Embossing With Die-Cuts

Hello Crafty Friends!

I'm over on the STAMPlorations Blog today with a Spotlight Tutorial showing you how to get more out of your CUTplorations dies. I picked up the Trendy Spring Blooms Dies and a few other bits to create these two cards:

To find out how I made my cards and for a step by step tutorial, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog. I shall just leave you with a couple of close-ups ...

That's it from me for today. If you feel inspired to do some embossing using your die cut shapes, why not link your make up with their Spotlight Project Showcase.

Have a lovely Easter!
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 Spring Blooms CUTplorations Dies, Scribbly Splattery Grunge, Bloom Sketches, Tweet Love
   
*** Discount code works on sale items too

The rubber embossing mat I used, is by Imagination Crafts and can be found here.

Things With Wings 2

Hello Crafty Friends!

The Things With Wings Spring Blog Hop And Linky Party over at STAMPlorations is in full swing. As a little reminder, I made today's card using Flutter Zen 2 CUTplorations Layering Dies with a little help from Sweet Spring Wishes, the Numbers Plate Die, the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and the Distressed Floral Swirls stamp set.

What do you think of my second make for the 25 days of celebrating Spring with all things winged?

Well here is how it was made:

• die-cut the same size rectangle from white card and one with a brusho background
• using MISTI stamp the swirls on both pieces in exactly the same positions
• die-cut the numbers from the white stamped card
• die-cut the sentiment 3x from matching card and layer up
• die-cut the filigree butterfly from Centura Pearl and the solid one from vellum and layer up
• assemble card on a matching base card as seen

Apart from the new range of Layering Dies, STAMPlorations have released some great Spring themed sentiment dies, floral dies and stamps too. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check them out and, of course, to join the party through commenting and linking up your winged projects. Commenting and linking up is from Wednesday 5th April to Sunday 30th April, 11.55 pm Pacific.

As always there are prizes to be won: 

• (3) randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Trendy Butterflies 2 + either Flutter Zen 1 or Flutter Zen 2 layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Sweet Spring Wishes stamp set + Dragonfly layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Trendy Spring Blooms dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Sweet Spring Wishes phrase dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive a $20 gift certificate to the store.

All the links you need to comment and join the party can be found on the STAMPlorations Blog. For more winged inspiration, check out their post here too.

Hop along and 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:
CUTplorations Dies:
Flutter Zen 2, Sweet Spring Wishes, Number Plate Die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

   

STAMPlorations Stamps:

Distressed Floral Swirls

*** Discount code works on sale items too

You're Amazing

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 set with its coordinating dies and a sentiment from Strong Women to create today's project. Here it is ...

The Centura Pearl card I used as base adds a lovely subtle shimmer and contrasts well with the plain white card used for the buttercup. Here are the steps on how it was made:

• create a watercolour background with splatters on a die-cut piece of white Centura Pearl card
• stamp, colour and die-cut the buttercup
• die-cut 2 - 3 more of the buttercup shapes and layer them up with your coloured buttercup
• stamp sentiment in place
• add the buttercup topper
• layer on your base card and finish off with a touch of Stickles and a couple of matching sequins

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 reduced by 10% apart from the Funny Kinda Love 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:
Buttercups And Butterflies, Strong Women, Buttercups And Butterflies Coordinating CUTplorations Dies, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies
   
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Things With Wings 1

Hello Crafty Friends!

So far April has shown its sunny side here in the UK, and I have a very easy, yet impactful card to share, thanks to the new Flutter Zen 1 and Flutter Zen 2 CUTplorations Layering Dies, two of a stunning range of new dies STAMPlorations are introducing with a month long celebration.

This means it is time for the Things With Wings Spring Blog Hop And Linky Party, 25 days of celebrating Spring with all things winged.

My card was pretty easy to make, I die-cut the filigree butterflies from card and the solid ones from vellum. I then cut a little panel of watercoloured card using one of the Stitched Snow Hills dies, die-cut the Sweet Spring Wishes sentiment and layered everything as shown finishing off with some sparkly flowers.

I am entering my card at:
Addicted To Stamps And More - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - April Showers or Spring, went for Spring

Apart from the new range of Layering Dies, STAMPlorations are releasing some great Spring themed sentiment dies, floral dies and stamps too. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check them out and, of course, to join the party through commenting and linking up your winged projects. Commenting and linking up is from Wednesday 5th April to Sunday 30th April, 11.55 pm Pacific.

As always there are prizes to be won: 

• (3) randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Trendy Butterflies 2 + either Flutter Zen 1 or Flutter Zen 2 layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive Sweet Spring Wishes stamp set + Dragonfly layering dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Trendy Spring Blooms dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive the Sweet Spring Wishes phrase dies
• (1) randomly drawn participant in the Things with Wings Spring linky party will receive a $20 gift certificate to the store.

All the links you need to comment and join the party can be found on the STAMPlorations Blog.

Please leave a comment, hop on and 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:
CUTplorations Dies:
Flutter Zen 1, Flutter Zen 2, Sweet Spring Wishes, Stitched Snow Hills

   

*** Discount code works on sale items too

CUTplorations April

Hello Crafty Friends!

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

How did it come about? Well, the CUTplorations Chellenge is a monthly challenge requiring you to use die(s) and take inspiration from the monthly changing photo which for this month is ...

image source: Alexas_Fotos pixabay.com

Looks interesting, when I saw, it I immediately thought of Easter and the coloured eggs turned into a colourful die-cut Easter sentiment. the bird is heat embossed and was masked before adding a little blending and stamping daffodils.

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, Uppercase Alphabet Die plate, Lowercase Alphabet Die Plate
  
STAMPlorations Stamps used: Trendy Birds, The Birds And The Blooms, Mixed Media Elements
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Monochromatic ATC

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I want to share a little ATC with you I made for a tutorial over at STAMPlorations. It is one of a set of three. Have a look ...

The colour scheme was inspired by the April ATC Swap of the UK Stampers Forum on Facebook. The theme this month is 'Blues'. I went for the colour rather than musical interpretation of the word. Well, saying that, I did use a musical stamp in the mix.

Basically I built up layers using ink for stamping, sponging and brayering with a little gesso thrown into the mix before stenciling the rose in acrylics and sparkle medium. Add in some gel pen doodles, a bit of die-cutting and Liquid Pearls and the ATCs were ready to be finished off with a few sequins.

There is a little slide show video on how I made them over on the STAMPlorations Blog here.

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:
ARTPlorations Stencils:
Build Me A Rose, Dragonfly Waltz, Plaid Maker
  
STAMPlorations Stamps:
Scribbly Splattery Grunge, Mixed Media Elements, Distressed Damask Background
  
CUTplorations Dies:
Bloom And Grow Phrase Die

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Here is my YouTube slide show video of how it came together:

Spring Chickie

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 Fowl Play to create a card inspired by the saying: I'm no Spring chicken. Here it is ...

The chicks are stamped and coloured with Promarkers.

I then used the Clouds stencil and Tempting Turquoise inks to add the fair weather cloud background, stamped and die-cut the sentiment (Sweet Spring Wishes CUTplorations Phrase Die) before layering up as seen and finishing off with a wiggly eye on the larger chick.

I am entering my card at:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #87 Shiny Spring  - went with a Spring inspired colour scheme and die-cut the word Spring from shiny gold mirror card

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 Party Girl 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:
Fowl Play, Sweet Spring Wishes CUTplorations Phrase Die, Coulds ARTplorations Stencil

  

*** Discount code works on sale items too