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!

Aug 30, 2010

DESIGN TEAM CALL for The Pixie Cottage

The Pixie Cottage Design Team Call

The Pixie Cottage is looking for new Senior and Junior design team members.

We are a rubber stamp company with a wide variety of stamps. We are looking for a handful of design team members who are ready to grow with us and show their talent by making cards, altered art, scrapbook pages and whatever else they can dream up with our products. We will be accepting members for both Junior and Senior Design Teams.
This call is open to talented artists worldwide.

You will be serve a six month term starting October 1, 2010 and ending March 31, 2010.
Deadline for submissions is Sept 12th, 2010 11:59 pm EST.
Members will be contacted by Sept 17th, 2010 via email and announced on or about the 30th of Sept.
Submit to
ThePixieCottage@aol.com
Your submission will be acknowledged with a return email within 3-4 days, if you do not receive an acknowledgement, please send another email.

You are asked  to COMMENT to this post on The Pixie Cottage Blog regarding this call and provide a link to your blog in the comment section, I can scroll back and look at past work or you can pick three items and post it all together. Also, I would like if you could post a short entry on your blog regarding this design team call with a link the the Pixie Blog. This is not mandatory but is certainly appreciated.

Any papercrafting project with any stamp line is fine for your examples.

For more information and details and to view some of our stamps visit http://www.michellesscrap.com/ and check the left sidebar menu at the top for The Pixie Cottage Stamps.

1. Please submit VIA EMAIL you name, address, phone number, email address, website address and any links to online photo galleries that display your work.
2. Tell us about yourself, what forums on online message boards you frequent, about your life, family, job, whatever you would like us to know.
3. Tell us about any current or past design teams you are on. We are not looking for exclusivity, you are welcome to be on other design teams.

4.YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND ANY PICTURES IN THIS EMAIL as we will check your blog.

What we will expect from our Senior Design Team members:


This team will be looking specifically for one Tutorial Specialist who will post bi weekly tutorials, videos would be great, but photo/text tutorials are also fine.(If you are interested in this position please specify, and let me know more about your experience with this type of work)

We are also looking for regular senior members.


1. You will need to have your own blog that you maintain and update at least twice weekly. You must actively post cards or other projects featuring The Pixie Cottage products. You will be expected to provide a link on your blog to The Pixie Cottage blog and affiliated store (Michelle's Scrapbooking & More) Also, you will be expected to provide links to other design team members blogs.


2. You will need to provide us with 4 cards/layouts/projects monthly using The Pixie Cottage stamps in whole or in part that will be posted on The Pixie Cottage Blog. These should be posted in our Yahoo Group, you must be able to take good pictures. Pictures must be posted at least 36 hours in advance of the scheduled posting.


3.You will be expected to participate in one (or more if you like) challenges a month (of your choosing…other than The Pixie Cottage challenge) using Pixie Cottage Stamps. You are expected to participate in all Pixie Cottage Challenges, with the exception of one, which can be at your choosing. Also, you need to visit the entries of our challenge as indicated and comment as appropriate, you will be asked to vote on the Top 3. Of course extenuating circumstances are taken into consideration however, if you are not meeting your obligations you next shipment of stamps will be held till you do so.


4. During your 6 month term we would like you to provide one
tutorial for posting on our blog, you choose what topic it is and it does not have to be anything too fancy or complicated. It can be as simple as how to tie the perfect bow. Video is not necessary, photos and typed text is fine. As long as it has not be used in the past. We will schedule these tutorials at the beginning of your term and ask you to pick your date, and have the tutorial ready 48 hours prior to that date.


5. Actively participate on other members blogs and any Pixie blog hops, and participate in some forums such as SCS or PCP.

6.You will be asked to mail 2 projects to us during your term that we will use for conventions/shows or other marketing.
You also give us permission to use any pictures of cards you make during your term for sales in Michelle’s Scrapbooking & More and our affiliated retail stores. Please watermark your photos as you feel is needed, but know that you are giving permission by joining this design team for those cards to be used.

7. We would appreciate your submissions to publications using our products. While this is not necessary to be a part of our team, if you do submit and get published in print you will be paid 50.00 US Dollars in cash or crafting goodies.

8. It is expected that information/photos provided to you remain confidential unless otherwise instructed.



Junior Design Team Members

All terms will be the same as the Senior team except you will not have to provide a tutorial, you will not have to mail any of your cards to us for use in conventions (unless you would like to) and you are only expected to post two projects a month using Pixie Cottage Stamps. (Participating in two Pixie challenges a month--you choose which two)


What to expect from The Pixie Cottage


1. We will provide you with a welcome package at the beginning of your term with enough stamps to get you started. Your stamps will be sent bare red rubber without retail packaging. This will just make it faster for me to get them ready and ship. Occasionally, as time allows I will mount them on cling foam (These stamps normally come mounted when purchased at retail)

2. Your name will be published on our blog and possibly other sites affiliated with The Pixie Cottage, if you wish that your last name not be used that is also fine. Whatever you are comfortable with.

3. You will receive a design team package approx every 6 weeks, or as stamps are released. Junior team will receive 2-3stamps, Senior members 4-6 stamps.

4. 75.00 in cash or 100.00 in paper craft goodies for getting your local stamp store to carry The Pixie Cottage Stamps.

5. The tutorial Artist will receive a coupon code good for 30% off all Pixie Cottage Stamps, and any other merchandise in Michelle’s Scrap booking & More, as will any design team leaders, good for use twice a month. Senior members will receive 25% discount on all products from The Pixie Cottage that you wish to purchase for yourself anytime during your term. In addition you will be provided with a discount code good for 25% off at Michelle’s Scrapbooking & More online store to purchase other products such as punches, paper, spellbinders, other stamps, copics etc, good twice monthly.

Junior Team Members will be provided with a 20% off coupon code good once a month at Michelle’s Scrapbooking for Pixie Cottage Stamps and all supplies.

Any questions please feel free to email me at thepixiecottage@aol.com or casdanben@aol.com

Thanks!!!!! Michelle





Aug 28, 2010

We have TWO winners!! August Blog Candy

A quick post to let you know of the two winners on the blog candy for August!
First we have
and also
Christi (Cgl1593) from Christi's Creations
If both you ladies would email me (Michelle) at casdanben@aol.com and let me know which stamp you would like I will get it out to you in the mail.

If you didn't win .... all The Pixie Cottage stamps are presently marked down HERE and with an additional 10 percent off if you use the coupon code STAMPS
Also please be watching for September Blog Candy!
Thanks for playing!
Michelle

Aug 27, 2010

Just had to show you this!!!!!!!!

I have to tell you I was thrilled when I received an email showing me this adorable card.  The Pixie Cottage and Magnolia Stamps together are always a favorite of mine!! And Nanda did a wonderful job of combining the two. Doesn't little Tilda look like she is going to pop off the page?  You have to stop over at her blog and see all her other wonderful work.
What a great card Nanda! So glad you agreed to share it with us!

I would love to see what others have done with The Pixie Cottage Stamps.  Email me at casdanben@aol.com and give me a link to your project!
Michelle

PIXIE COTTAGE STAMPS ON SALE... PLUS

Quick post to let you know The Pixie Cottage Stamps are all marked down for a limited time.  AND I am also offering a coupon code for an additional 10 percent off your total order!!! So if you have been waiting to try a Pixie Stamp now is the time!
Coupon Code:  STAMPS
Coupon is good till Sept 1st!
ALL STAMPS IN THE STORE ARE MARKED DOWN FOR A LIMITED TIME!
So Stop by HERE
And if you are looking for other stamps CHECK HERE
Have a wonderful weekend!
Just In


Winners Revealed for Challenge #32 - Anything But A Card


Hello and welcome to Winners Circle Friday!
Today's the day to check to see if you are the winner from Challenge #32 which was "Anything But A Card".
The randomly picked winner of their choice of two fabulous Pixie Cottage stamps is Carla!
Please contact Michelle with your details so you choose your stamps.

Our Top Three picks are (in no particular order)
Lisa C
Gemma
Bella

Congratulations and feel free to grab our banner for your blog



Remember that Challenge #33, "Back to School", is still running and you have until Tuesday the 31st at Midnight to enter.
Good luck!

Aug 25, 2010

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #33 - Sketch and/or Back to School


It's another Once Upon A Wednesday and we have another fabulous sketch from Pam.
Sadly Pam has had some health issues that have forced her to step down from creating cards for us but she has a lasting legacy here as she created many wonderful sketches and we will continue using them to honor her time with us.



The challenge along with the sketch this week is a great one, "Back To School".
If your children haven't already gone back then they will be super soon and it's the perfect time to celebrate the upcoming school year.

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.

Our guest designer for both July and August is Lisa and this wonderful card is our last for us, we'll miss you Lisa!
Using Crawling Cassie by Lisa Schmidt



Now onto the teams samples:

Katie
Using Udderly Adorable Boy by Alisa Ramirez



Risa
Using Hoo Loves You



Anne
Using Hannah on Stepping Stones by Sandra Hammer



Peggy
Using Hannah On A Swing by Sandra Hammer



ArTish
Using Hoo Loves You



Sharon
Using Apple Hannah by Sandra Hammer



Tanya
Using Cassie by Di Carubia



Tracey
Using Hoo Loves You



Davi
Using To You from Us by Di Carubia



Denise C
Using Pumpkin Molly by Eileen Gutierrez



Cheryl
Using Cassie by Di Carubia



Erin
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.

Add your link to the gadget below and we'll be along to see your wonderful creations!
Entries close on August 31st at 11.59pm
Please NO BACK LINKS, if your item was on your blog before this challenge started (August 25th) then your link will be removed. Thanks for your understanding on this matter.



Good Luck!
Katie and The Team

Aug 24, 2010

Some Cards to Share

I wanted to show some card that use the latest Pixie Cottage Background stamps by Sandra Hammer.
Last week I posted this card along with my friend ScrappyJan who posted her own card.
The first card is Jan's

I also recently finished this card

All three show the wonderful work of Sandra Hammer.  The background stamps are available for order HERE
I am sure you noticed we have used Magnolia Stamps with The Pixie Cottage background stamps.  Sandra has a lot of images that work wonderfully with the Tilda stamps.  So be certain to check them out. (You can find Magnolia stamps at the same site HERE)
The Spooky Tree is available now and the Eerie Books is coming soon, available for preorder NOW!!
Thanks for dropping by
Michelle

Aug 21, 2010

Tutorial Time with Anne - How to make your own backing paper.

Tea or coffee? I take both please...
How to make your own backing paper.
What you need: A tea bag, coffee powder, hot water and a piece of Aquarelle paper (200 gr), a tag etc. (I use the tray from my oven to avoid any mess with the water.)


Step 1: Wrinkle the paper pieces.


Step 2: Sleek out the paper.

Step 3: Make a cup of tea, not too hot.


Step 4: Apply tea on the paper pieces, using the tea bag.


Step 5: Add some coffee powder on that part of the paper you want darker spots.


Step 6: Allow it to dry. If you don't have time to wait you can use a hot gun. You have to blow on both sides, and to avoid fire don't have it too close to the paper.


I have made this card using the Aquarelle paper from this tutorial. The stamp is "Apple Hannah".
The saying is "Happy Birthday" in Norwegian.

I hope you liked the tutorial.
Have a wonderful Saturday, and have fun!
Hugs from Anne

Aug 20, 2010

Winners Revealed for Challenge #31 - Fancy Fold


Hello and welcome to Winners Circle Friday!
Today's the day to check to see if you are the winner from Challenge #31 which was "Fancy Fold".
The randomly picked winner of their choice of two fabulous Pixie Cottage stamps is Sue MacLean!
Please contact Michelle with your details so you choose your stamps.

Our Top Three picks are (in no particular order)
Joan Ervin
Lena Katrine
Mary C

Congratulations and feel free to grab our banner for your blog



Remember that Challenge #32, "Anything But A Card", is still running and you have until Tuesday the 24th at Midnight to enter.
Good luck!

Aug 18, 2010

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #32 - Guest Sketch and/or Anything But A Card


It's time for another Once Upon A Wednesday and another sketch from our fabulous Special Guest Sketcher Jay Jay!



This sketch is designed to go with our special challenge of "Anything But A Card".
It is a great card sketch but we'd like you go a step further and make something with it other than a card.
Obviously this is just an option on the challenge but after seeing what the team made I hope you'll be inspired.

Jay Jay made us this superb example using Sandra Hammer's gorgeous Winter Door stamp and I know I want to try a chocolate wrapper after seeing this.







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.

Our guest designer for both July and August is Lisa and she has started us off with this wonderful creation.



Here are the team's creations this week!

Katie
Made a box using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah by Sandra Hammer





Risa
Has a gift bag using Pumpkin Molly by Eileen Gutierrez



Anne
Made a Post It Note holder using Gone Fishin’ by Di Carubia





Peggy
Made this journal using Stargazer Lily by ArTish



ArTish
Has two bookmarks using Give Me A Hug by Alisa Ramirez and Cassie by Di Carubia



Sharon
Has a cute chocolate holder using Pumpkin Fairy Hannah by Sandra Hammer





Tanya
Made a fabulous Post It Note/Note Pad holder using To You from Us by Di Carubia







and this super card too using Gone Fishin’ by Di Carubia



Davi
Made a gorgeous Flower Basket using Valentine Hannah by Sandra Hammer



Denise C
Made a CD Holder Card using To You from Us by Di Carubia



Cheryl
Super cute box using Apple Hannah by Sandra Hammer



Adrina
Has a super cute Baby Gift Box using Crawling Cassie by Lisa Schmidt





Erin
Fabulous "One Sheet Wonder" box using Apple Hannah 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.

Add your link to the gadget below and we'll be along to see your wonderful creations!
Entries close on August 24th at 11.59pm
Please NO BACK LINKS, if your item was on your blog before this challenge started (August 18th) then your link will be removed. Thanks for your understanding on this matter.



Good Luck!
Katie and The Team