STAMPlorations Monthly Challenge #4 - Stamps and Stitches

This month's STAMPlorations challenge is all about stamps and stitches.

I've used real stitching on the kraft panel, and stamped stitches from the Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Pentagons set.  From the same set, I've used one of the pentagons for the background, then overstamped with the script stamps from Vignette Live Love Laugh.  Mounted the panels onto a prepared DIY burlap block, and added some Prima flowers, die cut rolled flower, punched leaves and a bit of Stickles.

I'd seen the packs of burlap blocks in my local craft store and decided that I could make my own for a fraction of the price, so I bought some hessian/burlap from the craft store and some wood from the DIY store, got my dad to saw them into pieces and glued the hessian onto the blocks.  I've prepared 19 blocks for half the cost of the 4 pack in the store.  Think of all that money I've saved - I can spend it on stamps instead :)))

Anyway, back to the challenge.  It's open until the end of February.  Take a look at what the rest of the team have designed for your inspiration and then get creating!  You must use stamps but they needn't be STAMPlorations stamps, you can use what you already have.  And you never know, you might just get lucky and win some!

If you play in the monthly challenge and the two February sketch challenges, you are also in with a chance of winning this prize:

Love and Marriage

I'm playing along with CASology, where the cue word is AND.  The challenge is being sponsored this week by STAMPlorations, and as I'm on the STAMPlorations design team, I thought I'd use my STAMPlorations stamps.

I drew a pencil circle on the card, using the inside of a tape roll as a guide, then stamped a pentagon stamp from the Patchwork Frenzy: Graphic Pentagons around the outside of the circle using Tattered Rose Distress ink, keeping the same point facing out.  I don't normally practice on scrap paper, I just dive straight in, but I've got to admit to having a couple of trial runs with this one to make sure I didn't end up with a half-pentagon at the end.  The couple and the sentiment are from Vignette: Ever After.

I'm also playing at Shopping Our Stash where the challenge is Love Me Tender (all sing along now).

I'm playing at One Layer Simplicity Challenge where the theme is "Can You Repeat That",

And at Simon Says Monday Challenge where the theme is Love Notes.

Watercolour Flowers

I've been channelling my inner Heather Telford after watching this video tutorial.  Heather's cards are stunning and it was great to watch the step-by-step process.  So here's my attempt.  I applied a wash of Canteloupe and New Sprout, then before it dried, stamped the flowers in Elderberry which spread into the wash.  When it was almost dry I re-stamped the flowers in Elderberry and Olive Grove.  It spread slightly in the damper parts and stayed crisp on the drier parts.

I'm entering this into Runway Inspired Challenge:

Really?  Well, yes.  The purple, the flowers, the linework of the flowers, the pale gold, the hint of blue, and the black diagonal line of the gloves.  (Is it just me or do those gloves make her hands look like hooves?)

Zip File

This card was inspired by two cards: the first one I saw was this one by Karen where she had inked washi tape and transferred the ink to the card, and I wanted to try the technique.  Then I saw this design team card by Shery for the STAMPlorations sketch, using faux stitching, and the idea for a card was born.

I can't bring myself to use washi tape as a tool rather than a decoration - if I can use masking tape in its place, I will.   Plus, I was hoping that the rougher texture of masking tape would give an impression of denim, and I was pleased with the result.  So I "stamped" two rows of masking (re-inking the masking tape for the second pass) then stamped the bold stitching to represent a zip.  I know zips have interlocking teeth, but just use your imagination.  And if you look closely you'll see single stitching down one edge of the denim, and double stitching down the other edge.  I stamped the Happy Birthday in matching ink, distressed the edges of the panel and tied some twine round it then mounted it onto the base card.  I like the mix of denim and twine - a bit rugged.  I may or may not have been influenced by the fact that I'm reading Pioneer Woman.

This card actually fits the current sketch at STAMPlorations - pop over and take a look, and I hope you'll join us.

I'm entering this into Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes with Twine or String

and Seize The Birthday, this time without the toppings.

Stamps used:  (all STAMPlorations)
Patchwork Frenzy: Graphic Squares (bold stitching)
Patchwork Frenzy: Graphic Pentagons (fine stitching)
Vignette: Chevron and Arrows (sentiment)

STAMPlorations Sketch Challenge #5

It's time for Sketch Challenge #5 at STAMPlorations.  For my card, I've used strips of washi tape.  The "love" tape and the plain black tape are part of a pack from Ikea - it's surprising where you find washi tape now.  I added the red/white dotty tape and stamped the I ♥ U sentiment (Vignette Eclectic Florals) in Versafine Onyx Black, trimmed it and attached it with a red coated paperclip.  In the words of Darnell, it's a QACAS card (quick and clean and simple).

Here are all the deets:

PRIZE

The sketch challenges are sponsored by our sister shop, All About Scrapping. The winner gets to pick 3 DIGITAL products from the shop -- any combination of printable sheets, Photoshop templates, and digital paper packs. The winner will also be invited as a Guest Designer in next month's sketch challenge.

I'm entering this into the current Fusion challenge:

Rainbow Rays

You know when you get an idea in your head, and you've just got to go with it?  First, there was the sketch from Waltzingmouse Fanatics:

Then there was the rainbow challenge from Less is More, who are celebrating their third birthday:

I used the Tim Holtz Layering Stencil 003 Rays, adding a little colour from the previous ray, then shifted the stencil slightly to the left/down and added colour from the next ray.  I coloured some white cotton ribbon with Distress Inks, then spritzed, scrunched and dried it.

I've had the pre cut/pre scored card for years and thought it was about time I started using it up.  It's scored about an inch from one edge so that it can be folded back on itself.  I punched a couple of holes to thread the ribbon through, tied a bow then stuck the fold down with pop dots.

Stamps by Waltzingmouse: Say It Loud

iPhone, uPhone

I'm still in iPhone mode, and the more I looked at Marion's inspiration card at Muse, the more I saw an iPhone in that frame.  I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate a flower and foliage into a card with an iPhone, but hey, that's what artistic licence is for.  Who needs a reason anyway?

I made some modelling paste up from Polyfilla and a combination of Distress Ink, Memento Ink, and because neither of them were working, a good dollop of purple acrylic paint, which I should have just gone for in the first place.  While the chevrons were still wet I sprinkled them with ultra-fine glitter.  And then the phone rang.  Rapidly drying stencils, glitter everywhere...

I'm playing along with CASology where the cue word is purple:

And with CAS-ual Fridays where the challenge is to have something extending over the edge of your card/project,

And at Seize The Birthday where the theme is always birthday, but this week's topping is chevrons.

And I'm also sharing it in the gallery at the Stencilled Online Card Class.  I so enjoyed that class.  If you were ever unsure about taking the plunge with stencils, give this class a go.