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 I really love the artsy feel of the butterfly panel, but it just didn't work in whatever design I originally made it for.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

 

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are feeling crafty. We are here with the STAMPlorations DT, as usual, to play with our crafty goodies for the STAMPlorations Inspiration post. This time I decided to go a bit more mixed media than usual to challenge myself a bit. And I made some ATCs rather than cards, although I do think these could just be slapped onto a card front to make a card. As always, don't forget 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

I started with watercolour card which I die cut with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and matted onto black card. I stamped and heat embossed in black using flowers from Big Dreamer and watercoloured them with Distress inks in a messy way, letting the colours bleed over the edges of the images. Next, I inked through Clouds Stencil and Burst Slimline Stencil in multiple colours to create some interest in the background, and I also stamped in black using Art Marks 3 for an additional layer and creating more interest. Last I splattered some ink and white acrylic paint and heat embossed the sentiments in white on strips of black card from It's A Girl Thing: Kindness. I don't usually like how my mixed media projects come out, but for some reason, I really like this little scene. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Art Marks 3, It's A Girl Thing: Kindness, Big Dreamer, 
Stencils: ARTplorations Clouds Stencil, Burst Slimline Stencil
Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz 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.

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 March STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

 

Happy Mid-March! Have you had a crafty month? I have learned a new craft this month - I have started to learn yarn dyeing and I love it. I love all the aspects of colour theory it involves, just like I love those aspects of crafting. Which colours to pick and how will they go together? But for today's card I didn't have to think about colours, as I went with the colour twist for the March STAMPlorations CAS challenge.

If you haven't had a chance to play along with the challenges yet this month there is more inspiration for all challenges from the design team over on the STAMPlorations blog today. For my card, I used the dark green and mint green colour twist for my CAS card. I stamped the leaves from Leafy in the two greens, die cut the panel with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and sponged some ink around the edges of the panel. I stamped the cute little bunny from Woodland Friends, coloured him with Copics and fussy cut him. Last, I added a sentiment from the same stamp set. I hope you find all the Design Team's creations inspirational and find some time to play along with the challenges this month.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Leafy, Woodland Friends

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, Copics, Tsukineko Versamark

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 - Bonus project

 

It's been an exciting week over at STAMPlorations with the release of three new super-cool stamp sets. Today there is an extra post over on the STAMPlorations blog with more projects using the new stamp sets - we had so much fun creating with them that Shery had to add an extra blog post for all our cards :) 

For my extra card, I was inspired by Shery's Art Marks 3 stamp set. I started by creating a background by stamping the solid stamp from Art Marks 3 in Distress Oxide on kraft card. I also created a background using Distress Oxides and stamps from Art Marks 3 using my Gelli plate. I die-cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, stamped some more in black using another stamp from Art Marks 3 (they are so much fun, I just couldn't stop) and finally added a sentiment from Words of Gratitude.

And don't forget, there is a chance for you to win 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, Words of Gratitude

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides,  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 :) 

New Release Super Hero

 

Welcome, it's great to have you visit today! And what a day to pop by, as we are starting the launch of the new STAMPlorations release today. There are three super fun new stamp sets available in this release, and today I and my fellow DT colleagues get to play with Shirley's new Super Hero stamp set. This is the perfect set for creating cards for your superhero obsessed child/grandchild/partner but as you see from my first card there are other ways to use the stamp set too! And there are prizes up for grabs, see the end of this post for details.

For my first card, I started by inking blue, purple and red Distress Inks through the Clouds Stencil to create the sunset sky. Although it looks like it's a lot of work to create, it's actually really easy. I used a sponge to add the ink, starting from the top and using the same colour for two rows of the clouds, using less ink on the lower row, blending ink upwards from the cloud-shaped edge of the stencil. Next, I stamped the city skyline from Super Hero in black. Last I stencilled the birds through the Some Birds Stencil and added a sentiment from Noteworthy 2.

For my second card, I started with a background created with Distress Oxides from my UFO box, which I die cut using the smallest rectangle from Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I used the colours from the background for my superhero and the star shapes from the stamp set which I coloured with Copics and fussy cut. I also splattered some matching inks on a white card base to create the splotchy background. Last, I heat embossed the sentiment, which is a combination of Balloons and Banners and Super Hero, in white on black card. 

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 Super Hero, Noteworthy 2, Balloons and Banners

Stencils: ARTplorations Clouds Stencil, Some Birds Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Inks, 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! How are you? I am already thinking of spring, although we still have some more grey, cold and dark days ahead. But it's comforting to know we are already going towards lighter days ahead, and I keep imagining it's already lighter in the mornings and evenings. I know there isn't really a big difference yet, but it does change a little bit every day. That's why I was inspired by flowers and spring colours today for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. As always, don't forget that by commenting on the post you are entering in a monthly draw for a $15 prize code for the STAMPlorations Store.

My card today is a emboss resist card - I started by stamping the beautiful florals from Bloom Doodles and heat embossed in white. I then used Distress Oxides to watercolour the card to bring out the florals, letting the colours bleed outside the embossed flowers. Last, I die cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and added a sentiment in black using Hugs Word die.

Stamps: STAMPlorations  Bloom Doodles

Dies: CUTplorations Hugs Word die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

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

 

So was that a great STAMPlorations Belated 7th Birthday week or what? And don't forget that you still have time to play along with the festivities if you want to link up your projects or comment on the posts - the details are here.

I'm almost all crafted out after last week's projects, so for today's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post I'm sharing two relatively quick and easy cards while my mojo recovers :) These cards were made for a request I had for people moving into new homes. And it also highlighted a fatal flaw in my crafty stash as I don't seem to have a single "happy new home" sentiment stamp or die. But limitation only breeds creativity and I think they turned out quite well in any case!

For both of my cards, I used the fun Houses stamps, some watercolour splatters and Lawn Fawn rainbow patterned paper. I used the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Die to cut the panels for my cards from white paper and rainbow patterned paper. Then for my top card, I stamped the house, masked it and splattered a rainbow of watercolours. For the card below I splattered the watercolours first, then stamped the house on a scrap of the patterned paper and fussy cut it. I added a die-cut sentiment using Everyday Sentiments Dies to both of my cards.  

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 Houses

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Die, Everyday Sentiments Die

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Gansai Tambi watercolours

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Hi, happy Tuesday and happy STAMPlorations Inspiration day! We have a new Inspiration Post over on the STAMPlorations blog. Don't forget that by commenting on the post over on the STAMPlorations blog you will have a chance to win a  $15 gift code to the new fabulous STAMPlorations store.

I'm continuing my Christmas in July theme from last week. This time I did some white heat embossing in white on kraft using the wreath from Joyful which I watercoloured with Distress Oxides, and splattered with white watercolour. I cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and inked the edges of the panel with Vintage Photo. I used the sentiment stamps from Joy to create the sentiment. This was actually quite a quick card to make so I might make a batch of these to get seriously started with my Christmas card stash.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful, Joy 

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

If you feel like shopping in the STAMPlorations store, 

you will get 30% off all products in the main store!

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Hi and welcome to this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. I'm still inspired by the summer flowers in my garden. Today is also a sad day as one of my good friends will be moving far away. I wish her all the best in her new exciting adventures from the bottom of my heart, but I will also miss her. Luckily there is always a silver lining to every cloud, as she kindly gave me some plants from her garden which are now blooming in my garden! I once read that life will answer to the wishes you make. I have been wishing for more plants in large pots in my garden - and now I have been given a beautiful rose, hydrangea and two beautiful geraniums. How lucky am I?

But back to flowers of another kind - the paper kind. I started this card with a panel I made a while ago, adding strips of leftover card to create a rainbow which I die cut with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. Next, I stamped the flowers from Softly on vellum, heat embossed in gold and fussy cut them and added to the rainbow panel. Last, I die cut the sentiment from vellum and black card using Skinny Sentiments. I added everything to a white card base which I decorated with cherry blossom washi tape.

Also, the brand new fabulous STAMPlorations store is now open for all your crafting needs - stamps, stencils, dies, digi stamps and the outlet store are now all in one place!  And you can get 30% off your first order in the new store if you use the code RELAUNCH30 at checkout. If you use my affiliate link above I get a small commission on any purchases you make without any additional cost to you so you help me keep my stamping addiction going! For any future shopping sprees in the new shop I can offer you a discount code to use at checkout if you use code STAMPGIRLKAROLA you will get 20% off your purchase of normal price products in the main and digi store (but not the outlet store as the prices are already heavily discounted)!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Softly

Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink: Tsukineko Versamark

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Monday! It's time for another STAMPlorations Inspiration post. Every week we get together with ladies from the STAMPlorations Inspiration Team to showcase our favourite STAMPlorations products. By commenting on the Inspiration post on the STAMPlorations blog you will enter our random monthly draw for a $10 gift certificate.

This week I felt we all need a few sweets to cheer us up. Well at least to cheer me up! I have to admit I have been self-medicating my work-related stress with too many Candy Kittens. They donate some of the proceeds to the NHS, so eating sweets is a way to contribute, right? 

For my card, I started with the yummy cupcakes from Sweet Kindness which I stamped and watercoloured. I then created two background panels, one by smooshing Distress Oxides which I die cut with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and another one which I created using the yummy Sweet Backgrounds Clear Stickers. I layered everything onto a card base which I splattered with pink Distress Ink. Last, I added a sentiment from Sweet Kindness which I stamped onto a scrap piece of background I created using Distress Oxides. It's a bit more layered than I usually do, but it was fun to create something.

Stamps: STAMPloratinos Sweet Kindness

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Stickers: Sweet Backgrounds Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Inks, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black

If you want to take advantage of the 40% Birthday June Sale you can do so by using the code 7YEARS at checkout in the STAMPloratios Store. And if you want 20% off non-discounted products, you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout.

 

Products in the BIRTHDAY MONTH SALE section are 40% off with code 7YEARS

 

***Code can be used up to 7 times per customer. Code cannot be combined with other codes. Expires 6/30.***

Spring Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Today is the launch of the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! As always, STAMPlorations is one of the sponsors of the event so along with the rest of the STAMPloratios Inspirations team we are sharing extra inspiration over on the STAMPlorations blog today. There are four STAMPlorations gift codes up for grabs over at Coffee Loving Card Makers as part of the main Blog Hop, but as usual, Shery is being very generous and there is an extra prize drawn from those leaving comments on the STAMPlorations blog post.

We also have another reason to celebrate over on the STAMPlorations blog as we have recently released two new coffee themed stamp set. You may have seen the release post earlier this week and here are two other projects I created with these fun new stamp set.

For my first card, I used the coffee stamp from Sweet Kindness which I stamped four times and coloured using Copics. I heat embossed sentiments from Coffee Happy in white on black card and added them to the card. 

For my second card I used the coffee cup from Bloomin' Coffee and You. I stamped it and coloured with Copics before fussy cutting the image. I die cut a background which I created with Distress Oxides using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, and added coffee beans using the Dots n' Beans stencil. Last, I added a sentiment from What's Brewing, matted everything on a piece of blue card which I attached to a card base decorated with Washi tape.

I hope you are inspired to create your own coffee themed projects!

  
Bloomin' Coffee and You | Sweet Kindness

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy, What's Brewing

Stencil: ARTplorations Dots n' Beans

Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukinko Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Distress Oxides, Distress Inks

 

Products in the COFFEE/TEA LOVERS section are 40% off with code COFFEE40.