STAMPlorations Inspiration #35, Roundup

Hey everyone!  This is the last Inspiration post for August over at STAMPlorations!  We have a great bunch of projects to share with you and if you want you can play along too.  You can CASE my card, or any of the other DT's cards, or CASE Tenia's Card from the CASEplorations post.  You can even CASE any of our cards from Inspiration Posts #31, #32, #33, or #34.  As usual, there's prizes!  So, let me show you my card for today.

(All stamps are by STAMPlorations)

You ever have an idea for a card that suddenly pops into your head and just won't go away until you sit down and make it?  Well, that's what happened with this card.  I was thinking about ideas for cards and suddenly thought that I could make one of Shirley's funky houses into a haunted house!  First, I needed to create my cool, spooky sky and the hills.  I made a circle mask for my moon and began sponging on the following colours: Tangelo, Teal Zeal, Elderberry, and Nautical Navy (all by Memento).  I tried to make it seem kind of cloudy.  Then using a mask I made I sponged black for the hills.  I removed my moon mask and stamped my house (Houses set, The Bee's Knees) in black and coloured it all in except the windows with a black marker.  Then I stamped the iron fence colouring the tips in black as well.  I stamped the tree (Houses Extra set, The Bee's Knees) in black and stamped it again to give it a bit more movement.  I did some freehand drawing with the bats, pathway and tombstones.  I decided against a sentiment and matted it simply on the white card base.  Love how this turned out.  Especially my sky.  :-)

I hope you come on over to the STAMPlorations blog and check out all the other fabulous projects and maybe add your own!  Join us in September for a new round of Inspiration posts too!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

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

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes

Shery's Popped!

Hi everyone!  This post is a special one.  All us STAMPlorations DT members have gotten together to celebrate some exciting news!  Our fearless and awesome leader, Shery, has finally had her baby girl!  Congratulations, Shery!!  We all wanted to do something for her so we've all made her some cards.  Also, if you go to the STAMPlorations blog there's a link up where you can share a card you've made for Shery if you want.  There's an address to mail it to her too.  We hope you'll join us in this celebration with Shery and her family.  Here's the card I made...

I wanted to use STAMPlorations stamps but I didn't have any baby stamps so I used butterflies instead. :-).  I stamped my butterflies and embossed them in white.  Then using watered down gelatos I painted around the butterflies in pink, orange and yellow.  Then I stamped a couple of butterflies in picked raspberry and mustard seed Distress ink and spritzed it lightly with water first.  Then I stamp my flourish stamp (not by STAMPlorations but Inkadinkado) in dove gray StazOn ink.  The sentiment is stamped in dove gray as well.  Before attaching it to my card base I added a little sparkle with some silver glitter tape just at the bottom.

Congratulations Shery!  Give that sweet baby girl lots of snuggles and I wish you long sleep filled nights!  Big hugs!

Hope you all come celebrate with us!  Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Inkspirational Designer's Choice Challenge - One Layer

Hey there, Inkspirational fans!  I'm back!  I took August off to recharge and enjoy my holidays but I'm glad to be back at it with my Ink girls!  This time the challenge is Designer's Choice and it was our lovely teammate, Nonni's turn.  She chose one of my favourite kind of cards to make.  One Layer!!

I used to be so afraid of making one layered cards and now I have a hard time not making them. :-).  I do hope you'll all take the plunge and try a one layer card.  Just remember, a one layer card uses just the card base and no additional layers of paper or dies.  I would think that a limited use of some embellishments (washi tape, sequins, enamel dots, rhinestones, and maybe a small amount of ribbon) would be fine to include as long as you don't go crazy with it.  :-). Anyway, here's what I came up with...

I decided to play around with a new stamp set by Waffle Flower that I had won recently.  It's called Lotus.  It's gorgeous.  I just love all the images and sentiments.  I started off by stamping my lotus pads and then masking them I stamped the lotus flowers.  I used back StazOn ink as I was painting them using Distress ink.  For the green I used mowed lawn and the pink was Victorian velvet.  The blue was broken china and I faded it out as I went up the card.  Then I stamped the sentiment ink black.  I stamped the dragonfly in dove gray StazOn and then went over the body with a purple Spectrum Noir marker and added some dazzling diamonds (SU!) glitter to the wings.  I look forward to playing around with this set some more!  :-)

So, come on over to Inkspirational and check out what the rest of the team made!  Amazing work, as usual.  Plus, we have a super talented Guest Designer, Ellie of My Creative Moments, joining us.  Her project is just awesome!  Hope you'll join us and share your one layer wonders!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!

I'm going to link up to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - clean and simple
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes
Addicted to CAS - code word is Blue 

STAMPlorations Inspiration #34

It's a great day to bring you some more inspiration from the Inspiration Team over at STAMPlorations!  We've got some fabulous projects to share with you.  And if you'd like to play along too feel free to CASE my card, or one of the other DT's cards from today's post.  Or CASE a card from Inspiration Posts #31, #32, or #33.  Or if you want, CASE Karen's card from the CASEplorations post.  It's up to you who you CASE.  If you do play along with us you could win a prize!  Anyway, this is what I made this time...

(All stamps are by STAMPlorations)

First, I masked of the section I wanted to stamp in.  I lightly sponged my picked raspberry ink (Distress Ink) and dove gray ink (StazOn) then using the small rose stamp (Frames and Flowers set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) I stamped with picked raspberry ink, stamping off first and lightly spritzing with water.  Then I stamped the large rose stamp (Frames and Flowers set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) the same way but was a little heavier with the ink so it was a bit darker.  Then I stamped the leaf (Frames and flowers set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) in dove gray.  Using a wet one wipe I lightly wiped the surface to blend the inked a bit.  The gray didn't blend or dull the pink as it is a solvent based ink and wasn't affected by the wipe.  Once that was dry, I removed the mask a created new, narrow ones for my black and gray strips.  I stamped the sentiment (Fond Expressions 2) in black.

I do hope you'll join us and CASE a card.  I look forward to seeing your awesome projects!

Have a lovely day and thanks for visiting!

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

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

STAMPlorations Inspiration #33

It's that time again over at STAMPlorations for an Inspiration post!  For this post we are trying to showcase some of the older sets.  We hope to inspire you to join us and link up your cards where you CASEd one of ours.  You can chose a card from today's post or from Inspiration posts #31 or #32.  Or you can CASE from our CASEplorations post.  It's your choice!  If you do link up you have a chance to win a prize!  So, here's my card...

I chose to showcase the Trendy Butterflies set and the sentiment is from the Party Time set.  I stamped my small butterflies across my white card base in the following rainbow colours:  Ruby Red (SU!), (the rest of the inks are Distress inks) Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Broken China, Dusty Concord.  Then I stamped the sentiment in black.  I covered the butterflies and sentiment up and splattered watered down black ink.  I love the brightness of this card.  :-)

I hope you'll join us and CASE a card!  You definitely need to check out what the other DT members made too.

Hope you enjoyed your visit and have a lovely day!

I'm going to link up to the following challenge:

Little Tangles - birthday

STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week - Day 5

It's Day 5 of Stamp Spotlight Week and today we have another 

amazing set to showcase!

Spotlight on FRAMES AND FLOWERS

Isn't it just gorgeous?  I love this set!  So many possibilities.  Here's what I came up with...

First, I masked off a strip and started stamping my flowers in Hero Arts pool to navy and butter to tangerine ombré inks.  Then I stamped my leaves in SU! mellow moss and StazOn olive green.  I removed the mask and then covered up the bottom portion of my card.  Taking the oval frame stamp I inked up only a narrow portion with SU! perfect plum, creating a kind of scalloped lace edge.  I then uncovered my card bottom and masked off two narrow strips on the top and bottom of my floral stripe and sponged with the perfect plum again.  With masks removed I stamped the sentiment
(Fond Expressions 2 set) in the pool to navy ombré ink.  I really love how this turned out and I am really digging the colour combo!  :-)

Don't forget to comment along the way on the hop.  There are prizes to win and the more you comment the more chances you have!  :-)

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Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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Thanks for hopping along with us and I hope you have a fabulous day!

STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week - Day 4

 

It's Day 4 of STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week

and today we're showcasing another fabulous new set!

 

Spotlight on HOUSESEXTRAS

 

 

 

What fun extras for the Houses set, right?

Have you ever seen a card that you just absolutely needed to try and recreate?  Well, that's what happened with this card.  I saw THIS CARD on Pinterest and I just loved it.  I didn't have any of the stamps but I did have some STAMPloration stamps and stencils that just happened to fit what I wanted.  Now, my card doesn't look exactly the same but that's the beauty of CASEing.  You make a design you like but you almost always end up making it your own in some way too.  :-)

Anyway, here's my card...

 

On a sage green piece of cardstock I sponged clear versamark on using the Holly Background stencil.  Then I embossed it in white.  I then sponged on some broken china and forest moss Distress ink.  I spritzed some water on it to blend the colours a bit.  Once it was dry I sponged on a bit of white ink.  I hand cut some snowy hills and attached them to my panel.  Next, I did some paper piecing with the house (Houses - The Bee's Knees) and trees (Houses Extras - The Bee's Knees).  The windows and door of the house were stamped on white paper then coloured with my Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut and pieced on.  It was a bit fiddly but it looks good I think.  The tree trunks were coloured in with my markers as well.  I attached these to my panel and then stamped my sentiment (Sentiment Builder - Christmas & New Years) in black.  I'm quite pleased with the CASE. It's not my usual CAS style but I like to mix it up every once in a while. :-)

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Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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 I hope you'll all join in on the fun!  Have a fantastic day and thanks for visiting!

 

STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week - Day 3

It's Day 3 of STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week

and today we're showcasing another fabulous new set!

 

Spotlight on FOND EXPRESSIONS 2

Don't you just love it?  Here's what I made...

This card is super simple to make and you could use any of the fabulous expressions in the set for it too.  First, I stamped my sentiment in black.  Then using a variety of ink colours I stamped my small stamps (Flowers and Frames set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) diagonally across my card around the sentiment.  I love its simplicity.  I may try this again with some other seasonal themes. :-)
 

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Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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I hope you'll all join in on the fun!  Have a fantastic day and thanks for visiting! 

Jingle Bells

Hey everyone!   You may have noticed this month that I haven't been posting quite as much.  Most of the post have been pre-scheduled too.  We were on holidays over in Prince Edward Island for a bit and now we are trying to do some renos.  The trip to PEI was awesome!  The renos aren't going very fast due to a yucky heatwave.  It's hard to do anything when just walking across the room breaks you out in a sweat.  It has been a really hot summer this year.  Anyway, because we've been so busy I cut down on my DT work this month.  But I'll be back at it all again in September!

In any case, I have a card to share today that is purely one I just wanted to make.  My lovely blogger friend, Darnell, sent me some stamped images when I mention how much I loved her (discontinued) jingle bells stamp.  She is such a sweetheart!  Big hugs, Darnell!  So, I dedicate this card to her.  :-).  Take a look...

So, I took the panel she stamped the image on and trimmed it down a bit.  I coloured it in with my Spectrum Noir markers and added some Wink of Stella to the snowflakes, dots and flourishes.  Then I stamped my sentiment (STAMPlorations) in black.  Lastly, I attached it to my burgundy card base.  Love it's simplicity as it showcases those awesome jingle bells so nicely.  :-)

Thanks again, Darnell!  And thanks to all of you who stopped by for a visit today.  Have a fantastic day!

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

Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday
Winter Wonderland - Christmas carols/songs
ABC Christmas Challenge - Q is for Quantum Leap, chose a past challenge.  I chose K- Keep it Simple.

STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week - Day 2

It's Day 2 of STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week

and today we're showcasing an awesome new set!

Spotlight on BALLOONS AND BANNERS

 A super fun set, isn't it?!  Check out what I made...

First, I made a couple of balloon masks from post-it notes.  Then I stamped my balloons along the top of the card base.  I stamped the strings here and there masking where I needed to.  Then I coloured in my balloons with my Spectrum Noir markers (LV1, LV2, OR1, OR3, DR1, DR7, CG2, LG5, TB3, TB5, CT2, CT4, BT2, BT4, BT5, BP2 and BP6).  Lastly, I stamped my sentiment in black.  Such fun set to work with and so many different stamps in the set that I'm itching to play with it some more!  :-)

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Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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I hope you'll all join in on the fun!  Have a fantastic day and thanks for visiting!

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

Spectrum Noir's Monthly Challenge: For August it's Anything Goes.
Craft Stamper Magazine, Make it, Take it Challenge - (for August) 'Take a Technique', Pens or Pencils.

STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week - Day 1

It's Day 1 of STAMPlorations Stamp Spotlight Week

and today we're showcasing an awesome new set!

Spotlight on WORLD BIRTHDAY CAKES

Isn't that a simply fabulous set?  Here's what I came up with...

I first took the Nestled Circles stencil and sponged on broken china Distress ink and then splattered some water on to give the sponged parts some interesting texture.  Then I masked off a narrow strip along the edge and sponged it with black ink.  I stamped my Chrysler Building cake and sentiment in black StazOn ink and watercoloured overtop with broken china Distress ink.  I splattered some of the same colour as well as some watered down black ink.  I matted my panel in black and then attached it to my card base with some foam dots.  I love how this card turned out.  I can't wait to play with the other stamps too!  :-)

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Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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Hope you'll all join in on the fun!  Have a fantastic day and thanks for visiting!

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

CAS-ual Fridays -  pretty patterns

STAMPlorations Inspiration #32

Hi there!  Guess what?!  It's time for another Inspiration post over at STAMPlorations!  And if you would like, you can play along over at the CASEplorations playground too.  CASE Karen's card or CASE one of our cards from today's post or from Inspiration post #31.  You also have the opportunity to win a prize!  :-).  Check out my card...

This card came together fairly quickly once I finally decided on the design for it.  I stamped my horns (Party Mates set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) and coloured them with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I stamped the ribbons (Balloons and Banners set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) and coloured them as well. Then taking the tiny shape stamps (Balloons and Banners set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) I cut them apart as it would be easier to use them for the idea I had.  Yes, I performed a little surgery on my stamps (sorry Deepti!).  I do this occasionally to get a certain look I want.  You can still use them as they are intended too.  :-). Anyway, I stamped my small shapes in a variety of colours to create some fun confetti.  Lastly, I stamped my sentiment (Balloons and Banners set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) in black.  I think this card is pretty fun.

So, whether you CASE Karen's card, my card, or one of the other Inspiration DT's cards, we hope you'll play along.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a fabulous day!

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

Addicted to Stamps and More - "make your mark"

STAMPlorations Inspiration #31

It's a great day to bring you some more inspiration from the Inspiration Team over at STAMPlorations!  We've got some fabulous projects to share with you.  And if you'd like to play along too feel free to CASE my card, or one of the other DT's cards from today's post.  Or if you want, CASE Karen's card from the CASEplorations post.  It's up to you who you CASE.  If you do play along with us you could win a prize!  Anyway, here's my card...

(All stamps are by STAMPlorations)

My first step was to cut a circle opening out of a black cardstock panel and then emboss it with my woodgrain folder (Darice).  Then, using my black panel as a guide, I stamped my poppy image (Bloom Sketches set) and coloured it in with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I stamped the sentiment (Frames and Flowers set, Dee's Artsy Impressions) in black.  Lastly, I attached my black panel to my card base.  I was inspired by THIS CARD I saw on Pinterest.  I loved the look of the black with the orange/red flowers.

I do hope you'll join us and CASE a card.  I look forward to seeing your awesome projects!

Have a lovely day and thanks for visiting!

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

Penny Black and More - Summer Flowers
Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

STAMPlorations - August CASEplorations

Greetings everyone!  Today is the day to start a new CASEplorations!

This month we are CASEing a card artist that I'm sure you'll all recognize.  Her work is artistic and beautiful.  It's non other than, Karen Dunbrook!  Here's her amazing card we are CASEing...

Isn't is gorgeous?  And her own CASE of her card is just as fabulous.  You really need to check it out.  Now, we all know that Karen loves her blue cards so how could I not make a blue card?!  Here's my CASE...

I took a white cardstock panel and stamped and embossed my larger butterflies in white.  Then I sponged on broken china Distress ink and nautical blue Memento ink creating a mottled look.  Then I generously spritzed on some water so the ink would soften and blend.  Then I stamped the small butterflies in the same coloured ink.  Next, I took some white acrylic paint and dry brushed it on in a kind of cross hatching pattern.  Then I stamped my sentiment in the nautical blue.  Lastly, I attached my panel to my white card base.  Not quite my usual style but I love how it turned out.  :-)

I used the following STAMPloration stamps sets:

Fond Expressions 2

Trendy Butterflies

I hope you'll come over to the CASEplorations Playground and join us in CASEing Karen's card.  Or if you'd like you could CASE my card or any of the DT girls cards. It's totally up to you.  If you do link up you could win a prize!  Hope to see you there!

Have an amazing day and thanks for stopping by!

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

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes
The Mixed Media Card Challenge - butterflies (optional gold element)