Wednesday, 6 May 2026

May Challenge over at STAMPlorations

 Hi Crafty Friends!

It's May already! Where has the time gone?

Anyway, May is here and this means it is also the start of a new Anything Goes Challenge over at STAMPlorations. My DT piece showcases a couple of stencils available in the STAMPlorations Store. Here it is ...


I decided to use the Circles Flexi-Template and the Bloom Collage Slimline Stencil to create my focal image. For inspiration on using the Flexi-Templates to create frames, check out my photo tutorial post here.

Daffodil Delight was used for the background and frame. I then aligned the largest blossom from the Bloom Collage stencil and blended the flower with Melon Mambo and Framboise inks before adding contrasting touches in Emeraude.

The card was finished off with a stamped sentiment from the Thank You Coffee set and a few sequins to bring it all together.


Now it's over to you and, should you need a little tempting, there are 2 prizes up for grabs
- one $25 prize code, the winner will be chosen by one of us STAMPgirls from entries featuring STAMPlorations products as the main focal point
- two $10 prize code code, the winners will be chosen randomly from all entries including projects which don't feature STAMPlorations products
For a full explanation on prize codes and their Terms and Conditions click here.

There are some simple rules to follow. You can fund them here on the STAMPlorations Blog. Please make sure you read, understand and follow them before linking up your project to avoid being disqualified and have your entry removed.


That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the projects my teamies prepared and, of course, to link up your own project to the challenge.

I am entering my card at:

Addicted to Stamps and More challenge 516 - Make your Mark, used ink and stencilling for my focal image  


I shall be back soon, until then

Hugs
Monika 💕



link to the STAMPlorations Challenge post- May Anything Goes Challenge

As you can see from the watermarked photos, I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
You're welcome to use my unique discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at the STAMPlorations Shop at checkout for a 20% discount on any item apart from the subscription offers.

Products I used:

- from the STAMPlorations Store:






Thank You Coffee



Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which this month is an amazing word die which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.



- from my stash

white base card
Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo inks - Stampin'Up!
Framboise and Emeraude Izink inks
Smokey Gray Versafine ink
sequins

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

That Coffee Vibe

Hi Crafty Friends!

It's time for a good brew hence today's projects are being coffee themed using papers from The Coffee House Collection from The Artistic Crafter's Collage Paper Anthology, Vol. 1 collection by STAMPlorations.

I simply couldn't resist these deliciously roasted coffee beans. They were perfect for making my heart shaped chipboard coaster. Here it is...


I simply covered the heart with the coffee bean paper, layered a fuzzy-cut cup and cupcake on top and added a small heart and die-cut sentiment before finishing with a few coats of Mod Podge for protection.

The dark colour for the sentiment was purposefully chosen as to not to overpower the cup and cupcake images.

Next up is one of two cards using fuzzy-cut images from one of The Coffee House papers.


To ground the cup and make the images flow better I added a 'saucer' using the Ovals Flexi-Template by first lightly blending ink through a larger oval before adding/inserting the smaller oval and blending another layer of ink.

I finished off with a few gems and a snipped up sticker sentiment from the Just Caffeinate collection.

The next card uses the Ovals Flexi-Template in a similar way...


... with a little added extra. Leaving the oval frames in place, I placed the Senecio 1 stencil on top and blended a little more ink through it leaving a delicate pattern on the darker oval centre. This card was finished off with gems and a die-cut sentiment.

Here are some close-ups ...






I hope you enjoyed me sharing my caffeinated projects. It's time now to enjoy my brew. BTW, I like mine black. How do you like yours?

Until next time

hugs
Monika 💕


Here is what I used:

As you can see from the watermarked photos, I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop:

The Coffee House


US residents, please check out the Paper Goods Subscription Offer which is excellent value for money.


Java Great Day Phrase Die























You can check out STAMPlorations Spring Cleaning Sale here. As you can see from the graphic, there are lots of goodies at incredible discounts.



In addition feel free to check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.



- From my staash:
Baked Brown Sugar card by Stampin'UP!
Roasted Coffee Prism Ink and Smokey Gray Versafine ink
candy dots by The Works
sequins
yarn

Monday, 20 April 2026

Reminder Post April Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends!

Just a little reminder that there is still time to play along at April's Anything Goes Challenge over at STAMPlorations.

I made this little card as a bit of inspiration for you ...


My card showcases another one of the Color Me Spring ATCs. Again I've used the Leaf Prints 3 stencil to add a bit of stencilling to the background. A couple of die-cut doilies (Bloomdala Bliss Felicity Dies), a die-cut sentiment and some sequins finished my card off.


It's your turn now to pop over and play along at STAMPlorations April Anything Goes Challenge. Please make sure that you read their current challenge rules before linking up.


I'm playing along at:




That's it from me for today.
hugs
Monika 💕


Here is what I used:

- from the STAMPlorations Shop:
I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. The links are for your convenience and are not affiliated links.
However, you're welcome to use my unique discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at the STAMPlorations Shop at checkout for a 20% discount on any item apart from the subscription offers.





- from my stash:

Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso card  - by Stampin'UP!
envelope and white card
sequins
inks: Framboise Izink ink
glue


Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.


Friday, 17 April 2026

Sunny Days

Hi Crafty Friends!

Probably like many of you, I have lots of photos on my phone but don't scroll through them that often. I felt I needed to do something with them.
So, a few weeks ago I treated myself to a black & white mini printer, one that uses heat sensitive paper for printing, with the intention of creating a sort of a photo journal for our caravan adventures. 

Do you remember this little book cover I shared recently on my post here? Well that was the first step of sharing what I'm making. Here is the book cover to help refresh your memory...


The first double page and tag insert are ready. This is how they look ...


I decided to use the bold blooms and butterflies page part of the Botanical Beats set from The Artistic Stampers Collage Paper Anthology, Vol. 1 by STAMPlorations as background for my photos. It was simply a matter of cutting the pieces to size, adding the prints and a few words to capture the mood.

Over the years hubby and I have spent a considerable amount of time on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, and I can be rather partial to a good beer from the local brewery Cwrw Llyn. Cwrw is Welsh for bier. Brenin Enlli, which refers to the Bardsey King, is my favourite.
The photo below was taken on a late sunny afternoon enjoying one of those.


You can really see how much detail there is in the Botanical Beats designer paper. The colours are beautiful and make for easy crafting.


The double page and both sides of the tag were made from one sheet of Botanical Beats. For the tag I simply added some floral background stamping using the daffodil from STAMPlorations' The Birds And The Blooms set.

I chose the daffodil because it is considered to be the national flower of Wales. The photos were taken on the headland around Porth Ysgaden, one of our favourite walks.


A fisherman's hut, one day we were lucky, the door was open ...


Here are some close-ups...






That's it from me for today. I hope you enjoyed the little excursion into Wales.

Until next time

hugs
Monika 💕


Here is what I used:

As you can see from the watermarked photos, I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop:

Botanical Beats


US residents, please check out the Paper Goods Subscription Offer which is excellent value for money.


Born To Roam





You can check out STAMPlorations Spring Cleaning Sale here. As you can see from the graphic, there are lots of goodies at incredible discounts.



In addition feel free to check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.



- From my staash:
Baked Brown Sugar card by Stampin'UP!
Roasted Coffee Prism Ink and Smokey Gray Versafine ink
candy dots by The Works
sequins
yarn

Monday, 6 April 2026

April Challenge over at STAMPlorations

Happy Easter, Crafty Friends!

It's April already! This has really taken me by surprise, think I'm still stuck in February. 😂

Anyway, April is here and this means it is also the start of a new Anything Goes Challenge over at STAMPlorations. My DT pieces showcases one of the new ATCs available in the STAMPlorations Store. Here it is ...


I picked the tulips ATC from the Color Me Spring ATCs as my focal point.

For the background I cut a piece of white card to size, smooshed some yellow ink Daffodil Delight) on my craft mat, lightly sprayed with water and picked it up with my piece of white card. Once dry it was lightly embossed using the Leaf Prints 3 stencil (cutting plate - stencil - card, colour down - rubber mat - cutting plate) before colouring the leaves through the stencil (stencil was left on after embossing) and finishing off with a bit of Berry Red Artiste ink..

The sentiment (True And Free) was stamped, fuzzy cut and edged with ink. A bit of matting and layering and finishing off with sequins


Now it's over to you and, should you need a little tempting, there are 2 prizes up for grabs
- one $25 prize code, the winner will be chosen by one of us STAMPgirls from entries featuring STAMPlorations products as the main focal point
- two $10 prize code code, the winners will be chosen randomly from all entries including projects which don't feature STAMPlorations products
For a full explanation on prize codes and their Terms and Conditions click here.

There are some simple rules to follow. You can fund them here on the STAMPlorations Blog. Please make sure you read, understand and follow them before linking up your project to avoid being disqualified and have your entry removed.


That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the projects my teamies prepared and, of course, to link up your own project to the challenge.

I am entering my card at:



I shall be back soon, until then

Hugs
Monika 💕



link to the STAMPlorations Challenge post- April Anything Goes Challenge

Products I used: 
The links are for your convenience and are not affiliated. However, you're welcome to use my unique discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at the STAMPlorations Shop at checkout for a 20% discount on any item apart from the subscription offers.









Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.