SOS12: dogs, digistamps & denim!

i was *TRIPLY* thrilled when carla asked if i'd like to guest design with the shopping our stash team because:

1. they are some of the nicest and most talented gals around (& include my friends leslie and lisa! hi guys!!!)
2. i *LOVE* using up my treasured (and/or embarrassing) older supplies... and...
3. they have the coolest and most inventive challenges out there!!!

case in point... this week's dare! here's how carla put it:

Challenge 12- Dogs, Digi Stamps and Denim: Celebrate the dog days of summer by using your canine themed images, sentiments, and/or paper, or use a digi stamp you haven't used in a dog's age, or use denim- color, images wearing denim, denim fabric.

i tried to work in a little bit of all three... in my own unique and laureny way, of course! ;)

(patterned paper: tim holtz, chatterbox, october afternoon, american crafts, my mind's eye, crafty secrets; felt dog sticker: paperchase; plastic letters: produced by heidi swapp during the rennaissance... (i'd forgotten all about them until i stumbled on this post of jamaica edgell's the other day! on the other hand, have you seen THESE NEW ONES?! flashback, baby!!! :) fonts: mom's typewriter & susie's hand downloaded free from dafont.com; edge punches: ek success, recollections, martha stewart; inks: colorbox; adhesives: tombow monorunner, 3m foam tape, sewing machine; other: denim ripped from a pair of ragbag jeans, vintage seam binding, avery clear inkjet labels)

the dog is the strongest and most obvious of the three elements--he's a little feltie patch from a super-sale in borders' crafts department, i have had in my "baby stuff" stash for years. not because i didn't love him, just because i haven't made many baby cards lately. this one for my cousin and his wife seemed the perfect opportunity! for "digi" i've somewhat cheated, by not using a digi stamp or even a paper, but i did use multiple fonts on the quotation, which is integral to the design of the card. the denim was my strongest inspiration, and sadly you can see it the least. in fact, here's a closeup to PROVE it's even there, lol!

you know that at the moment i am in love with the idea of using torn denim strips as ribbon. i tried it out on a father's day package and did something similar again the other day. plus, i have a zillion ideas for cards and other projects. i actually think it looks WONDERFUL here, but then the vintage seambinding was cool too, and i did such a good job of artful ruffling it kind of covered the denim. ah well.

with the exception of the tim holtz kraft card stock base, absolutely every single thing on here was a scrap, a leftover, or elderly enough to apply for medicare. which is sort of nice on a baby card, don't you think? yin and yang. really old stuff for a really young recipient. i dig it!!! :)

what have you cast off, hoarded or forgotten about??! does any of it involve dogs, digi-stamps or denim??! well then, COME AND PLAY! i cannot wait to see what you will make!!!