Fabulous me

Art Impressions challenge this week is about paper piecing. Another technique I had not tried before, I like colouring too much. But, as I have said before, the reason I like the challenges is because you have the motivation to try something you might not otherwise try. And maybe even like it!

I stamped the image on patterned papers for the balloon and her dress. I cut them out and attached to the image which I had stamped in normal white paper I use for stamping. Oh so simple, and so nice!

I think I might give the card to my husband being that he so quietly puts up with the ever growing piles of papercrafting materials in my crafts room :)

Materials used: 

Stamp: Art Impressions Tina Set

Papers: Studio Light Paper Pad

Coloured with Distress markers 

I submit the card to Art Impressions challenge #176 

Thanks for popping by and please, do leave a comment! 

Valentine

Valentine's day preparations keep me busy. In Finland Valentine's day is called "Friendship day", so lots of cards for friends too. Here some examples I've made with Pion Design papers. 

Pion Desing Paris Flea Market Collection 

Pion Design Paris Flea Market Collection

Pion Design From My Heart Collection

The inspiration and quite frankly - the whole model for this card I got from Anne at Pion Design's blog today. Can't wait to get my hands on the gorgeous Easter Greetings collection  But for now, I made this card with papers from Vintage Wedding collection. The folded pocket card has a matching tag inside. Such a simple yet super cute idea! Will be making more of these. 

Birthday wishes

In the middle of Valentine's day cardmaking, I made a birthday card for a little boy. In the big box of AI stamps I got from Santa, there was also these cute Front & Backs stamps. I really like the front & backs, they give such a different element to the cards.

The card is 10x15 cm in size, and I decided to make space for some handwritten greetings at the back and leave the opening side blank. 

Materials used: 

Stamps: Art Impressions: Fence, Scarppie Front & Back, Billy Front & Back 

Papers: Studio Light Paper Pad 11 

Coloured with Distress Inks & Markers 

Winter wonderland

Art Impressions challenge this week is about Winter Wonderland. I didn't need to go far for some inspiration, for it was a stunning -32 degrees Celsius today. It is cold for sure, but as my husband says, extreme temperatures, extreme beauty. At the end of this blog, a photo he took in December, when the temperatures hit nearly -40C at the place where we spend most of the winter.

But first to the AI challenge. Santa was very kind to me and got me 2 very generous gift boxes of AI stamps. Among them this heartwarming Fred & Millie stamp. The card is bigger than most of my cards, 15x15cm. I think the extra space was needed this time. 

I added some white Distress Stickles to create frost on the ground and embellishment  

In my little bag of New Zealand Paua shells I found an almost perfect heart shape 

Materials used:
Stamp: AI Fred & Millie

Paper: BG Jovial Blizzard 

Coloured with Distress inks & markers

Tag cut out from Garphic45 Home Sweet Home papers 

I submit the card to AI Challenge #175 

And finally, I promised you to post my husband's photo of the beautiful -40 degrees Celcius. This was taken in Kilpisjärvi, very northern part of Finland. It was during the polar night, when the sun doesn't rise for 6 weeks above the horizon. But, as you can see, it is not dark and terrible, but rather beautiful. If you want to see more of his stunning photos, click the picture, it'll take you to his page. 

Thanks for stopping by, and please leave a comment! 

Little girls

A friend of mine asked me to make a card for a little girl's first birthday. I had just got the Little Sprout stamp on mail and there was the perfect change to try it out. As I often do, I was looking for inspiration online, and Reneë's card was what got me. So here are the two cards I made for my friend to choose from.

Stamp: Art Impressions Little Sprout

Papers: Studio Light Paper Pad 16 & 11

Pion Design My Beloved Sun

Coloured with Distress Inks, as always

Thanks for popping in, I'd like to hear from you so, leave a comment and do return, I have a couple of exciting new projects under work, posting soon! 

Summer's day

It's in the middle of the coldest winter here, lots of snow and really cold temperatures. Thus, it is logic, that a crafter would think of summer, isn't it?

My first Valentine's Day card for this year is made with Graphic45 Home Sweet Home collection papers. I fell in love with these some time ago, but it took until now to use them in my projects.

After all those Christmas cards, I am so pleased to get into the love, flowers and soon-to-be summer themes!

New year's resolutions

Wow, it was a busy week last week at the Christmas market where I was selling my cards. It was my first time selling my cards to other than my mum & grandma,  so a bit nervious to start with, but had a lot of fun in the end. I hope the cards will bring lots of joy and smiles to the people who they are sent to. Must say that the AI stamped cards are a great way to give people a smile.

The photo was taken on the first day, you can see how nervious I was :D

But then to this week's challenge!

I used to make them too, new year's resolutions. Then I understood that I rarely kept them and stopped making them. Maybe they were the wrong kind of resolutions? One should only make them like "I allow myself eat as much chocolate as I want" or "I can buy as many new stamps as I want this year". No problem keeping those!

The card I made for this week's Art Impressions challenge is going to be sent to a good friend of mine to wish her happy new years, and I am sure she'll get the joke. The stamps are of two different characters, but I think they work as one and same person when coloured the same.

As always, I coloured my stamped images with Distress Inks and markers. I tried some hand lettering for the sign, something I think I will be practicing more this Christmas time..

Stamp: Art Impressions Sylvia

Clock: KaiserCraft collectables

Die: Sizzix & Die-namics

 Stamp: Art Impressions Madge

Background paper BoBunny

Die: Spellbinders

I submit the card to the Art Impressions Challenge #174. Check out also the new AI stamps (which would have been fun to have for this challenge) and the awesome cards by the DT!

It's the last AI challenge this year, so I wish all of AI team and followers a joyful holiday and happy new years! I look forward to see you next year.