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 I really love the artsy feel of the butterfly panel, but it just didn't work in whatever design I originally made it for.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

Things With Wings Blog Hop Reminder

This is a reminder for the STAMPlorations Things With Wings Blog Hop which is taking place to celebrate spring and is going on until the end of April. I'm honoured to join in with a bunch of the super-talented ladies from the STAMPlorations DT to show you our creations for this first reminder post for the hop. I hope you will join us by either commenting on the DT creations or link up your own cards to be in the draw to win one of the many prizes from the new spring STAMPlorations release.  

For my second card, I decided to continue with the rainbow colour theme in line with my first card last week. This time I created a rainbow using Brushos. I attached the Shower of Flutters stencil to watercolour paper, sprinkled over some Brushos and sprayed with my mini mister until the colours blended. After the Brushos dried, I stamped the butterflies from Trendy Butterflies which match perfectly with the stencil. I die cut the intricate butterfly and sentiment from glittery gold card - I used a shim  made of a folded piece of paper in my cutting sandwich for the butterfly to ensure the intricate small pieces of the lattice-work popped out of the die cut cleanly. All that was left to do was to add the die cuts to the card. I just love the look you get when you sprinkle Brushos and then mist - you can't plan what comes out and you can never get the same look twice, every card is totally unique.

I'm linking up with the following challenges:

AAA cards - Shiny Spring

Shopping Our Stash - Use Punches or Dies

The Card Concept - Fresh Flutters

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper, gold glitter card

Ink and colouring: Brushos, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies

Stencil: ARTplorations Shower of Flutters

Dies: Flutter Zen 2 Layering Dies, Hello Sunshine Phrase Die

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!

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day two

Welcome back to day two of the ARTplorations stencil hop where we celebrate all the grogeous projects that can be created with stencils. If you missed it, you can find all the DT inspiration from day one here, along with the chance to win by commenting on the DT blogs. And the DT is more than happy to inspire you again today, with more projects using the fun ARTplorations stencils, on the STAMPlorations here. We wanted to remind you that you still have two days to link up with our Stencil Linky Party. You don't have to use ARTplorations stencils to join, but if you have them, we would love to see what you create with them.

Today I created two bookmarks using ARTplorations stencils, STAMPlorations stamps and Tim Holtz Distress inks. I started by creating a 5 cm wide slip of textured white card, and used the Stampin' Up Tag topper punch to create the top. I used a corner of the Distress ink container to draw the outline of the rounded corners and fussy cut them. 

For the first bookmark, I started by inking the card using yellow, orange and red Distress inks. I then inked through the Retro Circles stencil in Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso inks. To finish off the tag, I stamped two sentiments from Literary Caffeine-ations and some cups from Coffee Happy in Versamark and heat embossed in white. I added some twine to finish off the bookmark.

For my second bookmark, I started by inking the card using purple, green and blue Distress ink. I then inked through the Tribal Weave stencil in Versamark, and heat embossed the pattern in clear powder. The to the fun and messy part - inking the whole bookmark in black Distress ink. The embossing will resist the black ink showing the bright colours underneath. I used a tissue to wipe off the excess black ink from the embossed pattern. I also splashed some water around for a distressed look. Last, I stamped the sentiments Live, Love, Enjoy from Trendy Butterflies onto white card and added some faux stitching around the edges. A bit of ribbon to finish it off!

Card: 300 gsm white linen textured card
Stencils: ARTplorations Retro Circles, Tribal Weave 
Stamps: STAMPlorations Literary Caffeine-ations, Coffee Happy and Trendy Butterflies
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress inks Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Festive Berries, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio, Black Soot, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark
Other: Papermania Seafoam white embossing powder, Ranger fine clear embossing powder, ribbon and twine from my stash

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day one

I'm sooo excited to be part of the ARTplorations Stencil blog hop which is hip-hopping away today. And we want you to play along! You can link up your gorgeous stencil projects over at the STAMPlorations blog here. You don't have to use ARTplorations stencils to take part, but if you do have any, we would love to see how you use them. You can also win some of the gorgeous STAMPlorations stencils by leaving comments as you hop along. Several prizes will be drawn from all comments on the designer's blogs. You don't have to comment on all the DT projects, but the more comments you leave, the bigger is your chance of winning! You can comment until April 17th, and the winners will be announced on the STAMPlorations blog on April 19th. The linky for projects closes on April 15th.

For my project, I used one of my absolute favourite stencils, Shower of Flutters. I picked some bright Tim Holtz Distress inks and applied them through the stencil with a foam applicator. I just love how the inks blend to create beautiful mixes of colours. Then I stamped the matching butterfly stamps from the Trendy Butterflies set. Last, I added a sentiment from the Bold Sentiments: Discover set, heat embossing the "Discover" in silver. I just love how the stencil and stamps fit so perfectly together and how easy it is to create a gorgeous, rainbow background the for the fluttering beauties.

Dont' forget to check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Prizes:

• THREE (3) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog. 

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by April 15:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Card: 300 gsm white textured card

Stencil: ARTplorations Shower of Flutters

Stamps: STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies, Bold Sentiments: Discover

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint and Hickory Smoke, Tsukineko Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Papermania Tinsel Silver embossing powder