Remembering

The new challenge starts today at Sweet Pea Stampers and our theme for this challenge is, appropriately enough, Let Us Remember/Thinking of You. 

 

I chose to work with one of my favourite Ching Chou Kuik stamps called Poppies From The Mist:

 

 

I decided to go really clean and simple with this card. I love how versatile Sweet Pea Stamps images are.. they are such beautiful, detailed stamps and they look fabulous on busy, detailed cards... but they also make for some very striking clean and simple cards.

 

 

I used the digi version of this image and simply printed it onto an A4 sheet of white cardstock, placing the image in the bottom right corner, with the sheet in landscape format, and then trimmed the cardstock to a 6x6 card size and scored and folded it to make my card.

 

I coloured the image in using Prismacolor pencils and a simple HB pencil:

 

 

When I decide who to give this card to, I will add a simple stamped sentiment in black ink... it could work for so many occasions... thinking of you... with sympathy... just a note...

 

The challenge runs for 2 weeks and you don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps product to enter, though obviously we would love to see your Sweet Pea Stamps creations. Entries that do use a Sweet Pea Stamps product will be eligible to win our DT Top Pick prize and there is also a randomly-drawn prize that is open to all entrants.

Sparkle and Shine

Today sees a new challenge at the Sweet Pea Stampers challenge blog and our theme this week is Sparkle and Shine. So I kind of went to town with the glitter and sparkle on my card... :)

 

I used one of the new digi stamps by Valarie Wade.. this one is called Planting Seeds:

 

 

Isn't she just adorable? I coloured her in with my Promarkers and then used my favourite Spellbinders die to cut her out. And then, in keeping with the theme, I added some lovely sparkle and shimmer to her wings with some Stickles, and a few touches of Stickles in the flowers in her hair too.

 

 

I used a 6x6 white card blank and turned it on its side to use it as a tentfold card and added a piece of fabulously glittery cardstock. I topped this with a panel of white cardstock, the bottom section of which I had embossed with a Stampin' Up! border embossing folder. Across the bottom of this panel I added a length of Tim Holtz rose ribbon which I had first dipped randomly into some Spun Sugar Distress Stain.

 

 

To finish off, I mounted my cut-out image onto the card front using foam pads and added a little dotted border around the centre panel using Waterfall Stickles.

 

 

Lots of lovely sparkle and shine on this card... now let's see what you can do! :) You've got two weeks to enter the challenge - just make a project that fits our challenge theme, post it to your blog and link up your entry at the Sweet Pea Stampers blog. You don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image to enter, though obviously we love to see your Sweet Pea Stamps creations. There will be a randomly-drawn prize winner and also a further prize for the Design Team's favourite creation (which will be voted on by the DT from the entries using Sweet Pea Stamps images).

 

Can't wait to see what you create. :)

I'm entering this into a couple of challenges:
A Creative Romance - Pink
Alphabet Challenge - R for Roses
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Craftitude - Anything Goes/Things beginning with the letter S
Pattie's Creations - Ribbon
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers - Pink : Breast Cancer Awareness
 

 

Time to Kraft

Today's new challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers is to use Kraft (card or paper) on your creation. I've gone for a rather steampunk-y feel for my creation, using Marlon Teunissen's Steampunk Angel digi stamp:

 

 

I coloured this gorgeous image in rich colours of red and gold and green, using my Promarkers:

 

 

I decided my Prima Chronology embossing folder and coordinating papers would be just perfect with this stamp so I used a kraft card blank and ran kraft card through the embossing folder. I used a touch of Inka Gold around the edges of the paper and to highlight the embossing on the kraft card.

 

 

I cut out my coloured image and attached it on foam pads over the embossed panel and finished things off with a row of gemstones and some layered flowers topped with a clock charm.

 

You don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps product to enter the challenge but of course we would *love* to see your Sweet Pea Stamps creations. Entries with a Sweet Pea Stamps image will be eligible for our Designer's Choice award, as voted for by the Design Team, and will have an extra chance to win in our randomly selected prize draw. :)

Tear it to pieces...

Time for a new challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers and the theme is "tear it to pieces"... in other words, show some torn edges on your creation.

 

 

I used Joanne Schempp's Ice Ice Baby digi stamp and coloured her with my Promarkers in pale, wintery shades:

 

 

I added touches of glitter to the moon and stars with Stickles and also added a few tiny star-shaped crystal gems:

 

 

I used pretty papers in shades of pink and blue and tore and curled the edges. I added a pretty layered flower and a decorative pin...

 

 

...and some gemstones:

 

 

The challenge runs for 2 weeks and you don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image to enter, though of course we'd love it if you do.

 

I'm entering this card into a couple of challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - sketch

Card Crafter's Circle - Winged Things

Creative Corner - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Wags 'n Whiskers - Fairytale/Fantasy

 

 

 

 

I long to be...

...under the sea...

 

..in an octopus' garden, in the shade. :)

 

The idea of being underwater - or at least in water - is actually quite appealing at the moment. Wowzers, it's been hot here! For days and days and days! So hot I've been coming home from the school run, changing into a swimsuit and sitting in the paddling pool for half an hour just to try and cool down! :lol:

 

It's Team B's turn to host the new challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers and the theme is Under The Sea... and this is the card I made:

 

 

I used Elaine Cox's gorgeous Celestia digi stamp and coloured her with my Promarkers in pretty shades of pink and blue:

 

I also added some sparkle and some Glossy Accents "water droplets":

I used some pretty freebie papers and inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink and layered delicate die-cuts under my image:

To finish I added pink lacy ribbon, some pearl gems and a layered flower cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.

The challenge runs for two weeks and you don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps to enter, though of course we'd love it if you did! :)

For the Children

There's a new challenge up at Sweet Pea Stampers and this month the theme is For The Children.

 

You can make a project for a child, a project featuring an image of a child... interpret it how you like. :)

 

Sweet Pea Stamps has a great selection of stamps featuring children, or mums and children, and for my project this month I've chosen to work with Connie Fong's adorable Little Blossom 2 image:

 

 

I kept my card quite simple. I coloured the image using Promarkers and cut it out...

 

 

...and chose pretty patterned paper (from Stampin' Up!) in coordinating colours and matted it onto gold mirri card.

 

I chose to work with a lengthways DL card blank and I border punched a strip of the gold mirri card and layered some gold chiffon ribbon over it before adding my Sweet Pea Stamps image, attached with foam pads:

 

 

To finish things off, I added some pretty wooden butterflies in coordinating colours:

 

 

There's plenty of space to add a sentiment to this card but I haven't decided what I'm going to use it for yet so am keeping my options open. :)

 

The Sweet Pea Stampers challenge runs for a month and you don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image to win, though obviously we love to see your Sweet Pea Stamps creations and entries using a Sweet Pea Stamps image will get a second chance to win in the random prize draw and will also be eligible for the Top Pick award, chosen by the Design Team.

 

Whoops! Bit late!

The new challenge went live at Sweet Pea Stampers yesterday and somehow, in the chaos of getting back into our routine after a week's holiday, I forgot all about it! :lol:

 

Still, better late than never, here's my card for the Birds of a Feather challenge:

 

 

I used Ching-Chou Kuik's Scarlett Holly image and coloured it with my Prismacolor pencils (am really enjoying using these pencils - it's a different technique that colouring with Promarkers but the effects are at once lovely and soft and yet vibrant in colour):

 

 

I covered a plain white card blank with a mixture of patterned paper and embossed white card (of which I'd inked the edges) and used some pretty ribbon to cover the join and I stamped and punched out a sentiment using coordinating Stampin' Up! stamp and punch.

 

 

I finished things off with some flowers and, in a last-minute burst of inspiration (cos the packet was lying around on my desk - see, being untidy can sometimes actually be useful! :D), a little chipboard bird which I covered with Versamark ink and heat embossed with sparkly gold embossing powder.

 

 

The challenge runs for a month and you don't have to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image to enter, though of course we'd love it if you did (and doing so will get you an extra chance to win).

 

Support Your Favourite Charity

The new monthly challenge begins today at Sweet Pea Stampers and the theme is "Support Your Favourite Charity". To enter the challenge you need to make a card, or other project, that in some way supports or relates to your favourite charity.

 

 

For my card I've used this gorgeous digi image (also available in red rubber) by Rebecca Sinz called Sweet Demon. I've also used a fabulous quote stamp that I saw in a craft shop a few months back and just had to get as it tickled my sense of humour. :) It's also very appropriate for this card, in more ways than one.

 

The charity to which my card relates is Arthritis Research UK (previously known as the Arthritis Research Council) and this charity is close to my heart for a good reason...

 

I was first diagnosed with arthritis at the age of 2. It went into remission when I was 4 and my parents were told different things by different doctors... some said I was more likely to get arthritis as an adult and at a younger than usual age, others said juvenile arthritis was completely different and I was no more likely to get adult arthritis as anyone else.

 

Turns out the first lot were right. I developed arthritis in my 20s, initially in one knee and I now have it in both. It's not as bad as some sufferers (and thankfully it's not rheumatoid) but it does affect my mobility and has a direct impact on my daily life.

 

 

The reasons I chose this image and this quote for my card are many. I love the Rebecca Sinz image and the contrast of her demonic wings and her cuddling a bunny. The cuteness and bunny-cuddling kind of ties into the quote, the with idea of not wanting to be a grown up. :) And from a personal perspective, the pose of the character says a lot to me about my arthritis... cos I would never in a million years be able to sit like that! :lol: I doubt I could even get into that position (kneeling down and sitting back on her heels) and if I managed to I would be in a lot of pain and would find getting back up even more difficult than getting there in the first place! In fact, it's a sad fact of my life for many years now that I avoid kneeling down at all unless there's no other choice. So when I coloured this image with my Promarkers, I gave her my red hair (not that I'd ever look that good in a skimpy dress! :lol:).

 

 

And as for the quote, aside from the fact that it makes me laugh, it says a lot, I think, about what it's like having a condition like arthritis as a (relatively) young person. Most peope seem to assume that arthritis is an old person's disease and would never think that someone in their 20s, or even 30s, would have it. And as a child you really don't expect to have painful, stiff joints and to be unable to kneel down or sit comfortably on the floor when you're only in your 20s, or 30s.

 

So that's why I made this card and why it is in support of Arthritis Research UK. :)

 

The challenge will run for a month and you don't have to use a Sweet Pea Stamps product to enter - though obviously we would love to see your Sweet Pea creations and entries using a Sweet Pea product will be given an extra chance in the prize draw.

I'm going to enter this card into a couple of challenges:
Passion for Promarkers - Cut Out Your Image
 

 

Spring Is In The Air...

Well... not outside atm cos it's grey and drizzly here today but at Sweet Pea Stampers we are feeling fresh and Spring-like! :)

The new challenge goes live today and our theme is Spring. You can use a Spring-themed image, you can use Spring-themed colours, the choice is yours.

For my card I used a Ching-Chou Kuik image called Seeing Through. You can buy this image in red rubber or digi format from the Sweet Pea Stamps store:

I coloured her (with a combination of Promarkers and Prismacolor pencils) in fresh Spring colours of yellow and green and used some freebie papers in coordinating colours.

I inked the edges of the papers, added half a doily and some ribbon and finished things off with some embellishments in coordinating Spring colours - using paper flowers, beaded stems, a resin flower and some pretty wooden embellies in Spring/Easter colours that I picked up at Hobbycraft this week. :)

 

The Sweet Pea Stampers challenge runs for a month and you don't have to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image to enter, though of course we'd love it if you did! Entries using a Sweet Pea Stamps image get an extra chance to win a randomly-drawn prize of some gorgeous Sweet Pea stamps.

 

The Arrival of Spring

I wish, eh? :lol:

 

It's been really cold and blustery here lately, anything but spring-like, but for my card for the new challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers, I decided to go with pretty spring colours anyway. A girl can dream, right?

 

 

The new challenge goes live today and the theme is Use a Digi. Sweet Pea Stamps started selling digi versions of some of their gorgeous red rubber stamps last year which thrilled me to bits cos a) I love their stamps and b) I like working with digis and like not having to wait for the postman to bring my goodies to me! :)

 

I chose to work with a beautiful digi stamp by Connie Fong called The Arrival of Spring:

 

 

I coloured her in with my Promarkers and used Flexmarkers for a soft wash of colour for the background. I used pretty papers in coordinating colours of soft blue and green and some pearlised pink card.

 

 

I cut the decorative corners and butterfly with Cheery Lyn/Marianne Creatables dies in my BigShot.

 

The Sweet Pea Stampers challenge runs for a month and it's easy to enter - just post your project to your blog and link up to the challenge blog post. You don't need to use a Sweet Pea Stamp to enter but of course we'd love it if you do, and entries using a Sweet Pea Stamps image will get an extra chance in the prize draw.

 

Phunky Fairy

It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers and this month our theme is "Clean and Simple - No Embellishments".

 

I decided to make a one-layer card for this theme, so cue lots of stamping and masking! :)

 

I used one of Brigid Ashwood's fun and quirky Phunky Fairies stamps - this one is called Jinx:

 

 

I've been working a lot with digi stamps recently so it was really fun to get my rubber stamps back out for this card and have a play. I stamped the image straight onto a card blank and coloured her in with my Promarkers. I then stamped her again onto scrap paper, cut around the left side and stuck the scrap copy over my coloured image using Collall Photo Glue. With the image masked, I splattered Bubblegum Dylusions ink spray over the card and stamped a chevron stamp and a text stamp in black Archival ink. I stamped a greeting onto a scrap piece of card, cut the letters out and glued them over the chevron/text/inked area.

 

I removed the mask and added a pale pink colour wash around the image, using a Flexmarker pen:

 

 

And to finish off, I added some lovely glitter to her wings, using Stickles:

 

 

The challenge runs for a month and you could win yourself some yummy Sweet Pea stamps - you can enter with any image you like but entering with a Sweet Pea Stamps image gets your extra chances to win! :)