It's Springtime Flingtime + Prizes

Hello Friendly Friends!
It's springtime, and around these parts where it often gets to -35, that is DEFINITELY something to celebrate! 

STAMPlorations is ringing in all things flowers and bunnies and color - oh my! with a Spring Fling celebration filled with 12 days of prizes and bold inspiration. You're not going to want to miss it! 

For my card, I pulled out some of the brightest colors I had in my stash and got to work. 

I embossed this gorgeous flower mandala from the Bloomfull STAMP club set, using clear embossing powder. 

To use the words "zen" and "relaxing" would be an understatement. It was so much fun watching this image come to pretty life with each drop of the Color Burst watercolors. 

I used the thanks word die and cut out the word in a bright pink and then added a second layer of just white to really make it pop. 

I'm playing along in the Paper Players challenge and used a die-cut, embossing, and floral elements for their tic-tac-toe board. I'm also playing in the Cardz 4 Galz Flora or Fauna challenge. 

I am in LOVE with this big ol' springy mandala and maaaaaaay have made 3 more of these cards. :) 

Now hop on over and get to playing! These prizes are serious and every single designer has some gorgeous inspiration for you. 

PSSSTTTT if you're looking to do some spring shopping, everything in the STAMPlorations store is an additional 15% off using code STAMPGIRLBECCA. 

Wooded and Healing Herbs

There are two brand new stamp sets on the block and they are BEEEAUUUUUTIFUL!!! 

Over at STAMPlorations we're releasing Wooded and Healing Herbs, designed by Deepti! 

 

These stamp sets are so versatile and you can build your own little scene with them. I got to play around with Wooded and couldn't wait to make these two cards. 

For my first design, I used these dainty little flower sprays and paired them with branches. I "watercolored" with Distress Markers and, since I stamped the branches with Distress Inks, I just applied a little bit of water over the top to make them less of a perfect impression and let the colors bleed onto my paper. Teeny little pearls finished off this pretty, girly design. 

I'm going to add this card to the Watercooler Wednesday - Feminine challenge and Creative Inspirations Spring Greens challenge.

For my next design, I went with something a little more clean and simple because I wanted to play along in the Cardz 4 Guys Challenge. This design is a whole lot of versatile and perfectly masculine and earthy.  

I repeat stamped the wood circle rings with Distress Oxde inks, then spritzed liberally with water so it would bleed. I splattered it with some white Distress Spray stains and added some fussy cut leaves.


Make sure to go check out this special release and leave a comment on the STAMPlorations blog because you could win a $20 gift code to the STAMPlorations store!

Snarky and Funny Valentine's Day Card

When it comes to Valentine's Day, we all know I'm a huge fan. First of all - glitter can be strewn about with abundance and second of all, I get to use all the heart-shaped, kissy image things I want with no repercussions. 

That's why I'm thrilled to be hopping along in STAMPlorations Love Hop and Linky Party. 

 

Rather than getting all mushy gushy, I decided to go with a very non-traditional snark to my card. Last year, I designed this A Funny Kinda Love stamp set for STAMPlorations. Yes it's got all the options to make a cheesy, eye-watering lovey dovey card - but it's also got all the elements and sentiments to add a little cheek to the undertones of amore. 

You're not going to want to miss out on all the fun at STAMPlorations Love Hop & Linky Party. There's three FREE digi stamps for anyone who wants to snag them, and there's a ton of fun prizes! Go leave some comments and get some inspiration as you start your V-day preparations! 

PSSsSSsst - If you're looking to add to your love-themed stamp sets, make sure to use code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout for 20% off your whole order in the STAMPstore. 

Glittery Snowflake Holiday Card

Is anyone else busy huffing glitter in their craft rooms this time of year? There's something about the holiday cardmaking season that brings out my innate love of glitter and intensifies it to an all-time high. 

...

Sorry, I got distract by glitter for a second and had to stare at the photo above before I could continue.

Luckily, whether you are a glitter fan or not, STAMPlorations has you covered. Our Theme and Sketch Challenge has two great options for you to craft your heart out AND win some pretty sah-weet prizes. 

This month's theme is:

And this month's sketch is: 

You can choose to play along with either the theme or the sketch, or mash 'em together and play along with both! 

I made this sparkly background using Ken Oliver Color Burst crystals and covered it with a layer of Faber Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel, smooshed through the Old Rose Prints mini stencil. 

I added some chipboard snowflakes, plus glittery snowflake embellishments and embossed a big ol' sentiment (Merry & Bright - Typografia Christmas) to complete this holiday card. 

All-in-all if you're looking for quick and stunning cards to send out this Holiday season, totally pin this design because it packs a big bold punch while being pretty simple to put together.

Pssssttt right now if you use code DECEMBER2018 you can get 30% off your order of stamps in the STAMPshop. Plus if you use code STAMPGIRLBECCA you get an extra 10% off. So treat yourself or some of your fave crafters to a snazzy and low-cost Christmas present! 

Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Hello my fabulous bloggy friends! It's the 4th annual STAMPlorations giving thanks blog hop! It's one of my favorite times of the year - when we get to give thanks for all the awesome things in our lives. STAMPlorations has sure been an awesome thing in my life and I hope you join our hop-a-long to see just how awesome the STAMPfamily is! 

I got to use this G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S Doodled Autumn Pumpkin cover plate die and a brand spankin' new big ol' sentiment die - Grateful Heart phrase die.

I used three different sheets of paper along with the die - yellow, green and orange. For the pumpkin, I rolled the orange cardstock through an embossing folder, and then brushed the raised surface with a lighter orange Inkagold to accentuate the texture. 

I just love how this card turned out. It's simple to make, but it's got a huuuuuuuge visual impact. 

You guys. there is a HUGE sale going on at STAMPlorations. From today until November 30, you can get >>40%<< off stamps, stencils and dies at STAMPlorations (excluding new release, retiring, and Stamp Club stamps). 

Plus check that out! Even more discounts and goodies to give away if you use my code STAMPGIRLBECCA. 

So go link up your card and hop along, then shop along for some awesome prizes! 

Stenciling Techniques - Sanna Lippert New Release

It's a paaaaaarty! A new release party that is! Sanna Lipper, one of the fab-o designers at STAMPlorations has released a whole new line of stencils. And we got to have a crafty play. They are all so gorgeous and perfect for mixed media play.

Today I'm going to be showing you a cool stenciling technique using Distress Oxides. 

This technique is actually the reverse of stenciling because you're taking OFF the color with a stencil, instead of applying it. 

Step 1: Sponge on a healthy layer of Distress Oxide onto a dark piece of cardstock. Because oxides are highly pigmented, they are designed to sit on top of the dark color. I used Broken China Oxides over a navy blue paper. 

Step 2: Bust out your stencil and tape it down so it won't move. Dampen a piece of paper towel, using a small amount of water (you don't want it too wet or your cardstock will pill). Wipe wipe wipe wipe wipe. The color will start to lift right off.

Step 3: Remove stencil and oooh and aaaah... I love the pattern of this Cornflower stencil.

I also splattered it all over with Picket Fence Distress Spray Stains.

Next, I made a correlating embellishment - also with my stencil.

Check out all that texture! Basically I swiped a layer of texture paste through my stencil, then added a layer of blue embossing powder before heat setting.

I fussy cut it and BEHOLD!

Isn't it pretty? 

I also played around with Sanna's new Lupinus stencil, too.

This one is so pretty and would be perfect for either mixed media OR clean and simple cards. 

Pssst in honor of this new release, all ARTplorations stencils are 15% off. and you get a FREE stencil with every order. Plus you can use my code STAMPGIRLBECCA for an extra 20% off your order. :)

Now go get hopping and then get shopping. 

STAMPlorations Challenges are BACK!

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

You may have noticed over the summer that I took a little hiatus from regular blogging. That's because I was crazy busy with some of the art shows I'd signed up for, plus doing some community work. Stay tuned early next week and I'll share some of my summer hijinks with you. 

But for now, I'm here to tell you that STAMPlorations challenges are back, too! They also went on a little summer break. But now we've got a whole new crop of fresh challenges and great prizes. 

The sketch this month is:

And the theme this month is: 

You can play along with either the sketch or the them OR both! Options!

For my design, I decided to work with the theme. Believe it or not, we had our first snowfall last night and so I'm already wistful for Autumn. *sigh*

The first thing I did was to add a layer of prettiness to a sheet of mixed media paper. 

I used these Ken Oliver Color Burst Crystals and Liquid Metals to create a flowy, vibrant background. 

Over the top of that, I added a layer of Faber Castel Glitter Bead gel through the Botanical Lush stencil. Because let's be real here, everyone loves glitter. 

Once that dried, I speckled the background with green & red Distress Spray Stains. 

I double stamped a leaf from the Trendy Leaves stamp set, using Fired Brick Distress Ink and Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide. 

Added a sentiment from the Buttercups & Butterflies stamp set, some ribbons, a little glue and BAM! One gorgeous Fall card. 

Pop on over to play along in the STAMPlorations theme & sketch challenge and to see all the other crafty inspiration. 

PSSStttt - if you're looking to add to your stamp collection, you can get 20% off anything in the STAMPstore using code STAMPGIRLBECCA