Joy to the World

Hello All,

I'm here to share these two cards with Purple Onion Designs. I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to make two cards that are exactly the same. But since holiday cards are often needed more than one, I've found it easiest to use the same design but alter it a little bit. The inspiration for these two cards comes from the sky. I've had in mind this vision hat I would like to have Aurora Borealis on the sky for some Christmas cards of mine. This year we've had many beautiful moments here when the sky has just bloomed, but it turned out to be quite difficult to mimic the boldness and the softness that those beautiful blooms of the sky have. This is the best one so far. 

Stamps used: Flora, Toadstool Cluster and Handwritten Holiday

Stamps used: Fawn and Merry and Bright.

I started by stamping the images on my card panel and drew the snowbanks with copic friendly marker. Then I cut a mask for both main images and covered the stamped image. For the latter card, I also cut a mask for the moon. Then I used my ink blending tool to ink up my sky with Distress Inks. I used two shades of Distress Inks: Tumbled Glass and Stormy sky. The halos around the aurora borealis and the moon were created by leaving Tumbled Glass to show; that is for all the darkers areas seen, I laid second layer of Stormy Sky on to firstly laid Tumbled Glass. Do I make any sense here? I made Flora-card first and after I had made it I realised that in real life if there is snow on the ground and clear sky during the night, the moon light is reflected from the snow. So on the Fawn- card I left a bit of white to show near the snowbanks to make it more real. 

Next I coloured the images with copic markers, I'll list the all the colours in the supplylist below. In the Flora-card I really didn't think the direction of the light source but in the Fawn-card I practiced back-lit shading. I added more highlight with white jelly roll pen and used that to add the stars to the sky as well. Not really sure if the shadows or highlights are in correct places, but it was quite hard learning experience for me to really think where to put the shadows and highlights. 

In the Flora-card I created the Aurora Borealis with Faber-Casstell Polychromo pencils with many different shades of green and yellow. The sentiments were then stamped with black pigment ink.

Just a last reminder, Purple Onion is having a sale - all stamps 25% off until tomorrow.

I saw that Addicted to CAS has the Code Word: JOY. I think the latter one might express the feeling of Joy, just love that cute critter by Stacey Yacula!! She is so joyful, isn't she? Here's the graphic:

Supplies:

Stamps: Flora, Toadstool Cluster, Handwritten Holiday,  Fawn and Merry and Bright by Purple Onion Designs.

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Tubled Glass and Stormy Sky Distress Inks.

Card Stock: Canson Bristol 190mgs Smooth Card Stock

White Jelly Roll pen

Copic Multiliner 0.1

Copic Markers: Flora and Fawn: E40 - E42 - E43 - E44, YR23, Scarfs: B91 - B93 - B95 - B97, Stump: E42 - E43 - E44: Toadstool and berries: R56 - R59 - E43 - E44, Shadows: 0 - N0 - N1 - N3 - Y13, Leaves: YG95 - YG97.

Thank you for stopping by today! And thank you for all lovely comments left for two earlier posts, I'll come to visit you soon! 

Hugs,
Marika

Warm Winter Wishes with Purple Onion Designs

Hello Friends,

I'm sharing a few cards that I've been holding on since October. I coloured these in during the Kathy's 30 day colouring challenge. I really enjoyed colouring these and I liked how they turned out. I was kinda hoping to make these into a video but it looks that I'm not going to be getting the setup running before Christmas so I'd like to share these before holidays. I used copic markers combined with coloured pencils in these cards. 

Inspiration to these cards came from the sentiment - I wanted to colour these in warm shades but still having the snowman in a wintery scene. I've done many cards during this past year - this Snowman card is one of my favourites. 

Stamps used: Warm Hearted, 2 forests, Handwritten Holiday.

Stamps used: Cora and Thomas, Pond,  Handwritten Holiday.

I did wrote down the exact colours after colouring these in October. Back then I only did the panel and left it unadhered to a card base. Apparently, while gluing the panel to the card base, I managed to glue the post-it note between the panel and the card base. Oops. So, I don't list the colours this time because I really can't remember them and I don't want to give false information. All images are coloured firstly with copic markers and then added details with Faber-Castell Polychromo Pencils. The sky was inked with Distress Inks: Antique Linen and Tattered Rose. 

Oh, and just a reminder that if you like Stacey's images as much as I do, Purple Onion is having a Holiday Sale as we speak that runs until December 6th. All stamps are 25% off! 

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm working with some Penny Black Christmas goodies at the moment, I'll be sharing them later this week. :) 

Have an amazing day!

Hugs,

Marika

Card Concept Challenge #40 - Forest Friends

Hello!

I'm here to share card that I made for Card Concept Challenge #40 - Forest Friends in mind. I just couldn't resist the adorable inspiration picture they had this time. I'm running so close to deadline that I need to get this quickly published. I'm also playing along Kathy 's The 30 Day Coloring Challenge. Here's my card - pretty simple scene and one layer card. 

This is my entry to the Card Concept Card Challenge #40.

I used Stacey Yacula's images: Bobby, 2 Forests and Blossoming Perch and drew the swing.  The sentiment is also from Purple Onion Design from a set called Hopscotch Sentiments. I coloured the images with copic markers and for the background I used Distress Inks.

And I'm linking this up to Clean and Simple category.

Thank you for stopping by and I appreciate all the lovely comments left to me. Thank you so much!

Hugs,
Marika

Miss You Lots with Inktense Pencils

Hello crafters,

I was kindly ask to Guest Design at the Time Out Challenges #39 where the theme is Make your Mark. The challenge is still going on for about a week and I did another card for your inspiration. 

I've purchased this adorable little girl called Miss you Lots by Wplus9. I just haven't had time to colour it until now. While I bought these I thought that they would make a perfect gift for my Goddaughters and this is my first one (of quite a many) and it'll be for my niece. Hopefully she likes it when she receives it. It would be super neat if Dawn would use her magical drawing skills and make a set of stamps like this but little boys in them... What would you think? 

I took a close up since those frames were the only ones that I could find while taking a photo... AND they are HUGE!!. I used no-line colouring technique with Inktense Pencils. For the trees on the background I used a stamp from Coming up Roses and did a bit of watercolour stamping. I very much like how this turned out, in particular I like how the dress turned out. (Many many MANY layers of Inktense pencils...) Lol! And I had a blast colouring! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Miss You Lots and Coming up Roses by Wplus9
Inks: Memento Desert Sand. Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks.
Paper: Daler & Rowney Simply... Watercolour paper 190mgs/90lb, medium grain textured surface

Derwent Inktense Pencils: 
Dress: Sicilian Yellow (0220), Cadmiun Orange (0250), Baked Earth (1800) 
Boots: Sicilian Yellow (0220), Spring Green (1550), Light Olive (1540), Sepia Ink (2010) Hair: Tan (1720), Amber (1710), Saddle Brown (1740), Willow (1900) 
Skin: Willow (1900) 
Petticoat: Sepia Ink (2010)
Kitty and stones: Chinese Ink (2030)
Sky: Iris Blue (0900)
Lake: Iron Blue (0840)
Lakeshore: Tan (1720), Saddle Brown (1740), Willow (1900)
Grass: Spring Green (1550), Light Olive (1540)

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Enjoy your day!

Marika

Freesias with bright colours

Hello,

Hopefully you all are doing well. Thank you so much for your kind comments left on my last post. I've read them all but I hadn't time to visit back, which I'll do shortly.

Today, it is my turn again to host Altenew blog. I had fun with my copics and no-line colouring today. Here is my card:

Stamps used: Fresh Freesia, Painted Poppy and Baby Zoo.

Stamps used: Fresh Freesia, Painted Poppy and Baby Zoo.

I also made a video tutorial how I used a couple of masking techniques and how I coloured this flower. I also shared some thoughts of mine what goes in my mind while I colour. Hopefully you found them helpful. And for those, who struggle getting one's hands in Neenah card stock, my friend Nonni and Milla found this Canson Bristol paper that is easier to find (at least in Finland) and I'm finding it quite good for copic colouring.

You can watch my tutorial here or in HD in Youtube.



Supplies:
Stamps: Fresh Freesia, Painted Poppy and Baby Zoo by Altenew
Inks: Memento Cantaloupe and New Sprout, Altenew Jet Black Ink, Wild Honey Distress Ink.
Paper: Canson Bristol 250gms card stock
Copic Markers: Y13 - Y15 - YG11 - YG03 - YG67

Thank you so much for stopping by today. See you soon!

Marika

Guesting at Time Out

Good Morning!

Today I am thrilled to tell you that I was kindly asked to guest at the Time Out Challenge #39. The theme there is "Make your Mark". When I got this assignment I asked Nonni what did it really meant (since I wanted to be sure) and she said that you can make your mark by just colouring something. Couldn't there be any more perfect challenge for me..? Thank you so much Nonni and Sandie for asking me to guest design! I thrilled to be your guest.

I made this card for a special friend of mine who had a birthday this week. Congratulations Kelly! Hope you had an awesome birthday and this card have arrived to your doorsteps before you see this post. Since this card was a birthday card for Kelly, I wanted to include the things that she might like and those are: one layer, bold and vibrant colours and copics. (All three very hard tasks for me to do) But this is what I came up with!

I also made a speed drawing and colouring video. If you wish to see it, you can watch it here or in HD in YouTube. Hopefully you enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope to see your card at the Time Out Gallery! There's a prize to be win too! :) 

Marika

Freshly Made Sketches #200 Challenge Celebration

Hello!

Today I'm participating in Freshly Made Sketches #200th Challenge Celebration. I've a big fan of sketches - they are a great starting point for a card. FMS is an awesome challenge and today they are celebrating their 200th sketch! How amazing is that?!? Congratulations!! 

Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating their awesome milestone with tons of sponsors.   Please, join the fun with us and have some fun in your craft room and be eligible to win awesome prices. So here is the sketch first and then my take on it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Figure Effects by Altenew
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Altenew Crisp Ink Ruby Red
Paper: Neenah Solar White 80lb
Copic Multiliner 0.5 Black

Hopefully you find time to play along with us. Thank you for stopping by today. See you soon!

Marika

Congratulations on your new house with Purple Onion

Hello friends,

Today I am sharing a card that I made with Purple Onion Designs stamps. Some of you may know that I my hubby took me to my first hiking trip. We hiked and camped in the forest for three days in Kuusamo in Eastern part of Finland. Beautiful scenery and pure nature. This card was very much inspired by that trip of ours:

I started to expreriment with my copics and drew and coloured this scene. For this card I used Birch Tree Background from Stacey Yacula Studio. Stacey also have a tent stamp called Tent but I didn't have that stamp in my collection so I drew my own tent. I asked my friend Nonni that what kind of card this could be and she suggested that this would make a sweat housewarming card. Then I coloured Charlotte from Stacey Yacula Studio Collection and added the sentiment from Sweet Occasions Sentiment Set. I thought this mouse looks so proud of his new "waterproof" home that I thought he is perfect for this card. Thank you, Nonni! You're the best!

And great news, Michele from Purple Onion Designs is having an anniversary sale starting today  - all stamps are 25% off until Friday 28th of August! Have great time shopping!

My blogging friend, Julia from Just One More Card, is joining us with the celebration of this Anniversary Sale this month at the Purple Onion. Please, visit her blog and leave her some love. She does such a cute cards with Purple Onion Designs' stamps and she usually makes a videos of them as well. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Birch Tree Background, Charlotte, Sweet Occasions Sentiment Set from Purple Onion Designs

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Shabby Shutters and Faded Jeans Distress Inks

Copic Multiliner Black 0.1 and =.3

Copic Markers: Green (tent): YG91 - YG95 - YG97 - YG99, Grey (birch and mouse): W0 - W1 - W3 - W5 - W7 - W9, Red: R35 - R37, Pink: R81

Thanks for stopping by today! See you soon!

Marika

A wedding card with Altenew Peony Scrolls

Hello my friends,

Today I am at the Altenew blog to feature Peony Scrolls and Ori Kami sets with a video tutorial. Here is my card:

Stamps used: Peony Scrolls and Ori Kami.

Here is a close-up:

I also filmed while coloured, if you wish to see me make this card, you can watch it here or in HD in Youtube.



Supplies:
Stamps: Peony Scrolls and Ori Kami by Altenew
Inks: Memento Desert Sand and New Sprout. Versafine Onyx Black.
Card Stock: Neenah Solar White 80b
Copic Markers: Peonies: R81 - RV34 - R56 - R59, Leaves: YG91 - YG95 -YG97, Background: W0 - W1.
Embellishments: Black irRESISTible by Image Crafts

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great day. See you soon!

Marika

Inkspirational #75 and Card Concept Challenge #27

Good Evening Everyone!

This is my entry to the Card Concept Challenge #27
and Inkspirational Card Challenge #75.

I made this card and filmed it while making it. It was made with the same technique as one of the cards at the Altenew Guest Design post and I was asked to make a tutorial to show how I coloured it. Well, I don't have a video you, unfortunately I was only able to film my head.... although I tried to avoid it. Maybe next time. :) 

The inspiration for this card comes from these two challenges. Valentine's Day is coming up and love is in the air. In Finland, we celebrate friendship at Valentine's day and that is why I need more "friend" cards other than "love" cards. I loved the colours at Card Concept and wanted to participate with this friendship card. Hopefully it is ok. I also made this card Inkspirational's colour challenge in mind. I only read the key word - Rose - and started to make it. After I was done I noticed that there was no craft card stock at the neutrals list.. Hopefully it is ok too? If not, please delete my card.

I started this card with stamping the sentiment from Altenew with Versamark and heat embossed it with Vanilla Opaque White embossing powder. After, I stamped the flowers and leaves from Whimsical Flowers set by Altenew with Memento Desert Sand ink. I coloured the flowers with Derwent Coloursoft and Faber-Castell pencils.

I will link this card into these challenges:
Inkspirational Card Challenge #75 - Use rose colours
The Card Concept Card Challenge #27 - Love, I was inspired by the colour combo

Here are the challenges' graphics:

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a wonderful day! 

Marika

Less is More #206

Good Evening!

This is my entry to the Less is More #206.

I had a little time to colour with my daughter today, I made this card and my daughter coloured a card for her friend's birthday. She was quite a lot of quicker in colouring though! :) I wanted to participate to Less is More #206 where is going on a one-layer week with a theme of New Beginnings. My dear friend is going to be starting in a new job in a few weeks. She doesn't enjoy her work in her current one so I wanted to make a card to give her a little smile and strength or "sisu" as we call it in Finnish to keep going these few days she still have left in her old job. Inside of this card there is text "Blue skies are ahead" Hopefully she will enjoy her new job. 

I started this card by masking off the "uncoloured area" with post-it notes. Then I stamped all the images with black pigment ink. The branch and background trees are from Purple Onion Designs and balloons, the dog and the sentiment are from stamp set called Flying High by Tiddly Inks. I also drew the road and I coloured all images with Derwent Coloursoft pencils. Then, I masked off the coloured part of the card and stamped the rest of the branch and the bakcground hills and trees with grey ink. At the top of the card, one of the balloons was cut off from the backside of the card to give some interest to the card. The sentiment inside of the card is from a set called Blue skies by Lawn Fawn.

Here are some close-ups:

Hopefully you like it and I hope it will give a smile for my friend. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

Marika