Blues ATC and FB live - Prima Marketing

Hello! Blue is my favorite color along with teal and turquoise, so I guess it’s no surprise that I really like the new Georgia Blues collection by Prima Marketing! The beautiful ink blue, fresh white and old paper hues are really down to my alley! If you haven't seen the collection yet, you can see the reveal post here (link) at Prima blog and see all of the items in the collection here (link) at Prima site.

Next Monday, October 1st I'll be having my second Facebook live and will be doing some inky blue ATCs using the new collection. The five of them make up a set.

During the show I’ll add different mixed media touches to the cards them. I start with gesso to have more playtime with the layers on top and also use different blue mediums and elements in the make. By looking at the picture on top, I guess you can figure out what kind of surprise element there's in the cards. 

I’m also going to show how to make the hot glue embellishments again even though these cards don’t use those. If you don't know what I mean, I'm referring to my first FB live show (link). There I made an embellishment using hot glue and then turned it into a rusty one. You can see the recording here (link).

Underneath you can see some of the supplies I'm using during the show if you want to create along side with me. Hope I’ll see you October 1st! Thank you for visiting today!

Materials from Prima Marketing: 634155 Georgia Blues Journaling Notecards 3x4 , 634193 Georgia Blues Cling Stamps + Stencil , 636609 Georgia Blues flowers , 636630 Georgia Blues flowers , 584283 Alphabet Cards , 961466 Art Basics Gesso Clear , 964641 Impasto acrylic paint Cobalt , 962968 Art Basics Heavy Gesso Black , 633707 Art Philosophy Concentrated Watercolor Clarity , 961350 Art Basics Modeling Paste , 596781 Color Philosophy Permanent Ink Chat Noir , 599645 Color Philosophy Permanent Ink Midnight Blue

Materials: Prima Marketing

Spelling it out - Wow Embossing and Ink Road Stamps

Hello there! Have you been hopping already? I shared a layout yesterday and hinted that maybe you should check the Instagram later. The reason is that WOW! Embossing Powder and Ink Road Stamps 

 are having a two day Instagram hop! It started earlier today and will continue tomorrow!

I created two projects for this collaboration - a layout I shared yesterday (link) and a set of cards I'm blogging today. I used the letter stamps and watercolors in both of the projects. 

In these cards I played with different colors of embossing powders and watercolors. The one on the left in the picture below is done using clear embossing powder, the one in the middle with black and the one on the right with Bonding Powder and Fab Foil. 

The clear powder card I colored with watercolors all over. After the paint had dried, I then added some white marker inside the letters to highlight them. The one with the black powder I did by coloring the inside of the letters with different watercolors so that they change like a rainbow along the lines. The last one is colored using two colors and then I sprayed some water on top and let the colors bleed.

Thank you for your visit today! Wishing you a lovely Thursday!

Materials from Wow Embossing Powder: 

Ebony embossing powder

Clear Gloss embossing powder

Bonding powder

Fab Foil Blush

WOW! embossing ink

WOW! craft mat

WOW! heat tool

Stamps from Ink Road Stamps:

Block Party Alpha Outline stamp set

Materials: Wow Embossing Powder, Ink Road Stamps, Prima Marketing, Posca

I love you - Wow Embossing and Ink Road Stamps

Heippa! We have an exciting collaboration coming up! WOW! Embossing Powder and Ink Road Stamps are mixing their supplies and arranging something fun. I'm not saying anything definite, but maybe you should check Instagram tomorrow. Just hinting. 

I did two projects for the collaboration - this layout is the first and I'll share the second ones tomorrow. 

I played with two stamp sets in this layout - Modern Romance and Block Party Alpha Outline. I used the alpha stamps to create a background for my layout and embellished it with images from the Romance set. 

As you can see from the picture below, I added some words to the background, among random letters. One or two are still showing in the finished piece, but there were more in the beginning, when the background was done. I used the Pink Robin embossing powder on those and colored the words with a marker after I had added the watercolor in place. 

The topic of the layout is my sweet husband. I snapped this photo of him once when we were having a laid-back breakfast at a near-by cafe when the kids were with their grandparents. I just love how he smiles in it - I adore his smile because it always reaches his eyes. So, nothing says I love you like I love you. 

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Ps. Remember to check the Instagram tomorrow! If you were inspired by this and wish to add to your stash of Wow powders and supplies, I have a lovely code for you! By using "WOWDTRK" at check out in either the UK or US store, you'll get a 10% off! Isn't that nice? So use the links below to get shopping!

Materials from Wow Embossing Powder used in the layout: 

Pink Robin embossing powder

Ebony embossing powder

Apple Red embossing powder

Bright White embossing powder

Melt-It powder

Melt-It foil cases

Hearts silicone mould

WOW! embossing ink

WOW! craft mat

WOW! heat tool

Stamps from Ink Road Stamps:

Modern Romance stamp set

Block Party Alpha Outline stamp set

Materials: Wow Embossing Powder, Ink Road Stamps, 7 Dots Studio, Sizzix, American Crafts, Prima Marketing, Tape Garden

London - Mixed Up Creative

Hi there and crafty week to you all! I hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoyed that autumn sun! Today I'm sharing something I created for Mixed Up Creative  and was published in the site in July 2018. The article was called "The perfect blend". 

The idea behind this piece was to do something with a small budget and use recycling and re-purposing. I also tried to steer away from the bought mediums and use something else. There's a step by step tutorial at Mixed Up Creative site for the project. You need to join the site in order to access that and many more step by steps and videos. You can do so here (link).

I love mediums, patterned papers and embellishments! But you can go a long way with a small budget, if you think carefully. Especially if you are into tea tones and vintage vibes, you can find papers quite easily and inexpensively from old books. Embellishments can be found on flea markets and bottom of one's pocket. What's more difficult is to find good mediums. You can naturally use spices and tea/coffee as colorants, but what I always try to emphasize is that put your pennies to the mediums! 

Whether it being a layout, card or a big mixed media piece, you usually can use your imagination and ingenuity when it comes to the materials for the project but you'll soon be put off if you try to use a gel medium which doesn't hold or a gesso which doesn't prime. Usually the mediums also go a long way. They might be more expensive in one go than a couple of patterned papers, for example, but usually go a lot longer than a couple of papers. 

The layout is about our trip to London some summers ago. I used tea as my colorant in the page as what would fit Britain more than tea? I also added some stamping to the project so the only bought medium in the page is an ink pad. I also hinted that buying a set of alpha stamps might be a smart thing to do as then you have an unlimited access to letters for titles and details and background work! Stay tuned for some more letter stamp ideas, hint, hint.

There's something new each week at Mixed Up Creative and most of the articles published are step by steps or video tutorials. New articles are shown and announced each Friday - just in time for the weekend - and last week another piece by me was published. You can see the add above. If you'd like to join the online platform, please use my affiliate link (link) and then claim 10% lifetime membership discount by popping in the discount code Tutor10 exactly as written.

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great start to the new week!

Materials: 7 Dots Studio, Lawn Fawn, Ranger

See-through ATCs - Craft Stamper

Sweet Sunday! Autumn colors and temperatures are here but I'm sharing something summery today. These are some see-through ATC cards I made for Craft Stamper. These cards were published in the July issue of 2018 in an article called "Viewfinder Artist Trading Cards".

In the cards I wanted to play with the see-through element but was hesitant doing the whole card base as see-through. I really like to make those, but I felt unsure if I could take good enough pictures of those for the magazine. So I came up with the idea of just doing a little hole to the cards. It could be a looking glass, a key hole or a viewfinder. 

I also played with transparent or translucent mediums. In a way I wanted to give an impression of mediums floating in the air. I used Modeling Paste and self made Mica-paints for the effect. Embellishments include some mini Prima blooms, stamped Carabelle Studio leaves and epoxy stickers. 

There's a new issue of Craft Stamper just released. If you want to see what's inside, take a look here (link). You can subscribe the magazine here (link) and buy individual issues here (link). 

Thank you for your visit! Wishing you a sweet Sunday and great start to the new week! Ta ta for now! 

Materials: 7 Dots Studio, Prima Marketing, Carabelle Studio

So amazing - A Flair for Buttons

Moikka and sweet Saturday! It's A Flair for Buttons day again and I'm sharing a layout with you. You can see the orginal post here (link) at A Flair for Buttons blog. If you wish to see all the lovely flairs there are in the shop's selection, then just head over to Etsy (link)!

The topic of this page is a dear friend of mine. Every now and then I guess we all could use someone to remind us how special and amazing we are. Because we are and Terhi is extra special. Her crafts are amazing as well so if you haven't visited her blog already, I highly recommend that you do so.

I wanted the page to be fun and energetic so I chose to go with yellow and balanced it out with dark blue. Kind of jeans with the yellow stitching and dark blue denim. Because that's something Terhi is - reliable like a pair of jeans, energetic and warm like the sun and sweet as roses and strawberries. Her crazy also matches mine like you can see from the picture. 

I wanted to add a bunch of flair buttons to the page that would somehow be meaningful. So there's tea cups from the Animal Tea Party set as well as "You're SOY amazing" saying from the Sushi set. We go for coffee/tea occasionally as well as have dinner (sushi!) at the city center when we have a chance. Then there's also those sweet little yellow flowers that spark joy and awe, just like she does. 

Have you done a special page for your friend? Or even a mini album? If not, maybe you should!

Thank you for stopping by today! Enjoy your day!

Sets used:

Animal Tea Party ; Sushi ; Sweet

Materials: A Flair for Buttons, Prima Marketing, Wow Embossing Powder, 7 Dots Studio, Sizzix

Pink, red and green cards - Sizzix

Greetings! Today I'm blogging two cards I did using Sizzix supplies. They both are done using same colors, but different die sets - the other one is fit for any season as floral design fits all occasions, but the other one is more winter one with mistletoe and holly. 

What they both also have in common, besides the colors, is the design. I created a inky and painty layers to the background using a stencil made with "Whoosh" die set and then added a doily on top. They both also have some swirls of twine around the white cardstock making an impression of a wrapped gift. Underneath you can see the cards side by side. 

The card on the left is done using "Pretty Posey" and the Holiday one on the right using "Winter Foliage" die sets. But naturally you could mix the sets as well! I find these floral sets really handy as you can use just one leaf and create a wreath or you can cut a bunch of flowers and other elements to make a really dimensional and layered bouquet. All depending on the occasion and your style!  

Which one of the cards is your favorite? The flower one or the Holiday make? Or is it too early for Christmas and Holiday crafts yet? 

Thank you for your visit today! 

Sizzix supplies used:

662576 - Thinlits Pretty Posey die set

662571 - Thinlits Winter Foliage die set

662582 - Thinlits Whoosh die set

663053 - Making Essentials Stencil film

663007 - Making Essentials Cardstock pack

Materials: Sizzix, Prima Marketing, Ranger