November STAMPlorations TAG Challenge - Thanksgiving

It's time for the STAMPlorations November TAGplorations challenge. This month the theme is All About Thanksgiving. I chose to not use the optional theme which is polka dots, but maybe you will come up with creative ways of working in polka dots in your creation?

For my tag, I inked up the background with Distress Inks, splattered with water and inked the edges in Vintage Photo. I stamped the trees and the sentiment in Versafine and finally inked Chipped Sapphire through the Some Birds stencil.

Card: White 200 gsm card

Ink: Distress Ink Squeezed Lemon, Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, Vintage Photo

Stamps: STAMPlorations Tree Silhouettes, Words of Gratitude 

Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Stencil: ARTplorations Some Birds

Other: Ribbon 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.

Cling Wrap Tag Card

Are there any specific housework/DIY things you hate in particular? I have one thing, which is actually not a really big chore, but I have it tagging along on my to-do lists for months at a time - checking the tyre pressure on my car. It takes me less than 10 minutes to do, but I just can't make myself do it. Silly, isn't it? Well, today I felt like I have earned an adulting gold star as I finally dragged myself out into the driveway and I was able to (finally) tick the task off my to-do list for a while. Obviously, I rewarded myself with some chocolate, as you do.

In addition to some other adulting stuff, like preparing healthy meals for next week (tomato and olive stuffed aubergines and a mushroom stew, in case you were wondering) I did get some play-time in the craft room. I was super excited to try the Cling Wrap technique from this month's CAS Mix Up (there are instructional videos on the challenge website). I just love the inspiration from this challenge, it's so much fun to try some of the new (to me) techniques. My "your choice" for this card was die cutting

I created two panels, the one to the left in the picture using Distress Oxides and the one to the right using Distress Inks. I added Perfect Pearls to the water I used to spritz the inks to create the silvery, shiny pattern on the panels. I love the look!

I then used the largest of STAMPlorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies to cut a tag from the panel I created with Distress Inks. I then die cut some flowers and leaves from coloured card using the Trendy Spring Blooms Dies. Last, I die cut a sentiment using Hugs Word die from a piece of grey card I had stamped using Flutter Zen Row and which was going to be part of another project but that never worked out. Waste not and all that...

I'm also linking up with Just Us Girls where Anything Goes and AAA Cards where the challenge is to be inspired by the quote "Let today be the start of something new" where my something new is of course the new technique I tried in this card.

Card: white shimmer card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney card, scraps of yellow, green and grey card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Flutter Zen Row 
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries
Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Trendy Spring Blooms Dies, Hugs Word Die
Other: Perfect Pearls

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Yuletide Deer

I hope you enjoyed all the delicious cookie creations yesterday. Welcome to day two of the big STAMPlorations Christmas Release! Today we are spreading some Yuletide Deer using Deepti's new fabulous stamp set. I absolutely love these gorgeous deer, perfect for heat embossing (and of course many other things as well). I hope you enjoy all the fantastic inspiration from the DT and leave a few comments on your way for a chance to win some of the fun Christmas sets or dies.

For my card, I created a watercolour background using a mix of Distress Inks and Oxides on watercolour paper. Then I stamped the deer and some grungy background stamps from Scribbly Splattery Grunge in Versamark and heat embossed in copper. I die cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles and attached it to a red card base. For the sentiment, I die cut the Merry using CUTplorations Merry Christmas Phrase Die in copper card and heat embossed the word Christmas from Homespun Christmas (which you will see more of in just a few day's time!) in copper onto a strip of red card. 

For my tag, I die cut the tag using Luggage Tags Nesting Dies and heat embossed another deer from Yuletide Deer, this time in gold. I coloured the deer and the tag using Copics (I couldn't resist a bit of rainbow...) and added the sentiment as I did to the card. I added some gold ribbon from my stash as a finishing touch.

Card: Daler&Rowney 300 gsm watercolour paper, red card stock, 250 gsm white card, scrap of gold mirri card and copper card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Yuletide Deer, Scribbly Splattery Grunge, Homespun Christmas
Dies: Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles, Merry Christmas Phrase Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Aged Mahogany, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Distress Oxide Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick, Copics
Other: gold and copper embossing powder from my stash, gold ribbon

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.

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Christmas Cookies

All set for Christmas? No? You think I'm crazy? Well yes, I am, but that's beside the point. Today I'm super excited to join a group of super talented STAMPlorations design team ladies to show you the new Christmas products. I usually have made a good bunch of Christmas cards by end of July, but this year I have really struggled with inspiration. Until I got a look at the awesome new Christmas stamps from STAMPlorations that is. Now I have most of my Christmas cards sorted. I'm hoping that over the following days we can inspire you to get your Christmas cards and tags sorted as well. After all, when December is here there are so many other things to worry about, so having your cards and tags all done in good time is a great start.

Today we are playing with the super fun Christmas Cookies & Cheer stamp set from the awesome Becca. You can find more inspiration from my STAMPlorations sisters over at STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day One. To join in on the fun, and of course for your chance to win some awesome prizes, you can leave comments on the main STAMPlorations blog and participating designer's blogs from August 14th to 21st. All the awesome prizes are listed in the STAMPlorations Christmas Release Day One post. And if you are not one of the lucky winners but want to get your hands on the stamps, you can use my discount code  STAMPGIRLKAROLA in the  STAMPlorations store for a 20% discount on your shop!

I thought this stamp set would make super fun tags for home-made Christmas cookies. I started by die cutting the tags using the CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies and stamped the super cute sentiments and cookie stamps on the tags. For my kraft tag I stamped the images in Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. I really love the way it stamps, it's super crisp. I used the same ink to watercolour the cute little gingerbread men and the rolling pin, but the colour looks a bit different as it gets oxidised by the water. Last, I added some icing on the gingerbread men using a white gel pen. For my white tag I stamped the sentiment in Festive Berries Distress ink and stamped the cookies in Vintage Photo Distress Oxide, again watercolouring the cookies.  

Card: 250 gsm white card and 250 gsm kraft card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Christmas Cookies & Cheer
Ink and colouring: Distress Oxide Vintage Photo, Distress ink Festive Berries, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, White Gel Pen
Other: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, red ribbon 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.

Love TAGplorations Day 7

Welcome to the final day of STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations. I hope you have enjoyed the amazing inspiration over the last week and also have had fun creating your own Love themed crafts. I have certainly enjoyed all the inspiration both from my fellow DT sisters and especially from you. It's amazing to see all the different creations - proof that there are no limits to the human imagination. Today's tag is dedicated to my dear Culinary Consultant. He is not a very romantic soul - I have learned not to expect anything. To be fair, he did create a custom Valentine's day card the first year we were dating. That's a few years ago now... But that's ok, he has other ways of showing me he cares. We are all different and being in a relationship is all about accepting our differences, isn't it. So if you aren't in a relationship this Valentine's day don't think things would necessary be any different even if you were. I'm saying go out and buy yourself some chocolates (or wine, or whatever your favourite treat is). I will visit the chocolate shop in the weekend to see if they are selling their leftover Valentine's treats for half price, usually they do! If you are looking for a good deal on crafty stash, don't forget you get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store if you use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. More info at the end of the post.

For my tag, which I die cut using the largest die from Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, I created a background using Distress ink and the Retro Circles stencil. Then I stamped the delicious looking sundae on white card coloured with Copics and fussy cut. After adhering it to my tag, I added some Crystal Effects to the glass bowl to make it look more glassy and although you cannot see it well in the picture, I added some embossing paste to make the whipped cream look more foamy. Then I stamped the letters onto white card, coloured them with Copics, fussy cut and adhered them to the tag, adding some Ice Stickles for extra bling. Last, I used words from various sentiments to make the second part of the sentiment, sponged some pink ink around the edges of the tag and added a cute little ribbon from my stash. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sugar Rush, Sketchy Alphabet

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Copics

Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Stencils: ARTplorations Retro Circles

Other: ribbon from my stash, Ranger Ice Stickles, Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, Wendy Vecchi Embossing paste

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!

Love TAGplorations Day 3

Another day, another tag! Welcome to day three of the week long STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations event. By now you probably already know there are plenty of prices to be won by commenting on the projects the DT has created to inspire you and for linking up your own projects as well. There are more details over at the STAMPlorations blog where you can see all the gorgeous projects the DT has created for your inspiration. There is still plenty of time to join in as the commenting and linking is open until February 14th.

For today's tag I used the new Pocket Blooms stamp set together with a watercolour background I had in my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box. You know when you make something that doesn't actually turn out at all like you wanted it for the project you are doing at the moment, but it's too pretty to throw away. Sometimes I like to challenge myself by deciding that I have to use something from my UFO box. And the watercolour background was perfect for this tag. It looked a bit bare though, so I grabbed some of the gorgeous new Scribbly Splattery Grunge stamps and randomly stamped them in the background using neutral colours. I die cut the pocket from jeans blue card and stamped the flowers on white card, coloured them with Copics and fussy cut them. I also used a scrap of orange card from the UFO box for the die cut sentiment, adding some Ice Stickles for extra bling. I also added a bit of Ice Stickles around the edges of the flowers.

Card: 250 gsm watercolour paper, scrap of Tim Holtz Chipped Sapphire card, scrap of orange card, 250 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms with matching die, Scribbly Splattery Grunge

Dies: Hugs Word Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Gansai Tambi Watercolours, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen

Other: Ranger Coffee Ice Stickles, orange ribbon from my stash, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder

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!

Love TAGplorations Day 2

Welcome to day two of STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations, seven days of Valentine tag making fun. You can never have too many tags, can you? I hope you enjoyed the first day of the hop (if you missed it, you can find it here). I hope you will join us by commenting on the tags you see during the event and by linking up your own tags too which you can do between February 8th and 14th. And there are loads of prices:

• 3 randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of stamp set (Pocket Blooms, A Full Heart, or Two of Us)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of any 2 of the new love-themed dies (Love, Always, XOXO, Forever, You & Me, Clustered Hearts)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of tag set: Luggage Tags or ATC/Tag Builder

Also don't forget that you can use the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store if you want to, see the end of this post for further details.

I started today's tag by stamping the adorable oliphant and balloons from the super-cute Tweet Love in a very light pink. I then used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to watercolour the image to give it a no-line appearance. Next, I used yellow and orange distress inks through the Dots All Over stencil to create a bit of colour in the background. I also used a foam applicator to add some pink around the edges of the tag. I used the Hugs Word Die on a piece of pink scrap card to die cut the sentiment, and stamped the second part of the sentiment using a stamp from Tweet Love. Last, I added some Ice Stickles to the sentiment and some ribbon from my stash. I can't wait to show you the matching card I created to this tag!

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper, scrap of pink card
Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Black Soot, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black
Stamps: STAMPlorations Tweet Love
Dies: CUTplorations Hugs Word Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
Stencils: ARTplorations Dots All Over 
Other: Ranger Ice Stickles, ribbon 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!

Love TAGplorations

I'm very excited to be part of STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations, seven days of Valentine tag making fun. We hope you will like the tags we have created with the DT to give to the important people in our lives and to showcase the gorgeous new Valentine's stamps, stencils and dies in the STAMPlorations shop. And as usual this wouldn't be half as much fun unless you could join us in the celebrations by commenting on the tags you see during the event and by linking up your own tags too which you can do between February 8th and 14th. And there are loads of prices:

• 3 randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of stamp set (Pocket Blooms, A Full Heart, or Two of Us)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of any 2 of the new love-themed dies (Love, Always, XOXO, Forever, You & Me, Clustered Hearts)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of tag set: Luggage Tags or ATC/Tag Builder

Also don't forget that you can use the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store if you want to, see the end of this post for further details.

For today's tag, I used Faber Castell watercolour pencils to colour through the Zen Hearts stencil onto a kraft tag I cut using the larges of the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies. I then traced the outlines of the coloured pieces using a white gel pen. To match my white outlined stencilled heart I die cut the Clustered Hearts Die from white card and also from a scrap of pink card from my UFO box - I think I created this with Tim Holtz Distress Paints. I then sprayed the tag with gold perfect pearls to give it a very subtle gold sheen - unfortunately I didn't manage to capture that in the photo.

I used another scrap of watercoloured card I created with Distress paints, this time in pink and blue to die cut the "always" using Always Word Die. I adhered the die cut pieces to the tag and stamped the first part of the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black using a stamp from the Pocket Blooms stamp set. For a finishing touch I added some stickles to the die cut sentiment, a few adhesive rhinestones and a white ribbon from my stash.

Pocket Blooms

Zen Hearts

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

Stamps: STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms

Stencils: ARTplorations Zen Hearts

Dies: CUTplorations Always Word Die, Clustered Hearts Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Inks and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Paints, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Faber Castell watercolour pencils, White Gel Pen

Other: Adhesive gems and white ribbon from my stash, Ranger Coffee Ice Stickles

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!

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop

 

Today I'm am thrilled to be part of the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop. We are getting together with a bunch of the STAMPlorations girls to celebrate Shery's amazingly beautiful ARTplorations stencils. You can find the main blog hop post over on the STAMPlorations blog. There will be stencil inspiration over on the blog for a whole week and the fun starts today.

To be honest, I didn't use to craft very much with stencils, I could never really get my head around what to do with them. However, this all changed after I found the ARTplorations stencils and the incredible inspiration over on the STAMPlorations blog. These days I love to grab a stencil from time to time and create some beautiful patterns. Often I use them for backgrounds, but today I decided to make them the star of the show. I used one of the new ARTplorations stencils called Circular One, which creates the most stunning pattern. I thought creating a rainbow coloured pattern using Distress Inks would look striking against a black and white version of the same stencil. I also used CUTplorations dies for my card - the largest one of the Luggage Tag Nesting Dies for the tag, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle dies for the background and Amazing Word die for the sentiment. 

Card: 250 gsm white card

Stencil: ARTplorations Circular One

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bold Sentiments: Hashtag Authentic

Ink: Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Broken China, Wilted Violet, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, Black Soot, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Dies: Luggage Tag Nesting Dies, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle dies, Amazing Word die

Other: Glossy Accents

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

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

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