STAMPlorations Inspiration #218

Hello, and welcome to another Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations.  We're wrapping up our Things With Wings event with more inspiration from the team.  Up until 31 May all items in the Things With Wings section of the store are automatically15% off, no code needed.  I you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get a further 20% off.

I used the negative cut from when I made this card.  I sponged it with Distress Inks then splattered with water and left it to dry.  It was a bit too subtle so I splattered again and this time mopped the water straight off, which lifted the colour.

I placed the Perched Bird negative cut onto my base card and pencilled around the edges, then stamped fairly randomly so that the large words would appear in the cut-out.  Then I added a sentiment from Noteworthy.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and don't forget to comment before 4 June and link up your winged creation to be in with a chance of winning prizes.

Seize The Birthday - Presents

Hello!  We've got another great challenge for you at Seize The Birthday, and this time it's Presents.

I'm using up more bits, bobs and stash.  I found the watercoloured embossed panel in my background stash, and the present, which was already cut out and coloured, in (one of) my (many) bits and bobs packets.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is new, but stamped on an offcut strip of pale blue.

I've got to say, I very nearly just put the present and the sentiment on the card without a background, it looked beautifully CAS, but I pushed my boundaries a bit further with this mix, and I like both versions.

Pop on over to the Seize The Birthday blog for a look at some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and from our surprise party guest, Linda.

You don't need to restrict your creation to presents if you want to play along with us - any birthday-themed project will do.  Have fun creating!

STAMPlorations Things With Wings Hop and Linky Party

Hello! At STAMPlorations we're in the midst of our Things With Wings hop and linky party, and today we've got some more inspiration for you.

I used the Perched Bird die to create a roller.  We once saw a flock of rollers in Spain, and I thought I was hallucinating!  As they roll and twist you get flashes of the different colours, it's a wonderful sight.

I dipped the diecut in spritzed Distress Ink till I got the colour mix I wanted.  On my base card I finger-painted Distress paints using the same range of colours, scraped some paint on the edge of a credit card, and added a few black dots.  I also added a fern leaf from the Trendy Spring Blooms set.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from today's designers, and don't forget to comment and link up your creation for your chance to win a $10 gift code or a $15 gift certificate.  Full details on the STAMPlorations blog.

Happy Birthday, Bev!

The lovely Bev, owner of Uniko, has just had a milestone birthday and her sneaky DT organised a little surprise blog hop and linky party for her.  What better way to use my brand new Uniko stamps that I got from Port Sunlight.

Hope you're still celebrating, Bev ;)

I'm also entering this into AAA Birthday Card Challenge

STAMPlorations Inspiration #217

Hello, and welcome to Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations.  This week we're focusing on all things floral, and anything in the Flower Power section of the store is instantly 15% off, no coupon needed.

Another piece from my stash - the foiled card had been sponged with Distress Ink then spritzed, so I took my colour scheme from that using the In Bloom Fabulous Frangipanis stamp and Zig Clean Colour pens.  The sentiment is from BaaBaa.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and don't forget to comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.

STAMPlorations Special Release - Big Grins by Becca Cruger

Hello!  We've got a special release for you, with two new sets by our very own Becca Cruger.  I'm using Becca's A Ton of Fun set - she also has another set, Wild and Free, that other team members are showcasing on the STAMPlorations blog.

A Ton of Fun

Wild and Free

I used fade out ink on the outline of this image.

Fancy your chances of winning a $15 gift code or any of Becca's in-stock stamp sets?  Just leave comments on the participating blogs.  Commenting is open from 5-13 May.

Both Becca's new sets are 10% off instantly, and if you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get a further 20% off.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #216

It's Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations, and this week we're focusing on Typografia stamps.  For the next week all stamps in the Typografia section are 15% off, no code needed.  If you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll also get a further 20% off.

Again, I'm using up odds and ends - I'm determined to be able to see my desk again, ha!  I had a negative cut of the Christmas Icons - Christmas Tree 1 lying around so I sponged Distress Inks through it, then stamped the Jingle All The Way over it.  The background snowflakes are from my Christmas Reindeer set.  I added some doodling and dotting with a silver pen.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.

Seize The Birthday - Balloons

We've got a new challenge for you at Seize The Birthday, and our theme is Balloons.  I went with the balloon stencil by Neat & Tangled, and a sentiment from Altenew.   I used Distress inks in masculine shades to sponge the balloons, and added strings with with a fineliner.  I'm always short of masculine cards - must make more!

Our surprise party guest is Linda Snodgrass - pop on over and give her some bloggy love, and don't forget to take a look at the Seize The Birthday blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team.  Then all that's left is for you to play along with us!

STAMPlorations Inspiration #215

Hello!  We've got a coffee thing going on at STAMPlorations this week to tie in with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop which is running from 3-10 May.  As usual, STAMPlorations is one of the hop's super sponsors.

From 3-17 May all products in the Coffee Tea Lovers section are 20% off instantly, no code needed.  If you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get a further 20% off.  Not bad, eh?

I've used Coffee Cup Silhouette Die and Just Caffeinate Clear Stickers on a smooshed background, which is the first impression to this card's second impression.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and don't forget to comment for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.

ETA: Adding this to the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I'm actually playing along in a blog hop/challenge!  Namely, the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop.

I wanted to try out my new Ink on 3 fade out ink pad, and I'm pretty pleased with it.  I coloured with Zig Clean Colour real brush pens, a bit of watercolour pencil, and Distress Inks.  Not perfect, but a decent attempt for now.

I've used Rise and Grind and Always Tea Time from STAMPlorations.

Craft Stamper Take It, Make It

Hello, and welcome to a new Craft Stamper Take It, Make It challenge.  As always, it's Anything Goes, as long as you use polymer/rubber stamps.

This month's prize for one randomly selected winner is a set of 3 fabulous stencils from AALL and Create:

The winner chosen by the Design Team will have their winning entry published in the magazine along with a profile in the mag and the blog, and a guest designer opportunity in a future challenge.  Make sure you follow the entry rules to be in with a chance!

I've done a blokey card.  Hero Arts Newspaper Bold Prints background, Smart Aleck by Whimsy Stamps, Birthday die by STAMPlorations, Happy Cake Day by The Bee's Knees (me!).

Pop on over to the Craft Stamper blog for some more fabulous creations from the team, and play along with us for your chance to win!

STAMPlorations Inspiration #214

Hello, and welcome to the start of STAMPlorations Things With Wings month-long celebration.  There are plenty of ways to win prizes, and plenty of savings to make when you're buying - all items in the Thing With Wings section of the store are automatically 15% off, no coupon needed, and if you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you'll get an extra 20% off.

I'm still trying to use up stash.  I found this diecut bird from an earlier session, and the background was the offprint of this card (waste not, want not).  A sentiment from Feathery and an offset strip for a branch completed the card.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for details on the Hop and Linky party, and play along with us for your chance to win prizes.