STAMPlorations Card Fronts - Artsy Abstract 2

Hello, we've got some fab new products for you at STAMPlorations - sets of 4 pre-printed US-sized card fronts in loads of designs, from nostalgic to funky to retro to floral, there's something to suit all tastes.  They're great for those last-minute cards, and combining with what's already in your stash.

I've used the Artsy Abstract 2 set to make 4 cards, and combined them with coloured envelopes for an extra pop of colour.  

Two of the fronts have a good space for adding a sentiment, so for the first one I've added the big Congrats Word Art die cut in deep red.

For my second card, I've added 'thanks' from the Skinny Sentiments die set (one of my favourite die sets), which I cut from white with a silver mirri background.

For my third card I've used the Skinny Sentiments die set again, but this time I've used the negative of 'Celebrate" (keep your negatives, girls!), and added two die-cut balloons (Shaker Balloons No. 3 Oval).

My final card uses the Coffee Cup Large stamp, to which I added a touch of colour, and a sentiment from The Bee's Knees - Classic Shoes.

You can see all the Card Fronts in more detail here, and if you like what you see, you can either buy a selection or get all of them on a subscription plan.  Check here for this and other great plans.

If you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you can get 20% discount on your purchases (not available on subscriptions).

Happy stamping!

Visible Image - Make It Count

Hello and Happy New Year!  For my first Visible Image post of 2026 I've made a mini flip book of inspirational and motivational quotes using the Present Times stamp set, which has so many great words of wisdom in it.

I started by preparing two master boards on A5 lightweight card and distress inks (originally I was going to make a wish jar and thought lightweight card would work best, and it's an A5 pad).  I started by sponging two colours, then stamped the numbers using the same colours, and also watermarking with the numbers stamp.

For contrast, I used the Atmospheric stencil with Weathered Wood distress ink.

Once I'd added all my stencilling I cut the card into eight 3x4 inch pieces.

Then I stamped each of the six quotes onto separate cards.  I used the arrow stamps for the first and last cards.

To make my book cover I punched the tops of the cards with my Bind-It-All machine.

I punched two clear Acrylic covers then spiral-bound the whole thing with the bind-It-All.

The numbers were cut from Birthday Balloons dies, and after running them through my Xyron Create-a-sticker, I adhered them to the front acrylic cover.

Now I have a desk-based flip book, and I can choose a random quote to inspire me!  Here are the Visible Image products I used, which can be found here.

I've made a video flip through, which will be on my Instagram feed, shirleybeeuk.

STAMPlorations Anything Goes January Challenge!

Hellooo!  After a hiatus while Shery was going through cancer treatment, STAMPlorations is back!  Baby steps at first, while we all get back into the swing of things, so we're starting off with a monthly Anything Goes Challenge.

I've used The Bee's Knees Groovy Platform Shoes, watercoloured with Distress Inks, and the smaller version from Groovy Shoes stamped in grey for the background.  I paired that with the CUTplorations Birthday word die, which I cut once in white and watercoloured to match, and once in black for a drop shadow.

We do hope you'll play along with us - there are prizes!

- winner of $25 prize code chosen by a STAMPgirl from entries that use STAMPlorations products

- winner of $10 prize code randomly chosen from entries (need not feature a STAMP product)

Simple rules:

- Anything goes, any type of project, any style

- use of STAMPlorations products not a requirement

- link back to the challenge post (if blog entry) or tag @stamplorations if joining via IG

- multiple entries per crafter allowed

- challenge ends 31 January.

Please do check the updated full challenge rules, particularly in relation to what images can and can't be used, and we hope to see you in the gallery!

When you're shopping in the store, you can get 20% off by using my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY (doesn't apply to subscriptions).

Happy stamping!

Visible Image - Time To Fly

Visible Image Stamps have got a fab new release out, called Time To Fly, consisting of three stamp sets and three stencils.

I've used Take Flight stamp set and Ledger stencil to make my card.

I started off by stencilling distress inks through the Ledger stencil onto a linen-textured card, then lightly rollered distress ink across the card to highlight the texture.  I forgot the take a photo of that process, so here's a close-up.

On spare card, I stamped the sentiments in black, then sponged the same distress colours through the text and trimmed them.

For the feather panel, I did the background first.  I started by stamping three small feathers and sponged the same colour over them, then rollered distress inks onto the stamp for a softer image, filling in the rest of the panel. The ink coverage on the stamp was very smooth, with no blotchiness.

That was my original plan, but the panel needed a focal point, so I stamped the large feather in black, then matted the panel onto black card.

The text sentiments helped to anchor the panel, and lead the eye across the card.

Here's another look at the completed card:

And here are close-ups of the two sets I've used:

  

You can see the whole release on the Visible Image website, and if you go on the Visible Image YouTube channel you can also see up close all the fabulous makes from the Design Team on the Launch Day video.

Why not treat yourself for Christmas? 

Visible Image - Autumn Harvest

When I think of autumn's bounty, I don’t just think of fruits and vegetables, I also think of flowers - chrysanthemums, dahlias, coneflowers, all in their rich colours, and that's what's prompted my card today.

For my background I smooshed Spiced Marmalade, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed onto the Leafy stencil, spritzed with water and laid it onto my card panel.  There was still enough ink on the stencil to spritz and get a second print for a future project.

I stamped the flower from A Friend Like You using Aged Mahogany and Crackling Campfire distress inks.  I stamped a few masks then used those to build the bouquet of flowers. 

After I’d removed the masks I used the same inks to watercolour the flowers.  I used a Zig blending pen and red pen to achieve different highlights and shadows.  I stamped and coloured the vase then cut the whole image out.

Rather than try to cut the small spaces out between some of the flowers, I coloured them in yellow to match the background.

 

I used one of the stamps from the Transmission Glitch to ground the vase, 

and added a sentiment from A Friend Like You above to balance the design.

Then I matted the background onto my card base and added the vase of flowers.  I like to have the main image off-centre, allowing a slight overhang on the border. 

Here's a photo of the finished card with all the Visible Image products used.

These stamps and stencil, along with many other fabulous designs, are available on the Visible Image website here.

Seize The Birthday - Use Christmas Supplies

 

Hello!  It's our last challenge of the year at Seize The Birthday, and Ashwini has chosen 'Use Christmas Supplies' as our theme.

For a fun birthday card I chose to use one of the least Christmassy images from Tim Holtz Snarky Cat Christmas, along with the stars and message at the bottom.  The 'It's Your Birthday' sentiment is by Altenew.

Pop along to the Seize The Birthday blog to see how the rest of the team and our guest designers have used their Christmas supplies, and play along.  If you don't want to use your Christmas supplies, you can still play along with our Anything Goes challenge.  See you in the gallery!

Visible Image - Remembrance Day

For this week's theme of Remembrance Day, I've created a single page of reflection in my square journal.

The journal is quite small, 5.5” square, but I like working on small bases, and it was the perfect width for the Grungy Union Jack.  I used mini sponges to sponge Lumberjack Plaid and Blueprint Sketch distress inks through the stencil at the top of the page.

On the lower third of the page I sponged Peeled Paint distress ink then sponged the Wildflowers stencil once with Peeled Paint, then reversed the stencil and used Mowed Lawn to vary the shades of green and direction of leaves.

I knew that the background as it was would be too vivid for what I wanted, and I planned to use a vellum overlay to soften the effect.  I wanted the effect of a field of random poppies on the vellum and the Atmospheric stencil was perfect for this.

I didn’t have any red texture paste so I coloured some clear Cosmic Shimmer Texture Paste with Festive Berries distress stain, and stencilled through the stencil onto the vellum. It looked pale pink while it was wet, but fortunately dried red.

I needed to attach the vellum to the front of the journal page, so I cut a piece of Destination Anywhere PET tape to size and dotted random red, blue and green on with alcohol inks, leaving plenty of white space. 

I used half the width of the tape to adhere the vellum to the journal.

 

Using one of the stamps from the Present Times stamp set I made three wooden grave markers, then placed these onto the vellum, adhering with red liner tape. 

The vellum is only adhered at the top, so you can still lift it to see the underwork.. 

And that completed my tribute page, shown here with the products I used.

May we never forget.