May Stencil Sunday Project

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to May's Stencil Sunday over at STAMPlorations. May I take the opportunity to remind you of their current Mixed Media Challenge. As you know this month their theme is Things With Wings. Your make can be anything apart from a card and you use at least one stencil.

My DT contribution for this Stencil Sunday is this bold tag ...

... a bold watercolour background with a pasted flower, little leaves, doodles and a white embossed sentiment ... and a popping black sparkling butterfly.

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 Things With Wings, please no 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, can be used more than once) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps, stencils and dies:

ARTplorations Stencils:
Leaves 1, A Bloom And Three Buds
 

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

Trendy Butterflies 2

CUTplorations Dies
ATC/Gift Card Envelope Die, Flutter Zen 2 Layering Dies
 

*** Discount code works on sale items too

March Mixed Media Challenge

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to March and the start of a new 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 March is ... a butterfly themed canvas ....

Where do I start with this one .... Remember the Color Blooms page I had partially coloured for this post over on the STAMPlorations Blog last year??? Well, when it was finished, it looked very bright and colourful and was put aside waiting for its big day ...

... which came earlier this week, when I picked it up and decided that it had to form the basis of the canvas I was about to make.

The canvas was wider than the page and I decided to tear my coloured page into three strips which I adhered using acrylic medium. Once set, I added the next layer partially with Orchid Opaque PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics and white Gesso.

Next I stamped the Distressed Damask Background in Rose Madder Archival all over, randomly stamped the honeycomb from the Mixed Media Grunge in black Archival, stenciled part of the Ethnic Organic One with Diamond Starlights Metallic Paint and the A Bloom And Three Buds with pink acrylic mousse.

Next I added some embossing with Frantage powders, gave the stenciled flower a partial outline with a black fine liner, dabbed some Diamond paint on the stenciled flower, randomly stamped the script from the Mixed Media Elements set and added some border stamping using the dainty dotty stamp from the Mixed Media Grunge set, both using black Archival ink.

I then sprinkled some Infusions Stains (Are You Cerise, A Bit Jaded) on a piece of cream card and spritzed with water. Once dry I stamped the butterflies and sentiments from the Trendy Butterflies 2 set, fuzzy cut the butterflies and applied a coat of clear Distress Crackle paint.

I attached the sentiments and the butterflies, stamped the word 'fly' from the Art Marks set and finished off with a few sequins.

I shall leave you with a few close-ups ...

I am entering my canvas at:

Creative Artiste - challenge 24, anything mixed media goes

Craft Stamper - Make It Take It, anything goes, must use stamp/s

Mixed Media World - #22 Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist The Rubber Room, would love to play the optional twist, if the colouring book page I used as basis for my background doesn't disqualify me; everything else is good old fashioned stamping, colouring and painting.

I hope you feel inspired to dig into your crafty resourcefulness and create something to enjoy  .... why not link it up with the Mixed Media Challenge over at STAMPlorations. The theme for the Mixed Media Challenge 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.

Ooops, almost forgot to mention the prizes: one winner as chosen by the Mixed Media DT will receive a $10 gift certificate and two Top Picks will receive a $5 gift certificate each, all of course redeemable at the STAMPlorations Shop ... but that's not all ... if there are 25 or more entries one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive two standard sized stencils of their choice.

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: Ethnic Organic One, A Bloom And Three Buds
 

STAMPlorations Stamps: Trendy Butterflies 2, Mixed Media Grunge, Mixed Media Elements, Art Marks, Distressed Damask Background

*** The personal discount coupon STAMPGIRLMONIKA works on already reduced items too, but can not be combined with any other coupon codes.

STAMPlorations December Stencil Blog Hop Day 7

Hello Crafty Friends!

The Stencil Party is in full swing over at STAMPlorations. I am back today with another frosty make using the ARTplorations A Bloom And Three Buds Stencil in combination with the Warm Winter Wishes CUTplorations Phrase Die.

I simply attached my stencil to a piece of dark blue card, sponged with Versamark and embossed with Snowflake (Heat It Up!) embossing powder. Next I edged the edges with Versamark and embossed them too with Snowflake. To finish, I layered on my base card, added the die-cut sentiment and a trio of sequins. Guess, I've never made as many cards without stamping as in the last week. Stencils are fab!

Back to the Stencil Hop over at STAMPlorations. Shery is not only throwing a Blog hop ... she is also throwing a LINKY Party! All the details including prize info and special offers can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog. There is also oodles of inspiration available to get your creative juices flowing.

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

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I usedfrom 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 Stencil: A Bloom And Three Buds, CUTplorationa Dies: Warm Winter Wishes Phrase Die
 

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

Doing A Little Dusting

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's my turn today for a Spotlight Feature over on the STAMPlorations Blog. Their current Stamp Club set Life In Full Color has so many beautiful sentiments, one of which got my imagination going for today's project.

'art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life', I immediately had this image of a paint brush brightening dull colours, which led me to using the ARTplorations A Bloom And Three Buds Stencil. All I had to figure out was the layout of my elements ...

You can find a full tutorial here on the STAMPlorations Blog

That's it from me for today. Hope you enjoyed my little dusting.

If you fancy trying out my idea or any other featured in Spotlight Projects over on the STAMPlorations Blog, you can link your make up with their Spotlight Project Showcase and let us know what inspired you.

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:

Life In Full Color, ARTplorations Stencil: A Bloom And Three Buds
 

Faith

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. My DT contribution for today features another purple card ....

... working with two of their most recent additions to the STAMPlorations Shop, the ARTplorations Stencil: A Bloom And Three Buds and one of their new sets, Faith Expressions with a little help from one of my favourites Mixed Media Elements.

I sponged my background using Wilted Violet Distress Ink, stamped the script into the still damp background for a faded look and lightly spritzed with water. Once dry, I stenciled my flower using paste, sprinkled with Enchanted Gold embossing powder and heat set. I then stamped my sentiment using my MISTI in Elegant Eggplant and added a border with my gold leaf pen to finish.

I am linking up with:
The Hop To Stop - raising awareness about Domestic Violence, needs purple cards 

Please help turning Blogland purple. Here is another look at my card ....

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see the wonderful projects my teamies made and to leave a comment there for your entry into their monthly prize draw.

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: Faith Expressions, Mixed Media Elements
 

ARTplorations Stencils: A Bloom And Three Buds

Courage

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations, and I've opted for monochromatic purple to create this beauty ....

... working with two of their most recent additions to the STAMPlorations Shop, the ARTplorations Stencil: A Bloom And Three Buds and their current Stamp Club set Life In Full Color.

I sponged my background using Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet Distress Inks and added the circles using my mini blending tool before lightly spritzing with water. Once dry, I stenciled my flower using Elegant Eggplant and shaving brush. I then stamped my sentiment using my MISTI first in Eggplant and then in white Craft ink before clear embossing. I really liked the effect as I didn't want my sentiment to be bold, more often than not it is the quiet courage, the little steps that bring about the desired change ....

I am linking up with:
The Hop To Stop - raising awareness about Domestic Violence, needs purple cards 

Please help turning Blogland purple. Here is another look at my card ....

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

That's it from me, I shall be back soon. 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: Life In Full Color


ARTplorations Stencils: A Bloom And Three Buds