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Monday, April 06, 2026

{APRIL 2026 CHALLENGE} Anything Goes

Welcome back to the blog, everyone! It’s officially a new month, which means it’s time to kick off our April 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. 


Before you link up your beautiful projects, though, please read our updated challenge rules.

* Each player may enter a maximum of 7 times. Any player who enters more than 7 times will not qualify for the prizes.

* If you use STAMPlorations exclusively (no stamps, dies, stencils, digis, stickers from other companies), then your project does not need to have any stamping on it to qualify. For example, you can enter a project wherein you used our cover plate die and word/phrase die.



The challenge is open until April 30, 11:59 pm Pacific time and the winners will be announced on May 10. Again, please read and follow our challenge rules if you want to qualify for the prizes.

Without further ado, here are the STAMPgirls with their projects for this month's challenge:



Tanja created a striking card featuring a vibrant rainbow-blended background with a butterfly window cut using the Flutter Zen 1 die. The butterfly opening reveals a delicate gray dotted pattern accented with various colorful sequins. She framed the panel with black and white diagonal striped borders and finished with a "thanks" sentiment from Skinny Sentiments.


Sanna created a vibrant, layered project using the Ephemeral Edges collage paper as a base, which she customized with several of her own stencil designs: Lattice, Leaves 1 and Leaves 2, Clustered Hearts, and Tapestry. The focal point features two large watercolor flowers with pearl centers, and she finished the piece with various Hey Sunshine clear stickers featuring the sentiments "keep dreaming," "do what matters," and "be fearless."


Vicki’s project features a retro-inspired coffee theme. She used The Coffee House collage paper as the background layer for her focal panel, which prominently displays a Retro Coffee Signs ATC sentiment piece. The white card base is embellished with a simple stamped arrow-like border pattern in each corner, perfectly framing the coffee-centric design.


Shirley’s sweet design features a crisp white background with subtle texture from the Circles All Over texture cover plate. The focal point is a deliciously colored lemon cupcake from the upcoming Big Cupcakes Colorables set (available in the store starting May 1), which she popped up for dimension. She finished the card with a "have the best day ever" sentiment from Birthday Bash.


Chris created a cozy, bookish design featuring a stack of floral teacups from the Springtime Coffee ATCs. This focal panel is matted on dark cardstock and layered over a light gray background that has been subtly stamped with book and coffee mug outlines from Good Books & Coffee. The card is finished with a meaningful quote from Literary Caffeine-ations.


Maria’s modern, graphic card features a colorful grid created with Coffee Tiles ephemera pieces. Each tile was die cut with a Tag O'Coffee cup die, adding a fun touch of dimension to the mugs. The project is finished with a yellow "it's a brew-tiful day" die-cut sentiment and a row of black stamped geometric borders at the bottom from And Coffee.


Ina’s card features a striking focal point created by stamping a large floral image onto a vibrant, marbled green and yellow circular element. This textured circle is layered over a crisp white panel where the same floral spray from Blossom Sprays 3 is stamped in black for a "continuing" effect. She finished the design with a sentiment from Bloom Happy and added a few black enamel dots for a clean, modern look.


Jane’s beautifully layered card features a Faded Botanicals collage paper background matted on black cardstock. The focal point is a floral image from Color Me Spring ATC, framed with vintage-style white photo corners. She accented the left side of the card with a cluster of delicate die-cut flowers using the Trendy Spring Blooms dies. She finished her card with a "for someone special" sentiment tucked at the bottom.


Monika’s square card features a beautifully stenciled background created with Leaf Prints 3 in warm yellow and green tones. She used a vibrant tulip image from Color Me Spring ATC as her focal point and matted on deep red cardstock. She finished the design with a thoughtful sentiment from True and Free and accented the panel with a few scattered sequins.



CraftyField created a beautiful vintage-style card on a kraft base and gave it a stitched border effect. The focal point is a pink floral image from Vintage Blooms ATC, layered over a distressed green background and a white lace-like die-cut border. She accented the design with a blue leaf sprig, a layered paper flower with a button center, and a "Hello" die-cut from Everyday Sentiments.


Sue’s whimsical card features a beautifully stenciled background using the Evolution stencil in a fresh palette of green, yellow, and teal. She populated the scene with three quirky bird characters from Fowl Play, each featuring colorful patterns. She finished the card with the playful "Poultry in motion" sentiment stamped in black on a dark green card base.

*****

April 2026 Anything Goes Challenge

Important: Please give LinkyTools a chance to add your entry if you have already entered once. This could take more than a minute or so. If unsure, close the tab and go back to this post. Then check to see if your entry is there. If not, try re-submitting. Thanks!


Sunday, April 05, 2026

Blooming Creativity: Sue’s Stunning Spring ATC Cards 🌸✨

Hello, crafty friends! We're excited to share some gorgeous inspiration from the talented Sue Nagata. Today, She's sharing projects using our new spring ATCs -- Retro Femme, Whimsical Homes, and Color Me Spring. Whether you love vintage vibes, cozy illustrations, or classic florals, these mini works of art are perfect for quick cards that pack a punch. Let’s dive into Sue’s stunning designs! 🎨💖


1. Believe in Retro Style 🕶️🦋


Sue’s first card features a focal point from the Retro Femme ATC pack. She created an edgy yet feminine look by layering the ATC over a vibrant background made with Botanical Beats collage paper. To make the design pop, she added a bold statement using the Believe word die, which was cut in black with a gold shadow to catch the eye. The clever mix of butterfly motifs and the "retro femme" vibe makes this card a total standout.


2. Make Magic Happen at Home 🏡🌈


For her second project, Sue went for a soft, dreamy aesthetic using the Whimsical Homes ATC pack. She pulled the look together by creating a playful, pastel background using the Dots All Over stencil with light ink blending. The centerpiece features a charming pink cottage ATC framed in black cardstock, and she finished the card with a supportive "make it happen" sentiment from the Radiate Happy stamp set.


3. You Are Enough (And So Is This Floral!) 🌷✍️


Sue’s third card is a beautiful reminder featuring the Color Me Spring ATC pack. This design focuses on elegant textures, starting with a delicate leaf pattern background created with the Abstract Oats stencil in soft pink and yellow tones. She placed a vibrant tulip ATC at an angle for a modern, artistic touch and added the final sentiment, "you are enough," from Noteworthy 2, stamped in a deep teal to ground the entire design.

💌 Love These Looks?

You can grab the ATC packs and dies Jane used to start your own spring projects! Don't forget to check out our subscription options to get new goodies delivered right to your door: 📬💖


✨ Retro Femme ATC 🕶️


Want the best value? Subscribe and Save! 📦✨ 

Get a curated mix of goodies delivered to your door every month. Choose the plan that fits your style:

✨ Paper Goods ATC Subscription - For the love of ATCs! 🃏
✨ Main Paper Goods Subscription - The ultimate mix of collage papers, card fronts, ephemera, ATCs, and more. 🌈🙌

Friday, April 03, 2026

More Spring Inspiration with Shirley Featuring Our New ATC Packs 🌸✨

We have Shirley today sharing some more spring inspiration featuring our new spring-themed ATC packs. If you love quick yet stunning projects, you’re going to adore our new Artist Trading Card (ATC) paper goods: Whimsical HomesColor Me Spring, and Retro Femme. 🎨

Shirley has perfectly demonstrated how these pre-printed ATC packs can be the star of the show with just a few simple stamped or die-cut additions. Let’s dive into her beautiful creations! ✂️


1. Happy Home Whimsical ATC 🏠


For her first project, Shirley stayed true to the charming artwork in Whimsical Homes. She chose a dreamy, watercolor-style cottage and gave it a custom touch by stamping directly onto the card using  Carved Houses. Since these are standard ATC size, they are incredibly versatile -- you can keep them as-is to trade with fellow enthusiasts, pop a magnet on the back for your fridge, or save them to use as a quick focal point on a full-sized card later! By adding the "Happy Home" sentiment and that bold, hand-drawn black heart, Shirley shows exactly how a simple stamp can frame a pre-printed image perfectly. ✨



2. Hey Chickie Birdhouse ATC 🐦


Next, Shirley pulled a vibrant green birdhouse from Color Me Spring. This project is all about adding life and dimension to a flat card. She stamped the small bird and the "Hey chickie" sentiment from Fowl Play, then colored the bird to match the bright spring palette. After fussy-cutting the elements, she popped them onto the ATC for a fun, layered look. This is another great example of an ATC that’s ready for anything -- whether it's joining an art journal page or being swapped at your next crafty meetup! 🌸


3. Retro Femme "Dream" Card 💄


Shirley’s final project turns an ATC into a full-sized card focal point. Featuring a stunning vintage-style portrait from Retro Femme, she paired the image with bold red accents and a very clever custom sentiment. The "DREAM" sentiment was created using the
Skinny Sentiments Dies, but since there isn't a specific "Dream" die or even a letter "M" in the set, Shirley got creative. She used individual letters from the set and cleverly inverted the "W" from the "Wish" die to create the "M" -- a total pro tip for stretching your die-cutting stash! 🌟


💌 Love These Looks?

You can grab the ATC packs and dies Shirley used to start your own spring projects! Don't forget to check out our subscription options to get new goodies delivered right to your door: 📬💖


✨ Retro Femme ATC 🕶️


Want the best value? Subscribe and Save! 📦✨ 

Get a curated mix of goodies delivered to your door every month. Choose the plan that fits your style:

✨ Paper Goods ATC Subscription - For the love of ATCs! 🃏
✨ Main Paper Goods Subscription - The ultimate mix of collage papers, card fronts, ephemera, and more. 🌈🙌

Thursday, April 02, 2026

✨ Spring Into Creativity: Stunning New ATC Projects by Jane 🎨🌸

We're back to share another burst of spring inspiration on the blog today! The talented Jane Tyrrell has been busy at work with our brand-new spring ATC packs, and she has created three breathtaking cards that show just how versatile these mini pieces of art can be. From retro vibes to whimsical homes, these projects are sure to get your creative juices flowing! 🖌️✨


1. Retro Femme Friendship Card 📸💛

Jane’s first project features a striking yellow and orange Distress Ink background that perfectly complements the vintage aesthetic. She used two gorgeous portraits from the Retro Femme ATC pack as her focal points, layering them over a background stamped with the Bloomfully: Remember set. 👗✨ The sentiments are all from the same stamp set, tying the theme of friendship together beautifully. With black matting to make the colors pop, this card is a true retro masterpiece! 🎞️👯‍♀️


2. Bold Florals & Bright Tulips 🌷🧡


For her second card, Jane went bright and bold! She created a stunning textured background by inking through the Bold Florals stencil with Distress Inks. The featured image is a lovely tulip illustration from the Color Me Spring ATC pack, which she matted with a tilted black panel for added dimension. 🎨🌿 She finished the card with a tiny teal ribbon bow and the sentiment from the Bloomfully: Beautiful stamp set. It’s the perfect way to send some sunshine to someone special! ☀️🎀


3. Whimsical Homes & Heartfelt Congratulations 🏠❤️

Jane’s third project is full of texture and charm. She started with a dreamy, water-colored background made with Distress Sprays and Spritz in shades of blue and rust. At the center is a sweet cottage scene from the Whimsical Homes ATC pack. ☁️🏡 To celebrate a special occasion, she added a red "Congratulations" die-cut from Everyday Sentiments. The final touch is the Clustered Hearts diecut, with some of the hearts colored in solid red to match the sentiment and the card’s border. It’s such a cozy and heart-warming design! 💌🥰


💌 Love These Looks?

You can grab the ATC packs and dies Jane used to start your own spring projects! Don't forget to check out our subscription options to get new goodies delivered right to your door: 📬💖


✨ Retro Femme ATC 🕶️


Explore More Essentials! 🎨✂️

✂️ Paper Goods ATC Subscription - Focal points delivered to your door! 📦🃏

Wednesday, April 01, 2026

ARTplorations Stencils Are Back! Shop Stencils + Buy 3 Get 1 Free + A Giveaway! 🎨✨

I'm excited to announce that ARTplorations stencils are officially back in the store. I know many of you have been waiting to get your hands on your favorite patterns, and they are all ready for you to browse right now. 🖌️

You can find the full collection here: stamplorations.com/stencils

To celebrate their return, I'm running a special offer: Buy 3, Get 1 Free! 🎁 Just put any 4 ARTplorations stencils in your cart, and the lowest-priced one will automatically become $0. It's the perfect time to grab those designs you've had your eye on. 🛒✨

Never Miss a Design with Our Stencil Subscriptions 📅📬

If you love stencils as much as I do, you definitely want to check out our two subscription services. It’s the best way to grow your collection automatically:
  • Stencil Subscription: Get a curated selection (yours -- because you pick what you want!) of our classic ARTplorations stencils delivered straight to your door. 🏠💌

  • Slimline Stencil Subscription: Perfect for those of you who love the popular slimline card format! 📏🌸

Free Worldwide Shipping on Subscriptions! 🌍✈️

I want everyone, everywhere to be able to create with ARTplorations stencils. That’s why we offer free worldwide shipping on all our stencil subscription services. No matter where you are in the world, you can join the fun without worrying about extra shipping costs. 📮💖


🎉 APRIL GIVEAWAY: Win Your Favorite Stencil! 🎉

To make their return even more fun, I’m hosting a giveaway all through the month of April! I’ll be picking one winner every week to win their favorite ARTplorations stencils.

How to Enter:
  1. Head over to the Stencils section in the store.
  2. Pick out your absolute favorite in-stock stencil design.
  3. Come back here (and to my Instagram) and leave a comment telling me which ONE you picked! (Don't specify more than one stencil.)

The Details: I will draw one winner each week from all the comments left on the blog and on Instagram. Winners will be announced on 🗓️ April 8, 15, 22, and 29 in this post, so check back on those dates to see if your name was picked.

APRIL 8 WINNER: [Your name could be here]
APRIL 15 WINNER: [Your name could be here]
APRIL 22 WINNER: [Your name could be here]
APRIL 29 WINNER: [Your name could be here]

I can’t wait to see which designs are your favorites! Happy crafting! :o)


✨ Holiday Magic: Quick and Festive Cards with Stephanie 🎨🎄

Happy Wednesday! Today, we're thrilled to feature Stephanie Severin's awesome work of Stephanie Severin. 🌟 Stephanie is here to show us how to create stunning, high-impact holiday cards using STAMPlorations paper goods. Her projects are a perfect showcase for our three subscription clubs: Paper GoodsATC, and Card Fronts. 📦✨


1. Warm Wishes Mixed Media Poinsettia ☕🌸




For her first card, Stephanie combined texture and color for a cozy, festive feel. She started by adhering the Industrial Patchwork Collage Paper to her card base. Over that, she layered a beautiful poinsettia design from the Quick Card #15 Simply Christmas A2 card fronts. 📜 To add a fun, dimensional element, she featured the Holiday Latte - Colorables, which she colored to perfectly match the lime green and hot pink palette of the card front. 🖍️ Stephanie finished the look with a "Warm wishes" sentiment from the Simple Christmas Clear Stickers and added a few lime green enamel dots for a pop of texture! 🟢✨



2. Holly Jolly Christmas Nutcracker 💂‍♂️❄️




Stephanie's second card is a masterclass in layering! She created a vibrant, textured background using a green gelli print and then layered another design from the
Quick Cards #15 Simply Christmas A2 card fronts on top. 🎨 For the focal point, she chose a charming nutcracker from the Christmas Ephemera #1 pack. 🎁 To tie it all together, she added the "have a holly jolly CHRISTMAS" sentiment from the Good Tidings Clear Stickers. The mix of the hand-made gelli print background with the crisp lines of the card front and ephemera creates a look that is both artistic and polished! 🌟🙌


Ready to Start Your Holiday Crafting? 📦✨ 

You can grab the products Stephanie used and sign up for our monthly kits to keep your stash full: 📬💖

✨ Main Paper Goods Subscription - The ultimate blend of collage papers, card fronts, ephemera, and ATC size goodies! 🌈🙌
✨ Card Fronts Subscription - The quick and easy way to create beautiful card bases every month. 💌🎨
✨ Paper Goods ATC Subscription - Perfect for small-format artistry and trading cards. 🃏


Want to win some crafty happy mail? 🎁✨

We love hearing your thoughts! Did you know that every thoughtful comment you leave on our blog or Instagram posts this April enters you for a chance to win? 🗣️📝

Three (3) lucky winners will be picked to receive their choice of a $10 prize code or any in-stock STAMPlorations product (up to $7 value) 🎟️📄

The more you chat with us, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be announced here on the blog on May 10. What did you think of Stephanie's cards? Let us know in the comments below! 👇💖