Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Rebecca Sinz at Sweet Pea Stamps 2 Times

Happy Wednesday, or at least I think it’s the middle of the week! It has been a whirl wind for me today, but I think things will settle down today and hopefully for the rest of the week.

As the title of my blog says, I have two projects for you today. They are both from the very talented artist, Rebecca Sinz, who designs for Sweet Pea Stamps (SPS). Both of Ms. Sinz’s images can be found in digital format or as rubber stamps, your choice.


The first one is “Bleeding Hearts.” This is one of my favorites of Ms. Sinz’s lovely ladies. You can find her on Plate #242 at SPS. I colored her with Copics and did some accenting with a Spica glitter pen.


Copics used:
Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02, 20
Hair: Y21, E53, 43, 57, 59
Bleeding Hearts: R81, 83, 85, 89
Leaves: G20, 21, 24, 28

The cardstock and designer paper is from my stash. The only embellishments that I added are four cuts of the Spellbinder’s Die De-Lites Corner Flourish. After the embossing, I added Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the embossed areas.


My second project is an art card with the beautiful “Forget-Me-Not,” also designed by Ms. Sinz. You can find her in digi format or in rubber stamp form also. If you are interested in the rubber format, look for Plate #242. I colored “Forget-Me-Not” with Copics and accented with a yellow Spica pen. I distressed the edges on all paper and image with my Zutter Distresser (love this little machine) and used Faded Jeans Distress Ink.



Copics used:
Skin: E000, 11, BV000
Hair: E43, 49, 50, 53, 57
Forget-Me-Nots: B60, 63, 66, 69
Background: W0, 1, 2, B60, Blender

Like I said before, these images really do not need many embellishments (or that’s my opinion). My embellishments are the two smallest flowers from Spellbinder’s Rose Creations, and Die D-Lites Floral Corner One.

I hope that you stop by our SPS Design Team Blog for every day inspiration. After you have created something with an SPS stamp, digi or rubber, I hope that you will share your little piece of art with us all at our SPS Facebook group.

That’s it for today! I hope you come back soon. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate contacting me.
Aletha Jane

Monday, October 28, 2013

I Brake for Starry Suzi

Hello Blogland! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Were you able to get the creative mojo flowing? I hope that I can inspire you into a little Christmas mojo.


I have created a 5¾” art card using the I Brake for Stamps (IBFS) digital image, Starry Suzi. This little beauty was created by Rick St.Dennis MFA, for IBFS. You can find Starry Suzi in digital format. IBFS also has the exclusive rights of Rick’s Randi Dandi images, meaning that you can find a lot of these eclectic images in rubber form too. Della and Rick have thought of everything.



Starry Suzi was colored with Copics. I fussy cut her and then popped her up on the original image. Starry Suzi and most of Rick’s Randi Dandi’s do not need a lot of embellishments, or at least that’s my opinion. The images speak for themselves.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 11, R20
Hair: Y11, 21, E39, 97, 99
Eyes: YG13, 17
Garland: Y06, 15
Background: E13, R21

My designer paper is Bazzill Basics Paper Countdown to Christmas collection. After trimming the paper down, I layered it with Stampin’Up!’s Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive cardstock.


The fun embellishments are next. I die cut Memory Boxes Frosty Border twice and then added Wink of Stella Brush Tip Markers in gold. If you have not tried these new brush markers, you are missing out. I call them the ink brushes with glitter on steroids. They are so sparkly!


The next embellishments were wood veneer stars. I really am getting a lot of use out of these stars. I am glad that I purchased two boxes. After they were glued down and dry, I colored them with Smooch Gold ink. Love this ink too.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope that I have given you a little inspiration. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate contacting me.
Aletha Jane

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Curly Sue’s Victorian Christmas with a new Lacy Sunshine Challenge

Happy Sunday! I hope that you all have had a wonderful weekend. And what a wonderful way to end your weekend…a new challenge at LacySunshine. This will be our 20th challenge, and the theme is “Deck the Halls.” Perfect timing, I’m ready to create a little holiday cheer.


For my little project I was given “Curly Sue Victorian Christmas” to create a project. Of course, I chose a card, but a Christmas card. I know the theme is “deck the halls” but this is what came out of my brain. So now I can say, “Curly Sue finished all her decking the halls and is now out for a winter stroll.” Isn’t she just darling? And all those curls are to die for! You can find “Curly Sue Victorian Christmas” in the Lacy Sunshine shop under the “Seasonal Digis” category.


I have colored her with Copics and accented a little with Spica and Wink of Stella pens. I distressed the edges and added Gather Twigs Distress Ink to the edges. I layered Curly Sue with Stampin’ Up!’s Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke cardstock. I distressed those edges the same way.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02, 20
Hair: Y21, E39, 59, 97, 99
Coast, Hat, & Eyes: G21, 24, 29
Dress & Poinsettias: R81, 83, 85, 89
Piping: Y11, 15, 17
Background: W0, 1, 2, 3, 4, Y11

My designer paper is from my stash (probably purchased at Hobby Lobby), layered again with cherry cobbler and always artichoke, and distressed all edges. Before I placed my background to the card base I centered some cotton lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon.


Now it’s time for the embellishments. First I cut some poinsettias with Spellbinder’s Layered Poinsettia die, embossed, and then highlight the embossed areas with Brilliance Galaxy Gold. All of my sprigs are from Spellbinder’s Die D-Lutes Corner Sprigs. I am really enjoying these tiny dies. After the cutting and embossing, I sponged on some Viva Décor Metallic Moss Green Stamp Paint. This paint has so much sparkle, and I like sparkle.


I hope that you do enter our Lacy Sunshine challenge, and if you use a Lacy Sunshine image, please come share it in our Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group.

That’s it for today. Come back tomorrow for more Christmas spirit goodness. This little piece of art is now in my Zibbet online shop. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate contacting me.
Aletha Jane

Saturday, October 26, 2013

A Victorian Winter with Lacy Sunshine


Welcome to Saturday and to my blog. I hope that everyone’s weekend has started out good.

My post today is my first post as part of the Creative Team at Lacy Sunshine. I was so intrigued with what she is trying to accomplish with her blog, Lacy Sunshine, that I asked if I could be part of this new journey. Her response was, “Come on aboard.” There is a lot happening in the Lacy Sunshine realm. I am sure that you will be hearing about some new adventures for Heather coming soon.



I created a 5¾” square card with the beautiful image Victorian Winter Emily. Isn't she gorgeous? She was also a lot of fun to color with Copics. After the coloring was finished, I trimmed her down and distressed the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. She was then layered with Stampin’Up!’s cardstock in Cherry Cobbler (my new favorite red) and Always Artichoke, perfect colors for the traditional Christmas.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02, 20
Hairy: YR21, E15, 13, 18
Dress, Coat, & Hat: R22, 43, 46, 56, 59
Bow, Umbrella, Leaves, & Eyes: G21, 24, 29
Fur Trim & Muff: W0, 1, 2
Background: W0, 1, 2, 3, 4

Now the second stage of the fun starts, all the embellishments. My designer paper is from my stash and that was layered with Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke cardstock. I found some vintage lace in my overflowing ribbon drawer that was perfect for a Victorian theme. I placed that under Emily, but before Emily was place on the card, I die cut some corners in Cheery Cobbler cardstock using Spellbinder’s Die D-Lite Corner Flourish. I sponged some Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on the embossed areas of the die and then released it.


I wanted some kind of flower(s) on my project, but not poinsettias. I rather like the way the flowers that I chose to make turned out. I used two Spellbinder’s Die D-Lite, Blooms One and Blooms Three. As you can tell, I am loving these new little Spellbinder’s Die D-Lites, perfect size for smaller projects.  After my die-cutting was complete, I painted each cut with Viva Décor 3-D Stamp Paint in Metallic Carmine Red and Metallic Moss Green. These paints have the most amazing sparkle, and I like sparkle. I then shaped each petal with McGill’s Tool Kit and Molding Mat. I am finding myself using the tool kit every day.



You still have a few hours to enter our Lacy Sunshine FallColors challenge. If you miss this one, there is another challenge that starts tomorrow. That theme is…? I can’t tell you right now. You will have to visit the blog and find out. We would love if you shared your little pieces of art using a Lacy Sunshine image at our Lacy Sunshine Facebook group.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me.  My project today will be available for purchase in my Zibbet shop. Come back tomorrow, I will have some more Lacy Sunshine for you.
Aletha Jane









Friday, October 25, 2013

Silly Dilly Beans Halloween Week 4


This is Dilly Bean's last week of our Halloween Challenge. I know that you all have had a lot of fun. I can tell by all the entries. This one will run until Halloween, October 31.


For my little project I decided to create a card with #486Mimi’s Pumpkin Framed. I love coloring Mimi’s hair green, so every time that I use Mimi in a project, her hair will be green, I promise. All of my coloring was with Copics, and a few accents with Spica pens.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 00, 11, 13, BV000, R02
Hair, Leaves, & Eyes: YG21, 23, 25, 67
Dress, Bow, & Eyelid: V000, 09, 12, 15, 17
Pumpkin: YR00, 12, 14, 18
Skull: C00, 0, 1, 2, 3
Background: W0, 1, 2, 3, YG21

I found the perfect designer paper by Best Creations Inc.’s Happy Haunting collection. Everything has been layered with Stampin’ Up!’s cardstock in Only Orange, Old Olive, and Rick Razzelberry. I did throw on a few radio-active bats from Spellbinder’s Nested Bats.


We would love to see your Halloween project entered in our Halloween challenge this one last time. After you have entered, please hop over to our Dilly Bean's Facebook group and share your little piece of art.

That’s it for this wonderful Friday. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me. Have a fantastic and creative weekend.
Aletha Jane






Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Artist of the Week at SPS


I hope that your week is going good! Mine has been pretty good. I really can’t complain because I have had a lot of time in my studio. Missed some deadlines because of doctor appointments, but I may be able to catch up very soon.

This is Artist of the Week at Sweet Pea Stamps (SPS). Our artist is Brigid Ashwood, along with her Phunky Phairies. She has some of the most interesting images to work with. I don’t think that I have a favorite, but I did choose Repose. I love Steampunk and when I get to practice making Steampunk (I still need a lot of practice), I jump at the chance. You can find Repose and other Phunky Phaires by Ms. Ashwood in the SPS shop. This particular rubber stamp is found on Plate #104.


Repose needed to be a little melancholy, so the colors I went for were rust and mauve greys. I colored her with Copics and added a few accents with a Star Dust gel pen, which is one of my favorites to use.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 00, 11, 13, BV000, R02
Hair: Y11, 21, E39, 59, 97, 99
Headband, Ear, Wings, and part of suit:
E70, 71, 74, 77, 79
Arm & ribbon: E07, 09, 13, 19
Background: W0, 1, 2, 3, E13


My die cuts were a lot of fun to add. In the left corner is Alice’s Clock Statement Corner designed by SCACD. Another fun die by SCACD is the Steampunk Wing Set. Those I placed at the top under my main image. My sprockets and gears are Spellbinder’s Sprightly Sprockets. Before I glued all die cuts down, I swiped them with Viva Décor Inka Gold in copper, let that dry, and then buffed with a paper towel to get a metallic shine.

The cardstock is from my favorite company for cardstock Stampin’ Up!. I used basic black and really rust. The designer papers are Graphic 45’s Simply Steampunk, a gorgeous collection.


We have a fun challenge over at One Sweet Challenge. The theme is “things that go bump in the night.” If you do enter, and use a SweetPea image, please come by our SPS Facebook group and share your little piece of art. There’s a lot happening at Sweet Pea Stamps. Stay up-to-date on them all by “liking” our SPS page.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure and stop by every day for more Sweet Pea inspiration.
Aletha Jane

Monday, October 21, 2013

I Brake for a Randi Dandi Christmas


I have a little Christmas inspiration for you today, or I hope that I can inspire you. It seems like all I have been doing is creating for Halloween, so I thought that I would try, once again, to get in the mood for Christmas crafts.

Today I created my second Christmas card using Rick St.Dennis’s Minty Miranda from his Christmas Randi Dandi collection at I Brake for Stamps (IBFS). The Minty Miranda that I used is in the digital format. You can also get her in rubber as a single, or as a group of four rubber stamps.


I colored Minty Miranda with Copics and added some #9 clear Swarovski crystals to her earrings and necklace. The designer papers I found, Countdownto Christmas collection from Bazzill, were the perfect colors. My cardstock was a very easy choice too, Stampin’ Up!’s cherry cobbler and old olive.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, 11, R20
Greens: Yg61, 63, 67
Reds: R21, 24, 27, 89
Background: YG61, G63, W0, 1, 2, 4

All of my embellishments fell into place. The corner chipboard pieces I just received a couple of weeks ago. They are “Fancy CornersSmall” by Petaloo. I had a happy accident in the red color for those corners. I first sprayed with Cherry Pie Dylusions, and while it was still wet, pounced on some lipstick red acrylic paint. Like I said, happy mistake, but I do need to remember the formula. My other embellishments are Spellbinder’s Frosty Forms die cuts in the cherry cobbler cardstock.


Please head over to our IBFS blog for your everyday inspiration fix. If you want to stay up on all the happenings at IBFS, hop over to our IBFS Facebook page and give us a “like.” We do appreciate it.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Aletha Jane

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Variations Week at Sweet Pea Stamps


I hope that everyone has had a great week so far. We are feeling the fall temps in Oklahoma today. We started out at 65° this morning and by noon it was 55°. Not too bad, but that is the first sign that winter is just around the corner.

This week at Sweet Pea Stamps (SPS) we have Variations Week. Our artist is Teresa Sherman and we are using one of her fun Halloweenies. These are available in digital or rubber stamp format.



I chose to use “Halloweenie Vamp.” I printed the digital version on Cryogen Iridescent cardstock. You can also get her in rubber, Plate#230. Coloring these Halloweenies is a snap. In fact, I have produced several Halloween projects this year, a new record for me. Vamp was colored with Copics and then layered on Stampin’ Up!’s basic black and old olive cardstock.

Copics used:
Skin: E0000, 00, 11, 13, R20, R89
Hair: C1, 3, 5, 7, 9
Cape, Nails & Blood: R27, 89
Border: YG17, 21, 25, 23, 67, and
V20, 22, 25, 28
Background: W1, 2, 3

I found my background paper in my stash of backgrounds that I make using Dylusions inks, Distress Paints, and Lindy’s Stamp Gang’s Starbursts. I do not through any of my backgrounds away, especially when I am playing, because I might be able to use them for a card. That’s what I did with this one. Unfortunately I do not have the colors that I used, but it was perfect for Vamp.



I kept this little card very simple; you don’t need much with these Halloweenies. To finish it off I added some Cheery Lynn Design’s Lace Corner Deco B dies in the SU’s old olive cardstock.



We have our challenge going on over at One Sweet Challenge. Our theme is “things that go bump in the night.” What else would you have for October? If you do enter our challenge, and use a SPS stamp, we would love for you to share it with us at our SPS Facebook group. Lynette is uploading new images every day. To stay up to date with all the happenings, visit our SPS Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me.
Aletha Jane Williams

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