Tera Presents Katarina By Teresa Sherman

 Hallo,
   Don't you just love this beautiful snow leopard??
I HAD to have this image when I saw him!!!
  And as often happens I had to do up a couple versions. Still working on my darker skin tones - a challenge for me it seems but getting there....
  I colored them both with prismacolor pencils. I backed both to some heavy shimmery gold cardstock and edged both layers with a gold metallic pen. I added some gold corner stickers and that was it - I am making a personalized Tarot/reading card deck for someone so it needs to be flat but with this (and most) stunning image from Sweet Pea Stamps - it really doesn't need anything else :)
  The card measures 4 by 6 inches.
   All for today - Take Care
          Tera

Sweet Pea Stamps

Weekly Inspiration with Nataliya

 Welcome to another inspirational blog post with Sweet Pea Stamps.
For today's card i used gorgeous image by Teresa Sherman "Katarina". You can find this digi HERE.
Image colored with distress ink and placed on digital background.

 Here is some pretty flower that i made.

Nataliya

Little jewelry bag

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. 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

Hope you've had 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 :)

The stamps I have used are from ching chou kuik plate 33. 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. Hope you liked it!

Little glittery seahorses and mermaid ATC

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 from plate 48.

Pearly tag

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 ching chou kuik.

Fluffie fairy in non traditional colors

Today I have a Christmascard in non-traditional colors. The image is called fluffie fairy from Karen Middleton, plate 115. It is coloured with promarkers and a white shimmery twinkling H2O for the white parts of her outfit.

How are your Christmas cards looking this year?

Enchantment

Nice of you to stop by the 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, 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'm so superpleased with how it 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. It is stamped with distress ink as are the edges of the image. Papers are from prima.

Hope you got inspired by my card today and that you'll come back tomorrow for another project using sweetpea stamps.

Dreamy bookmark

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. 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.

Season's greetings

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

I coloured her with oilpencils and mounted the image on a red piece of cardstock to add the red border. I thought it made the image stand out and added interest to the card. Hope you are more ready for Christmas than I am. How did it get here so fast again?!

Quick and simple collage

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 bath gel 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?

Are you scared yet?

This is the first time I have played with one of Anna Marine's images 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.

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

Soft look with dry chalks

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 plate 85 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 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.

Placement cards

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 (plate #137). 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.

Great storage idea for your sweetpea stamps

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!

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.

Autumn birthday

Hi everyone. Hope you had a fantastic august. I've been away from the blog, but now I'm back with new inspiration.

Today I'd like to show you a card using the fabulous stamp from 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. 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.

Summery butterfly wishes

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 colour combo 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 comfort zone 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 border punch. I cut it  out, embellished and raised up the wings a bit.

Dry embossed paper technique

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 dry emboss  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.