Rules and Such...

- Challenges are posted every Wednesday
- You may combine this challenge with others
- You can use any products or stamps (you aren't restricted to just using Pixie Cottage, although we would love to see how you use our products too!)
- Post your creation on your blog with a direct link to this challenge
- Entries due by midnight (EST) on the Tuesday night before the next challenge
- Winners will be announced on Fridays!

Sep 29, 2010

The New Pixie Cottage Design Team!!!!

First of all, I want to start out by thanking all the talented people who applied to join us on design team.   I am late making my announcement, and I apologize.  I wanted to notifiy everyone personally before I posted this.  If for some reason you did not get an email and had send me your information, I am very sorry. It seems that I am having some trouble with my emails lately, mine are going to spam folders, and the ones I should be receiving are not showing up.

I would like to say thank you to all of you by offering the coupon code
Thankful
This will be good for 10 percent off any order placed till October 31st in my store, including Pixie Cottage stamps.

Secondly, I would like to say good bye to Erin, who we have had the pleasure of working with for the last six months.  Erin you will be missed!  Some of our senior designers have chosen to step down to junior designers due to time constraints, something I surely understand, and I am just thrilled to have them on board in any capacity.

Now without further ado,  here are the new Pixie designers:

Sadia of Sadilla's Blog
Paola of Paola's Paper Haven
Suzi of Sugar and Spice My Haven of Escape
Lisette of Totally Inkspired
Nanda of Nanda Creatief
Carla of Carla's Corner

I want to welcome these fine artists and look forward to seeing all the pretties they produce.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Michelle

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #38 - Guest Sketch and Orange



It's time for another challenge here at The Pixie Cottage and this week we have a sketch from a very Special Guest Sketch Artist and it's Aud Nordheim!



Not only did she make this fabulous sketch for us to use she also created this gorgeous card using South End Witch Digital Stamp by Andrea T. Seiler



We have the additional theme of "Orange" so with the Fall Season upon us and Halloween coming soon you have non reason not to join in with us!

You don't have to use a Pixie Cottage Stamp to enter but if you do have why not try out!
Remember you can use the sketch, the theme or both and can combine our challenge with any others you like!

One randomly picked winner will get their choice of 2 Pixie Cottage Stamps and the Design Teams Top Three entries will get to display the winners badge on their blog.
Winners will be announced on the Friday following the end of the challenge.

 

Katie
Using Pumpkin Molly


Risa
Using Cassie by Di Carubia

Anne
Using Lil Pumkin by Alisa Ramirez

Peggy
Using Apple Hannah by Sandra Hammer

ArTish using Oreo the cat, her latest digital stamp

Sharon
Using Pumpkin Molly

Davi
Using 3 Mice Digital Stamp by ArTish

Tanya
Using Hannah With Butterflies by Sandra Hammer

Cheryl
Using Hannah on Stepping Stones by Sandra Hammer

Denise
Using Pretty In Pink by Alisa Ramirez

Erin
Using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah by Sandra Hammer

So now it's your turn to go and create and come back and share with us.
Please add your link to the gadget below so we can come and see your project.
No back links please, if the item was on your blog before September 29th then it will be removed. Thanks for your understanding on this matter.
The link gadget will close on October 5th at 11.59pm CST.



Good Luck!
Katie and The Team

Sep 24, 2010

Winners Revealed for Challenge #36 - Mellow Fruitfulness


Hello and welcome to Winners Circle Friday!
Today's the day to check to see if you are the winner from Challenge #36 which was "Mellow Fruitfulness".
The randomly picked winner of their choice of two fabulous Pixie Cottage stamps is SADILLA
Please contact Michelle with your details so you choose your stamps.

Our Top Three picks are (in no particular order)
Ona i Ja/ Agnieszka
Dorcas
Renata

Congratulations and feel free to grab our banner for your blog



Remember that Challenge #37, "Fun and Games", is still running and you have until Tuesday the 21st at Midnight to enter.
Good luck!

Sep 23, 2010

Autism Benefit

We here at The Pixie Cottage are thrilled to have a little artist who volunteered her time and her art to help a worthy cause. Let me introduce Sienna to you!

Lets see what Sienna has to say:
Hi my name is Sienna. I’m 9 years old. I love art! My favorite is drawing and coloring. My mom told me about illustrating stamps. I really wanted to do it too. She told me to keep on drawing and that’s what I did. At church while the grown ups were talking I brought paper and pencil and drew a raccoon named Razz. I asked my mom if this could be a rubber stamp and if I could show it to Miss Michelle. Since then I have been submitting drawings. Miss Michelle had the idea to use one of my images for a charity stamp. I have chosen for all of the proceeds to benefit children with Autism. A year ago I was in a Denver hospital for 2 weeks; the family we stayed with at night was wonderful. They have a granddaughter named Star, who has Autism. I’m a child who is following my dreams, my hope is that my art can help make their dreams come true.

Thank you for supporting Autism research too!

Love, Sienna



Proceeds from the sale of these stamps will benefit Autism Speaks. The donation we ask is 3.00 and you will receive both of Sienna's stamps. Please type in the comment section of your payment if you prefer red rubber cling mount stamps or digital images.
The rubber images are approximately 1.5 inches high and 1.25 inches high.



We are asking for a 3.00 donation.

Also we would love for your to share this post with your blog readers!
Thanks,
Michelle and Sienna

Sep 22, 2010

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #37 - Sketch and Fun and Games



It's time for another challenge here at The Pixie Cottage and this week we have a sketch from our old friend Pam :)



We have the additional theme of "Fun and Games" so if you picked up the free digital image from last week's challenge then you have no excuses, you have to come and play with us! You can interpret the theme however you like, birthdays, school, playing with friends, sports, really the theme is very open.

You don't have to use a Pixie Cottage Stamp to enter but if you do have why not try out!
Remember you can use the sketch, the theme or both and can combine our challenge with any others you like!

One randomly picked winner will get their choice of 2 Pixie Cottage Stamps and the Design Teams Top Three entries will get to display the winners badge on their blog.
Winners will be announced on the Friday following the end of the challenge.

We have Sparkle Smith as a guest design team member again this week.
Using Hannah On A Swing by Sandra Hammer



Katie
Using Birthday Boy by Eileen Gutierrez



Risa
Using SouthEnd Girls 2 by Andrea T. Seiler



Anne
Using Hannah’s Sled by Sandra Hammer



Peggy
Using Spooky Tree Background by Sandra Hammer



ArTish
Using Hopscotch Holly (new in stock!)



Sharon
Using Hannah On A Swing by Sandra Hammer



Tracey
Using Catasticat Kite digital stamp by ArTish



Davi
Using Leaps and Bounds (freebie)



Tanya
Using Hannah On A Swing by Sandra Hammer



So go and grab your supplies, make a great card and come back and show us!
Leave your link in the gadget below and we'll be around to see them all.



Good Luck!
Katie and The Team

Sep 17, 2010

Winners Revealed for Challenge #35 - Furry Friends


Hello and welcome to Winners Circle Friday!
Today's the day to check to see if you are the winner from Challenge #35 which was "Furry Friends".
The randomly picked winner of their choice of two fabulous Pixie Cottage stamps is Rose!
Please contact Michelle with your details so you choose your stamps.

Our Top Three picks are (in no particular order)
Kim Mc
Jan Farnworth
Lisa C

Congratulations and feel free to grab our banner for your blog



Remember that Challenge #36, "Mellow Fruitfulness", is still running and you have until Tuesday the 21st at Midnight to enter.
Good luck!

Sep 15, 2010

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #36 - Sketch and Mellow Fruitfulness & FREEBIE


This week we have fabulous sketch from team member Adrina and I'm sure you'll agree it's a great one!


We have the additional theme of "Mellow Fruitfulness" to go with the upcoming Autumn Season and we'd love to see your Fall themed projects.

You don't have to use a Pixie Cottage Stamp to enter but if you do have why not try out!
Remember you can use the sketch, the theme or both and can combine our challenge with any others you like!

One randomly picked winner will get their choice of 2 Pixie Cottage Stamps and the Design Teams Top Three entries will get to display the winners badge on their blog.
Winners will be announced on the Friday following the end of the challenge.

We have Sparkle Smith as a guest design team member again this week.
Using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah By Sandra Hammer



Katie
Using Pumpkin Bench by Sandra Hammer masked with Whispering Maisy & Matt by Di Carubia



Risa
Using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah By Sandra Hammer



Peggy
Using Fall Friend by Eileen Gutierrez and Apple Bench by Sandra Hammer



ArTish
Using 3 Fall Mice Digital Stamp by ArTish




Anne
Using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah By Sandra Hammer



Sharon
Using Spooky Tree Background by Sandra Hammer and Hannah with Apples by Sandra Hammer




Tanya
Using Hannah with Apples by Sandra Hammer



Denise
Using 3 Fall Mice Digital Stamp by ArTish



Cheryl
Using Hannah with Apples by Sandra Hammer



Adrina
Using Pumpkin Molly by Eileen Gutierrez



Davi
Using Hannah with Apples by Sandra Hammer




So go and grab your supplies, make a great card and come back and show us!
Add your link to the gadget below and we'll be along to see your wonderful creations!
Entries close on September 21st at 11.59pm
Please NO BACK LINKS, if your item was on your blog before this challenge started (September 15th) then your link will be removed. Thanks for your understanding on this.

AND here is a digital freebie to thank everyone for participating in our challenges.  It will remain up for a week, and will be an excellent stamp for next weeks theme!! Just right click and save to your computer. Thank you ArTish for the adorable image!!  Something else you would rather have, use the coupon code 20OFF and take 20 percent off HERE exclusions apply-not good on buyer's club category, Best Shelves, die cut machines, or special orders. You must type the code into the Promo Code area on checkout!
Sign up for our newsletter and future coupon codes HERE




Good Luck!
Katie and The Team


Sep 11, 2010

Airbrushing Tutorial with Risa




Hello Everyone!
Today, I'm going to give you a picture tutorial on how I airbrush my finished images. I started airbrushing my images almost two years ago and started out using cans of compressed air. I loved the results but buying cans of air is a little too expensive for me though. I saved my money and brought a small air compressor that I absolutely love!
The supplies that you need are, an air compressor, scissors,repositionable adhesive,scrap paper, Copic Marker and a double of your stamped image.
Using your scissors, trim closely along the inside lines of your image.(a close trim prevents ghost like white shadows when airbrushing) For tight in between areas, I use my Friskars fingertip control knife for cutting.
Notice how much of the inked edges are left on the paper. Click on arrows for a closer look.

Get out your repositionable adhesive and apply the adhesive to the backside of your trimmed out image.
and then adhere the trimmed image to your colored in image.

Now you are ready to begin airbrushing!
Insert your Copic Marker with the broad side tip showing into the slot opening on top of the nozzle. Holding a scrap piece of paper in front of the nozzle, pull the trigger and release the air. (you will a noisy type buzzing as the air is being released) Once you are satisfied with the paint flow, pick up your covered image and start to airbrush. For me, the trick is in your wrist, I gently move my wrist around as I airbrush. You also want to make sure that your image isn't too close to the nozzle. If your image is too close, you will get specks of ink on your paper.
Finished airbrushed image.
Gently start to peel away your trimmed out top image.
Finished image! *My image was a little too close to my nozzle and the result is specked dots!
Now all you have to do is make your card! I hope that my tutorial was easy to follow and understand. *Once I have trimmed out an image, I put it away and save it for another card or project.

Thank You!