{Inspiration Project Post #30} Roundup!

We're saying goodbye to another month, but before we do, here's one more round of Inspiration Projects. If you missed any of the Inspiration Project posts for July, below's a link list so you can easily find projects to CASE:

July CASEplorations

July 10 Inspiration Project Post #26

July 13 Inspiration Project Post #27

July 24 Inspiration Project Post #28

July 27 Inspiration Project Post #29

When you CASE a project (or two, or however many you want -- there's no limit), make sure to link them up by August 5, 11:55 p.m. Pacific (GMT-7) to get a shot at winning a $15 gift certificate or your choice 2 ARTplorations stencils.

    

      

{Spotlight Project} Deepti Creates a Colorful Camouflaged Effect!

Hello, friends! Deepti here and welcome to another spotlight feature. Today I am showcasing how to create a colorful camouflaged piece on a black and white background.

So, here's a look into the finished card:

{Spotlight Project} Shirley Plays with Black Gesso

I recently bought some black gesso. The only size I could get it in was a one-litre pot, which is probably enough to paint a room! It may last me some time...

{Spotlight Project} Stamping on Modeling Paste

Hello, everyone! I've got another one layer mixed media card to share. I played with modeling paste, Inktense pencils, Gelatos, and Dylusions acrylic paint with a couple stamp club sets. I tried to keep it CAS, but in the end I still couldn't resist adding splatters ;-) Here's the card:

{Mixed Media Tutorial} Art Journal Page by Asmah

Asmah created this beautifully textured art journal page using the Bubbles stencil and Artsy Border Maker stamps. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!

{Inspiration Project Post #29}

Happy Monday, fellow crafters! Ready for a brand new week of crafting and exercising your creative muscles? The girls in the Inspiration team are back yet again with some awe-mazing cards! If any or some of their projects inspire you and you end up CASEing a card or two, be sure to link up to the Playground! There's a $15 gift certificate up for grabs for one lucky crafter :o)

Want to see examples of CASEs? Have a look at how the STAMPlorations girls CASEd the bold and trendy card that Tenia Nelson created in this post. You can case Tenia's card, CASE the cards made by the STAMPlorations girls (CASE the CASE), or CASE one (or all) of the cards in this post, this post, this post, or the ones below.

    

    

{PREVIEW} August/September 2015 Stamp Club Set - FLORAL BLISS

In less than a week, August will be here. And with the new month comes a new stamp club set. Here's a preview of Floral Bliss.

What, more flowers?!? Yep -- many of our customers (stamp club subscribers and non-stamp club subscribers alike) seem to like flower stamps. When it comes to making cards, flower images are versatile; you can use them for practically any occasion paired with whatever sentiment on hand.

FLORAL BLISS is a 5" by 7" stamp set featuring 6 floral images (zinnia, cosmo, dogwood, larkspur, helenium, and dahlia) I illustrated, 1 large distressed/grunge frame, and 11 word sentiments. I was inspired by vintage seed packets while I was designing this set, so each flower and sentiment (e.g., simply STUNNING) will fit right inside the grunged up frame. You can create a variety of projects with this set: cards, tags, journaling spots, ATCs, toppers, refrigerator magnets, and more.

You'll soon see the STAMPlorations girls feature this set in their spotlight projects. But first, here are four one layer cards I made showcasing this set.

For this CAS card, I brayered Delicata gold ink in the center, used Faber-Castell PITT Artist big brush pen to stamp the larkspur, and then stamped askew the grunge frame in Hero Arts raspberry jam mid-tone shadow ink.

For the second card, I did some a lot of masking. I first stamped the frame in Delicata gold ink, masked it then went to town with stamping the zinnia in gold ink all over the card base. I stamped it again inside the frame and colored with Chromatix alcohol marker. I finished it off with the sentiment.

For the third card, I was still in the mood to mask and I thought I'd do a reverse of the second card. So I stamped and masked the zinnia, dahlia, and cosmo. I colored them with various Chromatix alcohol markers and gave the background a little faux texture by stamping the grunge newsprint and dotty background (from another stamp club set, Mixed Media Grunge) in coffee Ranger archival ink.

For the fourth card, I thought I'd get a little artsy. I must admit that the helenium is my favorite stamp in the bunch. I inked it up with Faber-Castell PITT Artist big brush pen and stamped, masking as I went along and then colored with Inktense pencils. I watercolored the background with both Inktense pencils and Japanese Sai watercolor markers, stamped a few grunge images (again from the Mixed Media Grunge set) in coffee Ranger archival ink, and then finished the card by stamping the sentiment in the center.

Floral Bliss will be available to non-stamp club subscribers starting August 1. Also, larger versions of the flowers are going to be available as singles in the STAMP Lab category. The larger images are perfect for non-card projects.

Right now, however, Floral Bliss is available to current stamp club subscribers; they can pick this set and have it shipped right away when their subscription renews.

Want this stamp set now at a great price with a couple of ARTplorations stencils of your choice and free shipping? Just sign up for the stamp club here. Stamp club subscribers get to enjoy lots of perks :o)

If you're already a stamp club subscriber, thanks so much for your support! If your subscription is set to renew sometime later this month, you can already pick Floral Bliss instead of the current set, The Birds and the Blooms -- it's up to you!

Hope you all have a fantastic week ahead!

{Stencil Sunday #4}

Hello, fellow crafters! We are back with another Stencil Sunday edition, a weekly feature brought to you by the STAMPlorations girls in the Mixed Media design team. Every Sunday, they share their mixed media projects showcasing ARTplorations stencils and STAMPlorations stamps. Today we've got Tanja, Asmah, and Kim with their mixed media projects. You'll find more information about their projects by visiting their blogs -- do check them out!

    

{Mixed Media Tutorial} Forever Canvas by Carol

Carol created this small canvas with a shabby/vintage feel to showcase the Hearts Tumbled stencil, as well as stamps in the Boxed Blooms & Bold Sentiments and Mixed Media Grunge sets. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!

{Inspiration Project Post #28}

Hey, STAMPlorations friends! Another week has quickly gone by but before we say hello to the weekend, the girls in the Inspiration team are sharing a fresh new batch of inspiration projects. If you're up for it, CASE one or two cards or however many you'd like and then link your creations up to the Playground! You could win a $15 gift certificate by doing so :o)

Want to see examples of CASEs? Have a look at how the STAMPlorations girls CASEd the bold and trendy card that Tenia Nelson created in this post. You can case Tenia's card, CASE the cards made by the STAMPlorations girls (CASE the CASE), or CASE one (or all) of the cards in this post, this post, or the ones below.

    

    

{Spotlight Project} PartyGirl Grows Wings

Hi, everyone! It's Monika back sharing a little canvas I made using The Bee's Knees' PartyGirl, Shery Russ Designs' Eclectic Florals, and ARTplorations stencils Retro Circles and Old Rose Prints. It is the type of project I have been wanting to do for a while now, but never really dared getting even started. One could say that this canvas was inspired by the collective work of our Mixed Media girls. They inspired me to finally take up the challenge which, once started, was not that difficult after all.

{Spotlight Project} Shirley Defaces a Dictionary

Hi, peeps! I've never been comfortable with the idea of tearing pages out of a book for mixed media projects, on the basis that if I liked the book, I'll read it again so I don't want any pages missing, and if I didn't like the book I wouldn't want any part of it on my lovely artwork! So my compromise is to use a dictionary.

{Spotlight Project} Cornelia's Burning Question: Are You Foiling Yet?

Hi! Cornelia here today, trying out foiling. I have been enamoured by Jennifer MeGuire and her foiling techniques the moment I saw it. Bought the foil and ever since it has been laying around and I was too intimidated to try. But thanks to the spotlight feature, I got over my procrastination habit and tackled it. Now, any sensible human being would have watched her video again, but I thought I remembered it well enough....I am not one for watching lengthy videos - don't have time for that. I much rather look at a bunch of pictures...

{Mixed Media Tutorial} Wonderful Flutterby & Bloom Small Canvas by Kim J.

Kim J. created this small canvas to showcase the Flutterby and Bloom Silhouettes stencils. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!

{Stencil Sunday #3}

Hey, STAMPlorations friends! Welcome to another edition of Stencil Sunday, a weekly feature brought to you by the STAMPlorations girls in the Mixed Media design team. Every Sunday, they share their mixed media projects showcasing ARTplorations stencils and STAMPlorations stamps. Today we've got Carol and Irit with their mixed media projects. You'll find more information about their projects by visiting their blogs -- do check them out!