Quick Cards

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday and this means it's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations.  Here are today's DT projects ...

I needed a couple of quick cards to put notes through neighbours' doors warning them about impending congestion in our road.

The first one uses the print off individual circles from my Circles Flexi-Template in combination with Brusho powders ...

... and the second one uses the Ovals Flexi-Templates in combination with watercolour pencils.

I arranged the templates as shown in the photo above with the small oval at the bottom and the largest one on top before using watercolour pencils and a damp brush to create the arcs.

I'll be sharing more makes featuring the Flexi-Templates during next week's belated birthday celebrations.

Each month STAMPlorations are having a different promotion. This month they're offering 10% off throughout all three of their stores, no coupon needed. You can check out the full details of STAMPlorations' special offers here on their shop's Promotions Page. Why not pop over and have a little browse?

Should you find yourself placing an order, feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount on your order. Please note that my discount code can not be combined with any other coupon code, but you can use it as often as you wish. I've got to be honest, if you use the code and/or the link to the STAMPlorations Shop I provide in my posts for your purchases, I will get a little reward.

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out my teamies' beautiful makes.

Hope you're having a lovely week!

hugs

Monika xxx

here is what I used from

- STAMPlorations Shop:

- Main Store

Circles Flexi-Template, Ovals Flexi-Template, Big Greetings

Check out STAMPlorations current promotions here.

Woodland Birthday

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday and this means it's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations.  Here is today's DT project ...

For today's card I have taken a little bit of inspiration from the 500th Cupcake Inspiration Challenge, which I'm going to enter ...

As you can see, it's the rainbow colours and birthday theme I chose. For the background I used the new  slimline stencil. I decided to leave the fox and deer uncoloured and finished off with a simply stamped sentiment.

This month STAMPlorations are having a Dies and Slimline Stencils Sale, at "25% and 20% off respectively. You can check out the full details here on their shop's Promotions Page. Why not pop over and have a little browse.

Should you find yourself placing an order, feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount on your order. Please note that my discount code can not be combined with any other coupon code, but you can use it as often as you wish. I've got to be honest, if you use the code and/or the link to the STAMPlorations Shop I provide in my posts for your purchases, I will get a little reward.

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out my teamies' beautiful makes.

Hope you're having a lovely week!

hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used from

- STAMPlorations Shop:

- Main Store
Beyond The Trees Slimline Stencil, Woodland Friends, Big Greetings
  

Check out STAMPlorations current promotions here.

Cupcake Birthday

Hi Crafty Friends!

The girls from the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge are celebrating their 500th challenge and STAMPlorations is one of their sponsors donating a $20 gift code for one lucky person to win.

Here is my celebration piece using STAMPlorations products ...

Taking inspiration from the challenge photo, I made a skinny card using the Confetti #1 slimline stencil blended with rainbow colours as my background.

Being late making my card, I wanted to keep things simple and decided not to colour the cupcakes and sentiment.

I must come clean, I had promised Shery (STAMPlorations owner) to make a card for the day her company was due to be showcased ... and then I forgot and went on a week's caravanning break eventually realising what had happened. After coming home I quickly made a card and emailed it to with some huge lot of luck still be included in the post. If it wasn't possible anymore, I'll link it up with their challenge.

Note to self: check blog after getting up! Yay, the Sweeties were able to add it. Thanks so much!

Here is a closer look ...

This month STAMPlorations are having a Dies and Slimline Stencils Sale, at "5% and 20% off respectively. You can check out the full details here on their shop's Promotions Page. Why not pop over and have a little browse.

Should you find yourself placing an order, feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount on your order. Please note that my discount code can not be combined with any other coupon code, but you can use it as often as you wish. I've got to be honest, if you use the code and/or the link to the STAMPlorations Shop I provide in my posts for your purchases, I will get a little reward.

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog to check out everyone's beautiful makes, click here to be redirected to the post featuring STAMPlorations.

Hope you're having a lovely week!

hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used from

- STAMPlorations Shop:

- Main Store
Happy Everything, Birthday Bash, Confetti #1 Slimline Stencil, Big Greetings
   

Check out STAMPlorations current promotions here.

Thanks So Much

Hello Crafty Friends!

I have been feeling very honoured to be guest designing this month for CAS Colours & Sketches. Today is my last outing. Thanks again to Patricia, Jeanne, Fiona, Holly, Karen, Samantha, Wei and YoonYoung for asking me.

Their last challenge this month is all about using a sketch, here is my take on it ....

Rather than colouring my image and sentiment, I left them as outlines only to preserve an uncluttered CAS look. There is enough interest in the stamped images and the outline sentiment looks bold without being overbearing.

I'm keeping it short and sweet. If you love the colours and like creating CAS cards, why not join the challenge. You can find all the details on the CAS Colours & Sketches challenge blog here.

Hope to see you there. Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Bloomful, Big Greetings - STAMPlorations
Verveine and Menthe Izink inks - Craft Stash
black Versafine ink - local craft shop

Acetate Doodles

Hi All,

Just a quick card to share. I made it using some of the acetate circles I showed you in my video here. For the doodled ones I used Peel Off Markers, applied the main colour first and then added waves, dots or dashes using a different colour. Here is the finished project ...

I adhered the circles with brads, glue dots or sticky sheet, the latter I attached before punching the shapes. It leaves the acetate looking a little opaque whilst still creating a nice effect. I finished off with a sentiment from the Big Greetings set by STAMPlorations, some gems and a few scored lines.

Here is another last look at my card ...

I am entering my card at:
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark

That's it from me for now, I shall be back again tomorrow. Until then ...

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

stamps I used:
Big Greetings

Acetate Accents

Hi All,

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations, and I have been playing with acetate. I got the idea a while ago from coloured disc shaped foils I was using for work. I thought this might be something to be transferred into card making ...

I simply black embossed and stamped my sentiment from the Big Greetings set on a die-cut panel and added my coloured acetate dots ... easy and effective.

Here is a little video on how I made them ...

I really like this way of adding a pop of colour, expect to see more of it.
Pop over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration and to leave a comment for an entry to win a $10 gift certificate.

I shall be back later today with lots more projects.
See you then.

hugs
Monika xxx

what I used:
Big Greetings

More Butterfly Arcs

Hi All,

back again with another piece of inspiration for you following on from my last two posts using the Winged Things set from STAMPlorations. I did tell you I really liked the arc hence another card using it ....

I blended my background using Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight inks. stamped the butterflies first in DD and then again in MM before adding my sentiment from the Big Greetings set in black. Once layered on my base card, I finished off by doodling a white border and adding some gems to the butterflies.

I am entering my card at:
Craft Stamper - Anything Goes with a stamp

I had initially intended to make another project to add to my post, but life had different ideas. It thought that it would be best for me to catch yet another bad cold, which I normally don't get. It is the second since Christmas. Wondering why someone thought I was in need of all this rest ... Hoping to add a few pieces to the Round Up post on Sunday. In the meantime pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for their Inspiration Post to see and admire the brilliant creativity of my Teamies there. Also don't forget to leave a comment and have a thorough look around whilst you're there ... lots to be seen, enjoyed and learnt.

Have a lovely week!
hugs
Monika xxx

here are the sets I used in today's project, links are in the above text
 

CASEplorations Reminder

Hi All,

Today's project is a little reminder that it is still time to join us in the CASEplorations Playground. This year Shery has given it a proper challenge status, yay! This means the Playground will like in past be open for a whole month, the winner of the best CASE as voted for by the team gets a $15 gift certificate and two Top Picks will each receive a $5 gift certificate, full rules can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

What is the CASE inspiration for January 2016, you might be asking. Well, it is a card by the fabulous Laura Bassen of Doublestick Heaven ...

Laura posted a tutorial on how she made her card here on her blog. There is lots of inspiration to take from her card, such as using texture paste, colour scheme of pastel rainbow colours, the Leaf Prints ARTplorations stencil, the Hashtag Authentic stamp set, twine ...

Here is what I picked:

• texture without the paste, I used stamping through my stencil instead
• ARTplorations Leaf Print stencil
• multiple colours seamlessly blending into each other for which I used Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Pistachio Pudding
• fine strands of twine which I turned into a squiggly die-cut vellum heart as I am no good at looping twine and fixing it to a card
• subtle sparklies in the form of sequins

Finally, here it is, my reminder take on Laura's card ...

I attached my Leaf Prints stencil to a piece of Centura Pearl card, sponged my background, picked up my honeycomb stamp from the Mixed Media Grunge set and stamped it through the stencil using Crushed Curry ink. Here is a little close-up where you can see the subtle flecks of yellow on the leaves ...

Next I stamped my sentiment from the Big Greetings set, coloured it using Tinge Alcohol Markers, die cut the vellum heart and layered as seen before finishing off with a few sequins.

I am entering my card at:
Time Out Challenges - Birthday with optional twist of sponging, sponged background on mine
Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

That's it from me for today. There is still time to join STAMPlorations January Stamp Release Blog Hop. Commenting closes 19th January.

As for the CASEplorations Playground, it is open until the end of the month with a new challenge starting in February. So there is still plenty of time to get your creative juices going.

That's it from me for today.

Have a lovey weekend!
hugs
Monika xxx


here is what I used in today's project, links are in the above text:

  

heart die from Tim Holtz Scribbles and Splat - Sizzix

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