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 I really love the artsy feel of the butterfly panel, but it just didn't work in whatever design I originally made it for.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

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 :) 

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 :) 

April STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

 

It's April! Spring is here for real, flowers are in bloom, it's light in the mornings and evenings. Soon it will be my favourite time of the year,  that time when spring turns to summer.  I always feel hopeful at this time of year, particularly right now as the stay at home restriction has been eased slightly and things look like they are going in the right direction here in the UK.

So a new month means it's also time for a new CAS Challenge over at STAMPlorations. This month the optional colour twist is pale pink and navy blue. I was inspired by the colours to create a floral card (maybe I'm inspired by any colours to create a floral card... ;) I started by running a card front through my Sizzix using the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die and then splattered some dark blue ink across the card front. I heat embossed the florals from Bloomfully: Sparkle in black, watercoloured with Distress ink and fussy cut, adding them to the card front along with a heat embossed sentiment from Bloomdala Bliss.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloomfully: Sparkle, Bloomdala Bliss
Dies: CUTplorations Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Cover Plate Die
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz 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

Happy Tuesday crafty friends! My explorations into kraft cards for the STAMPlorations Inspiration posts continues today with some white Calla Lilies this week. I started by stamping and heat embossing the In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies in white on kraft card. I used my Polychromos colouring pencils to fill in a bit of colour and splattered a little bit of white acrylic paint. All that was needed was a beautiful sentiment from Lotus Love. That's all from me this week, short and sweet.

Stamps: STAMPlorations In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies, Lotus Love
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine, Polychromos colouring pencils

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

 

Today I'll continue my explorations of cards on kraft for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. The weather has been a bit miserable here, but the daffodils are in bloom in the garden now being bright yellow spots of sunshine even when it's grey and rainy. Inspired by them and other early spring blooms I stamped the beautiful lilies from Blossom Sprays #3, heat embossed them in black and coloured them with Polychromos colouring pencils. I love how the white pops on the kraft background! I splattered a bit of brown ink, inked some brown ink around the edges of the card panel and matted it on black before attaching it to a kraft card base. Last, I added a sentiment which I die cut using Everyday Sentiments. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Blossom Sprays #3

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Faber-Castell Polychromos colouring pencils

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 :) 

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 and happy STAMPlorations Inspiration day. My dreams of spring continue on my cards although the weater doesn't really play ball helping the spring to arrive early. This week my dreams are of florals and purple - one of my favourite colours (well, along with pink, and turquoise, and blue, and yellow and green and... you see my dilemma here?).

Today's card is taking advantage of a little "short cut" to make pretty cards in a hurry - the STAMPlorations Clear Stickers. I created the main panel for my card using a sticker from Botanical Backgrounds Clear Stickers simply by attaching the sticker to white card, cutting out along the edges and rounding the corners a bit (Tip! The Distress Ink/Oxide containers have perfectly rounded corners, so I use a pencil to trace the rounded edge of the container and fussy cut along that line). Next, I inked purple Distress Inks through the Senecio 1 Stencil across the left edge of the card, and I used the same inks to stamp the "barcode" stamp from  Llama Tell You for a bit of added interest. Last, I die cut the sentiment (in purple of course) using Everyday Sentiments Die. It really did not take many minutes to make this card, and I think it turned out pretty great! I hope you enjoyed seeing it and all the other beautiful projects from the STAMPlorations DT over on the STAMPlorations blog. Also, don't forget there is a monthly random draw to win a $15 prize code to the STAMPlorations store and you can simply enter by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. Last but not least, see below for a discount code and check out info about the February offer in the STAMPlorations store

Stamps and stickers: STAMPlorations Llama Tell You, Botanical Backgrounds Clear Stickers

Stencil: ARTplorations  Senecio 1 Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations  Everyday Sentiments Die

Ink: Tim Holtz 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

 

Hi all, happy Tuesday! How is your February coming along? I feel there is definitely a bit more light now which helps in the mornings, and soon I hope there will be enough light in the afternoon as well so it doesn't feel like it's dark before the working day ends. I am already dreaming of spring but I think we have a cold front to deal with so I'm worried that my poor little daffodils which are already venturing out in the garden will freeze. Let's hope they make it and soon there will be pops of yellow in the flower beds.

My card for today's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post most certainly reflects my dreams of spring. I love the faux watercolour technique and I used the beautiful Blossom Sprays 1 stamps with Tim Holtz Distress Markers for this card. I used the markers to colour the stamp, then spritzed it generously with water before stamping onto watercolour paper for that lovely bleeding colours look. Then I just added a heat embossed sentiment from For the Birds for this simple almost-one-layer card. I hope you will have a chance to craft at some point this week. Also, don't forget there is a monthly random draw to win a $15 prize code to the STAMPlorations store and you can simply enter by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. Last but not least, see below for a discount code and check out info about the February offer in the STAMPlorations store

Stamps: STAMPlorations Blossom Sprays 1, For the Birds

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Markers, 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 :) 

STAMPlorations Inspiration

 

How is your February going so far? As today is Tuesday, it's time for another STAMPlorations Inspiration post - a chance for me and the other ladies of the STAMPlorations design team to show what we have been making lately with our STAMPlorations crafty stash. 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.

Today I decided to play with stencils. I was inspired by Sanna's super fun Abstract Prehistoric Life Stencil. I can really see the shapes of this stencil as little amoebas or some other fun creatures. One of them looks to me like an abstract octopus so that's what I created today. I started by inking blue distress ink through the All Swirls Slimline Stencil to create a sea background, and then I inked purple Distress Oxide through the Abstract Prehistoric Life Stencil. Last, I added some seaweed using green Distress Oxide and the Flair Slimline Stencil. I die cut a two-layer sentiment in matching colours using Skinny Sentiments Dies and used a white gel pen to add some details to my little octopus-like creature. I attached the card on a purple card base.

Stencils: ARTplorations All Swirls Slimline Stencil, Flair Slimline Stencil, Abstract Prehistoric Life Stencil 

Dies: CUTplorations Skinny Sentiments Dies

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks and 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 :)