May TAGplorations

Hello Crafty Friends!

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

The theme for April is: All About Mom

The optional twist is: to use Vellum

Here is my DT project ...

As you can see, I went with the optional twist of Vellum and did some embossing similar to my Tutorial here on the STAMPlorations Blog. My vellum tag was added to a brightly coloured and stamped base tag and finished off with a dotty ribbon bow and some clear gems. Enjoy! ❤

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 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

Best Mom Ever, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

 

From the STAMPlorations Outlet Store, still in stock at the time of writing my post. Discount code doesn't apply

Subway Art Builder MOM

here is what else I used:

Abandoned Coral, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Lemon Distress Inks, Wilted Violet Distress Oxide, White SU Craft Ink, Vellum, Baled Brown Sugar SU card, black Versafine, dotted organza ribbon, clear gems 

Sparkling Christmas

Hello Crafty Friends!

Welcome to the first Tuesday in December and the start of a new TAGplorations Challenge over at STAMPlorations.

The theme for November is: All About Christmas

The optional twist is: to use Glitter

Well, as you can see, I've gone all out for the optional twist of glitter.

I heat embossed this cute tree with sparkling silver embossing powder, filled in the image with glue and sprinkled with glitter.

The CAS look really helps the glitter shine.

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

Sketchy Yule Trees, Yuletide Deer, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

  

here is what else I used:

Versamark ink, black Versafine ink, silver organza ribbon, Tinsel Heat It Up! embossing powder, rhinestone, Chloe's Glue with fine tip

Making Christmas Tags

Hello Crafty Friends!

I got a quick little tag for you today with an embossed background and this funky stylised Christmas Tree. Here it is ....

I originally had planned to share it later in the week together with a second one I made for the 25 Days Of Christmas Tags event, but then I had a change of mind and decided to give you a teaser instead. I am still sharing the other tag as part of the STAMPlorations team on Thursday.

I just wanted to go for bold colours and simply added a small heat embossed sentiment in white.

Talking about STAMPlorations ... Shery has a big Thanksgiving Sale over at the STAMPlorations Store. Most items are reduced by 40% There are a few exceptions, and you can find all the details and the coupon code needed here in their shop.
Should you wish to purchase items from the New Release and 6x7 Stamp Club categories, which are not included in the sale, you can still use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA for a 20% discount and a free thin metal die at check out.

Here is a last look at today's tag with its delicate background embossing made using a stencil ...

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:
Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Christmas Tree #1, Holly Background Stencil, Holiday Artsy (retired)
  

Nuts And Bolts

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I'm officially joining the DT over at The Male Room challenge blog where the bi-weekly challenge is all about making cards for the men in our lives. Here is my first DT project ...

Each challenge, of course, has a different theme. For challenge #74 we are asking you to dig into your stash, find some vellum and us it in your card. A good way of using vellum is to add it as a softening layer over a brightly coloured background as I did in my card with the tag.

#74 - 22nd November - Stash

I had this brightly coloured background I made a while ago using stencils, inks and marker pen which I always intended to use as a background for robots, but it was very bright. I added some random stamping and a layer of vellum to achieve my goal of toning it down.

The little robots are watercoloured, the border is heat embossed, adding a few eyelets, sentiment and heart finished my make of perfectly.

Fancy adding some vellum to your makes, pop over to The Male Room for more inspiration and to link up your masculine makes.

That's it from me for now, I shall be back shortly.
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
vellum, eyelets, kraft card, red card, Versafine ink, Versamark, brush markers -  stash
Early Espresso embossing powder - Stampin'Up!
Xcut small heart palm punch - docrafts
Rectangles stencil - Clarity Stamps

from STAMPlorations:
Little Robots, Artsy Border Maker, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Mixed Media Elements
   

Dots And Dashes Stencil

remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on STAMPlorations stamps ***, stencils and dies:
*** Discount code works on sale items too

November Stencil Sunday Post

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to November's Stencil Sunday over at STAMPlorations. May I take the opportunity to remind you of their current Mixed Media Challenge. 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 Christmas tag

If it wasn't for drying time, this tag is actually quite quick to make: attach pieces of newsprint paper to tag, paste through the Oh, My Stars! stencils, watercolour, spritz with Gold, Purple and White Artiste Spritzing Inks, add glitter glue, add sentiment, die-cut and add Christmas Angel and finish off with little stars and ribbon.

I did die-cut the angel several times from white card and once from starry mulberrypaper and layered them all up.

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, can be used more than once) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps, stencils and dies:

If you haven't yet taken advantage of STAMPlorations Thanksgiving offer, a single 40% discount coupon which cannot be combined with any other coupon codes, check out my post here for more details and links.

ARTplorations Stencils:
Oh, My Stars!

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

Warm Hands, Warm Hearts

CUTplorations Dies:
Christmas Angel, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Getting A Head Start

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'.

Thinking of getting a head start with my Christmas crafting, I decided to work with the Trendy Christmas Trees, their coordinating dies and the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies to create a couple of CAS Christmas tags.

A little bit of stamping, die-cutting and glitter goes a long way.

A line of Stckles behind the stamped and die-cut trees, really lifts this tag. Sadly the sparkle of the glitter doesn't show in the photo.

And the green star adds a bit of sparkle to the tag below.

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 15% until Monday, 30th October, no coupon needed. You can get yourself an added 20% off by using my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout.

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:
Trendy Christmas Trees, Trendy Christmas Trees Coordinating Dies, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Wonderful Life

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 Becca's set Wonderful Life to create an uplifting tag. Here it is ...

I die-cut the largest tag from the set and blended with Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo before stamping the sun in Melon Mambo and some of the smaller sentiments from the Wonderful Life set in Daffodil Delight to create my background.

Once dry, I stamped and heat embossed the large framed sentiment, stamped and watercoloured the rainbow and attached it with foam tape. To finish off, I added some doodles, sequin and ribbon.

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 15% off until Monday 16th October, no coupon needed. You can get an extra 20% off by using my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout.

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:
Wonderful Life, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day 1

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are doing a Christmas in August Release. They are releasing 6 stamp sets and 8 CUTplorations dies and, of course, are celebrating in true style with a Blog Hop starting today.

First up is this fun set designed by Becca under her label Big Grins by Becca Cruger. It is called Christmas Cookies & Cheer, a fun set and must have for any cookie or biccie (short for biscuit as we call them in the UK) lover.

As my DT project, I made a tag ready to adorn a bag of the homemade variety. Here it is:

I used some masking, tray first, the the apron, before stamping one of the sentiments into the background and adding a few snowflakes into the mix. I removed the masks, stamped and decorated the biscuits, added the rolling pin and a splash of colour and finished off with a sentiment, twine and a touch of Stickles.

Here is Becca's new set in full:

And here is a pre-view of what is still to come:

As with any blog hop, it is best to comment on all the participating blogs, Facebook and Instagram, links to which can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Commenting closes on Monday 21st August at 11.55 pm Pacific (that's British Summer Time 7.55am Tuesday 22nd August) with winners being announced on August 24.

Here is what you can win:

Winners randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and participating designers blogs:

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release
- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store
Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)
- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from STAMPlorations Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

Well. it's over to you now, you can find all the info and links here on the STAMPlorations Blog.
I shall be back again tomorrow with more blog hope eye candy.

Enjoy your day and happy hopping!
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:

Christmas Cookies & Cheer, Becca's new set, Christmas Reindeer, Luggage Tags CUTplorations Nesting Dies
  
*** Discount code works on sale items too