Guest Design January 2015 - Kym Upshaw - Project No 2

Here is the second creation I have made as a Guest Designer for Sweet Pea Stamps for January 2015.

I have used the image called "La Chica de Vitral" by Enys Guerrero.  It is available as a digital stamp.

I have decided to make a card that could be suitable for Valentine's Day which will be shortly upon us or for an anniversary etc.  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and did the background with a pink and red Pan Pastel.  I have kept the colour scheme to pink, red and a touch of black for some drama.

If you want to see the full details on how I made this card please pop on over to my blog.

Many thanks to Lynette and the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team for having me.

Guest Designer January 2015 - Kym Upshaw

I was delighted to be offered a Guest Designer role for Sweet Pea Stamps for January 2015.

There are far too many gorgeous images to choose from but in the end I ended up choosing an image from Enys Guerrero called "Minerva" which is available as a digital stamp.

I have wanted to make one of these 4 drawer easel cards for a long time now.  The image to me cried out for colourtones of grey, black and white and a steampunk feel.

 I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and fussy cut around the image.

 I have used lots and lots of different dies to create the effect I wanted.  As it is something to go on my craft desk I have added a calendar and post-it note holder.

 I have decorated the card inside and out along with all the drawers.

 The drawers are now holding brads, die-cut shapes and some sentiments printed off from a CD.

I am pleased how this has come out and will enjoy it sitting on my craft desk throughout 2015.

If you want to see the full details on how I made this 4 drawer easel card please pop on over to my blog.

Many thanks to Lynette and the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team for having me.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 2/3/14

Over at the One Sweet Challenge this month the topic is "scream for green".

Well this was certainly a challenge and a half to make as I really dislike the colour green and very rarely use it as a main colour for my cards.  The image I have used from Sweet Pea Stamps is by Conie Fong and is called "Puppy Love".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers for a change, used Tea Green for the sky and then added clouds with my blender pen and Ice Grey 1 and Ice Grey 2.  The backing papers are from Summertime Designs.  I have finished the card off with a ivy die-cut from a friend, organza ribbon bow, flowers won in some candy, lace, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some brads which I have had for years now.

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 Here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Cherish Christmas".  It is available as a digital stamp, and a single rubber stamp.  

I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens.  The backing papers I was given.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment off the Perfect Companions Christmas CD, poinsettias, washi tape and pearls.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 23/2/14

 Yes I know what you are going to say in that Christmas has been and gone but I decided to start making Christmas cards throughout the year more this year.  The Sweet Pea Stamps image by Charity Dauenhauer that I have used is called "Silent Night".  It is available as a digital stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  I used a circle die and cut a circle out of a sticky note, stuck it behind the fairy and the wolf and then used my blue Pan Pastel to colour in the background.  I find this so much easier than using a distress ink as I haven't got very strong hands.

I do like traditional red and green for Christmas so I have kept to this colour scheme.  I have tried to keep the card as flat as possible as well as I doubt they'll be a change in the cost of postage in 2014 for the better so it's "pancake Christmas cards" again!!!  I have used some backing papers that I got off a friend for Christmas.  I have finished the card off with a tissue paper flower, pearls, ribbon, holly die-cut, glitter scrolls and a sentiment that came in the paper/decoupage paper pack.

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 Here is another Christmas card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Where we met".  I know it's not technically a Christmas image but I thought it would be perfect.  It's available as a digital stamp.  

I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  I have used a selection of small snowflake stamps and Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar distress inks to stamp snowflakes around the image.  The backing papers I was given.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment from my Perfect Companions Christmas CD, die-cut snowflakes, pearls and die-cut deer.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 16/2/14

Here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Norma J Burnell called "Be Mine".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  Isn't she a stunning image?  

I have coloured in with my Graph'it pens and stuck to a colour scheme of green, orange, yellow and brown.  I have inked around the edge of the image with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed and Crushed Olive distress ink.  The backing papers I printed off ages ago and can't remember where they are from.  I have punched out lots of leaves from scraps of paper left over from other projects and used these around the image.  I have finished the card off with pearl dots, satin ribbon and a sentiment off the computer.
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Here is a Christmas card I have made.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image called "Christmas Bird" by Elaine Cox.  It is available as a digital stamp and as a rubber stamp set (the stamp set comes with the larger image and a smaller image to use on inserts/envelopes/tags etc).

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and highlighted areas with Pan Pastels, white gel pen and Stickles glitter glue.  I have inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Chipped Sapphire distress ink.

The backing papers are from Bearly Mine Designs Winter Swirls.  I have finished the card off with some die-cut snowflakes and trees with Stickles added for sparkle and shine, tissue paper die-cut flowers and a sentiment from my Perfect Companions Christmas CD.

Variations Week: Kym's View

 It is time for Variations Week over at the Sweet Pea Stamps.  This is the week in the month when the whole Design Team have the same image and make cards/creations to share with you all.

This month the image we are using is "Rose" by Concetta Kilmer.  It is available as a digital stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  The backing papers I was given.  I have used my heart border mask and used a black Pan Pastel through it and then sprayed the card with Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine.  I love the effect this gives a project but even spraying outside and leaving in the garage overnight it still smells and makes me cough.  I have finished the card off with a sentiment, Tim Holtz die-cut flowers, pearl brads and a flower/ribbon embellishment that I must have had for 3-4 years!!
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Here is another card I have to share with you today.  Valentine's Day will soon be upon us but I think this card could be used anytime to show someone some love.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Conie Fong called "Bella".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  The backing papers I was given.  I have used my new large dots embossing folder that I got from my son for Christmas.  You'll see this folder a lot as I love it.  I have finished the card off with some ribbon, paper flowers which I have coloured with Graph'it pens, gem brads and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 2/2/14

February is here and therefore it is time for another challenge over at the One Sweet Challenge Blog. The topic for this month is "love" so this could be Valentine's Day, wedding, anniversary or anything that means "love".

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Joanne Schempp called "Lil Demon". It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp. 

I have coloured the image in with Graph'it pens and then inked around the edge with various flower and hearts small stamps. The backing papers are from Summertime Designs. I have finished the card off with some satin ribbon, some white paper flowers which I have inked with Tim Holtz's Fired Brick distress ink, gems and some little wooden circles that I have coloured with my Graph'it pens and added peel-offs to make the word "love".

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Here is another card I have to share with you today.

At the moment in the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop there is a Digi Sale on Easter, St Patrick's Day and Steampunk images whereby you get 20% off.

Here is a card I have made using Joanne Schempp's image called "Irish Chic". It is available as a digital stamp (and as mentioned above it's got 20% off at the moment) and as a rubber stamp.

I wanted to keep the colour scheme to green so used my Promarkers as I have virtually all of the greens. I have inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Peeler Paint distress ink and layered the image onto a tag. I made the four leaf clover template myself and then drew around it onto the papers I printed out from Bearly Mine Designs from the Mini Dots Collection and the Boy's Zone. 

Around the crumpled paper layer I distressed with a pair of scissors as my Tim Holtz couldn't get into all the nooks and crannies. I have used a Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die for the large and small flowers which I have cut out from a book and coloured with my Bright Green and Grass Promarkers.

I have finished the card off with some fibres, card candi, sentiment, buttons, pearl dots, cheesecloth, pearls and a charm with memory wire threaded through.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 26/1/14

Sunday is here again and it is time for me to show you some Sweet Pea Stamps creations.

It is "Artist of the Week" over at Sweet Pea Stamps.  This is where one of the artists is chosen and the Design Team get an image they want from this artist to create a card/other creation.  The "Artist of the Week" is Charmaine Flannery.

For my card I have decided to use the imaged called "Alice" by Charmaine Flannery.  It is available as a digital stamp.  I thought she had a sorrowful look on her face so I though she'd be suitable for a "thinking of you" card.  I have coloured my image in with Graph'it pens.  The backing papers are from my Perfect Companions Essential CD.  I have mounted the image on a Marianne Designs die-cut shape.  The card has been finished off with a stamped sentiment, flowers punched out of scraps leftover from the card, raffia ribbon and pearls.

If you have time, pop on over to the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog this week to see all the other creations made with Charmaine Flannery's images.
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Here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "The Dragonfly".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  The backing papers I was given.  The brown and blue paper has gorgeous flocking on it. 

I have finished the card off with a Prima flower, Joanna Sheen die-cut dragonflys, gems, lace and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

Kym's Weekly Post

Here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "One and only heart". It is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp. 

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens. The backing papers are from Summertime Designs. The flowers I have made from die-cutting flowers shapes from a book and then colouring the die-cuts with my Graph'it pens. I have inked around the edge of the layers with my Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink to keep in with the pink and black colour scheme. 

I have finished the card off with some raffia ribbon, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiments and some pearls.

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Yes I know Christmas has come-and-gone for 2013 but I am determined to be more organised for 2014 so here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Cherish Christmas". It is available as a digital stamp, and a single rubber stamp.

I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens. The backing papers I was given. I have finished the card off with a sentiment off the Perfect Companions Christmas CD, poinsettias, washi tape and pearls.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 12/1/14

It is time for Variations Week over at the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog.  This is whereby all the Design Team use the same image to make their cards/creations.

For the month of January 2014 the Variations Week image is "Wither" by Rebecca Sinz.  This image is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp.

I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens, edged around the image with Tim Holtz's Fired Brick and Aged mahogany distress ink and then finally brushed on some white gesso.

The backing papers I have used are from my stash.  On the checked backing paper I have used a harlequin mask and inked through with the Aged Mahogany distress ink.  On two corners I have painted on white gesso and some glitter.  The border is a heart mask, run through my Grand Caliber to emboss the heart and lightly inked over with the Fired Brick distress ink.  I had drew a heart, covered with white gesso, sprinkled with some glitter and inked with Aged Mahogany distress ink.  The card is finished off with a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, ribbon from a box of chocolates (long eaten!!) and rose flowers and pearl embellishment.

Make sure you pop on over to the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog during the week to see the variety of cards/creations made with "Wither" by Rebecca Sinz.
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This is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Elisabeth Bell called "Little Peppermint Puff".  It is available as a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint distress inks.  The backing papers I was given.  I have put some green card through my new spotty Die'sire embossing folder I got for Christmas.

I have finished the card off with some cream flowers which I have inked with Spiced Marmalade distress ink, ribbon, gems, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and a die-cut butterfly.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 5/1/14

 On the 1 January 2014 it was the start of another month over at the One Sweet Challenge.
The topic this month is "black and white - grey is acceptable".
Here is my card I made to promote this challenge.

For my card I have used the Brigid Ashwood image called "Steam Bee" which is available as a rubber stamp.  I thought this card would "bee" a suitable for a man's card.  I have coloured the image in with various shades of dark grey Promarkers.  Around the image I stamped with a little dotty peg stamp and a white Versamagic ink.  Then once that was dry I inked around the image with Tim Holtz's Pumice Stone and Black Soot distress inks.

The backing papers are from my Perfect Papercrafting Companions CD and I have used a black-and-white pinstripe and a black-and-white dotty paper.  I have finished the card off with some tartan ribbon, x-cut die-cut cogs, black brads (yes no matter how many pictures I took these brads are black) and a sentiment off the CD.

It would be lovely if you could enter the One Sweet Challenge.  You don't have to use a Sweet Pea Stamps image but we love to see them "bee-ing" used!!!
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Here is another card to show you.

 For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Poinsettia Fairy".  She was one of my first Sweet Pea Stamps and she is still one of my favourites.  She is available as a digital stamp or as a single rubber stamp

 I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  The card has been finished off with some poinsettias, gems, washi tape and a sentiment from my Perfect Companions Christmas CD.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 29/12/13

Sunday is here and Christmas is over with for yet another year.  

I hope you all had a good time celebrating with your friends and family.  

It is time for me to show you some Sweet Pea Stamps creations.

Here is another ornament.  I have made it for a friend to put on their tree.  I have used Valerie Wade's digital stamp but she is also available as a single rubber stamp and is called "Christmas Angel".  Isn't she a beauty??  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and highlighted her wings with my clear Wink of Stella pen.

I have covered an MDF tree with gesso and then a green acrylic paint.  I have then used an Aged Beautifully stamp by Sheena Douglass to add some dimension to the tree.  I have then added decorative bells, gems, pearls, glitter scrolls and twine to the tree.  This is an ornament that can come out year after year.

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I am also showing you a birthday card I have made using an image from one of the newer designers to join Sweet Pea Stamps, Helena Reis.  I fell in love with this image and also the shape of the image.  It is called "I put a spell on you" and it is available as a digital stamp and single rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  I have fallen in love with the reds I got.  They seem to have so much more colour than my Promarkers.  The backing papers I have used are from Bearly Mine Designs.  I have used Christmas Traditions, Damask Delight and Just Plaids.  I have finished the card off with some raffia ribbon, gems, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiments and tissue paper flowers with brad centres.
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Now this card I planned to add to my post for next week but then I thought it would be too late as we celebrate the arrival of the New Year in a couple of days so here it is for you now.

Here is the first card I have made since my operation.  The image I have used is from Sweet Pea Stamps and is by the artist Karen Middleton.  It is called "New Year Mouse" and is available as a digital stamp.  I think this image could be used for other occasions than just for New Year ie birthdays, anniversaries etc.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.

The backing papers are from my stash.  On the bottom paper I have embossed it using a clock mask and then inked with Tim Holtz's Rusty Hinge distress ink.  I have used a Visible Image clock stamp around the image.  The card has been finished off with some fibres, peel-off sentiment and some flowers punched out of the left-over backing papers.

I would like to wish everyone that visits this blog all the very best for 2014.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 22/12/13

 This is certainly a very green card.  If my mum was still alive she'd have loved this one.  I have used an image by Katerina Koukiotis called "Home for the Holidays".  It is available as a digital stamp and a single rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers.  The backing papers are from my stash.  I have finished the card off with some washi tape, gems, die-cut flower, die-cut holly and a sentiment off my Perfect Companions Christmas CD.

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 Here is a non-traditional colour Christmas card using the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Marlon Teunissen called "Cold".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens.  The backing papers are from my stash.  I have finished the card off with a die-cut poinsettia, card candi, Papermania Glitterations and Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

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Here is a card I have made as part of the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Iris Grace".  This image is available as a digital stamp or a single rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with my Flexmarkers/Promarkers and highlighted areas with my white gel pen, purple Sakura Stardust pen and some chalks.  The backing papers I have used are Bearly Mine Designs Mini Dots and Happy Hauntings.  I have finished the card off with some wide lace, gingham ribbon, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, flowers, Marianne Designs leaves die inked with purple inks, gems, Marianne Designs corner die with Imagination Crafts Diamond Sparkle Medium spread over it and some card candi.

Kym's Weekly Post - Sunday 15/12/13

It is Sunday again and therefore time for me to show you some of my Sweet Pea Stamps creations.  I have made a decorated chipboard bauble that I bought from the NEC.  It has been painted with Gesso and then a blue acrylic paint.  I have then used a Sheena Douglass Aged Beautifully stamp to add some markings to the front and the back of the bauble.

 The Sweet Pea Stamps image I have used is by Elaine Cox and is called "Christmas Bird".  It is available as a digital stamp and a stamp set (it comes with a large stamp and a matching small stamp which you could use for backing papers/inserts/envelopes etc).

I have coloured my image in with Graph'it pens, added Stickles to her wings and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans distress ink.  

I have finished the bauble off with some raffia style ribbon, chipboard flowers I have coloured in with my Graph'it pens, spotty organza ribbon and two flowers I made out of ThermoMorph (if you have seen or heard anything about ThermoMorph please see my post here).

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Here is a clean and simple (CAS) card I have made using the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Crane of Peace".  This gorgeous image is available as a digital stamp, single rubber stamp or as a multi-image plate (Sheet 54, Plate 249 and on this multi-image plate Crane of Peace comes with Black Swan Lady, Northern Nightfall and Love Magic).  

I have coloured the image with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers and highlighted areas with my Pan Pastels.  I have kept the colour scheme of the card to pink and turquoise.  I need some serious therapy as I've used some Tim Holtz backing papers my eldest son bought me for Christmas two years ago.  For one year I looked at the papers and this year I've been using them and lots and lots are gone.  I have just done some simple matting and layering and finished the card off with a sentiment off a Debbi Moore CD and two pink gem stars.
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It is time for me to post another card as a member of the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team. This time I have used a rubber stamp by Norma J Burnell from the Fairy Tangles Collection called "Poppies and Flutters".

I have coloured my image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with some Pan Pastels.  I then used used a Spellbinders die to cut out some I could pyromage the image.  The backing papers are from K&Co which I must have had now for 2-3 years but I am determined to use my papers up and this pad is now all gone.  I have inked a doily with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed and Vintage Photo distress ink pads with my Inkylicious brushes.  The card has been finished off with some pretty yellow flowers, ribbons, sentiment from a Debbi Moore CD, Spellbinders butterfly die-cuts, Stickles glitter glue, memory wire and some pearls.