Woodland Friends

 

How cute are these darling woodland critters from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps?!  They certainly make me smile!

For my card, I created a background using Distress Oxide Mustard Seed ink pad and spritzing with water.  The fence was created using the rectangle shaped stamp in the Wood Backgrounds set which I stamped on kraft cardstock, cut into strips and added a couple strips of brown cardstock for at the top and bottom.

The critters are from the Fur-ever Friends set and this pretty sentiment is from the My Thoughts of You set.

 

You're Amazing

 

Do you know someone who is amazing?  I'm certain you do!  Why not let them know how special you think they are?!  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has fabulous sets to use to create the most uplifting, positive message projects!

For my card, I created a mixed media background using Distress Oxide Inks and splattered with watered down black paint. The image is from the Dragonfly Dreams stamp set - which also comes in a bundle with the coordinating die.  The sentiment is from My Thoughts of You stamp set.

 

 

Beautiful Butterflies

 

I'm a mixed media 'dabbler'.  I love the mixed media look and, at times, it's really fun to get a little inky :)  The card I'm sharing today was simple to create and pretty quick to pull together, too!  Below is a brief tutorial...

 1)  I took watercolor paper and embossed it with Spellbinders 3D Beautiful Butterflies Embossing Folder.

2)  I then blended a few Distress Oxide inks (Faded Jeans, Twisted Citron, Scattered Straw & Gathered Twigs) over different embossed images and spritzed with water using Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer to mix up the colors a bit.  Then, dried the piece with a heat gun tool.

 3)  Using a blending brush, I gently rubbed Gathered Twigs over the embossed/raised up images and card edges to create a bit of a vintage look.

4)  Taking some Distress Oxide Black Ink onto a glass mat (or piece of acrylic), I spritzed with water and mixed it with a paint brush (or you could use a Splatter Brush.)  Then, I splattered some of the ink onto the card.  You can also use black acrylic paint.

5)  I layered blue cardstock onto the card base then adhered the mixed media piece onto the blue cardstock.

6) I cut gold cardstock using Catherine Pooler Butterfly Buddies dies and again using black cardstock; cutting out the center 'body' of the butterflies and adhered the centers to the gold diecut butterflies.

7)  The sentiment from Spellbinders Hummingbird Sentiments is heat embossed with gold embossing powder onto dark brown cardstock.  I then popped up the sentiment strip with Scrapbook Adhesive 3D Foam Strips and adhered to the card.

Glamorous Flora

 

"You Can Do Great Things" with all the fabulous crafty items in Pink & Main's recent release! I had so much fun creating this card and was excited how it turned out.

For my card, I cut copper shimmery cardstock with one of the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 dies and adhered it to the card base. Using the new Flora Stencil, I applied three different types of paste which created a distressed, rust look. I then applied lots of gold gems in the new Sparkle Gems pack -- I LOVE all the new sparkly gems. To finish, I added the sentiment from the Pretty Peony set.

 

Pink & Main and Therm-O-Web Collaboration!

 Pink & Main is thrilled to be collaborating with Therm O Web!!  To celebrate, we have TWO prizes to be won! Scroll down to the end to see how!

Below are two cards I created using both Pink & Main and Therm O Web products together...

For my first card, I used the Gina K Petals & Wings Stencil with Gina K Gold Glitz Glitter Gel.  I first sprayed the stencil with Pixi Spray which keeps the stencil flat and in place when applying the gel -- it's a game-changer!  The Glitter Gel is soooo sparkly and goes on so easy (I had to get several colors!)

 The flowers are Pink & Main Mum Dies which I thought went very well with the stencil leaves.  The sentiments are from Pink & Main's Just Because sentiment set!

For my next card, I cut the aqua and white cardstock using dies from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 Dies.  I then used the Gina K Crazy Daisy stencil and Gina K White Glitz Glitter Gel for the background.  I cut the snowflakes from three different shades of blue using the smaller of the Bold Snowflake Dies.  To finish, I used Silver Glossy Dots for the snowflake centers and added the sentiment from Just Because sentiment set.

 Here is what you’ll need to do, like BOTH Therm O Web AND Pink & Main Instagram page and Subscribe to our YouTube Channels. 

 Therm O Web Instagram
Therm O Web YouTube

Pink and Main Instagram
 Pink and Main YouTube

STAMPlorations Spring Fling Hop + Giveaways!

 Is it Spring yet?  It certainly is at STAMPlorations as we are celebrating a Spring Fling with 12 days of giveaways and specials!  You can leave a comment below, on the STAMPlorations blog and/or the blogs of the Design Team to be entered to win -- the more you enter, the better your chances!

Prizes: There will be one prize awarded each day between April 1-12th. Commenting ends on Friday, April 19, with winners announced in a special post on Monday, April 22.

Day 1 - $15 gift certificate

Day 2 - Choice of 3 in-stock 3x5 stamp sets ($21 value)

Day 3 - $25 gift code

Day 4 - Choice of 3 Sanna Lippert Designs stencils ($15 value)

Day 5 - Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 Dee's Artsy Impressions stamp set ($15 value)

Day 6 - Choice of 1 cover plate die ($25 value)

Day 7 - Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 The Bee's Knees stamp set ($15 value)

Day 8 - Choice of 1 in-stock Big Grins by Becca Cruger stamp set ($15 value)

Day 9 - Choice of 3 in-stock CUTplorations word/phrase dies (up to $30 value)

Day 10 - Choice of 1 4x8 stamp set ($20 value)

Day 11 - Choice of 1 in-stock 4x6 Shery Russ Designs stamp set ($15 value)

Day 12 - $15 gift certificate

Day 17 (extra prize) - three winners of $10 gift codes

April store promotion: All throughout April, products in the SPRING FLING section will be 25% off instantly.  If you use my code below (StampGirlKathy), you'll receive an additional 20% off !!

Let me start by saying that I struggle with mixed media.  I'm awed by the beautiful projects the STAMPlorations mixed media girls create and keep trying to make this style/technique work for me.  I have to admit, I'm pretty happy with how this card turned out (you don't want to see what some of the others looked like!)

 To start, I created a background with alcohol inks in bright, spring colors and mixed in some gold.  Then, I used STAMPlorations Foiled Again Mini Stencil and a creamy pearl embossing paste to add texture to two corners.  The butterflies and sentiments are from Trendy Butterflies which I stamped in black then blended distress oxide ink over them.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Be sure to leave a comment below, on the STAMPlorations blog and/or the blogs of the Design Team to be entered to win -- the more you enter, the better your chances!

STAMPlorations January CUTplorations Challenge - Reminder

 Since one of my New Year's resolution is to cut down on sugars, the only 'cupcakes' I'm getting close to are the ones I can make in my craft room!  How are your resolutions going?

I hope one of your resolutions is to make time for yourself and get a little creative!  STAMPlorations has just the thing to help too...there's plenty of time to play in the January challenges including this month's CUTplorations challenge!  All the details can be found HERE (psst - you can win prizes!)
 

For my card, I started by making a backdrop with distress oxide inks using the colors in the photo above for inspiration.  I used the Cupcake Builder #1 dies for the yummy treat and the Sweet word die.  The sentiment is from the Stitched Cupcake set.

2018 - Time To Soar!

 Happy 2018!  Like so many others, a new year brings thoughts of fresh starts. I have a few of those, too and my card today is a reminder to not just try, but to succeed! 

 Today is also a new start at STAMPlorations - it's the January CUTplorations challenge!   You can find all the details here. 

For my card, I used distress oxide inks to create the background which was inspired by the above photo.   I cut black cardstock using the Flutter Zen 1 Layering dies and then stamped the Soar-Say It Big Series sentiment.

Blessings for a happy, healthy New Year -- I hope you soar!

STAMPlorations September Sketch Challenge - Guest Designer!

 I'm SUPER excited to be Guest Designer for STAMPlorations September Sketch Challenge!! 

I'm fairly new to using STAMPlorations products, but they are AMAZING and owner Shery Russ is one of the sweetest people ever - her customer service is absolutely superb!!  If you haven't seen Shery's gorgeous stamp and stencil designs...you've GOT to check out the blog and shop!

Now, on to this month's Sketch Challenge...

 

 

 I'm still learning a little about using stencils and playing with mixed media.  While not my forte, I was pretty happy with how this came out :) First, I sponged over the Weathered Wood stencil and embossed/stamped with stamps in the Mixed Media Grunge set.  Then I black embossed/watercolored the Helenium flower and fussy cut it.  I finished the card adding a sentiment from the new Fond Expressions 2 set.

Hope you'll join the challenge!!

 

Products Used: