Dec 25, 2012

DZ Doodles Digitals 2012

Dear Doodles Followers,

Oh heck! One more "finding" that I just had to tell you about!! Are you a Splodgy Splodger? "How does it work? I’ve been using a blending tool with foam, for a few years now along with my distress inks and a normal heat resistant craft mat. I found the advantage I gained with the Splodge Away Mat is to do with how the ink is applied to the applicator which in turn leads to, I feel, a quicker, smoother blend of the colours. Normally I would press or swipe the Blender Tool into and across my distress ink pad. This, on occasion, would result in uneven coverage where the ink was not evenly distributed onto the ink pads surface. Especially when the pad was ‘getting on a bit’!To compensate for this I would apply more ink than I needed and blend it onto my old, heat resistant mat to remove the excess, before proceeding with the blending onto the card stock. With a Splodge Away Mat you apply the inks directly from the ink pad onto the mat itself, then use the blending tool to ‘buff’ the ink into a wide but evenly spread area on it’s special surface. The materials used for the Mat stops any uneven ‘lump of colour' and therefore as you go across your project it allows a quicker, easier, much smoother application of even colour." -- Eileen's Crafty Zone --

With this post I say "Happy New Year" and farewell to future postings!


 

GET YOUR ZENTANGLE ON IN 2013

ONE DAY AT A TME!

 
One Zentangle A Day ... A Zentangle is a minature abstract work of art created on a 3-1/2 x 3-1/2-inch (8.9 x 8.9 cm) piece of art paper called a "tile." It is created from a collection of patterns not meant to represent anything, and this size allows for a work of art that can be completed in a relatively short time. The process is a meditative art form, using a pen and pencil and there are no mistakes in Zentangle, so there's no need for an eraser (gasp)!! If you don't like the look of a stroke you have made (oh well, don't panic), it then becomes only an opportunity to create a new tangle, or transform it using an old trusty pattern.

A Zentangle tile is meant to be a surprise that unfolds before the creator's eyes, one stroke at a time. Zentangle is one of the few art forms that you intentionally do not plan out. There are no expectations or planned goals of accomplishments to worry about attaining or disappointments stemming from unattainable expectations. With no plan to follow, there is nothing to detract from the stroke being drawn. The lack of planning and the tangles allow the unexpected to occur! Read more...


Pam has assembled the BEST group of contributing artists (check left side bar) for her site. Ideas for Scrapbookers blog was started for the purpose of having FREE templates, sketches, tutorials (everything you can think of), digital items, innovative ideas, product review, challenges, contests, and so much more! This blog featured posts for both traditional and digital scrapbookers. Don't forget to follow the blog and check back often!


Just a quick note ... with the New Year brings about new things for me, and one of those new things is "doing something" to my craft room/area. You may be thinking about "doing" the same thing too. HERE are a few clever decorating and gorgeous "regrouping" ideas that I've come across for that "space" you enjoy creating in, or room, that just may inspire you to "do something about it!"
 


 
This is a mug project that's perfect for Winter or any time of the year. Although the post is using a snowflake pattern, (Karen was a bit late in posting her tutorial, instructions, and where-to-purchase), any stencil design for any occasion would make a great gift, or something for yourself. I was thinking teacher gift at the end of the school year, with numbers stenciled on it - plenty of time to make that, or Valentine's Day, or Mom or Dad's Day. A flowery stencil your valentine, for mom, or something "manish" for dad. Supplies are fairly affordable; plain white mug or mugs (dollar store's have some nice plain mugs), Martha Stewarts Adhesive Silkscreen from Plaid, foam pouncer, and Martha Stewart Glass Paint.                                                           


P.S. PLAID ONLINE ORDERS save 30% on Mod Podge products and surfaces. Simply enter promo code MPODGEDEC12 at checkout. Promotion ends January 16, 2013. This promo may be used multiple times during the promotion time period. Does not include closeout items or Promo kits. To qualify for free shipping*, order value must be $35. *Free Shipping not available in areas where ground shipping is not offered. Please see our shipping policy for information to your location.

 
Having trouble picking the perfect Mod Podge finish? This picture shows you the finish of 8 different kinds of Mod Podge on paper. (1.Antique Matte 2.Matte 3.Outdoor 4.Sparkle 5.Glow in the Dark 6.For Kids-Gloss 7.Super Gloss 8.Crackle ) ... complments of Oh So Pretty The Diaries





Christmas Myspace Glitter Graphics



Darla's latest obsession from Starbucks these days is a gingerbread hot cocoa. It’s pretty much the only thing she's ordered for the last month. She is powerless against them. Resistance is futile, and as far as she's concerned, there’s no real reason to resist. Except that they’re three bucks a pop.

Gingerbread Syrup recipe by Darla, Hot Cocoa recipe by The Hubster. This syrup is the key to Darla's gingerbread hot cocoa, and it has a secret ingredient (which is totally about to not be secret anymore).

 
 
Gingerbread, in any form, makes me genuinely happy. And nostalgic. And as much as Rosie get's tempted to create weird and wonderful gingerbread confections, in her heart she feel's compelled to embrace the utmost in tradition and go with the classic holiday cookie: the gingerbread man . . . or woman. Heck, let us just call them gingerbread folk. Timeless, tasty and so darn cute. Get The Perfect Gingerbread Cookie Recipe: A dark, robust and spicy gingerbread cookie with a slightly crispy edge and semi-soft center. This cookie dough rolls like a dream and is ideal for cutting gingerbread folk, or any other desired shape, and Royal Icing Recipe, as well as a Jumbo Gingerbread man template to get you going! 

 



 

Free Christmas Fonts ... scroll down some more to, Free Fall Fonts ... and, scroll down even further for details on installing your free fonts collection on your computer! Remember to 1st, SAVE AS to a folder on your desk top, save this folder to a DVD/CD, because if you ever need to redo your computer, you'll always have it ready to download again without all the work of collecting them online again!



 




POP-UP CARD With PIANO KEYBOARD! This is the pop-up keyboard inside, which also shows the music - it is the piano version of "Happy Birthday" and "Dad" is inserted into the relevant bit!

 
 

 
 




Dec 5, 2012

In Memory of the Newton Conneticut victims.
CHILDREN
Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female (age 6)
Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male (age 7)
Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female (age 6)
Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female (age 7)
Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female (age 6)
Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06, male (age 6)
Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06, female (age 6)
Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06, female (age 6)
Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male (age 7)
Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06, male (age 6)
James Mattioli, 03/22/06, male (age 6)
Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05, female (age 7)
Emilie Parker, 05/12/06, female (age 6)
Jack Pinto, 05/06/06, male (age 6)
Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male (age 6)
Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06, female (age 6)
Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06, female (age 6)
Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female (age 6)
Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male (age 6)
Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06, female (age 6)

ADULTS
Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female (age 29)
Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65, female (age 47)
Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female (age 52)
Lauren Russeau, 1982, female (age 29)
Mary Sherlach, 02/11/56, female (age 56)
Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female (age 27)

In Touch Ministries: An Intimate Look at The Birth of Jesus.
Every year at Christmas, many people open the Word of God and read about the birth of Christ, but do we really know the full story? Is it possible that we are missing some important details about the incarnation that God would have us understand? In this message, Dr. Stanley takes you deep into the Christmas story, revealing the eternal implications of the seemingly insignificant details of the nativity 
  

Christmas Myspace Graphics
"They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And... presented gifts to Him." Matthew 2:10, 11

Before we get to all the posted articles this week, I'd like to restate some bitter-sweet news. This will be my last posting (for sure the last for this year and possibly most of 2013 as well). I know this comes as a shock, and I just want to say this decision was not made lightly, but with much prayer. It's been a wonderful experience these past 3 years, and many of you have been faithful doodlers, and friends. It's not closing due to lack of interest, that's for sure! However, life has gotten much busier this year, and things started getting out of balance for me. It became clear that I needed to prioritize my life's activities ~ after all, the Lord blessed me with a diversified creative nature. That for me, means letting go of my blogging that took up so much of my time. After thinking on it a few months and going back and forth about it, I finally felt peace about my decision. Hobbies are important, however, there's a time and season for everything, and the time has come for me to say farewell for awhile. I hope the Lord leads me back on this path at some point in the future! In the meantime, why not hop over to my newly designed Dizzy Designs Store site, and browse about at what I'm creating when you can. I hope to overwhelm you with a large variety of handmade crafts that you can purchase, hang on your wall, embellishments to craft with, crochet projects too, and a whole lotta "stuff" I've yet to get started on!

Hello Fellow Doodlers!

Embossed Metal Christmas Wishes




Now for some fun! Have I got a bunch of FREEBIE-findings FOR YOU TO HAVE FUN WITH! They won't be posted for very long, so, grab them while you can. First, let's get some "Santa, Sleigh, Candles, Branch Ornaments, and Wreath" out there for some of those quick and last minute projects!

 
 
 





Betz White's Tissue Box of Christmas Past ... read more 





Live Hangout Today! Jade from Jaderbomb is hosting this one, and Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage and I will be joining her, with 3 cute Handmade Ornament Projects!


Dec 3, 2012

New Year, New Me, New Plans! Freebie Christmas Images too!

Hello Fellow Doodlers!

 



Making gorgeous glassine paper is very easy when using IceResin, which is a clear resin that is jeweler's grade and non-toxic when cured. Used in jewelry, it can also be used on craft projects, paper arts and more. It's safe to use indoors and is the ideal use for projects you want to preserve.

For The Love of Paper, Kimberly Crawford shows how she used IceResin on her poinsettia's Holiday Cheer card. Read more... 

HOW TO PRINT ON FABRIC. With websites galore filled with great images, like Oodles of Doodles News, there’s a world of possibilities on how to use them. However, there are really only a few basic techniques, that you can use, to get them onto your project – and almost all of them require a printer. How you use that printer can be varied in so many ways – and The Graphic Fairy's DIY Projects For The Home, Contributing Editor Gina, has a personal favorite way of printing on fabric. She often shares projects on how to use the prints, and thought it was time to share her step by step method of printing directly onto fabric. (Gina also includes a bike image to use). There’s a billion and one tutorials out there – but she's been doing it the way she does for years. It gets great results every time, it’s quick & easy, and Gina always has what she needs on hand. Win/win, eh?
 
You'll love me, even more, because I love-love-love twist top boxes! And snowflakes! Combine the two, and well-la, what you get is the perfect TWIST TOP SNOWFLAKE BOX ... even better than that, I found a free easy-to-cut PDF/GSD/SVG pattern download to get you going. Scroll down the post, after you've downloaded your box image, and you'll find many more "boxes"!
Got Crabby Sprayers? Are you having trouble with Lindys old sprayers? They got new, great, non-clogging ones that will make you fall in love with your Lindys all over again! For a limited time, Lindy's are offering these sprayers at no cost to you to replace those old crabby sprayers! Please order as many as you need to replace your old sprayers.
 

However, I just recently realized what-a-terrific "spray nozzle" the Frebreeze bottles come with when I became desperate for a sparyer on a project. I use nearly one a month for pet odor, and one for room air freshening (I like things nice and smelly-clean). As I was nearly ready to toss one away, I decided to wash it out and see how well it worked. I found that they aren't chincy-made nozzles and actually quite heavy-duty and the spray is a fine-mist. They'd make g-r-e-a-t sprayers for all sorts of needs when crafting ... so save your bottles!
  
I just want to bite into all of these!! Even if you're NOT a cookie baker, you just have to look at all of these gorgeous cookie photo ideas! Makes ya feel like "it's Christmastime"! Read More...

To help with your holiday crafting and projects here are a few "findings" that I came across years ago, and I thought I'd share some with all of you. They will be listed for a limited time only and then changed to other image findings that I'll share with you until the first of January. So check back frequently. This is my Christmas gift to YOU!







Smiley Snowball-flake Ornament! This is a crochet project that has been keeping me p-r-e-t-t-y busy lately ... ever since I've shown it around. I chuckle at everyone I make ... they are so adorable! Orders are keeping me crochet-i-n-g like crazy along with the many other crochet projects that people are requesting me to make for them too! But, I love it! And it really gets me into the holiday mood. The "flake" is 7-inches in circumference (around) and the snowball section pops out approximately 1-1/2 inches from the center, I've even added a cute little nose! If you would like one too, please click on the DONATION BUTTON (top left column) and enter $13.50 (which includes shipping within the Continental U.S. only). Make sure your address info is included - email address too, and phone number, so that if I have a reason to I can call, I can. This "is" my original pattern, and I am in the process of designing yet another like it!

On the FIRST day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

On the SECOND day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

On the THIRD day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

On the Fourth day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

On the Fifth day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...
 
On the Sixth day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

On the Seventh day of Christmas MyMemories gave to me...

Use my Code: STMMMS19631 when you place your order!


Here's a jolly old soul felt Santa Ornament that's an easy-peasy stitching projest to make! See the tutorial here... 

 

You'll just love the way this laser-pre-cut scrapbook paper makes the candles look beautiful both at day and night, and how the glow of candlelight casts lacy patterns of light! Read more...

Stiffen fabrics, ribbons, bows, lace, silk flowers, crochet, and most likely more with STIFFEN STUFF. I've always wanted to stiffen fabrics, bows, and a few other project embellishments but hadn't found a product that was to my liking without incurring some disappointment with the end results. Beacon Stiffen Stuff is a versatile stiffening spray allowing you to saturate fabric quickly and evenly so that you can control the degree of stiffness. No messy dip and drip, dries fast and cleans up with water. Ideal for home decor projects and is non-toxic. 8oz spray bottle prices range anywhere from $5.95 to $18 depending on where it's purchased ... so, be sure to shop around! 

Stiffen Stuff Super Quick Stiffening Spray sounds easy-enough to use; spray sides, **air dry, iron flat if necessary to smooth out any bumps, and viola! When creating "fabric sheets" it comes out crisp like a sheet of paper. Read more... 
**Impatient folks can place item on a paper towel and microwave it for 30-seconds, or use a blow dryer to speed the process up.

by Jennifer OKC
This coming year I'm ending a chapter in my life because, overtime, my creativity needs my undivided attention to create, more so than it does spending time blogging. I asked for little donations, only one person out of all who visit Oodles of Doodles News responded generously. I don't know if it's made me feel worthless; if the articles, project finds, links and freebie images are useless tid-bits, or if I plainly feel stupid for spending so much of my time blogging what isn't appreciated. But then again, that's my issues.

My time is valuable (maybe only to me), as are the freebie images I very often give away. And so, I've made the decision that next year I'm just taking "the time" spent blogging and searching the Internet on more productive ventures; crocheting, sewing, crafting, card making, embellishments, etc. and selling-my-creations here throughout the year. With this change I won't feel so much guilt in spending a lot of my time blogging, when I should of been using it to create for sales at the local craft shows.

I want to thank all of you for spending your time with me on the Oodles of Doodles News blog. I have appreciated your comments and encouragement over the years. I will NOT be shutting down this blog, but instead, will be opening the Dizzy Designs Store in 2013 where I'll do spurts of blogging, mostly about my new designs and projects currently available for purchase. I invite you to take some time to visit me there! Oodles of Doodles News will be left up as a resource for projects, information, links and freebie images.

I hope I've "inspired" some of you to expand your creativity. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :0)

GINGERBREAD MARTINI
Gingerbread Martini Recipe  Lime Tree Grove
Yummly 11 Gingerbread Martini Recipe
Outback Steak House (rendition) Gingerbread Martini
 




LUMP OF COAL RECIPE
SANTA'S NAUGHTY LIST...
for folks with a fun sense of humor!










The first thing that came to mind for Kim Wilson when she saw the stunning painting “The Tree of Life” art in the Cullen home, her decision was made in an instant. I MUST MAKE THAT! She pays close attention to the props in all the Twilight movies as they are not placed there randomly by some prop hand. There is meaning and purpose in every accessory. This scene in the movie depicts the struggle between Edward & Bella about the viability, value, and risk of their carrying their unborn “vamp-child”. The Tree of Life hanging on the wall is dominant in the scene. Tree of life… just struck her. Then look at what was written on the first page of the Twilight series…

But the tree of knowledge of good and evil,

thou shalt not eat of it:

for in the day that thou eatest therof

thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 2:17
  


MACAROON GINGERBREAD COOKIES
and a printable recipe that tells
the 'Secrets of Macaroons'.
   




Go crazy with the sticky stuff! Get inspired to craft your world with these stylish and imaginative duck tape creations. Celebrity crafter Marisa Pawelko shows you how to cut, rip, layer and fold colorful duct tape to concoct fantastic fashions, school supplies and room decor. Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects starts with a basic tutorial on the nine skills every tapester needs to know, from ruffles and rosettes, to bows and petal points. These are the bells and whistles you'll need to get seriously funky as you customize eash of the amazing projects in this book. Marisa shares 24 of her best DIY duct tape ideas, with step-by-step instructions and how-to pictures. You'll learn how to make fashionable wearables like gloves, leg warmers, a kilt and a halter top. You'll also find crafty ideas for functional items like a vase or night light. Projects cover a variety of skill levels, so you'll get plenty of creative inspiration whether you're just a beginner or an experienced duct tape aficionado.
 


SANTA'S CHRISTMAS COUNT DOWN CALENDAR  Here’s a quick and easy way to make a reusable Christmas Countdown that can be used year after year. No more last minute runs to the drug store on December 1st! :D The best thing about this project is that you can keep costs to a minimum by using a dollar store pizza pan and buying your white pom poms and magnets from Consumer Crafts. I looked around everywhere and let me tell you, pom poms and magnets can get expensive!