spotlight on rainbow skies

I've got the rainbow bug these days. I'm over at the STAMPlorations blog with a tutorial on how I've masked and sponged a rainbow.

Used Distress inks along with STAMPlorations Wanderlust stamp set and Papertrey Cloud die.

I'm joining these challenges:
AAA Cards - Perfect Day (a rainbow makes a day perfect, especially if you're on vacation!)

The Paper Girls - Rainbows
heARTful Stamping - AG plus a stamp
Papercraft - CAS
Global Design Project - Show me the Sunshine

STAMPlorations release - wanderlust/travel dies

Hope you've been enjoying the events over at STAMPlorations this month where the gals have been creating with the newly released products? Today a group of us are working with the Wanderlust/Travel word and phrase dies. You can catch the whole lineup here.

When I saw these travel related products it jogged a memory. Have a moment for a story?

My cardmaking addiction hobby actually started when I made party invitations for DH's 50th. With one circle punch and one PP pack. After that I thought I could scrapbook memories for my kids. Went online to see what other PP was out there. HA! And got sucked in. I still remember discovering online shops. And galleries. And You Tube videos. And challenges. Basically the whole wonderful world of cardmakers (as my kids would say... "oh, you mean your ooooonline friends").

Well, I never made one scrapbook page (though it's kinda funny that my file for online order invoices is titled "scrapbook" - HA!).

But back to today's project. You may have caught wind of pocket page scrapbooking ;) Now that, folks, could be much more my style; I basically used to do it. Kind of. When I was in college I'd cut out words and sentences from magazines and add them into my photo album as captions or overlays for my photos. Ahead of my time, I was ;)

So I decided to make myself some cards/journal cards/whatever they're called (these dies are the perfect size and attitude for just that) in case I ever actually decide to do some scrapbooking!

STAMPlorations Wanderlust stamp

STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies stamp

STAMPlorations Aloha word die

STAMPlorations Just Go word die

STAMPlorations Bloomtangled 2 die

STAMPlorations Bubbles stencil

distress inks

embossing powder

sewing machine

They're 3x4" with rounded corners. Kept the color scheme the same and quite limited. Used blues thinking they might go well with photos of lovely blue skies from our last road trip.... Not much more I can do now to make that scrapbook page happen than to JUST DO IT, eh?

I'd actually thought of doing the journal cards on old map paper. But then (it's graduation time, ya know?) I came up with this idea as a way to gift money.

STAMPlorations Wanderlust stamp

STAMPlorations Just Go word die

old map
twine

Glued an old map (make it extra special by using a map of the recipient's destination) to CS and die cut the pillow box. Then I stamped a strip of CS and die cut "just go". I decided I liked the look of the negative better than the positives so I added a touch of twine and adhered the negative to the pillow box and called it good to go.

I hope you're enjoying the projects from the rest of the girls today. I just love all the new wanderlust projects. Maybe cuz I just love to travel...

Thanks for coming by. I'm stopping by these challenges:
Kreativtanten - Alles Geht
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies

Paper Players - Sketch

STAMPlorations inspiration #172

Welcome to a Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

Today we're showcasing Shery Russ stamps. There's still a little time left to take advantage of the sale at the store. All non-retiring products are 10% off (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

Today again I was inspired by our challenge this month with its theme Say it Big...

STAMPlorations Big Robots stamp
STAMPlorations Embrace Your Journey stamp
STAMPlorations Balloons and Banners stamp
washi
star sequins

Copic markers

This bot recently came to live at my house so I thought he could "embrace" that big sentiment nicely as he floats through outer space! Some stamping. Some masking. Some coloring. Some washi. And a couple silver sequin stars to go with the stamped ones after I got a nice smudge down next to the sentiment there ;)

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the April inspiration posts. Check out today's post here. So happy you stopped by :)

I'm stopping by at:
Always Fun - CAS
Penny Black and More - B/W plus one Color
Creative with Stamps - CAS + Sentiment
Inkspirational - Play

spellbinders dainty florals set of tags

Did you see yesterday's post? Well I mentioned having a hard time figuring out what to use as the focal image on the BG I'd created. I wanted to use neon. So I die cut lots of neon. But then didn't use them. So this tag set was born.

Spellbinders Labels Four die

Spellbinders Dainty Florals Etched die
Inkystamp Geburtstagsgruße stamp
Inkystamp Alltagsheldin stamp
Inkystamp Alles im Rahmen stamp
Sizzix Damask embossing folder
Craft Concepts Bees Delight embossing folder
white embossing powder
twine

Had the flowers cut from four neon colors so I mixed and matched the outlines and filler pieces. Adhered them to black tags I'd die cut and dry embossed. Then I heat embossed sentiments onto black snippets and added those to the tags. Twine finished them off. I think these will look great on B/W wrapping paper.

Thanks again to Team Spellbinders for the fun little florals to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!
Kreativtanten - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies for April

spellbinders dainty florals a la marimekko

Catching a folk art vibe from Spellbinders Dainty Florals Etched die, I went a little Marimekko for this card design.

Spellbinders Dainty Florals Etched die

Inkystamp Alles im Rahmen stamp
heart die
twine

Die cut 20 (yep, 20) of the white stems and adhered them to black CS in a folk artsy pattern. Then I had the darndest time figuring out what to do with it! As usual, I couldn't cover up what I'd just created.

Now neon colors are far from folk artsy, but I felt I needed them to go with this B/W design. So I die cut a few of the sweet florals and adhered them to a die cut heart which holds my sentiment. Since the heart is popped up the florals are also raised off the card a bit so they don't get too lost on the busy BG. Cuz like I said, I couldn't bear to cover any more of it up ;)

A bit of twine across the top fold finished it off. Hope you likey. Thanks again to Team Spellbinders for the fun little florals to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!
Kreativtanten - Anything Goes
a2z Scrapbooking - Flower Power

Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies for April

STAMPlorations inspiration #171

Back for a Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

We're showcasing Dee's Artsy Impressions stamps. If you haven't been to the store lately, all non-retiring products in the store are 10% off automatically from now through April (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

STAMPlorations Kathryn's Big Wishes stamp
STAMPlorations Beautiful Ride stamp

Copic Markers

Had to pull out lovely little Kathryn to take a "beautiful ride" with her big balloon. Decided to keep everything B/W with the exception of those striped tights (they are probably the #1 reason I love this image so much!!!)

If you're looking for more inspiration with this sweet girl and coffee, check out this card. 

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the April inspiration posts. Check out today's post for more inspiration here. Appreciate that you stopped by :)

I'm joining the fun at:
Addicted to Stamps - Balloons/Bunting/Presents - Happy 7th!!!
Creative with Stamps - CAS + sentiment - Happy 2nd!!!
Mod Squad - Simply Clean

oh happy day!

Squeaking in under the deadline with a card for you today inspired by those vibrant colors in the latest Pin-Sights challenge over at Ellen Hutson. Screamed Dylusions spray inks to me.

 Spellbinders Dainty Florals Etched die

Essentials by Ellen Bold Blooms stamp
Dylusions ink sprays
black gems

Did some ink smooshing using the tube in the ink spray bottle to tap some ink onto an acrylic block. Spritzed it with water and smooshed onto watercolor paper. Did the warm colors first, then the cool colors.

Added a couple of those sweet little blooms cut from black CS and a sentiment that seems to match the style and feel of the design perfectly. A couple black gems to the bloom centers and voila!

Thank you Team Spellbinders for the fun little florals to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!
Ellen Hutson - PinSights Challenge March

Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor Challenge for April

AAA Cards - Perfect Day (a rainbow and flowers sure make me happy!)

stuck on you

One more cacti creation for you today using the fun Spellbinders Build a Terrarium Etched dies. Still working with those iconic cactus figures but this time inspired by the latest Pin-Sights challenge over at Ellen Hutson. Talk about attitude!

Well I got some of that! That grapefruit caught my eye and this is how I interpreted it. There are a few pie shaped cuts to be found...

 Spellbinders Glass Effects die (appears to be on sale right now!)
Spellbinders Build a Terrarium Etched die

Dymo label maker
washi

Used up some cardstock scraps and filled in bits of the cover plate die cut. Added some cacti silhouette, a label maker punny sentiment and a pop of washi. Voila!

Thank you Team Spellbinders for the fun cacti to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Challenge up your Life - Rainbow/Unicorn

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes for April
Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies for April

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!

cowgirl cacti

I've another cacti creation for you today using the fun Spellbinders Build a Terrarium Etched dies. This time the iconic cactus figure became the star of my show. Desert. Cactus. Cowboy. Well, I decided to go kinda Cowgirl...

 Build a Terrarium Etched die

Paper Smooches Buckaroo

Flora and Fauna Texture 3

Distress inks

fun foam

white embosing powder

Lots of little die cut cacti, gently inked with some Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick and some white gel pen dots. See those patches of desert the cacti perch on? I die cut the "dirt" die from fun foam to make my own stamp, attached it to an acrylic block with temporary adhesive and stamped away! Added some light gray "stones" from the FF Texture set as fillers.

The heat embossed sentiment with a touch of B/W PP and a couple big ol' sequins finished it off.

Thank you Team Spellbinders for the fun cacti to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Texture

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes for April

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!

christmas cacti shaker

Not one for making Christmas cards when it's not really Christmas-time, (though the crazy weather in MI at the moment would sure inspire holiday cards - geesh - got outta there just in time but my poor Dad is wearing a jacket in the house cuz the power/heat went out too!) but I got some goodies from Spellbinders to play with and when I saw the dome in this die I couldn't get "snow globe" outta my mind!

 Spellbinders Build a Terrarium Etched die

Hero Arts Merry Cactus to you stamp

Penny Black PP

acetate

sequins

twine

white embossing powder

So why not cacti in the snow? I added some white heat embossed dots to the BG panel and some acetate to the die cut front panel and created a little shaker to mimic a snow globe. There's just something fun about cacti isn't there? Only from afar of course ;)

Thank you Team Spellbinders for the fun cacti to create with. I've another creation tomorrow.

I'm joining the fun at:
Mod Squad - Simply Clean

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Texture

ABC Christmas - I for ice (guess it's actually snow, but with the weather in MI right now...)

Crafty Hazel's Christmas Challenge - April

trying to be escher-esque

Another pre-vacation creation for you today. This was to test drive a new die. And give Escher-esque a try. I love optical illusions, don't you?

Sizzix Diamond Cluster die

Amy Tangerine Associate die

recycled envelope liner

Know how in her blog posts Joan B. says "mood when finished..." Well on this baby I'd have to say "mood when creating: experiment friendly", "mood when finished: what the heck did I think I was doing?".

If I recall correctly, it all started with a green watercolored piece from this project. Then I sorted through my watercolored background stash for a contrasting piece. Now I know that solid color CS would have had a much better effect ;)

On these illusion thingies, the eye will go to the darkest first - thus you see the leaf green and recognize those as the tops of the stacked squares. And I wanted the two left rows of cubes to appear to be "facing right" - in other words I used the purple pieces to fill the right sides of the cubes since that was the next darkest color I had. Then I used the orange/reddish pieces to fill the left sides of the remaining rows of cubes. But the gradient nature of the non-green watercolored piece made this difficult to achieve! If you want to see what originally inspired me, check this out.

Since things were already pretty outta control, I went with some funky envelope liner for the background and then a plain white die cut sentiment. No idea who I'll ever send this to!!!!!

Thanks for looking though. You're a real trooper ;) I'm actually going to take this over to:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Texture
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes

be still my ink smooshing hearts

Howdy peeps!

Popping in quickly today to share a make from a little bit ago - we were in the snow in northern Italy for a sun and snow-filled week before I headed off to spend two weeks with my Dad in cold and sometimes snowy Michigan - that made use of a fabulous die cut panel sent to me by the lovely, happy dancing Bev B.

 Neat and Tangled Wholehearted Cover plate

Cornish Heritage Farms Alphabet BG

Distress Inks

embossing powder

First off I stamped the die cut panel with the background stamp. Then I backed it with an ink-smooshed BG. Heat embossed the "HI" section of the BG stamp onto a black snipet and mounted the panels askew to a cardbase. Voila! Love that dimension and interest!

I'm off to play at:
Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Texture
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Papercraft Challenges - Bingo - I've got heat embossing, text and no PP

Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies April

STAMPlorations inspiration #170

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

Today we're using Becca' Big Grins stamps. All non-retiring products in the store are 10% off automatically from now through April (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

I thought this fun little guy from a Christmas set of Becca's looked ready for some wanderlust...

STAMPlorations Reindeer Games stamp

STAMPlorations Say it Big sss stamp

Copic markers

Pretty straightforward. Arranged the sentiment and deer. Stamped. Colored. Added a strip of washi and called it a day.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the April inspiration posts. Check out today's post here. So happy you stopped by :)

STAMPlorations april challenge - focus on sentiments

It's time for another STAMPplorations challenge and this month we've got a fun theme - Focus on the Sentiments. So I did!

A belated birthday card was born using this punny sentiment.

Clouds stencil

Oh Frap die

Distress inks

Washi tape

There's an incredible lineup of creations with the sentiments in the spotlight over at the STAMPlorations blog. Why not check them out? Better yet, create something and join the April challenge.

As a reminder, all non-retiring products are 10% off in the store. And you can use my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off. There are so many great new additions to the Typografia and Say it Big lines of sentiment stamps. Just sayin' ;)

STAMPlorations inspiration #169

Welcome to the first of April's STAMPlorations inspiration posts. It's time for a Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

Today we're using Shirley's The Bees Knees stamps. All non-retiring products in the store are 10% off automatically from now through April (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

This month I was inspired by our challenge theme at STAMPlorations which is Focus on the Sentiments! So I'm using some big sentiments in my designs. Here's this week's.

STAMPlorations Fowl Play stamp

STAMPlorations Wanderlust coming soon

Copic markers

washi tape

I must admit, designs like this are pretty worry free when you use a stamp positioner. I stamped the sentiment and then could easily line up where I wanted those "curious" chicks to be perched. Colored them roughly with Copics and voila!

I used the chicks in a completely different way here ... And here.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the April inspiration posts. Check out today's post here. So happy you stopped by :)

STAMPlorations release - say it big

Hope you've been enjoying the events over at STAMPlorations where the gals have been creating with the newly released products. Today a group of us are working with the new additions to the Say it Big series. You can catch the whole lineup here.

Do you own many large sentiment stamps? If you do, you may like today's post where you can get more ideas on how to use them. I have two projects for you. And check out our challenge this month at STAMPlorations too - it's about putting focus on the sentiment.

For my first card I pulled out a smooshed background from my stash and using my MISTI stamped the sentiment a few times. I needed to do this because the paper has a linen texture. But I think it turned out OK.

To add something more, I stamped the sun and rainbow and used watercolor pencils and my water brush to give them a touch of color. Drew the wonky border with a Sharpie.

 STAMPlorations Bigger than Fear stamp

STAMPlorations Wonderful Life stamp

For my second project, I actually used two big sentiments. Not sure that I like the result, I'd hoped the inlaid die cut would be more subtle. Maybe I should have stuck with tone-on-tone?? - if you have any tips on how to make this idea more effective, please share.

STAMPlorations Your Limit stamp

STAMPlorations Just Go die

sewing machine

Teresa Collins PP

Hope you'll check out what the other girls did with these large sentiments. And if you create something with the focus on the sentiment, be sure to hook up with the monthly challenge at STAMPlorations which will go live on April 5!