Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog - Kym's Inspiration Post - Monday 13 July 2015

It is Monday and therefore time for me to show you my Inspiration Post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog.

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "sparkle and shine".  It would be lovely if you could take part.

This week the Design Team were given the choice of using an image from the section "witch/spooky/gothic" in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store.  I decided to use this stunning image called "Blue Pumpkin".  I have coloured my image in with Promarkers.  I inked around the image with Tim Holtz's Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot distress ink and added little dots of Tonic Nuvo crystal drops to look like stars in the night sky.

The backing papers I have used are from Summertime Designs.

I have finished the card off with some black netting, spider ribbon, little skull from Visible Image stamped and cut out, Halloween sentiment and some bats cut out from the backing papers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Creative Moments - Anything goes/monochromatic
Aud Sentiments - Animals and sentiment
Crazy 4 Challenge - Put one or more critters on your project
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes

Have a Great Birthday Dad

You will see from my post yesterday I recently  bought the Crafter's Companion new CD called "Flights of Fantasy" that had artwork on it by the very talented Morgan Fitzsimon.  There are lots of fantasy images eg fairies, dragons, mermaids, unicorns but then there are some stunning images like these two birds.  This is a birthday card I have made for my eldest son to give to his dad for his birthday.

I printed off these beautiful birds image three times so I could decoupage the image.  I used backing papers from my stash.  Last week-end when I quickly visited Colemans Warehouse for some pick-and-mix boxes of card I was offered a free Die'sire geometric motif embossing folder.  Strange but this one had been on my wish list for a while as I thought it would be perfect for male cards especially.  I also used my Crafter's Companion hessian embossing folder and brushed both of these pieces of embossed card with a brown Pan Pastel.

I have finished the card off with a sentiment off the computer, flowers made from the backing paper, brads, ribbon and pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Monthly Challenge - Anything goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional create your own flag challenge

Come and Get - Anything goes with flowers

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday card or project

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes/monochromatic
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - Animals and sentiment
Wags n Whiskers - Birthday
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Add some embossing
Crazy 4 Challenge - Critters

Happy Birthday to a Very Special Husband

 Recently Crafter's Companion brought out a new CD.  It was called "Flights of Fantasy" and had artwork on it by the very talented Morgan Fitzsimon.  This is one of the images I saw on the shows on Create and Craft which made me have the CD.  A crafter whose blog I follow made a card as part of the Crafter's Companion Design Team and it was that card that Pauline made that gave me this idea for my husband's card so thank you Pauline.

It will be my husband's birthday on Monday so for my easel card I used this gorgeous image of a red dragon and printed of various sized toppers so I could decoupage along with the backing paper and the insert.

 I have kept the colour scheme very basic at red and gold but I think perfect for a male card.

I have finished off this card with a sentiment off the computer, buttons and organza ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Monthly Challenge - Anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft Two Facebook Challenge - Anything goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional create your own flag challenge

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday card or project
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes/monochromatic
Wags n Whiskers - Birthday
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 1

It is time for the Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 1.  To take part in this you can use any Sweet Pea Stamps image and the topic of the challenge is "anything goes".

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Enys Guerrero called "Steam Girl".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and then used a cog stamp from Visible Image with Versamark and added some blue frantage to add a bit of metal effect to coincide with the steampunk theme.

The backing papers I have used are from my stash and also some Wellington Bear papers I bought in the Colemans January sale 1.5 years ago.  I have used my Marianne Designs clock die and also my X-cut cog dies and cut out of some silver card so I apologise for the glare on the photos.  Underneath the image I have used a Tim Holtz cog embossing folder and inked over the edge the area with Tim Holtz's Stormy Sky distress ink.

The card has been finished off with some brads and a die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 1 - Anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Use a stamp or digi anywhere on your project

Card Mania - Anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

That Craft Place - Anything goes mixed media

Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes or a twist of summer

Creative Card Crew - Die-cuts

Second Bookfolding Project BELIEVE

 Here is my second bookfolding project that I have made for a special friend.  I have used a Debbi Moore Bookfolding CD (Bookfolding CD1) for the bookfolding and the gorgeous mermaid and sealion(s) pictures are from the Crafter's Companion Flights of Fantasy CD.

 After I folded the pages in the book I used my Tim Holtz Salty Ocean and a piece of cut-and-dry foam to highlight the letters of "believe".

 Instead of covering the book with paper as some of the areas of the book were a bit marked/damaged I decided to paint the book.  Yes it took some time waiting for each side of the book, the spine and then the inside of the book to dry but I painted first with a coat of white gesso followed by a coat of a turquoise acrylic paint.  I then used some very fine sandpaper and scraped along in areas to distress so the white gesso would show through.  I then used a Dutch Doobadoo stencil and my Tim Holtz Chipped Sapphire distress ink and inked through in random areas all over the book.

 Once everything was dry it was time to decorate.  I decided to use the gorgeous mermaid and sealion(s) images from the CD as it is nice to BELIVE in mermaids!!

 For this bookfolded book I decided to cut the excess pages out of the book.  I inked the pages with my Tim Holtz Salty Ocean distress ink and a brush for a very light effect.  I then used a Die'sire flower die and a rolled rose die to make flowers for the front and back of the book.  

I then finished the book off with some ribbon to keep the book at a certain width to make the word believe "pop", lots of die-cuts (shells, crabs, seahorses, seagulls, anchors) and some pearls.

I just hope the recipient likes it.  The only problem is I like it too so I might have to make myself one!!

Now what will be my next bookfolding project????

I am entering this bookfolding project into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Crafty Catz - Anything goes

Fairy Tale Challenge - Under the Sea

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge - Anything goes with a twist to make it floral

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes

Love to Create - Anything mixed media/creative/inky

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional create your own flag challenge

Come and Get It - Anything goes with flowers

Not Just Cards - Anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes or a twist of summer

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes

Crafting by Designs - Re-use/recycle - I have recycled a book for the bookfolding and recycled the pages cut out as they were extra and made these into flowers

Creative Inspirations - Girlie

Crafty Gals Corner - Under the sea

The Crafter's Cafe - More than 3 folds (I hope that this bookfolding project is OK)

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Creative Moments - Anything goes/monochromatic
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

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

There has been a new release to the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:

This image is called "Flowery".

To celebrate its arrival in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store this image will be at an introductory offer of $2.50 (original price $4) until the end of 14 July 2015.

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

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps July Facebook Challenge - Shabby Chic

The Facebook Group Monthly Challenge has gone "live".

The topic for July's challenge is "shabby chic".

The rules for the Facebook Group Challenge are as follows:

2 submissions limit per person
Create a paper crafts using CHING CHOU KUIK DIGITAL IMAGE (from Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store only) of your choice.

The winners and prizes for the Facebook Group Challenge are as follows:

One "Artist's Choice" award, to be chosen by Ching-Chou Kuik.  That winner will win 5 free digital Stamps of winner’s choice from Ching-Chou Kuik’s Etsy Store and a blog badge.

Top 3 winners to be selected by Ching-Chou Kuik.  They will win 3 free digital Stamps of winner’s choice from Ching-Chou Kuik’s Etsy Store and a blog badge.

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

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

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

https://www.etsy.com/shop/gjzcck

There is an Inspiration and Monthly Challenge Blog.  Here you will find a challenge topic for each month.  

There will be a Monthly Blog Challenge Winner who will get to pick two digital images as their prize from the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store.  This winner will be picked by Random.org.

There is also a Monthly "Artist's Choice Award" and this means that anyone that has entered the Monthly Blog Challenge using an image from Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Etsy Store will be in with a chance of winning 5 digital images of their choice award.  This winner will be picked by Ching-Chou Kuik herself.

The Monthly Blog Challenge Topic for July 2015 is "Sparkle and shine".

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

Daily you will also find inspiration for Weeks 1, 2 and 3 from the Design Team members Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Linda, Vannessa and myself.

For Weeks 4 (and 5 if there is one) each day there will be a card/creation showcased that a crafter has entered into the monthly blog challenge or shared on the Facebook Group or entered into the monthly Facebook Challenge.

If you would like to have a look at these images made into cards why don't you join the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Facebook Group.  This Group can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/721131444589832/

Here you will also find details of the monthly challenge they have. Anyone can also post cards/creations on here that they have made from Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps and you will see creations made by the Monthly Challenge Blog Design Team (Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Linda, Vannessa and myself) and the Facebook Design team (Collette, Fernanda and Helen).

Over at Kit and Clowder you will find details of various on-line classes that you can buy and participate in.  Ching-Chou Kuik is one of the sponsors.  At the moment the various classes are as follows:

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

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

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog - Kym's Inspiration Post - Monday 6 July 2015

It is Monday and therefore time for me to show you my Inspiration Post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog.

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "sparkle and shine".  It would be lovely if you could take part.

For my birthday card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp called "Sapphire".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers.  I have gone for the colour scheme of pink, red and black.  In the image I highlighted areas of the dress with some glitter.  The background around the image is done with some pearlescent chalks for some extra sparkle.

The backing papers were from The Works.  When I bought them I should have bought two packs but you can never tell the quality of paper until you open the packet.  This is wonderful quality and the majority of the papers have glitter already on them for some sparkle and shine.

I have finished the card off with ribbon, lace trim, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, bow and large pearl.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Inky Impressions - Pink and girly
Crafts Galore Encore - Use a stamp or digi anywhere on your project
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
Crafting Musketeers - Anything goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Pretty bows
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Seeing red
Di's Digi Designs - Celebrations
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional create your own flag challenge
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - Anything goes with the option of adding the option of adding stars and/or stripes
Not Just Cards - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Ooh-La-La-Creations - All that glitters
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes or a twist of summer

The reason for not many posts on my blog in the last 3-4 months

We went on a holiday last October and I wanted to do a scrapbook.  Unfortunately we took my son's camera and good majority of the pictures came out blurred.  I was devastated.  Thankfully we met a lovely couple from Havant on our coach tour and they copied all their photos for us which was so nice of them.  We are going away in a week's time and we are hoping to visit the couple that kindly copied their photos for us so they can see what I did with them.

It took weeks to merge their photos with ours and sort them out into the different places that we saw.  

Then I took the images into Craft Artist and picked which ones to use for each pages.  I did buy some sets of plastic sheets that could hold 12 6x4 inch photos in them.  I wasn't overly pleased with these as even if you put photos in them with quite a tight squeeze somehow as you turned the pages some would move/fall out.  Think I'd just stick the photos on scrapbook paper in future.

After printing out all the photos it was a case of cutting out all the photos to be used.  I do laugh when I see Phill Martin on Create and Craft as he has to ink the edges of his layers.  I personally hate seeing white left around images and also hate white edges on paper/card when used on cards/mixed media/scrapbooks so each edge had to be gone round with a black marker.  I don't think I dare count up how many edges I did.  All I know is that I wore out two Graph'it black marker pens!!!

Then came the decisions on how the pages would be laid out.  That was the hard bit at times as I've only ever done one proper scrapbook before.  To do that I watched shows that Mel Heaton did on Create and Craft and followed her ideas.  That scrapbook was of a holiday with my mother just weeks before she suddenly died in June 2011 but I was happy with how that turned out.  I remembered Mel's advice about doodling around the edge of the page to draw your attention into the page so I did this.  I also did her tip of not typing all the journalling but handwriting instead.  Yes my writing isn't the best but hey ho I did it.

So after many, many, many months of very hard work the scrapbook is completed.  I went a bit over-board and it is 98 pages long and therefore I've had to split it into two albums.

Scrapbooking certainly isn't cheap but if anyone has short term memory problems like me it is so important to do as with time things are easily forgotten.  I struggled with some bits of the scrapbook as I hadn't remembered some things but thankfully my husband did a day-to-day account on his tablet to refer to.

I shan't bore you with all 98 pages but I thought I'd share some of my favourite pages:

  

We flew from Heathrow to JFK New York Airport and had 2 nights in New York.

   

   

        
From New York we travelled to the border into Canada for our magical trip to Niagara Falls and the Skylon Tower.

  
From Niagara Falls we travelled to Lewisburg and then Washington DC.

   

          
From Washington DC we travelled to Philadelphia.

   

   

 

   
From Philadelphia we had another night in New York before we flew back to the UK.

   

 

I am entering this scrapbook pages into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use a pearl and/or rose
The Pink Elephant - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes