Art Is

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. This week my treamies and I are showcasing stamps by STAMPlorations owner Shery created under her label 'Shery Russ Designs'.

I decided to work with the Trendy Feathers 2, Trendy Birds 2 and Art Is to create a collage stamped card. Here it is ...

I started off with a piece of linen effect card I used to mop up some PaperArtsy Infusions Powders (Are You Cerise, A Bit Jaded) from my craft mat after using them on my tag here.

Using my MISTI, I stamped first the bottom half of the Trendy Feathers 2 in Rich Razzleberry and then the top half in Island Indigo. Next I added some flying birds and a couple of sentiments in Island Indigo and the large bid in black Versafine ink.

I selected a quote from the Art Is, stamped it in black on a piece of card, snipped it apart, edged each piece with a gold leaf pen and attached them into place.

I outlined the large bird using a white gel pen, added some circles with a white and a glittery gel pen using the ARTplorations Bubbles Stencil, edged the whole piece with gold leaf and attached to my matching base card to finish.

Each week the STAMPlorations Inspiration DT are showcasing stamps from one designer. All the stamps by that designer will be reduced by 10% for that one week apart from one set which will have a 20% discount. No coupon is needed at check out, and you still can apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA -which doesn't expire, by the way- for an extra 20% off all stamps, dies and stencils!

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by our very own Shirley under her label 'Shery Russ Designs'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% apart from the Art Is set which will be 20% off.

Of course Shery will still draw a winner at random from all the comments left on this month's Inspiration Posts over on the STAMPlorations Blog. Pop over to see what my teamies created and to leave a comment for your entry into their prize draw.

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:
Trendy Feathers 2, Trendy Birds 2, Art Is, ARTplorations Stencils: Bubbles
   

Watercolour Wish

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. This week my teamies and I are showcasing stamps by our very own Deepti under her label 'Dee's Artsy Impressions'.

I decided to work with the Kathryn's Big Wishes to create a dreamy watercolour card. Here it is ...

Today's card was pretty straight forward:

• stamp Kathryn, balloon, string and sentiment in black Archival
• watercolour in a way that allows the colour to lightly bleed outside the lines using inks (I used Crisp Cantaloupe, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso inks)
• stamp the dots into the balloon (Crisp Cantaloupe)
• layer on coloured base card

In a change since the beginning of this year, the STAMPlorations Inspiration DT are showcasing stamps from one designer. All the stamps by that designer will be reduced by 10% for that one week apart from one set which will have a 20% discount. No coupon is needed at check out, and you still can apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA -which doesn't expire, by the way- for an extra 20% off all stamps, dies and stencils!

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by our very own Deepti under her label 'Dee's Artsy Impressions'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% apart from Chikoo Goes Bananas set which will be 20% off.

Of course Shery will still draw a winner at random from all the comments left on this month's Inspiration Posts over on the STAMPlorations Blog. Pop over to see what my teamies created and to leave a comment for your entry into their prize draw.

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:
Kathryn's Big Wishes

February Stencil Sunday

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday in February. 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 tag

For today's project, I dug out one of those pieces I have been meaning to use for a while ... a piece of card I used to use up left over gold acrylic and red coloured paste from a couple of projects from which I cut a large tag.

The paste at the time was used with the Old Rose Prints ARTplorations Stencil. It was done in a hurry and had smudged a little, and I wondered what it might look like covered up with tissue paper. I picked up some white crumpled tissue paper duly kept from packaging, added some stamping using stamps from the Scribbly Splattery Grunge set and Tempting Turquoise, Crisp Cantaloupe and Basic Grey inks, layered it onto my tag and gave it a thin coat of white gesso.

Next I got out the Ethnic Organic Two stencil, placed it on my tag, sprinkled with A Bit Jaded and Are You Cerise Coloured Stains Infusions, spritzed with water and outlined the pattern in black once dry.

Next I blended with Emerald and Golden Copper Decorating Chalks to bring out more of the rose pattern, added some glittery nail varnish and a piece of dry wall tape as a base for the rose and die-cut sentiment.

All that was left, was to finish off with some glitter glue, fibers and sequins.

The stamping on the tissue paper can't be seen in the finished project as stamping, it has become part of the overall colouring and texture. Interestingly it seemed to disappear and blend fully into the background through adding the dry wall tape despite it being a mesh.

Here is a last look at my finished project.,,

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: Old Rose Prints, Ethnic Organic Two

 

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

Blossom Overture, Scribbly Splattery Grunge

 
CUTplorations Dies:
Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Hugs Word Die
 

Sliding Letters

Hello Crafty Friends! It's Monika here today with a slider card idea using the current Stamp Club set Hello You in combination with the Lacy Edges And Border CUTplorations Dies from today's release and some other favourites named at the end of this post.

There are two cards for you today using a slightly different way of making the slider element with a video for each. First up are the two cards:

The slider element of the first one is slightly wider and it uses a tri-folded card as base and would require you to have a large die-cutting machine such as the Grand Calibur.

In the card the slider element is contained in a large topper, which only requires a Big Shot or Cuttlebug size die-cutting machine. I also slightly modified the with for the envelope to slide out making it easier to attach the laptop over it.

The following photos demonstrate how the envelope slides out from behind the laptop once the tag is being pulled.

Interested on how they were made, check out the full Spotlight Feature including videos here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

That's it from me for today. I shall leave you with one last look at the finished projects.

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:
Hello You, Groovy Shoes, Chevron And Arrows, Blossom Overture
   
Lacy Edges And Borders CUTplortaions Dies

CUTplorations Mini Release Blog Hop

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are releasing some fabulous CUTplorations edge/border dies today, and they are celebrating in style with a MINI Release Blog Hop. Here are the tree and edge beauties ...

... and here is what I made of them working mainly with white Centura Pearl card for a subtle shimmer ...

First up is the Stitched Spring Landscape die which was cut from plain white card. I then added some texture using the medium sizes tree from the Tree Silhouetttes set and pigment inks (Mantis Green, Soft Pink and Gold Shimmer Pearlescent and Evergreen Metallic Artiste pigment inks). I made sure not to ink up the tree trunks as I wanted to randomly stamp the canopy using the generational stamping technique.
I added two scored lines to my pearlescent base card, attached the Spring Landscape, inlaid the window, added a die-cut 'New' from the New Year Phrase Die, stamped the 'home' from the Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year set and finished off with a few sequins.

Next up is the Stitched Winter Landscape die which I combined with the Stitched Snow Hills and the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies to create this Winter Wonderland Shaker card. It's a little tricky, but well worth it. I cut a piece of pearlescent card exactly the same size as my frame, I did use the nesting die for this, and a base card fitting the exact same size for which I used my paper trimmer. It is important to get the correct measurements for your base card at this point as it will help you when assembling the landscape.

From my large stitched rectangle, I first die-cut the Winter Landscape and put it to one side, Next I die-cut the left hill before die-cutting the last hill using dies from the Stitched Snow Hills set making sure to keep the corresponding pieces together along the way.

I then started assembling the landscape from the top down (pretty much in reverse order in which they were cut) starting with the sky piece which was quickly and easily aligned with the top of my base card. Next I sponged a little blue into the sky.

To help me add the hills, I placed the Winter Landscape at the bottom and glued the pieces including the window on the right hand side in place. I removed the landscape and added some sponging. I repeated this process for the second hill before gluing the Winter Landscape into place, adding some white Flower Soft and attaching the shaker front into place.

TIP!: When cutting the Stitched Winter Landscape, place your die slightly in from the edge for the trees to be seen within the frame. It is just a simple snip to fully trim the landscape off.

Last but not least is my card using one of the Lacy Edges And Borders dies in combination with the Clustered Hearts die and the medium Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies plus a little sentiment from A Snarky Birthday To You.

From my stitched rectangle, I started cutting the red edge first, edged with red and put the piece to one side. I rotated my die, cut and edged the orange edge and put to one side. I continued like this until all the edges were cut. I die-cut the hearts from red and white pearlescent card, assembled everything on a matching rectangle for ease, stamped the sentiment and layered on my base card to finish.

Phew! There are a few die-cutting ideas here, and I am sure my teamies will add to them. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the projects my teamies created and of course to join the hop.

Commenting closes Tuesday, 21st February and there'll be two winners, randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations and participating designers' blogs. One will win a $15 gift certificate and the other one will win her choice of either Lacy Edges or Winter & Spring Stitched Landscape dies.

The winners will be announced in the February Challenges and Blog Hop Winners Post on 10th March on the STAMPlorations Blog. Feel free to subscribe to their blog for updates on challenges, blog hops and of course winners too.

That's it from me for now. I shall be back later with a fun Spotlight Tutorial making even more good use of the Lacy Edges And Borders Dies.

See you then!
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:
CUTplorations Dies: Stitched Spring Landscape, Stitched Winter Landscape, Lacy Edges And Borders,

Stitched Snow Hills, New Year Word Die, Clustered Hearts, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

STAMPlorations Stamps: VIGNETTE Tree Silhouettes, Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year, A Snarky Birthday To You