Desert Designs

I Will Survive

Shannon — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

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.

Congratulations

Shannon — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

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!

Hooray

Shannon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

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.

Pencil Boxes

Shannon — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Thursday! Just a quick post from me as we’re off to Preschool again this morning – and still adjusting to our new routine. First off, MyGrafico is having an end of summer sale, which means Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff, as well as the other designers products, are on sale!

Lindsay has released a new SVG set – called Teacher’s Helper – super cute and easy to use. Since my little one just started Preschool, and I am volunteering at her school, this set was perfect for me! I used it to create cute little pencil boxes/teacher gifts. The super cute paper is from the Animal Cracker Stack (DCWV). I added little rhinestone embellishments from My Mind’s Eye – and viola – cute and easy! Really easy – just load the files in Sure Cuts A Lot, pick your, paper, and cut! Now I just have to finish the other 8!

Challenges I Played In:

ABC Design Blog – Back To School
Cutie-Sunday – Anything But A Card
Hand Stamped Sentiments – Anything But A Card
Little Red Wagon – Back To School
One Stop Craft Challenge – Not A Card
Paper Cutz – Anything Goes

If you haven’t already been to Lindsay’s Blog, be sure to stop by. I know she has a fabulous freebie and the links to all of the other DT projects (as well as some amazing creations of her own!). Don’t forget the sale – 30% off as well!

That’s all from me – another morning of preschool and a lunch date await us! Have a fabulous day!

Doodle Pantry

Shannon — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:25:00 +0000

Doodle Pantry is having a DT call – and I didn’t want to miss a chance to work with these fabulous stamps! This scripture from the A Loving God set really spoke to me after all of the fear and the blessings surrounding my Dad’s cancer diagnosis and my own recent thyroid ultrasound results – so I decided to create a card with it. I printed the sentiment on Very Vanilla cs (SU) and cut it out using a Label 4 Nestability (Spellbinders). I cut a mat out of black cs with the Nestability as well. My card base is from my La Creme box set (DCWV) – which I love!! After adhering everything I added black pearls (Michaels) and faux piercing with my Soot Spica Marker. For a finishing touch I added a Vine Rose (Prima).

I’d love to know what you think!

Challenges I Played In:

Creatalicious – Vintage
Crafts and Me – Petals and Pearls
Bunny Zoe’s Crafts – Vintage
Our Daily Bread Designs – Dies and Punches
One Stitch at a Time – Say It With Shapes
Sentimental Sundays – Words to Inspire
Stampin Sisters In Christ – Psalm 56:3

Have a great weekend!

Winged Things

Shannon — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Thursday! Welcome to another creation featuring Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff! Before we get to the project, I wanted to let you know that Lindsay is having a 40% off sale until midnight – which means this a perfect time to stock up on any of those digital goodies you’ve been eyeing or her super easy to use SVG files and templates!!!

I’ve been browsing the September/October edition of Papercrafts Magazine for the last two evenings and was really inspired by Carrie Lipovich’s card on page 36 – so I decided to let her card be my guide for today’s project. I used this fabulous border from Lindsay’s Winged Things Digital Stamp Set as my focal image – easily resized in Photoshop (or any other graphics/word processing application). I also computer generated the sentiment and printed both on Very Vanilla CS (SU). I embossed the sentiment layer with my Argyle Cuttlebug folder (Provo Craft) taking care not to emboss over the sentiment. Then I used my Dotted Scallop Edge Punch (EK Success) to create the scallop border on by image layer and a black mat layer. After combing through my stash and discovering that I don’t have any 1/8” or 1/4” black grosgrain ribbon, I opted to created a stitched layer using another scrap of black CS and my Just My Type Cuttlebug border folder. After adhering everything my favorite mono adhesive (Tombow) to the patterned and textured card base (DCWV La Creme Box Set – I LOVE this set and wish I could find the mat stack and the 12×12 in this design), I used my Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add some shine and dimension to swirls and dragonflies. The finishing touch was a few ivory pearls (MS) to accent the swirls.

Challenges I Played In:

Alphabet Challenges – P is for Punches
Craftalicious – Pearls and Swirls
Crafty Catz – Animals
Elephantastic – Shabby Chic
One Stitch At A Time – Pack a Punch
Opus Gluei – You’ve Got to Move It Move It (Use your stash)

That’s all from me – one of my little one’s friends is coming over to play this morning – so we have a busy day ahead.

Doodle Flowers

Shannon — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Thursday! I’m happy to be back!!! As many of you know, my Dad was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma and had surgery last week to remove the tumor. Though he lost some leg muscles too – he is home and recovering – which means we’re home too! My younger brother and I managed to get the kitchen floor tiled at my parents’ house while Dad was resting on Tuesday – so we’re both exhausted!

Anyhow, on to the reason for my post. School started for my Mom this week, so my color palette was inspired by bold colors that make me think of school – red, orange, yellow and green. I used one of the flowers from Lindsay’s Doodle Flowers digital stamp set. The image is printed on white GP cardstock and colored with my copics. I used a pearl brad (Paper Studio) for the flower center and my clear Glaze pen (Sakura) to “raise” my stitching. After trimming the image, I attached it to a newspaper print panel (courtesy of the Sunday paper) embellished with golden grosgrain ribbon from my stash. The textured cardstock mats are all from Bazzill. After adhering everything together, I used my i-rock tool and flourish template (Imaginisce) to add the rhinestones. Though in hindsight, I think I a brighter background – say a white panel stamped with a newsprint stamp (or printed with a digi-stamp) would have been a touch better than the newspaper – I wanted to experiment and am pleased with the overall result. I’d love to know what you think too!

Challenges I Played In:

Stamp and Create – Flowers
Scrappy Frogs Challenge – Stitch In Time
Penny’s Challenges – Anything Goes
Creatalicious – 3D
AllSorts – Primary Colors
DigiDoodle Shop’s Best – Flowers

That’s all from me – today is another busy day with a doctor’s appointment for me, a play date for my little one, and preschool open house – whew! Have a great day and be sure to stop by Lindsay’s blog if you haven’t already – there’s a freebie to be had and the links to the rest of the DT creations – lots of inspiration for you!

Flower Power – TD03

Shannon — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

It’s time for another fabulous Tiffany Doodles Challenge! This month’s theme is Flower Power…to join us simply create a card/ stamped project using any flower you’d like!! You may use any stamp you like for this challenge (but we’d be tickled to see Tiffany’s Stamps)! Tiffany has an abundance of flower digi stamps in her shop and oodles of freebies for inspiration! You have until the end of the month, Aug 31, to play! Please add your link (directly to your card post) to the bottom of this post using Inlinkz. Don’t forget to add your card to the Tiffany Doodles Flickr Gallery if you use a Tiffany Doodles digi stamp. When uploading to online galleries, tag your creation with: TD03 so we can find you.

For my card, I used Tiffany’s Hydrangea with Oval digital stamp set. This set coordinates perfectly with nestabilities large oval die (or Cricut owners who use Sure Cuts A Lot or Make The Cut can visit Penny Duncan’s site for fabulous free layered files)! I opted to trim mine even with the frame and then layer it on an oval cut from Colorbok DP and a Scalloped Oval cut from Bazzill textured CS. The image is printed on Whisper Whiter CS (SU) and colored with ‘ target=_blank>Prismacolor pencils using the Baby Oil/OMS/ Gamsol technique (I used baby oil). I had never tried blending my colored pencils before and am quite happy with the results and the simplicity of the technique!!!! The card base is DCWV precut and scalloped – I add additional depth by embossing with my D’Vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder (PC). I added light orchid textured CS panels (Bazzill) and some fabulous handmade lace (thank you Nana) to complete the look. I am really happy with how it turned out! Now it’s your turn – show us what you’ve got!

Tiffany’s Design Team has been busy with this one! Be sure to stop by the main blog for links to everyone’s fabulous creations!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Think Pink

Shannon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Breast cancer is a devastating disease impacting 1 in 8 women in the United States alone – with a new diagnosis every 3 minutes and a death every 13 minutes! The numbers are sobering – but with every research dollar raised, we are that much closer to a cure. To help with this cause, MyGrafico designers Blackleaf Studios, Cheri Wenger, DigiDiva, Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff, ReviDevi, Sanqunetti Design,Tainted Sweets and Zenware Designs have joined forces with Stitching for Pink to create an exclusive collaborative kit for you with ALL of the proceeds going directly to Stitching for Pink to fund Breast Cancer Research:

This collaborative effort features 12 adorable clip art designs, 4 pattern papers, a printable collage sheet and a printable craft – your $5 donation supports Breast Cancer research.

Together we will find a cure!

Red High Heel

Shannon — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another Thursday with Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff! This week Lindsay is the sponsor at Tuesday Morning Sketches as part of their 1st birthday celebration. In order to play along and be in the running for a fabulous FREE digital stamp set from Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff, all you have to do is create a project with ANY of the sketches from the past year – you’re sure to find one that gets your creativity flowing! Though it was a tough choice, my inspiration is Melissa’s Sketch #2 combined with one of the digital stamps in Lindsay’s Girl Thing Digital Stamp set and Lindsay’s Uptown Houndstooth digital papers. I couldn’t decided if I liked red or black better as my primary color scheme – so I did both! As per my usual, I started out in Photoshop and designed my card base on a standard A2 canvas using Melissa’s sketch as a guide. The solid mats and heels are colored using my favorite Chalkies Photoshop Styles and the DP behind the image was created using a new favorite – Halftone Photoshop Styles, also from Jodiann. I created the inside sentiments in Photoshop as well – using quotes from Bill Blass and Ginger Rogers – perfect GIRL sentiments. After printing on multi-purpose photo paper, I trimmed everything and adhered to my card bases. Then the embellishing fun began! For this card I used adhesive crystal rhinestones on the shoe and my new I-Rock tool to add the graduated rhinestones to the mat edges. For more sparkle, I added Red Stickles to the “fluff” on the shoe. I had planned on using some Fancy Fibers between my layers, but due to a printing issue (my printer decided to scale my base layer) my layers didn’t all print at the same size – so I had to “wing” it – though I’m not unhappy with the results and these will be much easier to mail!! For the 2nd card, I followed the same idea substituting black and white pearls (Michaels) for the the crystals and Black Stickles instead of red. Again, I am pleased with the end result – and I still can’t pick a favorite!

Challenges I Played In:

Aimee’s Challenge Blog – Something For A Friend (Either Card)
Alota Rubber Stamps – Glitter and Pearls (Black Card)
One Stitch At A Time – Digi-Madness (Either Card)
Papertake Weekly – Cutie Patootie (Red Card)
Scrappy Frogs – Girlie Girl (Either Card)
Sisterhood of Scrap – Monochrome (Red Card)
Stamp Something – Digital (Either Card)

That’s all from me – my little one has a check-up this morning, so we’re off to town for that. If you didn’t arrive here from Lindsay’s blog, be sure to stop by – she has the links to the other DT blogs as well as yummy eye-candy and perhaps a freebie too!