There you go - colour combo gone BAD

It's a new challenge day today at 7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog and the theme is pretty straightforward - Non-traditional Christmas Colours. Which generally means no red, green, gold.

Could someone explain, please then how I got really muddled considering and most of my Christmas cards never use traditional colours??? And suddenly, when the CHALLENGE is not use any - shock, panic, horror! And a total mess of a card, of course!!

The image is a Penny Black Slapstick stamp called Winter Swing.

I've been playing with Prismacolor pencils lately, moving on from mineral spirit or baby oil to pretty much using them as Copics, just layering and blending with lighter colours. I have REALLY tried to get my hands on kraft card because I adore the results Dorcas achieves on it but no luck so far, so I'm using a cheap tan slightly textured cardstock from Tesco. Those from States - it's like Target or CostCo.

I very gently sponged all the edges with Memento Rose Bud ink and distressed slightly with distress tool. Did some quick fake stitching with white gel pen.

The golden pearl swirl is made with Viva Pearl pen. I tape acetate on a sheet of swirly rubons, make a swirl, leave it to dry overnight (it makes sense to make more than one) and then cut out. This way, if you go wrong you won't have to smear the card, just wipe the acetate clean and start again :)

I would like to enter this card into following challenges:
Gingerloft (2 weeks) - great outdoors
Scrappy Frogs (3 weeks) - christmas 
Crafty Emma - lovely lace
Ellephantastic (2 weeks, 1 entry) - christmas or butterfly
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - no flowers 
Fairy Fun Fridays (2 weeks) - buttons and bows 
Delightful Challenges - winter weather 
Pals Paper Arts - ribbon or fabric 

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs
Annika

Thankful Fairy Dust

 There's always something to be grateful for. For example - at the moment I am pitifully thankful that Beloved is reading kids the bedtime story and I was able to make myself a nice hefty mug of frothy latte. Curled up in an armchair with my laptop and typing away.

The challenge for next two weeks at 7 Kids College Fund Challenge is a project to say "thank you". As long as you use a stamp from 7KCF you'll be free to create whatever you wish. And the choice is wide - Magnolias, Kraftin Kimmies, Penny Black, Stampavie, C.C. Designs, Whiff of Joy - I could just keep counting!

And you better try to play along because a prize is 75.- USD voucher for 7KCF store this time. Just THINK of all the goodness you can buy with THAT!!

 My card today is featuring a sweet Tilda blowing fairy dust. She is from Fairytale collection - which  happen to LOVE!!

Colouring is all Copics - I made a mistake with that because she was stamped on softer-than-usual card stock and I fought a lot of bleeding. If you want to use a similar technique that requires a lot of soaking of the paper, you will be better off with Xpress-It cardstock or something alike.

I added a bit of Stickles to the image and kept the card pretty simple. The papers are from Cosmo Cricket Material Girl 6x6 pad, all sponged with Scattered Straw and Pumice Stone distress inks. A nice gingham bow, button, twine and some dew drops. Simple and sweet. And of course took me ages.

Copic Colours
Skin: E000/00/21/13, W5/3/1, R00/01/
Hair: E79/77/75/71/70, 0
Clothes:G20, YG03/25/63, W5/3/1/00, 0
Lace:Y26/23/21

Oh, and I cannot NOT to mention that 7KCF is now carrying one of my big favorites - October Afternoon papers!!!  And there's new High Hopes stamps in the store - you get 10% off ALL High Hopes stamps with a code HOPES10!

I would like to enter these challenges:
Mojo Monday - Sketch
Stamps R Us (2 weeks, 2 entries) - buttons and bows 
Gingerloft (2 weeks) - buttons 
Scrappy Frogs (3 weeks) - give thanks 
Fairy Tale (2 weeks) - anything goes
Our Creative Corner - And Attitude Of Gratitude
Just MAgnolia - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Thank you
Raise the Bar - Curves

Thank you so much for looking!!!
Hugs

7 Kids College Fund Challenge - Sketch and Fall Theme

Hi and happy Wednesday - and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO IS 2 TODAY!!

Two weeks have gone (where??) and we have a new challenge up for you at 7KCF Challenge Blog. Our own fantastic Suzanne set the theme this time - she has created a gorgeous sketch - with an added requirement for the card to be fall-themed.

There's no tradition here to really celebrate autumn specifically so I chose to create a card with autumnal yellow and gold colours using one of my favorite stamps from WOJ - WILLOW WITH HOT CHOCOLATE. Such a cosy, timeless and versatile image! It's out of stock at the moment at 7 Kids College Fund but Tab will have it back in stock shortly.

The papers are from gorgeous Basic Grey Origins collection - one of my favorites of theirs. Rich, deep, beautiful colours and suitable basically all year round! Not many lines like that! I am now officially all out though. :(

The image was coloured with Distress Inks and yes, I know there's a piece of fluff stuck to Willow's face on the close-up. Didn't notice it before and now it's too late to take a new photo. Story of my life.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts. It's a old set but I use it very often - lovely sayings and also suitable for array of occasions and styles.

Tab has now loads of new stuff from Hero Arts in stock at 7 Kids College Fund, btw. Halloween and Fall stuff check it out in added this week section.

The flowers are all from Petaloo and that lovely green lace I got from my wonderful friend Tara as a RAK. And of course I couldn't resist adding some flat back pearls. Luvs pearls, what can I say...

I would like to enter this card into following challenges:
Incy Wincy Designs - autumn colors
Pollycraft - autumn colors
Paper Players - old olive, more mustard, cajun craze, early expresso
Allsorts - colors of autumn
Marks Finest Paper - fall colors
Totally Gorjuss - flowers
Fairy Fun Fridays (2 weeks) - embossing
Paper Play - autumn
Stamp Insanity - use elements in threes

Thank you so much for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

7 Kids College Fund Challenge - Strip It Down

This is a scheduled post, I am away on holidays and will be back next week to wander around your blogs and gather inspiration from your beautiful projects.

Now it's time for a second challenge at 7 Kids College Fund Challenge - Strip It Down. It's actually set by me this week and I DO NOT plan to interfere with the amount of clothing you sport while crafting. The challenge is to use NO MORE THAN 2 LAYERS ON YOUR PROJECT not counting the image.

We have wonderful prize for offer, just remember to use a stamp available at 7 Kids College Fund to qualify!

I used my brand new Popcorn The Bear stamp - isn't he just uber cute and suitable for so many occasions. He is also a breeze to colour!

All the colouring is done with Copic Markers. I first stamped on patterned paper, did the shadowing with markers and then cut out the coloured in bear and balloons. Shaped the images slightly with embossing tool (read - the back of ballpoint pen) and layered on with glue gel.

All the balloons were covered with either Sakura clear glaze pen (the ones on back) or Glossy Accents (the ones in front).

Copic Markers:
Fur: E39/37/35/34/33/31/00, Y00/21
Sack: E34/41/40, Y28, YR32/12
Shadow|: W5/3/1/00, 0
I forgot to write down the markers I used on balloons.

SUPPLIES:
IMAGE: SMILE Popcorn the Bear Stamp
Coloring Medium: Copic Markers, Sakura Stardust pens, Spica glitter pen
Paper: Basic Grey Origins
Accessories: Stickles,  microfine glitter,  flatback pearls, Basic Grey stickers, ribbon, Inkssentials white gel pen, lace ribbon, glossy accentsTools: ATG adhesive gun, paper piercer,  glue gel, Purple Cow guillotine, Martha Stewart scoring board, glue gun



Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs