Whites, watercolors, ferns - freestyle journal page with Sizzix

Hi again, I hope you had a great creative week! 

It is good to create something more "airy", lighter- from time to time. For me it is important to play with white spaces and more flat  structures - especially after a weekend full of grungy, dimensional projects I teach during my classes. This page below is a great example of such "mind-cleaning": white background was painted wuth Distress Inks, Watercolor Pencils and Pencil and the main elements of composition are ferns - cut outs from one of my favorite dies in last days - Garden Greens Bigz Die by Tim Holtz.

To show more beautiful details of the floral shape I lined it a bit with very soft pencil. It looks fresh and artsy - I'm really happy about this look! I also repeated the shapes of "petals" of the intricate flower die and added a bit of dots and free-hand journaling.

Here are the Sizzix dies I used for this layout:
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

I hope you will all have a great weekend - I surely will! This year I'm attending CraftHobby and Stitches Show in Birmingham for the very first time - and I'm super excited about it :)
I hope to meet you there:)
hugs
Finn

I add layers - because I can!

Hi again friends! 

Today I'm sharing with you one of my newest paper layouts - all covered in my favorite colors of Archival Inks, Distress Inks and sprays... I just love this way of creating, when I keep using bits and pieces which are around, on my table, waiting to be used. I hate throwing away things - they can be used for a project, right? Small pieces of paper and cardboard are great for Die-cutting - that's why I always put them aside. I've also made a basket for my cut-out pieces and leftovers... hmmm crazy enough?

As you can see I've gone really crazy with layers (why not, right?)
There are paper strips and pieces (7 Dots Studio, Prima Marketing), canvas pieces, metal embellishments (Prima Marketing - my Mechanicals), lace - and of course my favorite Sizzix cut-outs - all colored and inked!

Here are the Sizzix dies I used for this layout:
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime
 - 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily 
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

I wish you all a great, creative week - I hope you will find time to play a bit and make something beautiful!
Finn

My Valentine's Style

Hi again friends! 

It's really cold outside - but here, on my desk I already started thinking about projects for St. Valentine's Day! I'm not a huge fan of hearts or butterflies - but I do love creating something unique for people I love. Mixing styles and using a lot of metal embellishments is my trademark - but this time I was trying to create "mechanical-botanical" look on my greeting card. I'm sure this mixture of elegant and industrial, a bit more "masculine" look will be perfect for those of you who want to give something special to your boyfriends, husbands, brothers or fathers.

Everything is non-traditional here - color palette (mostly greens, golds, creams and metallic colors), layering and embellishments layered on tons of paper and paper cut-outs. There are doilies and "medallions" which i love and use constantly to create the 3D look on my projects, but also more masculine elements: "Picture Wheel" from Tim Holtz and really beautiful - and neutral - leaves from his collection.
All this was glued with craft glue, hot glue and a lot of 3D foams to create even more dimension.
I hope you will like my idea!

Here are the dies I used to create this project:
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily
- 658339 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Medallions
- 658558 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Picture Wheel

I wish you all a great, creative week! Maybe it is the best moment to create something for your loved ones?
Finn

100% Winter - nostalgic layout

Hi,  hope you had a great week!
I'm back from USA to cold and rainy Ireland and now getting ready for the real winter: I'm visiting Poland in the coming days and believe me - I have to take a lot of warm clothes with me :) Snow, frost - real winter, all that made me think about a new project for you - a bit nostalgic, but so accurate for this season!

Here you can see some of the step-by-step photos. I've used several dies from Sizzix collections including Thinlits and Sizzlitz: they helped me create unique, light layered look.

Several layers of die-cuts, 3D Foam Squares and some veil added depth and delicate, vintage feeling to the project. I just had to add some of my Mechanicals - metal embellishments from Prima Marketing too!

Here are the dies I used on my page:
- 658947 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2PK - Doily & Doily Border
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime
- 658339 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Medallions

I hope you like my idea and you will do some more "winter composition" experiments in your projects too!
Happy crafting!
Finn 

Layering obsession... - Thinlits and Sizzlits everywhere!

Hi, it's me again!
I hope you had a great creative week! I'm away now, attending the CHA Show in Anaheim, but I've got something which I prepared for you in advance! My layering obsession continues, as you can see - it is just pleasure for me to build these projects adding more and more semi-transparent elements!

Personally I'm a huge fan of doily patterns - but can't you see how beautifully they work with inks, metals and washi tape? Poetry! Just a touch of nks and they are matching perfectly my chosen color palette... they even look cool if you won't press all of the details out of them!
Love this look! :)

Here are the Sizzix dies I used for this layout:
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime 
- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily

I wish you all a great creative week!
xox
Finn 

Masculine page with girly Sizzlits? - 1964

Hi and all the best for the New Year!
I started 2014 as always - super busy, preparing samples for CHA and trying to work on new projects for the coming year. I always have tons of ideas and plans - and usually not enough time to do half of them :) Life is life - you just have to smile and try harder, right?
Today I'm sharing with you one of my favorite projects from the last days - mixed media scrapbooking page about one of my uncles - I loved this old photo from the fist sight and I just had to do something with it - of course! As I'm obsessed with layering last days pieces of my favorite Sizzix cut-outs were very helpful!

As you can see I went for more "grungy" look this time and I'm so very happy with the final result! A lot of Archival Ink, Neutral 7 Dots Studio paper (9th Wave) and a lot of Stamping and layering was just what I needed!

You can see 2 Sizzix Sizzlits Dies used on this project: they look pretty girly in the first moment...but hey, some cutting, ink and right layering and they are perfect match for this project! 
- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily
- 658502 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Flower, Daisy 

So maybe it is time to have a second look at your stash and it is possible you will find a lot of inspiring, sometimes surprising designs!
Sending best wishes
Finn

Back to journaling - praising the leftovers!

Hi, did you have a good, peaceful Christmas time?
I had - celebrating Christmas at home, in new place - this time in more quiet way than it was years before. But you know? I liked it too - I had a moment to work on one or two special projects, to think about my plans for the coming days, to try something new...
Before Christmas I was making project like crazy - I had to be on time with so many cards, layouts and journals that it was a great pleasure for me to do something just for myself as a break and a bit of "mind stretching"! I was lucky to have great inspiration - my friend's Round Robin - and here is the result of my "free time creating".

I have a special "leftover basket" in my studio now - I put there all the bits and pieces of Sizzix cut-outs I didn't use in my projects - and when I need some elements, some quick inspiration - I can always get some from there! Can you see how in quick and easy way I could build, interesting, layered background using some flower and doily elements from my small collection?

Here is the list of dies I used for this project - but it would work with any similar ones :)
- 658947 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2PK - Doily & Doily Border
- 659127 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Frame Layers & Flower #2
- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily
- 658502 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Flower, Daisy
- 658720 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Ornate Frame 

I really think this basket was a great idea - it is a shame to throw away pieces you don't need in  that moment...they can be perfect for your future projects, right?
Sending you lots of love
Finn

Christmas Wreath - Merry Christmas from Finn!

Hi, I hope you are ready for celebrating Christmas!
As always I'm not ready! I have no idea how it is possible but there is always some last minute shopping, decorating, some very urgent projects that need to be finished...this year I was running like crazy to get some proper Christmas decorations for our new home: tree, lights, candles - and of course I needed something for my front door - a wreath!
Honestly saying - prices of ready-to-go wreaths were highly discouraging... and the quality of them would be also a matter to discuss! So I decided to buy plain, natural (and discounted!) wreath and decorate it myself!

I started with a simple set: scissors, hot glue gun, pine cones, some red berries and otdor lights...but very soon my mighty Sizzix Big Shot came in and cutting has started!

(yeah, you can see my not-the-best-photo taken by my husband - work in progress!)

I decided to use burlap, few of my 12x12 Resist Canvas Sheets from Prima and brand new Tim Holtz Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Jumbo Tattered Florals (659441) - just perfect for my needs!

Flowers are really big and super easy to cut - Bigz Dies will go through layers of fabric, thin metal, wood, felt, chipboard - just name it! I cut out my elements from different sheets of Resist Canvas to get more interesting effect - and after spraying them with colorful mists and gluing them with hot glue gun I finished each flower with a selection of my Prima Mechanicals. 

This way I got a perfect Christmas decoration for my front door - with a bit of personal touch! Simple, not expensive, fast. What can be better?

If you like this project - and new Tim Holtz Jumbo Tattered Florals Bigz XL Die (659441) I have a good news for you! Here you can see a great video showing how you can use BigZ Dies and these particular grungy flowers - and what is even better - this product will be available is your local stores in January 2014!

Happy Christmas to you all!
Finn

Winter Steampunk Workshop - cute cottage transformed!

Hi, it's my turn again to share my projects and ideas inspired by wonderful Sizzix products!
Take a cup of tea or coffee, have a sit and enjoy!
I'm not a great fan of celebrating Christmas long before it's actual date - maybe I'm old fashioned, maybe it is a difference in traditions but I don't let Christmas madness get into my house until very last week before :) I really enjoy creating winter inspired projects though - I simply believe they are more versatile and will be suitable both for Christmas and  just simply as seasonal decorations.

When I saw this Country Cottage die by Brenda Walton (658743 - Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Country Cottage, 3-D)  I simply knew what to do - it was a quick and simple decision and even if I'm not a great fan of gluing I was ready for a challenge:) I even mentioned to my other blogging friends it would be so cool to create different interpretations of the same house - in different colours and styles!

Here is my interpretation - Winter Steampunk Workshop... do i have to add, I had great time creating this project? I just wish it was slightly bigger ;)

Assembling the house wasn't  complicated - it took me a moment to choose the best adhesive, but later everything went smooth.
I'm happy I could find right add-ons to the project: my Prima Mechanicals (leaves, roman numerals and flower) and some older crystal vines. There are also some beads, pearls cogs and alarm clock parts from my collection. (Once again I'm so grateful to my sweet students who support my hoarding habit and share their collections with me!)

Papers I used are from 7 Dots Studio - 9th Wave Collection, glued on thick kraft paper and inked after die-cutting with selected colours of Distress Inks (Ranger). The snow effect is created with Light Modeling Paste and Liquid Pearls (Ranger).

If you want to learn more about Brenda Walton Cottage and other dies from this collection - you will find a video here:) 
Enjoy - and I wish you a wonderful time creating decorations and gifts for your family and friends. See you soon!
Finn

Last moment for Christmas Cards!

Hi, I hope you are ok!
December is a very busy but also very enjoyable time: we think more about our family and friends, plan Christmas Day, shop a lot and cook traditional dishes. December is also the most busy time for postmen - this is the month where we send the most greeting cards and gifts!
If you plan to send your handmade cards it is high time - so maybe a couple of ideas will be useful for you?

On the card below I used both my favorite doilies (Thinlits), some Prima flowers and Sizzlits from Brenda Walton. I wanted to create more opaque, matte look so instead of looking for patterned papers I painted some of my white cardstock with acrylic paints before cutting my flower elements. The effect was great!

Before gluing I inked the edges of my leaves and flowers with Distress Ink (Ice Spruce). Doily elements as well as the paper roses were sprayed with mists later - when the project was already glued together. It created interesting, watercolor look. I used shades of delicate gold, silver and cold blue.

Finishing touches were made with adding some metal elements - Prima Mechanicals and a bit of Liquid Pearls from Ranger. 

Here is full list of dies used for this project:
- 658731 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Holiday Greenery 
- 658735 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Winter Florals 
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime 
- 658947 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2PK - Doily & Doily Border 

I wish you all a great, creative week!
Happy December!
Finn

Altering with Sizzix Sizzlits - Brenda Walton - Winter Collection

Hi, how are you doing? Are you ready for some of new Winter-Christmas inspirations?
I hope so!
In the last days I was working on an altered project for my home. Some time ago I bought a nice doe figure on one of after Christmas sales somewhere in Warsaw. I loved the shape - but I hated the colour! It was sparkly silver, far too shiny for me... 
This year I decided it is high time to change my doe into nice looking home decor matching my living room or dining room - what can be easier? Especially if you have some paint and beautiful designs of dies to choose from?

First I painted my doe with acrylic paints - and I used the same paints to paint white cardstock which I intended to use for my cut-outs too! When it was dry I could start the transformation!
I used 2 dies do get a bunch of nice elements for my composition:
- 658731 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Holiday Greenery
- 658735 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Winter Florals

I cut out the flowers, leaves and piecesof decorative strip which together with Prima roses and Mechanicals helped me to create a composition on my doe.

After gluing all the elements on the figure I sprayed the floral compostion with a bit of delicate, shimmering mist to get perfectly matching colours. I dried it all with my heating tool and added my final touches - a bit of Liquid Pearls dots on the flowers, leaves and doe's tale, some pearl pins, crystals and a metal tag on the chain.
My project was ready for display!

I hope you like my idea - Sizzix cut outs are just great for creating dimensional compositions!
Sending love
Finn

Procrastination - friend or foe?

Hi,it's me again!
I'm sure some of you have the same problem as me: - problem with focusing on thinkgs that "need to be done"... And I guess layout below is just about moments like that. It just madeitself one late evening, when I should be thinking about something else... Van you see all these layers and textures? What can be better?
And colors? This color set is going to be popular on my desk for next couple of weeks!

Sizzix Dies used in this project:
- 658502 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Flower, Daisy
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime

As you can see I went totally crazy with layers, inks, stamping, splashing... It was great fun and I was happy to try finally my new set of Archival Inks (Wendy Vecchi) and play with colors that were already on the background paper (7 Dots Studio - 9th Wave). There are also my Prima Mechanicals - but a altered and rusty this time. I had them on my desk for too long!

These little cut-outs totally rocked my world - I can layer them in tons, absolutely everywhere - on cards, tags, layouts, canvases - you just name it. I love how versatile and eye catching they are and no matter what the colour palette is - they will always match!
Perfect choice for me:)
See you soon!
Finn