It's Snowtime!

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 one of Shirle's new sets due to be released this week. The set is called Layered Snowman and is perfect for creating cute characters and more. Here is my Cabaret inspired card ...

It's pretty straight forward stamping with the large solid 'circle' being lightly inked on the outsided edges only. The coal 'teeth' were used as a hint of clothing, maybe a bow tie and the googly eyes to add some character.

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 15% for the week until Monday 13th November apart from the new Layering Stamp sets from the release which will be 5% off. You can get 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:
Layered Snowman

*** Discount code works on sale items too

November Mixed Media Challenge

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome back! Phew, time has flown by! Hope you all had a great Summer!
It's Sunday 5th November today which means, it's 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 November is ... a wintery tag ....

I fancied doing something a little monochromatic and dug out the snowman and penguins from the Winter Chill set to start and lightly watercoloured them with ink.

I then inked up the second largest Manila Tags Nesting Dies and randomly added some snowflakes before sponging Versamark though the Autumn Falling stencil and heat embossing with Snowflake Embossing Tinsel.

I then added the fuzzy cut snowman and penguins, sentiment, sequins and ribbon to finish.

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: Autumn Falling

STAMPlorations Stamps: Winter Chill


CUTplorations Dies: Manila Tags Nesting Dies

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

Note To Self

Hello Crafty Friends! Today I am sharing a project I made as a tutorial for STAMPlorations where I'm showing you how I made this canvas suing the Delicate Leaves and Crisscrossed stencils in combination with the Feathery stamps and dies.

It is a sort of a 'note to self' kind of project. We had quite a tough week following up on Nick's health issues, doctors and hospitals every single day.

Whilst overall I remain positive, it had to be a turning point for his care, and, fingers crossed, it looks like it is happening. However I don't dare to relax just yet. I think we still got a couple of tough months ahead before he is out of the woods.

Anyway to keep myself positive, I made this little canvas using mainly colours to support the heart chakra, pink and green, with a little yellow for the solar plexus to strengthen the sens of self.

Of course it is kept in a place where I can regularly look at it.

Here are a few more photos.

If you want to check out how it all came together, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the step by step tutorial.

That's it from me for today. Hope, you feel inspired to have a playful time and create your own mixed media project. If you do, why not link it up with STAMPlorations November's Mixed Media Challenge which starts in a couple of days on Sunday 5th November and will run until the end of this month. The Mixed Media Challenge is always Anything But A Card Goes, I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a lovely week
hugs
Monika xxx

Here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop
ARTplorations Stencils: Crisscrossed, Delicate Leaves
 

STAMPlorations Stamps: Fearthery
:

CUTplorations Dies: Feathery Dies

Artsy Mirri Card

Hello Crafty Friends!

I decided to give Mirror Card an artsy make over for today's Inspiration Round-Up over at STAMPlorations. I am looking to make some quick, artsy and unique cards at the moment and decided to dig my Brushos out for some fun backgrounds.
Today I am sharing a quick Christmas card with you, Brusho background, stamped sentiment, die-cut baubles, doodles, bow and sequins.

I simply sprinkled the different colours of brusho roughly where I wanted them to go directly onto my white base card and lightly spritzed with water. My base card was cut from sturdy white card not really suitable for watercolouring as I didn't ant the colours to run into each other too much. I was after the sprinkle effect you are seeing.

I have another card which I haven't shared as yet, here it is ...

This one is more for an idea as I am not sure I would use the card stock from the base card again for this type of card. It has little flecks of colour in it, and I am now thinking plain white might have looked better. Anyway, it is simply stamped with a spot of watercolouring and sparkly doodles.

Here are the close-ups ....

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:

Christmas In The Heart, Christmas Baubles #2 Layering Dies, Come Adore Him, Three Kings
   

*** 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

Sending Love

Hello Crafty Friends!

One can never send too much love. It's Inspiration Time over at STAMPlorations, the perfect opportunity to send you some across the net. 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 the Party Mates, Tweet Love and the Cupcake Builder #2 CUTplorations Dies to create a CAS card. Here it is ...

I've been meaning to make a card like this for a while, combining the cupcake builder dies with the cupcake stamps they are based on.

I simply stamped the border using a little bit of masking, added the die-cut and layered cupcake and stamped the sentiment to finish.

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 15%, no coupon needed, until Monday 23rd October. For an added 20% off, simply use 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:
Party Mates, Cupcake Builders #2 CUTplorations Dies, Tweet Love
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Be Free - October Stencil Sunday Project

Hello, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to October'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 set of colourful ATCs

I started with some watercolour card, randomly added some torn pieces of newsprint paper and some bits of a negative Lowercase Alphabet die-cut before covering it all with watercolour.

Once dried, I brushed some ink through the Crisscrossed stencil and outlined some of the shapes in black before randomly adding white craft ink

I die-cut my butterflies and spritzed them with gold Artiste ink

I stamped and embossed my sentiments, added the butterflies, doodled an outline and finished of with pearls and sparkly enamel dots.

I am entering these ATCs at:
UK Stampers Forum FB Group - October ATC Swap

Here are a few close-ups ...

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:
Crisscrossed

STAMPlorations Stamps: 

Trendy Birds 2

CUTplorations Dies:
Flutter Zen 2, Lowercase Alphabet Plate Die
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too