Some Die-Cutting Play Time

Hello Crafty Friends!

Just a very quick post. I got some new dies today and simply had to have a play. Ended up making 3 cards using all the left over bits too! 😁

Here they are:

I used up some Brusho backgrounds I had from a while back, simply die-cut the heart branches, cut them again from white card and layered them up only attaching the branches at the bottom. This gives a great 3D effect without adding bulk. Doodles and stamped sentiments finished the cards off.

This one was made using the left over bit from cutting the white heart branches. Stamped border and sentiment finished the card off.

That's it from me. Enjoy!!

hugs
Monika xxx

STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day 3

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are doing a Christmas in August Release. They are releasing 6 stamp sets and 8 CUTplorations dies and, of course, are celebrating in style with a Blog Hop. Welcome to Day 3!

Today we are showcasing two sets designed by Shirley under her label The Bees Knees. They are called Christmas Elf for fun and cheeky cards and Three Kings, a modern traditional set I had the pleasure to work with.

As my DT project, I made a box card for lots of dimension, but folding flat for postage. Here it is:

I cut two pieces of card for the box and scored both ends, blended one with blue and cut the medium crazy stitched rectangle from the other one before cutting my frame using the large and medium rectangles. I die cut the stitched snow hills leaving tabs for attaching on two of them. I stamped coloured and fuzzy cut the kings, houses and star, blended my sand dunes, added some gold foil to the frame and assembled as seen finishing off with some gold Stickles.

Here both of Shirley's sets in full, Three Kings and Christmas Elf:

 

I finished my project off with a pocket and tag on the reverse side of my box card.

And here is a little pre-view of things still to come:

As with any blog hop, it is best to comment on all the participating blogs, Facebook and Instagram, links to which can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Commenting closes on Monday 21st August at 11.55 pm Pacific (that's British Summer Time 7.55am Tuesday 22nd August) with winners being announced on August 24.

Here is what you can win:

Winners randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and participating designers blogs:

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release
- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

Well. it's over to you now, you can find all the info and links here on the STAMPlorations Blog.
Enjoy your day and happy hopping!

hugs
Monika xxx

links to previous days: Day1, Day 2

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps ***, stencils and dies:

Three Kings, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Stitched Snow Hills
  
*** Discount code works on sale items too

STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day 2

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are doing a Christmas in August Release. They are relesing 6 stamp sets and 8 CUTplorations dies and, of course, are celebrating in style with a Blog Hop, welcome to Day 2.

Today we are showcasing a stylish set designed by Deepti under her label Dee's Artsy Impressions. It is called Yuletide Deer and great for giving Christmas cards a modern twist.

As my DT project, I went for a card of the modern variety with a collage stamped background. Here it is:

I stamped, coloured and fuzzy cut the deer, collage stamped my background in light grey, added the deer and sentiment from Deepti's set and finished off with twine and a little bell.

Here is Deepti's new set in full:

And here is a little pre-view of things to come:

As with any blog hop, it is best to comment on all the participating blogs, Facebook and Instagram, links to which can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Commenting closes on Monday 21st August at 11.55 pm Pacific (that's British Summer Time 7.55am Tuesday 22nd August) with winners being announced on August 24.

Here is what you can win:

Winners randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and participating designers blogs:

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release
- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store

Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

Well. it's over to you now, you can find all the info and links here on the STAMPlorations Blog. I shall be back again tomorrow with another festive make.

Enjoy your day and happy hopping!
hugs
Monika xxx

links to previous days: Day1

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps ***, stencils and dies:

Yuletide Deer, Deepti's new set, Mixed Media Elements, Oh, Christmas Tree!
  
*** Discount code works on sale items too

STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day 1

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are doing a Christmas in August Release. They are releasing 6 stamp sets and 8 CUTplorations dies and, of course, are celebrating in true style with a Blog Hop starting today.

First up is this fun set designed by Becca under her label Big Grins by Becca Cruger. It is called Christmas Cookies & Cheer, a fun set and must have for any cookie or biccie (short for biscuit as we call them in the UK) lover.

As my DT project, I made a tag ready to adorn a bag of the homemade variety. Here it is:

I used some masking, tray first, the the apron, before stamping one of the sentiments into the background and adding a few snowflakes into the mix. I removed the masks, stamped and decorated the biscuits, added the rolling pin and a splash of colour and finished off with a sentiment, twine and a touch of Stickles.

Here is Becca's new set in full:

And here is a pre-view of what is still to come:

As with any blog hop, it is best to comment on all the participating blogs, Facebook and Instagram, links to which can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Commenting closes on Monday 21st August at 11.55 pm Pacific (that's British Summer Time 7.55am Tuesday 22nd August) with winners being announced on August 24.

Here is what you can win:

Winners randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and participating designers blogs:

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release
- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

Well. it's over to you now, you can find all the info and links here on the STAMPlorations Blog.
I shall be back again tomorrow with more blog hope eye candy.

Enjoy your day and happy hopping!
hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps ***, stencils and dies:

Christmas Cookies & Cheer, Becca's new set, Christmas Reindeer, Luggage Tags CUTplorations Nesting Dies
  
*** Discount code works on sale items too

My Latest Die Storage Book

Hello Crafty Friends!

The eagle eyed among you will have already spotted, that STAMPlorations are featured in September's Craft Stamper Magazine.

The lovely Shery had asked me to contribute with one project. It wasn't a tutorial feature, so I thought I'd make another one for a Mixed Media Tutorial over on the STAMPlorations Blog. It is step by step with lots of photographs and can be found here. But first a little pre-view ...

My front cover ...

... the first page where the For The Birds Die Set is stored ...

... and a little close-up of the front cover. I shall keep you updated on how I decorated all the other inner pages.

Below is a little pre-view of the original one I made for Craft Stamper. It was only once I saw the photos when I realized that yellow might not have been the best colour to photograph or as one of my reflexology clients put it: The photo in the magazine doesn't do the project any justice. It's much nicer in real life. The pre-view is much closer to what it really looks like.

So here it is for you to enjoy!

Please pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out my tutorial.
That's it from me for now.

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps, stencils and dies***:

ARTplorations Stencils: Foiled Again and Dots All Over


STAMPlortaions Stamps: For The Birds, Floral Bliss, Scribbly Splattery Grunge,


Mixed Media Grunge, Artsy Border Makers


CUTplorations Dies: For The Birds Dies, Lacy Edges And Borders

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Going All Out For Cute

Hello Crafty Friends!

Hope you all had a good weekend. I got something a little different for you today ... some super cute cats!

These cuties arrived in the post on Saturday, and on Sunday I treated myself to some new brush markers from Lidl, 24 at a bargain price of £3.99! What better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon!

As you can see there a quite a few other cute characters in the set. Expect to see more!

Keeping it short and sweet, that's it from me for now.
I am back a little later with a sneak preview of a Mixed Media Tutorial I made for STAMPlorations.
See you then!

hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used:
the cutie stamp set can be found here
dies are from The Works
sentiment is from the Tweet Love set by STAMPlorations

Christmas In July & Brushing Up On Colouring Skills

Hello Crafty Friends!

How is your week so far? I had some 'happy mail' earlier this week, when the long awaited Stamper's Friend popped through the letterbox. I already got a MISTI and love it dearly, but I wanted to get something a bit cheaper, one I would would happily take to craft club or classes without fearing that it might get damaged. As you might have already guessed, I am very protective of my stash. Most things look almost as new even though they've been used a lot.

Anyway, I was supposed to get the Stamper's Friend about 6 months ago, but there were delays. These delays meant that I got two free stamp sets, one of which I used to bush up on my colouring skills. I ended up make 3 cards using one of the new sets and some brush markers for colouring. Christmas in July ...

Yes, the Poundworld markers came out to play again and something I hardly ever use nowadays ... Peel-Offs.

For this card here I used the markers with a damp brush for the ribbon and bow. Lots of delicate fuzzy cutting and a PaperArtsy Infusions BG brought it all together.

And for my last, more traditional looking card, I felt emboldened and tried this style of colouring using some of my SU Stamp'n'Write markers, slightly off-set my topper, added a couple of embossed lines and sequins to finish.

I am entering my second card at: Addicted To Stamps And More - Make Your Mark

That's it from me for today. Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
PaperArsty Infusions: Are You Cerise and Golden Sands
Stamps by Be Creative! - Christmas Celebration
KIDS Paint Brush Markers from Poundworld
SU Stamp'n'Write Markers: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze
Be Creative! Stampers Friend from StampAddicts