Fall Forest Alpaca

Today's card is inspired by the mood board over at Lawn Fawnatics, the colours over at Color Throwdown and the sketch over at AAA Cards.  I'm also linking up over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge where the theme is Stamp It On.

I rummaged through my pile of scrap pieces of Lawn Fawn patterned paper for die cutting the fall forest scene. It always feels great to be using up those leftover pieces which you can't quite bring yourself to throw away just in case you could use them for a future project. I coloured the alpaca with Copics and paper pieced his little scarf. 

Card: white 250 gsm white card

Patterned paper: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Chill, Knock on Wood, Knit Picky, Let's Polka in the Dark, Perfectly Plaid Fall

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Winter Alpaca and matching dies, Thank you Tags

Ink and Colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle, Stitched Tree borders, Simple Puffy Clouds

Floral Birthday Wishes

I've been busy crafting lately, but most of my efforts have gone into my new Bujo, which is going to be full of rainbow colours and unicorns (Hello, my name is Karola and I have a substance abuse issue when it comes to rainbow colours....). Last year I tried to have a dignified and mostly black and white design and I didn't like it, in fact, I disliked it so much that towards the end of the year I really struggled to even write in it at all. Therefore I'm going overboard with colours this year, and bought a bunch of unicorn and rainbow washi tape. I've already created some weekly spreads and reflected over my goals for 2018. If you follow my Instagram you may have seen the first page of my Bujo. The image is from the lovely "Keep Calm and Colour Unicorns" colouring book my other half got me for Christmas, and I can tell you I've been colouring a lot of unicorns lately. I just love the image! Oh, and you can find me as @invisiblepinkuni on Instagram in case you want to see what I'm up to.

#newyear new #bujo. This years theme is #unicorns and #rainbow ! #bulletjournal #welcome2018 #watercolour #colouring #colouringbook #cheaperthantherapy

A post shared by InvisiblePinkUni (@invisiblepinkuni) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:03pm PST

Anyhow, on to today's main topic, which is a birthday card I made for my grandma who is turning a respectable 93 years old in a few week's time. I was inspired by the beautiful bright colours over at House Of Cards and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. I'm also joining in with the Birthday theme over at CAS Watercolour and Anything Goes over at Seize the Birthday. I stamped the gorgeous STAMPlorations Bloomtangled ATC#2 stamp in Versamark and heat embossed in silver. Then I watercoloured the image with Distress Inks. I splattered some left-over ink on some white shimmer card (the shimmer is so subtle you can't see it in the image but it has a very light shimmer in real life). Last, I added the pink strip of card as per the sketch, and stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in silver. 

Card: White shimmer card, Daler&Rowney 250 gsm watercolour paper, scrap of pink card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloomtangled ATC#2, sentiment stamp is a really old one I have bought in a stamp shop back home in Finland many, many years ago...

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Shabby Shutters

Other: Papermania Silver Embossing Powder

STAMPlorations discount code: If you want to save 20% when shopping at the STAMPlorations store you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. The discount applies to all normal priced and discounted stamps, stencils and dies. The code cannot be combined with other discount codes.

Christmas Is Coming...

Well, it's dark outside and days are getting shorter (and sadly it's getting impossible to find enough daylight for card photography...). That can only mean one thing - Christmas is coming! Forget your pumpkin spice lattes and yellow leaves, and start panicking. As usual, despite the promises you made to yourself, you didn't start your Christmas card crafting in the summer. By now, you thought you would be finished with the little buggers. And by you, I mean me (and maybe also you?). 

I have to admit, I'm not much of a Christmas person, apart from the food. The only Christmas decorations we have in our house is a table runner with elves and some fairy lights in the living room. We haven't had a Christmas tree for at least the last three or four years (all those pine needles around the house...) And every year I try (and fail) to inspire my family to a Christmas without presents. There are no kids in the family, so my logic is that all we need is good food and a chance to rest and relax. But as a card crafter, I do feel the responsibility to send out home-made cards. After all, wasn't that how we all (well, me at least...) justified this hobby - "This way I won't ever have to spend money on cards ever again". Well, true, I'm not spending £5 on that pack of Christmas cards. Instead, I spend hundreds of £s all year long. That worked out great, didn't it?

I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the Reindeer theme over at Crimbo Crakers. I'm also linking up with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything goes. Getting there, one card at a time!

Card: White 250 gsm card, Neenah Solar white, scrap of black card
Patterned paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Bokeh In The Snow, Perfectly Plaid Christmas
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Toboggan Together and matching dies, Christmas Unicorn
Ink and colouring: Tsukneko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Dies: Lawn Fawn Forest Border Die, Stitched Nesting Circles, Everyday Banners, Stitched Rectangle, Merry Christmas Border

Rainbow Lily

You know I can't resist a rainbow. So when I saw the gorgeous rainbow striped card to CASE over at Time Out I could not resist. How could I? So out came the Copics, and the gorgeous Blossom Sprays Lily stamp from STAMPlorations. My card was also inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. I'm also linking up with Just Add Ink where the theme is Just Add D (die cuts), Shopping Our Stash where the theme is On Trend (rainbows! what could be more on trend than rainbows!) and last but not least Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday challenge where the theme is Stamp It.

Card: 250 gsm white card, Neenah Solar white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Blossom Sprays #3, Sweet Cravings

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle die, CUTplorations Happy Word die, Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Dark, Ranger Ice Stickles

STAMPlorations discount code: If you want to save 20% when shopping at the STAMPlorations store you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. The discount applies to all normal priced and discounted stamps, stencils and dies. The code cannot be combined with other discount codes. 

Penguins In The Snowy Night

This weekend I just withdrew into the craft room. It's my place of safety, comfort and re-charging the batteries. It's been a tough week, and quite a rollercoaster weekend. But when I surround myself with my stamps, dies and inks I feel like none of the bad stuff can touch me. I love how I can completely lose myself in the crafting for hours at a time. 

I love starting my crafty session with a browse of the the current challenges. This time I absorbed inspiration from the current sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches as well as the gorgeous inspiration image over at Inspired By All the Small Things. I'm also linking up over at House of Cards where the challenge this month is Create a Scene and Just Add Ink where the theme is Just Add L (I used L for Layers, I hardly ever do add as many layers as I have here.)

I started by creating the starry night sky using smooshing. I started by inking up my craft mat with yellow and green Tim Holtz Inks, spraying and smooshing my watercolour paper. Then I started building dark blue and black, adding some layers of yellow and green again from time to time, and drying between some of the layers. When I had reached the look I like, I dried the background completely and splattered with white acrylic paint. As I thought the sky actually looked more like a snowy than a starry sky I thought I would go down the winter scene route although the weekend has felt very much like spring.

While the acrylic paint was drying I stamped, coloured and die cut the penguins and built the little scene. I then die cut the background papers and adhered everything in place. I added some gold Wink of Stella to some of the yellow bits in the sky, but it doesn't show in the picture. In real life it adds a nice little sparkle to some parts of the night sky. Last, I added some more white splatters with my gel pen, as the Picket Fence splatters dried quite faint in some parts of the sky. I love how the smooching technique just turns out so random, and you never know what you will get.

Card: 250 gsm white card, 190 gsm watercolour paper

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress inks Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Tim Holtz Distress Paint Picket Fence

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Snow Cool and matching dies

Paper: Stampin' Up Christmas 2013 paper (sorry, can't remember the name), Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Meadow

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stitched Borders dies, Stitched Hillside Border dies, Signo white Gel Pen

Bundle of Joy

I have often said this, but for a professional project manager I really suck at managing my own life. Unless by managing you mean eating chocolate and hiding from the world in my craft room. Anyhow, today I have taken refuge from the craziness that is my life and the craziness that is British February weather into the safety (and chaos) of my craft room. I'm writing this on the sofa, covered by blankets, munching on some Christmas chocolates our friendly nearby chocolate shop was selling at a whopping 70% off. Now that's what I call a good deal (for my wallet, not my waistline).

It's been a while since I've managed any crafty time, and I was inspired by a few recent challenges to create this card using the Lawn Fawn Plus One stamp set which I haven't had a chance to use yet. I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the colour palette at Color Throwdown. I was also inspired by the Transport It theme over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the Birds theme over at Make My Monday. Last but not least I'm also linking up with the Anything Goes theme over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

This wasn't anything particularly sophisticated, a bit of die cutting, a bit of stamping and a bit of Copic colouring and hey presto. I like the colours as they are quite gender neutral so it would be great for a little bundle of joy of any gender.

Card: 250 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160gsm white card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Plus One and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Mon Amie and Let's Polka in the Dark
Dies: Lawn Fawn Simple Puffy Cloud and Spring Showers

Blue Sky Thinking

It's been ridiculously cold and grey outside all day. My coping mechanisms have been to make a huge dutch pancake (although to me it will always seem silly to call it a *dutch* pancake since it's actually Finnish pancake in my opinion, but anyhow...) and ate a gigantic piece of it with stem ginger ice cream and apricot jam. Then I spent the rest of the day in the craft room. The other half has been sitting in his man cave with his head phones on all day, gaming with friends. I don't think I have ever heard him talk that much in one day before, not sure if I should be happy or feel a bit hurt and jealous. Oh well, seems like he is having fun.

And I have been having fun too, as I made this card inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch. I was also inspired by the word inspiration over at Time Out which are "Friends are connected heart to heart, distance and time can't break them apart". I thought the balloon was perfect for the bit about distance. My best friend is far away and I sometimes hope I could just jump into a balloon to get to see her. My inspiration for the silver mirri sentiment was from the "Mirror, Mirror" challenge over at Daring Cardmakers. Last but not least I was inspired by the "Winter blues" challenge over at Shopping Our Stash where the challenge is to crate something with lots of blue but not to make it winter themed. I thought what could be more summery than a brightly coloured balloon?

Card: 250 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 190 gsm white card, silver mirri card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Blue Skies and matching dies, Claire's abc

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Broken China, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Spring Showers, Scripty Hello

Other: Ranger Ice Stickles

Colourful Circles

It's rather grey and dreary out there so I thought we really need a card with bright colours today. I was inspired by the new challenge over at AAA Cards which is circles. I was also inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the CAS Mixup challenge where I have already played along twice this month but could not resist a third go as I think this month's challenge of Stamping+Masking+Your choice (die cutting in my case) is just so much fun I couldn't resist a third go. I'm also linking up with Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With a Die Cut challenge.

I started by inking through the ARTplorations Bubble Dance stencil using Distress inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry. I just love how the colours blend and you get so many more colours than you start with. Then I used the CUTplorations Happy Word die and die cut words for the sentiment from Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper and black card. To complete the sentiment I stamped the word Birthday from STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners. Last, I added a lot of Ice Stickles for some bling. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scarp of black card
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry
Stamps: STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners
Stencils: ARTplorations Bubble Dance 
Dies: CUTplorations Happy Word die
Other: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper, Ranger Ice Stickles

Stencilled Fall Florals

How are you? I mean really, how ARE you? It's that time of year when it's dark and cold and gloomy and don't even get me started on world events, I mean 2016 has been the year of so many strange and scary things. But let's not go there. Instead, I made a card for my lovely colleague who went above and beyond to help me a while ago when my key card just decided to stop working. Nothing like turning up to work hours before anyone else and realising you can't get in anywhere. On a day when your only other early bird colleague is on a trip out of town. Anyhow, I thought a little thanks would be in place and a good excuse to make a card.

I was inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the colours over at Color Throwdown. I'm also linking up over at AAA Cards where the theme is Thanks/Thankful, CAS Mixup where the theme is Stamping+Masking+Your choice (die cutting in my case) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Thanks/Thankful. 

I started by inking through the lovely Fall Floral Trio stencil which has been patiently waiting around for a few weeks on my crafting desk. After finishing the flowers I added a bit of dots using the Dots All Over stencil. Then I inked a piece of scrap card using the orange, pink and red Distress ink and die cut the Thanks using the CUTplorations Thanks Word die. Last I stamped the other part of the sentiment (from Bloom Sketches) and added some orange Distress Stickles to the die cut for a finishing touch.

Card: 250 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloom Sketches

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mermaid Lagoon, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Stencil: ARTplorations Fall Floral Trio, Dots All Over

Other: CUTplorations Thanks Word die, Ranger Distress Stickles Glitter Spices Marmalade 

There's Snow One Like You Dad

It's Father's day in Finland next weekend, and of course my dear Dad deserves a great card to celebrate the day. It's always hard to be an ocean away on these special days when all you want is to be there and make a really great Father's day breakfast. Maybe some waffles, or cinnamon buns... But a card will have to do. So I wanted to create a really special card so I got out the penguins. I thought the "There's Snow One Like You" would be a great sentiment for a father's day card instead of the usual Happy Father's Day, just to make it a bit more special.

I was inspired by the Keep It Clean and Simple theme over at Lawnscaping. Further, I was also inspired by the colours over at ColourQ and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. Last but not least I am linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Thinking of You. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, 300 gsm white textured card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Snow Cool and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Ink, Versamark, Tim Holtz distress inks Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire, Copics
Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Stitched Hillside Borders, Forest Border
Other: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka, Perfectly Plaid Fall, Ranger fine clear embossing powder

Coffee Side by Side

A while ago I played along with the fabulous Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and was lucky enough to win one of the prizes from the generous sponsors. I have had very little time in the craft room, but I finally got a chance to play with one of my new sets. I love coffee so much, but it really doesn't agree with me as my hands start shaking a lot if I have more than one cup. So in the morning at work, I cherish my one cup and that's it. But it won't stop me from enjoying caffeine related crafting!

My inspiration for this card was the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches as well as the colours over at Color Throwdown. I have to admit I did take some liberties with the shape in the sketch to work with the shape of my stamp. I'm also linking up over at CASology where the Cue Card this week is Coffee. How convenient!

Card: 250 gsm white card

Stamps: Unity stamps Coffee Side by Side

Ink and Colouring: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Copics

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Let's Polka and Let's Polka in the Dark patterned paper 

Watercolour Autumn Leaves

It looks like the sun is shining for a change and the leaves outside have definitely turned all colours of fall. Which, along with the inspiration image over at Inspired By All The Little Things got me thinking of my still unused new set of STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves 2 and getting them all inky with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and a water spritzer. Which is exactly what I did. Throw in a CUTplorations die and a sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch and you have a card. A quick, slightly messy, colourful and very thankful card. I'm also linking up with CAS Watercolour where the theme is Autumn.

I used my Distress Ink markers to colour the stamps and spritz lightly before stamping onto watercolour paper. I created masks to be able to overlap the stamps. I also watercoloured a scrap piece of watercolour paper and die cut the sentiment. 

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper
Ink: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Disteress Markers in various yellows, oranges, reds and browns
Stamps: STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves 2, Be Thankful (coming soon!)
Dies: CUTplorations Thankful Word Die (coming soon!)

You Can Do This!

Busy day today, have spent most of it with my new journal. I'll show you soon, I promise (stop rolling those eyes, I can see you!). Then we went outside (yes, we did!) for a cycle ride to enjoy the autumnal weather and were very lucky as it didn't rain at all! I did manage to ride my bike into a big pothole and somehow managed to pull my back and hip. You would think I'm at least 60, although if this is what my body is like now, I don't want to think about what it will be like in 10 years time. Anyhow, I just about managed to finish this card and get a snap of it before we lost daylight. Sadly we are now back in the time where photography time is very limited and I know I won't have a chance to take any photos after work and will have to constrain all photography to weekends.

Today's card was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the gorgeous colours in the super-fun inspiration image over at Inspired by All The Little Things. I just love the gorgeous colours, as soon as I saw the image I had to drag myself from the sofa to my craft room (this was post-bikeride) and dig out my Gansai Tambis. Ok, confession, I didn't have to dig them out, they were on the floor next to the desk. Right now pretty much all my crafty gear are out on the desk/floor/any other surface in the craft room. I'm also linking up with Addicted to Stamps and More where the theme is CAS. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scrap of turquoise card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Wheelie Like You, Clare's ABCs

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour, Copics E00, E34, E37, E39, C1, C3, C5

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Perfectly Plaid paper

Penguins and Snow Penguins

Today I have been colouring and die cutting penguins. I was probably inspired by being freezing cold all day yesterday. My birthday gift for the Culinary Consultant was a full day of ski school at the Snow Zone in Milton Keynes. So I spent a lot of the day in the very cold cafe at said Snow Zone watching him do really well. I also took a walk across the street to the giant shopping centre, but I realised I really suck at the whole shopping thing as I didn't buy a thing. Apart from a Krispy Kreme. Ok, that's a lie, as I bought two Krispy Kremes. Then I went back to the ice cold cafe to watch the skiing and spent a small fortune online-shopping for crafting stash. Looks I'm good at shopping, as long as it's the right kind of shopping.

Today's card was inspired by the image over at The Challenge, the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and I'm also linking up over at Crimbo Crackers where the theme is Snowmen, although I'm assuming a snowpenguin fits the bill also.

Card: 300 gsm white card, dark blue Vanguard card, scraps of burgundy card, Neenah Solar white card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Toboggan Together, Snow Cool and matching dies, Winter Unicorn 

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Scripty Merry, Stitched Hillside Borders, Snowy Backdrop 

Other: Papermania Seafoam White