HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SWEET PEA STAMPS!

The winner is Alison- thank you all for entering!


I am so EXCITED to share with you that it is the one year anniversary of the Sweet Pea Stamps company! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I feel very, very blessed to be part of the Design Team and absolutely love the images I get to design with and the store owner and rest of the team I get to work with. Lynette is a wonderful owner and her primary concern is stamp quality and customer satisfaction. She knows what is important - and it is YOU the customers!

On that note, there is a customer BLOG HOP today! Visit the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog and there are links posted for you to visit. You will get the change to see a large variety of ways people are using the images. Please, feel free to join in if you would like! The rules are you must make a birthday or anniversary card using one of Sweet Pea Stamp images as your main focus point. You may use other companies sentiments or print up a sentiment using your computer.

In celebration of the anniversary, I get to do two very FABULOUS things! One is share a celebratory Sweet Pea Stamp with you and the second is give away some BLOG CANDY!

First the image- isn't it gorgeous? This is being released on a 4x6 sheet with some text and sentiments. Do NOT miss this one!



Second the BLOG CANDY! I have TWO images and several sentiments to give away! If you would like to win these, please leave a comment and be SURE I can either email you through your profile or leave me contact information. I have not been able to contact one of my last winners and if makes me sad :( This will close April 30, 2010 and I will post the winner on May 1st.

Grim Gift Boxes

The challenge for Macabre Monday #034 is 'Grim Gift Boxes'.


I designed this in my head instead of falling asleep the other night, but didn't actually get to work on it until today. I was with some friends while working on it and they PROMISED that they will come and bedazzle my coffin for me after I die! -I'm holding you gals to this!-

Another friend has a brother who is discussing a Halloween wedding. The talk was filling these with the bone candy. LOL! Wouldn't that be a HOOT?!?!?!

Flutter By Wednesday #105

This week at Flutter By Wednesday is an open challenge. The only requirement is that you use a butterfly, fairy or angel.
There are some changes coming to Flutter By Wednesday- some exciting one! Since change is what butterflies are all about, I decided that this is the perfect week for my butterfly box!

QKD Tuesday BLOG HOP

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. This is a NEW RELEASE week and you are in for a TREAT!!! You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

Today we were challenged to use this sketch





True to form and my inability to leave anything alone, I promptly flipped this one on end- it fits the image better too!




I am so excited that I get to work with the Whimsical Ink Sorority Kit, Tropical Utopia, this month. These kits are just amazing and I love that they come not only with the main image, but also some words/sentiments and fun complimentary images.

The next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority blog followed by Meredith's Blog.

When you finish the shop, be sure you end up at the store so you can pick up all the new releases!!!

Owls anyone?

I just got the Elaine Cox Owls plate 40 in the mail from Sweet Pea Stamps and had to play. Not only that, this image worked perfectly with a couple of challenges I wanted to do.

Challenges:
EIC #83 - This item in the store made me think of camping and being outdoors. Owls in the woods? PERFECT!
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges #45 - buttons
Gingersnap Creations #49 - The Good Earth
and too late for but the sketch I used is- they are a GREAT place for card sketches
CPS Sketches #161 - sketch

Bat Winged Lolita

I have had the most fun stamps to create with lately and this is absolutely no exception. it is called Bat Winged Lolita by Che Gilson for QKD. I tried to make her wings super 'batty' by using glossy effects, but the picture doesn't show it well. Had the perfect charm around and actually USED it instead of waiting to see if something more perfect would come along, LOL!

Hope to do some more fun creating this weekend that I can share with you!

Challenges:

Macabre Monday #033 - Freaker's Free For All

Come Flutter with me!!

It is time again for the Flutter By Wednesday challenge #104. This week the challenge is to use a butterfly, fairy or angel and have some sparkle! We also have a sponsor this week! It is Glitterbabe Greetings! There are some really fun digi images in her store- be sure to check it out!



This week for my creation I used the Masked Green Fairy image from Sweet Pea Stamps. I ended up using Kaisercraft pearls for the sparkle portion. I was going to use standard bling, but the pearls worked so much better I had to go with it :)

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop- New Release Hop!!!

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. This is NEW RELEASE week and you are in for a TREAT!!! You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

Today we were challenged to use this sketch


True to form and my inability to leave anything alone, I promptly flipped it on the side!

I am so excited that I get to work with the Whimsical Ink Sorority Kit, Tropical Utopia, this month. These kits are just amazing and I love that they come not only with the main image, but also some words/sentiments and fun complimentary images.

The next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority blog followed by Meredith's Blog.

When you finish the hop, be sure you end up at the store so you can pick up all the new releases!!!

Friends Having Fun- Color Challenge!

For all of you challenge addicts out there (who me?) there is a new kid on the block!! It is Friends Having Fun! and TODAY is the first challenge! This challenge blog has a fun format in that each week of the month is a different type of challenge. This week is a color challenge. The colors are:

china blue, sunshine yellow and white!

Show us what you can do with these colors and enter the challenge! You are encouraged to create ANYTHING! Cards, scrapbook pages, altered projects, sew, knit or crochet something...anything! COOK something and take a photo- or even better, paint and decorate a ROOM! What can YOU create?

To be, or not to be....

So, it is no secret that I love challenges and that there are a few I particularly enjoy. When I saw that Macabre Monday was to use a Shakespeare quote, I was certain I could do it. Then I got this stamp in the mail from Stamp It Crazy and KNEW there must be a Shakespeare quote I could use with the image.

Then I went to the ETSY Inspired Challenge and found this item in the store for this week. Love the bright color with black and white and the ovals so decided to use that as inspiration. I ended up a little more pink red than orange red like the charm, but close :)

Last, but not least, the PERFECT sketch- ovals and all at Sketch Saturday.



So- what do you think? I am thrilled with how it all came together! The quote I used is "The course of true love never did run smooth" from a Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare.

Challenges:
Macabre Monday#32 - Somber Shakespeare
ETSY Inspired Challenge #82 - This item
Sketch Saturday #97 - sketch

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!

We have some winners!!! First, I want to thank all of you that participated in the BLOG CANDY. I really enjoyed reading what everyone selected as their favorite image(s).
Random.org provided me with the following eight numbers/winners:

30 -Betty said...

Hi:)

Dragons set for me!! Betty would be sooooo jealous!!!! Demon Monkeys Rule:)

2 - MomOfAllTrades said... Well, I would have been first, but I had to look through them all AGAIN for the umpteenth time... :)

So, I have to say that my FAVORITE is still the Haitian Relief Stamp, but it is in close competition to Nostalgia.

Happy Birthday to your dad in heaven. (((HUGS))) for you on that day

20 -marilynwillauer said...

I too had to look at them all, there all great, but my very very very favorite is Cupcakes and Presents, on a birthday roll right now!!!

4 -Alison said...

How fun Alex! While I LOVE the new Owls and dragons, I'm going to have to say my favorite is the new Exotic Halloween. It's just gorgeous! Happy Birthday to your Daddy! Make sure you light a Birthday candle for him!

34- maiahs_momma said... I would have to say the "Haiti Relief Stamp", she is so elegant :)!
Thanks for this chance to win some goodies :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

32-jenalih said...

crap, crap, crap...ok, I have to change my favorite...you see, lately I have this thing for butterflies...My very, very, very favorite is Plate 2 with the gorgeous butterflies and awesome sayings (and the incredible card made by you Alex). You can email me at jenalih@yahoo.com when I have won. ;)

19 -tanya904 said...

It wasn't easy to choose just one of my faves but I guess it would be the Elaine Cox "Alice Series" I just love all of the Alice stamps especially the one with Alice and the Cheshire Cat
tanyainjville@yahoo.com

5 -Lisa said...

How cool! I love all those images, but think my fav is "love is gone". They are all so fun to color! I am feeling the itch to add to my collection!

I will attempt to contact the winners for mailing information, but feel free to contact me too!!!

Smeared and Smudged BLOG Hop

Smeared and Smudged is a forum started by this AMAZING person Terra. It is an absolutely wonderful place filled with the nicest people and such talent. Everyone is encouraging of each other. I just love it! It is also a great place for me to show off a bit of the more macabre stuff I make/like and have people get it!

Last time we had a member blog hop it was a lot of fun so we are doing it again!! I invite you to come join us!

I decided it was time for me to make a Zombie Escape Manual. I made one of these for my son, but everyone must have their own. Remember, the number one rule for escaping the Zombie Attack- run faster than the person you are with!

Front Cover - with requisite bloody finger prints

Back cover with the image from the Smeared Ink set
just as a reminder of what really needs to get done (and who is best able to do so).

Inside pages with escape routes, anatomy reminders,
and lots of places to make notes and plans.

I hope you have enjoyed my creation for today's hop and be certain to check out what everyone else has created. Here is the list of participants. After you visit them all- it is your turn to go CREATE SOMETHING!

Full list

Alison- http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com
Kelli- http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com
Meredith- http://www.papercanteen.com
Michelle- http://mylifemydreamsmyscrapping.blogspot.com/
Kathi- http://kathstales.blogspot.com
Kim- http://offthewallcraftiness.blogspot.com
Lisa- http://www.ldfdesign.blogspot.com
Danielle- http://www.scrappy-arts-n-thoughts.blogspot.com
Alex- http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com
Jean- http://iboard.jeansartdolls.com/index.php?showtopic=11977
Monica- http://giddygreetings.com
Sarah- http://sarahscrazycreations.blogspot.com
Erica- http://www.inkedupandreadytoplay.com/
Black Dragon- http://lynsblogger.blogspot.com/
Kymberly- http://dulcamarasdarkart.blogspot.com
Steph- http://stephscreativechaos.blogspot.com
Lady Brayton- http://ladybrayton71.blogspot.com/
Barb- http://haunteddesignhouse.blogspot.com/
Terra- http://www.moresmearedink.blogspot.com/

Flutter By Wednesday challenge #103

This week the challenge at Flutter By Wednesday is to use the colors green, blue and white with your butterfly, fairy or angel. I used one of the fairies from The Greeting Farm this week.


Be certain to link directly to your post not your blog in general. If you have any questions how to do this, Danni has created a tutorial post here. This week there is a different linking system being tried out that will give little pictures!!! I am excited and really hope it works!

QKD Tuesday blog hop

Welcome to my stop in the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. If you came here from Shannon's blog you are on the right track. If not, you might want to hop back to the QKD Blog and start at the beginning.

This week is a 5th week of the month. During the 5th week we get to do something a bit different. I want to share with you a project I made with the January Royal Kit. If you have not seen the kits, you really must check them out. Not only do they come with a great assortment of papers and goodies, but each one has a stamp set that is exclusive to the kit! How fun is that?

I created a travel candle in an altered tin. This is done by melting some candle pieces, then as it is cooling inserting wicks and some additional colored pieces that stay solid.


I used the kit to alter the tin. That FABULOUS butterfly- one of the stamps in the kit. so are the papers and pretty much everything used to alter except the ink.



Speaking of kits- have you seen the card class kit? It is a must have!~

Now hop on over to the Whimsical Ink Sorority followed by Meredith's blog to continue on your journey.

Once Upon a Time

I want to tell you the story of a princess. The Princess lived in a wonderful land that was also at war with the land next to them. In an effort to bring peace to the land, the two kings decided that their children should marry. There was a grand feast held in the castle so that the Princess might meet her future husband from the neighboring land. The Princess was beautiful and polite and spent much time talking with the Prince from the neighboring land. After the feast, the Princess told her father, the King, that she would be in her room, preparing for war.

This image is from a new company called Smeared Ink and their set 'Chicks Dig Guns'. The second I saw this image I thought of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter.

Challenges:
Macabre Mondays #31 - Perilous Princess

A New Challenge Card

There is a NEW Challenge on the block folks! It is at Off The Wall Craftiness. The challenge this time is an inspiration photo and since I LOVE the colors and since Kim the challenge sponsor is just so awesome, I had to play and mix it in with some of the others!


Hot pink- you must have KNOWN the mingo was coming out :) especially with SPRING here too! This is an image by Elaine Cox for Sweet Pea Stamps, and I think the little hedgehog couple is too sweet.

Challenges:
Off The Wall Craftiness- inspiration picture
Saturday Challenge #76 - pink, green & flowers
Sketch Saturday #95 - Sketch
Color Chef #44- pink, turquoise, black/white
Incy Wincy #35 - Easter or Spring
Practical Scrapper- use something you've had over a year (ribbon, pp, & Bazzill edge)
Charisma Cards #12 - Spring Has Sprung
Crazy 4 Challenges #29 - Spring

Some Days...

Some days just mandate that a person have some yumminess to rest their eyes upon. For me, today is one of those days. I thought I would share :)

Time Flies When You Flutter By!

Today is Flutter By challenge #102! I hope you join us this week! It is an OPEN challenge so all you need to do is include a Fairy, Butterfly or Angel on your project. Can't wait to see your creations!


I made this card using the image Time Flies from the Fantasy Art Collection by ching-chou kuik for Sweet Pea Stamps. The background is washi paper from a friend in Japan. I edged everything and decorated the white brads with my new gold paint pen-loving this new toy!

I am giving away some Sweet Pea Stamps blog candy HERE!

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop!

This is the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

We were given an inspiration photo that can be seen on the QKD Blog at the beginning of the hope. I decided to pull on the colors in the photo. I used Mad Fancy from the March release designed by Maigan Lynn for QKD.




Your next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority. Check it out and then after the hop, hit the store for some supplies since there is a SALE right now of 40% off most stamps!

Operation Write Home

Operation Write Home is having a blog hop and there are some absolutely AMAZING creations, tips, stories, candy and love being shared! I hope that you get a chance to visit at least some, if not all, of the participant's blogs.

The hop starts at the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog.

BLOG CANDY

Please see the post on April 3, 2010 for the winners of the blog candy. Comments have been closed at this time. Thank you to all who participated!!!


I get to give away some STAMPS!!! I am sooooooooooo excited! Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps sent me a BUNCH of the quotes that can be found on their complete sheets. These are high quality unmounted red rubber and the quotes on the Sweet Pea Stamps are just wonderful.

So- I bet you are wondering how you can get YOUR hands on some of these aren't you? I am going to be giving away 8 different assortments of quote stamps.

I want you to go to the Sweet Pea Stamps store and then come back here and leave a comment with the name of your very, very, very favorite image/stamp. On April 3 (because that is my Daddy's birthday and I miss him!) I will do a random draw for the prizes.

All the blah, blah stuff: only one entry per person please, include your email address or be certain I can get in touch with you from your comment link somehow. I will ship internationally, however, please know that I won't spring for insurance or anything since this is all in fun and free for you. Please feel free to spread the word- it would be greatly appreciated :)

Now - go check out the store so you can play!!!

Springtime Gothic

There are those projects that are so fun and make themselves. This is one of them. Once I had the paper and the stamp selected, it just happened! That is when creating is REALLY fun and exciting (and messy)! The image is a Daniel Torrente from Stampotique. The spider purse is my own addition, but seriously, how could I not?

Challenges:
Stamp-It-Crazy - Gothic Green Week Challenge #1
Stampotique Designers Challenge - #3 Spring Has Sprung

It is time to FLUTTER

Flutter By Wednesday that is :) Your challenge this week, should you chose to accept it, is to use a shamrock and/or the color green. You also need to be certain to use a butterfly, fairy or angel on your creation. This week I am very excited to be using Chelly from Paper Makeup Stamps. Not only is she PERFECT for this week's challenge, but PMS is also our sponsor at FBW this week!! Be certain you check out what an amazing prize is up for grabs!!! It is a random draw so EVERYONE has a chance to win!!!

Just for fun

I am really, really enjoying altering books. I have so many ideas rambling around my head I want to get out. I HAVE to share this with you though as it is also my entry for this week's Macabre Monday challenge #30- Hello Dolly. You might not be able to tell, but this 'gal' is tearing apart a teddy bear and throwing him into the fire. How could I resist using that picture! Guess I should have read the story to see what her deal was :)

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

This is the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

This week we were given a color challenge to use green, yellow, black and white. I decided to use the stamp Hali and the Magical Lilly Lagoon.



Your next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority. Check it out and then after the hop, hit the store for some supplies since there is a SALE right now of 40% off most stamps! That means Hali is only $4.79!!!! :)

Challenges:
2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch
C.R.A.F.T. #41 - color/citrus
Charisma Cardz #10 - beautiful butterflies
The Pink Elephant #58 - SPRING!

Altered Book- Love theme

I was able to attend an Altered Book class earlier this year. Altered books are something I have ALWAYS wanted to do. There are TONS of resources on line and I have read and reread all of them that I know about. However, I never actually DID one until this class. Now, I can't stop. They are FUN!!! This is the one I made during the class. Who knows- you might just see it in my ETSY store for sale before too long ;)

For My Friend

I have a very, very dear friend who recently lost her Dad. She has a difficult time of year ahead of her and she has always been my shoulder during April as well since that is my tough time because of the death of my Dad and his birthday both being then. When I heard about her Father, I knew that I needed to get her a comfort afghan. Thank you so much to the wonderful members of Heartmade Blessings for making the squares so I could assemble this for her. I hope she can feel all the love we are sending her.

Story Time

This is just one of the new Lisa Victoria Art Collection images being previewed for Sweet Pea Stamps! You can see the others on their blog here.


Challenges:

SSDS #30 - Open Challenge
Card Patterns #54 - sketch
EIC #78- this item- the colors used in the picture

Victoria Case BLOG CANDY!

Victoria Case has designed a new stamp set exclusively for SCACD that is going to be released March 12!! I can not WAIT! I am never disappointed by either Victoria or SCACD!!! Victoria has an opportunity to actually WIN the release on her blog here. Go check it out now!! There is also a little preview - you do not want to miss that!!

Happy 100th Flutter By Wednesday!

I am so honored to be part of the Flutter By Wednesday team and to celebrate the 100th challenge!!! The challenge originated with only butterflies, so the team decided to work together on a project. We want to honor Danni and how sweet and wonderful she is. Karen came up with the idea for us all to make these sweet butterfly boxes and provided us a pattern created by Brenda that can be found here.

Now- show us YOUR Flutterby!

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

Week two of the new releases hop! I am LOVING what I have to share with you! However, details first -
This is the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

We were given a sketch challenge-you can see the sketch on the QKD Blog - and I am pleased as can be with the end result. I am using Mad Fancy designed by Maigan Lynn for Queen Kat Designs Stamps.



Your next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority and a STUNNING creation. Check it out and then after the hop, hit the store for some supplies :)

Punk Boy

This is entry #2 for me for Macabre Monday #028 and Teen Angst. My first entry is still what I find to be most appropriate, but this one fits pretty well too :). This image is from Queen Kat Designs Stamps called Punk Boy. It is one of the designs by Che Gilson and she has such a fun style that I am working to collect all of them.