STAMPlorations 8th Birthday

 

Welcome to the STAMPlorations 8th Birthday celebrations! And to celebrate, there are three new Birthday Bundles available in the STAMPlorations store. I created a bunch of projects using the products from Birthday Bundle #2 and Distress Inks.

For my first card, I stamped the florals from Birthday Bundle #2 in Versafine and watercoloured with Distress Inks, letting the colours bleed outside the lines of the image and splattering ink across the panel. Next, I die cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting dies. The sentiment is also from Birthday Bundle #2, stamped in Versafine on vellum.

For my second card I decided to create a colourful rainbow background using the border die from Birthday Bundle #2. I grabbed a rainbow coloured panel I created using Distress Oxides from my UFO box, and cut it multiple times using the die and then die cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting dies. I matted the panel onto black card to make sure the beautiful die-cut stips would show really well.  Next, I grabbed some cupcakes, stamped using Sweet Kindness and coloured with Distress inks. The sentiment was stamped using one of the sentiments from Birthday Bundle #2 onto a piece from a Watercolor ATC Journaling Card

My third project is a tag which I started by inking Distress Ink through the stencil included in Birthday Bundle #2. I die cut the tag using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies, stamped the florals from Birthday Bundle #2 and stamped the sentiment on matching scrap pieces of card.

My fourth card again uses the beautiful florals Birthday Bundle #2 (can you tell how much I love them?!?!) which I stamped in black and watercoloured with Distress Inks. I die cut a strip using the die from the set and stamped the sentiment on vellum. 

Don't worry, we are getting to the end now! I used the leftover inked panel from the tag above for one more card - I die cut the panel with the die included in Birthday Bundle #2. I then stamped the florals on one of the gorgeous Watercolor ATC Journaling Card, added a sentiment and finished everything off with a strip of watercolour washi tape.

And that's it for my birthday projects! Don't forget there are prizes for grabs over on the STAMPlorations blog in the 8th Birthday celebrations post including an amazing $75 prize code to the STAMPlorations store.

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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

Hello crafters! It's time for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I am continuing my theme of using up stuff from my UFO box. I think it's a really interesting challenge as it places some constraints and often the things in the UFO box have been put there as I couldn't quite find a way to make them work in the first place so it's really interesting to look at them again with a fresh perspective as some of the things have lingered in the UFO box for a really long time. 

This time I gravitated towards a panel I made using watercolour, the Shower of Flutters stencil and Trendy Butterflies stamp set which I had then die cut with the largest of the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I really love the artsy feel of the butterfly panel, but it just didn't work in whatever design I originally made it for. But I thought it would go so well with one of the gorgeous Watercolour ATC Journaling Cards so I used it to create a quick and easy card by stamping a sentiment on the ATC card using Bold Sentiments: Imagine. I think this was a great way to use up the butterfly panel and I now have a pretty card to send someone. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bold Sentiments: Imagine, Trendy Butterflies

Stencil: ARTplorations Shower of Flutters

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Other: STAMPlorations Watercolour ATC Journaling Cards

 

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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

Hello crafters! For this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post I created a super colourful and quick birthday card. I started by using a Gelli print from my UFO box which I created with Distress Oxides and some bubble wrap. Next, I splattered Distress ink on the card base, and attached the Gelli print and a Watercolour ATC Journaling Card to which I attached one of the Birthday Word Art Clear Stickers. Super quick and easy!

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 :) 

Reminder for June STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

Hi crafters! Just a quick note to remind you that you still have two more weeks to play along with the June STAMPlorations CAS challenge. After the end of June the DT will take a few months to recharge over summer and then the challenges will be back again in October. If you want to join us but haven't quite ben inspired to do so yet, there is a lot of additional inspiration for all the STAMPlorations challenges over in the reminder post. 

My card is a quick and easy card involving stamping with Distress inks in light blue and cream which also happens to be the optional colour twist for the June CAS challenge. I stamped the beautiful bloomdalas from Bloomdala Bliss. I also stamped a sentiment from the same set on a scrap piece of light blue card which I fixed on top of a piece of light blue washi tape.

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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

Hi crafters! For this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post I'm doing some serious stash diving in my UFO box. I decided to create Christmas cards using as many different bits and bobs which I have already made for something else but didn't get used. It was a fun way to challenge myself and to give a new life to things. 

I started by selecting three tags I have created in the past using Distress Oxides and Inks and ARTplorations stencils. One of these already had the stag's head from Yuletide Deer heat embossed on it, so it was perfect to go as it was. I also found a stamped image of the Poinsettia Row which I had watercoloured and then abandoned, so I die cut the middle of the image into a fourth tag. I also found some stamped and heat embossed but not yet coloured images from Joyful which I watercoloured and fussy cut for the two other tags. Next, I used some leftover printouts from a friend's wedding invitation I made many years ago and used the reverse of those as the card backs (the kraft panels). To create some texture, I ran the panels through my die-cut machine using the Circles All Over Texture Cover Plate and inked some Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges. Last, I used a mix of sentiments I had pre-cut in the past and also die cut a few new sentiments using scrap pieces of coloured card to finish the cards. Not too bad for a pile of unfinished objects! Below you can see close-ups of the cards.

Stamps: STAMOplorations Joyful, Yuletide Deer, Poinsettia Row

Stencils: ARTplorations All Swirls Slimline Stencil, Flair Slimline Stencil, Tribal Triangles

Dies: CUTplorations Stitched Tag Nesting Dies, Circles All Over Texture Cover Plate, Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies

Ink and colouring: All the inks....

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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

Hi crafters! It's June... May went by so quickly, it's my favourite month of the year for many reasons but this year I have to say the weather really didn't conform with my usual expectation of beautiful, sunny and warm days. Oh well, let's hope the rest of the summer will make up for it.

I'm here to share my card for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post, which was inspired by flowers and watercolours. I have been playing a lot lately with the gorgeous Watercolour ATC Journaling Cards. I created a watercolour floral background to frame the ATC by inking up the Sweetly stamp with Distress Markers, spritzing the coloured stamp with water before stamping and then adding watercolours to the florals. I also added some Kitch Flamingo Distress Ink around the edges of the background panel. For the main panel, I simply stamped a sentiment from Beautiful Courage in black and added this to the background. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sweetly, Beautiful Courage

Other: STAMPlorations Watercolour ATC Journaling Cards

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

 

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 :) 

June STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

 

Hi all and welcome to the last STAMPlorations CAS Challenge of the 2021 Spring season. After the end of July, the DT will take a break over the summer and be back again in October. I have sadly decided to step down from the challenge design team to give me time for other hobbies but I'll still be around in the background, helping Shery with the challenge posts so I'll still see the fantastic work of all of you who participate.

The June CAS Challenge Twist colours are light blue and cream and I thought that would work great for a Christmas card (yes, Christmas is coming...). I started by inking Speckled Egg Distress ink through the Snowflakes Stencil, created texture using the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die, and then die-cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. For the sentiment, I inked Antique Linen Distress Ink through the Snowflakes Stencil onto cream card and added a sentiment from Simple Christmas Clear Stickers (these stickers have become my go-to for all Christmas Cards as it's a super versatile mix of relatively standard Christmas sentiments which work well for any card).

I hope you feel inspired to play along in the STAMPlorations CAS Challenge!

Stencil: ARTplorations Snowflakes Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Stickers: STAMPlorations Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Speckled Egg and Antique Linen

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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! Have you had a crafty week so far? If you are looking for inspiration, you should hop over to the STAMPlorations Inspiration post, as we are back again as we are every Tuesday, to share our crafts made with our stash of STAMPlorations goodies. Today. I used one of the gorgeous Watercolour Journaling ATC Cards as the focus on my cards, inking around it in Kitch Flamingo Distress Ink and stamping bloom silhouettes from Beautiful You. The background is die cut with the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die and inked around the edges with the same Distress Ink. The sentiment is stamped on a small scrap from my UFO pile which fit into the colour scheme, and the sentiment is from Bloomdala Bliss. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Beautiful You, Bloomdala Bliss
Dies: CUTplorations  Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die
ATCs: STAMPlorations Watercolour Journaling ATC Cards

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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

Hi all, a quick post today to share a slightly belated Mother's Day card for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post (It's a bit late, as you may have noticed we were busy over on the STAMPlorations blog showing off the new Spring Florals and Spring Coffee kits over the last two weeks).

I created my card background by monoprinting some watercolour that was left over on the Ethnic Organic One Stencil after using it for another project. I pressed the leftover watercolour onto my card base creating a beautiful abstract pattern. I then used Copics to colour the gorgeous blooms from Sweetly and added a non-STAMPlorations sentiment as the finishing touch (as I realised I don't have a single STAMPlorations sentiment stamp saying Happy Mother's Day ;)

Don't forget to comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post for an entry into the monthly draw for a $15 prize code!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sweetly

Stencil: ARTplorations Ethnic Organic One Stencil

Ink and colouring: Gansai Tambi watercolours, Copics, Tsukineko Memento Onyx Black, Versafine

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 :) 

Reminder for May STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

Happy mid-May! This month always speeds so quickly, I hope you have had a chance to enjoy it. I have enjoyed the blossoms in the garden, the slowly (way too slowly, if you ask me) warming weather and seeing my house plants spring back to being their best self and the herbs growing in their pots. 

I created a card for the STAMPlorations mid-month challenge inspiration post for the May CAS challenge. The optional colour twist for May is a fabulous Copper + Gold. I started by inking various shades of yellow, orange and brown Distress inks through the Barley Stencil and splattered some ink on the card for added interest. I then added a sentiment by attaching one of the Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers onto copper card. It's a really quick and easy card that packs a lot of punch in no time!

 

Stencil: ARTplorations Barley Stencil

Stickers: STAMPlorations Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Note that I have received these crafting supplies and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 Spring Coffee Kit Release

Hi all, today is an extra special edition of the weekly STAMPlorations Inspiration post as we are celebrating the launch of a brand new kit - the Spring Coffee Kit. This kit contains a gorgeous, big floral coffee cup stamp, a set of three sentiment stamps and four stencils. These stencils are two different designs and both come in both a regular and mini size. That's $37 worth of crafty goodness for just $19.99 (there is free shipping for the US and Canada and $6 shipping for anywhere else in the world). There is even a chance for you to enter a draw to win the kit (or the other STAMPlorations kit, Spring Florals which you will see next week) by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post and the designer's blogs this week and next week as we launch the Spring Florals kit. 

For my first card, I stamped the coffee cup on white card, watercoloured it with Distress Inks and fussy cut it. I also added a sentiment from  For the background, I inked Spun Sugar Distress ink throught the Curvy Large Stencil (included in the kit) and splattered lightly with the same ink. I then grabbed one of the gorgeous Watercolour ATC Journaling cards (not included in the kit) and inked Vintage photo Distress ink through the Curvy Small Stencil (included in the kit). Last, I just layered the ATC card and coffee cup onto the car base.

For my second card I again started by stampin the coffee cup, coloured this time with Copics, and fussy cut. I heat embossed a sentiment from the set in the coffee cup in white. To create the background, I masked off and and inked through select parts of the Patches Large stencil, moving the stencil as I went. I used Distress Ink for the stencilling.

Spring Blooms and Coffee - 4x4 stamp

Coffee and Monday 3x5 stamp set (sentiments fit inside the coffee)

 

Curvy (standard size and mini) | Patches (standard size and mini)

Note that I have received these crafting supplies and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 :) 

May STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

 

Hi fellow crafters! Happy best month of the year, May is finally here!! I love May. It's spring, there are flowers, TWO bank holidays in a month (if you are in the UK), nature is back to life, it's warm(er), and of course it's my birthday month so I may be a bit biased.

Anyhow, the first day of the month means the STAMPlorations challenges turn over a new leaf. The STAMPlorations May CAS challenge has a really great colour combo which I feel really challenged me - yellow and copper. How gorgeous are those roses in the challenge inspiration pic above? So I definitely wanted to create something with yellow roses myself. I started by stamping In Bloom: Radiant Roses in Versamark and heat embossing in copper. I then watercoloured the roses in Distress Inks and splattered some watercolour on the card front for good measure. Last, I matted the card front on copper card, and die cut a sentiment in the same copper card using  Everyday Sentiments Dies.

I hope you feel inspired to join the challenge, and as usual, there are great prizes to be won, a $20 prize code to the winner and three $7 prize codes to randomly picked entries.

Stamps: STAMPlorations In Bloom: Radiant Roses

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks

Note that I have received some of the stamps and other craft supplies for free as a member of the STAMPlorations Design Team, therefore this blog post has to be identified as an ad. I have been using STAMPlorations products for years before joining the Desing Team at which time I paid for all my STAMPlorations products and I love them as much today as I did then. 

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 :)