Flowers Bloom

... or bees become butterflies

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 the Buttercups And Butterflies to create a quick and colourful card using a partial stencil print from a Brusho session I had last week. Here it is ...

It was a pretty quick card to make. I simply turned the partial stencil print to find the orientation I was happy with, stamped my sentiment, stamped some butterflies in Daffodil delight, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red, layered on a piece of Pumpkin Pie card, layered on my kraft base card and finished with a little star on one of the butterflies.

This post was all scheduled and ready to go, when this morning something magical happened. I had been playing with some new dies last night whilst watching television and dropped them on the craft table before going to bed .... the I saw this this morning ...

Without realizing I had placed the butterfly on what was going to be today's project for sharing, of course I had to finish it off especially given the cards sentiment! Bees become butterflies. 😊

I added a vellum die-cut of the solid butterfly shape underneath the filigree one cut from gold mirror card and attached it to my card adding more sequins to finish.

The butterfly is one of the new CUTplorations Layering Dies called 'Flutter Zen 2' due for release very soon, in fact they might even be in their shop later this week.

Here is another close look at my sneak pre-view ...

This week over at STAMPlorations, we are showcasing stamps designed by Becca under her label 'Big Grins By Becca Cruger'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% apart from the Buttercups And Butterflies set I used in my card which will be 20% off.

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. I shall be back again tomorrow with a couple of projects. 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:
Buttercups And Butterflies, Zen Hearts
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

March Stencil Sunday

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday in March. 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 are ... 3 love themed ATCs

I played with Brushos and ARTplorations Stencils, Hearts All Over and Zen Hearts, to make my ATCs. I wanted them to be bright and cheerful for a love themed swap I was planning on entering. 

I simply placed the stencils on my precut pieces of watercolour card, sprinkled with Brushos, spritzed with water, removed the stencils and allowed to dry.

Let's look at them in more detail. First up is the lovestruck Dino ...

I used the Hearts All Over background, stamped the script from the Mixed Media Elements sets inked up in red and yellow (Real Red, Daffodil Delight) all over and added a border from the same set in Chocolate Chip as grounding.
Next I stamped Dino from the Dino Things set on Mixed Media card, watercoloured and fuzzy cut it before attaching it in place.
To finish off, I stamped the sentiment from the same set, added a little punched heart and some doodles.

Next up are the Love Birds ...

Using the second of my Hearts All Over backgrounds, I stamped the script again, this time in Melon Mambo partially wiped off.
The birds from the Birds Of Paradise set were stamped on Mixed Media card, watercoloured with inks (Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo) and fuzzy cut.
To bring it all together, I doodled a border, stamped my sentiment, added a die-cut mesh heart, attached the birds, added two small punched hearts, added the white highlights and finished off with a bit of sparkly eyeliner and glossy accents on the birds' wings.

Last but not least the 'Love The Journey' ATC ...

For this one, I used the Zen Hearts background and added some doodles with a sparkly Gelly Roll Sakura Pen and a red marker pen before adding a little shading with grey Gelato.

To finish, I stamped my sentiment from the Trendy Butterflies set and added a little punched heart.

Here is another look at all three ...

I am entering my ATCs at:

UK Stampers Forum FB Group - March ATC Swap, theme: Love

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: Hearts All Over, Zen Hearts

 

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

Mixed Media Elements, Dino Things, Birds Of Paradise, Trendy Butterflies

   
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Happy Women's Day 2017

Hello Crafty Friends!

Just a quick post from me today to wish you all a very Happy International Women's Day 2017!

Today I had some playtime doing some watercolour effect stamping with my MISTI.

First I started off by stamping the script (Mixed Media Elements, STAMPlorations) in Daffodil Delight and the Butterflies (Texture Butterflies, Kaisercraft) in Melon Mambo on a piece of Mixed Media card.
Next I did the watercolour effcet stamping of Ella Bella (Indigo Blue) similar to my video below using Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise.
Once dried I stamped Ella Bella again in Crushed Curry before adding my sentiment (Strong Women, STAMPlorations) and some fine splatters.

To finish I simply layered on a kraft base card.

I am entering my card at:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with optional twist 'The Rubber Room' no digis, playing optional twist

That's it from me for today. Wishing you a day full of joy cherishing yourselves!
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:
Mixed Media Elements, Strong Women

 

*** Discount code works on sale items too

other supplies:
Ella Bella - Indigo Blue
Texture Butterflies - Kaisercraft
Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry inks and Early Espresso marker - Stampin'Up!
black Versafine, mixed media and kraft card - stash

watercolour effect stamping using MISTI video

Fairie Postcard

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations. This week my teamies and I are showcasing stamps by our very own Shirley under her label 'The Bee's Knees'.

I decided to work with the Faerie Door to create a postcard with wings. Here it is ...

It is a slightly grungy watercolour fairy, but, given that she is meant to be sent without envelope, I felt is was cool to go down that route. Just imagine what a postcard would look like having gone through all the handling and sorting. Fairies, even the fashionista ones, don't always have to be pretty pretty. What do you think?

Anyway apart from that, it was pretty straight forward:

• stamp and mask the fairy
• stamp the wings
• stamp and mask the coat hangers (Party Girl) and wings as you go along
• watercolour using inks (Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Tempting Turquoise)
• stamp the City sentiment from City Girl around the edge in Tempting Turquoise 2nd generation
• add distressing using ruler, kitchen roll and Early Espresso ink
• stamp sentiment
• add glitter eyeliner to the wings

I am entering my card at:
Postcard Swap UK Stampers Forum FB Group - Wings

New for this year, the STAMPlorations Inspiration DT are showcasing stamps from one designer. All the stamps by that designer will be reduced by 10% for that one week apart from one set which will have a 20% discount. No coupon is needed at check out, and you still can apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA -which doesn't expire, by the way- for an extra 20% off all stamps, dies and stencils!

And here she is after post proofing her with a coat of Mod Podge:

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by our very own Shirley under her label 'The Bee's Knees'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% apart from the Faerie Door set I used in my card which will be 20% off.

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:
Faerie Door, City Girl, Party Girl

  

*** 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.

CUTplorations March

Hello Crafty Friends!

Over at STAMPlorations they have a new challenge ... The CUTplorations Challenge ... It's a monthly challenge requiring you to use die(s) and take inspiration from the monthly changing photo which for this month is ...

image source: Stylecaster

So what have we got ...

• the words Garden Party
• flowers
• dresses
• women
• casual elegance

I pretty much took my inspiration from the dress on the right to make this thank you card ...

Well, we all do want to say Thanks after having been to a party.

I die cut the small Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, sponged with Crisp Cantaloupe and randomly stamped with roses and leaves from the Frames And Flowers set in Crisp Cantaloupe Cherry Cobbler and Baked Brown Sugar.

I stamped part of my sentiment, Sentiment Builders: Thank You, and added the other part as a layered die-cut Thanks from ivory pearlescent card.. To finish off and for added elegance simple pearls fitted the bill perfectly.

What do you think?

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see how my teamies interpreted the photo and to link up your entry too. There are prizes for the winner ($10 gift certificate) and the two runner-ups ($5gift certificate each) as voted by the DT plus, if there are 30 or more entries, one randomly drawn winner can choose any 2 of the CUTplorations Word/Phrase Dies the DT used in their projects. That's well worth creating for, what do you think?

That's it from me for now.
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:


CUTplorations Dies used: Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Thanks Word Die
 
STAMPlorations Stamps used: Sentiment Builder: Thank You, Frames And Flowers
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Time Out Celebrations

Hello Crafty Friends!

The girls at Time Out Challenges are celebrating big as Time Out is turning 3! Their theme Love/Friendship for the coming fortnight couldn't be more fitting. There is an optional twist too ... Spotlight Stamping ... well I tried to incorporate it all for my friendship card ...

I worked with one of STAMPlorations newest additions Bloomin' Spring Coffee Basket and one of the cool or shall I say hot coffee sentiments from the LiteraryCaffeine-Ations set both fittingly stamped in Coffee Archival to make a skinny latte card.

For the spotlight stamping, I simply die-cut a heart shape from my stamped image, coloured it with a mixture of watercolour and inks and slightly raised it by layering on a couple of die-cut shapes.

Of course I shall be entering my card at some challenges too:
Time Out - Love/Friendship with the optional twist of Spotlight Stamping
Addicted To Stamps And More - Anything Goes

That's it from me for today. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to see how my teamies help celebrating, and of course remember to link any of your creations with Time Out too. I shall be back soon.

Have fun!
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:
Bloomin' Spring Coffee Basket, LiteraryCaffeine-Ations