Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I'M MOVING!

SURPRISE!!! My blog has a NEW HOME!

...you can all blame Catherine for this one, but my blog has moved to a new location!

Please be sure to update your blogrolls and links to reflect my NEW blog address: http://pezadoodle.wordpress.com/.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause! Hope to see you over at the Pezadoodle Blog's new home!

Your web browser should automatically transfer you to my new location! If you'd like to be transferred sooner, please >> CLICK HERE <<

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

do your skittles like to play dress up??

i had alot of fun at Angela's Happy Stamper - if you live in the northern VA area you really should check out her shop - it is fabulous!!! i met and chatted with some wonderful ladies and i was so happy to meet them all.


it had been awhile since i had pulled out my skittle bugs and i realized i did not have any skittle bug samples left. so i whipped up this little cutie:

The bluish purple piece was a fun little scrap i made from leftovers after my alcohol ink get together. i was clening up and my craft mat had a dried pool of alcohol inks from my demo. now here is what is so cool about alcohol inks - i decided rather than wipe it up why not see if i could play in it a bit more. the puddle was a bit too heavy on the silver so i added a few more drops of color - stream, cool peri and stonewashed and then a heavy dose of blending solution which woke the puddle of inks from the night before right up! i grabbed a bunch of nearby scraps of ranger's glossy paper and swirled them face down in the puddle and made some great pieces!


here is a close up of the skittle bugs. these little *doodled* stamps are sized to fit skittles perfectly whaich are hand colored and hand decorated by me for each of the bugs in the set. the bee in the center has the skittle bottle (don't be confused - skitlte sare not dew drops - dew drops will not be sized correctly. run out of bug skittles? the stamps can be simply stamped and colored or you can use a drop of dimensional pearls and draw the details on yourself like the background bee and the snail.

Other skittle bugs include a ladybug, dragonfly, caterpillar, bat and spider - perhaps they will come out to play too!

*drive by posting*

WOW have I been busy - no project to share today but i DID want to send out ahout out to the girls who came over to play with alcohol inks on saturday. i had SUCH a blast and i just LOVE to get together like that! of course i was THRILLED to see Amy {Pickled Paper} and Suzanne {Scrap Bitz} - two of my MOST fave people and way fun to spend time with. i also got to see deanna again and meet a few of her scrapping group including June, spent time with a brand new friend i "bumped into " at Angela's Happy Stamper Tiffany {inkling 2 stamp} and my neighbor Angela came too. i had every intention of taking lots of pics and of course got to caught up in the fun and completely forgot :( thanks so much for coming over girls i had a BLAST with y'all!!

the party also gave me the *inspiration* to really CLEAN out my scrap area so i could fit everyone and then i did some rearranging and came up with a whole new set up that i am LOVING!!

well thats it for me today - coffee's done so I am off to get my stuff ready for my free make n take today. IF YOU LIVE in the NORTHERN VA area I would LOVE to have you come out to Angela's Happy Stamper and join me anytime from noon to 2 pm to celebrate my stamps launching in Angela's store in Reston.

~~~DT CALL ANNOUNCEMENT will be Friday so stay tuned - it is taking some time to go through them all and it will be tough to narrow it down.....~~~

HUGS!!!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Etsy Inspired fun!

I am so excited - Pez-A-Doodle is sponsoring the Etsy Inspired challenge this week! YAY! i only recently discovered this challenge and have been emailing back n forth with ashley ever since and i just think she is SUCH a sweetie! so I am so happy to have a chance to sponsor a prize for her challenge as I think she does a tremendous thing getting some etsy shops a little exposure! i LOVE to shop on etsy! The prize is a $20 gift certificate to my website and ashley also has a coupon posted so head over there and have a look!

This week's featured shop is TR Mack and wow i had just tons of ideas for this one - BUT only time to create one so here it is:




the main panel is a little trick i learned from tim holtz's class at CHA. i cut the flower out on my cricut and then glued it to a piece of cardstock. i ran that through my xyron putting the sticky ON THE FRONT and then covered it with heavy duty tin foil. i used a large paper blending stump to smooth the tin foil down and get the design to show through really well. next i alcohol inked it really well. then i sanded lightly and brushed over the flower with staz on ink.

the background is the double cuttlebug technique i learned over on debbie's die cuts. i added larger inked circles with various objects on my table like the end of a pen.

i used this week's SCS sketch challenge for the layout.

and now off to finish prepping for class tonight! can't wait to see everyone!

be sure to tune in tomorrow when i announce the next studio G challenge!

don't forget tomorrow is the last day to submit for the design team call!

Friday, March 13, 2009

CAS4 new challenge on SCS for Angela's Happy Stamper

have you seen the new challenge over at SCS??? i was unable to participate until now but I needed something "Clean and Simple" for the make n take I am hosting at Angela's Happy Stamper in Reston so the timing was perfect! Here is what we will be making to launch my stamp line in Angela's Store next Tuesday the 17th:

i decided to make an Easter Treat Bag and a Birthday Goody bag using multiple sets from Polkadot Pie. These projects really give a feel for the versatility of the line. Both toppers are cut with my nesties and folded in half.


For the Easter treats i used the little bows from the Sprinkled Background 1 - I stamped with Versamark and then dusted them with Sunflower Sparkle perfect pearls and gave them a LIGHT mist with water to set them. next I stamped one of the randomly with one of the mini hearts from Loveys with Pezzy in memento rosebud and the little flower image from Chocolate Treats 2 in memento lulu lavender. NOW for the dots for CAS4 - fruit punch stickles randomly in remaining open spaces. attach a big bright prima from Angela's with a custom skittle in the center - FUN!



The second treat bag just shows yet another option with the Polkadot Pie stamps. For this one i stamped the swirls from the Sprinkled Backgrounds 1 set using Memento Danube Blue. Next I stamped the tiny cupcake image from Chocolate Treats 1 randomly using memento Ladybug and Dandelion and then added stickle dots with red and yellow. Instead of a prima i wanted a little boy look so i stamped the larger cupcake from the same set and cut it out with my nesties. i stamped it a second time on the blue polkadot paper and cut the cupcake paper portion out. i colored the cupcake with copics, attached the cupcake paper and then did the swirl with yellow stickles. i edged the scallops with more blue danube ink.



here is a loser look at both of them.

if you happen to live in the Northern VA area I really hope you stop by for some fun and chatting over at Angela's on Tuesday - she has an INCREDIBLE shop and i did quite a bit of shopping while there!!

and now i am off to my super fun CTMH scrapping club at my friend Cori's. and then CLEAN UP time for my alcohol inky party tomorrow!

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***REMINDER***
DT call going on now - click
HERE for the details and see how you can apply!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~SALE ENDING!~~~~~~~~~~~
nearly everything has been marked down for about 2 months. that sale will end on Sunday at midnight! If you have been putting off ordering now would be the time to do it!! Monday morning everything will go back up to regular price!
*~*~**~*~*~*NEW RELEASE & related festivities*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I am expecting the next new releases in soon!!! YOU DO NOT want to miss these!
The design team and i are planning some fun festivities !!!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

no fun all business!

so i WISH i had some fun exciting project for you but i don't *crying real tears* as pez tells me (when she really is NOT crying real tears or even FAKE tears).

i DO want to take some time to give a full status update on pre-orders, store news and such.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***REMINDER***

DT call going on now - click HERE for the details and see how you can apply!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~SALE ENDING!~~~~~~~~~~~

nearly everything has been marked down for about 2 months. that sale will end on Sunday at midnight! If you have been putting off ordering now would be the time to do it!! Monday morning everything will go back up to regular price!

*~*~**~*~*~*NEW RELEASE & related festivities*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I am expecting the next new releases in soon!!! YOU DO NOT want to miss these!

The design team and i are planning some fun festivities for y'all and they will start on April 1 so be sure to join in the fun!!

Studio G:

series 30 and the chalk sets - first week of April-ish

series 32 and the matching ink pad glitter glue sets - first week of May

i DO still have a few left for pre-order but i wouldn't delay too long......

i also have some of series 26 left as well.

Ranger:

it's coming...it's not coming...it's coming...

SO new alcohol inks - they ran out before they got to me - YIKES - cuz i orderd well before CHA! i have now been told next week - BUMMER for the class i am teaching this weekend BUT you WILL all be prepared for the new inks when they DO arrive!!!

refillable pen - i do not know....

tim's ideology goodies HAVE arrived!! I will get them sorted and packaged IF you DID NOT also order new alcohol inks yours will go out tomorrow or saturday. IF YOU DO have new AI on your order then i will call again on Monday to get a firm shipping date - if the inks are on their way i will ship everything together - if it looks like it will be awhile i will ship what i have out immediately.

do let me know if you have any questions - thanks to all of you who take the time to stop by every day and those who shop with me - i truly apprecate you all!!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

hey all you studio G folks!!!!! an invitation for you....

to get those sweet little stamps out and PUT THEM TO USE!!!

that's right - i have read far too many posts in the last several months about people not using these little guys *GASP* - while they ARE super fun to collect they REALLY want to see ink!! and seriously you can ALWAYS find just what you need if you look to the studio Gs.


so to give you all some encouragement and inspiration I have begun hosting challenges over on the Paper Craft Planet Studio G collectors group in conjunction with Hampton Arts - the makers of Studio Gs - they are offering up a prize for the first challenge of each month!! Hampton Arts has ALOT more than just Studio G so I am excited to hear what goodies everyone gets each month!

the current challenge is invitations - my mom has asked me to make the invitations for our annual easter egg hunt/crawfish boil family reunion. SO i thought hey i have never inked up one of the invite SG sets.....the next challenge was born!



Here is invitation prototype number one:

i used my doodlecharms cricut cartridge on the card feature to cut the card and the frame. i accented the bunny and basket cutout with stickles, liquid pearls and glaze pens.














here's the inside:

well i wasn't too happy with this one and mom said she wanted a crawfish hatching out of an easter egg instead of a chick...........okaaayyyyy (no...there is NO such stamp.....)

then i was browsing through Angela's shop - The Happy Stamper when I went by to talk about the Pezadoodle launch event next Tuesday - oh boy does she have LOTS to browse through - you'll see more on that later. but i stumbled across a fiskars easter eagg punch - JUST the right size for the crawfish stamp i have from a couple years ago.




SOOOOOOOOOOOO...RE-DO!

here are a couple of the NEW invitations:



and the inside:
the crawfish, invited sentiment and inside wording were all stamped with rubarb stalk memento ink, spring is here was stamped with lime brilliance ink and the little easter egg cluster with a SUPER cool kaleidacolor pad in Bouquet. you can find all of these at Pez-A-Doodle and they are all on sale! i added a bit of flower soft along the bottom for grass. i may adjust the position of my crawfish a bit.....now off to see what mom thinks! how about y'all??? what do you think?

the challenge deadline is March 14th so you still have time to enter!!!

**EDITED TO ADD** you have GOT to go check out Catherine's Pez-A-Doodle post today - PHEnom!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***REMINDER***
DT call going on now - click
HERE for the details and see how you can apply!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Hooray for spring! SC218 AND OCCC doodling...

i have a twofer today yay!

We had GORGEOUS weather here in Northern VA for the last 4 days and this card is JUST how i have felt - all bright and happy and excited for some great outdoors!


my image is colored with copics and has some extra bling from spicas and crystal stickles (oh how i love the little inch worm-y). the green doodles edges are also spica and the white doodles on the patterned paper is my inkssentials white gel pen. the paper itself is gorgeous bo bunny paper from the ella collection and *might* appear soon in a little mini kit of goodies for spring :) i added extra bling to paper strips with the crystal stickles and doodled the edges of the borders too - done with one of the new ek success slim punches - best punches i have EVER used! you can punch thru cardstock with your fingertips instead of full body weight!!

Are you a Studio G *collector*?? want to become a Studio G USER instead???? be sure to tune in tomorrow to see my sample for the latest challenge in the papercraft planet studio G group - with a PRIZE from hampton arts!!!! Check the group for other samples submitted so far.

have a stampy day!


Monday, March 9, 2009

etsy inspired and totally tim!

***REMINDER***

DT call going on now - click HERE for the details and see how you can apply!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i just love Ashley's etsy inspired challenges and i am SO happy when i am able to participate in one! the etsy shop this week is Expressing You and they sell fantastic vinyl wall decor. i don't know that any ONE piece inspired me it was sort of a combination of the modern one with big flowers and the branches and leaves and nature themes in general.....anyway - i had this wooden frame that has been on my table for more than a week that i wanted to make for my dad. it was all crackle painted and i had the digi page done and printed but i just could not decide what to do on the frame and then i browsed Expressing You and here is where it led me:

it is a gift for my dad for his bday *SHHHH Paula don't tell* - and yes it has flowers which is not manly but the focus of the picture makes it ok i think :)





the pics are my grandparents and my dad as a child back in 1940s Cuba before it all came crashing down. the digi elements are from flerg's strawberry delight over at scrapbook graphics - LOVE LOVE LOVE them.


i had SO MUCH fun doing this - a total first for me - i may just have to do more *hybrid* stuff!








i started by painting the entire wood frame from Michaels with a Mushroom paint dabber. Then i covered the front with a thick layer of Crackle Paint in Old Paper.


i crocheted the flowers myself and used a few Sands of Time Bead pops *AKA skittles* for the centers.






Then came the Grungeboard - i got the letters from the plain minis set and the ferns from the Nature Set, embossed the ferns with my cuttlebug and painted them all with a Lettuce Paint Dabber. Once dry I rubbed over the embossing with Tim's sanding grip and then sponged on vintage photo distressed ink to the exposed grungeboard.


now i don't know about anyone else but i NEVER seem to have enough grungeboard swirls. so i got a Hello Kitty sizzix bigz die that has swirls and flowers the last time i was in Joanns and it worked perfectly! i painted them with the mushroom paint dabber and then covered them with worn lipstick distress stickles and the letters with scattered straw distress stickles.




this bottom corner has my Butterflies A Flutter stamped in archival black ink which looks cool over the crackle paint.
















and in a last flurry of tim holtz inspired creating i FINALLY finished this bday scrapbook title for one of the girls over on scrapping friends. they have a wishing well board which is just THE most awesome idea EVER and she was looking for a birthday item for a teenage boy - boys/men can be so tough once you can't get away with cutesy!

anyway i came up with this based loosley on a 12 tags of 2008 tutorial:


i started with black textured cardstock and stamped my pezadoodle cobblestone background all over in versamark. covered that with clear embossing powder and heated to melt. once it was cool i covered the whole thing with a lettuce paint dabber. when it was dry i wiped over it with a slightly damp paper towel so the paint would come off of the embossing. i punched out various style letters from the grungeboard alpha set and covered them really well with distress stickles in faded jeans, scattered straw and peeled paint. once dry i inked the edges with tea dye distress ink. the 13 is from the Seasonal grungeboard set and run through the cuttlebug distressed stripes embossing folder then sponged with faded jeans distress ink. the party shapes are cut with the celebrations cricut cartridge - the blue is SEI velvet paper which really adds to the overall look.


so what do you think???? does it work for a BOYS 13th bday page?????





Wednesday, March 4, 2009

~~DT CALL~~*~~DT CALL~~*~~DT CALL~~

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PUH-LEAZE!!!

i have decided i MUST MUST increase the size of my Design Team and so i am holding an open call!

i am looking for FOUR new people - yep FOUR! the new peeps will fall into two different categories so be sure to read the details carefully and apply to one or the other.

2 Month Guest Spot
To Apply:
· Submit two items – can be cards, LOs, gift bags, Altered items, etc - can be done using any stamps.
· Short bio – How long you have been papercrafting, family, fave subjects, fave projects to do, etc. Why you want to be on the Pez-A-Doodle DT and what you like about the store.
· Links to any/all blogs, message boards, online galleries, etc where you are active and have posted your work along with your screen name(s).

DT Expectations:
· Two items/projects per week using Pez-A-Doodle stamps with one being one of the SCS challenges.
· One project with each new release during your term if any are released.
· Participate in any challenges I may post including Studio G challenges.
· Actively comment/support other DT members’ blogs/galleries
· Actively participate on the 2 Paper Craft Planet groups – Studio G and Pez-A-Doodle Designs

What you get:
· Choice of 4 stamps/stamp sets
· $15 in products each month
· 25% discount for additional purchases
· All new stamps released during your term


4 Month Guest Spot
To Apply:
· Submit two items – can be cards, LOs, gift bags, Altered items, etc - can be done using any stamps.
· Submit 1 item based on one of Tim Holtz’s blog tutorials – can be from either 2007 or 2008 12 tags or one of his monthly tutorials.
· Short bio – How long you have been papercrafting, family, fave subjects, fave projects to do, etc. Why you want to be on the Pez-A-Doodle DT and what you like about the store.
· Links to any/all blogs, message boards, online galleries, etc where you are active and have posted your work along with your screen name(s).

Expectations:
· Two items/projects per week using Pez-A-Doodle stamps with one being one of the SCS challenges.
· One project with each new release during your term if any are released.
· Two items/projects demonstrating advanced techniques using products available in the store such as Tim tutorials, technique junkies, etc. each month (may be combined with other posting requirements).
· Participate in any challenges I may post including Studio G challenges.
· Actively comment/support other DT members’ blogs/galleries
· Actively participate on the 2 Paper Craft Planet groups – Studio G and Pez-A-Doodle Designs

What you get:
· Choice of 6 stamps/stamp sets
· $25 in products each month
· 25% discount for additional purchases
· All new stamps released during your term

SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO:
marti {at} pezadoodle {dot} com
BE SURE to put either 2 month DT or 4 month DT in the subject line
DEADLINE: Midnight EST Sunday March 15th


Monday, March 2, 2009

bday tea

well my day has certainly not gone as planned - i meant to have this post up this morning! i used this sketch from the high hopes blog and paired it with this adorable rachel anne miller stamp (anxiously awaiting my first high hopes stamps).

the sketch ---->





and the card:



i colored the image with copics and accented with spica glitter pens.

i used lots of layers of bo bunny ella papers and edged everything with rose bud memento ink. the centers of the primas are puddles of glossy accents covered in seed beads.

be sure to stay tuned here - an exciting announcement coming on wednesday that you will NOT want to miss! also be sure and check out the blogs of the other DT girls and leave them some love!