Happy Eli

Hello Crafty Friends!

Just a quick post from me today to share my DT project for the Inspiration Round-Up Post over at STAMPlorations. It is a card I started off a few weeks ago, but then it came to a stop until I picked it up the other day to add the little elephant and hearts ... here it is ....

I started the card off with one of my brusho makes, I had placed the Just Squares ARTplorations Stencil on a piece of watercolour card, sprinkled it with turquoise brusho and spritzed with water. Once dry I stamped some blooms from the Big Bloom Factory set in Tempting Turquoise and added the sentiment from the Bloom Happy set. That's where I got stuck and left it. when I picked it up again the other day, I had stamped and die-cut the little eli from a piece of black brusho coloured card, placed it on my half finished card and liked it. Before attaching little eli, I stamped the two black hearts from the Frames And Flowers set and created a light shadow using blue chalks.

Here is another look at the finished card ...

That's it from me. Hope you feel inspired to pick up one of your started projects and finish it in unexpected ways.

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration and to leave a comment for your entry in their prize draw.

I shall be back on Sunday with a great up-cycling idea.
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:

STAMPlorations Stamps: Tweet Love, Bloom Happy, Big Bloom Factory, Frames And Flowers
   

CUTplorations Dies: Tweet Love Coordinating Dies


ARTplorations Stencils: Just Squares

One Happy Reindeer

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday and that means it's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. As you probably saw from the title, I am in Christmas card mode hence I made a very quick, fun and joyful card which can easily be mass produced and is postage friendly too ...

Here is my DT inspiration ...

How was it made....

• splatter your red base card with ivory watercolour, white would be fine too
• on a piece of light brown watercoloured card, stamp the jumping reindeer from the Christmas Reindeer set and die-cut using the Coordinating CUTplorations Die
• die-cut the CUTplorations Phrase Die 'Merry Christmas' from white card
• layer up as seen and finish off with a red gem nose

Should you wish, you could further embellish the card. I just liked it for its joyful simplicity.
Here is another look ...

That's it from me for now. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration, my teamies created some real stunners, and of course to enter their monthly prize draw by simply leaving a comment on their post.

Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika


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:

STAMPlorations Stamps: Christmas Reindeer


CUTplorations Dies: Christmas Reindeer Coordinating Dies, Merry Christmas Phrase Die
 

Time

Hello Crafty Friends!

A quick second post for today, again playing with Visible Image stamps ...

This is a very easy one, straight forward stamping and adding some extra interest with asymmetric layering.

I am entering my card at:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist 'colours of fall'
Craft Stamper Make It Take It - Anything Goes as long as there is some stamping
Visible Image Facebook Group - Show And Tell September

That's it from me for today.

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Flower INKognito and What Really Matters stamps - Visible Image
Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight inks - Stampin'Up!

Angels Are Near

Hello Crafty Friends!

Yesterday I fancied playing with my Visible Image stamps making a card for my friend Sue.

I wanted to give it some movement and stamped the feather repeatedly in Strawberry Slush using generational stamping, added some more stamped splatters 2nd generation and stamped my sentiment in Baked Brown Sugar before layering on a matching base card and finishing off with a few glimmer dots.

I am entering my card at:
Visible Image - Show And Tell September
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes, optional twist 'colours of fall', sorry didn't go for the twist

Here is another look ...

That's it from me for now. I shall be back soon.

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Angels Are Near stamp set - Visible Image
Enamel Glitter Dots - Happy Little Stampers
Strawberry Slush Ink and card, Baked Brown Sugar Ink - Stampin'Up!

Off Beat Colours

Hello Crafty Friends!

We're back safe and sound from our little trip, the caravan is securely tucked up in it's new home, a local storage facility, ..... what better start to Tuesday!

It's Inspirations time over at STAMPlorations, and I have been playing with their new CUTplorations Christmas Word & Phrase Dies for my DT project ...

• splatter some pink on a linen effect base card and allow to dry
• stencil the wonky tree from the ARTplorations Christmas Trees Stencil in mint and bright fuchsia Starlight Metallic Paints
• die-cut 'Merry Christmas' and 'Happy' from plum card, snip the 'Merry' off and layer a Happy Christmas sentiment on your card as shown

Here is another look...

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see the fabulous creations my teamies made and to leave a comment for your entry into their monthly prize draw.

That's it from me for today, off to see to the washing. ;-/ The joys of coming home from holiday ...

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
CUTplorations Thin Metal Dies: Merry Christmas Phrase Die, Happy Word Die
 
ARTplorations Stencils: Christmas Trees

Create Magic

Hello Crafty Friends!
It's my turn today sharing a mixed media tutorial over at STAMPlorations. I created some magic on a luggage tag. Here is the finished project:

Interestingly, when I soft focus on the finished projects I can see one of those old fashioned fairground attractions, I think they are called Helter Skelter, instead of a lighthouse. I don't know whether it is the bleached dots mimicking lights, the sparkle, the word magic or just my imagination playing tricks with me. Try it and see what you see.

If you want to know how the tag was made, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see my full Mixed Media Photo Tutorial.

I am entering my tag at:

Craft Stamper Make It Take It - Anything Goes

That's it from me for today. Hope I have inspired you to create your own magic. Have a lovely day!

hugs
Monika xxx

Here is what I used:
ARTplorations Stencils:
Dots All Over, Some Birds, Foiled, Clouds
   
STAMPlorations Stamps:
Mixed Media Elements, Bold Sentiments: Create
 
CUTplorations Dies:
Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Magical Word Die
 

Special Release Blog Hop Day 3

Hello Crafty Friends!

Welcome to DAY 3 of the CUTplorations Christmas Release Blog Hop & Linky Party over at STAMPlorations. Today my teamies and I are showcasing 15 Holiday Themed Word & Phrase Dies, 1 Dual Stitched Edge/Border Die and 1 ATC & Gift Card Envelope Die from their CUTplorations Range. Get ready for some real eye candy!

I am showcasing six of the dies mentioned starting off with the ATC & Gift Card Envelope Die ...

I made some gift cards with matching envelopes ...

• cut the envelope from pretty paper and assemble
• create a label to sit just inside the beautifully stitched frame and decorate using stamps from the Gone Postal and Large Snowman (stamp lab stamp) sets 

• create a matching gift card using the above stamps plus the snowflakes from the Christmas Block set

These cards and envelopes are perfect for gifting notes, earrings .... too.

Next up is a card using the 'Warm Winter Wishes' Phrase Die ...

This card is Cased from our CASEplorations Challenge featured card by Ksenija. Details of the challenge can be found here. 

• on the medium Luggage Tags Nesting Die stamp the Sketchy Coffee Cups and watercolour
• stamp the small snowflake from the Christmas Reindeer set
• die cut Cutplorations 'Warm Winter Wishes' from white card
• add twine and layer on kraft base card

Next up is a card mainly featuring the 'Merry Christmas' Phrase Die ...

• from a brusho background die-cut the words 'Magical' and 'Wonderful'
• attach to matching base card and inlay the die-cut words
• cut 'Merry Christmas' from gold mirror card and attach
• stamp the large star from the Christmas Reindeer set in matching ink and finish off with glimmer dot

Next up is my card featuring the Word Die 'Wonderful' ...

• die-cut a panel using the medium Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangular Nesting Dies from a brusho background
• stamp the snowflakes from the Christmas Block set in matching ink
• die-cut the phrase 'Merry Christmas' from matching card and snip off the 'Merry'
• die-cut the word 'Wonderful' from frosted shrink plastic glossy side up as it gives a beautiful glossy shimmer once catching the light
• layer as seen on white linen effect base card (I used glue to attach the shink plastic)
• stamp the word 'Time' from the Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year in matching ink
• finish off with some glimmer dots

Next up is my card featuring the Word Die 'Magical'... 

• on a brusho background stencil the bubble tree from the Christmas Trees ARTplorations Stencil in matching ink
• add shimmer to the bubbles by first applying gold eyeliner and then a coat of glossy accents. It really brings out the shimmer when catching the light
• die-cut the word 'Magical' and attach to your card
• stamp the rest of the sentiment using stamps from the Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year
• stamp the large star from the Christmas Reindeer set and finish off with sequins, pearls or gems, should you wish to 

I tried capturing the glimmer in the photograph below, hope you can see what I mean.

Please note: There will be a Mixed Media tutorial on the STAMPlorations Blog here from 12 noon Pacific (8pm BST) later today featuring the 'Magical' Word Die with some added magic.

Last, but not least is my card featuring the 'Peace On Earth' Phrase Die ...

• stamp the Christmas Candles in Archival ink and watercolour adding some splatters too
• die-cut 'Peace On Earth' from your panel and once more in red
• layer on red base card and inlay the red diecut as you go along
• finish off by adding some glitter glue and sequins

It's over to you now ,,, All you have to do is ... leave a comment on my blog, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to leave a comment there and to find the links to all the other participating blogs, then pop over to leave some love there too. You might even want to join in with the linky party. Commenting closes 20th September, and the winners will be announced 22nd September. All the info will be here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Prizes:

• THREE (3) commenters randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and designers' blogs (Days 1 to 3 posts) wins a $10 gift certificate to the shop
• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from the flash diecut linky party wins her choice of any 3 holiday-themed word dies
• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from the flash diecut linky party wins her choice of stamp set & coordinating dies (Christmas Reindeer or Warm Hands, Warm Hearts)

Flash Die-cut Linky Party:

The flash diecut linky party starts September 14 and ends on September 20.  Anyone can link up to 3 new projects featuring diecuts (any brand).

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

That's it from me for now. I shall be back later with another project to share ... oops, I almost forgot ...STAMPlorations have an offer on  .... just for their blog followers and CUTplorations Christmas release week blog hop participants, from September 14 to 21:

• All orders of at least $20 ship free worldwide. Use code: CHRISTMAS. 
• Both stamp sets are 10% off and all dies in the CUTplorations Christmas release are 5% off -- discounts are automatically applied (no coupon needed)

Make sure you hit that 'follow' button on the STAMPlorations Blog before shopping!!!

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

links to previous days: DAY 1 - DAY 2

here is what I used apart from today's new release products:
STAMPlorations Stamps:
Christmas Reindeer, Gone Postal, VIGNETTE Christmas Block, Sketchy Coffee Cups
   
Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year, Holiday Sketches: Christmas Candles
 
CUTplorations Thin Metal Dies:
Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangular Nesting Dies
 
ARTplorations Stencils:
Christmas Trees ARTplorations Stencil