Inspirational Cards - Typografia Motivate Release

Inspiration comes in all forms - including stamps. I absolutely adore motivational sayings. I'm one of those weirdos that has them hanging in her office and her bedroom and... well basically anywhere with a little bit of empty wall space. 

That's why I was SOOOO excited when STAMPlorations announced they were coming out with a line of inspirational typography stamps. These stamps are one-man shows and perfect for making quick, impactful cards. 

I played around with two of the stamps from the line. 

This one uses the Beautiful Destinations stamp.

Yep! That is all one stamp! I stamped it twice - once in blue and once in red so I could cut out the van and give it a little POP. 

I wanted to play along with the current challenge at Just Us Girls so I used some fun designer papers  from Bo Bunny and a couple of cute enamel arrows. 

Next up, I used the Doubts stamp to create this little number.

What I love about these stamps is that they speak for themselves. A little splash of watercolor and some background stamping with the In Bloom: Floral Bliss Trio and voila! A card was born. 

Today we are showcasing 13 of the 33 new Typografia Motivate stamps over on the STAMPlorations blog and we're giving some away, too! Go check it out! 

Pssssttt... for my bloggy readers, you can get 20% off anything in the STAMPlorations shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping!

Cozy Cocoa Card - Valentines Day

I know Valentine's Day is a ways away, but it's also my fave card-gifting holiday, so I like to start on lovey dovey mushy gushy cards waaay early. 

Today I'm up on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog showcasing two adorably cozy designs I made using Sunny Studios Mug Hugs stamp set. You should totally pop over there and check out the second design because it's equally as squeal-worthy. 

My design was inspired by the latest sketch challenge from Sketch Saturday. I'm also going to send this over to play along in Eclectic Ellapu's anything goes challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Add a Sentiment challenge.

Don't you just love those plaid papers? So fleepin' cute! 

I hope you'll pop on over to the Coffee Loving Papercrafters blog to leave a little comment and see my other design! 

Happy Monday!

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Day 5

Bloggy friends. Prepare to die... whoa.. whoa. Die Cut guys... die cut. 

Don't worry, this is not murder Friday, so you're all safe reading my blog post for today. 

It's the final day of the STAMPlorations Christmas release party and I'm sad to see this very merry week come to an end. (on the plus side, I'm also happy to be able to start making some birthday cards again).

You're not going to want to miss out on this final day, though, because we're featuring aallllll those Christmasy die cuts displayed above.

Earlier this week, I showcased that awesome Merry Christmas Word Art Die but I've got three more little lovelies to show off. 

For my first design,  I used the brand spankin' new Christmas Baubles #2 die cut in conjunction with The Bee's Knees Christmas Reindeer stamp set to make a snowy background and add a lovely sentiment. 


I'm going to link this card up to the C.R.A.F.T. card challenge - Christmas.

Once I was feeling all jingly inside, I decided to add some joy with the serene Christmas Icons - Nativity die cut.  I painted up its star with some silver Perfect Pearls and added a sentiment from the Holiday Sketches - Christmas Candles stamp set. 

This card is going to play along at People, Quick, or Red challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge because it's quick AND has some peeps in it.

Last, but most certainly not least, I made this glittery confection. I am in LOVE with this Christmas Icons - Christmas Tree #2 die cut. If I could figure out to add some heart eye emojis to this post, I'd put in at least 20. I paired it with a peaceful sentiment from Homespun Christmas and added a glittery gold poinsettia, some splattery gold Distress Spray Stain and some gold sequins. 

This card is going over to the Sweet Stampin' Christmas anything goes challenge and The Merry Christmas Challenge - sparkle.

Well, I feel like I have a good head start on my Christmas card stash, though I'm sure I'll never feel like there's enough! 

Prizes:

**Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blogs

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the store

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release

- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the store

**Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from our Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from our Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

So what are you waiting for? Get to hopping already!  

Oh and double PPPSSSSTTT: You can get 20% off any of the products in the STAMP shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping! 

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Day 4

Ho. Ho. HO. 

Meerrrrrryyyy Christmas.

Oh  you think it's not Christmas, yet? Well you, good friends, are sadly mistaken. Because if you look at the sheer amount of green and red and glitter happening on my craft table right about meow,  you'd know that Christmas is indeed a'comin'. 

Up on the STAMPlorations blog, we're helping to give you a gentle reminder that now is the time to start on those much procrastinated Christmas cards. We're enabling you with some pretty awesome holiday stamps and die cuts to get your creative brains a'workin'. 

Today, we're celebrating two new stamp sets - Homespun Christmas and Winter Chill - designed by our fearless leader, Shery Russ.  

From the second I laid eyes on Homespun Christmas, I was in love. The artful sentiments and the peaceful little scenes had me dreaming of sugarplums and all that jazz. 

The scene was so pretty and serene, that I just HAD to keep my designs running in the same vein. So this card is SUPER CAS compared to my normal mixed media everything. 

I watercolored my scene, using a healthy does of glittery white watercolors to add some sparkle. I added some acetate and some shimmery sequins to make this into a wintry shaker. A simple sentiment completed my look. 

I'm going to play along in the following challenges:
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Sparkle
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Make sure you head on over the STAMPlorations blog because you're not going to want to miss this week-long party. Just look at all these prizes!!

Prizes:

**Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blogs

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the store

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release

- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the store

**Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from our Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from our Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

So what are you waiting for? Get to hopping already!  

Oh and double PPPSSSSTTT: You can get 20% off any stamp set in the STAMP shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping! 

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Day 3

One thing I didn't expect about making Christmas cards in August is the penchant for my brain to repeat Christmas carols over and over and over again in my head. 

If this is your first time over to my blog this week, there's a big holiday stamp release going on over at STAMPlorations with TONS of fun prizes. 

Just look at all those lovely new stamp sets & die cuts! 

Today, we are showcasing The Bee's Knees two new stamp sets, Christmas Elf and Three Kings

I specifically got to play around with Three Kings (hence why I now have Christmas carols stuck in my head). 

I did a little bit of scene building with this stamp set and created my own village and starry night sky. I watercolored and sponged with some distress inks and this is what happened. :) 

Make sure you head on over the STAMPlorations blog because you're not going to want to miss this week-long party. Just look at all these prizes!!

Prizes:

**Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blogs

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the store

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release

- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the store

**Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from our Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from our Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

So what are you waiting for? Get to hopping already!  

Oh and double PPPSSSSTTT: You can get 20% off any stamp set in the STAMP shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping! 

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Day 2

Ya'll know I love me some texture, and I'm going to show you how to do a little bit of faux texture today in my post.

I'm still jing-a-ling-a-linging my way along here on the blog, celebrating with STAMPlorations holiday stamp release. Each day this week, new products are being revealed on the STAMPlorations blog and there are TONS of prizes to be won. So you are gonna wanna go check it out.

 Today, we're showcasing Yuletide Deer by Dee's Artsy Impressions.

Just look at all those elegant deer! I fell in love with this set the second I got my hands on it. I love sets that can be used year-round and I am TOTALLY planning to double down on this one by using it for masculine birthday or father's day cards.

I also used this scrolly Merry Christmas Word Art Die from the new release, and here's where my faux texture comes in. That die might look all rusty, but in reality it's flat and smooth as can be. I used three shades of InkaGold (a light green, a gold and a copper) to create an aged look. 

I embossed the reindeer in gold on a sheet of pink vellum, and then added a teeny red sequin to turn him into Rudolph. 

I'm going to enter my card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Make sure you head on over the STAMPlorations blog because you're not going to want to miss this week-long party. Just look at all these prizes!!

Prizes:

**Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blogs

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the store

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release

- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the store

**Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from our Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from our Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

So what are you waiting for? Get to hopping already!  

Oh and double PPPSSSSTTT: You can get 20% off any stamp set in the STAMP shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping! 

STAMPlorations Christmas Release - Day 1

Today, I had a coat of almost frost on my windshield!! Autumn is in full gear here in North Dakota, and with it comes the sweet, sweet panic of not having started on Christmas cards. haha! Every year I get to the last vestiges of November and bemoan the fact that I didn't have the foresight to be making Christmas cards all year long.

But not this year, my friends! Not this year.

Why? Because I've gotten a good look at the STAMPlorations official Christmas releases, which come out TODAY! woop woop! I've created some spectacular holiday cards, and will be sharing them with you all week long to inspire you to create!

The first set we're focusing on is designed by yours truly! It's called Christmas Cookies & Cheer, and carries my signature snark along with a healthy dose of sweetness.

 

This set is the perfect thing for making adorable Christmas cards OR for making sweet little tags to go along with those cookies you give away during the holiday season. 

I decided to design a card with lots of texture and shimmer. 

Look at all that cuteness!! 

This card is going to play along in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Use Ribbon, Twine or Lace
Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Make sure you head on over the STAMPlorations blog because you're not going to want to miss this week-long party. Just look at all these prizes!!

Prizes:

**Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers blogs

- THREE (3) winners of a $10 gift certificate to the store

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set and 1 CUTplorations die from the new release

- ONE (1) winner of a $25 gift certificate to the store

**Extra prizes:

- TWO (2) winners of their choice of 1 CUTplorations die from the new release -- drawn from our Facebook page (for commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend)

- ONE (1) winner of her choice of 1 stamp set from the new release -- drawn from our Instagram post (commenting, liking, tagging a friend)

So what are you waiting for? Get to hopping already!  

Oh and double PPPSSSSTTT: You can get 20% off any stamp set in the STAMP shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. Happy shopping! 

Layered Mixed Media Card Ken Oliver Color Burst Tutorial

If you've been following along on my blog, you know I've been stuck in CAS (or the Becca version of CAS anyway) for quite a little jaunt. 

I was bound and determined to break myself out of that zone and this weekend I set out to get messy. REAL messy. 

 

I also realized that it's been awhile since I've made an official tutorial for you, my bloggy followers (although I do post regular tutorials on both the STAMPlorations and Coffee Loving Papercrafters blogs). 

Here is my remedy for that! PS If you like the tutorial, please consider Pinning it!

To be completely truthful, this card was alllllllmost a CAS design. I stamped a lovely tree from the Wendy Vecchi Card Art Sentiments stamp set.I thought I'd create a scene with the tree using some Ken Oliver Color Burst Crystals.... SO I spritzed my paper with water, plopped some crystals on, AND - hated  the result. It's not at all the lovely scene I was picturing. 

So what did I do? Rather than putting the project into the trash bin, I cut it into different sized rectangles and started layering. 

I used a dry brush and some gesso on a sheet of black paper for my base. I love the look of the brush strokes still in plain view. 

Once I was happy with the position of my rectangles (and don't ask, please HOW many times I rearranged the pieces) I started gluing them down and defining the edges using a Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen.<----psssttt these pens are divine for writing over pretty much any mixed media surfaces!

OOOOOOooo - I think defining the edges really helps to make the individual pieces POP. I also added a layer of white scribbles to the edge of my black cardstock, using a white gel pen. 

I didn't want to cover up too much of my colorful panels, so I added a bold black butterfly die cut (PSSTTT... you can get it for 20% off in the STAMPlorations shop by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA) and a vellum overlay with a simple sentiment. 

I'm going to link up my creation to the following challenges:
More Mixed Media Challenge - ATG + Brights
Creative Craft Cottage - Add a Butterfly
Mix It Up - Anything Goes + Optional Paper Piecing

Taaaadaaaa! Messy beauty achieved. I'll have you know that creating this little number broke me out of my CAS shell and I'm back to my mixed media love.

Creamy Color Burst Coffee Card

Hello citizens of the Blogosphere!

Today, I've got an awesome tutorial up on the Coffee Loving Papercrafters blog showcasing the many uses of Ken Oliver Color Burst crystals. 

Pop on over if you want to know how I achieved this glorious look!

This card was inspired by the goodness going on in the inspiration image from Victorine Originals: 

Check out that bottom right corner. I instantly spotted the coffee and just knew I had to play along!

Happy Monday, fellow crafters. I hope you'll pop over to CLP for some inspiration!

Happy Birthday Interactive Card

I can't believe it's Thursday already! Where has the week gone?! I don't know what's going on with my crafty mojo lately, but all it's letting me do is create fairly clean-line cards. GASP!!!

Luckily, I'm liking the end results, mostly. 

This latest creation is inspired by the new Fusion challenge - which went live TODAY!! 

If you haven't played along at Fusion before, well guess what?! How you want to play is in YOUR hands! You can choose either the inspiration image or the sketch... or you can mash 'em all together and use both! Boom! Choices! 
 
I loved that teal and pencil color combo, and broke out these adorable little library card holders from American Crafts that I've been hoarding since the dawn of time. 

I pulled out my big ol' box of embellies and just started miscellaneously sticking things wherever I wanted to. PLOP! Chipboard stars. PLOP! An arrow tag I purchased from the Target Dollar Spot. PLOP! Washi tape. 

Maybe I should have titled this post the PLOP card... 

My favorite thing is that this card is interactive. When you pull out the center panel, you can see the full sentiment, which is from the Verve Wishing You sentiment stamp set.

I also took my inspiration from Paper Play Sketches latest sketch.

Cheers! And I hope you all come play along with us at Fusion!

Simple Sympathy Card

Hello Friends,
I'm up on the STAMPlorations blog with a tutorial on how to create this super chic, simple sympathy card. 

You should totally go check it out and learn all about inlaid die cutting and creating artful splatters. 

I'm linking this card up to the following challenges:
Paperminutes - Birds
Make My Monday - Monochromatic
613 Avenue Create - Monochrome
Sweet Stampin' - Sympathy or Thinking of You 

Thanks for popping by!