White and blue...

...one of my favorite combinations.

And I love those cute Bildmalarna girls. :) I coloured her in with Promarkers and used loads of chunky glitter and some gorgeous flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and Papirloftet.
Border punch is from Woodware, book plate from Poppicrafts and patterned papers Makin Memories. I also dug out some Bazzill tulle and some HOTP stitch stamps. Corner dies are from Sizzix.

Thanks for looking!

A found image - no challenge whatsoever, gasp

Going through the pile of scraps on my table (messy-messy-messy!) I came upon a coloured in ages ago. It was right after I had bought my first cute stamps and Promarkers so essentially I had been practicing both stamping AND colouring. I also found a stitched base panel for 6x6 card, also one of those practicing moments

Both looked quite clumsy and I would probably make quite a bit better job of those nowadays but I decided to put them onto a card nevertheless. One of those impulse moments.

There was a lot of Stckles and die-cutting involved. I had fun.

And do you know what - I'm surprisingly happy with the result! :D
Materials used:
Papers from K & Co
Stamp is Sugar Nellie Summer Ice Cream
Tools: Nestabilities, Bosskut & Sizzix dies
Colouring medium: Promarkers
Robin's Nest Dew drops, brad from my stash, flower from Papirloftet

Thanks for looking and have a lovely weekend!

Still in land of evil teeth

Da Babba has had couple of tough weeks and we along her. The only person who can sleep through Da Babba's miserable howls is Da Doddler ... that enables him to to be up nice and early... :D

Las night was surprisingly quiet so I got a chance to finish my card for Sugar Bowl challenge - I LOVED Marlene's sketch and just had to have a go. Went a bit mad with Gorjuss girls, they just fit the bill perfectly as I needed a cheer-up card for my friend who is going through some hard times.
Card recipe:
Papers: Pink Paislee
Stamps: Sugar Nellie, There She Comes & Joanna Sheen
Colouring mediums: Prismacolour pencils, metallic rubons, Sakura Stardust & glaze pens
Buttons: Basic Gray
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Maya Road sheer
Woodware punch
Cuttlebug ornamental dies
Ribbon & cord from stash

Thanks for looking!

Secret crafter challenge # 30 - flowers

It is not my usual card style but I needed a card quickly and not with too much "cute factor" - so yes, totally out of my comfort zone! :D

I compensated by using a lot of specialty papers (flocked, glittered) and embossing my little heart out.

And my husband didn't like this card, he thought it was "too dark". Oh well, gonna go and drown meself in the loo now. Bhah.

At least it fits quite well with Secret Crafter challenge AND Cupcake Craft Challenge for this week
Thanks for looking!

Friday Sketchers - and my first Gorjuss card

The days are getting longer and Kid no. 1 (Da Doddler) is falling asleep later and later - thus a LOT shorter Mommy Time in the evenings.

Good news is that Miss Sleepless (Da Babby) seems to have finished teething ... for time being. She is now a proud owner of 4 teeth.

This card was put together for Friday Sketchers challenge - and I finally inked up one of my Gorjuss stamps, been aching to do that for ages!

I was trying my hand at making a paper bow, came out pretty cute! At least I think so. :D

Card recipe:
Papers from Prima, Graphic 45 & my stash
Image from Sugar Nellie, sentiment Papermania
Flowers from Prima & Wild Orchid Crafts
Brad from Papermania, pearls from my stash
Colouring medium Whispers markers, also used Sakura glaze pens, Uniball white gel pen & Sakura Stardust pen

Thanks for looking!

Confirmation card

It's that time of a year. I needed to make a card for our neighbour and decided to use Whiff Of Joy challenge #28 - stars and stripes.

Stripes were not a problem but I could not for life of me find any stars I actually liked. Eventually I dug out an old sheet of fabric covered paper with golden stars. It was harsh buttery white and didn't really go with my card at all, but couple of colours of Glimmer Mists later it worked as a treat! :)

This card didn't really photograph well, MME stripy paper has stong textured stripes of pressed glitter and SEI cream paper is subtly pearlescent, boys shoes and Bible were accented with clear glaze and wings with Cristal Stickles - in life this card looks really nice, luxurious and touchable.



I used Sketch Saturday last weeks sketch, was too late to enter the challenge but loved the sketch anyway.

Card recipe:

Papers: MME, SEI and my stash
Stamps: WOJ & Magnolia
Colouring Medium: Prismacolour pencils with Sansador, Glimmer mists (Cinnamon, Chocolate & Midnight Blue), Sakura Stardust & Glaze pencils
Stickles Crystal Ice
Spellbinders & Sizzix dies
Fiskars border punch
Lace & ribbon from stash
Flower stickers from Papermania

Thanks for looking!

Birthday card for Mom

I thought I had LOADS of time for entering Just Magnolia challenge.
Then my 7-month old decided to start teething big time. Needless to say I haven't got much anything done, nevermind cards.

I manage to finish my moms birthday card today eventually, in little 5-minute crafting sessions. I hope I'm not too late. :(

It's a bit of a rush job but it could have been SO much worse, considering!


Card recipe:
Image: Magnolia Tilda as Butterfly
Patterned papers: Prima Windsor
BossKut & Spellbinders dies
Fiskars border punch
Papermania brads
Floers: Prima & Joanna Sheen
Lace from my stash
I used white Brilliance ink for sponging the edges.
Stickles Candy Cane & Crystal Ice
Stardust & glaze pens

Thanks for looking!

Annika

Reuse and recycle

Simon Says Challenge gave following guidelines this time:
"So, your new challenge is to RECYCLE!!!! Use something/anything that had a use before."

I decided to take it even further and make (almost) totally recycled card.
The cards base is from old card I didn't like - I was able to take everything off and reuse it.
Lace is from a pile my Mom took off old pillowcases
Ribbon is from our wedding present (erm ... we got married about 6 years ago, serious hoarding issue here)
Charm is an old bag charm
Black polkadot card is from a back of Prima crystals
Silver mirror card is from old box, I don't even remember what was in it originally
Pink bow is made from paper twist shopping bag handle

I have to admit the image is not recycled! :D Its from Third Coast Stamps, coloured with my Prismas and sponged with metallic rubons.

Thanks for looking!

Annika

Poor light and mad colours

I seriously need some better lighting at my crafting desk. It's located in probably the darkest corner of the household which originally was an intention as it used to be my computer table and I hate when light glares onto my monitor.

Things have changed though. Even if I'd only use it as a computer table I now have nice widescreen LCD monitor which my beloved hubby gave me for my birthday. Yes, he is lovely. No, you can't have him. So there.

Last night I TOTALLY misjudged the colours while colouring my image and the result is positively mediterranean as opposed to muted vintage chic. Boo-hoo. I tried to tone things down a bit with pale papers - I am starting to like Lily Bee stuff now.

Just imagine the image in soft pale colours now and you see what I tried to achieve. :D

I have seen those litte portable daylight lamps on sale in craft shops online, think I might give one of those a try first!I was following a sketch from Friday Sketchers - it's lovely and very easy to work with!

Card recipe:
Cardstock Bazzill bling & Bazzill Kraft
Patterned papers from Lily Bee and Joanna Sheen
Stamps: main images from Bildmalarna, sentiment Elzybells, stitches HOTP (I think)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo black, Rich Cocoa and Sand
Colouring medium: Whispers markers
Flowers: More of the chain store cheapies I took apart and also some Primas
X-cut butterfly punch
Ribbon, charm and brads from my stash

Thank you for looking!

Annika

Everybody's a critic

My most beloved hubby went out for a drinks with a friend yesterday, leaving me with kids. That's OK, the friend was over from Finland and they hadn't had a night out for ages(mainly due to young kids on both sides).

I promised to give the friend lift home after they came from a pub so stayed awake until they finally arrived arouind 1.30 in the morning and then for another hour while they were having a drink and watching photos. That was OK as well, I had promised.

Then my other half found the card I had made for Sugar Bowl challenge (cards for men). My hubby gave it a long look and announced that the title of the book the boy is reading is on the back cover, what's that about. We argued a bit if there's any sensible explanations or if it's weird or not. Then his friend came from the toilet and was promptly presented with the card by me hubby asking if he can see anything wrong with it.

The friend didn't see anything wrong with a book. Instead he said: "That's a weird-looking dog. Why does it have pink eyes?"

It's CHEEKS people, alrite. And they're not even that pink!
Thanks for looking!

Annika

Can you MARRY My Minds Eye papers?

Cuz' I want to!!! Weelll, as long as I don't have to give up my adored hubby as well - is bigamy still illegal? Is it? Darn!

Couple of days ago postie (my best friend by now) brought me my Mosh-Posh kit with My Minds Eye Penny Lane papers - and let me tell you, those are fantastic! I wasn't greatly impressed when I first saw the pictures on web, but you need to see them in life and TOUCH! They have fabulous weight and texture, abso-freakin-lutely gorgeous!

I needed a birthday card for our little friend who recently moved far away with her parents - who happen to be our friends as well - amazing coincidence. Any, was rooting Web for inspiration and stumbled upon lovely sketch by Marlene on this weeks Stamp With Fun challenge blog.


Card recipe:
Cardstock: Bazzill & Core'dinations
Stamp: Sugar Nellie
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Sand
Colouring medium: Prismacolour pencils with odourless spirit
Patterned Papers: My Minds Eye Penny Lane
Bazzill Tulle & Just The Edge cardstock
American Crafts Thickers
Prima flowers
Cosmic Shimmer translucent glitter
Stickles
FlowerSoft: Vintage Christmas mix
Bling from my stash

Thanks for looking!

Annika

A colourful card

I do like Basic Gray products a lot. Funny thing is that I only had some sheets of BG papers in my stash. HAD because I used them ALL up for this card I made for Just Magnolia challenge!



I also decided to enter this card to Basic Grey challenges - this week they want to see paper-piecing on the cards.

Card recipe:
Cardstock: Core'dinations
Patterned papers: Basic Grey
Stamps: Magnolia, Elzybells & Tingtura Stamps
Flowers: Prima
Ribbon: Poppicrafts
Felt Sticker: Martha Stewart Crafts
I also used Stickles Mermaid, Uniball white gel pen and brads & bead caps from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

Annika

What a sweet weekend it was!

First my work was featured on Inspirational blog. Thank you Marcea for contacting me and writing such a lovely post about my cards! It really gave me a great boost!

It also presented me with discovery of your lovely blog full of most delicious cards, I enjoyed myself there immensely!

And then I received THAT from Vicky:
I just can't believe it and have been grinning like big fat Cheshire cat! I LOVE Vicky's cards and that makes the award even more meaningful. Thank you Vicky, you made me happy big time!

The only reason I wont name 10 favorites is that it would take me days and days to make a list of only 10 talented crafters ... I'm indecisive like that! :D

Thanks for a happy weekend!

Annika

Another (messy) baby card

For some reason baby cards never work out the way I have intended lately. Must be bad karma ... or just general lack of planning and vision. Or something like that.

I still adore that sweet Elzybells stamp though and there are details I like ... just not all of it. Funny but the inside actually looks better than outside to, bad cardmaker, bad!
Image stamp is from Elzybells Art Stamps, sentiment from Cornish Heritage Farms.

I coloured the image with Prismacolour pencils, the cloud was just hand cut without any template. Patterned papers are from DCWV Baby Girl stack, Graphic 45 & Sassafras. Flowers inside are from a bunch of cheap fabric blooms from local supermarket I pulled apart, LOADS more to use up. I used Imaginisce brads as centers. Flowers on front are from Prima. Lace is also from Prima, ribbon from stash.

Letter stickers are American Crafts plain white ones smothered in Stickles, decorative corners are Sizzix die, pin from Fancy Pants. Jump rings, charms and pearls from I got from Ebay. I also used some Melissa Frances stickers and Flower Soft in Ivory & Baby Pink.

Thanks for looking!

Annika