Brand Spankin' New

Yay, Tracey has indulged my inability to keep a secret and gave the okay for me to reveal one of the characters on the next Factory Line-Up.

Yesterday I thought it would be HI-LARIOUS if I set my FaceBook message to say "Irene is Making Babies", but then I remembered I have coworkers and friends who might take it too literally, so I qualified it with a parenthetical assertion that they weren't real babies. I don't have any children, but I've always wondered what they might look like. Who knew my first baby would turn out like this:

So you can probably guess where the next set is going, but I'm sure you won't figure out everything that's coming.

Tracey is on her way to her first show of the season so it might take a few extra days before these get plated, but you'll see the whole thing soon enough. By the way if you're in the Philly area and want to meet the woman behind Starving Artistamps, go check out the

Stamp Scrap Art Tour
Philadelphia, PA
March 28 & 29
for info: www.stampscraparttour.com

Another New Set Coming Soon

I feel like a little kid who has to sit on their hands to keep from getting into trouble. I am [THIS] close to finishing off the next DoodleFactory set, but it will probably be a while before I can share what's in store. Maybe if I'm good, Tracey will let me sneak you a peek.

The reason I've been so quiet on my blog lately is because I'd been busy procrastinating. I kept shoving the next set to the backburner because Tracey had asked me yet again to delve into new territory and draw things I wasn't used to drawing. I fretted over how I would tackle these drawings and wondered if I'd be able to find my own signature with something that's been done many times before, just not by me. In the end, I'm pretty excited with the way things turned out, and while these are a little different than the typical animals and creatures, I think they'll fit right in to the DoodleFactory Family.

Anyway, since I have no images of my own to share, let me show you some work from my new Illustrator Idol: Gustavo Aimar. He was featured in a few blogs on my blogroll last week and I was instantly smitten with every one of his charming little drawings and creations.

Siempre amigos, originally uploaded by Gustavo Aimar.

I'd love to see some of your Creative or Crafty Idols. Whose work really inspires you or makes you swoon?

Buttons!

Tracey asked me to make some DoodleFactory buttons eons ago, and here they finally are. Please feel free to post these on your blogs, and let me know if there are any characters you'd like to see on a button in the future, as I plan to (eventually) make more.





*if the blinkie ones don't blink when you drag them to your computer, you can copy/paste these web links into the picture gadget instead:
http://warmdecember.com/doodlefactory/buttons/dffananimated.gif
http://warmdecember.com/doodlefactory/buttons/fixbutton.gif

To add a button to your blogger sidebar, just go to "Customize" / "Add A Gadget" / Select "Picture" and insert the image from your desktop or use the links above, and have it route to "http://starvingartistamps.com/".

Always Late To the Party

I'm a day behind again, but better late than never is becoming my mantra. Starving Artistamps is hosting this week's sketch at 2sketches4you. If you go to that link, you'll find some goodies in addition to a bunch of inspirational cards.

Here's a peek at the sketch & bonus sketch:

I started off doing the original sketch, but my card wanted to go the route of the bonus sketch instead. I used Buttons and Stella, plus the daffodils from the newest DoodleFactory Easter release. If you look closely, I jazzed up their outfits with some embroidery thread and copper brads. I had something completely different in mind when I started this card, but I'm still happy with the final outcome. The ribbon text is a rub-on I received in a booklet from ScrapAddicted. This is my first time using rub-ons, but I think I may be in love with them!


Just so you know, I was originally inspired by this work by Claire Mojher. I loved the black and white drawings enhanced by the splash of color and texture and wanted to give it a try with my stamps. I thought I'd be giving my copics a rest, but I guess I just can't resist coloring everything! I am going to give it another try though because I really like the look. Too bad I don't have an embroidery machine to make it really perfect.

Oh, and one more thing! Have you seen the monster giveaway over at Craft Critique? Head on over here for The Big Prize.

Esme Thank You

I thought I didn't have anything to share since it's been a while since I've had a chance to draw or make anything, but I just remembered this card has made it to its recipient, so I can post it.

This is a simple layout that lets the paper (from the DCWV Green Stack) do most of the work. I used Esme from the DoodleFactory Remix set and a spot of bling on the bottom that I picked up from JoAnne's.



Also, before I forget, I coerced Tracey into giving me one of the Design Team Member discounts since I've become an honorary member. I have a little button in my sidebar that lets you know you can save 10% on DoodleFactory stamps at Starving Artistamps.com when you use the code savetenDF. Now I have to get back on the wagon and start drawing and making more cards again!

zzzzzzz

I am so pooped. We just spent 14 hours in Disneyland for our friend Charles' birthday (did you know everyone gets in free on their birthday this year?). The Happiest Place on Earth is also the Most Exhausting Place on Earth, but we had a great time and finished with an awesome dinner in Downtown Disney. I think I'm going to hurt tomorrow, in more ways than one.

The City Dweller's Garden

When I first moved to L.A., I found a cute little apartment at an incredible price. I even had an outdoor stairwell that allowed me to test my green thumb. Unfortunately, the cute little apartment was seized by developers and I eventually had to move in to Michael's dark, downtown loft which was a death sentence for most of my plants. Now that we're in a sunny apartment again, I've very slowly been bringing back the green. I've been a little hesitant because of the loss of my last plants and I'm still navigating through the challenges of the window garden.

Yesterday, I was lured into a local plant shop by the promise of a giant sale. The savings were lackluster, but I could not resist these lovely succulents. The shop-lady offered to plant them in the box for me, but that would have taken all the fun out of it! I know these guys really love being outdoors, so I hope their new window home gives them enough sunlight to keep them happy.

Owies

Remember when I said I was always losing things? Well, add to my list of terrible habits: a knack for zapping electronic devices. Over the years I've inexplicably killed many mechanical things (including two mac laptops!). I think it would help me understand my losses if I'd done something colossally stupid, like dropped it from a bridge, or left it in the microwave, but no...these pricey little pieces of metal go from perfect functioning order one day to THIS the next:

I swear it was just fine the last time I used it and I have no explanation for this digital mold that has infected my camera. Actually it looks like the LCD screen has a teeny crack where the disease originates, but I didn't even drop it recently (though I have dropped it several times in the past with no adverse effects)!

*sigh*

Luckily, I still have my digital rebel (currently sans-lens-cap), so I was able to take a photo of the card I made last night. Derek is a little boy who was in an accident and suffered 3rd Degree burns last month. Donna B had the story and the update (he is recovering well!) on her blog and offered some blog candy to those who sent Derek some get well cheer. I am late, as usual, but good thoughts are never out of season and I am mailing this card today:

It seems like a simple enough card, but it took me the entire duration of The Bachelor Finale and Post-Finale show to finish. I think that's about 32 hours, seriously more like 2...3? Why are those shows so long, and why did I even watch that train wreck? I only saw the last 5 episodes and I never understood why these girls were lining up to fall in love with that weenie.

Back to the card. I actually got my Easter Stamps (AND a generous supply of ribbon) from Tracey last night, but I thought Derek might like robots better than bunnies, and Bloop from the Urban Set seemed to have the perfect expression for an "owie" card.

If anyone else wants to send some get well cheer to Derek, they can contact Donna for the address, but there is also another need for RAK's (are they random if they're conscious - should it be CAK's?). Sadly there were several recent misfortunes in the lives of Donna's friends. Please read this post to see how your cards or good thoughts might help.

Bunny, Bunny, Bunny, Lamb!

The latest DoodleFactory release is locked and loaded at the Shop. The set is ready to ship now, but you can also enter to win it free. Just a heads up, you'll have to spread the word in order to qualify: [Starving Artistamps Blog Candy]