Kädentaitomessut- Arts & Crafts Fair

Last  November I went to Kädentaitomessut (Arts & Crafts Fair) in Helsinki. I took pictures but never got around posting about it. Yeaaaaah. That’s how I apparently roll. Well, lucky for me, the fair is twice a year and it’s coming up again in couple of weeks time. So isn’t it really better to post about the fair now? BEFORE the fair is on? As to give information what’s it about?

At least that’s how I reason it to myself.

Anyhoo. The fair is held in huge (in Finnish huge, not American huge) convention center. There are several wings of which one is for crafts and (this time) the other fairs held at the same time are: Child, Model Expo, Outlet Expo and Local&Organic Food Fair. I’m particularly excited about the last one because, hey, tastings. Mmmm. Food samples…

I like that there are both small independent crafters and manufacturers AND shops that sell supplies. Pictured above are bamboo dish rags by Susannan Työhuone (Susanna’s Workroom). I didn’t buy one but I kind of wish that I did. I tried to keep a budget so I bought only necessary supplies like washi tape, ProMarkers, stamps…You know. The basic stuff.

March Thrifty Giveway

Woohoo! It’s time for the March Giveaway, naturally in April. Why am I giving stuff away every month this year? No other reason that I like winning free stuff myself and I take part of every raffle that I find so this is my way of paying back. Anyhoo, do you want to know what’s up for grabs?

A Finnish craft/home decor chain has had bunch of their craft goodies on -70% discount. By the time I got there, the shelves were pretty picked but I got something that you might like. First is a wood mounted stamp by Stampendous, then a pack of 4 Memento felt tips and last but not least, some lovely, yellow brads. Since these were on sale, they fill the only requirement I have for the prize, it has to be something thrifty/thrifted.

Now the important part. How to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this giveaway post AND your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. The e-mail won’t be visible to anyone else but me.
2. For a second chance to win, blog about this giveaway with a link back here. There’s no need to use picture but if you do, the first one is the one you should use.
3. Follow me on Facebook and tell me here that you did and if you already are a follower, remind me that you are.
4. Follow me on Pinterest and tell me here that you did and if you already are a follower, remind me that you are.

That is four chances to win, my friends! The giveaway closes on 30th of April at 23.59 Helsinki time and is open globally. I will contact the winner personally and announce it here too. The winner has 7 days to respond to my e-mail before I draw a new name.

Disclaimer: This prize was bought by me, by my own money. The companies mentioned here have no idea who I am. They might come to check out my site when they see in their stats that someone has linked to their sites but that’s about it.

Link Parties:

• Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
• Reader’s Choice at 30 Handmade Days
• Link Love Thursday at Easy Living Mom
• Thrifty Thursday at Living Well Spending Less

Guest Designer @ Paper Crafting Journey

In January I applied for a position as a DT for Paper Crafting Journey. I didn’t get it but Wendy (founder) suggested I could be a guest designer. Naturally I said yes. The sponsor to this challenge is Sassy Studio Designs and I chose the image Paris. For some weird reason ;D

Anyhoo the theme for this week is bingo. My card is following the top line. Except I forgot the bling.

*hungs her head in shame*

And at one point making the card I had bling on it but in the end decided to change it into a washi tape banner! Oh well…Here’s my card:

 I had a little (?) colouring mishap with the hair. I had changed the ProMarker fine tip extension from a red marker to the cinnamon and didn’t do the “doodle cleaning” thing to erase the red leftovers. Now there’s a red patch in the hair! Another mistake is that I used my brush tip copic to colour in the shoes and stripes which resulted in some interesting effects. Stupid thing to do when I HAVE a matching ProMarker. I was just too lazy to change markers after I finished the beret…

Some guest designer I am. I think I have to take this as a learning lesson. If you are interested in this week’s challenge click HERE. You have a chance to win 4 digi images from Sassy Studio Designs. I’m also entering this card in following challenges:

My Grafico Challenges: #145- Anything Goes
Digi Makeover Challenges: #76- Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: Challenge #90- Use Your Oldest Designer Paper (the lace paper)
Creative Inspirations: Challenge #202- Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge: Challenge #63- Waving In Breeze
Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #14- Anything Goes

Till next time!

Totally Teal

It’s time for my second to last challenge as a Design Team Member. This week’s theme is Totally Teal and and our sponsor is Saturated Canary. I chose to work with this image:

 It’s called Roger That and I thought the specs makes it extra cute! My god-daughter actually has geeky frames like that so maybe I will send this card to her. For papers I used the new digi papers I bought from Pixels & Company, specifically the Scarlett-set.

Ta-dah! I used plaid and woodgrain patterns. The latter is just barely visible as the image frame. The plaid was printed in two different scales. The larger is actually printed directly on the 6×6 card base! I made a small mistake with the printing so I had to cut the margins off but the slightly smaller size is not really noticeable in real life.

 Aaargh! I just noticed that I forgot to colour in the nose bridge!!! Other techniques used are doodle stitching, regular stitching and some inking on the edges.

 So sweet, don’t you think?

 Over all I’m very pleased with this card. You can take part in Craft Your Passion’s Totally Teal by clicking the hyperlink. There are prizes from Saturated Canary and The Robin’s Nest to be won! I’m also sharing my talent in following challenges:

Make It Monday: Challenge #124
Eureka Stamps: Challenge #23- Anything Goes
Cards Galore Challenge: January- Anything Goes
City Crafter Challenge Blog: Week 142- Winter Blues
I <3 ProMarkers Challenge: Challenge #151- Layer It Up
Divas by Design: Make It Girlie
Pin And Tack: Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #5-Anything Goes!
Simply Create Too: Challenge #29- Anything Goes
Stampin’ For The Weekend: Something Girlie
Pile It On #3- Have a Heart
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge: Use a Digi

Wow! That’s a lot of linking, my friends! Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to participate in my giveaway:

 Thrifty Finn is tired and is going to bed as soon as is finished linking up in the challenge blogs.

Gone Country. Or Sarcastic.

Challenge time! This week our theme is Gone Country and we are sponsored by DRS Designs and Doodle Pantry. My image is from DSR. I chose this buck bust with an intention to make a kitschy, vintage style card but then something happened…

Namely, Pinterest.

I have board called Quotes where, unlike the name suggests, I have pinned tons of those super funny Someecards. Most of them very rude and NSFW but there are some family friendly ones there too. (Note that I’m using the words family friendly very liberally here). Anyhoo, when I kept looking at the image I chose, I realised its facial expression is very laconic. Perfect for some friendly sarcasm don’t you think?

So what is girl to do? First I had to hunt down the font Someecards use. It’s Gill Sans Light and you can find it HERE if you don’t have it already. Then I had to find some witty sentences to print on my card. I found quite a few and in the end, I settled for…

 I printed the text and the image on some heavyweight paper and the I layered them with another layer of the background paper to give a subtle pop. I added white doodle stitching and them some glitter brads in the corners. I believe I managed to combine country and hipsterism by using plaid rather masterfully. But wait! This is not all. After I finished this card, it seemed so lonely and begged to be part of a set so I made two more!

 Sometimes my friends really do that. Or simply are the cause of the medication. Really, they are.

 Have there ever been truer words said? Now it’s your turn to go country and link your work up in HERE. I’m also sharing my set of cards in following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Black/White with Splash of Colour
Divas by Design: Anything Goes
Stamp’n Doodle- Something Neglected (the papers are leftovers from various projects and have been sitting in my stash forever)
Crafty Creations Challenges: #204- Something New (new stamp and new style of crafting)
Paper Pretties Challenge: PWC 240- Brads
Inky Impressions Challenges: Challenge #92- Add a Sentiment
Cute Card Thursday: Challenge #251- Beat The Blues
Paper Crafting Journey- Anything Goes!
Stamping With The Dragon: Anything Goes!
Natalie And Amy’s Challenge: Your Favourite Things (sarcasm, doodle stitching, patterned paper)
613 Avenue Create: Challenge#2- Anything Goes!
Sir Stampalot Challenge: Friendship (these cards can only be sent to someone who knows you really, really well)
The Squirrel and The Fox: Challenge #35- Anything Goes!
Make It Monday #123 with MilkCoffee

Thanks for dropping by peeps! If you have a superfunny Someecard in your bookmarks, Pinterest or whatever, feel free to share the link in the comments!

Related articles

• Recipe Challenge! Or How You Can Find Inspiration In Everything. (thriftyfinn.wordpress.com)
• Vintage Or Shabby Chic (thriftyfinn.wordpress.com)
• Oh Deer! (thriftyfinn.wordpress.com)
• The Peeks Continue! Give-Away Inside! (prima.typepad.com)
• Gift #230: Doodling (anordinarymiracleday.wordpress.com)
• The Best Someecards To Send Your Techie Friends For The Holidays (businessinsider.com)
• Baffle Them With Bull! (busybusyhoneybee.wordpress.com)
• This Little Santa Went To… (thriftyfinn.wordpress.com)
• 25 Hilariously Sarcastic Responses to Well-Meaning Signs (complex.com)
• Sneak Peek-Wishful Thinking! (prima.typepad.com)