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Wednesday, 31 July 2013

New Delicious Doodles Images

Here are three new images that are available in the Delicious Doodles Shop.
 The first image is called "Butterfly Dance" and costs £1.50.
The second image is called "Floral Elegance 2" and costs £1.50.
The third image is called "New Butterfly" and costs £1.50.

Soon to arrive in the Shop will be the next instalment of the Zodiac and Horrorscopes series.  This time it is the turn of Sagittarius.
The first image is for the Zodiac Series.
The second image is for the Horrorscopes Series.

Both of these images will be available in the Shop come this week-end.

Teresa Sherman - Celtic Fairy

This is a card I have made using the Sweet Pea Stamps digital image from Teresa Sherman.

I have used my favourite colour combination of purple/lilacs.  I have coloured my image with Promarkers, added purple Pan Pastel around the image and then used a battery operated eraser to add wiggly lines.
    
I have used various purple papers from the Delicious Doodles Oriental Lotus Paper Set, Gothic Architectural Paper Set and Rose and Thistles Paper Set.  I have finished the card off with some lace, raffia ribbon, flowers, buttons, ribbon, gems, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and added some Imagination Crafts Diamond Sparkle Medium around the image to add some sparkle.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Wags n Whiskers - Photo inspiration
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Use lace
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything goes
One Stop Craft - Add flowers and a ribbon
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Pile it On - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Birthday party
Natalie and Amy - Celebrate something
Scrap-Creations - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Inky Impressions - Button it
The Crafter's Circle - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Favourite colour combination - purple, purple and more purple for me!!!
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - Things with wings

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Ching-Chou Kuik - Holly Night

Here is a Christmas card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamp image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Holly Night".  It is available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp and on a plate (Sheet 21, Plate 60 and the Holly Night comes on the plate with the images Poinsettia Fairy, Holly Fairy and Cherish Christmas).

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers and highlighted areas with chalks/Pan Pastels/white gel pen.  I have gone around the image with Tim Holtz's Chipped Sapphire distress ink pad.  I have distressed the card I have used with my Tim Holtz distressing tool.  The backing papers are from DCWV.  I have finished the card off with some lace, cheesecloth, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some Card Candi.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Animals
Crafty Catz - Christmas in July
Card Crafter's Circle - Christmas in July
Totally Papercrafts - Use lace
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas in July
Deep Ocean - Christmas in July
Scrap-Creations - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Summertime blues - blue and one other colour - I've used blue and white
Polkadoodles Challenge - Christmas in July

Steampunk Digi Set - Bearly Mine Designs

Over in the Bearly Mine Designs Shop is the newest creation by the ever so talented Donna.  It is called "Steampunk Fantasy" and is gorgeous. Make sure you pop on over to her shop and have a look at this digit set and the others in the shop.

Sunday, 28 July 2013

Joanne Schempp - Ice Ice Baby

It seems very strange making a Christmas card in the heat we have at the moment.  I don't do the cold but I don't do heat well either.  For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Joanne Schempp called "Ice Ice Baby".  It is available as a digital image and a rubber stamp.
For my card I have used the digital image and coloured in with tones of blue with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  I have highlighted areas with Stickles glitter glue.  I have stamped a backing paper with three freebie snowflake stamps I have got and Tim Holtz's Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire distress ink pads.  The DCWV snowflake backing paper I have torn.  I have cut around the image and laid on top of a Marianne Designs die-cut which I have put Imaginations Crafts Diamond Sparkle onto.  I have finished the card off with a stamped and die-cut sentiment, seam binding ribbon bow, button, gems, twine and pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes
Marianne Designs Divas - Layer it up
Whoopsi Daisy - Use 2 or more die-cuts
Lexi's Creations - Christmas in July
Crafty Sentiments - Bling it on
Papertake Weekly - Die-ing for a punch!
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Christmas in July
Penny's Paper Challenge - Bling it on
Ruby's Rainbow - Layer it up
Crafting for all Seasons - Christmas in July 
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Christmas in July
Papercrafting Journey - Punches and/or die-cuts
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Wags n Whiskers - Photo inspiration
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
A Random Thursday Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Christmas in July
Always Playing With Paper - Anything goes Christmas
CRAFT - For the girls
Friday Mashup Challenge - Christmas and/or stripes
Crimbo Crackers - Anything goes
Fairytale Challenge - Christmas in July
The Pink Elephant - Monochromatic
Jellypark Friends - Christmas in July
DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Christmas in July
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Card Crafter's Circle - Christmas in July
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers - Tie it up (I have tied my ribbon bow)
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas in July
2 Creative Chicks - 3D
Hiding in my Craft Room - Christmas in July
Creative Belli - Christmas (used old papers and freebie stamps I've never used before)
Christmas Card Challenge - Make your own background
Pile it On - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - Anything with wings
DL Art - Anything goes

Friday, 26 July 2013

Delicious Doodles Challenge - 26 July 2013 - Summertime

It's Friday and time for another challenge over at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog.  The topic this week is "Summertime".  For the month of August the Design Teams are merging for the month and for those Design Team members not taking a summer break they will post cards.  For those Design Team members taking a break I hope you have a lovely break and we'll see them back showing their creations on Friday 6 September 2013.
For my card I have the Delicious Doodles image called "Sunset at Sea".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers, tore around the image with a tearing ruler and inked the edge with a chalk ink pad.
    
The backing papers I have used are Bearly Mine Designs Mini Dots, Bearly Mine Designs Gingham and Bearly Mine Designs The Boys Zone.  I have finished the card off with some buttons, striped ribbon, sentiment off the computer and some handmade shells (these were made using a silicone mould and dampened tissue, then left to dry and then coloured with two yellow and one brown Pan Pastel).

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pan Pastel - Summertime
Craft Your Passion - Happy birthday
Ooh-la-la-Creations - For the one you love
Kaboodle Doodle - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Toes in the sand
Top Tip Tuesday - Spooled items (ribbon)
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Summer
Happy Campers - Summer
Cute Card Thursday - Beside the seaside
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything goes

Thursday, 25 July 2013

A Very Proud Day For Our Family

Our eldest son left school at 16 and went straight into a job and then moved to another job.  Whilst working full-time he's also done a Foundation Degree in IT Networking and Security.  It's been a long and difficult time trying to fit in the work alongside the "day job" but today sees his graduation.  It has been confirmed that he is graduating with a distinction which is amazing.
To celebrate the occasion I obviously had to make him a special card, envelope and a friend helped with a "fun gift" for our son.
The image on the front of the card is a Jolly Nation image which I have had for a while.  The backing paper I made myself in My Craft Studio.  You'll see a sneaky preview of his "fun gift" on this page of the card.
On the back of the card is also some more images that were on the Jolly Nation decoupage sheet.
Here is a matching decorated envelope that I have made for the card to go in.
Below you will see the fun/joke present for our son.  It is a large Keel orangutan which his aunt has made a graduation cloak, hood and hat/tassel.  She's done a wonderful job with "Orang".  I made his certificate and for the seal on the certificate I have used the seal that comes on Keel toys.
We are hoping our son sees the funny side of Orang.  I know he's nervous about the graduation.  Although he's graduating from the University of Bedfordshire and graduations take place in our town we have a 40 mile round trip to go to Luton to a church there.  We've got to be there at least 2 hours before the ceremony at 2.00pm but we want to go earlier as we've been allocated 2 tickets only and there are 30 spare to buy on the day but it's first come first served so we want to try and get one for other son and his aunt.  It's going to be a long day but such a delight to see our son graduate after a very longtime of studying.  It's also going to be difficult as his nan died two years ago.  She'd have loved seeing him graduate.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes/optional twist to create a matching envelope for your card - my card does have a matching envelope
Top Tip Tuesday - Spooled items
Let's Craft and Create - Fancy edges
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Whimsical Designs - Pile it on
Ruby's Rainbow - Layer it up
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
Southern Girls - Animal antics
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon

Update:  here is our son after he graduated.  A very proud day for us:

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Elaine Cox Water Lily Mermaid (Mermaid 2)

This card is made from a Sweet Pea Stamps image by the artist Elaine Cox.  It is called "Water Lily Mermaid (Mermaid 2)".  She is available in digital format for $3.00 or for those that prefer she is available in a rubber stamp for $5.99.
I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers, cut around the image, distressed with my Tim Holtz distressing tool, inked the edges and then sprayed with the Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine.  I love the effect of these sprays but they make me cough and cough even though I spray the item outside and leave outside for a while.  I just wish someone would bring out a nice spray that doesn't smell.  I can dream .........
  
The backing papers I wanted to keep subtle and didn't want them to overpower the image.  I have therefore used Bearly Mine Designs Just Plaids, Plain and Simple and Simply Dots.  They just add something to the card but don't overpower in my opinion.  Underneath the image I embossed a piece of card with a zig-zag effect and used a Martha Stewart punch on the edge.  I have finished the card off with some wide satin ribbon, a very little blue satin ribbon with dots, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss it
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - Blue and white
One Stitch at a Time - Use your favourite (I have lots of favourites like digital images, using alcohol pens, buttons, flowers and I LOVE ribbon!!!)
Craft Your Passion - Happy birthday
Kaboodle Doodle - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Die-ing for a punch!
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Bearly Mine Challenge - 23 July 2013 - Anything goes

It is Tuesday and it's time for another challenge at the Bearly Mine Challenge Blog.  This week the challenge is an easy one of "anything goes".
  
This week we are being sponsored by Alota Rubber Stamps who are offering a $15 gift certificate for their store and Merly Impressions who are also offering a $15 gift certificate for their store.
For my card I have used a die-cut Lili of the Valley (LOTV) die-cut fairy image.  I decided to go with the colour scheme of blue and purple.
  
   
For my card I have used the Bearly Mine Designs Gingham, Plain and Simple, Just Plaids, Mini Dots and Damask Delight.  I have finished the card off with a doily, raffia ribbon, gems, die-cut sentiment and a seam binding ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Make your own flowers
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Happy birthday
Platypus Creek - Things with wings
Kaboodle Doodle - Anything goes
Fashionista Challenge - Wings
LEJ Designs - Cute, cute, cute
Top Tip Tuesday - Spooled items (I've used ribbon)
Papertake Weekly - Die-ing for a punch!

Monday, 22 July 2013

Sweet Pea Stamps Overstock Sale

Do you fancy a bargain?  If so, make sure you pop on over to the Overstock Sale at Sweet Pea Stamps to grab some wonderful bargains.  It is for a limited time only and will carry on until they run low.

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Sweet Pea Stamps - Rebecca Sinz - Despair

Here is a sympathy card I have made using the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Rebecca Sinz called Despair.  It is available as a digital image, as an individual rubber stamp and also as a plate of 4 stamps (Sheet #7, 205 - the other images on this plate are called To Bid You Farewell, Hope and Broken Halo).  As I said the other day I keep my sympathy cards very minimalistic.  The backing papers I have used are from the Vintage Oreos kit by Summertime Designs.  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers, die-cut and edged with a black Versamagic ink pad.  The card has been finished off with a sentiment off the computer that I have die-cut and inked with the black Versamagic ink pad, some ribbon and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Card Mania - Pearls and/or gems
The Paper Shelter - Clean and simple
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Clean and simple and ribbon
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Friday, 19 July 2013

Sweet Pea Stamps Overstock Sale!

Sweet Pea Stamps Shop has 4 pages of rubber stamps for sale at $3.00 each in their Overstock Sale.  This list will be updated daily so make sure you pop on over to grab a bargain.

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - 19 July 2013 - Under the Sea

We had a lovely selection of entries to the first fortnightly challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.  This fortnight the topic is "under the sea" and it is time for Team B to show you their creations.  It's a new outing for some of the Design Team so it would be lovely if you could pop on over and have a look at their creations.
Although I am in Team B I couldn't resist making a card for this challenge as I love anything to do with the sea.  For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Soft Goth Night" as I wanted to make a nice summer "under the sea" card.  It is available as a digital stamp, a individual rubber stamp and it also comes on a plate with 3 other creations - Sheet 10, Plate 36 - and comes with the other beautiful creations Misty Reflections, Caribbean Treasure and Unregrettable Pirate Life.

The backing papers I have used are from a backing paper my friend bought me by Crafty Individuals as she knows I love the seaside.  I have chosen this backing paper of under the sea with fish and shells on it.  I have stamped around the edge of the backing paper and image with some Jayne Neterenko seaside stamps and Memento ink pads.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and edged with a chalk ink pad.  I have die-cut some shells and an anchor from two Marianne Designs die sets and chalked them to accentuate the embossing.  I have cut some leave dies and inked them to look like seaweed.  I have finished the card off with a die-cut sentiment and a flower.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenge - Marine life
Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes
Pile it On - Water
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Love to Create - Fairy Tale or fantasy
Kaboodle Doodle - Any embossed work
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes
Deep Ocean Challenge - Blue
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
DL Art Thankful Thursday July Linky Challenge - Anything goes
DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Summer
Cards and Scrap - Everything must
Craft a Scene - Under the sea
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inky Impressions - Summer
Simon Says - By the sea
Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss it
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Chocolate, Coffee and Cream - Life's a beach
Crafty Calendar - Colour inspiration
V's Sweet Ideas Blog - Summer fun
Wags n Whiskers - Summer fun
Heck of a Challenge - The sea
Anything Goes - Anything goes
C is for ........ Challenge - Summer

Race for Life 2013

In the past I have done the Race for Life three times but since 2005 my own health doesn't allow this.  Instead I normally sponsor people at work to do it on my behalf.  This year I also sponsored by sister-in-law and niece and this is a card I've made to say congratulations as they did the Race for Life last week-end in 1 hour and 3 minutes - well done!!
For my congratulations card I have used the Saturated Canary image called "Boobie Love" and I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  All of the backing papers I have been given.  The flowers I have cut from another backing paper.  Some of them were glittered and the others I glittered with some Stickles.  I have die-cut around the image, coloured around with a two different pink Pan Pastels and threaded some fibres through.  The card has been finished off with some wide ribbon, ribbon bow, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

2 Sisters - Make it sparkle
Totally Gorjuss - Sweet
The Squirrel and the Fox - Use something spooled
Card Mania - Pearls and/or gems
Paper Makeup - Tic-tac-toe - bottom horizontal row of gems, flowers and 2 or more patterned papers
Crafty Creations - Time to sparkle
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Saturated Canary - Glamour and glitz
Happy Campers - Bling
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
Stampin' for the Week-end - Sparkle and bling
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 18 July 2013 - Sympathy/Thinking of You

Today is the start of another challenge over at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  This time the topic is "sympathy/thinking of you".  I know we all hate to make these kinds of cards but when someone is going through grief it is these cards and the words that we put inside that will mean so much.
This fortnight we are lucky to be sponsored by Robyn's Fetish.
For both of my cards I have used the Robyn's Fetish image called "bible".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers and kept to very pale colours.  Personally I keep sympathy/thinking of you cards quite clean and simple as I don't think it's the right time to go all out on embellishments etc.
The backing papers I have used have all been given to me.  The cards have been finished off with seam binding ribbon (top card), dotty grosgrain ribbon (bottom card), Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiments and pearls.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Card Mania - Pearls and/or gems
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Anything Goes - Anything goes
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - CAS with ribbon

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Teresa Sherman - Gothic Fairy


I am certainly out of my comfort zone for the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team.  For my card I have used this wonderful image by Teresa Sherman called "Gothic Fairy".  She is available to buy as a rubber stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps or she can be bought on a plate along with Unchained Melody, The Ivy Queen and the Queen of Holly. I have coloured the image with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers and highlighted some areas with Pan Pastels.
The backing papers I was given.  I have used a gorgeous Marianne Designs die-cut to sit the image on.  I have finished the card off with some blue jute, die-cut flowers which have been inked with Tim Holtz's Chipped Sapphire and Aged Mahogany distress ink, skull charm, ribbon, brads, gems, sentiment and skull heads cut from a topper sheet from Debbi Moore's Twilight CD.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Let's Craft and Create - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Charming
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Robyn's Fetish - Things with wings
Whoopsi Daisy - Use your markers
Marianne's Designs Divas - Layer it up
Love to Create - Fairy tale or fantasy
Incy Wincy - Things with wings
Kaboodle Doodle - Any embossed work
A Little Bit Crafty - Die-ing for it
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything goes
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes - thank you for picking me as one of your Top 3 last week
Crafty Sentiments - Female birthdays