Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Friday 28 February 2014 - Easel card

It is time for another challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.  This fortnight the challenge is "easel card".

The rules for the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge are as follows:

• Please use a stamped/digital image on your card/project 
• Please DO NOT link back to old projects- only new cards/projects are considered for the prize. 
• Although we would love you to only use Sweet Pea images it is not compulsory. 
• If you use a Sweet Pea Stamps image you will be entered into a second draw to win three Sweet Pea Stamps digital stamps. The Design Team for that fortnight will pick their favourite card/project using a Sweet Pea Stamps image. 
• Please do not enter the challenge more than 3 times. 

What are the prizes for this challenge you might ask??  Lynette over at Sweet Pea Stamps kindly sponsors this challenge every fortnight.

Random. org will be used to pick the first winner and they will win $6 Sweet Pea Stamps digital stamps of their choice.

The second winner will be picked by the Design Team from those that used a Sweet Pea Stamps image and they will win $9 Sweet Pea Stamps digital stamps of their choice.

 For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Conie Fong called "The Arrival of Spring".  This is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens using some more purple shades that I got for Christmas.  They are such easy pens to use.  I wanted to keep the colour scheme very Spring-like. 

The backing papers I have used were from a set a friend bought me for Christmas.  I have finished the card off with various die-cuts (doily, butterfly, grass and made some die-cut flowers from some scraps of backing papers, inked around the edges and pearl brads for the centres), ribbon bow, pearl embellishment, gems, Craftwork Cards sentiment and quite a bit of Stickles glitter glue.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

The Squirrel and the Fox - Something spooled

Robyn's Fetish - Fairies, elves, sprites or pixies

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use your country's own colours

Incy Wincy - Birthdays

Card Mania - Use a sentiment

Kaboodle Doodle - Use ribbon

Love to Create - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - For the kids/anything goes

Craftin' Desert Divas - Glitter

Crafting by Designs - Colours of Spring
Simon Says - Anything goes with pearls
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Springtime
Totally Papercrafts - Make it shine
Stampin for the Week-end - Sparkle and shine
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Natalie and Amy Monthly - Flowers

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Friday 28 February 2014 - One for the boys

 It is the start of another challenge over at Delicious Doodles.  This week the challenge is "one for the boys".

For my card I have used the Delicious Doodles image called "Vintage Car" and coloured the image in with my Promarkers.  I have added Glossy Accents to the lights and windscreen.  The backing papers I was given.  Around the image I have stamped splats using a Visible Image stamp set called "Molly Rules".  I have finished the card off with some ribbon I won in some candy, buttons and a die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox - Something spooled
Dream Valley - Vintage
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use your country's own colours
Incy Wincy - Birthdays
Card Mania - Use a sentiment
Kaboodle Doodle - Use ribbon
Love to Create - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Make it digital (used a digital image)
The Sisterhood of Crafters - One for the boys
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky Party 46 - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Ribbons n buttons
QKR Stampede - Anything but a square card

Ching-Chou Kuik - Poppy from the Mist

Here is a card I have made for the Crafty Sentiments Challenge this week of "love".  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Poppy from the Mist".  It is available as a digital stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Aged Mahogany distress ink.

The backing papers I was given.  I have finished the card off with some lace, flowers, buttons, die-cut sentiment, pearls and ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Open Minded Challenge - Monochrome

Bunny Zoe's - Hearts/love

Whoopsi Daisy - Monochromatic

Crafty Sentiments - Love

Deep Ocean - Just for a girl

Moving Along with the Times - 4 things beginning with "l" - Lady, love, layers and lace

Crafty Ribbons - Ribbons n buttons

Sweet Pea Stamps

Just to let you all know that at Sweep Pea Stamps:

• all discontinued Sweet Pea Stamps rubber stamps are 95% off whilst stocks last
• all overstocked Sweet Pea Stamps rubber stamps are now 75% off whilst stocks last.

Please note:  these are for in-stock items only.  If Sweet Pea Stamps run out of the discontinued rubber stamps or overstocked rubber stamps you will be refunded by Paypal for the difference.

Hurry on over to the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop to grab a bargain.

Thinking of You

Here is a thinking of you card I have made using a Delicious Doodles image called "Poppy and Butterfly Frame" and a freebie poppy paper that Teri made in November 2012.  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers.  I have just done some simple matting and layering as I don't think thinking of you/sympathy cards are times to go lavish.  The image and the words you write inside are most important.  I have finished the card off with an organza ribbon bow and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Creations - Keep it simple

Pile it On - Thinking of you

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use your country's own colours

Kaboodle Doodle - Use ribbon

Passion for Promarkers - Make it digital (digital image and poppy backing paper)

Charmaine Flannery - Libelle

This card I made had many 100s of miles to travel so therefore couldn't have too much embellishments on it as I wanted it to arrive in one piece.  Recipients of my cards always laugh as there is more sticky tape on the envelope than what is left on the roll but when you take time to make something it has to arrive in a good state.

For my card I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Charmaine Flannery called "Libelle".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet distress ink.

The backing papers are from my stash.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment, funky foam flowers and lots of pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Robyn's Fetish - Fairies, elves, sprites or pixies

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use your country's own colours

Incy Wincy - Birthdays

Card Mania - Use a sentiment

Love to Create - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - For the kids/anything goes

The Pink Elephant - Use the colour pink

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes

Birthday Wishes

Here is a male birthday card I have made.  I have used the Visible Image stamp set called "Max Rocks".  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and had a go at colouring denim which is the topic this week at the Graph'it challenge.  I have then used a mask I made of Max and stamped the chain that comes in the set with sepia Versafine and then inked around with Tim Holtz's Pumice Stone distress ink.

The backing papers I have used are from the Bearly Mine Designs Steampunk Fantasy 2 set.  I have gone around the edge of the papers with a gold Pentouch pen.  I have embossed some brown card with a Tim Holtz cog embossing folder and then inked over with Tim Holtz's Pumice Stone distress ink.

I have finished the card off with some brown string, Craftwork Cards sentiment and some die-cut buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/masculine

Crafting by Designs - Just for boys

Divas by Design - Rubber stamps only

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Little Fairies - One for the boys 

Graph'it - Colouring denim
Craft Stamper - Repeat stamping (repeating the chain stamp behind the image)
Fantasy Stamper - BINGO board - I have gone for the bottom row of twine, blue and buttons

Totally Gorjuss - Strings the thing

Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team Call

Sweet Pea Stamps are having a Design Team Call.  I have been truly blessed to have been on the Design Team and love working with the different array of artists that Sweet Pea Stamps have.  I love that the images are suitable for cards of any type and also for altered art pieces.  This is why I am applying again to join the Design Team.  I would love to be kept on for another Design Team term.

Here is a card that I have made using a Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Purple Tender".  This image is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Crushed Olive distress ink.

The backing papers are from my Perfect Papercrafting Companions CD and I have gone for a pink and lime green colour scheme.  I have used some round dies, a doly die and my favourite die at the moment, tiny little butterflies.  These are from Joanna Sheen's Signature Range and really for table confetti but I love to use them on my cards as we don't always need big butterflies.

I have finished the card off with a stamped sentiment, organza bow, pearl embellishment, stunning Prima flower and some gems.

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 Just to show that Sweet Pea Stamps are not just for cards, this is a decorated box I have made for my Craft Room to store my Martha Stewart paper clay creations.  As my Craft Room has the theme of the seaside there are plenty of sea themed images to choose from over at Sweet Pea Stamps.  For my box I have used the Rebecca Sinz image called "Stargazer".  It is available from Sweet Pea Stamps as a digital stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with my Tim Holtz Broken China distress ink.  I have finished the top of the box off with a die-cut lighthouse, spider's web, flowers and lots of tiny shells.

 I have painted the inside and outside of the box with 3 coats of gesso and then some turquoise acrylic paint.  I have then used some backing papers called "Happy Days" which were on a free CD with the recent Creativity Magazine.  I have used various seaside Marianne Designs dies and cut them out and inked through with Tim Holtz's Broken Chins distress ink again.

Now the box is all ready to sit in my Craft Room housing my paper clay items I have made.

I am entering this card and altered box into the following challenges: 

Paper Creator - Squares, circles and rectangles - the card is square along with some layers, then I have some circles and then the image and the mounts underneath it are rectangles

Ruby's Rainbow - Texture - card and box

In the Pink - Pink plus one other colour (lime green) - card

Pattie's Creation - Spots of dots - card

Allsorts - Ladies day - card

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Whimsical/fairy/fantasy - box and card

Sweet Pea Stamps - Design Team Call

Charity Dauenhauer - Silent Night

 Yes I know what you are going to say in that Christmas has been and gone but I decided to start making Christmas cards throughout the year more this year.  The Sweet Pea Stamps image by Charity Dauenhauer that I have used is called "Silent Night".  It is available as a digital stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  I used a circle die and cut a circle out of a sticky note, stuck it behind the fairy and the wolf and then used my blue Pan Pastel to colour in the background.  I find this so much easier than using a distress ink as I haven't got very strong hands.

I do like traditional red and green for Christmas so I have kept to this colour scheme.  I have tried to keep the card as flat as possible as well as I doubt they'll be a change in the cost of postage in 2014 for the better so it's "pancake Christmas cards" again!!!  I have used some backing papers that I got off a friend for Christmas.  I have finished the card off with a tissue paper flower, pearls, ribbon, holly die-cut, glitter scrolls and a sentiment that came in the paper/decoupage paper pack.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Ribbon
The Paper Shelter - Punches and dies
ABC Christmas - D for die-cuts
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
4 Crafty Girls - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Lovely layers
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Things with wings
Winter Wonderland - The most wonderful time of the year
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Craftitude - Paper Crafting with Attitude - Anything goes or hit the right note
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Card Challenge - Use a sentiment
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Whimsical/fantasy/fairies
Christmas Card Challenge - Anything goes
Pan Pastel - Anything goes/make an embellishment with a stencil
The Squirrel and the Fox - Something spooled
Robyn's Fetish - Fairies, elves, sprites or pixies

Ching-Chou Kuik - Where we met

 Here is a Christmas card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Where we met".  I know it's not technically a Christmas image but I thought it would be perfect.  It's available as a digital stamp.  

I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  I have used a selection of small snowflake stamps and Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar distress inks to stamp snowflakes around the image.  The backing papers I was given.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment from my Perfect Companions Christmas CD, die-cut snowflakes, pearls and die-cut deer.

I am entering this Christmas card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes
ABC Christmas - D for die-cuts
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky 45 - Anything goes
Winter Wonderland - The most wonderful time of the year
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Card Challenge - Use a sentiment
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Whimsical/fantasy/fairies
Christmas Card Challenge - Anything goes

Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenge Blog - Monthly Inspiration by Kym - February 2014

Today it is my turn to show you an inspirational project for the Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenge Blog.

When I consider buying papers/images I need to make sure that I can make good use out of them. A lot of seasonal papers are just that and you really can't do a lot with them at other times. What I like with Donna's papers is that she has seasonal images but then also puts in the sets more generic papers. 

For my card I have used the Bearly Mine Design set called "Love Dreams". This is a love themed set so suitable for weddings, anniversaries, Valentine's Day or whenever you want to show someone some love. As you can see from my card I have used the more generic papers in the pack for this cute little girly birthday card so this makes this set a wonderful bargain at £4.50 for 27 digital papers as they can be used all year round.

The image I have used is a Lili of the Valley (LOTV) die-cut image which I have had for a number of years now and needs to be made into a card. I have used various dies to add some shape and dimension to the card and I have used a new die that I won in some candy from the wonderful Debby (I think you might just see this often!!). I have die-cut some Tim Holtz flowers out of a book and coloured with Sandstone and Burgundy Promarkers to match the colour scheme. The card has been finished off with some washi tape, brads (for the centre of the flowers), Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some gems.

I hope you have enjoyed my little inspirational post.

Keep popping back to see more inspiration from the Bearlymine Girls

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Girly girl

Incy Wincy - Photo inspiration

Papertake Weekly - Lovely layers

Penny's Paper Challenge - Lots of layers

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafts and Me - Photo inspiration

2 Sisters - Embossing

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper 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:

"Little Bow" by Karen Middleton.  Available as a digital stamp

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

"Candy Cane" by Concetta Kilmer.  Available as a digital stamp

Some additional information for you for this week.

Sweet Pea Stamps is having a Design Team call.  Here is all the information:

Sweet Pea Stamps are looking for a few reliable, creative individuals who can create projects in a timely manner and on the fly.

For this call, we would like for each applicant to enter a creation that best exemplifies your style and post it on your blog or other public forum. Your post must state that it is an entry for the Sweet Pea Stamps design team and provide a link to either the SPS blog or website. 

After your post is live please return here and enter the link below. After linking your entry, please send an email to queendragonfairie@yahoo.com with your link and include an email address that you can be contacted at. Please note you will receive a confirmation email, if you do not receive one within two days please send again.

Applicants must be willing to work with digi stamps. 

Design team members are expected to create projects featuring Sweet Pea Stamps images for both the SPS blog, posting on your personal blog, facebook page and on other public venues on a weekly basis. 

Additional creations for the occasional new release, blog hops and for submitting for publication will also be needed. 

Entries must be linked by February 28 @ 11:59 pm to be considered.

Design Team terms are 6 months.

In return design team members receive 5 SPS images, of their choice, in digi format weekly.

The new design team be will announced on March 3 and the first creation will be due on March 15.

Sweet Pea Stamps images are preferred but not required.

Thank you for your continued support and good luck!

For Friday 21/2/14 and Saturday 22/2/14 there is a sale on digital stamps:

Charmaine Flannery - Absynth

Here is a card I have made which I think would be suitable for a teenager as they can be very difficult cards to make for.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Charmaine Flannery called "Absynth".  It is available as a digital stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  It's amazing to think that the green is only two shades of green (8240 and 8260).  I have inked around the edge of the image with Tim Holtz's Old Paper and Crushed Olive distress inks.  The backing papers are from my Perfect Papercrafting Companions CD.  Along the edge of the plain green paper I have used my Tim Holtz ruler and punched through holes.  I've then used my red Promarker with a fine nib to add the faux stitching.

I have finished the card off with some stars cut from a Debbi Moore magazine paper, buttons, twine bow, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiments and two musical charms which I have had for ages and ages.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge - In stitches

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist of National RAK Day

Kaboodle Doodles - Use buttons and twine

Craft your Passion - Girly girl

Paper Makeup - Add dimension

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes/use flowers

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Winged fairy tales

Oldie but a Goodie - Buttons (my item from my stash to use up are these charms which must be 2-3 years old)

Top Tip Tuesday - Stitching

Papertake Weekly - Lovely Layers

Penny's Paper Challenge - Lots of layers

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky 45 - Anything goes

Crafty Girlz Challenge - Anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Things with wings

Cute Card Thursday - Buttons and bows
Brown Sugar - Use a charm
Card Making Mamas - Layer it up
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Craftitude - Paper Crafting with Attitude - Anything goes or hit the right note

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 "Vintage".

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 $9 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.

Here is the card that I made for the challenge and my write-up:

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Friday 21 February 2014 - Bloom and yellow

 Today sees the start of another challenge over at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog.  The numbers of Design Team members are a bit low for Team A so I've made a card to give some inspiration.  Not long now to hear who has made the Delicious Doodles Design Team call.  Right enough of my waffling.  You are asking what the topic is for this week.  Well it is "bloom and yellow".

For my card I have sued the Delicious Doodles image called "Daisies and Butterflies".  It is one of Teri's older image but I've used it a number of times for "just for you" cards.  I also thought it was Spring-like and we could all be cheering up with some Spring-like weather.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Squeezed Lemonade distress ink.  The backing papers are from my Perfect Papercrafting Companions CD and I have gone for a plain bright yellow and a gingham bright yellow.  

I have finished the card with a doily coloured with Tim Holtz's Old Paper distress ink, die-cut border coloured with Squeezed Lemonade distress ink, sentiment from a Debbi Moore CD, flowers, gems, Stickles glitter glue for the centres of flowers, satin and gingham ribbon and Prima butterfly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday - All about Spring 

One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi

Love to Create - Make it sparkle with bling

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes/use flowers

Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Winged fairy tales

Papertake Weekly - Lovely layers

Paper Pretties - Ribbon

Nutcrafters - Ribbon and bling

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky 45 - Anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes

4 Krafty Girlz - Anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Things with wings

Crafting Musketeers - Butterflies

Card Making Mamas - Layer it up
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Craftitude - Paper Crafting with Attitude - Anything goes or hit the right note
Totally Papercrafts - Spring