STAMPlorations Inspiration

 

Hi fellow crafter, thank you for visiting my blog today. How are you? What have you been crafting lately? I'm here today to share my creation for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. Every Tuesday I have the pleasure to join my fellow Inspiration team members to share our latest projects made with our favourite new and old STAMPlorations products. I hope our projects inspire you to be creative too, using your favourite crafty techniques.

For today's card, I've stepped a bit outside of my comfort zone and gently dabbled in some mixed media techniques. I started with a background I created by smooshing Distress Oxides. A while ago I created a bunch of backgrounds using randomly drawn colours and this was one that I liked quite a bit. I used one of the For the Birds Dies and I also die cut the sentiment from the same panel using  Everyday Sentiments Dies. I created a card background by inking brown distress inks through one of my favourite stencils, Retro Circles and then adhered the die cut pieces to my card. 

Dies: CUTplorations For the Birds Dies, Everyday Sentiments Dies
Stencil: ARTplorations Retro Circles
Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Inks

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 :) 

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy September! I'm still in denial that summer has passed and the nights are getting darker again. But that means there is more time for crafting, nothing like a rainy day, a hot cuppa and a craft room full of goodies for inspiration. And as it's Tuesday it's also time for a new STAMPlorations Inspiration post.  Don't forget to leave a comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post to enter into a draw for a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store. 

Today's card is inspired by the increasing amount of hot drinks as the weather starts to cool down. I used one of my Distress Oxide panels from my inspiration box and die cut it with the Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies. I also die cut the cup in black, and then paper pieced it using the colourful pieces. I absolutely love the process of paper piecing these beautiful, intricate die cuts. It's so calming! I added a border using the Dots 'n Beans stencil and pink Distress Ink, and finished with a bunch of sentiments from Coffee Happy

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy

Dies: CUTplorations Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies

Stencil: ARTplorations Dots 'n Beans

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

Don't forget to check out the https://stamplorations.com/?aff=karola and take a look at the promotions page to get the best deals. 

Coffee Mug for Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Have you already played along with the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop? I have, but I feel this great event warrants at least another card. Also, this is a reminder that STAMPlorations is one of the super sponsors for the hop, and as usual, Shery is giving away extra prizes over on the STAMPlorations blog (and it's from the new CRAFTplorations product range so it's super exciting!) and there is a gorgeous free digi too.

A while ago, I created a bunch of panels by smooshing Distress Oxides, and decided to use some for this card. I started with a lovely pastel panel which I die cut with one of the beautiful, ornate dies from Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies and matted on black card. I then used another panel and die cut that with Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies. I stamped the coffee cup from Bloomin' Coffee and You in grey on white card, added the Distress Oxide panel and coffee cup, and compelted the card with a fun sentiment from Coffee Happy.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy, Bloomin' Coffee and You
Dies: CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies
Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Distress Ink Hickory Smoke, Tsukineko Versamark


Don't forget the Coffee Lovers Sale in the STAMPlorations store.

 

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

STAMPlorations Spring Fling 2020

Today is a special day over on the STAMPlorations blog as we are launching our annual Spring Fling Blog Hop and Linky Party! This year most of my DT colleagues are showcasing our new wonderful Bloomdalascopic stencils and new spring clear stickers. However, I thought we should also show some love to our old crafty stash and today I decided to squeeze some extra value out of my Bloomtangled Cover Plate die. It's a fun technique you can use with any cover plate die you have. You can join us for the blog hop and linky party to win some of our awesome prizes too!

I used the cover plate die to create a stencil by die cutting a piece of heavy card. I then inked various colours of Distress inks through the makeshift stencil. I splattered some water over the inked panel and splattered some gold watercolour too. Then I cut the panel using Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and added a sentiment die cut with Skinny Sentiments. For the background panel, I stamped the florals from Softly in Hickory Smoke. 

If you join by commenting on the Spring Fling post on the main STAMPlorations blog and the designer's blogs, or by linking up your creations to the linky party you could win one of the following prizes:

• THREE (3) winners of $10 gift code drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs
• TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $10 drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs
• TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $15 drawn from entries in the linky party
• ONE (1) winner of $25 gift code drawn from entries in the linky party

You can comment and link up until Sunday, May 31, with winners announced on June 10 in the May winners post.

If you are inspired to do some shopping in the STAMPlorations store, all throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly, and if you use my DT code STAMPGIRLKAROLA you can get up to 35% off.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Softly

Dies: CUTplorations Bloomtangled Cover Plate die, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Skinny Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Hickory Smoke

 

Products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Discount is applied automatically when you add qualifying items in your cart.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday! Have you been crafting lately? If not, we (that is me and the other ladies of the STAMPlorations design team, don't worry, I haven't started to refer to myself in the third person!) are here again to bring you some inspiration over at the STAMPloration weekly Inspiration Post. I hope our projects give you ideas to create something on your own!

I made a card a while back using the paper piecing technique and the gorgeous Bloomtangled 2 Cover Plate Die. You can see the project here. But after inking up the die cut with Distress Inks and using the inlaid pieces, I was still left with a beautiful die-cut which I didn't want to waste. So I simply added it to a white card base and added a heat embossed sentiment. You can use this same technique using any of the gorgeous cover plate dies, which you can find in the STAMPlorations store here. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations , Fond Expressions 2 

Dies: CUTplorations Bloomtangled 2 Cover Plate Die

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine, Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

 

STENCILS and CLEAR STICKERS are

 

20% off instantly until February 29

 

No code needed! Simply add stencils and clear stickers to your cart and the discount is automatically applied.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Just a quick post today to show you what I have created for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. A warm mug full of Christmas wishes! I started by inking Distress Ink through the ARTplorations Christmas Tree 1 stencil. I used the Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies to die cut and paper piece the mug. I think it looks a bit like a poinsettia. To create the sentiment, I heat embossed words from Joyful in copper and die cut the Christmas in red card using Christmas Sentiments.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joyful
Stencil: ARTplorations Christmas Tree 1
Dies: CUTplorations  Christmas Sentiments, Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Shabby Shutters


Take advantage of our last sale of the year. Get 25% off nearly all products in the store*.

  

 

Use code DEC2019 on checkout.

No minimum order. Flat shipping rates apply.

STAMPlorations December CAS Challenge - Reminder

It's time to interrupt your pre-Holiday craziness for a quick reminder. Our December CAS Challenge is halfway through, people. Halfway through! Consider yourselves reminded :) I know you are busy with everything, but the whole point of CAS Cards is that they are quick and easy. So you will surely have time for a little crafty project.

I stamped Poinsettia Row and very quickly and messily watercoloured the stamp with Distress Inks and splattered the white space with a bit of yellow. I added a die-cut sentiment in red using Christmas Sentiments and that's it, Christmas card done! You certainly have enough time to create one of these, no matter how busy you are.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Poinsettia Row

Dies: CUTplorations Christmas Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Inks

If you are thinking of doing some STAMPlorations shopping, don't forget to visit the STAMPlorations store Promotions page for discount codes for stamp sets.

Take advantage of our last sale of the year. Get 25% off nearly all products in the store*.

  

 

Use code DEC2019 on checkout.

No minimum order. Flat shipping rates apply.

STAMPlorations Inspiration - Christmas Dies Redux

This week we have another fun blog hop for you as part of the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. Did you already play along with our Giving Thanks Giveaway? If you haven't you have to check it out, the prizes are fantastic!

This week we are getting ready for Christmas by creating Christmas crafts with CUTplorations dies. For my project, I used three dies - Stitched Winter Landscape for the snowy landscape, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies to die cut the front panel and Christmas Sentiments dies for the shimmery blue sentiment. I created the starry night sky using Distress Inks. I stamped the stars using a stamp from Art Marks and heat embossed in white before splattering the whole night sky with white gouache paint. Last, I couldn't resist adding some stickles to the landscape.

For your chance to win some Christmas dies, you can hop along to all the designer's blogs and leave comments. All the details you need are over on the STAMPloratios blog in today's Inspiration Post. You have until December 8th to comment!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Art Marks

Dies: CUTplorations Stitched Winter Landscape, Christmas Sentiments, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

There are so many different events going on over at STAMPlorations, Shery has kindly summarised them all at the top of the STAMPblog! They are:

Win a 1 year supply of STAMPlorations products (ends 12/8) 5th Giving Thanks Blog Hop (ends 12/8) 25 Days of Christmas Tags (ends 12/8) Christmas in the Air with Nancy and Monika + comment to win (ends 12/8) Sticker Monday with Terri Koszler + comment to win (ends 12/8) Stencil Sunday with Helen Gullett + comment to win (ends 12/8)
Last but not least, don't forget to use the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout in the STAMPlorations store for a little extra discount!!

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Welcome to this Tuesday's STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. This week we have a little something extra for you - we are kicking off the 5th STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop. And it's not just a blog hop, but a really incredible Giveaway too. Shery is giving away the most amazing prizes! 

I created a card using the new Gratitude Trees Dies. Of course, I couldn't resist a little bit of paper piecing for the trees. I created a background panel by inking with Distress Inks and die cut my inked panel using Stitched Spring Landscape. Last, I added a sentiment from Words of Gratitude using Distress Oxide.

For the full set of rules for the giveaway, as well as the prizes, hop over to the STAMPlorations Inspiration Post. The main prize is a whopping one year's supply of STAMPlorations products, up to $180 combined MSRP value!! That is one huge prize, and there are other prizes too so I hope you will be inspired top Hop Along for the Giving Thanks Blog Hop and Giveaway.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Words of Gratitude, 

Dies: CUTplorations Gratitude Trees Dies, Stitched Spring Landscape, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies 

Ink and Colouring: Distress Inks and Oxides

Don't forget to check out all the current STAMPlorations offers over on the STAMPlorations store current promotions page. You can use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at check-out for 20% off non-reduced products.

Order at least $50 worth of products then use code THANKS25 and pay just $37.50 + free shipping (US)

Order at least $100 worth of products then use code THANKS30 and pay just $70 + free worldwide shipping

Order at least $150 worth of products then use code THANKS40 and pay just $90 + free worldwide shipping

Order at least $200 worth of products then use code THANKS50 and pay just $100 + free worldwide shipping

Order at least $300 worth of product then use code THANKS60 and pay just $120 + free worldwide shipping

SHOP COFFEE HERE

More Coffee Lovers Fall/Winter 2019 Blog hop

I'm having so much fun creating with my STAMPlorations for the Zen Coffee Cups Layering Dies for the Coffee Lovers Fall/Winter Blog Hop that I couldn't stop at the one project I made the other day. I chose another die and paper pieced it using Tim Holtz Distress card. I find it so incredibly meditative to pick up those tiny little pieces of card and put them together into beautiful projects. A good cup of coffee, a few biscuits, a nice podcast and me and my tweezers. Saturday morning bliss is what it is! This time I added a sentiment from Coffee Happy and used the Dots n' Beans stencil to create the background for my card.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy

Dies: CUTplorations Zen Coffee Cups Layering Dies

Stencil: ARTplorations Dots n' Beans

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Tsukineko Versamark

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday, it's time for another Inspiration Post over at STAMPlorations! How is your autumn going? I can't believe we just blasted in November. I hardly got to the point where I got accustomed to writing 2019 and now we are only weeks away from Christmas and having to learn yet another year. At least next year should be easy to remember... 2020. That feels so futuristic. I guess the future is now.

Anyhow, after that dose of philosophical thought it's time for something more crafty. This week I had lots of fun with Distress Inks. I created a background using purples and blues and splattered with water. I inked up another piece of card using pinks and browns, and after splattering it with water, I die cut it with For the Birds Dies and finished the card with a sentiment from a discontinued stamp set.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Tree Silhouettes (discontinued)

Dies: CUTplorations For the Birds Dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Don't forget to check out the super November discounts in the STAMPlorations store (and you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA for 20% off full price items and 20% extra in the coffee lovers sale)

STAMPlorations November CAS Challenge - Brown

Happy November and welcome to the November STAMPlorations CAS challenge. This month our optional colour twist is Any Shade of Brown, which for me meant chocolate cake! I stamped the cake using Layered Cake Bake in Distress Ink and watercoloured with multiple shades of brown Distress Ink and added strawberry icing on top. I added the sentiment using the new  Everyday Sentiments dies. I die cut the sentiment in light brown card and inked darker browns around the edges of the die cuts. I love these new dies, as they are the perfect size for a card where you want to add a die-cut sentiment but don't want the sentiment to take centre stage. I have been looking for smaller sentiment dies which would be perfect for cards or smaller projects like tags and these are absolutely perfect! 

I'm linking up my card over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes this week.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Layered Cake Bake

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Gathered Twigs, Work Lipstick

STAMPlorations Birthday - Birthday Cover Plate Dies

Happy Friday! It's been quite a week, I have had so much fun celebrating six years of STAMPlorations. Happy (slightly belated) birthday STAMPlorations, here's to many more! Congrats to Shery and David for making your business a success. Your products are the best, and I'm glad to see your hard work pay off and wish you all the best for the future. I'm so honoured to be part of your STAMPfamily. 

Today it's the last day of new festive product releases and I'm joining fellow design team members over on the STAMPlorations blog to showcase two new Zen Doodles birthday dies. And you still have plenty of time to celebrate with us to win great prizes. You can comment on the blog posts and the designer's blogs, you can link up to the Wishlist Linky Party or share your birthday- or celebration themed creations in the Birthday Linky Party. The linky parties are open until November 5th so you still have a few weeks to play along!

 

My first card is a Christmas card I created using Zen Doodled Birthday Gifts Cover Plate die. I die cut the plate three times - once in brown, once in red and once in green. I attached the brown outline onto white card, and paper pieced some of the areas in green, red and brown. I added a sentiment using the new Joy Christmas sentiment stamp set.

For my second card I went, as my dear sister put it, 'a bit psychedelic'. I die cut the plate twice, once in a shimmery grey card and once in a watercolour card. I watercoloured the latter before taking it apart, and paper pieced the whole card into the grey frame. Depending on your personality type, you will either find this completely infuriating or very mediative. I am, as you can guess, of the latter type. I die cut the sentiment using the Celebrate word die in black, attached it to a scrap of vellum and added stickles for that little bit of extra bling.

For my last card, I used a die cut of the plate as a stencil. I inked throuhg it using Distrss Oxides and added a sticker from Birthday Word Art for the sentiment. Last, I added some rainbow washi tape to frame the main image.

That's it, that's the end of the STAMPlorations Sixth Birthday Bash. I feel like it's the morning after the party - the kitchen is full of dirty dishes and various leftovers, and there are a few strange stains on the carpet. It's time to put the dishes in the washer, take out the stain remover and think back of all the fun while clearing out the mess. I need to take a breather for a few days, clear out my craft room and re-set my brain for new projects but there are already lots of fun ideas which are bubbling under the surface.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Joy

Dies: CUTplorations Zen Doodled Birthday Gifts Cover Plate die, Celebrate word die

Stickers: STAMPlorations Birthday Word Art Clear Stickers

January STAMPlorations TAG challenge - Winter

Happy New Year! I hope 2019 will be a very crafty year for you. Last year was full of things which kept me from my craft room. I hope 2019 will bring me more time to continue to develop my crafting skills and to simply enjoy creativity. 

On the first day of the year, we also launch of first STAMPlorations challenge of the year - January TAGplorations challenge. The theme is Winter, and there is an optional twist of using texture paste, which I didn't take this time. I wanted to create a wintery scene using the adorable fuzzies from Woodland Friends. I hope you are inspired by this wintery scene and share your creations with us!

I die cut my tag using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies and used the Oh My Stars Mini stencil with Distress Inks to create a monoprint to create the night sky. I then inked in yellow inks through the stencil to create the stars. I used a white gel pen to create the snowfall. I die cut the snowy landscape using Stitched Tags Nesting Dies and Stitched Winter Landscape. I stamped the cute critters from Woodland Friends, coloured with Copics and fussy cut. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Woodland Friends,
Dies: Stitched Snow Hills, Stitched Tags Nesting Dies, Stitched Winter Landscape,
Stencils: Oh My Stars Mini stencil

Christmas Moon

I recently went a bit crazy and ordered a huge batch of Lawn Fawn stamps and dies. Oh, how I remember thinking that making my own cards would be such a great idea to save money. Makes me laugh every time. I think I once worked out that my cards come out at about £30 each... I hope the recipients appreciate them. My partner just rolls his eyes every time I get a new delivery. But I'm preaching to the choir here, right?

Anyhow, among many, many, other things, I ordered the Lawn Fawn Winter Skies and Wish Upon a Star stamp sets which are so adorable. And this morning I saw that this week's Just Us Girls challenge is Celestial Elements. So instead of cleaning my kitchen, I made this card!

I've been doing a lot of blending with Distress Oxides lately but this time I dug out the trusty old Distress Inks and I do love the vibrancy of the colours. I had so much fun inking the moon and the night sky in Peacock Feather, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot. I used Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Fossilized Amber for the moon. I heat embossed the stars in white after ensuring the ink had dried thoroughly and liberally using my embossing buddy all over the sky (don't ask me how I know...). I die cut the pieces for the scenery and coloured the adorable bears and their big scarf with Copics. Don't they just look so cosy sitting there, gazing upon the winter sky?

I'm also linking up over at ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is U is for Upon (or V is for Very Quick, which this card definitely was not), Christmas Crafts All Year Round where the theme is Santa, Elf or Fairy, Crimbo Crackers and Sweet Stampin' Christmas where the theme is Anything Goes.

Card: Neenah Solar white card, white shimmer card, scraps of green and red card from my stash

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Winter Skies, Wish Upon A Star

Dies: Lawn Fawn Forest border, Stitched Hillside borders, Scripty Merry

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Fossilized Amber, Peacock Feather, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot, Copics

Other: WOW white embossing powder