STAMPlorations inspiration #231

Welcome to another summer Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

I've got another Zigged creation for you today. Remember this shower curtain? It inspired my last two cards and today's too. I wanted a colorful background with a B/W focal image.

STAMPlorations Layered Snowman stamp
STAMPlorations Helenium large stamp

STAMPlorations Color Blooms coloring book

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

So I pulled out that wonderful organic circle from the snowman stamp, scribbled on it with the Zig marker, spritzed with water and stamped. Love the result. A fussy cut bloom from the coloring book added just the right sized focal image and the B/W sentiment finished it off.

I love this stamp set. I used the snowman unconventionally here and here too if you need to be convinced of this set's versatility ;)

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks so much for coming by.

spotlight on stenciled backgrounds for interest

Howdy peeps - I've a tutorial over at STAMPlorations showing you how I created this card.

STAMPlorations inspiration #230 and a giveaway

Wow, 230 inspiration posts! Welcome to another one with inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

I've got another Zigged creation for you today. After I Zigged that hibiscus last week, I was so infatuated with the color combo I decided to Zig color a couple more cards. Today's features the framed tulips. Like I said last week, this shower curtain was my inspiration!

STAMPlorations Framed Tulips stamp

Teresa Collins sticker

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

A little time consuming, perhaps, but easy. Zigs on Bristol Smooth are a good match. I just lay down a bit of color with the Zig and then add water with a brush.

The inside reads "you" "R", created with die cuts from my stash.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks so much for coming by.

And since this is my 230th inspiration post for STAMPlorations (still lovin' what I do ;) I'm going to give away some STAMPlorations goodies. I'd love to know what your favorite STAMPlorations stamp set is. Leave me a comment below and I'll announce a random winner on Sept 3.

STAMPlorations special release - dee's artsy impressions part 2

There are a couple new stamp sets being released over at STAMPlorations. They're from our own Deepti Malik and here's the Beautiful You set I got to play with today.

For today's cards I paired my love of ink blending with the lovely silhouette stamps.

 STAMPlorations Beautiful You stamp

Distress oxides - Aged Mahogany, Spiced Marmelade, Fossilized Amber

You probably know the technique. First, ink blending from lightest to darkest color on Neenah CS. Then I cut a strip vertically for the first card and adhered the rest to the second card, trimming the excess from the sides. I think the color progression from left to right works for a summer sky too, don't you?

TIP: Used my MISTI to stamp the flower silhouettes, onto the strips and onto the cardbases - to prevent that little white space that happens at the edge of the inked panel when you stamp just once, trying to get the image onto the panel and card.

Dee has a second new set out  (both new sets are 10% off til August 24). Visit the STAMPlorations blog to see more inspiration. By commenting before August 22, you could possibly win yourself a prize! Thanks for coming by.

STAMPlorations special release - dee's artsy impressions

Today there are a couple new stamp sets being released over at STAMPlorations. They're from our own Deepti Malik and here's the Beautiful You set I got to play with today.

I test drove some new kids' markers I just picked up at Aldi to color those lovely silhouette stamps and made this one-layer card.

 STAMPlorations Beautiful You stamp

waterbased markers

You probably know the technique. Ink up the stamp by coloring its various parts with different colored markers, spritz with water and then stamp. Such a fun technique.

Then I used a similar design idea, but kept all the silhouettes black and added a spot of color with the die cut bird. I just love how that tiny "Hello" nestles in with the wildflowers.

 STAMPlorations Beautiful You stamp
STAMPlorations Perched Bird die
patterned paper

Dee has a second new set out today (both new sets are 10% off til August 24). Visit the STAMPlorations blog to see more inspiration. By commenting here and there before August 22, you could possibly win yourself a prize! Thanks for coming by.

I'll have more makes with these tomorrow.

I'm hooking up at:
AAA Card Challenge - Made in Minutes (stamps onto MISTI, run markers over them, spritz, stamp, voila!)

The Paper Players - B/W + one

STAMPlorations inspiration #229

Welcome to another summer Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

I've got another Zigged creation for you today. After I Zigged that Plumeria bouquet last week, I decided to Zig color this beautiful hibiscus stamp. You're not gonna believe it but this shower curtain was my inspiration!

STAMPlorations Heartfelt Hibiscus stamp

STAMPlorations Heartfelt Thanks stamp

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

A little time consuming, perhaps, but easy. Zigs on Bristol Smooth are a good match. I just lay down a bit of color with the Zig and then add water with a brush.

After stamping the sentiment I decided a little strip of leftover watercolored paper along the bottom was a good idea too. Notice the three darker little flowers? Those are pure Zig to paper. If you want that rich, saturated color, Zigs blend wonderfully even without water.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks so much for coming by.

I'm hooking up at:
Basteltraum - AG
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Add a die Cut
Watercooler Wednesday - AG Feminine
The Flower Challenge - Use your favorite Flower

STAMPlorations inspiration #228

Welcome to another summer Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

So remember when there was a birthday bash happening at CAS Watercolor Challenge in honor of the one and only Darnell K. BTW, if you don't know her... you absolutely should.

Well I'd made a watercolor bouquet for the belle of the ball, but I wasn't at all pleased with my attempted shading around the outside of the bouquet. So I gave the Plumerias another go.

STAMPlorations Precious Plumeria stamp

STAMPlorations Hello die

STAMPlorations Just Squares stencil

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

Distress ink - Milled Lavender

On my first card I totally CASEd Erum T.'s amazing no-line watercoloring card, right down to splatters and some attempted shading. For today's card I chose different colors and used the stenciling behind the image, but skipped the splatters and shading. I really like today's result.

I've used this stamp on this card and this card too.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

STAMPlorations special release - the bee's knees part 2

Did you see yesterday's post? There are a couple new stamp sets being released over at STAMPlorations. They're from our own Shirley Bampton and here's the Little Owls set I got to play with today.

Seeing those four little owls, I was tempted to go Andy Warhol-ish. Again. But then I remembered an old Papertrey die I have and this happened.

 STAMPlorations Little Owls stamp

STAMPlorations Uppercase Alpha Plate die
PTI Take Three die

patterned papers

I knew I had some PP with playful trees on it. Finally found it! and die cut the windows. Penciled the "windows" onto a brown cardbase and heat embossed the owls on it. Adhered the window panel and then created my "Whooo?"sentiment with the die cut alphas. Finished the sentiment off on the inside using the You Word die and Party Time stamp.

Then I had to use up the leftovers ;)

STAMPlorations Little Owls stamp

STAMPlorations Shine Bright clear stickers
PTI Take Three die

patterned papers

Adhered the leftover die cuts over the stamped owl images. Added a sticker sentiment and voila! A twofer from a onefer. And used up PP stash too!

Shirley released a second new set with larger owls (both new sets are 10% off til August 10). Visit the STAMPlorations blog to see more inspiration using both sets. Thanks for stopping by.