STAMPlorations new release - layered poppies

Hi again peeps! Back today with another beautiful set from the new release from Shirley B. over at the STAMPlorations shop. Today we're introducing Layered Poppies.

First I used my Altenew red inks to stamp the two layers of each of the three blooms onto sky blue PP. Then I stamped the outlines in black.

Layered Poppies stamp

Bloomdala Bliss stamp

Bloomdala Bliss: Felicity die

 inks, green embossing powder

To complete my design I did some tone-on-tone inking through a Felicity scrap paper die cut (using it like a stencil) to represent three clouds up top. Then I drew stems with a Versamark marker and added some texture by heat embossing them.

For my next card I went with more white space, and my fave, random stamping.  Hope you'll forgive me that I didn't use the set as a "layered" stamp here, but I have to tell you, when I first received the set the first thing that I saw was a butterfly. Do you see it too?

Layered Poppies stamp

Layered Watermelon stamp

 embossing powder

I considered adding pattern or at least antenna to the butterflies but then decided that the entire design was so abstract I'd leave it as is. The pops of color and texture make sure your eyes go to the images and I'm pretty sure your eye (brain?) sees a butterfly.

Don't you love Shirley's artistic designs? I just love her sketchy outlines, regardless the theme!

That's it from me today. Check out all the DT's creations over at the STAMP blog. Leave comments all around and you might be the lucky winner of one of Shirley's new stamp sets (to be announced on 6/29 on the STAMP blog.)

Thanks for coming by.  CU soon for the STAMPlorations 13th Birthday celebrations!

easy peasy milestone birthday card

First off - Happy Memorial Day weekend to my US peeps.

OK, this one was easy. Like real easy. Needed an 80th bday card. Absolutely LOVE the Boho Landscapes card fronts. Just pulled out a couple dies and voila!

Boho Landscapes card front

Ellen Hutson Essential Rectangles die

MFT number die

washi

There. Easy peasy. Did I mention that this set of card fronts is absolutely my fave? 

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I have convinced you to do some shopping ;) 

Speaking of shopping...  take a look at the Spring Cleaning Sale going on now. And instead of the monthly challenges, STAMPlorations is going back to the Never-ending Anything Goes using STAMP products as the focal point. Check out the deets here.

STAMPlorations anything goes april reminder

Joining in on the fun over at STAMPlorations monthly Anything Goes challenge over at the STAMPlorations blog? There's still time.

Anything goes. I went coffee. Again.

Tag o Coffee die

Retro People ATC

All you need is Coffee stamp

Coffee Tiles ephemera

I used the Coffee Tiles from the Paper Goods section of the store and die cut latte cups from them (even with shiny black straws!) and used them to add interest to the retro ATC gal. I thought the snarky sentiment fit perfectly with the telephone theme.

Check out the card creations this month! There will be prizes ;) a $25 prize code for a chosen card using STAMP products and two $10 prize codes chosen randomly from the entries (need not feature a STAMP product.) Please be sure to read all the challenge rules here.

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  See you over at the gallery.

STAMPlorations anything goes challenge april

Joining in on the fun over at STAMPlorations monthly Anything Goes challenge over at the STAMPlorations blog?

Anything goes. There's a lot of anything going on here. What do you think?

Tag o Coffee die

Brewtiful Day die

Coffee Tiles ephemera

I love the Coffee Tiles from the Paper Goods section of the store so I went for a somewhat Andy Warhol feel and die cut coffee cups from the Coffee Tiles and added them atop a mod die cut background.

Added a die cut sentiment in yellow and some fun marks along the bottom in black.

I'm looking forward to your seeing your card creations this month! There will be prizes ;) a $25 prize code for a chosen card using STAMP products and two $10 prize codes chosen randomly from the entries (need not feature a STAMP product.) Please be sure to read all the challenge rules here.

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  See you over at the gallery.  

introducing STAMPlorations new spring ATCs

Are you a fan of the ATCs in the STAMPlorations shop? There are a few new spring-themed products (think floral, coffee, sweet little houses and some boss women!) and I've got a couple projects to share with you.

Let's start with the boss women, shall we? I loved this 70s looking leading lady, so paired her with some groovy stamps in the supporting role. I stamped with orange, yellow and brown inks of course ;)

Retro Femme ATC

Groovy Shoes stamp

For my next card the butterfly from the Color me Spring pack immediately spoke to me so I paired it with some watercolor PP and die cut Flutterby. The die cuts are nice and sparkly thanks to Wink of Stella but you can't see it in the photo. I distressed the edges of the ATC and PP on my card front. Seems like ages since I've done that!

Color me Spring ATC

Flutter Zen 1 die

World Birthday Cakes stamp

My last project today features an adorable birdhouse ATC and it immediately reminded me of one of Shery's older stamp sets so I paired the two. I also added some wispy leaves to the background and some washi.

Color me Spring ATC

Crazy Stitched Rectangle die

Country Rustic stamp

Life is Sweeter stamp

Be sure to stop by the STAMPlorations blog regularly to see what the other DT girls are making with the new ATCs as well as the recently released collage papers. Should you find yourself making a purchase from the STAMPlorations store, you can use my code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off. Have a lovely day.

STAMPlorations anything goes challenge march

Well hello again STAMP friends! It's time for another monthly Anything Goes challenge - the 6th of every month over at the STAMPlorations blog. Did you join the fun last month? It's time to have some fun at the March ATG challenge.

This one has basically only two elements, but so much interest due to the complexity of the background.

Circles all Over cover plate die

Perched Bird die

Thinking of you die

patterned paper

The background was made by die cutting a card front from watercolor patterned paper and then mixing up the pieces when adhering them to my cardfront. I then ran the cardfront through my die cutting maching using the cover plate to add texture to it. The two elements - a bird and sentiment die cut and stacked and voila!

CAS card tip: Only two elements for your CAS design? Make the background more interesting by adding texture to it.

I'm looking forward to your seeing your card creations this month! There will be prizes ;) a $25 prize code for a chosen card using STAMP products and even a $10 prize code chosen randomly from the entries (need not feature a STAMP product.) Please be sure to read all the challenge rules here.

And don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  See you over at the gallery. 

introducing collage papers - memory planner

If you caught my last two posts you know there's a new product over at the STAMPlorations shop - collage papers. Basically, it's a nice quality 70# patterned paper and who doesn't love patterned paper?  

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

I decided to use the collage papers as PP in creating my latest spread in my Stop the Blur memory planner. The neutral tones worked well with my photos for this week, which were basically all over the color spectrum. I created pockets to hold a few more photos and my journaling.

Analog Grunge collage paper

Elizabeth Craft journal page die

Heidi Swapp stamps

alpha die, stickers, ticket ephemera

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. 

Hope you're stopping 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 great day.  

STAMPlorations anything goes february reminder

Stopping by with a quick reminder to join in over at STAMPlorations monthly Anything Goes challenge over at the STAMPlorations blog. 

Today's card warms my CAS-loving heart. What do you think?

Perched Bird die

World Birthday Cakes stamp

Design Blox stencil

Distress Inks

Die cut the bird from watercolor paper, watercolored it letting red, yellow and blue do the work of creating the oranges and greens. I stacked it on a couple layers of scrap cardstock for stability and dimension and adhered it to a cardfront I'd gussied up with some graphic images using the stencil. A classic sentiment in an unexpected location finished off my card.

CAS card tip: Rainbow + lotsa black and white = winner design every time.

I'm looking forward to your seeing your card creations this month! There will be prizes ;) a $25 prize code for a chosen card using STAMP products and even a $10 prize code chosen randomly from the entries (need not feature a STAMP product.) Please be sure to read all the challenge rules here.

BTW, check out Shery's blog post about the new collage papers in the store. Can't wait to give this new product a try. How about you?

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  See you over at the gallery. 

 

STAMPlorations new release - card fronts

Welcome peeps! Perhaps you've been watching? There's a new release in town. Over at the STAMPlorations shop. There are 14 new sets of card fronts to make your cardmaking easier. There are even now several paper goods subscriptions available, including card fronts - a new pack every month. Sound enticing? Or pick up 4 packs of card fronts for the price of 3 in a special deal Shery is offering right now!

May I introduce Touch of Spring? 

I've used each of the card fronts (there are 2 of each design in a pack) - one even yielded a twofer.

First off I die cut a heart from it, heat embossed a few grunge marks in black onto it, took a black marker to the edges and then backed the heart negative with a PP scrap heat embossed with the word "love".  A bow finished off this valentine.

Mixed Media Elements stamp

Trendy Butterflies stamp

satin ribbon, heart die, embossing powder

I used a cover plate to die cut the next card front and get a twofer. In order to make placement of the strips easier I kept the pieces together, flipped it over and applied glue to the strips only. Flipped it back over and adhered only the strips to a card, carefully pulling the non-glued die cut up and off. Then I adhered the die cut strips with frame to a second card.

The strips with frame card first got some messy stamping on it to peek out from behind and then a vellum butterfly and die cut leaf to house my sentiment.

Flutter Zen 1 die

Trendy Leaves 2 die

Thank You Coffee stamp

Mixed Media Elements stamp

vellum, embossing powder

The twofer was this card using the strips. I added a giant sentiment and strip of washi along the bottom as well as lots of translucent Nuvo drops.

Happy Everything die

Nuvo drops, washi

For this next card I first applied pearl embossing paste through a stencil to the card front. Then I die cut a large heart from it and adhered a heat embossed sentiment on vellum to it. Both hearts were adhered to a card I inked using the same stencil. Pink overload? Blame it on those pink tulips ;)

Faerie Door stamp

These card fronts make it so easy. This one was so beautiful I just added a die cut butterfly and sentiment strip.

Flutter Zen 1 die

white embossing powder

That's it for today but I'd also like to mention there are a couple paper goods subscriptions being offered at the STAMPlorations store. Paper goods, card fronts and ATCs. Be sure to check out all the DT's creations with these new card fronts over at the STAMP blog. And should I ever inspire you to purchase some STAMPlorations products for your creations, please remember to use my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for 20% off.

  

STB - october 28 2024

Moving on to November in my STB memory planner for 2024. 

Another transition week. Goodbye USA; hello Germany.

Used up some old die cuts that having been laying around. Some stickers. Some washi. How 'bout that vellum envelope with file card? Love it.

STB - september 30 2024

It's end of September 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Normal life stuff. Lots of normal life photos, but I put them in pockets or on pull-out strips. Stickers. Die cuts. Stamping. ("Gather Eat Laugh" is probably my most used stamp ;)

Stopping the blur while making it pretty!

Note: If you've never been to the White Horse Inn in Metamora, GO! And while in the area, visit Kelly at Flea Market Rescue in Dryden. Or at least watch her thrift on youtube.

STB - august 12 2024

We're in August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

It was only a week but it packed a punch. An unforgettable short trip to Munich to see the one and only Adele. In the rain. All of us, including Adele!

Unfortunately also bad news about a friend's husband at the same time.

Used my tried and true trick of hiding photos behind vellum when I find myself needing to include lots of photos.

Pulled out the colorful vellum alpha stickers again and decorated with various butterflies from my stash.

Stopping the blur.

 

time for another STB planner cover

Before moving on to the next week's spread, I'd like to share how I gave the cover of my new STB planner  a little love before opening it. Used up some random scraps and boy does that feel good!

STB - january 22 2024

January 2024 continues in my fresh, new STB memory planner. 

Love this color scheme - that eucalyptus green is so soothing. Those little cutie lions - not normally my aesthetic but hey this week was again heavy with Detroit Lions memories. And Mardi Gras events. Had the most amazing weather for a Stadionsitzung.

Liking the gold die cuts from a Project Life kit I picked up at a thrift store. And touches of washi. And labels. All those little things. Still enjoying this process with my Heidi Swapp planner.

  

a CASE in blue

 Hi there peeps! 

I was very inspired by a card Andrea M. made recently and it actually moved me to hit my craft room and CASE it.

Loved her color combo so I stuck with it. Perused my dies for something that would give that fall feel, but keep my life simple. Chose a bit bigger pattern for my BG but it sure looks a lot like hers. Love it.

Because I loved the design so much I decided to put a twist on it and go a bit masculine. Same colors. Different motif. Feathers this time. And an embossed plus clock BG to go with the happy birthday, time passing theme.

Inkystamp sentiment stamp,

Penny Black Berries and Leaves die,

embossing powder, twine

Lifestyle Crafts feather die,

A Pocket Full of Happiness cover plate

That's it for today. Thanks for looking.  

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.