27 January, 2023

Vellum

I'm a bit late to introduce the latest Alphabet challenge this time, so I'll get straight to the point: our theme for the letter V is vellum. I'm not usually working with vellum/parchment paper, so I thought it would be quite a challenge for me to create comething that should inspire you to play along in our alphabet wheel. However, I found a beautiful sheet of vellum I bought recently: a piece embellished with mandala-like patterns, which fits perfectly for a quick & easy "just because" card. 
You might be familiar with the motif as I'v eused it before, cutting it from a leaflet I received during rehabilitation. Since I liked it so much initially, I made sure to collect a few of the leaflets in which I found it so that I'll be able to use it in different projects. This time, for example, I decided to pay more attention to the surroundings. I picked a kraft card base which would make the vellum background stand out nicely. Then, I cut the meditating figurine to the right size, placing it onto a piece of light blue cardboard. After that, I placed it in the middle of my card. Then, I added a couple of shimmering star stickers to where rainbow ornaments of the image are. 
To make the image appear bigger, I then added the words "breathe in" and "breathe out" which I've created by using golden stickers (I didn't want to run the printer for just two words, and I need to reduce my sticker stash anyway). I think they aling nicely with the shimmering stars, especially when the light falls onto the card under a certain angle.
Once that was done, I took two little pieces of blue cardboard from my stash of paper snippets, and placed them in the upper resp. lower corner of my card. On the one hand, this gave me the opportunity to enlarge the main motif, but most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to place a bit of adhesive behind said strips. One of the things I dislike about vellum is the fact that every kind of glue will shine through, but placing something on top of the vellum sheet turned out to be a handy solution for the problem.
Anyway, I hope you like my little creation, and I'm looking forward to seeing your vellum-inspired projects in our link-up soon.

challenges:
krafty chicks: all occasions
crafty calendar: add a sentiment
crafty catz: ATG
creative crafty uncles: happy birthday
creative inspirations: something old, something new (new: vellum sheet, old: image)
cutie pie challengeblog: January blues
everybody art: new (vellum sheet)
love to craft: ATG 
make my monday: favourite 2022 challenge (July 18th: Outdoor sports)

13 January, 2023

Get well soon

We've fully started into the new year by now (and passed the first half of January already!), but our tasks over at the Alphabet challenge blog are approaching the end of the Alphabet. For the letter U, our theme is "Under the weather", meaning that we'd like to see your "Get well soon" creations this fortnight. Remember, it doesn't need to be a card - just make sure your project is meant to lift someone up and bring a little cheer.
For my DT task, I've chosen a very simple outline using paper scraps from my stash. One reason is that I'm really busy right now finishing tasks that should have been done long ago, and the other... Well, you can never use up enough scraps to bring order in your crafting stash. That being said, I took a strip of patterned paper with different kinds of foliage. What looks like a neatly picked image is actually part of the cardboard box of a fragrance I once bought. It seemed too pretty to be thrown away, which is why I cut it in a way that would not include any labels. The rectangle that I managed to save ended in my scrap drawer until recently. I figured I'd use it as the main focus of my card, which is why I opted for a plain green background paper. I cut that one into a similar size than the piece of greenery to leave lots of blank space, and overlapped the papers to create some sort of depth. For additional texture, the green paper I worked with has a subtile embossed pattern on it. 
I complemented the card with a tiny "Get well" message which I placed on another piece of green paper. Once that was done, I couldn't resist adding a couple of gemstones and pearls that I got myself for Christmas. While the pearls create a nice 3D effect by blending into the floral pattern, the shiny gemstones add a bit of bling, which I feel makes the card complete.

challenges:
as you like it: favourite reason to send a card (I like to send/give away "Just because" cards, because I mostly create cards without a special reason. I believe that an unexpected gift will bring joy to the recipient, and make their day a little brighter. That bein said, I consider most of my cards as "Get well" cards, as the'll improve the mood of the recipient even though the person receiving the card might not be actually sick and/injured.)
C.R.A.F.T.: new (new gemstones)
crafty calendar: add a sentiment
crafty catz: ATG
creative inspirations: something old, something new (old piece of patterbed paper, new gemstones)
love to craft: ATG 
make my monday: something new (new gemstones)
nachteulen: ATG

01 January, 2023

I will draw


Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без війни.

Я намалюю на папері нашу тишу,
Я намалюю на папері наші зорі,
Я намалюю все, що нам з тобою так потрібно.
Будь поруч, будь поруч!

Я багато можу намалювати,
Але мрія у нас всіх одна:
Щоб закінчилась страшна і люта
Жахлива війна!

Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без горя, без печалі, без смерті, без війни!
     
Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без біди.

Ти вся у ранах, так пече і дуже страшно.
Не бійся, ненько. Ми - твої захисники.
Усе життя було з тобою нам так класно,
Тебе ніколи не залишимо в біді.

Бо одна в нас така Україна
І за тебе горою ми всі
Я намалюю, щоби ти була щаслива
Навіки.

Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без війни.
     
Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без горя, без печалі, без смерті, без біди!
     
Я намалюю на папері щасливу дитину,
Де в мирному небі літають птахи.
Я намалюю на папері рідну Україну
Без війни!

Діма Волканов, Намалюю 


---

I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without war.

I will draw our silence on paper,
I will draw our stars on paper,
I will draw everything that you and I need so much.
Be there, be there!

I can draw a lot,
But we all have the same dream:
To end the terrible and wicked
Horrible war.

I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without grief, without sorrow, without death, without war!
     
I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without troubles.

You are covered in wounds, it burns so much and it is very scary.
Don't be afraid, baby. We - are your defenders.
Our whole life was so great with you,
We will never leave you in distress.

Because we have only one Ukraine,
And we are all rooting for you.
I will draw to make you happy
Forever.

I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without war.
     
I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without grief, without sorrow, without death, without troubles!
     
I will draw a happy child on paper,
Where birds fly in the peaceful sky.
I will draw my native Ukraine on paper
Without war.

Dima Volkanov, I will draw