Going Green with the Pixie Cottage

This week at the Pixie Cottage we are having a Green Challenge!

For this challenge, we are asking you to...

Add a little Green to your creation in celebration of St Patrick's Day!. It doesn't have to be a St Patrick's Day card.

Also this is a first for The Pixie Cottage, we have a FREE digital image that we'd love to see you use in this challenge. It's not compulsory to use it but it's FREE so why not! You can get your free digi image HERE.
One entry, drawn at random, will win a 10.00 gift voucher from Michelle's Scrapbooking. We will also name a top three based on our favorite cards.

I appologize to you all for my post being so late today. My computer had some serious Malware issues and it took me hours to fix.
The issue started something like this:
Daughter: Mom can I play Webkinz
Me: Sure
Daughter: Look Mom! I won a free laptop
Me: Oh NO!!
I am sure a lot of you know how that ends!

For my card this week I used this adorable image by Alisa Ramirez called "Alisa in Wonderland".
I colored her with Distress Inks and then used my new favorite flowers, Prima collage. I used a copic marker to make some of them green.
Other items used:
Paper: Fireflies by Sandylion, Bazzil Cardstock, Strathmore watercolor paper.
Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your challenge entry!
Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Lucky Green

Penny's Paper Craft Challenges - Going Green

Copic Creations - A Wee Bit O'Green

Twisted Thursday - The Color Green

Prairie Fairy Fridays - Lucky Green

Crafty Catz - Shades of Green

Order of the Opus Gluei - It IS Easy Being Green

For Fun Challenges - Wearin' O the Green

Stamp Something - Girly
One Stop Craft - Sew Simple
Cupcake Crafts - Flower Power

SSD Sketch Challenge 15 - A food/recipe journal

Welcome to another fun Sketch Tuesday from Skipping Stones Design. Jami Bova aka Sgt. Stamper has another wonderful sketch for us to try. I am loving her sketches, they are so much fun!

For this weeks sketch I used the wonderful Buns-N-Crunches stamp set to create a food and recipe journal for one of my friends. She has had wonderful success on the Weight Watchers program but doesn't like the tiny journal's they hand out. I thought this would be the perfect fix!
I stamped the cinnamon bun with distress ink and a sparkly embossing powder. Then I popped up the frosting for a 3-D effect.
My papers are K&Company and Bazzil cardstock.
Other items used:
Spellbinders ribbon tags trio
Prima Artful collage flowers
Basic Grey Opaline Pearls
Martha Stewart Oak Leaf punch

Make sure you check out the other amazing cards by the DT!

• Amanda Gauer-Sewell
• Angela Thomas - DT Co-ordinator (That's me!)
• Chels VanWyk
• Erin Stieler Grotegut
• Kandi Phillips
• Mary Giemza
• Michelle Giraud

Challenges:
Stamp Something - Girly
One Stop Craft - Sew Simple
Cupcake Crafts - Flower Power

Hannah

Just a quick post today but I wanted to share my finished "Hannah at the Pond" card. I used this image in my watercolor tutorial and finally finished the card :) I am in love with the Spellbinders fancy tags set, there are so many possibilities. Today I used them to create a small frame around the card.
Let me know what you think! I absolutely love getting comments from all of you. It really makes my day and makes me want to post more!

SSD Sketch Challenge 14 and new stamps!

Welcome to the Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday! This month we introduce an amazing new sketch artist, Jami Bova aka Sgt Stamper. She has created today's fun sketch on the Stamp Tramp blog. I would love to see everyone play along and take a peek at this months new releases.

For my card today I used a brand new set called Chicks. This set is just adorable. There are so many wonderful sentiments in this set. Some sweet and some Sassy...just like us Stamp Tramps like em!
I used the single chick for my card today. I sponged distress inks for the background and watercolored my chick with Stampin' Up! water based inks. I used my new Martha Stewart edge punch to create the center of the card. My papers are My Minds Eye and Bazzil cardstock.
Of course I had to finish it off with my Madeira thread and sewing machine.

I hope you enjoy the card. Make sure to take a look at the other DT's cards. I am sure you will find lots of inspiration!

• Amanda Sewell
• Angela Thomas
• Chels VanWyck
• Kandi Phillips
• Mary Giemza
• Michelle Giraud

Keep checking back because I will have a Skipping Stones Stamp set to give away this month!

Challenges:
Flourishes - Scallops

Water color tutorial and a chance to WIN!

Are you interested in learning how to watercolor with Distress ink? If so than head on over to The Pixie Cottage for a great tutorial!
Now for the fun stuff!
Try the tutorial, post a sample on your blog and then leave me a comment with the link.
You can have a chance to win the stamp pictured above! This beauty is called "Hannah at the Pond" by Sandra Hammer.
All entries need to be in by Midnight on March 13th!

New Sketch challenge at The Pixie Cottage!

There is a new challenge over at The Pixie Cottage today! Our very own and very talented Anne Lysheim created a beautiful sketch for us to play with this week. We had a wonderful turnout for our last challenge so I want to thank everyone that played along. Michelle always has wonderful prizes for our winner so make sure you visit the blog and share your creativity with us!For my example this week I used the super cute "Udderly adorable girl" stamp. I colored my stamp with Tim Holtz Distress inks and an Aquapainter in various colors. I absolutely adore the Fleur De Lis die from Spellbinders and thought it looked so cute behind the image.

Other supplies used: Penny Black DP, DCWV cardstock, Martha Stewart punch and ribbon from my stash!
This week I also want to give a warm welcome to a new design team member Tish (aka ArTish), who is one of our illustrators.
Also joining us this month are two very talented guest designers, Emma and Piali.

Welcome ladies!

Challenges:
If the Shoe fits - Mad for Plaid
Lots to do - Use a Machine
Practical Scrappers - Stamps

New Challenge at Skipping Stones Design!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today is the last sketch challenge provided by Belinda Chang. Her sketches have been so much fun this month. You can still visit Belinda on her blog and check out all of her amazing work.

Here is this weeks sketch!My card this week features a beautiful stamp and sentiment from the Skipping Stones Design set called "Healing Wings". If you haven't had a chance to see this set, you must go! The sentiments are beautiful and versatile and the butterflies have endless possibilities.
I stamped the butterfly on watercolor paper and inked it with distress inks. I then coated the butterfly with thick embossing powder heated and repeated 3 times. Once cool I cracked the powder to create an antique look.
The papers I used this week were DCWV La Creme collection. I just love this paper! It is thick and some of the sheets are flocked.
I used circle nestabilities and one of the tags from the spellbinders fancy tags collection.
Basic Grey Opaline pearls complete the card!

I can't wait to see your creations using this beautiful sketch.
You can enter your cards here!


Challenges:
A spoon full of sugar - Distress inks, pearls and glitter
Artful Inkables - Naughty or nice
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Flowers
Simon Says Challenge - Vintage with Flowers
Flutter By - Open (butterflies, fairies, angels)
The Character Cafe - Monochrome
Creative Inspirations - Monochrome

Hop(e) for Haiti auction reminder!

Thank you to everyone that participated in our blog hop on Tuesday. If you missed the hop, you can check it out at Skipping Stones Design.
There is still time to bid on these wonderful cards and every penny goes to the American Red Cross to help out in Haiti.

Please click here to place your bid on a beautiful, Handmade original card.

Here is the inside of my card, currently up for auction here.

Skipping Stones Blog Hop – Hop(e) for Haiti and Fabulous Prizes!

Here is the link to the active card listings on eBay

Please Help us by spreading the word!

Welcome to Skipping Stones Design’s Blog Hop(e) for Haiti. If you just happened upon my blog today, you’ll want to go back to the beginning at Skipping Stones Design. You should have come from Bev Rousch's blog.

As a company, we wanted to do something to give back to the people who have been so devastated by the Haitian Earthquake. So we thought what better way than to invite some of our favorite stampers to join us in this cause. Each card you see on the blog hop today will be auctioned on E-bay with all proceeds going to the Red Cross in support of the Haitian Relief Effort (please check the Skipping Stones Design Website for the link to the auction). 100% of the proceeds of the Ebay auction and $2.00 from every stamp set purchased from February 16 - 22 will be donated to the Red Cross. We know that we can make a difference.

My card for the auction is from the Dandelion Wishes stamp set. I sponged ink onto white cardstock and then stamped and embossed my dandelion in black. I popped up black embossed butterflies to complete my image. The papers are K & Company with Core'dinations cardstock. Madeira rayon thread, black satin ribbon and prima flowers complete the card. The card is stitched inside and out with lots of layers. You won't be sorry you placed a bid for the lot!


Thank you for stopping by and your next blog to hop to is Debbie Fisher.

How about a prize?

In addition to the fabulous eye candy, we have decided to hide a prize somewhere along the hop! There will be a few pre-release sets up for grabs hidden along the blog hop. The fun part is...we're not telling you who it is! So as you hop, make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!!

If there is a break somewhere along the way, there will be a master list at:

Skipping Stones Design or at Sparkle and Bling



Order of participants:

Skipping Stones Design http://skippingstonesdesign.com/
Angela Thomas http://sparkleandbling.blogspot.com/
Kim Teasdale http://paperintheworks.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton http://treasureoilerdesignz.blogspot.com/
Karen Giron http://kgiron.blogspot.com/
Erin Grotegut http://www.inkysmiles.blogspot.com/
Christi Milliken http://www.blessingsonpaper.com/
Sarah Masteller http://sarahspapertray.blogspot.com
Sharon Perry http://ladybug820.blogspot.com/
Mary Giemza http://mycardz.wordpress.com/
Jen del Muro http://iheart2stamp.com/
Kandi Phillips http://kraftykandikrafts.blogspot.com/
Sankari Wegman http://sunnysankari.blogspot.com/
Laurie Schmidllin http://justgivemestamps.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Amy Sheffer http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jackie Pedro http://thescallopededge.typepad.com/the_scalloped_edge/
Chels Van Wyk http://www.scraptasticvoyage.blogspot.com/
Deb Felts http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/
Jennie Harper http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Tomshack http://tomshack.blogspot.com/
Bev Rousch http://bevithia.blogspot.com/
Peggy Russell http://beautifulgreetings.blogspot.com/
Debbie Fisher http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/
Latisha Yoast http://crafteebee.blogspot.com/
Kathi Carlson http://kathiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Jami Bova http://sgtstamper.com/blog/
Michelle Giraud http://twisted-chick.blogspot.com/
Maren Benedict http://zanynotcrazy.blogspot.com/
Wendy Price http://paperinkandsmiles.blogspot.com/
Courtenay Baker http://courtbaker.blogspot.com/
Belinda Chang Langer http://cadnileb.blogspot.com/
Amanda Sewell http://inkspirations.blogspot.com/

A little love at the Pixie Cottage

It's time to play with the Pixies again!
This week the challenge at the Pixie Cottage is to create a card with a LOVE theme. Please make sure to visit the Pixie blog and check out the rules. Michelle always has a fabulous prize for our winner. I would just LOVE to see you there :)
I was so excited to ink up my new stamp, "Ten Feet Tall" by Tricia Moore, available HERE
Isn't he just the cutest! I used my distress inks and an aqua painter to bring him to life. I can't tell you for the life of me what kind of paper this is because I have had it forever! The Cardstock is Core'dinations. I used Madeira rayon thread in Chocolate and a mixture of Fiskars and Stampin' UP punches. The ribbon is from my stash.
I think this card will be the perfect Valentine for my son!
I really hope you can play along!
Make sure to stop in and take a look at the great deals Michelles Scrapbooking and More. She has every color of distress ink and all the embellishments you could ever need :)