Hi there kangaroo

This card is inspired by two challenges - this week's Freshly Made Sketch and Addicted to CAS. You can see the sketch below. The theme at Addicted to CAS this week is luxury. For this card, I have two luxury items - the first is the sentiment in gold, no further explanation needed. The second is the luxury of having a large enough stash of crafting supplies that when you need a specific type of paper for your project, and don't have anything at hand, you have such a diverse stash of various crafting supplies that you can actually create you own background papers. For this card, I wanted a nice, spotty paper in bright colours for one of the panels, but I didn't have anything in the right colours. So instead I picked a few Copics from my stash along with the Tim Holtz Bubble stencil and just made my own. Exactly the colours you want! And so much fun to make. I am also entering the card at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything goes this week.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm smooth white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm Three Shades of Blue
Stamps: Stampin' Up Just Sayin', Paper Smooches A Little Lovin
Ink: Memento Tuexedo Black, Versamark
Copics: B00, B04, B06, R20, V04, Y13, YG11
Other: Papermania Gold Tinsel embossing powder, Tim Holtz Bubble stencil

Enjoy the kraft journey

Yesterday's card was a total pain in the you-know-what to put together. Whatever I did just didn't look right, and I had to try so many different layouts and versions before I felt I was even remotely content with it. Certainly not one of my proudest moments. Today's card couldn't have been any more different, it hardly took any time to put together. I didn't have to change a thing and basically just glued all the bits and pieces in place. That's how a good card is made. For some reason I'm currently stuck with this one card layout with a central focus panel, it just works.

I was so inspired by the absolutely gorgeous inspiration picture over at Addicted to Stamps and More. My card is not so much an interpretation as just a direct copy of the picture. Even before I had scrolled down to look at the DT's creations I knew there had to be a vellum flower on my card. I was also inspired by two craft themed challenges, Witch Kraft over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge (although this time it's all kraft and no witch), and K is for kraft over at the Snarky Sisters (this time without any snark, but hey - a girl only has so much snark to give). So I knew the background should be kraft. I was thinking a swirly pattern, but then I looked at the inspiration photo again and realised the only background that would be acceptable is woodgrain. Great excuse to dig out my lovely hardwood background stamp. 

I also love my white embossing powder (and need to get more of it soon), so I wanted to keep the card very simple with nothing but white embossing and kraft. There is just something special about white embossing on vellum. It's almost like magic, it's light and airy and cloud-like. The woodgrain on the smaller background panel is simply stamped with VersaMark, I like the subtle effect as the kraft on it's own was too plain, but I didn't want anything in the background to distract from the focal flower.

Finally I just needed to pick a sentiment, and although I was first tempted by something in a swirly font to complement the flower, I changed my mind and used something that would go with the harshness of the woodgrain. And it's a great sentiment, would go for many different occasions. To finish I stamped and heat embossed some flowers inside the card and on the envelope to make a matching set. I absolutely love how the card turned out, this is one I'm genuinely proud of, and it was so much fun to make too! Once again I'm so grateful to the wonderful challenge blogs and inspirational DTs who provide ideas week after week.

Card: Craft UK kraft card and envelope, Ribbed 300 gsm rustic kraft card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm cream card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Stamps: Stampin' Up Hardwood, Mixed Bunch, Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous The Journey
Ink: Tsukineko VersaMark
Other: Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Stampin' Up Basic Pearls, Blossom, Pansy and Petite Petal punch

Really tough colour combo

I received my wonderful Verve stamp set (called Surely Goodness) on the post the other day, the one I won at Mojo Monday challenges. I chose this set with the pretty flowers because I thought they would be really fun to colour in. And because you can never have too many flower stamps. When in doubt, always go for flowers. I couldn't wait to play with it, and thought the only right place to start was with the wonderful Viva La Verve challenge (by the way, you don't have to use Verve stamps to join in the fun). I really like their sketch over there this week, you can see it below.

Then the only decision was what colours to use. I thought I would really challenge myself and use this week's Colour Me... colours, which frankly is a combo I would never have put together on my own. I really didn't think I would be able to make anything useful out of it, but after many trials and errors I did manage to put together a more or less bearable card after all. But it's worth pushing your boundaries a bit from time to time and create something you never thought you would. 

I stamped the flower with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured with Stampin' Write markers. I fussycut the background for the flower from a Stampin' Up DSP using a printout of a scalloped rectangle as a template. I stamped some of the flowers in Pink Pirouette onto cream cardstock, and stamped one of the sentiments from the stamp set in Marina mist onto the background. For the lower part of the card I used another Stampin' Up DSP and added some ribbon in Tangerine Tango (I don't have Tangelo Twist, so I substituted with the closest colour I had in my stash). Finally I die cut the scalloped borders using a Tim Holtz die. I also stamped inside the card and on the envelope, just because I had so much fun colouring in the flower. 

   

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Tangerine Tango card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm cream card

Paper: Stampin' Up DSPs Sycamore Street, Polka Dot Parade, Fan Fair

Stamps: Verve Surely Goodness

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Marina Mist and Pink Pirouette, Stampin' Write markers in Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango and Pink Pirouette

Other: Tim Holts alterations Vintage Lace dies, Stampin' Up Tangerine Tango ribbon

Purple flowers two ways

My sister wanted me to make a birthday card for one of her friends. The instruction I got was that it should be combination of this and this card. I wasn't quite sure what that would entail, so I ended up making two possible cards she can choose from. For the first one, I used the layout from Stamplorations sketch #18. 

For the second card I used the layout from The Challenge #13. I do love the colour combo as well, so I will most certainly be back there playing before the end of the challenge with the colours as well. I already got very inspired by the DT creations over there and know exactly what card I want to make for the challenge. But back to the card at hand.

I stamped the Hero Arts Layered Flowers in StazOn onto watercolour paper, and coloured with Rich Razzleberry marker and an AquaFlo brush. I then fussy cut all the layers of the flowers, attached with dimensionals and added stickles to the edges and the middle of the flower. I printed the sentiment onto vellum using my new favourite font called Jane Austen and die cut the letters for the other card. Then it was just about layering everything into place.

Card: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm white card, coloured 240 gsm kraft card in purple grape and lavender, Daler & Rowney 300 gsm Aquafine watercolour paper, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Paper: Immediate Media The Country Diary of and Edwardian Lady Designer Paper (exclusive to Cardmaking and Papercraft)
Stamps: Hero Arts Layered Flowers
Ink: Tsukineko StazOn Jet Black, Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry marker
Other: Tim Holtz alterations Inside Out alphabet die, Papermania adhesive gems Capsule Heather

So Very Grateful for Blendabilities

It's probably quite evident by now that I rely very heavily on online crafting challenges to find inspiration for making my cards. It makes the whole creative process so much easier when I have a sketch and/or colour combo to focus on. I'm sure many artsy people groan at the thought of speeding up the creative process, and scream out objections along the lines of "art shouldn't be hurried" and "it's all in the process". While I don't object in any way to sitting down, doodling and waiting for creativity to strike (or slowly build as it more often does), most days I don't have the patience for that. That's for true artists. I'm just a simple card crafter, and I like to stamp and colour. Everyone should go with what works for them. And today what worked for me was CAS(E) This Sketch and Just Add Ink. 

The wonderful inspiration from these challenges led to today's card, and even if I say so myself I think it turned out rather nice. I love flower stamps, and I particularly love this set called So Very Grateful from Stampin' Up. It's perfect for colouring, and the two flower stamps in the set allow many different layouts. I have made other cards with it (here and here) which has a completely different feel, so it's a very versatile little set. This time I tired my hand at using the Blendabilities, which are a set of new alcohol based markers from Stampin' Up. I really like the feel of them, they blend beautifully. I had so much fun colouring the card that I couldn't resist stamping inside the card as well.

Cardstock: Coloured 240 gsm kraft card in Purple Grape, Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm white card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Stamps: Stampin' Up So Very Grateful, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler
Inks: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin'Up Blendabilities Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry, Stampin' Write marker Calypso Coral
Other: Stampin' Up Basic Pearls

Petal Parade inspiration

I'm cutting it very close to the deadline of the two challenges I'm participating in today. But I couldn't miss this week's ColourQ challenge, the colour combo is spectacular. And when I saw the inspiration photo, I knew exactly which stamp set I wanted to use. This card takes me right back to the heart of making your own cards - stamping! I just love stamping away and this set is perfect for making your own stamped backgrounds. Who needs designer paper when you can make your own so easily, and having so much fun in the process! I also loved the sketch this week over at the Pink Elephant challenge, and thought it would be perfect for displaying my hand-stamped background (although this sketch would also be perfect to get rid of a few of those hoarded scraps of designer paper as well). I guess it doesn't get said enough, but I am so grateful to all the people working so hard to provide us crafters with inspiring challenges every week, and who go through all that effort to come and comment on each and every one of our creations, spreading joy and encouragement to blogs like mine which otherwise might go completely unnoticed in the great vast infinity that is the Interwebs.

I also stamped inside the card and on the envelope.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm smooth white card, Stampin' Up Soft Sky and Wisteria Wonder card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card

Stamps: Stampin' Up Petal Parade and Yippee-Skippee

Ink: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Sky and Wisteria Wonder

Other: Stampin' Up Scalloped Tag Topper punch, ribbon and twine from my stash

Dino baby card

As so many other crafters, I have accumulated quite a stash of crafting supplies. But I also have a stash of small paper pieces, half finished projects, stamped images that I didn't end up using. And I can't throw any of it away, but it all ends up in various boxes and folders. I'm challenging myself now and again to make a project only with the bits and pieces I find in these boxes and folders. And originally this card contained nothing but stuff from the stash - the dinosaurs are from the bunch of critters I coloured while laying on the beach in Cape Verde (that seems so long ago now). But I didn't like the green cardstock I used for the grass, so I switched it to this polkadot one, which technically also was from the stash but not one of the tiny little paper scraps but I had to cut it out from a bigger piece. But I like the look of the card much better like this.

This card was inspired by two challenges, Freshly Made Sketches and The Color Throwdown. The sketch immediately got my imagination racing, and I was thinking what I could use to replace the flowers. And what better than two dinosaurs!! I'm also entering the card in this week's Addicted to Stamps and more where the theme is Clean and Simple.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm and 350 gsm white card, Daler & Rowney 300 gsm Aquafine watercolour paper, Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette

Paper: Stampin' Up Patterns Stack Brights

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters from the Past, Paper Smooches A Little Lovin'

Ink: Tsukineko Staz-on, Tim Holtz distress markers and Stampin' Up Blender Pen, Blushing Bride

Other: Lawn Fawn Critters from the Past die, Grassy Border die, Sizzix large embossing folder Birthday Stars 

Floral Celebration

Looks like my lil' old mojo came back for a short visit this morning, and I finally managed to finish my card for this week's Fusion challenge, which I have been attempting for days, only producing things that went right into the bin. But this morning I managed to put this card together. Not my best one, but good enough for public scrutiny. I'm also entering this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where anything goes this week.

I adore the Penny Black Life's Messages stamp set I used for the sentiment. It is one of those stamps that I just had to have when I saw it, and it did involve quite an intricate hunt over the interwebs before I managed to secure it. I love to use it for scrapbooking (see here) and I have used it on some faux chalkboard cards (see here). It's just so versatile. The little star in the sketch immediately became a flower in my mind, and I even managed to use up the green leaves I had coloured in when I was testing some markers the other day. It's always great to get rid of things in your stash, isn't it!

Cardstock: Cream linen textured card from my stash, Hobbycraft 160 gsm cream card
Paper: Stampin' Up Patterns Stack Brights and Polka dot parade DSP
Stamps: Penny Black Life's Messages, Stampin' Up Flower Shop, Petite Petals and Mixed Bunch
Inks: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Regal Rose
Other: Lace from my stash, Stampin' Up Basic Pearls, matching punches for the flower stamps

Needlecraft

I seem to have misplaced my crafting mojo. My craft room is filled with started but never finished cards, none of which turned out in life as they looked in my mind's eye. I just can't get there. So I decided to turn to another form of crafting while waiting for good ol' mojo to get back. I hope it won't be too long now, but in the meantime I thought I would gear up for winter. I used to knit a lot, and when my Mum shipped over all of my stuff from the homeland last winter, the shipment included a big batch of wool (well, actually it was much reduced from what it was originally, but there is still a few sweaters worth in there). I picked up some leftover wool and made these little things to warm my paws when the poor little piggies get cold in wintertime.

I have to admit I have never learned to read knitting patterns in English, all the patterns I have are in Finnish or Swedish. And to be honest, I can knit a pair of socks in my sleep, so I don't need a pattern for them. But I guess if I ever come across a nice enough knitting pattern I will figure it out what all the things are called in English. Until then, I might just stick with my Finnish patters, out of pure laziness. Oh and don't despair, I promise the next post will be a card.

Roses and lace

I promise this will be my last Rose Garden card for a while. But I saw this great sketch on RetroSketches, and combined with the "Use at least three different patterned papers" challenge over at Craft your Passion this week, I couldn't resist using this lovely set for one more card (you can see the others here, here and here). I used the same type of elements I have for the other cards, lace, die cuts and a sentiment printed onto vellum. I finally ordered some pearls which I didn't use to have in my stash and this card was the perfect opportunity to use them. I am also submitting the card to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge as well as the Clear it Out Challenge, where anything goes this week.

Card: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm smooth white card, Coloured 240 gsm kraft card in Purple Grape, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Paper: Marianne design Rose Garden DSP and decoupage kit (free with the current issue of Cardmaking&Papercraft magazine)
Other: Stampin' Up Basic pearls, lace from my stash, Tim Holtz Alterations Vintage Lace die

Seed storage

It's not often the Culinary Consultant asks me to make anything, but this is something he thought would be "for the crafting department", and I was more than happy to oblige. What was needed was a storage solution for the seeds we are collecting from our harvest and need to be stored until next spring. So I created a template for a tiny little envelope and made a box for them to go in. I mostly used left over pieces of cardstock that I had lying around, it was a great way to get rid of them. I made a little circular label on the envelopes to indicate what is inside, and added some banners just because punching is fun.

Cardstock: Hobbycraft 160 gsm Three shades of Green, Yellow and Blue
Other: Lawn Fawn grassy border die, Stampin' Up Banner and circle punch, Sizzix Bug in A Rug alphabet dies

Splat!

I have been feeling restless all day. I tried to craft but didn't feel very creative, so I had a browse around the Blogosphere for inspiration and inspiring challenges. When I saw the current Always Playing with Paper/Merry Monday challenge, I immediately thought of a tutorial (which unfortunately I cannot acknowledge as I can't for my life remember where I saw it) about using alcohol markers to colour white heat embossing on black cardstock. I immediately thought the challenge and the sketch would be perfect for trying out this technique. I did interpret the sketch very literally, but sometimes you just need to take the easy way out. I did enjoy colouring in all the small splatters, it kept my mind busy as I was singing loudly along to very embarrassing music from my youth. 

I am also linking up my card to this week's Craft Your Passion challenge where the theme this week is to add something yellow to your card. I am also entering this week's Clear It Out challenge where the theme is embossing and the stash item is embossing powder/folder. For this card, I only used stuff from my stash. The black card was from a leftover piece of cardstock, the orange card in the background is from a bunch of orange papers which have been in my stash for so long I thought they would disintegrate soon, and the colouring was done with my beloved Sharpies I got for Christmas last year. For some added bling, I added a bit of Distress stickles in yellow and orange, although they don't show very well on the photo.

Cardstock: Leftover black and orange cardstock from my stash, Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm smooth white card

Stamps: Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

Ink: Tsukineko Versamark

Other: 80's glam Sharpies, Tim Holtz distress stickles in Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmelade, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder

Gingerbread house card

I made a few gingerbread house cards last Christmas using the free Gingerbread Lane DSP, chipboard shape and foam sticker set that came with the Christmas 2013 issue of Papercraft inspirations magazine, you can see them here. I was left with one more gingerbread house shape, so I thought I might as well just get it over and done with and assemble the card so it's ready for Christmas. I think this card shows once again that you can do so much with freebies and you don't always have to buy expensive stuff to put together a card (not that I object to buying new stuff, but I do want to make sure I focus on using my stash from time to time too!)

I am determined not to have that hectic "stay awake every night for a week" rush to complete my Christmas cards this year. Hopefully I have started the process early enough and will keep on adding a few Christmas cards from time to time to build up my stash before December comes knocking on the door.

Card: Craft UK kraft card
Other: Jennifer Ellory Gingerbread Lane DSP, chipboard shapes and foam sticker set, free with the Christmas 2013 issue of Papercraft Inspirations Magazine.

Another Rose Garden Card

This is going to be extremely quick as I should be in bed (although I will post it in the morning, so that may actually sound weird). Anyhow, I wanted to participate in this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge as they had a cool sketch and I thought it would work great with the Rose Garden decoupage set I have been working with (you can see my other cards here and here) and the deadline for the challenge is Monday every week, so I thought I better finish the card before I go to bed. Also why the photo is dodgy, had to take it with flash as daylight was gone hours ago.

Lots of layers, a bit of die cutting, lace, and the sentiment printed onto vellum using the beautiful Jane Austen font, in line with the other cards in the "series" and Bob's your uncle. Looking at the list of supplies for this one, it really goes to show you don't need a lot of stuff to make cards, it's only an expensive hobby if you make it into one (not saying that's not the fun bit, but still...). 

Card: Leonardo Stationery 350 and 300 gsm smooth white card, Coloured 240 gsm craft card in Purple Grape, Pink Raspberry and Lilac, Dovecraft 110 gsm Premium Vellum
Paper: Marianne design pretty Rose Garden designer paper and decoupage kit (Free with the current issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine)
Other: Tim Holtz Alterations Vintage Lace die, lace from my stash

Party on, you striped little zoo friend

It's been a crazy week, and spending time in the craft room unfortunately hasn't been a priority. Today the weather has been miserable, and I welcome the thunder storm as it gives me some time to play in the craft room, while I watch the skies weep and the thunder roll.

Today I wanted to make a cheery card, and ever since I saw that the theme for this week's CASology was "Stripes", I knew I wanted to make a card with the funky disco zebra I coloured on holiday. I was also inspired by the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers where the theme this week is "Z is for Zoo" and I thought the psychedelic zebra would fit right in with all the funny animals the Sisters have created this week. I was also inspired by this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where we are asked to "Make it sparkle". 

I coloured one swirl from the Sweet Threads Spirals background stamp using Tim Holtz distress markers and stamped onto white cardstock. I printed the sentiment using free fonts Cutie Patootie and Hey Pretty Girl. I stamped the zebra using Staz-on onto watercolour paper and coloured using Tim Holtz Distress markers, and cut using the matching die. I used a punch to cut out the stars from silver paper. Not only did I add the sparkly silver stars, but as you can see from the close up photo below, the disco zebra also has a bit of sparkle in it's mane and tail. I also stamped inside the card. 

Cardstock: Silvery grey cardstock from my stash (ordered from eBay and has no indication of make on it), Hobbycraft 160 gsm white cardstock, Daler & Rowney 300 gsm Aquafine watercolour paper, Stampin' Up Glimmer Paper Silver

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters on the Savanna and matching die, Hero Arts Sweet Threads Spirals background stamp, Stampin' Up Banner Blast, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

Ink: Tsukineko Staz-on and Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz distress markers in Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves and Squeezed Lemonade

Other: Tim Holtz distress stickles in Crushed Olive, Dusty Concorde, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmelade, Tumbled Glass and Worn Lipstick

The birds and the... butterflies!

Between all my Christmas card crafting, I have continued to play with the découpage and DSP set that came with the most recent issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. I kept to the same feel as my previous card, using some lace and printing the sentiment onto vellum using the lovely Jane Austen font. 

I got my inspiration for this card from this week's Mojo Monday sketch and Make My Monday where the theme for the week is Birds.

Card: Leonardo Workshop 350 gsm smooth white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm ivory card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm three shades of blue card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum

Paper: Marianne Design Rose Garden designer paper and découpage kit free with the September issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft

Other: lace from my stash, blue heart ribbon from my stash, Hobbycraft heart border punch

Sweet treats

The theme at Craft Your Passion challenges this week is Sweet treats. And the theme here at the InvisiblePinkCraftRoom this week is Christmas Cards. And a desire to use up some of my old Christmas stash before the new stuff starts rolling in (I'm trying to resist, but feel like there just may be a new stamp set or two before Christmas-time is upon us). And so this sweet little gingerbread fellow was born from the contents of one of those random left over bags that you can't make yourself throw away...

Almost all of the stuff for the card was from my stash, more specifically from a set of DSP, chipboard shapes and dimensional stickers that came with the Christmas 2013 issue of Papercraft Inspirations magazine. I browsed through the magazine again, and was also inspired to use the last few bits and bobs that were left over after making the card to make a tag. I drew the template for the tag free hand, inspired by the tag in the magazine and cut the paper to match, adding a bow and attaching the candy cane with foam dots. I was running out of light so the picture is not the best, but the tag turned out rather nice despite making use of the last little bits of the stash. And I'm relieved that the chipboard shapes and foam stickers are now all used up, making space for new stuff!

Card: Craft UK kraft card, coloured 240 gsm kraft card in Chocolate Brown and Beige
Paper: Jennifer Ellory Gingerbread Lane DSP, chipboard shapes and dimensional stickers from Papercraft Inspirations magazine Christmas 2013
Other: Red ribbon from my stash, lace from my stash