happy 5th birthday STAMPlorations!

Summer birthdays are such fun, aren't they? Five years ago Shery R. started a little company called STAMPlorations. It's grown incredibly since then and this month we are celebrating big time. Check out that graphic above, or the STAMPlorations blog, to see how you can celebrate with us and maybe win yourself some awesome prizes!

In honor of the birthday, Shery has released some birthday stamps (think revamped wonky cake) and some beautiful phrase dies (wait til you see the font!) Here are the two I used.

 Birthday Bash, Celebrate Big

Because our challenge this month (there is only one) is for you to CASE the STAMPgirls, I thought I'd CASE some cards with the new products for my post today. Here we go. It's a long one.

Remember this card of mine with the wonky cake? Today I used the leftover die cut from DD's birthday card and gave it a drop shadow with rose gold foil CS. For my cardbase I smooshed some Picked Raspberry, Dried Marigold and Cracked Pistachio (thought they matched the colors on the die cut best) on my mat, spritzed with water and "inked" up my stamp with the various colors before stamping the random BG. Did my best to keep the colors separate to prevent muddiness.

 STAMPlorations Celebrate Big

STAMPlorations Make a Wish die

See that rose gold peeking out? Yum.

I think it's cool how the phrases are in the stamp sets too, in that cool font and with a retro feel. I decided to pair the two on this card, which is somewhat a case of this card by Emily L. Heat embossed the sentiment three times down the left edge of a PP panel. Applied Tea Dye through a brick wall stencil (thanks, Loll!). Stitched the panel to my card and added the die cut from PP and white craft foam.

 STAMPlorations Celebrate Big

STAMPlorations Celebrate Big die

patterned paper

clear embossing powder

stencil

distress ink

Might need your sunglasses for this next one. I'm actually going to use it as a graduation card for a young man. Know who I CASEd on this one - sun rays, yellow, black and white? My teamie Monica T. Wasn't going to use sequins, but there was an ink smudge mishap... Can you tell which of the three was necessary to cover the smudge? (If not, good ;)

 STAMPlorations Celebrate Big

STAMPlorations Balloons and Banners

Mustard Seed distress ink

white embossing powder

circle die

stencil

sequins

Even added a touch of B/W in the form of washi along the bottom (on the inside however) cuz I loved that element of Monica's design so much.

I love this next one. It was such fun to create. Getting a comic book vibe? The first person to leave a comment with the answer to who/what I was CASEing on this one will get this card! As is, to use...

 STAMPlorations Celebrate Big

STAMPlorations Birthday Bash

STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge

STAMPlorations Celebrate Big die

distress inks

black Sharpie 

Thought the bold nature of the design could use a sentiment in glossy white CS - better known as recycled sticker packaging ;) Also popped this one up on a die-cut layer of yellow craft foam.

This last card  came about cuz I wanted to try stacking these phrase die cuts. I chose blue for a masculine card. Then I remembered this card. Took the "happy" stamp and stamped it from dark to light red to support the "birthday wishes".  Added splatters and Nuvo dots. Then a strip of B/W. One of those "don't know when to stop" creations, you know the kind! And now I cannot get a photo of it without it looking all blurry. It's not that bad IRL...

 STAMPlorations Celebrate Big

STAMPlorations Birthday Bash die

Altenew inks

patterned paper

Nuvo drops

Well if you stuck it out to the end, thank you!!!  There is a lot more inspiration over at STAMPlorations today and there will be all throughout the month as the DT members present their fave STAMP projects. I'd love to see you CASE a card of mine. I'll keep an eye on the gallery! Have a great day.