kamadesign - confessions of a crafter

Blogcandy at sweetpea stamps

2012-01-16T19:59:00.000+01:00

Place this ad on your blog, with a link to the sweetpea website, then post your blog address in the comment section on the sweetpea blog and you will be entered to win a 10 count grab bag. You must post this by tomorrow, Jan 17th. Lynette will pick one winner on Wednesday, Jan 18th and post it on the blog.

Go to the blog to sign up.

And don't miss out on the $1 $2 and $3 SALE that's going on. There is also a Valentine's sale just in time for february.

Little decorated bag

2012-01-15T02:47:00.000+01:00

I'm excited to show you today's project. I played with stamps and fabric, together with embroidery. I used an usual piece of white cotton fabric. It was too white so I dipped it in some tea to age it a bit. The images I have used are from ching chou kuik's collection from sweetpea stamps. They are called Nostalgia and Spring luna from plate #30.

I stamped the images with black fabric ink and then used fabric pens to color here and there. I know it works with promarkers too if you want a neater finish. To add interest to the images I embroidered details with a glittery thread and added some matching beads. Then I just sewed the two pieces right sides facing, a little tunnel for the ribbon on top and voilá - a little bag for jewelry or as a giftbag. If you want a bigger bag you could use four images, kind of like an Andy Warhol piece.

Angel paperdoll and happy new year!

2011-12-31T21:14:00.001+01:00

Hope you're having a fantastic new year, all ready for more inspiration and new releases from sweetpea stamps. This time I have gone all out, hoping to get your crafty fingers itching. Time to long for spring :)
Unfortunately my sweetie has gotten the flu and I'm on my way there too, so no partying for us tonight, but my doll will be dancing...

The stamps I have used are from ching chou kuik plate 33 by sweetpea stamps. This is one of my fav sheet of all times. Sayings for the arms and legs are from different sheets. The images are colored with promarkers and watercolor pencils. The edges are inked with different distress inks. The doll is cut out in white paper and heavier designer papers for the back and wings. The images for the skirt are masked. I made the pattern for the doll myself. For the top and skirtpart I used 3D tape - thicker for the skirt. The joints of the legs and arms are attached with brads. I made sure the back was as beautiful as the front in case it would hang in a window or similar so I added matching little flowers for the joint's backs. I also added some pretty organza ribbon for the hem and top of the dress.

The doll is about 10" (25cm) tall and you can bend the joints.

I want to wish all of my visitors, readers and commentators a big

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

I hope you will continue to stop by for more inspiration and to give me much appreciated love. You all keep me going.

BIG HUGS!

Little glittery seahorses and mermaid ATC

2011-12-25T01:40:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I made an ATC (artist trading cards) so I thought I'd give it a go again. I've been away to see my mom before Christmas and brought my copics to practice my coloring skills. I love making ATC's out of those images since I don't have to bother about matching them up with any papers. Coloring that way makes it more free.

The image I have used is by Elaine Cox and it's called little seahorses mermaid by sweetpea stamps.

Challenges:
Simon says stamp - bingo (ribbon, gems and glitter)
Stampin for the weekend - anything goes

Amigurumi Smellie the ellie

2011-12-21T12:00:00.000+01:00

Hi, how fun of you to stop by this blog today. My name is Smellie (the ellie) Yes, I know, it is a bit corny, but I like making people laugh and happy so it was perfect for me. Soon I'm going to live with a lady that needs support to quit smoking. I'm sure I will be able to smell if she has been smoking and if I do that I'm going to trumpet as loudly as I can. And if that doesn't help I'm going to complain that I smell like smoke - yuck! So in all ways I hope my name will help her out.

I was crocheted by Katarina after a pattern made by Irene. Aren't I the cutest? I measure about 10cm (4") and I'm only 5cm (2") tall. No wonder I'm afraid of mice.

Here's my super cute braided tail. Escaping from the camera is quite fun.

Oops, I've been running around so much I made myself dizzy :)

Pearly tag

2011-12-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

For this tag I've been practicing my copic skills and I think it turned out pretty well. I used a pearly accent to make the swirly dots pattern. Think it is a wonderful tag for Christmas for the man in your life.

The image is called a bunch of love from sweetpea stamps.

For an angel

2011-12-13T01:52:00.001+01:00

Here is a Christmascard I made with not traditional colours. Every webshop I wanted to get paperpads from different webshops, but they were always out so I decided to make Christmascards with the papers I had. This one could actually work all year around, but I think the image is better for this time of year. The saying says: "for an angel" and I'm sending it to a woman I shared room with in the hospital a couple of years ago. She really helped me through a very hard time and we became friends.

I have used papers from basic grey. The background paper behind the image is actually a cut-out from a previous project. I made the circle to fit in the aperture. The image is coloured with promarkers and I added some glitterglue to the wings to make her extra magical.

Challenges:
cupcake craft - look at the light
promarkers - celebrations
sir stampalot - bingo (punch, tags, ribbon AND pearls, stickles, ribbon)
stamptacular - Christmas glitz
whiff of joy - sketch

Decorating the tree

2011-12-11T22:17:00.001+01:00

Here is another Christmascard that I made. I already had the image coloured which saved me tons of time. It's quite simple, but I wanted to put focus on the trees. I added some glittery gelly roll on some of the details and text. I'm actually surprised that I like it so much because it's so simple.

Challenges:
Paper sundaes - anything Christmas
Papertake weekly - anything
Promarkers - celebrations
Stampin for the weekend - Christmas

Sweetpea Christmas bloghop

2011-12-11T01:05:00.001+01:00

Click HERE for the Sweetpea bloghop

Also, right now: Free shipping for all orders domestic AND international (dec 11-18:th)

Fundraiser for Brandon's family

2011-12-11T01:03:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite blogs have started a fundraiser for a family in true need. If you are able to help somehow, please do! There are a bunch of e-bay listings starting at 99c kindly donated from all parts of the world. I have listed a couple of items in my etsy store, where all the money raised will go to this family of a grandmother with cancer and four little boys:

MY ETSY

You can read the whole story on Claudia's blog.

Winter (whiff of) joy

2011-12-10T17:29:00.000+01:00

I'm making the last of my Christmascards this weekend so my table is in a total mayhem again. Good thing I had a couple of coloured images left from last year. Most of them were already matched up with papers so I had half the job done. I didn't make any advanced layouts although I think this one turned out really well. I did use a sketch for it and thankfully it came together without any hassle (which is unusual)

I used papers from prima (North country) and a Martha Stewart punch for the lace. The image is coloured with promarkers.

Challenges:
Alphabet challenge - W for white Christmas
Crafts and me - Snowflakes
Crafty catz - Anything
Cute card thursday - anything
Papertake weekly - Anything goes
Sketch and stash - Sketch
Secret crafter - Creatures big and small
Stamptacular - Blue/brown/tan
Totally gorjuss - Let it snow
Winter wonderland - Let it snow

Sweetpea Christmas bloghop

2011-12-08T12:00:00.013+01:00

Hello and welcome to sweetpea's Christmas bloghop. If you've come from the very talented Karina's blog then you're on the right way. If not, start at the beginning at the sweetpea blog and find out how you can win a $20 sweetpea candy. The idea for this hop is to get you superinspired to use your favourite sweetpea stamps for your Christmasprojects. With the right colours, papers and sentiments you can make a card for any occasion no matter what it looks like. I even went all out and used non-Christmas papers. I like living on the wild side :)

The image I have used is from my favourite illustrator ching chou kuik (shhh, don't tell anyone). I've had a soft spot for her images since the beginning and always go back to them. This one is called fluttering butterflies from plate 38 (and it's actually on sale now for only $2!) I really wanted to work with this image as it has a lantern that I wanted to emphasize. Didn't know if I could pull it off, but I must say it really looks like it's glowing. The colouringmedium I used are oilpencils as I know they are able to give this glowing look.

You are almost at the end of the hop. Please leave a comment before you go to our next very talented DT member Sharon.

Santa with penguins

2011-12-07T15:39:00.000+01:00

Somehow I'm panicky about my Christmas cards. How did this happen?! AGAIN!? I even had one card left from last year and made one or two earlier this year. I need about 7 more. Whaaa, and I only have until next week. Oh well, there's always next year :)

For this card I have used a stamp from Whipper snapper (thought it was a high hopes, but it's not) It's coloured with oilpencils. I'm really starting to love this colouring medium. I'm superpleased with how it turned out. I added some distressglue to the white parts of the image. The papers are from a prima paperpack called north country. I just love these papers as they are super cheap, a lot of papers in every pack (48) and the quality is perfect for edge-distressing.

Challenges:
Color create - Red, white, green
Creatalicious - Christmas and sparkle
Crafty catz - Christmas + optional sparkle
Cute card thursday - Numbers
Everybody art - Sketch
Paper sundaes - Red and stripes
Papertake weekly - Anything
Pile it on - Bling it up
Secret crafter - Photo inspiration

A fairy happy Christmas

2011-12-03T23:08:00.003+01:00

Today I have a Christmascard in non-traditional colors. The image is called fluffie fairy and it's from sweetpea stamps. It is coloured with promarkers and a white shimmery twinkling H2O for the white parts of her outfit. Papers are from papermania I think - not sure as I had it for a couple of years. The dark blue/green panel is dryembossed with a cuttlebug folder.

How are your Christmas cards looking this year? I love mixing traditional with funky. The styles are scattered allover :)

Challenges:
ABC - E is for embossing
By the cute and girly - Let it snow
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Passion for promarkers - Sketch
Simon says stamp - Anything
Totally paper crafts - Let it snow
Winter wonderland - Christmas

Snowmen love

2011-11-28T23:43:00.001+01:00

I've had so much fun playing with this image. I don't have that many Christmasstamps and every year I want to get some new ones I realize I still have some that haven't seen ink yet. So I promise myself that if there is a sale on Christmasstamps after the holidays I will get some. Somehow there never is...

This stamp from whiff of joy was still in its packaging and I must have had it for ages. Sorting through my stamps really helped as I have a better view of what I have and from which companies. No more doubles :)

The image is colored with promarkers and I used papers from prima. The sentiment/reindeer stamp is a freebie stamp from craft stamper. I only colored the image partially leaving the space between the snowmen white as if their love was glowing. I just love how adorable this stamp is. It's drawn by Elisabeth Bell for whiff of joy.

Below you can see a better pic of some glitterglue I used to create a frosty effect on the top and bottom of the brown paper (got the idea from Claudia) Looks like icicles and snow.

Challenges:

Belles n whistles - Christmas
Bunny Zoe's - Anything Christmas with pearls
Crafty catz - Snowmen
Everybody art - Christmas card
I love promarkers - Anything goes
Midnight madness - Sketch
Paper sundaes - Winter wonderland
Papertake weekly - Christmas crackers
Simon says stamp - Tag you're it
Stampin for the weekend - Friends
Stamptacular - Anything Christmas
Totally papercrafts - Christmas
Whiff of joy - Pins and lace

Enchantment from sweetpea stamps

2011-11-27T11:00:00.001+01:00

Nice of you to stop by my blog today. I have taken a little break in my Christmascards, or at least in the planning of my Christmascards, and played with this beautiful image by Meredith Dillman plate 98 (which is currently on sale at sweetpea stamps, wohoo) Besides ching chou this is one of my favorite illustrators so I was happy to ink this image that I haven't played with before. I still have so many images that haven't seen ink yet, poor things.

Good thing is that I have totally cleaned up my crafttable. It's so big and spacious I can sleep on it :D Before I just had a 30x30cm space (if that) to do my cards on. The rest was filled with mountains of paper and stuff. I actually found a couple of Christmaspapers in there from last year. HU! It is so inspirin gto sit there now. I've been having so much fun colouring which I haven't enjoyed for ages. Still the rest of the corner to do, but the most imoprtant things are done and I'm so glad. Even got almost all my unmounted stamps sorted in binders. You can see how HERE, but will try to show you the rest some other time.

I'm so superpleased with how this card turned out, especially the coloring. I used oilpencils and a rubbing medium. I've struggled long to get the glow in my images, so I was over the moon of finally succeeding.

The sentiment is from ching chou kuik's plate 38, also by sweetpea stamps. It is stamped with distress ink as is the image and the edges of the image. Papers are from prima.

Challenges:

Crafts and me - vintage/shabby

Elisabeth Bell at sweetpea stamps

2011-11-24T14:47:00.000+01:00

I hope you haven't missed that sweetpea stamps are carrying stamps drawn by Elisabeth Bell? Right now we have three new images. They can be used for Christmas and New Year's cards, but can also be used all year around. Don't you just love those kind of stamps? And as an extra bonus, if you preorder all three of them by nov 24:th (today) you will be entered in a drawing for sheet #31 that goes beautifully with these stamps.

I also want to let you know about the huge 40% off sale. All sheets from 1-126 are on sale! Time to get those Christmasgifts for your crafting friends or why not a gift for yourself? I always buy myself a craftinggift for Christmas as my family can't find their way around all the stuff that are out there :) A good way to spoil myself

And don't forget about the 20 stamps grab bags for $22.50. Visit the blog for more details and inspiration or go straight to the shop.

Dreamy bookmark

2011-11-23T22:17:00.000+01:00

As Christmas is approaching I've been thinking about quick and easy gifts to make as going away presents. I think a pretty bookmark is always appreciated, because who doesn't like to read once in a while at least? I often find bookmarks too bulky with flowers and decorations. They look very pretty, but are not very practical.

So for my project today I used Meredith Dillman's Peridot from plate 137 by sweetpea stamps. The image is stamped off two times before stamping on the paper to give that invisible edge look. I coloured the image with copics (which I can't figure out, but I guess I need to practice more. My promarkers weren't cooperating with me in the beginning either). I used a die to cut out the pretty shapes, added a ribbon in between two pieces of cardstock and glued them together. The pink parts on this bookmark have beautiful dryembossed swirls that I accentuated with a glitterpen. I like when things look pretty from all sides.

I added a rhinestone on the hanging flower as I imagine it to be hanging out of the book. I also added glitter to parts of the image and around the biggest shape.

Challenges:
ABC challenge - D is for dazzle
Pile it on - Anything with P (pink/purple)
Totally Gorjuss - swirly whirly

Season's greetings

2011-11-13T01:55:00.001+01:00

Welcome to my weekly post of sweetpea stamps. This week we are focusing on the images of Conie Fong. This one is called Buttercup and looks very much like a summerstamp, especially as it comes with a little butterfly hovering around the girl's head. I decided to cut the image out instead making it a Christmas one. Doesn't she look like she's waiting for Santa?

I coloured her with oilpencils and used basic grey papers. The big piece with flowers is from the jovial collection and the smaller one is also BG, but I can't remember the name of it. All I know is that it's from a very old collection as I bought it years ago.

Challenges:
Basic Grey - mix'n'match
Everybody art - advent
Papertake weekly - first Christmas
Simon says stamp - red/green/blue
Stamptacular - sketch
Totally gorjuss - Christmas traditions
Wags n whiskers - Christmas themed

Holiday sale and free shipping at sweetpea stamps

2011-11-08T17:11:00.001+01:00

Selected Thanksgiving & Christmas stamps @ 40% off

Plus free shipping continues thru Sunday

(free shipping for International on orders over $30)

GO HERE

I'm FALLing for you

2011-11-07T02:55:00.001+01:00

I've had so much fun and been so creative with my card today. It's been a while since I've been up late at night crafting. And even though I know my inspiration is best then, I just haven't had the energy or time to be up so late. But today I finished my homeexam (YEY!) so I allowed myself some crafting time without pressure.

I'm superproud of my card today that I made mainly for the house-mouse challenge blog. They are looking for a guest designer and I would love the opportunity to play more with my mice. The challenge was to make a fall-theme card and as house mouse likes to play with words I just had to us the "FALLing for you" sentiment. Thought it was very clever. I originally thought about making a lovecard, but combining it with fall colours and image only adds dimension to it. I thought it was brilliant if I may say so myself, but maybe I'm not that objective at 2 in the morning :D
I started by cutting out the image with a qk shape (heart and scalloped frame) and then coloring the image with oilpencils. This kind of coloring technique is perfect for fur or if you want colors to blend nicely together. I was actually a bit surprised over how great the leaves turned out. I inked the image with distress ink to take away the white background. After that I inked the frame more so it got a stronger color and embossed with clear ink. The other heart is dryembossed with a cuttlebug die and inked aswell. Finally I cut out some shapes with a cuttlebug and nestabilities die and handwrote the sentiment.

The image I have used is called fall commuters and it was one of my first favourites. The frame is cut out from the same image as the rest of the heart so you can actually see the rest of the image on the frame. I thought it was a cool detail.

Challenges:
Crafty catz - anything goes
House-mouse - fall
Papertake weekly - anything
Stampavie and more - anything goes
Stampin for the weekend - sketch (I started with it, but had to move the green decorations as they didn't fit otherwise, so unsure if I'll qualify, but that's what I used for inspiration)

Free shipping at sweetpea stamps

2011-11-06T01:42:00.000+01:00

Don't miss out this great offer at sweetpea stamps. All through sunday there is free shipping on all orders (international orders free shipping over $30) Make sure to get your favourites.

Kraftin' Kimmie's GDT challenge

2011-10-31T23:41:00.001+01:00

One of my absolute dream designteams - Kraftin' Kimmie - are looking for a guest designer for december! I got so excited I got a total creativeblock for a few days, lol. I've been waiting for this chance forever since the last time I didn't make it. Didn't think I would be able to produce anything, you know when you want something so bad you mess it up? But I prevailed and I'm so pleased with the result. The challenge was to use your fav Kraftin' Kimmie stamp and make any card you like. Well, I'm a huuuge fan of the moonlight whispers stamps. I don't have a favourite I must admit as I love them all and get so impressed every time a new collection comes out. I haven't had the chance to play with many of my new KK stamps and here is one of them. I hadn't actually noticed her before, but when shopping last I browsed through the catalogue and fell inlove her straight away. She's called Talullahbelle. Isn't she the cutest?

I love using different stamps for different occasions. This one is a fairy, but I used her as a Christmasstamp. I originally planned to have a text saying: "have a magical Christmas", but I just couldn't fit it in.
She is colored with promarkers and a clear sakura gelly roll for her wings (the glitter). The papers I have used are all from the same collection from my minds eye. I also used two different Martha Stewart punches. Oh, and I coiled a piece of wire to make the little coil for the "Christmas bulb" in the right upper corner. Thought it was a clever idea. I love this zesty and slightly different Christmascard.

Now just keep your fingers crossed that I'll get the GDT spot. In worst case I'll have at least one very pretty Christmascard this year.

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie - use your fav stamp
Magical monday - circles and stripes
Papertake weekly - sketch
Simon says stamp - anything goes
Stamptacular sunday - borders and frames

Quick and easy matchbox

2011-10-30T19:41:00.002+01:00

I have a quick and easy project for you today: a small decorated matchbox. I used one of the tiny collage stamps from plate 19. I don't know if you have seen this idea, but a couple of years ago it was very big in Sweden. Everyone was decorating matchboxes as a going away present. I didn't really get it, but thought I'd give the decorating itself a try. I think that matching (sorry about the pun) this with a candle and a bathgel maybe would be a better going away present. It's such a simple, cheap and great way to personalize your gifts. Maybe an idea for the upcoming holidays?

Challenges:
Basic Grey - anything goes (I used patterned paper from the fruitcake line called "pine branch")
Midnight madness - sketch #127

Are you scared yet?

2011-10-22T22:59:00.005+02:00

This is the first time I have played with one of Anna Marine's images from sweetpea stamps and I love it. It is called pumpkin queen. I thought it might be a bit hard using my promarkers for the little details, but it was no problem at all. I put all focus to decorate the image to make it really stand out and left everything else quite simple and in the background.

I have very limited Halloweenpapers, just one new and two I've used the last 2-3 years :) So to make this card I had to be creative. I only used small scraps of a "real" Halloweenpaper. The orange one is from basic grey (I can't remember the name of the line though as I bought it years ago and have cut off the namestrip. If anyone knows, leave a comment and I'll write it here) The bats are from a 4x4" quickutz (lifestyle crafts) die. I used spellbinders for the ovals and two shades of distressink for the image edges. The glittery text is a sticker I've had for ages.

Hope your Halloween cardmaking is going well. Not much time left now. Are you scared yet?

Challenges:
ABC challenge - B is for boo
Allsorts - Halloween
Basic Grey - Halloween/fall (the orange paper w circles is from BG)
Magical monday - Halloween
Papersundaes - Halloween/fall
Papertake weekly - spooky hues
Pile it on - fall is for fun
Simon says stamp - fairytale/nursery rhyme
Sketch saturday - sketch
Stamptacular - you choose
Stampyland - Halloween
Totally paper crafts - layers

Are you the next Card designing superstar?

2011-10-08T23:14:00.000+02:00

We love to see all the talented Sweet Pea fans and the work they are creating. With that in mind we think it's time for a contest! We want to see the greatest card creation you can make! Beginning October 15th, here on the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog, we will be taking entries.

The prize is a $50 gift voucher to the Sweet Pea Stamps store, second and third places will each receive $10 gift vouchers to the Sweet Pea Stamps store!

Rules:
1. The main hand stamped image must be a Sweet Pea Stamps rubber stamp image.
2. The card must be a new, unreleased creation as of October 15, 2011.
3. Entries should be submitted via Mr. Linky, on the Sweet Pea Stamps blog directly to the blog post or gallery link being submitted for consideration.
4. Entries must be entered via Mr. Linky by 11:59 pm, October 22, 2011 for consideration.
5. The Sweet Pea Stamps design team will decide on the top five entries.
6. On October 27 - 30, 2011 the top three entries will be posted on the Sweet Pea Stamps blog for open voting.
7. One Entry per person.
8. Winner will be announced October 31, 2011!

Good Luck!

...As a bonus---- if we get at least 40 paticipants, I will randomly draw a winner out of those that partook, for a chance to win a 10 ct grab bag

Extended sale at sweetpea stamps

2011-10-05T00:35:00.000+02:00

Extended through October 4th!!!! All orders will receive 25% off(excluding wholesale. Wholesale customers, will receive an additional 10% discount off of their wholesale prices. We will adjust your invoice and e-mail you your new total). The online website will automatically deduct the % off for you, at checkout.

Past orders excluded.

See all the details here and shop here

Soft look with dry chalks

2011-10-01T23:13:00.001+02:00

I feel like I have gotten a bit stuck in the same technique of coloring with promarkers and using patterned papers for my cards. So today I made a quite simple card, but with a new twist. I used a versamark inkpad to stamp up Elaine Cox's Katie from sweetpea stamps and rubbed it in different colored chalks to give the subtle look. I chose stronger papers in the same shades which I think enhances the softness of the image. It's a bit opposite of what I did last week. It doesn't always have to be advanced with lots of papers and layers. Sometimes all you need is a new technique to get great and different results.

Challenges:
Simon says stamp - anything goes

Don't miss out on sweetpea's 48 hour sale which will begin at midnight Oct 1 and run through Oct 2nd. All orders will receive 25% off (excluding wholesale. Wholesale customers, she will receive a 10% discount. We will adjust your invoice and e-mail you your new total). The online website will automatically deduct the % off for you, at checkout.

Placement cards

2011-09-25T00:46:00.001+02:00

I've had a lot of fun with my project for today. I recently got some copic markers to color with, but haven't had a chance to use them. So I decided to try out my coloring skills and for that I needed a white background. The image I have used is by Meredith Dillman and it's called Jade (from sweetpea stamps). If you love her images you'll be happy to know that they are all on sale until october 2:nd!

I made these little table setting cards because it was a perfect way to make the image stand out. You could use a different image for every person to make it more special. Maybe for an asian themed party or wedding? I punched out flowers in see through paper and made a little embellishment to make the card a bit more special. The names can be written on the card itself or on the little flower in a circle. I really like the combo of the airy white and at the same time bold colors. Gives it a more modern and funky look.

Challenges:
Paper sundaes - anything goes
Simon says stamp - use dies and/or punches

Great storage idea for your stamps

2011-09-17T21:47:00.002+02:00

Today I would like to share a fabulous storage idea for your sweetpea stamps. I have a loooot of the stamps and tried to keep them in order, but it's been hard. They have been standing up in a box with the platenumbers sorted, but it's hard to look through what I have and in the end I just take out the thing that was on top. Not the best way to use your stamps. So here's my new idea and I'm superexcited about it. Just took two days to sort through ;)

I got myself a bunch of plastic protectors in standard size that are divided in 4 pockets and open at the top. I think they are originally used for photos or postcards. I think the ones for postcards are clear all the way through (without the white) but these work better as you can focus better on each page without distraction. The pages are perfect for most of the full plates from sweetpea as they come in four or two. They look the same on the back so you will actually store eight stamps/page. Isn't it great?

The stamps that are small can be put in plastic sheets that are divided in nine. They are used for collector's cards and such. This idea I actually found on someone else's blog, but realized it wouldn't work with the sweetpeas. So I got thinking and when I came up with the four divided ones I thought it would be brilliant. Especially with each page holding a full sheet! The small stamps work great with the nine pocket pages.

I always write up the name, platenumber and artist on the back of each stamp. I will also put little labels on each page with the plate number and artist's name. Just need to get myself some selfadheisive labels. If you get repositionable ones you will be able to move the stamps around and relabel the pages.

As I mostly have ching chou kuik stamps I now have a slightly overfull binder (actually think I'll have to divide them up into two). If you have a hard time seeing what the stamps are you could stamp up the image on paper and put it in each pocket. The stamp can then slide behind the image. I think I will do this, but it will have to be done in small steps...Next I will do the same with the sentimentstamps, but those I really have to stamp up on paper first so I can divide them in themes or such. Right now I barely use them because I can't find anything or see what it says.

Oh, I'm so excited about this idea and think it will make my life so much better. And my poor craftingcorner will thank me for getting rid of all the boxes. Now the only question is what to do with all the new space :D
Let me know if you get to use this idea. I'd love to know if I've made anyone's life any easier.

Keep crafting.

Sale at sweetpea

2011-09-10T23:46:00.000+02:00

No new card today, but I'd like to let you know about the SALE sweetpea is having. Today is also the last day to order from the overstock section - stamps that are overstock for only $2 each!

And I hope you haven't missed any of the new releases? Did you know that sweetpea has some Elisabeth Bell stamps for instance? Visit the blog to keep yourself updated and inspired:

the sweetpea design team blog.

Autumn birthday

2011-09-04T00:30:00.000+02:00

Today I'm finally back with a card using one of the fabulous stamps from sweetpea stamps. This one is by designer Meredith Dillman called Diamond. I wanted to make an autumn themed birthday card, but without the usual brownish colours or the obvious leaves. I think this one pulls it off, even if there are a lot of flowers on it. The shades remind me of this time of the year: the last warm days and signs of summer. The papers are from basic grey's june bug and green at heart line. Don't they work beautifully together? I also added some free-hand doodling (the x:es and running stitches) as I think they add something to the card. And as always I've used my promarkers to color the image although I just got myself a bunch of copics...

Challenges:

A spoon full of sugar - partytime
Basic Grey - celebrations (I used papers from june bug& green at heart)
I love promarkers - anything goes
Papertake weekly - sketch
Passion for promarkers - anything
Secret crafter - autumn colours
Simon says stamp - anything goes
Stamptacular - diva

I'm baaack :)

2011-09-02T16:57:00.000+02:00

So sorry I haven't been posting lately. I took the whole of august off from my DT duties at sweetpea stamps. I really needed a break from the commitments, but I did miss it so I'm glad I'm back :)

So from now on there will be at least one sweetpea project/week again.

Speaking of SP: there is a fabulous sale going on where you can get a lot of the stamps for just $2 each!

This stamp among others is on sale...

House mouse ATC

2011-08-13T23:01:00.001+02:00

Today I want to show you a cute ATC (artist trading card) I made with one of the adorable HM images. The little stamps are perfect for these kind of projects and are a perfect way to use up those tiny pieces of paper/ribbon/etc. You might think they are faster to make than cards, but since I'm not really used to making them it took almost as long as a card to finish. It's a great way to think outside the box though and a perfect way to let your special bits and pieces shine.

I'm especially proud of the piece of paper I managed to find that looks like the little feather laying on the ground. I also like the colorcombo.

Challenges:

Everybody art - summer
House mouse - ATC
Stampalot challenge - anything
Stampin for the weekend - spots and dots

70:ies necklace in a modern version

2011-08-10T10:10:00.000+02:00

I have a couple of things that I made/finished lately that I haven't showed you yet. This necklace is one of them. I finished it quite a while ago, but never got around to showing it to you. It's made out of semi-precious stones I've had for years. I've had a couple of broken necklaces that I got from my mom and here and there. They were all in the same type of stones - quite popular in the 70:ies I think. I'm usually not wearing gold-coloured jewelry, but I thought these stones were beautiful with gold.

I wanted the necklace to be long and I wanted to use up the stones I had. I made it quite symmetrical with big stones and goldflower/small stone. I added a clasp (the golden ball seen in pic above) so you can wear the necklace double and shorter if you want to. I think the clasp is brilliant since it barely shows, looking like one of the flowers. It's beautiful, don't you think?

Hoppy Christmas deer friend

2011-08-08T00:12:00.002+02:00

I'm having a "vacation" during august from the sweetpea DT so there will be no weekly SP cards from me during this month. Instead I'm taking out all the fab stamps I haven't had the chance to play with yet. There will be one sweetpea hop in the middle of the month that I will participate in, so stay tuned. There is a fabulous new release coming soon.

Ever had one of those cards that just doesn't want to get done? Well, this was a card like that. It started out great with the cute image from whiff of joy. Fab colouring if I may say so and great papers to match. All possibilities to turn out great and then - FRUSTRATION. I started on this over a week ago and it's been laying on my crafttable ever since, not wanting to play. I hate when something starts out beautifully, but messes in the end. I don't like just whipping those cards up in the end because they always start out with so much potential. In the end however I had to admit defeat and just finish it somehow so I could move on to something else. Not sure what's wrong with it, but something is just off. Not my best work I must admit, but I'm sure I'll be happy having it right around Christmas when I noticed I'm waaaay behind on Christmascards (AGAIN!) :D

Challenges:

A spoon full of sugar - tag
Everybody art - sketch
Paperplay - Christmas
Papertake weekly - anything
Simon says stamp - Christmas
Simon says stamp and show - tag
Stamp and create - animals
Totally papercrafts - holidays
Whiff of joy - buttons and bows

August blogcandy

2011-07-30T23:27:00.005+02:00

Bunny Zoe's - 3:rd

Cathy - 7:th

Melly - 7:th

Lacey - 8:th

Mags - 8:th

Bunny Zoe's - 12:th

Deb - 13:th

Brenda - 26:th

Sweetpea bloghop featuring Rebecca Sinz

2011-07-29T13:00:00.014+02:00

Hello and welcome to sweetpea's bloghop featuring artist Rebecca Sinz. If you have come from Karina's blog then you are on the right track, if not, start from the sweetpea blog. Our designteam has worked with the beautiful images drawn by Rebecca Sinz. If you leave a comment (before august 1:st) on every post during the hop you have a chance of winning a $20 gift voucher to the sweetpea shop. And all the Rebecca Sinz stamps are now 20% off. How great is that? (I moderate by comments so don't freak out if you don't see it straight away. Leave only one comment per person so it will be easier for me to count after the hop, thank you)

Ok, so on to my card:

I have used the slightly melancholic looking image called Gothic Lament. I think this card could work beautifully as a sympathy card - they are so hard to make.
The image is coloured with promarkers, cut out with a nestabilitie and the edges are inked with two distress inks. The thing that took the longest is that aggrivating bowembellishment. I knew I wanted a bow and that stone looking thing in the middle as it looks like the girl's pendant. I just couldn't get it all together and after an hour or two I just had to admit defeat. The papers I have used are from DCWV and have a wonderful metallic sheen to some of the details.

I cut out the oval so the rose and one of the wings would be outside of the frame. Doing it this way makes you focus a bit more on the rose, which gives the sadness an even bigger impact. I also put a black frame on one side of the oval. I think it balances out the image and the whole layout.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Next on your hop-stop is Micki.

Challenges for this card:

Cute card thursday - sketch

I love promarkers - anything goes

Sweetpea bloghop tomorrow - don't miss out

2011-07-29T01:16:00.002+02:00

We're having a hop and you can see my project right here in exactly 12 hours :) See you then.

House mouse 100:th challenge celebration

2011-07-26T00:28:00.001+02:00

It's been a while since I played with all the other stamps I have in my stash. I have really missed doing that and entering challenges. During the last few months I've been focusing on my other crafts, but now I feel like I'm slowly coming back. And I'm having a blast.

Today's card is mainly for the house mouse challenge blog. These mice were among the first stamps I fell inlove with, but they were sooo expensive to get here in Sweden. I remember getting my first internet order from the US. Owning my first house mice...I think the love for cute images started right there and then. How could you not love these?

I was very pleased with the card I made yesterday and wanted to continue on the summery feel. Pink/green together with a cute image and butterflies, you just can't go wrong. I used my sewing machine around the edges of the image and pink card and to make a swirl looking like the butterfly's trail. I went over with a glittery pen along those dots and on the flower.

Challenges:

Basic Grey - sketch (I used patterned papers from the urban prairie line)
Everybody art - dots (from the sewing machine trail)
House mouse - buttons, bows and bling
Papertake weekly - getting cute
Stampavie and more - birthday
Stamp and create - ribbons and bows
Stampin for the weekend - animals with 4 legs

July blogcandy

2011-07-25T12:27:00.004+02:00

Melissa - 24:th

Anita - 27:th

Bunny Zoe's - 28:th

Tab - 29:th

Make it crafty - 31:st

Debbie - august 1:st

If your name is Patsy C - DON'T LOOK! :)

2011-07-24T18:17:00.001+02:00

Finally a card from me and let me tell you: I had so much fun making it. A dear internet friend of mine is having her b-day soon and I decided to make a special card for her. She mentioned in her latest e-mail she was into pink/green and shabby chic at the moment. I found these papers that are both and since the colourcombo is one of my favourites I was excited to start. Choosing an image was tricky, but as soon as I saw this stamp called Untouchable by Linda Biggs (plate 81) I knew it would be perfect. I wanted to make it super girly and summery and wanted to add more embellishments and details than usual. I think I managed to learn something new as the card is a bit outside my comfortzone with all the details. If nothing else I managed to learn to measure the whole paper properly, or at least try on a piece of scrap, before I go all out with the punch, lol.

The little butterfly on the stamp is the exact shape and size as one of the butterflies on the borderpunch. I cut it out, embellished and raised up the wings a bit.

Challenges:

Bunny Zoe's - fun in the sun
By the cute and girly - things w wings
Crafts and me - add a flower
Magical monday - use texture (dryembossed butterflies)
Paper sundaes - beach or summer
Passion for promarkers - sketch
Simon says stamp and show - embossing (the butterflies are dryembossed)
Southern girls - happy birthday
Stamp challenges - something embellished
Totally gorjuss - punch or die

Dryembossed papertechnique

2011-07-17T22:58:00.002+02:00

Hope you are having a wonderful summer. I just got back from a vacation to Mallorca with lots of inspiration. I originally wanted to make a "usual" card, but started playing with an idea. This technique took me about 5 minutes to come up with and about 20 minutes to finish the whole card. Don't you just love when everything goes right? Haven't had that in a while :)

The image I've been playing with is one of the first ones from sweetpea, plate 18.

What I did was dryemboss a piece of white paper (I use to stamp on) with a cuttlebug folder. I used the one with little dots. I then inked up my stamp in black ink and stamped it off on the backside of the embossed paper. You want to stamp where the dots are sunk in, otherwise you won't get a clear image. Then I coloured the all of the image in twinkling H2Os. I only have 3 colours, but it was just perfect. Don't use to much water, because what happens is that the sunk in dots will stay white while the details of your image are coloured. Finally I attached the image to another embossed panel - this time leaves and added a coloured butterfly in the corner. It's very simple, and I like the organic look. The dots also work beautifully with this image. All the colours are shimmering, although it was a bit hard to photograph.

Hope you got inspired and are having a great day.

Challenges:

ABC challenge - Past challenges: V is for violet (from may 25:th 2011)
Simon says stamp - anything goes
Stampin' for the weekend - wings and things
Stamptacular - animal antics

Offer sunday and monday only at sweetpea stamps:

Free shipping to USA destinations.

All other countries will only be $5.00

This is for orders placed Sunday, July 17 & Monday July 18

(past orders excluded)

plus each order will receive 2 extra unmounted stamps from us as a gift with purchase. Only one per person.

Pointillism colouring

2011-07-09T00:54:00.000+02:00

I don't have a card for you this week - instead I would like to show you a new colouring technique. Unfortunately I can't take credit for it which makes me a bit annoyed that I couldn't come up with it. The reason is because it derives from an arttechnique called pointillism and having an education in arthistory, well, you get the idea.

Pointillism is a technique where tiny dots of colour are put next to eachother and form an image. It's mainly associated with an artist called Seurat that used this way of painting at the end of the 19:th century.

The principle of this technique with stamping is the same as you would use when colouring in your usual fashion. In fact to make it easier you could have two of the same image and colour one of them the way you usually do. This way you will see where the shades will be.

For my image I used two or three shades of the same colour. The image I used is from Elaine Cox and it's called Kimono lantern fairy from sweetpea stamps

The most beautiful view is the one I share with you

2011-07-02T23:32:00.000+02:00

I'm so happy to show you my project this week. I've made an ATC - an artist trading card, which is about 2.5x3.5". It's basically like any trading card (and about the same size) and you change it with other artists the same way. It's such a brilliant way to use up those small scraps of pretty paper, small embellishments and your favourite small stamps - or parts of your bigger ones. The stamp I have used here is called Arden, by Nikki Burnette from sweetpea stamps. The text stamp is also from sweetpea and can be found on ching chou kuik's plate #42.

You might think that this kind of small thing goes fast to make, but since I'm not used to this size it took about as long as a card. I really liked working like this because it made me focus on more details. Usually I don't want to overwhealm my card, but here it's almost a must, otherwise it's just an image on pretty paper. You have to add some oomph ;) My oomph is adding glitter to the patterned paper's flowers and the girl's hair and wings. I also added dimensional glaze to her hair to make it pop. I machined sewed around the border of the patterned paper before attaching it to the darker pink cardstock. I also stamped the text and embossed it with silver embossing powder. I coloured the image, cut it out and attached it where the sewing line is. By placing her this way it looks like she's inside a frame and her wing goes outside of it. I love this illusion of a frame.

I had so much fun with this that I think I'll have another go at it. You should try it too and send your creation by e-mail to the sweetpea blog to showcase next time we have out customer submission week.

Multicoloured blocking

2011-06-26T23:38:00.000+02:00

I've had so much fun playing with today's card. It's a technique I've never used before I think and I came up with it all on my own (although I had inspiration) I'm proud of it and thought I'd share it with you.

If you're not very happy with your colouring of the sweetpea images - you don't have to be! There are so many ways to use your stamps and this is one of them.

I started by inking different stamps in different bold coloured inks on white paper and embossing them with clear embossing powder. After the powder has cooled off I inked the whole image with a contrasting colour with a direct-to-paper technique (which means you dab the inkpad directly on the paper) When I was happy with the result I wiped the images to remove any ink that was left on the raised embossed part. This will make the images pop. Finally I cut out different sized blocks and mounted them together. I added the little ribbon and bow to add some more interest to the card.

It's a super easy technique and I hope you'll give it a go. All you need is some embossable inks (I used small versacolor) and some clear embossing powder. Have fun!

Images used - all by sweetpea stamps:
ching chou kuik: Seahorse plate 79
ching chou kuik: cheshire cat illusion plate 41
ching chou kuik: autumn harvest plate 57
Elaine Cox plate 102
Meredith Dillman: peacock fairy plate 76
Nikki Burnette: Tulsa
Sentiment: plate 30

Challenge:
Papertake weekly - here comes the sun

Win some sweetpea stamps

2011-06-24T00:41:00.001+02:00

One lucky winner will win a $44.44 gift card for Sweet Pea Stamps

How????? All orders placed from Sunday June 19th- July 4th will be entered in the drawing.

When????? Winner will be posted on the sweetpea blog and notified on July 6th

Go shopping

(PS. Have you seen the new look of the sweetpea shop? Click the link above to check it out. There are tons of new stamps in.)

AND

there will be a candy drawing every wednesday. Check out this link for more info.

June 25th- June 26th;

spend up to $25 before shipping, get 10% off your order

spend up to $25- $50 before shipping, get 15% off your order

spend up to $50 - $100 before shipping, get 20% off your order

spend over $100 before shipping, get 25% off your order

past orders excluded

Phone/address book

2011-06-19T23:08:00.000+02:00

I hope you are enjoying the summer and playing with your sweetpea stamps. I still have a lot I've never used and this is one of them. It's by the very talented Meredith Dillman and is called blue fairy from plate 76. Isn't she gorgeous?

I've been in desperate need for a new addressbook the last couple of months. I have everything written in a simple notebook with no order and it's been driving me crazy having to flip through the whole thing to find what I need. So during my last flipping I got really annoyed and decided to make this book I've been planning for ages. You can use it for anything you might need to find fast: your kid's friends numbers, people on your Christmaslist or why not a page per month writing down how much you've exercised or your measurements.

I started by cutting out 6 pages in cardstock and 2 in patterned paper for the front and back. I used a qk die so the holes were already there for the brads, but it's easy to make yourself. You will need to score on each page to make it possible for it to open. I also cut out 6 qk tabs in the same cardstock. The pages and tabs are inked on the edges with distress ink to give a neater look. The image is coloured with promarkers and the background with distress inks. The fairy has some sparkle on her wings made by a sakura gelly roll. I also used one of the corners from Holiday (plate 12) to add some interest which I'm very happy with. I inked one corner in a purple distress ink and stamped on all 4 corners of the image. Finally I attached the tabs, image and brads. Finally I'll be able to find what I need quickly!

Challenges:

Stampin for the weekend - lemon and lime

Decorated envelope

2011-06-12T01:31:00.000+02:00

We make all these beautiful cards, but I forget or don't have the energy to decorate the envelopes (that's why I mostly use clear envelopes to let the card shine through). A friend of mine is always decorating hers and it's such a treat to see her envelope in the mail. Here is an idea how to decorate your average boring white envys with your favourite sweetpea stamps.

The stamp I have used is one of the stamps from plate 94 by Meredith Dillman from sweetpea stamps. I made the white panel for the address by sticking a rectangular post it, using it as a mask. Then I stamped the image with black ink and dabbed around with some distress ink. I also used a small dabber to add ink to colour the image itself. Finally I used a tan and pink promarker to add shade to the left side of the girl and added some glitter with a clear sakura gelly roll. Isn't this a fabulous way to let the recipient get excited about what's inside?

Challenges:
papertake weekly - anything goes

Def Leppard, Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy concert Dublin, Ireland

2011-06-11T14:17:00.000+02:00

Sorry for being abscent my friends. My mojo has been gone lately and in the beginning of the week I went to Dublin for a romantic getaway and to see a concert. It was four hours of pure bliss. First an hour with Thin Lizzy, then an hour with Alice and finally a spectacular two hour show with Def Leppard. This was my third Alice concert and first DF and TL. It was slightly strange that Thin Lizzy and Alice were the warm up bands :D

I got some fab pictures that I'm very proud of. Enjoy!

Thin Lizzy (in case you didn't see their sign)

Alice Cooper:
No more mr nice guy

Cold Ethel:

Def Leppard:

Singing one of my favourite ballads:

Here we didn't sing loud enough and they asked us if this was all we got...After asking if Belfast were better (where they had played the night before) the roof lifted, lol. Nothing like some good old competition.

Not bad for a standard digital camera with a 12x zoom, huh? Although I was standing as fourth person from the stage for the first two sets. I almost got some fake blood on me that they threw from the stage during the Alice gig:)

Happy mother's day!

2011-05-29T00:38:00.002+02:00

In Sweden we celebrate mother's day today, may 29:th so here is a card for all the mothers out there. I have used the popular field of poppies by ching chou kuik from sweetpea stamps. I immediately thought of this image when I pulled out the papers. My mom loves red so I wanted to make a bright card for her. I coloured the image with promarkers and used different spellbinders for the circle, borders and sentiment panel. The text is written by hand and says: "flowers have the sun, children have their mothers." I think the sentiment works so well with this image and is perfect for mother's day.

Challenges for this card:

Promarker challenge - all the 2's (2 borders, ribbons, papers, spellbinders, colours)
Sketch saturday - sketch
Stamp challenges - use a sentiment

Happy mother's day!

2011-05-29T00:35:00.000+02:00

Challenges for this card:

Promarker challenge - all the 2's (2 borders, ribbons, papers, spellbinders, colours)
Sketch saturday - sketch

Guest design team call at sweetpea stamps!

2011-05-19T14:37:00.000+02:00

Are you a big fan of sweetpea stamps and would you like to join our talented team as a guest designer?

We are in need of 2 guest designers, one for June and one for July, to fill in for vacations. What you would need to do:

send in one card to Jennifer the first week, the third week and the fourth week of the month you are picked for. In return you will get a $25 gift voucher to use on the stamps you select to use, also you will pay no shipping (I will send you out a free shipping voucher). If this is something you would like to do, e-mail Lynette at sweetpeastampsDT@gmail.com

with a link to your blog. Deadline to send in is May 20th

We will choose the two guest designers and post them on May 25th on the sweetpea blog.

So what are you waiting for? Go and make something fabulous with your sweetpea stamps!

Lynette also has an offer until sunday may 22:nd:

All rubber sheets on sale for 10% off.

Plus FREE shipping to USA residents

Canada shipping only $2

All other countries $5

(our website will not calculate International shipping,

if paying by paypal we will send you a paypal request at the time of shipping.

If paying by credit card we will adjust it to the correct shipping rate)

Past orders excluded

600 followers candy

2011-05-11T21:44:00.000+02:00

Since we are sooooo close to 600 followers, Lynette is going to offer some blog candy. Once the sweetpea blog reaches 600 she's going to give away:

(1) 10 count grab bag

(1) $10 gift voucher

Spread the word!

And this week's artist of the week is ching chou kuik, which is my personal favourite! All her full sheets, regular priced at $19.75 now only $15.80. These will only be on sale until May 15th so don't think about it too long. You can see all her stamps here:

ching chou kuik stamps

New winner of my candy

2011-05-08T23:20:00.000+02:00

Kaia - congrats. Contact me and I'll get your sweetpea stamps to you.

Asian beauty

2011-05-07T23:36:00.000+02:00

With so many new releases from sweetpea going on right now, it got me looking through my older stamps. This one is called black haired lady from plate 22 and it's one of the first plates from ching chou kuik. I'm not sure I have used it before so it was definitely time for it to see some ink. I love the asian feel of this stamp and since I got some asian inspired papers when my sweetheart came back from the US, I knew they would fit perfectly. The papers are from a die cuts with a view pack called far east.

I often feel that I'm not having enough embellishments and decide when I start that this time I'll fill the card to the brim. But then I use these beautiful images and papers and I don't want to take focus off them. So in the end this is what I get :) Very clean and simple.

I'm quite happy with the little embellishment I did add. I used a Chinese coin with a brad and a flower. I also used white mesh that I inked with a promarker and cut out two leaves. I think this way the embellishment compliments the image instead of stealing focus from it.

Hope you're having a fantastic day and find time to ink up some of your sweetpea stamps, whether they are old or new.

I haven't heard from my sweetpea candywinner, so unless I hear from her before tomorrow I'll draw a new winner.

Challenges:

I love promarkers - songtitle (mine is "China girl" by David Bowie)
Papertake weekly - anything goes with optional extra: something round

Winner of my sweetpea celebration candy

2011-05-01T23:10:00.000+02:00

The winner of three sweetpea stamps is:

Tiiti

Congrats Tiitti. Contact me and I'll get the stamps out to you as soon as possible. Thank you everyone who commented on my excercise calendar and hope you'll come by here and on the Sweetpea blog now and then.

Here's what Tiitii will get + a little surprise:

Rising flame:

Black rose fairy:

Egypt mermaid:

Sweetpea 2:nd anniversary bloghop and candy

2011-04-27T12:00:00.000+02:00

Hello and welcome to sweetpea's 2:nd anniversary bloghop. Can you believe it's already been two years? I've been on board from the start and I'm so proud to be on this team. You rock Lynette and thanks for having me.
If you have come from Ellen's blog, then you're on the right track, if not, go back to the sweetpea blog and start from there.

Today we have a trio of gorgeous images to share with you! These debut images include our newest artist Rebecca Sinz, ching-chou kuik and Nikki Burnette. Aren't they wonderful?

What better project than a calendar to celebrate sweetpea's anniversary? I have used my bind-it-all to make it, beautiful double sided papers from prima and a bunch of my favourite ching chou kuik images. The image I have used for the front is called exotic october and it's the top left seen above.
I am going to use this calendar to put down the excersise classes I've been taking so I know what and how often I've been doing it. At the back of the caledar I've added some white pages for notes like; which instructors I liked, measurements etc. With a pretty calendar like this who needs motivation!
As this is an excersise calendar I have written "take no prisoners" on the front page. I think it works beautifully with the image and the theme.

For your chance to win some free sweetpea stamps, leave a comment under this post (one per person please) and I will draw a winner on sunday may 1:st.

Next on the hop is Lisa

Summer booklet

2011-04-24T23:59:00.002+02:00

I have finally played with my bind-it-all for the first time. I've had it for about a year, but not played with it until today. I have been feeling like making other things that cards lately and this was the perfect project. As the weather is so beautiful here I jumped for joy when I found these papers in my stash.

The image I have used is radiant butterfly from sweetpea stamps and I have cut around it so you might have not recognized it at first. I coloured her with promarkers to match the papers. I like how I manged to align her to the background paper as it looks like there are flowers coming out of her hair. There is some glitter on the butterfly and flowers, but it doesn't show properly.

The booklet has 12 pages in these wonderful colours. I think the image is perfect as there are butterflies on some of the papers too. I thought the black would clash, but think it only accentuates the bright colours. I was thinking about decorating it more with flowers and such, but I think the front should be flat to be practical and I didn't want to overwhealm the beautiful image. I also left the top blank so whoever gets this album can add their own text.

Don't miss sweetpea's 2:nd anniversary bloghop. It's all happening on the blog and you can win some fabulous stamps. On wednesday I'll be showing you some more new releases so don't forget to stop by!

Modern happy easter

2011-04-17T23:39:00.001+02:00

Spring is here to stay and with easter just around the corner it might be a good time to have at least one card done. Today I would like to show you a card with a slightly different layout. I have used a standard square sketch, but folded the card several times adding dimension. You can see the layout of the card better on the last picture. I have used a stamp called jeweled from sweetpea stamps from one of my favourite plates #86.

I really like the colours of this card. They are still the typical easter yellow and purple, but I think the hues gives the card a more contemporary feel. The patterned papers go so well together and it's funny because they are from two completely different lines. I just accidentally put them next to eachother while sortimg my papers and tadaa. With those colours I didn't feel like I needed bunnies or eggs, the card would look "eastery" enough. So I decided to go all in with the butterfly theme, using it on both papers, punches and the image.

The tools I have used are Martha Stewart punches for the corners and the butterfly border. The image is coloured with promarkers and then a sakura clear glitter pen. The image is mounted on a green panel with foam tape to add extra dimension and then taped to the front panel of the card. The little green scrolly nameplate is a spellbinder die. Doesn't it go just perfectly with the background paper? The sentiment is written by hand and on my first try! Practicing makes perfect, that's for sure. A wonderful card that could easily be used for any other occasion.
Here's the sketch I used from sketch saturday #150:

Challenges for this card:

Basic Grey - easter/spring (I used paper from the "green at heart" line on the backpanel)
Paper sundaes - texture
Papertake weekly - dimensional
Pile it on - rubber stamps
Stampin for the weekend - easter

Sleeping mask

2011-04-13T17:45:00.000+02:00

I have finished a couple of project earlier that I haven't showed you yet. This one I made for my sweetheart when he was going to the US. I offered him to use my sleepingmask in purple and black silk/lace, but that was "too girly" :D
Although purple too, these fabrics were chosen by him a while back. I had actually started on this mask months ago, being about halfway through, then it disappeared in my big "to finish" pile. So I worked on it halfway through the night before he left and put it in his handluggage. Too bad he didn't find it until I told him about it when he was in the hotelroom. Attention to details, huh? At least he could use it on the flight back...

I'm very proud of how I managed to fold the bias around the mask. Not bad for 2-3 in the morning :D

More deals at sweetpea stamps

2011-04-10T22:42:00.000+02:00

Has it already been a week?! Oh my, where has the time gone? I'm preparing a bigger sweetpea project, but want to finish it off nicely before I show you. I also worked on a card yesterday so hopefully I will show it to you soon. I have a couple of sewn things I want to show you too so stay tuned. Maybe even a tutorial if there will be any interest.

Meanwhile I'd like to let you know there are tons of new things happening at sweetpea. I hope you haven't missed our latest stamps and newest artists. Below you can see a few of the new sheets. I'm definately ordering some of these.

New artist Ann Marine:

Katerina Koukioti:

Meredith Dillman:

Place at least a $20 order (before shipping) and you can buy sheet #18 (seen below) for only $1.00 (reg $8.25). This offer is good through Wednesday. Limit one per order

Go to sweetpea webshop

Happy birdday

2011-04-03T00:10:00.003+02:00

I think I dare to say that spring has finally arrived to my part of the world. With the sun out and the birds singing I got inspired to make a card with one of my newest (and soon to be favourite) sweetpea stamp. I just LOVE the birdtheme. The image I have here is called Peony and it's one of the newer ones by ching chou kuik. It's from plate 97.

The papers I have are from die cuts with a view Mariposa line. I got them from my sweetheart after his trip to the US :) Unfortunately the pics don't do the papers justice. They are very glittery and the birdcage background is in gold foil. As the papers were so beautiful I wanted to keep the layout simple and make them work with the image. After choosing the papers I coloured the image with promarkers to match. The text is handwritten. Oh, and I added some gold glitterglue to her flower to make it match the papers and stand out a bit.

Challenges:
Simon says stamp - sketch

If you'd like to get your inky hands on some sweetpea stamps you can get them at 20% off through april 3:rd. Enter code:

springsprung

during checkout

This coupon expires approx 12:00 am eastern time on April 4th. More details on the

sweetpea blog

20% off coupon at sweetpea stamps

2011-03-28T16:12:00.003+02:00

Save 20% on your order, simply enter:

springsprung

at the time of check to receive your discount

(please enter it in the 'discount coupon' NOT the 'Gift Voucher' section)

Let's go shopping at sweetpea stamps

Butterfly dreams

2011-03-27T22:33:00.001+02:00

I'm finally back with a card and this time I have used come softly from sweetpea stamps. I've been utterly exhausted these last two days after having my exam on friday morning. Had to get up at six! Yuck. Don't think I've done that in at least a year and next week I need to do the same for four days. Let's just say I'm not a morning person...

It's a very recycled card as I have used small parts of plain paper and embellished them as much as I could instead of digging through my scrapbook papers.

I really like the soft shades, but how the image stands out more. It's like the papers are faded and the image is as clear as ever. Almost like those old photos - but reversed :D

Challenges for this card:

Papertake weekly - It's a mom's thing/girlie
Simon says stamp - mother's day/girlie
Stamp challenges - spring
Stampin for the weekend - mother's day
Totally gorjuss - spring

Crochet hook cosy

2011-03-18T00:14:00.001+01:00

I've been a little quiet lately due to an upcoming exam. I miscalculated and missed one extra chapter AND thought the exam was one week later so I've been studying hard (kind of surprised myself since I always do it last minute. This time I did not want to have the exam-anxiety though)

So I realized I have a few things that I haven't showed you yet that I made a while back.

Today I want to show you my custom made, selfdesigned and self-sewn crochet hook cosy. It's the same type I used for the pencilholders I made for my fiancées niece and nephew. I'm thinking about making a tutorial for it so if there is any interest let me know (or if you would like to buy a custom made one by me)

It holds up to 14 crochethooks ranging from size 8 I think to very small (you can have multiple smaller hooks/pocket) It has a flap on top so the hooks don't fall out and you keep it closed by rolling the cosy and tieing it with a strap that's attached to the edge.

I'm superproud of this one as it's totally customdesigned for my hooks. I used a thinner batting which I quilted following the circle-pattern of the fabric. I made a bias-tape using a matching smallprinted fabric. Did you notice how I matched the circular pattern on the flap and front fabric? I think it looks soooo good. Too bad I don't crochet that much, but at least my hooks are resting in style :)

Winners of my birthday candy

2011-03-14T00:33:00.002+01:00

Thanks everyone for participating. The winners of my candy are:

1:st prize: Edel (claimed)

2:nd prize: Andreja (claimed)

3:rd prize: Andi (claimed)

Please contact me by e-mail and I'll get your prizes out to you.

Sweetpea stampoff is officially on!

2011-03-10T23:11:00.000+01:00

If you would like a chance to win some free rubbah, don't forget to enter our contest starting today. Deadline is march 12:th. Click the link for more info.

Here's our first challenge - a sketch:

Shake your tailfeathers

2011-03-04T19:48:00.003+01:00

Phew, my last card for the Kraftin' Kimmies GDT call just at the nick of time. The challenge was to use scallops. This time I have used the sassy Monique as my image. She is coloured with promarkers to match the papers and I'm very proud of this colouring. Blue isn't really my forté so I was happy with how she turned out. The sentiment is handwritten and the layout pretty simple. It's quite funny because I made the card first and then realized it fits spot on with this week's sketch at stamp with fun.

I like that it looks like she is stepping out of the frame:

You can see the rest of my GDT cards here:

You'd better be mine
Oopsy daisy
Time flies

Time flies

2011-03-04T17:50:00.002+01:00

Here is my third card for the GDT spot for Kraftin' Kimmies. Only one card to go, whohoo.

I wasn't sure if I would be pleased with these time-crunched cards, but I know I work best under pressure and this was no exception. I just hope I didn't jinx myself now and the last one will be a total trainwreck :)

The challenge for this card was a sketch and I was so pleased that I managed to think outside of the box. These character stamps always come with a smaller stamp, but when I bloghop I seldom see them used. So I wanted to make this one justice especially since it worked so great with the theme and enhanced the gentleman.

I stamped Chester with a brownshaded ink on a piece of white paper and coloured him with promarkers to match the papers. I aligned him so that his cuff was in the middle of a circle and cut out using a nestie. I then stamped the watchstamp several times with the same ink and coloured the same way as the main stamp. I used two shades of distressink to make the background less white and handwrote the numbers. I distressed the edges of the circle and attached it to a bigger circle. I punched a hole in the middle (where his cuff was) and attached a brad with clockhands (a qk die).
I distressed the edges of the patterned papers, punched a decorative corner on the striped piece and attached a brad in every corner. Finally I handwrote the sentiment and attached it and the "clock" with foamtape.

I made this card for my sweetheart. He's going away on a businesstrip to the US for two weeks and I want to sneak it into his bag. Despite how much I'll miss him I know that time does fly (even if it's slow sometimes) and soon he will be with me again. I just hope he's not snooping around here from the workcomputer ;)

Challenges for this card:

Anything goes - distressing
Kraftin' Kimmies - sketch

Oopsy daisy

2011-03-03T16:28:00.001+01:00

For the last couple of weeks I've been struggling a bit with my cards but now I have finally been inspired. I just love how this card turned out even if it took me three days to finish it, phew. I made it especially for the Kraftin' Kimmies GDT call. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for many many months as I absolutely love the moonlight whispers line and would LOVE to be on the team. Chances like this don't come often and I just have to put my name in the hat. I have two cards left to finish by friday evening. Yikes! Don't ask me where february went, I'm blaming it on the fact that there are just 28 days in that month :D

I have used the adorable Eleanor from Kraftin' Kimmies and coloured her with my beloved promarkers. The challenge was to use 3 main colours, 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon and 1 button. I used fushia, lime and orange as the main colours, the background paper is actually one sheet and the second patterned paper is the orange floral die cut. The ribbon and button are on her cap.

I wasn't sure if I should add the handwritten text, but I like adding funny sentiments to these stamps. The fact that she has a daisy in her hair makes it even more fun. A perfect card for a belated birthday, don't you think?

Challenges for this card:

Bunny Zoe's - spring; flowers everywhere

Colour create - fruits

Cute card thursday - signs of spring

Kraftin' Kimmies - recipe

Papertake weekly - anything

Passion for promarkers - sugarrush

Simon says stamp - recipe (not sure if diecuts count as an embellishment though)

You tug at my heartstrings

2011-02-28T19:16:00.002+01:00

Here is another card from me using one of the adorable bears from sweetpea stamps drawn by Elaine Cox. I think these bears are so sweet and love how different they are from anything out there. Today I've been thinking a little bit outside the box - not doing things I usually do. To start with I inked the stamp with a brown inkpad that has 6 hues in one, going from light to dark. Then I used a different colouringtechnique using pastel colours and some sort of rubbing alcohol. Finally I used the same patterned paper for two panels of the card.

Challenges for this card:

Magical monday - lace
Papertake weekly - sketch
Simon says stamp - coffee and cream
Stamp challenges - something with flowers
Stampin for the weekend - monochromatic

March blogcandy

2011-02-27T16:13:00.004+01:00

Another month full of candy. March is when I celebrate my birthday and I have put together something very SWEET for you:
My candy - march 13:th (my birthday)

Renee - 4:th

Marjo - 15:th

Rebekah - 19:th

Maja - 21:st

Brenda - 23:rd

Astrid - 30:th

Winner of my candy and new candy coming soon...

2011-02-19T15:46:00.000+01:00

I have used random.org to help me choose a winner and it chose number 20 -

CONNIE

Thank you everyone who entered and for your sweet comments. It was very nice to meet you. I'm so glad I used mr linky so I have your blogs and can go visit again. It has made me so happy getting your positive feedback and I even got a few more followers - what a treat. And since fabruary 1:st I've gotten over 10,000 hits on my blog! That is just amazing, so THANK YOU and big hugs to you all.

I will host a new candy, hopefully tomorrow or even later tonight so stay tuned.

One world one heart linkparty and giveaway

2011-02-17T23:59:00.003+01:00

This post will stay on top until february 17:th. Please scroll down for newer posts.

For the fifth and last year, welcome to the one world one heart link party. The event is hosted by Lisa and the whole point of it is to "travel" all over the world and meet new artists. I've been wanting to do this for at least two years and I'm really happy I got to be a part of it this last year.

Every person participating has a doorprize - a giveaway to thank you for stopping by. You will find the whole list of blogs HERE and the list will be updated from time to time. So hop on after seeing me and make some new friends.

Ok, so here goes:

My name is Katarina, I'm 30 years old and I live in Sweden. I was a late bloomer in crafting, didn't start until my 20:ties and have tried everything from soapmaking to mosaics and everything in between. My main passion is stamping and papercrafts and that's mainly what this blog is about. But I also like sewing, jewelrymaking and hoping to get started on some scrapbooking soon (I've been saying that for at least one year now, lol). I've been having this blog for over two years and even if I had been stamping before I concider the start of my blog as the real startingpoint of my stamping. I'm on the designteam for an american stamping company called sweetpea stamps - something I'm very proud of. I was also recently selected as the winner of 2010 in the altered/mixed media category in Britain's main stamping magazine: Craft stamper.

I love participating in challenges and whenever I have some extra time away from that I sew and make jewelry. I have made a couple of tutorials both in papercrafts and sewing which you can find in the labels section in the sidebar under "tutorials". When it comes to my private life; I live with my highschool sweetheart since 12 years and we love to travel the world. Two years ago we took our divingcertificates and went on a divingtrip to Malta where the water is amazing. Our latest trip was in january for a romantic weekend to Rome (seen above is a pic of a tired me inside the Colosseum).

As my doorprize I have chosen something that I hope you will find useful: It's an album that I've cut and handsewn. I love the different patterned papers and there are extra, smaller pages in between. It's about 11x15cm (4 1/4x6") A total of 42 pages you can fill with your favourite photos, poems or maybe recipies? The papers are acidfree which means they will stand the test of time and won't ruin your photos.

If you would like a chance to win this album, please add your name and blog to Mr linky below. If you don't want to win the album, but want to say hi, just leave some love in the comments section. The winner will be chosen randomly from the mr linky list. If you don't have a blog, just link to any page on the web, but make sure to leave your e-mail address in the comments section so I can contact you if you win. I moderate my posts, so don't be alarmed if they don't show right away. The event ends february 17:th. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.

Twilight shimmer

2011-02-14T01:19:00.000+01:00

I've been playing with one of the newest releases from sweetpea stamps. It's a new artist called Rachel Anderson and the stamp is called Twilight shimmer. I wanted the card to have the same feel as the scrolly wings and after looking throught my WHOLE stash of papers I came across this scrap piece. I coloured the image in the same blue and grey tones and added a glitterpen to the details on her dress and wings.

I made an interesting thing with the stone-part of the image to give it texture. After colouring it with a grey promarker I put a piece of textured paper behind the image and rubbed with a grey watercolour pencil on the stone parts. The rough pattern on the paper behind the image will show through. I used a scrap piece of textured cardstock from bazzil, but if you have a thicker paper that your image is stamped on you might want to use a piece of canvas or similar. It's kind of like the same thing you did when you were a kid when you placed a coin under a paper and rubbed with a pencil. At least that's what I did when I was a kid :)

It's a very simple card really. I used the patterned paper's black line as an elongation of the image. The only thing I added was a damask die on the left hand side that I inked a bit with black. Oh and some pearls in the right hand corner. Sometimes less is more...

There is always something happening on the sweetpea blog. Candies, discounts, sales and most of all: inspiration! So don't forget to stop by from time to time.

Big celebration candy

2011-02-13T18:06:00.001+01:00

I have some big news to share with you - something that I've been keeping a secret and that needs to be celebrated. Me, little old me,

WON CRAFT STAMPER'S ALTERED/MIXED MEDIA ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2010!!!

Can you believe it? And I don't even have altering as my main talent (but don't tell anyone ;)

This, together with the fact that I have reached over 200 followers and have had over 10,000 hits since feb 1:st calls for a big celebration candy. I also want to thank my followers and all of you lovely blogfriends out there that take the time to leave me comments. You don't know how much it means to me.

AND I'm launching a new blog called CRAFTER'S GUIDE where I put links to all sorts of crafts: free quiltpatterns, amigurumi, magazine blogs, challenge blogs, candy, tutorials and everything that I can't fit here. I'm hoping to review products and write about webshops. It all depends on the feedback I get and what you're interested in. I'd like to be your guinaepig :)

So to celebrate I have put together the SWEETest candy ever. All stamps are given to me by Lynette - the owner of sweetpea stamps. Thank you Lynette.

There will be several winners:

First prize is the biggest one with a candy/fruit/cupcakes themed paper set from DCWV, 5 SWEETpea stamps (Ryla, white peacock dryad, bad bunny and two textstamps) and a whole lot of embellishments, ribbons and other things (seen in the top image and below).

Second prize is three stamps from sweetpea stamps seen below. A fab mix of different artists from the sweetpea shop. With the first one you will be able to enter our Alice in wonderland/little red riding hood contest and that's one of the reasons I'm giving it away. So whoever wins this I hope you'll join us. Last day to enter the contest is march 30:th.

Coral immersion by ching chou kuik:

Valencia by Nikki Burnette:

Baby sweet dreams by Lisa Victoria:

Third prize is a 3-month pro membership to instructables.com. With the pro membership you can dowload your fav instructables as pdf, have less ads and other things. I have posted a couple of tutorials there and it's a great way to learn step-by-step. I even managed to win a weddingcontest with my silk fabric bouquet. HERE is a link to all my tutorials on instructables.

Ok, so now I would like to show you what I won and where I got published, oh and WHAT got published, lol.
Remeber my sweetpea mask? (Click the link for a tutorial of the mask)

and now seen in the january 2011 issue of craft stamper (the colours are more accurate on my pic above):

And here's what I won together with a 1 year subscription to the mag. So much loot to play with (and alter)

OK, so here's how to win one of my candies:

1. Spread the word about my candy. Add the top image to your candyblogroll if you have one, blogpost or however you do it. I'd love if you could mention my additonal blog craftersguide if you make a post on your blog. If you fancy take a look around here and become a follower if you see what you like (not a requirement)

2. Add your name to mr linky below. Only one per person please. Candy is open worldwide and closes just before I draw the winner on march 13:th (probably my time in the evening).

3. Come by on march 13:th to see if you won and to help me celebrate my birthday. This year I'll be all alone, only the computer to keep me company so I'll probably be surfing around. I'll make sure to stuff some cake on the monitor so you can have a taste ;) Only advantage to this kind of celebration is that I can have the cake aaaall to myself :D

That's it! Hope you'll help me spread the word.

You'd better BE MINE

2011-02-12T01:11:00.007+01:00

My crafting has come to a halt lately due to some kind of cold I can't get rid of. It's nothing bad, I just feel under the weather and have so for the last 2 weeks. Because of this I haven't felt very creative or had the energy to craft. With that said I want to show you a card I made for this week's challenge at Kraftin' Kimmies (among others).

KK are having a GDT call and you need to enter every challenge in february. One of my crafting goals and dreams is to at least be invited as a guest designer for KK, so I couldn't give up this chance no matter how I felt. Unfortunately I don't think this card is my best work, but it's as good as I could make it concidering. I had the idea for this funny sentiment together with the stamp and although the execution might not be as brilliant I think the idea is.

I used one of the older stamps called Drucilla and coloured her with promarkers. I inked the edges with distress ink and stamped swirls with versamark ink which I then drychalked. I went over her hair with a clear sakura gelly roll to add sparkle and notice the little hearts in her eyes ;) Isn't she the cutest stalker you've ever seen, lol?
The two hearts are cut out with nesties and the red one is embossed with a sizzix folder and then rubbed with a white inkpad. The border next to the image is a Martha Stewart punch called doily heart I think. I added little dots in the corners with liquid pearls and handwrote the sentiment.

Challenges for this card:

7 kids challenge fund - I heart you
Bunny Zoe's - love is in the air
Cards for men - Valentine/love
Crafts and me - RED
Crafty catz - Valentine's/love
Creative card crew - for a loved one
Cupcake crafts - seeing red
Kraftin' Kimmies - RED
Papertake weekly - have a heart
Passion for promarkers - let there be love
Stamp and create - love
Stampin for the weekend - St Valentine's day
Stamptacular sunday - hearts gone wild
Stamp with fun - love
Totally gorjuss - love

Showering you with love

2011-02-05T15:55:00.005+01:00

With Valentine's just around the corner I thought it was time for a LOVEly card. I got my DT package from sweetpea the other day and here is one of the stamps I chose to play with. Aren't they adorable? The stamp is one of four from plate 102 designed by Elaine Cox.

Both patterned papers are from Basic Grey's bittersweet line. The brown paper was perfect to use with the bears. The image is coloured with promarkers. I used cottoncandy glitterglue on the hearts and when they were dry I put some dimensional glaze on them. I went over with a clear sakura glitterpen on the bears' wings and cloud. The hears are cut out using scalloped hearts nesties. I dryembossed the biggest heart and inked all of the hearts with a brown distress ink. The edges are made with a Martha Stewart doily hearts border punch. Finally I handwrote the sentiment and added some glitter on it aswell. I'm trying to use my handwriting so I will like it when I start journaling in scrapbooking. I must say it's growing on me...

Challenges for this card:

7 kids challenge fund - I heart you
ABC - N is for nesties
Basic Grey - all hearts
Bunny Zoe's - love is in the air
Cinspirations - sketch
Creative inspirations - Valentine/love
Paperplay - stamp it out
Paper sundaes - Valentines
Passion for promarkers - photoinspiration (I got inspired by the clouds)
Secret crafter - Valentine
Simon says stamp - love is in the air

February blogcandy

2011-02-01T12:23:00.017+01:00

Tara - 2:nd

Bev 3:rd

Caroline 3:rd

Dawn - 3:rd

Jacqui - 3:rd

Little Claire's designs - 4:th

Jacque - 5:th

Kathy - 7:th

Helen 9:th

Vera 10:th

Yvonne - 10:th

Maddy - 11:th

Kiki - 12:th

Mina - 12:th

Jacque - 13:th

Vicky 13:th

Tracy - 15:th

Donna - 16:th

Tanja - 18:th

Linda - 19:th

Sandy - 19:th

Liz - 20:th

Brenda - 23:rd

Claudia - 27:th

Mandy - 27:th

Michelle - 27:th

Nikki - 27:th

Bows and berries - 28:th (winner drawn march 1:st)

Heidi - 28:th

Jacque - 28:th

Mandy - 28:th

Paula - 28:th

Claudia - ?

Particraft - when they reach 1400 followers

Hats off to you

2011-01-30T15:30:00.001+01:00

Today I would like to show you my first card using one of Nikki Burnette's stamps called Telsa from sweetpea stamps. I really like the edgy look of this stamp and thought it would be wonderful to use for a male card. I used blues and green which is my fav colourcombo for male cards. The stamp is coloured with promarkers, cut out and mounted on a piece of patterned paper. All papers are from basic grey. I didn't want to overwhealm the card with too many embellies, but still wanted to use flowers. I think the buttons help to take the cuteness away from the flowers. The sentiment is handwritten and I thought I was very clever when I came up with it.

Challenges for this card:

All sorts - recycle (I used a button that came with a piece of clothing)
Basic Grey - flower power (I used papers from BG's line Marjolaine)
Crafty catz - flowers
Everybody art - my fav thing (I used my beloved promarkers, but also BG papers)
Papertake weekly - sketch
Stamptacular - whateva

Baby giraffe in lavender and lace

2011-01-26T00:43:00.000+01:00

So glad you stopped by my blog. Today I would like to show you my last GDT card made for the I love promarkers challenge blog. This week we would like you to use lavender and lace and since we are sponsored by digi doodles the DT members have used their stamps. I got to choose one stamp too and when I came across this baby giraffe I just had to have it. I wasn't sure how easy it would be with the theme this week, but I'm always up for a challenge and when it comes to crafting I do first, think later.

The giraffe is coloured with my promarkers in lilac, lavender and amethyst. I'm very proud to say that I looked through my patterned scrap box and used only small pieces found there. I used 2 different nestabilities to cut out the circles and used an ancient piece of lace I've been having for years around the circle. The tab is a quickutz. I used white ribbon that I coloured with a promarker (great tip). After tying the bow I attached a small safetypin and one of the bells I got at a thriftstore. Wasn't sure when I would use them, but knew they were "good to have" ;)

Finally I embossed the background cardstock with an embossing folder before attaching the rest to it.

Challenges for this card:

All sorts - boy/male
Friday sketchers - sketch
I love promarkers - lavender and lace
Simon says stamp - bingo (I used bottom line; die, emboss, ribbon)
Stamp challenges - something cute

Happy birthday Lynette and sweetpea candy

2011-01-24T21:48:00.000+01:00

Lynette - the owner of sweetpea stamps - is having her birthday this week and to celebrate she's having lots of candy. Everyday through Jan. 28th, she will be raffeling off 5 count grab bags. She will pick the winner the following day for the previous day's candy. When the winner is picked, you will have until Jan 31st to notify Lynette with your address. For more info and to sign up go to THE SWEETPEA BLOG. Good luck!

Through January 28th, place any size order and you can purchase 'It's My Birthday' (seen above) for only $1.

One per person. Details on website.

Candy win

2011-01-21T17:17:00.000+01:00

Just thought I'd brag a little and thank the cuddly buddly for sending me these adorable stamps. Aren't they the cutest bunnies you've ever seen? You can get them at the cuddly buddly shop and they are also available as decoupage sheets and digistamps I believe. Here are the three sets I won. Can't wait to start colouring them.

Whiff of joy guest DT call

2011-01-20T00:31:00.001+01:00

Some of you know that I'm a huge fan of the Whiff of joy stamps (especially the ones drawn by Alison Acton - have you seen her latest ones? WOW!) So it's only natural that I want to apply for Katharina's bi-monthly guest design team call. I think I missed the last one, but not this time. I marked my calendar so I wouldn't miss it :)

The challenge this time is to choose your fav WOJ project. I have a bunch of cards that I'm proud of, but the thing that stands out the most is this inspirational frame. I'm also very proud of my bookmark cart, but Katharina has already seen it and I actually got invited to the inspirational blog to show my tutorial of it there. It was such an honour.

So here is why this is my fav WOJ project of all times (at least so far). Click the pictures for a bigger view.

I used fall Willow catching leaves because I just LOVE the dynamic and feeling this stamp conveys. Her clothes and ribbons are flowing in the wind like the birds had just flewn by. When I came across the birdstamp from hero arts I just new I had to use it with Willow. The birds were the perfect size and I love how it looks like they are bursting to freedom out of her hands. I coloured them seperately and clearembossed to give extra texture. I also think Willow is coloured beautifully with my promarkers. I think I've evolved a lot since then, but it still looks great.

The decorated bird sitting in the right hand corner was one of my inventions. I was so proud when I made it because I hadn't seen anything like it anywhere else. I used a bird die that I embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder. If you look closely you can see a part of a bird on the embossing. I also made sure that the swirl was around the eye area to make it look like an eye. I cut away petals from a big primaflower and used them as tailfeathers.

I used a lot of tiny details like dimensional glaze on dewdrops, charms and beads and I even made a tiny butterfly from shrink plastic

Finally the inspirational sentiment that binds this whole piece together:
"Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
life is like a broken winged bird
that cannot fly"

This was one of my first, if not my first altered project and definately my first try at distressing. So although it's been almost a year since I made it it's still one of my best pieces that I'm very proud of. Now all I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope you'll do the same for me.

Heartfelt wishes

2011-01-19T00:02:00.001+01:00

Already time for another project for the I love promarkers challenge blog. This is my second to last week and the theme we have for you is "sweet and simple". I started out with a very simple idea; just plain squares and a monochromatic look. It was a bit too plain though so I distressed the edges and added a punched out border. I also coloured the polkadot ribbon with my promarkers to exactly match the colourscheme.

The stamp I used is from sweetpea stamps and is called one and only heart from plate 68. I used burgundy distress ink for the image's background. The girl is coloured in several red hues as there are no good that matched. The colours I used were: ivory and blush for skin, dusky rose, ruby, burnt orange, burgundy, burnt umber, coral for dress and hair.

Challenges for this card:

Alice in wonderland - mostly white or red
Creative craft challenges - monochromatic madness
I love promarkers - sweet and simple
My time to craft - spots and dots
Paper sundaes - your fav challenge (I chose #41 - a natural woman)
Papertake weekly - ribbons and pearls
Pear tree - free for all
Promarker challenge - all you need is love
Simon says stamp - sketch
Simon says stamp and show - polka dots

I love you -deeply

2011-01-16T22:56:00.001+01:00

This is my second post for today and this week's sweetpea card.
What a fabulous image and colours for this card, don't you agree? It makes me happy just looking at it. I love the slightly different colourcombo with pale turquoise, green and vibrant red. And who said you can't have flowers under the sea?

The image I have chosen for today is one of Samantha Rawling's little sweethearts called lil' mermaid from sweetpea stamps. I love her first stamps and this one has been hiding from me. Being a scubadiver this image is very close to my heart. Imagine seeing one of these creatures brushing her hair during a dive!

I have coloured the little mermaid with my promarkers. The papers (from daisybucket) are so vibrant and beautiful that I wanted to keep the card simple. The only thing I did was to doodle a bit on it. I wrote "I love you" around the little heart on top right and doodled scallops around the image and bottom panel with a silver pen. Other than that I let the image speak for itself - so to speak :)

Challenges for this card:

Everybody art - sketch
Fuzzy wuzzy - anything goes
Oldie but a goodie - bright and cheerful
Stamp something - anything goes
The secret crafter - with love

sweetpea

So glad I found a friend like you

2011-01-16T15:27:00.001+01:00

It's been quite a while since I played with any house mouse images. Since the house mouse challenge blog are having a hop I decided to join in. I don't really have the time as school starts tomorrow, but you need to be able to relax too, right? Housework can wait. I just thought my hobbycorner would be shining from cleaning. Instead it's just sparkling (from glitter unfortunately :D)

The theme for the house mouse challenge was "new beginnings". I wanted to do something clever and thought of this image I've never used before. It's called "finding friendship" and I wanted to play with that theme.

The image is coloured mostly with oilpencils and rubbed with a kind of alcohol. I think it's called gamsol in the US. I only coloured the shade and looking glass with tea green promarker and inked the edges with weathered wood distress ink.. The rest of the card is made with scraps of two different patterned papers (although they look almost the same), an embossed cardstock strip and some trims. I also added two sizes of pale blue pearls in the corners. The text is handwritten as I'm practicing to be happy with my own handwriting for scrapbook layouts.

Challeges for this card:

Cute card thursday - monochromatic
Friday sketchers - sketch
House mouse - new beginnings
Stampin for the weekend - new and blue
Totally gorjuss - cuddly
Winter wonderland - paws (not sure if it needs to ba a X-mas card though because the DT has made others)

Happy new year 2011

2011-01-12T01:03:00.003+01:00

This is my second week as a guest designer for the I love promarkers challenge blog. Our theme this week is to use punches. You can add diecuts, but you have to use at least one punch. The punch I used for this card is a border punch. You can see a detail of it above just below Tilda's feet.
I have been playing with a lot of new stash for this card: a new magnolia stamp, new punch, new papers and even a new nestabilitie.

I have coloured the image with my promarkers. The hair is coloured with honeycomb, sunflower and tulip yellow. I used to colour with the lightest first, but now I do hair the other way around: I started with honeycomb on the places which were the deepest and should've been darkest: just little specs here and there. I then used the darkest yellow over the orange and a bit around and finally with the lightest around the edges of the last colour, making sure to leave some white specs. I'm very pleased with her hair although the dress could've been better.

The sentiment is handwritten and on the first try! I really like those round and oval sentiments, but don't have any stamps like that so I improvised. Besides - my handwriting is quite nice, so I gave it a try. The trick is to be happy with it, which I was this time :)

Challenges for this card:

ABC challenge - sketch and lace

Basic Grey - dots or spots (I used papers from the june bug collection)

Dutch dare card - new beginnings

I love promarkers - punches (I used a MS punch for the yellow panel)

Just magnolia - anything goes with optional extra buttons

Moving along with the times - out with the old, in with the new (my old stash is the lace, ribbon and buttons and of course my promarkers)

Paper sundaes - circles

Pile it on - cute children

Rainbow lady's - it's all new to me

Simon says stamp - new beginnings

Supplies:

colour: promarkers: ivory and blush for skin, honeycomb, sunflower and tulip yellow for hair, lipstick red, poppy, salmon pink, and antique pink for wings, cornflower, midnight blue and slate for dress.
papers: basic grey; june bug
tools: Martha Stewart punch, doliy hearts and nestabilities

LOVEly recycling

2011-01-06T03:20:00.002+01:00

Just after Christmas I got a mail from Karen - the owner of the I love promarkers blog asking me to be a guestdesigner for january. As I really love my promarkers I had to accept.

The first challenge was a little tricky for me, but I hope you will join us anyway. The theme for this week is to recycle something. The thing I have recycled is the big olive green flower. It came in a pack of 6 with a clip on the backside. It was meant to be used as a hairpin or to decorate your house. I only used 2 or 3 of them and the rest has been laying around. Not anything I use in my crafting, but too pretty to throw away. So when I got this challenge i started with the rose and patterned papers and worked my way from there. At the beginning I thought the rose was overwhelming the card, but I'm starting to warm up to it. i really need to get better at making my cards cluttered :) This is a good start I think.

Challenges for this card:

I love promarkers - recycle something
Just magnolia - anything goes
Magnolia-licious highlightes - 4 flowers, 3 patterned papers, 2 magnolia images and 1 ribbon
Sketch and stash - sketch

Inspirational wishes

2011-01-05T01:28:00.004+01:00

It's my final week to be the guest designer for the papertake weekly blog. The time has gone so fast that I think I've forgotten to tell you I got chosen for the GDT spot, lol. The theme for this week is as simple as it gets: anything goes with optional extra lace. I hope you will come play with us this week. Did you know papertake weekly is the best ranked challenge blog? I'm not surprised at all.

With the new year staring I decided on some cleaning in my hobbycorner. I have so many "good-to-have-stuff" that they are litterally falling on the floor and I keep tripping on them. So I really need to get rid of anything I'm not using or haven't used in a while. It was hard though as I like keeping all sorts of stuff - you never know when you're going to need them. I started with the thing I knew I needed and wanted to get rid of: a 3 compartment drawer in heavypaper that I haven't (and I kid you not) opened in TWO YEARS at least! It's taking up space in my bookshelf and contained a bunch of magazing clippings and lower quality cardstock, stuff that I'm not using and probably never will. So out it went and I filled 2 of the drawers with small pieces of one coloured cardstock and the other with patterned paper. So those 2 boxes I had earlier for papers suddenly disappeared and it looks less cluttered already. I will have to do the same thing with my ribbons...

Ok, you probably want to know why I keep rambling on about this. I do have a point, lol. The thing is that among all those papers I haven't seen in 2 years were a few experiments I've done with stamps - my own backgrounds to be exact. I haven't made my own backgrounds since I started blogging and it was fun to see something from my earlier days. One of those backgrounds were so pretty I had to use it straight away: it's the inspirational background you can see in this card. I'm getting really lazy with buying patterned paper that I've forgotten how much fun you can have with stamps. Hopefully this year will let me experiment with that a little bit more.

The card you see here is made using a lili of the valley stamp and as usual she's coloured with promarkers. The patterned papers are all from that forgotten stash and the border is one of my new Martha Stewart punches.

Challenges for this card:

Creative inspirations - something new (I used my new punch and pink copic)
Friday sketchers - sketch
Paper sundaes - something new (the border punch and pink copic is new)
Papertake weekly - anything goes with optional extra lace

Very berry mystical wishes

2011-01-03T01:06:00.001+01:00

How wonderful isn't it that the new year has started? I hope you are as excited as I am. Can't wait to see all the new sweetpea releases and what I make with them during 2011. I hope you'll continue stopping by to see what I'm up to. I'm closing in on 200 folloowers and will have a candy when I do, so hopefully it's not long left...

The card I want to show you today is my first sweetpea for 2011. I made it primarly using a 3-part challenge: colour/sketch/item, and let me tell you, it was a CHALLENGE. The colours were plum, blueberry and beige. Say what?! I've never played with that colourcombo so I started looking through my stash - there are always papers with any combo you're looking for, but not this one. I almost gave up, but stubborn as I am I got intrigued. So I realized I needed to whip up my own set of matching papers. I imidiately thought of this purple glittery one I had been saving. The blue and beige were harder as I don't use those colours much. I came across the dotty one which is the backside of a vintage charleston dancers paper. I also found the light blue with beige swirls and was quite proud at how I managed to match them up together.

The image I used is Ching chou kuik's dark sirene from plate 24 and the sentiment is from plate 46. I've never used her before, but knew she was right for this as soon as I saw her. I think it was the fact that her hair was dark that gives the card that extra "darkness" and leaves it more muted than it would be if I had coloured it blue. She is stamped with black ink and then I went over her hair with midnight blue promarker to make her hair agree more with the patterned papers. The rest of her is also coloured with promarkers. I added some glittereffects with a sakura gelly roll to the image, text and butterfly border. That pen is addictive! To make the white parts more yellow on both the image and sentiments I inked them with a distress ink. The different butterflies are made using Martha Stewart punches and the leaves are made using a quickutz die.

One part of the challenge was to use a recycled item so I made a little decoration from a bottlecap that I hammered on to flatten a bit. then glued on a circle from one of the patterned papers, filled with clear dimensional glue and filled with tiny see-through beads.

Challenges used:

Craftycreations - colour, sketch, recycled item
Creative inspirations - something new (all butterfly punches are new and image never used before)
Moving along with the times - birthday and circles
Simon says stamp - time to celebrate (with optional extra glitter)
Stamp challenges - glitter
Totally paper crafts - time to party

Have a cool yule

2011-01-02T04:21:00.003+01:00

Here is my last Christmas card I made in 2010. I didn't have the time to show you so I'll start of the new year with it. I wanted to use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp for a sassy card for my single fashionista friend. I made her a pair of pink angel earrings (that I totally forgot to photograph, duh) I didn't have any Christmas Kraftin' Kimmies so I improvised using Christmaspapers. I've had the papers a while, but the stamp is brand new. I'm very happy with the colouring and the way I cut the circle around her. Makes it look like she's sitting on the edge.

Challenges for this card:

7 kids college fund - anything goes
CES challenges - anything goes
Crafty catz - your fav challenge ( I chose #57 spots and stripes)
Creative craft - anything goes
I love promarkers - anything goes
Promarker challenge - anything goes
Sketch and stash - sketch #27 turned upside down

Supplies:
Stamp: Kraftin Kimmie, can be bought at: stamp and create
Colour: promarkers
Papers: dovecraft
Other: distress ink, silver pen for the edges, nestabilities for the circles and cornerrounder punch.