STAMPlorations inspiration #259

Back with  another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team!

This month I'm creating cards all inspired by a card I saw last month that just took my breath away - the central design idea being "something framed on an inked background". Today I've got another take on it.

Sweet Cravings stamp

MFT Radial Stitched Circle die

Action Deutschland embossing folder

Zig clean color real brushes

Distress inks - Dried Marigold, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

I thought an ice cream cone could grab the edge of the frame (this time a circle). The background was distress inked and then debossed with sprinkles. Then I added a heat embossed sentiment strip.

Oh and splatters (BTW I use Dylusions white spray ink)! Do you have a favorite product for making white splatters? I'd love to know.

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 over at STAMPlorations. And if you're placing an order at the store, I'd really appreciate it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off your order - at no extra cost to you, just with perks for me ;)

For a different way of using this sweet set, check out this shaker card. Or this camoflaged one.

Thanks for stopping over today. Crazy how this cardmaking world of our remains a haven while the world around us rages out of control. I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe.

STAMPlorations inspiration #258

Back with  another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team!

This month I'm creating cards all inspired by a card I saw last month that just took my breath away. Did you see this beauty by TaeEun?  Last week I totally CASEd her card. Today I've got my own take on it.

Art Edges die

Sweet Cravings stamp

You Word die

The central design idea being "something framed on an inked background" - I went neon this time.

Make life easy by swiping ink directly onto the cardbase. Use border dies to create your own wonky frame. Roughly ink up a large word die cut the same way as your BG. Add splatters and voila!

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 over at STAMPlorations. And if you're placing an order at the store, I'd really appreciate it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off your order - at no extra cost to you, just with perks for me ;)

For a different way of using this word die, check out this card.

Thanks for stopping over today. Have a great week. I'm stopping over at Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes, SSS Wednesday - Something Feminine and Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies March.

journal journey - dylusional

Howdy and happy Monday, peeps! I'm back again with another page of my newly started art journal (check out the link if you want the back story)!!!

As I mentioned in that post, as the creative journey would have it, I opened my prepped "journal" up  at a double orange spread, loving the swirly effect I'd created, and wondering how the heck I'd done it. That sparked an idea for my first page about not remembering how I'd prepped the orange pages!

I was thinking Dylusions cuz I think I'd used the spray ink for the BG. And you might have caught in my social media that I had the honor of shaking Dyan Reaveley's hand last month at Creativeworld in Frankfurt (as in I just walked up to her - she was on her way to grab some lunch - and said "May I shake your hand?" to which she responded "Yes. Why?" to which I responded "Cuz you're my girl crush, I love to watch your videos" at which point we continued to chat about her time at Creativation in Phoenix and her soon-to-be-born grandson...) Still cannot how believe how cool that was!

So... Why not create my second art journal page as an ode to Dyan and a way to remember that encounter?

 Dylusions spray ink

Dylusions Around the Edge stamp

MFT Bold alpha die

The Stamp Market Hexagon Hello stamp

STAMPlorations soon-to-be-released Bloomdala Bliss stamp

STAMPlorations Oh My Stars mini stencil

Studio Calico gold star rub ons

Sharpies

white acrylic paint

white paint pen

Stamped some of Dyan's border stamps. Actually the page had that outline of a heart (with some texture paste waste I suppose?!?) on it already so I made a mask and stamped multiple images from a soon-to-be-released STAMPlorations set into the heart. Used a Sharpie to doodle the "dyan" in the heart and for the journaling and die cuts for the "ode 2". Used gold CS for "ode" to pick up on the texture paste  and then later added some gold star rub ons too.

Though I'd started with the blank orange page, I had to add some Bubblegum Pink down the right side cuz that's my fave Dylusions color. Stamped some white acrylic paint circles. I nearly squealed later when I realized there were 7 and the word "dylusional" which had come into my mind had 7 letters! How perfect!

Upper left I also stenciled some cascading white stars and stamped some black ones.

I chose three sentiments that support my love for Dyan and her free spirit and stamped them in random spots - thank you, welcome the unexpected and the best... good energy is contagious!

I'm gonna say it again, peeps... it is SO MUCH FUN to just go with the flow! Start with an idea, any idea, and then just let it lead you.

Do you have a favorite art journal/mixed media artist? I'd love to hear who.

I'm hooking up at:
More Mixed Media Challenge - AG Feb
STAMPlorations Mixed Media Challenge - Use a Stencil
We Love 2 Create - AG Mixed Media
Creative Artiste - AG Mixed Media
Craft Stamper - Take it Make it February

journal journey - but i don't

Howdy peeps! I'm so excited! I've got something new and different for you today. I've started an art journal!!!

Rewind. Actually, a few years ago I started an art journal. As in, bought a cheap photo album that had heavy paper pages. And created one page (ahem, I guess I was not happy with hubby on that day!) As in, I remember this "you OR me" page but it was so long ago I don't even remember that I'd prepped all the pages in the album or exactly how I'd prepped them. I'm looking at them now and thinking, "how'd I do that? that's cool!"

Fast forward. I recently treated myself to Alisa B.'s Grateful Journal online course. Haven't actually started it yet (yep, that's me - a million ideas but lacking on the follow through), but had this itching to start getting a bit messy and definitely want to focus on what I'm grateful for.

So I remembered this photo album and dug it out. Was going to ease into things by prepping some pages (have you watched Maremi break a blank page?), but lo and behold, they're already prepped! Goodness. That means I have to actually sit down and create something.

Well, as the creative journey would have it, I stared at a double orange spread, loving the swirly effect I'd created, and wondering how the heck I'd done it. And voila! It sparked an idea. I started my first second page!

Dylusions spray ink

Dylusions Around the Edge stamp

Dylusions Love Struck Lucy stamp

Sharpies

STAMPlorations Oh My Stars mini stencil

acrylic paints

gel pen

Yep I'd love to remember how I created that orange background. "BUT I DON'T."

Thinking the bold orange was probably a Dylusions ink spray I started thinking Dylusions. Which made me grab a couple stamp sets I own. Had to use Dyan's signature leaves and that befuddled chica. A fun border stamp along the top and bottom too.

You guys... it is SO MUCH FUN to just go with the flow! Have an idea and run with it.

Then I pulled out some acrylic paint and made some circles with plastic bottle caps and corks. Stencilled some stars. Colored in some elements with Sharpies. Added some fun a-la-Dyan journaling. Even added three glitter tatoos left from DD's younger days up top!

As for just going with the flow... Make a mistake? Fix it. Somehow. Or don't ;) For example, I had a real issue with the "BUT I DON'T" in those stamped circles. I wrote the words first with a black Sharpie. To help them show up more I tried adding white dots to the letters. But had troubles with my white pens.´- seems I always do :( So then I doodled petals around them And attached them to strings the chica is holding like balloons. But they still weren't "popping" and geez, they are supposed to be my page title! What to do? So I found a white paint pen and doodled another ring of petals. And retraced the letters with white (now they kinda look blue?!?) And finally took some of the blue acrylic paint and a skinny paintbrush and added blue to the petals. Na. Good enough!

I would love to hear if you journal. How often? What format? Or are you thinking about trying it but haven't taken that first step yet?

I'm going to try hooking up at:
More Mixed Media Challenge - AG Feb
Simon Says Stamp Monda Challenge - Add some Red (I colored with a red Sharpie)
STAMPlorations Mixed Media Challenge - Use a Stencil
We Love 2 Create - AG Mixed Media
Creative Artiste - AG Mixed Media
Craft Stamper - Take it Make it Feb

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!)

spotlight on ... epic fail bokeh

Yep. I tried bokeh on a Dylusions spray ink background and this happened. Failure. For the full story check out my spotlight post at STAMPlorations. I'd love to hear if you've ever bokeh-ed with white pigment ink on Dylusions!

STAMPlorations Fluttery stamp

STAMPlorations Fluttery die

STAMPlorations Trendy Spring Blooms die

Charlie und Paulchen circle stamp

I'm hooking this card up at:

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies

Die Cut Divas - Love is in the Air

House of Cards - Valentine Background or Colors

watercolor girly birthday

I smooshed some Dylusions inks recently and afterwards had a piece I'd used to sop up the leftovers. And this Simon Says Stamp Alphabet Blocks die fell into my hands. Literally. Forgot I had it. And wouldn't you know it fit exactly on the leftover piece! So I die cut it.

Made this card with some of the letters.

Figured with the watercolored alphas I was going to play at CAS Watercolor July, so chose an old foam butterfly stamp inked up with yellow and orange Distress Oxides to add to the lower corner. And some black splatters to tie in with the Dymo label.

Playing at:
CAS Watercolor July - Butterfly
Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor AG
Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies
Rubber Dance - Color (although there really isn't any purple left in the "leftover" sopped up ink)

yellow, purple, magenta

Those are the colors over at Rubber Dance challenge.  Where my STAMPlorations teamie Susanne R. also designs. Who has a fantastic way with bold color. And those colors screamed Dylusions ink spray to me. As in Pure Sunshine, Bubblegum Pink and Crushed Grape. Sound good enough to eat don't they?  So I made this.

Ink smooshed BG, PP strip along edge, ARTplorations Flutterby stencil, STAMPlorations Scribbly Splattery Grunge stamp, Papertrey Birthday sentiment.

And my teamie Cornelia W. is being CASEd at Time Out so keeping these colors in mind I used Cornelia's layout and sentiment style.

Masked a portion of a circle, sponged on Distress Oxides then stamped Concord and 9th Tree Ring with water. Obviously too much water, but you can still catch a bit of the woodgrain effect in this close up!

A heat embossed Martha Stewart butterfly on vellum and Altenew Label Love German sentiment finished it off.

I'm also playing at:
Where Creativity meets 9 - Embossing
CAS Watercolor - Butterfly (both cards)
Seize the Birthday 

bold and graphic plus pink

This inspiration photo caught my eye. Bold. Graphic. Pink. And very, VERY symmetrical.

 Well I can do all of the above - minus symmetric, that is!

It's very hard to catch in the photo, but the sentiment sticker and the bit of sheer fabric with stars on it (in a nod to all the textiles) are both mirrored gold in a nod to the mirror. Isn't that pink luscious - pink, purple and orange Dylusions ink smooshing happened for that.

But I decided to make a less busy BG so made a second card.

Kept this one super CAS, just coloring a scrap with Copic RV04 and heat embossing half of the sentiment ("birthday" is on the inside). And the row of hearts is die cut from silver mirrored CS.

diamonds stamp

flower die

dot stamp

sentiment stamp

hearts die

Come by tomorrow. I made another card that picks up on the neutral beiges in the photo ...

Besides linking these CAS cards to Card Concept #75, I'm joining the fun at AAA Cards, Stempelkueche and The Flower Challenge. Happy Birthday AAA Cards!!!

hello, beautiful

OK, so no gorgeous guy has ever said (nor will ever say) that to me, but I bet if I sent this card to a friend it would make her feel pretty darn good.

I just love how it all came together.

I wanted to play along at the current challenge saying hello to the new DT over at Little Tangles. And in Mayuri's Crafty class I had just learned about smoooshing with Dylusions (I absolutely love all Dyan's yummy colors. Here I used Postbox, Sunshine and Bubblegum) on an acrylic block. So...

I smooshed a slew of backgrounds. Yes, it's addicting. But less fattening than chocolate. Chose this one and my SSS Summer Garden blooms to pair up. Stamped the pattern as symmetrical as I could and then added the heat embossed sentiment.

The best part? Well, besides those unsmooshed white edges that I now find totally energizing for the design, it's basically one layer!

I'm playing here:
Little Tangles - Hello

Happy Little Stampers - CASE the Designer
SSS Monday - Best Friends
Penny Black and More - One for the Girls

Happy Friday to all!

day 2 ARTplorations stencil hop

Welcome to our week of fun with ARTplorations stencils from STAMPlorations!

I had my fun with the Flutterby stencil and some Dylusions spray inks in definitely-not-Christmas-colors and water. I was going for a light and airy feel. (This card actually has a twin, bold and beautiful,  and you can learn more about it in this Spotlight post.)

To soften the inks, when I removed the stencil I sprayed the panel with a Perfect Pearls water mixture. See the sparkle? It's such a subtle but wonderful addition.

As for the vellum. Honest? In keeping things simple, I had black heat embossed the sentiment from Noteworthy diretly onto the panel, but wasn't sure I had the "light and airy" feel anymore. So I white heat embossed it onto vellum, ripped the edge and wrapped it around the panel before adhering the panel to my tall card.

I purposely offset the sentiment a little bit so that it has a shadow. See?

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects, a flash stencil project linky and the blog hop deets here. Thanks for visiting!