introducing collage papers - collage

Did you catch my last blog post? There's a new kid in town over at the STAMPlorations shop - collage papers. Basically, it's a nice quality 70# patterned paper and who doesn't love patterned paper?  It also might stretch your creative muscles ;)

There's an amazing pre-order deal being offered right now so please go check it out. But then come back to see my makes using Analog Grunge, one of the new papers!

To stretch my creative muscles I decided to actually make a collage. I found so much inspiration from Rebecca C. in this video.

Um, might it really have been 2019 when I last touched this art journal? Shame on me.  Anyhoo, I settled on this already-prepared two-page spread of khaki and beige tones.

And then I made some marks on my collage paper (the one with the coffee stains).

And pulled out an old gelli print and some old book pages. And then four hours later this collage spread in my art journal was complete!

I cut circles and glued them and some of their negatives down. Added some torn paper strips. Fussy cut some camera and clock images from the collage paper and added them like ephemera. I stamped with black ink and then white paint. I made marks with a toilet paper roll. I adhered some sticker negatives. And washi tape. And then my focal point, made with die cut alphas. 

I splattered too. With the leftover white and black acrylic paints. And metallic orange watercolor - can you see those shimmery blobs of goodness?

Analog Grunge collage paper

Art Marks 3 stamp

alphabet die

acrylic paint, washi tape

SUCH fun!!!!!

For my next project I remembered an idea from Nadine M. for a Christmas card and applied it to a masculine birthday card. This is a great way to use up other PP scraps at the same time. Just look for some that complement each other.

Analog Grunge collage paper

Skinny Sentiments die

So if the pattern on these collage papers speaks to you, in addition to using them as an easy card front or background for a stamped/die cut image, you can make them work for you in other ways as well. I'll be back with more ideas soon.

Be sure to stop by the STAMPlorations blog regularly to see what the other DT girls are making with the new collage papers - in addition to grungy there are botanical, coffee, travel, and bold texture themed papers.

And should you find yourself making a purchase from the STAMPlorations store, you can use my code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off. Have a fabulous day. 

CAS cards challenge april reminder

Stopping in to remind you about the STAMPlorations April CAS Cards challenge. 

As always the challenge is to create any CAS card, with an optional color twist - this month it's pale pink and navy.

Here's my second card.

Flutter Zen 2 Layering die

Manila Tags die

Fluttery stamp

I used some gelli plate backgrounds for this card. Tore one print into strips, adhered them onto cardstock then die cut the tag. Added the butterfly die cut from another print (and his body cut from the navy print).

CAS card tip: Go bold with color (and even texture) but keep lots of white space.

For more inspiration with this die check out this post. 

I'm looking forward to your CAS card creations! Your project might be chosen as one of the prize winners. 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 I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  Thanks for stopping over today. See you in the gallery. 

make valentines with gelli prints

I've got a three-fer fer ya this two-fer weekend.

Huh?

Well, it's Valentine's weekend of course. And in my 'hood it's also Fastnacht weekend - Mardi Gras. Not much going on here compared to normal years, but I'm sure enjoying the live streams some of the different groups are putting on. It's kinda fun to sit on the couch in sweats and sing along with the Fastnacht hits without the costume/makeup/yelling across the table in filled-to-the-brim halls/hangovers stress of a normal Fastnacht! 

Fastnacht in a nutshell if you'd like a little taste...

And the three-fer? I've got three Valentines made using up some gelli prints. Thanks for the challenge, Birte. These were leftover after this cardmaking session. Better to use 'em than stash 'em away again, right?

First up, for DD. Fun fact... DD die cut and embossed that smaller pink heart when she was little. I saved it ;)

Sizzix Heart die

Charlie and Paulchen Hohlsaumrahmen die

This card is going to:

CAS on Friday - Love

Colorhues Challenge - red/pink

TimeOut Challenge - #181

MFT Lots of Heart Outline die

This card is joining the fun at:

Cut it Up - All You Need is Love

Daring Cardmakers - Share the Love

Sizzix Sentiment Words die

STAMPlorations Bubbles and Leaf Prints stencil

And this card goes to:

Happy Little Stampers - Stencil

So. As card front, as die cut shape or just leftover strips as your background... put your gelli prints to good use! And HELAU!!!!

source: Leonivo

making valentines - part 1

During the pandemic I've dropped some little gift packs of homemade cards into people's mailboxes. Cuz it's my way of doing something in these weird times and I hope maybe they do something and send them on to people who could use a smile.

I recently had the urge to put together some love cards for my girlfriends since Valentine's Day is approaching. It's not nearly as popular in Germany as in the US, but people know what it is. I'll be sharing some not-your-typical-valentine cards the next couple days.

I don't actually have much in the way of Valentine's Day supplies, though I do have lots of "love" themed items. For this first one I used a stencil (inked with Tattered Rose distress oxide, offset slightly and inked with Aged Mahogany distress oxide) and a loving sentiment.

STAMPlorations Zen Hearts stencil

STAMPlorations Bloomin Coffee and You stamp

Next up I die cut a heart from some gelli prints, 3D dry embossed them and added a sentiment. Voila!

MFT Heart Full of Love die

Clear and Simple Love Cupid stamp

These two actually read "Happy Valentine's Day" on the inside ;)

I'm playing at:

Happy Little Stampers - CAS

AAA Cards - One Layer

Inspired By - Krafty Love

SSS Monday Challenge - Love/Hearts

Double D - Valentine Love

 

using up gelli prints

Needed a masculine 25th birthday card (for DS's friend). Enter my gelli print stash. And a cover plate die. I revisited a design I really like.

Neat and Tangled Inlaid Squares die

Klartext Herzlichen Gluckwünsch stamp

STAMPlorations Numbers Plate die

Kelly Purkey Follow Your Heart die

gelli print, vellum, silver embossing powder

I love these geometric patterns. And I love them paired with artsy, fartsy gelli prints. What do you think? And you can't beat silver embossing powder for masculining up a card.

I'm hooking up at:
Papercraft Challenges - Heat or Dry Embossing

Always Fun Challenges - Card for a Friend

SSS Wednesday - Love is in the air (card #2)

playing with pinkfresh floral square frames

Hello. I'm joining the January challenge again, which is basically 2020 in review! There is a link in the post to a larger version of this photo if you want to see what strikes your fancy.

Nathalie's creation for the challenge post totally blew me away. Go check it out - hers is the first project in the post! She was inspired by the June Die Cuts and Cut Files challenge. So I guess I was too. Mostly I loved her color choices, keeping plenty of white too. And the cool stenciled texture in the BG. Hers is a LO. 

Mine is a card. Here's my first one.

Pinkfresh Folk Elements die (just $5 right now)

Pinkfresh Adore Alpha die

STAMPlorations X Marks Spot stencil

Distress Oxides, embossing paste

Well my intention was to have the white X pattern all over the card front to tone down the swipes of ink. What I got was embossing paste that picked up the color of the inks. Anyone know - was this cuz the ink wasn't totally dry or is that just a property of the oxides?

I went with it anyhoo. Die cut the little folk elements to match the ink swipes. Added the sentiment using those wonderful alphas. Voila.

But I was still intrigued. Wanted white X pattern all over the card front. So I created this slimline and stenciled white paint and got what I wanted!

See the white pattern all over the cardbase in this close-up?

Pinkfresh Floral Square Frame die

Pinkfresh Adore Alpha die

STAMPlorations X Marks Spot stencil

SSS You die

Distress Oxides, PP, sequins, acrylic paint

Otherwise pretty easy. Die cuts from ink-swiped CS. Little PP flags. Sequins. I pretended I was a scrapbooker and brought out all the embellies ;)

This card was not without an oopsie either though. Did you notice it???

I'm playing at:

Make my Monday - Hello (1st card)

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies (1st card)

Die Cut Divas - Frame It (2nd card with those floral square frames)

Bastel Traum - #97 Love (2nd card)

Country View Challenges - Squares (2nd card)

 

spotlight on spin art - part 2

Hello there friends! I've got another super fun Spotlight project for you today over at STAMPlorations. Did you see last month's? Have you heard about Spin Art? Have you tried it?

Here's a card I made using one of the backgrounds I made in my salad spinner.

And here's another.

Check out my tutorial - I even made my first-ever video for ya!

spotlight on spin art - part 1

Hello there friends! I've got a super fun Spotlight project for you today over at STAMPlorations. It's a messy one. Have you heard about Spin Art? Have you tried it?

Here's a card I made using one of the backgrounds I made in my salad spinner.

And here's another.

Check out my tutorial - I even made my first-ever video for ya!

I'm taking the first card over to SSS Wednesday Challenge - Use Some Green. And the second to We Love 2 Create - AG Mixed Media and CAS Mix Up - 4th Anniv where it's about Acrylic Paint (even though my card may not be really CAS).

STAMPlorations inspiration #238

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

I've another make for you made with a gelli background from my stash that I die cut leaves from. (Note to self: next time ink the edges of the leaves or stamp on all of them for more definition!)

 STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves 2 stamp and die

STAMPlorations Little Owls stamp
STAMPlorations Birds of Paradise stamp

Pretty self explanatory. I love that little sentiment (the inside reads "birthday") in the Birds of Paradise set and how it nestles into the pile of leaves. I doubt that owls actually perch on top of leaf piles, but what the heck.

For other ideas with this stamp set check out these cards.

As always 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. And I'd love it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off if you're placing an order from the store.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Next week we'll be celebrating (belatedly) STAMPlorations' 6th birthday. Come by to see the new products and party with us. Actually you can already link up your wish list over at the STAMP blog...

STAMPlorations inspiration #237

Time for another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

Like I said last week, I've accepted that summer is over and I'm loving Autumn (except for the rain that's delaying our harvest of the Riesling on the steep slopes). I had pulled out a gelli print background for last week's card and used a part of it for today's too. Also pulled out some PP ;)

 STAMPlorations Hello die

STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves 2 die
Lil Inker Stitched Circle die
patterned paper

After I die cut the circle from the gelli print I die cut the leaf out of it. Backed it with a larger circle cut from green PP. Adhered both circles to a panel of PP and then topped it off with the gold "hello". I really love that die.

For other ideas with this die check out this card. And this one.

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. And I'd love it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off if you're placing an order from the store.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm stopping by at:
Die Cut Divas - Fall or Fall Colors
Creative Friday - Autumn
Basteltraum - Autumn

STAMPlorations inspiration #236

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

I've accepted that summer is over and I'm actually loving nature's autumnal decorations each day as I take the dog for a walk. Seems no other season yields so much color and beauty. IMO at least.

I decided to pull out a gelli background from my stash and have some fun with it this month. Here's my first make.

 STAMPlorations Stitched Spring Landscape die

STAMPlorations 5 Love Words die
STAMPlorations Rosebuds stamp

white embossing powder

Must admit I was in the CAS mode (have you seen the October CAS Cards challenge - the optional twist is orange ;) I die cut the landscape and the word and then added the heat embossed sentiment.

TIP: For a simple, pure die cut design like this, use a textured CS for your base to take it up a notch.

For other ideas with this die check out this card.

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. And I'd love it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off if you're placing an order from the store.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm stopping by:
Creative Friday - Autumn
Always Fun - Anything Goes
SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

heart shaped card again

When I was making a heart-shaped card for the February challenge over at STAMPlorations CUTplorations, I actually made two cuz I had some many little die cut blooms to play with. You'll find instructions for the card in this post.

Here's the second. Same. But different.

STAMPlorations Trendy Spring Blooms die

STAMPlorations 5 Love Words die

Sizzix Heart die

I actually die cut leftovers from this card, so had some navy blue elements too. I decided to use a navy die cut sentiment to tie in.

Here's the February inspiration. If you haven't joined in yet I hope you will.

image source: Magrikie

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