25 Days Of Christmas Tags

I am thrilled to share a tag as part of 25 Days of Christmas Tags event which is brought to all of us by the fabulous Tracey McNeely of In My Creative Opinion. There has already been 25 days of amazing inspiration! However, you might have noticed that it's already the 26th today. This year 25 days of tags wasn't quite enough so there is a special slot sponsored by STAMPlorations today to make sure you get a bonus day of tag inspiration! And of course there is a way for you to play along and win some fabulous prizes by either commenting on the designers' posts or by creating your own tag inspired by one of the tags presented by the designers. You can see the linkup post here for more information.

For my tag, I started by die cutting a tag from watercolour paper using the largest of the CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies. Then I stamped the Holiday Sketches: Christmas Candles in black ink and heat embossed in clear powder. I coloured the image using Tim Holtz Distress markers and a water brush. I then masked the stamped image and inked through the tag die using yellow, orange and brown Distress Inks. I also added some spots through the ARTplorations Dots All Over stencil for some added interest. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed in copper, and die cut a backing tag in copper card to match. Last, I added some ribbon which I tied with twine and added a sequin with a rhinestone as a finishing touch.

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney Watercolour paper, Copper metallic card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Holiday Sketches: Christmas Candles, Joyful
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Distress markers for colouring
Other: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, ARTplorations Dots All Over stencil, Ranger clear embossing powder, Papermania Copper embossing powder, ribbon, twine, gold sequin and red adhesive rhinestone from my stash

Perfectly Plaid Fall Thank You

I'm really good at buying patterned paper. I'm much less good at using it up. Luckily the sketch over at Retro Sketches this week was perfect for using up paper. Too bad I missed the deadline for the challenge by two days! Better luck with a few other challenges as I was also inspired by the colours over at ColourQ. I'm also linking up with Just Add Ink where the theme is to use two of the trio doily, die cut and designer paper. I obviously chose die cut and designer paper. Last, but not least I'm linking up with Shopping Our Stash where the theme is Front and Centre (use any leftover pieces, I used my leftover bits of patterned paper and the leftover watercoloured panel I used for the leaf) and just about making it for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is Thanks/Thanksgiving.

Card: 250 gsm white card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper
Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves, Scripty Thanks die, Stitched Rectangle dies
Ink: Gansai Tambi watercolours, Ground Espresso Distress Ink
Paper: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Fall, Let's Polka In The Meadow 

Colourful Circles

It's rather grey and dreary out there so I thought we really need a card with bright colours today. I was inspired by the new challenge over at AAA Cards which is circles. I was also inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the CAS Mixup challenge where I have already played along twice this month but could not resist a third go as I think this month's challenge of Stamping+Masking+Your choice (die cutting in my case) is just so much fun I couldn't resist a third go. I'm also linking up with Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With a Die Cut challenge.

I started by inking through the ARTplorations Bubble Dance stencil using Distress inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry. I just love how the colours blend and you get so many more colours than you start with. Then I used the CUTplorations Happy Word die and die cut words for the sentiment from Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper and black card. To complete the sentiment I stamped the word Birthday from STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners. Last, I added a lot of Ice Stickles for some bling. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scarp of black card
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry
Stamps: STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners
Stencils: ARTplorations Bubble Dance 
Dies: CUTplorations Happy Word die
Other: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper, Ranger Ice Stickles

November STAMPlorations CAS challenge - Mid-month inspiration

Welcome to our mid-month inspiration post for the STAMPlorations CAS challenge. The DT has a bunch of fantastic projects to inspire you and to remind you that there is still plenty of time to link up to our November CAS challenge, where the optional colour twist this month is purple. What a perfect opportunity to get some Christmas cards done in a non-traditional colour. I've gone for a lot of non-traditional colours on my Christmas cards this year just to change it up a bit. And of course get a chance to win some great prized from STAMPlorations as well!

For my card, I started with die cutting a rectangle using the fun wonky stitched Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting die from CUTplorations from watercolour card. Then I attached the deer stencil from Christmas Reindeer using glue dots which I had made a bit less sticky by pressing them between my fingers for a while. Next, I used a spoon to sprinkle purple, violet and blue Brushos on the card, and sprayed with water from a spritzer. The key is to make sure you sprinkle very lightly with the Brushos if you want the speckled look. After letting the watercolours dry, I carefully removed the stencil and die cut the sentiment from a scrap of turquoise card and attached everything onto a purple card base. Quick and easy, and I just love that speckled Brusho look. I'm linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Christmas Critters.

Card: Daler&Rowney 300 gsm watercolour card, purple card from my stash, scrap of turquoise card from my stash

Colouring: Brushos (violet, purple and blue)

Stencil: ARTplorations Christmas Reindeer

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting die, Merry Christmas phrase die

STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Today I'm really excited to be part of the 2nd STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop. A whole bunch of incredibly talented designers (and lil-old me) are getting together with the fabulous Shery of STAMPlorations to show our gratitude, spread some inspiration and celebrate the wonderful STAMPlorations products that allow us to be so creative. But the best part is that we want you to come and celebrate with us - either by visiting the blogs linking up to the hop and leaving a comment and/or by creating something for the linky party. And there are lots of prizes of course!

Giving Thanks Hop

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs will receive a $50 gift certificate.
• THREE (3) winners randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs will each receive a $20 gift certificate to the shop.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from our Facebook page will win a $15 gift certificate for herself and a $15 gift certificate for one friend she tags in her comment.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from our Instagram account will win her choice of Giving Thanks bundle (Be Thankful, Oh So Grateful, or Many Blessings)/

Giving Thanks Linky Party

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive the Be Thankfulbundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive Oh So Grateful bundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

• ONE (1) winner randomly drawn from all entries linked up will receive Many Blessings bundle (stamp set with coordinating die, word die, and stencil)

Both the commenting and linky ends on November 30th at 11:55 pm Pacific.

You will also find a Thanksgiving sale over at the STAMPlorations store. 

You will find all the amazing participants of the blog hop in the linky below, and don't forget to hop over to the Giving Thanks Blog Hop over at STAMPlorations to link up your projects.

For my project I used the beautiful stamp and die from the new Be Thankful bundle. I started by inking through the Weathered Wood stencil in Vintage Photo distress ink to create the card background. Then I die cut a tag using the CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting dies. I used the sentiment stamp from the bundle to stamp the word Thankful on the tag in red and yellow ink and then inked around the edges in Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Inks. Then I stamped the apples onto watercolour card in Versafine ink and coloured with my Gansai Tambi watercolours. Last I die cut the Thankful with the die from the bundle and stamped the rest of the sentiment in Versafine onto yellow card which I cut into a banner.

Card: 250 gsm white card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper, scrap of yellow card

Stamps and dies: STAMPlorations Be Thankful bundle, Luggage Tags Nesting dies

Ink and colouring: Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Early Espresso

Other: ARTplorations Weathered Wood stencil

Stencilled Fall Florals

How are you? I mean really, how ARE you? It's that time of year when it's dark and cold and gloomy and don't even get me started on world events, I mean 2016 has been the year of so many strange and scary things. But let's not go there. Instead, I made a card for my lovely colleague who went above and beyond to help me a while ago when my key card just decided to stop working. Nothing like turning up to work hours before anyone else and realising you can't get in anywhere. On a day when your only other early bird colleague is on a trip out of town. Anyhow, I thought a little thanks would be in place and a good excuse to make a card.

I was inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the colours over at Color Throwdown. I'm also linking up over at AAA Cards where the theme is Thanks/Thankful, CAS Mixup where the theme is Stamping+Masking+Your choice (die cutting in my case) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Thanks/Thankful. 

I started by inking through the lovely Fall Floral Trio stencil which has been patiently waiting around for a few weeks on my crafting desk. After finishing the flowers I added a bit of dots using the Dots All Over stencil. Then I inked a piece of scrap card using the orange, pink and red Distress ink and die cut the Thanks using the CUTplorations Thanks Word die. Last I stamped the other part of the sentiment (from Bloom Sketches) and added some orange Distress Stickles to the die cut for a finishing touch.

Card: 250 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloom Sketches

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mermaid Lagoon, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Stencil: ARTplorations Fall Floral Trio, Dots All Over

Other: CUTplorations Thanks Word die, Ranger Distress Stickles Glitter Spices Marmalade 

Non-Traditional Christmas Wreath

I have been suffering from a weird sub-clinical cold for the last few weeks. I'm not sick enough to slow down, but I'm constantly tired and feel off. I've been thinking I will just shake it off but it keeps going on and on. So I decided to skip the gym last night and head home early from work. Heading home early came with the benefit of finally having a bit of time in the craft room. However as it was already dusk when I got home (despite being home early!) and pitch dark by the time I finished the card (although it was quite a quick card) so I had to wait for this morning to get a picture. 

This card is the amalgamation of inspiration from various places. First of all, I was inspired by the gorgeous inspiration image over at Daring Cardmakers. I was inspired by the colours (turquoise, purple, pink and black) the Christmas theme and all the gold and glitter. I was also inspired by the theme "Shine Bright Like a Diamond" over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which made me add a ton of glitter to the wreath. I was also inspired by One-Layer Simplicity Challenge where the theme is Peace. Last but not least I'm linking up with the CAS Mix-Up Challenge where the theme is Stamping + Masking + Your Choice (in my case heat embossing). 

I started by stamping the wreath from STAMPlorations Joyful and the sentiment from Framed Christmas: Peace, Love and Joy in Versamark and heat embossed in gold. Then I masked the wreath and edges of the card and inked Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry Distress inks through the ARTplorations Retro Circles stencil. Last, I watercoloured the wreath using Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet for the berries and Mermaid Lagoon for the leaves.

Card: 300 gsm Daler & Rowney watercolour paper

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful and Framed Christmas: Peace, Love and Joy

Ink: Tsukineko Versamark, Distress Inks Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry and Mermaid Lagoon

Other: Gold embossing powder, ARTplorations Retro Circles stencil

There's Snow One Like You Dad

It's Father's day in Finland next weekend, and of course my dear Dad deserves a great card to celebrate the day. It's always hard to be an ocean away on these special days when all you want is to be there and make a really great Father's day breakfast. Maybe some waffles, or cinnamon buns... But a card will have to do. So I wanted to create a really special card so I got out the penguins. I thought the "There's Snow One Like You" would be a great sentiment for a father's day card instead of the usual Happy Father's Day, just to make it a bit more special.

I was inspired by the Keep It Clean and Simple theme over at Lawnscaping. Further, I was also inspired by the colours over at ColourQ and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. Last but not least I am linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Thinking of You. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, 300 gsm white textured card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Snow Cool and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Ink, Versamark, Tim Holtz distress inks Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire, Copics
Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Stitched Hillside Borders, Forest Border
Other: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka, Perfectly Plaid Fall, Ranger fine clear embossing powder

Even More Tags For Holiday TAGplorations

Welcome to the third day of the STAMPlorations Holiday TAGplorations event. You can find the main post here, with information on how you can play along by leaving comments or creating your own gorgeous tags. The event will go on for another few days with even more inspiration from the STAMPlorations girls. This is my third and final batch of tags, you can find the other posts here and here. For today's tags I used the same technique as I used for my tags yesterday, so you can see that post for instructions if you are interested. The only difference is that I used the smallest die from the Luggage Tag Nesting Dies set. You can see a picture below with all three sizes of tags next to each other. 

Card: 250 gsm white card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Copics
Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tag Nesting Dies
Other: twine from my stash

More Tags for Holiday TAGplorations

Welcome to the second day of the STAMPlorations Holiday TAGplorations event. You can find the main post over on the STAMPlorations blog. As you see, there are plenty of ways for you to join us, either by commenting on posts or by creating your own gorgeous tags. And it doesn't have to be for Christmas - it can be any holiday. And there is loads of prizes up for grabs as well! 

I had so much fun creating my tag for the main event yesterday that I couldn't stop with just one. Besides, you end up needing quite a bunch of tags for Christmas pressies, so why not get them done in one go. Today I used the middle size die from CUTplorations Luggage Tag Nesting Dies to create my tags. I used various colours of Tim Holtz Distress inks through the die to create the crisp white border on my tags. Then I spritzed some water onto the tags to create the splotches. I just love this technique and the way the inks react with water. I stamped the stocking and present from the Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamp set, coloured them with Copics and die cut with the matching dies. Last, I stamped the Ho! Ho! Ho! sentiment from the same stamp set and added a bit of twine for attaching the tags to presents.

Card: 250 gsm white card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Copics
Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tag Nesting Dies
Other: twine from my stash

Holiday TAGPlorations

I'm so excited to be part of the second TAGplorations Holiday event. The event kicks off today and will be five days of holiday tag making fun. It's such a great chance to get inspired by the tags the STAMPloraitons girls share over on the STAMPlorations blog. 

I love adding little tags to my Christmas presents, it gives such a nice extra touch. And this year I have used the new CUTplorations Luggage Tag dies to create my tags, which I will be showing over the next few days here and over on the STAMPlorations blog. And of course you will get a chance to get in on the fun too! You will be able to win prizes by commenting on the main post as well as the posts of all the tag desingners linked to the main post. And there will be a lot of prizes:

10 prizes (with a value of $178+) will be distributed among randomly drawn winners:
- (3) randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $15 gift certificate to the store
- (3) randomly drawn participants to the TAGplorations linky party will each receive the Luggage Tag Dies 
- (3) randomly drawn participants to the TAGplorations linky party will each receive the ATC Tag Builder Dies
- (1) randomly drawn participant to the TAGplorations linky party will receive a $25 gift certificate to the store

Plus possibly some extra surprise prizes too. Winners announced on December 9 in the November Challenges & Hops winners post.

And of course there will be a linky for you to also show us your beautiful holiday tags (any holiday, it doesn't have to be Christmas!)

For today's tag, I used the biggest of the Luggage Tag Nesting Dies to die cut the tag. I used blue Distress inks and blended them using a foam applicator throug the die to get the clean white edge. Then I splattered some water on the tag to create the snowy effect. Next, I stamped and die cut the cute little pressent loaded sled from the Warm Hands Warm Hearts set and coloured with Copics. Last, I added a snowy hill using the Stitched Snow Hills die. To create the sentiment, I used the same blue distress inks to colour a piece of white scrap card and then die cut the sentiment using the Let It Snow phrase die. Last, I added a bit of blue ribbon from my stash.

Don't forget to check out the fantastic tags the other STAMPlorations girls have made, you can find them here. And we will be back for four more days with more TAGspirational creations and can't wait to see what you create.

Card: 250 gsm white card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Broken China, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, Copics
Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tag Nesting Dies, Stitched Snow Hills, Let It Snow phrase die
Other: ribbon from my stash

November STAMPlorations CAS challenge - Anything Goes With Purple

And so it's November, and we are all in a panic to create all those Christmas cards we all swore we were going to create all through the year but didn't. So why not join us over at the STAMPlorations CAS challenge, and create something for Christmas. Or anything else CAS for that matter! You don't have to use STAMPlorations products but if you have any, we would love to see them used. So hop over to see what the wonderful DT has created to inspire you, and then don't forget to play along!

I created a watercolour background for my card using my Gansai Tambis, including this months theme colour - purple. I also mixed in some pink in there, and spritzed some dark blue and red as a finishing touch. Then I stamped the present and a few sentiment phrases from Joyful October 2014 in Versamark and heat embossed in white powder. Tadaa - all done! 

I'm linking up with the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - ATG 

Christmas Card Challenges - ATG 

ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Vertical

Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday

Card: White 300 gsm smooth card, Daler&Rowney 300 gsm watercolour paper
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Gansai Tambi watercolours
Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful October 2014
Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting dies
Other: Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder