Doodle Pantry - Guest Designer

I was thrilled when Laurie at Doodle Pantry asked me to create a project using the Texas Star new release, the first in a new line of state-inspired digital stamps.  Why did she ask me?  Because she and I are both Texans - who else would want to create a Texas-inspired card?!  I love this new digi stamp set because not only did Laurie design the Texas Star but she separated all of the elements out and gives you those images as well.  Check out what I did with them!

On this card I used the whole pre-colored Texas Star image along with Deconstructed Sketch #54.  The sentiment is also part of this fabulous set. My card is 4.25 x 4.25" so it still fits into a standard envelope. The twine is from We R Memory Keepers and the blue cardstock is SU! Brocade Blue.

I love bluebonnets - they make me think of my grandmother because she loved them so!  This time I wanted to show you how versatile this set really is.  I used the separated out element of the pre-colored bluebonnet and copied it several times.  Again, the sentiments are part of the Texas Star set.  The patterned paper is from Doodle Pantry's Texas set.  I used OWH Stars & Stripes sketch #56 and the Sizzix branch with leaves die to fill in the empty hole to the left of the image.  The card stock is Midnight Muse and Brocade Blue from SU! and red from my stash.

Doodle Pantry has very reasonable prices and great specials.  In fact, until April 17 you can save 45% on your entire order AND get a newly released set free with purchase. What are you waiting for?  It's time to go shopping! Don't forget to play along in the monthly challenge with your newly purchased goodies and get another set free just for playing along PLUS a chance to win a gift certificate.  The challenge deadline is April 24.

Doodle Pantry Dolphins

If you follow my blog, then you know that I love to CASE other people's cards.  That means if I see something I like, then I want to re-create it.  In my mind, this is one of the highest compliments that can be paid to another card maker!  Today I'm CASE'ing a card by Lisa Oliver - a fellow OWH card maker and fellow Doodle Pantry Design Team member.  I love the polka dot ribbon - the way she used it makes it lie very flat which is perfect for cards that go overseas to our troops and back again to their families and friends!  This card was so much fun to make that I made several at one time.

LISA'S CARD:

MY CARD:

Card Supplies:

Doodle Pantry - Dolphins set: pre-colored image, sentiment, digi papers

ribbon, black and white cardstock - stash

black ink - Memento

Quirky Frog

Wow, I am finally on a roll with kids' cards and almost to my goal of 20 cards to honor the 20 angels who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.

Here are cards #17 and 18 using Doodle Pantry's Quirky Frog set.  I used the pre-colored image, one of the sentiments and one of the digi papers.  I also used a sentiment from the Easter Frog Pals set.  The Quirky Frog set comes with the outline and pre-colored images with and without lily pads, as a pair of frogs and each individually along with 6 sentiments and 3 digi papers - all for just $2.75!  How can you beat that deal!!!  Some other digi stamp companies give you only one outline image for the same price.  Subscribe to the monthly newsletter and find out about special discounts Laurie offers so you won't miss out!

The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon - another great online company.  I was a member of the Really Reasonable Ribbon club for a full year (just $9.00 per month for a ton of ribbon) and really built up my stash of beautiful ribbons.  Now I have some favorites that I have used up and bought more of!  Bonnie offers very personal service, too.  Follow their blog for lots of ideas of how to use ribbon - not just on cards!

Baseball Birdie

We are halfway through our Spring Break today - what better way to celebrate spring than with a card that celebrates baseball!  These cards are going in my Operation Write Home box as I near my goal of making 20 kids' cards to honor the 20 children who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.    Today's cards are #13 and 14!

Look below the cards for links to the fun challenges I'm entering.  Every Wednesday you can win by playing along or simply by commenting at the WOW Wednesday Challenge at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks.  Every month Doodle Pantry will give you a FREE image set just for playing along in their challenge as well as a chance to win a gift certificate.  And, every month Our Daily Bread Designs hosts a challenge at Operation Write Home.  If we have 50 entries, they sponsor the shipping costs of 2 boxes and they give away 2 gift certificates to their store.  WOW - What generous people crafters are!  What are you waiting for - go play along, too!

Challenges Entered:
WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks - always anything goes
Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - use any Doodle Pantry image
OWH Our Daily Bread Design Monthly Challenge - use scallops

Supplies:
images, sentiments, digi paper - Doodle Pantry Baseball Birdie
scallop on top card - SU! punch
scallop on bottom card - Spellbinders scalloped circle die

OWH VCMP - Things with Wheels

Good Sunday morning to you!  The Operation Write Home Presidents' Day Weekend Virtual Card Making Party is starting its second day.  If you missed out yesterday, have no fear.  There is still plenty of time to play along.  The inlinkz on the hostesses' blogs will not close until February 25!  So go check it out, leave some comments for blog candy and have some fun.  Don't forget that the new Sunday sketch also posted this morning - can you incorporate the sketch into one of the VCMP challenges today?  I'm going to take that challenge and see what I can do!

The first challenge this morning is Things with Wheels.  I had this Doodle Pantry pre-colored image and sentiment already printed out and thought it would be perfect for this challenge.  Not only does it have wheels, but it makes a great kids' card as I continue to work toward my goal of 20 kids' cards!  This marks kids' card #8 if you've been keeping track.

This Doodle Pantry image is called Toy Truck Ants with my favorite mischievous ants!  Don't forget that if you use any Doodle Pantry image on a card you can enter the monthly Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge that ends February 24.  You will receive a set free just for playing along and be eligible to win a gift certificate to the store - we're all winners at the Doodle Pantry challenge!

Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - Doodle Pantry
card stock - SU! gumball green, pumpkin pie and close to cocoa
ribbon - SU! gumball green
embossing folder - Cuttlebug diamond plate (difficut to see in photo but it's under the ribbon)

OWH VCMP - Things with Wings

The fourth challenge today at the OWH Presidents' Day Virtual Card Making Party is to make a card that has things with wings!  There were so many to choose from, but I thought I'd get a head start on Father's Day using a Doodle Pantry image that Laurie added color to this month.  I just love her pre-colored images - they save so much time!  This one is called Swimming Mallard and makes a very nice masculine card.

Don't forget that if you use a Doodle Pantry image, you can also enter the monthly Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge that closes on February 24.  You will get a free image just for playing along AND be entered to win a gift certificate.  Laurie has lots of freebies to get you started if you'd like to give it a try - she even has THINGS with WINGS!  :-)

Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - Doodle Pantry
embossing folder - Sizzix
oval and scalloped oval - Spellbinders
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
card stock - SU! gumball green, summer starfruit, brocade blue

Flaming Hot Ants | Doodle Pantry

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  Today's card features Flaming Hot Ants from Doodle Pantry.  The pre-colored image, sentiment and digi paper all are included in the set along with the outline image, more sentiments and another digi paper for only $3 - you can't beat that for a deal!  I used Stampin' Up's large oval and large scalloped oval punches on the sentiment along with ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon monthly club that matched perfectly with my paper.  Love the shimmer in the ribbon, too!

There is still time to play along in this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge where all you have to do is create something using a Doodle Pantry image (freebies are available HERE to try).  Just for playing, you will receive a free digi image set and be eligible to win a gift certificate.  The deadline is February 24 so get a move on!

I'm also entering this in Cat's Creations WOW Wednesday Challenge.  All you have to do to win is link up a creation of any kind AND/OR comment on other people's submissions.  Several people have won just by commenting on MY blog!

Doodle Pantry Snow Birdie

Last year I used this Doodle Pantry image to make a set of cards I gave as a gift.  I used the photos from  those cards to make another set this year to use for thank you notes for Christmas gifts.  This Snow Birdie set comes with the pre-colored image I used along with the outline image, 3 sentiments and 4 coordinating digi papers.  The pre-colored image with the digi papers makes card making a snap!

Don't forget to play along in the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge before February 24.  You will receive a free digi set just for playing along AND be entered to win a gift certificate!

Heart Sheep | Doodle Pantry

It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks.  Remember: You can create a project of your choice and post it OR just comment on participants' blogs for a chance to win a prize.

I'm back again with another card that went into my Operation Write Home box back in December.  This one uses the Doodle Pantry set Heart Sheep.  I used the pre-colored image and sentiment from the set along with paper from the Hearts A Flutter digi paper pack.  Does it put you in the mood for Valentine's Day?  It makes me happy and hopefully made both the sender (a deployed military person) and the recipient (a loved one) happy, too!

Don't forget to play along at WOW Wednesday and at the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - both are near and dear to my heart!

Doodle Pantry February New Releases

Today is an exciting day - it's time for the Doodle Pantry February Releases!  Laurie has some of her fun characters playing all kinds of sports.  The birdie is playing baseball and the ants are creating their mischief on a hockey puck!  If animal characters aren't your style, there is an old-fashioned phonograph, a realistic dolphin and cute quirky frogs (this month's free with purchase set).  This month Doodle Pantry released a Love Star which is about the third in a series of seasonal stars (there's also an Autumn Star and a Winter Star).  I chose to use the Love Star outline image for my release day card.

My friend Christi Beck did a post on watercoloring techniques, so I thought I would try it with the Love Star.  I wasn't happy with how the coloring turned out, but I did like the card design so I thought I'd share it, too.  I made the fancy corners with my Ornamental Irons 2 Cricut cartridge.  Haven't dusted off the Cricut machine in quite some time.  I'll have to make it more accessible so I can use it more!

Don't forget to participate in this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge which begins today at noon and ends on February 24.  Just for playing along, you will receive Phonograph set free AND be entered to win a gift certificate to spend in the Doodle Pantry online store.

On a sadder note, I'm going to take a little hiatus from the Doodle Pantry Design Team at the end of this month, but I may be back in August/September depending on what life has in store for me.  I have absolutely LOVED working with Laurie (a fellow Texan) and the other ladies on the design team.  I have made some great cyber friends and been inspired by them all!  The silver lining - I can now take part in the monthly challenges!  LOL

Heart Candy Ants | Doodle Pantry

It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks blog.  You can win by playing along OR just by commenting on the participants' blogs.  I've got another Doodle Pantry creation for you today - this one uses the Heart Candy Ants set.  Don't you just love to eat those little boxes of candy hearts?!  They just scream Valentine's Day to me - LOL!

I merged one of the sentiments in the set onto the pre-colored image and paired it with digi paper from the Hearts A Flutter paper pack.  It's a simple card with a special message that will be sent from one of our deployed troops home to a loved one because this card went into my Operation Write Home box (back in December).  Nothing better than that!

You still have one more day to play along with the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - remember, you get a free set just for playing along!  Woohoo!

Olive You - Doodle Pantry

The Olive You set is this month's free with purchase set from Doodle Pantry - until January 24.  It is just perfect for expressing your love with puns or for your favorite martini drinker.  There are green olives and black olives, pre-colored and outlines along with 5 sentiments and 4 digi papers!  Today I used one of the outline images and colored it with my Copic markers.  I also used Operation Write Home's S&S Sketch #45 and am entering this in the Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Show Us Your Green!

It's not too late to play along in this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge.  All you have to do is use any Doodle Pantry image.  Everyone is a winner just for playing and will receive a free set called Cupid Turtle and be entered to win a gift certificate as well.  The deadline for playing along is January 24 so hurry!

cardstock - SU! Riding Hood Red and Lucky Limeade, black from JoAnn's
embossing folder - Basket Weave from SU!
ink - SU! Riding Hood Red
Copic markers

Doodle Pantry | Workout Birdie

I just love the Doodle Pantry Birdie character!  When I saw this sentiment from Create with TLC, I knew I had to use it, and the perfect image to pair it with is Doodle Pantry's Workout Birdie!

Now, I'm sure some of you made a New Year's resolution to eat right or exercise or lose weight - this image is just for you.  Workout Birdie comes in two versions - the "good" birdie with dumbbells in both of her hands/wings and the "naughty" birdie with a dumbbell in one hand/wing and an ice cream cone in the other.  Which are you?!

I used ribbon from my monthly club with Really Reasonable Ribbon on both cards and followed a tutorial from the owner Bonnie for this new twist on a bow.  Check it out because it's easy peasy and there is no bow tying involved - yippee!  (You have to scroll down a little ways - it's part of the Grinch Pills tutorial.)

Love Snakes | Doodle Pantry

It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks blog!  I made this card for my OWH box (mailed in December for Valentine's Day) using the Doodle Pantry set called Love Snakes.  I merged the sentiment into the center of the pre-colored image and used my Spellbinders Nestabilities dies to cut it out.  The orange strip is embossed with a folder called Heart Blocks.  The ribbon is from my Really Reasonable Ribbon monthly club stash.

Don't forget that you have until January 24 to participate in the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - just use any Doodle Pantry image to play along and you will automatically receive a free digi stamp and be eligible to win a gift certificate!

January Doodle Pantry Release Day!

Woohoo!  Hello 2013!  Not only is it New Year's Day, but it's also the new release day at Doodle Pantry.  As usual, Laurie has a wonderful selection of digital images, sentiments and papers for you.  I chose to create a card with the new Rose and Bud set - this image is only available in outlines right now, but I really enjoy coloring flowers the most.

Being in Texas, my mind went immediately to the Yellow Rose of Texas, so I had to do a yellow rose first.  Then, I thought I'd do a pink one as well.  I have to admit that I'm not the best at shading and am still learning.  After I finished coloring, my "shadows" looked wrong to me, but there you have it.  If you don't try, you can't improve, right?!

Don't forget that the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge is back after the holiday break - the only requirement is to use a Doodle Pantry image on your creation.  EVERYONE will receive the Cupid Turtle set for free just for playing along plus be entered for a chance to win a gift certificate to shop in the online store.  The deadline to play is January 24, so go create something FABULOUS!

This month's free with purchase set is Olive You and the 35% off sale is still going on for a few more days (ends January 3)!  So, go check out all of the new releases for January and do a little shopping!

Doodle Pantry | Jar of Seashells

When I saw fellow Doodle Pantry Design Team member Pat's card with a jar full of peppermints, I thought it was a fantastic use of the Bottles and Jars set and began thinking of what I could fill my jar with.  I filled my jar with Seashells from another Doodle Pantry set.  If you like the combination of these sets, then now is the time to shop for them plus much more.  Doodle Pantry is having a 35% off sale on everything except gift certificates through January 3.  Have fun shopping!

I'm also entering this card in this week's WOW Wednesday Challenge at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks.  You are eligible to win a prize by linking to anything you've created OR by commenting on the submissions - easy peasy, right?!

Doodle Pantry | Oh My Birthday Ant

Here's a card in honor of my nephew's birthday today!  The images and sentiments are all from Doodle Pantry.  I combined the Oh My Ant with the balloons and birthday sentiment from Birthday Accessories.  Want to get your hands on some of these sets?  Now's the time!  All sets are 35% off through January 3 so stock up now!

The paper is from Echo Park, Stampin' Up (Midnight Muse) and my stash (red).  I used my Copic markers to color the image.  The sketch is Operation Write Home's Stars & Stamps Sketch #146.

I'm also entering this in the WOW Wednesday challenge at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks!

Mmmm, Hot Cocoa | Doodle Pantry

Well, the weather here in Texas is finally starting to feel a bit like Christmas, although every once in a while we get a 70 degree day thrown into the mix - I'm certainly not complaining though!  I just love these mischievous ants from Doodle Pantry.  This is one of my favorite winter sets - Cocoa Cup Ants.  I've used the pre-colored image, sentiment and digi papers from this set.

Even though there is no Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge this month, there *IS* a 35% off sale through January 3, so go to the store and check out all the reasonably priced goodies there!

Today is also WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks blog - the best little local scrapbook store in North Texas!  You are eligible to win a prize at the blog if you post a creation (of any sort!) or if you comment on other people's blogs who have entered - there are many chances to win so head there, too!

My design is based on one by Pam T., a fellow OWH'er.  She makes beautiful crisp and clean cards - just my style!  Go become a follower - you won't regret it!

Doodle Pantry December New Release Day

Today is the new release day over at Doodle Pantry - WOOHOO!  We are all very busy with holiday preparations, even our own Doodle Pantry owner and illustrator Laurie.  This month she has a limited release, BUT to make up for it there is a BIG sale going on through January 3!!!  You can save 35% on everything in the store (except gift certificates) using the discount code HERE.  All of the Doodle Pantry sets are chock full of goodies for the same price you would pay for just one image at other online digi stamp stores.  The color sets include pre-colored images, outline images, a variety of sentiments and usually 1-4 different digi papers that perfectly coordinate with the pre-colored images for only $2.25 - $4.00.  With 35% off, they are only $1.46 - $2.60.  That's an incredible bargain!  But wait...don't go shopping until you've seen my card!  LOL

Hmmm, my photo color didn't turn out so well.  The large rectangle behind the image and sentiment is really a dark purple that coordinates well (in real life) with the inside part of the Morning Glory image that I colored with my Copic markers. The mats are Calypso Coral that match a stripe in the digi paper that came from the Crescent Moon Ants set.  The sentiment came from the Lively Leaves set.  The crochet lace is from my Really Reasonable Ribbon monthly ribbon club.

MORE NEWS FROM DOODLE PANTRY: There will not be a Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge this month, BUT there is a lovely set that is free with purchase from December 1-8 called Vintage Ornament (pictured below).  It's just gorgeous and perfect for those of you still working on Christmas cards.  It comes with pre-colored images and matching digi papers which would make those last few Christmas cards you need just fly together in no time at all!

Doodle Pantry | SFYTT

First off, I have to send a shout out to my dad - it's his birthday today!  I posted his birthday card a long time ago though so I have a different card to share today.  This one is going into my Operation Write Home box.

I used the pre-colored image, sentiment and digi paper from the Doodle Pantry Wagon Wheel set.  This is a beautiful image and comes in both a winter and spring setting - pre-colored and outlines.  There are some really punny sentiments that come in the set, too, so go check it out.  You can save 35% on all products (except gift certificates) through January 3 so now's the time to shop til you drop!  The discount code can be found HERE.

The layout came from the SFYTT monthly sketch challenge at iheart2stamp.com - this is the next to last sketch to qualify me for the big annual drawing for this challenge.  To qualify you have to play along every month for the entire year - the sketches are great so consider joining us in 2013!


Challenges Entered:
Cat's Creations Scrapbooks - WOW Wednesday