Stamp Spotlight A Girl And Her Shoes

Welcome to Day 5 of the STAMPlorations Stamp Release Spotlight Blog Hop Week!!!

Today we, the STAMPlorations Girls and our guest designer Laura Bassen, are shining the spotlight on: A Girl and Her Shoes

As soon as I saw this set, I fell in love with the boots and felt I had to do something with a map. The question was, which colour to use for the boots.

I stamped them out to start, something I tend to do when I am not quite sure is to start anyway, and that's when it hit me, they had to be red! Well, what can I say, they simply started walking to create this card here, and then for today's card they arrived in TURKEY. God knows where they're now, I shall keep you posted once I caught up with them.
I used a shaped border die to cut my map, recycled from last year's diary, attached it to my base card, added my sentiment and fuzzy cut red boots, and the card was finished!

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Commenting closes 3rd February, and the winners will be announced 5th February
Prizes:

SIX (6) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $30 gift certificate.

There might even be some surprise prizes.

 I'll be back again tomorrow with more inspiration, and then (our router died on me yesterday, not sure if I could get a post in tomorrow, would need to go to the local library, where I'm just writing Sunday's post) on Sunday, when it's time for our new feature

I think I would have to enter this card over at
Addicted to CAS - World
Addicted to Stamps & More - CAS

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

Stamp Spotlight SB Love and Newlyweds Extras

Welcome to Day 4 of the STAMPlorations Stamp Release Spotlight Blog Hop Week!!!

Today we, the STAMPLorations Girls and our guest designer Laura Bassen, are shining the spotlight on: The Bee's Knees Newlyweds Extras and Sentiment Builders: Love

  

For today's project I made a CAS card using Sentiment Builders: Love

First I stamped the two hearts and embossed them in white. I then masked the top bit off and blended yellow and pink inks. I removed the mask and stamped my sentiment into place before rounding the corners, layering on my base card and finishing off by adding a few gems.
I would like to enter this card into the CAS challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More, STAMPlorations is sponsoring this week. :-)

My next card is another CAS card, this time with a birthday theme, using the The Bee's Knees Newlyweds Extras and VIGNETTE Chevron & Arrows. This is one I want to enter in the current CASology challenge (Birthday), which STAPlorations is sponsoring too.

I went back to basics and used coloured inks to stamp the bouquet and sentiment before rounding a couple of corners, layering on my kraft base card and adding some gems to finish.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Commenting closes 3rd February, and the winners will be announced 5th February
Prizes:

SIX (6) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $30 gift certificate.

There might even be some surprise prizes.
On a different note: I am still having trouble with people not being able to join my site through Google Friend Connect. Shirley however has got this tip for you, she emailed me with what she did to enable her to join: I got round yours by copying your blog URL and adding it to my blog list on my Blogger Dashboard page.

Thanks so much, Shirley!!!
 We'll be back again tomorrow with more inspiration,

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

the other STAMPlorations set I used

Stamp Spotlight Newlyweds

Welcome to Day 3 of the STAMPlorations Stamp Release Spotlight Blog Hop Week!!!

Today we, the STAMPlorations Girls and our guest designer Laura Bassen, are shining the spotlight on: The Bee's Knees Newlyweds

I decided to make a Wedding card in soft pastel tones, here it is:

I softly blended one side using a light shade of turquoise and randomly stamped the small bouquet from the Newlyweds Extras set down the same side using the same pale turquoise ink. I then attached my fuzzy cut couple, which I had previously used as mask when I made this card here hence the golden splatters, stamped my sentiment, layered it all on my white base card and added a few gems to finish.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Commenting closes 3rd February, and the winners will be announced 5th February
Prizes:

SIX (6) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $30 gift certificate.

There might even be some surprise prizes.

 We'll be back again tomorrow with more inspiration,

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

Newlyweds Extras set

Stamp Spotlight Hashtag Authentic

Hi Everybody,
Welcome to Day 2 of the STAMPlorations Stamp Release Spotlight Blog Hop Week!!!

Today we, the STAMPLorations Girls and our guest designer Laura Bassen, are shining the spotlight on: Bold Sentiments: Hashtag Authentic

Don't you just love these grungy words!? I had to put them into an artsy context. The idea for this card came when I was playing with Brushos and created this almost heart shaped image ...

I had spritzed a piece of card with water before sprinkling Brushos on, the heart shaped pattern happened by itself. I then waited for it to dry, gold embossed 'Authentic', stamped the word 'be' in black and attached my punched out heart before layering it all on my white base card and finishing off with a few sequins.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Commenting closes 3rd February, and the winners will be announced 5th February
Prizes:

SIX (6) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $30 gift certificate.

There might even be some surprise prizes.

 We'll be back again tomorrow with more inspiration,

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx 

Stamp Spotlight Houses

Hi Everybody,
Welcome to Day 1 of the STAMPlorations Stamp Release Spotlight Blog Hop Week!!!

Today we, the STAMPlorations Girls and our guest designer Laura Bassen, are shining the spotlight on: The Bee's Knees: Houses


These wonky houses are great, you can use them on their own or build little street scenes with them and use them any time of year, that's including Christmas!
Here is my house-y card

I die-cut my fluffy cloud border, stamped and coloured my house, layered it on my base card, stamped my sentiment, rounded one corner and finished off by adding twine, charm and sequins. This could be an easy and quick New Home card.

Apart from The Bee's Knees: Houses I used the 'sweet' sentiment from Sugar Rush.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Commenting closes 3rd February, and the winners will be announced 5th February
Prizes:

SIX (6) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $30 gift certificate.

There might even be some surprise prizes.

 We'll be back again tomorrow with more inspiration,

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

Conquer The World

Hi Everybody,
thanks so much for all your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
Just a quick post today with a couple of cards to share, first up a catty creation using some of my favourite cutting dies ...

I just needed something quick and easy to make. I stamped the border (Creative Stamping Magazine, labelled with love) and sentiment (Rustic Harmony by Kaisercraft), added my ribbon and die cut cats (Xcut cutting dies by docrafts). This card really reminds me how Boris used to hang out with his catty mates down the bottom of the close. We could watch them gather every evening as they were passing our lounge window one by one ...
I would like to enter this card in the friends challenge over at CASology.
Next up is a card that had me giggling, not the card itself, but more the process of making it ...

... these boots started travelling the world before I even knew it!!! I was still trying to figure out how to get them to leave the UK, when I discovered that they had already taken off to pastures new and arrived in Tunesia! :-) If you want to know where else they have been on their little adventure, check back on Friday ...
A Girl and her Shoes, the set I used in my card, is a new set by STAMPlorations and due for official release next week, when we'll be celebrating with our week long Blog Hop.
I would like to enter this card at:
Addicted to CAS - World
Less is More - Sketch, I had a little play and moved the sentiment up

That's it from me for today, back with more inspiration tomorrow!
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx


map - recycled from an old diary
wild wasabi ink, melon mambo, so saffron and elegant eggplant card stock - Stampin'Up!
ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
black Memento ink, Poppy and Cardinal Red Promarkers
 

Shimmery Leaves

Hi Everybody,
thanks so much for all your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
Today I'm sharing with you a project I made a couple of days ago as my regular Spotlight Feature over at the STAMPlorations Blog. This time round I wanted to highlight how to heat emboss with stencils especially since my ARTplorations stencils, the new additions to the STAMPlorations Shop, had just arrived in the post the same day, and I had to have a play. I don't know about you,but I always love using my new 'toys'. :-)
Here is the card I made ...

This is a really quick and easy project to make, simply attach a piece of pink card to the reverse of the Leaf Prints stencil, sponge watermark pigment ink all over, remove stencil and heat emboss using clear embossing powder. Add some Perfect Pearls and heat set, emboss the sentiment (Sugar Rush, our current Stamp Club set, and Bold Sentiments: HELLO or Boxed Blooms) in white on a piece of vellum, layer up as seen and finish off by adding a few sequins.
I love the shimmer on the leaves when they catch the light, of course you could use any colour embossing powder for a more striking contrast.
Below are a couple of more photos capturing the subtle shimmer of the embossed leaves.

As always, there is a craft-along video tutorial giving you some extra hints and tips as I go along.

If you pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog and leave a comment there on my Spotlight Feature, you'll be entered into a prize draw. Also check back next week Monday for our week long Stamp Release Blog Hop.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
CASology - Friend - I hope that the subtle pattern with the simple sentiment is still CAS enough
Less is More - Friends
4 Crafty Chicks - Best Friends
In The Pink - Pink & Pearlie, Ranger perfect pearls adds Mother of Pearl finish to embossing, hope this counts 
Uniko Studio - Love and Friendship, Gillian and Sarah from Sazzle Dazzle encouraged me to link up, hope it's ok given that I used the STAMPlorations watermark. if it is a problem please feel free to remove the entry. x
That's it from me for today. Hoping to be back tomorrow with some more inspiration for you ... until then ...
hugs
Monika x

materials used:
Regal Rose card stock by Stampin'Up!
Ranger Perfect Pearls
Watermark Pigment ink, white and clear embossing powder, vellum, sequins and stamps from the following sets:
  or  

Valentine Love

Hi Everybody,
as promised I'm back again with another piece of inspiration for you. This must have been one of the quickest cards I ever made. I was just about to go to bed last night when I realized that I forgot to make my card for the special Time Out Challenge post over at STAMPlorations. I already had in mind that I would use the lovely new Hearts All Over stencil. I just love those tumbling hearts!
I quickly sponged some pink followed by red over the center. The red adds more depth to the pink and enhances the faded edge look I wanted to achieve. I then aligned and stamped my sentiments (Bold Sentiments: Cherish) before layering on my black base card and adding some confetti hearts for a sparkly finish.

The pink and black makes for a striking colour scheme, here is another more straight on view:

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Time Out - Valentine's Day with optional twist of hearts
Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday
Crafty Creations - something old, something new, stencil is new, sentiments & confetti hearts are old
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Moo-Mania - Anything Goes

That's it for now, back later today with my STAMPlorations Spotlight Project and video tutorial. See you then. Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

inks used: Melon Mambo and Real Red by Stampin'Up!, black Versacolour from stash
Stamps used:
 

Cute As A Button

Hi Everybody,
Thanks so much for your lovely comments. Sorry to hear that quite a few of you had difficulties joining my site, not sure what is happening there. Any suggestions are welcome!!!!
Today I got a grungy Baby Boy card I want to share with you. We went round the shops yesterday to have a look at baby clothes and what we could get as a present for Nick's nephew and his wife. The tiny jeans and checked shirts were so cute, I had to take my inspiration from them.

I was working with the Baby Greetings set by Woodware, the Grid stamp by Kaisercraft and the stars which came with a magazine from Practical Publishing, would have been either Papercraft Essentials or Simply Cards & Papercraft. A bit of stamping, colouring, fuzzy cutting and punching and the card was done.
Just heard, he has arrived and both mother and baby are fine!!!
It doesn't get any newer than this, hence I'm linking up at the 'What's New challenge over at Crafty Calendar and the Anything Goes Challenge at Cardz4Guyz.
That's it from me for today
Back soon with more inspiration. Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

Sketch 26 at STAMPlorations

Hi Everybody,
As promised, I'm back today with another piece of inspiration for you. It is time for another sketch challenge at STAMPlorations. This is what I came up with:

My inspiration cam from a client who asked me if I already had any Mother's Day cards. This prompted me to dig a little deeper into my stamp supplies and bring out some golden oldies, apart frommit getting towards that time of year anyway. This card could be used any time of year, just to say thank you for being there.
I used Trendy Butterflies, Trendy Leaves, SB Thank You and MOM SAB #3 - Quiet Strength. To start with, I blended some inks (yellow, orange and pink) and stamped the SAB in orange to create my background, rotating it as I went along. It is a technique Shery has used a lot, and I thought I'd give it a go. ☺
I blended some more inks, cut my banner, upside down tag, and stamped my leaf and butterfly before liberally spritzing it all with golden ink. Once dry I over-stamped my butterfly with clear pigment ink and clear embossed it to give the color more strength before fuzzy cutting leaf and butterfly. I gold embossed my sentiment, layered my elements as shown and finished off by adding a few sequins, pearl and gems.
Here are another couple of pictures capturing the subtle golden shimmer.

Now back to the challenge. This is the sketch to take your inspiration from, and as always there is lots of scope.

Our Guest Designer Maria and my teamies created some stunning cards to showcase over at the STAMPlorations blog. The challenge will end 30th January and the winner will be announced 6th February. As always there are lots of prizes to be won including some guest designer spots. Pop over to the STAMPlorations blog for the full details and to enter your project.
Back soon with more inspiration. Have a lovely day!
Hugs
Monika xxx

   

Never Been Used Schtuff

Hi Everybody,
Thanks for all the lovely comments you have been leaving. Hope you're all having a great weekend. It's supposed to be the coldest night of the winter in the UK so far. Mind you the temperature is falling steeply especially if you take the windchill factor into account. We've just come back from our Sunday walk. More often than not it takes us along the Boardwalk, a local footpath running along the shore of the Dee Estuary with stunning views over to North Wales. Lovely and blustery today ...
back home now with a good cup of coffee and wanting to show you this week's bounty.
For my first two cards I used a couple of sets which I had never used before. The rose is part of a set called Sweet pea by Kaisercraft, I bought it a few weeks ago at the craft shop in Burleydam Garden Center. I combined it with Hashtag Authentic, a new set by STAMPlorations due to be officially released week beginning Monday 26th January during a week long Blog Hop.
Card number 1 uses simple stamping combined with a spot of embossing. The word 'Beautiful' is stamped with red ink which I then over-stamped with clear pigment ink and clear embossed. A great way of adding colour to your embossing without needing different shades of embossing powder.
I am entering this card at
CASology - NBUS
Darnell's NBUS Challenge - Anything Goes

Card Number 2 has a slightly different layout and used copper embossing powder to highlight the sentiment plus some gently spritzed splashes/mist of gold and red (Artiste Spritzing inks by docrafts).

Card number 3 uses the same #Authentic set plus Celebrate Artsy, Holiday Artsy and the little heart from the new SB Love, another set from the official STAMPlorations release this January.

Card number 4 uses the same rose from Kaisercraft which I watercoloured using some ink from my Stamp'n'Write Markers (Stampin'Up!) and a sentiment from the Graphic Pentagons set by STAMPlorations. I am entering this card at
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark
Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Watercolouring

That's it from me for today. I shall be back again tomorrow with another offering for you.
See you then.
hugs
Monika xxx

here are the sets I used:
    
sorry, I couldn't find a photo of the sweet pea set by Kaisercraft