LO for Creative Scrappers DT: Things that make me happy

Hello,

Some weeks ago many Finnish facebookers challenged each other to list things that made them happy. Some people were already getting annoyed about the overwhelming happiness being expressed in nearly every new Fb post, but I think the idea behind was really nice. When living a busy life it's not a bad idea to stop for a while and think about all the little things that make us happy. Those bits of joy that spice up our daily lives.

Creative Scrappers sketch no. 272 was just perfect for listing things that bring me joy and make me smile:



There are not many layouts I have done without using a photo. But I've always loved challenges that take me out of my comfort zone!


Font I used for the journaling was Aracne Condenced.


Materials used:
Background paper: Basic Grey
Patterned papers:  My Minds Eye
Stamps: Kaisercraft, Studio Calico
Alpha stickers: American Crafts, Panduro
Other: Washi tape, white acrylic paint
 




Follow this link to Creative Scrappers blog in which you will see amazing projects created by the DT - all without a single photo!

Have a great and happy day!
Love,
post signature

Huge sale at Sizzix UK! Items 85% off!

Hi to You,

Have you noticed that there's a huge clearance sale going on at Sizzix UK? Great selection of items with ridiculous low prices - 85% off!
I made my order today - hurry up to make yours. View all sale items here.

Here are just a few examples I had in my shopping cart:

Sizzix Framelits Die Set 7PK w/Stamps - Chandeliers
Sale price: EUR 3,78
Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Frame, Renaissance
Sale price: EUR 2,78
Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die -
Brick Wall
Sale price: EUR 2,78


Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 4PK - Mustache Set
Sale price: EUR 1,51
Pretty good prices, don't you think!

Cost for shipping and handling to Finland was EUR 18,40. For saving on the shipping costs combine your order with your friend's order and split the costs!

Happy shopping!




post signature

12 Tags of 2014: June

Hi!
Hope your week has started well. For me this will be a busy working and traveling week without too much paper crafting, but I still wanted to make a quick post showing you the June tag I made yesterday.

As you may already know, I'm a great fan of Tim Holtz's monthly tag tutorials. On the first day of each month when a new tutorial is revealed I rush to Tim's blog for reading the new instructions. It may take me a few weeks until I find a perfect time slot for making the tag, but nevertheless the projects are always super fun to make!

June tag was all about bright colors, watercolor effects and great textures. Hop over to read the full tutorial. Here's my take:


For the background I used a Finnabair stencil from Prima. Bird stamp is from Stampendous.


My previous tags in 12 Tags of 2014 can be viewed here.

Have a great week!
post signature

Hero lollipops

Hi to You,

A week ago my son celebrated his sixth birthday with his kindergarten friends. In addition to celebrating it was time to say goodbye, as he's starting in a new preschool this autumn, and will not see his old friends every day anymore. Therefore we decided that this birthday should be really special, and took the party from our house to a nearby indoor amusement park. The kids had so much fun, and the 2.5 hours just flew by. I loved watching the kids bubbling with joy, and also liked the fact that this was a true win-win party; this time I did not have to do any baking nor after-cleaning :D

It has become a custom here that the person hosting the birthday party is giving small gifts to the party attendees at the time they leave the party. For this I bought some candy boxes and lollipops, and because I wanted to make them really special, I decorated the lollipops with Silhouette-cut embellishments. My son is a huge fan of Batman, so he loved the idea of turning the giveaway lollipops into caped heroes!




Silhouette cut file by Sweet Afton (keyword 'hero lollipops')

Wishing you a nice weekend. Thanks for stopping by!


post signature

Mixed media card for CC3C Challenge #4: Together

Hi to You,

Series of Compendium of Curiosities challenges has already proceeded to number four. This time we were asked to use techniques introduced on page 49 in Compendium of Curiosities Vol III. Here's what I came up with:




It's funny how the creative process sometimes takes a totally different path than how you originally plan. First when I had decided to go with the star pattern I had visioned to make a sparkling birthday card with bright shades of blue, yellow and red. But I run into difficulties with selecting the additional images, and after some re-thinking the end result is a vintage themed card with earth tones. I still like the outcome a lot, especially knowing that vintage is really not my thing at all! :D


In addition to the texture paste I have used inks, water colors, markers, and a white chalk pencil. Playing with several media on a single project is so much fun!


I wish you a nice week. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have time to leave a comment :)

post signature


Layout for Creative Scrappers DT: Cherish

Hello,
It's reveal time for Creative Scrappers! Here's sketch #271 for you:


For a one-photo-scrapper like me this sketch was so fun and easy to play with. I loved the centralized layout and stayed pretty true to the sketch. Here's my take:


I love the black word foam stickers by American Crafts. And when I find something I really like I tend to use them on multiple consecutive projects :) This truly what happened with this sticker set!



Background paper is from Basic Grey. Center panel paper is from Cocoa Daisy.


The photo I took two years ago, and it still is one of my favorite pictures of my two kids. I love the loving expression on big sister's face, looking at her dear little brother. Truly a moment to cherish!

Have a great day. Hope you play along with us at Creative Scrappers!
post signature



Layout for 123 Get Scrappy! DT: Serious Love

Hi!
Time for June challenge reveal at 123 Get Scrappy!
Here's the grid for you to play with:






Hei!
On uuden 123 Get Scrappy -haasteen aika!
Tehtävänäsi on valita ruudukosta yksi vaaka-, pysty- tai vinolinja, ja käyttää näitä kolmea elementtiä työssäsi.
Ylärivi vasemmalta oikealle: Helmiä - ympyränmuotoinen kuva - tussit (Copic Markerit tms.)

Keskirivi: Puukuvio - haaraniittejä - lintuhäkki
Alarivi: Käytä tekstuuripastaa - pastellivärit - raidat

I have to admit that I'm a coffee addict. There's nothing better than the smell of fresh coffee; in the morning, during daytime, and in the afternoon. Serious love I had to document in a scrapbooking layout!

Olen todellinen kahvin suurkuluttaja. Vastakeitetyn kahvin tuoksua ei voita mikään, ja kupillinen oikein hyvää kahvia saa aina hyvälle mielelle. Kyse on siis vakavasta rakkaudesta, joka toki piti tallentaa skräppileiskaan :)



The coffee stain stamps are from Cocoa Daisy. Lovely, aren't they!

Kahvitahraleimasimet ovat Cocoa Daisylta. Ihania, eikö?


I colored the stenciled image first with distress inks, and added a bit of water for making the drops. The color did not stand out clear enough, so I added bit more color using a brown liquid acrylic paint. Oh, that stuff was so fun to use!

Ensin värjäsin sabluunan avulla kuvioidun pitsikuvion Distress-musteilla. Halusin väripintaan eloa, joten valuttelin hieman vettä kuvion yli. Valumajäljet eivät kuitenkaan näkyneet tarpeeksi taustakartongissa, joten lisäsin hieman väriä nestemäisillä akryylimaaleilla. Niitä vasta oli kiva käyttää!






I wish you a nice day. Hope you'll have time to take a short moment just for yourself, and enjoy a cup of good coffee!

Mukavaa päivää sinulle! Toivottavasti päivän kiireiden keskellä on aikaa nauttia kuppi hyvää kahvia! 

post signature


Die-cut birthday invitation cards for kids

Hi to You,

My son is celebrating his sixth birthday tomorrow, and this Sunday he has invited his best friends to a fun birthday party. Last week we made the invitation cards, and as there were many cards to make on the same go I decided to go with a very simple but fun design. In addition, as both little boys and girls were invited, I got strict instructions of not to make the card too girly nor boyish. Well, this image and colors got his approval :)

Hei,
Poikani täyttää huomenna kuusi vuotta, ja sunnuntaina juhlitaan synttäreitä mukavassa kaveriporukassa. Kutsukortit teimme viime viikolla, ja koska kortteja piti tehdä useampi samalla kertaa, päädyin varsin helppoon ja nopeasti valmistuvaan malliin. Synttäreille on kutsuttu sekä poikia että tyttöjä, joten saamani ohjeistuksen mukaan korttien piti sopia niin tytöille kuin pojillekin. Tämä hauska lintukortti sai sankarin hyväksynnän :)



Die used: Sizzix Bigz Die - Birds #3 (click the link for more info).

Käytetty stanssi: Sizzix Bigz Die - Birds #3 (lisätietoa tuotteesta linkin takana).




Have a nice day! Thanks for stopping by!

Mukavaa päivää! Kiva, kun kävit blogissani! 

post signature


Cards inspired by Jennifer McGuire: Partial die-cutting

Hi!
We all love to browse internet and magazines looking for new ideas and inspiration, right? One great source of tips, tricks, and tutorials is the blog of Jennifer McGuire. Every day you'll find something new there, and her cards are just so beautiful and clever.

This card is made following her instruction video about partial die-cutting. I thought I knew already quite a bit about die-cutting, but I had never tried this technique before. After finishing the video I knew right away that I needed to try partial die-cutting myself!

Hei,
Internet on todellinen askartelijan ideakaivo. Minusta on mukava surffailla kädentaitajien blogeissa ja kerätä talteen kivoja ideoita ja vinkkejä omiin töihin. Yksi suosikkiblogeistani kuuluu Jennifer McGuirelle, jonka blogi on täynnä toinen toistaan kauniimpia ja kekseliäämpiä kortti-ideoita. Uusia tarinoita on luettavissa lähes päivittäin.

Tämä korttimalli on tehty Jenniferin ohjevideon mukaan. Luulin tietäväni varsin paljon stanssaamisesta, mutta Jenniferin esittelemä osittainen stanssaustekniikka oli minulle aivan uusi. Kun loppui tiesin heti, että tätä korttimallia pitäisi kokeilla itsekin.

Jennifer's partial die-cutting video is very informative, so I will not go through the card making steps in detail. The butterfly die I used here is from Sizzix Framelits with stamps collection from some time back, but basically all stamp and cut Framelits sets could have been used (e.g. this with flowers). Layered dies work very well, too: Instead of stamping you just die-cut the upper decoration layer from colour cardstock and glue the piece on the partially die-cut butterfly (this or this butterfly set would work very well).

The basic idea of partially die-cutting technique is to align the cutting line with he base plates. The part of the cardstock that is on the plate is cut, and the part hanging outside of the plate is not cut. Bit difficut to explain, but if you have a look at the video you'll get what I mean.

Jenniferin videosta selviää tekniikka hyvin, joten en käy sitä tässä vaihe vaiheelta läpi. Käyttämäni perhosstanssi on hieman vanhemmasta Sizzixin Framelits+leimasin -setistä, mutta melkeinpä mikä tahansa Framelits-setti olisi käynyt tähän tarkoitukseen (katso esim. tämä, jossa on kukkia ).
Kerrokselliset kuviostanssit toimivat tässä tekniikassa myös; silloin leimaamisen sijaan kuviokerros stanssataan erivärisestä kartongista ja kiinnitetään alimpaan perhoseen liimaamalla - ks. esim. (tämä tai tämä perhosstanssisetti). Ideana tässä tekniikassa on asetella alimmat leikkuulevyt niin, että osa stanssista on levyn päällä ja osa sen ulkopuolella. Se osa stanssista, joka on levyn päällä, leikkaa pahvia, ja ulkopuolella oleva osa ei. Tekniikkaa on hankala selittää, mutta videon katsomalla saat ideasta helposti kiinni.





For this card I used a standard white card base and no patterned papers at all. After cutting the butterfly halves I stamped and embossed the butterfly images on the partially die-cut parts. Working on the colors and textures is easier if you leave the card flat, and make the zig-zag fold only when you have finished the card.

Korttipohja on tavallista valkoista kartonkia. Kun perhosenpuolikkaat oli stanssattu, leimasin ja kohokuvioin perhoset korttiin. Kortin leimaaminen ja värittäminen on helpompaa, mikäli taittelet kortin vasta lopuksi.






The edges are colored with Distress inks, splashed with water, and stamped with Stampendous text stamp.

Kortin reunat on värjätty Distress-musteilla, ja kuvioitu Stampendouksen tekstileimasimella. Elävöitin mustepintaa roiskimalla siihen vettä.










This card was surprisingly easy to make, and I decided to make a few of them on the same go.You never know when you need a summer colored birthday or than you card!
Have a nice and inspiring weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Korttimallin tekeminen oli yllättävän helppoa, ja päätin tehdä näitä samalla kertaa muutaman varastoon. Kesäisen raikkaille onnittelu- tai kiitoskorteille on aina tarvetta, eikö!
Mukavaa viikonloppua sinulle - kiva, kun kävit blogissani!





Layout for Creative Scrappers DT: Beautiful Summer

Hello,

Today is my first reveal date with Creative Scrappers! I'm so happy and excited to be part of this talented design team; all team members' projects are so beautiful and inspiring!

When scrapbooking I tend to use designs with only one photo. I choose the patterned papers to match the colors of the photo, and working with only one picture makes the matching task easy. However, CS sketch no. 270 challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and to use multiple small sized photos. I soon realized that the challenge was not too tricky, as I take lots of pictures with my iPhone, and the layout was just perfect for using my instagram photos.


Hei,
On uuden Creative Scrappers -haasteen aika! On todella suuri ilo ja kunnia päästä mukaan tähän taitavaan design teamiin - tiimiläisten tekemät työt ovat huikean kauniita ja inspiroivia!

Viime aikoina olen käyttänyt skräppileiskoissani pääasiallisesti vain yhtä kuvaa. Kuviopaperit valitsen yleensä kuvan värimaailman perusteella, ja yhden kuvan kanssa työskennellessä värien yhteensovittaminen on helppoa. CS:n mallipiirros 270 haastoi kuitenkin käyttämään leiskaan monta pientä kuvaa. Malli osoittautui mukavaksi, sillä kuvaan paljon myös kännykällä, ja pieni neliönmuotoinen kuvakoko oli aivan täydellinen instagram-kuvien käyttämiseen. 



The patterned paper in the background is from Studio Calico. I loved the watercolor textures, and wanted to continue the design by embellishing my white background with watercolors. For highlighting the photo area I mat the photos with white vellum; I usually use gesso for white washing the busy background pattern, but this time I wanted the muted background textures to still show properly between the photos.

Taustan kuviopaperi on Studio Calicolta. Jatkoin kuviopaperin vesiväriteemaa, ja kuvioin leiskan valkoisen taustan vesiväriroiskeilla. Kuvien alle laitoin arkin valkoista kuultopaperia, jotta kuvat erottuisivat kunnolla kuviollisesta taustapaperista. Yleensä vaalennan kirjavan kuviopaperin gessolla, mutta tällä kertaa halusin kuviopaperin kuvioiden näkyvän kuvien välissä. Kuultopaperi himmentää alla olevaa tekstuuria vain vähän.


Die-cut leaves are made using a Sizzix die. For the yellow watercolored roses I used a stamp and die-cut set by Taylored Expressions. Bird stamp is from Stampendous collection.

Lehdet on leikattu Sizzixin stanssilla. Keltaisiin, vesiväreillä väritettyihin ruusuihin käytin Taylored Expressionsin stanssileimasin -settiä. Lintuleimasin on Stampendoukselta.





Now it's your turn: Get inspired by the CS sketch and play along! 

Nyt on sinun vuorosi: Inspiroidu CS:n mallipiirroksesta ja ote haaste vastaan!

post signature