Sweet Pea Charm Bracelet

Haa ha! You didn't expect to see me back again today did you? Well here I am like the proverbial bad penny bringing you details of this weeks challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers. The challenge this week is to Make A Gift.

As I'm really pushed for time at the moment, I decided that I'd do something really quick and easy, the only thing was I really wanted some beautifully coloured Ching-Chou-Kuik images to use for the charms. However, as each image can take a good couple of hours to colour, there was no way that stamping and colouring images was an option. Luckily for me I won the last challenge over at The Crafty Purple Frog and my prize was any five decoupage or pyramage sheets of my choice, so thanks Amy I hope you like what I've done with your sheets!

For those of you who have followed my blog for any length of time, you may recall that last Christmas I used one of these images to make a really speedy decorated candle? Well I've used the images in the same way for this bracelet except I've put them on shrink plastic.

In order to get the main part of the decoupage sheet image, I used Gimp to select the required image and then pasted it into a word processing document (I'm sure there are far easier ways of doing this, but I was in a hurry and need to things to work for me like yesterday!!). I then resized the image and used a mask to lighten the colours. The image was then printed onto inkjet printable shrink plastic, allowed to dry for a few minutes and then cut out. Once I'd punched any required holes, I shrank the plastic down with my heat gun.

The backs and sides of the charms looked really ugly, so I decided to use embossing powder to cover them. Once that had been done, I covered the front with Glossy Accents, allowed it to dry and then coated the back and sides, before adding a further coat to the front.

Finally, the charms and beads were attached to a bracelet that I picked up in Claire's Accessories sale for 50p.

Materials
Images - The Crafty Purple Frog
Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Crafty Computer Paper
Heat It Up Silver Embossing Powder
Versamark
Heat Gun
Jewellery findings/beads

I'd like to enter this bracelet into the following challenges:
Top Tip Tuesday - A gift
Ooh La La Creations - Anything but a card
Just Some Lines - Handmade Gifts

Stickers!! Really? What Ever Next Peel-Offs???

Haa Ha, bet you wonder what I'm on about?? Well it's challenge time over at Sweet Pea Stampers and this time we want to see your stickers and if ya brave enough you could even dig out some of those peel offs :D

We have two fantastic sponsors this time, Amy from the Crafty Purple Frog and Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps who have provided a fantastic prize of 2 sheets of Decoupage and 2 rubber stamps respectively . I have to say this challenge left me completely cold. I've never been a hugh peel off fan and stickers aren't really my bag either, I wasn't even sure that I'd got anything in my stash so seriously considered copping out of this challenge. However, a quick rummage through a box of stash that I won from Hot Off The Press and I found some double sided stickers - yay, so that just left a stamp to choose which tbh wasn't too much of a task as I have some lovely new un-inked Christmas ones that I needed to use.

Now I know what you're all thinking - she could've used double sided adhesive sheets/heat embossed etc, etc... So just to prove that I actually did use stickers here's a picture of the sheet with several missing :D

So moving swiftly on, my card......

I created the backing using distress inks and then affixed the stickers and sprinkled with Glamour Dust before brayering them firmly into position. I then heat embossed the image twice and cut the deer and sentiment prior to decoupaging them. The snowflakes and swirls are from the same set of stickers, but I've added white flocking to them. This has given them the appearance of vellum.

Well you've seen mine, so what are you waiting for? Dig out those stickers and peel offs and let's see what you make.

Claire x

Materials
Image - Holiday Collage Sheet, Plate 56
HOTP - Dazzler Stickers
Distress Inks
Gems
Glamour Dust
Flock
Silver Embossing Powder
Ribbon - from stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crimbo Crackers - Make it sparkle
Moving Along With The Times - Let It Snow
Delightful Challenges - Bingo - Add dimension, ribbon, glitter
Southern Girls - Bingo - Glitter, ribbon and embossing
Creatalicious Challenges - Christmas and make it sparkle
The Craft Garden - Christmas - no red or green
Paper Pretties - Christmas - non traditional colours
Paper Shelter - Snowflakes

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Remember

Morning - I'm back again. You don't see me for months and then I'm back almost daily!!  :D

It's Friday and time for another challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers. This time we want to see cards that fit the theme REMEMBER. The prize is kindly supplied by our lovely sponsor Amy from the Crafty Purple Frog . If you're stuck for inspiration, head on over to the challenge blog, I guarantee you will be blown away the fantastic creations the DT have made for this challenge!

I've made a card using the gorgeous Marshmellow Dragon by Lisa Victoria. Now I can imagine that you're thinking "Huh???? What's this got to do with remember!!??" Well don't ask me why but when I saw the challenge title, the poem "Remember, remember the 5th of November" sprang to mind. For those of you haven't heard the poem it goes something like this - be warned you're also in for a bit if a history lesson LOL:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
the Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent to blow up King and Parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below to prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s mercy he was catch’d with a dark lantern and lighted match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip hoorah!

There is another verse that I don't dare put on here, but what should be remembered is that the poem was written in 1605 to serve as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten. Here in England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy).

Still with me?? If so, you'll hopefully now get where my poor addled mind went with this challenge!! :D Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that the history lesson has concluded and I'm now going to show my card!!

I created the firework background that the dragon is sitting on using a mix of Distress Inks, Prisma Pencils & Sakura Gel Pens. The image is coloured with Promarkers and has then been cut out and mounted onto the background.The sentiment was made using my Dymo Label Maker and some Core-dinations cardstock. It reads " I remembered .......... (and inside) your Birthday!"

Materials

Image - Marshmellow Dragon

Distress Inks - Broken China & Black Soot

Promarkers
Prisma Pencils
Sakura Gel Pen
Stickles
Ribbon from stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Sparkle
Cute Card Thursday - Baby You're a Firework! 
I ♥ ProMarkers - Glitter & Glitz
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Top Tip Tuesdays - Make your own background (the firework background)
Freshly Brewed - Anything goes

Katerina Koukiotiss Halloween Magic!

Good morning folks. I've finally managed to sit for long enough to colour up an image and make a card for this fortnights Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge. The theme is "Scary", so we want to see your Halloween creations using Sweet Pea stamps.

The prize this time is two sweet pea stamps supplied by the lovely Lynette, and two gorgeous decoupage sheets

from the equally lovely Amy for the random winner!!!

I have to say I was itching to join the girls for this challenge as I'd got a new stamp that was begging to be inked up (plus I've been bored silly whilst convalescing)!!! Isn't she gorgeous??? I think she is now my favourite Sweet Pea!! Well until I ink up and colour the next new one and things could all change again :D

 Now I know that on first inspection my card  doesn't look scary, but take a closer look - loads of bats! Uurrggh - shudders!

Materials
Image  - Katerina Koukiotiss' Halloween Magic
Bats - Martha Stewart Halloween Stamps
Sentiment - Papermania Halloween Set
Promarkers - Satin, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Amber, Honeycomb, Pumpkin, Caramel, Sandstone, Aubergine, Amethyst, Lilac, Black, Cool Grey 3,4,5.
Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Black Soot, Fired Brick, Forest Moss
Sizzix Pumpkin Die
X-Cut Botanics Ivy Leaf Punch
Glimmer Mist - Dazzling Diamonds
Sakura Gel Pen - Clear Star
Stickles - Black Soot, Stardust
Papers - Papermania Halloween
Green Leaf Ribbon - May Arts
Black Webbing Ribbon - white ribbon coloured with Promarkers

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Divas by Design - Something Spooky
Freshly Brewed - Black, Orange & Purple
I Brake For Challenges - Halloween
I ♥ ProMarkers - Cute
Inky Impressions - Halloween
Deep Ocean Challenge - Fall colours
Papertake Weekly - Spooky Hues
Pile It On - Fall Fun
Woodware USA - Anything Goes
Crafty Emma's - Autumn
In a Sweet Pea Dream - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stamps - Are You The Next Card Designing Superstar?

Blue Christmas!! Using Rachel Anderson's Snow Fae

Wow two Christmas cards down and it's only August!!! LOL! Not sure what happened to my "I'll make a Christmas card a week resolution - I think it might have run off with my I'll lose two stone by August one! Anyway, I've made this card for this weeks challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers which is Blue Crush. This is my first appearance on team B since we've gone weekly, so I really hope that you will be able to join us. We have a fantastic prize this week, a grab bag of three Sweet Pea stamps which have kindly been donated by our sponsor Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps.

I've kept this card relatively simple as I didn't have time to faff around finding co-ordinating papers and a fancy layout, so I dug out my trusty Distress Inks, Promarkers and white gel pen and set to work! I hope you like and don't think I've been too lazy :)

Tools
Big Shot
Texturz Snowflake Embossing Plate

Materials
Image - Snow Fae
Distress Inks - Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky & Broken China
Promarkers
White Gel Pen
Sakura Stardust Clear Pen
Gold Gel Pen
Ribbon from stash
Diamantes

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Passion for Promarkers - Divas with glam & glitter
Sweet Stamps -Bling it up
Crazy Challenge - Embossing
Charisma Cards - Distressing
Craft Us Crazy - Anything goes
Moving Along With The Times - Fantasy
Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open

Button It!!!

Morning! I'm finally here with a little something! I love having my kids home for the holidays, but it plays havoc with my craft time. I actually didn't think I'd get a card done for this weeks challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers, but I managed to grab a few minutes to create! Unfortunately it's not one of my best efforts and time didn't allow for me to remake, but anyhow, this blog isn't about only showing my hits, it's also about my disasters (wouldn't put this card in that category, but it's defo not up there in the faves!!).

Anyway, lets get onto the challenge! This week we are sponsored by Sweet Pea Stamps who have generously donated a grab bag of 3 rubber stamps as the prize. The theme is Buttons, so we want to see lots of lovely buttons on your projects. Oh and before I forget, this week is the last of our fortnightly challenges! As of next week we will be weekly, so I do hope that you will be able to join us.

So finally, onto my card..... grab your sunnies cos it's bright and bold using patterned papers which is wayyyyy outta my comfort zone!!!

Materials
Image - Cheshire Cat Illusion
Papers - Basic Grey
Tim Holtz On The Edge Alterations Sizzix Die
Glossy Accents
Promarkers
Stickles
Ribbon from stash
Buttons from stash

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you all have a lovely weekend and that the sun comes out to play.

Claire xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Ambers Crafts & Stuff - Patterned paper
Crafts & Me - Ribbon
Fab 'n' Funky - Clash of colours 
I ♥ ProMarkers - Anything goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - Fab 'n' Funky
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Buttons & Bows
Passion for Promarkers - Animal Crackers
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything goes

Monochromatic Sweet Pea Ching Chou Kuik's Fluttering Butterflies Acetate Card

Yay it's the weekend (well almost) and I can't wait! I'm off to The Craft Barn this weekend and am really looking forward to it! In case you haven't heard they have their extravaganza weekend where basically they take over the whole of Lingfield village with craft demos. The full line up can be found here.

So onto this weeks challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers which is Monochromatic. We want to see creations using a single colour in lots of shades and tones. We are sponsored by the lovely Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps who is offering a 3 count grab bag of stamps. If your wanting some inspiration, please stop by the rest of the DT's blogs where they have some amazing projects.

Anyway, here's my offering for the week.

I stamped Ching-Chou Kuik's Fluttering Butterflies onto smooth white cardstock. The image has been coloured with a range of Black and Grey Promarkers and then high-lighted with Stickles and Enamel Accents. I ran a sheet of acetate through an embossing folder to create the card base. The image was then mounted onto black card and attached to the acetate. I then attached matching black mounts the reverse of the image and inside and to the rear of the card. The eyelash fibre, flowers and butterfly were from my stash.

I hope you all have a great weekend, thanks as always for stopping by.

Claire xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The Craft Barn - Acetate
In A Sweet Pea Dream - Wings

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