Nectar of Life

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase and image from Sweet Pea Stamps and I have chosen to work with the beautiful image Nectar of Life  by Charmaine Flannery which is available from the Sweet Pea Store in both rubber and digi.  I so love decorating my candles and what a great feeling when just the right image is found :) :) I have a passion for Native American themed images so you can imagine I was in my element with this creation.

To begin with I printed my candle wrapper on tissue paper.  The image in the background is a photo and I added some feathers using a Photoshop brush by Obsidian Dawn.  Next I added the digi image and added the name of the digi to the left hand side.

The image was coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils.

I have a few wax strips which are for candles and I often use to finish off the top of the candle but today I am trying something new.  Using some wax sheet I bought ages ago and so far have not been able to work out what to do with them lol, I have tired using a small cutter today which I have for Silver Metal Clay work.  Worked pretty well and I cut loads of these wee ovals and used them to decorate the top of the candle to hide where the wrapper end.

Still feeling like experimenting I have used and embossing folder to make a light impression on the gold wax discs.  I did try pressing harder but then the discs clung to the embossing folder so that was not working.  Have to think of something else I can try in the future.

To finish off the candle I added some gold candle bronzing powder and some gold trim on the bottom edge.  Last job was to varnish the candle with candle varnish, a water based varnish especially for candles and fire safe. All parts, with the exception of the bottom trim are fire safe, I don't mind using something not so fire friendly at the base of the candle as this is a long way from the naked flame and I am sure the candle would be thrown away long before it burns to the area of the trim.  If you would like to see how I do my candles I have a wee video you can watch.  Candle Wrapper Video

Ingredients:-

• Image - Nectar of Life  by Charmaine Flannery
• Colouring Medium - Faber Castell Polychromos
• Dies - I used a small cutter designed for Silver Metal Clay
• From my Stash - Candle, candle varnish, candle gold bronzing powder, gold trim

I am entering into the following challenges:-

• A Gem of a Challenge 2W (W2)something blue 
• Simply Papercraft - 2W, E3 - No. 6 (W2 of 2) - Anything Goes
• Crafting with an Attitude - M, 1st Thurs, E3 - #4 Anything Goes + A DT Call (New Blog Owner)

Thank you for stopping by today and hope you have a happy crafting time ahead of you :) xx

SPS - Imortal Dreams

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase an image from Sweet Pea Stamps and I have chosen to use the stunning image 'Imortal Dreams' by Charmaine Flannery.

To begin with I removed the white background from the digi making it a transparent.  The image was then placed on some digital paper (Crafter's Companion  - Nov 2012 - Autumn Floral Delight set) and I added a shadow effect.  To finish off I added a text sentiment.   Once printed I then coloured the image with Promarkers.

Promarkers used

 Next I printed the belt from the Autumn Floral Delight set twice.  On on I used eyelets to give the printed image a more realistic look. On the second I only used the buckle, this was then overlaid over the first belt section so the eyelets were behind the buckle.

 Using the blue gingham paper from the set I cut my mount for my image and used the remainder of the printed sheet to make some matching flowers using Spellbinders-Bitty-Blossoms-6.  The centers of the flowers were finished off with a wee brown bead and some stamens which I coloured with my gold Promarker.

 To finish off I added gold peel off stickers to the edges of the mount and image, some metal wings which were attached to a necklace I found in a charity shop and could not stop myself buying hahaha,  and finally some real feathers.

All done :)

Ingredients

• Image -  'Imortal Dreams' by Charmaine Flannery.  
• Promarkers
• Dies - Spellbinders-Bitty-Blossoms-6
• Backing paper - Crafter's Companion  - Nov 2012 - Autumn Floral Delight set
• Feathers, wing charms, beads and stamens from my stash

Challenges entered

• The Corrosive Challenges - 2W, 3E - #206  "B" Unique - BIRDS, BELT, BUCKLE, BROWN,  BLUE, BLOOMS, BLING (gold peel off borders, gold Stickles)
• Wags 'n Whiskers - 2W, 2E, SIO - No. 135 - (W2 of 2) -  Birthdays
• Crafting for all Seasons - M 3E - Animal
• Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #47 Anything goes/Animals
• Divas by Design - W, 2E -  Charm - 3 WING CHARMS 
• Inky Impressions - SIO - #172 Animal
• Little Red Wagon - #250 Happy Birthday 
• Going Grey With Scrap-Creations 2W, 2E - Animals (Week 1) - song "Dream Catch Me" by NEWTON FAULKNER
• Inky Chicks W, 3E, cards & altered items - #35 Photo Inspiration (Week 2)

SPS Shikoba by Charmaine Flannery

Sweet Pea Stamps

Today is my day to showcase an image from Sweet Pea Stamps and I have opted to use the digi Shikoba by Charmaine Flannery.  I love American Indian themes and dream catchers too so in this card I was in my element, what a stunningly beautiful digi to work with :) :)

I make a lot of my own digital backing papers for my cards, although the paper quality of most bought backing papers is far superior to my 120gms weight I print on I find I buy packs of papers and many don't get used. Last week I could not find a spotty paper in the colour I wanted so tried something I had seen a few folks do - use ink in an embossing folder to create a textured background with two or more colours.  For this card I have done the same thing but tried with three different colours.

Here is the finished paper where I have gone over it again with the same three colours to shade the embossed bits too.

Next I printed two copies of the digi and fussy cut one to use as a mask.  I then used the same ink pads as were used for the backing paper and blotched them around.

Now to start colouring the digi with Promarkers

And here she is completed.  I then cut the digi with Spellbinders Grand Scallop Ovals

The dreamcatcher die is by Cherry Lyn.  I planned to use one completed die and only the circular section of the others.  They were all cut using copper metallic card and then airbrushed with two colours of Promarkers.

Oh I do love lace on cards so here I have just applied white lace to one corner, trying not to make it to obvious but just adding a different texture.

Now the dies are dry, time to put the main one together.  A gem brad was added to the centre and a few drops of Cinnamon Stickles which I also added to the coloured digi.

And here is the completed card.

Ingredients

• Digi - Shikoba by Charmaine Flannery
• Promarkers
• Die -  Cherry Lyn - Dreamcatcher, Spellbinders Grand Scallop Ovals
• Embossing Folder - Embossilicious
• Stickles, lace and brads

Challenges entered

• Pile It On - W - #14 Feminine
• The Squirrel & The Fox - 2W, 2E - #67 All Creatures Great & Small (feature a creature)  (week 1)
• Kit and Clowder- M (First Saturday of the month) Something Blue
• My Time to Craft - W - #242 – Wildlife
• Open-Minded Challenges - 2W, 3E  (W2 of 2) #7  Animal Antics
• Sugar Creek Hollow  - 2W, 3E, SIO #83 (W1 of 2)  Make your own background
• Polkadoodles - W, C10 – No.14 -  Animal Magic
• That's Crafty! Challenge Blog - 2W, E3, Must be a UK resident - (W1 of 2) You Spin Me Right Round (use circles or polka dots)
• 4 Crafty Chicks - W  #188 Color a Stamped Image (Rubber or Digi)
• Crafting for all Seasons - 2W, 3E - #74 Dies and Punches