Easter is {almost} here...

Here is my favorite card I've made using the new Doodlefactory Easter & All About Easter sets!  

It's no secret I love to paper-piece so when I first saw this set I knew I would have fun paper-piecing this clothed bunny couple!  I just love the exuberance displayed by Buttons and the sweet look on Stella's face.  

I stamped them on kraft cardstock and used Easter Key Ingredients designer paper by My Mind's Eye for their clothes & some of the easter eggs.  I also used some shamrock flower soft for grass - that stuff is so cool!  What little coloring I did on this card was done with prismacolor pencils and white highlights on the ears, eyes & freckles was done with a white gel pen.  

Thanks for visiting today!!  

Bluebell Easter Blessings

Bluebell from Doodlefactory Easter is here to wish you Easter Blessings! Isn't she pretty? I used all SU! in colors for this card: Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze & Pacific Point and had the perfect pink satin ribbon I got at Hobby Lobby to match. The white button on the ribbon is from SU!'s new Button latte assortment.

If you'd like to get your own set of DF Easter - don't forget you can get 10% off your SA/DF images by using code SAVETENDB at checkout!

Are YOU a Doodlefactory Fan who has to get your fix?! Well Irene, the Doodlefactory Illustrator just posted some awesome blinkies for your blog and they are quick to upload! Get yours HERE!

2S4Y: Starving Artistamps Sponsor Easter Lamb!

Here is Yoop the Lamb by Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Easter! Isn't she cute?? She is here to celebrate that He is Risen on Easter Sunday with a purple tulip for you! This is the
2 Sketches 4 You sketch 21 by Laura this week, which is sponsored by Starving Artistamps. Be sure to play for a chance to win some free stamps! Be sure to check out the details so you don't miss the deadline and have fun stamping!

Fun with ATC and < 30 Min Card Doodlefactory-Style!

Have you even seen the cuteness that is Doodlefactory Easter yet?? You still have a few more HOURS to get in the drawing for a free set at the Starving Artistamps blog! Go there after you see what I made using the set!! The Ways to Use it challenge {WT208} on SCS this Thursday was to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card 2.5" x 3.5" canvas) which I think are a lot of fun to make! Mine showcases the adorable Georgie popping out of the easter egg excited bunny-style! I got my inspiration for the colors from the ribbon below that I got from my sweet friend Lee (a fellow lover of pink & brown!)
and here is Georgie on a full-sized card pairing it with papers from the DCWV Sweet stack, an assortment of sweets and fun patterns using sweet colors!! I ust love the sentiment, 'where's the chocolate' from Doodlefactory All About Easter set. See the inspiration ribbon I got the colors for this card from? It really IS sweet and ties in the spots on the egg!

For those of you who have seen Georgie is facing right in the set and wonder how I got him facing left to work with the egg, I used a mirror image stamp (it's a solid stamp). You just ink your image and stamp on the mirror image and stamp on your paper. I usually get a much lighter shade than the ink I'm using so after I color, I usually will go over the image with a permanent marker (in this case in Savannah, GA I found a great art supply store and got a nice brown pen, it's made by Faber-Castell-it's Indian Ink, waterproof). I think it really makes him pop because it's darker than my coloring.

My next card I made for the Limited Supplies challenge on SCS - {LSC210} to make a card in 30 mins or less and I thought the safest way for me to pull that feat off since it takes me much longer than that nowadays, was to make a one-layer card. Uses Gina K's base weight white cardstock which is sturdy, takes ink like a dream and there is no bleed through with coloring. On this card, I used all of Georgie (on the left) and his girlfriend Freckles who he is presenting with a flower from his garden. The sentiment is also from All About Easter. Like their fuzzy tails? I searched high & low for my pink pom poms but ever found them. However I realized I had some white felt and it serves the same purpose. I like to improvise like that. They are colored with peerless watercolors.

Hope you enjoyed these fun Easter images! I'll have more to share this week! In case you don't win the DF set, you can always go shopping with a 10% discount code {savetendb} in the store for any Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps!

Tropical Cliff, Teeko & Huts!

Here are 3 more cards using the Doodlefactory Set the Scene 1 Tropical Backdrop! 

More Doodlefactory Backdrops!

I have a few Doodlefactory backdrops to share with you! The first one highlights the pigeons from Set the Scene 3 & 4 Rooftops backdrop. I made the rooftops muted so the pigeons & heart from Sweets 'n Hearts stand out. The sentiment is from the Valentine's Sentiments.

My next card uses Set the Scene 1 & 2 Countryside backdrop, and Blox is placed in this one! I love it with him and that sentiment...because who thinks pigs are beautiful creatures? Well, I for one am carnivorous & LOVE pork, in fact for dinner tonight we are having our favorite BBQ shredded pork sandwiches from a recipe I got here. So I do think Blox is cute, and beautiful after all God created him (but Irene drew him!). I glitterfied his snout, some trees, mountains & clouds with stickles. Sorry I failed to capture the sparkle for you.

Did you know? If the Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps appeal to you & you want to get some, you can get 10% off your order with the following discount code at checkout: savetendb

SA/DF Challenge - You Want Piece of Me?!?!?

Check out the Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory challenge posted at PCP - 

get out your stamps & paper-piece them!  Hope you can play!  This card is my sample 

from the blog hop a few weeks ago using the new Countryside backdrop!  

CPS sketch 102: Sponsor Starving Artistamps

CPS102 is sponsored by Starving Artistamps today! Be sure to get out there & play you can win some SA/DF stamps!! I just had to get Moki out with the new Set the Scene Tropical backdrop for my card. I just love this dudette and now she has a place to practice the hula & show off her pretty leis. I used my Prima Hydrangeas on the bottom of the main panel. I used my peerless watercolors and finished off her leis & hula skirt with copic at you spica pen (clear) and the sea foam is covered with stardust stickles.

Did you check out the blog hop from Saturday with the Starving Artistamps' design team debuting all the backdrops? If not, here is the link showing you where to start. I was just blown away by all the different styles, techniques & ideas shown! how fun it is!!

**don't forget you can get 10% off your Doodlefactory stamps at Starving Artistamps by entering savetendb in the coupon code box in your shopping cart & hit re-calculate!** Free shipping with a $65 order!!

From Courtney's Closet - A Birthday cupcake

Did you see Libby's Little Cupcake turned 1 year old last week??!  Well, to celebrate, Libby posted her usual From Courtney's Closet challenge (which are real fun, she takes an adorable picture of her in a cute outfit & we take inspiration from it to create a card).  I just had to play this week because I love her little Cute as a Cupcake shirt!  Also Libby is giving away a sweet cupcake-themed prize package to one lucky winner and well, I am motivated by free stuff so here you go!  Plus any excuse to use a cupcake stamp I'm all over!!

I wasn't going to stamp tonight so I could rest & get caught up on my DVR shows and well, I ended up making this card in about 10 minutes anyway!  These CAS (clean & simple) cards are not always easy to make but I knew I had the perfect cupcake stamp for it that was begging to be inked up!  It's in the **Doodlefactory Sweets 'n Hearts set and the sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings which was so fun to ink up in different color markers just like Courtney's shirt!  I colored it with peerless watercolors and topped it with rhinestone sprinkles (sorry about the bad photo, it was a long 9 hour day) and liquid pearls for icing.  There's also a little glaze on the cherry.  YUM!  wish I had a cupcake in my hands RIGHT NOW! 

**if you're interested in getting any Doodlefactory stamps at Starving Artistamps you can get 10% off your order any time!  Just use savetendb in the coupon code box in your shopping cart & hit re-calculate!** Free shipping with a $65 order!!

New Doodlefactory Release Backdrops!!!

Welcome to the Starving Artistamps Design Team first ever blog hop with our NEW release!  I hope you traveled to my blog from Lisa, but if you didn't - you will want to start at the beginning to be sure you don't miss anything!  Remember, you need to visit them ALL** (see below for a complete list of blogs to visit), because somewhere there is info on entering to win some FREE stamps!!  

One of the reasons I fell in love with Starving Artistamps' Doodlefactory Collection last year, was the uniqueness of the characters; Irene the illustrator draws thick lines and each of the characters has a name and usually funny-looking eyes.  It's so easy to tell a story with these unique stamps and since I love to make scenes on my cards, these images are right up my alley and the NEW Set the Scene Backdrops are PERFECT to go with ALL your DF images (and possibly more!?) I couldn't have been more excited about this new possibility for card (and scrapbook) making!!

In my first card, I use the awesome mysterious JUNGLE BACKDROP complete with huge corral snake (but I didn't color it the traditional colors of red & black)** Disclaimer -some of you hate snakes but I LOVE 'em!!  This snake will NOT harm you, and you will not spontaneously combust if you use it on your card or color it with pretty colors**

I'll never forget the first time I had a python wrapped around me and the owner said that she thought the snake liked me since it looked right at me.  One of these days I would love to own one but since my loved ones are against it, it hasn't become a reality (plus, I don't want to risk it killing one of our cats-yikes!).  I used Pogue from The Great Outdoors because he looks absolutely frightened he sees a snake in the jungle!  But seriously, doesn't the sweet smile on the snake make you feel a little better??? I colored my images with peerless watercolors and the 'not!' is american crafts thickers.  I used the paper-tole technique on some of the leaves.  
  
My next card uses the ROOFTOPS BACKDROP (it also comes with 2 pigeons but I did not use them on my card (other DT members will, though!)  On my card, I whipped out Guaco from Urban who is planning to gather his friends for a night out on the town - of course, to PAINT it RED (from Urban sentiments #2)  I chose not to color the backgound buildings to make Guaco and his spray-painting stand out. 

My 3rd card uses the TROPICAL BACKDROP - so fun for all your Summer cards!!  I used Frozey from the DF Creatures and made him some swim shorts & matching surfboard from some dp.  The sentiment is from Tropic Sentiments 1  Special thanks to my awesome DH John who really loves my DF stamps and was willing to help me come up with ideas for these cards (it was his to use Frozey & give him swim trunks, but he wanted the sentiment, "wish you were here" but I don't have that so I went with Hang 10 Dude - after all, that's surfer talk, right??

My last card uses the COUNTRYSIDE BACKDROP and DF Animal Basel (Mama & Baby) who lost their way from the flock & their shepherd and are trying to find their way back.  I paper-pieced the WHOLE scene, which really was not that hard, just a lot of planning because of the different patterns I wanted to use from Basic Grey Urban Prairie (isn't that fitting, since it's the countryside?) 

I didn't have room to put my sentiment on the outside of the card - so here is a picture of the inside - the sentiment is from DF Outdoors.

So there you have it, samples from all 4 new BACKDROPS!   Please tell me what YOU think, which is your FAVORITE backdrop and which card is your FAVORITE that I made, k??   Don't forget if you'd like to purchase these new DF stamps, you can save 10% at checkout by putting SAVETENDB in the coupon code box & recalculate!  

**Here is a complete list of bloggers for your HOP - once again, be sure to visit them ALL because somewhere (I'm not even sure of where) there is blog candy to be won!  woohoo! 

SA/DF Blog

Juliana

Lisa

Donna B (me)

Donna D

Kathy 

Lori 

Lydia 

Andrea

Natasha 

Heidi 

Leigh

Irene (the DF illustrator extraordinaire) 

SA/DF NEW IMAGES COMING - SAVE THE DATE!!

I am so excited! Right now I am working on samples with NEW Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory Collection that will be released this Sat. Feb 7 10:00 a.m. CST!

SAVE THE DATE!!!

We would LOVE to invite you to visit us on February 7th for our first ever DoodleFactory new release blog hop! The Hop will start HERE on the Starving Artistamps Blog - be sure to add to your Reader or Subscribe so you don't miss it, or bookmark it, write on a post-it note, or on your hand like my DH does, so you can see all the FABULOUS samples the DT has to share with you! I am SO STOKED (you will understand more on Sat!) *wink* We will even have blog candy to give away free stamps but you have to visit all the blogs on the hop to find the details!

Esme the Owl loves you

look at Esme - isn't she the cutest owl??  I just adore Irene's style (illustrator for Doodlefactory stamps) and have so much fun stamping with her images.  I thought Esme from the new Valentine's remix set would be real fun to paper-tole with because of all her detail.  I wanted to keep my card simple & clean & kraft cardstock would fit the bill since I wanted to use my prismacolor pencils (they look so good on kraft).  The sentiment is from Valentine's sentiments.

RoSe Special Delivery

What red-blooded woman doesn't love to receive red roses not only for Valentine's Day but ANY day of the year?  As for me, I prefer the lighter colored roses with darker tips, like peach/orange, but I digress.  Here is a special delivery of Rose for you!!  Rose is from the new DF Valentine remix set - isn't she cute with her little flirty eyes?  I colored her with peerless watercolors. 
 
Surprise!  Here's a box of chocolates for you too, and some hearts and hugs & kisses! What more could a gal ask for?? I love making pop-up cards but this is just my 3rd one!  Check out the other two if you go back to February 2008 archives with Just so Hoppy set.  The images on the inside are from the DF Sweets 'n Hearts set!  

Here's a picture of how I did the pop-up, it's super easy and by using the same color cardstock on the cardbase as you do on your pop-up section, it blends right in! Let me know if this inspires YOU to make a pop-up card & please link it so I can see!!

Helping Irene make a rainbow

I was tickled to read a blog post from Irene today, illustrator of Doodlefactory images for Starving Artistamps, she realized she is a 'stamper' now!  It's hard to believe she's only been stamping for a few months now, but considering she is an 'artist' it just makes sense that she is a great stamper already (**although she doesn't quite believe it yet**)  Go check out her blog & see for yourself!?  

Anyway, on to my card - I made it for a challenge she issued on PCP to make a monochromatic card.  I chose to use purple in her honor (she was disappointed she wanted to make a purple one & didn't have any purple stuff!)  Of course purple used to be my favorite color (it's pink now) and I have to tell you about when it changed for me.  It was a few years ago on a trip to CA to visit my family.  Well I saw an older (by that I mean she had to be in her late 50's to early 60's) and there was NO mistaking that purple was her favorite color!  She was BATHED in it.  The first thing that caught my eye was the rather large carry-on purple bag she was trying to stuff under the seat in front of her.  Then I saw her purple socks, purple embellished jeans, purple shirt, purple jacket & purple velvet sequined hat.  But it doesn't end there, she had a purple purse & purple bling sunglasses too.   Can you say purple overload?  Well, she happened to be out at the baggage claim after we got off our flight & then I saw ALL her purple luggage and saw that she pulled out purple after purple after purple accessory from her purple purse!  Whoa...I was done with the color purple!!  

So back to my card - I used Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence and Eggplant Envy by SU! and the heart set is Sweets & Hearts by Doodlefactory, I just love all the different patterns in the hearts! they were real easy to stamp on the front of my card since it was tone on tone and I haven't separated all the hearts from the rubber yet.  The sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings. 

Don't forget you have until tomorrow to participate in the Stamp Something Birthday Challenge sponsored by Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory & you don't have to have SA/DF sets to play but you can win this set along with the Valentine's Remix set and Valentine's sentiments! WOW!!

It's a sweet day when I hang around with you

Here is Sprinkles & Carmello wishing you a sweet day from Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Valentine's remix set!!  I just love the big size of these sweets and the cute looks on their faces!! The sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings 

This card uses Rollo & Polly - aren't these pigs cute?!  I made a sign for the sentiment which is from the Valentine's sentiments. I love stamping & coloring on kraft cardstock, used my prismacolor pencils.  

Don't forget to participate in the Stamp Something birthday challenge so you can win the random drawing of new Valentine's DF sets since the challenge is sponsored by Starving Artistamps! You have until 7:00 p.m. CST to upload your creation on the stamp something blog!!  Now go stamp something to win!!

Shabby Flowery Postage

I'm so excited this week it's Gina K's new release and sneak peeks are going to start on Tuesday on Gina & the design team's blogs at midnight CST.  Joining us this month In the Spotlight is Mary Anderson!

Here is a card I made last month for the release but have not shared on my blog (and it was one of my favorite cards I made!)  I love Tropical Flowers although I am not a huge fan of solid stamps, I am of flowery solid stamps!!   I took out my postage stamp by Starving Artistamps (which is so cool since you don't have to print up the template every time you want to do postage, I just hand write the postage price with my copic multiliner pen.    

The Gina K Release Party is on Thursday evening, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. CST!  Hope to 'see' you there!  

On a personal note:

Friday evening my DH was in a serious car accident; rear-ended on his way home from work.  The guy was going about 40-50 mph and never stopped for the stop light (said he was trying to make a call & then when the wife came around, it was trying to get a soda that dropped).  He hit so hard that the lady in front of John said his car bowed in the middle & then popped out to the right of the lane.  In the pics he took immediately after, the guy who hit him ended up just inches in back of the car John was behind!  It was crazy - oh and I was on the phone with him when it happened & heard the crunch.  Prayed immediately and had peace but had to wait for him to call back to tell me the car was totaled (it's o.k. since he was o.k. he's the one not replaceable after all)  I know God/angels surely were protecting him and I am thankful!!).  Went to pick him up & it was surreal - the car was smashed in front & back and since I was in survival mode, I did not lose it there, just got things done (like clearing out his vehicle, getting him some dinner once we got home).  Then Saturday morning I cried as we laid in the bed together, so grateful he was with me.  

He is a little banged up (arm bruises, cuts and knee jammed into the dash) and his neck hurts quite a bit but thank God he didn't end up in the hospital!  He'll make an appt with the chiropractor soon.  Now it's time to get the ball rolling on all the stuff to take care of in the aftermath!  Oy - not fun.  

On a happier note - we are going on a weekend getaway to Savannah, GA this Friday morning!  We're excited and I think in light of all the busyness from the holidays, both of us being sick & the accident, it will be good for us to get away, reconnect & have fun together!  Oh and appreciate the fact that he is still here.  I can't thank God enough for that.  *smile*

Stamp Something Challenge Sponsored by Starving Artistamps!

There's a fun challenge going on at Stamp Something blog! The challenge is to stamp something Birthday! how fun/easy is that?! Next, the prize is sponsored by Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory and a prize is up for grabs!! You have until Thursday, January 22 7:00 p.m. CST to upload & link your creation on the Stamp Something blog to be eligible to win!

For my card, I used Banjo from the new DF Valentine's Remix set & paired him up with a truck from Country (sentiment from Animal & Farm) and to complete my scene, the trees from Halloween (Spring Flower Soft for the blooms) and all the birthday presents are from Santa's Sweet Shoppe. Banjo is driving to his buddies waiting for him at the party! So head on over to STAMP SOMETHING birthday & the Starving Artistamps gallery to check out the other's party creations!!

SC211: BeE-CaUsE I LoVe YoU

I actually did an SCS challenge the day & posted!  Can you believe it?  I thought today's sketch was a lot of fun & I had this idea for a card in my head for a few days.  The envelope was already done & was just sitting on my desk begging to be put on a card!  I didn't take pictures while I was making it, but it's pretty easy how I did it.  I stamped the envelope from Starving Artistamps' Doodlefactory Valentine Re-mix set on the upper part of my cardstock then scored at the bottom of it & folded it backward.  Then I drew in the top of the envelope and cut around the sides of the heart (removed tthe flap so there is an 'inside' of the envelope).  Make sense?  Then, I cut all around the bottom & glued it up on the sides only so now the sentiment can be slipped inside the envelope.  So fun!  

I embossed the chubby bee (Beezley) in black embossing powder and colored him in with SU! markers Yoyo yellow & Summer Sun.  The glittery cardstock behind Beezley is DCWV summer glitter stack and his wings have star dust stickles on them.  The cardbase is PTI Lemon Tart & cb embossing folder d'vine swirl is on Summer Sun cardstock.  The flower embellishment is Prima and I colored in my black gingham ribbon with a yellow copic marker.  

Are you envious of all the fun I'm having with my new stamps?  Well, check 'em out & if you have to have 'em - be sure to check out my sidebar for a 10% discount on Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps at the website.  

Bee Mine or I'll steal your Heart

I'm having so much fun with my new SA/Doodlefactory Valentine remix set!!  On my first card, I chose to make it one layer using Gina K's pure luxury 120 lb cardstock (and I was going to color with copics)  I just love this flying chubby bee, and chose to have him holding the small envelope in his hands and paired him with Violet in the set (both were fun to color).  Then, I drew in a grass line but didn't realize until later that I should have colored it in before I put the shamrock green flower soft down because now you can see my line!  oops.  I think the card is still cute and besides if it looks perfect, it won't look homemade!  HA.  I also put down some other flower soft flowers to finish it off. The Bee Mine sentiment is from All About Love. 

For my card featuring the sneaky heart thief, Banjo - I made a Swedish Collage card.  I gotta tell you, this type of card is FUN because it goes against all you think makes a clean, cohesive design on a card because you use a BOLD mix of patterned paper, chipboard & fun embellishments! This is my 2nd time making one (remember the SA Swedish Collage challenge a few months ago issued by Tracey?) I said the first time I made one I would do it again & I made good on that promise *wink*  These cards always make me smile - they're so cheerful.  The sentiment You Stole my Heart is in the Valentine's Sentiments.  

Sending Love Stewie Is

I was so happy to get the mail today - new SA/DF Valentine's sets!! I just had to make a Stewie card (aka Maggie - our neighbor's dog) and wanted to make Stewie center stage so I kept my card real simple. I just love pink, black & white together! It was good to get my hearts cb folder out again. Sending Love sentiment is from All About Love

Tonight was the first time I stamped since last Sunday, suddenly I got sick on Weds. morning and by the afternoon I had a fever up to 101.00, had hardly anything to eat because my stomach hurt so badly, had a raging headache & was so weak I was hardly able to sit up for any length of time. My fever broke some time during the night but John made me stay home from work again today to be sure I got more rest & didn't prolong being sick. I didn't stamp this card until 4:00 when I finally started to get a little energy back. I believe in the power of prayer, I know that's why I wasn't sick for long but have no idea where it came from (well, I think it was lingering around in my body since I got sick Christmas Eve) but it's been years since I've had a fever. The shining part of my day was when my sweet 2 1/2 year old niece called to talk to me and cheered me up! Little did she know how sick I was! She really made my day!! Now poor John he's had continual congestion for so long it's not funny, he has an appt. with an ear, nose & throat Dr. next month and we hope he has some answers to why he has continual drainage, phlegm, etc.

edited to add: don't forget if you'd like to buy any of the new Doodlefactory Valentine's stamps - you can get a 10% discount using the following code at checkout: savetendb