New Delicious Doodles Image

Look who will be arriving in the Delicious Doodles Store this week-end - "Evil Snowman"!!!

ThermoMorph Moldable Plastic

I was asked a while ago to trial a product called ThermoMorph.  

I'd not been asked to trial something before so decided to give it a go.

What is ThermoMorph you ask?  It is moldable plastic pellets (polymorph granules).  Does that sound intriguing?

ThermoMorph can be found at:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/ThermoMorph-Polymorph-Shapelock-Plastimake-InstaMorph/dp/B00D3LAZ9O

and here you will find more information at ThermoMorph.net:  http://www.thermomorph.net/

  I knew the size of the pot, as per the website was 500g but I am no good with lengths or sizes so I was amazed at the size of the pot when it came.  The cost of the pot is £19.95 and all I will say is that I've made a lot but really not made a dent in the pot, if you know what I mean.

There are instructions on the post on how to use the ThermoMorph.  Yes I would have found it easier using a Melt Pot like my friend Claire but I don't have one of these.  Also as I make my cards for charity my funds are very limited so it is sometimes nice to see someone doing a trial that is using more basic things.

I used an old thick plastic food container that had seen better days and poured in some boiling water.  I let it cool for a while and then dropped in a pile of the white ThermoMorph granules.  Within 5-10 minutes these white granules and gone clear and looked like frog spawn.  I used some tongs to get it out of the water, popped onto a craft sheet to cool for 30 seconds or more and then it was time for the fun to begin!!

 This is pushing the melted Thermomorph into a leaf mold which I have put some micro beads into the bottom.  I barely let it touch the mold and managed to get it out so that I could add a curved shape to the leaf as most leaves aren't totally flat.  Once it was dry I have rubbed over the top to metallic gold Pan Pastel. 

 This time I have pushed the ThermoMorph into a Spellbinders Mixed Media heart shaped frame.  I love the way it has picked up all of the detail with so little effort and after it had dried it just fell out of the frame.  Again I have rubbed over metallic gold Pan Pastel. 

 Here the ThermoMorph was pushed into a Martha Stewart flower mold and a Spellbinders Mixed Media heart frame.  Once set I coloured with Promarkers. 

 These are a Martha Stewart decorated heart mold (look at how it's picked up all the nodules from the heart) and on the right hand side a Spellbinders Mixed Media heart frame.  These have been coloured with Graph'it pens.

 

 Once set these heart shapes and flowers shapes were coloured with pink and purple alcohol inks and then areas were brushed on with silver mixative alcohol ink to add some shine.

 

 These ones have been a nightmare to photograph - too sparkly for my camera.  These are flowers and hearts that have been brushed over with Cosmic Shimmer black glue with silver glitter sprinkled over the top.  Think this effect would look nice as centre pieces for large bows or centres of hand-made flowers on cards/creations.

 

 This flower collection has been made with blue mica powder.  The large flower I spread around some mica into my Martha Stewart flower mold, the smaller ones I didn't.  After the flowers were dry I mixed some "dry as clear glue" with the same mica powder and painted it onto the flowers.  It gives a more subtle finish on the smaller ones but a lot richer colour on the one that had the mica in the mold.  

 This is my Spellbinders Mixed Media heart frame used as a mold.  Once set I painted the heart with blue acrylic paint.

 

 This is using my Martha Stewart flower mold, letting it set, painting with blue acrylic paint and when it was still wet to sprinkle over some glitter.  Messy but worth the effect.

 Last, by no means least, are various effects with Pan Pastels rubbed into flower molds before adding ThermoMorph to them.  The large flower on the top left had a little purple Pan Pan Pastel, the one to the right a bit more and finally the ones at the front had a lot more.

I have some more ideas for the ThermoMorph so there might well be an update for you on what I get up to next.  Some crafty friends will laugh when they see this post as they know I "don't do messy"!!  Needless to say that I have to admit to having a fun time over the weeks doing a trial of this product.

Here is what I would say about the product:

Would you buy the product?  

Yes I would.  I use my molds to make embellishments with air drying clay but it can take 2-3 days depending on the temperature to thoroughly dry the items as if you use too so they could easily crack.  The ThermoMorph is set within minutes and ready for decorating.

Is it easy to use?

As I said it might have been easier in a Melt Pot but the way I did it was fine.  

Next time, once it's melted I'd like to try mixing mediums like alcohol inks, Pan Pastel, micro beads, mica powders into it before putting into molds etc.  If it becomes too hard you will be unable to return to the water as the colours will be diluted but a quick blast of a heat tool will soften it up.

Is it value for money?

As you can see above I have made quite a number of items over the last few weeks and the level hasn't really gone down.  The pot costs £19.95 for 500g.  I have used UTEE before and it certainly doesn't last this long.  Embellishments can be so expensive to buy.  I often see them on TV or in the shops for £3-£4 for 8-10 centres to go in flowers etc.  I could make many more than that out of £3-£4 worth of ThermoMorph and it would mean so much more to make them myself.

Can anyone use it?

If you use it in a Melt Pot you need to be an adult/have adult supervision as when things melt they get hot.

If you use the ThermoMorph in boiling water you too need to be careful as you've got it melting in hot water.

Apart from the safety aspect, I think anyone could use the product.  

I have health problems and struggle with doing a lot of things craft-wise. 

It was nice to trial something with a "crafter" hat on as well as someone with a "disability" hat on as well as a "limited pennies" hat on.  

I have to say that ThermoMorph passed as a crafter as it gives you lot of opportunity to try it with texture treads, embossing folders, cookie cutters, molding on top of buttons etc.

I have to say that ThermoMorph passed for someone with a disability.  If you aren't as quick as some you just put back to reheat in the water or blast with a heat tool and nothing is wasted.

I have to say that ThermoMorph passed for someone with limited pennies.  I've made lots of embellishments and have lots left in the pot to make loads and loads more which makes it really good value for money.

Last, but not least, would you recommend the product?

I could not lie to readers of my blog and say I would recommend this product if I didn't like it.  

I LOVE IT!!!  

I have lots of ideas going around in my head and will look forward to giving them a go and will show you how I get on.

If you have any questions please leave me a message and I will try to answer them for you.  

I have had great fun trialing this product.  

I have never been asked to do this before so feel very honoured.  I have done the trial as a crafter, someone with a disability and someone with limited pennies and ThermoMorph has passed with flying colours!!

Mitzi Sato-Wiuff

Mitzi Sato-Wiuff has this week joined Sweet Pea Stamps as a designer.  Her rubber stamps only will be available at the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop shortly.

Mitzi also has an Etsy store where digital images can be bought so if you want to have a play with Mitzi's images before the rubber stamps are available they are here at "Aurora Wings".

I absolutely adore poppies so I had to have this image called "Red Poppies - Elf with Poppy Blooms".  The challenge over at the Passion for Promarkers Challenge this week is "the spotlight technique" so I thought I'd have a go with this image.  It took me a while to decide where to do the spotlight and in the end I went for her face/surrounding poppies.    

I have stamped around a piece of white card with a Stamp Addicts small poppy stamp.  It is actually of two poppies but I just wanted one head so I masked the other one off every time I inked - very time consuming but I think worth it.  I have used a red Pan Pastel rubbed very lightly around the very edges of the stamped plate.  

I have finished the card off with some twice, faux stitching, Stickles glitter glue for the centres of the poppies on the spotlight image, gems and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

Promarkers used:

Face:  coral, blush and sunkissed pink

Hair:  caramel, saffron and vanilla

Poppies:  burgundy, poppy, berry red, red and lipstick red.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Whoopsi Daisy - Flowers galore

Ooh-la-la-Creations - Stitching real or faux

Paper Makeup - Stitching

Passion for Promarkers - In the spotlight

Crafting for all Seasons - Stitching - real or faux

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

That Craft Place - Sentiment

Joanne Schempp - Kristy

This is a Christmas card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Joanne Schempp called "Kristy".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with a white gel pen and my clear Wink of Stella pen.  The backing papers are from my stash.

I have finished the card off with some ribbon, die-cut poinsettia, die-cut holly, pearl, wooden heart coloured with a Promarker and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Creations - Sparkle and shine
LEJ Designs - Season's greetings
The Crafter's Cafe - Lots of embellishments
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes with a twist of Christmas
Crafty Creations - Dies and punches
Inky Impressions - Red and green
I Love Promarkers - Red and green
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Girls - Anything goes
Happy Campers - Glitter it
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to include the word peace or a peace symbol in recognition of World Peace Day
Creatalicious Challenge - Christmas time

Ching-Chouk Kuik - Ladybug

 For this Sweet Pea Stamps card I have gone for one that could be used for a man.  I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik imaged called “Ladybug”.  It is available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp and as part of a multi-image plate (Sheet 26, Plate 79 – Ladybug comes on the multi-image plate with Seahorse, Hummingbird and Dragonflies along with sentiment).

I have coloured the image in with my Graph’it pens, highlighted areas with my Wink of Stella clear pen and added pearl drops to the background.  The backing papers are from my Perfect Papercrafting CD.  I have finished the card off with some die-cuts a friend did for me.  The first is Joanna Sheen’s Lace Edger 2 die-cut which I have inked with Time Holtz’s Crushed Olive distress ink.  The second is Joanna Sheen’s Ivy Flourish die-cut which she cut from some metallic card.  I also added some buttons and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - Celebrations
Crafty Creations - Dies and punches
Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky Party
Penny's Paper Challenge - Add a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to include the word peace or a peace symbol in recognition of World Peace Day

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 one digital image for the Random.org winner and one digital image for the winner that is chosen by the Design Team from those that use a Sweet Pea Stamps image.  

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!!!

Some new images out this week are as follows:

"Hope" by Karen Middleton.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

"Christmas Quartet" by Regan Kubecek.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

"Naughty or Nice" by Charmaine Flannery.  Available as a digital stamp and available now as a rubber stamp.

"My Deep Love" by Norma J Burnell.  Available as a digital stamp and soon to be available as a rubber stamp.

"Yule" by Norma J Burnell.  Available as a digital stamp and soon to be available as a rubber stamp.

"The Gift" by Norma J Burnell.  Available as a digital stamp and soon to be available as a rubber stamp.

"The Archeress" by Norma J Burnell.  Available as a digital stamp and soon to be available as a rubber stamp.

"Merry" by Regan Kubecek.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

"Angel of Love" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

"Fairy Tea Party" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

"The Walnut Fairy" by Helena Reis.  Available as a digital stamp and soon available as a rubber stamp.

This week sees the arrival of a new artist at Sweet Pea Stamps, Mitzi Sato-Wiuff.  Her images will soon be available as rubber stamps.

  This image is called "Fuchsia Sprite" and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Grumpy Fae with Acorn on a Mushroom" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Whimsical Bluebell Sprite" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Snapdragon Sprite with Baby Dragon" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Going Nuts for the Nutcracker" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Rose Fairy 2" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Little Elf Kia" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

"Whimsical Hydrangea Sprite" is by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and will soon be available as a rubber stamp.

Two Christmas Cards

Here are two Christmas cards I have made using two different Sweet Pea Stamps images, Bearly Mine Designs Christmas Inserts, my Graph'it pens and a few other bits-and-pieces.  I have used the inserts as frames for my images.

 For my first card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Poinsettia Fairy".  She was one of my first Sweet Pea Stamps and she is still one of my favourites.  She is available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp and as part of a multi-image plate (Sheet 21, Plate 60 - Poinsettia Fairy comes on the multi-image plate with Holly Night, Holly Fairy and Cherish Christmas).  I have used a gorgeous red Bearly Mine Designs insert with poinsettias on it and kept the colour scheme to red, green and a splash of gold.  I have coloured the card in with my Graph'it pens.  The card has been finished off with some gold Stickles for the centres of the poinsettias on the insert, Papermania Glitterations, die-cut poinsettia and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

For my second card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Elaine Cox called "Christmas Bird".  It is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp set (the set comes with a larger image and a smaller image, perfect for use on the inside of cards, on the back or on the envelope).  I have used a turqoiuse/teal Bearly Mine Designs insert as it gave me chance to use my Graph'it "Fresh" set I got for my birthday.  I have embellished the card with some Marianne Designs die-cut trees and snowflakes which I have brushed over Imagination Crafts Diamond Sparkle Medium, peel-off, sating ribbon and some glitter dotted around the insert that I got at the NEC last week (me and glitter aren't a good combination as I hate the remnants left around but I will persevere again.  Normally I just stick to Stickles!!)

I am entering there cards into the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenge - Let's frame it

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - Outdoors (card no 2)

The Ribbon Girl - Add sparkle (card no 2)

One Stitch at a Time - Holidays

Pile it On - Show us your tools (die-cutting machine used for both cards)

LEJ Designs - Season's greetings

Let's Craft and Create - Glitter

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes with a twist of Christmas

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Girls - Anything goes

Happy Campers - Glitter it

4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes (card no 2)

Craft Ribbons - Anything goes (card no 2)

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Graph'it - Anything goes

New Delicious Doodles Image

This image called "Raven" will be available in the Delicious Doodles Shop at the week-end.

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 " Let us remember ie Remembrance Day/Thinking of You".

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 digital stamp of your choice from Sweet Pea Stamps and this is picked by Random.org.

Prize No 2 is a digital stamp of your choice from 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.

Here is the card I made for the challenge:

For my card I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image called "Hope".  It is available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp and as part of a multi-image plate (Sheet 7, Plate 205 - Hope comes on the multi-image plate with Broken Halo, Despair and To Bid You Farewell).

One Sweet Challenge - November 2013

Just to remind you that you have until the end of the month to enter the One Sweet Challenge.  The topic this month is "It's a feast" - so we want to see lots of one items such as different colours, images, papers or embellishments.

The rules for taking part in the One Sweet Challenge are as follows:

• Submissions should have at least one stamp image included as a focal point. 
• Stamps maybe either digital or rubber and they can be from any company.
• All submissions should be new creations, no back dated posts.
• There is no limit to the number of other challenges the creation can be entered into.
• Winners are chosen randomly. 
• If the winning card uses a Sweet Pea Stamp image the prize is a $10 gift card to the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop. A $5 gift card will be awarded to the winner if the image is from any other company.

Here is the card I made for some inspiration for the One Sweet Challenge this month:

 For my card I used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Coral Immersion". It's available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp and as part of a multi-image plate (Sheet 12, Plate 41 - Coral Immersion is on the multi-image sheet with Enchanting Gold, Mad Tea Party and Cheshire Illusion).

It would be lovely for you to come and play in the One Sweet Challenge.

Don't forget the lucky winner gets a $5 gift certificate to spend in the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop but if you use a Sweet Pea Stamps image you get a $10 gift certificate.

You Rock!

 I struggle severely for images for young adults/teenagers and especially for boys.  I saw this image called "Max Rocks" by Visible Image and when I went to the NEC last Saturday I had to have this set.  I have coloured the main image with my Promarkers, stamped the image on scrap paper and cut around to make a mask so that I could stamp all the brickwork around "Max".

 The backing papers are all from my stash.  I have used the skull stamp included in the set and stamped it onto two of the patterned papers.

Here is the inside of the card and to follow the theme from the front I have stamped brickwork around the edge.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment off the stamp sheet saying "You Rock!" which I have stamped with Tim Holtz's Gathered Twigs distress ink, some fibres and some Card Candi.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Photo inspiration 

That Craft Place - Sentiment
Everybody Art - Card for a boy

Inklings and Yarn - Inky linky party

Penny's Paper Challenge - Add a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Conie Fong - Flowers on the Beach

 

This is a card that I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Conie Fong.  It is called "Flowers on the Beach" and is available as a rubber stamp as well as a digital stamp.  

Isn't she a cutie?  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers and highlighted areas with my white gel pen and Stickles glitter glue.  I have used a handmade cloud mask and used my blue Pan Pastel and fine tool to add some clouds.

  

The backing papers I have used are Bearly Mine Designs The Boys Zone and Bearly Mine Designs Just Plaids.   I have finished the card off with a sentiment off the computer, gold card candi, gingham ribbon and handmade shells (these have been made with a silicone mould, tissue paper and Pan Pastels).

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist of a Holiday thanks (thank you or hostess gift)
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Blues
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Pan Pastel - Anything goes/something altered
Inklings and Yarn - Inky linky party
Penny's Paper Challenge - Add a sentiment
Fab n Funky - Anything goes - Happy 4th birthday to the Fab n Funky Challenge - that's a wonderful achievement
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes