STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday! Can you believe it, January 2021 is almost done and dusted with. January is just one of those months... the holidays have just passed, it's cold and miserable and it seems like there is nothing to really look forward to, just the drudgery of work. But we are moving towards spring, then summer... and Christmas! I know, it's crazy to talk about Christmas when we have hardly recovered from the previous one. But last Christmas I learned a lesson. I had almost no handmade Christmas cards to send out, and I had to create some in a real hurry. And let's just say they didn't quite turn out as I had hoped, as I had so little time. Therefore, this year I will aim to create four Christmas cards every month for the last STAMPlorations Inspiration post of each month. That way, in theory by the end of November I should have 48 Chrismas cards done. To me, 4 Christmas cards per month sound achievable, no? When are you planning to start your Christmas cards?

For today's STAMPlorations Inspiration post I was inspired to create with the Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamp set and matching dies. I decided to create one card with each of the four images from the set and use two different layouts. I started by inking shades of red Distress Inks through the Rectangles Flexi-Template on two cards and creating a red stripe on the side of two other cards. I then stamped the images from Warm Hands Warm Hearts and coloured them with Copics before die cutting with the matching dies. I also created various sentiments by stamps from the Festive and Joy sets, stamping them in red and black inks on kraft card. Last, I created each of the layouts, also adding a small sliver of gold glitter card for added decoration. That's 4 down, 44 to go! Below is a closer look at the cards. Also, don't forget to leave a comment on the Inspiration post to enter into a monthly draw for a $15 prize code to the STAMPlorations store.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts and matching dies, Festive, Joy
Other:  Rectangles Flexi-Template
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo black, Tim Holtz Distress inks, Copics

 STAMPlorations discount code: If you want to save 20% when shopping at the STAMPlorations store you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. The code cannot be combined with other discount codes. And if you use my code you also get to pick a freebie to the value of $7 (for details see the badge below).

Note that as a STAMPlorations affiliate, I get a small commission on any orders you place in the STAMPlorations store using the links in my blog post or my coupon code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. This is at no added cost to you. Thank you for your support to keep my craft addiction going :) 

STAMPlorations Inspiration

 

Happy Tuesday, aka STAMPlorations Inspiration Post day! Any crafting these days is solely devoted to Christmas crafts, therefore I bring you another Christmas card today. I was going through my stash of Christmas craft supplies and picked out some I haven't played with for a while. I don't want them to feel forgotten about! I started by masking my card front using the Rectangles Flexi-Template (I really, really love this product, it is exactly what I have needed without knowing I need it, and I use it so often!). I then heat embossed sentiments from Joy and Festive in white, added the Placid Stencil and inked with Distress inks. Next, I stamped the present laden sledge from Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamp set, coloured with Copics and die cut with the matching die. Last, I stamped sentiments from Joy and Warm Hands Warm Hearts. Don't forget that by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post you are entered into a monthly draw for a $15 prize code.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joy, Festive, Warm Hands Warm Hearts stamps and dies

Stencil: CUTplorations Placid Stencil, Rectangles Flexi-Template

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Ink, Copics 

STAMPlorations discount code: If you want to save 20% when shopping at the STAMPlorations store you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. The code cannot be combined with other discount codes. And if you use my code you also get to pick a freebie to the value of $7 (for details see the badge below).

Note that as a STAMPlorations affiliate, I get a small commission on any orders you place in the STAMPlorations store using the links in my blog post or my coupon code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. This is at no added cost to you. Thank you for your support to keep my craft addiction going :) 

December STAMPlorations CAS Challenge - Mid-Month Inspiration

December is rushing along at a crazy pace. Just a few more days and it's finally time to slow down for a bit, enjoy good food, good company and most of all just relax and recharge the batteries. I can't wait to have a full two week's break. What are you going to be up to?

This is a reminder that there is still time to join the STAMPlorations CAS challenge. We have got togehter with the DT with some more inspiration in this month's optional colour twist - red and green. You can see all the inspiration over here. There are already lots of wonderful and festive works of art linked up to the current challenge, but we always love to see more grand designs in the linky. I hope you are able to take some time out from your Christmas prep and join in the fun! 

For my card I used the Warm Hands, Warm Hearts stamp set and started by stamping the sentiment. Then I randomly stamped the cosy mittens and sock, and filled in the empty spaces with the snowflake from Framed Christmas: Peace, Love and Joy. Last, I coloured the mittens and socks and that's it! Perfect easy and quick CAS card when you realise you are just one (or two or three) cards short.

I'm linking up with the following challenges: 

House of Cards - Red and Green Inspiration Image

Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - ATG 

Card: 250 gsm white card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands, Warm Hearts and Framed Christmas: Peace, Love and Joy
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress markers Festive Berries and Mowed Lawn

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

October STAMPlorations CAS challenge - Mid-month inspiration

It's officially not too early anymore to use the C word, at least in the crafty world. It's about time to make sure there is a sufficient stash of C-cards. And there is nothing like a good CAS design to help build that stash. And at the same time you can play along with our STAMPlorations October CAS challenge where the optional colour twist is black. Don't forget to hop over to the STAMPlorations blog to see all the mid-month inspiration from the amazing DT. You can use any products you like, but we would love to see you use STAMPlorations products if you have them. Just remember to keep it CAS and don't forget to include the challenge graphic in your post to be eligible for the prize, which is a $10 gift card to the STAMPlorations store. You still have a good week and half to play along, so no reason to panic, but don't leave it too late either!

For my card I stamped the lovely sleigh loaded with presents and coloured with Copics, but if you prefer to die cut your images there is a matching die set to these stamps. All that was needed to complete the design was a die cut black sentiment, but I also made a smaller version of the card where I stamped one of the sentiments from the stamp set instead. Quick and easy.

I'm linking up with the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas Goes 
Addicted to Stamps and More - ATG 
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Use orange 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scraps of black card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Warm Hands Warm Hearts
Ink and Colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Dies: CUTplorations Let It Snow Phrase die