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Tuesday 30 June 2015

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

Here is a weekly reminder to tell you that Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps are available from her Etsy Store.  You will see a wonderful array of beautiful images for all occasions and there will be more added on a weekly basis so remember to go and have a look.

Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store can be found at:

There is an Inspiration and Monthly Challenge Blog.  Here you will find a challenge topic for each month.  
There will be a Monthly Blog Challenge Winner who will get to pick two digital images as their prize from the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store.  This winner will be picked by Random.org.
There is also a Monthly "Artist's Choice Award" and this means that anyone that has entered the Monthly Blog Challenge using an image from Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Etsy Store will be in with a chance of winning 5 digital images of their choice award.  This winner will be picked by Ching-Chou Kuik herself.

The Monthly Blog Challenge Topic for June 2015 is "All creatures great and small".
As from March 2015 we have a new idea for those that enter the Monthly Blog Challenge in that we will be asking for a Guest Designer to join the Design Team for a month.  For those that enter the March Challenge they will be get to be a Guest Designer for May to give the crafter chance to make a card/creation, those that enter the April Challenge will be a Guest Designer for June etc.  If you would like to be a Guest Designer please put “GDT” after your name.  You will be contacted ASAP if you are successful.  If you don’t get in the first time make sure you keep trying!!

Daily you will also find inspiration for Weeks 1, 2 and 3 from the Design Team members Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself.
For Weeks 4 (and 5 if there is one) each day there will be a card/creation showcased that a crafter has entered into the monthly blog challenge or shared on the Facebook Group or entered into the monthly Facebook Challenge.
If you would like to have a look at these images made into cards why don't you join the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Facebook Group.  This Group can be found at:

Here you will also find details of the monthly challenge they have. Anyone can also post cards/creations on here that they have made from Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps and you will see creations made by the Monthly Challenge Blog Design Team (Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself) and the Facebook Design team (Collette, Fernanda and Helen).
Over at Kit and Clowder you will find details of various on-line classes that you can buy and participate in.  Ching-Chou Kuik is one of the sponsors.  At the moment the various classes are as follows:

Alcohol Markers - Skin and Hair Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - Clothing Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - Lightsource Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - All About Animals Class
Alcohol Markers - Creative Confidence Class
Alcohol Markers - Whimsical Class
Watercolours - Distress Ink Class
Pencils - Perfecting Pencils Class 

If you want to find out a bit more about colouring techniques pop on over to Kit and Clowder and have a look.

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Friday 26 June 2015

Spectrum Aqua Markers

It has taken me some weeks to make these cards as I have been trying to finish off a scrapbook of our USA holiday last year.  It started off as one album and progressed to two albums!!  I shall take some photos of some of the pages soon but that is what has kept my blog a bit quiet.

Recently I entered a draw on the Craft Superstore Facebook page to win some Spectrum Aqua Markers.  Guess how excited I was when I found out that I was their winner.  I make my cards solely to sell to raise funds for different charities and therefore my cardmaking funds are very limited.  People in Blogland and Facebook are kind and send me things for my cards for charity but any challenge wins or giveways I win I put to that good use as well so to win so very much.

I've now had chance to have a little go with my Spectrum Aqua Markers.  I have done watercolouring on-and-off over the years.  I didn't get on well with pencils as I struggled with pressing down of the pencils when my hands aren't so good.  I got on OKish with my Lyra waterolour crayons.  Now what did I think of the Spectrum Aqua Markers  ..................... I LOVED THEM!!  I preferred to scribble on a white tile and pick the colour up with a brush.  What was fantastic was the tiny end on one end of the pen as that made it possible to get into tiny areas you might not have bothered before.  The other end was a brush which was perfect for scribbling on the tile but also perfect if you coloured directly onto a stamp and used it instead of an ink pad.  I've now bought myself the DVD to watch to learn what other things I could use them for but I am just so very slightly hooked!!

For all 3 cards below I have used various stamps I was given by a friend.

I scribbled various colours onto my tile, spritzed it with water, waited a few seconds for the colour to merge and then laid my card over the top.  I just get dipping areas it had missed on the card back onto the colours on the tile.

For the pink/purple card I then I scribbled various colours on my tile and added a little bit of water.  I then used a Dutch Doobadoo flower stencil and used a cosmetic sponge to use the watercolour through the stencil.

Then for all of the cards I used various Crafter's Companion Textures Stamps and directly coloured onto them with the Spectrum Aqua Markers and then stamped onto the background to add some depth.  Sometimes I would use the pen just as it was and sometimes I would spritz with water.
 This card and the one below are going to the Craft Superstore for having the giveaway and to Crafter's Companion for providing the prize. This card has been finished off with some die-cut shells/anchor, faux stitching, natural fibres and some real shells.
 This second card has been finished off with some die-cut shells, real shells, faux stitching and some stringed pearls.
This card has been finished off with a doily, die-cut sentiment, flowers, ribbon and buttons.

Yes, I know I need a lot more practice but I am pleased with my first try with these pens.  If anyone has problems with their hands like I do they are an absolute dream to use.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Love to Create - Any mixed media/creative
Robyn's Fetish - Must add buttons, real or faux (pin/purple third card has buttons on it)
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Fantasy Stampers - Your favourite colour (well I am torn between turquoise blue as it reminds me of the seaside so the first two cards fit that colour scheme and then I also love purple so the second card has that colour scheme)
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the optional twist of adding some wet or dry embossing
Ruby's Rainbow - At the seaside (the first two cards)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes (third card)
Moving Along with the Times - Sewing and stitching
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Spectrum Noir June Facebook Challenge - Add some sparkle or bling! (third card)
  
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Good Luck in your New Home

Here is a "good luck in your new home" card that I have made using the Joanna Sheen's Holly Pond Hill CD.  Aren't those little rabbits cute sitting outside their new home?

I printed off the backing paper and also two of the topper sheets so that I could decoupage up the image and use the other toppers for inside and the back of the card.

I have finished the card off with some buttons, doily, flowers, sentiment off the topper sheet, lace and organza ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes 
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist to use the newest create a challenge chart
Come and Get It - It's all about those cute animals (little bunnies appear throughout the card)
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes or an optional twist of odd
Bunny Zoe's Challenge - Furry friends (little bunnies appear throughout the card)
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the optional twist of adding some wet or dry embossing
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
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Thursday 25 June 2015

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Newsflash - New Release and Special Introductory Offer for Image

There has been a new release to the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:
This image is called "Far Away Messages".

To celebrate its arrival in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store this image will be at an introductory offer of $2.60 (original price $4) until the end of 30 June 2015.

Also you can receive 19% off all digital stamps in the Etsy Store if you use the code "June19" when you spend a minimum of $10.  Hurry though as this offer also ends on 30 June 2015.

Hurry on over and grab a bargain and whilst there have a looking at the other amazing images in the Etsy Store.
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Wednesday 24 June 2015

Buckwells Crafty Challenge - Mid Month Inspiration Post - June 2015

The challenge topic for Buckwell's Crafty Challenge for June is "things with wings".

Our sponsor this month is Sweet Pea Stamps:
Over at Sweet Pea Stamps they have a wonderful array of digital stamps and rubber stamps.
For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Helena Reis called "Mushroom Fairy II".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and used blue, pink, brown and yellow chalks along with the Coarse Medium Pan Pastel to add some sparkle.

The backing papers I have used are from my Creative Crafting World Perfect Papercrafting Companion CD.

I have finished the card off with some die-cuts (mount underneath the image and some butterflies which have had a pink chalk ink pad brushed over them), ribbon, lace, die-cut sentiment, flowers and brads.

Sadly it is my last card as part of the Buckwell's Crafty Challenge.
Lozzy has decided to close Buckwell's Crafty Challenge at the end of June.

I wish Lozzy and all the Design Team members all the very best and thank you for having me on the Design Team.

Thank you to everyone that has supported the challenge as well.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Pink and pretty
My Time to Craft - Fairies
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes - sorry to hear that the Scribble and Scrap Challenge is closing.  I fully understand why and wish you all the very best
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist to use the newest create a challenge chart
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Ooh La La Creations - Happy birthday
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes or an optional twist of odd
The Crazy Challenge - Spots and stripes (spots on the fairy's hat and stripes on the backing paper and flowers)
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts - Use your dies
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper June Challenge - Anything goes
One Sweet Challenge - Use die-cuts or punches
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Inky Impressions - Embellish it (brads, flowers, ribbon and lace)
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the optional twist of adding some wet or dry embossing
The Paper Shelter - Photo inspiration
I Love Promarkers - Things with wings
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Just a heads up.

Lozzy is starting a new Challenge Blog on 1 August 2015:
The Challenge Blog is called "A Little Bit More Time to Craft".

At the moment there is a DT call if you are interested.

Make sure you pop on over on 1 August 2015 to see the very first challenge and all the DT creations.

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Tuesday 23 June 2015

Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 2

It is time for the Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 2.  If you entered Part 1 you got the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Karen Middleton called "Mushroom Fairie" for free to use for the challenge.  If you didn't enter Part 1 you can always purchase the image yourself from Sweet Pea Stamps.
For my card I have gone mainly for the colour scheme of red, gold and black/grey.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  I used two different See D's stamps for the grass area and used various pearlescent chalks for the background.

The backing papers were from my stash.  The flowery backing paper had white flowers so I coloured them in with my red Graph'it pens.

I have finished the card off with some cheesecloth, die-cut flowers, die-cut sentiment and butterfly (free from a magazine), satin ribbon and Papermania Glitterations (for the centres of the flowers).

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Pea Stamps Progressive Facebook Challenge Part 2 - Anything goes using the image "Mushroom Fairie" by Karen Middleton
Whimsy Stamps - Use ribbon, lace or twine
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Make it digital (digital image)
Fab n Funky - Gorgeous girls
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
My Time to Craft - Fairies
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes - sorry to hear that the Scribble and Scrap Challenge is closing.  I fully understand why and wish you all the very best
Dream Valley - Girly
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper June Challenge - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Trio-tastic (three die-cut flowers)
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Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

Here is a weekly reminder to tell you that Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps are available from her Etsy Store.  You will see a wonderful array of beautiful images for all occasions and there will be more added on a weekly basis so remember to go and have a look.

Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store can be found at:

There is an Inspiration and Monthly Challenge Blog.  Here you will find a challenge topic for each month.  
There will be a Monthly Blog Challenge Winner who will get to pick two digital images as their prize from the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store.  This winner will be picked by Random.org.
There is also a Monthly "Artist's Choice Award" and this means that anyone that has entered the Monthly Blog Challenge using an image from Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Etsy Store will be in with a chance of winning 5 digital images of their choice award.  This winner will be picked by Ching-Chou Kuik herself.

The Monthly Blog Challenge Topic for June 2015 is "All creatures great and small".
As from March 2015 we have a new idea for those that enter the Monthly Blog Challenge in that we will be asking for a Guest Designer to join the Design Team for a month.  For those that enter the March Challenge they will be get to be a Guest Designer for May to give the crafter chance to make a card/creation, those that enter the April Challenge will be a Guest Designer for June etc.  If you would like to be a Guest Designer please put “GDT” after your name.  You will be contacted ASAP if you are successful.  If you don’t get in the first time make sure you keep trying!!

Daily you will also find inspiration for Weeks 1, 2 and 3 from the Design Team members Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself.
For Weeks 4 (and 5 if there is one) each day there will be a card/creation showcased that a crafter has entered into the monthly blog challenge or shared on the Facebook Group or entered into the monthly Facebook Challenge.
If you would like to have a look at these images made into cards why don't you join the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Facebook Group.  This Group can be found at:

Here you will also find details of the monthly challenge they have. Anyone can also post cards/creations on here that they have made from Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps and you will see creations made by the Monthly Challenge Blog Design Team (Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself) and the Facebook Design team (Collette, Fernanda and Helen).
Over at Kit and Clowder you will find details of various on-line classes that you can buy and participate in.  Ching-Chou Kuik is one of the sponsors.  At the moment the various classes are as follows:

Alcohol Markers - Skin and Hair Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - Clothing Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - Lightsource Technique Class
Alcohol Markers - All About Animals Class
Alcohol Markers - Creative Confidence Class
Alcohol Markers - Whimsical Class
Watercolours - Distress Ink Class
Pencils - Perfecting Pencils Class 

If you want to find out a bit more about colouring techniques pop on over to Kit and Clowder and have a look.

Follow on Bloglovin

Thursday 18 June 2015

Newsflash - New Release and Special Introductory Offer for Image in Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store

There has been a new release to the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:
This image is called "Sapphire".

To celebrate its arrival in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store this image will be at an introductory offer of $2.50 (original price $4) until the end of 23 June 2015.

Hurry on over and grab a bargain and whilst there have a looking at the other amazing images in the Etsy Store.
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