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 :) 

November STAMPlorations TAG Challenge - Thanksgiving

It's time for the STAMPlorations November TAGplorations challenge. This month the theme is All About Thanksgiving. I chose to not use the optional theme which is polka dots, but maybe you will come up with creative ways of working in polka dots in your creation?

For my tag, I inked up the background with Distress Inks, splattered with water and inked the edges in Vintage Photo. I stamped the trees and the sentiment in Versafine and finally inked Chipped Sapphire through the Some Birds stencil.

Card: White 200 gsm card

Ink: Distress Ink Squeezed Lemon, Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, Vintage Photo

Stamps: STAMPlorations Tree Silhouettes, Words of Gratitude 

Dies: CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Stencil: ARTplorations Some Birds

Other: Ribbon from my stash

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.

October STAMPlorations TAG Challenge - Fall

I'm very excited to be blogging today about the October STAMPlorations TAG Challenge as I have been given a wonderful opportunity to join the design team. Hopefully you have a lot of pent-up TAG mojo in store after our summer break! I can't wait to hop around to all of your blogs and to be inspired by what you create. Our first challenge of the season is All About Fall with an optional twist of red, orange and gold. 

My tag is inspired by the colourful leaves and all the birds migrating to a warmer climate right now. I started by blotting Twisted Citron, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide onto a craft mat, spritzing and picking up several layers of ink onto white card. Then I used one of the Manila Tags Nesting Dies to cut the tag. I inked up the Trendy Leaves stamps in yellow, orange, red and brown Distress Oxide, spritzed with water before stamping and fussy cut them. I also die cut some leaves using the Trendy Spring Blooms dies. Then I randomly stamped various stamps from Mixed Media Grunge in red, orange and brown around the edges of the tag and added a sentiment from Noteworthy 2. Before attaching the leaves, I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink through the Some Birds stencil and last I stamped and heat embossed some dots in gold in the upper left corner of the tag and added some ribbon and twine.

There are very few rules - please follow the theme and your project has to have a tag in some form. You don't have to use STAMPlorations products but if you have any we would love to see how you were inspired to use them. Don't forget to link back to the challenge and add the challenge graphic to your post if you want to be eligible to win prizes.

I'm linking up my tag over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is Tag It.

Card: 200 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 190 gsm white card
Stamps: STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves, Noteworthy 2, Mixed Media Grunge
Dies: CUTplorations Manila Tags Nesting Dies, Trendy Spring Blooms
Stencils: ARTplorations Some Birds
Ink: Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Distress Oxides Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Twisted Citron, Spiced Apple, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Tsukineko Versamark
Other: gold embossing powder, ribbon, twine, sequin and an adhesive gem from my stash

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.

Love TAGplorations Day 6

Welcome to day 6 of Love TAGplorations. I'm sure you know the drill by now and hopefully you are having as much fun as we are with all these gorgeous tags. For my day 6 tag I used another piece from my UFO box - a piece of blue and pink coloured card I had created with Distress Paints way back when. I decorated it with the gorgeous Trendy Feathers 2 stamps which I heat embossed in white onto another piece of leftover card I created with Distress Paints. I used gesso with the Some Birds stencil - I always feel like I'm doing proper mixed media when I dig out the tube of Gesso. I die cut the sentiment using the Hugs Word Die from the same piece of leftover card as the feathers and finished everything off with loads of Ice Stickles and a ribbon. 

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Paints, Tsukineko Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black

Stamps: STAMPlorations Trendy Feathers 2

Stencils: ARTplorations Some Birds
Dies: Luggage Tags Nesting Dies, Hugs Word Die
Other: Ranger Ice Stickles, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, gesso, ribbon from my stash

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. If you have any questions or problems, just let me know!