STAMPlorations Inspiration

Hi, how are you? No, really, how ARE you? I hope you are holding it together somehow. I'm definitely not the person who has cleaned the whole house, learned a new language and studied the ancient philosophers with all this "extra time". I'm working more hours than I have in a long time, and the rest of the time I feel completely overwhelmed. So if you are one of the former, good for you, what's your secret? If you are one of the latter - welcome to the club, you are not alone! 

Anyhow, the calendar says it's Tuesday and that means a new STAMPlorations Inspiration post over on the STAMPlorations blog. I made a card using a stencil monoprint I had hanging around that I made with Sanna's Evolution Stencil and Distress Inks. I die cut the monoprint with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and added the Just Be Better - Typografia Motivate. Does eating 3 biscuits today mean I"m better than I was yesterday when I only ate 2?

Stamps: STAMPlorations Just Be Better - Typografia Motivate

Stencil: ARTplorations Evolution Stencil

Dies: CUTploratons Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Don't forget there are daily offers and great prizes to be won on the STAMPlorations blog for the 21 days of Spring (new post every day) as well as the big Spring Clearance Sale in the STAMPlorations Store.

Stamps in the SPRING CLEARANCE section are 50% off

Use code SPRING50 on checkout.

Code cannot  be combined with other codes. Code is good for one-time use per customer/shipping address. Code expires 4/30.

ARTplorations New Release

Today I'm excited to have the chance to show you some projects I have created for the release of Helen's new stencils over on the STAMPlorations blog. Helen has created six new super fun stencils. I'm happy to join the other designers in the STAMPlorations Inspirations team to create projects using the new stencils. We are having a blog hop to celebrate Helen's new stencils and hope you will hop along with us. If you leave comments as you hop along, you will be entered in a draw to win some of Helen's new stencils! You have until April 8th to leave comments. You don't have to comment on all blog posts, but the more comments you leave, the more chances you will have to win.

For my first project, I used the Clouds stencil and inked using the edge of the stencil to create a sky in blues, pinks and purples. I stamped the balloons from Tweet Love, coloured them with matching Copics and fussy cut them. The sentiment is die-cut using Everyday Sentiments. 

For my second card I used the Petals2 stencil for creating a monoprint instead of applying ink through it. I used Distress Ink pads in Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral and Peacock Feathers directly onto the stencil, misted it with water and pressed against watercolour paper. I die cut the monoprint and another piece of shimmering silver card using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I then added some gorgeous mandala die cuts from Bloomdala Bliss: Felicity using the same grey shimmering card. Last, I heat embossed one of the lovely sentiments from Bloomdala Bliss in white onto black card and added a few clear adhesive gems for that little extra bling.

For my third card, I used the Brick Wall stencil to create my background. I used various shades of red and brown inks to create the brick wall, and splattered water onto the card for extra interest. Then I die cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I stamped the beautiful florals from Softly and watercoloured them with Distress Inks. Last, I stamped one of the sentiments from Noteworthy 3 onto vellum. 

I hope you enjoyed the projects and are having fun hopping along with our blog hop!

Stencils: ARTplorations Helen G Designs Clouds, Petals2, Brick Wall

Stamps: STAMPlorations Tweet Love, Bloomdala Bliss, Softly

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments,  Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Bloomdala Bliss: Felicity

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

If you feel like doing a bit of shopping, you may want to check out the STAMPlorations Springtime Sale in the STAMPlorations store!

Products in the SPRINGTIME section are

20% off instantly until March 31

No code needed! Simply add qualifying products to your cart and the discount is automatically applied.

Bliss Under Starry Skies

Just a super quick post today as I've been busy setting up my new laptop. Yes, after 9 years my trusty old Macbook Pro, which I bought when I first moved to the UK, now gets to retire. I decided that as I'm getting older, I no longer can lug around such a big and heavy brick. So it's basically health and safety to get a new computer, right? To be fair, the old brick has served me well and after 9 years of use, it's actually brilliant value for money. But the new one definitely has its benefits, like that it's about a third of the weight and all sleek and slim.

But on to more interesting things - today's card was inspired by the Starry Skies theme over at Daring Cardmakers. First I inked up the ARTplorations Oh My Stars! stencil with blue Distress Oxides and created a monoprint onto watercolour card to create the sky. After the ink had dried I inked Mustard Seed Distress Oxide through the stencil, and while the ink was still wet, added sparkly clear embossing powder to give the stars a pretty sparkle.

I smooshed green and brown Distress Oxides to create the ground, and die cut with Stitched Snow Hills. I stamped the cute critters from Woodland Friends, coloured with Copics and fussy cut. I drew a branch for the owl to sit on, and last I heat embossed a sentiment from Noteworthy 3 on a piece of dark blue card. 

I'm also linking up the card over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes this week.

Card: Daler Rowney 300 gsm watercolour paper, Neenah Solar white card, scrap of dark blue card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Woodland Friends, Noteworthy 3
Dies: CUTplorations Stitched Snow Hills, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies
Stencil: ARTplorations Oh My Stars! 
Ink: Tsukinko Versamark, Memento, Distress Oxides
Other: White and shimmer clear embossing powder 

Don't forget there is still a few days left to use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off products in the NEW RELEASE and 5x7 STAMP CLUB categories and to get a free metal die with your order from theSTAMPlorations store.

Learning To Use The Gelli Plate

I recently bought a Gelli plate inspired by all the beautiful creations I've seen out in blogland. I'm still getting to grips with it, but this card was made with one of the prints I did. The colours were inspired by the image over at House of Cards and the layout by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch. Last but not least I'm also linking up over at Time Out Challenges where the theme is Bright. 

I used Distress Oxides on my Gelli plate together with the ARTplorations Ethnic Organic One stencil to create the dramatic background. I die cut the sentiment using CUTplorations Hugs Word die from a scrap piece of green card. The flowers are using a NBUS STAMPlorations set called Big Dreamer which I stamped in Memento, coloured with Copics and fussy cut. I love the many different flowers in this set and they are so much fun to colour!

Card: Purple card from my stash, Hobbycraft 190 gsm white card, scrap of green ombre card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Big Dreamer
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Distress Oxides Wilted Violet, Faded Jeans, Picked Raspberry
Stencil: ARTplorations Ethnic Organic One
Dies: CUTplorations Hugs Word die

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.