The Lights Are Off!

Hi All.... well, it is done, I just deleted every file on the website and told the hosting company we are gone.  Bittersweet thing.

What's next? Well, I am now teaching classes and naturally I have a new blog for that! I know, I know, how many can one person have?!  But they are FREE... so why not have one for every single, tiny, little thing I do!  :-)  PITIFUL!  but, here ya go... another link!  http://www.nancybabb-classes.blogspot.com/

There is also a blog for Andrea's work now: http://www.andreadavinci.blogspot.com/  I haven't made it look nice yet because I need her here to pick out a cool template... that'll come.

Come check out our other sites!  We would love to see you there!

Moving On....

Hi All!

I hope I didn't confuse you with the monster picture of a stamp set I've had on here for a few days!  I forgot I had put it there!  SORRY!  I was selling it on EBay and someone wanted to know "how used" it was.... and a picture is worth.... well, you know.

As some of you may already know Andrea and I have decided to stop selling digi stamps because we weren't!  I totally understand that because we never really had anything that you could really use for a card.  But, would you believe, she is finally starting to draw some!  I think we both came to a compromise.  I finally realized, if you can't beat-em then work with-em.  I realized that Andrea is going to put a face on whatever I ask for so I need to work with that!  So, now I'm asking for things with faces!   I needed something for Thank You cards so I asked for a heart throwing kisses.  Look how cute!!

I love it!  I think she is so cute! 

There are several more on the way that I can't wait to see. 

OH!  PS. :-)  Andrea is happy and loving the new direction because now she doesn't have to draw the image in ink anymore!  She always had to fight with those because her hand isn't as steady as she would like for it to be these days.

Heart of Stone

One of the things that I want to offer is a series of hearts.  I have about 10 different one's in my head but getting them onto paper is a little tricky!  I've told Andrea about them but until she is motivated to do them I decided to do one. (or two:-) 

Here you go:  It is based on the scripture Ezekiel 36:26:
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I used the same stone that I used for the card yesterday...just modified it... A LOT!

I made this digital card with it:

I'm not sure you can tell, I can because I know, but the funky border just below the heart says Ezekiel 36:26.  Isn't that a cool font?!  It is called LT Minos.  I can't remember where I bought it but I just found it for you on http://www.paratype.com/fstore/default.asp?fcode=291&letter=M   I first bought it because I thought it would make a cool border to embroider.  I've told you Ihave two embroidery machines right?  Anyway, doesn't it kinda look like a border you would find on a towel or washcloth?  Cool to add a family name on a towel.

I actually made a REAL card, (prototype) yesterday using the heart but after I did all the work to come up with the prototype I deleted the file!!!  ARGH!!!  It was a really cool slider card based on a YouTube video I watched yesterday... check it out!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPAip3u0gdA.  You will want to bookmark this lady because she has TONS of cool ideas and 380+ videos to watch!  I'll try to do it again when I'm more in the mood. .... today I need to work!  I have an order for 25 tiles and a "punching bag" lady that I have to make!  YAY for work!!!

I plan to write a bit about why this scripture is so important to me on my "Life Lessons" blog in a little while so if you are interested it is: http://myfathershands-nb.blogspot.com/

Someday ....... My Prince WILL Come!

And today's featured stamp is.....

FANCY NANCY!

(I'm not too sure why Andrea named her that....only Andrea knows for sure.....)

When Andrea drew her I asked for a banner that could be added over her head because I thought she might make a GREAT Greek Sorority stamp...just color her in any sorority's colors, add the Greek Letters and/or name to the banner and there you have it!

She also looks like she is wishing on a star, so the wish could be added... like I did below "Someday My Prince Will Come"  ...probably should have said "your Prince" ...oh well...

Yesterday I created some background papers to go with the colored version we have of her.  I took a couple of the colored stones from Andrea's colored version then stacked and duplicate until I had a good background.  Then of course there are dots and stripes (my personal favorite!)

The really cool part using the colored version of the stamp is that the background papers are an EXACT MATCH!  I used the eyedropper function of my software that allows me to select any color from an image and use it somewhere else....so I did that.  Hummmmm.... now I'm thinking I might should have made the stripes gray from the stone.... or pink AND gray.  Funny what you can see AFTER you do something!

Another cool thing is, they are all on one 8.5 x 11 page so they can all be printed at one time, then cut any way you want to.  I used layers and then punched the polka dots into several circles, crinkled them by hand, then layered them to make a flower.  I use one 1 3/8" circle and two 1" circles. 

OR!  I could have cut the page in half, folded one half and had a printed card w/ different fronts and backs, then used the other half for the layering... lots of options here!

Tomorrow I'll show another stamp I came up with using that stone background. 

That's it!  Hope you guys have a great day!

A New Product Idea!

You will actually need to read to the bottom to get to the idea....sorry :-)

I needed to make a card today for a 50th birthday...but Andrea was afraid that the lady would be insulted by the drawing we have already so I used Penny.

As I was making it I decided that I wanted to do as much digitally as possible so I started out making the background paper, and the layers.  As I was working I decided that I wanted to make it 100% digital just for fun.... this is that card.  100% digital, never printed card.

Here are the parts I used for the card:

1. Door stamp w/o person
2. Girl stamp (Penny)
3. A background image
4. A transparent layer.  I used the eye dropper tool to get the exact right color from the pants of stamp 2
5. Another layer with the exact right color because of the eye dropper
6. A purchased digital "brad"
7. A purchased digital "ribbon" - it was too long so I had to "cut" it into pieces and duplicate the pieces to get what I needed
8. A random card from the internet (original design covered)
9. Layer all that together and you have the card!

WELL, I really didn't want to just print the card "as is", I wanted real layers so I pulled all the parts apart so that they were on a single page that I could print and cut then layer.  That set off a huge "IDEA ALARM!!!"  The page I created would be PERFECT for folks that wanted to give a "homemade" card but needed a little help for various reasons:

1. Perfectly matched layering papers / fonts / etc.
2. QUICK, no coloring required (the original uncolored stamp is always available if you want to do your own coloring.... and you can even print and make several cards. 
3. You may not have the skill set to "put it all together" but you can read instructions, cut and glue! (and even add some embellishments if you want) 

EASY!!!

So, I have created a .pdf file (because anyone should be able to open that) with this card. There are 3 pages, but you only need to print the 2nd page...it has all the "outside" parts...

I would love to give it to you for .....  FREE .... to help me test the idea.  All you need to do is ask me for it!  I'm doing it this way so I know who has it, that way I can get feedback.  my email is:

nancy@DigitalDesignDivas.com

Hope to hear from you soon!

Real quick.... here is what I finally did with the actual card:  I added a mask to her face, an invitation to a Monthly Botox Party... then in the bag there is Depends, Clariol Nice and Easy Hair color and some Spanx...to carry with everytime she wants to try something on.

Would you be interested in....????

I have a new question.... Would you be interested in local interest type stuff?  Like have a set for Louisiana that would include stuff like a crawfish, palmettos, state shape, whatever?  Georgia would have a peach, Stone Mountain, whatever?

If that is something you are interested in, please let me know....and, what would be some of the "things" you would expect, or hope to see in the set?

And, of course, if you are in another country the same thing applies!

Thanks

Boogers and Snot!

OK, so for all of you that missed the fun last night.... Here is what happened....

I posted these two new stamps to the group for people to see, ...

As soon as I posted it I looked closer and realized that the ice cream looked like he had his tongue in his nose...ugh.... AND the candle looked like snot was dripping from his nose?!  UGH! UGH!  And here is how the conversation went then....

Comment by Nancy Babb:
Sorry just added pictures w/o comments...but, you can tell... two CUTE new stamps! OH MERCY and now that I look closely at it...the ice cream cone looks like he's licking the inside of his nose! And the candle drip looks like its coming from his nose!!! ANDREA! K, see if you can ignore that everybody :-)

Comment by Andrea daVinci Braun :
 Really good you pointed that out! I DREW them, and I didn't notice!

Comment by Gunn Thelin Knutsen :
Sorry Nancy - I just can NOT ignore that *LOL*

Comment by Andrea daVinci Braun:
STOP IT...JUST STOP IT!  Y'all are sick! They both MELT: candles and ice cream cones - theuy both melt. They melt all over. They can't help it! Besides, "Choco's" tongue is NOT in his nose. It's not even close. He's licking the ice cream on his finger. Stop picking on my children, and go da bed!!!

Comment by priscillastyles:
I can see you are all having way to much fun in here..LOL

Comment by Andrea daVinci Braun:
Come on out and play! There's plenty of mud for everyone!

Comment by Nancy Babb:
OK, and where exactly did that "bit of ice cream" come from?! That's even worse!

Comment by priscillastyles:
ok..do you need saying for these?? I could "PICK" a few off the top of my head..lol

Comment by Nancy Babb:
Go for it! (Priscilla) I LOVE the way you think!

Comment by Andrea daVinci Braun:
Came from his brother, who is mocha! They lick each other all the time. Only when they're not in the freezer though. It's that whole "tongue-gets-stuck" thing, if they're IN the freezer. You know, like in "the Christmas Story" when the kid's tongue gets stuck to the flag pole??? The whole family are a bunch of lickers! Then there are the liquors and the liqueurs as well. OMGosh! I'm going to BED!! Her never-quiet brain goes on!

Comment by priscillastyles:
Well for the ice cream...you can say..
"I told you that you picked a winner!!" and on the inside.. "good luck on your divorce" LOL sorry.. but it does look like he is picking his nose.

Comment by Nancy Babb:
LOL!!! Priscilla! Really, I'm sitting here cracking up! I LOVE IT!

Comment by priscillastyles:
Should I keep going?

Comment by Nancy Babb:
OMG! PLEASE!!! Hopefully, Andrea has really gone to bed...say WHATEVER you want!

Comment by priscillastyles:
First let me say the images are adorable.. and you know we are just having fun..... the Ice Cream one would be great for a kids party and party favors..

It could even be for an adult Ice Cream party..where each guest brings there favorite topping etc..

So know this image has so many possibilities for fun projects.. My mind just sometimes takes it to another place..lol that is just me.. so I mean no harm.
Priscilla

Comment by Nancy Babb:
OK, Priscilla... I want the REAL YOU!!!! Enough with this nicey nicey stuff!

Comment by priscillastyles:
Ok, now for the candle.. for an OLD couple card.
On the outside..
"After all these years together.. do you still have a burning flame for me?
on the inside
"or do you just have heart burn?"
(I could have said something about hemorrhoids, but I won't go there..lol)

And it continued on this morning....

Comment by Tracy Gould:
lol sorry Andrea the ice cream really does look like he could be picking his nose, I love reading this thread you always make me laugh.

Comment by Andrea daVinci Braun:
Well, I BELIEEEEVE one must be missing a few threads to even comment on this page! I'm glad you're having fun. Our goal is to entertain!

Comment by sharon swain:
Sorry i went to bed early and it looks like I missed all the fun.

Comment by Bernadette Bliss:
Andrea, and ENTERTAIN you do! The new digis are so cute...The candle would really be great for an adult party

Comment by Gunn Thelin Knutsen:
Keep 'em comin Priscilla! *LOL*

.
FUN!  Ya just never know what you might miss if you go to bed, or don't pay close attention to our thread!

Anyway, I got up this morning and worked a little CorelPhoto Paint magic and made it all better.... and made Andrea's "tasting he brother Mocha" comment make more sense!  Check out the eyes!  I did that all by myself :-)

Now that Andrea does all the coloring, I don't even want to think about doing it!  I don't have the right coloring "equipment"....except for my Corel.  So....I did it this way.... But, think how cute it would be with different colored scoops...then he could be tasting the lower level ice cream without it looking like he's picking his nose!  Or, with three of them, each tasting the other....I don't know, whatever. 

Done this way I'm calling it... "Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You" (I wonder how many of you are even old enough to remember that song?!)

I just love this stamp!

White or Black??? You Decide....

I was reading back over notes added to some of the orders we have gotten I found one asking for more African American stamps and it made me chuckle!  I laughed because it amazes me how many times Andrea and I will argue over what flesh tone to use on some of her folks! We almost NEVER agree! 

Here is one example:   Andrea colored her as a blonde and I just kept insisting she was black... I don't know...you decide....

And the new one she just did... you remember, I told you that Andrea actually knows this lady:  I asked her if she is a black lady... NO!  But, Andrea colored her so that she appears to be black....or is she???? She may just have a good tan!

And our chef... she gave him an Italian name...but when she started coloring him, she decided to make him black and changed his name!

I think if you look back at our stamps you will be amazed at the ones that can be whatever you want them to be!  I know I'm done guessing!!! 

So, I guess the moral of that story is...it just depends on how YOU color them!

Four New Stamps Loaded

Wow!  It has been a busy few days!  I FINALLY got my part of my taxes done and to the accountant.  YES!!!  That was THREE years worth!  Talk about pressure on the brain...try missing a year and see what that does to your peace!  NOT a good idea!

Anyway, while I was hard at work doing taxes, Andrea was busy coloring!  Today I added four new stamps to our collection. 

Rollerskate Chickie:

 

Are You Kidding Me?!

or something like that... or 

Who Thought THIS Was A Good Idea?!

Elmira: (?? Andrea actually knew this lady ??)

We need a clever something to go with her...hummmm?

Pushing the Big 5 0..

You had seen this one before but we added the door...the other was just a prototype for Andrea to see.

I'm pretty certain that I added some last week that I didn't show here so be sure and go check it out!

I have also been hard at work getting color images loaded to replace the black and white ones.  The stamps are still black and white but we wanted you to see the color.  HOWEVER,  I found out how to add radio buttons that allow you to order the Black and White, Colored or Both, using the same screen!   We got mixed reviews for interest but I wanted to go ahead and offer it for folks that will never want to color the images themselves.   It literally took ALL day last Friday to get THREE LINES of code to work!!!  PAINFUL experience.... BUT!  It is working now!!!  WHOOHOO!!! (At least the latest stamps are working...the older aren't yet, but I'll get there.)

Now We Need SOUND!!!

Everytime we do a new stamp Andrea has a voice to go with it... It isn't just what is said, but HOW it is said!  Case in point.... for this one "I Thorry" 

You have to say it with just the right voice.  OH ME!!! I guess now I'm gonna have to add SOUND to our stamps!!!  Color is not enough, we need sound!!!  There is no end, can you tell?  When I get around to making a card using this one I might put one of our cats with her so she can blame the cat.  Because we all know that at this age, SOMEBODY else has to be blamed! 

Here is another new one for today.... can you tell Andrea is digging through her old pictures now?!

This one we are calling "Sunday Best" because all of us that are in a certain age group had this outfit and the picture to prove it!  We wore  this outfit on Easter Sunday to church (the hat is the dead giveaway here :-)

Remember when......

We Are Taking A Poll - Please Share!

Hi All,

Just figured out how to add a poll to the blog.... look to the right ------------->>>>>>
Please answer it!  I'm trying to decide if it would be worth the time (and space) to modify our shop to include colored images for sale.

Andrea is currently in the process of coloring all of our stamps using Prisma Pencils.  She is a REAL ARTIST and knows where hi-lites and shadows need to go.  Beautiful, beautiful stuff! If you think you might like to purchase the colored versions from time to time, please indicate that on the poll.

(we won't know who you are or how you voted so please be honest!)

THANKS!!!
N

Birthdays - AT LAST!!!

It has been an extreeeemly busy day today!  I finally found out the exact problem I was having with the automatic download problem.  I kept thinking I had found the answer...fixed it...but I would still have the problem!  The problem was that I didn't know there was still a problem because when I tested it would work  perfectly for me!  ARGH!!!  BUT, I got the answer, and worked most of the day to fix it.  Gotta get all that code exactly right! 

Some more good new is.....drum roll please...... we are FINALLY getting images for "events"!  To help folks have something for when they NEED a card!  You really have to use your imagination with a single person just standing there.... but now we have the more obvious answers....

Here are a few of the colored images, I'll wait on the ones that aren't colored yet.

Hope you like!

OH!  OH!  Another thing I started doing today is replacing the black and white line art in the menu struction of the site, to color.  It just brightens the place up a bit and helps you to see them colored.  You are still buying the black/white .jpg, you just get to see it in color.  I hope that doesn't confuse folks... Zoe suggested it and it makes good sense to me so slowly but surely we'll get that all done!  It also helps us to know quickly what still needs to be colored.  It gets kind of confusing doing new, coloring new and old and trying to keep up with all the uploads!  Definitely looking forward to the day when all is settled and we only work on TODAY'S drawings!

If that last bit confused you because I used and awful lot of words for such a simple thing... go check it out!  You never know what may have been added when you weren't looking :-).

Can You Hear the Giggling?

Cause I'm giggling right now...

We have two new stamps going up soon and I wanted to give you guys a sneak peak!

What in the world will you ever do with them??? 

I'm so glad you asked!! 

 Look!

Gotta get a door "built" ... this is just a prototype:

Can you hear the giggling now?

You're Not Dead Yet?

Last night Andrea was over with a few new designs and we started talking about a former pastor, Dr. Walker, of a church we both used to attend.  He retired the year I started going there so I never really got to know him but I was telling her that every single person I've ever known that knew him says how wonderful he was.  Andrea was saying that I would love him, not only because he is wonderful, but because of his quick sarcasm...funny, funny.  She said that everytime he sees her he will say "You're not dead yet?"  Oh my gosh!  I busted out laughing just hearing it 2nd hand!  I thought, that was perfect for Rosella to say!  Doesn't she look like that's something she would say?! 

So, we decided that I would make a card for a mutual friend whose birthday is coming up.  I'm going to do that but I thought a cup with it on it would be even better, so I just ordered some cups with the above picture! 

As soon as I get them in I will take a picture of the final gift.  I have visions of a cello bag with a pretty black and white bow :-)  What's not to love about that!  Thankfully, Mark has our same sense of humor :-)...

I also ordered some cups with the "No! No! That's OK! Frog and Princess...so we are now selling mugs!!!

We Are Going to Sell the Colored Images Now

I just have to say one thing.  Andrea is AMAZING!  Everytime she brings a new colored image I marvel at her talent.  There is NO WAY I could come close to coloring her stamps the way she does!  So, we've decided to start selling them already colored....for a little more, because it really is ART when she colors it!  It will take a few days to get them loaded but slowly but surely we will get there. 

Here is one of her latest...Rosella. 

There are more, but that'll be tomorrow, after sleep.

I'm Up to My Old Tricks Again!

Sorry guys but I created my challenge card entirely on my PC.  I just don't have much use (or paper) for a new card every day!  And, I find it much more challenging (FOR ME) to try and make it look real.  Unfortunately, I left the black line around the outside edge of the green ... and the pattern on the green "paper" didn't show up at all, should have done a bolder one.

The two challenges I used were:  

The Sketch Challenge - cdacsc1 for the layout of the card...and 

Other Theme/Inspiration Challenge -cdacotc1 for the colors/theme/circles and flowers

Thanks to both for helping me "think"!

Both are challenges over on Crafter's Digital Art Center...

Come join the fun!  And JOIN OUR GROUP!! (Digital Design Divas)

We Went Over 100 Stamps Tonight!

I just spend the last several hours uploading new-old stuff.  Stamps that were sitting there waiting to have various things done to them...scanned/converted/listed...whatever.  There are still about 10 inactive ones that I will get to eventually :-)  But, from what I understand, the more frequently you add to your "stock" the more likely Google and Yahoo will find you.  That's what "they" say anyway...whoever "they" are ???

It feels pretty good to be somewhat caught up, now maybe I can do something creative!

I am trying to get some words and backgrounds done.  I wrote a tutorial last week (?) on how to do watermarking so I wanted to create stamps to do that.  I have added 4 or 5 of those.  Simple backgounds, but I love that!  I just like using what I have to make background papers instead of having to buy them...and simple is better, to me anyway.

ANYWAY!  We went over 100 stamps tonight!  And Andrea has a list of new ones.  I can't wait to see those.  We have had tons of ideas so I'm hoping she's getting all that done!  I haven't seen her in a few days sooooooo....????

Well, good night all.  I'm going to bed early for a change!!!  12:30AM  WHOOHOO!!!

Coloring the EASY WAY!

Now that I have a REAL artist doing the coloring I have all but stopped doing it myself....mainly because there really isn't enough time!  And, because, why?!

Andrea colored Victoria Penny (Link) in blue.  I wanted to play with changing her with CorelPhoto-Paint so

• 
  
  I copied her onto an second layer,
• 
  
  I changed the "hue" of the copy just by sliding a bar...  Naturally, that change her face to a sickly greenish blue so
• 
  
  I erased the flesh from the 2nd layer so that the bottom layer showed through.... TADA!!!  Two of the same girl in different colored outfits :-)

To make this card I took the 2nd Victoria Penny and flipped her.  It's hard to see here but the card opens in the middle between their hands.  I did that by printing them on opposite edges of the paper facing out...and I did the same with half the text (interesting process that!)

A Man and His Dog

OK. this really has nothing to do with Rubber Stamps but I HAD to post it!  (Actually, there really is a rubber stamp there...just need to create it!)

This is my brother and his dog Boone.  I think it is hillarious because they look so much alike!

And, just saw we have a couple new followers!  Thanks you guys!

We are Going Color!

Well, sort of.... We are loading color versions of each stamp as quickly as we can.  You will see the color version after you select the stamp you are interested in.  We have most of them already done but now we are playing catch up for some of the first ones we put out there.

We can make the color version available for sale if there is any interest in that... just let us know.

Here are the colored versions of the three patriotic stamps Andrea came up with this past week.
(If you notice, the background behind the little girl can be used on all three stamps.)