Saturday 27 September 2014

Beverages/Drinks at Inkspirational!

Hi friends!
We have a new challenge for you at Inkspirational! Time just flies doesn't it. :) The theme is Beverages/Drinks -a very fun theme chosen by our own Carol!

In my DT card I've used a Stamping Bella stamp I'd forgotten I own... Thanks to this challenge I found it again! I think Stamping Bella stamps are so cute and I adore them in everyone's cards but I find it hard to make them work: coloring in them is somehow difficult and I can't find the style I want to use... In the end I went for an almost monochrome look with touch of pink and made a "fake polaroid" sort of frame for the image. I do love the script card I used for card base. I used washi tape and ribbon for embellishing the frame.

I hope to see you all playing along at Inkspirational! The DT cards look great as always so please pay the DT girls a visit: check out all the creations from here. You'll also find a cool card from our guest designer Mary V: I'd like to have the cocktail in her card, please! ;) Have a fun weekend, everyone!

Thursday 25 September 2014

Stamping with Optional Theme of Apples at TIME OUT!

Hi friends!
It's time for a new TIME OUT Challenge! The theme this fortnight is easy peasy: stamping! You can also choose an optional twist, "apples" -doing that you have a chance to win a stamp set from Avocado Arts. I've used their stamps in my card and I own several sets: Avocado Arts stamps are super quality and so cute and fun! I hope you'll check out the shop. With the new challenge we also have a new guest designer, Loll. Loll is one of the most inspiring card makers I know and it's such a pity my fall has been so busy I haven't been able to visit her blog Stamping With Loll as often as I'd like to. If you don't know her blog, check it out, you'll love her designs!

I decided to make a CAS design this time. I used navy blue card (unfortunately it looks almost black in the photo!) and combined stamps from 2 Avocado Arts sets for my focal point: Special Delivery and Springtime Celebrations. I've used simple post-it masking for stamping the flower inside the postmark frame. The sentiment is heat embossed with white powder... Some Copics were used to add color... And there's glossy accent in the hearts for added interest. This turned out quite cute I think! I'd love to hear your opinions too. :)

I'm off to work so better keep this post short and sweet... :) I hope to see you all taking TIME OUT and crafting!

I'd like to join:
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.fi/ Fussy Cutting
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/challenge-114-cas.html CAS

Wednesday 24 September 2014

STAMPlorations SPotlight: Stamping on Patterned Paper



Hi friends!
I'm sharing a quick tutorial on how to achieve the look of today's card at STAMPlorations Blog. I've used Bloom Sketches Stamp Set, inks and patterned paper in my card... But as said, head to STAMPlorations to find out more! I'd love to read your comments there. Have a nice evening everyone! 

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I'd like to join these challenges:

Wednesday 17 September 2014

You Are #1


Hi friends!
I had time for this quick card last Sunday and I almost forgot to post it!! It's a pretty loose take on the current CASE this Sketch, you might think it has got nothing to do with it but the idea to use the PTI No Strings Attached set completely rose from the sketch! The sentiments are from one of the newest sets at Avocado Arts. I had to flip the sketch to make room for the sentiments. I "double matted" the card with two tones of reds because I thought it looked fun. :) The #1 is heat embossed with white powder, otherwise there's just plain stamping in this card.

This will also be my third (and last, I was a good girl and read the rules!) entry to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #2. I'm especially happy about this entry because I used TWO NBUS sets, yay!

Have a very nice week everyone! I'm writing this from our neighbour country Sweden where I'm spending some days for work. It's always fun to meet Swedish colleagues and they do have better coffee here! We win the bread-competition though... Then again the Swedes have Ikea and H&M, hmmm... But we have the Santa Claus! Never believe someone who says Father Christmas is from Sweden. TOTALLY FALSE INFORMATION!!

Thanks for popping by! ;)


Monday 15 September 2014

New Sketch at STAMPlorations



Hi friends!
It's time for a new sketch at STAMPlorations! I loved this sketch and had super fun creating my card with stamps and dotty patterned paper. The DT has done amazing job as always so I hope you'll visit their blogs and leave them some love! This time Darnell is our guest designer and if you are new to her blog, you are in for a treat. She writes THE MOST FUNNY blog posts and does great cards. Have a look! 

I'm in a hurry today so I'll just quickly explain what I did and send you off to STAMPlorations for all the challenge and prize info. The stamp sets I used are listed below. I started with stamping butterflies onto white paper that had blue dots on it. I inked the edges of the paper and stamped borders. I then stamped the "paint swooshes" (what are they called?!?) and finished the card with heat embossing the sentiment with white powder. Some blue sequins embellish the sentiment. I must say I like the end result -it's a bit busy but I'm so into blue right now that this totally does it for me! :)

As said, I must run now... Have a look at the fab stamp sets below, head on over to the challenge post and do join us! Happy crafting!


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Congratulations Bev! Double the Joy at TIME OUT!


Hi friends!
Our TIME OUT Design Team member Bev gave birth to two super cute twin boys about two weeks ago, congratulations Bev! We are celebrating this special occasion at TIME OUT with an extra challenge starting right now. :) The challenge will run for a fortnight and the theme is 

Double the Joy

We hope we have been able to give Bev a big surprise with this challenge and that she'll enjoy the cards the DT has made for her... And maybe you'd like to join in the challenge and congratulate her also? The winner of the challenge (chosen with random.org) will win a £20 coupon to Bev's stamp store Uniko Studio.

In my card I've used Uniko Studio stamps, the set in question is called Pure Florals: Chrysanteum. I've colored the masked, stamped images in with Copics and that's all there is to mention about this card: no embellies, nothing! I was happy with how the flower corner looked liked and decided nothing else was needed. Since I used three colours and left plenty of white space I hope this will work for CASology: Three. There are layers yes but they seemed to fit the sort of traditional look of this card. Please remove my card if it's not CAS enough! :)

I hope to see you all playing along at TIME OUT, celebrating the two new lives! Don't forget that we have a Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration challenge running here... So we currently have TWO challenges for you at TIME OUT. Happy crafting! 

Saturday 13 September 2014

STAMPlorations Blog Hop Reminder!


Hi friends!
It's time to remind you about STAMPlorations September Release Blog Hop! Have you hopped already? If not, you still have a couple of days time to visit the blogs and have a chance to win fabulous prizes! Here are all the stops on the hop:

Cornelia | Debra | Deepti | Kylie | Maria | Monika | Nonni | Shery | Shirley|Vicki

All the information about the prizes and products can be found in the blog hop post here.

In my card I used the new set Holiday Sketches: Christmas Candles and grabbed the sentiment from Holiday Sketches: Christmas Flower. My favorite color in clothes at the moment is blue and after getting myself 3 (!!!) new navy blue cardigans for fall I came to think that navy blue would be beautiful as a dark card base too... This is my first attempt on heat embossing with white powder to navy blue card and I think it looks very pretty! I used some Inktense pencils to add more color to the heat embossed image and added two times three pearls to the flower centers... Which will hopefully make my card to fit the current CASology: Three. I'd also like to enter Darnell's NBUS Challenge #2: not only is this my first attempt with navy blue card but this is my first time playing with these stamps... And my card fills the holiday-option too! I hope you like this second entry of mine, Darnell.  I'll also enter Crafty Catz: CAS. 

Before going... My smiling puppy Rafa wants to say hi! Look how funny his left ear is looking. :) Enjoy the weekend!


"Flight" at Inkspirational




HI friends!
We have a new challenge for you at Inkspirational and it's a very fun one: what does the word "flight" bring to your mind? Our DT with the talented guest designer Cornelia has come up with very different interpretations and I hope you'll visit all girls and leave them some love! :)

The first thing that came to my mind was flying with an airplane and I came to think of the stamp set from Avocado Arts that I still haven't had a chance to use. That'll make my card suitable for Darnell's NBUS Challenge 2 here. :) I love Avocado Arts stamps and belong to the monthly stamp club -the only thing I don't like is that when you get busy you feel bad for not using your new stamps right away! Anyways, back to my card: I stamped the suitcases on pieces of scrap paper and paper pieced the stack. I inked the edges a bit for a more dimensional look... And also used 3 d stickers to make the stack look more lively. I always like this layout with something in opposite top and bottom corners... And went with it once again. I can't decide if the colors of this card work or not... But it is what it is now! :)

I hope to see you playing along at Inkspirational. Have a fun weekend!

*edit*
thanks to Sandie's great suggestion, I'm also entering Virginia's View Challenge: Patterned Paper.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Photo Inspiration at Time Out!


Hi guys!
I'm loving our new Home Sweet Home inspiration photo at TIME OUT Challenges and I hope you'll like it too and play along! This is a very special challenge: it's the first time all our new DT members are joining us! TIME OUT design team now has 12 members... And the inspiration is amazing if you ask me. Don't forget to check the DT cards and visit everyone! Our guest designer this week is Christine with a fun CAS card, she really captured the essence of this photo I think! Welcome to TIME OUT Christine.

My starting points for this card were wood, using sentiments as a focal point and using jute string. The photo led me to a rustic direction and I ended up not being totally CAS this time (CAS seems to have abandoned me lately!!). I had one of my colleagues in mind all the time when making this card -I think this will be a great card to give "just because". I hope she will like it. The sentiment stamps are from STAMPlorations  and the background stamp is from Kaiserkraft. I heat embossed it with clear powder and sponged over with DT Pumice Stone. The sentiments are simply stamped, not embossed this time... And the doily, string and pearls give this the feminine rustic look I was after. I hope! :) Have a great day everyone and thanks for popping by. I'd love to see you playing along at TIME OUT!

Wednesday 10 September 2014

STAMPlorations Spotlight Project: Stamping With Gelatos and Ink Spray!




Hi guys!
Here's a quick, fun card I've made using STAMPlorations stamp set Bloom Sketches. Inspired by so many of my fellow DT members, I tried to go for a bit more artsy, water color look... So please head on over to STAMPlorations blog to see how I made it! I'm sharing some thoughts and close-ups with you there. Enjoy reading the post at STAMPlorations  and thanks for popping by!

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STAMPlorations September Stamp Release Blog Hop




It's stamp release month at STAMPlorations! The other STAMPlorations girls and I are sharing projects we created featuring the new stamps. Visit and leave a comment on all the stops on the hop for a chance to win.


THREE (3) lucky hoppers randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a stamp set of their choice from the new release and ONE (1) lucky hopper randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate to use towards products in the STAMPlorations shop. You have until Monday, September 15, 11:55 p.m. PDT (GMT -700) to comment here and on my fellow designers' posts for a chance to win. Winners will be announced on the STAMPlorations blog on Thursday, September 18.


In my card I have used two of the new sets:
Holiday Sketches: Christmas Bells  and Sentiment Builders: Christmas and New Year. I've stamped directly on patterned paper and used Copic markers for coloring the image on it -the paper was good quality so I could do some blending. I taped the panel to a card base and added some pearls, lace and jute string for embellies with a vintage-feel. 

Before I send you to the other blogs on the hop I'd like to let you know that if you buy all the new Christmas stamps during the blog hop you'll get them for 30 $ -that's a 15 % off bundle sale. Have a closer look of the new release in STAMPlorations shop here. While hopping you'll see all the fab new stamps in action. Enjoy!

*** The stops in the hop*** 

Cornelia | Debra | Deepti | Kylie | Maria | Monika | Nonni | Shery | Shirley |Vicki



Monday 8 September 2014

Getting to Know Me Blog Hop

Hi guys!
Today I don't have a card for you, sorry about that... But I hope you'll enjoy this post anyways! I was tagged to participate in "Getting to Know Me Blog Hop" by my very good crafty girlfriend Sandie and I've been pondering my answers for the 5 given questions for some days now... :) But before we'll get to the questions I'd like to tell you who I invited as next participants! I chose

Elizabeta Kushner
and
Shery Russ

Are you already familiar with these amazingly talented crafters? Elizabeta is one of the newest additions in TIME OUT design team, a Croatian crafter with unique and super stylish style! I especially love her skills to use patterned paper in CAS designs and I'd love to hear her thoughts about how she puts her chic style together! Shery then is my "boss" at STAMPlorations and a mixed media queen. I'm sure many of you know her inspiring videos and tutorials... I'd love to hear about Shery's creative process. She has the skills to use SO MANY elements and make it all work! How in earth does she do it?!?

So, getting to know me then... Let's begin!

1. What creative projects are you currently working on?

Autumn is always busy time for me -after the long summer holidays it takes some time to get used to the rhythm of every day life. That means I've been making only DT cards lately: 5 cards per month for STAMPlorations and a card every fortnight to Inkspirational and for TIME OUT Challenges which is my "challenge baby" with the lovely Sandie. :) The most fun thing about DT cards is knowing the topics in advance: that gives you the possibility to think about your cards weeks before you actually make them...  Only to then change your mind about everything when sitting next to your craft desk! :) 

2. What inspires your designs? 

I usually start making my cards by choosing the stamps I want to use. After that the design of the stamp usually gives me ideas for the style and composition of the card but if I feel lost I look for sketch and color challenges. I love word inspiration challenges but the busyness of last weeks has unfortunately kept me away from playing along in any! I also love clothes and interior design and I often spot patterns and color combinations in fabrics that give me ideas for crafting. All you amazing bloggers out there inspire me A LOT too. 

3. What methods or process do you apply to each creative project and how long does each project take to complete?

Well, I'm a slow card maker, that's for sure! I like to practice on my stamping and/or coloring on a scrap piece of paper before actually making the card... And I'm also very fussy and if I'm unhappy about some element of the card I'm making I might start everything from scratch again. I'd say an average time for a card is 2 hours + all the thinking beforehand.

I guess the "process" is first thinking what I want to make: CAS card, vintage card, card with flowers, card with colored in images, card with colored in flowers... The list could go on and on... Then I pick the stamps, let the stamps guide me and do some more thinking... Then it's time for practicing and then executing.  Ush I sound like a boring person! :) 


4. If you had to describe your signature style what would it be?

I have no style! :) When I started card making I loved layers and vintage but after getting seriously into stamping and techniques I started to love CAS and creating cards that focus on making my own backgrounds... Nowadays it's a bit this and that but pretty mainstream anyways! No matter what style I go for I'd say that I do not like to embellish very much and I don't like to have many focal points in my cards -even the more layered/vintage cards never have several extra bits and bobs. Maybe one could say my style is "Uncluttered"... And again I sound super boring! Goosh! :)  

5. What 3 crafting products/tools could you not live without?

Paper Trimmer
Ruler
Tape adhesive

All of these three tell about my obsession for everything to look neat and tidy... And possibly boring! ;) 

Sharp cut paper edges is a must and I use ruler in almost all my cards -it helps in getting stamping straight, centering images, thinking about the layout... I don't often draw pencil lines but there's a lot of "hanging around" with the ruler happening. Glue is super messy and I avoid is always when I can... Strong tape adhesive on the other hand is fast to use and keeps your fingers clean! 

That's all from me today. Remember to check Shery's and Elizabeta's blogs next Monday for getting to know them! Thanks for popping by! 

xxx
Nonni




Friday 5 September 2014

Stamps and Markers at STAMPlorations!


Hi guys!
The September Challenge at STAMPlorarions is Stamps and Markers. I use Copics all the time so choosing them would have felt a bit too obvious... So I played with some old Aquamarker pens that I have. The STAMPlorations DT never fails to inspire so be sure to check out everyone's projects. This time our guest designer is the very talented Chris whose Flickr gallery you can check out here.

My card is influenced by this card by my DT friend Monika. After seeing it I was sure I wanted to use the brush stroke stamp (from Celebrate Artsy) in a same way and I chose to pair it with flowers from Bloom Sketches and a sentiment from Boxed Blooms. My twist to Monika's design is that instead of stamping I heat embossed the flowers with white. The brushstrokes are stamped with the aquamarkers and I've added more color to the flowers with the markers, water and a small paintbrush. In other words, believe it or not, I've been water coloring! :) I also heat embossed the sentiment and added a couple of pearls. I hope you like my CASE, Monika!

Before I go, have a look at the stamps sets I used -images are below. Aren't they beautiful? Also, click here for all the challenge info and learn about the fantastic prizes. Have a good weekend everyone and see you at STAMPlorations!

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Wednesday 3 September 2014

Best Wishes for Marie

Hi guys!
Here's a card I've made for Marie. She is a DT member at Addicted to CAS and was one of the original DT members at Addicted to Stamps and More where I've also had the honor to be part of the team: last spring I unfortunately had to cut down some of my DT work for time management purposes. I heard from ATSM owner Kylie that Marie is going through a rough time and that the current ATSM Anything Goes challenge has an optional twist with Get Well/ Thinking of You... So of course I want to take part and hopefully cheer Marie up a bit. All my best wishes for you, Marie!

In my card I'm using beautiful stamps from Uniko Studio that I got as birthday present from lovely Sandie. This is great set, I love the big size of the flowers, and I'm sure I'll use this often. Thanks Sandie! I'm very into blue at the moment so I chose a monochrome blue color palette. I also find that blue is very calming and comforting -I hope Marie likes it also. In addition to stamping I did some stenciling and inking... And that's how this simple card came together. I hope you like your card Marie and that we here all around blogland have been able to bring joy to your day. Hugs!


Monday 1 September 2014

New Sketch at STAMPlorations!



Hi guys,
it's time for another sketch challenge at STAMPlorations! I'm always amazed by the talent of the design team so make sure to check out all the gorgeous projects. We are glad to have Carol continuing as our guest designer: she made the most clever card using the Bloom Sketches set.  You do now want to miss it!

This simple sketch has many possibilities and in my DT card I embellished it a bit by adding a silver colored doily behind the focal panel. I used a set called Holiday Sketches: Christmas Bells. It's one of the new STAMPlorarions Christmas stamps which are on a bundle sale right now: buy all 5 sets for 25 dollars! Read all about it here. I also used Holiday Artsy, a very popular  STAMPlorations set, for framing the bells image. I've colored the bells with Copics and used some Stickles for shine... All the paper edges are inked with DT Pumice Stone for vintage feel and I went a bit crazy adding A LOT of pearls too. I must give this to someone who is not into CAS! :)


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That's all from me this time. I'd love to see you playing along at STAMPlorations! Have a nice week!