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 :) 

Women's Day Blog Hop

 

Hello lovely crafters, and particularly all you wonderful women! I'm popping in today with a creation for the Women's Day Insta Hop, Blog Hop & Linky Party. STAMPlorations is one of the many wonderful sponsors for this hop and you should definitely check out the post over on the STAMPlorations blog as many of my fellow DT members have created projects to celebrate women. I feel very blessed to be part of this beautiful community of crafters, filled with wonderful people - so many of them women - who are supportive and leave comments filled with kindness and encouragement to each other all over social media. If you are a woman, I hope someone will spoil you today, and if you are not a woman, I hope you will consider spoiling the woman/women in your life :) 

 

I created a card inspired by the blog hop motto "Be your own kind of beautiful". I started by inking Distress ink through the Faces: Lovely stencil, blending as I went along. Then I stamped the sentiments from Woodland Friends and heat embossed them in white on black card. I fussy cut the sentiments and added them to the card. I hope you will join the hop and linky party and you can read all about the wonderful prizes of the hop over on Women's Day Insta Hop, Blog Hop & Linky Party and don't forget to pop over to the STAMPlorations blog to see all the lovely projects from the DT. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Woodland Friends

Stencil: ARTplorations Faces: Lovely

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks, 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

 

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

 

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 :) 

STAMPlorations Inspiraton

 

Happy New Year! I hope the year has started well for you. We have had a few cold, but sunny days and we have managed to get some gardening done, well, it was more like fighting your way through the jungle but now the trees and shrubs are somewhat more in control.

After Christmas, there is always a need for Thank You cards so I thought it would be a good idea to make one for the first STAMPlorations Inspiration Post of the year. I started by stamping the beautiful In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies in the bottom left-hand corner of my card and the inked yellow and green Distress Inks through the Petals 1 Stencil. I also used the Distress Inks with a bit of water to colour parts of the calla lilies. Last, I added a die cut sentiment in black using Everyday Sentiments Dies.

Stamps: STAMPlorations In Bloom: Classic Calla Lilies

Stencils: ARTplorations Petals 1 Stencil

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, 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 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 December CAS Challenge

 

It's December!?!?! This strange, unusual, weird, unexpected year is coming to an end. For most of us, the holidays will not be as they usually are, we may not be able to meet up with all our loved ones and stick to all our traditions. It will be strange but at the same time this too shall pass and signs are that next year our lives will slowly start returning towards what we consider normal. For me, this year has also brought a lot of good things - I have really enjoyed working from home, not having to spend all those hours and hours commuting, and rather use them for things I love, like knitting and crafting. 

Talking of crafting, today is the start of the STAMPlorations December CAS challenge. Probably not a surprise that I have created a Christmas card - this is quite a quick make, so it would work well for mass production if you, like me, find yourself at this time of the year in the situation where you don't have enough Christmas cards available. I started by heat embossing the deer from Yuletide Deer in copper, then inked red Distress ink though the All Swirls Stencil. Next, I used brown Distress ink to pain the deer, and splattered some brown ink across the card front. Last, I added a sentiment from Simple Christmas Clear Stickers on red card and attached it to the card. I really like the Clear Stickers, they are super quick to add a sentiment to your cards. I hope you will feel inspired to play along with our December challenge!

Stamps: STAMPlorations Yuletide Deer

Stencil: ARTplorations All Swirls Stencil

Other: STAMPlorations Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, 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

 

Welcome to this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I have entered November with hardly any Christmas cards made (I can hear you gasping all the way here...). I'm proud to say I have finished most of my (mainly knitted or crocheted) Christmas presents but cards... not so much this year. Last year was the total opposite - lots of cards, but hardly any presents. Luckily I have made a few cards during the year, but I think from now until Christmas, all my Inspiration projects will be Christmas themed to bulk up the Christmas card stash. 

I thought I would do something a bit different from my usual Christmas card by creating a slimline card. I started by inking brown and red Distress Ink through the Flair Slimline Stencil, I really love this stencil, it's super versatile and will adapt to so many different designs depending on colours and other elements. Here I combined it with the wreath from Joyful and the deer from Yuletide Deer, both heat embossed in copper on kraft card and coloured with Distress ink. Last, I attached a sentiment from Simple Christmas Clear Stickers. I think it turned out quite nice with a rustic feel.

As always, don't forget that by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post you are entering into a monthly draw for a $15 prize code. And there are so many offers in the STAMPlorations store at the moment, check below for info, including a code which, in addition to a discount will also give you a freebie! 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Yuletide Deer, Joyful

Stencil: ARTplorations Flair Slimline Stencil

Other: Simple Christmas Clear Stickers

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo and Festive Berry, 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 :) 

This month there are oodles of discounts, for which you can find codes here, including 30% off word/phrase dies, 25% off square stencils and 40% off clear stickers. There is also a Christmas Special Sale and Coffee Lovers Sale.

STAMPlorations Inspiration - National Coffee Day

 

Happy Tuesday, aka STAMPlorations Inspiration post day. Today we have a special post as we are participating in the National Coffee Day hop hosted by the Coffee Loving Cardmarkers. As always, STAMPlorations is one of the supersponsors for the event. This time the hop is a bit different from waht you are used to if you usually play along - there is no linking up this time, just a hop to all the super sponsors. 

This year, STAMPlorations is giving away 2 prizes: a $20 gift code and  Zen Coffee 1 cover plate die. Winners will be drawn from all comments left on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post between September 29 and October 6. As an extra perk, select coffee themed products are 20% off in the STAMPlorations store BUT if you ALSO use my DT cupon code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout you get an EXTRA 20% off!! (note that if you use my code I will get a very small commission on the sales as I'm a STAMPlorations affiliate, but most importantly it will not be at any added cost to you).

For my card, I started by stencilling autumn colours through the Leaf Prints Mini stencil and splattered some ink on the card too for extra interest. Then I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the coffee cup and pot from What's Brewing, added them to the card and finished with a sentiment from the same set. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations What's Brewing

Stencil: ARTplorations Leaf Prints Mini

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Copics

As mentioned above, select coffee-themed products will be 20% off from September 29 to October 6 in the STAMPlorations store. You can get an extra 20% off when you use my DT coupon code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. You also have a few more days to take advantage of the September offer 25% off clear stamps with code STAMP25 and 15% off stencils with code STENCIL15.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

 

Happy Tuesday! How are you doing? I'm not sure, I really feel a bit all over the place. I feel quite sentimental about the nights starting to come in earlier and earlier, but at the same time, it's great to be able to start wearing wool socks and light candles again. And of course, it's less than 100 days to Christmas and I'm really looking forward to my two-week Christmas break... a bit premature maybe but I feel a bit exhausted by work at the moment so I can't wait. In the meantime, I will be grateful for having a job, even if it sucks the life out of me from time to time. 

For today's STAMPlorations Inspiration post I have been playing with stencils and Distress Inks. I started by Sanna's new Rainbows stencil and inked a rainbow of Distress inks through it. I then added some clouds using Clouds. Last, I added the Be A Rainbow stamp in bold black ink and that's it! A super easy and fun card with just a few stencils and stamps. 

As always, don't forget to comment on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post as you will be in a monthly random draw for a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store. And don't forget you get 20% off regular priced items using my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout, and in addition there are lots of great offers in the store at the moment.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Be A Rainbow

Stencils: ARTplorations Rainbows, Clouds

Ink: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks

This month you get 25% off clear stamps using code STAMP25 and 15% off stencils with code STENCIL15  in the STAMPlorations store. Using my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA you get 20% off all non-discounted products! There is even a freebie of the month which you get totally free (as long as you pay for shipping). Take an extra 20% off items in the Outlet Store with code EXTRA20.

STAMPlorations Inspiration

Happy Tuesday! Today I'm bringing you a bit of sparkle as part of my project for this week's STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I had a week off work last week, which I had been looking forward to very much as I haven't really had much time off since our week of skiing in February. Doesn't that feel like another life? I was looking forward to a week of crafting and knitting but instead, we have been painting my partner's old home which we have been renting out for the last eight years. And it really was in need of a lick of paint - well, correct that, a few gallons of paint. But I have to admit, I am starting to feel my age, and a week of full-time DYIing has taken its toll. And as much as I love painting and colouring beautiful stamps, I really, really, really don't like painting walls! Oh well, it's all done now and I think I deserve some sparkles and I'm sure you do too!

Today's card combines a few fabulous STAMPlorations stamp sets. I started by stamping the beautiful horse from Deepti's Live Love Ride and turned it into a unicorn. I then added lots of rainbow colours flowing from the unicorn's mane out all over the card. I added the Leave a Little Sparkle sentiment and the diamonds from Sparkly. Next, I upped the bling factor by inking Versafine thorough the Dots All Over stencil and heat embossed in sparkly silver embossing powder. I also added 

Don't forget that by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post you enter into a monthly draw for $15 gift code. And if you feel like shopping, don't forget you get 20% off normal priced products in the STAMPlorations store by using my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA (if you use the affiliate links in this blog post I will get a small commission without any additional cost to you and you help feed my crafting addiction).

Stamps: STAMPlorations Live Love Ride, Leave a Little Sparkle, Sparkly
Stencil: ARTplorations Dots All Over
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine, Gansai Tambi watercolours

This month you get 25% off clear stamps using code STAMP25 and 15% off stencils with code STENCIL15  in the STAMPlorations store. Using my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA you get 20% off all non-discounted products! There is even a freebie of the month which you get totally free (as long as you pay for shipping).

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. 

STAMPlorations Inspiration

, , J

And so we are at the end of August. The summer has been lovely this year, I have to admit I think I have appreciated my home, my garden and the beautiful walks around our village in a completely different way this year because of all the time I have spent at home. Actually, last weekend was the first time I was away overnight from home ever since March! I have to admit, I really don't mind at all. I will have a staycation next week and I'm looking forward to that too. 

Today I'm sharing my last August STAMPlorations Inspiration post, where I have been inspired by the beautiful ARTplorations stencils and Bloom Doodles stamp set. My card today started with inking Distress Ink through Sanna's stunning Abstract Oats stencil. I stamped the flowers from Bloom Doodles, coloured them with Copics and fussy cut them. I arranged the flowers on the card and added a sentiment using the Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers. As always, by commenting on the STAMPlorations Inspiration post, you will enter the monthly draw for a $15 gift code to the new STAMPlorations store. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloom Doodles

Stencil: ARTplorations Abstract Oats

Ink and colouring: Distress Inks, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Other: STAMPlorations Just Everyday Greetings Clear Stickers 

Don't forget to check out the August offers in the STAMPlorations store as you can get 25% off CUTplorations dies with code CUT25 and 20% off slimline stencils with code SLIMLINE20. For for more offers, visit the STAMPlorations Store Coupons page. For normal priced products, use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout for 20% off.

Cupcake Inspirations #500

Today I'm happy to be celebrating the 500th Cupcake Inspirations Challenge. Congrats and big thanks to the whole Cupcake Inspirations team for all their hard work to keep this super fun challenge running for all that time, and to many, many more great challenges to come!

For my project, I used the cupcake stamp from STAMPlorations Sweet Kindness which stamped and heat embossed in gold four times. I used Faber Castell watercolour pencils to colour the images and blended the colouring with a watercolour brush. I created the Dots All Over stencil and Distress inks to create the fun dotty background and finished the card with a bold black die cut sentiment from Everyday Sentiments. 

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sweet Kindness
Stencil: ARTplorations Dots All Over
Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils

STAMPlorations Inspiration

The week has flown by, and it's Tuesday again. And that, of course, means a new STAMPlorations Inspiration post. I'm continuing with my theme pairing a stencil background with the Bloom Doodles stamp set. This time I was inspired by the beautiful bright late summer flowers in my garden. I feel so grateful for all my beautiful potted plants, I have received some as gifts this summer, and the ones I got from the garden centre have flourished and all the colours make so happy every time I see them. 

I started my card by inking red and brown Distress Inks through the ARTplorations Brick Wall stencil and splattered some brown ink for added interest. Then I stamped flowers and leaves from the beautiful Bloom Doodles stamp set, coloured them with Faber Castell watercolour pencils and blended with water and a fine brush. I fussy cut the flowers and leaves and die cut a sentiment from black card using Everyday Sentiments Dies. Last, I arranged everything onto the brick background. I really like the colours of the watercolour pencils, it's really fun to mix lots of colours and then blend to see what the final result looks like.

Don't forget that by commenting on the Inspiration post you are in the draw to win a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store.

Stamps: STAMPlorations Bloom Doodles 

Stencils: ARTplorations Brick Wall 

Dies: CUTplorations Everyday Sentiments Dies

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black

Don't forget to check out the August offers in the STAMPlorations store as you can get 25% off CUTplorations dies with code CUT25 and 20% off slimline stencils with code SLIMLINE20. For for more offers, visit the STAMPlorations Store Coupons page. For normal priced products, use my code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at checkout for 20% off.