Vintage Love Notebook

I have been playing with the old glimmer mists for a bit recently and one of my creations is this A5 sized notebook/journal. I used Tim's Kraft resist paper and sprayed it with mists, then went a bit crazy with the butterfly background stamp to create a more interesting background. Add corners. Tattered Angels frame with LOVE stamped on an old book page and some crackled wings. Bind, add fibers and done. Took a bit longer to make than it sounds but I really like it. It's nice and shimmery and vintagy in real life.

Here is a little close up, this might give you a better idea of how nice it shimmers.

I'm going to put this in my Folksy Shop here.

Vintage style photo jewellery inspired by Liberty's

I walked past Liberty's in London the other day, well I work opposite but I rarely go into this shop as it is so stupidly expensive. But these necklaces in the window caught my eye. As I love working with old photos I just had to try and make my own necklaces using photobooth pictures and I think they turned out rather sweet.

I seem to be making one style of necklace, they are quite long and have lots of random dangly bits and charms. It's what I would enjoy wearing myself even though I could never wear all the necklaces I make. In fact I rarely wear any. So these will be going up for sale in my Folksy shop.

Check them out here.

Finding the time to enter challenges.....

It's difficult finding time to make things for challenges these days, I seem to never stop being busy. One project I'm currently working on should be completed in 3 weeks so I hope there will be plenty of time for more challenge makes.

Today I sat down and created this card. The challenge at Creavil is scrunched up backgrounds, it's something I've never really tried before but I'm glad I did as I like the vintage look it creates. It's simply crumpled up paper which is then inked with distress inks and it picks up all the creased bits nicely. I then stamped some script over it but didnt press the stamp to hard, that way the paper only picks up the script on the high points.

This card will also be entered into The Stampman Challenge where the theme is Men. Same theme over at the Simon says Challenge. And last but not least The Stampsmith is asking for birthday creations this week.

Vintage Butterflies

I received my new Kraft Glassine paper in the post the other day and hadnt even thought about it before, but what do you do with it???

So I stamped some butterflies onto it and they look lovely and vintagy and then I remembered something I had seen on Hels blog the other day - an old butterfly box. I used an Ikea frame here as Ive got plenty in the storage cupboard. It's a very quick project and the Glassine paper works great for a vintage look. It's fairly dark though so I'm not sure how it would work as a card background, but I'll give that a go and report back.

Any good ideas on how to use it anyone???

This frame is goin into the Stampman Challenge where the theme is "All things Tim".

A very special vintage notepad

I thought to myself the other day whether you can print on sticky back canvas as I've never been very good at any other image transfer techniques (not that I've really practised a lot, I'm a little impatient) so I had a little search online and yes of course you can print on the stuff.

I tried it out straight away and printed this old picture of my mum, I love that pic. It's one of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen!

So I simply stuck this round some chipboard, glued a back to it so it looks neat and went a bit mad with the old perfect pearls mist (I think I used a bit too much). I then stamped some swirls over the top, bound the whole thing with a strong cardboard back and added some fibers and idea-ology. Done.


It is so easy to create a really personal gift like this, and a useful gift too. I'm gonna send this to my mum. And I think I just created a new obsession, printing old photos on sticky back canvas. Uhoh! Loads more notepads to come I think!

I am entering this into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge.

Vintage Birdie and a few challenges....

I came across a video yesterday of Tim demonstrating the new distress stains and I had not thought of using them to ink up stamps. Makes perfect sense as they are just liquid ink pads but it was so obvious it didnt cross my mind. So I gave that a go today and created that vintage background using an Artistic Outpost stamp - "Ephemeral Backgrounds" (have I mentioned how much I love their stamps at the momen?!?!). The effect works so well with this old writing, just perfect! The idea with the birdcage I think also came from a similar card from the Artistc Outpost page, I have been browsing so many blogs and pages recently I cant even remember where I've seen half the things.
By the way, the grungeboard cage has also been coloured with distress stain, I think my new favourite thing is to colour grungeboard, the liquid distress makes it sooooo much easier than colouring it with a blending tool.
So this is being entered into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge as well as the Artistic Outpost Referral Program.

Not made any ATC's in ages.....

....until today.

Just thought the other day that I hadnt made any in so long so I gave it a shot today. I am still loving the Artistic Outpost Ephemeral Backgrounds, the telegram and postcard and fab for making vintage themed things.

I made a third one, but it's still drying so I'll share that later.

In the meantime I'll go an enter these into the Artistic Outpost Referral Program.

Vintage Christmas Canvas.....

Inspiration for this frame came from a recent issue of one of the stampington publications. I just wanted to create a little frame with a vintage christmas feel and something with a bit of depth. So I used the back of a canvas and covered it with terra paste all over, when dry I painted it cream and then rubbed over some inka gold with my finger to bring out the texture.

The inside was lined with stripey paper and for a touch of colour I used a blue fabric for curtains and made little ties with ribbon. I played around with the frame a lot and re-arranged it a lot to see what looks good and what doesnt.

The bells were originally pink and I simply painted them with modern masters rust paint. If you havent tried yet, get some, its lots of fun making things rusty and old.

The presents are covered in music paper and dictionary paper and distressed with ink. Around the edge of the frame I used some old gold lace, very heavy stuff. I remember my parents used to use the same stuff for nutcrackers they used to make, so for me its associated with christmas already, I just had to add some. If you have a closer look at the frame there are many things to discover and I had fun putting it together.

I am entering this into the Gingersnap Creations Color Challenge - Vintage Hues.

Been wanting to play with acetate cutouts for ages now and the umbrella man is perfect for a little scene like this. Again I used the Cherry Pie Arts stamp for the skyline and this time I used tissue paper rather than tissues. The tissue paper is a bit stronger (also shows a bit more) and much easier to work with when using the glossy medium. The tissues tend to tear very quickly, you cam't smooth them out as much.
I added some words from the song "streets of london" and done.

Honey, I got beeswax all over the dining table.....

So I got the beeswax out again, on the dining table. Maybe not such a good idea.
Anyway.
Had this triangular box sitting here for ages and just got some Cherry Pie Arts stamps through the door and thought they'd be the perfect match. I stamped the skyline 3 times onto tissue and fixed it down with beeswax. Pretty much like the beeswax mirror (see previous post). I love playing with this stuff, though I think I used too much again on one side. Practise makes perfect I guess.










Since it's an England themed stamp set there was also this picture of the queen with it so it had to be used. Stamped, framed and glossy accented. Done.

I've been decorating so many boxes I'm running out of things to put in them.

Old family photos.....

I recently scanned a load of old family photos, especially from my dad's side of the family.
I printed this particular photo on acetate, attached it to the front of the frame and decorated behind it using and old postcard printout, postage stamps, money, some old lace etc.
I picked up this idea in one of the Somerset magazines. Love the idea and it looks really fab and vintagy. Add a few idea-ology bits and it's done.

A week of firsts ..... matchboxes

I remembered how much fun I used to have crafting with matchboxes when I was younger. I always used to stick things to them, like little cross stitches pieces and stuff. Or make matchbox drawers and advent calendars, I used to love it.
So I decided to alter these matchboxes I had lying around under the bed. I am also going to organize a matchbox swap with the ALL THINGS TIM group on yahoo. Details will be posted tomorrow so come back for that and join in, it'll be fun!




This is my favourite out of the three. I used some replica war memorabilia out of a pack I picked up at the transport museum a while ago. The stuff is fab, all old and vintage little cards, newspaper, leaflets etc. They have different themed packs, if you're ever in London, pop in and stock up. I'm lucky enough to work just across the road from there.
The map bits are leftovers from the mirror I did the other day and they came in handy for this. Also tried out the crackle accents for the first time but it didnt really crack much, only round the edges.

These two are a little random, but I was just working with what I could find around my desk at the time. And the numbers paper I just got in a paperstack I had won in a blogcandy.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the matchbox swap, I can tell you now it will be international and you will have to make 2 matchboxes. It'll be fun so join in!!!

See you then! 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.

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.

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

My Tim Holtz inspired Collage piece....

So, having spent months admiring other peoples collage pieces and distress ink creation I finally made one myself and may I say I'm really pleased with it.
I used one of them cheap ikea mirrors, only £1.19, perfect for altering. I cut up all the little squares and rectangles from white card and then inked them in either mustard seed or scattered straw. Then I worked over the top with aged mahogany and inked all the edges with black soot. It's amazing how every piece turned out so different with just the 3 colours on each. I then randomly stamped images in mainly black soot and a few in aged mahogany. It took a while to assemble the whole thing but worth the while I think.

I then added some embellishments on top. My favourite being the little copper butterflies.
Around the edges of the mirror I stamped random words using the Hero Arts Fanciful swirl Alphabet.







I went with the "Free as a bird" challenge theme over on Ink on my fingers (great blog, check it out!!). It's the first time I'm entering the challenge there but it's been a fun one and I hope to be back for more.

My scrapbook pages ....

I got into scrapbooking last year when I suddenly thought I could make a scrapbook for my Dad's 60th birthday. It was a bit of a mission as I had to secretly scan in all the old photos when I went home to see my family in November. The birthday being in January that didn't leave much time to make it but I managed 20 pages by the birthday and now I'm still catching up on scrappng all the other old pictures. Here is one of my Dad. And below you can find one of my mum when she was little and also my mum with me, my sister and brother. I love working with old black and white photos and giving the pages a grungy, vintage feel. Loads more old photos waiting to be scrapped so off I go to do some more crafting!

Tim Holtz inspired.....

I've recently bought a whole lot of Tim Holtz products and currently working on my collection of distress inks, just loving the stuff. Still waiting for a giant order from the US but so far no sign of it. Anyway, so I've been getting a lot of my inspiration from the Stamper's Sampler Magazine and the Take Ten issues and came across some nice vintage photo corner/bird house tags and thought I had to give that a go and this is the result...