Birdie Is Back

... and this time he's having a party.

Hi Everyone,

It is Inspiration time again over at the STAMPlorations Blog. Today I'm sharing a card that made itself. Have you ever had one of these? I was looking for some pink card the other day and found a gelli plate print which was left over from before Christmas last year, the time was right for it to be used ...

... to cut the stitched border balloons, current cover gift of Simply Cards & Papercraft, and my stitched border piece at the bottom of my card, well it is actually the other part of the one I used for this card here. The rest was easy. Birdie from the Small Birds set was given a party hat from the Party Mates set and fuzzy cut before sitting pretty just above my sentiment from the Party Time set. I then simply doodles some lines for my balloons and my card was done.

I really like how you can use the Party Mates set and combine it with other sets for some fun cards. It a sort of reminds me of Tim Holtz' Crazy Birds and their accessories.

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration. This is also where you can find and link up with any other current challenges or simply comment to win draws. Each month we invite you to CASE any of our cards featured in the Inpiration Post and link them up for your chance to win a prize. By the way you can use any type of stamps you like to CASE our projects, and we'd be over the moon if you were to use STAMPlorations stamps, but you don't have to. Hope to see you in the Inspiration Case Playground to have fun and enjoy!

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Stamp sets by STAMPlorations, links are in the text

   

Border die - Lil-inkers (in the UK available from Make the Day Special)

In Love With Cupcakes

Hi Everyone,

It is Inspiration time again over at the STAMPlorations Blog. Today I'm sharing a cupcake lover's birthday card. I used a base card which I had embossed with flowers and square a while ago, and I felt it was about time that I used it. I had in mind that I didn't want to add too much, hence I clustered some cupcakes from the Party Mates set and my leafy flourish to create my focal point as you can see below ...

I coloured and fuzzy cut my cupcakes, added the flourish and layered everything as seen adding some doodles and tiny fruit embellishments as I went along. To finish I stamped my sentiment from the Party Time set ... or so I thought ... before I got carried away adding some more doodles, a stamped flower from the Eclectic Florals set and butterfly from the Trendy Butterflies set to end up with the card below ...

The moral of the story: You never know what you end up with once you stat doodling!

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration. This is also where you can find and link up with any other current challenges or simply comment to win draws. Each month we invite you to CASE any of our cards featured in the Inpiration Post and link them up for your chance to win a prize. By the way you can use any type of stamps you like to CASE our projects, and we'd be over the moon if you were to use STAMPlorations stamps, but you don't have to. Hope to see you in the Inspiration Case Playground to have fun and enjoy!

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Stamp sets by STAMPlorations, links are in the text
   

flourish die - Britannia Dies
embossed background- sizzix texturz plates two combined

Just For Fun

Hi All,

Just a fun card I made for the CASology Line Challenge.

I made this card using an off cut I had from a card which is due to be posted next week Friday.

Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Hugs
Monika xxx

balloon die - current cover gift of Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine
sentiment from Party Time set by STAMPlorations

Yet More Birthdays

Hi Everyone,

It is Inspiration time again over at the STAMPlorations Blog. Today I'm sharing a belated birthday card. I made it for Rosa who celebrated her 3rd birthday last week, and we shall be seeing her soon during a family visit in Devon. We'll be driving there tomorrow, and I thought it nice to give her the card with a little present in person.

It is a pretty straight forward card to make. Stamp the 'Birthday Girl' sentiment from the Party Time set in crisp cantaloupe down onw side of your base card, add the Texturized Big Numbers Background in pistachio pudding, stamp the 'Happy belated birthday' sentiment also from the Party Time set in black on a matching piece of card, layer this on a piece of vellum and attach to your base card. Tie a piece of twine into a bow, colour and fuzzy cut the little bear from the Heaven Sent set, add some doodles using white and sparkly gel pens, attach to your card, round some corners and add a few embellies to finish.

TIP!: Little treasures for great embellishments can be found anywhere. The little stars I used were part of a nail decorating kit I bought in the pound shop.

Here is one last look at my card:

I would like to enter this little birthday teddy at:
Stempelsonne - Anything Goes, main image must be hand stamped and coloured
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist adding moon and/or stars - added two tiny stars
Cards Galore Encore - use a stamp or digi
Card Mania - Anything Goes

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration. This is also where you can find and link up with any other current challenges or simply comment to win draws. Each month we invite you to CASE any of our cards featured in the Inpiration Post and link them up for your chance to win a prize. By the way you can use any type of stamps you like to CASE our projects, and we'd be over the moon if you were to use STAMPlorations stamps, but you don't have to. Hope to see you in the Inspiration Case Playground to have fun and enjoy!

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Stamp sets by STAMPlorations, links are in the text

  

Grow Your Wings

... and learn to fly

Hi Everyone! Today I am sharing a little canvas I made for the Spotlight Feature over at the STAMPlorations Blog. I worked with The Bee's Knees' Party Girl, Shery Russ Designs' Eclectic Florals and ARTplorations Stencils Retro Circles and Old Rose Prints. It is the type of project I have been wanting to do for a while now,but never really dared getting even started. One could say that this canvas was inspired by the collective work of our Mixed Media Girls. They inspired me to finally taking up the challenge which, once started, was not that difficult after all.

I recently discovered the joys of using Mod Podge hence I wanted to try using it as a glue and sealant in my project. I think I'm becoming seriously hooked as I've already got a few more canvas projects started ...

... back to today's project, here is how I made it:

Allowing for plenty of drying time between the steps, I begun by sticking some pretty paper on a small canvas using Mod Podge.

TIP!: I used some off-cuts as I was pretty sure that one wouldn't see the join in the end, but it might have been a little easier using a purpose cut piece instead.

Next I created a wash using pink, green and gold acrylic paints...

... before stenciling the Old Rose Prints using gold acrylic paint and a make up sponge.

Next I heat embossed the Retro Circles using Rainbow Crystal embossing powder, which is basically clear embossing powder with glitter.

I then stamped, coloured and fuzzy cut Party Girl, gave her some sliver skeleton leaves as wings and added some die cuts and ribbon. Next I blended some melon mambo ink on a piece of white card before stamping and fuzzy cutting one of the small flowers from the Eclectic Florals set, printed and fuzzy cut my computer generated phrase before adhering and sealing it all into place using Mod Podge.

TIP!: Use the smallest brush you can get away with. The one I used was a little too large for the size of my project and I ended up with a thicker coat of Mod Podge than I would ideally have liked.

Once dry, I finished off with some pearls and doodles in gold (Uni Ball Signo) and clear star (Sakura Gelli Roll) adding some subtle shading, detail and borders. Yes, it's fab! You really can doddle on Mod Podge and it won't wipe off.

Here is another look at the finished project.

I would like to enter my canvas at:
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes, optional twist add moon or stars. Well, I didn't go for the twist, but when it comes to the Apollo theme ... she's got wings to fly

Feel free to pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog and leave a comment on my post for your chance to win one of their amazing prizes.

That's it from me for today. Hope you feel inspired to make something different, something you always wanted to try.

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
stamps and stencils from STAMPlorations, links are in the text
   

gold acrylic paint - Poundland
canvas, rose ribbon, green and pink acrylic paint - The Works
leaf flourish die - Britannia Dies
grass die - Clearly Besotted
ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
gel pens - craft shop at Burleydam Garden Center
DSP, Mod Podge, gems, Promarkers, Spectrum Noir Markers, silver skeleton leaves and embossing powder from stash

Mellow Yellow

Hello Everybody.

As you've seen, I am back with another fun project for the Spotlight Feature over on the STAMPlorations Blog using their current Stamp Club set The Birds and The Blooms. If you're not a member yet, now might be a good time to join as the July Release stamps have just arrived in the shop at a 10% discount until Friday 17th July, that's this coming Friday. If you are a Stamp Club Member you can use your personal discount code to get another 15% off. If you're interested, check out the Stamp Club here and the July stamps here.

Now back to today's project. Sometimes attaching vellum can be a little tricky given that it is transparent which means any hint of glue will be easily spotted. This is part of the reason why I don't tend to use it often ...
Well, I had a brain wave, I know they are becoming increasingly rare since I hit a certain age ... LOL ,,, but nevertheless they still happen. Have a look ...

I simply stamped and embossed the Black Hooded Oriole and partially fuzzy cut the bird leaving a ribbon like strip which was easily attached on the reverse of my panel before layering on my base card.

It is really quick and easy to make:

• stamp the sunflower on a piece of white card using two shades of yellow, I used daffodil delight and crushed curry
• die cut an oval shape from matching card (crushed curry) and layer on top
• heat emboss or stamp the oriole on a piece of vellum and fuzzy cut leaving a ribbon like strip before attaching to your panel
• stamp sentiment from the Bloom Sketches set and attach panel to you base card
• finish off with some doodles. For my first card, which was actually the second one I made, I simply added some dots using a white gel pen. For the card below, I doodled some borders using a black fine liner pen.

I quite like how the natural movement of the vellum adds dimension to this card. It almost looks as if the oriole is turning its head towards you.

TIP!: Embossing on vellum makes for a bolder more striking look and simply stamping gives a softer more subtle look. You can use dye ink to stamp directly on vellum, it just takes a little while to dry.

As always there is a craft along video showing you an easy way of cutting the vellum. It includes a few tips on doodling too.

That's it from me for today. Hope you feel inspired to add a vellum ribbon to your stamped creations. Please share your makes with us over on the STAMPlorations Blog, we look forward to seeing them. Any comments there are very much appreciated, and you will be entered into one of their prize draws depending on which post the comment has been left. See you soon.

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

  

Monday Monday

Hi Everybody,

Monday for me means the start of a new week, and it is also the day when I tend to get most of my crafting done! Before I can get on with that, there is some more inspiration to share with you. First up, a quick birthday card ... no colouring skills needed ...

I started off by attaching the Just Squares ARTplorations stencil to my base card and masking part of it off. Through the remaining twelve squares I sponged a mix of crisp cantaloupe and melon mambo to get this slightly peachy pink. Next I stamped and fuzzy cut the cupcakes from the Party Mates set and attached them using foam tape. Initially I had intended to colour them, but as I was stamping them out, I felt that leaving them simply stamped could look quite good too. next I stamped my sentiment from the Chevron and Arrows set, added a doodled line, attached a few gems and finished off by rounding three of the corners.

I am entering my card at:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist of create your own challenge from the chart

Next up is a card I made using one of the brusho backgrounds from my video here.

This time I was working with the Blooming Buds set. I white embossed my flower and leaves before colouring both using my Clear Star Sakura gelli pen and trimming the panel to size. I then tore a strip of vellum, stamped me sentiment from the Blossom Overture set in elegant eggplant, attached the vellum, layered on my base card and finished off by doodling a border using my elegant eggplant stamp'n'write marker.

I purposefully didn't want the flower to be bold, I wanted it to be more like an imprint ... an imprint one leaves behind in the lives of others.

Here is a closer look at the sparkle, which gives the flower its ethereal feel ...

I am entering my card at:
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Anything Goes

NEWSFLASH

The new July stamps have arrived and are available in the STAMPlorations Shop at a 10% discount. Stamp Club Subscribers get an extra 15% off when using their personal discount coupon code!!! YAY!!! I can't wait to get mine!

Back to today's projects ....

Here is a last look at both my cards from today's post ...

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration, tutorials, challenges and more. There is always something going on for you to join in the fun. Once there, remember that you can also comment to win.

That's it from me for today.I shall be back again tomorrow with another piece of inspiration.
Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

stencil and stamps from STAMPlorations, links can be found in the text
    

crisp cantaloupe, melon mambo, elegant eggplant inks and elegant eggplant marker - Stampin'Up!

Going Grungy

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick post to share a one layer card I made using some of my new toys from my latest visit to Burleydam.

I am entering my card at:

Simply Less is More - one layer masculine
Inkspirational - Grunge
Cardz4Guyz - Sketch

That's it from me for now, I shall be back in a little while with more inspiration.

hugs
Monika xxx

Just a quick update:

here is what I used:
Chase Rainbows and Butterflies stamps by Kaisercraft
Amazing Inspirations stamps by Inspired by Stamping
gathered twigs, spiced marmalade and scattered straw Tim Holtz Distress Inks and sepia Archival ink by Ranger
basic grey ink and marker by Stampin'Up!
grey 1 Promarker pen


NEWSFLASH

The new July stamps have arrived and are available in the STAMPlorations Shop at a 10% discount. Stamp Club Subscribers get an extra 15% off when using their personal discount coupon code!!! YAY!!! I can't wait to get mine!