Monster Hugs

Hi Crafty Friends!

Today's monster just loved grunge ... think of someone covered in mud wanting to give you a hug or something similar ...

I used the Oval Flexi-Template and the Radial stencil in combination with Rosee and Grenadine inks to blend my background before adding the background script in Grenadine, the florals in Rich Cocoa. the grounding brush stroke in black Versafine and the splatters in Reglisse.

The monster was coloured in squeezed lemonade and twisted citron Distress Inks

Doodles, sentiment and sequins finished off my card.

That's it from me for today. Hopefully my card made you smile.

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.

Little Monsters

Art Marks 3

Best Mum Ever

- from STAMPlorations but currently not available for purchase

Radial Slimline stencil

Ovals Flexi-Template

- from my stash:

card used for my base card - by Stampin'UP!

envelope and mixed media card

sequins

black fineliner pens

inks: black Versafine ink; twisted citron and squeezed lemonade Distress Inks; Reglisse, The, Rosee and Grenadine Izink inks; Rich Cocoa Memento ink

glue

on a different note...

Bloom  Border #1 by Shery Russ Designs is February's Freebie Of The Month stamp which means you'll get it free with an order of $25 and over. Find out the details here.

Your Smile

Hi Crafty Friends!

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

I made this tiny 10x10cm card as a bit of inspiration for you ...

I had these little base cards already cut to size for making a few more gift sets. For the one I'm currently making, I decided to use the Little Monsters set and bring a bit of humour into the mix.

The background was made using the Circles Flexi-Template, the Make Marks 3 stencil and a couple of stamps from the Art Marks 3 set in combination with tumbled glass and broken china Distress inks.

The monster was coloured with squeezed lemonade and crushed olive Distress Inks, fuzzy cut and attached in place. 

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

I'm playing along at:

Addicted to Stamps and More challenge 510 - die-cuts and/or stencils, I opted for stencils

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.

Little Monsters

Art Marks 3

Fond Expressions 2

- from STAMPlorations but currently not available for purchase

Make Marks 3 stencil

Circles Flexi-Template

- from my stash:

card used for my base card - by Stampin'UP!

envelope and white card

sequins

black fineliner pens

inks: black Versafine ink; tumbled glass, broken china squeezed lemonade and crushed olives Distress Inks

glue

glitter

on a different note...

Bloom  Border #1 by Shery Russ Designs is February's Freebie Of The Month stamp which means you'll get it free with an order of $25 and over. Find out the details here.

Shine

Hi Crafty Friends!

It's a bit early for April Showers ... but hey ho, with all the rain we're having in the UK, I thought it was fitting nevertheless.

My card started out with a strip of designer paper which was left over from the back cover of a journal, which I posted about earlier this week, and a coloured base card found stacked somewhere on my desk.

Next I needed a large-ish words/script stamp for the background and some splatters for added texture before rooting through my stamp collection to find a girl with an umbrella just the right size to fit the card.

She was coloured with metallic pencils for a soft look. The chevrons were stamped to ground her.

After the sentiment was stamped it became obvious that the background needed a little tweaking ... and the sun was added before finishing off with a little matching sequin.

I am playing along at:

Allsorts Challenge 843 - embossing or anything goes, opting for the anything goes option

That's it from me for today. wishing you all a lovely week.

hugs

Monika 💕


here is what I used:

Santoro Gorjuss stamp - had it for a few years (over 10), please check online for availability

Splatter Border and April Words stamps - by Crafty Roo Designs, sadly no longer trading

Chevron, sentiment and sun stamps - from the Mixed Media Grunge, Art Marks and Wonderful Life sets by STAMPlorations*

Strip of designer paper - Classic Elegance by Melissa Frances

Metallic colouring pencils - past Aldi Special Buy

inks - Outremer Izink ink, London Fog and Rich Cocoa Memento inks, Nocturne Versafine Clair ink

light blue, white card and sequin from stash

* I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. The following link for your convenience and it is not an affiliated link.

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.

Gift Set 3

Hi Crafty Friends!

Well, Saturday has come 'round quick. The weeks simply fly past right now, anyone else feeling this way?

I got another 5 little cards for you in a simple gift set, here it is ...

These are very easy one-layer cards with an artsy feel ...

... a single flower in combination with a striking sentiment.

All the stamps used are by Crafty Roo Designs, a small English company who are sadly no longer trading.

You could easily capture the simplicity of these cards using a large sentiment in combination with a floral stamp from your stash.

A few splatters and gems will finish your cards off.

That's it from me for today. For those celebrating, hope you're getting spoiled this Valentine's Day. Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

hugs

Monika 💕

Gift Set 2

Hi Crafty Friends!

It's time to share another gift set as in 'one I made earlier but haven't posted about'. It consists of 5 10x10cm cards with envelopes in a little gift box

Here they are ...

All of them are one-layer and they were presented nicely tied with a bow.

They're basically stamped and coloured with a bit of stencilling on the envelope.

Most of the stamps used were by Crafty Roo Designs who are sadly no longer trading. The tiny stars stamped around the circle in the above card is a mini stamp by Lavinia Stamps.

The stencil, Confetti #1, and the script stamp used in the background of the first card are both from STAMPlorations.

The circle is a Media Plate by John Next Door.

Doodling and gems finished the cards off.

That's it from me for today.

hugs

Monika 💕

Every Moment is a Fresh Beginning

Hi Crafty Friends!

I got a not so little tag-in-a-pocket card for you today. Have a look ...

 

Using up some of my stash, I started off with a white tag and a matching pink pocket which was grunged up a bit before embossing my first sentiment. This is where I messed up a bit ... I didn't checked that my sentiment had stamped properly before adding the embossing powder hence it ended up looking more grungy than the stamp really stamps. But hey ho, it's a great effect.

The tag itself has a base colour of yellow (Daffodil Delight by Stampin'Up!). The Bloom Border #1 and some Mixed Media stamps were stamped in the same colour to add texture to the background. I them added a pencil coloured Bloom Border #1, stamped and fussy-cut sentiment and sequins to finish.

Details of all the materials used at the end of this post. 😀

I'm entering my tag at:

Allsorts Challenge 842 - create your own background or anything goes

Word Power February 2026 Challenge - anything goes with sentiment as focus.



Following Brenda's suggestion, I'm linking up with:

Tag-Along (and ATC's) February challenge - numbers or anything goes



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.

Bloom  Border #1 by Shery Russ Designs Oh, I've just found out that this stamp is February's Freebie Of The Month stamp which means you'll get it free with an order of $25 and over. Find out the details here.

Fresh Beginning - Typographia Motivate

Do What You Can 

Mixed Media Elements

Mixed Media Grunge

- from my stash:

tag card and pocket

hearts die-cuts, sorry not sure of the brand

colouring pencils

white card

white embossing powder

sequins

black fineliner pens

inks: Versamark ink, black Versafine ink, Daffodil Delight and Rose Red Stampin'Up! inks, Rich Cocoa Memento ink

The Back Cover

Hi Crafty Friends!

Earlier today you were introduced to the front cover of a small scrapbook/journal. To ring in the weekend and to get your creative juices flowing, there is a second post today introducing you to the back cover of the scrapbook/journal from my earlier post. 

Here it is ...

I used an identical piece of patterned paper for the back cover to the one used for my front cover. Again I added some stamping, this time in speckled egg Distress ink using the large dogwood stamp (retired, but still available in digital format) and texture stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge and Mixed Media Elements sets.

The edges were blended with speckled egg and tea dye Distress inks. A small circle was punched to feed the ribbon through before attaching the paper to the back cover.

The Bloomtangled #2 cover plate die was cut twice from white card, layered and coloured using The Izink ink and Rich Cocoa Memento ink before attaching in place. I finished off with a die-cut sentiment, dotty doodles, die-cut hearts, cats and sequins.

I'm playing along at:

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge #510 - die-cuts and/or stencils

Creative Inspirations Challenge #35 - Anything Goes

That's it from me for today. Hope you were inspired to get creative this weekend.

Back soon.

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.

Bloomtangled #2 Cover Plate Die

Dogwood Digital Stamp (sorry, the physical stamp, which I used in my project, has been retired, but the digital version can be very useful too) A smaller version of the physical stamp is still available in the Floral Bliss stamp set.

Mixed Media Elements

Mixed Media Grunge

Life Is Good Phrase Die

- from my stash:

kraft scrapbook from The Works

cats and hearts die-cuts, sorry not sure of the brand

small circle punch from Stampin'Up!

Classic Elegance 6x6 paper pad by Melissa Frances

white, black and craft card

sequins

brown and black fineliner pens

inks: speckled egg and tea dye Distress inks, The Izink ink, Rich Cocoa Memento ink