Wishing You Well

Hi Everybody,
thanks for all your lovely comments.
I am back again today with another easy project for you forming part of the Inspiration Post over at STAMPlorations.

I used the bouquet from the The Bee's Knees: Newlyweds Extras and a sentiment from the VIGNETTE: Tree Silhouettes. I simply die cut a circle from a piece of white card, spritzed it with turquoise and green inks, stamped the bouquet in Rose Red and the sentiment on a strip of card in Lost Lagoon, assembled as shown and finished off by rounding some corners and adding a tiny heart and some gems.

Next I got another card which I made as a Get Well Soon card for a friend. I was meant to pop it through the door yesterday on my way home from town .... and forgot ... hoping to do it tomorrow.

It is actually for her husband, he loves narrowboats. I am hoping that this will help cheer him up. I just simply stamped and coloured the narrowboat by Amanda Loverseed/Stamposaurus and combined it with a sentiment from the VIGNETTE: Trendy Feathers set by STAMPlorations. Given that the narrowboat is so detailed and I chose to colour it brightly, which is quite traditional, the card didn't really need any additional embellishments.

I would like to link this card to:
Bloggers/Splendiferous Creations - Travel Challenge
Stempelsonne - Anything Goes with stamp as main focus

Thanks for stopping by today.
Back again soon with more inspiration.
hugs
Monika xxx

here is something to look forward to:


stamps I used:
   

Going Girlie

Hi Everybody,
thanks so much for your lovely comments.
I am back again with another piece of inspiration which is part of this Inspiration Post over at STAMPlorations.

I kept it easy this time round and worked with the dress from The Bee's Knees: Newlyweds, stamped it three times on a piece of white card masking as I went along and once on some pretty paper to paper piece one of the dresses. I then gold embossed my sentiment from A Girl And Her Shoes, die cut a scalloped border from red card and a flourish and leaves from orange card to match the pattern of the paper. I the layered everything as shown and added some glass glitter and gems to finish.

I am entering my card at:
Crafts Galore Encore - use a stamp or digi
Scribble and Scrap Challenge #38 - anything goes

As always we invite you to CASE any of our cards and link up to the CASEplorations Playground, which you can easily do over at the STAMPlorations Blog.

stamps I used:
 
Swirl die by Marianne Creatables
Scalloped Border die - Tattered Lace by Stephanie Weightman
Designer Paper - Retro Floral from The Works
Glass Glitter and Poppy Parade card from Stampin'Up!
Gems, glue embossing powder and inks from stash

Gelli Plate Saturday

Hello Everybody,

Hope you all had a great weekend!

My friend Sue and I had a fabulous Gelli Plate session on Saturday afternoon with acrylic paints and stencils. I was using some of my favourite ARTplorations Stencils to lift several prints in the process. You'd be amazed how many prints we managed to lift from one application of paints! We even took some prints of the stencils. I even managed to make use of the pattern I got from rolling the paint off the roller on a piece of card as you can see in the second one of today's projects.
First up is a card where I used part of an imprint from the ARTplorations Stencils: Bubbles and combined it with the following STAMPlorations stamp sets: Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds, Distressed Floral Swirls, Celebrate Artsy and Bloom Sketches.

I used the stencil imprint with its mix of red and golden colours as my starting point and stamped the largest of the texture stamps from the Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds down one side using a touch of Early Espresso ink. I then inked up my chosen Floral Swirls stamp in Gumball Green and stamped it several times into position using the generational stamping technique before stamping a partial border in Early Espresso using the dots from the Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds set. I then stamped, coloured (Promarkers) and fuzzy cut my daisy from the Bloom Sketches set, stamped one of the brush strokes from the Celebrate Artsy set as its stalk using Early Espresso ink, glued my bloom into position and finished off by adding my sentiment (Celebrate Artsy) in black and layering on my red base card.
I really like the 3D effect of the daisy, it looks a little like a pop-up feature.

I would like to enter my card at:
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make Your Mark
Card Mania - Add Some Red
Crafts Galore Encore - Use a Stamp or Digi
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist birthday

The background for my next card was made by simply rolling off the left over paint from my roller. It is a mix of mustard and silver acrylic paint, and the eagle eyed may even spot a faint pattern from the ARTplorations Stencils: Shutters down the right hand side as I had just used the roller to apply some paint over that stencil.
Here is the finished card:

This one was really quick and easy to make. I stamped and fuzzy cut my daisy from the Bloom Sketches set before applying clear glitter to the petals and golden glitter to its center. Whilst the glitter was drying, I attached my mustard panel to a piece of green designer paper, added a ribbon and leaf by Cheery Lynn Designs (think it's called fern leaf and comes as a set of two), stamped my sentiment from the Celebrate Artsy set, attached it to my base card and once dry added my glittered daisy using 3D foam dots.

I would like to enter my card at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 173 - Anything Goes
Scribble and Scrap Challenge 38 - Anything Goes

Oops, almost forgot to say ... The above two cards are my contribution to the Inspiration Feature over at the STAMPlorations Blog, where this time round we showcase some of the older sets. You can pop over by clicking here to see the fab projects my Teamies have created. This is also where we invite you to CASE one of our cards and play along at the CASE Playground. Have fun!

Next up is another Mixed Media style card made using a piece of an imprint from the ARTplorations Stencils: Shutters ...

I did go a little wild here and applied some Metallic Melon and Metallic Mint Gelatos as background colour. I then added some more texture using the large stamp from the Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds with Old Rose ColorBox pigment ink and the Lattice stamp (Kaisercraft) with Lapislazuli VersaColor ink. I then stamped the butterfly corner (36 by Kaisercraft) and my sentiment (Grateful Beyond Words STAMP LAB set by STAMPlorations***) in black VersaColor ink and layered my panel onto my red base card to finish.

This card has a lovely subtle shimmer due to the Metallic Gelatos and a little silver acrylic paint (mixed with mustard) from the stencil imprint.

I would like to enter my card at:
The Crafting Cafe - Favourite Technique, mine is stamping
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes

Hope you enjoyed my little offering today. I shall be back soon with more.

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

*** STAMP LAB sets by STAMPlorations are limited edition stamps which have not been officially released. You can choose a free one with orders of and over $30 worth of products from their shop.***

Here are the STAMPlorations sets and ARTplorations Stencils I used:
     
Early Espresso, Gumball Green inks, Early Espresso and Poppy Parade card stock by Stampin'Up!
Stamps by Kaisercraft, all other inks, Metallic Gelatos, designer paper, ribbon, glitter, Promarkers and paints were from my local Craft Shop

Scented Cards

Hi Everybody,
thanks so much for all your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
Today's post is based on my Spotlight Feature over at STAMPlorations.
This time I had a go at making my own embossing paste, something I have been wanting to try for quite a while. Making your own paste is a really good way to explore the use of embossing paste, especially as most of you will have the ingredients needed already at home. You simply mix some talcum powder with some PVA glue for a gooey consistency similar to a sponge cake mix, and you're ready to go. The added bonus is that it can make wonderfully scented cards as the perfume of the talcum powder will last for quite a while.
Here is my first card, actually my very first attempt at using home made embossing paste:

I was working with the ARTplorations Stencils: Bold Florals. Keeping it simple I only decided to use one flower and masked the rest off using post it notes, as you can see in the picture below.

I had coloured my embossing paste using about 5 drops of red ink refill which matched my card stock. I then spread a little of my mixture across my flower using an old credit/store card, removed my stencil, sprinkled some glitter over my flower and allowed it to dry. Once dried I rounded a couple of corners, stamped my sentiment, from the Bold Sentiments: Hello set, layered on my cream base card and added a cluster of gems to my flower center to finish.

Here is another image which captures the sparkle a little better. I rather like the simplicity of the coloured blossom with the added glitter combined with the bold sentiment.

Next up is a slightly different take using the ARTplorations Stencils: Shutters still keeping with the same overall colour scheme:

This time I used the whole of the stencil image to cover a piece of white card. I securely attached my card to the stencil, reverse side, before spreading my embossing paste across. Once dried, I layered onto matching red card, added some faux stitching in dark grey, stamped, layered and added my sentiment, Bloom Sketches: Sunflower Artsy, before finishing off using some tiny golden stars, which were a real bargain buy from the pound shop's nail art section. :-)
As always there is a little video explaining how I mixed my embossing paste, showing the texture I achieved and the usual tips as I go along with getting messy.

Hope you feel inspired to get messy making some scented cards.
Have a lovely weekend.

hugs
Monika xxx

PS: Mine is Imperial Leather, we've had it for ages and used to use it to treat the rubber seals around the caravan windows.

   
Poppy Parade ink refill and card from Stampin'Up!

Happiness Is

Hi Everybody,
thanks for all your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
For today's card, I've gone all Flower Power. It was mainly inspired by some lovely papers I bought in The Works on Tuesday, when I had ample time browsing whilst waiting for Nick.
As you can see I finally managed to catch up with these red boots on their travels ....

... think they might have had a stint at some fashion shows, hmmmm.
How to make this card:

1. cut a tag shape from white card stock, blend with some pink and yellow ink, stamp sentiment from City Girl in yellow and orange. Spritz with water to get some faded spots
2. stamp the boots from A Girl And Her Shoes directly onto your tag and colour using  Poppy red and Cardinal red Promarkers adding an outline using Cool Grey1 for added depth. Add some faux stitching in black.
3. heat emboss your sentiment in white on a strip of kraft card, add a strip of black punched border at the bottom and attach to your tag.
4. dry emboss a piece of white card using the ARTplorations Stencils: Oh My Stars! and leaving the stencil in place sponge some blue ink over part of it fading out towards the edges, add some faux stitching in brown and slightly distress the edges.
5. die cut some flower shapes from news print paper, scrunch up and layer adding a few pearls to the center.
6. die cut a swirly branch with leaves from matching green card
7. cut a piece of brightly coloured floral paper, slightly distress the edges, layer on your kraft base card and add a partial border to one corner
8. cut a length of white lace, layer all elements as shown and finish off by adding some pink mulberry flowers and pearls 

I would like to enter my card at the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Well that's it from me for today. I shall be back soon with more inspiration, until then ...

Have a lovely weekend!

Hugs

Monika xxx

  
Designer Paper - The Works
Branch with leaves - Sizzix Eclips shape
Flower die - Sizzix
Daisy ribbon punch - Tonic Studio
Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze inks - Stampin'Up!
Lace and mulberry flowers - recycled from cards I received

In The Pink

Hello Everybody,
just a few cards I would like to share with you. I have been a little busy of late and didn't get as much time crafting and visiting blogs as I would have liked.
First up are a couple of cards I made for entering into challenges, here is the first one:

I have been working with the ARTplorations Stencil: Hearts All Over, Sentiment Builders: Love and The Bees Knees: Newlyweds Extras. I simply used part of the stencil and blended some pink ink for my hearts. I then stamped my sentiment in pink and grey before adding the rings in grey. I added some one pink and one grey line down the side before adding some sparkly highlights to the rings using a glittery gel pen and finishing off with some gems. The card I used had some texture and flecks already which makes for added interest.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Less is More - Pink & Grey, Happy 4th Birthday!
Inkspirational - Rose Colours
Addicted to CAS - Hugs & Kisses
CAS(E) this Sketch - 

For my next card I went bold using the same colour scheme, stencil and one of the stamp sets:

I die-cut two hearts one from pink card, which I dry embossed using the  ARTplorations Stencil: Hearts All Over, and one from white card, on which I stenciled some hearts and lightly blended some pink ink before adding white highlights and a border (used Promarker). I then stamped and heat embossed my sentiment, die-cut a little border, layered my elements as seen, added some tiny hearts and rounded two of the corners to finish.
I am entering this card at:
House of Cards - Love
Allsorts - Love
In the Pink - Love, hope I added enough pink
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Next up are a couple of cards I meant to post yesterday, but didn't have the time to do so. they were part if the Inspiration Projects Post over at the STAMPlorations Blog.

As you can see I used The Bees Knees: Newlyweds Extras again. This time I arranged them in a way that would make them look like an Art Builder stamp. I simply added some colour highlights using green and yellow markers, rounded three of the corners and finished off with a touch of glitter glue.
This card was also inspired by a card my teamie Maria made, which you can find here. I simply used a couple of different stamps and arranged them differently.

For my next card I went a little grungy ...

First I stamped City Girl and masked her off. I then created myself a cloud mask using the ARTplorations Stencil: Clouds and put that in place before inking one of my acrylic blocks with some light blue ink and stamping it to create my background frame. I then blended some ink through my stencil to highlight the cloud, I had to do half and the turn the stencil over to do the other half, before stamping the pair of shoes from the A Girl And Her Shoes set and highlighting the outline of my dream clouds. I coloured my images, stamped and gold embossed my sentiment before adding my partial frame. I then decided to liven things up a bit by doing the unexpected and adding some orange splashes using a stamp from the Holiday Artsy set.

Well, that's it from me for today. Off to bed now, having another busy day tomorrow.
Back soon with more inspiration.
Have a lovely week!

hugs
Monika xxx


       

heart dies - Xcut by docrafts
tiny scalloped border die - Stephanie Weightman
tiny hearts - nail art accessories from Poundland
Strawberry Slush, Smoky Slate, Bashful Blue, Tangerine Tango inks - Stampin'Up!

The Sky Is The Limit

or creating a sky background using ARTplorations Clouds stencil ...



Hi Everybody,

thanks for all your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated. My post today is pretty much a copy of my regular Spotlight Feature over at the STAMPlorations Blog.
I have been playing and making cards using their ARTplorations Stencils. Today I'm going to show you a couple of techniques for creating a sky background using their Clouds stencil.

First up a little HELLO card where I used one of the clouds from the stencil, the fluffy one above the shining sun, to sponge my background.

• Starting at the bottom edge, work with the lower edge only blending light blue ink into the cloud shape moving it along to create a row/line of clouds.
• For the next row/line move up a little and offset the cloud pattern for a more random look which you can see quite well in the closeup below.
• Next attach a cloud shaped die-cut border, a piece of Washi and pink ricrac ribbon.
• Stamp, colour and fuzzy cut The Bees Knees Houses, I went for a bold child like coloured look, and attach
• Stamp the HELLO sentiment (PATCHWORK FRENZY Graphic Squares) on a strip of scrap and attach as little banner
• Layer on your matching base card and add some tiny embellishments to finish. I used stars, daisy, gem and heart,which I just had on my desk, but you could equally well use pearls, candy dots or sequins 

For my next card I worked with one of the individual cloud cut outs, to be precise it was the one which would fit the top right hand corner of the Clouds stencil.

This time I tried starting at the top sponging light blue off my cloud onto white card whilst still only working with one edge of the cloud, again moving it along as described above for my first card.
I went a little lighter with my sponging as you can see from the closeup. Sorry it would have shown a little better had I been a bit more heavy handed. It looks lovely and soft on the card, but sadly doesn't show up that well in the photos.

Next I used some stamps from the Trendy Butterflies Set, stamped my sentiment on my die-cut cloud corner and a couple of butterflies on a piece of white. Next I fuzzy cut my butterflies, layered all elements as seen and finished off by adding a gem and some tiny hearts.

TIP!: Arrange the butterflies and heart to roughly form a heart shape to perfectly tie in with the sentiment.

As always, there is a craft along video showing you both of the sky techniques I used. All you need is some light blue ink, a couple of pieces of white card and your ARTplorations Stencils: Clouds.

That's it from me for today, back again in a couple of weeks with some more spotlight inspiration. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog and leave a comment for your chance to win a prize. Check out all of our other Spotlight Features too, the more blogs you comment on in a month the greater your chance of winning.

I shall be posting here a little sooner than this ...

Until then have a lovely time.
hugs
Monika xxx