Be Somebody

Hi Crafty Friends!

Sometimes it just needs to be said in bold ...

Today's card is perfect for such a pep-talk, perfect to encourage someone to excel ... to go beyond of what they thought they were capable of.

The card a sort of made itself, once I had chosen the sentiment that is.

The background paper is a piece of a colouring book page, especially designed for paper crafters, card makers and mixed media artists, which I had coloured in ages ago. A bit of layering and my card was done.

I am entering my card at:

Word Power January 2026 Challenge - Anything Goes with sentiment as focus

This challenge blog is actually what inspired me to check out all the beautiful large sentiment stamps in my stash.

Here's to hoping that somewhere in blog-land or IG-land this card find at least one human who needs to hear this message.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop:

Be Somebody - Typographia Motivate

- Color Blooms: coloring book for cardmakers, crafters and mixed media artists

Something to look forward to...

 Hi Crafty Friends! 

As you have probably already seen, Shery has started up her company STAMPlorations again. She has planned a few surprises for you you this month, so please stay tuned. 

As for me, I shall be getting crafty with paper again a bit more ... 

... and more importantly post about it too. 

As a little warm up, I made a simple one-layer card as a way of getting into the swing of blogging again rather than simply sharing my crafty projects on Facebook and Instagram only. 

Here it is... 

I used Blossom Sprays 2 by Dee's Artsy Impressions, coloured the image with Izink inks using small makeup brushes and finished off with sentiment and sequins.

I am entering my card at:

Krafty Chicks Challenge #801 Birthday

Creative Inspiration Challenges #34 Anything Goes

I shall be back soon, until then

hugs

Monika 💕

here are the STAMPlorations products I used:

Blossom Sprays 2

Balloons And Banners - for the word HAPPY

Birthday Word Die

One I Made Earlier

Hi Crafty Friends!

Earlier this year I needed a card for a big birthday.

Here is what I made ...

A stencilled background and die-cut balloons were perfect for this masculine card

Hope you enjoyed this bit of inspiration.

hugs

Monika 💕


Here is what I used

- from STAMPlorations:

Shaker Balloons #3 Layering Dies

Shaker Balloons #1 Layering Dies

Numbers Plate Die

A Snarky Birthday To You stamps

Confetti stencil - currently not available

- from my stash

sentiment stamp by Crafty Roo Designs, card, ink, fine liner pen and sequins 

How Time Flies

 Welcome back my Crafty Friends,

Its been a while since I wrote up a blog post, but this doesn't mean that I haven't been making cards. They simply were posted on Facebook and Instagram only.

Well, it's time to revive the blog and what better way to start than with a Christmas card...

You might remember that I like making Christmas cards using stamps or dies the are not necessarily designed with Christmas in mind.

I decided to use Gift Builder #1 and #2 dies by STAMPlorations. Yes you read correctly, after 3 1/2 years of absence Shery has reopened the online store. 

I got tone of pretty paper which cam in handy for the wrapped parcels which I popped up against a green textured background. Some pretties and a die-cut sentiment finished my card off.

On a side note, I added my old STAMPLorations DT watermark to start spreading the message before the official relaunch early next year. Please stay tuned.

That's it from me for today. Hoping to be back tomorrow with more cardmaking inspiration.

hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used 

- from STAMPlorations:

Gift Builder 1 dies

Gift Builder 2 dies

Circles All Over Texture Plate Die

Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies

STAMPlorations are having a big SALE on to welcome everyone back, lots of discounts to be had until the end of December 2025.

- from my stash

star punch, gems, sequins, pretty paper (Raspberry Road Designs) and card stock

Christmas Kickstart Challenge GDT

Hi Crafty Friends!

Today's card is one made as my guest designer piece for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge with the theme Wrapped Up For Christmas. Here it is ...

I was inspired by the cold weather here in the UK and went with the idea of wrapping up to keep warm.

  

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #72

One can never start too early making festive cards. So why not join in the fun, there is a little prize available too. Click here to find out more and join the fun.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used in today's project:

- Media Plates by John Next Door for the background rectangle

- Christmas Reindeer set by STAMPlorations for the snowflake

- all other stamps are from a set by Clearly Besotted which came with a magazine a while ago

Speckled Egg Distress ink, black Memento ink, alcohol markers, glitter and gems

Pastel Dots - Advent Calendar Day 24

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 24 and a few more surprises, the little flower and the dot are two of them ...

The dot was stamped with Periwinkle, Pink Jellybean and Apple Green Prism inks. For movement and interest, the flower heads were stamped randomly to include bits of the coloured dots.

Sentiment and gem finished my card off.

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas Eve!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar stamps by Crafty Roo Designs

For My Friend - Advent Calendar Day 23

Hi Crafty Friends!

Day 23 and this little sentiment popped up ...

I used the stamp from a few days ago to stamp my partial flower before finishing off with a metal embellishment and a couple of de-bossed lines.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

hugs
Monika 💕

Advent Calendar stamps by Crafty Roo Designs