STAMPlorations cas cards challenge january

Happy New Year 2022!!!

And welcome to the STAMPlorations January CAS Cards challenge!

As always the challenge is to create any CAS card, with an optional color twist. What better to start off this new year than with this month's optional twist which is "rainbow."

When I thought rainbow I thought rainbow bridge so I decided to replenish my stock of doggie sympathy cards...

Mini Art Marks 1 stamp

Blossom Overture stamp

Concord and 9 ink 

The sentiment continues onto the inside with "sorry for your loss."

CAS card tip: Use multiple colors (in this case "rainbow") with only one image.

I'm looking forward to your CAS card creations this month! Your project might be chosen as one of the prize winners. Check out how the DT was inspired by this month's photo here.

And don't forget about my STAMPlorations discount code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off should I ever inspire you to do some shopping ;)  Thanks for stopping over today. See you in the gallery. 

 

simon says stamp - creepy crawlers not just for halloween

I've had a play with the Creepy Crawlers background stamp and discovered it doesn't have to be just for Halloween (IMO). I used the spiders to add interest to a November birthday card for a guy.

Here it is.

SSS Creepy Crawlers stamp

Concord and 9th Laceleaf stamp/die

Inkystamp sentiment

Altenew Tranquility inks, distress oxides, silver and bronze embossing powder

There's actually quite a bit happening on this card. I was trying out new-to-me products. First I inked up a panel of Neenah white with the blue grays from Altenew. Decided it made a good night sky so I splattered some water and then some watered-down Black Soot ink. (See what I did with the leftover Black Soot on my next card ;)  Then I opted for some creepy crawlers hanging around in the night forest, first in gray then purple oxides.

Since this card is for a man and not a kid I had to cut the cute so I went with the leaf and an artistic sentiment, both heat embossed onto shimmer gray cardstock in two tones of powder. I love the effect. 

So I mentioned the leftover Black Soot. Did I mention I have a guy friend with a Halloween birthday? Enter more creepy crawlers.

SSS Creepy Crawlers stamp

SSS Alphabet Blocks die

STAMPlorations Number Plate die

I picked up the leftover ink with a panel of Neenah and then stamped the spiders. Used the numbers die cut negative piece which was laying around to back my sentiment and added a few dots of fake Nuvo drops which fit the grungy feel of this card perfectly. There's a belated birthday greeting stamped inside!

Thanks for visiting. I'm enjoying being back playing with my supplies. I'm hooking up at the SSS Monday Challenge where it's about Any Holiday Occasion and also the Stamptember Gallery cuz these creeply crawlers were part of that release.

age is just a number

So someone else in our house turned a big "23". All he asked for for his birthday was a chocolate cake - American style - box mix and canned frosting. To quote "nothing healthy!"
Yep, that's my boy.

Since I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make that happen (I was), I decided to give him at least a card with a chocolate cake. And the Concord and 9th cake was calling to me in all its glory.

Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp

Copic markers

I revisited Kelly L's video on coloring chocolate frosting (she's amazing) and gave it my best shot.

It's amazing how this versatile stamp set carries the whole card. Since this image is pretty feminine, I tried to go easy on the colors to not make it too girly. DS appreciated my ole college try!

I'm stopping by:
Watercooler Wednesday - AG Masculine
Bastel Traum - AG

25 days of christmas tags 2018 - part 2

So I'm making sets of tags as neighbor gifts this year... thanks to Tracey's 25 days of Christmas tags.

Without further ado, here are my next three.

For Day 1 with Simon Says Stamp I was inspired by Ankita's simple tags layering a piece of die cut vellum over die cut PP. So happy I got to use up some more PP ;)

 Papertrey Tag Sale #1 die

Simon Says Stamp Holy Stars die
Simon Says Stamp Winter Scene stamp
white embossing powder

For Day 3 with Concord and 9th I was inspired by Jessica's inked beauties (and I also happen to have just the stamp she used). To save some time since I'm making sets, I swiped mini ink pads across my CS before die cutting the tags. Then I heat embossed onto them using my MISTI. Dressed a few up with sequins.

MFT Fish Tail Banner Stax die

Concord and 9th O Christmas Tree stamp

white embossing powder

Altenew inks

For Day 10 with Studio Katia, I loved the watercolored poinsettias by Tracy. When I thought about making multiples I decided to do some stamping and then soften the ink by spritzing with water/moving the ink with a waterbrush rather than watercoloring all those stamped images.

 Papertrey Tag Sale #3 die

STAMPlorations Layered Poinsettias stamp

Klartext Frohe Weihnachten stamp

Distress inks

gold embossing powder

Pretty artsy fartsy. But I've a friend who will certainly appreciate them. And you gotta love the shimmer from a spritz of perfect pearl mixture!

I'll be back with more. So happy Tracey's challenge spurred me to create my neighbor gifts for Christmas in November! Thanks Tracey!

I'm also joining in at:

Addicted to Stamps - AG with option ribbon (#3)

Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas (#3)

Crafty Hazelnut PP Challenge - November (#1)
Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor November (#3)

papertrey january blog hop

It's that time of the month over at Papertrey! When I saw this photo I knew I had to play along. It's right up my alley. B/W. Lots of white. Polka dots. Rainbow sprinkles. And those cone shapes, see 'em? Looked like unicorn horns to me...

PTI Big Hugs die

PTI Scene It Skyscapes (stars) die

PTI Scribbles stamp

Lifestyle Craft diamond die

Concord and 9th Awesomeness stamp

Concord and 9th Grateful stamp

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens

Stamped the sentiment on my cardbase. Stamped and fussy cut the unicorn, watercolored with blue, yellow and pink Zigs and gave some shimmer with Perfect Pearls mixture. Shaded a bit of gray too. Die cut a diamond and stamped scribbles and some black polka dots on it then colored. Die cut the starry sky circle and the hugs sentiment and layered it all together! Added a few iridescent sequins - cuz unicorn!

Thanks for stopping by. Can't wait to see how you interpreted the photo.

I'm taking my creation to:
Where Creativity meets C9 - Use your first C9 stamp
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Layer it up

#thedailymarker30day

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

The Paper Girls - Water Colors

pinsights and concord and 9th

I knew there was a mix-up challenge over at Ellen Hutson with Concord and 9th, however it came and went without my playing. But then I saw the Pinsights inspiration and decided those pods could be interpreted with feathers so here are those C9 feathers. Again.

 Concord and 9th Grateful stamp

Concord and 9th Sweet and Cool stamp

Essentials by Ellen Merry and Bright die

Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers

See? There are the feathers hiding under the stitched-on-vellum. I'd thought I was going to work the panel with feathers into a design with a PP pack I picked up recently (yeah, like I need more), but couldn't make that happen. Ended up working it onto this cardbase I'd used to clean up leftovers ages ago!

But then I had to make a card with the perfect PP pack (from my local TEDI dollar store). So this happened. I think it captures the mood of the garden in the inspiration photo perfectly.

Essentials by Ellen Many Thanks die

Just added a strip of silver glitter washi between the two panels to pick up on the gray of the damask PP and called it good. Thanks for looking.

I'm taking this to:

EH Pinsights Challenge - January

Where Creativity meets C) - Use your first C9 set

twofer meets concord and 9th

The stars have aligned.

What do you have when your interwebs friend starts a new challenge with a "feather" theme and one of your favorite challenges asks you to use your first stamp set from the company and it just happens to have a feather in it?!?!? Luck, my friends. You have luck.

Twofer meets Concord and 9th.

Meet card #1.

 Concord and 9th Grateful stamp

Concord and 9th Flourish stamp

Altenew ink cubes

I think I was still influenced by the colors over at Altenew's challenge this month ;) You know I love me some random stamping. I random stamped around the edges, inserting a couple B/W feathers to loosen the pattern up a bit. You almost don't notice them on this card. The bright flowers capture the eye.

Meet card #2. No denying this one's a feather card.

Also one layer, the interest on this card comes from the messy watercoloring with Zigs, a heat embossed sentiment and some (if I say so myself) perfect black splatters. Probably couldn't do that again if I tried!

So here's the duo again in one photo, cuz that's how they want 'em over at Twofer. See the feather image on both the hello and thank you cards?

I'm joining the fun at:
Where Creativity meets C9 - Use your first C9 set (I must be old, my first set's retired!)

Twofer Card Challenge #1 - Feathers (Congrats on a great idea for a challenge, Darnell!)

Danipeuss Kartenchallenge #60 - Alles Erlaubt
Penny Black and More - Something New (Flourish is by no means new, but I'd never used it before!)

tags for 25 days of christmas tags - part 3

Three more tags to top my neighbor gift Christmas card sets. Inspired by Tracey M's 25 Days of Christmas Tags.

For Day 10 with Winnie and Walter I was inspired by Lindsey's simple but oho red tag and made one just like it.

MFT Traditional Tags, Papertrey Wonderful Words Holiday, Avery Elle Winter Wreaths

For Day 11 with Studio Katia I totally loved Tracy's gold-embossed-on-dark-CS tags cuz I made a set of cards just like it (which you'll see soon).

MFT Blueprints 4, WMS Poinsettias, Create a Smile Schone Bescherung

For Day 15 with the MUSE Christmas challenge ladies, I was inspired by Kimberly and Cornelia to make a white on white tag to accompany my marbled trees set.

Papertrey Tag Sale 1 die, Diemond Die Pine Tree, C9 O Christmas Tree

Once again, thanks for the wonderful inspiration Tracey and all her guests!

tags for 25 days of christmas tags - part 1

"We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming"...

A little break from Christmas card sets today, though there are more coming...

I decided to make tags to go on the wrapping of the Christmas card sets and what luck that Tracey M's 25 Days of Christmas Tags is happening right now.

So without further ado, here are my first three tags.

For Day 6 with Lil Inker I was inspired by Laura P's pastel ornament shaker and made this shaker tag to accompany my Flora and Fauna card set.

Technique Tuesday Magic Circle die, Flora and Fauna Holiday Terrarium, pine punch

For Day 7 with Birch Press I was inspired by Tracey's layered snowflakes and made this sparkly tag to accompany my sparkly card set.

Kesi Art Flocons die

For Day 14 with Concord and 9th, in the very first trio of tags I fell in love with the kraft tag and made this to accompany my Lasse and Peer card set.

Papertrey Tag Sale 3 die, Concord and 9th O Christmas Tree

I'll be back with three more tomorrow. Still monkey clapping that I started working on my neighbor gifts early so Tracey's challenge spurred me to create "matching" tags to decorate my packaging. Thanks Tracey!

christmas card set - just add ink sketch

Oops. Before I bring in the bears I have to pop in with this set of cards which was inspired by a pad of PP I bought at the local dollar store (Tedi for anyone in the listening area!) and a sketch from Just Add Ink #385.

And since the challenge closes soon, I'm squeaking these in. Playing at:
HLS Anything Goes with Dies November 
Where Creativity meets C9- Christmas
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
12 Months of Christmas Linkup - Star Struck too!

The patterns on the paper inspired the "feel" I went for on each card with my take on the sketch.

Number one. Went with the busiest paper and kept the embellishing simple. But glittered! And I thought my latest product from Simon Says Stamp (thanks, Simon) would do well cut up for the three "banners".

STAMPlorations Gift Builder #2, SSS Fa La La

and Fa La La stamp set

Number two. One sheet of  PP fits two cards perfectly, so...

STAMPlorations Christmas Baubles #1, Lil Inker Stitched Rectangles, Concord and 9th O Christmas Tree

Number three. Stars go well with angels, don't you think?

STAMPlorations Christmas Icons Angel, SSS Holiday Shapes Hearts Stars, Cottage Cutz Loops Edger, Klartext Frohe Weihnachten

Number four. The stars needed to be a bit bolder so golden they became!

STAMPlorations Christmas Icons Angel, PTI Sketched Stars, Klartext Frohe Weihnachten

Number five. This paper is such fun, had to embellish with "fun" vellum dots and a sparkly tree!

STAMPlorations Trendy Christmas Trees, Lil Inker Stitched Rectangles, Klartext Frohe Weihnachten

Hope you've enjoyed. I sure enjoyed creating within the restrictions of sketch and PP, just trying to create a different feel for each card. Back with the bears tomorrow!

warm shades of C9

Well that post title actually makes no sense, but whatever...

When I made yesterday's card for the Where Creativity meets C9 challenge, I decided to create a forest of warm colors too. Used Altenew inks and came up with this.

Love this bottle brush tree set called O Christmas Tree ! Topped one tree with a sequin star for some oomph!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!

I'm joining in at:
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #40 Anything Goes + Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

shades of c9

Had another idea for a card for the Where Creativity meets C9 challenge...

I'd nearly forgotten that I had this bottle brush tree set called O Christmas Tree (shame on me!) but when I ran across it I realized how cool a forest in Concord and 9th teal/blue tones would look. Agree?

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have a warm color version of this card for you tomorrow. Hope you'll come by again. Have a great day!

I'm joining in at:
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #40 Anything Goes + Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Monochromatic

recycling for a pocket shaker card

I saw a Christmas card over at Kristina W.'s and my recycling-loving creative soul got all excited... What do you think I recycled?

That's recycled stamp set cellophane packaging, my friends! Made my card, a pocket shaker really (who says a card has to have a flap?!?) by filling and stitching one up!

Chose packaging which would fit my envelope. Trimmed a piece of vellum to fit inside it and added sequins and die cut Confetti from Winnie and Walter that was left over from the stencil I made for this card. 

I die cut "happy" from Papertrey from paper that matches the printed vellum. These were from a pad I got at Aldi years ago! Finally found a way to use it up that I actually like! See how cool it looks when the light shines through the pocket?

That white strip with the secondary sentiment from Keep it Simple Belated Birthday is matched by a white strip on the back so I have a place to write a message.

Loving this fun "card", I decided to pair sequins and unicorns. Cuz why not, right? And I remembered this challenge over at Where Creativity Meets C9.

This is also a pocket shaker, but with a piece of PP I stamped on in it rather than a piece of vellum. I incorporated the Concord and 9th colors and played with Unicorn Awesomeness. Added a strip of blue torn CS along the bottom and stamped the sentiment onto an ombred die cut. I stamped white CS with Altenew teals and blues using a stamp from Scribbly Splattery Grunge, spritzed it with lotsa Perfect Pearls and die cut it using STAMPlorations Bloom Happy before stamping the sentiment in navy.

I absolutely love playing with the finished result - all those fabulous sequins, hearts and moons and stars (no clover for you Lucky Charms eaters out there ;)

 Hope you enjoyed these. So easy to make and SUCH FUN to play with ;)

I'm taking both of these birthday cards over to Anything Goes at Seize the Birthday, too. And the first one to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies.