My first and only valentine for this year

I'm not big on Valentine's day cards, and not planning to make many. In fact, I'm assuming this will be my only one for the year, for my dear Culinary Consultant. It might be a bit too girly coloured, but he likes warm colours so why not. I had fun playing with the watercolour background, and decided to colour the moose with watercolours as well. Sorry about the horrible photo, I am about to head out of the country for a week, and realised that I won't be able to take a photo of the card in daylight before I go away, so had no choice.  Anyhow, as I will be away, it will be a bit quiet on the blog for the next week, I have a post or two lined up but that will be it on the crafting front for a while. I hope to see you all in a bit though, don't forget about me and take care!!

I am linking up with the following challenges:
ColourQ - colour challenge (and yes, I only used the colours from the challenge, but when smooshing pink and yellow it will create some orange to... so technically I don't think I'm cheating although there is also some orange in the background)
Lawnscaping - Watercolour
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Create With Critters
Retro Sketches - sketch
Make My Monday - Stitching (real or faux)

Card: 300 gsm white textured card, 190 gsm watercolour paper

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka and Let's Polka in the Dark

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Arctic and matching dies

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle and Say Cheese dies

Pink Christmas

Do you know that feeling when you just finished chopping chillies, washed your hands and then administered eye drops to yourself, naively thinking washing those hands has removed all of that fiery burning stuff? If you don't, consider yourself lucky! It did take my mind off the itching in my eyes, that's fore sure. 

After recovering from my brush with chilli-induced blindness, I wanted to play along with the current ColourQ challenge, having planned to do so all week, but just not quite getting around to do it. I decided to CASE my earlier small and cute Christmas cards to make a larger version. I really love how the card turned out! So quick and easy, and one layer is the cheapest option for posting as well. I'm also linking up over at Crimbo Crackers where the theme is Pink and ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is U for Unusual Christmas Colours. I'm also linking up with The Unicorn Challenge where the theme is Think Pink. Last but not least I'm linking up with Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge where the theme is Throwback, you can pick any of their previous challenges. I picked "In the clouds" from January 2015, as I love the snow clouds and those small, unique snowflakes just drifting down, like the clouds breaking up into minuscule pieces. 

I started by creating a mask by die cutting a Lawn Fawn Stitched rectangle die, and used the mask to ink using distress inks. Then I used a watercolour brush to flick some water drops onto the inked background to create the splashes. I used a silver Sharpie to draw the border. The next step is really crucial, I used my embossing buddy liberally to make sure the embossing powder would only stick to the ink. I stamped the snowflakes in Versamark and embossed in silver powder. Last, I stamped the sentiment in black and added a few adhesive gems of that final touch. 

Card: 300 gsm white card
Ink: Tsukineko Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz distress inks Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick
Stamps: Stampin' Up Endless Wishes
Other: Silver Sharpie, Papermania Silver embossing powder, adhesive gems from my stash

Sweet treat

I usually start my Saturdays with a crafting session, but today I thought I will just quickly clean my craft room before making more of a mess. Ok, to be perfectly honest, I couldn't push the stuff on my crafting desk any further towards the edges of the desk to make even the tiniest little space, so it wasn't so much of a choice as a requirement. However, it turned out I also sorted through that huge pile of papers that contain all those "I will deal with these any day now" things, found a document I had been looking for for ages, and even kept on cleaning and went through a few of my clothes cupboards. Yes, plural... I managed to gather two large bags of clothes I am taking to a charity shop. I keep dreaming of that simple, 48-piece capsule wardrobe, but when you are a person who has been anything between a size 10 and a size 20 in the last 5 years, it's not so easy, I will tell you. I have formal and less formal dresses in various sizes, and I refuse to get rid of them as I never know what size I will be when I next need one...

I did finally make it to the actual fun part. I was inspired by the Tempting Treats challenge over at Daring Cardmakers, inspired by making cards with sweet things on them after my donut card rocked the Friday mashup. So I turned again to my trusty Sugar Rush stamp set from STAMPlorations. I know I said it before, and I will say it again, but I just love love love love love this set!!! It always makes my mouth water when I take it out for a play. I was also inspired by a card by Maria F. over in the STAMPlorations CASE playground. The funny thing is, I had also decided to play along with the colour challenge over at The Card Concept, which is partly why I was drawn to Maria's gorgeous card. Funnily enough, she also played along with the challenge over at The Card Concept, so I'm not sure if this counts as cheating... In my defence, all I can say is that it wasn't intentional, and at least I'm giving credit where credit is due. I'm also linking up with the STAMPlorations Anything Goes challenge. For the layout, I was also inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches, and last but not least I'm playing along over at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie where the inspiration pic was pink and red cookies.

I started by die cutting a piece of watercolour card using a Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle die, and stamped the sundae in Staz-on Jet Black ink. I also stamped the image onto a piece of scrap paper and cut it out to use as a mask. I have been trying to find low tack masking paper, I have seen it used in crafty videos but can't find any. Can anyone help me? In the meantime, I use teeny tiny dabs of Tombow glue, if you let it dry it becomes non-permanent, so it works well for masking.  Just make sure you use absolutely tiny little drops, I like to make them a bit less sticky with my finger before adhering to the card, just to make sure it won't stick too tightly. After masking off the image, I used a watercolour brush to wet the paper, and then created the ombre background using Tim Holtz distress inks in Aged Mahogany, Barn Door, Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar. I then dried the background using a heat gun, and painted the sundae using the same inks, adding some Ground Espresso for the chocolate sauce. Then I stamped sentiments from the stamp set around the edges, inspired by the layout Maria used for her card. I added a few adhesive rhinestones and sequins, and added Glossy Accents to the glass to make it look a bit more... well, glassy and glossy. I die cut a piece of vellum using a larger stitched rectangle die and adhered it onto the white card base, it doesn't show very well in the image, but it gives a nice finish to the white card. The sun was already setting when I finished the card, so the images are unfortunately a bit on the dark side.

Card: white 300 gsm card, 300 gsm watercolour card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Stamps: STAMPlorations Sugar Rush
Ink: Tsukineko Staz-on Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz distress inks Aged Mahogany, Barn Door, Ground Espresso, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Stampin' Up Glossy Accents, adhesive gems and sequins from my stash

Glittery snowflakes

This is an easy and quick Christmas card for those last minute cards you need to make in a hurry. I love the Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflake dies, they are so pretty. I'm a bit fussy when it comes to snowflakes, I only like them a certain way and these certainly are the way I like! 

I die cut the snowflakes, inked them with Versamark and heat embossed with glitter embossing powder. For the background, I stamped the small snowflakes from Critters in the Arctic in Versamark and heat embossed using clear powder. I inked the background with Distress inks. After attaching the the snowflakes I stamped the sentiment and finished by adding some stickles to the snowflakes.

The card was inspired by the STAMPlorations sketch challenge. I'm also entering the card in the STAMPlorations December challenge, which involves picking any previous challenge. I picked the August challenge which is Stamps & Die cuts. I'm also entering the card over at Die Cuttin' Divas - Inspired by a Christmas Carol (Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflake die, song "Winter Wonderland" Sleigh bells ring are you listening, in the lane, SNOW is glistening and so on and so forth), at Incy Wincy Designs where the theme is Christmas Anything Goes, at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where Anything Goes and at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the the theme is Winter Inspiration with a lovely inspiration board.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Inspiration Board.

Card: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Arctic

Ink: Tsukineko VersaMark, Stampin' Up Basic Grey, Tim Holtz Broken China, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

Other: Papermania holographic embossing powder, Ranger Ice Stickles Glitter Glue, Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes dies

Shabby Chic Paris

I wanted to finish the last STAMPlorations challenge for the month and realised it's now or never as the deadline is today. You can find the cards I've submitted to the two other October challgenges here and here. I can't believe it's November tomorrow. Where does the time go?

I used the STAMPlorations sketch as the starting point for the card. I used the second colour combo from the Colour Me...! Challenge (my card using the first colour combo is here). I was also inspired by the Make My Monday Challenge where the theme is Chabby Chic. 

I cut a oval mask, and used it to sponge Walnut Stain and Worn Lipstick Distress ink onto the card. I stamped the Eiffel Tower from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous I See Paris stamp set in Walnut Stain. I also stamped the Stampin' Up En Français stamp in Walnut Stain after first stamping off some of the colour through an oval mask. Last, I stamped the tickets from the Tim Holtz stamp set The Journey in Broken China and Worn Lipstick, and inked and distressed all edges. I added some lace as a finishing touch. As I didn't want to try and cram a sentiment on the card, I stamped it inside the card instead.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm white card, Tim Holtz Core'dinations Worn Lipstick, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous I See Paris CMS009 and The Journey, Stampin' Up En Française
Ink: Tim Holtz distress inks Broken China, Walnut Stain and Worn Lipstick 
Other: Lace and lace washi tape from my stash

Fusion challenge - shiny pink

It should be fairly obvious why I love this week's Fusion challenge. I mean it's pink. And shiny. But I also love the juxtaposition of something so stereotypically male as a sports car with the bright pink colours. So I wanted to do the same with my card - use very typical male themes such as cars and steampunk gears but at the same time make it very feminine by using a bright pink colour scheme. And I love the combination of pink and kraft. Usually you see a much more soft baby pink combined with kraft, but I went for a really cold and bright pink instead just like the inspiration photo. I am also entering the card in this week's Pink Elephant challenge where the theme is embossing, as I have used both heat and dry embossing on this card. By the way, you have to go and check out the cool card by one of the TPE DT, Nance, who has used glow in the dark embossing powder. How cool is that?

For my card, I stamped the antique car using Versamark and embossed using Pink powder. It has a nice shiny look that doesn't come through very well from the photo. I dry embossed the background and inked using Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick distress inks, which I also used around the edges of the car panel. I die cut the star using my new Xcut dies, inked with Versamark and embossed using pink embossing powder. Finally I added a sentiment from Paper Smooches and some adhesive gems. I finished the card late yesterday so it was too dark for pictures, and today I raced the sunset on my way home, and almost made it.

The lovely shine from the embossing powder
 on the car and star don't show very well in the photos
 but it's really nice in real life.

Card: Craft UK kraft card, Coloured 240 gsm kraft card Pink Raspberry, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous The Journey, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler
Ink: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz distress ink Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo 
Other: Tim Holtz Steampunk Embossing Folder, Xcut Nesting dies star, Papermania embossing Powder Pink, Papermania Adhesive Gems Capsule Heather

Magazine freebie cards

When I left my previous job, my wonderful colleagues gave me the most thoughtful present - a year's subscription of Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. The June issue arrived yesterday and it came at a perfect time. I was stuck in catastrophic traffic congestion for about four times as long as it usually takes me to get home after work. When I saw the magazine had arrived, I made myself a large glass of Pimm's and took a deck chair out into the sunshine in the garden a browsed the magazine to forget about my traumatic drive home. 

The magazine came with the cutest Oscar the Owl & Pals stamps, and I immediately had to try them. I used some papers that came free with the magazine and used Tim Holtz distress markers to colour the cute critters. I used a punch for the banners and die cut the letters. The pink card says "baby" and the owl card says "congratulations" in Finnish. I used a bit of Distress ink around the edges of the stamped panels and finished with adding some faux stitching around the edges. I also stamped and coloured a little inside the cards and made matching envelopes. I think that's the finishing touch, making sure the envelopes and insides of the cards are not just left blank but given a little touch up.

Inside and envelope for the fox card

Inside and envelope for the owl card

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch as an inspiration for the layout of the owl card. My inspiration for the fox card was this week's Color Throwdown with a lovely pink colour theme, and I'm also entering it into the Shopping our Stash challenge, which this week is "Critters". I think these cards go to show that although most crafters (me included) end up spending fortunes on crafting equipment, card making can be done on a budget and it's about the imagination more than the expensive stuff you buy. I used free goodies and leftover scraps for almost everything in these cards. The stamps and paper were free with a magazine, and the banners and letters were all die cut from left over scraps of paper. Also, the matting paper was leftover bits and pieces left over from other projects and taken from my stash box. Pretty much the only thing that is "new" is the white card used for the card base. And I still think these turned out great!

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm Smooth White Card, A4 Coloured 240 gsm Craft Card in Pink Raspberry and Pink Sorbet, brown cardstock from my stash, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Paper: Free paper from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine
Stamps: Free Oscar the owl & Pals stamps from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine
Inks: Tim Holtz Aged Mahogany, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick inks, Tim Holtz Distress markers in Aged Mahogany, Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon and Worn Lipstick, Stampin' Write marker in Blushing Bride
Other: Stampin' Up Banner punch, Sizzix Bug in a Rug alphabet die

Blossom invitation

For those of you following the thrilling saga of the unreliable internet here at the InvisiblePinkLair, I can tell you the internet is still acting up. It works from time to time and hopefully until I get this blogpost done. Yesterday it was completely dead all evening. I suffered horribly from withdrawal... but it gave me time to sit down, take a time out and practice my watercolouring skills. I still have so much to learn, but at least I had a great time! I'm not the one to give out advice, but one thing I have learned is it's no use trying to watercolour unless you have good quality watercolour paper. And I have to try and find a better aqua brush, the cheap one I am using is leaking all over the place.

This card is an invitation for a garden/BBQ party we are having in June, so I used the garden as my inspiration. The apple tree is in full blossom right now, so I picked the colours from there. I was also inspired by four challenges. This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is "Big Stamp", and I used not one but two big stamps for my card. For the background, I used the lovely Hardwood background stamp. For the main image I used a flower stamp which was a freebie with last month's Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. Isn't it the perfect stamp for watercolouring? I'm not very good with watercolours, but I figured practice makes... if not perfect, at least a bit less bad. And this week's Pink Elephant Challenge is "Watercolour", so that gave me the inspiration to give it a go. I was also inspired by this week's Muse (see below), with the floral focal piece, watercolour and woodgrain background. Last but not least, the layout is inspired by this week's RetroSketch (also below) which is so lovely.

I stamped the flower stamp in grey and heat embossed with clear, fine embossing powder. This helps keeping the colours within the lines. I then used numerous Tim Holtz distress inks and an Aqua-Flo brush to do the colouring. I stamped the hardwood stamp two times next to each other in grey ink to create the background. I matted both panels onto Weathered Wood card, and tied a pink ribbon around the floral panel. To finish, I printed the word "Invitation" onto vellum using a free font called Xiomara, die cut and attached everything to the card. Despite the slightly patchy colouring, I think it turned out rather nice, simple enough with very spring-inspired colours.

Card: Craft UK Ltd kraft card, Daler&Rowney 190 gsm watercolour paper, Hobbycraft 190 gsm cream cardstock, Tim Holtz Core'dinations Distress card in Weathered Wood, Dovecraft Premium Vellum 110 gsm
Stamps: Stampin' Up Hardwood, The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Jumbo background stamp (free with the March issue of Cardmaking & Papercraft)
Inks: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Tim Holtz Distress markers Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Picket Fence, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmelade, Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Weathered Wood and Worn Lipstick
Other: Stampin' Up Chalk Talk dies, pink ribbon from my stash, Ranger super fine detail embossing powder