Northern Chic(k)

and celebrating Shirley Bee’s Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you …..

Well, Shirley, I hope you are having a fabulous day to day!!!

Here is the card I made for you using a ‘Made in Croston’ design …

 

… stamp set of course. City Girl is one of two stamp sets designed by our Birthday Girl under the name ‘The Bee’s Knees’.

I stamped her in archival ink and initially was a little disappointed that the shades didn’t come out fully black, but I quickly had a re-think and thought … ready made highlights, perfect for watercolouring :-D, which I did using Baby’s Breath, Rose Gold, Warm Pecan, African Jade and Wintermint Twinkling H2Os with a backdrop of Navajo Pearl. When you colour with H2Os something magical happens, they change colour depending on how they catch the light, the background can either appear more green or blue and the same goes for the coat. With such an amount of build in magic, the card wanted to be kept CAS. I simple stamped the sentiment and added my panel in an off center way that would add interest without competing with the subtle shimmer of the image.

I know it might be a little far fetched, but as it is one of Shirley’s homemade designs I’m entering the Northern Belle at CASology’s ‘home’ challenge.

Of course I’m also linking up at Shirley’s virtual party which is hosted by Maria, more widely known as Riesling Mama, feel free to join the celebrations.

Well, Shriley, have a magical day!

hugs

Monika xxx

 

CityGirl is part of STAMPlorations November Release, currently on offer as a pre-release bundle

 

 

Spotlighting and Gelli Plate-ing

Hi Everybody,

thanks for all your lovely comments, they were and are very much appreciated.

This is my more personal post talking about the cards I made for today’s STAMPlorations Spotlight feature.

I’ve been working with the current STAMP CLUB set ‘Joyful’ and I finally managed to get out my never before used Gelli Plate. Yay!!! I forgot to take it the other week for the workshop by Lavinia Stamps, which of course means that you, my lovely readers, have become part of my own individual Gelli Plate Premiere.

Here are the beauties I created using inks, stamps combined with a touch of Twinkling H2Os for the stocking, some die cuts, gems, sequins, ribbon and glitter glue. For my first card I used a first impression print and the last two were made using a second impression print which I lifted from my Gelli Plate after one lot of inking. I did spritz it with a little water before lifting the second print and I actually managed to get a third print, of course after another spritzing of water.

 

 

What I found interesting, is that the Blackberry Bliss ink (from Stampin’Up!) I used initially looks quite purple, but changed to looking more like pink as I went along. If you have a look at the video you will see that the third print is very pinky. I simply expected the colour to be fainter with each print rater than changing like it did.

Well, this is the point where I have to apologize for publishing an unfinished post at the wrong time. When I scheduled this post I accidentally put in the wrong date. Luckily my friend Keren put a ‘like’ against it which alerted me to my mistake. Thanks Keren!

This is it from me for today. Back soon, until then

Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

the stamps I used are from the current STAMPlorations STAMP CLUB set JOYFUL, simply click on the images for more information

 

the MERRY CHRISTMAS die is by Clearly Besotted

Happy Birthday Debra

Hi Everybody,

My STAMPlorations Teamie Debra is celebrating her birthday today and here is my card to celebrate with her …

Debra loves the SKETCHED Cupcake stamp, hence I used it to make her card taking inspiration from our current sketch challenge over at the STAMPlorations Blog. I combined it with two of the sentiments from the MOM Subway Art Builders #2 – Grace In Each Step, which I used to stamp my background in a pale pink (Pink Pirouette ink by Stampin’Up!) plus the BIRTHDAY sentiment from the VIGNETTE Chevron & Arrows set. Add to this a bit of Washi Tape, a HAPPY die cut (Happy word die by Clearly Besotted; Elegant Eggplant card from Stampin’Up!), a plain oval die cut and some gems … and your card is done.

Well, Debra, hope you’re having a great time.

This is it from me for now, back again tomorrow with some more inspiration … until then

Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

 

Here are the full sets I used:

  

ATSM Challenge 118

Hi Everybody,

Thanks so much for your lovely comments. They were all very much appreciated.

It is Wednesday and time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More …  Challenge #118 – Holiday!!!

Please take the time to check out the full details of the challenges and their rules, which can be found here.

Eureka Stamps is back again as our sponsor this week! The winner gets 3 digis. There are some fab images in their shop, you can check them out here.

 

Here is what I made to help your creative juices to flow …

I’ve been working with STAMPlorations current STAMP CLUB set ‘Joyful’ recently and today was no exception. I used some of the sentiments from the set to stamp my star through a mask which I made using a cutting die. The gift is stamped and coloured using Twinkling H2O’s. a touch of glitter glue on the bow and some sparkly stars complete my card.

Hope that you feel inspired to allow your imagination to flourish and enter this week’s ‘Holiday’ challenge at ATSM, please pop over and see all the other creations of the fabulous ATSM DT Team.

 … look forward to seeing your creations … and

Happy Crafting!!!!

🙂

For details on the stamp club or the set simply click on the images.

 

Sketch 22 Challenge at STAMPlorations

Hi Everybody,

it’s time again for another sketch challenge at STAMPlorations and we are welcoming Leslie from The Crooked Stamper as our guest designer. As always the sketch on offer is very versatile and you can use any style of card or project as long as the sketch is recognizable. Here it is:

 

This challenge will run until 31st October and the winner will be announced 2nd November.

Here is my piece of inspiration for you:

 

It is pretty straight forward …. emboss a piece of card using a suitable embossing folder, stamp the gift from STAMPlorations current STAMP CLUB set ‘Joyful’ onto your matching die cut – here is me hoping that Shery has already added them to the shop LOL, if not she’ll be doing that very soon-, colour the gift using Spectrum Noir Markers, stamp sentiment, attach your gift using foam dots and finish by adding a couple of gems.

 

Hope you enjoyed my little offering. If you feel inspired to enter our sketch challenge, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to enter and join the fun plus of course to see all the fab projects my teamies have created for your inspiration.

This is also where you can find out about the great prizes you can win in our challenges. We always have several of them on the go such as the ANYTHING GOES Challenge which is open to anyone using STAMPloratons Stamps, links to all our current challenges can be found at the top of our Home Page.

Enjoy the fun and Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

the stamps I used:

 

 

Spectrum Noir markers by Crafter’s Companion

Xcut embossing folder by docrafts – check here for your local stockist

Elegant Eggplant ink and River Rock card stock by Stampin’Up!

Base card and gems from stash

Autumn Magic

Hello Everybody,

Thanks for all your lovely comments, as always they were very much appreciated.

I’ll keep this one short and sweet today as I finally went down with a cold after fighting it all week. Guess my body is telling me it wants some rest …

and of course I shall oblige after I shared some cards with you.

The first one is one I made as my entry for this month’s Autumn Colours challenge over at the Lavinia Stamps Blog.

Next up are the cards I made last week when I was one of the lucky ones who were able to attend a workshop run by Tracey and Kevin from Lavinia Stamps.

 

For the first one, my background was created using my brayer …

 

for the second card, I used one of their background scenes and stamped the stars, mushrooms, circles and borders …

 

for my third and forth card, I used a gelli printing plate to create the background and some gold foil to frame.

Hope you enjoyed my little offering. Here is the craft-along video on how I made my first card. Enjoy!

Have a lovely weekend everyone …

Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

Before I forget, if you love Lavinia stamps as much as I do, you’ll find a link to their main site/shop at the top of their blog.

 

Spotlighting and The Bee’s Knees

Hi Everybody,

thanks for all your lovely comments they are all very much appreciated.

Today I have two cards to share with you. I made them as my regular Spotlight Feature for STAMPlorations.

The first one uses a new set called Rose Buds by The Bee’s Knees, a new designer discovered by STAMPlorations owner Shery. Some of  you might know her better as Shirley Bee. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Happy Stampers Stamp Fair at Hulme Hall the other day. So here is the card i made using one of her sets :

 

Sorry about the picture, I had to take it indoors and haven’t as yet been able to take a better one. (Just added a couple I took today outside, maybe they are just a little too bright. Anyway I think you’ll get the idea. 🙂 ) It has been raining pretty much every day here, we even had thunder & lightning last night too. I did some ink blending which turned out to be more of a faux chalk effect, and I rather like it’s softness.

Rose Buds and CityGirl, both by Shirley/The Bee’s Knees, are available for pre-order now plus we will be featuring both of the sets extensively during our 5-day blog hop next month. Keep popping in for more details on that.

Here is also a little video on how I made this card:

For my next card, I used our current STAMP CLUB set ‘Joyful’ plus the banner from VIGNETTE Retro Mod Shapes, here it is:

 

I’ve got a few more plans for cards using this great set. Stay tuned …

Here is the little video ….

Better go now, sorry to keep it so short, but my aching throat is telling me to stop and have a rest … better listen to that one 🙂

Back soon with more inspiration, my Brushos should arrive soon

until then: Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

   

ATSM Challenge 116

Hi Everybody, it’s time again for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More, Challenge #116 – Anything Goes.

Rick St. Dennis is back again as our sponsor with his funky images, pop over to his shop here to see which 3 you would pick, if you were the winner.

Here is my DT piece for you:

I simply stamped the wood BG on River Rock card and then stamped my flower directly over it using the generational stamping technique (Hardwood and Flower Shop sets by Stampin’Up!, inks River Rock, Rose red and Elegant Eggplant, card stock River Rock all by Stampin’Up!). I then stamped my sentiment (Amazing Inspirations by Inspired By Stamping), layered on purple card (from stash) and added a sequin to finish.

Hope you enjoyed my piece of inspiration. Pop over to the Addicted to Stamps and More Blog to see the fab creations my teamies have come up with and, of course to join into the fun too.

Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

Sketch 21 Challenge at STAMPlorations

Hi Everybody,

it’s time again for another sketch challenge at STAMPlorations and we are welcoming Elaine from Craft-E-Place as our guest designer. As always the sketch on offer is very versatile and you can use any style of card or project as long as the sketch is recognizable. Here it is:

This challenge will run until 17th October and the winner will be announced 19th October.

Here is my piece of inspiration for you:

 

It is pretty straight forward …. spray two pieces white card with red and green Artiste Spritzing Ink and allow to dry. Stamp the poinsettia from the Christmas Flower set twice in black and layer onto a piece of red card. Attach the panels to your white base card and add some faux stitching before stamping the sentiment from the SB Christmas & New Year down the side in black and attache the die cut ‘happy’ and some pearls to finish.

Here is an idea to give the inside of your card a make over too …

Hope you enjoyed my little offering. If you feel inspired to enter our sketch challenge, pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to enter and join the fun plus of course to see all the fab projects my teamies have created for your inspiration.

This is also where you can find out about the great prizes you can win in our challenges. We always have several of them on the go such as the ANYTHING GOES Challenge which is open to anyone using STAMPloratons Stamps, links to all our current challenges can be found at the top of our Home Page.

Enjoy the fun and Happy Crafting!!! 🙂

the stamps I used:

 

 

‘happy’ cutting die by Clearly Besotted

Artiste Spritzing Inks by docrafts – check here for your local stockist

Cherry Cobbler ink and Stamp’n’Write Marker by Stampin’Up!

October Challenge at STAMPlorations

Hi Everyone,

it’s time again for another one of our monthly challenges at STAMPlorations, this time it is Stamps & Embossing.

 

This challenge will run until 31st October and the winner will be announced 5th November.

For this month of September we are welcoming Virginia Lu as our guest designer. You can find hers and all the stunning projects my teamies made on the STAMPlorations Challenge Blog.

This is my creation for you …

 

I used stamps from two of the Christmas sets which were released last month, HOLIDAY SKETCHES Christmas Candles and VIGNETTE Christmas Block, plus the sleigh from this months’ Stamp Club Set Joyful. For more information about the Stamp Club click on the graphic in my sidebar.

I gold embossed the sleigh on red card and fuzzy cut it, stamped my sentiment in black and the snowflakes in white on a piece of vellum which I layered on some embossed gold mirror card. I attached it to a piece of red card, added a strip of Washi tape and adhered it to my cream base card. I then added the die cut holly and my sleigh before finishing off with some red gems.

Pop over to the Stamplorations Blog for more information about all the fabulous prizes you could win in our challenges plus if you enter all three challenges in October you could win these fabulous rub ons.

Hope you enjoyed my piece of inspiration, back soon with more …

Happy crafting!!! 🙂

the sets I used: