Jacaranda

Good Morning everyone and happy start to a new week!  Spring has finally sprung, and we have been enjoying beautiful

weather and gorgeous spring blossoms.  Don't know about you, but I just love this time of year.

In keeping with the season, today's card uses a beautiful pre-colored image from Doodle Pantry's Jacaranda set.  I needed a quick card, and using a pre-colored image help make this card a snap to put together.  I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar May Challenge -- Blooms and Blossoms

Challenges 4 Everybody #19 -- Anything Goes

2 Sisters Challenge #142 -- Bingo Bash (I used pearls, image and sentiment.)

Hiding in my Craft Room (HIMCR) #96 -- Name Your Colors (Used shades of blue and plum.)

Kraftyhands May Challenge -- Flower Frenzy

Card Mania Challenges CMC #20 -- Flower Power/Flower Magic

Craft Your Passion Challenge 161 -- Floral Delights

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great day!

Blog Candy Winners!

Thanks to all who entered their names for a chance to win a $15 Doodle Pantry gift certificate.  I used Random.org to choose the two winners:

The winners are #11-Miami Kei and #7-Sandi.  Congratulations ladies!

Kelly and Sandi -- please contact me by email so I can send you the necessary codes and information.  My email address can be found on my sidebar, just after my listing of followers.

Fancy Flamingos

Hi everyone!  Just a heads up to let you know that today's release day at Doodle Pantry.  Laurie has released 8 fabulous new digital sets, a new template/SVG, and 4 Color Plus sets of previous released images.  In addition,  there's a 25% off sale going on now through May 6, excluding gift certificates.

For today's release, I am thrilled to showcase Fancy Flamingo.  This  new set includes both colored and outline images, as well as digi papers and sentiments.  For my card above, I  combined 2 outline images and a sentiment from the set to make an anniversary card.  Coloring was done with Copics and colored pencils.  I also added some Spirelli string art around the scallop die cuts.

All patterned papers are from my scrap bin, including the flower, which I made for another project and never used. It feels so good to recycle some of the many leftover bits and pieces I've been saving.  Gotta do this more often!

I will be entering my card in the following challenges:

Whimsy Inspiration Challenge #58 -- pink

A Gem of a Challenge -- Going Green (All patterned paper and handmade flower were recycled from my scrap bin.)

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #121 -- Perfect Papers (Use at least 3 different patterned papers.)

Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge April 29 -- Anything Goes include sentiment

Artistic Inspirations Challenge -- Lots of Layers

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #110 -- Anything Goes

The Cutie Pie Challenge #43 --  Cute with Lots of Layers

Digi Makeover Challenge #86 -- Celebrations (Must use a digi.)

Party Time Tuesday PTT 118 -- Anything Goes

Creative Crafts Challenges 2 Challenge 9 -- All about animals

Bearly Mine Challenge #84 -- Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!!

Celebrating with Blog Candy!

(This post will remain on top until 4/30.  Please scroll down to see my latest post.)

Morning All!  As I just reached over 40,000 hits, I would like to thank all my followers and blogging buddies for your support, encouragement and lovely comments..  Thanks so much everyone!

To celebrate, I would like to share my love of digis by offering a $15 Doodle Pantry gift certificate to 2 lucky individuals.  To enter the drawing just leave a comment on this post and include your name and  blog's URL.  That's it!  

Leaving a comment on one of my cards would be appreciated, but not necessary to win.  You do not have to be a follower to be eligible to win.  I would only want you to follow me because you like my blog, not just for this chance at winning my blog candy.

You have until April 30 to enter.  Winners will be announce at the beginning of May.  Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a great day!

Swimming Mallard

Happy Sunday!  Hope everyone enjoyed their day.  Today, I have a Father's Day card to share.  I'm actually early for a  change.  I find masculine cards very hard to make, and usual put them off until the last minute. Well, when I first saw the new Doodle Pantry Notebook Paper set, it gave me an idea, and I couldn't wait to give it a try. 

Don't you just  love when an idea in your head works out on paper?  Not only am I happy that my design works, but I really like how the images, sentiment and digi paper from Doodle Pantry's Swimming Mallard Color Plus look merged on top of the lined paper.  Although I used pre-colored images, I did change the color of the notebook paper to match the tones in the patterened digi paper,  To add some dimension, I cut out a second copy of the duck image and adhere it over the first image with dimensionals.  I also embossed a panel of kraft (SU! crumb cake) cardstock for texture.  This is probably the first masculine card that I ever made that came together quickly and easily.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 180 -- Embossing

Crafty Catz Challenge 179 -- One for the boys  (can be for a child or an adult)

Paper Crafting Journey -- Use A Sentiment

Divas by Design Challenge -- Butterflies and Birds

CDAC Anything Goes Challenge Room -- 4/1 -- 6/30 Anything Goes

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

I have some blog candy up for grabs, click here if you are interested in entering your name to the draw.

Birthday Fairy

Hi All!  Here's my attempt at Stella Says Sketch 135.  I used Bugaboo's fun Stella Tidbits-Fairy Visit.  I changed up the sentiment a bit to make it more 'birthday fairy' appropriate.  Coloring was done with Copics.  I also paper pieced the dress and booties.  Glitter was added to the wings and wand, and gloss to the lens of the glasses.  IRL, there's lots of sparkle and shine.  

I will also be entering my card in the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges -- Color My World-anything colorful

Moving Along with the Times -- Fantasy or Fairies

Flutter by Wednesday #236-- Use a sentiment with your butterfly or fairy

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC254) -- Happy Birthday

Thanks for taking the time to visit.  I have some blog candy up for grabs.  Please click HERE to enter!

Smartypants!

Hi everyone!  You are in for a treat today because Doodle Pantry has released a bunch of new digital sets.  Since I couldn't choose just one of the new sets to showcase, I decided to merge a little something from 4 of the sets into one card.

First, I filled one of the new colorized jars from Bottle & Jar COLOR with a bunch of paperclips from Pencil & Paperclip COLOR plus.  After grouping the paperclips and jar together, I merged the jar on top of a sheet of lined paper from Notebook Paper (free with purchase for a limited time, Apr 16-24).  I then merged 3 pencils, also from the new Pencil & Paperclip set on top of the jar and paper.

I should mention, at this point, that all formatting, grouping and merging was done in a Microsoft Word document.  After I got all the images grouped the way I wanted them to look, I merged dotted digi paper "behind" the images.  I just love the look of the dotted digi paper peeking through the jar!

After cutting out and mounting my image to the card's base with dimensionals, I added my new (free with purchase) Smartypants sentiment on top.  Design includes dry embossing, banner die cuts, and metal embellishments including a 'real' paperclip.  What fun! 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenges 4 Everybody #18 -- Anything Goes

Sparkle N Sprinkle April Challenge -- Use a digital image

One Stitch At A Tie Challenge # 159 -- Bright Colors

Opus Glue Challenge #154 -- Color Challenge (brights or pastels)

Pile It On #15 -- Embossing

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #70 --  Die Cuts  and/or Dry Embossing ( I used both.)

Card Mania Challenge (MC) #18 -- Punches and/or Die Cuts

Make It Monday -- Always Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope you enjoy your day!!

Berry Nice Mice

Hi everyone, hope all is well!  This cutie image is from the Berry Nice Mice set, and it's the featured set for this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 33. This challenge runs through April 24 (9 PM eastern time).  All challenge participants who follow the theme/rules will be emailed this set for free!  Click here to view the challenge and preview all the goodies this set includes.  Sure hope you can join us!

Now about my card... I used the outline image from Berry Nice Mice, and colored the image with Copics and Irojiten Pencils.  I also added some shading around the edges with pastels.  Digital Papers used are from Quirky Snowmen.  The sketch I used is this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday #201.  I did turn the sketch on its side and used an oval instead of a rectangle to fit my image.  Hope that's okay!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #201 -- sketch

Shelly's Images TTT Challenge -- Use Scallops

Bearly Mine Challenge #81 -- Anything Goes

Paper Playtime Challenge #7 -- Use a Pun

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Humorous Birthday

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.  Lots of family and friends are celebrating birthdays next  month.  Here's a humorous birthday card I worked on this morning using a fun Stella image from Bugaboo.  Hope it gives you a chuckle.  I colored the image with Copics and Irojiten pencils.  I also added some liquid glass to the eyeglasses.  Papers are from MDS, and embellishments include baker's twine, punched flowers and rhinestones.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Bugaboo's Catch the Bug April Challenge -- Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 88 -- Humor

Dream Valley Challenge 54 - Happy Birthday

Artistic Inspirations Challenge 36 -- Anything Goes

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Flip Flops

Bring on Flip Flop weather... Today is release day at Doodle Pantry, and I have two cards to share which showcase the new set, Flip Flops. Talk about fun to work with!  This set comes with both colored and outline images, sentiments and digi papers.  AND the best part, this set is free with any purchase from April 5th through April 24th!  

For the card above, I used one of the digital papers that comes with the set for the background layer and also used the same paper to piece the insoles.  The straps and soles were colored with Copics and layered with clear gel.  The little flowers are "leftovers" from a punched border and topped with tiny pearls.  Finally, I added a ribbon belly band to hold the ornate tri-fold card base together.

For the next card, I resized the image and sentiment to fit my design.  I used dotted digi paper from Doodle Pantry's Watermelon Lunch set to die cut the borders and paper piece the insoles.  Instead of coloring, I glittered the straps and soles with MS glitter. The tiny flowers were die cut and the larger flowers were punched.  After adding the flowers, I finished up with lots of bling.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Many thanks for taking the time to stop by to see what I've been up to.

Happy Easter!

It's time for Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and marshmallow chicks... Happy Easter, everyone!

I finally had time today to make a card for some fun challenges.  It felt so good to be back in my craft room!  This cute Easter Star digital image is from Doodle Pantry.  I used Copics and colored pencils to color the image, and also paper pieced both stars with the help of Photoshop.  I sponged the main panel with SU! barely banana and Memento dandelion inks before heat embossing with clear EP mixed with dazzling diamonds.  Gilitter was also added to the outline of the small blue star.  Embellishments include diamond dots by Stampendous and punched flowers with colored rhinestones.  IRL, there's lots of sparkle and shine.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

2 Sisters Challenge 137 -- Sparkle and Shine

A Gem of a Challenge 73 -- Make It Cute

Crafty Calendar March Challenge -- Easter Egg-stravaganza (must be Easter related)

One Stop Craft Challenge 222 -- Easter

Just Add Ink 159 -- "Just Add Bunny's"

CDAC Seasonal Fun Challenge Jan thru March -- Seasonal Fun Theme

Enjoy the holiday and thanks so much for stopping by!

Spring Trimmings

Sorry, it's been a while.... I had some computer problems that sidetracked my crafting.  Fortunately, the genius at the Apple Store was able to work his magic.  My computer is fixed, and I am a happy camper playing with some new digital sets.

For this Easter card I combined colored images from 2 new CDS sets, Spring Trimmings, illustrated by Laurie Wilson, and the fun notepaper image from Cool Camera, illustrated by Lisa Lara.  For the image panel, I merged a row of colored eggs from Spring Trimmings and a sentiment from Doodle Pantry on top of the notepaper image.  Then I framed the 'notepaper' with a layer of pumpkin pie, 2 layers of chevron border die cuts and finally my little basket of Easter eggs adhered with dimensionals.

The indigo blue background panel was embossed with a chevron EF.  I layered two different sizes of white chevron die cuts on top, then angled the image panel on top.  Hard to believe there is a total of 8 layers and that's not counting the flower with leaves made with the help of MS punches that have been in my stash for a number of years.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Oldie but A goodie Challenge -  Easter (MS punches, used to make the flower & leaves, have been in my stash for years.)

The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge TPE191 -- Easter

Digital Tuesday Challenge #202 -- Easter

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #104 -- Happy Easter

Outlawz Monday Greetings Card Challenge for March 18 -- Layer It Up

Clearly Inspired Challenge #71 -- Anything Goes

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sweet Baby!

Happy news!  We have a new addition to our family.  My niece and her husband have a new bouncing baby boy,  He is the sweetest.

Thanks to Paper Take Weekly Challenge and Lil of the Valley for making this card possible!  Last month I won the Paper Take Weekly (anything goes) Challenge sponsored by Lili of the Valley.  I used the winning voucher to purchase some gorgeous, illustrated Lili of the Valley (mini masterpieces) die cuts.  The cute bear I used for this card was one of them.  I don't think I could have found a more perfect image to welcome baby Miles.

Now about my card...   When working with pre-colored images, or in this case a colored illustration, one tip I would like to share is to add some additional coloring and/or shading to enhance the image and make it your own.  I also used pastels to shade the embossed edges of the image panel to make the embossing pop. Finally, I used a second copy of the same image to cut out one of the balloons and added it to the image panel with dimensionals.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots Challenge March 4 -- Old, New, Borrowed or Blue

My Crafty Spot Monday Challenge #90 -- Sweet Baby

Deep Ocean Challenge 47 -- Cute and Cuddly

Fab' n' Funky Challenge #162 -- Add a Sentiment

Nutcrafters Challenge #38  -- Something beginning with 'B'  (I used balloons, bear, button, bow, blue.)

Top Tip Tuesday 96 -- Up, Up and Away - Theme is balloons, spaceships, planes, etc.  

Hope everyone is enjoying their week.  Thanks for stopping by!!

Oh Yummy

Happy Sunday!  Doodle Pantry is sponsoring this week's  Pile it On Challenge #10 -- Oh Yummy; and this is the card I created for the challenge. The colored image and digi paper are from the DP set -- Juicy Strawberry COLOR with digi papers.  The sentiment is from another DP set -- Berry Pie.  Don't know about you, but I can't wait for this year's crop of local fresh strawberries.  YUM!  

It was very easy to merge the digi paper and image. First, I j copied and pasted the digi paper into a Word document.   Then copied and pasted the strawberry image (to the same document) in front of the digi paper.  The image as well as sentiment were cut out with dies, then mounted to the square panel.  I embellished the silk flower (which has been in my stash for ages) with Flower Soft, and added leaves which were die cut with a Spellbinders die.  The woven tape is another hoarded item from my stash that I salvaged from a shopping bag.  

I will also be entering my card in the following challenges:

Cards by Lady Anne's Challenge #7 -- Sentimental for Friday-Anything Goes thru March 28

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #157 -- Punch It! (must use dies and/or punches)

Clearly Inspired Challenge #70 -- Use Die Cuts

Creative Moments Challenge #12 -- Add a Sentiment

Paper Playtime Challenge #5 -- Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper Challenge -- March "Anything Goes"

Oldie But A Goodie Challenge -- Feeling Floral ( The silk flower, Flower Soft & woven tape have been in my stash a 

 number of years.)

Outlawz Paper ala Mode Challenge (PAM03092013) March 9-15 -- Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope everyone in the States remembered to turn their clocks ahead -- welcome to daylight savings time!

Puppy Presents for St. Patrick's Day

Hi everyone!  This cute image is from Doodle Pantry's new Puppy Presents set; and, for a limited time, this set is "free with purchase" from March 1 through March 24.  Here's a view of what's included: 

For my card, I used one of the outline images included in the set. To dress up the pup for St Patrick's Day, I merged a pre-colored hat from Irish Birdie and some green grass from Cuddly Bear Color. I colored the image with Copics, pastels and colored pencils blended with gamsol. I used lots of different die cuts and added glitter to the hat and clover.  I also added paper piercing and Spirelli string art  to the image prior to adhering to the card's base.  What fun!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #102 -- Luck of the Irish

Party Time Tuesday Challenge PTT#110 - Die Cuts

Card Caravan Challenge THCCC39 -- Fur or Feather

613 Avenue Create Challenge -- Anything Goes w/Optional Tic-Tac- Toe (I use glitter, digi stamp and green.)

The Corrosive Challenge #169 -- All that Glitters

Paper Playtime Challenge #5 -- Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting!  Hope everyone on the East Coast who are expecting the snow storm stay safe and warm.

Feeling washed out?

I'm so glad March is here... Spring is just around the corner!  The first of March brings a new release by Doodle Pantry, and today I get to share a card made with one of the new sets, Washin' Board.  

I used 2 of the outline images as well as one of the sentiments from this set to create a fun get well card. To chase away the winter blues, I chose a bright color palette, and used Copics to color the images in matching tones.  Several different layers were cut out with the help of dies.  The images were cut out by hand, and mounted to the dotted scallop circle using dimensionals.   

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps Challenge -- Ue your 3 favorite things (dotted papers, circle dies, buttons)

Bearly Mine Challenge #75 -- Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesdays Challenge PTT#109 -- Anything Goes

Make It Monday Challenge #129 -- Always Anything Goes

Whoopsidaisy Challenge -- Add a sentiment

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #152 -- Use a Digi

Oldie But A Goodie Challenge -- Bright Colors  (Old Things -- pattern papers and retired 'really rust'  card stock)

Crafts  and Me Challenge #122 -- Dies or Punches

CDAC Anything Goes Challenge Jan. 15-Mar.31 -- Anything Goes

A big welcome to the newest members of the Creative Team!  Be sure to stop by Doodle Pantry to see the new release.  You won't be disappointed.  In addition, from March 1 - 3 ONLY there's a 20% off coupon being offered (see Specials).  Coupon Code is SPRINGME.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Tulips in a Bottle

Hi All,  When I saw this week's Sweet Wednesday Sketch 194-5, I couldn't wait to play.  It's very clean and quick, perfect for whipping up some Easter cards.  I combined  2 Doodle Pantry sets, Tall Tulip and Bottle & Jars, to create a vase of tulips for Easter. 

I colored and shaded the bottle with Copics before coating with Liquid Glass and a sprinkle of glitter.  Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show the dimension or how sparkly the bottle is.   I also used Copics to add some coloring and shading to the pre-colored tulips to make them my own. 

I will also be entering this card in some other great challenges: 

Crafting by designs -- Anything Goes

Fab' n' Funky Challenge 159 -- Flower Power

City Crafter Challenge Week 147 -- All that Glitters

Our Daily Bread Challenge ODBDSLC143 -- Easter

I really had fun making this card.  Have a great weekend and hope you get some time to craft .  Many thanks for stopping by!

Bandaids and Tissues

Hi All!  Here's a get well card I just finished using two new sets from Doodle Pantry. -- Bandaid and Soup and Tissues. The Bandaid set is a new freebie and includes both outline and colored images, sentiments and digi paper.  I used one of the digi papers from this set for my background layer, and also paper pieced it to the borders of the tissue box... (This image is from the Soup and Tissues set.)  Coloring of the tissues was done with Copics.  I also added some sponging (blush blossom ink).   

I used the bandaid image to spell out the word, HEAL, and merged it over a larger bandaid.  After grouping them together, I merged them in front of  the tissue box.

Off to make some homemade chicken soup.  Will be delivering the soup and card to a neighbor, who just came home from the hospital.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!

Hoppy Easter

Hi everyone, sorry It's been a while, but the past few days have been filled with preparations for company, football, and celebrating the Ravens' Superbowl win.  Life is finally back to normal, and I have a fun project to share with you today.  

Since I've been yearning for Spring, I thought I would get a jumpstart on Easter projects.   This month, Laurie updated one of my favorite Doodle Pantry sets, Cozy Gazebo. Click here to see my original post .  

The new updated color set is called Gazebo Color Plus, and it includes both colorized and outline images, as well as digi papers.  I merged the colored gazebo with digis from other DP sets --  bunny image and sentiment are from Easter Bunny and the Easter eggs are from Quirky Bunny.  What fun!  

I will be entering my card in the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges -- Think Spring (pastel Colors)

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 113 -- Ribbons and Bows

Papertake Weekly Challenge February 5 - Anything Goes

Crafty Ribbons Challenge 38 -- Anything Goes with Ribbon

Allsorts Challenge Week 192 -- Lets Get Cute

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Love Star

Happy February!  Today's release day at Doodle Pantry, and I am thrilled to share a card I made using the new Love Star set.  This is the third in a series of decorative star images that Laurie has created.  I love each and every set and hope she continues to make more for other holidays and seasons.

I colored the image with Copic and added glitter to the central heart.  The digi papers that I used for the star and bow are also from the Love Star set.  The sentiment is from SU!/MDS.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Lady Anne's Challenges -- 5th Stamp Anything Goes

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC243 -- Square Cards

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #46 -- Valentines

The Perfect Sentiment (PSC64) -- Anything Goes with a Die-Cut

The Stamping Chef -- Love

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #100 -- Anything Goes

Twisted Tuesday Challenge (2TC42) -- Show us what you got-Anything Goes

Hope everyone has a fabulous February!  Thanks so much for the visit and Happy Crafting!!