Crafter's block (with copious whining)

It's been way too long since I last wrote anything here, almost a whole year. After starting work as a postman I soon found myself too exhausted with work and all the classes I took last autumn that I simply didn't find time or energy to write anything. Besides scrapbooking and sewing classes I hardly had time or energy to do any crafting at all. Even though I left the job at Itella last spring, I sort of haven't managed to find the joy of crafting again. This massive crafter's block is starting to worry me. Even the surefire way of getting new supplies (always a real joy) hasn't been helping much.

It's not like I didn't have anything to do. On the contrary, I hardly know where to start (which actually might be part of the problem). I've loads and loads of pictures that need to be gone through, sorted and processed: friend's graduation, our wedding, a trip to Italy, my sister's confirmation party, a friend's wedding and bachelorette party... Then I have two throws in progress (have been for several years...), several sewing projects and people just keep having birthdays and other parties that require cards. Although I still like crafting (or I think I do?), I seem to be postponing it until last minute. I'm sort of drifting into becoming a real couch potato (well, I prefer armchair to sofa and reading to TV, but still...). And I'm not really happy with this. There's so much I'd like to do, if only I got started. I think I might need extra hours to my day.

Lately I've been thinking of getting rid of some of my stash. I just finished cleaning my desk (and the floor and the bookcase...) and the amount of stash just started to feel uncomfortable. My paper crafting has shifted almost exclusively from cards to scrapbooking, so I've found myself contemplating on selling some of the cardmaking stuff. But, being the materialist I am, I tend to cling on the oh-so-familiar mantra "But it's possible I might perhaps need it someday for something", so I'm torn between decluttering and "saving money" (I guess I'm afraid I end up buying the same stuff back at some point). Maybe if I just got one big box and threw all the stuff I don't feel like using enough in there and shove it in a closet or something. But I guess I have to face: I can't keep storing everything I might need as my patience with the ever-increasing amount of stuff seems to be ending.

Origami shirt - P*skarteluhaaste #11

A superquick post since I already should be somewhere else, here's my entry for P*skarteluhaaste #11. This weeks challenge was to make a card for man/father, and since I had 5 cards to make for Father's Day, I chose somenthing quick: origami shirt with embossed greeting.

Papers: Tiimari / DCWV
Ribbon: Reprint
Stamp: Finnstamper

How low can you go?

Pretty deep, if my day's is anything to judge by... Started with a colleague with whom I carpool oversleeping, continued with stupid mistakes at work, didn't get to deliver the mail till over an hour later than usually, a dog bit my leg (even these legends about postmen seem to be true...) and it rained the whole time.

My hardships didn't end with the day's work, started on a scrapbooking course today (the best thing that happened today, really), so needed some photos to scrap. Selected some yesterday evening and found that my camera settings over three years ago when the photos were taken were just shit, the resolution is way too low... so when I went to get them before going to the course, I ended uo with grainy, pixelated pile of crap. They had scaled the pictures to full size instead of keeping them the size I wanted. Well, partly my fault as well, but it didn't improve my day, going to the course without any photos to scrap. Besides, I also forgot to take my papers and albums with me, so even if I'd had the photos, there was pretty little with which to scrap...

And the final blow was to hear that they're gonna cease publishing Scrapbook Inspirations! That's my favourite craft mag and now it will be gone. I'm shattered. Didn't believe it at first, but after hearing the grim truth straigth from the horse's mouth... what I'm going to read from now on? And just when I'd renewed my subscription for the next year...

I'm off to bed now. Getting fined on riding my bicycle without lights or crashing with a car were just about the only thing missing from the day, not taking any chances them or something equally nice still happening ...

F is for Flying - ABC challenge

Just a quick post for ABC challenge, I should be tucked in bed and in deep sleep by now... This week's letter was F for flying and here's my take for it. I had some serious trouble with this one and I'm not at all sure whether or not I like the outcome, I kept fiddling with bits and pieces and going through my stash over and over again, to no avail. And there might be a bit too much lilac in this card, but didn't find any other suitable papers from my stash (I probably was too tired). Love the Perfect Pearls on the butterfly's wings, though, it really reminds me of the texture of the real thing.

Stamps: Inkadinkado 'Garden Delight' / Aladine
Colours: VersaColor 'Violet' / Perfetc Pearls ' Interference Violet' /VersaFine 'Smokey Grey'
Paper: HOTP 'Icy Rainbow'
Diecut: Cricut 'Accent Essentials'
Flowers: Artoz
Rhinestones: BG

1, 2, 3 - P*skarteluhaaste #10

Now, this definitely is not cool. Had such a busy week filled with action through and trough that I had practically no time to craft at all. If working's like this then I might as well give up... well, perhaps not, but I'm not happy with the current situation. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, either I'm neglecting crafting or I'm neglecting everything else (freetime, family, friends, housework (which I'm neglecting all the same...)). Not cool, not one bit. Where could I get some more hours to a day? Anyone?

Managed to squeeze in just a tiniest bit of crafting, though, my ever-so-patient better half had a birthday and I just needed to make a card for him. Bought him a Transformers robot (yes, we're both grown-ups, at least by the years...), so of course the card needed a robot, too. I was inspired by robots in Finnstamper's Sari's blog, but I tried not to copy (now, how many different ways can you make a robot?!). This is also my entry for P*skarteluhaaste #10, where the recipe was to use 1 patterned paper, 2 ribbons and 3 brads. Nobody said anything about using embossed metal or corrugated card, though. I used ball chain as my second ribbon and added screw-shaped brads for a bit of a tech/mech feeling.

Stamp: Finnstamper
Ribbon: Artemio
Brads: You Do

Red and green - P*skarteluhaaste #9

My crafting and blogging has been suffering from working, even though I knew this would happen I'm still a bit surprised that I have diifficulties of finding time to do everything I'd like to do. A pity, but on the other hand, I have at least some form of income and I do like my work (I'm a bit daft) :) I think part time job might suit me best, then I'd had more time for my hobbies than with a regular job... But I definitely shouldn't complain... let's see what happens next year...

Here's a card for P*skarteluhaaste #9, this week's recipe was to use red and green, but there's a catch: even though the time of the year and the colour scheme scream "Christmas!", the card may not be a Christmas card. I decided to make a general congratulations card. The ladybug stamp has been sitting in my stash for ages and never been used, so I made a conscious effort to use it now.

Stamps: Tiimari
Colours: Promarkers
Paper: Canson
Ribbon: Tilda Crafts
Punches: Woodware / Craftime / EK Success
Stickers: PI
Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots'

Kittycheers - Mojo Madness #107

Been visiting the parents for the weekend, needed to get a tripod for my photo course next week, but no luck there, couldn't find the one that they were supposed to have. Good trip anyhow, but a short one, so the kitties stayed at home. I liked the layout in Mojo Madness #107, so I decided to use it for a joint thank you/ instructions card for a friend who was kindly taking care of the beasts.

Stamps: Stampcraft / Woodware 'Tiny Phrases'
Papers: BG 'Blush'
Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots'

Poppy for Pop - JCC #77

This week's challenge over at Jehkotar CardChallenge was to make a Father's Day card using either a tag or a bookmark. Here's my version of it. I wanted a distressed vintage feel for it, so I cut the tag shape from paper, crumbled it, and dabbed with Distress Inks. The colours were first a bit too bright, but applying a light wash of clear water with a waterbrush helped a lot. It also helped when I ironed the tag out again... I backed the tag with cardstock to stiffen it and raised it with foam pads. Small peel-off butterfly and 3 brads add the finishing touches.

Stamps: Penny Black 'Poppy' / Inkadinkado 'Letter'
Colours: Derwent Inktense
Inks: VersaFine / Distress Inks
Brads, ribbon: Tiimari

E is for Embossing - ABC Challenge

Made another card for another challenge while playing with my new toy, this one's for ABC Challenge where E stands for embossing. I wanted to keep the design simple to show off the beautiful flowers. I distressed the paper and its edges with sanding block and paper stresser (love that thing!). The fairy stamp echoes the swirls on the embossing folder, with a darker borders to frame and lift it. I stamped my greeting onto a tiny plastic tag which I attached with silver embroidery floss and a jump ring.

Stamps: Finnstamper / Morning Star
Inks: Distress Ink 'Dusty Concord' / StazOn
Embossing folder: 'Stylized Flowers'
Paper: BG 'Lilykate'

Gothmetal - P*skarteluhaaste #8

This week's challenge at P*skarteluhaaste was to use metal, and preferably be clever with it. This was a fine excuse to have a trial run with my latest gadget, Cuttlebug. My earlier goth boy was still missing his date so I made another "attitude card" by putting together the goth girl (these two might be the best 3D sheet ever) and backing her up with embossed metal sheet (dabbed a bit Stazon to tone it down). I used scraps to make the label for the text, don't know yet what to put there. Didn't have right pink paper for it, though, but luckily I found what I needed from the back cover of an ad! The metal skull is the "clever" part, it's actually a button from a pair of trousers I didn't like (the button, I mean, loved the trousers). I'd snipped them off and saved for a later date (never throw anything away!), glad that it found its place here.

3D picture: Craft Deco
Embossing folder: 'Spots and dots'
Ribbons: Artemio / CMPC

Whee!

Been smiling like a lunatic for the whole day, tomorrow I'll be starting work at postal service! Been wanting to go back there for these past 2,5 years I've been away and now it's happening! Whee! Yay! Haven't been so excited for... a long time. I think I might be a bit daft with my passion for sorting post, but just can't help myself. A bonus factor is that I don't have to finish an uninspiring training course I started and found out to be not for me after all... And won't be unemployed anymore and will get paid for a job that I love (at least for a while, the contract is temporary). And actually got some positive feedback (and a job!) on my application letter, which normally tend to be hideously unimaginative. So, all in all, it's been a good day :) Only downside is that I don't get to craft as much as I did when unemployed and that work starts at 6 am, but I can live with that :)

I think this little froggy is as happy as I am. The card was truly a quickie, conjured it up in 15 minutes before running off to meet friends, which is really unusual for me (I tend to ponder over my stash again and again).

Stickers: Penny Black 'Pondside celebration' / Upikit
Card blank: CMPC
Paper: DCWV

Lil' birdie - JCC #76

Been making lots of these children's cards lately, this one's for JCC #76. A nice sketch, which I modified a bit for a "normal" card blank instead of a square one. I also had a clear vision of a stamp design for the stamped image (now that sounds a bit awkward), so I changed the centre picture from circle to square. For the boyish look, I used punched stars and buttons, plus just one flower. The chipboard number was a spare from an earlier card, so again it paid off to save everything...

Stamp: Imaginisce
Colours: Derwent Watercolour
Papers: HOTP / Canson
Punch: Tiimari
Ribbon: The Paper Studio
Flower and brads: HOTP
Buttons: Artemio / Rayher

Hello, sailor! - Friday Sketchers #71

This week Friday Sketchers had a nice sketch from which to work. I really loved this one since it gives so many opprtunities, you can either make it really simple and graphic or ornate as you like, it suits both options well. I think my version is somewhere in between. The optional element was distressing, which was bit difficult in this card, but I sanded the edges of the paint sample ("frayed" nicely) and I guess you could count the number stamp as distressing (and as a sentiment!) as well...

Stamp: Inkadinkado
Colours: Derwent Inktense
Papers: Rayher/ Sadolin paint sample
Punch: Woodware
Ribbon, eyelets: Artemio

I used Inktense pencils for colouring in the image but they just don't seem to work for me, I usually don't get the results I'd want, so might actually be giving up with them. Since I found the perfect red button from my stash (actually just bought that morning), I went so far as to stitch it in place to echo the buttons in the image.

Cherry on top - P*skarteluhaaste #7

This week the challenge at P*skarteluhaaste #7 was to use both stripes and checks. I'm counting tartan as checks, and if you look close enough you'll see striped ribbon tabs. Don't like my handwriting a bit, need to somehow rescue the greeting. This was the first time I used Distress Inks to colour in the picture and I have to say I loved it (although the cardstock wasn't good, need to use watercolour paper from now on). The muted shades are gorgeous and a welcome change to my watercolour pencils. Still missing some shades, though...

Paper: Paperblock
Stamps: Penny Black / Fiskars
Inks: VersaFine / Distress Inks
Chalks: Pebbles Inc.
Ribbon: Tilda Crafts
Staples: Rapid
Rub-ons: Creative Imaginations

Blog Candy at Piia's

Piia is offering some delicious blog candy at her place till 8th October. She's a gifted card maker as well so be sure to take a peek at her blog. I myself like her style a lot.

Little princess - Friday Sketchers #70

I'm not a big fan of Magnolia's stamps. It's the same as with Moomins, their lack of mouths and muzzle-like faces are bit creepy. Having said that, here's my card for the Friday Sketchers' challenge #70, with Magnolia's little princess (I was rude and clipped her wings, I think the picture works better without them and I have issues with angels). It's a really girly card, with lots pink and pastels, flowers and pearls, and thus probably perfect for the little princess who's gonna get it on Saturday.

Papers: Tilda Crafts / Paper Adventures 'Baby Checks' / Tiimari
Stamps: Magnolia / Inkadinkado 'Artstamp Large'
Ink: Colorbox Cat's Eye 'Orchid'
Flowers: Prima / Tiimari
Pearls: BG Opaline
Flower brad: Sinelli
Liquid Pearls 'Pastel Raspberry', 'White Opal'
Glossy Accents

Drunken pike - Mojo Monday #105

This card was a sum of happy accidents. When I saw this week's sketch at Mojo Monday, I immediately thought "Fish scales!". Then I realised I needed a card for an eager fisherman. And finally, I accidentally finally bought alcohol inks last weekend, perfect for colouring some fish scales for my card. I aimed for the pike here, using mainly yellow and green, and added some scalish texture by rubbing the circles with a bone folder on wire mesh (need to practice that a bit more). Of course, I needed to practice with the inks and see the colours for real, so I used kitchen foil for that, and later punched a square from it to back my rub-on. I first tried to fit the rub-on to a square of cream paper but it simply wouldn't fit, totally the wrong shape for that, so I just rubbed it onto the paper and cut it out. Trickiest part was to find the right ribbon for the card as my stash failed me again, but in the end I managed to come up with a decent option, the dots on the ribbon remind of the spots on trout's back and sides.

Paper: Karen Foster Design 'Green Fish Pattern'
Snakeskin paper: Sinelli
Square punch: Craftime
Sheet metal: Folia
Alcohol inks: Adirondack 'Meadow Green', 'Butterscotch', 'Ginger'
Rub-on: Royal & Langnickel Brush Mfg. 'Fishing Collage'
Dotted ribbon: Tiimari

Home is where the heart is - JCC #75

I'd had this card idea in my head for quite some time, but hadn't really gotten round and making it. When a friend of mine bought a flat, I decided it was high time to get on with it. Besides, I noticed that this week's sketch in Jehkotar CardChallenge was really similar to what I'd been pondering. So here's my entry for JCC #75.

Die cut: Cricut 'Plantin Schoolbook'
Flowers: Prima/ Reprint
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: VersaMark
Embossing powder: Ranger
Rub-on: Kaiser Crafts
Heart gem: Tiimari

I cut the city scene with Cricut from black and red paper. I only used part of the whole black strip and only one house from the red. The small heart was leftovers from a border punch. I stamped and embossed swirls on the red flower to echo the doodling and layered it with a couple of white flowers and a heart gem. I used wire to attach the key charm to the flower, no idea where I got that or the ribbon hiding the die cut's edge from. The rub-on was really hard to keep still while rubbing and I had to do some slight retouching here and there to hide the breaking points. I didn't quite stick to the sketch because I felt the card looked better this way, but I think stayed true enough to it.

A change of heart - Paperikierre, september challenge

Yet another challenge I came across with. Paperikierre has monthly challenges where you can use either the sketch or the colours or both. September's challenge colours are black and violet and those just happened to be the colours from a wedding card I'd made earlier. Not your typical wedding colours but hey, it's a refreshing change to your ordinary choices. So, here's my entry for the September challenge.

Stamp: Freebie from CMPC
Ink: Ranger 'Emboss It!
Embossing powder: PSX
Punch: Woodware
Embroidery floss: DMC
Diamonds: BG 'Bling it'

I stamped and embossed the heart onto vellum and backed it with a black paper. I punched the panel's corners, wound embroidery floss around it and secured the crossings with diamonds for a bit of bling. I used same paper on the card blank together with purple paper. Diamond lace hides the edges and small triangles finish the corners and help to frame the card.

Bingo nostalgia - P*skarteluhaaste #6

Another challenge card, again for P*skarteluhaaste. This was a fun challenge. In P*skarteluhaaste #6, first you had to make a bingo by choosing a row from a bingo grid. I tried to decide whether to choose an easy row or a hard one, but then my supplies took over and decided it for me. I wanted to try a new stamp plus I'd yet to make a vintage card so, with these as my starting points, my row was ribbon - blue - flower.

Stamps: Inkadinkado 'Garden Delight', 'Letter'
Inks: VersaMark / VersaColor 'Atlantic' / Anna Griffin 'Nina'
Chalks: Pebbles Inc.
Card blank: Folia
Paper and brad: Tiimari
Flowers: Prima
Ricrac: EK Success
Pearls: Artoz

I stamped the sprig first with the turqoise and then with the darker blue to achieve the shadow effect, then dabbed and buffed blue chalk on the edges. The paper was a bit too light and plain, so I dabbed different shades of blue chalk (plus a bit of taupe) onto it and stamped text onto it with VersaMark. The card blank had the embossing around the aperture, so I cut the paper to fit it and sanded the edges. I guess you can count lace and ricrac both as ribbons. Three pearls balance the design and add to the vintage feeling.