simon says stamp - creepy crawlers not just for halloween

I've had a play with the Creepy Crawlers background stamp and discovered it doesn't have to be just for Halloween (IMO). I used the spiders to add interest to a November birthday card for a guy.

Here it is.

SSS Creepy Crawlers stamp

Concord and 9th Laceleaf stamp/die

Inkystamp sentiment

Altenew Tranquility inks, distress oxides, silver and bronze embossing powder

There's actually quite a bit happening on this card. I was trying out new-to-me products. First I inked up a panel of Neenah white with the blue grays from Altenew. Decided it made a good night sky so I splattered some water and then some watered-down Black Soot ink. (See what I did with the leftover Black Soot on my next card ;)  Then I opted for some creepy crawlers hanging around in the night forest, first in gray then purple oxides.

Since this card is for a man and not a kid I had to cut the cute so I went with the leaf and an artistic sentiment, both heat embossed onto shimmer gray cardstock in two tones of powder. I love the effect. 

So I mentioned the leftover Black Soot. Did I mention I have a guy friend with a Halloween birthday? Enter more creepy crawlers.

SSS Creepy Crawlers stamp

SSS Alphabet Blocks die

STAMPlorations Number Plate die

I picked up the leftover ink with a panel of Neenah and then stamped the spiders. Used the numbers die cut negative piece which was laying around to back my sentiment and added a few dots of fake Nuvo drops which fit the grungy feel of this card perfectly. There's a belated birthday greeting stamped inside!

Thanks for visiting. I'm enjoying being back playing with my supplies. I'm hooking up at the SSS Monday Challenge where it's about Any Holiday Occasion and also the Stamptember Gallery cuz these creeply crawlers were part of that release.

simon says stamp - waves for summer

Have you seen the latest SSS release, Rest and Refresh?  I got to play with this wonderful background stamp, Waves.

So I know, it's called "Waves". But...  if you stamp it once, turn it 45 degrees and stamp it again... you get the coolest design. Just sit back, chillax and watercolor. You may have seen this in my IG stories...

SSS Waves stamp

Altenew watercolors

orange embossing powder

And maybe you saw the first three cards I posted using portions of the watercolored 6 x 6 panel.

The pattern and colors screamed summer to me, so using the panel I reached for the Simon Summertime die and made two cards. First with the negative. Did some ink smooshing with acetate to match the colors of the die cut piece and added two tropical die cuts Kesi Hibiscus and Flora and Fauna Flamingo.

With the positives I revisited a CAS design. Used an older Simon set, Summer Garden and some Nuvo drops.

Check out the release if you haven't, and all the makes with it in the gallery at Simon Says Stamp. Thanks mucho, Simon.

I'm joining the fun at:
SSS Wednesday - AG

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies June

sympathy card series - part 4

Recently I created eight sympathy cards as I needed to a) create the perfect card for someone I know as well as b) increase my dwindled stash.

In my crafting session I revisited a couple sympathy card designs I really like, here and here. Today's are two more using the ink smooshing with acetate technique.

Efco Trauer Das Leben stamp

Inkadinkado Bird and Branch stamp

Technique Tuesday So Sorry stamp

Distress inks in Old Paper, Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap. Somehow I don't like the smooshed result as much as I did the look of them paired up on my swatches. Oh well. I thought I could use a couple cards with a more sombre color scheme...

sympathy card series - part 3

Recently I created eight sympathy cards as I needed to a) create the perfect card for someone I know as well as b) increase my dwindled stash.

In my crafting session I revisited a couple sympathy card designs I really like, here and here. Today's are two more using the ink smooshing with acetate technique.

Efco Trauer Das Leben stamp

Klartext Unvergessen stamp

Distress inks in Victorian Velvet, Milled Lavender and Shaded Lilac, smooshed onto a piece of acetate, sprayed with perfect pearls/water mix and smooshed onto cream cardstock.

I'm taking these over to:
Craft Stamper - Take it Make it June
Daring Cardmakers - Come FLY with me

sympathy card series - part 2

In yesterday's post I shared the first two of eight sympathy cards I created recently in an effort to a) create the perfect card for someone I know as well as b) increase my dwindled stash.

In my crafting session I revisited a couple sympathy card designs I really like, here and here. Today's are two more ink-smooshed-with-acrylic-block technique.

Inkadinkado bird and branch stamp

Klartext Unvergessen stamp

Distress inks in Broken China, Worn Lipstick and Scattered Straw.

Never would have guessed when I bought this stamp set years ago I would end up using it so often for sympathy cards...

The sentiment set (for those needing German sentiments) is pretty perfect too.

I'm taking these over to:
Craft Stamper - Take it Make it June
CASology - Calm

sympathy card series - part 1

Why does my supply of sympathy cards go down so quickly? Grrrr.

And the situation called for something special. I wasn't sure what exactly. So I decided to revisit a couple designs I really like, here and here. And make several (as in 8) while I was at it. Cuz what I needed was one for a gal I know whose husband was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident. So incredibly sad. Their kids are about my kids' age. What can you even say???

Inkadinkado bird and branch stamp

Klartext Unvergessen stamp

Acrylic block smooshing. Distress inks in Broken China, Worn Lipstick and Scattered Straw.

Heavy heart.

In the end I decided on the one on the right. The sentiment reads "sometimes there are no words." My sentiments exactly.

STAMPlorations inspiration #216

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team. Today we're showcasing the line of Typografia stamps available in the store.
  

From May 14 to May 31, products in the Typografia section of the store will be 15% off instantly + with my STAMPGIRLMARIA code you can get up to 35% off! There are so many to choose from. I chose one that I thought would work well for a graduation card, encouraging the young gal going on to study law. What an adventure!

 STAMPlorations Be Somebody stamp

MFT Radial Stitched Circle die

embossing powder

Distress Inks

Typografia stamps are a great way to use up those artsy backgrounds we all create so many of! I chose this smooshed inks BG with the funky colors. To pep up the design a bit I die cut the embossed sentiment with a circle die and popped it up on fun foam. Added a few Nuvo drops too. Voila!

I've used this sentiment stamp (and a couple others) in this post too.

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on today's inspiration posts. Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

I'm joining the fun at:
Inkspirational - Adventure

Happy Little Stampers - May AG with Dies

Craft Stamper - May Take it Make it

STAMPlorations inspiration #204

Back for a Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team where the team members feature stamps from one of our talented stamp designers.

We're showcasing Dee's Artsy Impressions stamps. Dee's stamps are 10% off automatically this week (with an extra 20% off when you use my discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA).

This month, I 'm creating CAS cards incorporating stamps, dies and stencils!

 STAMPlorations Tweet Love die

STAMPlorations Power of Words stamp

STAMPlorations Oh My Stars mini stencil
embossing paste

distress inks
washi tape

These sentiment stamps are perfect for extreme CAS creations, but I decided to use this "confetti" one together with some stars spraying out of the ellie's trunk. The ellie was die cut from an ink smooshed background. Using a makeup brush I applied a light dusting of distress ink to my cardbase before stenciling the stars with embossing paste. A washi strip grounded the little ellie. Fun!

I've used these tweeties here and here too. 

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on the February inspiration posts. Check out today's post for more inspiration here. Appreciate that you stopped by :)

STAMPlorations inspiration #187

Time for another inspiration post from the inspiration DT.  This month, I've been creating with the set, Art Expressions. Here's today's card.

 STAMPlorations Art Expressions stamp
Distress Inks

Creativity takes Courage. Like the courage to say, when you're flipping through your stash of artsy backgrounds and see six ink-smooshed-using-an-acrylic-block squares, "I could use those on a card front."

So I did. Decided to tear around the edges of the squares so as not to lose the loose ink edges. And adhere them askew. Die cutting them would have created a cool look too, but not as artsy.

Then I temporarily adhered them to the cardbase, chose and aligned the images, and stamped them all with my MISTI. Liked the result, so adhered the squares permanently. Talk about easy peasy.

Do you like the look? I'm constantly on the lookout for good layout ideas for smaller stamps (since I'm not the scene-maker type) and I think this one is kinda cool.

A reminder that during our 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:
Stamping Sensations - September with my "b" for brush
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - AG #335 with Snippets
Sunday Stamps - Berry Beautiful

encouragement card with ink smooshing

Summer programming...

Here's a quick card I put together for DS before an interview. Happy to report he was successful! If you're getting a law enforcement vibe, I was successful ;)

STAMPlorations Car - large stamp

Inkystamp Alltagsheldin stamp

Distress inks

Ink smooshing. Stamping. Voila! Thanks for visiting.

more smooshed sympathy cards

Did you see this card I made? Well, because ink smooshing (or as CAS Watercolor calls it - splash watercoloring) is such fun (YAY!) and I've needed several sympathy cards lately (BOO!), I actually created four more during that crafting session. And forgot to post them.

Inkadinkado Delicate Branches stamp

efco Trauer Das Leben stamp

Distress Inks

While we're here, can we take a moment to praise the MISTI (or whichever stamp positioner)?!? I held out for the longest time. And y'all said "it'll change your life". And I thought, "yeah, sure". And boy were you right. It's a total game changer. Not just for crisper, clean images. But also for creating multiples. Which lowers the time spent per card. Which just makes you feel good, doesn't it?!?

I opted to keep these cards simple and one layer (no frames) and therefore I changed the position of the sentiment. But once the image and sentiment were in place, the cards were super easy and quick to produce. Thank you, MISTI.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm stopping by:
CAS on Friday - Watercolor
CAS Watercolor Card - July

Happy Little Stampers Watercolor - July

Just Us Girls - AG

make a rainbow wish

When the stars  rainbows align...

DD's 20th is this weekend, the CAS Watercolor challenge is ending shortly and I just got a gorgeous new die to play with. Ready?

STAMPlorations Make a Wish die

distress inks

Pinkfresh Studio washi

I realize my ink-smooshed "rainbow" got a bit washed out. The yellow, blue, magenta turned into peach, blue, magenta. I think it's dreamy nonetheless.

I spritzed the panel with perfect pearls/water mix so it really shimmers. Added a strip of washi to my cardbase for a nice touch of gold. I used foam adhesive under the panel but then spent 15 minutes putting little pieces under all those little edges of the letters. (Next time I might die cut fun foam to make things easier.) I wanted the panel raised a bit to allow for some shadow play in the sentiment area...

Hope you likey. Have a great day!

I'm joining these fun challenges:

CAS Watercolor - May

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (When you wish upon a star...)

Seize the Birthday - It's Just a Number (my "20" is part of the inside sentiment)

STAMPlorations - Never ending AG

oh happy day!

Squeaking in under the deadline with a card for you today inspired by those vibrant colors in the latest Pin-Sights challenge over at Ellen Hutson. Screamed Dylusions spray inks to me.

 Spellbinders Dainty Florals Etched die

Essentials by Ellen Bold Blooms stamp
Dylusions ink sprays
black gems

Did some ink smooshing using the tube in the ink spray bottle to tap some ink onto an acrylic block. Spritzed it with water and smooshed onto watercolor paper. Did the warm colors first, then the cool colors.

Added a couple of those sweet little blooms cut from black CS and a sentiment that seems to match the style and feel of the design perfectly. A couple black gems to the bloom centers and voila!

Thank you Team Spellbinders for the fun little florals to create with. I'm taking them over to:

Pinspirational - Anything Goes for their 6th Anniversary!
Ellen Hutson - PinSights Challenge March

Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor Challenge for April

AAA Cards - Perfect Day (a rainbow and flowers sure make me happy!)

be still my ink smooshing hearts

Howdy peeps!

Popping in quickly today to share a make from a little bit ago - we were in the snow in northern Italy for a sun and snow-filled week before I headed off to spend two weeks with my Dad in cold and sometimes snowy Michigan - that made use of a fabulous die cut panel sent to me by the lovely, happy dancing Bev B.

 Neat and Tangled Wholehearted Cover plate

Cornish Heritage Farms Alphabet BG

Distress Inks

embossing powder

First off I stamped the die cut panel with the background stamp. Then I backed it with an ink-smooshed BG. Heat embossed the "HI" section of the BG stamp onto a black snipet and mounted the panels askew to a cardbase. Voila! Love that dimension and interest!

I'm off to play at:
Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Texture
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Papercraft Challenges - Bingo - I've got heat embossing, text and no PP

Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with Dies April

what a difference a die makes

I'm back with some cards I created with another panel of my distress oxide smooshing + glazing crafty play. See this post for more deets.

On this smoosh I used only pink and yellow ink. And glossy paper. I liked the result without the blue so put it aside. More glossy. Eh. To use as more backgrounds. Eh. Then I remembered these dies I had not used yet. Voila! I actually love the touch the glossy adds on these die cuts! They're just so darn cute.

 Sizzix Animal Portraits die

Papertrey Pretty Petals stamp

Sweet Stamp Shop Greetings freebie stamp

American Crafts Mayberry Flower Patch stamp

Distress Oxides - Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber

glossy photo paper

Have you tried DOs on glossy paper (with or without glaze)? What'd you think?

I'm joining in at:

Die Cut Divas - Monochrome

Daring Cardmakers - Getting to Know You (I love super CAS cards with a pop of color. And techniques too. Got both going on today.)
Dies R Us - Use Pastels

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies March

charmed by distress oxides on glossy paper

Been creating but not posting lately. So I thought I'd pop in today to share  something I tried,  something I saw Tim H. do. Distress Oxides smooshed on glossy paper and then glazed with DIY Micro Glaze.

So in a nutshell, this is what I did. Smooshed DOs onto my craft sheet. Spritzed 'em. Smooshed photo paper (cheapo). Dried and smooshed and dried and smooshed. Liked the resulting uber-oxidized look, but decided to pounce on the glaze anyhoo, polish with an old rag and voila!

Altenew Charmed stamp

Altenew Super Script stamp

vellum

Distress Oxides - Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick, Salty Ocean

sewing machine

Stamped the blooms multiple times on the inked panel and added black to the centers with a Sharpie. I chose my colors, BTW, based on this month's inspiration challenge at Altenew.

On the second panel I created, I gave a new blooms stamp a test drive. Stamped with black Archival ink on these panels, BTW.

Prima Fresh Flowers 1 stamp

Papertrey Tiny Tags die

Altenew Charmed stamp

Distress Oxides - Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick, Salty Ocean

sewing machine 

Used the MISTI to assure lineup of the stamp on both the cut panels and the white card base. Added my sentiment on a tiny tag and attached that with white crochet thread across the top.

An interesting technique. Not sure of my verdict. Adding the glaze removes the whole "oxide" effect and turns the muted colors back into bright ones... And the glossy-ness of the glossy paper is still there which isn't always the prettiest, IMO. But it is a cool way to get a vibrant Distress Ink look on glossy paper. And smooshing, well smooshing is always fun, right ?!?

I'm joining these challenges:
The Flower Challenge - #18 Anything Goes
SSS - Happy National Craft Month
SSS - Wednesday Challenge Girl Power
Just Add Ink - Just Add Water