First post as member of the Gruffies and Guests Design Team

A while ago I saw a Design Team call for the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog and decided to enter.  It is a monthly long challenge and for their challenges you can use any House Mouse/Gruffies/Happy Hopper images and these can be stamped images or from CDs.  I love using rubber stamps/digital stamps but by the end of 2013 I was missing my decoupage so I thought I'd apply.  

I was "over the moon" to see that I had been accepted onto the Design Team.  There are two teams, Team A creations are shown for the first fortnight of the month and then it is time for Team B to show you their creations.  I am on Team B so it is now my turn to show you what I have made for the first challenge of "anything goes".

Our first sponsor is Crafty Ribbons and they are offering the lucky winner a £10 voucher to spend in their store excluding the cost of postage and packing (P&P).  Now who wouldn't want to win this prize??

For my card I have used an image/backing paper/sentiment from the Joanna Sheen Mouse Mouse Project Book with CD and complimented the card with a matching insert from the Joanna Sheen House Mouse Inserts CD (I think this must be retired now as I couldn't find it on Joanna Sheen's website).  I have decoupaged this cute little bunny and their mouse friends who are all "chilling out".  I have done some matting and layering to add some dimension.  The card has been finished off with some lace, fabric flowers with glittery centres and some pearls.

Don't forget that if you wish to enter this challenge you must use a House House/Gruffies or Happy Hopper image.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Incy Wincy - Add texture
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Deep Ocean - Birthday
Penny's Paper Challenge - Embellishments (ribbon, pearls, lace and flowers)

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafting by Designs - Flowers, flowers, flowers

Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky party - Anything goes

CRAFT - Decoupage
Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment you would like
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Sweet Pea Stamps

Don't forget Sweet Pea Stamps can be bought from the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop.

Sweet Pea Stamps also has a:

Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team Blog - where there is daily inspiration for everyone to see

monthly challenge over at the "One Sweet Challenge"

Facebook page called "Sweet Pea Stamps" where you will see cards posted on the Design Team Blog and find out about new releases/sales

Facebook Group called "Sweet Pea Stamps Friends and Fans" and you can join the Group and look at wonderful creations, gain tips/ideas and to have a natter.

I am on the Design Team for the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge.  This fortnightly challenge blog is run independently from Sweet Pea Stamps but Lynette kindly offers:

• Prize No 1 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps and this is picked by Random.org.
• Prize No 2 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps.  The winner of this prize is picked by the Design Team from entrants that use a Sweet Pea Stamps image on their card/creation.

Over in the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop there is a "Random Act of Kindness".  You can "send a friend a gift" for no specific reason ie just because, as a thank you or just to cheer someone up.  It means that you can send a gift voucher and the recipient can pick out a digital stamp of their own choice. It is a simple and an inexpensive way to show a "Random Act of Kindness".

Please enter:  "gift" in the coupon section at checkout. This will take off the shipping charge. We will then send them the voucher that they can use to pick out their digi. 

The "Random Act of Kindness" MUST be ordered separately if ordering rubber stamps, as the shipping will need to be adjusted.

Come and join in the Sweet Pea Stamps fun!!!

Here are some new designs out this week:

"Shikoba" by Charmaine Flannery.  Available as a digital stamp.

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - 17 January 2014 - Flower power

 It is Friday and time for another challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.  The challenge this fortnight is "flower power". 

 I have used two Sweet Pea Stamps images by Ching-Chou Kuik.  The first image of the lady, deer and rabbit is called "Autumn Trio".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  The second image of the fairy and deer is called "Forest Companion".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the images in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edges with various Tim Holtz distress inks.  The backing papers are from my Perfect Companions Everyday CD.  I have finished the card off with some die-cut flowers with stamens put through the centre for some realism, stick pin, die-cut leaves, wired leaves, lace, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and ribbon.  

I made a similar card last month for a friend that left work.  It's amazing how with a different colour scheme and a few different embellishments it can all look so different.  If you fancy having a look at my other card it can be found here.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional theme of party/celebrate
A Little Bit Crafty - Celebrate
Card Mania - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Add texture
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Use ribbon
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Flowers, flowers, flowers
Stamp n Doodle - Use an animal
Ladybug Challenge - Give thanks
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Friday 17 January 2014 - Easel cards

It is time for another challenge over at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog.  This week the topic is "easel cards".

I decided to make an A5 easel card for a change and used the Delicious Doodles image "In the harbour" and have coloured the image in with shades of brown/khaki Promarkers for a male orientated card.  

The backing papers are from a Debbi Moore Inspiration Magazine a few months back.  I have finished the card off with a tartan ribbon bow, various die-cuts coloured with Tim Holtz's Rusty Hinge distress ink and some black gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - Easel cards
Totally Gorjuss - Manly
Dream Valley - Boys/men
A Little Bit Crafty - Celebrate
Card Mania - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Clear it Out - Layer it up and for the stash to use 2 or more designer papers (sand/waves backing paper and a rope/shell backing paper from a Debbi Moore magazine some months back now)
Deep Ocean - Birthday
Penny's Paper Challenge - Embellishments (ribbon, gems and die-cut shells)
Divas by Design - Use ribbon
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Simon Says Challenge - Emboss it
Papercrafting Journey - Vintage/distressed/shabby chic
Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment you would like
Ooh La La Creations - Easel card
Crafty Calendar - Let's celebrate
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Bearly Mine Challenge - January 2014 - Reminder

Just a quick reminder to say that you have two weeks left to enter the current Bearly Mine Challenge.

As of January 2014, the Bearly Mine Challenge is moving to a monthly challenge.  

From February 2014 every two days you will get an inspiration card/project from one of the Design Team members.  You'll have to wait until the 23rd of every month to see my creation.

If you fancy taking part in this months' challenge the topic is "a colour inspiration" from the picture below:

Here is the card that I made for the current challenge:

Pop on over to the Challenge Blog to have a look at the other Design Team creations.

New Delicious Doodles Images

Teri over at Delicious Doodles has been very busy again drawing some new images for us all.  

She's also in the process of changing the way she lists images for sale.  Her more "run of the mill" images will stay in the Delicious Doodles Shop.

The darker/Gothic/Pagan/sinister and deadly images will go into a new shop called "Delicious Darkness - Art on the Dark Side".  

This means you should easily find what you are looking for.

Here are some of the new images that are due out shortly/already available:

"Steampunk Heart" available from the Delicious Doodles Shop on Friday

"Fresh Blood" which is already available in the Delicious Darkness Shop.

Sending Special Birthday Wishes

Here is another card I have made using some of my new Visible Image stamps from the stamp set "Molly Rules".  I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens.  

The backing papers are from Perfect Papercrafting Companions CD-Rom.

I masked off the image by stamping out the image again and then cutting round it.  This is then laid over the image as a "mask" so you can stamp things onto the background.  Here I used the heart stamp and a purple ink pad but with second generation ink (I stamped the first impression onto scrap paper and then stamped the next around the image).  This makes the background more faded.  The sentiment "Naughty and Nice" also comes on the set which makes it such good value.

I have finished the card off with some black ribbon, sentiment off the computer, raffia ribbon and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Visible Image Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Girlz Challenge - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Birthdays
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Suzy Bee's - Cute and sweet
Sweet Stampin' - Girly but no pink (I have used purple and black)
Allsorts - Ribbons but no bows
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional theme of party/celebrate
Card Mania - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Cool colours
Whoopsi Daisy - Favourite colour combo (one of my favourite colour combos is purple, white and a hint of black for some drama)
A Little Bit Crafty - Celebrate
Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Variations Week at Sweet Pea Stamps - January 2014 - "Wither" by Rebecca Sinz

It is time for Variations Week over at the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog.  This is whereby all the Design Team use the same image to make their cards/creations.  For the month of January 2014 the Variations Week image is "Wither" by Rebecca Sinz.  This image is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp.

I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens, edged around the image with Tim Holtz's Fired Brick and Aged mahogany distress ink and then finally brushed on some white gesso.

The backing papers I have used are from my stash.  On the checked backing paper I have used a harlequin mask and inked through with the Aged Mahogany distress ink.  On two corner I have painted on white gesso and some glitter.  The border is a new heart mask, run through my Grand Caliber to emboss the heart and lightly inked over with the Fired Brick distress ink.  I had drew a heart, covered with white gesso, sprinkled with some glitter and inked with Aged Mahogany distress ink.  The card is finished off with a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, ribbon bow from a box of chocolates (long eaten!!) and rose flowers and pearl embellishment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Makeup - Use something new (heart mask)
Incy Wincy - 3 favourite embellishments (ribbon, pearls and flowers)
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes and use pearls or buttons
Crafts and Me - Use a heart
Whoopsi Daisy - Make it girly
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Out with the old, in with the new (new heart mask)
Inky Chicks - Anything goes
Crafty Girlz Challenge - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Bows
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Wags n Whiskers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes
Stampin' with the Dragon - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional theme of party/celebrate
Pan Pastels - Anything goes or silver lining
The Squirrel and the Fox - Show off your new stuff (new heart mask)
One Stitch at a Time - Something new (new heart mask)

Elisabeth Bell - Little Peppermint Puff

This is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Elisabeth Bell called "Little Peppermint Puff".  It is available as a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint distress inks.  The backing papers I was given.  I have put some green card through my new spotty Die'sire embossing folder I got for Christmas.

I have finished the card off with some cream flowers which I have inked with Spiced Marmalade distress ink, ribbon, gems, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and a die-cut butterfly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - Thank you

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make something to celebrate something new

Ruby's Rainbow - Film or song title (Song - Puff the Magic Dragon)

Crafting for all Seasons - All things bright and beautiful

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

2 Creative Chicks - Anything goes

Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 39 - Anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Crafty Girlz Challenge - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Wags n Whiskers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes
Stampin' with the Dragon - Anything goes
Suzy Bee's - Cute and sweet
Allsorts - Ribbons but no bows
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional theme of party/celebrate

Merry Christmas

Here is a card I have made using a La Pashe CD I got last year.  The image has a gorgeous border around it which you cut out and decoupage on.  It's a bit fiddly but well worth it.  Throughout the image I have added some Stickles glitter glue for some sparkle and shine.  The backing paper is from the CD that came as a freebie with the Crafter's Companion Inspiration Magazine released late last year.  The card has been finished off with a personalised insert, sentiment off the decoupage sheet and some gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Kaboodle Doodle - Let it snow

ABC Christmas - A is for anything Christmas

Simon Says - Ice inspiration

CRAFT - Christmas 

Cute Card Thursday - Cold and frosty

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Totally Papercrafts - Winter Wonderland

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Winter weather
Pile it On - Holidays/celebration
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional theme of party/celebrate
Cupcake Inspiration - Sparkle

Sweet Pea Stamps

Don't forget Sweet Pea Stamps can be bought from the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop.

Sweet Pea Stamps also has a:

Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team Blog - where there is daily inspiration for everyone to see

monthly challenge over at the "One Sweet Challenge"

Facebook page called "Sweet Pea Stamps" where you will see cards posted on the Design Team Blog and find out about new releases/sales

Facebook Group called "Sweet Pea Stamps Friends and Fans" and you can join the Group and look at wonderful creations, gain tips/ideas and to have a natter.

I am on the Design Team for the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge.  This fortnightly challenge blog is run independently from Sweet Pea Stamps but Lynette kindly offers:

• Prize No 1 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps and this is picked by Random.org.
• Prize No 2 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps.  The winner of this prize is picked by the Design Team from entrants that use a Sweet Pea Stamps image on their card/creation.

Over in the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop there is a "Random Act of Kindness".  You can "send a friend a gift" for no specific reason ie just because, as a thank you or just to cheer someone up.  It means that you can send a gift voucher and the recipient can pick out a digital stamp of their own choice. It is a simple and an inexpensive way to show a "Random Act of Kindness".

Please enter:  "gift" in the coupon section at checkout. This will take off the shipping charge. We will then send them the voucher that they can use to pick out their digi. 

The "Random Act of Kindness" MUST be ordered separately if ordering rubber stamps, as the shipping will need to be adjusted.

Come and join in the Sweet Pea Stamps fun!!!

Here are some new images that have been released this week:

A new artist is coming to Sweet Pea Stamps called Charity Dauenhauer.  This is one of of her images called "Silent Night".  It is available as a digital stamp

"Woodland Fairy" by Charity Dauenhauer.  It is available as a digital stamp

"Fanta-Sea" by Charity Dauenhauer.  It is available as a digital stamp

"The Vintage Heart" by Charity Dauenhauer.  It is available as a digital stamp

"Follow Your Heart" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp.

"Abysnth" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp.

"Follow Your Heart III" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp.

"Faithful Companion" by Charity Dauenhauer.  It is available as a digital stamp

"Rose" by Concetta Kilmer.  Available as a digital stamp

A little birdy told me it's your birthday!

Here is a birthday card I made for a male using my new Debbi Moore CD Shabby Chic Garden CD.  I went for a colour scheme of turquoise and kraft and use a design sheet, backing papers and personalised insert from the CD.  The card was finished off with some garden string tied in a bow and die-cut birds and bird house inked with Tim Holtz's Brushed Corduroy distress ink.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sugar Creek Hollow - Something new (new CD)

A Gem of a Challenge - Something new (new CD)

Open Minded Crafting - Use new toys or new technique (new CD)

The Crazy Challenge - Cards for men
Crafty Sentiments - New (new CD)

Scrap-Creations - Something new (new CD)

Crafting by Designs - Birthday

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Out with the old, in with the new (new CD)

4 Crafty Chicks - Bows

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge

Just a reminder that you still have a week to enter the current challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.

The topic is "layer it up".

It would be lovely for you to pop on over to the Blog and take part in the challenge.  There are two prizes each fortnight.  

Prize No 1 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps and this is picked by Random.org.

Prize No 2 is a $6 voucher to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps.  The winner of this prize is picked by the Design Team from entrants that use a Sweet Pea Stamps image on their card/creation.

This is the card I made for the layer it up challenge:

Using Mitzi Sato-Wiuff  image called "Whimsical Hydrangea Sprite" which is available as a rubber stamp. 

Season's Greetings

Yes I know Christmas has been and gone but it's good to get well ahead for next year!!!  Over at the House Mouse and Friends Challenge the topic is "use silver and/or gold".  For my card I have used some House Mouse decoupage that I had from Joanna Sheen a year or more ago and I feel it's now time to stop looking, stop keeping and use it for cards!!!  The backing paper I have used is from a Debbi Moore Inspiration magazine and I thought that the gold in the backing paper went well with the gold mirri card.  I have kept the card very simple - as I doubt things will change come Christmas 2014 and it will be expensive to post cards - so I have simply finished the card off with a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

House Mouse and Friends - Use silver and/or gold - I have chosen to use gold
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Monthly Challenge - Anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge - No colouring

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

ABC Christmas - A is for anything goes

2 Creative Chicks - Anything goes

CRAFT - Christmas

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

 Over at the Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Weekly Challenge Hazel is challenging us to "upcycle, repurpose or use a freebie".  For my House House card the backing paper isn't backing paper but in fact ...............

the packaging that one of my embossing folders came in for Christmas.  Well it's a shame for it to go to waste!!!  The House Mouse decoupage I've had for some time now and thought I can't keep looking at it and it must be used.  This year I want to try and make more cards throughout the year rather than from September onwards so I shall try and enter Hazel's challenge as often as I can.

I have finished the card off with some ribbon, die-cut snowflakes inked with Tim Holtz's Tumbled Glass distress ink and an Inkylicious brush, sentiments from the decoupage sheet and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Upcycle, repurpose or use a freebie
Crafty Calendar - Let's celebrate
Crafty Hazenlnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge - No colouring
Kaboodle Doodle - Let it snow
Tuesday Throwdown - Snowman fun
Simon Says - Ice inspiration
ABC Christmas - A is for anything Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make something to celebrate some new

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 39 - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Craftin Desert Divas - Winter

If I wasn't part of the Gruffies and Guests DT this card could be also entered their current challenge of anything goes.  See here for more details.

Awesome Dude!

This is a male card I have made with a set of Visible Image stamps called "Edward is Immortal".  I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens.  

The backing papers are from the Bearly Mine Designs set called "Steampunk Fantasy".  Around both backing papers and around the image I have stamped using the mesh background and stars that came in the set.  I had to mask around the image or poor Edward would have got stars all over him!!  The sentiment "awesome dude!" comes in the set.

I have finished the card off with a sparkly ribbon, buttons, Papermania Glitterations and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Visible Image Challenge - Anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Something new (new stamp set)

Open Minded Crafting - Use new toys or new technique (new stamp set)

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of colour, sights and sounds of winter

Come and Get It - Something new (new stamp set)

Stamping Sensations - Ribbon, buttons and bows

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Crafty Boots - Anything goes

Creative Creations - Anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - Cards for men
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make something to celebrate some new
Inky Chicks - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Let's celebrate
Nutcrafters - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Let's celebrate
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Buttons
Crafting by Design - Birthdays
2 Creative Chicks - Anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Out with the old, in with the new - (new stamp set)
Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 39 - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Naughty and Nice!!!

Here is a card I have made using some of my new Visible Image stamps, all available from one stamp set called "Molly Rules".  I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens.  

The backing papers are from Summertime Designs.  

Around the image and around the backing papers I have stamped with smaller stamps from the same stamp set.  The stamps used were the skull, ink splodge and barbed wire.  The sentiment "Naughty and Nice" also comes on the set which makes it such good value.

I have finished the card off with some spotty organza ribbon, sentiment off the computer and some gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Visible Image - Anything goes

Simon Says - Something new  

Cute Card Thursday - Banish the blues

A Creative Romance - Something new (new stamp set)

A Gem of a Challenge - Something new (new stamp set)

Totally Gorjuss - Ribbon

Open Minded Crafting - Use new toys or new technique (new stamp set)

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of colour, sights and sounds of winter

Come and Get It - Something new (new stamp set)

Stamping Sensations - Ribbon, buttons and bows

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Quirky Crafts - Eyes wide open

Lexi's Creations - Anything goes

Crafty Boots - Anything goes

Creative Creations - Anything goes

Whoopsi Daisy - Make it girly
Crafty Sentiments - New (new stamp set)
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make something to celebrate some new (new stamp set)
Inky Chicks - Anything goes