STAMPlorations Spring Fling and Blog Hop Reminder

This is your official reminder that you still have a few days (until the end of the month) left to hop along and/or link up to the STAMPlorations Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party if you were planning to do so but haven't yet done so. You can find lots of inspiration for spring-themed creations on the STAMPlorations Spring Fling blog post and if you hop along and comment, or link up your own creations you can win one of several great prizes. In addition, there is a free digi which you can download and which I used for my project.

I created my card using the free Coffee Bloom Prints Digital Stamp, which you can download from the STAMPlorations digi store for free! I re-sized the digi to 80%, printed it, coloured with Sharpies and fussy cut it. I ran a black marker around the edges of the coffee cup before attaching it to a background I created by blending Distress Oxides and splattered it with water. I heat embossed a sentiment from What's Brewing in white onto black card to finish the card.

I'm also linking up this card over at the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Don't forget that STAMPlorations is one of the super sponsors for the hop, and there are additional prizes to be won over on the STAMPlorations Coffee Lovers Blog Hop post.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Bloom Prints Digital Stamp, What's Brewing

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Sharpies, Tsukineko Versamark 

If you feel like shopping for new craft stash you should check out the promotions in the STAMPlorations Store. And if you want 20% off normal priced products, you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout!

 

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

 

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Did you see May anywhere? I heard a rumour it was May, but now it's almost gone. How did this happen? I remember how March and April took at least a year each, but May, my favourite month always flies by. If you have any ideas what happened, let me know in the comments!

It's also time for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. As usual, the design team is showcasing some of our favourite STAMPlorations stamps. This time I decided to play with the fun Houses stamps which I coloured with watercolours and attached to a card base created with Distress Inks. I added a sentiment using Skinny Sentiments.

Stamps: STAMPloratoins Houses
Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Inks, Gansai Tambi watercolours

Don't forget the current promotions in the STAMPlorations store. If you prefer to shop from the non-discount categories, you can use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout for 20% off normal price products.

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

Coffee Mug for Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Have you already played along with the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop? I have, but I feel this great event warrants at least another card. Also, this is a reminder that STAMPlorations is one of the super sponsors for the hop, and as usual, Shery is giving away extra prizes over on the STAMPlorations blog (and it's from the new CRAFTplorations product range so it's super exciting!) and there is a gorgeous free digi too.

A while ago, I created a bunch of panels by smooshing Distress Oxides, and decided to use some for this card. I started with a lovely pastel panel which I die cut with one of the beautiful, ornate dies from Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies and matted on black card. I then used another panel and die cut that with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I stamped the coffee cup from Bloomin' Coffee and You in grey on white card, added the Distress Oxide panel and coffee cup, and compelted the card with a fun sentiment from Coffee Happy.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy, Bloomin' Coffee and You
Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies
Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Ink Hickory Smoke, Tsukineko Versamark


Don't forget the Coffee Lovers Sale in the STAMPlorations store.

 

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

Spring Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Today is the launch of the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! As always, STAMPlorations is one of the sponsors of the event so along with the rest of the STAMPloratios Inspirations team we are sharing extra inspiration over on the STAMPlorations blog today. There are four STAMPlorations gift codes up for grabs over at Coffee Loving Card Makers as part of the main Blog Hop, but as usual, Shery is being very generous and there is an extra prize drawn from those leaving comments on the STAMPlorations blog post.

We also have another reason to celebrate over on the STAMPlorations blog as we have recently released two new coffee themed stamp set. You may have seen the release post earlier this week and here are two other projects I created with these fun new stamp set.

For my first card, I used the coffee stamp from Sweet Kindness which I stamped four times and coloured using Copics. I heat embossed sentiments from Coffee Happy in white on black card and added them to the card. 

For my second card I used the coffee cup from Bloomin' Coffee and You. I stamped it and coloured with Copics before fussy cutting the image. I die cut a background which I created with Distress Oxides using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, and added coffee beans using the Dots n' Beans stencil. Last, I added a sentiment from What's Brewing, matted everything on a piece of blue card which I attached to a card base decorated with Washi tape.

I hope you are inspired to create your own coffee themed projects!

  
Bloomin' Coffee and You | Sweet Kindness

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy, What's Brewing

Stencil: ARTplorations Dots n' Beans

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukinko Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Distress Oxides, Distress Inks

 

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

Spring Fling Blog Hop Reminder

Hi all, this is a very quick post to remind you of the ongoing STAMPlorations Spring Fling Blog Hop and Linky Party. The STAMPlorations design team has a whole post full of more spring-themed inspiration over on the STAMPlorations blog. There are many ways for you to play along with us and win some great prizes too.

There are 2 parts to this fun event, and you can find them over on the main STAMPlorations blog Spring Fling post:

1. a blog hop with 23 stops where you can leave comments; and
2. a linky party for linking up your spring-themed projects -- you're free to use non-STAMPlorations products but if you do use our products (stamps, stencils, dies, clear stickers, coloring pages) and you're randomly picked as a winner, you get a bonus prize + we've got a digital stamp you can download and use. 

I made a card using the new Sweet Kindness stamp. I stamped the flowers from the set multiple times over the front of the card and heat embossed in gold. Then I used pretty much all of the colours in my Gansai Tambi watercolour set to colour the image. I heat embossed one of the sentiments from the same stamp set in gold on a yellow scrap piece of card and added it onto a green 

I hope you will join us for the blog hop and linky party too over at the Spring Fling post. Also, don't forget the two sales campaigns over in the STAMPlorations Store! And if you feel like shopping for non-sale items, you can get 20% off using the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA.

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

STAMPlorations Inspiration Post - New Coffee Stamp Release

Today we have a special STAMPlorations Inspiration post as we get to share two new stamp sets with you. These new stamp sets, Bloomin' Coffee and You and Sweet Kindness, are designed by the wonderfully talented Shery. If you love flowers, coffee, cupcakes and lovely sentiments, these stamp sets are for you. And my fellow design team members have loads more inspiration over on the STAMPlorations blog. 

For my first card, I was inspired to showcase the tasty cupcakes from Sweet Kindness. I heat embossed the image in copper, watercoloured it with Distress Inks and fussy cut the image. To create the background, I used Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo inks through the  Oh My Stars! Mini stencil, and after attaching the cupcakes, added the final touch with the sweet sentiment.

For my second card I used the delicate floral frame from Bloomin' Coffee and You. I started with a Distress Oxide blended background. Then I stamped the floral frame and a sentiment from Bloomin' Coffee and You in gold on vellum. For that extra touch, I added a strip of patterned paper (it also helps attach the vellum) and three adhesive pearls. 

I hope you enjoyed this showcase of the new stamp sets!

  
Bloomin' Coffee and You | Sweet Kindness

I also used the Oh My Stars! Mini stencil for my cards in addition to the new stamp sets.  

There are two great sales going on in the STAMPlorations store and for normal priced products you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA for 20% off.

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge Reminder

Have you played along with the STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge yet? If not, this is a quick reminder that you still have two more weeks to do so. This month our colour twist is the most delicious baby pink, so get your pink on and join us! If you need more inspiration, hop over to the STAMPlorations blog challenge reminder post for loads of projects created by all the challenge design teams.

For my card, I used Sanna's super fun Peacock Feathers stencil, inking through it with Distress Oxide ink pads. Then I used a black marker to trace the outlines of the stencilled feathers before adding a sentiment consisting of a stamp from Winter Chill and colour coordinated die cut using one of my favourite sentiment dies Skinny Sentiments which allows you to create gorgeous layered sentiments.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Winter Chill
Stencil: ARTplorations Peacock Feathers
Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments

Don't forget there are two big offers in the STAMPlorations store right now. And if you want $$ off normal price products also use discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout!

 

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

 

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday, how are you on this fine day? I'm here to show you my card for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I thought some furry little friends are the perfect way to cheer us all up when we enter yet another strange week in this new reality which still seems like it's straight out of a science fiction novel. And at the same time other things are as normal as ever, there is way too much work and spring just keeps coming, the peonies are in full bloom in the garden. 

Today's card involved a bit of stamping, masking and no-line watercolouring. I absolutely love this stamp set and the adorable critters make such a cute card. I hope you feel inspired to create something today too!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Woodland Friends

Ink and colouring: Gansai Tambi watercolours, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Scattered Straw

STAMPlorations Spring Fling 2020

Today is a special day over on the STAMPlorations blog as we are launching our annual Spring Fling Blog Hop and Linky Party! This year most of my DT colleagues are showcasing our new wonderful Bloomdalascopic stencils and new spring clear stickers. However, I thought we should also show some love to our old crafty stash and today I decided to squeeze some extra value out of my Bloomtangled Cover Plate die. It's a fun technique you can use with any cover plate die you have. You can join us for the blog hop and linky party to win some of our awesome prizes too!

I used the cover plate die to create a stencil by die cutting a piece of heavy card. I then inked various colours of Distress inks through the makeshift stencil. I splattered some water over the inked panel and splattered some gold watercolour too. Then I cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and added a sentiment die cut with Skinny Sentiments. For the background panel, I stamped the florals from Softly in Hickory Smoke. 

If you join by commenting on the Spring Fling post on the main STAMPlorations blog and the designer's blogs, or by linking up your creations to the linky party you could win one of the following prizes:

• THREE (3) winners of $10 gift code drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs
• TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $10 drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs
• TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $15 drawn from entries in the linky party
• ONE (1) winner of $25 gift code drawn from entries in the linky party

You can comment and link up until Sunday, May 31, with winners announced on June 10 in the May winners post.

If you are inspired to do some shopping in the STAMPlorations store, all throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly, and if you use my DT code STAMPGIRLKAROLA you can get up to 35% off.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Softly

Dies: CUTplorations Bloomtangled Cover Plate die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Skinny Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Hickory Smoke

 

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy May, my favourite month of the year! How are you coping? I'm looking forward to a long weekend this week as we have a bank holiday on Friday and I'm taking a day of annual leave on Monday, enjoying four lovely days away from work. I'm planning to... well, stay at home, but not work, hehe. Maybe take a few long walks and work in the garden. It will still feel like a holiday, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good weather. And today is Tuesday, and that means there is a new STAMPlorations Inspiration post too.

For today's card, I started with one of my Distress Oxide blended backgrounds. I made a big batch of them a few weeks back. I then stamped the lovely Sweetly bouquet of flowers in white heat embossing on vellum. I die cut the sentiment using Everyday Sentiments. Last I added a strip of patterned paper both for the decorative effect and to secure the edge of the vellum to the background. I'm really chuffed about how this card turned out.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sweetly

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, Tsukineko Versamark

We are soon going to start the Spring Fling blog hop and linky party, so don't forget to check in on May 6th.

 

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge

We have made it to May! My most favourite month of the year. Yes, I may be biased as it's my birthday month, but I also happen to think it's the most beautiful month as it's when spring turns into summer. The garden is at it's most beautiful, there are lots of colourful flowers everywhere and it's warm, sunny and wonderful. And here in the UK we get to enjoy two bank holidays (and I've actually used up two of my precious annual leave days too so I'm only working 4 days per week for the whole month). I'm going to spend the days in the garden, in the craft room and knitting while watching Mad Men on Netflix. Hope you will be able to enjoy May in whatever way you find most enjoyable.

Today is also the start of a brand new STAMPlorations May CAS Challenge. This time the colour twist is Baby Pink which of course was super hard for me as it's a colour I never use... NOT! I loved using the beautiful florals from Softly to create my pastel pink and grey bunch of flowers. All that was needed to finish off the card in style was a grey sentiment die cut using Everyday Sentiments and a few adhesive rhinestones from the bottom of my stash drawer. I hope you feel inspired to play along with the challenge!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Softly 

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks