Cupcake Inspirations Challenge

Today I'm very excited to be guest designing over at Cupcake Inspirations as the current challenge is sponsored by STAMPlorations.  I always love the gorgeous cupcake images for this challenge, although I have to admit they sometimes make this recovering sugaroholic crave a fix... But at least I can channel all of that sugar craving into my crafting instead! This time the colour combo is a dramatic red - white - black. 

I decided that the dramatic colours would look stunning on the equally dramatic Bloom Boldly stencil, so I inked through the stencil with Distress Inks. I love how the little hidden hearts in the stencil image match with the little hearts on the cupcakes! The Festive Berries red was absolutely perfect to match the red in the inspiration image, it's so vibrant. I then spritzed some water across the image to give it a little bit of a grunge-y and distressed look. Last, I die cut the sentiment using the Thanks Word Die and added some Crystal Effects to it although it doesn't show very well on the picture. I added three red rhinestones for a finishing touch and matted the panel onto black card before adhering to a white card base. If you got inspired to add some STAMPlorations goodies to your stash, you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at the check-out in the STAMPlorations store to receive 20% off your order (see below for more info)!

Card: 250 gsm white card, 250 gsm black card

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot and Festive Berries

Stencil: ARTplorations Bloom Boldly

Die: CUTplorations Thanks Word Die

Other: Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, adhesive rhinestones from my stash

STAMPlorations discount code: If you want to save 20% when shopping at the STAMPlorations store you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. The discount applies to all normal priced and discounted stamps, stencils and dies. The code cannot be combined with other discount codes. If you have any questions or problems, just let me know!