Cupcake Inspirations Challenge

Today I'm very excited to be guest designing over at Cupcake Inspirations as the current challenge is sponsored by STAMPlorations.  I always love the gorgeous cupcake images for this challenge, although I have to admit they sometimes make this recovering sugaroholic crave a fix... But at least I can channel all of that sugar craving into my crafting instead! This time the colour combo is a dramatic red - white - black. 

I decided that the dramatic colours would look stunning on the equally dramatic Bloom Boldly stencil, so I inked through the stencil with Distress Inks. I love how the little hidden hearts in the stencil image match with the little hearts on the cupcakes! The Festive Berries red was absolutely perfect to match the red in the inspiration image, it's so vibrant. I then spritzed some water across the image to give it a little bit of a grunge-y and distressed look. Last, I die cut the sentiment using the Thanks Word Die and added some Crystal Effects to it although it doesn't show very well on the picture. I added three red rhinestones for a finishing touch and matted the panel onto black card before adhering to a white card base. If you got inspired to add some STAMPlorations goodies to your stash, you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA at the check-out in the STAMPlorations store to receive 20% off your order (see below for more info)!

Card: 250 gsm white card, 250 gsm black card

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot and Festive Berries

Stencil: ARTplorations Bloom Boldly

Die: CUTplorations Thanks Word Die

Other: Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, adhesive rhinestones 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!

Blue Sky Thinking

It's been ridiculously cold and grey outside all day. My coping mechanisms have been to make a huge dutch pancake (although to me it will always seem silly to call it a *dutch* pancake since it's actually Finnish pancake in my opinion, but anyhow...) and ate a gigantic piece of it with stem ginger ice cream and apricot jam. Then I spent the rest of the day in the craft room. The other half has been sitting in his man cave with his head phones on all day, gaming with friends. I don't think I have ever heard him talk that much in one day before, not sure if I should be happy or feel a bit hurt and jealous. Oh well, seems like he is having fun.

And I have been having fun too, as I made this card inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch. I was also inspired by the word inspiration over at Time Out which are "Friends are connected heart to heart, distance and time can't break them apart". I thought the balloon was perfect for the bit about distance. My best friend is far away and I sometimes hope I could just jump into a balloon to get to see her. My inspiration for the silver mirri sentiment was from the "Mirror, Mirror" challenge over at Daring Cardmakers. Last but not least I was inspired by the "Winter blues" challenge over at Shopping Our Stash where the challenge is to crate something with lots of blue but not to make it winter themed. I thought what could be more summery than a brightly coloured balloon?

Card: 250 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 190 gsm white card, silver mirri card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Blue Skies and matching dies, Claire's abc

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Broken China, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Spring Showers, Scripty Hello

Other: Ranger Ice Stickles

Love TAGplorations Day 3

Another day, another tag! Welcome to day three of the week long STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations event. By now you probably already know there are plenty of prices to be won by commenting on the projects the DT has created to inspire you and for linking up your own projects as well. There are more details over at the STAMPlorations blog where you can see all the gorgeous projects the DT has created for your inspiration. There is still plenty of time to join in as the commenting and linking is open until February 14th.

For today's tag I used the new Pocket Blooms stamp set together with a watercolour background I had in my UFO (UnFinished Objects) box. You know when you make something that doesn't actually turn out at all like you wanted it for the project you are doing at the moment, but it's too pretty to throw away. Sometimes I like to challenge myself by deciding that I have to use something from my UFO box. And the watercolour background was perfect for this tag. It looked a bit bare though, so I grabbed some of the gorgeous new Scribbly Splattery Grunge stamps and randomly stamped them in the background using neutral colours. I die cut the pocket from jeans blue card and stamped the flowers on white card, coloured them with Copics and fussy cut them. I also used a scrap of orange card from the UFO box for the die cut sentiment, adding some Ice Stickles for extra bling. I also added a bit of Ice Stickles around the edges of the flowers.

Card: 250 gsm watercolour paper, scrap of Tim Holtz Chipped Sapphire card, scrap of orange card, 250 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms with matching die, Scribbly Splattery Grunge

Dies: Hugs Word Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Gansai Tambi Watercolours, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen

Other: Ranger Coffee Ice Stickles, orange ribbon from my stash, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder

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!

Love TAGplorations Day 2

Welcome to day two of STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations, seven days of Valentine tag making fun. You can never have too many tags, can you? I hope you enjoyed the first day of the hop (if you missed it, you can find it here). I hope you will join us by commenting on the tags you see during the event and by linking up your own tags too which you can do between February 8th and 14th. And there are loads of prices:

• 3 randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of stamp set (Pocket Blooms, A Full Heart, or Two of Us)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of any 2 of the new love-themed dies (Love, Always, XOXO, Forever, You & Me, Clustered Hearts)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of tag set: Luggage Tags or ATC/Tag Builder

Also don't forget that you can use the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store if you want to, see the end of this post for further details.

I started today's tag by stamping the adorable oliphant and balloons from the super-cute Tweet Love in a very light pink. I then used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to watercolour the image to give it a no-line appearance. Next, I used yellow and orange distress inks through the Dots All Over stencil to create a bit of colour in the background. I also used a foam applicator to add some pink around the edges of the tag. I used the Hugs Word Die on a piece of pink scrap card to die cut the sentiment, and stamped the second part of the sentiment using a stamp from Tweet Love. Last, I added some Ice Stickles to the sentiment and some ribbon from my stash. I can't wait to show you the matching card I created to this tag!

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper, scrap of pink card
Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Black Soot, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black
Stamps: STAMPlorations Tweet Love
Dies: CUTplorations Hugs Word Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies
Stencils: ARTplorations Dots All Over 
Other: Ranger Ice Stickles, 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!

Love TAGplorations

I'm very excited to be part of STAMPlorations Love TAGplorations, seven days of Valentine tag making fun. We hope you will like the tags we have created with the DT to give to the important people in our lives and to showcase the gorgeous new Valentine's stamps, stencils and dies in the STAMPlorations shop. And as usual this wouldn't be half as much fun unless you could join us in the celebrations by commenting on the tags you see during the event and by linking up your own tags too which you can do between February 8th and 14th. And there are loads of prices:

• 3 randomly drawn winners from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blog will each receive a $10 gift certificate to the store
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of stamp set (Pocket Blooms, A Full Heart, or Two of Us)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of any 2 of the new love-themed dies (Love, Always, XOXO, Forever, You & Me, Clustered Hearts)
• 1 randomly drawn participant in the Love TAGplorations linky party will receive her choice of tag set: Luggage Tags or ATC/Tag Builder

Also don't forget that you can use the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA to get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store if you want to, see the end of this post for further details.

For today's tag, I used Faber Castell watercolour pencils to colour through the Zen Hearts stencil onto a kraft tag I cut using the larges of the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies. I then traced the outlines of the coloured pieces using a white gel pen. To match my white outlined stencilled heart I die cut the Clustered Hearts Die from white card and also from a scrap of pink card from my UFO box - I think I created this with Tim Holtz Distress Paints. I then sprayed the tag with gold perfect pearls to give it a very subtle gold sheen - unfortunately I didn't manage to capture that in the photo.

I used another scrap of watercoloured card I created with Distress paints, this time in pink and blue to die cut the "always" using Always Word Die. I adhered the die cut pieces to the tag and stamped the first part of the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black using a stamp from the Pocket Blooms stamp set. For a finishing touch I added some stickles to the die cut sentiment, a few adhesive rhinestones and a white ribbon from my stash.

Pocket Blooms

Zen Hearts

Card: kraft card, scrap of white 250 gsm card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper

Stamps: STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms

Stencils: ARTplorations Zen Hearts

Dies: CUTplorations Always Word Die, Clustered Hearts Die, Luggage Tags Nesting Dies

Inks and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Paints, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Faber Castell watercolour pencils, White Gel Pen

Other: Adhesive gems and white ribbon from my stash, Ranger Coffee Ice Stickles

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!

Minimalism

I've been listening to The Minimalists podcast (which I discovered though the amazing Tracy from Shutterbean, a blog I can warmly recommend if you don't follow it already!). I love the idea of cutting down on the clutter in our lives - that we have been brain washed to think that success and happiness is defined by owning more things when instead we can be much happier when we let go (I'm excluding the craft stash from this line of thought). But to be completely serious, I think there is a point in being mindful about what we own and evaluating whether the things we surround us with add value to our lives. And I have to admit I have a lot of crafty stash which I don't use. I just feel like I can't get rid of it because I paid a lot of money for it. I have some stuff I love and use, and I see no point in getting rid of those. But the other stuff - the stamps I haven't touched for years (or maybe not even used once)? Maybe I could try to sell them on eBay or even donate them to somewhere where they would add value to someone else's life? Does anyone know of any good places that would accept unloved crafty stash? Anyhow, I warmly recommend the podcast and also the Minimalism documentary on Netflix. It certainly gave me lots to think about. Maybe I could finally get rid of all my DVDs (I haven't watched a single one of them during the four years we have lived in this house, still I have loads and loads). I'm also really keen on doing a capsule warderobe type of thing. To be fair, I kind of already do that as I only use a small subset of all the clothes I own, so why do I hang on to clothes I never wear "just because"? I would love to hear your thoughts! One side note about the documentary - seems like a lot of minimalists are extremely good looking men. Just saying...

Talking about minimalism, today's crafty project turned out to be rather minimalist also. I was inspired by the current Tag You're It challenge and the colour challenge over at Color Throwdown. I think this tag would be perfect with a Starbucks or Costa gift card as a thank you for something or other. I just adore the cute little Lawn Fawn mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows (again, going off on a tangent, I bought some raspberry white hot chocolate last weekend, and it's soooo good!). And that adorable little cupcake. Who could resist. Now I'm actually craving hot chocolate and cupcakes. Dang.

Card: 250 gsm white card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte, Baked With Love and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Other: Lawn Fawn Tag You're It dies, Let's Polka in the Dark patterned paper, ribbon and twine from my stash

February STAMPlorations CAS Challenge - Anything Goes With Hot Pink

And so we have transitioned from January (was it Dry January? Sugar Free January? General trying to atone for your Holiday sins January?) to the month that will make all us crafters grab our pink paints, pens and watercolours. Bring out the heart stencils and the love sentiments because that's all you will see anywhere in blogland while we celebrate crafting for the most important people in our lives, whether it be our partners, family, friends or most beloved pets.

Anyhow, you have probably already guessed what the optional colour twist for this month's STAMPlorations CAS challenge is. But you don't have to use it if you don't want to. And you don't have to use STAMPlorations products either (although we always love to see you strut your STAMPloratons stuff if you do have it) - as long as you create something CAS you can link it up, and you can link up to 3 cards per challenge. The winner will receive a $10 gift card to the STAMPlorations store and the top picks will each receive a $5 gift card.

If you are inspired to get something for your stash you can always get 20% off your purchase in the STAMPlorations store by using the discount code STAMPGIRLKAROLA. For more information, see the end of this post.

My card today is another very easy way to create a card which looks very intricate. I used the gorgeous new Zen Hearts stencil and painted through it with Distress Inks and a watercolour brush. I used Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn and Mustard Seed. I love how you never quite know how it will turn out when you remove the stencil as some bits where you used more water will have run on the paper creating a really artsy effect. Then I simply die cut the sentiment using the Always Word Die and stamped the word love using a stamp from Pocket Blooms which is another new set. I added some Ice Stickles to the sentiment and added a few adhesive rhinestones for a finishing touch.

I'm linking up with the following challenges: 

Clean and Simple on Sunday - Hearts

Daring Cardmakers - I want more... simplicity

House of Cards - love theme and/or something pink

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - The colour of love

NBUS #10 - I haven't had a chance to play along with any of Darnell's recent NBUS challenges, I'm so sorry for that Darnell, I really wanted to play along but this stupid thing called work took up all my time!! Finally had the chance as every stamp, die and stencil in this card is NBUS. If you haven't checked out Darnell's blog you absolutely have to, it always brings a big smile to my face.

Card: 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper

Stamps: STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn and Mustard Seed
Stencil: ARTplorations Zen Hearts
Die: CUTplorations Always Word Die
Other: Ranger Ice Stickles, adhesive rhinestones 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!