Flourishes From The Heart

Hello Crafty Friends!

I got another card for sharing today. It's a postcard I made for a swap at the UK Stampers Forum FB Group. The theme for April is Swirls.

I picked up the Heart Frame Die from The Works a few weeks ago and decided to use it as my center piece on a colourful background with a little stamping using the following sets by STAMPlorations: Distressed Floral Swirls, Floral Bliss and a sentiment from It's All About You. 

Here it is ...

I'll just let you feast on a few close-ups ...

As it is going in the post as a postcard without envelope, I gave the front of my postcard a generous coat of Mod Podge. It changes the appearance slightly, but kept all of the stamped detail as you can see from the photos below.

I used this card as an inspiration for a video tutorial. It is a little lengthy and takes you through the process of how I made a similar card for my post here.

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:
STAMPlorations Stamps:
Distressed Floral Swirls, Floral Bliss, It's All About You
    

here is what I used in the video in addition to the above stamp sets:
Spring Flower Layering Dies, Mixed Media Elements Scribbly Splattery Grunge
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

The inks I used are by Stampin'Up!: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry

You Are Amazing!

Hello Crafty Friends!

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

Inspired by a lovely sunny weekend at the caravan, I decided to work with the Distressed Floral Swirls, Floral Bliss, Mixed Media Elements, Scribbly Splattery Grunge, It's All About You stamp sets and the Spring Flower Layering Dies to create this swirly floral postcard.

I basically did some ink blending, stamping and inlaid die-cutting before giving my postcard a generous coat of Mod Podge.

I won't go into more detail right now, just a little close-up of some of the stamped detail.

There is a craft along video on how I made this card. It is a little lengthy, but you can always fast forward. It will show you the slow and a faster way of inlaid die cutting plus my usual ramblings and pearls of crafting wisdom.

As explained in the video, this card was inspired by one I made for an online swap with the theme of swirls. Feel free to leave a comment as I will pick one person at random to receive today's card through the post. The draw will be on Sunday 7th May at 7pm BST.

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

I shall try and make a card using the Bloom Happy set for Sunday's inspiration Round-up Post.

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:
CUTplorations Dies:
Spring Flower Layering Dies

STAMPlorations Stamps:
Distressed Floral Swirls, Floral Bliss, Mixed Media Elements Scribbly Splattery Grunge
     
It's All About You


*** Discount code works on sale items too

Things With Wings 2

Hello Crafty Friends!

The Things With Wings Spring Blog Hop And Linky Party over at STAMPlorations is in full swing. As a little reminder, I made today's card using Flutter Zen 2 CUTplorations Layering Dies with a little help from Sweet Spring Wishes, the Numbers Plate Die, the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and the Distressed Floral Swirls stamp set.

What do you think of my second make for the 25 days of celebrating Spring with all things winged?

Well here is how it was made:

• die-cut the same size rectangle from white card and one with a brusho background
• using MISTI stamp the swirls on both pieces in exactly the same positions
• die-cut the numbers from the white stamped card
• die-cut the sentiment 3x from matching card and layer up
• die-cut the filigree butterfly from Centura Pearl and the solid one from vellum and layer up
• assemble card on a matching base card as seen

Apart from the new range of Layering Dies, STAMPlorations have released some great Spring themed sentiment dies, floral dies and stamps too. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check them out and, of course, to join the party through commenting and linking up your winged projects. Commenting and linking up is from Wednesday 5th April to Sunday 30th April, 11.55 pm Pacific.

As always there are prizes to be won: 

• (3) randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Trendy Butterflies 2 + either Flutter Zen 1 or Flutter Zen 2 layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Sweet Spring Wishes stamp set + Dragonfly layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Trendy Spring Blooms dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Sweet Spring Wishes phrase dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive a $20 gift certificate to the store.

All the links you need to comment and join the party can be found on the STAMPlorations Blog. For more winged inspiration, check out their post here too.

Hop along and have fun!

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:
Flutter Zen 2, Sweet Spring Wishes, Number Plate Die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

   

STAMPlorations Stamps:

Distressed Floral Swirls

*** Discount code works on sale items too

September Stencil Sunday

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday in September which gives me the opportunity to remind you of the 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 Stencil Sunday is ... a Vintage tag .... and I always thought, I couldn't do vintage for love nor money ... this one just happened as I went along wanting to do something completely different on the outset.

TIP!: In Mixed Media it's always good to go with the flow.

Here are the basic steps on how I made it:

• die cut the large tag from CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
• take a pale turquoise and purple brusho print off your crafting mat (I used some Brusho which I had left over from my upcoming Spotlight Project 'Stamping With Brushos) Not sure, if it was down to the brusho print, but the ink colours didn't seem to blend like they normally do. Something I need to keep my eye on.
• blend some pink through the ARTplorations Honeycomb Delight Stencil (I used Melon Mambo SU ink)
• do some 2nd generation background stamping using stamps from the Mixed Media Elements set in turquoise (Tempting Turquoise SU ink)
• blend with yellow (Daffodil Delight SU ink)
• stamp the script from the Mixed Media Elements set in black partially wiping the ink off before stamping
• stamp swirls in olive green (Old Olive SU ink) using one of the stamps from the Distressed Floral Swirls
• stamp and add you sentiment from the Art Is set
• add two birds using Sparkle Medium (Black Stars) and the Some Birds ARTplorations Stencil
• add pearls and a touch of golden glitter
• finish off with a little lace

I am entering my tag at:
Craft Stamper Make It Take It - Anything Goes

I hope you feel inspired to create something different .... 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:
ARTplorations Stencils: Honeycomb Delight, Some Birds 
 

STAMPlorations Stamps: Mixed Media Elements, Distressed Floral Swirls, Art Is
 

CUTplorations Thin Metal Dies: Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Acetate Flowers

Hi All,

just sharing another one of my acetate creations. This time I used the little ombre flowers from my video here to add to a stamped flourish and sentiment. See for yourself ...

I stamped the swirly leafy flourish from the Distressed Floral Swirls set and my sentiment from the Fond Expressions 2 set, both by STAMPlorations, in black Memento ink, added the punched and shaped acetate flowers from the video using heart shaped eylets and my big bite and layered on my base card to finish.

I am entering my card at:
Craft Stamper - Spring Flowers
Addicted to CAS - Delicate
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark, used a mix of alcohol and Peel Off markers to colour the acetate

That's it from me for today. I shall be back soon, in the meantime, have a lovely weekend!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Distressed Floral Swirls, Fond Expressions 2
 

small flower punch - Stampin'Up!

STAMPlorations Blog Hop

Hi All!

Welcome to Day 5 of the STAMPlorations January Stamp Release Blog Hop. Today My Teamies and I are showcasing all of the sets with each of us having made 4 cards, one for each set.

Let's start with Becca's Big Grins Reindeer Games. Reindeer are not just for Christmas, right?! Rudolph has to have some fun the rest of the year too ...

I've gone for a folksy look for this belated birthday card and added some flowers from the Folk Flowers set using the reverse side of the flower head stamps to add some colour. The rest is straight forward stamping with a white embossed sentiment plus Promarker colouring and some doodles for the border. I rather like this unconventional colour scheme, it would make a great card for the man in your life. The mischievous part of me feels like adding 'or so you thought...:-D' on the inside.

I am entering my Reindeer card at:

613 Avenue Create - Birthday ... Happy 3rd Birthday to all of the team at 613 Avenue

Time Out Challenges - Birthday with optional twist of sponging

Cardz 4 Guyz - Happy Birthday ... Happy 2nd Birthday to all of the team at Cardz4Guyz 

Next up is Deepti's Dee's Artsy Impressions New Beginning ...

I blended Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo for my background and added some random stamping in Basic Grey using two of the sentiments from Dee's set. Once dry I randomly dabbed Champagne and Frost White All Purpose Ink (Tsukineko) all over hence the shine and sparkle shimmer. Next I stamped the sunrise image on a piece of acetate using Archival ink and coloured it on the reverse using Peel-Off Markers. I then edged my pieces using my gold Tinge Alcohol Marker and attached my acetate image to my background with a couple of star eyelets before layering on my base card and finishing off with a sentiment strip (Vignette Tree Silhouettes) and some sequins.

I am entering my card at:

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Beginnings with Sequins, it's in the background (with the new day comes new strength and new thoughts; even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise) plus wishing you well could be for your new adventure, new job etc

Next up is Shirley's The Bee's Knees Winged Things ...

I chose to work with the butterflies of the set and arranged them in an arc before stamping them using Jet Black Archival ink on my already sponged background (Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon). I then coloured them using silver metallic acrylic ink from the pound shop which gives a translucent finish and adds a lovely shimmer to the wings. I finished off with a sentiment from the New Beginning set.

I am entering my butterfly card at:

The Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - Something New, 5 out of the 6 stamps were never used before plus it's my first time of colouring an image with acrylics on a card.

Next up is a card inspired by this week's theme over at Less is More using Shery's Shery Russ Designs Big Greetings ...

... which I simply combined with a flourish from the Distressed Floral Swirls set to create my one-layer card stamped in black Crushed Curry and a hint of Melon Mambo on linen effect card and finished off with a couple of clear gems.

I am entering my one-layer card at:

Less is More - One Layer Card featuring a flourish or two as in my case.

As with every Blog Hop leaving a comment will give you a chance to win one of the fab prizes below. Commenting closes on January 19. Winners will be announced on January 21.
Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Prizes:

ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPolrations blog and designers' blogs (January 15/Day 5 post) wins a $25 gift certificate to the shop
TWO (2) commenters randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and designers' blogs each win a $15 gift certificate to the shop
FOUR (4) commenters randomly drawn from Designer & Stamp Spotlight posts (Days 1 to 4) win the stamp set featured for that day

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for all the links you need to participate.

I shall be back again tomorrow with another project. Until then ...

have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

What I used in today's projects, links are in the above text