more milestone cards

Seems like some of the only cards I actually sit down and create lately are for lovely ladies turning 70, 80 and 90.

 STAMPlorations Gift Builder 1 die

STAMPlorations Celebrate die

STAMPlorations Peony number 2 stencil

MFT numbers die

Papertrey hello die

Thanks for stopping by today.

forgotten but not gone (1)

Continuing with my summer programming even though it's September ;) I've got a few cards to share this month that seem to have been forgotten in my photo file. Oops.

Let's start with purple, shall we?

A closeup of that golden die cut cuz it's just so pretty combined with the splatters of gold ink.

STAMPlorations coffee stamp and sentiment die

Distress Inks

Simon Says Stamp Picked Just for You watercolor cards

Zig watercolor brushes

sewing machine, pearls

Happy weekend! 

STAMPlorations inspiration #334

Hi Friends! It's time for another Tuesday inspiration post from the STAMPlorations inspiration team girls. 

 

Another fun CAS card today.

Folk Flowers stamp

So Loved stamp

Trendy Spring Blooms die

 Zig markers, washi

I revisited a previous card of mine for this design and pulled out Shirley's Folk Flowers. In contrast to the stark B/W I colored the die cut blooms with pink and orange and KAPOW! A strip of washi with some gold dots never hurts either. Do you prefer CAS or heavy-loaded designs? Which do you prefer to make?

As always, you could win yourself a $15 prize code to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post over at STAMPlorations. And if I should ever inspire you to order something from the store, I'd appreciate it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off your order.     

STAMPlorations inspiration #333

Hello there September! Hope you're all well. It's time for another Tuesday inspiration post from the STAMPlorations inspiration team girls. 

 

Today's card is a fun CAS one.

Art Marks 2 stamp

World Birthday Cakes stamp

 Zig markers

Sometimes ya gotta take a closer look at the images in a stamp set, right? I love the art marks series and decided to give that little rainbowish mark center stage as a rainbow in all its glory! I used my Misti and markers to color the individual arcs. Stamped once with color, spritzed the stamp and stamped again. I like this trick to soften up the image a little. Repeated for each color.

I added a birthday sentiment and adhered the little rectangle to a random stamped cardbase.

As always, you could win yourself a $15 prize code to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post over at STAMPlorations. And if I should ever inspire you to order something from the store, I'd appreciate it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off your order.    

STAMPlorations inspiration #306

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration post from the STAMPlorations inspiration team girls. 

I'm concentrating on shaker cards this month. Are you already a fan? If not, perhaps I can inspire you to try one of the versions I've done this month like a see-through-to-the inside shaker using recycled cellophane packaging.

Today I have a tulle shaker card for you.

 Blossom Spray #2 stamp

Skinny Sentiments die

Zig clean color brush pens, tulle, sequins, sewing machine

I stamped the floral spray twice and colored it with Zigs and a waterbrush. Fussy cut them. Stitched a piece of tulle (with flat sequins trapped behind it) to my cardbase. I adhered the sprays with foam tape; the sentiments with glue where they overlapped the sprays.

You could win yourself a $15 prize code to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post over at STAMPlorations. And if I ever inspire you to order something from the store, I'd 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 ;)

Have a lovely week.

I'm playing at:

Stamping Sensations - Color My World

We Love Chocolate Baroque - Flowers, Butterflies or Birds

AAA Birthday - Large Sentiment

STAMPlorations inspiration #262

Happy April! It's time for the first Tuesday inspiration of the month from the STAMPlorations inspiration team!

I finished up last month with masculine cards and that led me to a theme of masculine CAS cards for this month. Ready for #1?

 Birds of Paradise stamp and die

Zig clean color real brush markers

bronze embossing powder

So the Birds of Paradise were out cuz I'd considered using them for my cards last month. And I was feeling all Ziggy. So I heat embossed and colored a fun bird. What to do with him? How about plop him onto the middle of a white card? Opted for a sketchy sentiment on a punched blue circle 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 I ever inspire you to order something from 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 ;)

Looking for more inspiration with these fun birds? Check out this post.

Thanks for stopping over today. Have a great week. I'm stopping by at:
Craft Stamper - TIMI April
Die Cut Divas - Animals
AAA Cards - Made in Minutes

CAS cards challenge april

Hello there! So how many times have you already been fooled today? We're back with a new CAS card challenge at STAMPlorations and it's no joke. 

Here's the April CAS Cards challenge inspiration.

As always the challenge is anything goes with an optional color twist - this month is lemon yellow and I just had to go with the lemon yellow color (as I create these cards in Feb and am really ready for bright and sunny days). And why not go with lemons too? Though I must admit both my cards this month are pushing the limits of CAS ...

Today's card.

STAMPlorations Layered Citrus stamp
Zig clean color real brush
embossing powder

So I had this idea to use the lemons and do some black heat embossing and some white heat embossing. In my reminder post you'll see the white embossed design. It's amazing what different looks they have.

I tried something different here. Instead of using the layering stamps to color the lemons, I swiped color inside the embossed areas with a Zig marker (light yellow inside, brighter yellow for the skin) and then spritzed the entire panel with water. Let the water activate the color. Tilted the panel a bit this way and that and voila! Looks like sloshed on watercolor.

CAS card tip: Although kinda busy, by using only one color and still maintaining a lot of white you can achieve a sorta clean and very simple design ;) 

For more inspiration with this stamp set (and a real CAS card) check out this post.

I'm looking forward to your CAS card creations this month! Your project might be chosen as the winner of a GC to the shop. Check out how the 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 stopping over. See you in the gallery.

STAMPlorations inspiration #260

Back with  another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team!

This month I've been 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 gotta say this card took my breath away.

Trendy Spring Blooms stamp

For the Birds die

Zig clean color real brushes

Distress inks - Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch

So there I was following the same design process, though trying to make it more masculine. I decided to go with the bird die cut and use blues and greens to watercolor them. The first WOW moment came when I spritzed the watercolored birds with perfect pearls mixture. Look at that lovely texture that happened!

So I'd seen Laura B create with her favorite cool DI colors so thought I'd give them a go on my BG. Well HELLO! May I just say there should be more Twisted Citron in the world!

You've heard me say this before, but when I had that BG inked, I just couldn't dry emboss it or splatter it or cover it up too much with a frame and sentiment. Adios this month's design!

So my creative session went from my first card totally CASEing TaeEun's card to this! This is my favorite this month.

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 these birds, check out this card.

Thanks for stopping over today. Have a great week.

I'm stopping over at:
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Watercooler Wednesday - Masculine twist
Bastel Traum - Spring

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies

Pinspirational - Spring

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 #257

Hello peeps! And hello March! It's time for another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team!

This month I'm creating cards all inspired by one card I saw last month that just took my breath away. Did you see this beauty by TaeEun?  I knew I'd have to give her design a try and today's card is a total CASE, just using STAMPlortions products.

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles die

Buttercups and Butterflies stamp and die

Hello die

Distress inks - Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon

Zig clean color real brushes (on Bristol smooth watercolor paper)

What I loved about TaeEun's design was the super light inked BG, the turquoise color on the bloom and the start white frame. Check.

I used an exacto knife to trim away the inside of my rectangle die cut to make a frame. And I added some gold splatters to my BG and gold embossing to my die cut sentiment. I must admit - I love this card!!!! Thanks for the inspiration, girl.

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 completely different way of using this stamp set, check out this card.

Thanks for stopping over today. Have a great week.

I'm hooking up over at:
SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Cut it Up - Favorite Color (has pretty much always been magenta - I love how the pink and blue together also create a lovely purple)
Happy Little Stampers Watercolor - March

STAMPlorations release - softly

There's a new release in town. Over at the STAMPlorations shop. Have you seen it?

We're inspiring you today and tomorrow with two new sets from Shery R. If you love floral arrangements you're gonna love Softly and Sweetly. Meet Softly.

Love how this arrangement is long rather than round. Lots of possibilities. Ready for card #1?

Softly stamp

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
washi

Pretty straightforward actually. Some random stamping of a wonderful sentiment "think happy" on my cardbase. A fussy cut watercolored flower arrangement and a strip of washi ;)

I did no-line watercoloring with my Zigs for the flowers. Let myself be inspired by the stamp set name for my color choices - soft. TIP: Bristol Smooth is a dream to work on with Zigs directly to paper. Add some pigment then take a waterbrush to it.

Then, of course, I had to think outside the box. If I've got a bunch of flowers and I've got a newly released flower vase and leaves, why not combine them? More Zig coloring (bold and bright this time) and this happened.

Softly stamp

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Have you enjoyed today's post? Be sure to check out all the DT's creations over at the STAMP blog. And leave comments all around, there are prizes to be won - a $20 gift code and a stamp set from the release.

In addition, the four new stamp sets being released are 10% off automatically until February 19. If you use my STAMPGIRLMARIA designers' code you'll get an extra 20% off too!

Thanks for stopping by. I'm stopping by at Stamping Sensations where this month's theme is Feminine. And The Flower Challenge where the theme is Add Leaves.

And Happy Little Stampers Watercolor where it's AG plus bling (does glitter tape count?)

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.

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 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.

happy birthday, darnell!

There's a birthday bash happening at CAS Watercolor Challenge in honor of the one and only Darnell K. You know her. And if you don't... you absolutely should. Don't drink coffee and read her blog posts at the same time though ;) You may end up with coffee all over your screen. Don't say I didn't warn you...

So here's my watercolor bouquet on its way to the belle of the ball.

STAMPlorations Precious Plumeria stamp

STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp

STAMPlorations Just Squares stencil

Zig Clean Color Brush markers

Distress ink - Mustard Seed

I totally CASEd Erum T.'s amazing no-line watercoloring card, right down to splatters and some attempted shading (gag). I'm making another one without shading that's for sure!

But I do love the addition of the light stenciling to "ground" the bouquet.

Dear Darnell, you ARE my kind of wonderful. Hope your 71st year is as wonderful as you.

I'm hooking up at:

STAMPlorations - World Watercolor Month

Time Out - Inspired by Words

CAS Watercolor - Flower Bouquet

CUTplorations June

Howdy friends! It's time for a new challenge over at STAMPlorations CUTplorations! Here's the inspiration for the month of June.

image source: Cannypic

I just love the summer feel of the graphic. I hope there is something in this photo that makes you want to join us - sunshine, clouds, blue sky, picnic, family, red/white checks, heck even cake...

I did not go literal this time, but rather pulled out a cover plate and some patterned paper from my stash. Yay for using up PP!

STAMPlorations Butterfly Cover Plate die

STAMPlorations Hey Sunshine clear stickers 
patterned paper

Zig Clean Color Real Brushes

I was inspired by the sky and the picnic blanket. So I decided to add some red/white PP to the bottom area of the cover plate and to back the upper portion of the die cut with some cloud PP.

To bring in more of the primary color scheme I colored some portions of the butterfly with greens and blues and also that upper right corner with yellow to mimic the sun. Added a clear sticker sentiment on a strip of vellum and Voila!

I cannot wait to see what inspires you this month! 

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;) Be sure to check out the big sale section in the store in honor of our 6th Birthday. Thanks for coming by. See you in the gallery.

I'm heading to the gallery at:
SSS Wednesday - Anything Goes
Stempelkueche - Sunshine

blossom spray for time out

I'm still lovin'  the latest Time Out Challenge ...

Ahhhh those colors ...

  STAMPlorations Blossom Sprays #2 stamp

STAMPlorations Bloom Happy stamp
Zig Clean Color pens
white embossing powder
old pattern stamp
Tumbled Glass DOX

So, following the textured tiles idea in the photo, I pulled out an ancient multi-squares rubber stamp and inked it up with DOX. Stamped that on my cardbase (this is actually a second-generation impression cuz the first one didn't show enough texture).

Then using my MISTI, I colored up each portion of the flower spray stamp with Zigs and stamped it. I added some more color to the images with the Zigs and spread it out with a waterbrush and then added a bit of yellow BG behind the blooms.

The heat embossed sentiment on a yellow die cut circle completed my design. Kinda reminds me of the sun ;)

Thanks for looking. Hope you're having a nice Memorial Day weekend.

I'm also playing at:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Bright Colors

spotlight on combining stamp sets

Do what makes your heart happy! I did. Random stamping and messy watercoloring!

I've chosen stamp sets with similar designs and styles for this card. Learn more about it over at STAMPlorations in my spotlight tutorial.

altenew october challenge - subtle

Been creating, inspired by this month's Altenew challenge, and here are my next two creations. You might have caught my mention of the Mega Succulent stamp sitting in my newly-purchased-to-be-used-before-putting-away basket. A fantastic stamp (which appears to be on sale at Altenew right now ;) but daunting too. So I headed to the interwebs.

Jennifer M. made this version scribbling Zigs and spritzing lots of water. Her video explains it all so I'll skip that part. Here's my version, using the orange, yellow and green tones of the challenge. And some perfect pearl/water spritzes on top for lots of shimmer.

Altenew Mega Succulent stamp

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens
vellum

white embossing powder

The inside reads "happy". The sentiments in the stamp set work perfectly with the image too, BTW. Love that perfect pearls shimmer! And this is definitely the quickest way to get that stamp colored. I spent a little time adding some shading, but in total it probably took about 20 minutes.

So then I made a version inspired by Therese C's version which you can watch her make here. I used two yellows, two oranges and a green Zig (and more than three times as many minutes as for the first one ;) But that was OK with me cuz I had some "me" time in my craft room ;) I did decide to not cut this one down but rather leave it square. I like the aesthetic of the total image.

Altenew Mega Succulent stamp 

Altenew Super Script stamp

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens
vellum

bronze embossing powder

Shading. Highlighting. I've still got a long way to go, but I'm glad I gave it a try. Love how the glitter bronze embossing powder is carried through from the outline of the bloom to the sentiment embossed on vellum.

I'll be back with one more version. Don't know if this second one counts as subtle, but the next one? Definitely not subtle ;)

I'm joining:

Moo Mania - Autumn
The Flower Challenge - Add Sparkle

Happy Little Stampers - October Watercolor (got the gold!)

Stempelkueche - Leaves (cuz succulents have leaves!)

Time Out - Colorful

MFT Sketch Challenge - #407 (no MFT products, but inspiration for sentiment placement!)