The Digi Shack Sketchbook Wednesday

Today is Sketchbook Wednesday at The Digi Shack. Don't you just love this owl image by artist Brian Lock? It was so much fun to color. I love the open spaces because they are perfect for adding accents like glitter or Stickles or for doing paper piecing.

I know owls are normally brown but I decided to go with non-traditional colors so I could use my pretty blue and yellow background paper. You don't see the pretty patterned background paper? That is because when got Mr. Owl all colored and tried it with the paper it was UGLY. So I went with plan B which involved sparkly cardstock and some Bazzill cardstock (rubbed with chalk ink). The sentiment is an old Studio G stamp that I bought because my dear friend from Tennessee used to always say "Hey there" when I answered the phone. OK the truth is I tried about 100 different owl puns and none of them did the owl justice.

I went to an open studio night at a friend's studio tonight. She did a demo kind of thing about Copic markers. It was kind of fun to see people try Copics who hadn't even heard of them (some of the ladies were not paper artists.) It was fun to network and meet some other ladies who like to craft too. One of the ladies hadn't heard of digital stamps so I enlightened her too.

Whoops I did it again!

This post is NOT dedicated to Brittany Spears, but I thought it was a cute title. Keep reading- cute story about me an a fishtank coming up...

The sketch is Mojo Monday #145 and as soon as I saw it yesterday I knew I had to make a card with it. And how cool is it that they now offer 2 versions of the sketch?

This is a new image for The Digi Shack by artist Brian Lock which will be available 7/5. I really enjoy working with Brian's images because they are not only easy to color creatively, but they just have such a sense of fun to them. I added Glossy Accents to the water to give it some dimension but you can't really tell in the photo.The sentiment is a sticker from SRM and I just thought this would make a great "Thinking of you" or "Hang in there it will get better" kinds of cards.

Now on to my fish tank story... When I was about 4 years old my mother had to attend a wake so she left me at her best friend's house so I could play with her 3 1/2 year old son. Chris and I decided to get a REALLY CLOSE look at the 20 gallon fish tank so we dragged over the ottoman so we cold stand on it. We leaned way over the edge and tipped it over! Needless to say when my mom arrived to pick me up I was wearing some of his older sister's clothes and the basement rug was pretty soaked. For YEARS my Uncle Bob would ask me about what happened every time he came over to visit because he got such a kick out of the story. Honestly, I don't really remember how it happened...

Squigglefly Retro Tulip

Today is Squigglefly Challenge #57, the last for the current design team (boo hoo). Do you like the image? Well if you want to play in the challenge this week it is FREE, so go to the challenge page, grab the image and look at how the design team rocked on their cards for this week.

This week, Jennifer Scull and I officially opened the new Squigglefly group on Paper Craft Planet. The group is growing like crazy and to help celebrate there are even some free digi's! Starting Friday night we are having a huge grand opening event with challenges, a chance to meet the new design team, artists and did I mention some free images? It is Squigglefly so you know the images are great, I'm co-moderator so you know the leadership is cool, so what are you waiting for? Come join the new group!

In other Squigglefly news, here is a reminder about the Squigglefly rewards program from Holly Young, "The rewards program is a simple thing you sign up for and it tracks how much you spend at Squigglefly. For every $15.00 you spend you can pick a free image - there are no restrictions on the free image you choose either - you can even pick sets! You can let your points build up until you're ready to use them. Also, if you join the rewards program in the middle of the month and you've already bought images during the month - just write Squigglefly and let them know and they will credit what you spent in the same month toward your rewards!

Another little thing you might not know - if your computer crashes and you haven't backed up your images - contact Squigglefly and they will look up your purchases and send your download links to you again! "

The Stamping Boutique Blog Hop

Welcome to The Stamping Boutique blog hop!
If you did not arrive here from Tink's blog, or to start at the beginning please go to Ashley's blog.

This blog hop features projects created by The Stamping Boutique design team and we've all used: Cynthia's New Wings on Life and Cynthia's Thread.

The card above has Stickles on the wings, silver and copper gel pen accents, Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers and white chalk marker.


The card above features a computer generated sentiment and buttons and needle colored with a silver metallic marker.

Thanks for hopping on by and joining the Stamping Boutique for our hop.

Your next hop is my creative teammate, Crystal.

Here is the whole hop order:

Ashley - http://scrappinash.blogspot.com/ Christy - http://christyszaneycreations.blogspot.com/ April - http://allaboutthelowers.blogspot.com/ Tink - http://tinktime-tink.blogspot.com/

YOU ARE HERE Heather - http://stampdetails.blogspot.com/ Crystal D - http://creationsofasparetimestamper.blogspot.com/ Jan - http://www.jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com/ Maria - http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Mellisa - http://melissaccreates.blogspot.com/ Rhonda - http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/ Jana - http://www.stampingeek.blogspot.com/ Lorie - http://www.thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/ Jennifer - http://jennlovestostamp.blogspot.com/ Lisa - http://dollybellcreations.blogspot.com/ Michele - http://whimsicalcreations.blogspot.com/ Robyn - http://robynstime.blogspot.com/ Donna - http://www.scrappydonna.blogspot.com/ Sheri- (Fink) http://www.finkshappenings.blogspot.com/ Amanda - http://www.colouringourworld.blogspot.com/

The Stamping Boutique is having Digi Day Sat. June 26th 7-9 pm CST/8-10 pm EST!

Sketchbook Wednesday at The Shack

Happy Skechbook Wednesday! This card featuring The Digi Shack's sketch for the week (actually there are 2 today), should have been posted at midnight last night but I fell asleep before that could happen.

We have another new release coming up in early July. The team is having fun making samples.

Yesterday was the last day of school for my daughter. We are in the home stretch of elementary school- 5th grade next year. Last night I had to give my daughter some computer time so she could email her classmate. Today (crossing fingers) she gets her braces off temporarily until she loses more baby teeth. She has requested popcorn to celebrate (forbidden food with braces!)

A final challenge...

Today is my final challenge as an official challenge as a member of the Squigglefly design team. It is a little sad but the new girls are so talented and I'm looking forward to their eye candy. This image is called "Singing in the Rain" and is a favorite of mine (plus it is fun to color!)

Yesterday we went to another picnic at a nearby park. It was great to see friends and such. The wife of a friend of my husband was by herself with a toddler and baby. I held the baby for her while she got her food. That baby was HEAVY. I had forgotten how heavy babies can be if you hold them for a while.

School is out tomorrow! My daughter is ready for summer!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! My Dad is getting this card today, along with some accessories for his sailboat (chosen by my husband because I am clueless about boats.) The image is from The Digi Shack and I like it because it is pretty simple and has clean lines.

This is the first Father's Day in 10 year that we have lived in the same state as my parents. I am so grateful for both my parents but my Dad paid ALL of my tuition for a private 4 year college so I wouldn't be saddled with student loans. He taught me not to be afraid of thunderstorms, to appreciate B- monster movies and to try my hardest in math class (we had many dramatic tear-ridden scenes in junior high as my Dad helped me with algebra homework).

My Dad also excels in his role of grandfather to my daughter (aka Mini Me because she looks and acts just like me). They have a lot of fun together and I'm glad my daughter gets to spend time with 2 wonderful role models.

****

Yesterday my family and I attended a neighborhood picnic. I brought the hostess a small candle and a handmade card. She opened it and grabbed me later to ask me if I had made the card. Cathy couldn't say enough nice things about it and showed it to a bunch of the other ladies and they too praised my work. It was kind of a fun way to meet more of my neighbors and one more reason why I am grateful to Squigglefly for the opportunity to work with their images.

PS This was the card that I gave her

Super secret news that isn't so secret!

My partner in crime and I had well-laid plans to tease this for a bit before the official announcement but Holly Young SPOILED it! Actually Holly is a good friend of mine and Squigglefly was anxious to announce the new design team today. Check it out HERE. A fabulous bunch of ladies and I hope they have as much as I did on the design team.

My term on the design team ends but I was invited to stay on and team up with Jennifer Scull to launch a new Squigglefly group on Papercraft Planet. I am thrilled to be staying on and working with Jennifer too! We have some REALLY cool stuff planned and I'll be sharing the scoop ;)

Oh shocker- the images above are from Squigglefly!

Super image by Brian Lock for The Digi Shack

Welcome to day 6 of artist Brian Lock's release at The Digi Shack. It is availabe for FREE here. FREE- isn't that awesome? Doesn't this image scream "birthday card for a little boy?" Go grab a Q-tip and try listening again. You'll hear it. I added the sentiment myself.

What a long week- and we still have 1 more day to go. Then this weekend we have 2 picnics to attend. Busy, busy. School gets out next week too and my child has been climbing the walls for 2 weeks. But I don't think she is the only one. Last week she reported that classmate Sam used a black Sharpie to draw a unibrow on Parker. Man, wouldn't I have LOVED to have heard THAT conversation when the mother saw that! I laughed as hard as could be when my daughter related the story to us last weekend.

PS We later learned Parker gave some ink to Sam ;)

I've got some cool stamping related news to share with you next week ;) And promise it has zero to do with unibrows, Sharpies or Secret deodorant!

Bunny by artist Brian Lock for the Digi Shack

Don't you just love this sad little bunny? I just want to give the poor thing a squeeze. This is another new image by artist Brian Lock and it is available for $2 from The Digi Shack. I immediately knew I had to color this bunny pink and eventually it evolved into a baby card. I think this is a great image for a "Thinking of you" , "You deserve a hug today" or a juvenile birthday card.

Funny story- a local artist (with Ranger U training) is holding open studio nights at her studio. I made plans for my daughter to eat with my parents and I set out to attend last night. Finally, some local artists to play with... Arrived and the studio was dark. There was a woman on a cell nearby who explained that nobody had signed up so it was canceled. I'll register for the next time!

Tonight I attended a board meeting for a community volunteer organization. Very interesting mix of people on the board (which is what you need for this type of board.) Sometimes people are very passionate about their opinions. It was a lively discussion!

And for everyone who commented the other day- "Strong enough for a man but made for a woman" is indeed Secret deodorant.

Digi Shack sketch challenge + new image

Happy Wednesday! This is another new image by Brian Lock for The Digi Shack. This image (which I have nicknamed Broadway Firecracker) is on sale in the store for $2. My card also features the TDS sketch challenge for this week. I colored main body of the image with Copics and Prismacolor pencils. I kept my colors to blues, grays and some brown and I think this card is manly enough to give to a guy.

(Strong enough for a man but made for a woman) <---- Who remembers that commercial jingle? It has NOTHING to do with my card but just flew into my head as I was typing so I went with it. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that I am going to bed very soon!

As always thanks for visiting my blog.

(Woo Hoo- I'm the featured designer on the TDS blog today!)

Plucked (another new release from The Digi Shack)

Don't you just love this plucked chicken? It is another new image for The Digi Shack from artist Brian Lock. It is so ugly it is cute. I think it is perfect for a get well card or a "I'm sorry I plucked your last nerve" card. I'm only showing this card today but I do have another one to show you in a few days (it is a little bit too cheeky for release day.) Don't forget to visit The Digi Shack daily because you never know where there will be a freebie from Brian.

Squigglefly Challenge Monday- Newsprint

It is Monday and time for Squigglefly Challenge #53- use newsprint as a designer paper. I rubbed a crumpled scrap of newspaper with a silver Encore ink pad and then sprayed it with a faux shimmer spray that made made with powdered pearls and some Distress Ink. I let it dry overnight before using it on my card.

The main image is Hands by Lynne Stansbery, the longer sentiment is called Parents Hold and "How Fast They Grow" was computer generated.

The card below has NOTHING to do with the Squigglefly challenge, but it is a cute card and this is my blog ;) The duck and sentiment are from a set called "First Timers" which happens to be on sale this week for $1.50. The buttons are from a 10 item set by artist Nina Brackett, called "Stitched with Love."

Some fireworks at The Digi Shack

This is the second of Brian Lock's new images for the Digi Shack. Isn't it cute? I immediately thought of Independence day (red/white/blue) but figured we ALL thought of that so what else could I do to be different. So I went with my favorite color- pale pink! My other thought for this image was wouldn't this be a great "arrow" for a scrapbook page?

Today we went grocery shopping (my favorite activity after getting into a car accident and breaking a leg!) You never know who you'll run into at the grocery store so I ALWAYS change my clothes before we go. ALWAYS. Today we were in a rush and I decided to "chance it" and just wear the T-shirt and jeans I had on. Yes- we did run into friends of ours- the ones who are always neatly dressed. Mentally, I screamed!

This evening we had to drop off my husband's car for service so we browsed at cars. We have had 5 Saturns and have loved them. Since the line has been discontinued we are now trying to figure out what brand of vehicle to buy. So many choices... we love what we have now and have made a list of features that we must have and some we would like to have. We are still in the browsing stage... we both know this is going to be a longer project rather than a decision (which color Saturn if Saturn hadn't been discontinued).

Brian Lock at the Shack!

The Digi Shack has officially launched the first (or many!) images from our newest artist, Brian Lock! I absolutely love this cow! It reminds me of one of my daughter's favorite Sandra Boynton books. This image is on sale in the store for $2. We'll be launching a new image for the next 6 days. Watch the design team's blogs as we'll be posting samples using the new images at midnight EST (9PM PST) all this week. We even have a special image for our Wednesday sketch challenge.

In other news, today I had 2 friends over for breakfast. We were able to stop yakking for a few minutes to scarf down some homemade Belgian waffles and fresh strawberries. Later on my husband and I took my mom to Sam's Club and we stopped by the Land's End Outlet store (I got some new shorts) and after we ate dinner my husband, daughter and I curled up for movie night. The Tooth Fairy starring Dwayne Johnson is highly recommended by my family. Billy Crystal is HILARIOUS in a small came role.

To Do List:

1) Leave me a comment

2) Visit The Digi Shack and purchase this image

3) Make sure you take time to do something you love with those you love best! (And if that includes ordering me gifts then we all win!)

The logic of fairies

Meet Cynthia Gathering Mushrooms is a new image from The Stamping Boutique. She was so much fun to color- I used metallic gel pens and Copics, Bic Markers, colored pencils and some Stickles. I do not want to question a company that I represent as a design team member.... but I am going to do it anyway...

Ready for the big question?

Really ready?

Do fairies actually do work? Would a fairy actually haul a load of anything (even lightweight mushrooms) in a wooden wheelbarrow? Isn't Tinkerbell head of the fairy union?

So please discuss amongst yourselves...

I really do like this image- lots of space so it is easy to color - especially the cool details on the wings!

Behold the bejeweled ruler!

Note the date- this is about as embellished a card as you'll ever see from me! Ask my mom (Hi Mom!) I m about as plain and low key about decorating and embellishing as they come.

This is King Phat from The Digi Shack and he was drawn by my teammate Marlene.

1) Pom poms on the scepter and slippers

2) Faux jewels on the crown

3) Crown, Scepter and buckle colored with metallic gel pens (perfect for tight spaces)

4) The sentiment (also by TDS) is actually a raised pennant (I know you can't tell from the angle of the photo)

5) Used a fancy punch on the border

Dream Big

Dream Big- complete The Digi Shack sketch challenge for this week!

When I saw the sketch for this week, I was loved it because it is my kind of sketch. I had THE idea in my head and ended up farther away from it than a blonde trying to use a GPS to find her driveway!

I used Plenty of Petals (again) because this flower lends itself perfectly to repetition for a sketch.

Yawn... bedtime for me... tomorrow will be a busy day for me...

Ohm Ohm Free Image Ohm

Meet Princess Jennifer Latte. This image can be yours for FREE if you join The Latte Lounge. She is from The Stamping Boutique and she was a ball to color and embellish- her tiara and T-shirt are ripe for embellishment!

And if you are one of the 5 stampers in the WORLD (and I'm one of them) who doesn't own a circle cutting system- this is an ideal image to use for the 9,999,999 weekly sketch challenges which feature a large circle! This is a super easy image to cut.

So go in peace man... watch the beaded curtain on the way out!

When at first you don't succeed....

don't get paranoid when your fellow bloggers laugh at you! LOL


Recently, I have made it a priority to create more stuff beyond standard cards. I have been interested in cards that contain bookmarks and decided to create my own. While not exactly what I had envisioned, you have to admit- it is unique! Squigglefly's challenge #52 for this week was "Picnic Time: Include food or drink in your creations". I opted to use "Sweet Lemonade" which I really like. I figured my design teammates would be using this image too so I made limeade to be different (of course NONE of them used this image so I really didn't have anything to worry about!)

This card demonstrates what I love most about digi's- the ability to re-size them. I love being able to make my image whatever size I need for my project!

Here it is without the bookmark

Here is just the bookmark- I added Glossy Accents to the water droplets and rim of the glass. I know YOU can't see them- so just trust me- ok? ;)

One last thought... Squigglefly released a bunch of new images Saturday. Be sure to check them out HERE. Be careful though... don't spill your limeade on the keyboard ;)

Howdy Pardner

The Chunkies have arrived at the Digi Shack! Tonight we hosted a release party/ digi day event in our SNR group and we had so much fun. This was one of the cards that I created for the release. And yes- it probably would have been better if I had managed to get it uploaded earlier today! LOL We have a new artist joining the Digi Shack this week- I'll post more details later this week (code for "I have no idea what they are!")

Although the picture stinks, I am quite happy with how my card turned out. (And because my mom reads my blog- she bought me the designer paper and chipboard piece- so thanks Mom) I had been hoarding those silver dots for ages- I had no idea what to do with them until today- perfect for the badge.

Today my husband, daughter, mom and I went to a local craft festival. It wasn't nearly as good as last year. My daughter saw some spirelli Post-It note pad covers and told me we could do better! LOL We also ran into a friend who runs a small art studio and due in part to my badgering she is going to have open studio nights where we'll play with different mediums. Copics, watercolor crayons and Distress Inks are on the schedule. Can't wait! She also threatened me with bodily harm and said she would hunt me down if I don't show up- so I guess that means I'm wanted!

One thing I did see at the festival today was a sign I bought for a friend of my husband's which said "Don't make me get all Sue Sylvester on you!" If you are a Glee fan you'll get it.

Graduation inspiration

Twofer today! Both cards feature Graduating Audrey from The Stamping Boutique. I fell in love with this image a few weeks ago and knew that I had to use it to make a graduation card for the daughter of my childhood friend. I had no idea that a few weeks later I would have the opportunity to join TSB's design team! I'm really excited and looking forward to working with some of my fellow stamping friends whom I have worked with on other teams (and meeting some new friends!)

The blue card is my own sketch ;) The red layer is actually crumpled red tissue paper which has been ironed onto a piece of freezer paper. This is a fabulous way to give some body to the tissue so you can make stuff like envelopes. The sentiment is from PTI.

The pink card is based on SCS283. I was really sorry I chose the shade of pink I did for the gown because oh boy was it tough to find the right pink cardstock! The sentiment is a sticker from SRM.

It will be a busy weekend for us. Tomorrow is a huge craft show within walking distance of my mom's house. There is a 60% chance of rain so we may go Sunday instead.

Best price for Copic Marker Reinkers

It is time for me to order some reinkers for my Copics.

If you have any recommendations please share... bad experiences- I want to hear about those too (I'll keep the comments protected so you can be honest.)

My poor daughter won't be able go to college because I need Copic refills! LOL

If I love you will you hold it against me?

Happy Hump Day! I created this card using Chunkee, a new image from The Digi Shack which will be released during Digi Day on Saturday 6/5. He is part of a new series drawn by a talented artist, friend and teammate Marlene (if she gets mad at me for calling her a friend I'll stop calling her a talented.)

I kind of went in a different direction in my interpretation of The Digi Shack sketch challenge for this week. This guy looks kind of like a romantic doofus- the kind that would buy flowers from the residue rack at the grocery store- but is really a nice guy deep down (but a bit rough around the edges.)

I'm reading a book by Karen Kingsbury. My mom likes her books and saves them for me. The one I started last night is called 'Shades of Blue' and I really like it so far. It is so refreshing to read about characters who have strong morals and beliefs.