Easter card

Easter celebrations always bring to my mind Faberge eggs, and for my card I used Stampsmith stamp (From Russia with love plate), golden mesh ribbon, carved glass leaves and Tulip paint.

Wish upon a star

Stars is this week's Wednesday Stamper theme.
And Caardvarks micro challenge is Say No to Patterned paper, which is almost a sacrilege to me, as patterned paper and I are the best friends. :)
So, I decided to combine the two challenges.
The main image is by Stampsmith. Swirl - PM. Alphabet - Clearly Defined.

40 today

Not something I was looking forward to. But I feel like the most popular girl in the class today, I got so many cards and phone calls and email greetings. I am so deeply touched that people remember and think of me. Thank you all! You made my day!
My special thanks to my niece who drew this wonderful hedgehog playing a violin. She's 6 years old.
She also wrote a very sweet message inside, bless her. Isn't it fabulous?

recent what to call it?

artwork? too pompous... creations? again, a bit too loud... something I made in between running after Sasha who's on the stairs to the attic again, serving him chocolate muffins and changing his DVDs and videos and computer games etc etc:)
A birthday card and four more or less same-ish ATCs for an ATC swap titled Poetry. I have chosen yet again Francois Villon's poem "Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past") .

More DT cards

I had to produce this batch at a rather short notice, and we also moved home just two weeks ago, so life is pretty hectic here.

Ready Steady Design

This is a selection of my Design Team work for Stamp Addicts, using the latest stamps from Judikins and PrintWorks range - JK Poppy Mosaic (that I found most inspiring), PW Life is in Bloom, PW New Curls, JK Happy Flowers, JK Solid Vases cube (another excellent stamp that reminded me of ancient Greek vases) and a PW Life blossom quote stamp.
It is a bit like Ready Steady Cook programme, you can use only a limited amount of stamps that you get and some other stamps by the same companies. I also got two lovely Stazon inks in lilac and fuchsia pink, hence my choice of palette for many cards, JK glass beads (I never tried them before).

trolley dance

yet another charming piece from Antnhec. Great to see people throwing away their inhibitions and enjoying the freedom.

Who are you? (Scraplift challenge)

The SM magazine runs the Scraplifting challenge in every issue, so here's my attempt.
This photo was taken when Sasha was about two years old. Here he's looking at the goat's sculpture in the Museum garden. It makes me smile, as Sasha's expression here borders on squeamish bewilderment, like who the heck are you.

There was a boy/ Kings at Wed Stamper

This piece is for Fede, we both love the Nature Boy song. Also as we are moving in a week, I don't think I'll have time to do anything sensible for Valentine's Day.
The difficulty will be to hide it until the day, and with all the packing will I find it once we move? :)
Stamps used: Paperartsy, Stampsmith (king) and Clearly Defined Alphabet.
The fool is an antique Tarot card image.


There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he

And then one day,
One magic day he passed my way
While we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me

The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return.

(Nature boy by Eden Ahbez)

Magic Tree/LotusPaperie Tallest tree challenge

Sasha is a nature boy. He might hug and kiss a tree in the park like a dear friend.
And I believe he can see things that we don't see.

Small steps (OLW Steps challenge)

I love this photo of Sasha, and had this LO in mind for a long time, but finally the OLW challenge pushed me to start and finish it.
The message says:
"Some people call you a special needs child, but for me you're my very special boy.
You constantly move forward - one small step at a time.
You fully embrace life - disability or not.
I'm so proud of you!"
The chipboard frame is Technique Tuesday, painted with acrylics.
Stamps used: Technique Tuesday, Clearly Defined and PaperArtsy.
The fab tag is KF, I think. I just had to get one, didn't I? lol

Timeless (Caardvarks template challenge)

This is the first card of the new year, made with The Stampsmith/From Russia with Love stamp and the fab carved stone leaves that I got for Christmas. These leaves reminded me of the marvellous carved stone vases you can see in the Hermitage in St Petersburg.

We wish you a beautiful Christmas!

and a happy new year!
And in case you think we have a house with such posh decorations, let me assure you these are photos taken in the Palace, lol.

Sunny card for a cold day

I've been playing with my new stamp, a Secret Santa gift. I know I was supposed to open it on a big day, but I couldn't wait for so long. :)
It is a birthday card for a forum friend. This stamp was asking for something sunny and hot and almost tropical, hence the orange colour.

Christmas is coming

And I am frantic with worry, I need to do more cards. The list is never-ending. :)
Here are some of a few things I managed so far.

This world of words/Wednesday Stamper

I dedicate this little piece to my beloved son Sasha and all kids who cannot talk.
Sasha will be six next year, and he is not talking.
When Sasha is "tuned", he understands a lot, but there are times when I feel that words go through him like sounds which don't make sense. He is surrounded by words, that are more like a cacophony. He tries to express himself, but words that make perfect sense in his mind, come out as sounds that nobody else can understand. This world of words is very frustrating and confusing.

I thought that the scratchy white Sandylion paper was perfect for stamping the main image. Stamps used: Technique Tuesday and PaperArtsy.
And the word HOPE is essential here, as there is always hope, and we should not give up.

Rub-ons challenge

I have used my favourite Anastasia stamp (Stampsmith) and BG Wholy Cow rub-ons for this piece. I particularly like the antique ribbon, it fits well with the nostalgic look of the card.

Snow maiden

My piece has been inspired by the Russian fairy tales, and shows a Snow maiden or Snegurochka in Russian. The maiden's face is painted with the acrylic paints. It is later attached to a Christmas tree ornament, which is painted with 3d paints. The ornament is attached to the card with a ribbon, but can be easily untied and used as a Christmas tree decoration.

Christmas ornaments

After a long non-creative pause I have finally made something. I took my guys yesterday to the Blenheim Palace (where I work) to see all the Christmas decorations and ornaments. Sasha was enjoying himself a lot. All the splendour and colours gave me a necessary inspirational kick, though my ornaments don't look like anything to do with the Palace itself.
I add two photos, as I can't decide which one is more truthful to the colours of my Russian girls. I will call them Olga and Tatiana. :)

Christmas tag (swap)

My Christmas tag was made using a Lost Coast stamp (on shrink plastic). I have painted the stamped image on plastic with acrylic paints. The little icon is a heart of my church tag, with three added cupolas. I am also entering my little collage into a collage challenge on Saturday Stampers.

Sketch challenge/Friends

Here is a sketch for the challenge and my card. This is the stamp that always make me go awww.

Pirate collection (Stamp Addicts design team)

I have recently joined the Stamp Addicts Design Team, and for my first project I received a set of Clearly Defined Pirate Treasure stamps among other goodies.
I absolutely fell in love with it. The Pirate parties are all en vogue now, and these stamps can be used to make super cards and invitations for children who love pirates. I enjoyed playing with this set, it is funky and just perfect for all me hearties, lol.

Feeling wicked? (Hallowe'en forum swap)

I am not exactly a Hallowe'en person, as we never celebrated it when I grew up in Russia, it was something we hardly heard of. However, I signed up for a forum swap, and here are my two little witches, cackling at their own wicked jokes.

Eye for an eyelet Micro challenge at Caardvarks

I don't think arty stamps and cards would go nicely with my son's schoolmates, so for their cards I bought a very cute little angel from Penny Black. This is not a final version, as I will have to do some 30 cards for the school, so they have to be simplified, but I might add a painted snowflake or two to each one.
Eyelets here are the hearts of snowflakes.

Circle of friends card for October

This card is a double whammy, as it is made for the Sparkle challenge and as the circle of friends gift for this month.
I stamped an Indian woman image on golden shimmery paper, used a sari ribbon and painted golden acrylic on the chipboard swirl, plus added doodles & painted tassels with golden 3d paint.

Pink Tag (forum swap)

"The theme for this months Tag Swap is ...
THINK PINK LADIES!!
As this month is Breast Cancer Aware Month I thought we could go with this theme of Pink ladies, any shape or form of pink and as long as its a lady. "

My lady is a Lost Coast stamped image. The Technique Tuesday tiles are painted with pink oil, and a few doodles and dots of 3d paint are added for extra texture.

SOF unChristmas challenge

"Use your non-Christmas stamps to make a Christmas/holiday card! For example, a beach scene in all red and green, or a valentine stamp turned holiday. Christmas sentiment stamp allowed but the other image(s) should be far-flung from the holidays"

For this card I used a Baby sketch stamp (as you can see from the photo). I dressed up my baby in warm winter clothes, and I already know who will receive this card, as our friends had a baby boy a couple of weeks ago.

SOF Music challenge

"Create a project by stamping on sheet music. The sheet music can be printed off the computer or—even better—se a piece of old sheet music to stamp on. The rest of the project is only limited by imagination."

My chosen piece of music is "Lavender's blue, diddle diddle. Lavender's green.
When I am king, diddle diddle, you shall be queen" Here are my little lavender king and queen. Stamps used: Silences by Paperbag studios, PM & Technique Tuesday swirls.
Lavender is painted with Pebeo paints.

Birdie challenge (SOF)

"Make a card with a bird on it. Vintage birds, whimsical birds, paper pieced birds, stamped birds, silly birds... whatever way you want to interpret the challenge. "

I happened to be in a local stationery shop earlier today, and they were selling all stamps at half price, and though I told myself to me firm, I couldn't resist a temptation and bought a little bird stamp. :)
For my little card I used a PI bird stamp, Technique tuesday Hallo stamp, BG papers and my favourite 3d paints.

Christmas card

I decided I will be a good girl this year and will start doing Christmas cards in advance. Especially that I need to do a million of them, and we might also be moving home, fingers crossed.
This is one of my new stamps from Lost Coast. I love this Angel, so serene and beautiful. The blue and silver paper is Sandylion.
And my ribbon is a great find from an antique shop.

Gone with the wind/ OLW challenge "Gone"

My great grandparents Alexandra and Timofei got married in the whirlwind of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and like butterflies who get scorched by the fire, their wings were burnt and their lives changed forever.
Timofei was a sailor on the battleship Mercury, and in this photo he is young, handsome and wearing his uniform.
Alexandra or Shurochka as she was known among her family and friends served as a cook in a baron's house, was giggly and loved to read. They met and fell in love.

In these photos they are always young, in love and finally together.

Timofei was arrested during the wave of the Stalinist repressions in 1937 and executed.
My great grandma didn't know that he was gone, and patiently waited for his return for over twenty years. His friends who returned from the GULAG told Alexandra that her husband has been dead all these years.
This is my family history.

For this layout I used some authentic vintage items, like an antique ribbon that I bought in the antique shop. The little leather piece with tiny buttons comes from a glove worn by a maid of honour at the Russian Royal court, and was a gift from an old friend to me.

Doodle Doodle challenge on Papertivity

"Doodle Doodle Doodle Doodle and Doodle some more. Take some time to just sit down with a nice pen and go to town!"
Here's my doodle creation called "Memory", using Marvy Le Plume pen on vellum. The stamp is by Stampsmith (From Russia with Love).