spotlight on spirograph

Howdy peeps! Did you play with a Spirograph when you were a kid? I did. And that was the vibe I got when I saw the newest STAMPlorations Stamp Club set, Bloomdala Bliss. I had to have some fun with it. Check out my tutorial over on the STAMPlorations blog for more details.

STAMPlorations inspiration #213

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where we usually feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers. We're switching it up a little since our Spring Fling event is also happening over at the STAMP blog. All throughout April, products in the Spring Fling section of the store will be 25% off instantly. Which means... if you use my STAMPGIRLMARIA code, you can get up to 45% off!
  

image source: Eat Think and Be Merry

Have you seen this month's CUTplorations challenge? It was my inspiration for today's Spring-y card. Unfortunately I've needed a slew of sympathy cards lately. So I've a twofer fer ya.

STAMPlorations Flutter Zen #1  die

STAMPlorations With Sympathy Phrase die 

STAMPlorations Just Because stamp 
Copics

Pretty simple. I die cut the solid butterfly and added the stripes with Copics. I die cut the filigree butterfly from black and white to see which I preferred. Went with the black and a black sentiment. I decided to add the little blooms in the lower right corner and am glad I did. I think they add just the right "something".

Then with the leftover white butterfly...

These are going to a sister and brother whose mother just passed away at 90. I like that the cards are "related".

This is the first time I've used that sentiment die but I doubt it'll be the last.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment. Check out today's post here. Thanks for coming by.

I'm joining the fun at:
Die Cut Divas - Water (as in tears, as in sympathy, as in it might be too big a stretch!)
Addicted to Stamps - Layers Stamps or Papers
Happy Little Stampers - April AG with Dies

STAMPlorations inspiration #212

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where we usually feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers. We're switching it up a little since it's finally beginning to feel like Spring around here. Spring cards it is this month!

Our Spring Fling event is also happening over at the STAMP blog. All throughout April, products in the Spring Fling section of the store will be 25% off instantly. Which means... if you use my STAMPGIRLMARIA code, you can get up to 45% off!
  

image source: Eat Think and Be Merry

Have you seen this month's CUTplorations challenge? It was my inspiration for today's Spring-y card. Can you hear those birdies singing?

STAMPlorations Double Stitched Nesting Rectangle die

STAMPlorations For the Birds die 

STAMPlorations Lower Case Alpha plate die
MFT Radial Stitched Circle die
cardstock scraps

What'd I do? Trimmed some strips from CS scraps. Adhered them to white CS. Die cut the stitched rectangle and birds from it in one pass through my Big Shot. I chose to add the die cut sentiment on the front and add the stamped "Birthday Boy" sentiment inside. I adhered the panel flat on my cardbase and added dimension with the circle sentiment.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store in our Spring Fling event. And don't forget to leave a comment here for another chance. Check out today's post here. Thanks for coming by.

I'm joining the fun at:
Addicted to Stamps - Layers Stamps or Papers
Happy Little Stampers - April AG with Dies

Inkspirational - Pop it Up

SSS Wednesday Challenge - No Designer Paper

bloomdala blooms

Had a request from DD to make a get well card for one of her professors. Using the blue colors and the STAMPlorations Bloomdala Bliss stamp I created a field of blooms on my cardbase with a PC-generated sentiment. Apparently it got a thumbs up from her fellow students.

STAMPlorations Bloomdala Bliss stamp

STAMPlorations Folk Flowers stamp

I'm hooking up at:
AAA Card Challenges - Made in Minutes just stamped away, no masks no nothing

Addicted to Stamps - Layers Stamps or Papers

ATSAM - AG

STAMPlorations inspiration #211

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where we usually feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers. We're switching it up a little since it's finally beginning to feel like Spring around here. Spring cards it is this month!

Our Spring Fling event is also happening over at the STAMP blog. All throughout April, products in the Spring Fling section of the store will be 25% off instantly. Which means... if you use my STAMPGIRLMARIA code, you can get up to 45% off!

Today I've found my Zen doing some inlaid die cutting. I took a shortcut and colored the die cut pieces with Copics before adhering them.

 STAMPlorations Butterfly Cover Plate die 

STAMPlorations Layered Holly stamp
Copics

  

Butterfly. Spring? For sure. Now you might be wondering about the fantasy colors on my butterfly. Take a look at this month's CUTplorations challenge and it'll all make sense ;) 

image source: Eat Think and Be Merry

This is a new-to-me die so it's the first time I've used it. But for more inspiration with a cover plate die, check out this card. And this one.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store in our Spring Fling event. And don't forget to leave a comment here for another chance. Check out today's post here. Thanks for coming by.

I'm joining the fun at:

STAMPlorations inspiration #210

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where we usually feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers. We're switching it up a little since it's finally beginning to feel like Spring around here. Spring cards it is this month!

Our Spring Fling event is also happening over at the STAMP blog. All throughout April, products in the Spring Fling section of the store will be 25% off instantly. Which means... if you use my STAMPGIRLMARIA code, you can get up to 45% off!

Today I've actually used a Shery Russ Design, the latest Stamp Club set, Bloomful (which is unfortunately out of stock at the moment) because I'm finding myself in need of sympathy cards faster than I can make them. Ugh. I've actually got a twofer fer you.

  STAMPlorations Bloomful stamp

Polychromo pencils

I made the one with the English sentiment and including the blue tones first. Used more of the lighter tone. For my second card I needed one with a German sentiment. I opted to use gray tones instead of the blues (sympathy cards here are usually still very sombre). I used the dark gray tone more. See the difference?

I prefer the blue one. And you?

Nothing tricky to my process, I'm just happy I have a MISTI ;)  I stamped the image and sentiment, colored the image and then stamped once more to sharpen the outlines.

For more inspiration with this fun set, check out this card.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store in our Spring Fling event. Check out today's post here. And thanks for coming by.

I'm joining the fun at:
AAA Card Challenge - Made in Minutes (definitely under 30 minutes!)

Addicted to Stamps - CAS

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

CUTplorations april

Howdy friends! Ready for a new challenge over at STAMPlorations CUTplorations! Here's the inspiration for April.

image source: Eat Think and Be Merry

I hope there is something in this photo that makes you want to play with us. Of course Easter comes to mind, but my mind went to those stripes. You'll be seeing quite a bit of them this month ;)

 STAMPlorations Gift Builder #1 die

STAMPlorations Birthday Wishes Phrase die
embossing folder
Copics
sequins

Do you remember ribbon jello? I have fond memories of eating it as a kid. And not so fond memories of making it for my cousin's kids a couple years ago. Man it's time consuming. But still cool.

I had to recreate those stripes. So I decided to incorporate them in the form of a present. I dry embossed the white die cuts in a nod to the white plate in the inspiration photo. The sequins add to the celebratory feel.

Will you join us for some die cutting fun over at the CUTplorations challenge?  Create a project based on the inspiration using at least one die cut and at least one STAMPlorations product. Your project might be chosen as the winner of a $15 GC to the shop. Check out how the CUTplorations DT was inspired by this month's photo here.

And don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should you find yourself shopping;)  Thanks for coming by. See you in the gallery ;)