ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop

Today there is a special treat over at the STAMPlorations blog as we are celebrating the annual ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop. This year we are showcasing the brand new gorgeous stencils from the talented Sanna Lippert of Papierstau. Please come and hop along with us, pretty much everyone on the STAMPlorations DT are featuring these gorgeous stencils today! And of course, there is a little something in it for you as well. You have the chance to win either a gift certificate to the STAMPlorations store or some of Sanna's yummy stencils. Prizes are randomly drawn from everyone commenting on the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop and the participating designer's blog posts. The full list of participating designers can be found over at the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop.

For my first card I wanted to let the super fun Evolution stencil shine as the star of the card, so I masked off a rectangle and inked Distress Inks in Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violet and Mermaid Lagoon. Then I stamped the sentiment from Noteworthy 2. I was going to leave it at that but inspired by the sentiment I doodled a frame around the image and added a few black pearls.

For my second card I die cut a piece of watercolour paper using the medium-sized Crazy Double Running Stitch Nesting die inked three shades of green Distress Ink (Pine Needles, Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron) through the Christmas Tree 1 stencil, moving the stencil for every shade of green I used. I left the die on while I inked to create the white border around the edges. Then I sprinkled different green shades of Brushos onto a scrap piece of Watercolour card, spritzing with water from a Mini Mister. Then I die cut the shape using Christmas Icons - Christmas tree 1. I used the stencil to add some Christmas tree shapes to the die cut in Pine Needles ink, and added some adhesive pearls as decoration. Last, I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment from Homespun Christmas onto red card, cut a thin strip and added it to the card.

I'm linking up my Christmas card over at AAA Cards where the theme is Christmas and over at Daring Cardmakers where the theme is Trim the Tree.

I'm also linking up the card I made with the Evolution stencil over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where Anything Goes this week.

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

Stamps: STAMPlorations Homespun Christmas, Noteworthy 2

Stencils: ARTplorations Evolution, Christmas Tree 1

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Nesting die, Christmas Icons - Christmas tree 1

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks Abandoned Coral, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Pine Needles, Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet, Brushos

Other: Adhesive pearls 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.