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".

Bottle cap fridge magnets

I've recently come across some bottle cap fridge magnets in a shop and thought what a fab idea. I had already bought some bottle caps previously and the epoxy dome stickers and these caps fit one of my circle punches perfectly.
So I got making.
Some images work better than others, just give it a go.
For these I used stamped images but I think they'd also look fab using old photos or maybe even magazine clippings. Anything you can punch out really.

I think they'll make a nice addition to my display at the craft fair next week. I am a little nervous about my first fair but also excited. Hope the weathers nice.

More of a detailed view here, I used one of the hero arts background stamp - pop dots for the ones on the left. The butterfly is out of a bigger image by Paperbag Studios.

Good enough for a prince....

Of course it's the Royal Wedding next week and what more inspiration could one need to make some wedding cards.

I have struggled with the theme before as I always think traditionally like white colours and clean and simple cards but who says wedding cards have to be white? I quite like these 2 cards and the aged look, I used antique linen distress ink which is great on white, gives things a nice aged look and is very subtle.

I recently got hold of a pack of these tattered angels chipboard frames. They are beautiful, unfortunately out of stock everywhere but I found em in an online shop in Germany. I may have to buy some more before they completely disappear, they are just so pretty and have a nice embossed finish.

Even more Mothers Day Inspiration....

Here is another 2 cards for Mothers Day, in case you haven't made your yet these might inspire you, or follow the link on the right ---> to my flickr gallery where there are plenty more ideas!

These are both very easy to make, I especially like the contrast of the b/w stamping on the one on the right, very striking yet so simple.

I am entering the card on the left into the Simon says Challenge.

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

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.

Flowery challenge entry....

Of course I have to enter the May challenge over on Sir Stampalot Challenge, theres and amazing price up for grabs. So as the theme is Blossoms and butterflies and a friend of mine needed a birthday card for his niece I got making and this is the result. The felt flowers i love, they are really thick and fluffy.
I am also thinking about entering this into the craft stamper birthday challenge, but may come up with something better by the deadline, we shall see. And I am entering this into Challenge 6 at Wee Memories. And not to forget the sketch idea came from CPS - Card Sketches, so it's being entered there too.

Last challenge entry for the week...

My interpretation of the Card Patterns sketch this week. Love their challenges, they are good fun. xxx

Another challenge entry....

All my entries this week are very quick little cards as there isnt much time to be creating big art pieces. So here is my entry for Ink on my fingers this week, the theme is to use a key in the project.

CPS Challenge entry....

Just a quick challenge entry for today. Have been very busy at work and not much time to be getting creative. This is for CPS.

My CPS - Card Sketches entry....

Here is yet another Challenge entry, this time it's for CPS - Card Sketches. Been making a lot of elephant cards this week, not sure why. They make nice "man cards" though I find. The challenge is sponsored by My favourite things.

Birthday cards.....

Slightly late post this week, have been very busy. Friends of mine were after birthday cards so I did my best and came up with a bunch of designs.....

I love purple and the card on the left I really like, it's so simple to make and quick.

With those two I tried to keep any colour out as it makes it a male as well as a female card alike. I find it difficult making cards for men, it's always blues and greens, I can't seem to get past that, so I think this one is a good compromise.

Two more male cards here. Inspiration came from the Take Ten magazine. As said before, it's typical male colours with the blue and brown and the Kraft card. I really like those though.