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!

STAMPlorations new release - layered stars

Hi there peeps! Before we get to the 13th birthday celebrations over at STAMPlorations, there's a new release from Shirley B. debuting over at the STAMPlorations shop.  Today we're introducing Layered Stars.

Hope you'll forgive me that I didn't even use this set as a "layered" stamp, it was so much fun to use as... well, you'll see.

First off I inked up a distress ink BG (a la Robin C.) and heat embossed the sketchy stars, outline and solid, randomly all over it. Don't ya love it?

Layered Stars stamp

Distress Inks - Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Prize Ribbon

 platinum embossing powder, sequins

For my next card I went with more white space, but still lots of random stars. I heat embossed a few for more interest.

Layered Stars stamp

 circle die, embossing powder

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

This is such a fun set. Thanks for coming by today!  

STAMPlorations more designs with gelli prints

 Hi there peeps! 

I was having so much fun using a technique (a la Susanne R.) which also uses up those gelli prints we all have hanging around our craft rooms. 

Paired it with  a cool coffee mug die cut here.

Or how about with many bloom die cuts cut from black cardstock?

Oh heck. How about with a green heat embossed ice cream cone? Artistic license, ya know?

Art Marks stamp, Zen Coffee Cup die,

Just Caffeinate sentiment stickers,

Trendy Spring Blooms die,

5 Love Words die,

Sweet Cravings stamp,

embossing powder

That's it for today. Thanks for looking.  

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.  

STAMPlorations - christmas bundle

Hi there friends. I'm sharing a few Christmas cards I made with another bundle being offered at a super price over at STAMPlorations right now. 

You're probably aware that STAMPlorations owner, Shery, is battling cancer at the moment. To help bring a bit of revenue to her family while minimizing the amount of energy she has to put into packing and shipping, Shery has bundled some products at great prices. You can check out all the bundles on offer here.

I've worked with some Christmas phrase dies included in the Christmas Bundle - 2 cover plates and 8 phrase dies for $65.

I've used a favorite technique - repeat heat embossing - to pimp the phrases. On this first card I gave the sentiment three coats of embossing powder and adhered it right onto a card front covered with PP.

Then I took it up a notch by adding a vellum mat behind a gold repeat-embossed die cut.

For the last two, I added not only a vellum mat but also some little die cut embellishments for more color and fun.

STAMPlorations dies

Little B dies

 patterned paper, vellum, embossing powders

I'm taking card #3 to Daring Cardmakers Holly challenge, Happy Little Stampers AG with Dies for November as well as Die Cut Divas AG challenge.

Appreciate you stopping by. Have a great day.

golden stamptober

Yep you read that right. I missed Stamptember when it was live but I'm here to share three makes with the Circle Sayings stamp set from Simon Says Stamp Stamptember release in what at least in Germany is a golden October. 

Well they had me at circles. Geometric makes me happy. 

Here's the first.

SSS Circle Sayings stamp

MFT Dienamics circle die

 inks, white embossing powder, pearls

But add an organic touch and my new Pigment Craft luscious autumn colors... be still my happy heart. Look what happens when you use the reverse of the stamp to get those organic circles. A fall birthday card for a guy.

SSS Circle Sayings stamp

Pigment Craft inks

clear embossing powder and washi tape

So I'd been watching some scrapbooking videos and saw this one from Shimelle.  Do you ever try to transfer a scrapbooking layout to a card? I loved her approach to stacks of PP. I gave it a try and topped my stack with a circle die cut, inked and heat embossed with a Circle Sayings sentiment.

SSS Circle Sayings stamp

The Stamp Market Framed Floral stamp

patterned paper, white embossing powder, Pigment Craft Eucalyptus ink

Quite the different approaches. Do you have a favorite? Thanks for coming by. I'm enjoying being back playing with my supplies. I'm hooking up at the SSS Wednesday Challenge where it's about Washi and also the Stamptember Gallery where you can get your fill of Autumn card inspiration!

forgotten but not gone (4)

I've been sharing cards this month that seem to have been forgotten in my photo file. Oops.

Today I'm sharing two Autumn-y creations in case you're in the mood...

First a wine-themed birthday card. It's harvest time ya know? Gave the wine a Merlot-y inked tone and added a mist of perfect pearls for fun. See the sparkle in the closeup?

Spellbinders Wine Country die

Klartext sentiment stamp

And then lovely falling leaves (a bit early I know). I love to make these pocket shakers (idea from Kristina W.) using recycled cellophane packaging. First stamp (and heat emboss) your images on vellum.

Add your fillers and stitch up the pocket. See how I added a sentiment?

You've got yourself an attractive, interactive card.

STAMPlorations stamps

vellum, embossing powder, sequins, sewing machine

Enjoy your weekend!

  

forgotten but not gone (3)

 A few more cards that seem to have been forgotten in my photo file...

Today I'm sharing two techniques you might want to revisit. The first is one of my faves learned from the oh-so-talented Yana S. - random stamping. And while you're at it, make a whole sheet and turn it into four cards. I shared a spotlight tutorial on this over at STAMPlorations if you're interested.

First stamp all over keeping in mind where the four card panels will be.

Cut and adhere your panels.

Add sentiments and you've got a set.

Hero Arts Bird and Branch stamp

floral stamps

Stempelkueche sentiment stamp

Speaking of sets. Here's one made with a solid stamp image using selective inking and spritzing to achieve a truly watercolored look.

Altenew Watercolor Wonders stamp

Altenew Super Script sentiment stamp

Distress Inks

Happy weekend!  

commissioned milestone birthday cards

Next up in my summer programming - commissioned milestone birthday cards. 

Can you guess the recipient of this first card? A teacher! How'd I do?

Action Deutschland banner dies

Simply Graphic frame dies

Memory Box number dies

embossing pen to write sentiment

white embossing powder

star sequins

And this one was a challenge.  A Covid theme for a gal turning 40. Had to get creative with clip art and a hole punch!

Memory Box alpha dies

MFT number die

Have a great day! 

STAMPlorations cas cards challenge april

Welcome to the April STAMPlorations CAS Cards challenge and that ain't no joke ;)

As always the challenge is to create any CAS card but we always give you an optional color twist. This month's colors are blue and purple.

Must have been the flowers in the inspo that took me down a sympathy card route. And it seems I'm always needing them :(

Blossom Overture stamp

Tag 1 nesting die

gold embossing powder

Got those perfect little rectangles cut from stash backgrounds using the tiniest tag die. Gold embossed and fussy cut the rose and mounted it over the tags. Voila!

CAS card tip: I ignored the sweet spot rule here but I think putting all the design items in the middle third of the card works too .

I'm looking forward to your CAS card creations this month! 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 over at the gallery.  

STAMPlorations new release - some snark

Welcome peeps! There's a new release in town. Over at the STAMPlorations shop. And with a new line of snarky stamps from our own Chris Dring. Today we're introducing Some Snark (the set on the right).

I've paired Chris' snarky sentiments with some of STAMPlorations paper goods (ATC). The vibe couldn't be more perfect.

Some Snark stamp

Retro Fashionistas ATC

watercolors, Copic markers, white embossing powder, pearls

Actually have a friend who loves to "moon" people, so this card's headed her way :)

For my next card I recycled plastic packaging to make a fun shaker. Put an inked BG in it along with several heat embossed snarky sentiments cuz they're just all so good (and lots of sequins). I attached the shaker to a cardbase and adhered a B/W ATC to the front with my main sentiment.

Some Snark stamp

Retro Fashionistas ATC

Strung Lights stencil

Distress Inks, recycled packaging, sequins, white embossing powder

That's it for today. Be sure to 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 Chris' new stamp sets.

Thanks for stopping by.  

more scraps as a frame

You may remember this Valentine - part of my scrap strip adventure lately. 

Dienamics Love Centerpieces die

Well what was left of the "stripped" card after die cutting that LOVE square became this frame, which then became this card. Heat embossed blooms. Added light watercolor touches and lots of sequins.

Altenew Frosted Garden stamp

I'm heading over to the Altenew February Challenge with my pinks and greens.