STAMPlorations and gelli prints

Hi there peeps! 

I was very inspired by a technique (a la Susanne R.) which uses up those gelli prints we all have hanging around our craft rooms. Don't ya love it?

Paired it with a black heat-embossed-on-white fussy cut floral bloom.

Paired it with a white heat-embossed-on-black fussy cut floral bloom.

Art Marks stamp,

Dee's Flora stamps,

gelli prints, embossing powder

That's it for today. Thanks for looking.  

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. 

spotlight on taking cover plate texture dies up a notch

I had some fun with a cover plate die. Check out my tutorial over at the STAMPlorations blog. 

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)

introducing new ARTplorations stencils from Helen G

The Inspiration DT is up over at STAMPlorations today featuring some of the fantastic new ARTplorations stencils designed by Helen G. Be sure to check it out.

I have three cards for you so let's get started. First up I used Petals to ink up and embossing paste up a panel which I then proceeded to cut apart ;)

 STAMPlorations Petals 1 stencil

STAMPlorations You Word die

Distress inks - Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch

embossing powder

I wasn't really happy with the inked panel after I'd applied the embossing paste. This is dried up Nuvo paste I revived by adding water but it's changed some of its properties I fear and I didn't like how the center of the bloom looked. I thought I'd try cutting the image apart, adhering a few strips with dimensional adhesive and then covering the center with a nice, big die cut word! The inside reads "happy". I'm happy with the result.

Next up I figured I'd give two of the cool graphic stencils a go. I inked up a panel of Neenah CS with Twisted Citron, put down the Brick stencil and applied Cracked Pistachio and then put down the Rubber Bands and applied Mermaid Lagoon. Ta da!

  STAMPlorations Brick Wall stencil

STAMPlorationsRubber Bands stencil

STAMPlorations Sweetly stamp

STAMPlorations Manila Tags die

STAMPlorations Gratitude Trees die

Distress inks - Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon

I die cut the panel into three manila tags and added a whimsical die cut tree to each. Added the sentiment and will use this as a sympathy card.

For my last card today I started with a gelli plate background from my stash. Stenciled the lovely girl, made a mask to stencil some roses onto her hair and then used embossing paste colored with acrylic paint through the Petals stencil to add interest to the corners.

 STAMPlorations Petals 2 stencil

STAMPlorations Faces Pensive stencil

STAMPlorations Old Rose Prints mini stencil

STAMPlorations Layered Citrus stamp

Distress inks - Barn Door, Black Soot

aqua acrylic paint, embossing paste

Be sure check out the DT makes in the hop. Winners will be drawn randomly from all comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and designers blogs. One person will win all 6 new Helen G. Designs stencils, one person will win 3. Stay safe. Stay healthy. #flattenthecurve

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

twofer fer the flower challenge

OK. Have you seen this card? Knocked my socks off. It's Ericka's DT card for the current Flower Challenge where the theme is 

I need that challenge every day to even keep up with my NBUS! So I went into the pile and looked for flowers. And found this new die from my dollar store. And the Penny Black sketchy flowers. Then I went to my stash of backgrounds looking for something with reddish pinks and blues to die cut cuz I needed a nod to Ericka. And this happened.

  Flower Frame die from Action Deutschland

Penny Black Charming stamp

Inkystamp Winzige Gruesse stamp

acrylic paint Gelli print

And because that die created a pretty little rectangular piece leftover, I turned it into a spotlight card.

Hope you liked my twofer.

I'm heading over to:
Papercraft Challenge - Something New (my die and stamp!)
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with option of tags
Stamping Sensations - All things Bright and Beautiful (blooms of course)
Watercooler Wednesday - AG Feminine

CUTplorations february

One down, eleven to go! Welcome to February and to a new challenge over at STAMPlorations CUTplorations! Here's the inspiration for February. How could I not go with a heart, right?

image source: Magrikie

I hope there is something in this photo to inspire you. I could not help but go totally literal with my creation. (You'll see that several of the DT also chose a literal interpretation ;) But it was a great way to use up some of those gelli plate or inked pieces in my stash! 

STAMPlorations Trendy Spring Blooms die
STAMPlorations Hello Sunshine die
Sizzix Heart die

I started by die cutting the heart twice for my shaped card. Then I die cut a bunch of blooms. Took my heart and my pile of blooms and had fun arranging them on the heart. I let them overlap each other for additional dimension.  I used spray adhesive and trimmed the overhang off with scissors.

TIP: Trace around your shaped die with a pencil onto white CS. Adhere the blooms and then die cut the shape. This would yield a perfectly clean edge and press the blooms onto the white CS. I didn't do this cuz I first thought I'd leave some of the die cuts hanging over the edges. But I ended up not liking the look!

I hope you'll join us for some die cutting fun over at the CUTplorations challenge.  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;)  Speaking of which, have you seen the new Bloomdala series??? Thanks for coming by. See you in the gallery.

I'm headed to the gallery at:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - Love is in the Air
Challenge up your Life - Love

Bastel Traum - Die/Stencil
Allsorts - Love

coffee and CUTplorations for september

I'd gotten a little carried away with my summer programming and too anxious to get back to making cards for CUTplorations challenge. I saw this photo and though we´re not having a challenge until October, I was inspired to create this card using my STAMPlorations goodies.

Looking at that photo I saw woodgrain and couldn't get it off my mind. So I went with it.

STAMPlorations Coffee Cup stencil

STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves 2 die

STAMPlorations Love Words die
Gelli print
textured embossing paste
washi tape

Applied the embossing paste through the stencil. Die cut and adhered a few leaves from an acylic paint Gelli print from my stash. A die cut sentiment, a strip of washi and a little pink flower sticker in a nod to the rose in the photo. Voila. Hot diggity - I love all that texture! I'm so ready for Fall, y'all!

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should you feel a shopping spree coming on ;)

STAMPlorations inspiration #182

Back with another inspiration post from the inspiration DT. We've got something a little different for you today. The Inspiration DT is trying their hand at Artist Trading Coins. In case you haven't run into these yet, here's a great video from the gal who came up with the idea.

Since this trendy form of Artist Trading Card also tends to go down the mixed media/artsy fartsy path, I decided to work with two artsy sets - the older Life in Full Color and the newest Art Expressions.

The deets, briefly. 2 1/2" in diameter. Two layers of cardboard with a PP piece on the reverse and a collaged piece on the front. You can personalize the reverse if you're trading them.

Great thing about these puppies, you can use up your scraps. I used an acrylic paint gelli print for my BG to collage on. Added some black and white splatters to it. Stamped. Added washi. Added die cuts. Added some pops of color with a red Sharpie. Fun, fun, fun. TIP: Prep your coin. Create your collage on the BG and as the last step, die cut the finished circle from the BG and adhere it to the coin (I used a glue stick). Much easier than working directly on the round coin.

Here are the coins individually.

 Art Expression

"c" from Fantastic word die

StazOn inks

washi

Life in Full Color

Art Expression

Bubble stencil

snippets

Life in Full Color
Art Expression
Fantastic word die

Art Expression
Scribbly Splattery Grunge
Incredible word die

Whaddyathink? Have you made these? Might you?

A reminder that during the STAMP summer break, every Tuesday all stamps, dies and stencils in the shop are 15% off. Use my code STAMPGIRLMARIA to get an additional 20% off. One random commenter will win a $10 GC this month too.

I'm going over to:
Creative Artiste - #41
Stamps and Stencils - Industrial Grungy
MFT Color Challenge - #99