Genie

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Around the World

Welcome back to the IKEsWORLD challenges :)  do pop on over to IKEsWORLD to join in the challenge, just remember, you must use and IKEsART image to be eligible for the prize.  Why not pop on over to the store too :), Ike produces the most amazing stamps, everything from off the wall to cute and fluffy :) :) :)

For this fortnights challenge of Around the World I thought it would be great to work with a digi I have had my eye on for some time :)  The digi is Genie and as I am living at the moment in the Middle East it only seemed right to represent a country from the region.  I am actually in Saudi Arabia but we don't have belly dancing here :) :) :)

To start with I used a photo from Wikipedia which was perfect for this creation.  The image is copyright free to use with modification.  Next I removed the background from the digi and placed her where I wanted her on the photo.  While I am in my art program doing this I also added a quote by Andy Irwin - Don't be afraid to be amazing.  The are so many amazing women in the Middle East, especially here in Saudi who are daring to push the boundaries and moving forward with any independence they can.  We now see ladies working in shops which was unheard of a few years ago although this is not the only location they work.  Many are in mainstream business and use every opportunity to advance their experience and qualifications so as to continue with their growth.  Yes, many are a shining inspiration to me in so many ways.  Ooppps got side tracked there <g>.  Once I had prepared my candle wrapper I printed it on tissue paper.

Next was to colour here in.  You can see I place my tissue paper on regular copy paper for printing and I will leave it like this while I hand colour the image using some new crayons I got this week -  Derwent Inktense oil based crayons - totally yummy :)  I did have to be a bit daring with the colouring especially of the skin as the candles I use place a light cream layer over the image.  Fingers crossed, by leaving the skin a bit on the pink side it will appear more natural later.

 Once the image was colour it I cut the wrapper and placed it on my candle. I then wrapped it in grease proof paper to protect everything while I used my heat gun to melt the wax through the image.

 Done :) now for the finishing touches.  I have some gold powder stuff that is for candles so I applied that to the dancers clothes trim and chains.  I then added some gold wax trim and finished off with a water based candle varnish.  We all know how candles are  rather a safety issue around the house so I try to keep mine as safe as possible in the materials I use.

And here we have the finished candle, I have to admit, I am really pleased with the way this has turned out, it is only the second candle I have done where I have hand coloured the image :)

Ingredients:-

• Digi - Genie by IKEsART
• Faber Castle Inktense crayons
• Candle from IKEA
• Varnish, trim and gold dust from my stash

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Crafting from the Heart - W, E3 - Always Anything Goes
• Crafty Boots - 2W, SIO - (Week 1) Gold
• Digi Makeover Challenge - W, SIO, must use digi - Favorite Color (MY FAV COLOUR IS PURPLE)
• Not Just Cards - 2W - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
• Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - W, C10  Anything Goes.....With a Twist of Red 
• Brown Sugar – W, E2 - No. 113 - Anything Goes
• As You Like it Challenge - 2W, E3- (W1 of 2) Favorit Digi Stamp and Why - (FAVOURITE DIGI AS IT IS FULL OF MOTION, SHOWS SOME OF THE FUN AND POSITIVE OF THE MIDDLE EAST, SEDUCTIVE, REALISTIC)

SPS - Room for Two

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to post a creation for Sweet Pea Stamps and I have chosen to use the adorable image Room For Two by Karen Middleton.

I started by printing the image with some text and then coloured the image in with Promarkers.

 Promarkers used

I airbrushed the background of the stamp with Promarkers and then added some of these chips (the blue ones) for a bit of texture.

For the flowers I used the Sizzix die - Tiny Lili and used the same Promarkers to colour them that I had used in the image.

Once the image was mounted I added the flowers and some pearl stems along with a wee blue bow.  I then used a Spellbinders Lattice die and some of the backing paper I still had to make the two corners which I then finished off with Liquid Pearls.  Alas I forgot to take a photo of that but you can see them in the final pic.

 The finished card :)

Ingredients

• Image -  Room For Two by Karen Middleton
• Promarkers
• Dies - Sizzix Tiny Lily and Spellbinders Lattice
• Backing paper - Pixels_And_Icecream 
• Liquid Pearls, gold line stickers, pearl stems from my stash.

Challenges entered

• Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - 2W, 3E -  No. 74 - (W2 of 2) - Dogs & Cats
• Wags 'n Whiskers - 2W, 2E, SIO - No. 138 - (W2 of 2) -  With Our Furry Friends
• Delightful Challenges - W, 1E, SIO - Cute and Cuddly
• A song in your He{ART}-2W, 3E- #96 I've got a dog (2nd week)
• Baffies Kreativladen - M -  Friendship (ends Oct07)
• Deep Ocean Challenge 2W - #87 - At least One Flower - (Week 1) 
• Papertake Weekly W - Oh How Cute
• Fitztown Challenge - 2W, F, SIO, new 2-week challenge every week  (Week 1) Animals using Digital Elements (DIGITAL DP and SENTIMENT)
• Whoopsi Daisy - W, SIO - Bling and/or Pearls
• Animal Friends Challenge - M, P1, E3 Must have an Animal made ​​of paper and an animal motif

I'm Dreaming of a Wide Christmas

What a fun morning :)  Last night (well 5 weeks by the time you read this <g>) I was asked to make something for the  Barnemix site, a Norwegian crafting blog run by Anne-Lise using a Dr. Digi called 'I'm Dreaming of a Wide Christmas'.  I was also given a template by the Cutting Cafe to make a book box, a new one one me and quite a challenge.  I did make a few modifications as I wanted the box smaller to give a better book effect.

After cutting my box sections (and yep I know I have a wrong fold line here <g>) I then covered the outside of the book cover with three different Christmas papers.  On the two bottom ones I distressed the edges.

 Then I added two dividing sections to the box so I could put three bags of nuts in later.  The box was then glued to the inside of the book cover.

 Onto decorating the front now.  I made a title for the book which I sprayed with Crafter Companion Gold spray as it was just to white.  I also make the title for the side of the book in the same way but I have forgotten to take a pic, well I thought I took the pic but it is not on my camera.  Maybe I will find it a video if I go check there hahaha.

The digi was coloured with Promarkers and I added white glitter for the white part of the hat and the wide lady's lace trim on her corset.  Another blast with my gold spray - I do love this product which was purchased on my recent trip to the UK.

Promarkers used along with my gold pen which was used for bits and bobs on the digi.

 I then printed out some paper with a graphic of the side of a book on it to give the effect of pages to my book.  Gold elastic was added with a gold bow to hold the book closed.

 Image of the inside of my book box and a nutty sentiment >)

 Front cover which also shows how I finessed off with some gold ribbon between the different backing papers, red and gold Stickles around the digi mount and three snowflakes with red hearts inside.  Yep a fun day, thanks Anne Lise for asking me to do this.

Ingredients

• Digi - Dr. Digi's 'I'm Dreaming of a Wide Christmas
• Box template by Cutting Cafe
• Promarkers
• Dies - Sizzix - 657938 and Impression Obsession Snowflakes
• Christmas Papers, ribbon and Stickles from my stash

Challenges entered

• Jingle Belles - 2W - must be Christmas - (W1 of 2) - At least 3 different patterned papers
• Fussy and Fancy - 2W - No.123 - (W2 of 2) - Main Color - Red
• Simply Create Too - 2W - No.71 - (W1 of 2) - It's a Special Occasion
• STAMPlorations Challenge Blog - M, 3E  - (1st Friday of the month)  September - Stamps and Markers
• Winter Wonderland - W, 3E, must be Christmas – Layer It Up
• Dream it Up - M SIO -Christmas and the Holidays (HUBBY IS DREAMING UP WHAT OTHER TREATS MAY AWAIT HIM AT CHRISTMAS :) :) :) !!!! )
• ABC Christmas Challenge - 2W, Christmas - Something Festive (2nd week)
• Crafting By Designs - F - Christmas
• Digistamps 4 Joy - 2W, SIO  - #100 Celebration (ends Oct01)
• Divas by Design - W, 2E - Glitter
• Crafty Sentiment Designs W, 1E, SIO - Christmas in September
• All Crafts Challenge - 2M, 1st Monday of the month every other month, NO CARDS - (Aug/Sept) Anything but a Card
• Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - P1 anything goes as long as it's Christmas 
• Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations - 2W, P1/15, E3, #9 - Digi/Man in Your Life
• Addicted to Stamps - 2W, must use stamp- #87 For a Man or Boy
• Come and Get It - W, Unlimited - Use 3 of Something (3 DESIGN PAPERS, 3 COMPARTMENTS, 3 SNOWFLAKES) 
• Hobbycutz -W, 3E, SIO -  #66 Not a Card
• Pile It On - W #38 Shiny

SPS - Maggie

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase an image from Sweet Pea Stamps for our Artist Week where the whole team are using images by Elaine Cox.  I have chosen to work with the image Maggie.

Just for a change I have made a note pad holder instead of a card <g>.

To begin with I coloured the gorgeous image Maggie with my trusty friends - Promarkers

 Promarkers used

While back in the UK this time I treated myself to some new crafty items and on of them was the Spray and Sparkle from Crafters Companion.  I thought the gold spray may just come in handy (at the back of my mind was fairy wings <g>).  This is the first time I have used this and WOW I am mega impressed, not very glittery, just enough for a wee sparkle but it is also a varnish and the effect is even better than I thought it would be.

For a bit more bling I coloured some clear gemstones with my Holly Promarker, these were added to the centres of the flowers.

To hold the paper pad I have made a small tray box using the same card as I used for the project.  To finish off I trimmed the lower outside edges with some blue lace and added the ribbon loop to hold the pencil.

Oh I do love decorating my IKEA pencils hahahaha, here I have coloured the pencil with  a Promarker and then added a string of pearls with gems.  A big bag of gems was another purchase I made and I just love nosing around in it to see all the different ones I found in a few shops.

 And here we have the finished note pad holder.

Ingredients

• Image -  Maggie by Elaine Cox
• Promarkers
• Dies - Tim Holtz Decorative Strip Die - Interlocking Ovals
• Backing paper - Pixels_And_Icecream  Flowerpower 
• Ribbon, lace and beads from my stash

Challenges entered

• Lia Stamps - Lavender and Lace
• Hobbycutz -W, 3E, SIO -  #66 Not a Card
• Lacy Sunshine - 2W, 3E, SIO, digi available - #42 Use Something With Wings
• Robyn`s Fetish - W - #230 Use a Die Cut or Punch
• That Craft Place - 2W, 1E - Sentimental
• My Time to Craft - W - FANTASY!
• 4 Crafty Chicks - W- Fancy Folds
• Divas by Design - W, 2E -  Anything but a card
• Wonderful Wednesdays - W, SIO -  Always Anything Goes

OSAAT - Orchid Beauty

Hello folks.  We have another challenge at One Stitch At A Time so how about popping over to see all the fabulous creations by the design team.

We have some changes going on with the way we run the challenge, we are now going fortnightly with a prize for the random winner and badge for the Top 3 chosen by the DT.

Challenge #220

Theme 'Anything Goes with a Flower' 

The sponsor is StitchyBear Digital Outlet with a 5 image September prize pack. Remember if you use one of the store items you can enter as many times as you want <g>.

This week I worked with the image Orchid Beauty Digital Stamp and Paper Pack by Coosty Creations.

 Yesterday when in IKEA I managed to find the type of mugs I have hunted for for ages, the ones you can put your own paper insert into.  I know they are readily available in the States but shipping to Saudi is to costly for that and if I bring them in from China I have to buy a huge quantity, far more than I can use.  Anyway, I was over the moon to find them yesterday and so today have used one for my creation.

I used two of the papers that come with this pack (there are four in all in the pack with the digi) to create my background and place the digi on top.  All this was done digitally.  I then printed my project.

Next I coloured the image with another another new pressie I bought myself - Faber Castle Inktense oil crayons - wow I am in love, I thought it would be hard to find something to match my Promarkers but these certainly do :)  I also shaded a bit behind the hexagon so it would have a 3d effect.

Here is a close up of the flower - not the best pic as I photographed it on my knee with only a light behind me, the colour is a bit wrong too - sorry :)

Once this was all coloured I used the liner which came with the mug as a template and cut what was needed - part of a cone shape.  This was then placed inside the area designed for inserts and there we have it - a new and unique mug :)

Ingredients:-

• Digi -  Orchid Beauty Digital Stamp and Paper Pack by Coosty Creations  available from the StitchyBear Digital Outlet
• Faber Castle Inktense oil crayons
• Mug from IKEA

I am entering the following challenges

• Crafting At the Weekend -M,  E3,  #5 Anything Goes
• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W1 of 2) # 27 Anything Goes
• Divas by Design - W, 2E -  Anything goes
• Fresh Brewed Designs - 2W, 5E - School Days (2nd week) - EVERY TEACHER NEEDS A BREW ON THE GO WHEN TEACHING <g>
• Wonderful Wednesdays - W, SIO -  Always Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamps W, 1E, SIO, C10 - # 187 Anything Goes
• All Crafts Challenge - 2M, 1st Monday of the month every other month, NO CARDS - (Aug/Sept) Anything but a Card
• Crafty Bloggers Network - M, SIO - (Sept) Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and hope you have a happy crafting day:)

Peacock

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Feathered Friends (may be angels)

Welcome back to the IKEsWORLD challenges :)  do pop on over to IKEsWORLD to join in the challenge, just remember, you must use and IKEsART image to be eligible for the prize.  Why not pop on over to the store, Ike produces the most amazing stamps, everything from off the wall to cute and fluffy :) :) :)

For this fortnights challenge I am working with the adorable image  - Peacock.  I have used this image so many times, it is one of those I keep coming back to reuse :)

A pretty simple creation in the end, once I had coloured the image my creative thoughts flew away and were nowhere to be found.  After playing around for about an hour I could not get the finished card to look like I wanted it to and left my craft room in a big sulk - hahhaha.  Oh well, first job in the morning - get it finished.

So here we go with what I did.  I started by printing the image and colouring with Promarkers.  I then added some of the bits of my peacock feather to the image, the sheen is just magical :)  Once that was done I added lots of blue glass gems and then trimmed the excess feather bits off.

 Promarkers used

I mounted the image on to a Sizzix doily die then mounted that on Spellbinders Grand Labels 1 then the onto Spellbinders Scalloped Squares - I wanted lots of layers on this card. The top three layers were mounted using foam tape.  Using the eye of the feather I drew the tops bits in as they were to big for the card, part of the problem I was having earlier.  To cover the silver thread I used I added another blue glass gem.  A birthday peel off sticker was added for the sentiment then a turquoise bow with a beautiful turquoise gem, recycling of my daughter's broken necklace hehehe.  I added lace behind the feather then attached to the card.

Here you can see the gems sparkling - yep this is a real sparkly card :)

 Front view of card.

Ingredients:-

• Digi - Peacock by IKEsART
• Promarkers
• Dies - Sizzix doily, Spellbinders Grand Labels 1 and Scalloped Squares
• Lace, ribbon, feather, gems and charm from my stash

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Animal Friends Challenge - M, P1, E3 Must have an Animal made ​​of paper and an animal motif
• Cards Galore Encore - M, P1, E3 MAKE A CARD! 
• Natalie and Amy's Challenge - M, P30 #24 Things With Wings!
• Sparkles Forum Challenges -M,P15, 3E * Things with Wings * 
• ABC Challenge - P1/15 ‘T is for Tic Tac Toe’ ** (RIBBON, SENTIMENT, PEARLS OR GEMS)
• Cosmic Colours Challenge - M, P1, all papercrafts #5 Color*
• Artistic Inspirations - W, E3 - Anything Goes and/or Bling
• Love to Scrap - 2W, 3E, F, digi or real stamping - (Week 1) Anything Goes
• Dragonfly Dreams - M –  Challenge 9 - Let's Celebrate with Jewels or Pearls
• Jellypark Friends Challenge M - It's All About Pets and Animals
• Pile It On - W #37 Flowers and/or Feathers
• QKR Stampede – W, 4E, SIO – No. 104 - Things with Wings
• Sweet 7 Challenge Blog -2W, E3-  No.4 (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes with a color twist - see colors below
• Little Miss Muffet Challenges -  2W, 1E, SIO (challenges listed in tab at top) (W2 of 2) - Blues and Greens

SPS Wild Heart

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase an image from Sweet Pea Stamps for our Variation Week where the whole team are using the Charity Dunhauer's Wild Heart.

To begin with I coloured the image with my Promarkers.  This was not an easy task as I wanted black hair, black clothes and red for the roses and hearts, probably the two hardest colours I find to colour with.  Although I love my Promarkers, there is nothing to blend with the black, the five different gray blending sets have nothing that comes between black and their darkest colour.  This time I have tried using the black Spectrum Noir pencil to help, not sure if I like the outcome though.

 Promarkers and other colouring mediums used

 I used papers from the Crafters Companion - Jan 2014 - Roses are Red.  The paper was used as a backing mount for the card, the tag and a bit added to the inside of the card.  For the sentiment topper I created a simple sentiment - Love needs no words as the image has a 'stitched' mouth (I guess that is most mens wish women had hahaha).  The base layer of the sentiment topper was a lace motif.

 The inside of the card.

The final embellishment to the card was a lovely lace bow finished off with red roses and a small crystal charm.

 Finished card

Ingredients

• Image -  Charity Dunhauer's Wild Heart
• Promarkers, SN blendable pencils
• Dies - Spellbinders Standard Circlels
• Backing paper - Crafters Companion - Jan 2014 - Roses are Red
• Ribbon, lace roses and crystal charm from my stash

Challenges entered

• A Creative Romance - 2W, 3E - (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes
• Craft for the Craic - M, 5E (First Friday of the month) - September - Something with Circles On It
• Sister Act Card Challenge - W, Cards. - No. 74 - Anything Goes
• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W2of 2) # 26 Anything Goes
• Divas by Design - W, 2E -  Anything goes
• A Step in the Dark - 2W, E3, dark theme req. - #10 Anything goes
• Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E - Always Anything Goes
• Open-Minded Challenges - 2W, 3E  (W1) Rolling Out The Red

SPS Regal

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase an image from Sweet Pea Stamps and I have chosen to attempt an image I got some time ago Regal, by Rebecca Sinz.  I just love this image so much but it has taken a bit of courage to see if I can colour it

I first printed the image on craft card as I wanted a natural look and then I coloured the image with Spectrum Noir blendable crayons.  For the backing paper I used something very special to me, some paper I bought when I visited Kenya last year.  i have been waiting for the perfect card and I think this was the one to cut into the roll for <g>

Lots of mounting going on with this card, the base layer then a black layer which was sprayed with Crafter Companion Gold spray, then another layer of my Kenya paper which I embossed.  The digi was mounted on black card and some peel off corners were added to the four cornets.  I used some gold netting which I placed behind the mounts and also some rather fancy black lace which looks like medallions.  To finish off three black buttons.  I do love how this turned out, suitable for male or female and the subject so close to my heart.  I am going back to Kenya again this year to visit our friends which is so exciting.  Kenya was where I met my husband, got married and had our kids before we returned to the UK in the mid 80's.  Last year was the first time we had been back, a hard decision to make as it is were our hearts live and we knew going back and having to leave again would be such a hard thing to do.

Ingredients

• Image -  Regal, by Rebecca Sinz
• SN blendable pencils
• Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Squares
• Crafters Companion Kraft Card, Gold Spray
• Ribbon, lace and buttons from my stash

Challenges entered

• Di's Digis Designs 3E 2W SIO - (W2) ALL ABOUT ANIMALS CHALLENGE
• A Creative Need - M,  (freebie provided) - September - textures and / or patterns
• A Creative Romance - 2W, 3E - (W2 of 2) - Touch of Kraft
• Brown Sugar – W, E2 - No. 110 - Use Lace
• Craft for the Craic - M, 5E (First Friday of the month) - September - Something with Circles On It
• Pattie's Creations - 2W, 2E, SIO, include an image –  No.99 - (W1 of 2) Dog or Cat (Hope you class a lion as a cat, a big cat <g>)
• Animal Friends Challenge - M, P1, E3 Must have an Animal made ​​of paper and an animal motif
• Cards Galore Encore - M, P1, E3 MAKE A CARD!
• Crafting Musketeers - M, P2, 1E #17 - Use Buttons
• Paper Minutes W- #337 Buttons
• Jellypark Friends Challenge M - It's All About Pets and Animals
• Robyn`s Fetish - W - #228 Anything Goes