Celebrate Big

Hi Friends!

Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Here is today's project, my DT piece for the Inspiration Post over on the STAMPlorations blog ...

A nice cupcake is always a good reason to celebrate ... and I'm sure Chikoo agrees. I've mainly done some die-cutting for today's card and a bit of heat embossing for my stamped character.

Here are the STAMPlorations products I used in today's card:

Cupcake Builder #1 Dies, Cupcake Builder #2 Dies, Trendy Spring Blooms Dies, Circles All Over Texture Cover Plate Die

   

Celebrate Big Phrase Die, Chikoo Goes Bananas

  

Should you feel like browsing STAMPlorations' shop, check out their latest offer below.

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, at no extra cost to you of course.

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

I shall be back soon with more crafty makes. Until then ... have a lovely day!

Wishing you all the best for 2022.

hugs
Monika ❤

Spread Joy Not Germs Blog Hop

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's time to spread some joy.  I am taking part in the #SPREDJOYNOTGERMS blog hop as part of the STAMPlorations Design Team. If you've already been hopping along, you will have come from the lovely Dina L Kowal's Blog. Welcome everyone!

First up my little one-layer card ... and I'm hoping it's going to make you smile ...

Aren't these little monsters adorable? The jumping one looks, as if it wants to give you a hug ... maybe it is sending you a big virtual one right now ...

I used Little Monsters with a sentiment from Chikoo Goes Bananas and the Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil for the background, all available from the STAMPlorations Shop.

Talking about STAMPlorations ... Shery, STAMPlorations owner, really loves spreading joy, not only is she giving away a $25 gift code on the STAMPlorations Blog, she is also giving away a $10 gift code on each of her participating designer's blogs (including mine 😁).

A full list of all other sponsors (there are 31 in total) and prizes can be found at the end of my post.

Prizes will be randomly drawn from all the blogs and all the comments which means the more comments you leave the greater your chance of winning a prize. Should you get lost along the way you can pop over to Catherine Pooler's blog or The Hedgehog Hollow's blog to find the full list with links of all the participants.

Commenting closes Friday 24th April with the winners being announced on Monday 27th April on Catherine Pooler's Blog and Alexandra Stapleton-Smith's/The Hedgehog Hollow's Blog.

Here is one last look at my little card ...

It is time to hop on to the the next stop which is the lovely Jill Lipscomb of Jill Cameron Creations.

Wishing you lots of fun!
hugs
Monika xxx


Just a little reminder of what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop
Little Monsters, Chikoo Goes Bananas, Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil
  

Important Blog links, should you get lost. You can find a list of all participants and sponsors on:
- Catherine Pooler's Blog
- The Hedgehog Hollow

Sponsor and Prize List:

• Catherine Pooler Designs - $20 Gift Certificate on the CP blog and each of the Brand Ambassadors' blogs
• Hedgehog Hollow - one month free sub to the box with free us shipping
• CAS-ual Fridays - Win the new release - over $80 value
• Heffy Doodle - £35 voucher for the store
• Whimsy Stamps - $15 GC on each of their Creative Team team blogs
• Sassy and Crafty Stamps - $35 Gift Certificate
• The Ton - $20 Gift Certificate (stamps, dies, ink or sequins)
• Ellen Hutson - $35 Gift Certificate
• Polka Dot Orchard- $20 Gift Certificate
• Ink on 3 - $35 Gift Certificate
• Brutus Monroe - $50 GC
• STAMPlorations - $25 gift code on the STAMPlorations blog + $10 gift code on each designer blogs.
• Trinity Stamps- $25 Gift Certificate
• WOW! Embossing Powder - two gift vouchers 1 x £30 and 1 x $30 that covers the USA, UK and Europe
• Greeting Farm -$25 Gift Certificate
• Miss Ink Stamps -$25 Gift Certificate
• Pear Blossom Press -$25 gift certificate
• Trinity Stamps -$25 Gift Certificate
• Paper Sweeties - $50 Gift Certificate
• Xyron - Mega Runner, Refill & 1.5 inch sticker maker, refill
• Beacon - Product gift bag
• Artesprix - Getting Started Kit
• iCrafter - $20 Gift Certificate
• Joy Clair - $25 Gift Certificate
• Dina Kowal - Two $10 gift codes to Dina Kowal Creative
• Rabbit Hole Designs - $10.00 gift code on each DT members blogs
• Your Next Stamp - $25 Gift Certificate
• Taylored Expressions - $50 Gift Certificate
• Pink and Main - $25 Gift Certificate
• Unity - two $25 Gift Certificates
• Dress My Craft - $35 gift certificate

Life Happens

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday and this means it's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations.  I thought I'd share a card to hopefully lift some spirits. Here it is ...

I used one of Helen's new stencils, Petals 3, for my background sponged with Butterscotch Prism ink. The cupcake was die-cut and layered. I even managed to use up some bits left over from when I made my Spotlight projects for this post here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

I created my sentiment by snipping off the word 'coffee' from one of the Coffee Time stickers and replaced it with a heat embossed 'cake'. All that was left to do was to finish my card with a couple of black pearls and rounded corners.

If you feel like bagging yourself a bargain and take advantage of STAMPlorations Springtime Sale check out the graphic at the end of this post.
You can check out all of STAMPlorations' current promotions here.

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:

Cupcake Builder #1, Trendy Spring Blooms Dies, Coffee Time Clear Stickers
  

Petals 3 Stencil, Chikoo Goes Bananas
 

this is the graphic for STAMPlorations current sales

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

Banana Love

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's 1st Tuesday in February and the start of a new TAGplorations Challenge over at STAMPlorations.

The theme for February is: All About Love

The optional twist is: to use Cupcakes

Well, as you can see, I'm 'playing' the optional twist with my cupcake shaker and banana love.

Instead of filling the shaker element with sequins, I used tiny punched paper hearts. The background is sponged with a few water splatters and stamped with hearts and sentiment. The cheeky monkeys were stamped and watercoloured on mixed media card and fuzzy cut.

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 project/s too.

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

Chikoo Goes Banana, Cupcake Builder #1, Manila Tags Nesting Dies

  

here is what else I used:

Versamark, Snowflake embossing powder, black Versafine ink, Tempting Turqoise ink, silver and black ribbon, glitter, white and black card, brush markers, snowflake sequins, black fine liner pens

Monkey Love

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Day 2 Of the LOVE TAGplorations event over at STAMPlorations, and I decided to join the fun with this cutie of a shaker tag ...

I used the Luggage Tag Nesting Dies to cut the tag, frame and acetate. I then sponged the tag using one of hearts from the Zen Hearts stencil and Strawberry Slush ink. Next I stamped, watercoloured and fuzzy cut the cheeky monkeys and hearts from the Chickoo Goes Bananas set and die-cut the letters for the sentiment using the Lowercase Alphabet Plate Die. I assembled all the elements as seen and finished off with matching organza ribbon.

It's over to you now to join the LOVE TAGplorations party ...

.... by hopping and commenting on participating designer's blogs and creating your own love/Valentine's Day themed project, which must include a tag, to link up with the flash linky party. Your project can be anything from a card, art journal page, canvas, layout etc as long as it fits the theme 'Love/Valentine's Day' and has a tag in it somewhere.

As always with a blog hop, there are prizes you can win, here they are:

• - (3) randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and participating designer's blogs will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• - (1) randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations Linky Party will receive her choice of stamp set (Pocket Blooms, A Full Heart, or Two of Us)
• - (1) randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations Linky Party will receive her choice of any 2 of the new love-themed dies (Love, Always, XOXO, Forever, You & Me, Clustered Hearts)
• - (1) randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations Linky Party will receive her choice of tag set: Luggage Tags or ATC/Tag Builder

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more Love TAGplorations inspiration, information and to join the party.

That's it from me for now. Have fun and enjoy the celebrations!
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:
Chickoo Goes Bananas, Zen Hearts ARTplorations Stencil, Luggage Tag Nesting Dies, Lowercase Alphabet Plate Die
   

Chikoo's Pearls Of Wisdom

... and special Stamp Release Blog Hop at STAMPlorations!!!

Hi All,

Over at STAMPlorations we are having a Special Stamp Release Blog Hop.

Deepti from Dee's Artsy Impressions has designed a most adorable stamp set called Chikoo Goes Bananas. I am sure it will fast become one of your favourites, Chikoo had me giggling with delight whilst making my sample cards. What better way to enjoy crafting!

First up: Chikoo on Ageing

Banana cakes and banana bunting are in the spotlight ... I first stamped and coloured Chikoo, the cakes from the Party Mates set and the bananas before applying a coat of Mod Podge as a mask and a way of adding some texture. Once dry, I masked off my circle, sponged a little pink ink, grounded Chikoo using a stamp from the Mixed Media Grunge set, stamped my sentiment and added a few tiny hearts to finish.

next up: Chikoo on Life

To get his point across, Chikoo enlisted the help of his best friend Rudolph from the Reindeer Games set for a toothy smile. Both were stamped, coloured with promarkers and masked off with a coat of Mod Podge before sponging the spotlight and stars, ARTplorations stencil Oh, My Stars! As before I used a stamp from the Mixed Media Grunge set to ground Chikoo before finishing off with some tiny stars.

last but not least ... Chikoo on Healthy Eating

I don't think there is much to say about this ... simple stamping, masking and colouring. The sentiment is handwritten on strips of card to show that there is always room for telling your own story!

As with every blog hop commenting will give you entry in the prize draw, commenting will close on Friday 11th March 11.55pm Pacific Time, and the winner of Chikoo Goes Bananas will be announced on Sunday 13th March. For everyone else Chikoo Goes Bananas will be in the STAMPlorations Shop at a 10% discount until 16th March.

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for all the links and rules.

Good Luck and Happy Hopping!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Chikoo Goes Bananas, Party Mates, Mixed Media Grunge, Reindeer Games, ARTplorations Stencil: Oh, My Stars!