STAMPlorations 13th birthday - day 5

Welcome back for the last day of STAMPlorations 13th Birthday Celebration! Don`t forget to visit the STAMPlorations blog to see all of today's gorgeous team projects AND to leave a comment letting us know which of the new products we`ve been featuring this week - Sanna`s Stencils, Focal Fronts, Colorables, Pocket Backdrops, Clear Stickers, Ephemera Cutouts - is your absolute favorite. You might just win it!

Today`s projects feature the Ephemera Cutouts again.  There are so many pretty images to choose from. You can check out all the designs in the store.

I created a couple more all occasion tags to have on hand for little gifts. I fussy cut the Ephemera Cutouts images, die cut tags from complementary cardstock and then added a strip of washi and a mini tag with a Clear Sticker sentiment.

also used Tags #1 die and Bloomfully Thankful stamp 

For the next note cards, I stenciled "hello" on the cardbase, attached a layer of vellum over it and then adhered an Ephemera Cutouts image on the vellum. Easy peasy.

also used Hello and co stencil

That was quite a birthday celebration! Please head over to the STAMP blog to leave a comment for your chance to win. And it`s your last chance for FREE US SHIPPING on all orders $25 or more! Thanks for celebrating with us. I`d love to know if you`ve been inspired to pick up any of these new products and what you plan to do with them. You can use my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for 20% off if you`re placing an order.

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 - october 21 2024

 Wrapping up October in my STB memory planner for 2024. 

A quick road trip to visit family. Thus lots of photos. Toned down with vellum. You know the trick.

BTW, that outhouse shot... no fear. Those are shotgun casings on the floor! Only in northern MI. And hey, how 'bout those Lions?!?

Note: If you've not checked out Presque Isle and its lighthouses you should. Get a sandwich at Ida Mae's Deli and enjoy it at the harbor. 

STB - october 7 2024

We've reached October 2024 in my STB memory planner! 

And MORE northern lights. OMG! On two different nights!

This was THE hardest spread to make. Actually, deciding on which of my thousand photos to use was the hardest part. The first evening I was on my own - went to the nearby point on the beach and sat there taking photos until I heard coyotes. I packed up my stuff and headed to the harbor to watch the show from the comfort of my car ;) Until 4:30 am.

Then two days later I headed to the harbor with my neighbor who'd never seen aurora before. The show did not disappoint. But even with winter jackets we got cold so headed home. She fell asleep but I had to go out to the beach for more of the show. It was so RED! And full sky. Straight up overhead. Dancing. All the things. And thank, goodness no coyotes.

Photo flips. Strips. Pockets. Belly bands. Vellum. I'm just going to put it here for your enjoyment.

Oh how beautiful a day can be. Hold it fast.

More photos - hidden.

More photos - tiny on strips.

And more. This time on a grid turned tag.

And a couple more ;)

The next morning's sunrise too. Tucked into a pocket hidden behind the belly band that holds the giant tag of photos!

STB - january 29 2024

I can't seem to keep myself in line when it comes to pastels. I always tend to go for color.

But I really love this week's spread in my STB memory planner as I head into February 2024. Maybe it's cuz you really don't see the photos. I've printed them smaller and tucked them all away in little sleeves. Allows for more "prettiness." And I kept myself in line with the pastel color theme ;)

In addition to more Lions memories I had some nice time socializing with different friends. And being crafty too. That always makes for a nice week! 

So I played with stash. Alpha stamps. Dies. Stickers. Heidi Swapp papers. Washi. Stickers. That's what's in my Heidi Swapp STB memory planner this week. 

What do you think about the "absence" of photos???

STB - january 15 2024

More of January 2024 in my STB memory planner. And more of that fun alpha stamp. I may have been influenced by the Lions to choose Honolulu blue ink this week ;)

Best thing about this week was getting snow in our 'hood. And going to see a high school production of Frozen with snow actually still on the ground. That doesn't happen often around here.

Since this week was the last spread in this planner notebook I even included additional photos of snow around the 'hood on the last page. You may recall I deconstructed/reconstructed my notebooks a while back. Thus the "last page". And the PP pocket for extras on the back flap.

 

STB - november 27 2023

 More November 2023 in my STB memory planner. 

This week was pretty consumed by DH's pre-op, OP and hospital stay. Good news was he was up and moving like the old days after his discectomy.

And can we talk Wordle? Do you Wordle? Do you always start with the same word? I don't. I'm somehow "moved" to start with a different word every day. Took "snowy" this time cuz everywhere else was getting snow (we actually did a couple days later). And it led to an old family dog's name for the win. Crazy eh?

Lots of Heidi Swapp goodies this week. Those dissected word stamps with the little phrases to add to them - love those. How about the vellum file folder for hiding journaling.  And... the Heidi Swapp tiny stamps!

STAMPlorations art marks and markers

While I was having fun using up those gelli prints , I also had this cute little Mini Art Marks stamp set out. That little rainbow caught my eye and I had some fun with it, water based markers and a spray bottle.

Mini Art Marks stamp

water based markers

Hello Sunshine die

Time consuming, but worth it I think. Have a good day.

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.

mini accordion album - what fun!

So did you see the first ever SBCfest over at Scrapbook.com? I happened to catch some of the videos and in this one Andrea L totally inspired me to give a mini album a try. I had never created one of these! SUCH fun. 

So many ideas. So many supplies. So many hours ;) I'm just going to share some photos of the completed project. It's on its way to Australia as we speak.

Action Deutschland PP

Essentials by Ellen rectangle dies

Renke numbers die

Waffle Flower greenery die

PTI tag dies

Lawn Fawn Milo alpha stamp

 inks, vellum, stickers, washi, sequins, pearls

Unfortunately I'm way too late for her birthday so I decided a little book to record this moment in time could be fun too rather than a card. I used the letters of her name in page titles (9 plus cover) with interactive pieces for lists of favorites - movies, fashion, eats, etc. Also included a few pages where she can add special photos - her at 30, her cake, etc. Used all the fun techniques too - shaker, flaps, belly band, pockets.

Hope she has as much fun completing it as I had making it! Have you ever made one of these? If not, I strongly recommend it. How about in a smaller size to hold a gift card? I know there are more of these in my future ;)

I'm playing at:

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies October

Cut it Up - #262 Big

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!

  

STAMPlorations cas cards challenge march

Did you miss us last month?!? Welcome to the March STAMPlorations CAS Cards challenge!

As always the challenge is to create any CAS card but we always give you an optional color twist. This month's is pink and green (takes me right back to my preppy college days in the 80s!)

The furniture in the inspo stumped me at first, but then I thought pink... flamingo...and my card went from there. OK, so not a flamingo ;)

Birds of Paradise stamp and die

ATC Tag Builder die

gold embossing powder

Stamping, heat embossing, die cutting and a spot o' washi.

On a side note: Did you see Yana S. smearing ink on Yupo? Oh how gorgeous. I decided to give distress on cheapo photo paper a try. Guess what? It doesn't work! That's what my bird is made of. Pink DIs pounced onto photo paper after smearing didn't work :)

CAS card tip: Use multiple layers, like these two banners I created with the versatile ATC Tag Builder die, to add some extra pattern or texture without taking up more white space.

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 in the gallery. 

STAMPlorations inspiration #325

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration post from the STAMPlorations inspiration team girls. 

I've had a play with the card fronts paper goods available in the STAMP store and today's card is a graduation card made with one.

Wish Big A2 card fronts

Congrats Word Art die

Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle die

sentiment stamp, vellum

Pretty simple. I die cut the card front and the vellum piece with the rectangle die to get the detailed edge. Popped the "congrats" up on fun foam and added a secondary sentiment from Papertrey.

As always, you could win yourself a $15 prize code to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post over at STAMPlorations. And if I should ever inspire you to order something from the store, I'd appreciate it if you used my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for an additional 20% off your order. 

simon says stamp - all the feels release

 
There's a new release at Simon Says Stamp called All the Feels and there are a lot of fun products for all styles of cardmakers. Check it out.

I started by playing with the Happy Meowther's Day stamp set. Are you a kitty lover? There are six kitties in this set, but this image is my favorite. (The heart and paws stamp are in the set too!)

With this next card you can probably tell that I'm not a cat person. Do they even make dark brown cats?!? ;)

 SSS Happy Meowther's Day stamp

SSS Halftone Circle Background stamp

Check out all the makes with the products from the All the Feels release in the gallery here. And watch for the upcoming blog hops for lots of inspiration. Thanks for visiting my blog today. 

I'm playing at The Paper Players where it's about CAS Animals.