Paper Mugging's?! Using DZ Doodles Doohikey Interlock Pattern Design!

Hello Doodlers!

Lately the world seems so unpredictable, creating some tough times for many of us. But it seems to me, rather than abandoning crafting pursuits, creative people are more passionate than ever about stamping and scrapbooking. It may not be a livelihood, but a lifeline to feeling sane in a trubulant world.

Still, you can't eat paper, rubber and ink, or embellishments. If you've got limited resources and one (or more) of life's financial emergency's arise, that will most likely deplete the crafting budget for a time. With "back to school" cost in mind, many of us are saying, "we've been negatively affected by the economy" and can't afford the kinds of supplies we were planning to purchase. This got me thinking about what DZ Doodles could do to help ease the crafting budget woe's? I hope to offer more DZ Doodles Digi Stamp "limited time only" freebie images and even a few DZ Doodles Doohikey Designs "limited time only" Template's as they are created. Your comments and suggestions, photo attachments, are greatly appreciated as you use them!

Tough times will always come around, and they will go. But crafters can always make do when they make and do. After all, we're creative!   

And on that note, the other day I opened my cubboard, after having my fav coffee mug handle break, and noticed that half of two shelfs were filled with a pile up of an unwarranted collection of "gift mugs" that I'm not able to part with and because of that didn't realize I had collected ... one or two for "da-da-da-memorable year birthday's," one or two celebrating a holiday, an illness, having surgeries, and so on. I was quilt-ridden as I sorted each one as either a shelf keeper, garage seller, or Goodwill-ish.             

I also came across a reasonably priced program called, CraftArtist Program by DaisyTrail. The ultimate application for any print project! An exciting new range of digital crafting products that contain all the tools needed to easily and quickly make professional-looking print projects at home. There are templates and graphics for all types of projects – everything from photobooks, tags and invitations to greeting cards, gift bags and scrapbooks. This Platinum edition contains these 4 products: Wedding Day, Baby Photos, Greeting Cards and Scrapbooks, making it incredible value for money. Compatible with cutting machines too!

Since we are entering into the candy season, I found a Bakerville sweet inspiration, "Goodie Goodie Gumdrop" recipe to have fun with. Gumdrops are an old-fashioned favorite candy. It's a perect activity to make during the hloidays and makes a tasty homemade gift! Also look into their other Bite-Size Sweet and Easy Recipes!

Then there's an adorable packaging idea that I came across in Stampin' Up's just released Holiday Mini Catalog (page to your left). All of this will be listed on the Stampin' Up site the first of September! Howl-o-ween Creeps Stamp set; wood: 123827 @ $21.95 and clear: 123829 @ $16.95, Cellophane Bag - 124134 each measures 1" x 8". 50 per pkg @ $2.50. Use candy or lollipop molds to form interesting shapes. Read more: How To Make Gumdrops

Diane :0)

2011 (c) DZ Doodles Rubber Stamps and DZ Doodles Doohikey Designs. All rights reserved. Any third party products, brands or trademarks listed above are the sole property of their respective owner. No affiliation or endorsement is intended or implied.

Projects To Help Motivate ... use the coming months free time "craft-wisely"!

Hi Doodlers!

Ahhh ... a good thunderous evening downpour with lightening lighting up the night sky is just the thing to re-energize a person, especially when it takes the humidity with it, and you're able to open windows to breath again. For me the anticipation for fall because of summer's cabin fever, is less of a concern although it will be here soon enough. The elementary school down the street from us and the high school just up the road are adding all sorts of announcements to their billboards. "UGH!" The early morning and afternoon traffic build-up is here again. But, for those of you with children, I know you'll enjoy all that free time as it's that time of year for you to get-down to working on projects!

So that means, we here at DZ Doodles have to keep you inspired! We're thinking we can do a great job of trying with all of our "to the end of the year" plans for posting, freebies, and Doohikey Designs! We hope you will continue to grow with DZ Doodles. Who knows what's next! Your ideas and projects are welcomed so please leave a comment on our blog ... don't miss a Oodles of Doodles News post, scroll down to our FOLLOWERS to "Join this site" (right side).

Pop/Soda Can Die Cut Flowers

by Kim Burmeister 

While browsing my Stampin' Up demo's video collection I found her video for aluminum can die cut flowers that she calls, Pop Can Flowers and thought it was something that would be fun to do! So of course I had to place an order for that particular die cut. Of course none of this is new to many of us, but it's always nice to be re-reminded of those older ideas and perhaps to re-think new materials-use, like mylar, or lightweight plastics. Hmmm, wonder what would happen using shrink wrap with this die cut? Of course, viewing other YouTube videos I came across one that uses Stampin' Up's Snowflake #2 in the same way. YAY! Let's recycle!

My way to begin cutting your pop/soda cans (learned this in the late 60's when crochet beer can hats were all the rage) is to use a hand-held can opener to cut around the rim. This removes the entire top piece and is the easiest way to clean the can - use a damp-dry paper towel to swipe out the inside and well-la start cutting! This makes cutting into the can with your scissors, from the top, easier, quicker, and stays "dry" without having to begin by fumbling around with the entire top section. Just snip the metal ring and continue cutting ... always remember,"carefully"! SUGGESTION: We would always wear a cotton pair of gloves because in addition to cutting numerous squares from the can strips, paper punched holes had to be made around each one for crochet stitiches.

Since I'm on a roll here regarding "recycling" projects, how about this one using beans and plastic soda pop bottles to create a gorgeous "gift-giver" vase! Heck, I'm thinking of one for myself. And how about just cropping off the top of plastic juice drink bottle to create another shaped vase! Egads! So much fun, for so little money, for gorgeous crafting projects that I bet no one would hardly know you're so cheap ... I mean thrifty (tee-hee). Recycle badly worn, and those not so good enough for even Goodwill jeans or your can't bare-to-part with "fav-pair" of jeans into a fashionable JEANS PURSE ... little girl or big this is such a cute idea and easy tutorial to follow!

I CROCHET "A LOT" and sell most of what I make by word-of-mouth or at craft fairs. Everyone's always asking me to teach them to crochet, and as much as I try to send them away with the basics, I'm always their hotline for pattern questions. My Polish Grandmother, Francis Mary, who immigrated from Poland at age 15 taught me early on the craft of crocheting, either by sight or hands-on ... her thread crochet lessons were a blessing. Although I didn't really begin to appreciate what I had learned, even watching her do stitches and projects I could only think about doing, it wasn't until the afghan craze hit the market in the 70's that I began to apply all that knowledge into making afghans ... after all I knew all the stiches and project outcomes. I feverishly crocheted afghan's for everyone! A few years before "Busha" passed away, she made me a vest from yarn and "oh-oh" that was my start to crocheting clothing (and everything else) ... Busha was always my hotline! Although I lean toward thread crochet, for those of you who "ask to be taught to crochet," especially using yarn which is easiest to use, I came across CROCHET ME Special Offer that may give you the incentive to pick up a hook and learn the art of crochet too! It's as rewarding as card making and scrapbooking!

With school starting soon, here's a Cool Crochet Backpack, Stashbuster Safety Helmet Backpack, and Crochet Bookbag FREE PATTERNS to whip up for the kids - easy patterns to entice you to begin crocheting or to add to your crochet pattern collection.

This candle project idea just had me saying, "OMG why didn't I think of this!" And what a beautiful gift to give anyone, anytime of the year?! We all love the aroma of candles and your recipient can enjoy the attractive look as well as the enticing scent of candles! Candle-gift yourself first!! :0)

Diane :0)

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid. - Albert Einstein

Punch-Punch-Punch Craft Punches add creative design to projects!

Bursts Of Creativity has a project idea for those TONS of buttons - Button Magnets! This now has me thinking of using other "stuff" for magnet projects as well for gift-giving card stuffers!

Martha Stewart Punches are so wonderful and she's made a punch-addict out of me with all the awesome punches she's come out with! Scroll down Scrapbook website for some video information Martha Stewart Crafts - Punches . HSN debuted Martha Stewart Craft Paint Line on July 21st.

Want to add some "knot" interest to your crafting projects? Then KNOT GALLERY has not only a gorgeous Heart Knot video but also a variety of other knotted video ideas for you to learn to make! Just click on the "index" button to view them all - to view the YouTube video, below the image photo is a link that says "Click here to learn how to tie the _____".

For those of you who may not of seen this, PaperCrafts has this adoreable JPEG or PDF "Smooches Lollipop Card by Kim Hughes" available for download. It's always good to send someone a smooch anytime throughout the year!

Just when you think you've seen everything there is in using materials to create your own stamps, someone comes up with another way to create stamps for us stamp enthusiast! If your thinking of the possibilities of designing your own stamps this How-To: No-Carve Stamps tutorial is a simple way! And the results? Clear stamps just like the ones you buy at the craft stores, but made in any design and pattern you want, in any size.

We hope you enjoy your viewing and find things you like ... your ideas and projects are welcomed - please leave a comment on our blog.    

FUN EXCUSES TO CELEBRAT IN AUGUST

Aug 3rd - National Watermelon Day

Aug 4th - National Chocolate Chip Day

Aug 7th - Friendship Day

Aug 8th - Dollar Day

Aug 10th - S'Mores Day

Aug 16th - Roller Coaster Day

Aug 22nd - Be An Angel Day

Aug 25th - Kiss and Make Up Day

Aug 28th - Dream Day

Aug 30th - National Toasted Marshmallow Day

P.S. For some template fun, become a member of DZ Doodles Group over at Paper Craft Planet and pick yourself up some freebie image offers! 

Diane :0)

How wonderful is it that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world -Anne Frank