MKC Digitals - Designer's Choice 11th December 2018

My Designer's Choice for December is "Sunflower Mug".  I decided to make a thank you card for a teacher with this beautiful image.

I those pink shades for the sunflowers, using a simple background paper and a doily.  Unfortunately, our website is still down for maintenance, so keep an eye in the group for when it re-opens so you can grab this digi.  It is so versatile you could use it for anything.

MKC Digitals - "Gnome Girl with Gingerbread Man"

This is one of the MKC Digitals December releases.

I have made a tag with a pocket in the back for money.  This is a great way to give your grandchild money for Christmas, so they can go out and pick what they want and they might get more bang for buck in the sales.

I love thinking of other ways to use digital stamps besides cards.  I hope Charlotte loves the tag - I know she will love the money, being a girl, she loves shopping, shopping and more shopping.

I also managed to get another two done for my grand-daughters too before this blog went live.

Unfortunately the shop is on a maintenance shutdown at the moment, so Mari has kindly offered this digi as a freebie on our Facebook Group Page, so join the Group and grab it now.


I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and hope to see you visit my blog in 2019.  Have a safe one!

MKC Digitals - "Poinsettia Jar"

MKC Digitals December Release is filled with fun images for Christmas.  Today I am focussing on "Poinsettia Jar".  I have made a folded gift card, seen here with the envelope.  I have cut out the image and placed it on the cardstock with foam tape.  The chipboard words are from Make It Crafty, my favourite Australian chipboard supplier, who ships all over the world.  Actually Zoe's website is in US$ to make it easier for overseas purchasers.

Unfortunately MKC Digitals shop is down for maintenance at the moment, but keep checking.  Don't forget Christmas/Winter images will be 40% off for the entire month of December, so you still have time to grab a bargain or two.

Here is another gift card I made before my blog went live.

Our Facebook group will keep you up to date with what is happening in MKC Digitals Land, see you there.

"Hope" by SheepSki Designs

The December theme over at the SheepSki Designs Blog Challenge is "Celebrations".  I decided to make a card for a student celebrating exam results.  The image I have used is "Hope" and is available in Andrea's Etsy shop.

When you are in the shop, please remember to take advantage of our discount code

                                               SKIANDREA10

The SheepSki Designs Blog Challenge runs every month with a different theme.  Here is a reminder of the challenge rules:

• We will post a new challenge on the 1st of the month
• Only hand coloured entries are accepted (stamped images or digis), no digital projects are accepted
• You are welcome to enter any type of craft project, made with any company / artist's digi
• All projects must be your own and new, no back linking to an older post
• Please post a direct link to your creation using the inlinkz tool and link back to SheepSki Designs Challenge blog from your post
• You must be a follower of the blog
• You must follow the theme of the challenge
• You may enter a MAXIMUM OF THREE TIMES per challenge
• The Winner will be chosen by Random.org and the Top Three by the Design Team
• The Winner will receive three images of choice from the SheepSki Designs store and the Top Three will receive one image of choice.
• If you use a SheepSki Designs image and are selected as a Winner or Top Three you will get one extra image.  Which means the winner will receive 4 images and Top Three will receive two images
• You have up to two weeks from the winner announcement to claim your prize, please email sheepskidesigns@gmail.com

We also have a Facebook Group that also has a challenge each month with a theme, so hope to see you there too.

Ericraft Stamps - "Reindeer Laying Down"

Here is a new release from Ericraft Stamps for Christmas 2018.

It is a bit hard to see with the gold lettering shining on the camera, but the stickers at the top left say "Joy to the World".  "Reindeer Laying Down" is available in the Etsy shop and while you are there check out the Sale Section where all the new releases are discounted for a short time.  Also don't forget we have some other Chrissie digis in the Christmas section too. 

If you aren't a member of Ericraft Stamps Facebook Group we would love to have you join us.

The Outlawz Challenges - November 2018 Progressive

This month's progressive challenge presents us with "Snowman Couple" from Drawn by Krista.  Be sure to check out Krista's Facebook page as well as her Etsy shop.

https://www.facebook.com/drawnbyKrista/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawnwithCharacter?fbclid=IwAR1Dbox5DcZlhwvGpD0JpvK_boFV3dP86Ih809UQpCD6uGzL1uloUKauw4Q&section_id=18859315

This is my entry for the challenge

MKC Digitals - Black Friday Freebie with purchase

Wow look at this great deal from MKC Digitals

This is the image you get when you spend $5.00 or more.  Here is my inspiration for this digi.

Get into the shop before this deal ends on Cyber Monday.  You won't get a better deal than this - don't forget the code - you will save heaps and spend over $5.00 and get Foxy's Christmas Trees as a bonus.

"Unicorn Onesie" by Ericraft Stamps

Well there is a bit of a story to this Christmas card. 

I coloured "Unicorn Onesie" with Copics and I thought I would enhance a little of the lip line on Erica's image. Well I am no artist and it was a complete failure. I wasn't sure what was happening with this creation until I thought of what to do with my botch. I thought what might cause this redness around your mouth at Christmas. . . an addiction to candy canes of course! Well it's possible if you are a sloppy sucker, please friends, work with me here on this scenario! So this is the result - Erica, I promise I won't deface your images again!

This image is available in the Ericraft Shop on Etsy and is still at the special new release price, but be quick.  

Ericraft Stamps also has a group on Facebook.  We would love to see you join, so you can keep up to date with all the new releases.

Sandra Caldwell Stamps - Second November 2018 release

I just love the second release of Sandra's images for November 2018.  There is such a varied range to choose from, some great Christmas ones, as well as others you could use for any occasion.

Here is my inspiration using #2480 Elf Fairy

Isn't he a cutie.  I hope you will check out Sandra's shop.  There are 648 images to choose from and just saying, I might have about 197 at the moment, with no sign of stopping.  I love Sandra's images and so will you.

Don't forget to join her Facebook Group too.

I would like to thank Sandra for giving me the opportunity to be a Guest Designer on her team and also to thank the Design Team for their support and encouragement over this month.

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge

The theme over at Incy Wincy Designs for the 3rd Monday in November is ONLY SQUARE CARDS.  Thank you to Heather from Incy Wincy for the guest spot.

Here is my inspiration for a square card using an image from our sponsor StarStampz.  This image is called "Thanksgiving Harvest Chibi" and is such a versatile image, it does not have to be used just for Thanksgiving.  We do not celebrate Thanksgiving as such here;  we are always thankful for the country we live in and as my card shows very thankful for our friends, so I guess we celebrate Thanksgiving all year round lol.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to join in the Incy Wincy Blog Challenge.  There is a new challenge on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.

MKC Digitals - Digi Stamp Week 18-23 November 2018

Mari asked the Design Team to create a project showcasing what we love about digital stamps or something you can do with digital stamps that you can’t do with traditional stamps. So that is what we will be doing this week, showcasing the versatility of digital stamps.

I am first cab off the rank, so here goes. When I first heard of digital stamps on Facebook, I thought no not for me, I am too old for this technical stuff. Self-taught on the computer, managed to hold down quite a few jobs using the computer but this digital stuff; you've got to be kidding.

Well I can't remember just when or what changed by mind, but I am hooked. I love how you can resize, twist, crop, but my most favourite is merging and recently paper piecing using digital paper.

When I play with my digis I always use Publisher, I know - why, when you can just do it in Word. Well I have always used Publisher for newsletters for various groups over the years, and I only ever used Word for letters, documents etc.

Well enough of that, OK, merging is fun. I am no expert on it but as long as you put down a .jpg image and then a .png image and merge the two as if they were meant to be together, you've got a scene. This can also be done with 2 .png images as long as the .png images are not transparent behind the actual image. From what I have found the image has to be solid but the background is transparent. I could be wrong, you can correct me, I am only a beginner.

I have just looked through my folder for examples. Here is a good example of 3 single images before Mari's relaunch, merged together to make a scene. When you have the images on your working page you can use the send backward or bring forward feature to get the scene to your liking.

Paper Piecing with digital papers I have only recently played with. I have bought digital papers and even found freebies in the past to use as backgrounds and just printed them off separately, until I discovered I could place the paper down and then the image over it, not needing to print separately unless I wanted the image foam taped over the paper. Now I know that is technically merging, but here is where the paper piecing comes into it. As I said before, some .png have transparent backgrounds only, but others can have another portion transparent in it, or you can even use a photo editing program and make parts of the .png image transparent to be able to paper piece. If you go to your purchased images and move your mouse over them, there might be some there already. I have just done it with mine and found one example. Little Snowman with Cocoa, has a transparent part in the inside of the cup; this part can be paper pieced and I did it recently on my "Old is New Again" post. In my following examples, I have changed parts of Mari's image to be transparent so I can paper piece. Whatever photo editing program you have, you can Google for help if you can't find it in the program. Sometimes I prefer to Google it because the instructions are easier to understand when other people have done it, rather than rely on your photo-editing program to tell it simply. That is what I did for the free program I use - GIMP2. I don't understand much of it, but I use it to add my watermarks and now for paper piecing. I am learning a bit more technology through digital stamps. I just have to find the bits of paper I write on when working out these revelations, so I can do it again.

Flower 1 (top right) has transparent leaves already, so I placed some digital paper under the leaves. Pumpkin and Flower (top left) I modified in GIMP2 to be able to put some digital paper behind the pumpkin. Fall Floral Jar (bottom right) has been modified to put digital paper behind the vase and of course last but not least, Fall Floral Jar and Fall Floral Arrangement have been MERGED over the top of some digital paper with an added sentiment from the Fall Sentiment Collection. This can be done because the background around the images is transparent.

Here is my finished card with the last example, coloured using the Colour Palette for our Facebook Challenge in our Group page.

Now here is Flower 1 with the leaves paper pieced. It is a small gift card with the flower lifted by foam tape.

Some more examples using digital paper under images are shown below using Pumpkin Spice. In the first one I have paper pieced and in the second one, I have paper pieced and added the sunflower from Fall Floral Arrangement. I inserted the image, cropped it and resized it to hide the pumpkin, printed, coloured and cut around the petals, placing it over the finished coffee cup with foam tape.

I do think merging and paper piecing is easier with digital stamps than what it is with traditional stamping; do you agree?

Thank you reading my blog about my experience with the digital stamp world. This must be the longest post I have ever done.

I hope you will continue reading the other MKC Digitals DTs' posts on why they like digital stamps.

The list of the DT links and dates are below.

19th - Tania

20th - Charlotte

21st - Jane

22nd - Claudia

23rd -K M Meena

See you next time and enjoy your digital stamps!

MKC Digitals November 2018 Facebook Challenge "Colour Palette"

This month MKC Digitals is using this colour palette for our Facebook Challenge.

Lovely Autumn/Fall colours, hope you join us in our Facebook Group for this challenge.

This is my inspiration for this challenge. I have used three images from the shop to create this card.

The images are Fall Floral Jar, Fall Floral Arrangement and Fall Sentiments.

 I will also talk about this card in my blog post next week as it is also one of my creations for our Digi Stamp week.  Hope you can catch up with us for that too.  There will be posts from our DT telling you why they enjoy working with digital stamps.  See you over in our Facebook Group

Guest DT - Sandra Caldwell's Release 9th November 2018

I am honoured to have been asked by Sandra to be a guest designer in November.  I have always loved Sandra's images and have quite a selection myself, not the 900+ she has in her Etsy shop (I wish), but I am getting there lol!

My inspiration for the November release is a Christmas set using #2481 Santa Kat. I have made a card, gift bag and tag, as well as added Santa Kat to a sticker for a present.

Don't forget to check out the Etsy shop where you will find all the new releases as well as lots more images you won't resist!

MKC Digitals - November Release

It is that time again, a new release for MKC Digitals!  How exciting!  This month we have a mixture of images to showcase - Autumn/Fall, Christmas and lots of sentiments to  use with the images.  I hope you like them.  To see the full range, make sure you join our Facebook Group.  Mari is such a talented artist and colourist, you will be amazed how easy it is to create with her images.

Here are some of mine from the November release.  They will all be available in our MKC Digitals shop and will be showcased throughout the next week in our Group.  Hope to see you at our Group and in our Shop and don't forget new releases are always discounted until the next release comes out.

Foxy Santa Hat and Poinsettia, plus Holiday Sentiments

Candy Cane Gingerbread Man and Holiday Sentiments

Poinsettia and Holiday Sentiments

As you can see it is so easy to create with MKC Digitals, why don't you check out the Group and Shop now!

Knitty Kitty Digis - "Wrapped Up Greyhound"

I love this digi and I already know who is going to receive this card for Christmas.  Thank you to Knitty Kitty Digis for creating the perfect image for my greyhound-loving crafty friend, who has given her greyhound a better life than the one they usually have.

Here is my inspiration for the Incy Wincy Designs Blog Challenge for the first Monday in November. The theme is "Christmas".  Knitty Kitty Digis is one of the sponsors of this fantastic challenge and I just love their designs, as I am a cat-loving fanatic.  For those of you who aren't as fanatical as me about cat images, there are other images to choose from and "Wrapped Up Greyhound" Image No. 44 is just one of them.

I hope you check out the Incy Wincy Designs Blog Challenge this fortnight as it's an easy theme at this time of year - Christmas.  You must be busy getting your Christmas cards ready.  Why not include one of your creations in our challenge. We have three great businesses sponsoring us this time - Knitty Kitty Digis, Fabrika Fantasy and Sticker You, another reason to join us!

SheepSki Designs November Blog Challenge

The theme for the SheepSki Blog #20 Challenge this month is "Anything Christmas".  I chose to work with "Christmas Candle" Image No. 170 available in the Etsy shop.

I worked with the BG Copics for the candle, I love these shades.  I have used a sheet from the Kaisercraft 6 x 6 "Mint Wishes" collection and cut it into 4 sections.  I printed off the images 4 times and layered sections of it to add depth.  I decorated with a paper doily and some sentiments from the same Kaisercraft collection.

I hope you will join in this challenge.  What better way to make your Christmas cards and maybe you will win a prize as well.  There are 21 Christmas related images in the Etsy shop, so you aren't short of ideas there and don't forget to use this discount for a further 10% off our shop.

                                     
SKIANDREA10


 Here is the link for the November challenge.

Don't forget if you aren't a member of our Facebook Group, please join us.

I hope you join us this month, good excuse to work on your Christmas cards!

I am entering the following:

https://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/friday-color/forum/topics/ff110218-festive-friday-s-challenge-november-02-2018

https://merrylittlechristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/mlccb-4-november-anything-christmas-goes.html

https://scrapfromyourheart.blogspot.com/2018/11/utfordring-27-julchristmas.html

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2533847743299781&type=3 Kerst Christmas Facebook Group November album

MKC Digitals "Old is New Again"

Mari has re-introduced some of her images to the new shop and I am showcasing "Little Snowman's Hot Cocoa" available here.  I have made a gift bag along with a tag for Christmas.  I hope you like it.

Don't forget we are still looking for members in our Facebook Group, here is the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/109728339790268/

Hope you join us, we have challenges and new releases every month and the new releases are always at a special price until the next release comes out.  See you there.

MKC Digitals - 15th October Facebook Challenge

The theme for our October Facebook Challenge is HALLOWEEN of course!

I have made a treat bag using "Maddy Pumpkin Costume" which is available in the MKC Digitals Shop.

Here is the link for MKC Digitals Facebook Group, see you there!

"Dreamy Fox" The Outlawz Challenge October 2018 Progressive Challenge

This month's progressive challenge is using "Dreamy Fox" by  MMedel Illustrations.  

Thank you so much for this cutie.

Here is the link to the Outlawz Progressive Challenge.

Digistamps4Joy October Blog Challenge

This month I decided to check out Digistamps4Joy blog and found a challenge using a freebie kindly given by Margaret.  I decided to have a go and printed out the image, along with my usual progressive image from Margaret.

Well life got in the way this month and for the first time since I have been doing the Progressive Challenge it looks as if I will run out of time to do it, but I have finished the Blog Challenge entry and here it is ... a wine bottle tag.  The sentiment I found among my SU stamps ... perfect I thought!

The image Margaret kindly donated is called "Cheese and Wine" and is available in her shop here

Guest DT at Incy Wincy Designs October Blog Challenge

It was a pleasure to be invited to Incy Wincy Designs as a Guest Designer.  I already had some of Rick's images so it was easy to pick one to showcase.  I know there was a theme for this fortnight but   my invite was at such short notice I forgpot to ask if there was a theme, and there was!  I designed a Christmas card instead of a Birthday card, but this would also be a great image to use on a December Birthday card.  "Christmas Party Hat" is available at Rick's shop, so I hope you stop by and see everything he has to offer, a great artist indeed!

The Incy Wincy Designs Blog Challenges start on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month and has some great sponsors and prizes.  Check it out here

I hope you like "Christmas Party Hat" and the card I made with it.  By the way the doily embellishment is from Charms Creations.

Thank you for visiting my blog and don't forget the Incy Wincy Designs Blog Challenge.

Ericraft Stamps "Unicorn Beanie"

Have you checked out Ericraft Stamps yet?  Today I am going to showcase "Unicorn Beanie" and what a cutie she is.  She is available in the Etsy shop now at a very special price.  I decided to use this cutie to make my first 2018 Ericraft Stamps Christmas card.  I hope you like it. 

I would also like to invite you to join our Facebook group.  We are a small group, but if you are interested in Ericraft Stamps, it is the best place to see what Erica has created.  Erica is an Aussie, who loves drawing digital stamps, mainly as a hobby, her inspiration for her stamps mainly coming from her family life. 

I would love you to check out all her images in the Etsy shop - you will be pleasantly surprised by her work and also the prices she offers, especially her new releases for a short time.

Thanks for stopping by.

I am entering the following with my card:

Stamps by Aurora Wings "Cat in Flowers"

I chose "Cat in Flowers" to use in the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog Challenge #71 with the theme, Inspired by Music.  It was not a hard choice, I went through my Aurora Wings folder and soon as I saw this image, I thought of the Tom Jones hit "What's New Pussycat" released in 1965.  I know showing my age!  Here is my project, an ATC.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Update:  I was the "Random winner" with this creation.  Thank you Mitzi.

MKC Digitals 5th October Release

Well you have been waiting for it and here it is - MKC Digitals' new release.  Twelve new releases for October just in time for Halloween and at the moment you can grab these images at a special price.  Here a few of my creations with these new stamps.  I hope you like them.

A Fatty Batty ATC

                                                                 

                                                                  3 Treat Bags


I hope you enjoy Mari's new release and will check out all of the images in her shop. This is a great buy, all the Fatty Batty characters in one bundle.

Don't forget to check out our website for lots of inspiration and if you haven't joined our Facebook Group head over there now and click join, so you don't miss out on all the latest information about MKC Digitals.  Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/109728339790268/
See you there!

SheepSki Designs October 2018 Blog Challenge

This month our theme over at SheepSki Designs Blog Challenge is Fantasy and/or Wings.  I must say it was a hard choice because Andrea has lots in the Etsy shop to cover that theme.  I can't wait to see what else the Design Team came up with.  My choice was Peggy - Image No. 109 available here

I have coloured Peggy with Copics, BGs for the wings and Cool Greys for the rest.  The lace panel at the front is actually a mold made from No More Gaps.  I experimented a while ago with it, and was just waiting for the right project to add it to.  The moon and stars chipboard and the word Sparkle are both from my fave chipboard supplier here in Australia, Make it Crafty.  I coloured the moon and stars with Wink of Stella and on the front part of the word I used BG34 and BG32.

I hope you like my inspiration for the October Blog Challenge and will join us over at https://sheepski-designs-challenges.blogspot.com/ for Challenge 19 Fantasy/Wings.

Don't forget whenever you are checking out the SheepSki Designs Etsy shop, you are welcome to use the discount code below to get a further 10% off your order.


                                          SKIANDREA10

Thank you for joining me today and if you are not a member of the SheepSki Designs Digital Stamps Facebook Group, please head over there now and request to join.  We also have a Facebook Challenge every month too.
                                 

The Outlawz Challenges - September 2018 Progressive

This month's Progressive stamp is thanks to Mary Smith, Createful Heart Digis & Design.  The name of the image is called

Ms. Scarecrow with Squirrels

and is available in Mary's shop here.  

Thank you Mary for your continued support of The Outlawz Challenges.

https://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/friday-color/forum/topics/festive-fridays-challenge-sept-28-18

As Createful Heart Digis & Design has started their monthly blog challenges again, I would like to also enter this project in their Challenge #1 - Theme Autumn/Fall

Ericraft Stamps "Mumma Chook"

Here is an ATC I have created using Ericraft Stamps "Mumma Chook".

This image is available in the Etsy  EricraftShop.  Here is the link for "Mumma Chook" and she is at a discounted price at the moment but don't delay, the offer won't last forever.

By the way, I can't take credit for the amazing background, except the Pine Cone shading around the edges.  The background was gifted to me in an ATC swap and I thought it suited Mumma perfectly.

Bugaboo Stamps "Stella & Gus" Deck of Cards

I just love Stella images from Bugaboo Stamps.  This time I have used "Stella & Gus Deck of Cards" for my daughter and son-in-law's 15th Wedding Anniversary.

This image can be purchased here and I have also used Make-it-Crafty chipboard.

I am entering The Outlawz Challenges with this card.

https://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/friday-color/forum/topics/festive-friday-challenge-sept-14-18

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps "Red Panda"

My grand-daughter Verity is turning double digits this week.  When I asked her what she wanted her answer was a real pet Red Panda.  Unfortunately I cannot fulfill that request, but I remembered I had a Red Panda in my digital folders, in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps downloads.  So this is what I posted to her today.

I have used autumn colours in the colouring of the Red Panda image which is available in the Etsy Shop of gjzcck.  I hope you check out this shop, it has beautiful images that I can never resist.

I will enter http://cck-digitalstamps-challenge.blogspot.com/2018/09/ching-chou-kuik-digital-stamps.html with Verity's birthday card.

LeAnn's World 101 "Cindy"

This month's progressive challenge at LeAnn's World 101 features "Cindy".  I have been wanting to join in this challenge for a while, but either run out of time or forget, so this month I decided to purchase the stamp and give it a go.  Here is my creation.  I guess you could say it's an inspiration card.

I am entering:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2075786162732472&type=3

https://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/wednesday-sketch/forum/topics/wednesday-sketch-challenge-september-5-2018

https://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/prismaandothermediums

MKC Digitals September 2018 Release

After a short break Mari Ko Creations has been revamped to become MKC Digitals and I am proud to still be on Mari's Design Team.  Here are a few links for you to check out:

Facebook Group (if you join now you can get the 400 member freebie).  At the moment we have a Facebook Challenge using the freebie, Thanks a Latte.

Shop (and if you are quick, you will find we have a 30% discount on the new shop until 10th September 2018).  This link isn't just a shop!  You will find some great tabs to check out on the home page, some are direct links back to the blog, a project gallery which has some fantastic inspiration and of course a link to our monthly challenge when that starts.

You Tube - Mari has been busy and already has 2 videos

Blog - Mari is a great blogger, so you will find lots of info there too and of course a link back to the shop.  Stay tuned for information on our challenges here too.

Today I am going to showcase some of my creations with the September release.  Mari has concentrated on school inspired digis this month.  You will find them in the shop under the NEW Collection or the SCHOOL Collection. 

These are bookmarks I have coloured with Copics and laminated.  I have given them to two of my grandchildren to give to their teachers as they are leaving their current school.

This is a Planner Band I am giving to a crafty friend who I could not be without on this  papercraft journey, and believe it or not, we haven't even met in person yet.  As much as I said I don't go much on social media, it is what brought us together and I am so grateful for her friendship.

I have also made some planner clips and reminder pencils.  I hope I have inspired you to use your digital stamps for other projects.  Don't forget all the stamps I have used are available in the MKC Digitals Shop.