Stampotique Guest Designer - Week 3

It's week 3 of my Guest Designer month at Stampotique and I have some cards to share with you. The backgrounds were created using watercolour paper and just getting messy with paints, inks, stencils etc. Go crazy, the messier the better. Pick out some bits you like as backgrounds for cards, ATC's, art journaling etc.

2011 - 2012

So we say goodbye to another year that had been filled with crafty inkyness and hello to a new year which once my Mojo returns should hopefully be even more colourful.
Looking back at the year it has certainly been an interesting one. I managed to get my crafty creations published in both Craft Stamper and Stampers Sampler and started as a permanent team member for Just Stamps magazine.
I also went to my first ever workshops starting off with the Tim Holtz Artsy Crafts one in February, followed by another 2 Artsy Crafts where I met some lovely people and learned new techniques, esp off the lovely Lynne Perrella.
I took part in my first craft fair, a fun day and great confidence boost as people really enjoyed my makes.
I lost my mojo a bit in June which was scary but I soon turned it around by taking up art journaling or at least the techniques used in art journaling. I am not much of a journal writer but I gave it my own twist and created home decor objects in a painty, inky art journal style. Some of my favourite creations were my mirrors last year hence I am entering this one into The Stamp Man Awards for favourite project of 2011.

I also discovered my love for Stampotique stamp.


These are two of my favourite projects. The card I sent to my sister's boyfriend for his birthday, I think he wasn't too impressed with Uncle Buck on the front. Ah well, I think he's such an adorable character.

I also started painting canvases last year, mainly using collage sheet images as the main focus. I esp like working with the kids pics from Lisa's Altered Art, and also my own family photos.

These are just a few things I really enjoyed making last year, of course there were many cards and challenges I entered, let's hope 2012 will be just as fun filled. I have set myself a few goals for the year and once my mojo returns I will get making. I am currently updating and redesigning my whole website so I am concentrating on that for now. There will be some candy coming soon too. I had promised this a while ago but never got round to taking a picture of the goodies and writing the post so I will make that a priority!

Happy 2012 everyone!!!

Some last minute Christmas cards.....

Just a couple more Christmas cards to share, I had already finished my card making for the season but a friend asked for a card for her boyfriend so I made these two.

I am entering the top one into the Happy Daze Challenge and the bottom one into The Artistic Stamper Challenge.

Tim's 12 tags of Christmas inspired Christmas card

If you have been following Tim's tags you will know how fab they all are in their own unique way, and so many fun techniques to learn along the way.
There was one tag in particular that caught my eye and I thought it would make a great christmas card so I ordered in the supplies cause I didn't have the reflections stamps or the die but I see it as an investment. So once they arrived I got started. I made a bunch of these cards, the alcohol ink on acetate combined with the reflections stamps is genius. I think the tag/card design can be adapted for so many occassions as the acetate back makes the main feature you could just change the colours and theme. I now also want the other set of reflections stamps. Hope santa might get them for me.

I will of course add this to the endless list of inspiring creations on Tim's blog, it's great what everyone has created inspired by the tags. So many different ideas. Just WOW.
I am entering this into the Happy Daze Challenge where the theme is Christmas. Same theme over at The Artistic Stamper and their monthly challenge.

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Non traditional Christmas Cards

A non-traditional Christmas card is the theme at Stampotique. No red or green allowed. Well, there is definitely no red or green in my card and I think Uncle Buck is as non-traditional as you can get. Doesn't he look handsome with his crown?

I'm not sure who I will be sending this card to, maybe someone who isn't too keen on Christmas, hehe.






Now as for this card it started off as a card to enter into the challenge but it turned out too red, even though I used my orange distress inks and for the writing I used stamps other than Stampotique, one of the challenge requirements. But nevertheless I absolutely adore this card, I just love the little goblin stamp, probably my best purchase this year. And I just wanted to share the card so there you go.

Craft Stamper Christmas Card Inspiration featuring Stampotique

Do you read any craft magazines? Do you keep them or maybe pass them on or throw them out after a while? Well I loooove my magazines and they are taking up a fair bit of space but every so often I find myself going through them again and again. And everytime I find new inspiration. Whether it's a project using stamps that I didn't have before but own now or maybe it's just something that didn't interest me before but suddenly it does. So I found myself looking through a Craft Stamper issue from a year ago and found a christmas hanging Kate Crane made using Stampotique and Tim Holtz stamps. I took that idea and created my own little christmas card collection. I used a different character and sentiment but I re-created the same background following her steps. I love them for their vibrant colours and crazy "Uncle Buck" character, he don't look like he loves christmas too much, hehe.

I am entering this into the "Backgrounds" Challenge at The Artistic Stamper.

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Sketch Challenge

It's been a while since I've played with a sketch so yesterday I created this little Christmas card. I like the vibrant colours of it and the way it turned out. This one is for my housemate. I am yet to make the cards for my family and some friends but have finished the majority of the cards I'm sending. Very organized. In fact I started wrapping presents last night too.
So I'm off to make more Christmas cards.....

This is of course being entered into the Stampotique Designers Challenge.

Time to start making Christmas cards

Every year I think I better start early with my Christmas cards, you know in summer. Make 2-3 every week and by the time Christmas comes round you're sorted. But it never works like that does it?
I have only just started with my xmas cards and this is the first design for the year. I picked up these cute little wooden reindeer in John Lewis. The card design is very simple but I find the browny/kraft distress style works well.

I am entering these into the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge where the theme is "So distressing".

More cards with Photos for Just Stamps Magazine

Once more I'd like to share some photo cards with you.
The one on the left is featured in the current issue of Just Stamps Magazine.

The one on the right is a recent variation of that card and will be entered into the Artistic Outpost Referral Program.

I just love the filmstrip stamp as it is so versatile, you could create this card with your own photos and have an instant personalized card for any occassion.
These are all photos of my dad when he was younger.

First christmas card of the year

It's coming up to that time of the year where all I do is make christmas cards. Not too bad really cause I luuuuurve christmas.
My sister and I have been making each other an advent calendar for around 10 years now so I gotta get thinking of what lil things I can wrap up for her. As she loves all sorts of crafts too there will be some nice crafty things I'm sure.

So here is my first christmas card of the year - a CAS card, not normally what I do, but I like a challenge. And this one if for the "Less is more" challenge where we are challenged to use metallics in our creations. Do pop by for inspiration and to join in of course!

Lucky Thirteen Birthday Card

So the new challenge at The Artistic Stamper is Numbers and as my boyfriends daughter is turning 13 this week and he needed a quick card (as always he left the card sending to the last minute) I made up this little card to go with the challenge. The number isnt quite that obvious on the front, unless you count the coloured hearts. But the inside reads: Lucky Thirteen.
I am in love with my stampotiques at the moment and it's the first time I used them hearts. So quick and simple and yet a pretty card.
I am also entering this into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes for their Stamptember Blog Hop.

A slightly different challenge.....

I stumbled across this challenge by chance the other day and loved the idea. Basically the Design Team over at Eclectic Paperie have been challenged to use

- distress inks
- an egg carton
- a die

in their creations. And everyone is welcome to join in. Don't mind if I do.

I used some sequin waste to ink through with my distress inks and I cut a bunch of flowers from an egg carton, using a die. Then I inked the flowers with various distress inks. Voila, this fun and playful card is the result. Check out the challenge for yourself here - Eclectic Paperie Challenge.

The Stampsmith Challenge

It's time once more for The Stampsmith Challenge.
I have been saying for a while that I must get my order in for some of those amazing stamps of theirs but money is always tight and other things pop up so as for now I can only take part in the challenges that allow any stamp company to be used.

But did you know that the lovely Estelle from The Stampsmith also offers a service where you can have your own designs and even photos made into stamps? Just think of the possibilities. I am already sifting through old photos I want to have as stamps so watch this space.....

My mum asked me to make a birthday card for someone who likes owls so this is what I came up with. It is in German as this will be for a German lady.

I am also entering his into the Sir Stampalot Challenge where the theme is "Whatever you fancy".

I want to ride my bicycle....

Time for another card I think.
When looking through my stash a little while ago I thought those idea-ology gears would make really cool bicycle wheels so I borrowed my mum's Darkroom Door stamps and made this card. Just lucky the image is just the perfect size for the gears.

Flower girl card - Charisma Cardz Challenge

I've not shared a card in a while so I thought it was time.....

I made this card for the Charisma Cardz Challenge where the theme is All about flowers.

The image is by Paperbag Studions, I love their stamps more and more each day. If you havn't tried them give them a go, they are stunning and great quality.

More of my art journally style adventure

Dont you sometimes just hate blogger? Just typed a post and then it disappears, not happy.

To keep it short but sweet this is a card I made since I've gotten into art journaling and the general style of art journals. I am learning lots along the way and it's so much fun. The card isnt a masterpiece but it's fun and personal. I have since made some nice pieces I am very proud of and don't want to part with but you'll have to pop back in the next few days to see them....

I am still eagerly awaiting the arrival of Kate Crane's Art Journaling dvd's, the postie hasnt brought them yet :(

Monochrome plus one colour challenge....

Whilst working on some cards and ideas the other day I ended up with this background that I inked with a mask using black distress ink. I quickly grabbed my Art Journey writing stamp and popped it on and voila, a really quick and easy card.

And it goes perfectly with the theme at The Artistic Stamper this month - monochrome plus one colour.

My first card was black with aged mahogany lettering, so I decided to make another one with aged mahogany spots and black lettering.

My nephew is turning two....

niklas birthday2
Originally uploaded by Anikraft

Blogger is being a bit of a pain again today not uploading my photo the right way round so instead I had to do it via flickr. Anyway.....

So my little nephew is turning two this week, hence I am going home for a bit to bring a lot of presents and also catch up with the family and on some much needed stamp shopping with my sis. And of course I need to introduce my nephew to a family tradition - grandmas hazelnut cake. It was always my favourite when I was little so what a better excuse to make a yummy cake and eat it too.

I am entering this card into the Stampsmith Challenge. I can only ever enter their challenges that allows for any stamp company to be used as I dont own any stampsmith stamps yet but they are high on my list of things to buy, I love photo stamps and theirs are just fab, so bank account watch out, I'm gonna do a big order soon!

Finding the time to enter challenges.....

It's difficult finding time to make things for challenges these days, I seem to never stop being busy. One project I'm currently working on should be completed in 3 weeks so I hope there will be plenty of time for more challenge makes.

Today I sat down and created this card. The challenge at Creavil is scrunched up backgrounds, it's something I've never really tried before but I'm glad I did as I like the vintage look it creates. It's simply crumpled up paper which is then inked with distress inks and it picks up all the creased bits nicely. I then stamped some script over it but didnt press the stamp to hard, that way the paper only picks up the script on the high points.

This card will also be entered into The Stampman Challenge where the theme is Men. Same theme over at the Simon says Challenge. And last but not least The Stampsmith is asking for birthday creations this week.

Art Journey Challenge #9 - Birthday

I have recently purchased some more stamps from Art Journey, well I have bought a ton of new stamps recently, some of them from Art Journey, hehe.

This is just to share a card with you I made for their challenge, checkcheck out their blog here.
The theme this month is birthdays.

It is also goin into the Simon says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes Challenge.

Another card goin into the box for my upcoming craft fair.