Artist of the Week at Sweet Pea Stamps

Welcome to Sweet Pea Stamps (SPS) “Artist of the Week.” Our artist this week is Rachel Anderson. I love Ms. Anderson’s fantastical images. I chose to create with “Forget-Me-Not.” You can find her images in digitalformat or rubber stamp format on Plate #173, whichever you prefer for your little pieces of art.

I kept “Forget-Me-Not” very simple. I used Copics in blues and greens and added some Spicas in blue and green. I did some highlighting with a white gel pen. I also thought that the little forget-me-nots needed some centers, so I dug up my gold acrylic paint and a detail brush and went to town making little gold dots.

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 00, 11

Blues: B21, 24, 26, 28, 29

Greens: G40, 43, 46, 29

Background: W00, 0, 1, 2, and B21

The cardstock is Stampin’Up’s Brilliant Blue and Garden Green layered with Tim Holtz’s Ideology Vintage Shabby. I finally got the courage to use my new Spellbinder’s Radiant Rectangles die. They were rather intimidating to me, but once I got started playing it was fairly easy. I did use wax paper between the die and my cardstock. This helped with the removal of those intricate cuts. The last item was some flat-backed light green pearls from my stash.

I hope that you can play in Sweet Pea’s challenge at One Sweet Challenge. If you do enter, and you use an SPS image, please share your creations with us in our SPS Facebook group. To keep up on all the happenings at SPS, take a visit to our SPS Facebook page.

Thanks for your visit today. I hope you stop by our SPS blog every day for some Sweet Pea inspiration. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

SPS Design Team

‘Twas the night before Christmas…

…and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” This time of year is my favorite for creating Christmas cards. I always do the traditional and complimentary colors, red and green, even in my house. I may add the touch of gold or purple, but the majority of my cards will be very strong in red and green. With that rule, “The Night before Christmas” image, designed by Rick St. Dennis MFA (RSD) for I Brake for Stamps (IBFS), was perfect for those two colors. You can find this little guy in digital format in the RSD’s digital section under the Randi Dandi Section at IBFS.

I colored “The Night before Christmas” with Copics and added some Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen for some accents. After I fussy cut the image I layered it on Stampin’ Up!’s Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

Copics used:

Mouse: E21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and R02

Holly leaves: YG91, 93, 95, 97, 99

Candle, ornament, & bow tie: R20, 22, 24, 27, 29

Berries: RV91, 93, 95, 99

Candle holder & Background:

Y00, 11, 15, and YR23, 24

My dies cuts are Spellbinder’s Holly Motifs. Before I release the cardstock from the die, I distressed the embossed areas with Gathered Straw Distress Ink and added Stardust glitter pen to those areas.  The cuts around my main image are from the biggest die, but cut into fourths and the added to the back of the layered image. Finished it off with some flat-backed red pearls. My designer paper is from the Bazzil Basics Countdown to Christmas collection.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting me. Wishing everyone in the United States a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

IBFS Design Team

Happy Day at Silly Dilly Beans

It’s Friday and time for a new challenge at Dilly Beans. Our theme is all about the brads or eyelets. Remember those? I almost forgot if I even had any, but alas, I did find some brads. To be eligible for the prize in Dilly Beans challenges you must use an image from Megan’s store, Silly Dilly Beans. Why wouldn’t you want to anyway?

For my little card I decided to color with Copics #429-HappyDay Framed. Isn’t she the cutest? I love Megan’s flowers too. I do want to apologize for my colors looking like they clash. In real life that blue cardstock does match the teal flower in the image. The purple cardstock almost matches her hair. I know that cameras do this, but I do not know how to correct it in Photoshop. Hopefully someday I will figure that out.

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, and R02

Background: W00, 0, 1, 2, and YR61

Other:

BG11, 13, 18, 78

YG93, 95, 97, 99

R81, 83, 85, 89

YR61, 65, 68

The cardstock is Stampin’ Up!’s Rich Razzelberry and Cool Caribbean, beautiful colors even if my camera did not capture the true colors. My designer paper is Basic Grey’s Sweet Threads.

My handmade flowers were die cut with Cheery Lynn’s ShastaDaisy and Daisy Strip. I love these dies for these quick and easy petals. After I had them cut, I molded them with McGill’s tool kit with the molding mat. You know those brads I found? Well they are from Stampin’ Up! and are very old. The color group is “earth elements.” I don’t think they are using that name anymore. LOL! Anyway, I used the gold brads for the assembly and decided to edge the petals with Viva Décor Violet 3-D Stamp paint. I almost forgot, I did add some Star Dust Stickles to the flower petals and the flower centers of the Happy Day image.

I hope that you do join use for our Dilly Beans Brads or Eyelets challenge. If you do, or if you don’t, please share you little piece of art using a Dilly Beans image on our Dilly Beans Facebook group.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate asking.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Dilly Beans Design Team

I have an announcement!

Several weeks ago, I applied to a design team that I thought would be right up my alley. Not only will this be a place for creative inspiration and making new friends, but I will also get to use favorite images from my other design team's companies.

Well…my application was accepted and I was thrilled when the next day I was invited to become a member of the design team at StampNation! Of course I said YES! I was doing the Happy Feet dance for a while. How cool is that? (Not my dance, my acceptance!)  StampNation has evolved into a much broader website, encompassing all types of art and many companies. I am very honored and enthusiastic for this opportunity.

I hope that you take the time to visit StampNation and join with our other members (there are thousands of members) and be creatively inspired, or maybe you will be the creative inspiration for our membership. Each day this week, more new design team members are being introduced. Please hop on over to Catherine Pooler’s blog for those introductions.

Another very big Thank You to StampNation for this fantastic opportunity. And, thanks to all of you for stopping by today. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

StampNation Design Team 

Believe!

Happy Tuesday! I have an 8”x8” journal page to share with you today. This was a lot of fun to make.

My main image is in digital format and designed by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff of AuroraWings on Etsy. Mitzi has the most interesting fantasy images. I love them all, and I will probably collect them all.

My supply list is:

90# cold press watercolor paper

Dylusions Ink Spray

Adirondack Color Wash

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starbursts

Rubber Stamps from Dylusions and Outline Rubber Stamps

Gold pigment ink and embossing powder

White pigment ink and embossing powder

Copics

Gold acrylic paint

Glitter Pens

Have you ever visited The Art Studio (TAS) at Scrapbook Newsand Review? You need to check things out. You would not believe all the classes. Some of the classes are mixed-media card making, mixed-media, art journaling, and many more. Hop on over. It won’t take just a minute to get hooked.

Thanks for stopping by.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

TAS Creative Staff

I Brake for a Christmas Dress

Hi all!  Today I have a very cute art card using one of Rick St. Dennis’s Christmas digital image, “Christmas Dress,” available at I Brake for Stamps (IBFS). If you are one of those that just have to get your rubber stamps out to feel the thrill (I know that I am), you can also find her in a single rubber stamp or in a sheet of four amazing rubber stamps.

I printed Christmas Dress out twice and colored both images with Copics and added some sparkle with Spica pens in blue, yellow, and red. I kept everything in traditional Christmas colors, which I love. After the coloring, I fussy cut both images, but one image I fussy cut out just the little girl. Assembled these two and layered on Stampin’ Up!’s cardstock in Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive. The designer paper is Echo Park’s collection from Carta Bella “So this is Christmas.”

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02

Hair: E21, 26, 37, 50, YR27

Dress: R81, 83, 85, 89

Trees: G40, 82, 94, 99

Ornaments: Rs above, Y23, 26, 28, and

B91, 93, 95, 97, 99

Planters: E42, 43, 44, 47, 49

I used Spellbinder’s Holly Motifs dies and cut the motifs from Old Olive cardstock. After doing the final assembly for the whole card I added some sparkle with Red Wink of Stella brush markers. I added a few red and green crystals and I think she's ready to show off her new Christmas dress.

Challenges that I would like to enter are:

2 Sister's Challenge - Christmas Sparkle

Krafy Hands Challenge - Traditional Christmas Colors

Sweet Stampin' - Christmas 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you stop by our IBFSblog every day. I am sure you can pick up some inspiration from some very talented designers. Check out our IBFS Facebook page for all the happenings at IBFS. I hope everyone has a great week!

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

IBFS Design Team

We are Blinging It Up at Lacy Sunshine

We have a new challenge for you this wonderful Sunday at Lacy Sunshine (LS). For this challenge we want to see you “Bling it Up!” How fun is that?  If you used a Lacy Sunshine image last time, you qualify for the “Loyalty Program” and receive the digi that she has listed in this current challenge blog.  If you would like to start the “loyalty program”, use an LS image in this challenge or purchase the challenge digi for the discounted price of only $2. Just go to the Lacy Sunshine Store and you will see the image on the main page.

For my “Bling It Up” project I created an art card with Little Peanut. She is a new one from Heather’s line of Sticky Wings images. They are so adorable and so fun to color. I do like to color! I colored her with Copics and added some Clear Starz Gelly Roll Pen to her wings for my first bling. I then layered her on Stampin’ Up!’s Peach Parfait and Always Artichoke. My designer paper is from the New Leaf Collection from Paper Creations. This paper is my second bling with all its glitter.

Copics used for Little Peanut:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02

Hair: E21, 25, 27, 29

Overalls & Eyes: YG91, 93, 95, 97, 99

Bows, Wings, Shirt, & Socks: BG90, 93, 96, 99, and

YR01, 12, 16, 18

Shoes: BGF90, 93, 96, 99, and

E42, 43, 44, 47, 49

I am having so much fun making these little flowers for my projects. The little ones are from Petaloo, but the bigger ones are from Memory Boxes Fabulous Phlox. I die cut them in SU’s Peach Parfait and the center  and tiny leaves are cut with SU’s Always Artichoke. Before assembling the flower cuts I distressed the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

The background round die is from Spellbinder’s, but I do not have it labeled, so I have no idea the name. That was die cut in Always Artichoke. The other fun leaves are two dies from JoAnna Sheen. I would love to have more of her dies, but I would like a US vendor. If anyone knows of a US vendor, please leave me a comment. All the leaves were smudged with Gathered Twigs DI also. Everything is now assembled and for some extra bling I added orange crystals to the flowers, and all eight corners.

After you have entered our Lacy Sunshine’s “Bling it Up” challenge, please stop by our Lacy Sunshine Facebook group and share your little piece of art with us all. I also wanted to mention that Heather has opened up a Lacy Sunshine Etsy store, so now you have two online places to purchase your favorite Lacy Sunshine images. Do you still like the feeling of actual stamping? I know that I do. Well, Heather has remedied that. Some of her amazing images are now going to be in photopolymer clear stamps. Check out the ones that are now for pre-order here.

Little Peanut will be entered in the following challenges:

Through the Craftroom Door – Anything Goes

Brown Sugar – Anything Goes

Digi Haven – Fall

That’s it for today and thanks for stopping by. Little Peanuts will be available in my Zibbet shop soon. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate asking.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Lacy Sunshine Design Team

A Challenge of “Thanks” at Dilly Beans

It’s Friday, and time for a new challenge at your favorite place, Silly Dilly Beans. Our theme this week is “Thanks.” We want to see anything resembling a thank you, something you are thankful for or just plain “Thanks.” To be eligible for the prize you must use a Dilly Beans stamp. I am sure that you can find something in Megan’s shop, Dilly Beans.

I decided that I was thankful for all of my friends. I wanted something to depict friends, but I also wanted a very simple “Thanks” on the front of my card. I chose #403 Amalia and Laylah to my little piece of art. This image was perfect. I colored Amalia and Laylah with Copics and added some accents with Spica pens.

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02

Amalia & Laylah:  BG70, 72, 75, 79, and

E13, 08, 09

Leaves: G40, 43, 94, 99

Sleeves & Leggings: Spica pens in

Turquoise, Orange, Chocolate, & Lipstick

Background: W00, 0, 1,2, 3, BG72

My designer paper is from my stash. The cardstock that I used is Stampin’ Up!’s Taken with Teal and Ruby Rose.

I have been trying to use all my Spellbinder’s dies that I have accumulated in the past year. I must say that I am really enjoying what you can accomplish with them. Amalia and Laylah were cut with the largest die from Spellbinder’s Large Classic Square dies. They were then mounted on Taken with Teal that was die cut with Spellbinder’s Decorative Elements Captivating Squares.

My sentiment was cut from Spellbinder’s Die D-Lites PetiteLabel One and “Thanks” was hand-written. My two fun flowers were die cut with Spellbinder’s Die D-Lite Blooms One. I am getting a lot of cuts from these little Die D-Lites. They are so much fun to use.

Amalia and Laylah will participate in the following challenges:

Divas by Design – use a digi

Through the Craftroom Door – anything goes

Simply Challenge Challenged – fall colors

I do hope you join our challenge. And after you do, please come share your project with us at our Dilly Beans Facebook group.

Thanks for stopping by. This “Thanks” card will be available for purchase in my Zibbet shop. If you have any questions, just contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Dilly Beans Design Team

Waiting for You at Sweet Pea Stamps

Happy hump day! It is certainly feeling like fall here in Oklahoma. The past week has been rather dreary with a slow rain and some cool temperatures. The upside is at least we are getting some rain, and our trees have the most amazing color this year. I don't think I will ever get tired of looking at all of our fall foliage. The downside, I like sunshine! When we don't have sunshine, I color.

I would like to introduce you to one of Sweet Pea Stamp’s new artists, Helena Reis. Her designs are so much fun, and most of them look to have a little mischief in the making. Today I am sharing one of my favorite fairies from Ms. Reis Paper Dreams collection, “Waiting on You.” The format that I chose is in digital form, but you can also purchase all of her designs in rubber form.

“Waiting on You” looks a little forlorn, but she is also a very patient fairy. I knew that I wanted a winter theme, but not Christmas. I chose the mauve and green combo with the help of Heartfelt Creations Frosty Blanket designer paper collection. I colored her with Copics, and her wings were accented with Clear Starz Gelli Roll pen.

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R02

Hair: G40, 82, 94

Jump Suit: G40, 82, 85, 94, 99, and

RV91, 93, 95, 99

Wings: RV91, 93, blender

Moon: C0, 1, 2, 3

Stampin’ Up!’s cardstocks used in my art card are Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke. This magical fairy needed something other than the moon to sit on so I die cut a circle from Spellbinder's large classic circle with the burgundy cardstock.  I then die cut the circle again with white cardstock, but added to the center of the circle die one die from of Spellbinder’s Exquisite Circles from the Majestic Elements collection. Before placing that over the burgundy circle I added Viva Décor3-D Silver Stamp Paint.

For further embellishments (she didn’t need too many) I die cut some snowflakes from Spellbinder’s 2013 Snowflake Pendant. I used the silver 3-D paint on them also. For some last minute flourishes I added Cheery Lynn’s Fanciful Flourish in Always Artichoke. After everything was assembled I added some rhinestones to add a little more sparkle.

We have a monthly challenge at One Sweet Challenge. Our theme this month is “It’s a Feast.” We would like to see your creation which focuses on one color, a particular embellishments, or lots of images of the same theme. After you have entered AND you used a Sweet Pea image, hop over to our Sweet Pea Facebook group. Come visit our Facebook page too and stay up to date on all our happenings. Lynette is adding new artists and new digital and rubber stamps every day.

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

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team

(Note: I did want to mention that I messed up “Waiting on You” while I was fussy cutting. Although I do a tremendous amount of cutting, this time I think that I was in too much of a hurry. On the right side and between her wings, there is supposed to be the two tips of the moon with a strand of her hair. I do apologize to Helena Reis for not just starting over, but I would have missed by deadline.)

I Brake for Betti and Spring

Happy Monday! Aletha here, and I hope everyone had a great and creative weekend. I know that I had a good one. I was in my studio most of the time. I love it when that happens.

My project this week is really for spring time. I know, we just got over Halloween, and now getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I needed some spring and summer colors. It seems like all I have been doing is Halloween. Now that’s over, and I have been dealing with fall colors. I needed some sunshine!

I would like to introduce you to Betti, from Rick St. Dennis’s Randi Dandi series at I Brake for Stamps. I colored her with Copics, of course, and added a few handmade flowers to enhance the spring time mood. I adore Rick’s Randi Dandi series. Most of the designs have marvelous hair styles, and I love coloring hair.

Copics used:

Skin: E000, 11, R20

Lips: R20, 29

Hair: Y11, 21, E97, 99

Flowers & Beads: YR00, 12, 15, 18, and

Y0000, 02, 06

Hat & Dress: B21, 24, 26, 37

Leaves: G21, 24, 29

My handmade flowers came from several dies.  The biggest ones are from Cheery Lynn’s DaisyStrip. After I cut them and before I assembled I added some Viva Décor 3-D stamp paint in metallic light blue. I then assembled and added yellow flat-backed pearls to the centers. My little green accents were created with Spellbinder’s Die D-Lites Blooms One. I added moss green 3-D stamp paint for all that sparkly. I have yet to make this die into a flower, maybe next time. I know that I am going to like it. The really tiny flowers are from Petaloo.

I would like to enter Betti in the following challenges:

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Red Rogue Designs - die-cut divas

Crafting with Dragonflies - make your own flower embellishments

I hope that you stop by our I Brake for Stamps blog every day. There is always some amazing designs by Della’s very talented design team.

Thanks for stopping by. This very cheerful card will be available in my Zibbet shop. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

IBFS Design Team