STAMPlorations Spring Fling and Blog Hop Reminder

This is your official reminder that you still have a few days (until the end of the month) left to hop along and/or link up to the STAMPlorations Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party if you were planning to do so but haven't yet done so. You can find lots of inspiration for spring-themed creations on the STAMPlorations Spring Fling blog post and if you hop along and comment, or link up your own creations you can win one of several great prizes. In addition, there is a free digi which you can download and which I used for my project.

I created my card using the free Coffee Bloom Prints Digital Stamp, which you can download from the STAMPlorations digi store for free! I re-sized the digi to 80%, printed it, coloured with Sharpies and fussy cut it. I ran a black marker around the edges of the coffee cup before attaching it to a background I created by blending Distress Oxides and splattered it with water. I heat embossed a sentiment from What's Brewing in white onto black card to finish the card.

I'm also linking up this card over at the Spring/Summer 2020 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Don't forget that STAMPlorations is one of the super sponsors for the hop, and there are additional prizes to be won over on the STAMPlorations Coffee Lovers Blog Hop post.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Bloom Prints Digital Stamp, What's Brewing

Ink and colouring: Distress Oxides, Sharpies, Tsukineko Versamark 

If you feel like shopping for new craft stash you should check out the promotions in the STAMPlorations Store. And if you want 20% off normal priced products, you can use the code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout!

 

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

 

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

STAMPlorations for Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I'm excited and slightly high on caffeine - today I have the pleasure of joining STAMPlorations in the launch of the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2018. If you have played along with this blog hop before you know this is a massive event for all lovers of crafting and coffee, and if you haven't - hop over to have a look, I can guarantee you will be glad you did. You can find more coffeelicious inspiration from my fellow STAMPlorations designers on the STAMPlorations blog. There are plenty of prizes to win and a generous discount code for the STAMPloratons store too. As if that wasn't enough, you will also find the latest gorgeous STAMPlorations free digi which I have used for my second card!

For my first card I used the big coffee mug from Anywhere There's Coffee and embellished it with a bell from Jingle Bells, coloured with Copics and fussy cut. I used a panel from my box of leftovers, bits and bobs which I have at some point in the past created by smooshing neutral colours of Distress Oxides onto watercolour paper. I stamped part of the From Across the Miles Typografia Christmas sentiment in black Versamark and used a brush to cover the sentiment in copper Perfect Pearls for a subtle shine and added some Ranger Distress Stickels to the bell.

For my second card, I used the new STAMPlorations free digi. I used to think there was no way of watercolouring digis as that made the printer ink spread and become messy. But that was before I discovered clear gesso. Now I can print digis, cover the paper in a thin coat of clear gesso and watercolour to my heart's content. Works really well on colouring book pages too! I coloured the image with Gansai Tambi watercolours, stamped the sentiment in Black and then brushed Perfect Pears over the sentiment and over the whole image to give it a warm coppery sheen. I also added Perfect Pearls to the coffee mug to make it shimmer but it's a bit difficult to capture in the pictures.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Anywhere There's Coffee, Jingle Bells, From Across the Miles Typografia Christmas, STAMPlorations free digi

Dies: STAMPlorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies 

Card: Daler Rowney watercolour card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, 

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

Other: Ranger Ice Stickles, Copper Perfect Pearls, clear Gesso

Today is the last chance to use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off products in the NEW RELEASE and 5x7 STAMP CLUB categories and to get a free metal die with your order from the STAMPlorations store. Offer is only good until November 30th, after which the offer code will still be valid for the discount but you will not be eligible for the free die.

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Pumpkins aren't really a big thing for me, and neither is pumpkin spice. It's clearly an American thing. I can't say I really care for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Or pumpkin pie for that matter. But when I saw the gorgeous free digi-stamp over at STAMPlorations I knew I had to play along with the pumpkin theme for a day, perfect for the ongoing Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! I can't believe all the gorgeous fall coffee cards. And there is extra prizes to win on the STAMPlorations Fall Coffee Blog Hop page as well!! Which is were you can pick up the free digi if you get inspired to create a card. 

I was also inspired by the image over at Just Us Girls, the colours over at Color Throwdown and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my card. I printed the digi stamp on watercolour paper and coloured with Tim Holtz Distress markers and a waterbrush. I used Lawn Fawn patterned paper for the background and printed the sentiment onto orange card which I then die cut with a Lawn Fawn banner die. The font is a free one called Vintage Typewriter which I really love!

Card: White 200 gsm card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney Aquafine watercolour paper, scrap of orange paper

Stamps: STAMPlorations A Pumpkin and 3 Lattes, Coffee Happy

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Ground Espresso

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Dark, Perfectly Plaid Fall

Other: Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner

Holly Jolly - Mid month inspiration for Anything Christmas Goes

I know I said earlier that I was done with Christmas posts for the year. I have to admit I had forgotten about our reminder post for the month-long "Anything Christmas Goes" challenge over at Holly Jolly! We have a whopping nine sponsors for our last challenge of the year, so make sure you link up any Christmas related crafting to win some great prizes from our generous sponsors.

Our month long Christmas extravaganza is sponsored by  A Day for Daisies, All Dressed Up,  Bugaboo Stamps, Fred She Said Designs, Lacy Sunshine Stamps, QKR Stampede, Sentimental Susan, Stamp and Create and Stitchy Bear.

 

 

 

I decided to create a few gift boxes I could just grab when I needed them. I found free printables over at Homemade Gifts Made Easy, and made both a small square box and a pillow box in bright patterned papers, and decorated with the gorgeous Christmas Bulbs digi from the lovely A Day for Daisies. What's so clever about these boxes is that you can fully decorate them, and just pop in the gift when you need them. The pillow bow can even be stored flat, so it doesn't take up any space at all. And it's the perfect size for a gift card, so a nice and festive way to give a gift card.

I would like to link up with the following challenges:

Daring Cardmakers - All Wrapped Up

Just Add Ink - Gift Card Holder 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy (use die cut)

Crimbo Crackers - Die cuts

Crafting For All Seasons - Anything But A Card

My Time To Craft - Last Minute Christmas Makes

Card: Coloured 240 gsm kraft card grey, Ruby red, beige

Paper: Stampin' Up Nordic Noel and 

Stamps: A Day for Daisies digi Christmas Bulbs, Stampin' Up Endless Wishes

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Stampin' Up Real Red, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, Copics

Other: Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Lawn Fawn Tag Your It, Tim Holtz idea-ology paper twine, Stampin' Up Bow builder punch, Glossy Accents

Holly Jolly - Last Challenge of the Year

Sorry if you popped by my blog earlier today, I mistakenly published the wrong post! How embarrassing... I spent a lovely weekend away with my bestie, and didn't get home until 1am last night, heading off to work just after 6 am this morning. I have been so tired that not only did I manage to mess up my blog posts, I forgot a meeting at work as well. What a day. So onto more fun things, such as a month long challenge and some really bright red poinsettias.

It is already the last Holly Jolly Christmas challenge of the year. Sadly, for me it's also my last as a member on the DT as it's time for me to move on to new adventures. Thank you to Cindy and Lynn for all their hard work with the challenge, and for taking me on when I didn't have any DT experience. It's been a lot of fun!

For December we are running a month-long Anything Christmas Goes challenge. Hop over to see the inspiration from the DT, and you will see we have created different kinds of crafts to inspire you. And don't forget to come back and visit us in two weeks as we have more inspiration for you at that time. Most importantly of all, don't forget to link up your gorgeous creations with us. All our wonderful sponsors from this year are contributing generous prices for our winners. Our month long Christmas extravaganza is sponsored by  A Day for Daisies, All Dressed Up,  Bugaboo Stamps, Fred She Said Designs, Lacy Sunshine Stamps, QKR Stampede, Sentimental Susan, Stamp and Create and Stitchy Bear.

 

 

 

I created a one layer Christmas card, perfect for sending flat in an envelope using the gorgeous Xmas Poinsettia image from Stitchy Bear. I printed the poinsettias twice, mirror flipping the image once to create a large skinny card, and coloured with Copics. I used a yellow Copic to trace around the poinsettias to add some interest to the card. Then I stamped the sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Joy to the Woods stamp set and heat embossed in gold powder. I matted the image onto Christmas red cardstock, and last I drew a wonky freehand frame around the image using a gold sharpie.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Just Add Ink - Just Add C (for Christmas and also for Copic)
Just Us Girls - Merry
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Holly Jolly Stamping 
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Keep It Simple
A Snowflakes Promise - Winter / Christmas
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Card: Coloured card Christmas Red, Hobbycraft White card 160 gsm
Stamps: Stitchy Bear Xmas Poinsettia, Lawn Fawn Joy to the Woods
Ink and Colouring: Versamark, Copics, Gold Sharpie
Other: Gold embossing powder from my stash

Crafts Galore Encore - December Challenge

I can't believe it's 11 months since I joined the lovely ladies over at Crafts Galore Encore on December 1st this year. Now we are coming to the last challenge of the year, and it will sadly also be my last as a member of the CGE DT. However, with the demands of my new job, I decided I had to reduce my crafting commitments, at least until I manage to get back into a work-life balance that has some life in it. I have enjoyed being part of this wonderful team and want to thank Denyse and Isobel for taking me onboard and for all the hard work they do to keep the challenge running. Thank you also for everyone who has been playing with us this year, it has been wonderful to see your gorgeous creations. If you played along with our November challenge, don't forget to check our winners page to see if your creation was our winner or one of the DT's favourites. This month our theme is Anything Goes, so there is no excuse not to play along! Our sponsor is Beccy's Place. If you are looking for inspiration for your Christmas cards, or just for crafting in general, pop over to see what the CGE DT has created, and maybe you will also be inspired by some of Beccy's gorgeous images.

I got to play with the hilarious Christmas Goose digi. I printed him onto white card and coloured with Copics, and some sharpies to get really super vibrant colours for the Christmas lights. Looking at the Christmas lights around his neck, I immediately thought of the Christmas song Deck the halls. So I started with Tim Holtz Distress Paints in Picket Fence, Scattered Straw and Tarnished Brass and dabbed them onto a craft mat with loads of water. Then I swirled a kraft tag in the paint, and let it dry. Next, I used the STAMPlorations Holly Background stencil with Distress inks in Festive Berries, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles. Deck the halls with boughs of holly, you see. I also used an embossing folder with music as a stamp to add some music onto the tag, but it doesn't show very well. After adding the goose onto the tag, I die cut some letters for the fa la la la la. Then all that was missing was a bit of Ice Stickles on the Christmas lights and letters, and some red ribbon and the tag was finished. 

I would like to link up with the following challenges:
Daring Cardmakers - Something Stencilled (Holly Background stencil)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Die cuts or punches (die cut letters)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes
A Gem of A Challenge - Inspired by a Christmas Carol (Deck the Halls)
Hiding In My Craft Room - Any Holiday
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge Blog - Anything Goes, twist use a die cut
Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes/Bling It Up
Fab n' Funky Challenges - Christmas
Make My Monday - Stamp With Anything but a Stamp (stamping with embossing folder)

Card: Ranger kraft tag, scraps of red and green card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Paints Picket Fence, Scattered Straw and Tarnished Brass, Distress Inks Festive Berries, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles, Copics, 80's Glam Sharpies
Stamps: Beccy's Place Christmas Goose
Other: STAMPlorations stencil Holly Background, Sizzix music embossing folder, red ribbon from my stash, Tim Holtz paper twine, Ranger Ice Stickles 

Holly Jolly - Embossing

Welcome back to another challenge from Holly Jolly! Thank you for everyone who linked up with our Ribbon and Pearls challenge, we loved looking at your fabulous creations. Don't forget to check out the winners post from yesterday to see if you are one of our winners or top picks. This time we are challenging you to use embossing. Any type of embossing you like, I used heat embossing for my card today. Hop over to Holly Jolly to find more inspiration from the fabulous DT. As usual, we have generous sponsors who are giving away prizes to the winners. This time we are sponsored by The Stamping Boutique, Sami Stamps and Di's Digis. I got to play with the super cute Christmas Cheese image from Sami Stamps.

I started by creating the background. I stamped images from Stampin' Up Christmas Cheer in Versamark and heat embossed using clear powder. Then I used yellow, red and orange Distress inks to ink the card. Last, I sprayed water on the background to fade the ink and create a distressed look. I coloured the cute little Christmas Cheese image using Copics and die cut with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Circles die and inked around the edges of the die cut with red ink. I also added some Ice Stickes to the Santa's hat. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed in white onto scraps of card. I also stamped inside by colouring the stamps using markers to get an ombre effect.

I would like to link up with the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas
Unicorn Challenge Blog - Christmas is Coming
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes
Sami Stamps - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - T is for Tis' The Season
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft Challenge - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes plus a sentiment

Card: Coloured 240 gsm kraft Ruby Red and grey, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card

Stamps: Sami Stamps digi Christmas Cheese, Stampin' Up Christmas Cheer, Endless Wishes, Lawn Fawn Violet's ABC

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz distress inks Fossilized Amber, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Copics

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Circles, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Ranger clear embossing powder

Holly Jolly - Ribbons and Pearls

It's again time for a new challenge over at Holly Jolly. This time we are challenging you to use Ribbons and Pearls. Our sponsors this time are Melonheadz, Dr Digi and Eureka, and they are generously giving away prizes to our winners. Thank you to everyone who played along with our Snowman challenge, don't forget to check out our winners post if you joined us.

For my card, I got to play with a digi from Eureka called Wreath with Bird, which I coloured with Copics and fussy cut. I created the background by stamping the Stampin' Up Hardwood stamp onto kraft card. I die cut the sentiment and matted the front onto green card. Last, I added some red pearls to the wreath.

I would like to link up with the following challenges: 
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenges - Christmas Decorations 
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
Unicorn Challenge - Christmas is coming
Crafting With Friends - Always Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Girl's Creations - Anything Goes

Card: Kraft card, 250 gsm craft card in Emerald Green and Lilac, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Eureka digi Wreath with Bird, Stampin' Up Hardwood
Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso 
Colouring: Copics YG11, YG13, YG17, R24, E34, E39, V93, V95, V99
Other: Lawn Fawn Merry Christmas border die, adhesive pearls from my stash

Crafts Galore Encore - November challenge

I know I say this every single time I post one of my monthly challenge projects, but where has the time gone? It was only just summer, and now we are speeding towards Christmas. Have you started your Christmas preparations yet? I have been making Christmas cards all year, which means I have a good stash by now. But now it's time to turn my thought to Christmas presents. I have to admit I am the worst present buyer in the world. For a long time, me and my sister have operated a system where we make a specific wish list. If I can't think of a truly useful present, I prefer to get the recipient something they really want and need. I am the same way myself, although I would always appreciate a gift, whatever it was, sometimes it's really great to get exactly that thing your crafting stash needs. I know it's very  unromantic and pragmatic, but I'm nothing if not a pragmatist. I do admire people who have the talent of buying thoughtful gift, and I do try my best. But I also am not a big fan of clutter and extra stuff you don't use, I do like to clear my house of any unused stuff so I also don't feel like giving gifts just for the sake of it. My rule of thumb is - if in doubt, buy something that can be eaten or experienced (like tickets for a show etc) and that doesn't add to someone's clutter. Are you a good gift buyer? Do you enjoy planning gifts and finding the perfect thing? Could you please share your secret?

Anyhow, onto more crafty things. A new month means a new challenge over at Crafts Galore Encore. This month we are challenging you to use a stamp or digi image somewhere on your card. Our sponsor this month is Art by Miran, who is giving away a prize for the randomly drawn winner. The DT will also pick a favourite each, who proudly gets to display the highly coveted Crafts Galore Encore badge on their blog. The talented DT is sharing inspiration using images from our sponsor, so hop over to have a look. Thank you for everyone who played along with your fabulous spooky designs for the October challenge, don't forget to have a look at the winner's page to see if you are one of them!

Please also note!! We have a DT CALL for a number of places on our DT over at Crafts Galore Encore to begin with the first challenge of 2016 on January 1st!
To join our DT please add DT to your entry for your challenge when you link up over at Crafts Galore Encore. If you have tried before please know that we encourage you to try again, as we now have more places open than usual. Our requirements are:

1. You need to have a blog and also a Facebook account (we run the group from a private FB group)
2. You will be required to produce one project each month. The themes aren't difficult and usually the sponsor will provide you with a digi image to work with (usually you get a choice as to which image you choose!) The project will need to be ready by the 28th of each month.
3. You will need to comment on challenge entries.
4. Every other month you will be asked to pick your choice of a winner and write a sentence or two about why you picked it (please click on the winners tab on the challenge website if you want to see what is needed !)
5. You need to enjoy colouring as we work with digi stamps (we chose to do this so that we could work with people worldwide!)
We are a friendly group and as flexible as we can be (understanding that life gets in the way of craft !)
I can tell you it's a really friendly and wonderful group with lots of support in our FB group. So if you want to get free digis from our sponsors to work with, and you get to keep them and use for your own projects and if you enjoy colouring or want to improve your skills this is a great opportunity! If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below and I'll get back to you, or you can leave a comment on the Crafts Galore Encore page. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:
Art by Miran - Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - Just Add W (W is for waving [as in waving your hand/paw, not waves on the ocean], or alternatively if you find this too silly, w is also for winter scene)
The Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - V is for Very Cute
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick any previous challenge  (I picked June 2014 Reindeer/Rudolph)

Card: White 300 gsm card, scraps of dark and light purple card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm Three shades of Blue
DSP: Stampin' Up All is Calm
Stamps: Art by Miran digi Reindeer Friendship
Colouring: Copics
Other: Lawn Fawn Merry Christmas border die, Mini Snowflake dies, Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles, Ranger Ice Stickles

Holly Jolly - Snowmen

Baby, it's starting to get cold outside. If not cold, then at least dark. After the clocks going back this weekend, I won't manage to see daylight while at home during the week. It's dark when I leave and dark when I come back. Let's hope there will be some snow at some point, at least it makes everything seem a bit lighter!  With days cold and dark, theres no distractions like enjoying the great outdoors. So what better than barricading yourself into your craft room with a huge mug of hot chocolate and finish those last Christmas cards you need (because playing along with us over at Holly Jolly all year has obviously helped you finish most already!)

Our new challenge over at Holly Jolly is Snowmen. What a perfect theme to get into the Christmas card creating spirit! Or Christmas tags, or any other Christmas related crafting. Pop over to Holly Jolly to see what the other ladies of the DT have created to inspire you. Our generous sponsors this time are Stitchy Bear, All Dressed Up Stamps and Crafty Sentiments Designs. 

For my card I used a Crafty Sentiments Designs digi called Snowman Frame, which I coloured with Copics. I created the background by stamping snowflakes from the Stampin' Up Endless Wishes stamp set in Versamark and embossed in clear powder. I used multiple blue Tim Holtz distress inks to ink the background. I die cut the Merry Christmas using a Lawn Fawn die, and heat embossed a sentiment from the Penny Black All Is Bright set in white onto dark blue card. Then all that was needed was to assemble it all, matting on blue card and adhering onto a square white card.

I would like to link up with the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Emboss Resist
Hiding In My Craft Room - Any Holiday
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Baby It's Cold Outside
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Throwback (pick any previous challenge; I picked two, December 2014 Holiday cards and January 2014 Blues)

Card: 300 gsm white card, Vanguard VA020 Marine Blue, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, coloured 240 gsm card navy
Stamps: Crafty Sentiments Designs digi Snowman Frame, Stampin' Up Endless Wishes, Penny Black All Is Bright
Colouring: Copics
Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress inks Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire
Other: Ranger clear embossing powder, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles dies, Merry Christmas boder die