Hello Crafters!
Here we go again with another fabulous genius . . .ready . . .set . . .
It's Marika Rahtu!!!
Did you ever start chatting with someone and then realize that in some other life where you didn't live on different continents you must have been sisters? That's how I feel about Marika. I first spotted one of her amazing cards in a challenge gallery and I went to go leave some love, you know how you do. I was completely blown away by her watercolor work. OMG! It's so amazing. You can see all her gorgeous creations and her blog Me and Minime Crafting. I was sucked in by your talent but what kept me going back was her sweet disposition. She is sincerely beautiful inside and out.
Let's learn all about this lady!
Interview:
1. Who are you and where do you live? My name is Marika Rahtu and I live in Oulu, Finland.
2. How would you describe your style? I am still finding my "style" but I love clean and simple cards. I would say my current style is clean and simple with layers more or less. I love to colour and fussy cut flower and little critter images.
3. Name one product you're completely crushing on right now? Well, there are many things. If I just have to name one I would say watercolours. I just love to colour at the moment and watercolours really got me hooked.
4. What was your first crafty purchase? Would you still buy it now? I think it was a stamp from Penny Black and Inktense Pencils. I don't think I would buy the stamp, but I would definitely buy Inktense Pencils. Love them and use them as often as watercolours.
Fun Stuff:
5.What is your current favorite song? I really don't have just one favourite song at the moment. I love to listen to Finnish pop music but I also like old school English pop music.
6. Who would play you in a movie? I would say that I would love if it would be Joanne Froggatt. She plays Anna Bates in Downton Abbey, an English historical period drama television series. One of my favourite television shows at the moment.
7. One random thing about you that people would never guess? I am 156cm (5' 2'') and once - a long long time ago - I have lifted 60kg (132lbs) in a bench press.
Holy wow. Tiny little power house!!
Want to see that beauty she creates with paper?
Absolutely loving this CAS cutie. Her distress ink background is the perfect platform for such an adorable flyby!
uh what? I'm sorry I was distracted by the fact that I have seen this stamp a hundred million times (it came out in 2010) and I have never seen it look this good. Ever.
Oh I'm a sucker for these cute little scenes. Her sky is so gorgeous! And that little bunny, so stinking cute!!
The CASE:
I knew I wasn't even going to attempt watercolors. Everyone has their strengths and mine lay in the land of copics. I embraced that. I was pretty taken with her adorable scene on the third card so I concentrated on that. The second card was right side heavy and I liked that too. Last both the first and third cards featured some distress ink background and cute critters.
I started by stamping and masked my foxes from Hero Arts Stamp and Cut the Fox Says. I also masked a circle for my sunrise and the horizon line. I used Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade and Ripe Persimmon to do the sky. Before when doing the area where the blue and yellow meet. Use a light hand or you'll end up with a green sky :/ I removed the circle mask and added a bit of yellow to the center. I flipped the horizon mask and added Mowed Lawn to the second half. This is a great cheat when doing a copic background. I didn't have to use my copic ink to cover the whole bottom panel because I already add a base color. I just started adding in my grass with the copics and it all blended in :)
I wanted it to look like the two foxes were cuddled up under a tree in the morning light but I didn't want all that green. I decided to make it a flower tree. I created it with the Hero Arts Stamp Your Own Succulents set. Everything was colored with copics. I added in a few flowers to my field with pink, purple, and white soufflé pens and called it done.
Thanks for visiting!
Don't forget to drop by Marika's blog and check out all her fantastic cards!
XoXo

Kelly, another great interview, another person I totally adore. Your card is perfect, would never think to make a flower tree so so beautiful.
ReplyDeletelearning about Marika is fantastic as i love her work - thanks for this great feature on your blog!
ReplyDeleteOMG Kelly!! I am totally speechless right now. Just got home and rushed to the computer to see your card... Your card is fabulous in all its neat ideas and it really combines all those cards that I sent you. I just love how you inked the background and the sun!! Love, love, love it! AND the idea to use DIs before adding details with copics..! What an idea! Love how you created your floral tree, beautiful. Thank you Kelly for all your sweet words to me. I am so happy that we met!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to know more about Marika. I have been a big, big fan of her work since I have discovered her blog. Her watercoloring skills are simply brilliant. Loved all the three cards she has shared here and like you, i'm totally dumbfounded by the fabulous use of that flower stamp in the second card. Your card is equally fabulous, Kelly ! What a fantastic scene you have built up. Copic coloring is definitely your forte! :)
ReplyDeleteLove when you showcase other crafters or should I say Artist, that I too am in awe over! Marika is incredible as you are my dear....I think we should all be featuring you as well. Your card is beautiful! Love the tree with the cascading flowers....brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI found Marika on Instagram not too long ago and you're right - she is soooo talented! Love her work! Your card is gorgeous too, Kelly - darling scene! ♥
ReplyDeleteCan I be the long lost older sister?
ReplyDeleteoh wow, so gorgeous!!! I love the cards by Marika, and your CASE is fantastic Kelly! Totally adorable!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Marika's work as much as you do!!!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job caseing her... beautiful card!
I'm so new to crafting and card making, I love seeing what inspires others and I'm so glad you've highlighted Marika. She has loads of talent, and so do you! Off to find her on IG :) Beautiful cards by Marika, and a beautiful CASE by you. Xx
ReplyDeleteMarika's work IS genius! I am constantly amazed by her beautiful watercolouring and compositions - so great to see her showcased here, Kelly! Love your gorgeous card too - your work with copics is equally stunning :)
ReplyDeleteYay for Marika! Beautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a gorgeous CASE, Kelly!
Oh wow!! First, I love Marika!! I LOVE your take on her cards too. Your scene is adorable. I love all the masking you did. Stunning, stunning, stunning card!!
ReplyDeleteOh Kelly you really chose a winner this time... you are so right about her sweetness, and she is so sincerely supportive of all of us. Besides that? The talent this girl has? Beyond genius! Your CASE is darling, Kelly! I have found "sisters" when I needed them most right here and I couldn't be more thankful for them ... thank you for giving us the chance to learn more, and see more, of Marika and her masterpieces!
ReplyDelete=] Michele
I am in awe of Marika's magic watercolor talent and loved reading more about her through your wonderful feature interview, Kelly! I would say if anyone could do a brilliant CASE of Marika, it would be you and you proved me right with your stunning card! More importantly, I'm so pleased to learn that you two are bloggie sisters! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat to learn more about Marika. Love her work and your card is Awesome Kelly! Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, Kelly. I've added a few new blogs to my Feedly based this series. I have recently started following Marika and agree with what everyone says. Such talent! Hers may be watercolors and yours is definitely Copics. So happy you two connected. A match made in heaven for sure. Your card is absolutely fantastic!
ReplyDeleteTwo of my favorite people to follow and be inspired by.. You ladies are incredibly talented always look forward to what you have done.. Glad you met up:)
ReplyDeleteI just finished watching Marika's latest video on YT, so I'm thrilled that you've honored her today! Her artistic flair is amazing...and so is yours, Kelly! LOVE your CASE of her style, and really enjoyed her interview ~ Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Kelly...funny right u found new sister but its cool...I meet some nice ladies too at Blogland :) and you and her amazing at coloring...My coloring skill only 10% from u both..love her n your card..stunning!!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Monika
This is inspiring and so awesome the way you CASE others - such a special way that you add to blogging world!! So touched by how you are able to say such sweet and endearing things about each person you CASE!!! Kudos to you for being beyond talented but ALSO for having such a loving, giving heart!! Marika's style is beautiful and so swoon worthy!! And the card you have made here is such a tribute and just so AMAZE - BALLS gorgeous and fun and cool and (I could go on until I run out of adjectives) Awesomely done!! Have a super great day!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love Mariku's style and I'm so glad you featured her! It's so nice to learn more about her!
ReplyDeleteAnd your card is fabulous, Kelly!
Wow what a wonderful scene!!! Great masking technique!
ReplyDeleteVery fun interview and Marika's cards are amazing!
Beautiful cards with gorgeous coloring!
ReplyDelete