Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 22

It's time for another Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge!  Our challenge is to use a Doodle Pantry Image, not just a sentiment.   For my image I chose one of their brand new releases "Spring Song Birdies".  Aren't these birds just adorable?  I had so much fun coloring them!  The sentiment  is one of several that comes with the set and that cute DSP is one of three digital papers that are also included.   If you'd like to play along and don't have any Doodle Pantry images feel free to browse their freebie page HERE.  There are some "free with purchase" and some that are totally free downloads.  All participants who enter the challenge will get a free set called Quirky Parrot, which is absolutely adorable! 

Card Ingredients:

Images:  Doodle Pantry Spring Song Birdies and matching sentiment

Paper:  Tempting Turquoise  (SU), Daffodil Delight (SU) Doodle Pantry Digital Paper

Ink:  Daffodil Delight (sponged around edges)

Accessories:  Crushed Curry Ribbon (SU), Glitter Brads

Tools:  Scallop Border Punch (SU), Copics, Spica Clear Gel Pen, Dimensionals



The Shabby Tea Room is celebrating their 2nd Birthday!

If you are looking for some wonderful inspiration and great challenges, head on over to the Shabby Tea Room!  They are celebrating their 2nd Birthday with some fabulous prizes!  Check them out here ! 

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 21

I am in love with Doodle Pantry Digital Stamps!  They have a great variety of designs and I have been using them for a while now.  If you've never used Doodle Pantry images you are in for a real treat!  Check them out!  Since I've been home with my hubby while he's been laid up from hip replacement surgery, I've had some time to do some stamping and my Doodle Pantry images were my first choice to go to!   This card is for their latest challenge, Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 21 and it is to use a Doodle Pantry image, not just a sentiment.  I've been wanting to use one of the images from Ant Masquerade and this is the card I created for the challenge.  I'm going to send this to a friend who has been ill recently to hopefully cheer her up. 

Card Ingredients:
Image:  Ant Masquerade - Doodle Pantry
Paper:  SU Real Red, Basic Black, Marina Mist, Cameo Coral; GP 110 White; Crate Paper- Farmhouse DP
Tools:  SU Butterfly Embosslit Folder, Gems, Copics, Blue Tafetta Ribbon

Hello!!

Oh my goodness, I don't believe it has been almost a year since I've posted!  Life has been very busy here at the Crouse house these past months!  I am very heavily involved in Golden Rescue now and we have adopted another Golden, Sabrae.  She is 8 years old and loves to play ball 24/7!  We really weren't looking to adopt another dog but we took care of her while her foster family was on vacation last fall and fell in love with her, and well... the rest is history! 

Isn't she adorable?  How could you not fall in love with that face?  She's a wonderful addition to our family and we just love her to pieces!

In other news, my husband was laid off from his job of 17 years on January 3rd, which was a bit of a surprise.  He worked for a small plumbing company and business had been slow the last couple of years but it was still kind of a shock when he was let go.  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise though as he desparately needed a hip replacement and never felt he could take the time off work to get it done so this was the perfect opportunity to have the surgery while he is unemployed.  He had the surgery two weeks ago tomorrow and is doing exceptionally well!  He just graduated from the walker to the cane and he is moving better everyday!  Once he is all healed and gets the go ahead from the doctor to go back to work he will start the job search for a new, hopefully more secure job with a larger company.  He is also toying with the idea of going into business for himself but that's a ways ahead and right now we are just concentrating on him getting his strength and mobility back and being pain free for the first time in a number of years. 

That's about all the major news for now, I'm happy to be back and I really want to participate in some challenges with several of my favorite stamp companies so be on the lookout for more posts from me!





Secret Sister Card

My Secret Sister has struck again!  Look at this gorgeous card she had someone deliver to me at the Shoebox Swap I attended this past Saturday!  Isn't it beautiful?  I have been so spoiled by my Secret Sister and I can't wait to find out who she is at our reveal luncheon on May 7th at a local restaurant! 



Shoebox Swap!

This past Saturday my friend Amanda hosted another of her fabulous Shoebox Swaps!  They are always a special time to get together with my friends and fellow stampers to stamp the day away, laugh, and of course EAT!  Besides all the wonderful cards there is always an array of yummy food, from breakfast to lunch to dessert!  And Amanda is the most wonderful hostess, she really puts a lot of work into making the day fun for us with some fantastic door prizes and other surprises!  I won a wonderful door prize of the SU stamp set Itty Bitty Bits and the coordinating punches.  I can't wait to use them!  Here is my card that I took to the swap.  It is very similar to the card I made for my Aunt's birthday but using a different color combo.

Card Ingredients
Stamps:  SU Happiness Shared, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock:  SU Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools:  SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch
Accessories:  Pearls, Dimensionals



I can't get "ogre" you!

Here we are on week 11 for the Hambo Hoedown Challenges!  Our free digi this week is this cute 'ogre'!  He came with a couple of sentiments and I chose "I can't get 'ogre' you"!  As part of our challenge we were also to use distressing on our card, which I don't do a whole lot of, but I do like the look of it!  I used my distressing tool and distressed around the edges of the Early Espresso Panel as well as the around the inside of the oval.  I also distressed around the edges of the sentiment.  Then I took my scissors and made a lot of gouges in the front panel to distress it as well.  Coming up with a card using this image was a bit of a challenge for me but it made me put my thinking cap on and I guess that's what challenges are for, aren't they?  I hope you like it!

Card Ingredients
Images:  "Ogre-digi" from Hambo Stamps
Stamps:  SU Three Trees (retired)
Cardstock:  SU Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie
Ink:  SU Early Espresso
Tools:  Distressing Tool, Scissors, Nesties, Copics, Dimensionals