmo Cricket Pixie-licious papers.  For one last added detail I punched 2 Martha Stewart butterflies, stacked them and added three black half pearls to them. 

I've had a couple of comments about doing a cloud tutorial using the Copic markers.  I wish you could come over and sit at my craft table so we could spend an afternoon coloring together.

The clouds are super easy so I'd better do that for you soon, thanks for asking! 

Thanks for visiting my blog today too -

Challenges:
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts - Girly Girls
Birthday Sundaes - Anything Goes Birthday Card
Digi Design House - Summer
Karen's Doodles - Shaped Cards

Stamps R Us Birthday Celebration!

Clear Dollar Stamps Lifting You Up

Welcome to our Summer themed Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop!  If you've arrived here from Shell's blog you're on the right track, if not and you'd like to start at the beginning please start here.

For my Summer themed card I chose to use the Clear Dollar Stamps Lifting You Up digital stamp set.  I colored the hot air balloon with Copic markers YG17, YG13, YG11, BG10, BG11, BG13, E43, E42, E43.  I've been practicing making cloudy skies using Ranger "Stormy Skies" distress ink and a cloud template so this image was the perfect opportunity to use my new skills. 

My cardstock colors are Kraft, Stampin' Up! Taken With Teal & Garden Green as well as Neenah Solar White.  For a finishing touch I added three Dew Drops from the "Water" collection. 

Your next stop on our blog hop is Linda!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Crazy Amigo Challenge - Fly Away
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Digi's With Attitude - Anything Goes
Paper Cutz - The Skies The Limit
Polka Doodles - Summer

Copic Coloring Book Anime Akira by Sureya

I have a page from my newest Copic coloring book to share with you today!  One of my crafty friends came over to play and her son wanted to join us because he likes to draw and loves anime.  I'd talked with him about his art and if he liked to color and what mediums he used.  He hadn't tried Copic markers yet so...

He didn't have anything ready for us to color so I opened up a folder that I've saved on my computer of Sureya's open coloring book and we browsed for something easy for a beginner to color and decided on Akira.  Neither one of us finished coloring our images before they had to go but he took his home so he could finish there and I found time later to get mine done.

Since this is a page that will go into my coloring book I've added all the Copic marker colors and numbers for my reference.  I also wanted to have the technique of coloring a sky & clouds background with Copic markers in my coloring book and now I do.

I hope you enjoyed having a peek into my coloring book today and thank you for visiting me - 

Challenges:

Deviant Art - Sureya's Open Coloring Book
Gem Of A Challenge - For The Boys
Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
Moving Along With The Times - Favorite Things - coloring with Copic markers

Clear Dollar Stamps Patch Pal Lamb

Today is the day we release new digital images at Clear Dollar Stamps and I'm excited to share my project with you today!

I chose to use the Patch Pal Lamb digital stamp set, it comes as line drawings and pre-colored.  I missed out on doing the pre-colored version so I colored my lamb with Copic markers and practiced my cloud background with Copic markers, too fun!  

My Spellbinders Grand Calibur arrived recently and the Grands Circle and Scalloped Circles dies, I had to play and try them out.

My craft room is my kitchen so I set the new Grand Calibur in my "crafty section" and made a nice work space for myself.  I can stand and work on cards over here as well as the table now.

I have a supply list for you below:

Stamps/Images: Clear Dollar Stamps Patchpal Lamb

Cardstock/Papers:  Neenah Solar White, Stampin’ Up! Cameo Coral, Astro Brights Turquoise (?), the digital papers that come in this digital stamp set.

Inks/Markers: Copic markers – E44, E43, E42, W0, W1, YG11, YG61, YG63, YG67, YR0000YR000, YR00, YR01, BV0000, BV000, BV00, BV01, BV01, B0000, B000, B00

Accents/Tools:  Spellbinders Grand Circles & Scalloped Circles, Regular Circles & Tags Trio, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Button, Crochet thread

Techniques  Making a cloud background with Copic markers

I hope you'll stop by Clear Dollar Stamps and Clearly iStamp today and see what's new!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Bearly-Mine - Anything Goes 
Deep Ocean Challenge - Cards 
Digital Tuesday - Spellbound (dies) 
Crafting For All Seasons - Furry Friends 
The Rubber Cafe - Spellbound With Spellbinders Dies

Doodle Pantry Quirky Cat

I have a quick fun card to share with you today!  

I used Doodle Pantry's Quirky Cat pre-colored digital image and the digital papers from Doodle Pantry's Bold Summer paper pack.  I printed the cat image, sentiment and resized papers on one sheet of Mohawk Bright White cardstock and went to work on my card.  My layout is a C.A.S.E.d from Debbie Olsen's blog, I love her clean and simple style.  The additional products I used on my card are 5/8" white grossgrain ribbon, crochet thread and a star shaped button.  I really enjoy playing with Doodle Pantry's pre-colored digital images!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
All Sorts - Free & Easy
My Sheri Crafts - Faithful Companions
Use It Tuesday's - Animals (hoarded ribbon)
Paper Pretties - Animals

Notes From Home

Just a moment to share some pictures of Maxine and Jenny.  

Jenny thought she'd go relax on Maxine's dog bed and share some texts with her friends.

Maxine thought that was a great idea and got comfortable with Jenny.  Look at those velvet lips on that dog, lol.

Enjoy your mid afternoon nap Maxine...

Thanks for visiting my blog!

A Day For Daisies Sleeping Flower July Club Kit Peacock Magic

I have three cards to share with you today using digital images from A Day For Daisies.  They have a challenge going on and the challenge is to make three projects using ADFD digital images.  I actually had two cards made up with A Day For Daisies images that were just kind of "waiting for the right challenge".

My first card uses the image Sleeping Flower, when I saw this and saw that it was a freebie I was so excited.  This image is colored with Copic markers R81, R83, R85, C0, C00, G0000, B0000, B000, B60, B21, B23, Y21, YR21, YR23 YG67, YG63, E00, E000 and I made the background for the Labels 14 with the Red Copic markers and the air brush system as well as Copic blending solution and a Hero Arts background stamp.

My next card uses digital images from A Day For Daisies July Club Kit.  If you haven't seen this kit you really should go check it out, the images are wonderful - you'll see!  

I've been practicing my cloud background with Copic markers again and really like the way this one turned out.  The Copic markers I used for this card are B0000, B000, C00, C0, YG63, YG61, G0000, YR00, E00, E000, R20, YR24, YR23, Y21, Y11, BV0000, BV000, BV01, B66.

My third card uses the A Day For Daisies Peacock Magic digital image.  The patterned paper is the same background technique I used on the first card.  I was working on coloring from one color family to another on this card and it worked out pretty well.  Here are the Copic marker colors I used for her dress YR68, YR65, YR61, Y13, Y11 and the other Copic colors are R20, E00, E000, E99, B60, W7, W5, W3.  The sentiment is digital from Scrap a licious Times and the cardstock colors I've used are Via Vellum Black, Neenah Solar White & Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie.

One more thing...

My reason for making the first card today is we have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps!  The theme is "Miss You", I hope you'll play along with us this week too!

Thanks for visiting my blog today - 

challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Miss You

A Day For Daisies - 3 Cards using ADFD images
Color Me Creative - Favorite Copic Techniques
Speedy & Friends - Die Cut As A Background Mat
Clear It Out Tuesdays- Wings
Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Embossing
Crafts & Me - Summertime

Inspired Stamps Flowers & More Perfect Sentiments

My card today was a happy accident...  I was working on my first design team card for Inspired Stamps and stamped this cute tulip with stem and separate leaves to try coloring it with blue Copic markers.  What do you know... when it was dry my experiment worked - and that's how you have a "happy accident"!  

The Copic markers I used are YG67, YG63, YG61, B69, B66, B63, B60.  I cut it out with a square Spellbinders die and embossed it & went looking for something to dress it up.  I  found just the thing in this Spellbinders Square Eyelet (?) die.  I used my 1/8th" corner chomper tool on the edges of the white panel so they'd match the die it's layered onto.  I really like this new tool!  

I made the background paper with distress inks, Bundled Sage, Faded Jeans & Dried Marigold and an old Stampin' Up! Canvas background stamp.  My sentiment is by Inspired Stamps from the "More Perfect Sentiments" stamp set.  I inked it with Faded Jeans distress ink and I'm not real happy with the way it pooled on my clear stamp but that's what can easily happen with die inks.  My background is kind of aged looking so I suppose my sentiment should match with the same look.  The cardstock colors I used are Stampin' Up! Brilliant Blue & Garden Green with Neenah Solar White. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Digi's With Attitude - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenge - Pretty Blossoms

Sgt. Yarbrough's 1000 Card Challenge

In my internet travels this morning I came across a Facebook post on Operation Write Home's FB page about Sgt. Joshua Yarbrough that I wanted to pass on to you.

I've linked to the blog set up for him so you can read all the details.  He was injured in Afghanistan and his family is having a card drive for him to help with his recovery.  Their goal is 1000 cards and I know that we as cardmakers can easily meet that.

So if you'd like to help out go check out Sgt. Yarbrough's 1000 card challenge!  You'll find his story and progress reports there and where to send your hand made greetings cards.

Allison in a comment suggested I give a kleenex alert on this post, she's right.  Grab your box of tissues before you click the link and read about Sgt. Yarbrough... 
Thanks Allison!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Heart Song Designs Poppies

We have a new challenge starting today at the Stamps R Us challenge blog!  Our sponsor for this challenge is Heart Song Designs.  Our Stamps R Us design team have had the pleasure of using Heart Song Designs digital images, what a treat!  Leah has a collection of wonderful digital images you really should see.

For my card I used Poppies and colored them with Copic markers R39, R37, R35, R32, YG67, YG63, YG61, E44, E43.  Cut them out with a Spellbinders Mega Oval and matted with the Mega Oval Scallops die.  My sentiment is from the Papertrey Ink Take Three Fall stamp set and on the Papertrey Ink Banner die (I think).  

I used a different for me Copic red combination to color the poppies and found I didn't have cardstock or patterned papers that coordinated so I made my own.  I colored with the Red Copic markers on a 1/4 sheet of Neenah Solar White cardstock, added a little air brushing to it to try and smooth some of the overlapping edges.  I next spritzed my Penny Black Circular Design background stamp with Copic blending solution and stamped.  Holding the stamp down longer than I normally would if I'd "inked" it.  The colorless blending solution removes color and I really like this effect, it's kind of like a bleaching technique.   

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Stamps R Us - Through The Garden Gate

Make It Crafty Annalise & Ribbon Swing

I have a fun card I made to share with you today using merged images from Make It Crafty.  The girl is a separate image from the swing, she's called Annalise and the swing is called Ribbon Swing.  They have a challenge going on to merge some of their images and I wanted to play!

Annalise and her ribbon swing are colored with Copic markers YG67, YG63, YG61, C0, C00, C1, R20, R22, R24, E99, E25, E53, E44, E43, E42, E00, E000, E0000, BG10, BG11, BG13, BG72, BG75, B97, Y21, YR24, YR21.  I also made a cloud background using Stormy Sky distress ink.  

I used the "out of the box" technique with a Spellbinders circle die to cut her out and matted her with another Spellbinders Scalloped circle die.  I also used a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch for a border along the bottom and a couple of Cuttlebug embossing folders for texture.   The cardstock colors for my card are Neenah Navy Linen & Solar White, Stampin' Up! Cameo Coral and Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist.  I added two extra punched flowers to mirror the one in her hair and centers are Dew Drops, then two more Dew Drops down in the opposite left corner.  

I have a couple more digital images from Make It Crafty that I can't wait to color and make into cards.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Make It Colourful - Merged Images
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Karen's Doodles - Double Trouble, use 2 images
Crafts & Me - Favorites
Card Makin' Mama's - Summertime
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes
2 Sisters - Summer Fun

Penny Black Dressed Up Dog

I have a couple of fun cards to share with you that we made in a class recently.  This first one uses the Penny Black stamp Dressed Up Dog and my second card uses Penny Black's Garden Gossip wood mounted rubber stamp.  Most of the supplies we used to make our cards are available at our local craft store the Sugar Shack in Lake Havasu City, AZ.  

Tell Linda I sent you!

Both cards are colored with Copic markers, I have a supply list below and the red polka dotted and stripped papers are digital.  

PENNY BLACK   GARDEN GOSSIP CARD

Supply List –

Spellbinders Dies – Circles, Scalloped Circles

Flourishes Tag Lines Clear Set

Penny Black Garden Gossip wood mounted rubber stamp

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Crochet thread

Copic markers – E50, E31, E17, E25, RV10, R29, R27, R24

Cardstock –  Via Vellum Tan & Black, Neenah Solar White & Red Linen (printed with digital paper files). 

Penny Black DRESSED UP DOG 

Supply List –

Spellbinders Dies – square

Spellbinders Dies – labels, tags???

EK Success Edger Punch  

Sizzix Embossing Folder

Stampendous Birthday Assortment Clear Set

Penny Black Dressed Up Dog wood mounted rubber stamp

Kaiser Craft Black Half Pearls

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers – E50, E31, E17, RV10, E04, BG72, BG75

Cardstock – Color Mates Mist, Via Vellum Tan & Black, Neenah Solar White, Georgia Pacific White for the inside of the card. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Digi's With Attitude - Anything Goes
Divas By Design - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Cardmadfairy's - Use An Animal On Your Card
The Fuzzy Wuzzy - Get Punchy
It's A Colourful World Blogaversary Celebrations - Masculine/Unisex Cards

Clear Dollar Stamps Kitchen Clutter

I have a fun card to share with you today I made using the Clear Dollar Stamps Kitchen Clutter digital stamp set.  I used the pre-colored version of the digital images and two of the digital papers that come in this set.  

My layout is a sketch that I saved in a computer file, I didn't label where it came from so it's been there awhile.  I try to take note of where the sketches I use come from these days.  

The focal image is actually three of the digital images and a sentiment from the set merged to make a scene.  The bottom panel is one of the patterned papers and I added a red button with crochet thread threaded through it as a finishing touch. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Aud's Sentiments - Sentiment with at least 2 words

Doodle Pantry Quirky Alligator

I have another fun Doodle Pantry card to share with you today!  

I used the colored version of the Quirky Alligator digital stamp set for my card.  This digital stamp set is a "free with purchase" set for the month of July at Doodle Pantry.  

This was a fun quick card to make today.  I printed the cute alligator and one of the re-sized patterned papers that come in the digital stamp set on a sheet of Mohawk Bright White 110# cover stock and went to work.  My layout is from Sweet Sunday Sketch #123.  The additional cardstock colors I've used are Via Vellum Leaf Green & Sorbet Lemon Yellow.  I printed one of the sentiments from this set on the lemon yellow cardstock after changing the color to green and the finishing touch is three green Dew Drops from the Water collection.

Don't forget about Doodle Pantry's Digital challenge that started earlier this week, you still have plenty of time to get your entries in!

Thanks for visiting my blog today _

Challenges:

Doodle Pantry - Use A Doodle Pantry Digital Image

Penny Black Christmas Hedgie

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is Christmas In July!  This was a pretty easy challenge for me because I bought a bunch of Penny Black Christmas Hedgehog stamps last month.  They were on sale but the truth is I'm hopelessly addicted to Penny Black Hedgies right now.  

I almost tried coloring this one with greys but couldn't decide which ones, you know... Cool Grey, Warm Grey, Toner Grey, etc. so I went for my safe Hedgie colors in Copics R37, R24, R22, YR21, Y21, RV10, C00, C1, G0000, YG67, YG63, YG61, E25, E17, E50, E30.

I also added some stickles to the star on top of the tree, let it dry a little and added more Glossy Accents to seal any glitter that might flake off.  I used Spellbinders Octagon and Scalloped Octagon dies as well as a Tags Trio die and that what seems to be my "signature button" on the tag with crochet thread.  For a little texture on the white panel I used a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.  The cardstock colors I've used are Stampin' Up! Garden Green, Neenah Solar White & Red Linen.

I hope you'll join us for our Christmas In July challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Christmas In July

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - All Time Favorite Penny Black Stamp (ah just one?! The entire Hedgie collection please!)
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - No Designer Paper
Little Red Wagon - Christmas In July
The Paper Variety - Christmas In July

Doodle Pantry Balloon Ants New Release

I hope you had a nice 4th of July weekend!

It's time for new releases today at Doodle Pantry!  For my card I used one of the newest Doodle Pantry colored digital stamp sets and paper packs called Balloon Ants and Primary Patterns.

I printed the ants with their balloon & sentiment along with the red and white dotted paper that comes with the Balloon Ants and the striped paper that comes in the Primary Patterns digital paper pack all on one sheet of Mohawk Bright White 110# cover stock.  My layout is sketch #11 from Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps.  I added a strip of black ric rak to separate my stripes and dots, put it all together and have a quick cute card that will go in my Operation Write Home box.  

Laurie is releasing eight digital stamp sets and one digital paper pack today, be sure to stop by Doodle Pantry to see them all!  

It's also the first day of Doodle Pantry's Digital Challenge on the Doodle Pantry blog, you really should go check it out.

Thanks for visiting my blog today - 

Challenges:

Doodle Pantry - Use A Doodle Pantry Digital Image
Operation Write Home @ Brenda's Stamping Corner - Card for OWH
Crafty Cardmakers - Spots & Stripes
Creative Stamps Friends - Spots
Lexi's Creations - A Bugs Life

Welcome to my blog, 

if you're here for the Young Crafters Blog Hop please click here!

Changes...

Just a note to let you know you're in the right place!

I had another birthday go by a few days ago and felt the need for a "make over", a blog make over.  I've been playing with blogger templates and will probably being playing with more blogger templates until I settle on the one I really like.  For now I really like this one, it feels like Arizona in the summertime. 

I changed my blog name just a little too you may have noticed.  When I started my blog in 2007 I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator but have moved on to other things.  I have been using so many digital images in the last year or so I thought "going digital" might be more appropriate for my blog name.  Don't worry my blog address is still the same so I'll be easy to find - just maybe not as recognizable as before.

Thanks for your faithful support visiting me and leaving comments, it means a lot to me.

Jan