introducing STAMPlorations perfect pairs

If you'd like to take the guesswork out of cardmaking, there's a new product over at STAMPlorations just for you. It has the perfect name - Perfect Pairs - and it makes creating a card super simple. Shery has paired a sentiment and small background stamp with some beautiful ephemera cuts and all you have to do is add them to a card.

This is the first card that I made with the Blooms and Sunshine pairing. I literally chose the two ephemera pieces that first caught my eye and squeezed the wonderful sentiment in between them. A piece of washi along the right edge and voila. Bet this card didn't even take me 4 minutes ;)

Blooms and Sunshine Perfect Pair

washi tape

Here's my second make. Took me more than 4 minutes cuz all I knew was I wanted to use this piece of  ephemera and some lilac cardstock. It took me a little bit to figure out exactly how.

Blooms and Sunshine Perfect Pair

Double Running Stitch Rectangle die

Oval die

Frame die

There are so many beautiful pieces of ephemera included in this Perfect Pair collection. I'll be back with more makes soon. How fun is it to have pieces that go so well together right at your fingertips? Peruse the other fun collections here. I'm loving the holiday themed ones.

Don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should you be ready to do some shopping ;) And a little bird told me all dies in the store are 15% off during August.

 

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.

STAMPlorations 13th birthday - day 3

Welcome back to the 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 featured products is your absolute favorite. You might just win it!  

Get ready for lots of eye candy. My projects introduce the new Focal Fronts. Boy do they make it easy to create cards. Already cut and colored, all you have to do is create a background. You can check out all the designs in the store.

I fell in love with the color palette on this first iced coffee so created a quick stenciled BG, stamped a sentiment on a little tab and voila!

. 

also used Just Squares mini stencil and Coffee Happy stamp 

Next I tore some strips of B/W PP to cover my card front and then chose a Focal Front that matched nicely. A stamped sentiment and voila!

also used Bloomfully Thankful stamp

For my next two projects (tags to have on hand for birthday or hostess gift bags) I chose a  Focal Front, die cut a complementary colored tag, added a strip of PP along the bottom and an oval sentiment up top. Ready to go.

also used Fluttery stamp

There´s soooo much going on with this birthday celebration. Please head over to the STAMP blog to leave a comment for your chance to win. And FREE US SHIPPING on all orders $25 or more - wowzers, what a deal! 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. Remember to use my STAMPGIRLMARIA discount code for 20% off if you`re placing an order.

Thanks for celebrating with us. CU tomorrow with more.

 

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 spring fling

Spring is in the air! Gotta love it. And gotta love how the newest ATCs over at STAMPlorations help celebrate that spring has finally arrived.

Join us for a hop and linky party with the chance to win some prizes!

I could not resist pairing Shirley B.'s tiny houses with this ATC.

Houses stamp

Whimsical Homes ATC

New Day clear stickers

distress ink, washi

Used an old technique to create the watercolored row of houses. Anytime you have a fairly symmetric stamp shape you can use the reverse (flat side) of it to stamp your color layer and then use the outline side of the stamp to stamp the crisp image. Added a spritz of water to the inked reverse side gives you the desired watercolor effect.

Other than that, the ATC is the dreamy star of the show. Added a sticker sentiment and a thin washi strip and called it good.

Get creative and be a part of the linky party. Or hop around and leave comments to win. Join us, won’t you?

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.

introducing collage papers - collage

Did you catch my last blog post? There's a new kid in town over at the STAMPlorations shop - collage papers. Basically, it's a nice quality 70# patterned paper and who doesn't love patterned paper?  It also might stretch your creative muscles ;)

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

To stretch my creative muscles I decided to actually make a collage. I found so much inspiration from Rebecca C. in this video.

Um, might it really have been 2019 when I last touched this art journal? Shame on me.  Anyhoo, I settled on this already-prepared two-page spread of khaki and beige tones.

And then I made some marks on my collage paper (the one with the coffee stains).

And pulled out an old gelli print and some old book pages. And then four hours later this collage spread in my art journal was complete!

I cut circles and glued them and some of their negatives down. Added some torn paper strips. Fussy cut some camera and clock images from the collage paper and added them like ephemera. I stamped with black ink and then white paint. I made marks with a toilet paper roll. I adhered some sticker negatives. And washi tape. And then my focal point, made with die cut alphas. 

I splattered too. With the leftover white and black acrylic paints. And metallic orange watercolor - can you see those shimmery blobs of goodness?

Analog Grunge collage paper

Art Marks 3 stamp

alphabet die

acrylic paint, washi tape

SUCH fun!!!!!

For my next project I remembered an idea from Nadine M. for a Christmas card and applied it to a masculine birthday card. This is a great way to use up other PP scraps at the same time. Just look for some that complement each other.

Analog Grunge collage paper

Skinny Sentiments die

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. I'll be back with more ideas soon.

Be sure to stop 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 fabulous day. 

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.

STAMPlorations anything goes challenge january

Well welcome back friends! It feels like it's been forever, doesn't it? STAMPlorations is back in business again and I'm creating cards again. There's going to be an Anything Goes challenge   the 6th of every month over at the STAMP blog so get ready to join in the fun.

Must admit, I kinda eased back into cardmaking slowly. Since I need a 90th birthday card for my MIL soon, this is what I came up with. 

Number plate die

Gift Builder 1 die

Art Marks 2 stamp

washi tape, nuvo drops

Stamped an image, die cut the gift and numbers, added some art marks and Nuvo drops for interest and voila!

CAS card tip: Add a strip of washi or cardstock along the bottom edge to ground your CAS design.

I'm looking forward to your seeing your card creations this month! There will be prizes ;) You can find 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 ;)  So nice to be back. See you over at the gallery. 

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 - august 26 2024

Let's finish up August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Another "slow" week ;)  Not a lot to document with photos so I used a great piece of original art I'd saved from a note card. Actually housed a tag with journaling behind it. And then decorated the layout with various items I found that were green/yellow!

Stop the blur. Even if there's not a lot to blur.

STB - july 29 2024

Wrapping up July 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

It's usually a slow week as we recover from jet lag. Not a lot of photos. Some journaling which I chose to hide in those cute little file folder die cuts. Made it all pretty with complementary washi tape. And can we have a moment for that cool clipboard die cut? Wowzers. Love that I could even fit the larger one here in the slow week.

I added something new after seeing it in social media - glimmers. What sets off a glimmer in your soul in your everyday life? Write it down.

Stopping the blur. 

STB - july 1 2024

We're cruising. Up to July 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

What a week of perfects. DD came to visit. The lake was perfect for kayaking. Perfect lilies. Ice cream is alway perfect, but the walk on the beach at dusk and the photos of it - mwah! Fireworks reflected on the calm lake as we watched from our beach fire.

Did I mention perfect?

Let the photos do the talking. Kept the decoration to washi and some simple stickers.

  

STB - june 17 2024

More summertime fun time - June 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

I let cool vellum alpha stickers and lots of washi carry this week's layout.

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 - february 26 2024

Wrapping up February 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Love this color scheme even with the pops of blue sky. Also love vellum for toning things down a little.

This was a week around the hood which ended with us on the road to our week long vacation in northern Italy. In other words, photo heavy ;)

I've got PP sleeves. And HS STB stash and printables. And touches of washi. And labels. And die cuts. And actual memorabilia. All those little things. Such fun with my Heidi Swapp planner.

 

STB - february 19 2024

So there ain't nothin' pastel or quiet about this week's spread in my STB memory planner. And Barbie is to blame. We watched the movie this week. With flowers and cocktails to match of course.

My favorite Crayola color in the 64 box was Magenta (and Periwinkle). So I was extremely happy to have an excuse to pull out a pack of journal cards I have and put them to use here in this Barbie spread. Can you believe that card allowed me to doctor it up to read "today is the best day ever?" Like they always greeted the day in Barbieworld! 

Of course I had to include all the "Hi Barbie" too ;)

The sleeve holds photos of STB spreads. I was cranking them out.

And I forced myself to write down things I need to make happen. Let's just looking back right now, I'm shooting about 50/50.

Journal cards. Stickers. Stamps. Washi.That's what's in my Heidi Swapp STB memory planner this week. 

 

STB - february 5 2024

Into February of 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

More NFL memories (Superbowl). And Mardi Gras events. 

Anyone recognize those little houses? A super oldie, but goodie Papertrey Ink die. Still love it and was thrilled to use up those die cuts that had been laying around.

Fun alpha stamps for titles. Fun (ancient) label stamps for journaling areas. And touches of washi. Cuz #washiisalwaysagoodidea. Still loving my Heidi Swapp planner.