10% Off Offer for Newsletter Readers!!!!!!

Good evening everyone,

Just a quick post to let you know that sheet 13 is now in stock over at the store here

With 10% off for registered Newsletter Readers only

for sheet 13 below, Seeing Through and Fly Dandelions Ching-Chou-Kuik Sweet Pea Stamps

30TH APRIL-7TH MAY while stocks last, only if you enter the code birthday at the check-out.

I will be putting some more new items in the store over the next few days so please keep checking back to see whats come in!!

Have a lovely restful bank holiday

Luv Teresa xx

Unregrettable Pirate Life

Good morning Crafs and Me Fans,

Wow, a bank holiday weekend, thank goodness, I need some rest. All the housework is done, so hopefully some me time this weekend!

Right onto today's card  which I have made using "Unregrettable Pirate Life" from Ching-Chou kuik's Fantasy Art Collection, Sheet #10, plate #36, which is available right HERE from Crafts and Me.  I'm loving these stamps. I have coloured her using copics and added a bit of sparkle, he, he, just can't stop myself. I have used the Marianne Design flower and raised the 2nd layer and added some flat back pearls and a prima centre, gorgeous. The doily has been sprayed with some cosmic shimmer.  The whole card has the distressed look which for a change I did actually use my making memories distress tool instead of a scissors or cutting blade and after reacquainting myself with it I think I will be using it more often, lol. The spotted organza is actually a wedding favour but I put it to better use.  The little BELIEVE ticket is availabe from Alissa Designs.

Right, well I think I have probably bored you all enough, I'm off to do some blogging.

I love sweet pea stamps but...

A phrase I see often around blogger is "I love sweet pea stamps but..." and its usually about the colouring, I see some people terrified of them! Personally I find them less fiddly and faffy than some other designs as there is generally a large skin area, long flowing hair, tails or wings so not as fiddly or scary as you think. They also have excellent lines such as on the hair making it easy to identify highlight points. Some other designs have solid hair with just the outline, I actually find them much harder to do than sweet peas.

I usually make a wednesday/thursday post for Crafts & Me showing a sweet pea design so what I'll do for a couple of weeks is show you different ways of adding colour using different mediums. Not everyone has promarkers/copics or wants them so I'll cover some other colouring mediums and easy tricks.

This week is a very simple technique using Fantasy Film. Unfortunately its not the easiest thing to photograph but its highly iridescent and shiny, changes colour in the light and looks spectacular under halogen lights. It also gives a kind of 3d effect when you move it due to the small gap you get between the stamped image and the film.

For this one I have used September Rhythm and mother of pearl fantasy film.

Firstly colour just the skin tones on the stamped image and cut it down to ATC size. Ink up the stamp again using a permanent inkpad such as stazon or brilliance and place one or two pieces of fantasy film over the stamp. Next place a piece of greaseproof paper over the film and using a dry iron such as an encaustic one, iron on top of the greaseproof paper until you see the image showing through, 20 seconds is about right. If you've never used fantasy film before I have a couple of video tutorials here you might want to check out before starting!

Your image will be on the film now like below.

Next line your film up over your stamped image and secure it at the back. It might be a tiny bit loose but dont worry it adds to the effect :)

Add some bling and you have an ATC or card topper which is full of gleaming colour!
As there may be a tiny bit of a gap between the film and card it actually gives a 3d effect when you turn it and looks fab!

This one I used Dark Royalty and made the 3d wings using cosmic shimmer film in a contrasting colour. I coloured just the eyes with a promarker.

And finally this one is Dance of the Butterfly and I've coloured more on the film with promarkers. They do spread out rapidly so just a very gentle touch. As I used stazon ink (which reacts with promarkers) you couldnt blend colours like you do with card and paper so just choose areas to touch up with a solid colour.

You can also see the skin tones underneath on the card showing through quite well on this pic.

All of them have a pinky/blue/ pearl colour with the skin tones showing through below. Try different colours of fantasy film for different effects. Hope this has been of some use to you and I'll be back covering some different mediums soon.

All the stamps and fantasy film are available at Crafts and Me in the UK.

IT'S CHALLENGE #3 TIME

Morning Peep's,
I can't believe it's time for CHALLENGE #3 over at THE CRAFTS AND ME CHALLENGE BLOG already the time is flying by. I want to say a big thank you to all of you who joined in over the last 2 weeks the entries were fantastic and it is going to be a hard job for us D.T's to pick the TOP 3.
This Wednesdays Challenge theme was chosen by Marcea who wants to see SPARKLE
Our sponsor for this fortnight is:

Denise from WHIMSY STAMPS

Denise is giving the lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate to spend on stamps of your choice in her on-line store how lovely is that prize!!!



Pop over to the Crafts and Me challenge blog to see the lovely D.T's creations for this challenge





For my card which I made for my Daughter's 18th Birthday last weekend I used Ching-Chou-Kuik's Moonlight Whispering sitting on top of the card and put lots of stickles in her hair and dress but you can't see it that well by the pic. and I used Ching-Chou-Kuik's Time Flies on the bottom step as I thought that was so apt, where have those 18 years gone, I put bling on her wings and put lots of stickles on her too, I loooove stickles.
I printed up the sentiment and edged it with chalks, the papers and bow are from my stash.
The flowers are paper and I added YES you guessed it Stickles here in my store
I added crystal like Stars and small yellow plastic stars to look like fireworks to represent celebration.
The ching-Chou Stamps are avail. here in my store
The FLOWERS and ALL STARS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MY STORE by the weekend I have just not had time to put them on yet sorry.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL FOR CHALLENGE#3

Luv Teresa x

Customer Creation Day!!

Good Afternoon everyone, sorry Ididn't post any creations yesterday it was my daughter's 18th Birthday over the weekend and we had a three day celebration for her so as you can guess it has been pretty hectic here!!!
I shall make up for it now with some lovely creations sent to me to share with you all...

Card Designed byPamela Squires
using Ching-Chou-Kuik -Sweet Pea Stamps

Card Designed byPascale
using Coral Immersion Ching-Chou-Kuik-Sweet Pea Stamps and a Sea Horse made from a mould using delight Clay

Card Designed byLaura Cooper using The Man's Ruin Bombshell Stamps




Thank you ladies for sharing your wonderful creations with everyone, I think we would are agree you are all very talented crafters, please leave these lovely ladies a comment!!!!

Luv Teresa x

A couple of cards to share as I missed last week

Before I get to the cards I just have to share this with you I have been playing with the brilliant delight air drying clay that you can get Here It is such good value as it goes so far and I have used some here that I flattened and then stamped into it with the sentiment. For the colouring I used 2 different coloured brilliance ink pads and I think it gives a great effect so be ready to see me using it more this way.

Any way now onto cards.......I have 2 for you this week as I missed doing my post last week.
The first one I have tried out a More manly feel than my normal and used this super cute my guy greetings farm stamp from Crafts and me I have coloured him with promarkers








For this next card I have used this stunning sweet pea stamp ching-chou kuik's Time Flies again I have used my promarkers and this time added touches of sakura stardust pens for a bit of sparkle. I hope you are all enjoying the sun and having a good weekend sadly I am stuck working so am going to miss it but at least I am making some money to get some new stash ;)

Exotic Halloween

Hellooooo! I'm running a tad late this week but am managing to catch up at last! Today I want to show you Ching-Chou's design "Exotic Halloween" which is from plate 11. I actually think this one has an ever so pretty face and really won't be limited to using in October.
I've coloured her with Promarkers, a little tip I picked up from from Randi in colouring in the candle is to continue colouring your image behind is as normal but with a lighter hand then go over the candle area several times with the colourless blender. I've also then added sakura stardust in clear all around the candle and the inside I went over with a copic spica clear pen. I've also added sakura stardust highlights in clear and orange and also the sakura glaze pen over the eyes and lips.

The background I've coloured with promarkers adding lots of the blender then colour then running it in with my finger for a nice subtle blend.

I've made a gatefold ATC and the panels are made with starburst stains which I've run through the cuttlebug using the divine swirls embossing folder. The door handles were large white sticky pearls i've coloured with black diamond stickles.

I make lots of ATC's this time of year as I go to the Port Sunlight stamp show so if you're outside about 1pm I'll have several sweet pea ones available to trade :) Can't miss me, black hair with plum streaks, black boots with bright pink laces :D

Soft Goth Night

Yayyyyyyyy, It's Friday,

Wow this week has been a long week at work, roll on May Day!

On today's card I have used Soft Goth Night from Ching-Chou Kuik's Fantasy Art Collection, Sheet #10, plate #36, availabe right HERE from Crafts and Me. I have gone with some different colours for a change, not usually my sort of colours but it doesn't hurt to come out of your comfort zone sometimes.

I have used copics to colour her and distress inks for the background. I have used the large Martha Stewart punch, and again you can check these out at Crafts and Me too. The flowers are a bit of a mix from Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima. Lace and Ribbon are from Stash. I have added a little glamouor dust here and there, just can't resist a little sparkle!

Thanks for stopping by, see you next Friday.

ching chou kuik's Fly Dandelions

Morning peep here is my DT card for Crafts and Me, i just love this image and its lovely to colour too, i love these stamps so much i quite often use colours that i would never have used before lol like these on this card. Don't forget that you have a few more days to enter our second challenge over at Crafts and Me Challenge blog.

ching chou kuik's Fly Dandelions available at Crafts and Me
Bo Bunny papers
Copic markers to colour
Martha Stewart Leaf and Butterfly punches
Ribbon Flowers and Gem are from my stash.

That's it for now from me hope you have a lovely day.

Moonlight Whispering ATC

Today i am sharing with you the ATC I made,I used to make tons of these little Atcs(Artist Trading Cards) and swap them i have about 4 folders full of them,which is hundreds!1
I stamped the lovely SWEETPEA Moonlight Whispering Available Exclusively in the UK from CRAFTS and ME and cut her out,mounted her on card which i stamped with a SP sentiment punched one edge using a Martha Stewart punch (Arch Lattice) And the Heart embellishment i made using a CRAFTY LADY Art mould with Delight clay also available HERE at CRAFTS and ME,it,s everso easy just press the clay into the mould and push out then leave to dry and then decorate as you wish.I made a hole in this one so i could thread ribbon through and coloured with promarkers and added stickles glitter i think it came out alright!!Go have a nosey at the other fab moulds available.
And by the way you have another week to enter CRAFTS and ME challenge #2 theres another fab prize to win.

Mondays Customer Submissions

Today we have Sarah and Cheryl who were kind enough to share their designs with everyone, thank you girls they are lovely

Sarah Atcha using Sweet Pea Ching-Chou-Kuik Dark Serine stamp

Sarah

Cheryl using Sweet Pea Ching-Chou-Kuik Moonlight Whispering stamp
Both of these stamps are available in the store.
Please leave any comments for sarah and Cheryl they would love to hear from you!!

Luv Teresa x

Sunday Customer Creation Day

Good morning everyone, It's going to be a bright sunny day today and to start the day off here are some of my customer creations.
I want to thank Elisabeth for sending me her lovely art work to share with you all!

Elisabeth Helsing

Elisabeth Helsing Ching-Chou- kuik Sweet Pea stamps

Elisabeth Helsing Bombshell Stamps

Elisabeth Helsing

All stamps are available in the store.

It would be lovely if you could leave Elisabeth a comment for all her hard work.

Love Teresa xx

Caribbean Treasure

Happy Friday Everyone,

Today I am showcasing this fabulous Sweet Pea Stamp, ching-chou kuik's Fantasy Art Collection, Sheet #10, plate #3. I know you all know by now where to get these gorgeous stamps but if there are any newbies out there, you can get it right here from Crafts and Me. I had great fun making this card. I used my really old moonglow shadow ink, Malachite, and a jack o lantern glimmer mist. I sprayed these onto a doily which gave it a wonderful goldy green shimmer, it really is beautiful.

The papers I have used are prima and I have coloured the image using copics. I have used one of the Marianne Deisgns scalloped border and threaded green ribbon through. I have also used acetate and punched out a butterfly and used peewee glitters to colour it in pink and green, again not seen very well in the photograph. I have added lots of stickles to the flowers and also the fishtale. I do love a bit of glitz!

Have a good weekend Everyone.

Elaine Cox - Celestial Garden Fairy

I thought I'd have a change of scenery and go for something a *bit* cute and have made a little ATC out of this Elaine Cox image - Celestial Garden Fairy which is available via Crafts and Me or as part of a 4 image sheet with 3 other delightful images here.

Its the big eyes I like with these stamps, I love colouring in eyes, I think its the novelty factor as an awful lot of stamps dont have eyes you can colour so the bigger the better for me :D
I make lots of ATC's this time of year as I trade them at a show and the sweet pea stamps are just the right size :D

Image is coloured with Promarkers and I've added a clear glaze with glamour dust over the moon and stars. The wings I've made with fantasy film, I made a couple of layers so that they flap :)

Don't forget the new challenge is up over on Crafts and Me's challenge blog so come join in the fun! The theme is pink, brown and yellow :)

CHALLENGE #2

It's time for Challenge #2 over at the CRAFTS and ME Challenge Blog thank you everyone who joined in our very 1st Challenge and for leaving us some wonderful comments.
we had 85 entries and all were amazing so much hard work was put into every single one which is fantastic.
The lucky prize winners will be revealed over on the Challenge blog in a few days time.
Now onto CHALLENGE #2, our fabulous Trish has chosen the theme for this one it is a COLOUR COMBO and the colours are BROWN, PINK and YELLOW.
You can make any creation as long as you include these colours, the D.T's have come up with some wonderful ideas, pop over HERE to see their creations there amazing.
It would be wonderful if you could keep supporting us by entering CHALLENGE #2

Our lovely Sponsor for challenge #2 is Jodie at BUGABOO STAMPS she is giving the lucky winner 7 digi,s of their choice what a fantastic PRIZE.

My colour COMBO card for Challenge #2 is using The Red Hearts Ching-Chou-Kuik Stamp available HERE at Crafts and Me.

To make the background I placed Butterfly peel-offs over my card and then I patted chalk using a cotton wool pad over my butterflies, when I had finished the whole page I lifted off the peel- offs.
I added my fav. Stickles of course on the wings to give sparkle!!
I used various brown inks to stamp Red Hearts, Versafine vintage sepia, and Tom Holtz Distress inks one on top of the other and random areas, both avail. in the store.
I mounted the image on acetate & added some peel-off hearts.
The feathers etc. are from my stash.

Luv Teresa xx

Elaine Cox,s Little River Fairy

My dont the days fly by it,s Tuesday once again and my turn to showcase one of the fab stamps on sale at Crafts and Me. I have used one of the Gorgeous SWEETPEA STAMPS available HERE exclusive to the uk from Teresa store. It,s LITTLE RIVER FAIRY from Sheet 1 of ELAINE COX,s fab images.
I actually got out my sewing machine which i,ve had for some time and stitched around the edges.I distressed the card.and raised the image with foam pads to add depth mounted it onto a fab Doily I bought at the NEC in Birmingham. I coloured the image with Promarkers, I added sparkly Gems in swirls,added stickles glitter for some more sparkle.the DP,s are from Papermanias Aqua Capsule collection and the beautiful Orchid flower i also found at the NEC and is from Mei Flowers.
Oh and by the way today is the last day to get your entries in for the CRAFTS and ME Challenge Blogs 1st challenge with 3 fabulous Prizes you have till 8pm tonight as challenge #2 starts on wednesday.
Thanx for visiting

Customer Creations Day

Ching-Chou-Kuik Sheet #9


Black Rose Fairy

Vicky Murray is sharing her lovely Ching-Chou-Kuik Sweet Pea stamps creations with us today, Thankyou Vicky for sharing,
If you would like to leave Vicky a comment that would be lovely.