Thank You & Stencil Hop Reminder

Hello Crafty Friends!

Just a quick reminder that over at STAMPlorations they are having a Stencil Blog Hop to celebrate the release of new stencils by their new designer Sanna Lippert.

I feel very lucky to have been working with two of her fabulous designs, Leaves 1 and Trees 1 to make an artsy CAS Thank You card. Here it is:

I re-visited a technique I used in my Spotlight Project here on the STAMPlorations Blog. Instead of using die-cuts I simply used two of the cut out trees which were included with the Trees 1 stencil, layered them on top of each other and secured them in place with low tack tape before dry embossing.

The embossed Leaves 1 on the white background can be more easily seen by zooming in. I really love the subtle embossed effect you get when using stencils for dry embossing

Here is a look at all the stencils Sanna designed for this release:

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to join the fun and of course to check out all the other gorgeous inspiration my teamies created. Please leave comments along the way for your chance to win one of the following prizes:

• one winner of a $20 gift certificate
• two winners will win their choice of three stencils from the new Sanna Lippert Designs range

Commenting closes Monday, 4th December. Winners will be randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and the participating designers' blogs.

Here is one last look at my make ....

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:

Leaves 1, Trees 1 (contains some of the little cut out trees too), Curly Labels/Tags Nesting Dies, Strong Women
   

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Stencil Hop At STAMPlorations

Hello Crafty Friends!

Over at STAMPlorations they are having a Stencil Blog Hop to celebrate the release of new stencils by their new designer Sanna Lippert.

I feel very lucky to have been working with two of her fabulous designs, Leaves 1 and Trees 1 to make a set of seasonal cards. These stencils are so versatile, you can literally use them all year 'round.

Here are my makes:

Simple gold embossed leaves with a die-cut sentiment and some red, green and golden metal dots.

My next make uses card from a foil art kit for children which works like a scratch card ...

You simply place the stencil on the black side of the card and scratch the black paint off using the tool from the kit ... and you end up with lovely foil trees!

Here is a look at all the stencils Sanna designed for this release:

Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to join the fun and of course to check out all the other gorgeous inspiration my teamies created. Please leave comments along the way for your chance to win one of the following prizes:

• one winner of a $20 gift certificate
• two winners will win their choice of three stencils from the new Sanna Lippert Designs range

Commenting closes Monday, 4th December. Winners will be randomly drawn from all the comments left on the STAMPlorations Blog and the participating designers' blogs.

Here is one last look at my makes ...

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:

Leaves 1, Trees 1 (contains some of the little cut out trees too), Merry Christmas Word Art Die
  

*** Discount code works on sale items too

More Christmas Makes

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'.

I have a couple of cards for you today, For my first one, I decided to work with the Joy To The World and Winter Chill stamp sets in combination with the Christmas Angel Die and a little bit of help from two of Shirley's sets, Three Kings and Christmas Reindeer, for the star cluster and the small snowflake. Here it is ...

It's been pretty straight forward stamping and die-cutting with a little bit of a blended background.

I had these large shaped cards for quite a while and decided that I had to start using them up. I don't normally make large cards, but I love using the Christmas Angel with the Joy To The World stamp. The two are just made for each other and they needed some space.

Next up is a card using the Christmas In The Heart stamp ....

It is simply stamped and then die-cut using a set of nesting dies from my stash. I did the die-cutting all at once and then pieced it all back together.

STAMPlorations have a special Thanksgiving Offer with the Thanksgiving Blog Hop And Wishlist Linky Party ending later this week. There are still a few days to join the fun.

There is a special offer coupon code BIGTHANKS which can be used once per customer/shipping address for a whopping 40% discount. This offer excludes products from the New Release and Retiring category, Coloring Books and Gift Certificates.

The BIGTHANKS coupon code cannot be combined with any other coupon codes you might have.

Should you wish to purchase products from the New Release category you can always use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount. This code can be used more than once and works on sale items too, but cannot be combined with any other discount code.

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:
Joy To The World, Winter Chill, Christmas Angel, Christmas In The Heart
   

Christmas Reindeer, Three Kings
 

Floating Feathers

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I am sharing a fun card with floating feathers. The card was made as a step-by-step photo tutorial for STAMPlorations. The feathers really jump out at you once pulling this card from an envelope. I am working with STAMPlorations' current Stamp Club set Feathery and its matching Feathery Dies.

Here are a few close ups with shadows to give you a better idea of the floating effect.

Intrigued and fancy finding out how this card was made? There is a full step-by-step photo tutorial here on the STAMPlorations Blog.

That's it from me for today. If you fancy adding some floating dimension to one of your projects or make a project using any of the techniques shared by my teamies in their Spotlight Posts, make sure to link up your makes with STAMPlorations' Spotlight Project Gallery here.


Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx


Here is what I used:

Feathery, Feathery Dies

 

Christmas In The Heart

Hello Crafty Friends!

This year, as part of the STAMPlorations DT of course, I am participating again in Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags Event. It's the 7th year Tracey is running the event and you can really find lots of fabulous inspiration on her blog.

I went for quite a simple tag, which can easily be mass produced, here it is ...

I mopped up some turquoise and purple brusho from my craft mat, the crystals had been spritzed with water of course, using a piece of white card from which I cut the largest Manila Tag Nesting Dies. I then randomly stamped the Christmas Flower - Large in Tempting Turquoise and my Typographia Christmas In The Heartsentiment in black Versafine. The little tree embellishment was made using a stamp from the Trendy Christmas Trees and the coordinating die with olive Archival ink and shrink plastic. A Stickles Border and fluffy ribbon finished my tag off.

The event has been going since 1st November, so there is lots to see and tags to suit any taste. For more tag inspiration, simply visit Tracey's Blog and enjoy!.



I shall leave you with one last look at my tag ...

That's it from me for now. I am back later today with a fun tutorial creating floating dimension on the STAMPlorations Blog. I shall share the project and link to the tutorial on my blog too.
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:
Manila Tags Nesting Dies, Typographia Christmas In The Heart, Trendy Christmas Trees, Trendy Christmas Trees Coordinating Dies

   

Christmas Flower Large

*** Discount code works on sale items too

Nuts And Bolts

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today I'm officially joining the DT over at The Male Room challenge blog where the bi-weekly challenge is all about making cards for the men in our lives. Here is my first DT project ...

Each challenge, of course, has a different theme. For challenge #74 we are asking you to dig into your stash, find some vellum and us it in your card. A good way of using vellum is to add it as a softening layer over a brightly coloured background as I did in my card with the tag.

#74 - 22nd November - Stash

I had this brightly coloured background I made a while ago using stencils, inks and marker pen which I always intended to use as a background for robots, but it was very bright. I added some random stamping and a layer of vellum to achieve my goal of toning it down.

The little robots are watercoloured, the border is heat embossed, adding a few eyelets, sentiment and heart finished my make of perfectly.

Fancy adding some vellum to your makes, pop over to The Male Room for more inspiration and to link up your masculine makes.

That's it from me for now, I shall be back shortly.
Have a lovely day!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used:
vellum, eyelets, kraft card, red card, Versafine ink, Versamark, brush markers -  stash
Early Espresso embossing powder - Stampin'Up!
Xcut small heart palm punch - docrafts
Rectangles stencil - Clarity Stamps

from STAMPlorations:
Little Robots, Artsy Border Maker, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Mixed Media Elements
   

Dots And Dashes Stencil

remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on STAMPlorations stamps ***, stencils and dies:
*** Discount code works on sale items too

Christmas Deer

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 Yuletide Deer stamp set in combination with the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and the Clustered Hearts Die to create a CAS Christmas card with a little shimmer and sparkle. Here it is ...

The pearlescent base card add a touch of shimmer for extra interest.

STAMPlorations have a special Thanksgiving Offer starting tomorrow with the Thanksgiving Blog Hop And Wishlist Linky Party. Keep checking their blog here for the start time at 7am Pacific (3pm GMT).

There will be a coupon code BIGTHANKS which can be used once per customer/shipping address for a whopping 40% discount. This offer excludes products from the New Release and Retiring category, Coloring Books and Gift Certificates.

The BIGTHANKS coupon code cannot be combined with any other coupon codes you might have.

Should you wish to purchase products from the New Release you can always use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA at checkout for a 20% discount. This code can be used more than once and works on sale items too, but cannot be combined with any other discount code.

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:
Yuletide Deer, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Clustered Hearts Die