A Little Sunshine

Hello Crafty Friends!

I feel honoured to be guest designer over at Uniko this month for their Spring challenge.

Spring for me is about daffodils hence I picked up Uniko's Spring Botanicals Daffodil set for my reminder post project and made this card ...

What about the optional twist, you might ask ... Well, I don't really have any bunnies, but I think that daffodils could be classed as potentially playing the optional twist. Here is why:

In Germany daffodils are called Osterglocken, which translates as Easter Bells.
Symbolically daffodils are associated with rebirth and new beginnings ... just like Easter, you can read more about their mythology here.

Sadly, what you can't see in the photo is the subtle shimmer from the Twinkling H2Os I used to colour my daffodil.

I'm keeping it short and sweet, To see more inspiration from the Uniko DT and to join their challenge, pop over to their blog



here is what I used:
Spring Botanicals Daffodil stamp set - Uniko
Celestial Sun, Mandarin Blush and Midori Melon Twinkling H2Os, Versamark and grey Versafine inks, white embossing powder - my stash

Beauty Of Dreams

Hello Crafty Friends!

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

Well, I am at the moment in a phase of using coloured card instead of white for my cards. I got stacks of it and I'm on a mission to use it up. It is quite good for use with the Typographia stamps and a bit of shimmery watercolouring. What do you think? ...

That's literally all I did for this card, stamping and shimmery watercolouring. The lines are drawn using a ruler and marker, my hands aren't that steady ... 😁
I thought they'd pick up nicely on some elements of the sentiment stamp and the gems used in the corners.

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps and dies designed by Shery under her label 'Shery Russ Designs'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% until Monday 1st April, no coupon needed. You can use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at check out to get an added 20% off STAMPlorations,stamps, dies and stencils.

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:
The Future Belongs, Sparkly
 

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Mint To Be

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I'm sharing a little anniversary card with you. Here it is ...

It's simply stamped and finished off with a little heart gem and will be perfect for my CAS loving hubby when we celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary next month.

Keeping it short and sweet. Enjoy your Sunday!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to use code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount on their stamps, dies and stencils
Healing Herbs

Good Chives

Hello Crafty Friends!

I'm sharing a quick card today after receiving some Happy Mail yesterday. Here it is using Deepti's new set Healing Herbs ...

I had to go for the chives given that they are already growing well in my garden. We had some in a salad the other day. Did you know that in some parts of the world people make salad from chives? .... not just adding them, chives are the main part of the salad. I grew up with it, maybe that explains my love for them ....

I am entering my card at:
Craft Stamper Take It Make It March - Anything Goes
CAS Colours & Sketches - challenge #313 Colours 

Keeping it short and sweet today. Have a lovely weekend!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Healing Herbs - STAMPlorations, feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at check out for a 20% discount
Sahara Sand, Old Olive and Pacific Point ink/markers - Stampin'Up!
black Versafine, stamp shape cutting die, heart gem - my stash

DIY Hero

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is Wednesday and time for a new challenger over at The Male Room challenge blog where the bi-weekly challenge is all about making projects for the men in our lives. Our guest designer for the next fortnight is Hannelie, you can check out her fabulous creations on here on Hannelie's blog

My DT project for the new challenge is simply stamped with a strip of paper and a few die cuts ...

Each challenge, of course, has a different theme. For challenge #107 we are looking for projects being inspired by DIY. Lots of scope there!

#107 - DIY

Well, my husband is quite good at DIY, and it was time to say it BIG ...

Fancy creating your 'DIY' inspired make, pop over to The Male Room for more inspiration and to link up your masculine makes.

That's it from me for today
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
KaiserCraft mesh background stamp - Burleydam Garden Center Craft Shop
Sketchy Alphabet - STAMPlorations (feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount)
silver embellishment, tool dies, red card, silver mirri card, white card, gery and black Versafine ink- stash

Eat More Banana Cake

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 Chikoo Goes Bananas and the yummy Cupcake Builder #1 dies to create this cheerful make. ...

I basically die-cut the cupcake pieces and layered them up to make 2 cupcakes. Chikoo was stamped, watercoloured using markers and fuzzy cut. I decided to pinch a sentiment from one of Shirley's sets and use it as a way of grounding the cupcakes.

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by Deepti under her label 'Dee's Artsy Impressions'. All her sets will be on sale for the week until Monday 25th March at 10% off, no coupon needed, the discount will be automatically applied.

For more inspiration, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog. pop 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:
Chikoo Goes Bananas, Cupcake Builder #1, World Birthday Cakes, Stitched Snow Hills
   

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Celebrating You - take 2

Hello Crafty Friends!

Yesterday I shared a card I made as my GDT piece for the Uniko Spring Challenge. Today I'm sharing its grunged up artsy cousin. Here it is ...

I slightly twisted the U, added a bit of stamping around the edge and copious amounts of festive splatters. They a sort of look like confetti.

Keeping it short and sweet.
Enjoy your weekend!
hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used:
Wonderful Day stamp set - Uniko
Mixed Media Grunge - STAMPlorations
Aurore, Cire, Grenadine, Menthe, Mer Du Sud, Encre and Brou De Noix - Craft Stash
Black Versafine, black and yellow watercolours, dies - my stash

Spring

Hello Crafty Friends!

March's TAGplorations Challenge is in full swing over at STAMPlorations. There is still time to play.

The theme for March is: All About Spring

The optional twist is: to use Birds

Well, as you can see, this time I went for the optional twist and included some birds in m tag. Here it is ...

I spritzed the die-cut tag with liquid watercolour, stamped the daffodil in black and splattered with yellow chalk mist. I then die-cut the feather and popped it up on a couple of green die-cut ones allowing a little shadow to peep out. After adding the birds and sentiment, I finished off with a grungy stamped border, some pearls and orange ribbon.

If you love tags, why not give it a go and play along? Your project can be anything as long as it features a tag. You can enter as many projects as you want, but one per blog post please, and you don't have to use STAMPlorations products, yet we'd be thrilled if you would. There is currently a free winter/holiday image to download at STAMPlorations Never ending Anything Goes Challenge here. Please check out the full revised challenge guidelines here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

One lucky winner, voted for by the DT, will win a $15 STAMPlorations gift certificate and 3 randomly picked players will win a $5 STAMPlorations gift certificate each.

Ready for more tagtastic inspiration? Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see the gorgeous projects my teamies created and, of course, to link up your tag projects too. There is more challenge inspiration here on the STAMPlorations Blog..

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

hugs

Monika xx

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, you can use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount on their, stamps, dies and stencils

Framed Solitary Daffodil, Mixed Media Grunge,  Feathery Dies, Manila Tags Nesting Dies,

   

For The Birds Dies, Sweet Spring Wishes

 

here is what else I used:

black Versafine ink, Cire Izink ink, yellow Cosmic Shimmer Chalk Mist, orange ribbon, black card

Celebrating You

Hello Crafty Friends!

I feel honoured to be guest designer over at Uniko this month for their Spring challenge.

Spring for me is about yellow (daffodils normally), fresh greens and the bright blues and oranges of crocus blooms. Uniko's Wonderful Day set had my Spring imagination going, and I made this Mother's Day card.

If you're not living in the UK, you might ask why Mother's Day at this time of year. Well in the UK it's later this month hence it is a perfect theme for a Spring card. As you can see from the graphic below, I didn't opt for the optional twist and simply went with the theme.

The letters were die-cut into my stamped panel, popped up on a couple more and added back into my image.

I'm keeping it short and sweet, To see more inspiration from the Uniko DT and to join their challenge, pop over to their blog



here is what I used:
Wonderful Day stamp set - Uniko
Aurore, Cire, Grenadine, Menthe, Mer Du Sud, Encre and Brou De Noix - Craft Stash
Black Versafine, dies - my stash

One Stencil - Two ways

Hello Crafty Friends!

I received some Uniko goodies the other day courtesy of having been chose the winner of their last challenge.
Here are a couple of cards I made using some of them ...

I started off with the first card and blended some daffodil delight and bermuda bay inks through the mandala stencil and stamped my sentiment in elegant eggplant. That was easy!

The ink was still left on my stencil, I spritzed it with water and took 2 prints one of which I used for my second card. I simply stamped the sentiment in bermuda bay, layered on a contrasting piece of card and finished off with pink sparkly dots.

That's it from me for today. Have fun!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Mehndi Mandala Stencil, Birthday Wishes Clear Stamp Set - Uniko
Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Elegant Eggplant inks - Stampin'Up!
card and gems - my stash

Stepmothers

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. This week my teamies and I are showcasing stamps by Becca under her label 'Big Grins By Becca Cruger'.

I decided to work with the Sweet & Sassy Mom to make a card celebrating stepmums ...

Cards are all about sending a little message ... well, at least this one is with its witty sentiment ... a great way of showing a stepmum that she is loved.

All stamped on a stencil print background and finished off with a few die-cut letters and pearls.

I am entering my card at:
Sisterhood Of Snarky Stampers - o is for ombre 

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by Becca under her label 'Big Grins By Becca Cruger'. All her sets will be on sale at 10% off for the week until Monday 18th Marxh, no coupon needed, the discount is automatically applied.

There is, of course, more inspiration 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:
Sweet & Sassy Mom, Peony Number 2 Stencil
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

here is what else I used:
rose red ink and card
alphabet dies
black Versafine
pearls

Leaving Fear Behind

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is Wednesday and time for a new challenger over at The Male Room challenge blog where the bi-weekly challenge is all about making projects for the men in our lives. Our guest designer for the next fortnight is Hannelie, you can check out her fabulous creations on here on Hannelie's blog.

My DT project for the new challenge is ...

Each challenge, of course, has a different theme. For challenge #106 it's 'Gorgeous Greens'. Lots of scope there!

#106 Gorgeous Greens

This is a simply stamped one-layer card using just one stamp set and three different shades of green, even though the lighter one, a light lime-ish green, looks rather more like yellow in the pohotograph or is it just my browser ...

I simply finished off with a few splatters.

Fancy creating something for a male person in your life, pop over to The Male Room for more inspiration and to link up your masculine makes.

That's it from me for today
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Leave Your Fears stamps - Visible Image
Verveine, Menthe and Emeraude Izink inks - Craft Stash
white card - from my stash