CUTplorations June

Hello Crafty Friends!

A new month ... a new challenge, over at STAMPlorations the June CUTplorations Challenge has started. Here is my DT piece ...

Well let's see where I took my inspiration from ....

This month we got this super cute dragon cake, my friend Dianne made for me for my big birthday a few years ago. Sometimes it is good to take inspiration from things that are close by.

So what have we got...

• dragon
• cake
• big number birthday
• cupcakes
• lace
• checked table cloth
• party
• colours red, blue, lilac, white and a touch of brown

I went for red cake, lace, checked table cloth, lilac, white and blue and created my background using the Plaid Maker ARTplorations Stencil, added a doily a blue circle background splattered with a little white, added my cake and sweet sentiment before finishing with a touch of glitter.

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: Sweet Spring Wishes Phrase Die

STAMPlorations Stamps used: Sketched: Birthday Cake


ARTplorations Stencils used: Plaid Maker


*** Discount code works on sale items too

June Mixed Media Challenge

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to June, 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 June is ... a set of ATCs ....

I recently did a little trial using pigment powders through stencils on various types of card inked with Stampin'Up! and Distress Inks. I wanted to see what the differences were. I must say that I allowed the inked pieces to dry overnight. Overall the results were pretty similar, I used three of the pieces as background for today's ATCs and decorated them with some stamping, doodling, colouring, rub-ons and some die-cut pieces I had lying on my desk.

This ATC uses one of the backgrounds made with the Forest Of Leaves stencil on Centura Pearl Card inked with Worn Lipstick DI. I simply added some stamping using some Mixed Media Elements stamps and a sentiment from the Life In Full Color set combined with some splatters, doodles, die-cuts and alcohol marker colouring and finished off with some metal embellies.

This little beauty uses a background made on mixed media card inked with Bundled Sage DI and yellow brusho through the Square City stencil. I simply added some stamping using the Life In Full Color set, colouring with alcohol markers, doodles and Stickles

For my last ATC I used a background made from Centura Pearl card inked with Regal Rose SU ink and brusho through the Overlap stencil. The little green giraffe (Tweet Love, Tweet Love Coordinating CUTplorations Dies) had been sitting on my desk for a while waiting to be used. I think my inner 6 year old saw it and wanted some playtime! Splatters, doodles, sentiment (Life In Full Color), rub-on flower, Stickles and metal embellishment were what she wanted.

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/Masks: Forest Of Leaves, Overlap, Square City
  

STAMPlorations Stamps: Life In Full Color, Tweet Love, Mixed Media Elements
  

CUTplorations Dies: Tweet Love Coordinating CUTplorations Dies

*** The personal discount coupon STAMPGIRLMONIKA works on already reduced items too, but can not be combined with any other coupon codes.

More Happy Thoughts

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I am sharing a quick card with you, simply stamped and fuzzy cut using the Bloom Happy and Best Mom Ever sets with a little help from the Prisms ARTplorations Stencil, all by STAMPlorations.

For the background I inked up a piece of card, let it thoroughly dry, sprinkled crimson brusho through the stencil, spritzed with water and allowed tor dry. The rest was simple assembly and doodling finishing off with a touch of glitter glue.

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog for more Roundup Inspiration.

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:

Bloom Happy, Best Mom Ever, Prisms ARTplorations Stencil
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too, but can not be combined with other coupon codes

Purple Beauty

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'.

Inspired by a lovely sunny weekend at the caravan, I decided to work with the One Cool Chick and a sentiment from Deepti's Best Mom Ever set to create today's CAS card.

I was in the mood for simplicity and went with a die-cut frame and matching oval. on which I stamped my image. I the partially colored it using alcohol markers.

I then layered everything up as shown, added my sentiment and gems to finish.

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 10% apart from the A Cup Of Roses set and Many Blessings Stamps & Coordinating Die Set both of which will be 20% off. Yes, that's another week with two sets a 20% off, plus you can increase this by another 20 % to 40 % by using my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at check out.

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:
One Cool Chick, Best Mom Ever
 

*** Discount code works on sale items too, stamp sets on sale this week until 29th May 2017 with a 20% discount are:
A Cup Of Roses set and Many Blessings Stamps & Coordinating Die Set
  Sale discount will be automatically applied at check out.

Watercolour Flowers

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 make a splash with watercolour using Deept's latest set Best Mom Ever. Here it is ...

What can I say .... stamped and splashed with watercolour, finished off with doodles. I used straight forward white card, not one that is specifically good for watercolouring. I rather like these accidental lines one gets when the colours aren't moving properly because the water is too readily absorbed. It makes it look rather sketchy.

What do you think?

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by Deepti under her label 'Dee's Artsy Impressions'. All her sets will be reduced by 10% apart from the Power Of Words and Rise And Grind sets both of which will be 20% off. Yes, that's another two sets this week at the special sale price. Just a quick reminder, my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA will give you an added 20% discount on these sale prices too.

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:
Best Mom Ever


*** Discount code works on sale items too

CUTplorations May Reminder

Hello Crafty Friends!

Over at STAMPlorations the CUTplorations Challenge  is in full swing, and I just wanted to post a little reminder project for you to get your creative juices flowing. Here it is ...

I was drawing inspiration from the heart shaped flowers, did a bit of masking, stamping, embossing and inlaid die-cutting and added a few tiny hearts to finish.

I'm keeping it short and sweet today with one close-up of my card.

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: Magical Word Die

STAMPlorations Stamps used: Funny Kinda Love, Blossom Overture
 

*** Discount code works on sale items too

May Stencil Sunday

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to another Stencil Sunday in May. 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 is ... a uplifting and encouraging tag ...

Today I had one of my 'I wonder, if...' moments, sponged the Luggage tag with Strawberry Slush ink, let it dry, sprinkled some Violet Storm Infusion Powder through the Prisms stencil, spritzed with water and held my breath .....

Phew! I could breathe again, the little experiment worked. Whilst it was drying, I stamped, coloured and fuzzy cut the Cool Chick, stamped and snipped up the sentiment and die-cut another Luggage tag as backing. I added some white watercolour splatters and a strip of Washi, glued on the backing tag, attached the chick and sentiment, added some white doodles and finished off with sequins and ribbon.

I am really pleased with the amount of depth I achieved by simply adding the doodles. There is a little close-up below.

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: Prisms

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

One Cool Chick, Tweet Love

 
CUTplorations Dies:
Luggage Tags Nesting Dies


*** Discount code works on sale items too