Off to Yellowstone

...and Salt Lake City, the Grand Tetons, Denver, and Breckenridge. I hope to make a few posts chronicling our adventures from the road.

In the meantime, here are a couple random projects from the past couple of months. First, a Mother's Day card. I found this sentiment (originally from Tiny Prints) on a the Holiday Snobs blog. I loved the saying so much that I turned it into a house card using stamps and scrapping supplies:

The next project was for my niece, who was a speaker at her high school graduation. I didn't get a photo of the final product (it looked much cuter with a title and some of these Ditto tabs sticking out). I really wanted to get a Smash Book, but they weren't available yet, so I just used a composition book. My niece is a writer and she seemed to truly like it.


There was one other graduation this spring: Charlotte graduated from her elementary school, where she has attended since Pre-K. She's moving on from her small charter school to the public middle school, where the just 7th grade class alone is as big as her whole previous school.

Here is Charlotte with her dad:


and my favorite shot, a candid of the girls jumping off the stage:

A Card Set

This week Digital Doodles released a set of sentiment stamps to match their previously released images. This makes creating cards even easier, since you can select a sentiment to compliment the doodle perfectly.

Here's a set of 4 cards I made using some of the doodles and matching sentiments:

I especially love the round sentiments -- they are such a fun design element on the cards!

I changed the background color of the round sentiments and added some digital "stitching" around them using Photoshop brushes. I used the "Round and Round" brushes by Rhonna Farrer, which appears to no longer be available. Fortunately, however, similar brush sets can be found here and here.

Latest Digital Doodles

Whew! We're back from vacation, the kids have started school, and it's time to share my latest Digital Doodles card, which uses the 'Party Hats' stamp:


This is another super-versatile stamp: it can be used together (like I did) or separated, and is perfect for birthdays or any other kind of celebration.

If you a love Kathy Martin's adorable stamps and would enjoy creating with them, she is having a design team call! Check it out here.

E Is for Elephant

'E Is for Elephant' is the name of the latest Digital Doodles stamp from Kathy Martin. This little elephant just makes me happy! Like most of Kathy's stamps, it can be used so many different ways. I used a circus theme to make a baby card:


We're still in Colorado, but now high up in the mountains in Breckenridge. Yesterday we hiked our second 'Fourteener' (peak above 14,000 feet). It was quite an adventure, including a close encounter with lightning. Full story and photos to come soon!

Cooling Down

During these hot summer days, Kathy Martin's new Digital Doodle stamp 'Double Scoop' will help you cool down (mentally at least!) Even better, the top scoop of this adorable little cone is separate, so you can add as many additional scoops as you would like. Here's my card using the 'Double Scoop' stamp:


Fortunately for us, we are cooling down literally as well as mentally. The girls and I have been in Colorado for the past week and a half visiting my parents. It has gotten up to 90 a couple of days, but compared to 115, that's cool. This week, we are really cooling down up in the mountains, where the highs are in the low 70's.

We discovered during our visit that Colorado has a professional soccer team, so we had to take Charlotte to go see her first major league soccer game. On our way up to the game, we stopped at the Colorado Department of Transportation's 100th anniversay celebration, where they happened to have face painting as one of the activities. It just seemed natural to have Charlotte put on her 'game face':


We really enjoyed the game, despite the fact that a few fans had the infamous vuvuzelas that were such a annoyance at the World Cup games. This is my favorite shot of the game action. The goalie was unsuccessful in blocking the free kick, as you can see by the ball in the lower left corner of the net:

Dog Days of Summer

Wow -- has it really been over two weeks since my last post?!? I've been running around getting Sophie and Charlotte ready for camp. At least the kids went up to higher elevations to escape the heat -- our lows are in the 90s!

I have been doing some creating, though. This first card is uses the newest Digital Doodles stamp, Little Lamb. The lamb's wool is actually French knots made with fuzzy yarn. It sounds terribly time consuming, but it really wasn't!

This card uses two of the previously released stamps, Party Banner and Happy Bird Day:

I've been itching to do some layouts, too, but haven't found the time. In addition to having the girls home, I am making a big push to purge around the house and start some web design/development. I am hoping web design can be my next "job" -- hopefully one that will allow me to be creative and work at home.

Two Digital Doodles Cards

I've fallen behind in my posting, so I have two new Digital Doodles cards to share:

Flutterbug

Fur-ever Friend

I've decided that this summer is dedicated to getting my house in order. When you are (or were), a working mom, who also happens to be a 'keeper' married to another 'keeper', things tend to accumulate. So I am purging everywhere. I even made the decision to get rid of most of my scrapbook supplies and start over with a fresher, leaner collection. I slimmed down my paper quite a bit, although I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of all my old KI Memories and Scenic Route. I may be scheduling a round two...

The upside of all this was that I made a shopping trip to the biggest scrapbook store in the city. I was surprised to find out that they had converted a quarter of the store to fabrics and patterns. And not just any fabric, but Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, Moda, and other hard-to-find designer fabrics. I was happy to find out where I can go for those. But on the other hand, it is another indicator that scrapbooking is coming down from it's peak. There seems to be blurring of lines between crafts and a lot more cross-craft inspiration -- which in the long run, has to be a good thing.

Cards and Candy Jars

First, here is a new card using the latest digital stamp from Kathy Martin, Garden Mouse:

How sweet is that little mouse?!? I used the flower making technique I posted about earlier to make the ribbon petals in the flower, but cut the ribbon apart first.

For some other inspiration, here are some photos I came across while looking for ideas for those big glass jars that are so popular right now. Apparently using them in "candy buffets" is a big trend, especially at weddings.

Here is an example from event planner Amy Atlas that includes some other favorites of mine -- banners, labels, stripes, ribbon and happy colors:

I don't know what event I'm going to use a candy buffet for, but I'm determined to find one!

Beaches and Bathing Suits

We just got back from California, where we spent an afternoon at the beach. Just about everyone there (except me) was wearing a bikini similar to the one in Kathy Martin's newest digital doodle, String Bikini:

While the California girls were running around in bikinis in the 72 degree (but breezy) weather, I was huddled on a beach towel wearing a jacket. That's what living in the desert will do for you.

We're having a relatively cool summer in the desert, which is wonderful, except that I can't take advantage of the weather for outdoor activities because of my collar bone. I hope to get the go ahead to resume normal activities soon.

Happy Bird Day

Just when I think that Kathy Martin can't possibly come up with anything as cute as the last stamp, she does it again! Here is a birthday card using her latest Digital Doodles stamp, Happy Bird Day:


If you get a chance, check out the rest of the design teams cards at Kathy's blog, Card-Blanc.

Meanwhile, school is barely out, and we've already sent kids off to camp. Charlotte is up in the mountains at a week-long soccer camp, and Sophie is on a 'red-eye' trip to Disneyland. (A day at Disney, sandwiched between two overnight bus trips). Definitely something designed for the young!

Tweet Retreat Card

Here's a card using the latest Digital Doodles stamp, 'Tweet Retreat':


Is that stamp just adorable or what?

I've got to keep my posts short for awhile... After my latest X-ray, I am under strict orders not to use my right arm at all. Fortunately, I am left handed, but it's amazing how hard it is to do things with only one hand. I'm hoping that if I'm really good for the next two weeks, it will all be over and I can get back to doing the things I love (like hiking and scrapbooking!)

A Card and A Cake

Here's a card using the latest adorable Digital Doodles release, 'Field Flowers':

For this card, I filled the flowers in in Photoshop, which was a quick and easy way to get the colors to match the patterned paper.

Kathy Martin, the Digital Doodles designer, always posts all of the design team cards, along with lots of other great cards and give-aways, on her blog. It's well worth a visit!

My other crafty endeavor this weekend was a soccer birthday cake for Charlotte's 11th birthday. I don't think cake decorating is going to replace paper crafting for me anytime soon, but I did want to share the results:

I've never baked a birthday cake for either of my girls, so I made up for lost time by getting ambitious and biting off a pretty elaborate one. The soccer ball turned out a little rough. (It just looks more authentic, like it's been kicked around on the field a bit, right?)

It was Charlotte's idea to have the goalies hold up the birthday message. She even made the signs herself:

I have to give a lot of credit and thanks to my mom, who was a huge help, since I was doing this with one arm! And to Parenting Magazine, where the original idea came from. Click here for detailed instructions.

Too Much Fun on Mother's Day

Here is a card using the latest Digial Doodles stamp, 'Meowy Messenger':


How cute is that little kitty?!? And the message area makes it so easy to make a great card!

It's a little harder if you only have one arm, though... which is now the case with me, since I had a little too much fun on Mother's Day -- I managed to break my collar bone in a bicycling accident. A piece of advice for those who (like me!) are not smart enough to realize this ahead of time: Don't follow the kids on their off-road bike course!

Clothes Line

Digital Doodles has already released another new stamp, Darling Duds:


All of the Digital Doodles stamps are so adorable and versatile, but there is something extra sweet and appealing about clothes hanging on a line. I'm going to give this to a friend who is expecting a baby boy next month.

This time, instead of printing the stamp on patterned paper and piecing it together, I added the patterns in Photoshop before printing. (I didn't think my scissor skills were good enough to cut out the little clothing details by hand.) Both methods work great.

Next card, I am challenging myself to NOT use clouds. I've become addicted -- to the point where a project doesn't look complete without them! But I don't want ot have too much of a good thing (even cute fluffy clouds!).

Soar

"Soar" is the sentiment on this graduation card using the new adorable Digital Doodles stamp, K Is for Kite:

It's also my unofficial motto this year, as I attempt to get back where I was (or better than I was!) before my cancer treatment. Yesterday I climbed a peak (1,200 ft. elevation gain), and today I ran for 35 minutes. Not to mention, my hair is growing back curly. (Yea!) So in a sense, the message on this card is for me as much as the recipient.

Scrapbook Convention

I'm off to the scrapbook convention today! I'm really looking forward to it, even if it is like sending a recovering alcoholic into a bar, as my husband likes to say. But my stash could stand with a little "freshening", and there is just something about the energy of so many scrapbookers all in one place.

Digital Doodles has released another adorable digi stamp, as they do every week. Here is a card using the latest, the Spring Garden stamp. That bird bath is just the epitome of spring!



I already have the stamp to be released next week in my hands, and trust me, it is every bit as cute! Keep an eye out for it next Tuesday.

Mother's Day Card

Digital Doodles has a new stamp every week, and I used the latest, this cute little "banner bird", to make a Mother's Day card:

I love the banner the bird is pulling that you can put your message on! So easy to use, and it just says spring.

Party Banner Birthday Card

There are quite a few spring birthdays in our family... and the new Party Banner digital stamp (and the Song Bird stamp) from Kathy Martin at TwoPeasInABucket were perfect for a spring card:

Banners are all the rage right now, and this stamp is so versatile, since it can be re-sized and re-colored so easily. It would look great on a scrapbook page, too.

But I'll have to wait till I get home to try it, because we are still in Colorado skiing. I saw this bottle of Mountain Dew buried in the snow outside the restaurant at the top of the peak today, and I had to take a picture-- it was just too perfect:

Here is our little speed demon in her Mercury wing helmet, trying to "get some air":

and our girls and friend on the lift:

Digital Doodles

I am so excited to be asked to be part of Kathy Martin's 'Digital Doodles' design team at Two Peas in a Bucket.

'Digital Doodles' are digital 'stamps' that you can re-size and re-color on your computer, then print. So they are like traditional stamps, but even more versatile. And Kathy's designs are so fresh and cute.

Here is a birthday card I made using her Sweet Cake stamp:

I can't wait to see the next releases!

Birdie Thank You Cards

As soon as I saw this cute little Hero Arts stamp when the new Hobby Lobby opened, I knew I had to have it to make thank you cards for the people who were so caring and supportive while I was sick. Since I was blessed to have so many caring people, I need to make quite a few of them, so they're on the simple side.

I actually got out my chalks, which I had not used in years. I have to say, I still like chalks. They are great for adding soft color in a flash (although I sure wouldn't mind giving some of the new Copic markers a try, for comparison!)