I made the Card Patterns Super 6

First of all, sorry for the lack of posts this week, I have not had any time for crafting due to my sister being over and we had a lot of shopping and catching up to do!!!
But I'm delighted to say I made the Card Patterns Super 6 for the first time. Yippie!!!

I am currently working on some boxes, mirrors and frames, so watch this space. Will try to squeeze in a post this week f I can get anything finished (work always gets in the way!). I'm off to order a melting pot and some other goodies now!!

Catch you later!! Anika xxx

Addicted to crackle paint....

I think I have a serious problem, I am addicted to crackle paint!!!

So here's another frame, painted with above mentioned paint and spritzed with glimmer mists. I'm still grateful to Hels for introducing me to this technique, you just don't know what kinda crackle monster you created!!!

I had a little play with the alterations on the edge die and since I love anything laced up I thought the 2 pieces of swirly grungeboard be perfect to be laced together with some string. Although I did lace it up about 4 different times til I ended up with this result. So many different options. The birds are crackled too and the tree bunch covered in distress embossing powder (had that for ages and never got on with it until now, it makes the perfect texture and look for a tree branch).

Some detail here for you.

I added a little frame that has part of an old stamp behind it and then it's filled with glossy accents.

The leaves have been cut from card with a punch. I inked up some white card and splattered water over it to make that effect, then just punched loads of leaves from the whole sheet.

There is also a little light bulb vial filled with watch parts hanging in the tree. I couldn't get a good enough close up shot, sorry.

I'm off to crackle some more.....

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge and Card Patterns entry......

Where did the monday go?! I swear monday's go by so much quicker than any other day. I had another busy crafty monday, whilst also cleaning the house (visitors later in the week) and doing a stupid amount of washing! I don't know how I managed to make anything yesterday. But I just had to join in the Compendium of curiosities challenge at Studio L3. Fragments is what this week is about. To be fair, I'm not a huge fan of them, I just never know what to do with them. I liked them with the old photos in my Mary frame I made but other than that, I never know what to stick to them and when used on cards they always look odd. But I have 2 packs of them so maybe by the time I've used them up I'll like them more (or be glad to see the back of them!).

I also used a sketch for my card, from Card Patterns. The 2 challenges combined worked very well, I'm pleased with the card. And as I'm 'mass-producing' birthday cards at the moment it's another one added to the pile.

Question:

What other cards (other than birthday ones) do you make the most or do people need the most? Birthday is the obvious occasion that people buy cards for, but what other occasion is there?! Not counting christmas, it's only once a year, so not an all year round money maker. Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Enjoy the sunshine!!!

Anika xxx

For my dad....

Since it's Father's Day (in the UK) today I thought I share this card for you that I made for my dad. even though it's not Father's Day at home (in Germany) I sent him a card anyway. I used an old photo of my dad as a boy with a little metal frame and filled it with glossy accents. I first filled it with crackle accents but when it had dried you couldnt see the picture at all anymore which was a shame, it was just so blurred. So I started again and used glossy accents this time. And of course I had to use the memo pins embellishments, I am loving them at the moment. So there you go, my dad's card.

Idea-ology storage box number 2 ....

As promised here is my storage box number 2.

If you missed my last post about my first box just scoll down, there is a before picture of this box too. Basically a plain wooden one.

So I had an old replica newspaper and covered the box in that, when dry I spritzed some glimmer mists and perfect pearls with water on it. Then painted some rock candy crackle paint over it. More glimmer mists over the top and then I gave that viva gold paint a go, it's like a thick paste, almost like shoe polish. I sponged it on and buffed it all up. Not quite sure what effect I was trying to achieve with that polish paint but it'll take a few more goes to really get to know it.

After that I just added some metal corners and made up the winged heart from one of my alterations dies. Not to forget some memo pins, see previous posts for the link to Wendy Vecchi's blog who had the great of making these embellishments with memo pins.

And as you can see, it very nicely holds all my little metal finding and keys and all sorts.

Vintage wedding....

My entry for Card Patterns this week is a wedding card. I did enjoy the sketch this week. Sometimes there's sketches I just can't do anything with. They just don't work for me, but this one was nice. cream and white card inked with distress inks, some idea-ology foliage and a sentiment, done.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge

Linda from Studio L3 is running a compendium of curiosities challenge and theres a fab prize too. I hadnt looked at the book since i first got it so thanks for the reminder!

This week's challenge is using the water stamping/bleaching technique. And this is the first time I've tried it. I'm very pleased with the result I must say, it's simple, yet you can achieve stunning effects. I added some tattered florals and snaps and a hero arts greeting. The swirl is also hero arts. I'll definitely be trying out more of the ideas from the book.

Wiiiiiings....

You may have noticed I've been going a little crackle frame nuts recently and there is no end in sight. Here is another one. This time it's all purply-pink and I used the fanciful flight alterations die as well as adding a trusty tattered floral (no frame without them!). Also used a swirly mirror piece I picked up in a craft shop back home in Germany. They do all sorts of mirror bits including letters and numbers, which I'm yet to use.












Here is some detail. If you follow Wendy Vecchi's blog you will have read about this. Make your own embellishments using memo pins. Just get an image or piece of card the size of the circle and attach it with some pritt stick. then fill the circle with glossy accents. I couldnt think of anything to put behind this so I just used plain card, filled it with glossy accents and sprinkled glitter over the top. It sinks in a bit when it dries, so I stuck some gems in the middle.


Check out Wendy's instructions here.






And last but not least, a quote using one of my Catslife Press stamps, which I love. I just don't use them enough.

This frame will be entered into the Wings challenge at Gingersnap creations.


Anika xxx

Card sketch entry...

I really enjoyed the Card Patterns Sketch this week, so I made something colourful and happy.
Newly discovered that one particular flower on the Tattered Florals alterations die, just cant stop using it at the moment.

Idea-ology storage box....

As mentioned before I've been working on some long needed idea-ology storage boxes. Well, I do store other things in it, like any old metal finding and bit but you get the idea.

I bought 2 of these boxes on ebay and they are perfect to alter.

I gave the outside a good coat or two of a neutral basecoat. I just use an acrylic paint from the art shop. Then I use a lot of crackle paint, again a neutral colour like old paper (not the one in the photo, sorry for any confusion). And then I got spritzing with glimmer mists.

Add some grungeboard elements, some idea-ology and done. To be fair it sounds much easier than it was, I spent hours doing the glimmer mist and getting it right and then deciding what to put on the lid, but I guess that's the creative process and it should be fun. So if you attempting something similar, take your time to get it right, sometimes it's better to leave something overnight and then come back to it in the morning.

And here it is with all my bits in it:

I did buy 2 boxes cause I knew one wouldnt be enough to organize everything, so I will be back with the other box soon to show you what I did to that one.

Anika xxx

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge .... Anniversary card

This is my entry for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, the challenge is to create a wedding or anniversary card and this is my simple yet effective design. I cut the label with the nestabilities and embossed it with a script folder. The butterfly is from the Hero Arts script stamp, stamped onto patterned paper and cut out. A sentiment and some pearls, done.

CPS Challenge entry....

Another week, another CPS sketch and this weeks sketch I really liked. I had a reason to get my brand new Martha Stewart doily lace punch out, yippie. Works fab with the pics of mym mum as a child I think, what do you reckon?!

1st Anikraft Blog candy ..... and another vintage frame

So, as promised here is (finally) my first ever blog candy. I only discovered the world of blogs and its great challenges and candies a few months ago but I'm loving it. And so, I thought I should have a little candy myself. It's only small but worth the effort nevertheless.

So, let me tell you what you are getting.....

- a Muji Kraft notepad to alter
- a Moleskine Kraft notbook to alter

- a selection of Tim Holtz Fragments in a little bag

- 2 small corked glass vials (one filled with beads)

- glittery brads from Imaginisce

- feathers

- 2 sheets of cork paper

- a tube of glitter

- some heassian fabric (great for vintagy/grungy looks!!)

- a little container full of blue mixed sequins

Now if you are thinking 'What on earth could one make with that?!?!' then let me show you...

Here is a vintagy frame I made using the hessian, some Tim Holtz fragments and a little vial, also filled with beads. I added a load of other old stuff like an old key I found at home and some more of the old German money my dad gave me and some more idea-ology. And the lady in the centre, I cut her out of the new Lost and Found paper stack by Tim Holtz. (Love it!!!) I named her Mary and made up a whole story about who she is. And the frame is what Mary is about.

So, I hope you like what you see and that you'd like to get your hands on the candy, here is the rules:

1. Become a follower of my blog (you must have a blog yourself, I'd like to visit my followers blogs and see what they get up to)

2. Post about my blog/candy and link it to you sidebar

That's it for rules really. I will ship world wide. And the candy will get drawn when I reach 50 followers Now go and tell everyone about my candy and keep checking back for more crackle frames and idea-ology storage boxes I've been working on this week.

Anika xxx

Simon says ..... male card

The challenge on the Simon says blog is male card or father's day card this week so as I was making a load of father's day cards anyway, here is my entry for the challenge. It's a simle design but I just love the vintagy feel about it. I've used a lot of Tim Holtz idea-ology including the new Lost & Found paperstack. I just love it!!!

Check out Simon says challenge here.

Super amazing giveaway!

Leanne is giving away some beautiful paper stacks and stamps on her blog, definitely worth a visit ... they don't close till 21st June so you have a bit of time to enter!

Leanne's Blog

Vintage findings frame....

Here is the other frame I created the other day. If you have read my previous posts you'll know I had a whole week of crackle painting frame just to get the technique right so that was the third frame I did, just needed to decorate it. So I had a little play with a memory frame and some vintage findings from a flea market in Germany (3 huge halls full of stuff to look through, amazing, got to go back next time I'm home!!!). I bought the fabric tape measure there (beats the idea-ology ruler ribbon by miles I reckon!). The snaps I bought a whole box of. The old coins are old German Pfennige, my dad used to collect money so he had a whole box and let me have some. Same with the key, my dad had a whole box of them so I just had to have some!!!

I'm entering this into the quote challenge at Gingersnap cause I love working with any of the Tim Holtz stamps quotes, they are a great start for creating art work around. And with the daydreaming girl stamp it all just ties in so nicely.

I haven't forgotten the the blog candy I promised, I have been really busy, well I'm just at work all the time. Friday to Sundays is the busiest at work, so I am hoping to put up my candy on Sunday. It's coming, promised.

Burgundy, ivory and black Grungeflower card.....

So, here is another challenge entry for the week. I got up extra early today to make it. I'm using the sketch from Card Patterns this week and also entering it into the burgundy, ivory and black challenge at Gingersnap. I love using my tattered florals die to make flowers, it's just so quick and easy, a bit of walnut stain distress ink added and it looks fab. I like this card but I think it could look so much better, can't quite put my finger on whats wrong with it. Maybe the sentiment needs to move. Any ideas guys?!

A quick challenge entry....

Since it's Father's Day this month and there were a few challe nges I wanted to enter here is a quick and easy card. The brown card has been stamped with a woodgrain stamp in black ink, unfortunately you can't tell from the photo.

This will be entered into the CPS - Card Sketches challenge and Simon says stamp colour challenge.

Things with wings.....

Hey everyone....
It's been a very busy day (and past week), I was away in Germany too see my family and I had a rummage around a flea market and brought back some bits... old fabric tape measures, snaps, keyholes... I have been playing with some of them already and the result will be posted later in the week.

For now let me show you what I came up with for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge.
I've had the birdcage die sitting in its box for a week now and finally had to get it out and play with it.
On someone's blog (can't remember where it was, sorry) I saw these layered flowers made from the tattered florals die and here I've used 4 flowers, all cut from Core'dinations whitewash cardstock in various pink colours. Just crumple it up, sand it a bit, cut flowers and there you go, instant embellishment.

I also had some red pearls lying around from my jewellery making attempt late last year (I decided to stick with card and ink!) and they work rather well on the birdcage I think.

Here is some of the snaps I bought a whole box of at the market, much cheaper than buying the idea-ology ones and they look the same. If you've been reading my previous post about the crackle paint frames, you'll see this is the pink frame I created back then. I've been using a lot of crackle paint recently, and I'm really into making these little frames. A trip to Ikea is overdue to stock up on frames!!!

I'm also hoping to do my first blog candy this week, so pop back for some goodies. It's all very exciting really! Read you soon!

Anika xxx

I totally forgot to mention that it is also being entered into the challenge on the Alter it monthly blog. Check it out if you havent yet. Some nice artwork for inspiration there. I hope this qualifies as something altered, I'm just never sure, but it's a frame I altered and decorated etc so surely it qualifies.