Remembering Melissa

Hello Crafty Friends!

A somewhat different post from me today as over on the STAMPlorations Blog the 'STAMPfamily' is paying tribute to Melissa Lane who sadly passed away just over two weeks ago.

I met Melissa and her family about two years ago in Swindon on a craft retreat organized by Kylie. Melissa's husband Chris was stationed somewhere in Bavaria, Germany, at the time, and they had driven all the way up from there having a little stop-over on the way to Scotland where they were going to spend their family Summer holidays.

I remember Melissa telling me about how much they all were wanting to move back to the USA, and that they would do this once Chris' posting came to an end in a few months' time. And move they did ... setting up and running a little farm in Maine.

I am sure that Melissa infused everything in and around the farm with her love which will now hold, nourish and comfort those she left behind, especially Chris and the children.

The other day when making the cards for my Spotlight project here, I was thinking about Melissa and her family. Inevitably my cards ended up using Brushos, because we met over playing with Brushos, butterflies and flowers at Kylie's craft retreat.

One piece of card shown in the photographs was left over, and I didn't know why. It is the brusho background for today's card.

Melissa's cards and art reflected a bright and cheerful 'can do' attitude. I hope that my card today captures this and carries a message of hope and comfort to her family.

big hugs
Monika xxx

If you knew Melissa and want to pay tribute to her or send a card to her family, you can find all the information you need here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Magical Life

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 work with the Power Of Words to create a magical make. Here it is ...

Sprinkle Golden Sands Infusion Powder on a piece of whit card, spritz with water and the magic happens. I simply highlighted the stars with my gold Promarker and added the die-cut magical.

It's like a burst of little miracles off a magic wand ....

As mentioned earlier, this week we are showcasing stamps designed by Deepti under her label 'Dee's Artsy Impressions'. All her sets will be on sale for the week until Monday 22nd October at 10% off, no coupon needed, the discount will be automatically applied. You can still use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for an added 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:
Power Of Words, Magical Word Die
 

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Messing Up

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is Wednesday and time for a new challenger over at The Male Room challenge blog where the bi-weekly challenge is all about making projects for the men in our lives. Our guest designer for the next fortnight is Lynn, you can check out her fabulous creations on here on Lynn's blog

My DT project for the new challenge is something cut ...

Each challenge, of course, has a different theme. For challenge #96 we are looking for projects with the theme 'My Bad/Sorry'. Lots of scope there!

#96 - My Bad/Sorry

I felt that a cute image was needed to say sorry, and who could resist this little critter ...

Fancy creating your 'My Bad/Sorry' inspired make, pop over to The Male Room for more inspiration and to link up your masculine makes.

That's it from me for today
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
Pronty Fantasy Stencil - Buddly Crafts
sentiment stamp from Pets - STAMPlorations (feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount)
Miel Izink Ink - Craft Stash
Black Memento ink, Brushos, bear stamp, frame die, white card- stash

Sweet Holiday

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 Christmas Cookies & Cheer to create two very CAS cards. Here they are ...

The idea was to keep things really simple with just a pop of colour.

The original idea was the plain white one with the stitched die providing some interest and movement.

Layering on red with a little gap seemed to be a natural playful progression.

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 10% off for the week until Monday 15th October, no coupon needed, the discount is automatically applied.

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:
Christmas Cookies & Cheer, Stitched Snow Hills
 
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Stencil Hop Over At STAMPlorations

Hello Crafty Friends!

I am back today with some stencil inspiration. STAMPlorations are releasing some exciting new stencil designs by Sanna Lippert Designs, and they are celebrating with a blog hop.

I was working with Barley and Cornflower. Here are my makes ...

Simple sponging and a bit of spritzed gold finished off with a die-cut sentiment .....

using up the ink on my stencil by spritzing it with water and imprinting it on a piece of white card finished off with dark grey sponging, doodles and die-cut sentiment ...

... a children's Foil Art Kit with a bit of die cutting ...

... and brusho crystals through a stencil spritzed with water finished off with gems and die-cut sentiment ....

... and here they are, a little taste of all of Sanna's new stencil designs ...

As with any blog hop, you are invited to hop along and leave comments as you go for your chance to win one of 4 prizes (1 winner of a $20 gift certificate, 1 winner of a $10 gift certificate and two winners can each choose 3 of Sanna Lippert Designs stencils) . All the links and full prize info can be found here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Commenting closes October 21, and the winners will be announced in a Winner's Post around November 10.

From today, October 8, until October 21 all stencils will be on sale in the STAMPlorations Shop at 15% off, no coupon needed, the discount will be automatically applied. You can still use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for an added 20% off.

Here is a last look at my cards ...

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to join the hop. Please leave comments as you go along checking out the wonderful creations on offer.

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

Barley, Cornflower, Bracket Labels/Tags Nesting Dies

  

Big Hugs, Feel Better Soon, Hang In There

  

here is what else I used:

Izink Inks - Aurore, Miel, Cire, Grenadine, Reglisse

Heidi Swapp Gold Spritzing Ink

Brusho Powders - Turquoise
black fine liner pen, gems Foil Art Kit, silver mirror card, black, blue and brown card

Wonder-Fall Time

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today is the start of a new season of TAGplorations Challenges and my first outing as TAGplorations DT member. It is a monthly challenge for projects featuring a tag or tags, each challenge follows a theme with an optional twist.

The theme for October is: All About Fall

The optional twist is: to use the colours red, gold and orange

How could one resist these gorgeous colours? I couldn't hence I decided to incorporate them into my tag ...

Inspired by last week's full moon which was called the harvest moon, I went for an autumn theme of harvest time using one of Sanna's new stencils, called Barley, combined with Shery's Wonderfall Time stamp set and the largest Stitched Tags Nesting Dies.

A bit of ink blending with my trusted shaving brushes, gold spritzing, stamping, colouring and fuzzy cutting ... and my tag was ready.

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 are three free autumn image to download 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

Wonderfall Time, Barley, Stitched Tags Nesting Dies

  

here is what else I used:

Izink Inks - Aurore, Miel, Cire, Grenadine

Heidi Swapp Gold Spritzing Ink

gold eye glitter, black Versafine ink, paper ribbon, brush markers

Christmas Inspiration

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 Layered Holly and little bit of help from the Christmas Blessings Phrase Die and the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies to create today's inspiration piece. Here it is ...

I had this idea of a non-traditional card with pink holly berries and a pigment powder background hence I started off sprinkling some infusion powders on a piece of white card and spritzed them with water.

Once dry, I stamped the holly leaves, heat embossed the berries and stamped an outline in bright pink. For the frame I simply used the smallest of the nesting dies and cut out the inside with my ruler and craft knife. All that was left to add was the sentiment and a couple of bright pink metal dots.

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% from today, 2nd October, until Monday 8th October 2018, no coupon needed. If you fancy an added 20% off, feel free to use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout when shopping for STAMPlorations Stamps, Dies and Stencils.

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 Holly, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Christmas Blessings Phrase Die

  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

other materials used:
Izink Inks - Cerise, Verveine and Menthe
Infusions Coloured Stains - A bit Jaded, Are You Cerise and Golden Sands