The Story Behind the Card: Pumpkin Thank You

I'm super excited about the new card I posted on Etsy today. Its a simple but fun Thank You card with an Autumn Theme. And it was created in part with my new fun gadget: a touch pad pen!

The design still began with one of my hand-drawn pen and ink doodles (the main pumpkin), which I scanned into photoshop (and hand in the past featured as a gift-tag design). The design was too small for a full sized card, so this is where the creative digital touches took hold. Using the line drawing functions in photoshop I created the lines for the border. Then I added the text.

But the card still looked a little empty to me, I wanted to add just a little more... and this is where the pen came in! Using my fun little toy, I drew an additional swirling vine above the pumpkin, along with border of the card. I actually was continuing a vine that had been hand drawn. Can you tell where the hand drawing ends and the digital doodle begins.

I doubt I'd ever give up my hand-drawing completely, but it is fun to dip my toes into the waters of digital drawing!

Love this card? Check out my entire Autumn Collection at my BdoodleZ Etsy Store.

Treasury Spotting: An Autumn Walk...

Always a pleasure to find myself in a treasury collection on etsy. And this fall themed one is twice as fun since it features all Cleveland Handmade Members!

Big thanks to Susan from photohale for including my Autumn Leaves No. #1 in this fun collection!

AUTUMN SALE! One week only!

In celebration of my 100th ETSY sale I am having an Autumn Card Sale.


For one week only save on all the cards in my Autumn SALE section. 10/13-10/19

Cheery Apples, Whimsical Trees, Festive Pumpkins. Adorable fall Greeting and Note cards all on Sale:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5683989&section_id=5959404

Happy Shopping!

Free Giveaway on the BdoodleZ Facebook Page

I am running my first ever FREE GIVEWAY CONTEST on my Facebook page!





And these adorable tags could be yours!

HERE'S HOW:


1. Click on this Link for the BdoodleZ Fan Page and become a fan!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BdoodleZ-Cards-and-Design/49188391072


2. Check out my fall collection on ETSY and pick your favorite card(s)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5683989&section_id=5959404

3. Find the Status update that lists the contest rules and let me know which one is your favorite just by leaving a comment! (I am trying to gather feedback to figure out which cards to print for my upcoming craft show, so the favorite part is important Market Research :)


HURRY! Contest ends Sun Oct. 4 at 8p.m. EST!

Good Luck!

I've been Stalked!

... but don't worry, its a good thing! I've been included in a great collection of fun apple designs. Eclectic and whimsical, Etsy Stalker's apple picks get an A+ in my book. Check out my featured item and the other featured items at http://etsystalker.com/?p=2553

Thanks so much Beatrice and Violet!

Love this Apple Basket design? It is also available as gift tags and is included in two different variety collections. All available in my etsy shop: www.bdoodlez.etsy.com

The Doodle Story

Its been a while since I've featured a Doodle Story, and shared my thought process on one of my designs. This doodle feature is not actually a new design, which is why I think it makes a good doodle story.

My AUTUMN Vibrant Flowers is one of my current favorites in my shop. I love the fall colors that brilliantly "pop" of the page. But this is not the first version of my design. The original vibrant flowers (seen below) used a much different color scheme. With each doodle design taking several hours to complete (between the hard drawing the photoshop editing/coloring) whenever I can "reinvent" one my finished designs with a new color scheme, it allows me to offer a new selection without having to start from scratch.

I wanted to offer an autumn flower selection in my shop and since I loved the playfulness of the Vibrant Flowers design, and the fun black and white hatching in the background I thought it would be fun to give it a new look!

Both the Autumn Vibrant Flowers and the original Vibrant Flowers can be found on sale in my Etsy shop.

Can't decide which version you like better? I'd be happy to create a combo pack of two of each color, just convo me to set up the listing!

Happy Autumn.

An Apple a Day...

Inspired by the colors and visions of Fall, my new Autumn collection is slowly being listed in my Etsy shop. One big theme this year is apples! My colorful cards might not keep the doctor away, but they can certainly brighten someone's day... and afterall, what better to keep us in good health than a little bit of cheer!

Stop my shop to see the entire collection:

www.bdoodlez.etsy.com

It's Coming...

... my fall collection... and it is bigger than last year! Much bigger.

I have been so inspired these last few weeks with so many fun ideas for fall... from apples to gourds, leaves to thank you cards in fall colors... I can't wait start posting all my autumn designs.

But not too soon... still enjoying these last few days of summer, the sun, the weather, and the relaxing mentality. Hope you are too!

Treasury Spotting

My Autumn Tree Parade Cards are featured in a wonderful treasure showcasing sale items! Check out all the great deals:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=32398

AUTUMN SALE!

Thanks to my "printing bonanza" for my Craft Show, I now have some left over stock of some of my fall card sets. My overplanning is your lucky find. Select Autumn designs are now on sale at BdoodleZ! Check out my sale section to see what great cards are available. But act quick, once I sell out my stock, the fall collection is gone for the season!

www.bdoodlez.etsy.com

Travel Friday

The beauty of these branches dancing in the light could take my breath away. While this photo, taken in the park by Ports Head Lighthouse outside of Portland, Maine, cannot compare to the real thing, I hope it captures the spirit of the beautiful surrounds of our trip.

Travel Friday

I didn't post a "Travel Friday" last week because I was in Maine. So what better photo to post this week, than one from Maine!!!!





The weather in Maine was wonderfully mild, the trees were at the perfect point of color change, and the days were sunny: overall it was a picture perfect trip. One of my favorite stops was Ports Head Lighthouse just outside of the city of Portland.

Not only was the lighthouse beautiful it was situated in the most amazing park. The grounds were arranging perfectly for walking. After spending some time around the lighthouse, we decided to take a nice amble around the park, walking along the large rock formations that hugged the coastline and ducking under vibrant red branches. I couldn't have painted a more ideal picture!

The Doodle Story

One of my fall favorites is my "Apple Basket" design.

This doodle started out like many of my card designs as an idea in my head that I then tried to bring to life through pen and ink. The original finished doodle however, did not quite look like the ones you see above. In my original drawing the sky was much different. I went through the entire card design process, printed it out and showed it to my hubby, who declared that the sky didn't look quite right... although I agreed, the idea of changing the doodle now, after all the work I had already put in, wasn't the most appealing to me.

I took his advice to heart, grabbed my roll of trace, and redrew the entire sky. Changing a doodle once scanned and edited is NOT easy, it takes a lot of time consuming patch work to join two designs... but in the end I am so happy I took that time! Not only do I love the end result, but it has been one of my most popular fall cards!

The final chapter of the stories, comes from the evolution of the card product itself. Originally listed in my shop as just a greeting card, at the suggestion of a super cool customer, I created a tag version of the card as well! Come check out this little duo of apple delight!

September and the Squirrels!

I love living in the country! We have a large wooded yard and yesterday the critters were out in full force! The birds were going nuts yesterday. I watched these little ones climb up and down this large round tree... and then outside my kitchen window a whole clan of birds (sparrows maybe? I am very bad with bird types) was nibbling away at the bugs in the front planting bed!


But the best was the squirrels. As we sat on the couch eating our lunch we could see this one little fellow going back and forth collecting his nuts for winter!! I had never really seen this process before. Sure I have seen squirrels with nuts in their mouths... but this guy was grabbing GREEN ones... (like a nut with its casing around it)... the he would nibble off all the green (the time I saw it he was perched on a little stump) and once completed then run off to his stash! It was so crazy cute to watch!


So, in honor of the little squirrel, I am posting one of my only animal designs. There is no squirrel among them... but they are cute!





Have a Happy Monday!

Fall Day Fun

I love living in the country! (even though it gets bit more citified every day it seems). Hubby and I took a drive on the back roads before heading to my high school alma mater for their annual chicken dinner. (this devout organic eater put her "rules" asside to support the nuns and their fund raiser!) It was fun walking the halls of the place where dreams were just being formed. (And getting to see an old favorite teacher/drama director who pushed you to the limits to be the best you could be).

My high school was more than a school , it was a campus... with acres upon acres of trees, cows roaming the field below the building, and beautiful views to be seen all around. And maybe it was being there in that "back to school" atmosphere, or maybe just the trees themselves, but for some reason yesterday just really felt like fall.

My little card below: Autumn Tree Parade, celebrates fall and the dancing of the trees.

May your week be filled with happy fall moments!

I am featured in a treasury!

I was happily surprised to find my apple basket cards featured in a treasury. Thanks so much fourrosies!

Click here to check it out!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=9828

A Little Sunshine...

....For Those Caught in the Rain!



To my friends in Northeast Ohio who don't have power and feel a little waterlogged after all the rain and wind last night... remember that sunshine is just around the corner! :)

Hoping you have a sunny day in your heart- even if it IS gloomy outside!

Fall is Here

While it may still feel like summer (it is certainly humid here), the leaves are beginning to change, pumpkins are beginning to be displayed, and fall festivals have begun... seems like autumn to me, and I am just fine with that.

September Bliss

As much as I love the warmth and activity of summer, there is something so soothing about a brisk calm day! Despite the cloudy, rainy weather outside, I find myself happy to snuggle up in sweaters and socks. The best part of September of course is the changing of the leaves!

Inspired by the colors and images of fall I have begun posting my fall collection to my Etsy Store. If you haven't yet checked it out, just click on the link at the side! I am also happy to announce the launch of a new product line: PLACE CARDS, just in time for those Holiday dinner parties. My shop is now featuring some cute THANKSGIVING designs!

In other news, I helped my hubby launch his very own blog last night. There is not much there yet, but he would be thrilled if he got a hit: www.catholiccat.blogspot.com

Happy Monday