Stamping With Brushos

Hello Craft Friends!

As you can see this post is going to share some projects I made for the Spotlight Tutorial Feature over at STAMPlorations. I am sharing a fun technique which makes it really easy to achieve watercolour look stamping. Their current Stamp Club set Artsy Tribal Doodles is perfect for this technique.

Here are my cards:

If you want to find out how they were made, you can find all the details here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
STAMPlorations Stamps: Artsy Tribal Doodles, Blossom Overture, Buttercups And Butterflies, Chevron And Arrows
   

CUTplorations Thin Metal Dies: Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles Nesting Dies, Buttercups And Butterflies Coordinating Dies, Word Die Happy, Word Die Magical
  

Special Release Blog Hop Day 1

Hello Crafty Friends!

Welcome to DAY 1 of the CUTplorations Christmas Release Blog Hop & Linky Party over at STAMPlorations. Today my teamies and I are showcasing Christmas Reindeer, a stamp set designed by Shirley with coordinating dies.

Here is my DT contribution:

I love the doodled feel of these reindeer, stars and snowflakes! I shall use these a lot for making my own cards, but back to the hop now and how this card was made.

A quick mopped up brusho background was the perfect companion for these characters. (brief reminder: sprinkle brusho on your craft mat, spritz with water and mop up initially just dunking without swashing around, exactly like mopping up spilled liquid). All that was left to do, was stamping and die-cutting the reindeer, stamping the stars, heat embossing the sentiment in gold and layering up plus adding the obligatory red nose of course.

It's over to you now ,,, All you have to do is ... leave a comment on my blog, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to leave a comment there and to find the links to all the other participating blogs, then pop over to leave some love there too. You might even want to join in with the linky party. Commenting closes 20th September, and the winners will be announced 22nd September. All the info will be here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Prizes:

• THREE (3) commenters randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and designers' blogs (Days 1 to 3 posts) wins a $10 gift certificate to the shop
• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from the flash diecut linky party wins her choice of any 3 holiday-themed word dies
• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from the flash diecut linky party wins her choice of stamp set & coordinating dies (Christmas Reindeer or Warm Hands, Warm Hearts)

Flash Die-cut Linky Party:

The flash diecut linky party starts September 14 and ends on September 20.  Anyone can link up to 3 new projects featuring diecuts (any brand).

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

That's it from me for now. I shall be back later with another project to share ... oops, I almost forgot ...STAMPlorations have an offer on  .... just for their blog followers and CUTplorations Christmas release week blog hop participants, from September 14 to 21:

• All orders of at least $20 ship free worldwide. Use code: CHRISTMAS. 
• Both stamp sets are 10% off and all dies in the CUTplorations Christmas release are 5% off -- discounts are automatically applied (no coupon needed)

Make sure you hit that 'follow' button on the STAMPlorations Blog before shopping!!!

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Christmas Reindeer, Christmas Reindeer Coordinating CUTplorations Dies
 

Flowers Bloom

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Tuesday which means it's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. As my DT piece I made a bold and cheerful card using the large buttercup from the Buttercups And Butterflies set in combination with a sentiment from the Bloom Happy set .... oh ... and of course a little bit of die-cutting thrown into the mix too.

I just love that big bold buttercup! Actually I do love buttercups full stop, they are so bright and cheerful and look extremely nice in the hedgerows and roadsides out in Wales where we tend to spend quite a bit of time over the summer. Back to my card, here is how it was made:

• die-cut a coloured panel using the small one of the CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles Nesting Dies (I used a piece of card which I had coloured mopping up some ink or Brusho from my craft mat. I tend to collect them as I go along, they make great backgrounds or starting points for mixed media work)
• stamp the large buttercup 4 times in Archival ink and colour with watercolours
• use the Buttercup Coordinating Die to die-cut the buttercups and snip off the stem
• stamp the sentiment from the Bloom Happy set, cut out and edge with black
• layer as shown on a linen effect base card

That's it, easy and quick. For more inspiration, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog where my teamies have prepared real eye candy for you. Whilst there, you can also leave a comment for your entry into their monthly prize draw.

That's it from me for today, I shall be back tomorrow with a very interesting Spotlight Feature and of course with my DT contribution the CUTplorations Christmas Release and Linky Party. See you there.

Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
STAMPlorations stamps: Buttercups And Butterflies, Bloom Happy
 

CUTplorations Thin Metal Dies: Buttercups And Butterflies Coordinating Dies, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles Nesting Dies
 

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

Brushoitis

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's been a while since my friend Julie diagnosed me with Brushoitis. So far it hasn't shown any signs of fading as you can see from today's DT project for STAMPlorations' Inspirations Post.

Here it is...

I was working playing with the Bubble Dance ARTplorations Stencil, sprinkled it with Brushos and spritzed with water which left me with this lovely multi-coloured background. It as too nice to cover up, but I still wanted to make a bold statement. I decided to use the negative of the CUTplorations Word Die Happy in combination with the die-cut Birthday, layerd it on my background, attached it to my black base card leaving a narrow border on two sides only and added a couple of sequins to finish.

A quick and easy card to make. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more inspiration on how to use their products and to leave a comment for your entry in their monthly prize draw.

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

here is what I used:
CUTplorations Dies: Word Dies Happy and Birthday
 
ARTplorations Stencils: Bubble Dance

September CASEplorations

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's time to start off the September CASEplorations Challenge over at STAMPlorations. This month we are taking inspiration from one of the CAS Stamp Girls as we invite you to CASE this stunning card by Ksenija Risova from Sweet Kobylkin.

Ksenija posted about her card on her blog here, if you want to check it out. Have a look, what can you see?

• cups/mugs
• coffee, tea or any other type of hot drink
• CAS
• red, orange, yellow with a touch of blue
• kraft card base
• white splatters
• fish tail banner
• catchy sentiment

Here is what I made of it ...

• mug
• stayed with the hot drink theme
• red, orange and yellow in my focal image with a blue faded outline for dimension
• splatters in my brown Brusho background
• the fish tail banner became a die cut tag
• created my own catchy sentiment

here are the steps:

1. create brusho background by sprinkling some brown brusho powder on your craft mat, spritz with water and mop up using a piece of watercolour card
2. die cut the small tag from the CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
3. stamp the mug and hearts from the Sketchy Coffee Cups set in black Memento ink and colour them with alcohol markers
4. die cut the Hugs CUTplorations Word Die from black card
5. create a 'in a mug' sentiment and edge with black
6. attach your tag using a heart shaped brad to the brusho base and layer on a red base card TIP!: Use a matching alcohol marker to colour your brad, if needed
7. attach the sentiment and finish off with with a couple of white sequins

Here is another look at my finished card ...

Hope you feel inspired to put your own spin on Ksenija's card and join us at CASEplorations. You can link your finished project up here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

That's it from me for today. I shall be back soon with more projects to share.

Have a lovely day!

hugs

Monika xxx

here is what I used:

STAMPlorations Stamps: Sketchy Coffee Cups

CUTplorations Dies: Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Hugs Word Die

 

September Mixed Media Challenge

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to this first Sunday in September 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 September is ... a coaster ....

... which is now adorning my craft table for somewhere to rest the all important brew on.

Here are the basic steps on how I made it:

• die cut a large circle to fit a chipboard coaster base
• blend the background using turquoise, yellow and pink inks (I used Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo SU inks)
• use white Craft ink through the Dots And Dashes stencil
• sponge pink (Melon Mambo) through the Gridlocked stencil
• stamp the foot prints and sentiments from the Born to Roam stamp set
• apply Sparkle Medium (Cherry) using the Some Birds stencil
• stamp, colour and fuzzy cut the globe and sentiment from Born To Roam, create a shadow for the globe using copper coloured chalk and attach in place
• add sequin and coat with ModPodge

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: Gridlocked. Dots And Dashes, Some Birds 
  

STAMPlorations Stamps: Born To Roam