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 :) 

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

It's time for the STAMPlorations Inspiration post for April 2021. I'm once again creating four Christmas cards to celebrate the end of the month, and to build up my Christmas card stash as last year things didn't quite go to plan on the Christmas card front. Don't forget that by leaving a comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post you are entered into a monthly draw for a $15 prize code to the STAMPlorations store.

This time I used one of my most used STAMPlorations Christmas stamp sets, Joyful and very conveniently it has four beautiful stamps so perfect for today's set of cards. I have used these stamps so so much, and although the colour of the rubber has changed a bit over the years, they still stamp as great as they did at the beginning. 

I started by picking a range of Distress Inks and masking off random slivers of card fronts, inking to create geometric shapes with three different colours blended together. Next, I left the ink to dry for a while and then used an anti-static tool to make sure the heat embossing powder wouldn't randomly stick all over the inked regions. I stamped the images in Versafine and heat embossed in a gunmetal powder. Last, I sprinkled some Distress Ink I diluted with water across the card front and added a sentiment I created from leftover coloured card and Simple Christmas Clear Stickers. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful

Stickers: STAMPlorations Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink

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 fellow crafters! It's Tuesday, which of course means it's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post day, but what's more is that it's the last Tuesday of the month and I'm sticking to my 'New Year's resolution' of creating four Christmas cards for my stash to help future me be better prepared for Christmas than I was last year (although I think any failures to do absolutely anything in 2020 should just be automatically forgiven due to you-know-what reasons :). As always don't forget that by leaving a comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post you automatically get entered into a monthly draw of a $15 prize code to the  STAMPlorations store

Today I decided to play with colours and do some layered stamping using Shirley's fun Layered Holly stamp set using non-traditional Christmas colours. I picked my colour combos for every card stamping the solid images in a lighter colour and the outlines in a darker shade of the same-ish general colour (for example the yellow-red combo is Mustard Seed for the solid leaves, Fossilized Amber for the leaf outline, Festive Berries for the solid berries and Aged Mahogany for the outline, and the purple-green combo is Twisted Citron for the solid leaves, Peeled Paint for the leaf outlines, Wilted Violet for the solid berries and Seedless Preserves for the outlines). I added a sentiment from the same set on a matching coloured piece of scrap card (excellent way to use up those little pieces you keep hold of because you can't throw away any scrap pieces. I'm not the only one doing that, surely?). Last, for some added interest I added the fun barcode-like strip at the bottom in a matching colour. It's from Mixed Media Grunge and a super fun way to add that final finishing touch to the edges of cards.

Here is another look at the cards in a bit more detail:

Stamps: STAMPlorations Layered Holly, Mixed Media Grunge

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

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! 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

 

And so we are here - it's almost Christmas! December has flown by, hasn't it? We are all facing a different and weird Christmas this year given the (sometimes rather last-minute) lockdowns we face. I hope whatever you do for Christmas you stay safe, wash your hands, keep a distance and all that. If you decided to not see family this Christmas to keep safe, I send you big hugs. And as always if you are one of the heroes keeping us safe or alive over the holidays, you have my big thanks for sacrificing your time for the benefit of us all.

This year I gave almost exclusively home-made presents (if you follow me on Instagram you will know I'm an avid knitter and struggling crocheter). Socks, hats, hand warmers, even a few crocheted blankets (never again, I'll tell you!). And this year all of my gifts had hand-made tags on them (probably a first!) as I was inspired by my exceedingly talented DT colleague Deepti of Dees Art Utopia and her amazing use of stencils and Distress Inks/Oxides. I tried (poorly) to imitate her genius and you already saw a batch of my tags last week and here are some more for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. Don't forget to leave a comment on the post to be entered into a monthly draw for a $15 prize code.

For my tags, I started by inking tags using Distress Inks and Distress Oxides and cutting the tags using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies. I then used various STAMPlortions stencils (there are so many amazing stencils to choose from!) and either sprayed them with water to make impressions of the stencil in the ink or inked through the stencil in the same colour as my background tag to make a subtle stencil pattern on the background of the tags. After letting the tags dry thoroughly, I stamped the wreath from Joyful in Versamark and heat embossed in gold. Last, I die cut a sentiment using Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies in shimmery card. I think these turned out quite nice!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful

Stencils: ARTplorations All Swirls Slimline Stencil, Burst Slimline Stencil, Flair Slimline Stencil, 

Placid Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies, Stitched Tags Nesting Dies

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Oxides, Tsukineko Versafine

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, how are you this fine Tuesday? I'm ok, excited about the upcoming holidays. I'm taking a bit of time away from work over the second half of December and I'm really looking forward to it after this ****show of a year.

As we can't have a Christmas party at work this year, we have been invited to take part in various online organised activities - there is a choice of 12 different activities, of which we can pick 2. I did mine last week, I did a wreath making session (we were sent a beautiful kit with wreath making supplies and then given an instructional Zoom session where we assembled our wreaths) and I also did cocktails and quiz where we were sent supplies to make our own cocktails and then we all had to prepare questions for the Christmas quiz. That was fun! Have you had any fun socially distanced Christmas activities?

For today's crafty activities, I continued to expand my Christmas tag stash to share with you as part of today's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. Don't forget to leave a comment on the STAMPlorations post for a chance to win a $15 prize code. I have been so inspired by all the beautiful inked backgrounds created by my DT teamie Deepti. She is amazing! so I took a stab at creating some inked and stencilled backgrounds too. 

I started by smooshing various colours of distress ink onto white card. That's always super fun and messy, my fingers looked like a rainbow! After the ink had dried well, I used the Stitched Tags Nesting Dies to cut my tags. Next, I took out a few of my STAMPlorations stencils and inked through them in a completely non-planned and random fashion on the tags. I used  All Swirls Slimline Stencil, Flair Slimline Stencil, 

Trees Slimline Stencil, Dots All Over Stencil and Honeycomb Delight Mini Stencil. I used my anti-static tool on the tags and then stamped the Yuletide Deer and heat embossed in dark grey. Last, I heat embossed sentiments from Joy in white on black card and added these to the tags. A bit more mixed media than I usually do, but fun none the less and the end product turned out quite ok. I can't wait to add these to my Christmas presents!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Yuletide Deer, Joy, 

Stencils: ARTplorations All Swirls Slimline Stencil, Flair Slimline Stencil, Trees Slimline Stencil, Dots All Over Stencil, Honeycomb Delight Mini Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations Stitched Tags Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine, Tim Holtz Distress Oxides and inks
 

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, how are you feeling about the impending festivities? Excited? Stressed? Strexcited (that's half stressed, half excited, with a bit of Brexit anxiety thrown in there...)? I got my international batch of cards and parcels shipped just over a week ago, and it felt good to tick all of those things off my to-do list. Now I only need to worry about domestic cards and wrapping the presents for my partner's family. And wrapping presents, of course, brings me to the need of having gift tags at the ready. I prefer to make a few batches of tags rather than make them as I wrap - it may be a bit industrialized, but if it works, don't question it. 

So from now until Christmas, for the STAMPlorations Inspiration posts, I will be sharing some Christmas tag designs from this year's batch with you, I hope they will inspire you in case you are in need of tags too. Today, I'm sharing some quick and easy poinsettia tags. I started by colouring the Framed Christmas (digi) three times with Copics. Then I ran white card through my Sizzix using the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die and die cut the tags using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies. I attached the poinsettias and a sentiment I die cut using Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies in red. I added some red ribbon and a bit of bling as a finishing touch. These little cuties are now ready to be attached to any present as needed. As always, don't forget to leave a comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post to be entered into a draw of the monthly $15 prize code.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Framed Christmas (digi), 

Dies: CUTplorations Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die,  Stitched Tags Nesting Dies, Christmas Sentiments Phrase Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, 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 :) 

STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge

 

It's December!?!?! This strange, unusual, weird, unexpected year is coming to an end. For most of us, the holidays will not be as they usually are, we may not be able to meet up with all our loved ones and stick to all our traditions. It will be strange but at the same time this too shall pass and signs are that next year our lives will slowly start returning towards what we consider normal. For me, this year has also brought a lot of good things - I have really enjoyed working from home, not having to spend all those hours and hours commuting, and rather use them for things I love, like knitting and crafting. 

Talking of crafting, today is the start of the STAMPlorations December CAS challenge. Probably not a surprise that I have created a Christmas card - this is quite a quick make, so it would work well for mass production if you, like me, find yourself at this time of the year in the situation where you don't have enough Christmas cards available. I started by heat embossing the deer from Yuletide Deer in copper, then inked red Distress ink though the All Swirls Stencil. Next, I used brown Distress ink to pain the deer, and splattered some brown ink across the card front. Last, I added a sentiment from Simple Christmas Clear Stickers on red card and attached it to the card. I really like the Clear Stickers, they are super quick to add a sentiment to your cards. I hope you will feel inspired to play along with our December challenge!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Yuletide Deer

Stencil: ARTplorations All Swirls Stencil

Other: STAMPlorations Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Distress Ink

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

 

One month to Christmas! Are you ready? I have ticked a few things off my list - most Christmas presents are done although not yet wrapped, Christmas menus are planned and a few things are ready in the freezer. The first batch of Finnish Christmas pastries has been made and eaten. First gingerbread candle is almost burned out. One thing I definitely don't have enough of is gift tags, so I'll spend some time over the next few weeks creating tags, and I'll be sure to share my tags with you. Today is of course also the day for the STAMPlorations Inspiration post, hop over to the STAMPlorations blog to see what my incredibly talented DT teamies have created, and leave a comment for your chance to win a $15 prize code. 

Today I was inspired by a leftover piece of wrapping paper. It's a very pretty paper (from the exclusive Ikea store, have you ever heard of it?), brown kraft paper with fun white blobs. I started by running the paper throught my die cutting maching with the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die to create texture, and then die cut a tag using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies. I used Distress Oxides and stamped Layered Holly all over the tag. Then I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges of the tag, and inked through the Snowflakes Stencil. Last, I added a sentiment by sticking Simple Christmas Clear Stickers on green and red card and added red ribbon.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Layered Holly
Stencil: ARTplorations Snowflakes Stencil
Dies: CUTplorations Stitched Tags Nesting Dies, Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die
Other: STAMPlorations Simple Christmas Clear Stickers
Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Ink, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

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 :) 

This month there are oodles of discounts, for which you can find codes here, including 30% off word/phrase dies, 25% off square stencils and 40% off clear stickers. There is also a Christmas Special Sale.