January Challenge at STAMPlorations

Happy New Year, Everybody!!!
Hope you all a great festive season. It's my first post for 2015, and what better way to kick my blogging year off than showcasing a couple of DT projects I made for STAMPlorations' January Stamps & Ink challenge.
My first card uses their Distressed Damask Background and SAB Dare.

In brief, I created the scalloped pattern on my background stamp by inking it up with my Rich Cocoa Memento dewdrop ink pad and some masking which left me with a stamped scalloped pattern. I did this after I attached my die cut flower and blended some ink (Strawberry Slush and Bermuda Bay) over and around it. To finish I added my sentiment, a piece of ribbon and gem.
I took inspiration for my layout from the current challenge over at CAS(e) this Sketch and I would like to enter my card there. As you can see I had a little play with it and swapped a couple of elements.

For my next card I went all out inky creating a little scene and framing it using Trendy Leaves combined with the Distressed Floral Swirls and a sentiment from the TYPOGRAPHIA: Encouragement set.

There is also a craft-along video for this one hence I won't go into too much detail. I blended some inks, one of my favourite techniques, to crate a landscape background. I then stamped some swirls around the bottom edge and some leaves around the top using generational stamping and Versafine inks. I them embossed my sentiment and added some highlights using alcohol markers before adding a few birds and golden metal embellishments.

I would like to enter my card at CCEE Stampers where you are required to make a card with one or more birds. Mine has some tiny ones flying into the sun, hope that this will qualify.

This is my contribution for the Stamps & Ink challenge at STAMPlorations, head over to their blog to see the fabulous projects my Teamies prepared for your inspiration. This is also where we're welcoming Tenia Nelson from Jazzy Paper Designs as our guest designer for the month. The challenge will end 31st January and the winner will be announced on February 5th.
As always there is a great prize package awaiting the winner which includes a Guest Designer Spot in March. It could be you, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the details and enter your creation.

This is it from me for today. If you like my creations, why not join and follow my site either through Friend Connect or Google+. Back soon with more projects ....
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here are the sets I used:


Inks from Stampin'Up! I used: Straw berry Slush, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi
Versafine Inks: Spanish Moss, Olympia Green, Crimson Red, Imperial Purple, Onyx Black
Die cut flower - eclips shape by Sizzix
ribbon - Stampin'Up!
Gems, Memento inks, black fine liner pen and Tinge alcohol markers