Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Use your favourite stamp

Hello folks hope you're all well? It's challenge time over at Sweet Pea Stampers and this fortnight it's Use your favourite stamp! So basically it's anything goes, so I really hope you'll be joining us this time, especialy as we have a fantastic prize of three digital Sweet Pea Decoupage sheets on offer from The Crafty Purple Frog. Oh and don't forget that we currently have a DT call which can be found here.

Whilst I'm here, I may as well remind those of you who do me the honour of following me, there's some blog candy on offer here. If you haven't entered it yet, please do so, there's no catches or requirements, it's just a small thanks for following me.

Now back to the challenge! Asking me to chose my favourite stamp was almost impossible. I whittled it down to three stamps and then changed my mind (not just once, but several times), that in the end I decided that I'd just use one of my uninked stamps that I've been meaning to use.

Anyway, time is short and as usual I've waffled on for far too long! So here's the bit you've been waiting for, well I think it is - I'm sure you don't stop by here for my weekly waffle!! LOL. My card....

The image is Ching-Chou Kuik's Fluttering-Butterflies which I've paper pieced, coloured with Distress Inks and Promarkers and then lightly blasted with Tattered Angels Diamond Glimmer Mist. I've highlighted parts of the image with Glossy Accents and lots of stickles. The DP's are by Amy Butler from K&Co. The blue rhinestones are from Simon Says Stamp , Pink Grosgrain Ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons, and the butterfly charm is from The Works.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Stamp Insanity - Photo au mojo
Paper Romance - Anything goes
In a Sweet Pea Dream - Warmer Weather
Crafty Purple Frog - A touch of magic
Do You Stack Up - Anything goes
Creative Craft World - Square
Paper Pretties - Glitter
Bunny Zoes - Flowers
Totally Paper Crafts - Paper piecing
Stamp Something - Flowers
Crafty Emmas - Flowers & flutterbys
Sweet Stampin - Girly

Handmade Buttons!

Is what we want to see from you this week over at Delicious Doodles. The prize this time is the choice of five digis from the Delicious Doodles Shop. When I initially saw the details for this challenge I was totally uninspired, but have to say that once I got going I really enjoyed it and ended up making loads of buttons for future projects.

I used the image Zebras for this card and coloured it with Distress Inks and Promakers. I stamped directly onto the DP's using Stazon and My Paper World Grasses and Embellishments Stamps.

The button was made using nesties, shrink plastic, Distress Inks and the above stamps. Before shrinking the buttons I dotted the images with Sakura Gel Pens to add a bit of glimmer (well you didn't think I'd manage to make a card with no shimmer, sparkle or shine did you?). I made the rosette using this tutorial by the fabulous Laura.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Plastic
Incy Wincy - Punches or Dies
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Stripes
I Did It Creations - Anything goes
Allsorts Challenge - Inspired by Nature
Crafty Calendar - Love

Craftymess Blog Candy

The lovely Judie over at I Just Love a Crafty Mess has recently set up a fantastic craft forum called Craftymess. I popped over there the other day to see what was going on and was amazed to find not only lots of friendly chit chat, but lots of hints and tips, an ATC swap, an inchie challenge and even some fantastic blog candy (see the picture below).

If you haven't signed up already, please do take the time to pop over and have look.

Thanks for stopping by

Claire

PS don't forget to enter my followers candy

Furry Friends GDT Card for Gingerloft Challenge

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to have this card selected as one of the top three over at the Gingerloft Challenge and as a result the lovely Tami asked me if I'd be interested in being GDT for this week. Of course I said yes!

This weeks theme is Furry Friends and I've chosen to use an image from the Gingerloft Store called Fairy with Unicorn. I hope you like what I've created for your inspiration and will look forward to seeing your entries. This post is a little photo heavy cos I've tried to capture all the sparkle and shimmer, remember if you want to see the images larger, just click on them.

Taken with a flash to show shimmer

I started of by colouring the background of the image with Distress Ink, I then coloured the fairy and unicorn with Promarkers and made them pop a little with some stickles. The whole image has then been blasted with Diamond Glimmer Mist.

Taken in natural light to show depth of colour

The BP was created using Distress Inks and Glimmer Mist. I stamped the sentiment from Sweet Pea Stamps directly onto the card using Stazon.

Taken with a flash to try and get more sparkle to show

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Time to spread your wings
Little Red Wagon - Mist
Sir Stampalot - All creatures great and small
Incy Wincy Designs - Colour me wonderful
Sparkles Forum - Fairies
Crafty Purple Frog - A touch of magic

Delicious Doodles Challenge # Bling, Shimmer, Sparkle & Shine

Yep it's that time again over at Delicious Doodles and this week it's a nice easy challenge - sparkle, shimmer, shine and bling! The prize is any five digis from the Delicious Doodles Shop. The DT have created some gorgeous projects for your inspiration, so please stop by and have a peek.

Just a reminder that I have a followers blog candy running at the moment and all you have to do is enter your name in Mr Linky to be eligible. Oh and don't forget that Sweet Pea Stampers currently have a DT call here.

Right onto my card! I loved this challenge, cos as you know most of my cards and projects have plenty of sparkle and shine and this card is no exception! I'm afraid my photos don't really show all the sparkle and shimmer as the light here today is dreadful - sorry.

I decided to keep this card nice and simple with a minimum number of embellishments as I really wanted to show of the gorgeous Fairy Flora Prima Paper and the beautiful fairy image. I've coloured the fairy with Promarkers, cut her out and then covered her dress with Sakura Gel Pen, added a gem and stickled her wings. I've used silicone glue to mount her onto the card. The flowers on the paper have been glittered.



The butterflies have been punched using my Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Butterfly Punch. I've then covered them with Stardust Stickles and added tiny little gems. I've then added a trail using a pink sakura glitter gel pen.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll be back tomorrow with another card.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the glitz
Crafty Purple Frog - A touch of magic
Dutch Dare - Sparkle, glitter, bling

Mini Book - A Work In Progress

I hope you've all had a lovely valentine's day. I've spent it on my own as DH is working away again, still it's given  me time to play, so I'm not too sad :)

Now I know I don't normally post twice in one day, but I am desperate to enter a challenge and am praying that I'm not too late!! The challenge is over at Simon Says Stamp who at the weekend showed this fab tutorial from the master himself Tim Holtz and then set a challenge for us mere mortals to make one. It looked relatively straight forward, so I decided that I'd have a little play. Here's what I've come up with (sorry for the pictures will try to get some better ones in daylight).

I didn't have any tissue tape, so made my own from Micropore (the surgical plaster stuff) simply by stamping over it with Versafine. It seems to have worked OK, so will definately be making some more for future projects. I made a tie to keep the book closed with some vintage seam binding which has been coloured with inks.

This is going to be a work in progress as obviously time was limited due to the closing date being the 15/2. However, it is in my mind that it's not going to be a book of love, but a mini labour of love! I'm going to add vintage techniques, materials and interesting finds to the book as and when I find them, which means I will be able to refer to the book for inspiration.

I will definately be making more of these as not only were they nice and easy, but they were fun and can be adapted for many projects.

Thanks for looking

Claire xx

Happy Valentine's Day

Well DS is showing all the traits of being a typical man and following in his father's foot steps! At nine 'o'clock last night he re-appeared downstairs and said "When's Valentine's Day?" The look on his face when I told him was tomorrow was priceless, he then got all tearful and said "but I haven't got Faith a card or present!" True love at the tender age of nine - LOL! So I told him not to worry I'd find something!! So once I'd finished ironing I quickly made a card and a chocolate bar.

I'd like to enter the chocolate bar into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything but a card
The Stampman - Hearts

I'd like to enter the card into the following challenges:
The Crafty Pad - Hearts
Creative Cowgirls - Hearts
Gingerloft - The colour red
PaperWorks Co. - Hearts
Crazy for Challenges - Hearts
Sew Many Challenges - Valentine

Adventures In Needle Felting

Well I went to the Brighton Show on Friday and despite my best efforts to restrain myself from buying new stash and investigating new crafts I ended up with a pile of new stash and a new craft to try out. You guessed it I bought a Needle Felting Kit! In fairness I have looked at this craft before but always thought it looked a bit complicated and time consuming, but the demonstrators made it look fairly easy and were more than happy to answer my many many questions.

The kit I bought enabled me to make keyrings. Now don't ask me why, but I got it into my head that I didn't want to make the keyring that I had instructions for but wanted to make an owl for my bag! So I had a google and found this video on youtube and a couple of other tutorials that convinced me it was do-able and off I went.

This is the end result, not too bad for a first ever attempt. I know it's far from perfect, but the great thing is I know what I did wrong and have started to get a feel for how the fibre works, so hopefully my next project will be much better.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything but a card

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Poppy Love

It's challenge time over at Sweet Pea Stampers and this time we have a sketch for you to follow designed by the awesome Vanessa. The prize is three sheets of digi decoupage from our fabulous sponsor Amy at The Crafty Purple Frog. I'd like to remind you that we currently have a DT call out, so if you fancy joining us, pop over to the blog to check out the details. Oh and don't forget to enter my blog candy draw, the post for it is at the top of the page.

Right onto my card, this is my take on the sketch. I've basically followed it with one or two slight changes. For more inspiration, pop over to the challenge blog to see what the other girls have done, there's some fantastic cards.

I've used Ching-Chou Kuik's Poppy Love from Sweet Pea Stamps. The image has been coloured with my trusty Promarkers and then blinged up a bit with Stickles, Viva Pearl Pen and a Sakura Gel Pen. I've then embossed some Co-dinations Black Magic Cardstock using a Sizzix embossing folder and then sanded it over to reveal the core colour.

The flower has been made using my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Sizzix Die I've spritzed it with Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist and finished it off with a fancy button. The giant heart pin is from The Ribbon Girl.


Thanks for visiting today and I'll look forward to stopping by to see your creations.

Have a fab weekend.

Claire xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Red
Flourishes - Buttons
Tuesday Throwdown - Buttons
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Seeing Red
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Embossing
Gingerloft - Red
Catch the Bug - Anything goes
Little Claire's  - Anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers - Self made flowers
In A Sweet Pea Dream - Anything This Time

Now for something a little different - well for me anyway!

OK having a week of extremes here! Friday was all deep, dark and mysterious, today it's all pretty and cutesie!! Still, I'm not gonna be accused of being a one trick pony - LOL!

It was a very dear friend of mines birthday yesterday and she's a superb cardmaker which means that the pressure was on me. Now whilst I know that she likes what I do, I also know that she doesn't like a lot of the images I use, so I'm really hoping that she'll like this one!

 I printed  and coloured the image multiple times and then decoupaged it. The edge of the image has been inked with Distress Inks prior to mounting on card. I've distressed the designer papers and then used my new Sew Easy Tool from We R Memory Keepers to add some stitching to the papers. I have to say I think I'm in love with this little tool despite my initial reservations.

Materials:
Image - Heather Ellis
Promarkers
DP's Papermania Rose Garden
Sew Easy Tool - Simon Says Stamp
Flowers - from stash
Sentiment - Ladybug Crafts Ink
Distress Ink
Lace - form stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Have a heart
Penny's Paper Crafty - Hearts a flutter
Stampin' Royalty - Hearts
A Spoonful of Sugar - Show some love
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
My Time to Craft - Hearts and Flowers
Crafty Cardmakers - Hearts
One Stitch At A Time - Use a digi
Bee Crafty - Hearts
Catch the Bug - Anything goes
Little Claire's - Anything goes
Sew Many Cards - Anything goes
Stamp Something - Digi
Stampin' With The Dragon - Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Friends

I'm Nuts About You Valentines Card

It's my turn to post over on the Delicious Doodles Blog , so I thought I'd better have a card to show everyone. My mojo's been a bit weird this week and hasn't allowed me to settle at any one project, so I have about fifteen unfinished projects on the go most of which need to be completed by the weekend! Anyway, I started this card intending to go in one direction, but it ended up going in a totally different one!

I've used the squirrel image from the Delicious Doodles Shop and have simply coloured it with Promarkers, cut it out and added some glossy accents to her nose, eyes and the acorn. I've cut some Sizzix Tattered Leaves, coloured them with Distress Inks and then given them a blast of Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist. I've then mounted the whole lot onto a piece of Bazzil cardstock.

The sentiment has been generated on the computer using Happy Sans font from dafont. I cut a piece of the wood effect paper from my pad of matters using oval nesties and then used the masking technique to get the font where I wanted it. I doodled on the tree rings using a fine liner. The edges have been distressed and then rubbed over with Distress Inks. I've finished the card off with some gorgeous little wooden primitive hearts.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's - Love is in the air
Papertake Weekly - Have a heart
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Love is in the air
Simon Says Stamp - Love is in the air
Passion for Promarkers - Let there be love
A Spoonful of Sugar - Lets see some love
Crafty Cardmakers - Hearts
Incy Wincy - Love
Creative Cowgirls Challenge - Love is in the air
Polka Doodles - With hearts

Advance Candy Warning and CSN Review

Hi Folks. It's me again, three times in one weekend - shocking I know! I don't have a card for you today, but will definitely be back later in the week with one.

As many of you are aware I've done a few giveaways with CSN Stores who stock a huge range of products from chest of drawers, desk lamps and cake stands.  Well, they've contacted me again and I'm afraid that this time I thought I'd be a little selfish and have a product for myself. I haven't decided what just yet as there are just so many products to chose from! As soon as I do decide, I'll be back to show you what I've got and to give you an honest review of the product and service.

Now, I don't want to leave my lovely followers out, so I had a quick route around and have pulled together a small blog candy. I'll post further details tomorrow, so be sure to check back here.

Claire x

Sweet Pea Stampers DT Call

It's official we're having a Design Team call. So if you fancy joining us please visit the Sweet Pea Stampers Blog and sign up via Mr Linky.

To submit an application you will need to write a post on your blog about the DT call with details of why you want to be on the Sweet Pea Stampers Design Team. You also need to show us what you consider to be at least 2 of your best pieces of work.

We're looking for people with a well maintained blog who post regularly. You will be required to produce an awesome project once every 2 weeks. You will be expected to comment on challenge entrants cards.

The call will end on March 1st. So what are you waiting for??

Claire xx

Delicious Doodles Challenge #11 - The darkness has decended!!

Morning folks I hope you're all ready and raring to go? I hope so, cos this week we have teamed up with the fabulous Smeared Ink and are running a sketch challenge and blog hop. There will be two prizes up for grabs this week, Delicious Doodles are offering five digis of your choice and  Smeared Ink are offering five single digis or one digi set. Full details of this weeks challenge and the blog hop can be found on the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog. For those of you already hopping the running list is at the bottom of this post.

Smeared Ink kindly let the DD DT chose an image each from their store, and whilst they are renowned for their "alternative and darker" images, I happened upon some fabulous vintage stuff as well as dare I say it, some cutsie images!

Now I must've had a moment of madness as I've taken myself completely out of my comfort zone and played with one of the darker images! Yikes!!! It was all going rather well until I decided to check back onto the Delicious Doodles Admin Site only to discover I was supposed to be following the sketch! Those of you who read regularly will know I'm not the biggest sketch fan, so you can imagine it threw me completely. Anyway, I managed to salvage almost everything I'd done with the exception of the fantastic sentiment that goes with this image. I just couldn't find anywhere to put it, so I'm afraid it's ended up tucked inside the card. The sentiment reads " Have a howling good time" and can be found here. So... whadya think of my efforts?

I've used my beloved Distress Inks to create the image background. The image has been coloured with Promarkers and I've then randomly stamped some foliage with black memento ink. I've then given everything a generous blast of Glimmer Mist to soften the inks.

The backing paper has made from white paper sprayed with a mixture of Maya Road Mists. The main BP has simply had a flourish stamped over it. The other BP's have been run through the Big Shot in embossing folders.

Materials:
Cardstock - The Papermill
Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire and Forest Moss
Maya Road Mists - Blue Corn, Evergreen and Licorice
Flourish stamp - Viva decor
Foliage Stamp - Tim Holtz
Embossing folders - Sizzix/Tim Holtz Woodgrain and Craft Concept Garden Swirl
Nellie Snellon - Flower Punch
Little Claire's Fern Die
Stickles

If you're looking for the blog hop running order it's here:
Teri
Anita Marie
Pascale
Allison
Ildiko
Alex
Claire
Terra
Tori
Alison
Kelli
Black Dragon
Lady Brayton
Meredith
Kapree
Lisa
Jane

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Hos' - No designer Papers
Craft Us Crazy - Anything goes 
I ♥ ProMarkers - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Photo Inspiration (landscape & blue) 
Magical Monday - Flowers