Yea – my first “official” post as part of the Doodle Pantry DT. Laurie has put together a fabulous new digital stamp release for you and a new Clearly Delightful Challenge kicks off today as well.  This month’s challenge is super easy – all you have to do is use a Doodle Pantry image! If you’ve been playing along you already have Doodle Pantry images; if this is your first time joining us – WELCOME – you can check the Doodle Pantry Freebie section at the store for really cute images to get you started; or you could go shopping!!!  In addition to the 3 challenge prizes (winners will be selected randomly), everyone who joins us will receive Laurie’s Get Well Worm set – isn’t he cute?!?!?!Though I love all of the new sets, I chose the new Doodle Pantry I Will Survive set to feature today. This set is dear to my heart since Breast Cancer (and cancer in general) has impacted my family and some of my friends– we have several survivors as well as ones that are fighting now.  I love both the Ants and the Birdie included in the set – so the choice was tough – but the Hope the Birdie exuded won by a narrow margin! My little birdie is colored with my favorite Chalkies styles, printed, glittered, and then blinged. She just makes me happy!!! What do you think?

Recipe:

• Digital Stamps: Doodle Pantry I Will Survive
• Styles: Jodiann Cates Chalkies 
• Ink:  HP Inkjet; Spica Markers
• Designer Paper: DCWV Sweet Shoppe Stack
• Cardstock: Bazzill Pink Trio; Georgia Pacific White
• Other: Scissors; Rhinestones; Tombow Mono-Adhesive; Fiskars Paper Trimmer; Fiskars Glue Dots; Photoshop

Have a fabulous Sunday! We’re taking Nadya out for a family picnic – we thought a change of scenery would be fun and allow us special time as a family.

Today is Thursday – so that means it’s time for another Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff project.  One of our DT members will be having a baby boy any time now – SURPRISE Tamara – this one’s for you!!!!

Recipe:

• Digital Stamps: Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff Babies and Bows
• Stamps: SU Swirl Background (retired)
• Ink:  HP Inkjet; SU Very Vanilla, Bordering Blue, and Bashful Blue Marker
• Designer Paper: Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff Sweet Stitches
• Cardstock: DCWV Holiday Collection Winter Box of Cards – 2009; SU Very Vanilla; Georgia Pacific White
• Other: Nestabilities Large Oval and Large Scallop Oval; CB Swiss Dots Folder; Pearls; Satin Ribbon; Tombow Mono-Adhesive; Fiskars Glue Dots, Photoshop

Challenges I Played In:

• Stampin’ For the Weekend – Anything Goes
• My Sheri Crafts – Baby Weekend
• A Crafty Little Place – Anything Goes
• Challenge Up Your Life – Celebrations
• Bee Crafty – Anything Goes

Nadya and I have another fun-filled morning at preschool – so I better run! Have a fabulous day and if you didn’t arrive here from Lindsay’s blog, be sure to stop by – she always has something fun going on, freebies to be found, and the links to the other DT projects – this week they’re all about baby!

Yea!!! Remember the Doodle Pantry DT call I mentioned?  Well – I made it – which means I get to play with more fantabulous digital stamps – thanks Laurie!  In light of that happy news, I thought a wee celebration was in order – so I carved a little time out of my schedule to play with one of the new sets – Pumpkin Birdie.  I started creating in Photoshop – the sizing of the image was perfect to start with so I just duplicated it several times on an 8.5×11 borderless page. For the pumpkins and leaves, I “pieced” a digital paper from Kalo Designs County Fair kit – resizing as needed.  The little birdie is “colored” using my favorite Chalkies from Jodiann Cates – I LOVE these Photoshop styles – they are seriously one of my go-to tools! After printing out my pieced elements on white CS and a full-size, unaltered image on Very Vanilla CS (SU), I started trimming.  I cut the base image with my large square nesties and embossed it with my Birds and Swirls CB folder (Provo Craft) and then added color by running my Antique Linen Distress Ink pad (Ranger) over the embossed areas.  Since it’s almost impossible for me to avoid some sort of sparkle, I spritzed the entire layer with Gold Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels) and then placed it face-down under a heavy book to dry and flatten out.  Then I began work on the leaves – using a paintbrush, I applied a thin layer of PVA glue to my stamped image and the applied Autumn Flowersoft (the premade blend mixed with my own creation) for texture.  While those two items were drying, I cut my scallop mat (embossed with D’Vine Swirls CB folder) and my frame from Indian Summer Fall DP (DCWV).  My card base is a standard A2 made from Very Vanilla CS (SU), embossed with a Fiskars Texture Plate and distressed with Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger).  To finalize my layout, I browsed the net and discovered this week’s sketch at Card Patterns – which fit beautifully with my design. Instead of using another DP layer, I rummaged through my stash for some Autumn wired ribbon which I attached to a 2.25×4.25 scrap of CS for added stability.  Since everything was dry (at least until that point) I started piecing my layers together.  As I adhered the pumpkins, I covered them with Glossy Accents (Ranger) – I wanted them to shine!  The little birdie (highlighted with Spica markers) followed the pumpkins and then the leaves – all attached with varying thickness pop-dots (Fiskars).  After my scene was assembled, I attached it to the scallop mat and added the frame over the top (which I then embellished with adhesive pearls (Michaels).  The sentiment is handwritten in Pumpkin Pie marker (SU) and attached with a piece of hardware from my stash (SU-retired Hodgepodge Hardware in Aged Copper). I opted to use complimenting pearls in place of the traditional brads on the hardware. All in all, I’m pleased with the results – though I wish I could use Glimmer Mists without curling my paper! I’d love to know what you think too!

Challenges I Played In:

• Card Patterns – Sketch 78
• Alota Rubber Stamps – Fall Colors
• Artful Inkables – Bling It Baby
• Creative Card Crew – Sparkle and Shine
• Scrap Creations – Ribbons, Flowers, Brads or Pearls
• Paper Creations – Use Flowersoft

That’s all from me! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Be sure to visit Laurie’s blog – you can meet the new DT there.