Quick and efficient makes

Today I am joining my teammates at STAMPlorations to round off our Spring Fling blog hop and linky party which ends on the 31st of May.

This event is a special series of 3 posts celebrating the spring season, hop with us and leave comments on the STAMPlorations blog and the DT blogs and/or link a project of your own to be in a chance to win prizes!!!

I finally received the latest ARTplorations stencils (international post has obviously been affected by the pandemic) and had to give them a whirl!

Today I used the Petals 1 by Helen G. Designs and got a "twofer".

First I created the "positive" background by spraying through the stencil with 3 colours of Prima Blooms.

I then die-cut into the card with the Birthday Wishes CUTplorations and die cut another phrase from  violet card to inlay in its place. I then replaced all of the small bits of "waste" around the violet die-cut before placing the stencilled die-cut slightly offset from its original position, thereby creating a contrasting violet shadow.

This was so easy and CAS I felt it needed a bit more so I added some of my DIY coloured White Frost  ShakerBlends [Come back in June to read about this little experiment...] 

My next card has been created by placing the stencil, now covered in sprays from the first card, upside down on a piece of white card.

I completed the design by adding a sentiment sticker from the Love is Clear Stickers pack and this was even quicker and simpler than the previous card, which made me feel like a total fraud... 

Without distracting too much from the beautiful stencil effect, I added a piercing detail and a halo of Mowed Lawn Distress ink to lessen my guilt!

These has to be one of the most efficient crafting session I have had in a long time... I could have mass produced a few more of these in no time at all, what with the supplies already out!

***
May store promotion: All throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Don't forget to use my STAMPGIRLCRAFTY code to get up to 35% off on these products and 20% of regular priced items!!!

***

The list of today's stops on the hop is on the STAMPlorations blog so come over and check out the team's makes and, if you feel inspired, link a quick make in this post here.

Don't forget to leave a comment before hopping to the STAMPlorations blog!

I am entering the Addicted to stamps and SSS Wednesday  challenge.



       

Tropical Memories

15th of May and it is time for a second dose of inspiration for our
STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge!

You can choose to follow either the theme or the sketch, or of course both, for the chance to win a prize! If you'd like to be considered for the prizes, please make sure you're linking back to the challenge post and displaying the challenge graphic.



I chose a travel/nautical theme with a tropical vibe, maybe my next holidays... -she says hopefully-

All stamps are from the Born to Roam set, stamped in Memento black, except for the sentiment stamped with a blue Kaleidacolor inkpad.
I coloured boat and camera with pencils and the sea with alcohol markers.

I added a piece of Photoplay paper from the Aloha collection, which I cut with... (drumroll please) decorative scissors!!!
I can't remember the last time I used them and I am awfully proud they saw a bit of action!

***

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

***

For more inspiration hop on over to the Stamplorations blog, you still have 2 weeks to create something for the challenge and be in with a chance to win a prize…

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the  Lost Coast Designs, Addicted to stamps, and Allsorts challenges.
   

Celebrate

Today is my turn to inspire you to enter the Country View Challenge where the theme chosen by the lovely Miriam is Tea Party (or any type of party).

If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland this should be an easy theme for you but it's one which had me retrieving unloved freebies, because my stamps are mostly photo realistic, grungy or Vintage and they don't lend themselves to that particular theme!

The freebie I used came with a magazine (Papercraft Essentials 89)  and included a plastic template to make the stepper card, papers and toppers. To put together I just had to cut, fold, glue. To finish I picked a word die-cut and some chipboard embellishments from my very old stash.

**** stash busting... feeling virtuous  ****

Right, better give you a look of the finished item, not a favourite, but I know a few people who like Humphrey...

Over to you… create something on our theme and enter our Country View Challenge before the end of the month to be in with a chance to win a £20 voucher to spend in the shop.

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Allsorts challenge.

Spring Fling Blog Hop at STAMPlorations

Today I am joining my teammates at STAMPlorations to kick off our Spring Fling blog hop and linky party, which this year comes later than usual due to the circumstances.

This event is a special series of 3 posts celebrating the spring season, hop with us and leave comments on the STAMPlorations post and the DT blogs and/or link a project of your own to be in a chance to win prizes!!!

My contribution gives pride of place to the Dragonfly Cover Plate (part of the Spring Fling promotion - see below for details)

First I applied double sided adhesive to a piece of card.

I die-cut the cover plate from the coloured cardstock and applied it on top of the adhesive. I inlaid back into place several pieces, paying particular attention to the dragonfly body and wings.
I tried to apply the pieces as lightly as I could since I wanted to remove them later.

With the Dragonfly protected, I poured gold glitter all over the card.

Next I removed the card pieces from the wings and poured blue glitter on top. Taking off any remaining cardstock bits I applied the green glitter.

My sentiment is also glittered but this time I actually die-cut it from glitter paper, with the Wonderful Word Die (also in the Spring Fling promotion!!!)

Another look with the light shining on the glitter:

***
May store promotion: All throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly. Don't forget to use my STAMPGIRLCRAFTY code to get up to 35% off on these products and 20% of regular priced items!!!
***

The next Spring Fling post will be published on the 20th of May and the final one on the 27th of May.

Leave a comment before hopping to the STAMPlorations blog!
Thanks for coming by,


   

Bloom and Bees

I have been meaning to use a stamp set I got a few months ago, just before my mojo left me in the lurch, and this weekend I finally got around to it!

I used a gelli print as a base for my page, one of the rare ones that I actually liked. If I remember correctly the stencils I used are the 6x6 Gears from TCW, a die-cut with the Hexagons Cover plate from Papertrey ink and Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mixed Media Thinlits. The paints I used were Paper Artsy Frescos.

I added some embossed motifs with the Stamperia Wallpaper Music and Writings and Wow! powders in Grape and Olive as well as some stamping with the Calligraphy mat 13 by The Artistic Stamper in Versamagic Aubergine.

The flower, bees, dictionary definition and small honeycomb motifs are stamps from the Sunflower Bee set (by Julie Hickey). There is a matching die set which I used to give a bit of dimension to the flower. I added a stem from a Sizzix thinlit die set (Wildflower stems 2) and the "Artful Blooms" top right is from the ELB03 set by Paper Artsy.

Lo and behold... I both enjoyed the process and like the result, a very unusual state of affairs...

Now I only hope you will like it too!!!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Paperbabe, Stamping Sensations, The Artistic Stamper, Vintage Journey, We Love 2 Create, SSS Monday challenges.

Tropical Birds

What a weird Spring so far... I am looking ahead to Summer and the holidays, hopefully not in confinement, but by the beach, in the tropics, or just anywhere outside!

Which is your cue for the STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge this month:

For my first inspiration make I went with the tropical vibes and the Birds of paradise of course!

For my background and row of tropical birds, I used a Photoplay paper from the Aloha collection.
I added my stamped and die-cut birds, coloured with markers, on top and embossed a sentiment from the same set to finish.

For more inspiration hop on over to the Stamplorations blog, you have a whole month to create something for the challenge and be in with a chance to win a prize…

***

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

***

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the SSS Wednesday, Craft Stamper TIMI and Addicted to stamps challenges

   

Party like it's confinement

Still in lockdown and parties are off the menu... how about a Tea Party in your own living room/back garden in total respect of social distancing rules?

Parties, Tea or others are the theme of our May Country View Challenge.

I had a bit of a rummage through my older supplies for this one. I created a banner with an old Spellbinders set to which I added rub-ons letters. I punched small holes to thread the jute twine and attached it to the card with brads. Paper and stamps are freebies from a magazine.

My focal image has been built with the help of several masks and I coloured it with alcohol markers.

A piece of paper ribbon (Lakeland - yes that old!) and a die-cut clip (Clip Tips and matching die set by Papertrey Ink) add the finishing touch.

Feminine and pretty for a change!

I will be back later this month for a second make but, in the meantime, do have a look at what my DT mates have created on the theme, and join us in our May challenge for the chance to win a £ 20 voucher!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the SSS Wednesday and Ally's Angels challenges.

Maelstrom

Rainbows are very popular in the UK at the moment, as a symbol of hope for a better time and just to cheer people up with bright colours.

I took up the challenge(s) and this image evolved as the combination of the sense of being blown uncontrollably by a whirlwind and the hope that there are better days "At end of the rainbow".

I thought the Visible Image stamp set Ahead of our Time had everything to represent my idea!

I created my rainbow colours background with Gelatos on a piece of card prepared with Gesso.
Then I used the Visible Image Stencil Strobes to remove colour.
I added the "clock" stamp with Versafine and embossed it with clear EP.


I stamped the falling people with Brilliance Graphite Black as I wanted the image to stay matt but wasn't sure Versafine would dry on the Gesso'ed and Gelato'ed surface.
And although I had aimed for solid black silhouettes, the Gelatos had an odd effect on the ink, which I decided was a good thing!

Finally, also a mishap I accepted to live with, I stamped and embossed the "Future" with Wow Yellow EP only to realise that the colour wasn't opaque as I'd thought.... I overstamped with Versamark and applied Vanilla on top, which allowed the image to show but does give a grainy look...

Let's hope for better days...

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the SSS Monday, Addicted to stamps, Stamping Sensations challenges.

Sunset and zebras

Today I am back on the Country View Challenge blog with another inspiration make. The theme is "Animal Magic" chosen by  Corrie.

Like my previous make for the challenge, I have gone for a CAS design and a realistic look, but, the brayered background gives a totally different feel.

I stamped and masked the zebras (Imagination Crafts Art stamp) on glossy card,  and brayered some dye inks for the sky and water.
I added the sentiment (Creative Stamping issue 57) embossed in white.

Again a simple creation where stamping takes the center stage.

Over to you now to create something with an animal, real or fantasy, and join us in our April challenge for the chance to win a £ 20 voucher!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Unikostudio, Craft Stamper TIMI, Penny Black and more challenges.

Old, new and outright weird

Vintage Journey are encouraging  us to use our Gelli plates and with more time to play these days (!!!) I thought I would oblige...

And even though I have many stamps perfect for mark making and creating backgrounds, I selected tools from my collection of found objects:

You will recognise most of those, including the sequin waste and bubble wrap, more weird are the nerf gun "bullets", which can be used on both sides for mark making. As I did several layers of paints some of the texture got lost in the end but here goes:

 

At this stage I added some proper stamping, especially since I had to test some new rubber… starting with Just the Ticket Border stamp from Crafty Individuals (CI-498) and the old(er) Crackle background (CI-116).

I then die-cut a square from my Masterboard and added the Perching Robin (CI-507, also new in my collection) once coloured with pencils and fussy cut.

Finally, I used one of the die-cut words from the Thinlits Adventure Words set (Sizzix/Tim Holtz).

Do tell me what you think in your comments!

Thanks for coming by,
I am also entering the Allsorts, Penny Black and more, Craft Stamper challenges.

Flying to the stars

Mid month already and time for  second dose of inspiration for our April STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge.

You can choose to follow either the theme or the sketch, and of course both, for the chance to win a prize! If you'd like to be considered for the prizes, please make sure you're linking back to the challenge post and displaying the challenge graphic.

I chose to go with the theme only and made this card:

My "sky" is patterned paper (brand unknown) my hills are Core'dinations cut with the one of the Stitched Snow Hills die and lightly sanded.

The plane from the Born to Roam set is simply stamped with black dye ink on white card and I added the sentiment from the Art Marks set.

After a total ban of travelling one can dream to take to the sky and reach the stars, no?
 

***

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

***

For more inspiration hop on over to the Stamplorations blog, you still have 2 weeks to create something for the challenge and be in with a chance to win a prize…

Thanks for coming by,


     

Seahorse

I should have been showing you rabbits, chicks or hens today but... Seahorses have been popular in the stamping world recently and I had valiantly resisted buying one. Then, I saw this cute one from Lavinia and caved... I love the delicate filaments of this design.

My background is Gelatos on a polymer rectangle sprayed with water (wouldn't recommend this method, inks work much better for this).

I then stamped the Seahorse with black Versafine and overstamped with Versamark, using my stamping platform.

I needed the base colour of black for the Seahorse to be visible when in the shade, but in the sun... it's the silver mica I applied over the Versamark that is visible :

I added a wooden anchor (old stash) and 2 sentiments from the Sizzix Thinlits Vacation Words by Tim Holtz.

Happy Easter!
I am entering the Allsorts, Craft Stamper TIMI, Penny Black and more  and Addicted to Stamps challenges.