STAMPlorations Inspiration #75

Good morning!  It's Tuesday and you know what that means!?  It's time for an Inspiration post over at STAMPlorations!  As usual, the DT has made some amazing projects to inspire you.  I've got some talented Teamies for sure!  This is what I came up with this week....

So how did I make my plaid butterflies?  Well, let me tell you!  :-)  First, I stamped my sentiment.  The happy (Sentiment Builders: Happy set) was stamped in Spiced Marmalade Distress ink and the birthday (Party Time set) in black Versafine ink.  Then I stamped my butterflies (Winged Things set) in black.  I created some masks that showed only the butterflies like this....

I used the butterfly masks themselves later.  Once the surrounding area was protected I stamped my distressed line stamp (Mixed Media Elements set) in Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, and Seedless Preserves Distress ink in a plaid pattern. I repeated this for each butterfly.  Then I used the butterfly masks to protect them from the black splatters I added.  Lastly, I added some rhinestones for a little sparkle.  I just love my plaid butterflies.  I think I need to try this plaid technique on something else too.  It's too much fun!

Well, I hope my card inspired you to create today.  Make sure to pop by the main blog for more inspiration by the rest of the DT too.  Have an awesome day!

I'd like to link up to the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS - code word is Plaid
Craft Stamper Magazine, Take it, Make it Challenge for May - anything goes 

Silent Night

Hey there!  It's a gorgeous day here today.  Sunny and a high of 18 degrees (Celcius).  My boys are going fishing today and I'm going to go play in my craft room. :-).  I've been on a bit of a Christmas card making binge lately. Probably because I'm so behind in my Christmas cards this year. I like to make them ahead of time so I don't get overwhelmed at Christmas. Plus, my Mom usually orders some too.  So, today I've got a couple of Christmas cards to share. My husband surprised me with a cool new stamp he got me when he made an order through Amazon.  He complains I've got too much craft stuff but he gets me more himself!  Go figure?!  LOL. He just likes to make me happy.  :-). Anyway, this stamp is super cool and not one I'd seen before.  It's by Stampendous.  Here's what I made...

This first card I stamped the trees and embossed them in white. Then using the ink from my pool to navy ombré ink pad (Hero Arts) I sponged on my colours. Once done, I trimmed my label down to fit my card base and added some strips of silver glitter tape.  I love the look of this quite a bit.  It's cool that the stamp has a built in sentiment too.

I'd like to link up the first card to the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for ink
CAS Mix-Up Challenge - Stamping + Heat Embossing + Sponging/Resist/Ombre

Here's the second card I made....

This time I took some watercolour paper and did an ombré wash using my Spectrum Aqua markers (Orchid and Navy) and a wide water brush pen.  I spritzed some water on after it dried to create water droplets and once that dried stamped my trees in black Versafine ink.  I then splattered some white acrylic paint over top.  I trimmed it down to fit my card base and added some silver glitter tape again.  I also added a snowflake edge die cut (Darice) that I glittered up with my Wink of Stella pen.  I think I like how this one turned out the best.  :-)

I'd like to link up the second card to the following challenges:

Merry Monday Christmas Challenge - ombré and glitter

Crafter Stamper Magazine - Take it, Make it Challenge - anything goes


Well, I hope you enjoyed your little visit today. Thanks for stopping by!

Inkspirational Challenge - Mint and Navy

It's a lovely Saturday to start a new challenge over at Inkspirational!  We've got a colour challenge this time for you.  Mint and Navy.

It's not a colour combo I'd use very often but it is rather good together.  Today I have something extra special for you. My Ink Teamies wanted me to do a tutorial on how I do the masking technique so I decided I'd share it with you all as well.  :-)  Here we go.....

Once I've decided on my main image and design idea  I create a mask by stamping my butterfly (Stampendous) on a thin piece of paper.  (In this case I used computer paper. I like to use post-it notes when I can as they are thin and have a built in sticky back that is low tack so as not to wreck your card underneath.  However, you are limited by size).  I fussy cut my butterfly out and set it aside.

Next, I stamped my butterfly in black Memento ink on my card base.

Then I added some Zig glue to my mask.  If you let this dry before sticking it down it is removable.

I stick my mask over my image and I'm ready to start playing with my background.

I stamped my script stamp (STAMPlorations) in black that I've faded out and spritzed with water several times.

Then I splatter Navy Memento ink and Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  (I thought the Peacock Feathers was a bit more green than it actually was).

Then I remove the mask.

I coloured in my butterfly with my Spectrum Noir markers and add the sentiment (STAMPlorations) in black.

Voila!  It's done!  I'm loving this colour combo and my big butterfly looks pretty good.

I hope you've enjoyed you visit today and maybe learned something new too!  Have a fabulous day!

I'd like to link up to the following challenges:

Craft Stamper Magazine - Take it, Make it Challenge for May - anything goes
Addicted to Stamps and More - make your mark
CAS-ual Fridays - birthday girl

STAMPlorations Inspiration #74

It's Tuesday and it's time for another Inspiration post over at STAMPlorations!  As usual, we've got an awesome variety of projects to share.  This is mine....

I decided to try the stamping over white pigment ink technique on black cardstock this time.  So, I took my oak leaf stamp (Trendy Leaves set) stamped it first with white pigment ink then went over it with a variety of Distress ink colours.  The colours aren't as vibrant over the white as the StazOn ink is but still very nice. I stamped my sentiment (Smile set) in versamark ink and embossed it in white.  I've done this technique on kraft and now black cardstock but I think I want to test it out on other colours too.  :-)

Well, make sure to pop on by the main blog and see all the other lovely cards by the DT.  And remember, if you leave a comment there you are entered in for the prize draw!

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!

Pretty Snowflakes

Hey everyone!  Just popping in to share another Christmas card. I wanted to play along with a few challenges, in paticular, Muse: Christmas Visions, as one of my STAMPlorations Teamies, Suchi, is the muse this week.  This is her card...

Awesome, right?  And here's my card....

I was inspired by the awesome sponging Suchi did in the one corner of her card and my two larger snowflakes are like the two skate wreaths she had in her card.  So, what I did was stamp my snowflakes (Hero Arts) and my little dots (STAMPlorations) and embossed them in white.  Then I took Picked Raspberry and Seedless Preserves Distress ink and sponged over top.  I spritzed water over top to create water droplets which kind of remind me of bokeh, don't you think?  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment (STAMPlorations) in black.  I love the non-traditional colours of this card. :-)

Well, thanks for stopping by for a visit!  Have a fantastic day!

I'd like to link up to the following challenges:

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown - pick a previous theme.  I chose challenge #4 Snowflakes April 2012.

ABC Christmas Challenge - I is for Ink

STAMPlorations CASEplorations May

Hey there, CASEplorations fans!  It's May 1st and that means we are CASEing a new card artist! Hard to believe that its May already.  Where does the time go?  Anyway, this month we have another amazing card maker, and all round wonderful person, to CASE.  It's our very own STAMPlorations leader, Shery!  We are CASEing such a great card and it's appropriate with Mother's Day fast approaching.  Check it out....

Awesome, isn't it?  I had to channel my inner Shery to create my card and I enjoyed every minute!  This is what I came up with...

(All stamps by STAMPlorations)

I took my sunflower stamp (Bloom Sketches set) and stamped it first with Mustard Seed Distress ink then Victorian Velvet Distress ink.  I spritzed some water over top to make the ink bleed a bit, although it's hard to tell in the photo.  I stamped the sentiment (Sentiment Builders: Happy set) in black Versamark ink.  Lastly, I used my round corner punch on the bottom corners of the card.  A fun one layer card just like Shery's. :-)

I hope you'll pop on over to the blog and see what the other DT ladies have come up with too.  Outstanding projects, once again!

Have a fabulous day and thanks for dropping by!

I'd like to link up to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes
Addicted to Stamps and More - anything goes

Holiday Washi

Oh my.  I'm soooo behind on my Christmas cards this year!  I only have a dozen made!  Pretty sure I had twice that at this time last year.  So last night before bed I sat down a made a Christmas card.  It was pretty simple to make but I like the look. I may make some more using different colours. :-).  Check it out....

Lots and lots of washi tape!  Most of my washi/glitter tape is either by Recollections, Scotch or Darice.  I actually really love washi tape but sometimes I forget about having it. LOL.  Anyway, I attached my washi tape to my card on a diagonal, alternating my designs.  Then I stamped my sentiment (STAMPlorations) in black.  Lastly, I added a couple of small strips which I cut into a arrow point.  Simple but fun, I think. 

Well, I'm glad you all stopped by for a visit and I hope you all have a lovely day!

I'd like to link up to the following challenges:

Jingles Belles - washi tape

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown - pick a previous theme. I chose August 2013 challenge #20 -Holly. I used holly washi tape.
Addicted to CAS - code word is plaid. I used some plaid washi tape.