Smile Card (CASology Week #395 mid-inspiration)

  

Hi everyone! :o)

I hope you're all well. It's been a while since I've posted here on my blog.

Today I'm sharing my card for CASology mid-inspiration challenge. This is also my last project as DT member for CASology. I've decided to step down from the team, as I don't find time to fulfill my duties as DT member, neither to craft as much as I did previous years. I endlessly enjoy being a mommy to my baby boy Fran and I don't want to build up any stress in my life by having commitments that I can't fulfill. Thank you Melissa and DT Ladies!! It was a wonderful experience and a great fun. You've all inspired me a lot. ♥

On September 7th, 2021, a new challenge started at CASology. This month's cue word is One. :o)

There's still time to join the challenge, which ends on Monday, October 4th, 2021, 9 AM, CDT (UTC -5).

And here is my take on the challenge: CAS (clean and simple), Smile Card. :o)

Design defined: 

One layer, one image, one word in a sentiment.

For my card I used stamps from BEAUTIFUL Jane's Doodles 'Old Is Gold' stamp set.

How I made my card...

I stamped a camera image and a sentiment directly on a white top folded card base.

Then I watercolored the camera with Distress Inks. I had to be very quick while coloring, as the paper I used is a cardstock paper and not watercolor paper. If I add too much color, there is no way to 'pick it' or blend it like it works on a watercolor paper. :o) I colored one part at a time, drying colored parts with heat it tool.

As a finishing touch, I drew white highlights on the camera and my card was finished. :o)

Card measurements: 89 mm x 121 mm (3 1/2" x 4 3/4")

List of supplies:

• Jane's Doodles 'Old Is Gold' stamp set
• white cardstock paper
• Ranger Archival Ink, Jet Black
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks:
• Candied Apple
• Spiced Marmalade
• Mustard Seed
• Twisted Citron
• Blueprint Sketch
• Wilted Violet
• Hickory Smoke
• Black Soot
• Unibal Signo White Pigment Ink Pen
• Fiskars High Precision Personal Paper Trimmer
• bone folder
• acrylic block
• Ranger Heat it Tool
• Da Vinci fine rounded paint brush no. 2/0
• water
• paper towels

I hope you'll like my today's card and get inspired. For more inspiration, check out GORGEOUS cards my Design Teammates created. Do join us in this challenge, we are looking forward to see your CAS creations. :o)

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Milka Gubo (you are here)

Nancy Elrick
Sandie Munro

Thank you for stopping by and your kind feedback. Enjoy and smile! :o)

Milka

Happy Earth Day!

 

♥♥♥♥

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Happy Earth Day from Fran and me.

Milka

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrate. :o)

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy and smile! :o)

Milka

P.S. I have prepared this blog post on Easter and forgot to publish it. LOL :o) I have a bit time and checking my blog and I found all kind of unpublished stuff here. (October 4th, 2021)

Life Update.... It's a Boy

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well and your loved ones. :o)

Today I want to share happy news with you...

Two weeks ago, on March 9th, I gave a birth to a baby boy named Fran. ♥

Due to some complications that occurred in last weeks of my pregnancy, I was hospitalized, where my doctor and her colleagues decided that it would be best for me and my baby to do a c-section promptly after hospitalization, one week prior my due date.

Everything went well and my sweet baby boy and I went home 3 days after c-section.

Fran is today 2 weeks old. He was born tiny, 47 centimetres long and weighted 2800 grams. He is growing and developing well and making us very happy and proud. :o)

He is our little angel who made our lives fulfilled and extremely happy. We love and adore him very much. :o)

And that would be all from me for today. Thank you for stopping by and reading. Sending you all big hugs!!!

Enjoy and smile!! :o)

Milka

First Day at School Card (CASology Week #373 mid-inspiration)

Hi everyone! :o)

Last Tuesday, September 1st, 2020, a new challenge started at CASology. This fortnight's cue word is September. :o)

I took some time off and skipped some challenges through the summer, but I finally managed to create something for this challenge. Due to some private situation, I didn't have the time to prepare my post on time, so I'm bringing it today as mid-inspiration. 

There's still plenty of time to join the challenge, which ends on Monday, September 14th, 2020, 9 AM, CDT (UTC -5).

We also have a sponsor for this challenge: Lawn Fawn. Find all details about the prize over at CASology blog.

And here is my take on the challenge: CAS (clean and simple), First Day at School Card. :o)

Design defined: 

Adding dimension gives a CAS card special interest.

Here in Croatia, school starts in September, so I decided to go with school themed card for this challenge.

This school year started yesterday. My younger niece Nika (6 years old) is a first grade student and yesterday was her first day at school. She was super excited. :o) I made this card for her. She was so happy. :o)

Nika, First Day at School

How I made the card...

To make this card I used SUPER CUTE stamps from a Clearly Besotted 'A Class Act' stamp set. This stamp set is no longer available in the size I have, but in a smaller version at Clearly Besotted Shop. I got this set four years ago from a friend crafter, Zrinka of Owls and Co.. :o)

I stamped an adorable kitten on a watercolor paper and colored her in watercolor technique using Distress Inks. After drying, I fussy cut the image and traced edges with a black marker.

I stamped the same image on a white cardstock paper, colored it with the black marker and fussy cut it leaving thin white border around it. Then I glued watercolored image over the black one. I did this to make the image sturdier, as the watercolor paper I use is very thin and I needed thicker image.

Then I stamped a sentiment on a white cardstock paper panel. 

I wanted to add some dimension, but I didn't want to use foam squares that I have, so I cut two more white cardstock panels, slightly smaller than the panel with the stamped sentiment. I glued all panels together and glued them on a white top folded card base. I glued one more panel inside the card just to make it sturdier.

Lastly, I glued 3-D foams 2 mm thick on the back of the kitten and placed her on the card. As a finishing touch I drew white highlights. :o)

Card measurements: 95 mm x 127 mm (3 3/4" x 5")

List of supplies:

• Clearly Besotted Stamps 'A Class Act' stamp set (the set is discontinued, but there is "smaller" version available at Clearly Besotted Stamps shop, here)
• white cardstock paper
• watercolor paper
• Ranger's Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Tim's Holtz Distress Inks:
• Festive Berries
• Salty Ocean
• Ground Espresso
• Hickory Smoke
• Stabilo Fiber Tip Pen (Marker), Black 68/46
• Uniball Signo White Pigment Ink Pen
• UHU liquid glue
• 3-D foams, 5 x 5 x 2 mm
• Fiskars High Precision Personal Paper Trimmer
• bone folder
• scissors
• acrylic block (102 mm x 102 mm) 
• Marabu rounded fine paintbrush no. 3/0
• paper towels
• water

I hope you'll like my today's card for this challenge and get inspired. For more inspiration, check out beautiful cards my Design Teammates and our Guest Designer created. Do join us in this challenge, we are looking forward to see your CAS creations. :o)

Deepti Stephens

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Karen Haman

Milka Gubo

Nancy Elrick
Sandie Munro

Sue Symens
Zoe (Guest Designer)

I'm linking my card to following challenges:

Note: bold text and challenge badge (if any) are direct links to the current challenge and blog badge (if any) is a direct link to blog or challenge home page.

1) Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge, Week 36 - Anything Goes

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

2) Love To Craft Challenge, LTCCB #50 September Anything Goes

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

3) Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge , Stamp it!

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

4) Your Next Stamp, Challenge #147 - Keeping it Clean

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

Thank you for stopping by and your kind feedback. Enjoy and smile! :o)

Milka

Karate Green Belt Card (AAA Cards Game #168 GDT)

Hi everyone! :o)

I was delighted to be asked to be a Guest Designer at AAA Cards for a Game #168, after I won 1st place in their Game #164 One Image. I love playing AAA Cards challenges, as their challenges are all about CAS (clean and simple) cards, my favorite card design. :o)

The Game #168 theme is One Corner + optional twist Use Masking.

Card design needs to be CAS. Here is a CAS definition from AAA Cards blog:

Note: there are various CAS cards definitions on various blogs.

And here is my take on the challenge: CAS (clean and simple), one layer, Karate Green Belt Card. :o)

I made this card for my niece Tea (9), who trains Karate for six years. This Monday, June 15th, 2020, she had her fourth Karate exam to earn a Green Belt. She earned it!! :o)

Tea earned Green Karate Belt

Photo credit: GKV

Tea loved the card!! :o)

If you like, you can see cards I made for her when she earned previous Karate Belts (Yellow here, Orange here, Red here). :o)

How I made this card...

To make this card I used a super cute Mama Elephant 'Tiny Ninjas' stamp set. LOVE!!! :o)

I wanted to create movement on my card. Amazing technique shared by Christine Drogt of Create a Smile stamps was my inspiration (here).

I stamped the adorable ninja directly on a white top folded card base. I made a mask from a post-it paper and glued it over the stamped ninja. Then I stamped same image 5 more times, without inking the stamp.

After the ink dried completely, I colored stamped images with colored pencils. I added extra shades with markers (fiber tip pens) and my card was finished. Super easy and fun!!! :o)

Card measurements: 89 mm x 127 mm (3 1/2" x 5")

List of supplies:

• Mama Elephant 'Tiny Ninjas' stamp set
• white cardstock paper
• Ranger's Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• TOZ Artist Color colored pencil, light green
• TOZ Fantasy colored pencil, skin color
• TOZ Hlapić colored pencil, pink
• Stabilo colored pencil, dark grey
• Caran D'Ache Prismalo Aquarelle colored pencils
• dark pink
• oker
• light green
• mid green
• black
• Stabilo Fiber Tip Pens (markers)
• Pink 68/26
• Light Green 68/43
• Dark Green 68/36
• round acrylic block (d = 70 mm)
• Fiskars High Precision Personal Paper Trimmer
• bone folder
• scissors
• post-it papers (for masking)

This is my first try on this technique: create movement with stamps. I'm satisfied how my card turned out and will surely make more cards in the future using this technique. :o)

I hope you'll like my take on the challenge and get inspired. :o) Stop by the AAA Cards and see amazing creations from the Design Team made for this challenge. The challenge ends on July 4th, 2020, so there is plenty time to share your CAS cards with us. :o) For more information about the challenge rules and prizes, jump over to challenge post at AAA Cards. :o)

I'm linking my card to following challenges:

Note: bold text and challenge badge (if any) are direct links to the current challenge and blog badge (if any) is a direct link to blog or challenge home page.

1) Addicted to CAS, Challenge #187 - One Layer

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

2) Penny Black and More, June Challenge - Favourite Stamps

This is my 1st entry to this challenge.

My favorite stamps are cute images, size: small. :o)

3) STAMPlorations, CAS Card Challenge, June 2020, Anything CAS Goes

This is my 3rd entry to this challenge.

Thank you for stopping by and your kind feedback. Enjoy and smile! :o)

Milka

Karate Red Belt Spinner Card

Hello everyone! :o)

Today I want to share with you this CAS (clean and simple), Karate Red Belt Spinner Card. :o)

I made this card last month and colored images during Kathy's Racoosin 12th 30 Day Coloring Challenge. You can see all my coloring samples during the challenge here.

I made this card for my niece Tea (8), who trains Karate for five years. On December 7th 2018, she had her third Karate exam to earn a Red Belt. She earned it!! :o)

Tea on the Karate Exam for Red Belt

Photo credit: GKV

I didn't manage to make a card for her prior testing, as I was moving that month, and then there were Christmas holidays, and then I got ill... She was super happy when I gave her the card and didn't mind at all that I gave her the card nearly 3 months after she earned the belt. :o)

If you like, you can see cards I made for her when she earned previous Karate Belts (Yellow here, Orange here). :o)

How I made this card...

To make this card I used a super cute Mama Elephant 'Tiny Ninjas' stamp set. LOVE!!! :o)

I stamped adorable ninjas on a watercolor paper and watercolored them using Distress Inks. After drying, I fussy cut ninjas and traced edges with black marker. These two images are reflected images from the set. I love that, as a reflection/mirror stamping technique isn't something that ever worked for me. :o)

'Reflection. Flip. A transformation in which a geometric figure is reflected across a line, creating a mirror image. That line is called the axis of reflection.'

Source: Mathwords, Reflection (http://www.mathwords.com/r/reflection.htm)

I stamped one more ninja (one with closed eyes) on a white cardstock paper, colored ninja with black marker and fussy cut her, this time leaving white thin border around her. (As this was a card for a girl, my ninja is a girl.)

Then I glued all images together. I glued one ninja over the black one, glued white cotton thread on the back of ninja and glued the other watercolored ninja over the thread.

I die-cut a circle on a front panel of a white top folded card base and in a white cardstock paper panel. Then I stamped a sentiment on the panel.

With all parts ready, my card was ready for assembling. I glued the image on the thread on the card base, glued the panel on the card base and my card was finished. :o)

Here is a short video. :o)

Card measurements: 95 mm x 127 mm (3 3/4" x 5")

List of supplies:

• Mama Elephant 'Tiny Ninjas' stamp set
• white cardstock paper
• watercolor paper
• Ranger's Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Tim Holtz's Distress Inks:

• Tea Dye
• Barn Door
• Hickory Smoke
• 100% cotton crochet embroidery thread (TULIPAN no. 15, white)
• UHU liquid glue
• My Favorite Things, Die-namics Wonky Stitched Circle STAX
• Sizzix Big Shot
• acrylic block (102 mm x 102 mm)
• Fiskars High Precision Personal Paper Trimmer
• bone folder
• scissors
• Marabu rounded fine paint brush no. #0
• water
• paper towels

This is my first try on a spinner card and I'm satisfied how it turned out, but not so with a thread. It got loose after couple spins and it takes too much time to spin the image to the start position. I will surely work on that and try with a different thread next time. :o)

I made this interactive card prior my personal challenge started, so I'm not counting it as a card I made for my challenge. I will surely make another interactive card of this type during the challenge, but next time with a different thread.  :o)

Thank you for stopping by and your kind feedback. Enjoy and smile! :o)

Milka

Pumpkins, pumpkins... Crafty Activities for Children

Hi everyone!

It's Pumpkin time!! :o) This is my third post in my Pumpkins, pumpkins series. If you missed previous posts, just scroll down or follow direct links here and here. :o)


Today I want to share with you some crafty activities for children. 

Inspired by Pumpkin Festival in Ivanić-Grad (Bučijada ... find more about it and photos I shared in my blog post here), my nieces, Tea and Nika, and I got crafty while I was staying in Ivanić-Grad. We played with Jane's Doodles 'Autumn Blessings' stamp set.

The set is retired, but you can find stamp sets with similar images in Jane's Doodles store: 'Pumpkin Spice', 'Sunflowers'.


Stamped Pumpkin Class and Kindergarten Pumpkin Class

I stamped a pumpkin class and a kindergarten class using pumpkins from the 'Autumn Blessings' stamp set on white watercolor papers (size A4). Then we drew faces on each pumpkin, Tea on her own class, while Nika wanted me to draw faces on her pumpkin kindergarten class. They asked me to write their class/groups names' on each paper.

Then girls colored pumpkins using colored pencils. 

They were so happy and proud, and both couldn't wait next day to bring their own pumpkin class in school/kindergarten. Their teachers loved the idea, as well as their classmates/friends. :o)

I love various pumpkins and squashes my mom collected, some from her garden and some she exchanged with her friends. Small, tiny, orange, yellow, brown... super cute!!! ♥



New techniques and materials

Introducing new simple techniques and new materials to children is always so fun. Various papers, Stabilo fiber tip pens and TOZ Artist Color colored pencils... hours of drawing and coloring. :o)

My younger niece, Nika, draw on a Kraft paper. She loved it. :o)

I showed my older niece Tea how to use two or more tones for coloring, how to shade and blend colors with Stabilo fiber tip pens. She was so focused and enjoyed learning new coloring techniques. :o)

I colored a bit on an airplane, when I was returning from Ivanić-Grad.

I hope you enjoyed this short Pumpkins, pumpkins series. I'll have more of this and similar series here on my blog in the future. For now, first round of Pumpkins, pumpkins series is finished. :o)

Thank you for stopping by and your kind feedback. Enjoy and smile!! :o)

Milka