Wow – I can’t believe we’re already into the month of October – though I must admit, I wouldn’t complain if the 90 degree days were but a distant memory for awhile.  Since it’s the 5th, it’s time for another Doodle Pantry release and the launch of CDBD10. This time the challenge is to use any Doodle Pantry image combined with ribbon and put a masculine spin on it.  I absolutely LOVE these Ants – they are so cute and funny!  I created this scene using Laurie’s new Holiday Ants digital stamp set, papers from Designs by Kristine’s Playful kit, overlays from Kim Broedelet’s Woodsy 2 (part of her paper maker grab bag), and my favorite Chalkies from Jodiann Cates – it took me awhile to get the dimension right on the milk glass – but I’m finally pleased with the result.  Before adhering all my layers, I added a small amount of sparkle to the ants and plate with my Spica markers and used my Weathered Wood Distress Ink pad to add some color to my card base. A bit of red twine and a couple of silver baubles finished off the look.

Recipe:

• Digital Stamps: Doodle Pantry Holiday Ants
• Digital Papers: Designs by Kristine Playful
• Digital Supplies: Kim Broedelet Woodsy 2; Jodiann Cates Chalkies
• Ink: HP Inkjet; Spica Markers
• Cardstock: Neenah White; DCWV Winter Box of Cards 2009; SU Not Quite Navy
• Other: Tombow Mono-Adhesive; Fiskars Paper Trimmer; Fiskars Glue Dots; Adhesive Pearls; Red Twine; Photoshop

If you haven’t been to Laurie’s blog, be sure to start there for all of the challenge information and the fabulous inspiration from the other DT members – they always have such amazing creations.

Nadya and I have a make-up day at preschool today since she missed yesterday followed by our weekly grocery shopping trip – fun stuff!  Have a fabulous day!

Happy Thursday! Lindsay has some fabulous new kits in her Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff store – my newest favorite being her Strawberries and Watermelons digital stamp set – which is why I paired it with one of her embossed mats for today’s project: My image is “colored” in Photoshop using my favorite Chalkies styles (Jodiann) and then added to digital designer paper and elements from Designs By Kristine (Daisy Mae kit).  I printed everything out and added some sparkle and bling with my Spica (Lemon, Clear & Olive) markers and Glossy Accents, and Stickles.  I trimmed my base layer and added it to my card base (whisper Whiter prefolded by SU) – for fun and interest I scalloped the edge with one of my EK Success punches.

Challenges I Played In:

• Aly’s Sunday Challenge – Flower Power
• Cowgirl’s Sunday Stampen Challenge – Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations Challenges – Sparkle and Shine
• Cupcake Crafts Challenges – Strawberries and Cream
• Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges – Summertime
• Fresh Brewed Designs – Anything Goes
• Stamp Challenges – Something Summer

If you didn’t arrive here from Lindsay’s blog, be sure to stop there – she always has fabulous inspiration and a freebie or two, plus the links to the DT blogs.

Have a great one!

Nope, nothing sports related, just the 3 cards my DH received for Father’s Day today – a collaborative effort between Nadya and I – just for him.  It’s been a long-standing tradition to share both a  “fun” card and a serious/ sentimental card, hence the double cards from me plus one from the entire reason he gets to celebrate Father’s Day! I’ll start with Nadya’s as hers is the star of the show: One of her favorite characters (if not her most favorite) is Lightning McQueen from the Disney/Pixar Cars movie.  So, naturally, one of the few Cricut cartridges I own is Cars.  After much discussion, Nadya settled on a Lightning McQueen card for Daddy – so I went to work in Design Studio (my first attempt with the Cricut software and using an actual Cricut cart – I’m a SCAL girl myself). I used the shadow feature to create the card base and then cut the detail layer for Nadya to color.  Yes, she knows Lightning McQueen is red, but she informed me that since Daddy’s Mustang is yellow, McQueen needed to be yellow on Daddy’s card.  So, she colored him yellow, and attached him to the card base.  When I asked her what she wanted it to say on the inside she said “I love Lightning McQueen.  I love Daddy even more than Lightning McQueen.” So there you have it – Daddy is more loved and popular than Lightning McQueen. For my “sentimental” card, I started with a sketch I found on Moe Joe’s blog and some fabulous digital papers from Designs By Kristine’s new Kit Spring Fling (on sale for 35% off right now). I created and layered everything in Photoshop – using clipping masks to digitally “paper-piece” my card layers.  I chose the adorable lemon ant image from Doodle Pantry’s Lemon Ants digital stamp set (which is free right now) and pieced it as well – though my lemon looks more like a lime! Here’s a close-up from Photoshop: After I printed everything out, I added sparkle to the ants with my clear glitter Spica marker, and colored the pebbles with Sand and the ants’ mouths with Red Spica markers. I coated the lemon/lime with Glossy Accents for shine. I used my white gel pen to add the stitching around the circles and my moonlight smooch to add the dots on the scallop mat.

Challenges I Played In (Ant Card):

• Moe Joe’s Design Blog – Sketch
• Character Cafe – Paper Piecing
• Craft Your Passion – Paper Piecing
• Crafty Creations – Stitching

For my “fun” card, I started with the Classic Car card from Cliff’s Clubhouse Cards set at SVGCuts.com and my Sure Cuts A Lot software.  Instead of cutting the car layers, I added the 66 for Route 66.  I cut the card base from textured black CS and the accents in GP white.  I added some black pearlescent baubles from my friend Suzanne at Crafting Connection.  I really had fun on the inside: The mustang is a coloring page I found on the net – though it’s not the exact year my DH has, it’s close enough!  The “lady” is Lady Luck, a digital stamp I was lucky enough to win from Holly over at Squigglefly.  I started out by layering the images in Photoshop so that I could get the scaling right, but then printed them out individually on white CS and colored them with my Copic and Spica markers.  I added the chrome accents with a silver Zebra gel pen. Again, I don’t have all of the details 100% accurate as compared to his Mustang, but definitely close enough to get the point across.

That’s all from me! I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday – I know we plan to!

Challenges I Played In – Mustang/Route 66 Card:

• Cards for Men – Father’s Day
• CAS-tastic Challenges – Father’s Day
• Creative Craft Challenges – Man In Your Life
• Daisy Doodles – Father’s Day/Manly
• Fab n Funky Challenges – Father’s Day
• Incy Wincy – One for the Guys
• Magical Crafts – Something for a Male/Father’s Day
• One Stop  Craft – One for the Boys