Altenew Birch Land with watercolour stamping

Hello,

Today I'm over at Altenew blog to share a card that I made using Birch Land stamp set and watercolour stamping. Here are two examples using the same technique. On the first one I used Distress inks and on the second one I used Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Markers for stamping and blended the stamped images with water brush.

Watecolor stamping with Distress Inks

Watecolor stamping with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

I made the second card for a video tutorial. You can watch it here or in HD in Youtube.

Supplies:

Stamps: Birch Land Finnish and Birch Land 

Inks: Black Soot, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Fryed Burlap, Gathered and Tumbled Glass Twigs Distress Inks, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Altenew Pale Gray Card Stock, Daler & Rowney Watercolour Paper 190g/m2 /90lb

Derwent Waterbrush no.2 and Kuretake water brush small

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers: Mid Green (046), Olive Green (043), Yellow (050), Brick Beige (075), Black (010)

Altenew March Blog Hop Winners

Hello,

I'm here to announce the winner of the Altenew March Blog Hop. I used random generator to draw the winner and the winner is:

cindybearj15 March 2016 at 07:23

Wow! I love these cards! The birch trees with the moon card is awesome. So is the monochromatic cabin and snow scene.

Congratulations! Please send an email at winner@altenew.com with the subject line March 2016 blog hop winner Marika, and we will set you up the prize.

Thank you all for the kind and sweet encouragement on my first set. It was so lovely to read the comments left on my blog. Thank you.

Have a great day! I'll be back soon with another card.

Altenew March 2016 Release Blog Hop

Hello!

Today I have the most exciting news to share. Way back last year, Tasnim asked if I was interested designing stamps.. well, my first impression was.. me... are you really talking to me about this? Well, I kinda laughed at the whole idea at first, but then I started to think and sketch and you know... things evolved. This whole stamp design thing has been such a big learning curve for me, I had to learn to sketch, trace and above all, I needed to learn how to use Illustrator to be able to get my hand drawn images into digital form... I've been nervously waiting this day to come and I'm so hoping that you'd like my designs.

When we first talked designing stamps with Tasnim, she asked me to do something from my own culture. I started to think about it and when I need to think.. I need to walk too. I went to a walk with Simo, who is a dog of my dear friend - he's so cute by the way - and I thought about what would be something from my culture and of course since this is my first set, I also wanted it to be sort of personal since I knew already at that point that I will put many hours to this thing if I was gonna do this. While walking in the forests with Simo I looked around and had this flashback moment from my youth. We used to have a dog - Cecilia. She was a Tibetan Terrier and she was amazing. I used to take walks with her and we usually went to this little place near my childhood home - it was our place to calm down and sat down for a moment. My childhood home is by the lake and on the other side of the lake there is this little peninsula which is the most beautiful and the most peaceful place - at least to me. It only grows birch trees in that peninsula and we used to sat down to a grass bed with Cecilia and listen to the waves slowly hit the sand with birds singing on the back. Nowadays, someone had brought a bench to that place so I think there's at least one more person who also loves that place. 

So that was the inspiration to my first ever set. While designing, I also wanted to make a  set that was useable for many different kind of techniques since we all love to do different kinds of things. I'm sharing two of my cards today that I have made with my set and later this week and weeks to come, I'll be sharing more and I will make them into video tutorials as well. So, if you don't want to miss them, please subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

I'm also participating in the Altenew March 2016 release Blog Hop and if you came from my amazingly talented and sweet teammate May Park's blog, you're on the right track. If not, please start at the Altenew blog.

Supplies:
Stamps: Birch Land,  Garden Grow and Succulents.
Inks: Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades Altenew Crisp Inks, Versafine Onyx Black, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
Paper: Neenah Solar White 80lb, Hammer White Paper 100gsm by Soho Creative

Supplies:
Stamps: Birch Land, To the Moon, Winter Cardinal and Sketchy Cities America 2.
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky Distress Inks, Fairy Dust Pure Color Dye Ink, SSS Smoke Dye Ink
Superfine Clear Embossing Powder from Ranger
White Jelly Roll Pen

Copic Markers: 0 - N0 - N1 - N3 - N5 - N7

I used three shades of grey ink to stamp the images and then I took my copic multi-liner and added the black details to the cottage and to the trees. To create a sky I used a cool grey marker (copics) and added the snow with white gelly roll pen. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Cottage, Snowing and Pine Tree
Inks: Fairy Dust Pure Color Dye Ink, SSS Smoke Dye Ink, Jet Black Altenew Crisp Ink

Black Copic Multiliner 0.1
Copic Markes: C0 - C1 - C3
White Jelly Roll Pen

Copic Markers: C0 - C1 - C3

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away $50 gift certificate to three lucky winners. Please leave a comment on the Altenew blog by Friday March 18th, 11:59 pm EST for a chance to win.

And there is more! I will randomly choose a winner from comments left on this post and the prize will be $30 gift certificate to Altenew online store. Please leave a comment on this post by Friday March 18th, 11:59 pm EST for a chance to win. I will announce the winner on my blog after soon after.

GET HOPPING!

Hopefully you are having fun hopping. Next on the hop is fabulous and so sweet and kind Svetlana Hayevich. If you encounter a broken link along the hop, please start at the beginning from Altenew blog.

I really hope you liked what you saw. Thank you so much for visiting and have a great day!

Hugs,

Marika

Reinspired.. over at Marias!

Hello!

I'm so happy that this day has finally arrived. A month ago, Maria from Lollygrot Scrapbooking asked me if I was interested taking part in her new blog feature over her blog. She has invented this fun blog feature where she asks to remake one of one's own cards. This sounded so much fun that of course I wanted to participate and said YES! And this was A MONTH ago! :)

I chose to CASE one of my cards, actually I made that one for about a year ago. I used watercolours and very soft look for colouring. I really really loved the lay-out on that one so I wanted to remake the card with different style of colouring and colour theme. Please, head over to Maria's blog and find out what card did I CASE and while you are there, please leave her some love and let's let her know how much we appreciate bloggers who are passionate for giving us these fun blog features. These thing takes time to organise and that is sometimes taken for granted. Thank you, Maria! I'm so thrilled to be part in this and so happy that you asked me. Thank you. By the way, besides being super sweet, Maria is kinda talented too you know, so you may even want to follow her while you're there. 

I made this into a video tutorial. You can watch it here or in HD in YouTube.

Supplies:
Stamps: Peony Bouquet and Sketchy Rose by Altenew
Inks: Sea Glass and Frayed Leaf Altenew Crisp Inks, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Japanese smooth card stock, manufacturer unknown, Exotics White Silk Paper from Hobby Craft, SSS Smoke Card Stock

Copic Markers: YG0000 - BG0000 - BG000 - BG10 - YG03 - YG11

Faber Castell Polychrome Pencils: Cold Grey I (230), Cold Grey II (231), Cold Grey III (232), Cold Grey IV (233), Cold Grey (235), Dark Indico (157), May Green (170), Earth Green Yellowish (168), Chromium Green Opaque (174)

Thank you for stopping by today! Have an amazing day!

Hugs,
Marika

Peonies with copics and coloured pencils

Hello!

Today I'm at the Altenew blog to feature Peony Bouquet stamp set. I used no-line colouring technique with copic markers and coloured pencils.

I also made this into a video tutorial, hopefully you'll find the time to watch it and find it helpful. You can watch it here or in HD in YouTube.

Supplies:

Stamps: Peony Bouquet and Birthday Greetings set from Altenew.

Inks: Frosty Pink Altenew Crisp Ink, Versafine Onyx Black ink

Paper: Woodgrain card stock from Altenew (to be released in a few weeks), Peach textured card stock from Paper Mania

Clear Dull Embossing Powder from WOW!

Copic Markers: Reddish Pink: R00 - R21 - R32, Green: YG91 -YG 93 - YG95

Faber Castell Polychrome Pencils: Light Flesh (132), Medium Flesh (131), Dark Red (225), May Green (170), Greem Yellowish (168), Chromium Green Opaque (174).

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving me such a kind comments! You are simply wonderful!

Hugs

Marika

Altenew and WOW! Blog Hop

Hello!

Today I'm participating in a collaboration blog hop between Altenew and WOW! Embossing Powder. If you came from Sveta's blog you are in a right place, if not please start at the beginning from Altenew blog. Please hop along and have fun!

EDIT: I made this into a video tutorial. Due a technical problems, I got it uploaded to you Youtube a day late. You can watch it here or in HD in YouTube.

GIVEAWAY!

There are prizes to be win - of course. Altenew will draw two $30 gift certificate to their online store and WOW! Embossing Powders will draw also two $30 to their online store. Winners will be picked randomly from the comments left on any of the blogs listed below. Please leave a comment before 28th of February and the winners will be announce on the 29th of February on the Altenew and WOW! blogs.

GET HOPPING!

Here's the blog hop order. 

Altenew Blog

Yana Smakula

Martha Lucia Gomez

Amy Gray

Sarah Jackman Reed

Svitlana Shayevich

Agnieszka Malyszek

Fran Westmoreland

Anna Kossakovskaya

Laurence Colling

May Sukyong Park

Victoria Petrenko

Therese Calvird

Susanne Rose

Sveta Fotinia

Marika Rahtu <--- YOU ARE HERE

WOW Embossing Powder

Supplies:
Stamps: Lace up and Way too Sweet by Altenew.
Dies: Dodec Cover Die and Baby Zoo Die by Altenew.
Inks: Buttercream, Warm Sunshine, Ruby Red , Caramel Toffee and Grapevine Altenew Crisp Inks, Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black.
Embossing Powders: Rainbow Black and Opaque Vanilla white Embossing Powders from WOW!
Paper: Black Canson Vivaldi card stock, Neenah Solar White Card Stock

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a beautiful day!

Marika

Beautiful Day for your Birthday

Hello,

I'm at the Altenew blog today to feature a Beautiful Day set. I had fun watercoloring these flowers with distress ink - I should do that more often, it was so relaxing. 

I also made this into a speed colouring video - hopefully you'll find it helpful. You can watch it here or in HD in YouTube.

Supplies:
Stamps: Beautiful Day and Fresh Freesia from Altenew
Inks: Peacock Feathers and Stormy Sky Distress Inks, Versafine Onyx Black
Green Textured Cards Stock
Wedding Dress irRESISTible Pico Embellisher
White fun foam

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a great Saturday. I'm off to work now.

Hugs,

Marika

Way too Sweet

Hello!

I'm at the Altenew blog today to feature a Way Too Sweet stamp set that is designed by my sweet team mate May! Congrats May on another wonderful set!

I continued to stay out of comfort zone and did a card without colouring.. I used Distress Inks and removed the colour from the images with water. 

I made this into a video tutorial if you're interested. You can watch it in here or in HD in Youtube. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Way Too Sweet 

Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Victorian Velvet, Shubby Shutters and Scattered Straw Distress Inks

Superfine Clear Embossing Powder from Ranger

Sparkling Clear Cubbed Sequins and Small Clear Droplets from Pretty Pink Posh

White Twine

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

Hugs

Marika

Penny Black and More - Guest Designer

Hello my friends,

You may have noticed that I have had less posts in January and there's a reason to it - I went back to work after 5 years home with my girls. Work has cut hours from crafting and more over I've been so exhausted after work so I have not been able to create anything really. I also wanted to let you know, that I really appreciate your sweet and kind comments very much and I try to visit back when even I can. Since the girls went to daycare also, they need my presence more in the evenings as before and by the time I get them to bed I'm asleep as well. I had to leave something undone and I cut the time from social media. Hopefully you understand. But just wanted to let you know that it has been very busy time for me and very stressful to go back to work, so your wonderful encouragement and support over here in blogland has really made me feel so much better. Thank you! You are so wonderful!! 

Today I'm excited to share a card that I've made lately - YaY! I was also asked to join the fun over at Penny Black and More challenge. I entered into their challenge before Christmas and they asked me to Guest Design for February challenge. If you are fond of Penny Black products, go and check out their challenge - it is a lot of fun and they have prizes as well! :)

The theme in February is Stamps and Dies so any stamp or die from Penny Black will do. I was in a need of a new babygirl card and saw an opportunity to use this adorable set called Bundle of Joy from Penny Black. I coloured the image with copic markers and coloured pencils. The "Joy" die cut is from their Holiday die cut set called World of Wishes - I only used "Joy" and it worked well. Then I ran into a problem, I only had holiday and Christmas themed sentiments from Penny Black so I used sentiments from Altenew to finish up my card. I added a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh as well to make this even more girly and there is a square piece of vellum behind the image as well! 

And a few words of colouring this image. I created the blue background with a new technique (for me at least), I had never thought it before and was so excited about it and will try this to other images as well. Firstly I added C1 and added little shading with C3 to whole background - just nice even layer of colour. Well the colour is a relative thing and the colour changes a lot due to what is next to that colour that you are using, since cool greys are sort of blue greys the background looked blue already but it was still too "grey" for a happy card like this. Then I went over the whole background with BG000 which is very bright (and cool) but light blue and it gave the background the brighter tint of blue but leaving it to be toned down also. Love the look, hopefully this helps! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Bundle of Joy from Penny Black and Baby Zoo from Altenew.

Dies: World of Wishes from Penny Black, Pierced Square Stax Die from MFT

Inks: Memento Desert Sand and Versafine Onyx Black

Pink Vellum

Lilac Garden Flower Mix Sequins and Sparkling Clear Cupped Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Copic markers: Leaves: YG91 - YG93 - YG95, Fur: E40 - E41 - E42 - E43 - E44, Branch and frame: E23 - E55 - E57, Pink: RV00 - RV11 - R81, Face and tones: RV91 - W1 - W3 - R00. Background: BG000 - C1 - C3

Faber-Castell Polychrome Pencils: May Green (170), Earth Green Yellowish (168), Chromium Green Opaque (174), Pink Madder (129), Middle Purple Pink (125), Light Flesh (132), Ivory (103), Burnt Sienna (283), Bistro (179), Raw Umber (180), Van-Dyke Brown (176)

Derwent Colouresoft White (720)

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a amazing day!

Hugs,

Marika

Do you wanna build a snowman...

Hello!

Today I'm sharing a card that is a bit different. I've been watching regularly Lisa's Youtube channel (Lachri Fine Art) and she is so Amazing!! I just wish that I could draw and colour someday a half as good as she does. I've been so inspired by her work and wanted to try to draw something by myself. And since a daughter of my dear friend is turning four soon and since she is crazy about Frozen.. I saw a chance to try and I took it. I couldn't possibly draw Anna or Elsa but Olaf looked easier. There are things that could be better, for instance his eyes are not correct and the head in general could be better, but I was so impressed when I showed this to my girl (2years) AND she recognised it to Olaf!! So it is close enough. :)

I also filmed while I drew and coloured if you are interested. And please, if you liked this, will you let me know so I know if you like to see this kind of stuff in the future too. I still will be mainly focusing stamping and stuff but maybe once in a while I do similar to this too, if that is what you would like to see too.

Supplies:
Stamps: Birthday Greetings by Altenew
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic markers: Shading on the Olaf: 0 - N0 - N1, Mouth: N5 - N7, Buttons: W3 - W5 - W7, Arms: E55 - E23 - E47, Carrot: YR21 - YR23 - YR24 - YR18, Background: 0 - V20 - V22 


Faber-Castell Polychrome Pencils: Dark Cadmium Yellow (108), Sanguine (188)m Burnt Sienna (283), Van-Dyck-Brown (176), Nougat (178), Cold Grey I (230), Cold Grey II (231), Cold Grey III (232), Cold Grey IV (233), Cold Grey V (234), Warm Grey II (272), Warm Grey VI (275)

Thank you so much fro stopping by today! Hopefully your day is beautiful! And thank you Lisa for inspiring us, you are so wonderful!

Hugs,
Marika