Inkspirational Challenges Reminder!

 Hi friends!

I'm here to remind you of our current challenge at Inkspirational where we have a very inspiring moodboard for you, have a look:

I chose the turqouise eggs and magnolia/apple tree branches (don't really know if they are that but that's my interpretation lol!) as my starting point. I created an oval mask with an oval die to create the turqouise "base" for my stamped (and masked) branch. I also splattered some gold paint to make my "egg" match the ones in the photo even better. After inking the background I removed the masks and colored the branch image with Copics.  The sentiment is simply stamped and means something like "joy and light for you" in Finnish language. 

The branch is by Clearly Besotted stamps and it is a very old stamp in my stash... In the beginning of March I chose 4 old stamp sets I wanted to work with in March (I used random.org for choosing, it was quite fun!) and this stamp was one of the four -perfect for this challenge! :) In addition to this stamp I only managed to work with one other of the four sets that random.org chose for me... Actually my previous Ink card used the Waffle Flower stamps was the second one! Anyway -I'll need to make those 2 remaining randomly chosen stamp sets work for me in April because I didn't reach my goal in March lol! :) Luckily this is my own game so I can bend the rules. :) 

Make sure to head on over to our challenge blog for lots of more DT inspiration and all the challenge details. 

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi friends!

We have a new color challenge for you at Less Is More: 

I used a small flower stamp by Clearly Besotted and colored it in with our colors using Copics and pencils. I wanted to add some interest to the design and used a MFT die for that. The sentiment is simply stamped and is by STAMPlorations. 

Sadly this will be my last challenge as a design team member of Less Is More. My work life keeps me pretty busy these days and cutting down design teams feels like the right thing to do. I've been enjoying my time at Less Is More SO MUCH and being selected to the team some years ago still feels like my greatest crafty achievement! Thank you to Sharon, Anita and the whole team for the wonderful crafting company and inspiration!  

Thanks for popping by everyone and I hope to see you playing along at Less Is More... As I will in the future as well! :) 

New Challenge at Inkspirational!

Hi friends!

I'm here to share my DT card for our new challenge at Inkspirational! It's a nice and easy word prompt:

Very appropriate for summer!

My good friend Milla continues as our June guest designer. Don't miss her card or any inspiration from the DT, click HERE! 

For my card I colored in some cute strawberries by Clearly Besotted with Copics. I die cut a sort of story book die shape with a Pretty Pink Posh die to "mount" the image to the card base. The sentiment is by Clearly Besotted as well. A very simple card -I did try to add more elements to this but could not make them work! :) 

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you joining Inkspirational! 

I'd like to join:

Stamping Sensations June : Show Your True Colors (my 2nd entry)

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi friends!

We have a wonderful new color challenge for you at Less Is More:

Unfortunately I had time to make only one card this time but I'm sure you'll find a lot more inspiration in my design team mates blogs! Click HERE for the challenge post with all the challenge details. 

We are already in September which means we have a new monthly sponsor and this time it's CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Play along for a chance to win a fabulous prize! Do note the 20% code for Less Is More players!

I decided to play with my Polychromos colored pencils to create ombre pink colored flowers (we allow ombre in this color challenge). I heat embossed a Clearly Besotted flower stamp on black card and spent a nice hour or so coloring in the cute flowers. I finished the coloring with a coat of Wink of Stella. The sentiment, simply stamped, is by Uniko, and the dies I've used come from Winnie and Walter. The rectangle has dotted details in the edge -the photo unfortunately didn't really catch the dots. 

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you playing along! 

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi guys!

We have a new challenge for you at Less Is More: Sketch! 

I'm a bit on a hurry when writing this so let's keep it short and sweet and jump right into my cards!

Card 1 Green Birthday Card

In my first card I used tiny Paper Smooches tags dies to represent the squares in the sketch. The tiny flower stamps come from Clearly Besotted stamps and the minimalistic coloring needed was done with Copics. The sentiment is from an old set, sorry don't know the maker of that. The tags are popped up for dimension and the sentiment is simply stamped to the green card base. I try to use up my colored card and save some white!

With my green card I'd like to join:

  CAS-ual Fridays Challenge: Inspiration photo. I'm inspired by the banners in the photo. 

Card 2 Thanks

I'm literally stretching the sketch in my second card... And am afraid the CASness of this card could be better... What do you guys think? I had this pre-made black and white card base ready and I colored in 4 of the circle images to represent the sketch. The border stamp is from the same set tham the sentiment in my first card. I die cut a Winnie and Walter sentiment 3 times and adhered the pieces together to make a thick sentiment embellishment but it didn't pop from the busy background. :( I adhered the extra black strip behind it which does help but I do not like it! 

These were my two cards for you this time. I hope you like them! Our August sponsor is STAMPlorations so do play along for a chance to be invited as guest designer or winning the sponsor prize! Lot of fabulous DT inspiration in our blog and in the personal blogs of our designers. Don't miss any of the fun, do join us! 

New challenge at Less Is More!

HI guys!

It's time for a new challenge at Less Is More and this time it's a theme challenge:

Fun, right? Time to dig out all those animal stamps and dies!

I have two cards for you in this challenge and let's get right into the details of them. They don't really need much explaining though, both are very simple designs! Both of the cards have stamps by Clearly Besotted in the main role and in the first card all the dies come from Winnie and Walter, in the second the scalloped rectangle is from W+9. 

The minimal coloring in my first card (above) is made with Copics. I also added some white gel pen accents. I just love these dotted rectangle dies by Winnie and Walter, they are new in my collection! 

The second card demanded a bit more time -in this one I used Polychromos pencils. I bought a set of them nearly two moths ago and yet this is the first time I'm using them!! This card was a trial and error make and what you see here is the second version. After having the first go on coloring I realized I need to leave the stamps to my MISTI for stamping them again after coloring... This was very exciting I can tell you! Luckily the re-stamping worked alright! This card goes to my colleagues who recently got married. They own a black poodle called George and had blue and green as their wedding colors. :)

Our guest designer this time is one of my favorite bloggers, Hannelie. Her card are just so stylish!!! Play along and one day you could also be our guest designer too! As always the DT blog is filled with inspiration so do click HERE for more inspiration. Out August sponsor is STAMPlorations. I can't wait to see what you create for us! Happy crafting!

TIME OUT Challenge Reminder!

Hi friends!

I'm here to remind you of our current TIME OUT challenge:

Sympathy Cards with the Optional Twist of Distressing

No twist for me this time! I've made a super CAS card with minimal Copic coloring using poppy stamps by Clearly Besotted and sentiment by CAS-ual Fridays. Only the blooms are colored in with red Copies + I've added some white gel pen to two of the flowers. I quite like the red/white/black/grey color palette of this!

Our sponsor in this challenge is Happy Little Stampers, play along for a chance to win! You could also be chosen as a future guest designer -this time our GD is Sue whose CAS style (often with mixed media feel!) I really admire. Now it's your turn to take TIME OUT and craft!

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Click the photo larger for details! :)

Hi friends!

I'm here with a quick post to share my DT card for the new Less Is More Challenge:

In other words -use anything but white card for your one layer card base!

This challenge runs for 2 weeks and is a joined challenge with AAA Cards. We are sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and Kylie from HLS is also joining us as a guest designer with a fab, pink card. Don't miss Kylie's card, all the challenge details and creations by the DT -click HERE! 

I've used cute new poodle stamps by Clearly Besotted + a MFT sentiment in my card. The poodles are white heat embossed and I also added color to their "accessories" with a purple Copic marker and Wink of Stella glitter pen. A super simple CAS card, no embellies or nothing! The photo was taken on a rather cloudy day and is a bit unfocused, sorry about that -it looks better when clicked larger. :)

Thanks for popping by. 

Guest Designing at Color Throwdown!

Hi friends! 

Today I have a great pleasure today to be guest designing at Color Throwdown! I love their color combos and am thrilled to join in as GD in this challenge. The color combo is above -so fresh and full of life. Perfect for floral cards! 

In my card I used a wonderful flower stamp by The Ton. I've just got it and I think it must be new favorite! So beautiful details and such pretty flowers. I've colored the flowers in with Copics. The sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted set. I didn't want a completely white bg this time so I've used lightly patterned paper to cover the card base + striped patterned paper to "ground" the stamped panel. This card is screaming for some bling but I made this parted from most of my crafting stash... No sequins, rhinestones, enamel dots, nothing like that on hand! My stash has already travelled to my summer home and I'm following tomorrow -I'm looking forward to a happy re-union! :) 

Thank you again Lori and Color Throwdown for inviting me to join in! 

I'd like to join: 

Stamping Sensations: Your Favorite Stamp

TIME OUT Challenges Reminder

Hi friends!

I'm here to share my DT card for the current TIME OUT Challenge where we are inspired by the gorgeous photo below! 

We are sponsored by Happy Little Stampers. All the details and prize info is one click away in the challenge blog! :)

Our talented guest designer Ashwini and regular DT members have more inspiration for you in the challenge blog too so that's the place where to hang out right now! I loved Ashwini's colorful floral card.

In my card I've used stamps by Clearly Besotted Stamps that came free with a magazine one hundred years ago. Just an estimate. ;) The leaves are stamped first with green ink and then partly re-stamped with dark grey ink for shading -I used my MISTI so this was very easy to make. The flower is colored in with Copics and I added some white gel pen details too. Very simple and quick card! 

I hope to see you joining in TIME OUT Challenges, happy crafting!

New Challenge at Less Is More: One Layer Sweet Things!

Hello friends!

It's time for a new challenge at Less Is More! This week we are making one of my favorites, one layer cards. It can sometimes be a challenge to make them look interesting and I don't always succeed with them... But they are fun to make and easy to mail! :) 

Two weeks ago I told you I'd be showing only one single DT sample for you for the almost whole month of June but if you have a look at this post you'll see I have 3 cards for you... So it looks like I was lying! ;) I didn't intend to though. I stamped my second and third card when visiting blog friends Sandie and Marina in England last week and colored them in with Copics when back at home. Let's have a look at all the cards now... Click the photos larger for closer look of the details! 

Card 1 : Strawberries (above)

I think a card can't get much more CAS than this! :) I used linen card for card base which gives a more "expensive" look and then stamped my Clearly Besotted Stamps greeting and Papersmooches strawberries on it with the help of MISTI stamping tool. I added Wink of Stella to the leaves of the strawberries and this card was ready in less than 5 minutes! Mind you that before this 4 or 5 cards with different kind of strawberry designs went to the bin. ;) 

Card 2: Ice Cream

This card I stamped at Sandie's using Technique Tuesday stamps she had received from Marina as b-day gift -a fun connection because I had just been to Marina's! I also die cut a stitched line with a border die from Paper Smooches. At home I colored this in with Copics using color palette from Color Throwdown  (I hope the addition of brown is ok, it's a neutral so I thought it's alright!) and added different shades of Stickles for "frosting". 

In addition to Color Throwdown, I'd like to join ModSquad Challenge: Spark it Up. 

Card 3: Pear

This was stamped at Marina's using her stamp set -Marina, if you are popping by and commenting, I wonder what the company was, I can not remember! I also stenciled some dots to the background for added interest. At home I colored this in with Copics and added some white gel pen and Stickles details. This image was actually in a Christmas set but I think it works ok for a non-Christmas theme too! 

That's all from me today friends. I'd now like you to head on over and visit my DT buddies for more inspiration. Don't forget STAMPlorations is sponsoring the month of June, only way to win is to play along! ;) 

New Challenge at Less Is More: Neapolitan!

Hi friends,

we have a new challenge for you at Less Is More! It's our color challenge week and this week we'd like to see a trio of brown, pink and white in your cards!

When this challenge goes live I'm enjoying London with my wonderful friend Sandie from London Days! We two have met several times IRL already and I'm always so happy to meet my favorite crafty girl! If you don't know Sandie (probably impossible!), do pop by her blog and have a look at her CAS cards. You'll be inspired!

Anyway, back to the challenge:

Mmmm.. Neapolitan ice cream! By the way I had no idea it's called like this. :) Every day you learn something new!

I made a simple, quick card with a die cut panel (W+9 stamps), stamped sentiment (Clearly Besotted Stamps) + a bird die cut. I bought this birdie from a second hand table in a crafting event for 2 euros! What a bargain! I think she will be especially cute for baby cards. I cut her wing from patterned paper to add the third color and some extra interest to my card + scattered clear sequins here and there for sparkle. 

The month of June is sponsored by one of my favorite companies, STAMPlorations. I'd love you to go and have a look at their inspirational challenge blog and their store filled with fantastic stamps, dies and stencils! STAMPlorations owner and designer Shery is joining us at LIM as a guest designer in this challenge. She makes the most fantastic mixed media CAS cards! Don't miss her inspiration or the cards by our DT, click HERE. 

I hope to see you playing along at Less Is More! Thanks for popping by!

New Challenge at TIME OUT: CASEing Julia

Hi friends!

Today is very exciting for me because we are beginning a new challenge at TIME OUT where we are CASEing Julia Altermann who is my idol! :) She makes the most fun cards with mind-blowing coloring and her youtube videos are very entertaining and also educational. Do check out her blog Just One More Card and I promise you'll enjoy what you see! :) 

For my DT card I decided to make something for those followers of ours who maybe are intimidated of the idea of a shaker card but want to look for more simpler aspects of Julia's card to CASE. By the way -I've made a reminder card for next week and that is a shaker -love those! :) Anyway, in this card I concentrated on Julia's color choices, coloring in with Copics (and adding white gel pen for accent) + using a frame. I hope this simple card gives you ideas of how to play along. The DT made so awesome cards this week, there's shakers, CAS cards, fun patterned papers... Don't miss any of the cards, click here! Our guest designer this week is Jenny and I promise her card will make you smile. :) Please join us! 

I'm entering:

https://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.fi Use a die

Addicted to Stamps and More Make Your Mark

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ Make For the Border

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.fi Close to Nature

New Challenge at Inkspirational!

Hello friends!

We have a new challenge for you at Inkspirational: Word Prompt TEXT. Before going to the details of my cards I want to share some great news with you! I usually don't write any personal stuff in my card making blog but this is just too cool to not write also in here: I passed my driving exam yesterday! Can you believe it! At first go at the age of 35. :) I've had intensive 2 months learning to drive and sitting on the theory lessons with all the teenagers. :) I'm so glad and so proud of myself too! Woo hoo! 

Anyway, my card. :) I made a bg panel for my Clearly Besotted flower, inspired of the word prompt. I first sponged some blue DI on the card panel, spritzed it with water to get some white dots, dried it, then stamped the text background with a Prima stamp and finally dry embossed the whole thing with a Taylored Expressions embossing folder that gives very fun, subtle, distressed kind of finish. My flower is colored in with Copics and that's pretty much all there is to this card -some gems and a stamped, Finnish birthday sentiment. I'm SO bored of all my Finnish sentiment stamps (well I only have 2 that I use all the time) and I finally found a nice sheet of sentiments and bought it yesterday. Very glad about that too! 

I hope you'll now head on over to the challenge blog and have a look what my design teamies and guest designer Jen from Haystack Cards have created for your inspiration. I hadn't seen Jen's blog before and her cards are amazing, do check them out! Happy crafting!

Retroish Flowers!

Hi guys!

I have a cute flower card for you today. My sketch comes from the new Share Joy Challenge. 

My version is simplified but I think you can still see how I was inspired. 

I used a Tailored Expressions embossing folder for my card base, some patterned paper, a Copic colored Clearly Besotted flower and a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp for my card. The flower is also covered with Wink of Stella and I added white dots with gel pen for interest. This one has a sort of retro feel I think, I really love it! :)

I'd also like to enter the current CASology, cue card CAS. 

In my opinion, although there's many details and colours in this card, the overall look is still clean and simple. What do you think? Also, coloring a simple flower like this with markers takes no time at all. :)

Finally, I'm playing along at CASual Fridays Challenge: Florals. 

Thanks for popping by, I hope you like today's card! Have a fun crafty weekend everyone!

New Challenge at Inkspirational!

Hi guys!

Here's my DT card for the new challenge at Inspirational, as you see from above it's a photo inspiration. If you are lost for ideas, do check out all the amazing DT samples from the challenge blog!

I went with the colors of the photo and wood for my inspiration. My purple is not this vibrant though, it's closer to pink... But you get the idea maybe. :) I also used a woodgrain embossing folder for the turquoise card panel. The card base is textured too so this card has many textures which I like. The feather die cuts I've received from someone as a gift.

Now that I look at the card on screen, it looks so weird with only one rhinestone... It looks like the other one has dropped! I think I must add one. :) 

Hope you like and happy crafting!