STAMPlorations Inspiration

 

Welcome to the first STAMPlorations Inspiration post for April 2021! Today I'm yet again inspired by spring and flowers (surprise surprise ;). I used the lovely bunch of roses from Bloomfully: Sparkle which I stamped in brown ink across the kraft card panel. I also stamped the same florals on white paper and coloured them with Copics, fussy cut and added to the card front. The sentiment is from the Bloomdala Bliss stamp set and I feel it's very reflective of our current life - things are starting to look up and eventually it will be ok, although I'm sure there are still very tough times ahead. But spring is coming, and then summer and that should mean if nothing else that there will be nice times to be enjoyed in the garden and on the walking paths.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloomfully: Sparkle, Bloomdala Bliss

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo

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 :) 

New Release Art Marks 3

Welcome to day three of the STAMPlorations March stamp release! I hope you have enjoyed seeing projects using Shirley's Super Hero and Dee's Life Is Sweeter. And today over on the STAMPlorations blog we are sharing projects using Shery's new stamp set Art Marks 3. These grungy stamps are perfect for creating all kinds of fun cards - scroll below for two examples where I have used them to enhance my cards, and the design team is sharing many other ways over on the STAMPlorations blog.

 

For my first card, I used the zigzag stamp from Art Marks 3 and stamped it in Distress Oxides to create a background. Next, I stamped the cupcakes from Sweet Kindness, watercoloured them with Distress Oxides and fussy cut them. Last, I added a sentiment using Skinny Sentiments in matching colours.

For my second card, I used a background from my UFO box which I created using Distress Oxides and my Gelli plate. I die cut the background using Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies and created a fun notepad edge using Art Edges Dies. Next, I used stamps from Art Marks 3 on the white card background and the die-cut panel to create some grungy texture. The coffee cup is from  What's Brewing?. I coloured it with Copics and fussy cut it. Last, I heat embossed a matching sentiment in white on black card using a stamp from What's Brewing?.

And of course, it wouldn't be a new stamp release without a chance to win some great prizes. Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorationa blog and designers' blogs (including mine!). One randomly drawn commenter will win a $25 prize code to the STAMPlorations store, and one randomly drawn commenter will win a stamp set of their choice from the new release. You have until March 17th to leave a comment, and the winners will be announced on March 19th.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Art Marks 3, Sweet Kindness, Bloomin' Coffee and You, What's Brewing?

Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments, Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies, Art Edges Dies

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Copics, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, 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

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! It's time for another STAMPlorations Inspiration post. Today I made a card using the cute little succulent stamps from Succulently. I started by stamping the succulents and coloured them with Copics. Then I masked the succulents and used a paper to mask the edge of my inking. I used purple Distress Ink to Ink the bottom half of the card. I matted the card front onto purple card and then attached it to a white card base. Last I added a sentiment from Succulently.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Succulently

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, 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 :) 

Reminder STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge

 

Halfway through December! I can't believe where the time goes? And halfway through the month means it's time for the STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge reminder! You still have over two weeks to play along with our challenge and our optional colour twist is red and brow.

I was inspired to combine the colour twist with a green Christmas tree. I started by masking off a rectangle on my card front using Rectangles Flexi-Template. I then inked Vintage Photo Distress ink around the edges of the rectangle, fading towards the middle. Next, I added the Christmas Tree 1 Stencil and inked the trees. I stamped Sketchy Yule Trees on white card, coloured with Copics and fussy cut. The sentiment is from Simple Christmas Clear Stickers, I just attached the sticker to some red card and there we go! I have used these stickers so much for my Christmas makes this year, they are super quick and easy. I really can't recommend them enough.

Stamps: Sketchy Yule Trees, 
Stencil: Christmas Tree 1 Stencil, Rectangles Flexi-Template
Other: Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Vintage Photo 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 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 Giving Thanks

 

Today I'm very excited to be joining my fellow STAMPlorations DT members for the 6th annual Giving Thanks Blog Hop and Giveaway. It's the time of year to count your blessings and think about all the wonderful things we are grateful for! One of the things you may be thankful for is that there are lots of prizes up for grabs, 3 winners of a $15 prize code will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and designers' blogs. Also, 2 winners will receive their choice of STAMPlorations products with a combined MSRP value of up to $25 and the big one, 1 winner will receive their choice of STAMPlorations products with a combined MSRP value of up to $50! For more details about the blog, hop, giveaway and full rules, check out the 6th annual Giving Thanks Blog Hop on the STAMPlorations blog. 

For my thank you card, I started by masking off a rectangle using the Rectangles Flexi-Template and inking Distress Inks through the All Blooms stencil. I added a bit of water and ink splatters because - well, why not. Then I stamped the florals from Bloomfully: Sparkle, coloured with Copics and fussy cut them. Last, I added a sentiment from Everyday Sentiments which I inked with some distress ink.  

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloomfully: Sparkle

Stencils and masks: ARTplorations All Blooms, Rectangles Flexi-Template

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments

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 .

STAMPlorations Belated Birthday Party Day 5

Happy Friday! I'm so happy it's almost the weekend, although at the same time a bit sad that the amazing STAMPlorations Belated 7th Birthday Celebration is coming to an end. To see all the designer's projects for day 5 of the Birthday Celebrations hop over to the STAMPlorations blog. It's been amazing to share my projects with you this week while getting to play with some of the new STAMPlorations products. I hope you have enjoyed the inspiration from the design team as much as I have! But the celebrations aren't over for you yet, as you have until the end of the month to enter the big Show off your Stash giveaway and until November 8th to join the Birthday Link-up and comment on the Birthday blog posts on the STAMPlorations blog and the designer's blogs. 

Today I created a winter/Christmas card using Sanna's new Snowflakes Stencil. I inked various blue Distress Inks through the stencil to create the background for my card. Then I stamped the cute little penguins and the igloo from Winter Chill, coloured with Copics and fussy cut them. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, heat embossed in white onto a scrap piece of black card.

Thanks for following along this week, and don't forget to play along in whatever way is most appealing to you - by sharing your stash, linking up your projects or commenting on posts for your chance to win great prizes!

Note that all products (including the new release products) in the STAMPlorations store are 10% off instantly throughout October. BUT you can get 20% off by using my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout. If you use my discount code you will also receive the Just Plaid square stencil FOR FREE (see image below)!

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.

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 :) 

Products used
Stamps: STAMPlorations Winter Chill
Stencil: ARTplorations Snowflakes Stencil

Ink and colouring: Distress Inks, Tsukineko Versamark, Memento Onyx Black, Copics

STAMPlorations October CAS Challenge

Hi all, and welcome to a new season of the STAMPlorations CAS Challenge! I'm so excited to get going with the challenge again and to see your beautiful creations. If you have played along before you know how this works - the challenge is to create a CAS card and if you want to you can use the optional colour twist. For more details, see the challenge post over on the STAMPlorations blog. And of course, there will be prizes as well, the winner is picked each month by a Design Team member and will receive a $20 prize code to the STAMPlorations store. Three randomly drawn crafters will receive a $7 prize code to the STAMPlorations store. To be eligible for the prizes, players have to adhere to the challenge rules. 

As you can see, the first colour twist this season is grey and orange. I thought this was a perfect colour combo for the beautiful In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies stamp, so I stamped it in the lower left-hand corner of my card and coloured using Copics. I also splattered some orange ink on the card to create a bit of a background in the large white space. I die cut the sentiment twice in orange and grey card using the Thinking of You Phrase Die and overlapped them when adhering them to the card. Quick, easy, clean and simple! I hope you feel inspired to play along with our challenge this month.

Stamps: STAMPlorations In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies

Dies: CUTplorations Thinking of You Phrase Die

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Don't forget to check the October offers in the STAMPlorations store. Also, you have a few more days (until October 6th) to take advantage of the National Coffee Day promo, where select coffee-themed products will be 20% off in the STAMPlorations store. You can get an extra 20% off when you use my DT coupon code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. 

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 August, crafty friends! Nature has started to change from the bright summer colours to mature neutrals. The fields around our house are stunning, turning from green to yellow. We are lucky to have so many different walks around the fields here, and we get to admire them as we walk past. This year it's been a such a privilege to be able to just head out for long walks. It seems strange, but I've now been working from home for almost five months and I'm so lucky that we live where we do. 

It's also time for the first STAMPlorations Inspiration post for August. This month I will be creating with stencils and the gorgeous Bloom Doodles stamps. Don't forget that if you comment on the Inspiration post you are in the drawing to win a $15 gift code.

Today's card was inspired by the beautiful fields around our house. I started by inking browns, reds and yellows through Sanna's gorgeous ARTplorations Barley stencil. Then I stamped flowers and leaves from Bloom Doodles which I coloured with matching Copics and fussy cut. I attached one of the Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers to brown card to create a super easy sentiment and attached everything to the card base. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloom Doodles

Stencil: ARTplorations Barley

Stickers: CRAFTplorations Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers 

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

Don't forget to check out the August offers in the STAMPlorations store as you can get 25% off CUTplorations dies with code CUT25 and 20% off slimline stencils with code SLIMLINE20. For for more offers, visit the STAMPlorations Store Coupons page. For normal priced products, use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout for 20% off.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Hi all, how are you holding on? Are you finding some good things in this new strangeness we are getting used to? I have to admit that I do not miss my commute, as I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home and now have an extra three hours every day not wasted with commuting. I can't say I always use those three hours very efficiently but I can say for certain I'm getting more sleep than I have in my entire adult life which is wonderful. We just had a four day holiday here in the UK which was fantastic. We did a lot of work in the garden, I did a lot of baking and we finally had some time to binge-watch Netflix too. 

But enough about non-crafty things, as I'm sure you are here because of today's  STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I was inspired by my lovely succulents which are now back in the conservatory after being evacuated in the house over the winter. They are very happy to be back in the light of the sun and seems like there weren't too many casualties this year. I stamped the cute succulents from Succulently in Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copics. I stamped one of the sentiments from the same set onto yellow card and matted the sentiment onto green card. I think it turned out super fun!

Don't forget you can win a monthly prize by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post and designer's posts.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Succulently

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

 

Stamps in the SPRING CLEARANCE section are 50% off

 

Use code SPRING50 on checkout.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday and Happy STAMPlorations Inspiration Post day! For today's card, I was inspired by Helen's new Petals1 stencil. I thought it looked a lot like some of those lovely succulents so I inked through the stencil using Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio and Seedless Preserves. I then used the Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies to cut the stencilled panel and used a slightly bigger die from the same set to cut the purple mat. Next, I stamped a few of the cute succulents from Succulently, coloured them with Copics and fussy cut them. Last I used the same purple card, as well as leftovers of the stencilled panel to die cut the sentiment using Skinny Sentiments. 

Don't forget to leave comments on the Inspiration Post and the designers blogs as we'll randomly draw a winner from all the comments for a $10 gift certificate. And I hope you have a very crafty day today!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Succulently

Stencil: ARTploration Petals1
Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments, Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio and Seedless Preserves

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.