Flock of birds

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Lynn is "Things with Wings". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I prepared a piece of cardstock with a wash of blue watercolour, fading to white.
I then stamped several bird stamps from the STAMPlorations set "Trendy Birds 2" as well as two of the sentiments.
Finally, I used the larger of the dies in the "Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies" set (also STAMPlorations) and matted the card with black and blue cardstock.

*************

Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes to be won: a $30 gift card from Taylored Expressions and an extra prize of an A4 stamp set. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations,  We Love Stamping and

                                                        Polkadoodles challenges

Tower card and door sign with Faded Botanicals

Hello crafters, 

I am so pleased to introduce you to the latest addition to the STAMPlorations line-up: The Artistic Crafter's Collage Paper Anthology, vol. 1, a collection of 9 collage paper packs each with a different theme. I have been playing with the Faded Botanicals featuring Soft Victorian florals, which you can get at a 30% discount within the Botanical maker's trio until the official release on the 15th of March.

 

First up is a tower card:

I sized my card so I could use dies to cut the panels. It is simple to make with 1 piece of cardstock 6"1/2 wide by 5"1/4, score at 1", 2", 3" and 4" to make the tower shape. 

3 panels from cardstock cut with the widest of the rectangles in the Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies set, using the size down to cut the paper.

For the small side of the tower I used the narrow rectangle die to cut the paper. 

One of the panel is reserved for the message, which I stamped with the Happy birthday from the A Snarky Birthday To You set, chosen for its small size.

I added a rose stamped in colour from the Wooded stamp set. 

The card folds flat at 5"1/2 wide by 5"1/4 tall which doesn't fit a standard envelope but I don't mind  making a custom envelope. 

For a quick video of all sides of the card visit my Instagram. 

My second project is a door sign, since I thought this paper would lend itself to image transfer. I wasn't disappointed!

To make this I applied gel medium to my wooden substrate and placed the paper face down on it smoothing it as much as I could to ensure best adhesion. 

When dry the white paper layer is removed by wetting and rubbing. Fingers are best in the latter stages to avoid rubbing the design as well as the white! I had to retouch the centre of my flower after too vigorous rubbing... but it all adds to the Vintage/distressed look.

I couldn't bring myself to cover the background and added only a quote from the Art Is stamp set mounted on foam pads over a piece of lace.

*************

Love these new collage papers from @stamplorations? 🎨 The Anthology is now available in Project Trios so you can grab the vibe that fits your style for just $21!
✨ THE ART JOURNALER: Love grit & type? Get the Essentials Trio.
✨ THE STORYTELLER: Love vintage & travel? Get the Heritage Trio.
✨ THE BOTANICAL MAKER: Love florals & patterns? Get the Botanical Trio.
Everything is IN STOCK and shipping now! No more pre-orders. Grab yours at stamplorations.com 📦

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

Time for Coffee

Hello crafters, 

New month, new challenge at STAMPlorations, anything goes, any type of project, any style, just remember you need to use stamps (unless using exclusively STAMPLorations products).

I couldn't resist using some of the new papers released by STAMPLorations and stamped on a piece of Faded Botanicals to make a pretty mug:

I tweaked the colours with Distress Crayons to make the butterfly pop.

The mug and sentiment are from the After Coffee set stamped with Versafine in blue and fussy cut. I added gel pen on the handle and top and bottom where the china would be white.

Simply matted on cardstock die-cuts with all 3 of the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

**************

If you missed out on ordering the whole Anthology paper collection during the pre-release, no fear as you can grab a Project Trio Bundle TODAY for just $21! 💸  That’s 3 full packs (45 sheets!) curated by project type: Art Journaling, Vintage Storytelling, or Botanical Bliss. Ships immediately! Get them before the launch on the 15th of March when you can buy buy the Faded Botanicals pack individually as well as all other paper packs.

**************
Hop on over to the STAMPlorations™ Blog to check what my teamies' inspiration makes and link up your  creations! There are prizes to be won....

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the The Outlawz Twisted challenge
   

Humoristic sentiment

Hello crafters,

A funny quote to lift the mood in these worrying times...

Stamp set 99% Chance of Wine from Visible Image

Stencil by Imagination Crafts (MA24)

I used the printer for the sentiment (the punch line inside the card is: "It's me talking to the wine")

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Lost Coast Designs, Polkadoodles,

                                                       Simon Says Stamp Monday, Stamping Sensations  and

                                                       We Love Stamping challenges

Shabby Chic Tag

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Sarah is "Ribbon or bow". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The base is a handmade paper which I stencilled with Distress Oxides and the STAMPlorations stencil Leaf Print, then stamped with the Crafty Individuals Crackle Background (CI-116).

The focal image is the Resting Woman by Rubber Dance stamped in a mix of Distress Oxide inks.

I added die-cuts for embellishments:

-  Doily #2 Pineapple (572792 by Prima )

-  Border threaded with ribbon (Tattered Lace )

-  Flowers from the Larger Than Life stamp and die set (Papertrey Ink)

Finally a small vellum ephemera from Arden Creative Studio and a wax seal heart finish the tag.

*************

Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes (pictured below) of A5 stamp set, stencil and ribbons and £10 digital download from Polkadoodles for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Polkadoodles and

                                                         Addicted to stamps and more challenges

Inlaid die-cuts technique

Hello crafters, 

February being a short month, there is less than 2 weeks to enter the STAMPlorations challenge!

To inspire you I made this card, no stamping involved...

Dies:
Bloomdala Bliss: Felicity Dies

CUTploration phrase - Art Happens

Corner Chomper

I die-cut each Mandala die on a different colour of cardstock and also cut them in the pink layer to get my mandalas inlaid. 

As the Mandala in the middle is overlapped I replaced it in the pink card and die-cut it with the other 2 dies.

Finally I glued the pink cardstock to the base and the mandalas each in their respective slots.

************

If my card is not spurring you into action, don't forget there are prizes to be won....

All details and link up are on the STAMPlorations blog  

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge

   

Meadow scene with Lavinia stamps

Hello crafters, 
Today I have a whimsical scene for you, all in Lavinia stamps:

I created the background with Distress Oxide inks, spritzing and splattering water to get the "magical" effect.
Then I stamped the wild flowers also with Distress Oxides, adding some shading with pencils where needed. I had to add gel pen to the large Open Dandelion as the yellow ink was barely visible.

Stamps: - Dandelions LAV166
- Thistles LAV117
- Open Dandelion LAV745
- Forest Moss LAV857

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Simon Says Stamp Monday,                                                           Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenges

Wet and Dry Embossing

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Val is "Embossing, dry or wet". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

Of course I couldn't choose so I went for both!

I used a coloured vellum piece and embossed it with an ancient Cuttlebug folder and sewed it to my card base.

The focal point is made of wet embossed flower and leaves stamps from Polka Doodles (Hello Friend PD7538) which I fussy cut.

Finally I added a sentiment die-cut with one of the dies from the Everyday Sentiments set  (STAMPlorations).

Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There is a prize from Lisa Horton of the Rambling Woodgrain Rose embossing folder and coordinating stencils for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Outlawz Twisted , Polkadoodles and 

                                                         Stamping Sensations challenges

Creating Drama with Gilding Flakes

Hello crafters, 

New month, new challenge at STAMPlorations, anything goes, any type of project, any style, just remember you need to use stamps (unless using exclusively STAMPLorations products).

I went for an easy card where the drama is in the medium I used:

Supplies:

Everyday Sentiments

Dragonfly Cover Plate

Gilding Flakes 

Double sided sheets

Gems

I die-cut the dragonfly from black cardstock and layered it on top of a card prepared with double sided tape.

Using a brush and gilding flakes in various colours I coloured the negative space of the die-cut, trying to get the dragonfly itself as smooth as possible and one colour only.

To finish. I added the Birthday sentiment die-cut and foiled.

A look at the shine:

************

Hop on over to the STAMPlorations™ Blog and check what my teamies' inspiration makes and link up your  creations! There are prizes to be won....

- a discount code worth $25 chosen by a STAMPgirl from entries that use STAMPlorations products 

- and a $10 discount code for a randomly selected entries (need not feature a STAMP product)

(discount codes apply to shipping & products) 

************

Whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to stamps & more challenge

Creating a Background with Sprays

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Donna is "Create your own background". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I chose sprays to make my background, enhanced by stamping:

I first used Distress Oxide sprays and Prima Bloom sprays on white cardstock.
When dry, I partially stamped in different colours of Distress inks some of the stamps in the AALL & create Crocus stamp set (#624) in the background.  
After stamping the flower I coloured it with pencils and added Distress crayons to get a better opacity. As it happens both colours are shimmers hence the shine (if you can see it on the photo).

**************
Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There is a set of 4 AALL & Create stamps pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and 

                                                         Addicted to Stamps and More challenges

Boy and Man card

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Ellie is "For Men and Boys". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

My Flip fold card covers both boy and man, a Birthday card I created with the Presscut 3 Fold Die die-cut out of blue cardstock. The idea was to flip between the boy he was and the man he has become:

Above and below the "flipped" views

And below the 2 sides laid out flat:

The central image uses a paper background from a Tattered Lace magazine, which came with the boy die and matching images to cut-out. 

All paper and fussy cut elements are from the Mr Handsome collection by 13@rts and the stamped words are from Papertrey Ink Clip Tips Stamp and dies Sets. 

***************
Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes from  pictured below for a lucky winner! Two A5 stamp sets from Sweet Poppy

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps challenge

New Card Fronts from Stamplorations

Hello crafters, 

If you missed the news, after a long pause STAMPlorations is back in business and new products have been released this week: 14 new card fronts are available on the store here.

I have been playing with the Vintage Roses set:

 

I like those images so much I would be happy to use them as is, even as postcards since the cardstock is heavy enough. But, if you so desire, you can make them your own in so many different ways... A few ideas: 

- add glitter, foiling or embossing accents

- add small die-cuts (I was thinking bees or lady birds for the roses)

- add stamping or stencilling

- cut them up 

- use the inlay technique

and more...

For my first card I decided to add glitter (Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy) to the rose:

I added a sentiment word and embossed it with Wow! EP in Violet Aurora (WS419X) and when that didn't show up so well against the card front I embossed on top with Ray of Sunshine (WS416R). And then, because it still didn't show up that well, I added a black shadow with another die-cut offset from the embossed one.

I tried to capture the glitter and the shine in these photos: 

 

My second card follows my current obsession with doors... I visualised a door opening to a rose garden full of morning dew...

For this card front I added dew drops on flowers with liquid glass and nothing else...
For the door mouldings I used some of the dies in the Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies set, adding doorknobs made of Enamel Accents (Ranger). 

 
Finally, I found the courage to take my scissors to my last card front... 

It's not because the card front is a rectangle that you cannot use it as a square, circle etc.. or cut it in many pieces... I am quite partial to the square format so that is what I did and used the "waste" to make a matching tag.

All the embellishment is in the frames created. I made them so that I would lose only a very small margin of the image.

In conclusion, if the Card Fronts are a godsend for quick cards "as is", don't let that stop you from getting creative with them! And if Vintage Roses is not your thing there are many different styles on offer and at least one is bound to tempt you.

**************

Leave a comment on this post, my teamie's post and the STAMPlorations blog for a chance to win either the Vintage Roses or the Touch of Spring sets. 

************

Whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield