One card for many challenges.....

Another christmas card and some more challenges to be entered. First of all I used the Card Patterns Sketch for this, then I would like to enter this into the Artistic Stamper Challenge where the theme is Christmas (what else!). Also would I like to enter this into this weeks Simon Says Stamp and Show - Holiday Greetings draw and last but not least, over at Simon Says Stamp challenge we are making christmas cards with no green and red.

I used some swirly grungeboard as a base, painted it gold, sanded it and inked over with brown distress inks. It's all pretty much distress inks, Tim Holtz and glossy accents with some ribbon and a bell added.

Card Patterns Sketch 90

Another week and another Card Patters Sketch.... I just had to use the little felt trees my sister sent me the other day. So here goes, another xmas card.....

Card Patterns Sketch 84

Yes, I know, it's ANOTHER christmas card, but it's the one big occassion coming up that people will want to buy LOADS of cards for. Let's just hope they buy my cards.

So I used the Card Patterns Sketch 84 for this. Kinda stole the baubles on scallop circle idea from Craft Stamper Magazine, but it's a very pretty idea and very quick and easy so I had to try it!

Tomorrow I'll share with you my first Art Parts piece, it's currently drying and will then be photographed for you to see. It's not christmas themed...... promise.

Card Patterns Challenge entry.... and I'm finally in Christmas mood

It's been a while since my last Card Patterns entry so time to get back into it. And I have finally gotten myself motivated to make christmas cards, about time. Waiting for some christmas stamps orders to come in, although unfortunately one of them has been posted to my German address and I'm now waiting for them to come back to England via my parents. Shame, I was looking forward to them stamps the most. Will have to make do without them for another week or so.

So I rustled up this little card on the left there. Always wanted to try stamping into UTEE, it works really well, but doing 3 layers of UTEE resulted in my whole living room getting covered in the stuff. Thanks god for hoovers.
It's a fun technique and I'll be playing with it a bit more on monday!

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

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.

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.

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?!

Card Patterns Sketch 64....

Here is my entry for this weeks Card Patterns challenge. I do struggle when i get given sketches to work from, im just never sure how far to stray from the original sketch. So I guess it's a good excercise.

Last challenge entry for the week...

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

Card Patterns Sketch 61 entry....

This is my entry for Card Patterns this week, the sketch was really simple and I kept it that way. These 2 notecards only took me a few minutes to put together from little die cuts I had lying around on my desk, so even thrown in a bit of recycling here. The challenge is sponsored by Limelight Papercrafts this week.

Card Patterns Sketch 57

My entry for the Sketch 57 Challenge over on Card Patterns. An anniversary card I made for my boyfriend. Hope he doesnt stumble across it on here first.