Getting Festive

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I have one card and an almost finished project to share. Let's start with the card. I had some playtime over the weekend, when this card just made itself ...

Well last week the pieces of the jigsaw fitted together in the end. Most of the time we can't see all the pieces clearly and just have to trust that it will work out in the end. I rather like how this card turned out with an unintended trick of the eye. There is a sort of an upward sloping parallel strip which includes some of the white space. It is framed by the sentiment and the black jigsaw piece outside of the coloured strip. I only saw it after my card was finished.
I masked off a strip and sponged some Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay and Strawberry Slush, stamped one of the Jigsaw pieces (VIGNETTE: Puzzle Pieces by STAMPlorations) several times in Strawberry Slush, removed the masks and stamped another piece and the sentiment in black Versafine before layering on a gery base card. ....

I would like to enter my card at:
CAS Colours & Sketches - #201 Sketch 
Addicted To Stamps And More - #221 Anything Goes

The other day, I was discussing Advent Calendars with a friend, and came up with the idea of making little bags which I could peg to a piece of string. I made all of my 24 bags, they are now waiting to be filled and hung up. Here are some of my designs ...

... and here is a little video on how to fold the bags ...

I wanted it to be a quick project I could easily make whilst watching tele hence the handwritten numbers. I also used up some paper I printed off at least two years ago for some other project I never made. Finally I got used! 😃 The labels (Blossom Overture) are gold embossed. Apart from that I stamped out some Christmas Trees (Oh, Christmas Tee!), some Reindeer (Christmas Reindeer), some bells (VIGNETTE: Christmas Block), some sleighs and snowmen (both from Gone Postal). I did a lot of fuzzy cutting, colouring where needed and the simply layered it all on my folded bags, decorated with glittery stars and finished off with some Stickles. As I mentioned earlier, they are now waiting in the lounge to be filled and 'strung up'. I shall add a photo in due course.

I am entering my Advent Calendar bags at:

Time Out - Christmas with optional twist glitter or shimmer

I shall leave you with a last look at my card and the finished Advent Calendar ...

Feel free to check out my Mixed Media Tutorial over on the STAMPlorations Blog for a great gift idea. Here is a sneak pre-view ...

That's it from me for today. If you love challenges and getting inspiration, why not pop over on the STAMPlorations Blog to check out their inspiration, challenges and tutorials.

Have a lovely week!

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:

VIGNETTE: Puzzle Pieces, Blossom Overture, Oh, Christmas Tree!, Christmas Reindeer
   

VIGNETTE: Christmas Block, Gone Postal
 

Doing A Spot of Watercolouring

Hello Crafty Friends!

I felt like playing today in a clearing my mind sort of way hence I got out my watercolours and the Originally Organic set by Uniko. I wanted to create a clan and simple card, softly watercoloured and cheerful ... here it is ...

I simply stamped my image in black Archival and off I went ... I love to allow the watercolours to run into each other and hazily blend around the leaves for a really soft look. It does work even without using watercolour paper/card, all you need is a sturdy non-coated card stock to allow your imagination take flight ... I added some splatters for an artsy look, stamped my sentiment and layered on a grey base card to further enhance the soft look I was after.

I am entering my card at:
CAS Colours & Sketches - Challenge #201 Sketch 
CASology - week #225, cue card 'soft'
Addicted To Stamps And More - Anything Goes

My second card for today is another CAS card, using Background Builders: Round In Circles by Uniko and Holiday Sketches: Christmas Candles by STAMPlorations for the sentiment ...here it is ...

I am entering this card at:
Uniko - Christmas 
Time Out - Christmas, optional twist glitter or shimmer which I didn't use

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

Have a lovely weekend!
hugs
Monika xxx

25 Tags Of Christmas

Hello Crafty Friends!

Welcome to 25 Days Of Christmas Tags featuring STAMPlorations. Shery, STAMPlorations owner, is one of the sponsors and put up a prize in the form of a $25 gift certificate, redeemable at the STAMPlorations Shop of course. If you want to play along, make sure to check out Tracey's Blog for all the information about the 25 Days Of Christmas Tags event.

I went for a teal/silver and white creation using the CUTplorations ATC/Tag Builder Dies and Blessings Word Die in combination with stamps from the Oh, Christmas Tree! set.

It was quite easy to make:

• cut a tag and the bottom bit of the tag from white card using dies from the ATC/Tag Builder set
• blend the tag with Soft Sky and Island Indigo inks
• stamp the Christmas Trees in Island Indigo and silver emboss one of them
• stamp the sentiment in Island Indigo and cut to size
• give the white bottom bit a torn edge
• die-cut the word Blessings from silver card and punch a little star from the same card
• layer up as shown adding a little Stickles to the torn edge as you go along
• add some rays to the star using a sparkly gel pen and finish off eith gem and ribbon

Here is another look at the finished project ...

There is another tag I made with a full tutorial. It has a secret pocket and is over on the STAMPlorations Blog. here is a sneak preview ...

That's it from me for today. Check out the fab tags my teamies made by popping over to Tracey's Blog to join the fun.

Have a lovely weekend!
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: Oh, Christmas Tree!


CUTplorations Dies: ATC/Tag Builder Dies, Blessings Word Die
 

I still Like You

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations, and I went all out CAS with my DT project using Becca's Funny Kinda Love set.

It was International Men's Day last week, and I needed a quick card as I only heard it on the late evening news the previous day. My inspiration came from blowing bubbles hence the colours and position of my hearts. The word 'huh' from the sentiment is the breath blowing the bubble in a bubble. A couple of years ago we were watching a 'professional' in Betws-y-coed visitor center's court yard creating the most enormous bubbles between two sticks ... we were mesmerized ...

I didn't have any matching card for my base card and used the darker one of the inks to brush the edges of a white card which gave this nice mottled look.

Here is another glance ....

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration and to leave a comment for your entry into their monthly prize draw. There is always something fun going on on their blog ...

That's it from me for today. Have a lovely week ...
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:

Funny Kinda Love STAMPlortaions Stamp Set

Thanks So Much

Hello Crafty Friends!

I am back today with another card inspired by the CUTplorations Challenge over at STAMPlorations, here it is ...

I went with the colours, the leaves became daisies, the raindrops splatters and the girl with the umbrella a die-cut/stamped sentiment .... here is the inspiration photo to remind you ...

I simply stamped the daisies from the Bloom Sketches set, one at the time starting with the yellow one, in dye ink before pulling some of the ink into the petals using a damp brush. I then added the grey splatters, my die-cut and stamped sentiment (CUTplorations Word Die: Thanks and Sentiment Builder: Thank You), layered on my grey base card and finished off with a few sequins. Here is another look ...

If you fancy playing along, pop over to the STAMPlortaions Blog to check out the full rules and to link up your make. I am looking forward to seeing your creations there.

That's it from me for today. 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:

CUTplortaions Dies: Thanks Word Die


STAMPlorations Stamps: Bloom Sketches, Sentiment Builders: Thank You
 

Giving Thanks Hop

Hello Crafty Friends!

Autumn is a time of fruitfulness and giving thanks for a riches this year brought. Over at STAMPlorations we are celebrating and giving thanks with a very special Blog Hop. My DT project today uses the stamps and dies from their Many Blessings Bundle, here it is ...

STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop and Linky Party is a big celebration of everything that is good in life. Shery, STAMPLorations Owner, is the sweetest person going, and I sincerely hope that you will join the celebrations. For me this is as much saying 'Thank You' for being on her team as it is wanting to say a 'Big Thank You' to all of you, my dear friends.

Here is another look at my card to inspire you ....

... to join the Blog Hop and Linky Party over at STAMPlorations. Links to all participating blogs can be found towards the end of my post, which is No 5 on the list. Please hop on to No 6 and so on ...

Just in case you might need a little more persuasion, here is some info on the prizes ...

Giving Thanks Hop

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs will receive a $50 gift certificate.
• THREE (3) winners randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs will each receive a $20 gift certificate to the shop.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from STAMPlorations Facebook page will win a $15 gift certificate for herself and a $15 gift certificate for one friend she tags in her comment.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from STAMPlorations Instagram account will win her choice of Giving Thanks bundle (Be Thankful, Oh So Grateful, or Many Blessings)/

Commenting ends on November 30 at 11:55 p.m. Pacific

Giving Thanks Linky Party

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive the Be Thankfulbundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive Oh So Grateful bundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive Many Blessings bundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

The linky will be open until November 30 for you to link up your 'grateful' or 'thankful' themed makes.

Winners will be announced on December 9 in the November Challenges and Hops winners post. Winners have until December 20 to claim their prize.

What are you waiting for, here are the links to all participating blogs including the STAMPlorations Blog which is No1:



That's it from me for today. Have fun!
Wishing you 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:

Many Blessings Bundle


Shery also has an offer on for you over at the STAMPlorations Shop ...

Wonderful Home

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday and that means Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. I took some inspiration from their current CUTplorations Challenge which combines the need for at least one die-cut & STAMPlorations Product with a photo inspiration.

Here is my project ....

... and here is their inspiration photo ...

I used the colour combo (Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry SU inks) from the leaves to watercolour the Faerie Door which I fuzzy cut and attached to my black/grey/white background created by stamping the Faerie Door twice in black before lightly sponging grey ink through the ARTplorations Stencil: Oh, My Stars!.

I added a few stamped flowers, layered on my grey base card, die-cut the CUTplorations Word Die: Wonderful from black card and attached it before finishing off my sentiment with the words 'a & happy home' from the Sentiment Builder: Christmas & New Year and a touch of Stickles.

That's it from me for today. Hop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see the fabulous pieces of inspiration my teamies prepared for you and to leave a comment there for your chance to win a prize. Should you wish, you can play along with their CUTplorations Challenge and any of the other challenges going. Have fun!

Wishing you 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: Faerie Door, Sentiment Builder: Christmas & New Year
 

ARTplorations Stencils: Oh, My Stars!


CUTplorations Dies: Word Die: Wonderful

November Stencil Sunday

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday in November, May I take the opportunity to remind you of the current Mixed Media Challenge over at STAMPlorations. As you know Anything Mixed Media Goes as long as it is not a card and you use at least one stencil.

My DT contribution for this Stencil Sunday is ... a pen holder

I bought this wooden shape a while ago and had already coated it with two coats of off white emulsion paint. I decided to work on the base coat directly rather than covering with paper/card. It was going to be an adventure ...
... and here is how I made it:

• spray the base coated box with Ocean Blue, Forest Green and Gold Artiste Spritzing ink and allow to dry
• lightly stamp the Distressed Damask Background in Tiger Lily Archival, you only want to pick up a little of the pattern
• sponge Tiger Lily through the A Bloom And Three Buds ARTplorations stencil and outline with a dark brown alcohol marker
• add some highlights using a white gel pen
• add a border of dots using an orange and edge using a dark brown alcohol marker
• sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set
• at this point you can add some extra stamping to the sides of the internal box, if you feel like it. I personally didn't do this
• add highlights to the bloom and buds using gold shimmer eyeliner, I love it for its non-messy, very fine glitter
• finish off with a coat of Mod Podge

A few of my observations:

• the pigment spritzing inks will pool and mix before drying, it will react differently as compared to using paper, which is partially due to being coated with acrylic emulsion
• any colour from the Archival ink and alcohol markers will change mainly influenced by the golden shimmer pigment from the spritzing inks, Tiger Lily is a very bright orange
• the spritzing ink will react with Mod Podge where it hasn't been sealed with clear embossing powder to make it look painted rather than spritzed. I only coated the front and back with embossing powder

Here are a few more photos ...

I hope you feel inspired to create something different, maybe even do some up-cycling or re-purposing .... why not link it up with the Mixed Media Challenge over at STAMPlorations. The theme is always Anything Mixed Media Goes except cards which means projects such as tags, ATCs, canvases, layouts, art journal pages etc,are perfect for entering, and you must have used at least one stencil (any brand) in your project. The challenge will close at the end of the month. You can find the full challenge details plus more Mixed Media inspiration here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

That's it from me for today. I shall be back soon with another project to share.

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: A Bloom And Three Buds


STAMPlorations Stamps: Distressed Damask Background