Sunday, October 23, 2011

Turkey Freebie!

                                                    Hope this fat turkey makes you smile!
Just right click and copy to your desktop. If you have a chance to make a card, email it to us at karensdoodles@gmail.com
Hugs,

A humble apology

Hi everyone!
I am really sorry about what happened last week with the website. This year I was offered a full time faculty position to start a new Interactive Media Program at Moraine Park Technical College in Wisconsin. It was a great opportunity to give back all that I have learned over the years working in animation for Disney, Mattel and Fisher Price. I love drawing and technology!

I also figured this 22 hour per week teaching job and summers off would allow me the perfect balance- to continue to draw my doodle images regularly and work for Fisher Price. (I am obviously NOT living in reality) I had NO idea how much work teachers do!!! I am writing the curriculum for 10 courses AND teaching. Last two weeks I had to do my grades and turn in the curriculum for the courses I was writing. I got so busy that I didn't check any of my emails (a little voice said...well how much can go wrong?) This week I opened my email and aaaaagh!  I no longer use the credit card tied to my domain name, so when it went to renew GoDaddy took down the site.

Because I didn't answer emails people thought the worst...I was dead, crazy or if I WAS alive people wanted to kill me! How stupid of me. I learned valuable lessons from this.

First- promise to people ONLY what you can deliver. I have always had a hard time saying no. I want to make everyone happy and want to do everything so I promise drawings, ideas and think somehow, maybe, with little sleep I can do it all! Bad idea! You only are fooling yourself and you disappoint family and friends in the process!

Second- be honest with yourself. Someone asked "Why didn't you tell us you were so busy?"
When your in the midst of a storm, it's hard to admit to yourself that you can't get everything done.

Third- Friendships are the more valuable than anything. It takes a long time to develop them, but you can lose them by not being dependable. I have not had the time to comment on the beautiful work from my design teams on our two Challenge blogs or give proper thanks to Anne and Renata and the other girls for all their hard work every week. They have done so much and I feel really bad to let them down.

Fourth- Being a dreamer can be hard! My entire world is made up of fanciful creatures and grand ideas. Because I can think up everything in an instant, I have a hard time estimating time! So I promise more than I can deliver!

So, what happens now? I DO want to draw and create more than anything, but with my new job I have to admit that right now I don't have the time now to devote regular time to it. I have over 300 images in my shop now, more than I ever imagined. I'm going to keep my web store open and add images when I have the time to be creative. I'm not going to make any promises or stress myself out! In the future, as I get all my curriculum done and my lessons are created, I hope I will have more time to create and draw. (Teachers, it does get easier doesn't it?)

As far as the Challenge blogs go, I have told the girls of the situation with my job. I am leaving the decision up to them whether they want to continue, knowing that I can't promise how many new images I will be posting on a regular basis or that I may not have time to post comments. I hope that the vast amount of images I have in my shop will be enough to keep it going. It's entirely up to them and I respect whatever decision they want to make. Check their blogs for updates.

I'm not giving up and walking away forever...there are too many ideas floating in my head with Bigsby, Herbert, Rosie and Betty. I just have to get out of the clouds and take care of business here on Earth for a bit!

I hope one day to open a Web Gallery of all the beautiful cards you have created....please email them to me at karensdoodles@gmail.com. Add your name and email or blog and how you made the card. My sister volunteered help me catalog the cards for this future Gallery.

Finally, it is always a treat to see and hold the cards you make with my images. You can always mail them to me at:

Karen Johnson
Karen's Doodles
PO Box 44735
Racine, WI 53404

Love to you all. It feels good to be honest with myself and finally admit my limitations! As far as teachers go? It is the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had (except for drawing) If you see a teacher? Give them a BIG Hug!

Karen :-)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Bigsby Celebration

Here's a little celebration from our favorite mouse, Bigsby! Enjoy


Sample card - Designer: Petra Laagwater

Monday, September 19, 2011

Bovine Betty Cristmas


Here she is ...the lovely Bovine Betty with a Christmas gift. This is the last of my NEW Christmas Images. You can find them all in my Web Store under Holiday- Christmas

Check out our Karen's Doodles Blog Hop today at both Challenge blogs :-)
Hugs,


Sample card - Designer: Cathy Tanner


Sample card - Designer: Mariska van der Linde

Christmas Tree Kitty


Anyone who owns a kitty can relate to this. Hee Hee :-)


Sample card - Designer: Jerusha Borden


Sample card - Designer: Yvonne van den Berg

Christmas Tree Guy


Just a Silly little Christmas Tree. Enjoy!


Sample card - Designer: Anja Bruynen


Sample card - Designer: Anne Cullen

Decorate the Tree

Enjoy!


Sample card - Designer: Chris Sather


Sample card - Designer: Bernadet Weijs

Christmas Wonder


Remember Christmas Morning when you were little?


Sample card - Designer: Aletta Heij


Sample card - Designer: Kelly Schelske

Little Winter Angel


A pretty little angel for your Holiday :-)


Sample card - Designer Carol van der Westhuizen


Sample card - Designer: Angelique van Nuland

Sample card - Designer: Ellen Ruberg

Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe


Here is a sexy sequel to last years Rosie under the Mistletoe! Whoo Hoo!


Sample card - Designer: Petra Laagwater


Sample card - designer: Tine Kristiansen

Santa Dog


Woof Woof! :-)


Sample card - Designer: Shelby Thomas


Sample card - Designer: Anneke Kiewiet

Santa Kitty


Meow! Hee Hee


Sample card - Designer: Tinie Hoogvliet


Sample card - Designer: Kari Ronnabak

Baby Present


And here's another cutie!
Hugs,


Sample card - Designer: Ginny Christiansen


Sample card - Designer: Marja Nijholt

Doggy Christmas


For all you dog lovers out there :-)


Sample card - Designer: Renata van Miltenburg


Sample card - Designer: Chris Sather

Santa Christmas


Here's another one for you!
Hugs,




Sample card - Designer: Shelby Thomas



Sample card - Designer: Angelique van Nuland

New Christmas Images for our Karen's Doodles Blog Hop


Here is the first of 13 NEW Christmas images in time for our Karen's Doodles Blog Hop. Check out both our Challenge Blogs for more information. HAVE FUN and I hope you enjoy my latest images :-)
You can find them under the Christmas section of our store.
Hugs,



Sample card - Designer: Elaine Burnett




Sample project - Designer: Ula Molenaar

Monday, August 29, 2011

Puppy Cutie

...and another sweetie for you to enjoy :-)
Hugs,






Gift Set - Designer: Renata van Miltenburg




Sample project -Designer: Petra Laagwater

Bovine Cutie

Here's another Cutie for you :-)
Hugs,





Sample card - Designer: Mariska van der Linde




Sample project - Designer: Aletta Heij

Friday, August 26, 2011

OctoSailor

I'm back from vacation and happy to send you some more new images :-) I hope you enjoy them!

Be sure to look for my NEW Christmas images! You will see them during our Karen's Doodles Blog Hop in September.

Hugs to all,




Sample card - Designer: Elaine Burnett




Sample card - Designer: Nancy Cappelen