{Card Fronts Spotlight} Junk Journal Vibes with Chris

Hello everyone! Today we're diving into the wonderful world of texture and layers with a fantastic set of projects from STAMPgirl Chris. If you love the eclectic, artistic look of junk journals but want to translate that style onto your cards, you're in for a treat!

Chris has masterfully used our Junk Journal Collage card fronts as the foundation for these four unique designs, proving just how versatile these "instant art" backgrounds can be.

 

 

Welcome to the Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party!

Hello, STAMPlorations friends! We're so thrilled to have you here as we celebrate the return of color, blooms, and all things fresh. Whether you’re a long-time follower of our blog or this is your very first time joining us, this Spring Fling event is all about sharing inspiration and the joy of paper crafting together.

We have a fantastic lineup from the STAMPgirls to get your gears turning, and I can’t wait to see the spring magic you’ve been creating in your own craft rooms!

How to Join the Spring Fling

I’ve got plenty of ways for you to play along and win some prizes over the next 10 days! Whether you are a creator or a commenter, there are 8 chances to win, all picked via Random.org.

The Event Timeline:

• Starts: Monday, May 11 at 6:00 AM PDT

• Ends: Wednesday, May 20 at 11:59 PM PDT

• Winners Announced: Friday, May 22 right here on the blog at 8:00 AM PDT!

The Prizes 🎁

For the Early Birds:

• 💨 First 7 to Link Up: The first 7 participants to add their project to the Linky automatically win a Spring-Themed Paper Goods Bag! I’ve hand-picked about 12-15 pieces for each bag, including ATCs, ephemera, and card fronts. These paper goods bags are the only prizes not chosen at random.

For the Linky Party (The Creators):

• 🏆 Top Winner: $25 Prize Code to the shop.

• 🥈 Runner-Up: $15 Prize Code to the shop. 

(Note: Limit one spring-themed project entry per person to keep it fair for everyone!)

For the Blog Hop (The Commenters):

• 💬 3 Lucky Hoppers: Your choice of a $10 Prize Code OR any $7 product from the shop.

• 💻 3 Digital Winners: A $10 Prize Code to use in our Digital Store.
  
  

How to Enter 📏

1. Hop & Comment: Visit each of the designer blogs listed below and leave a comment at every stop to enter the blog hop drawing.

2. Create & Link: Share your NEW spring-themed project using the Linky tool at the bottom of this post. Do not link up a project created before May 11. Only ONE entry per crafter.

3. Double Up: Since our May Anything Goes Challenge is also running, you are welcome to enter your project there too!

Meet the Design Team 🎨

Hop along and leave some love for these talented designers!

JANE

SANNA

TANJA

MARIA

INA

VICKI

CHRIS

HELEN

SUE N

MONIKA

CRAFTYFIELD

*******

Add Your Spring-Themed Project Here 👇

April Winners

It's time to announce winners of the April ATG challenge, as well as winners drawn from blog posts and IG posts that were published throughout the month. All the winners were randomly chosen by Random.org.

Winner of $25 prize code:
#4 Suzanne H

Winners of $10 prize code:
#25 angyhughes
#7 Meghan Kennihan

*****

Blog and Instagram Commenting Winners

Winners of $10 prize code OR any $7 STAMPlorations product:

Tee
(from comments left on this blog post)

ggnursecreations
(from comments left on this IG post)

olheiserc
(from comments left on this IG post)

bzscrapper
(from comments left on this IG post)

*****

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLAIMING PRIZE

Winners, please fill out the Google form below to claim your prize. This ensures that there is an off-site, time/date-stamped record of winners claiming their prize. So if you are one of the winners, fill out the form by clicking on the link below:

WINNERS CLAIM FORM

***An important note about our prizes*** 

• Prize codes expire one month (30 days) from the date they are issued to winners.
• A prize code can be applied on products (tangible and digital) in the store except for subscription products, before shipping. It cannot be combined with other percent off code or dollars off, but may be combined with a free shipping code.
• Prize codes issued to challenge winners and post commenters are not transferrable.

Winners, please claim your prize on or before 12 noon Pacific time on Sunday, May 24. The form will automatically stop accepting responses after 12 noon. Prizes not claimed by May 24 will be forfeited.

*****

Congratulations to all our winners!

The MayATG challenge is live so we'd love for you to play this month. Also, keep commenting on our blog posts and Instagram posts because we also pick winners just for commenting and engaging with us here on the blog and Instagram.

Creative Tip of the Day: Softening Negative Space

Today’s inspiration comes from STAMPgirl Maria, who shows us how to give a stenciled background a softer, more integrated look. If you find that the white space of your cardstock feels too stark against your stenciled pattern, this "post-stenciling" blend is the perfect solution.

The Technique: Softening the Negative Space

Instead of leaving the areas under the stencil crisp white, Maria toned them down after removing the stencil. By using the ink already lingering on her brushes, she created a soft, hazy background that bridges the gap between the bold pattern and the card base.

Instant Art: Crafting High-Impact 5x7s with Stephanie Severin

We're excited to share these stunning 5x7 cards created by the talented Stephanie Severin! Using elements from our Paper Goods collections, Stephanie has crafted two distinct looks that highlight the versatility of these pre-printed designs.

Whether you love bold, modern pop art or soft, vintage florals, these projects show how you can build a beautiful card base in minutes.

 

{MAY 2026 CHALLENGE} Anything Goes

Hey there, STAMPfriends! New month, new challenge! Time to kick off our May Anything Goes Challenge. The gallery last month had an incredible variety and creativity, and we can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on as we head into the heart of spring.

Winners will be revealed on the 10th, so mark your calendars and check back to see if you’ve won.

As the name suggests, anything goes for this challenge -- whether you’re making cards, mixed media pieces, art journal pages, or ATCs, we want to see it! This is the perfect time to experiment with that new technique you’ve been eyeing or to finally ink up those stamps that have been waiting on your desk. There are no limits, just pure creative freedom.

To get your inspiration flowing, the STAMPgirls have put together some stunning projects to share with you. 

{Card Fronts Spotlight} Beautiful Vintage Blooms with Vicki

Hello, crafty friends! Today we have a stunning set of projects by STAMPgirl Vicki. If you love the look of intricate, vintage-style illustrations but want to create high-impact cards in a fraction of the time, you are going to love these.

Vicki has showcased the versatility of our Vintage Flowers Card Fronts by pairing them with various bold word dies. These card fronts do all the heavy lifting, providing a lush, artistic backdrop that makes any sentiment pop.

Creative Tip of the Day: Personalized Birthday Cards with Die-Cut Negatives

Happy Monday! Today I’m featuring a clever birthday card by Vicki that shows a brilliant way to use the negative space from your dies. By using the leftover frame from a die-cut, you can create a unique, textured background that perfectly fits a specific celebration.

Moving Ink with Air: A Mixed Media Study + Grab the May Freebie of the Month

Welcome back to the blog! Today I’m sharing my second 5x7 mixed media piece. There's something incredibly freeing about letting the medium dictate the movement of the piece, and this project was all about experimenting with fluid ink and air.

Creative Tip of the Day: Building Dimension with Thin Metal Dies

Hello, crafters! Today we are looking at a project by Vicki that proves you don't need a lot of different mediums to create a card with impact. By using thin metal dies in creative ways, she built a design that is both clean and full of texture.

1. Texturing the Base

Instead of adding a separate panel, Vicki used the Wonky Stitched Grid Texture Plate directly on her card base. This is a fantastic way to add visual interest while keeping the card’s profile slim for mailing.

2. The Triple-Layer Stack

To make her focal elements stand out, Vicki cut her dies multiple times and stacked them:

• The Spring Flower layering die was cut 3 times in white to create a thick, sturdy frame.
• She then used a red die-cut to inlay the petals and the center, creating a beautiful contrast.
• The Thanks word die was also layered 3 times. This "stacking" technique gives die-cuts the look of expensive chipboard and keeps them perfectly flat on the card.

3. Strategic Embellishing

By finishing the card with a few sequins from her stash, Vicki added just the right amount of sparkle to complement the red accents and the textured blue base.

Featured Sales

If you want to recreate this look, now is the perfect time to stock up on these essentials:

Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off: All Cover Plates

Buy 3 Get 1 Free: All Word/Phrase Dies

Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off: All Miscellaneous Dies

Question of the Day: Do you prefer stacking your die-cuts for dimension, or do you stick to foam tape? Let us know in the comments!

Creative Tip of the Day: The Power of Your Background Stash

Today’s project by Shirley shows a practical way to use those backgrounds we all have tucked away. It's a great reminder that you don't always need to start with a blank slate.

The Technique

Shirley used a background she already had -- Distress Oxides sponged over the Droplets stencil. By looking at her "stash" with fresh eyes, she was able to build a cohesive scene without extra ink blending.

Creative Tip of the Day: Selective Stenciling & Double Die Layers

Today’s project by Monika is a masterclass in "less is more." By using strategic placement and clever layering, she created a card that feels both airy and impactful.

The Technique

This look is achieved by selective stenciling and die-cut layering. By only stenciling a portion of the background with the Wheels slimline stencil, you create a modern, asymmetrical balance. When you top that with a white-on-white layered butterfly using the Flutter Zen #1 layering dies, the result is pure elegance.