{Spotlight Project} Ombre Shadow Words with Cornelia

Hi, Cornelia here today, playing with my CUTplorations word dies.

I made a small set. And here is how I did it:

{Spotlight Project} Monika Revisits Favourites

Hello Crafty Friends! Today's Spotlight Project is a sort of a follow on from Monday's Mixed Media Tutorial. I am looking to make an alternative cover for the note pad I am going to use to record my art journal projects with a little help from two of my favourite stamp club sets, Bloom Sketches and Mixed Media Grunge, and the Daisy Dance and Foiled Again ARTplorations Stencils.

Here is the finished project:

{Spotlight Project} Shery Creates a Mother's Day Mixed Media Card

Hey, STAMPlorations friends! I've got a mixed media card project to share to start off April here on the blog. I used gesso, Gelatos, watercolors (pan and brush pens), washi tape, fun STAMPlorations stamps (Bloom Sketches, Mixed Media Grunge, and Big On Words - MOM), and a new ARTplorations stencil that coordinates with one of our stamps :o) 

Here's a look at the finished card:

{Spotlight Project} Vicki Finds a Fun Inspiration

I have to chuckle - I went completely blank for today's spotlight. So I figured I can't be the only one that happens to - right? Right? Well, in my case, I have my trusty 1000 Bag, Tags & Labels go-to book.

This book is filled with fabulous inspiration for making cards. Case in point:

What got my attention was the splatter, and the CAS of the design.

Here is my set of cards I ended up making.

{Spotlight Project} Deepti Creates a Clean and Elegant Card

Hello, friends! Deepti here and welcome to another spotlight feature. Today I am showcasing how to make a clean and elegant card with stamps and stencil. Here's a look at the finished card:

{Spotlight Project} Monika Creates Scented Cards Using Homemade Embossing Paste

Hi, everybody. Today I'm having a play with homemade embossing paste and some of the ARTplorations stencils.

Making your own paste is a really good way to explore the use of embossing paste, especially as most of you will have the ingredients needed already at home. You simply mix some talcum powder with some PVA glue for a gooey consistency similar to a sponge cake mix, and you're ready to go. The added bonus is that it can make wonderfully scented cards as the perfume of the talcum powder will last for quite a while.

Here is my first card. It's actually my very first attempt at using homemade embossing paste:

{Spotlight Project} Guest Designer Becca Creates Thank You Cards Using the Stamping with Sweetened Condensed Milk Technique!

Hello, STAMPlorations friends! Today and tomorrow, we're all in for a treat, as we've got two super-creative crafters guest designing and sharing their spotlight projects! 

First up is Becca Cruger of Damsel of Distressed Cards sharing a fun technique! We're so excited to have her on the blog today! Let us know what you think of Becca's project and then make sure to stop by her blog to leave her some love!

Although I've been crafting ever since I discovered how to attach glitter to paper, I just recently started blogging (in October). The amazing, supportive crafty community I've found on the web has been beyond inspiring! STAMPlorations was one of the first card making challenges I ever participated in, and I fell in love with the sketchy designs that lend themselves to all sorts of stamping aesthetics. My cards are very eclectic - I love all things vintage and distressed, but also find beauty in the simplicity of clean lines and smile when I come across a great pun. No matter what aesthetic I feel like working in, almost all of my designs will be saturated in color or filled with texture. 

And here's Becca's spotlight project! Enjoy and be inspired!

Ahhhh.... it's that time of year again. The Christmas cards have all been created, addressed in your finest print, and stuffed into matching envelopes. Now it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season. But what to do with all of that extra free crafty time now that you're not stamping furiously to make that one last card for Great Aunt Edna?

Thank you cards! I don't know about you, but my holiday season is filled with family get-togethers, present unwrapping, and cookie bakes. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I wanted to get a jump-start on the cards I know I'll be itching to give to thank all of the people involved in creating my Christmas spirit.

This weekend, I sat down to create a set of cards using the Sentiment Builders: Thank You set. I love the sentiment builders because there are so many different sayings you can create with one set! It's one of the (many) reasons I fell in love with STAMPlorations.

I decided to use an old technique my grandmother taught to me: stamping with sweetened condensed milk. It sounds messy (and it is!), but it creates this aged textural feel that will leave people wondering just what the heck is on your card - in a good way.

{Spotlight Project} Vicki Goes Bright & Vivid!

Hi, all! It's Vicki here. I am so impressed by the bright and vivid coloring I am seeing in blogland, and even with the fabulous team here at STAMPlorations! I wanted to see if I could accomplish it. Today's card is all about color and more color.

Here is the finished card:

Did I accomplish my goal? :) I think so!

{Spotlight Project} Cornelia Plays with a Couple of Oldies but Goodies Stamp Sets

Hi, everyone. Cornelia is back playing with some of the older STAMPlorations sets today! I used one of my favorite techniques, sponging, and one of my favorite gadgets to make those cards, the Stamp-a-majig.

{Spotlight Project} Nonni Plays With Stamps And Patterned Paper

Hi guys! It's Nonni here playing with Bloom Sketches and some patterned paper! This is a fun technique for altering patterned paper by using your favorite stamps.

For creating this look you'll need:

• STAMPlorations Bloom Sketches stamp set
• Card for card base and matting your stamped panel
• Patterned paper: mine has a fun script-look!
• Watermark ink pad (I used Versamark)
• Clear embossing powder
• Embossing Buddy for removing static before embossing
• Heat tool
• Black ink (I used Versafine)
• Sponging tool/Sponge
• Clean cloth/Tissue

{Spotlight Project} Shirley Plays With Stamps And Distress Inks Again!

I can't resist playing with Distress Inks. My latest craze is stamping an image with Antique Linen, then watercolouring using the faint outline as a guide.

{Spotlight Project} Deepti Creates a Card Using the Focal Zoom with Bokeh Background Technique

Don't forget to join in on our stamp release blog hop fun
after reading Deepti's fun photo tutorial! :o)

Hello, friends! Welcome to my second spotlight feature and I am feeling so excited :) I hope I can inspire you yet again. This time, I am showcasing another technique often done in photography. I have used STAMPlorations' beautiful new release, Bloom Sketches, and VIGNETTE: Retro Mod Shapes.

{Spotlight Project} Shery Creates a Mixed Media Layout

Don't forget to join in on our stamp release blog hop fun
after watching Shery's short video tutorial :o)

I adore my niece, Alexa. I've got thousands of photos of her in a portable hard drive...and her photos are all that's in that hard drive ;o) And so here I am sharing a 12" by 12" mixed media layout where she's the star. (I made one a couple of weeks ago and you'll find it here.) The Adorable One will be turning 3 next month, but for this project, I printed out a photo of her that was taken when she was 5 1/2 months old.

{Spotlight Project} Nonni Stamps with Gelatos and Ink Spray

Don't forget to join in on our stamp release blog hop fun
after reading Nonni's awesome project!

Hi, STAMPlorations friends! I'm showing you a quick, fun, messy card I made using the fabulous Bloom Sketches. The idea came to me by accident: I wanted to try watercolor style stamping by spraying my stamp with water and realized I don't own a misting bottle... So off I went trying if stamping with colored mists would work. It did!

{Spotlight Project} Monika Creates a Stationery First Aid Kit

Hello, everybody. I'm back again with some more inspiration for you. This week, I hope to inspire you to stretch your crafting skills and join me in creating this little handbag sized folder. It is a sort of Stationery First Aid Kit. 

I don't know about you, but I quite often get caught out in situations needing pen and paper, an envelope or just simply something nice to write some details on. Thinking that something has to be done about this whilst thinking about my upcoming Spotlight Project, it was a question of now or never!
So here it is, this Thursday's Spotlight Project using our current Stamp Club set, Bloom Sketches combined with Boxed Blooms & Bold Sentiments and Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds.

{Spotlight Project} Deepti Creates a Stunning Card Using the Focal Black and White Technique

Hello, friends! Deepti here with my very first spotlight project and I am both excited and nervous :) I hope I will be able to inspire you. I am showcasing a technique often done in photography. I have used STAMPlorations beautiful new release, Bloom Sketches set.

So, here's a look at the finished project. The look that I have tried to create is termed as Focal Black & White. Here we try to keep the whole photo black and white with one focal colored image.

Here are a few examples from real photography to explain this effect and how I got inspired.

Here's a step-by-step photo tutorial to showcase the process of making this card.

STEP 1

I stamped the image on a blank card panel multiple times, going off the edge, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

STEP 2

I created a mask for the image that I wanted to keep in color. I used a post-it note to make my mask and adhered it on focal flowers. I also colored the stems and leaves in black using a black Sharpie marker. (Any black marker will work too.)

STEP 3

I inked the edges starting from outside of the panel and moving very lightly all around the edges of the panel. I used Distress Black soot. (Any black ink will work.)

STEP 4

I then removed the masks and colored the poppies in red again using my Sharpie markers. Copic, Distress, Spectrum Noir, and any kind of markers are okay to use too. Since I wanted to keep the colors really bold, I used Sharpie.

STEP 5

Once the panel was ready, I framed it twice by sticking it on white and black card stock. Then I heat embossed the sentiment from the same set using Versamark ink and Whisper Opaque white embossing powder. Finally, I adhered this panel on a white card base.

Here's the finished card once again :) The card was photographed in the sunlight.

That finishes my very first spotlight feature :) I hope you enjoyed it and will give this a try. Happy crafting!

{Spotlight Project} Shery Plays with Gift Wrapping Paper and Creates an Easy Mixed Media Card

Hi, everyone! I'm back with another spotlight project (plus a bonus project with video). In my previous spotlight posts (this one and this one), I showed the mixed media tags and canvas panel I did when I had a play with the newsprint gift wrapping paper I found in my stash. In today's post, I'm sharing the mixed media card I made using some more of that gift wrapping paper. I have a photo tutorial so you can see how I put this card together -- it's really easy! But first, let me show you the finished card:

STEP 1

I adhered a piece of the gift wrapping paper onto 140-lb watercolor panel (4" by 5.25") using Liquitex gel medium. [Tip: Use a base that's really thick and won't warp easily.]

STEP 2

Using an old card, I applied watered-down white gesso onto the panel. [Tip: If you spread gesso unevenly onto your surface, you'll get a nice texture when you apply paints, inks, sprays, Gelatos, or other wet mediums on it.]

STEP 3

I loosely watercolored blue zircon and plum crazy Twinkling H2Os onto the panel once the gesso was dry. [Tip: To get a colorwash look, paint the panel with water first and then apply the paints. Let the colors pool along the edges/crevices. Tilt the panel to allow the colors to drip and blend. You can also use a heat tool to move the colors around.]

STEP 4

I stamped one of the background stamps in the Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds set in VersaMagic aegean blue chalk ink (tone-on-tone), distressed the edges with a TH distressing tool, and inked the panel with VersaMagic Jumbo Java chalk ink. I also splattered a bit of white gesso onto the panel. [Tip: Subtly grunge up your background by partially stamping images in a color that is similar to your background color. It will give your background a textured look without the added bulk.]

STEP 5

On scrap card stock, I stamped the backside of the sunflower from Bloom Sketches in VersaMagic mango madness chalk ink three times.

STEP 6

I flipped the stamp over and inked it up with VersaMagic gingerbread chalk ink. [Tip: This technique is great for coloring your images quickly when you know you're going to be fussy cutting them. It's also a great technique to use when you want to get that offset-print/retro look (like how I did in this card).]

STEP 7

I fussy cut the sunflowers and ran a dark brown marker along the edges to hide the white edges.

STEP 8

I have a Cuttlebug but I must admit I'm too lazy most of the time to take it out and use my dies. I needed some leaves for my sunflowers so I simply took a piece of textured card stock (DCWV) and cut out the leaves. I creased the leaves, distressed them, and applied VersaMagic hint of pesto chalk ink on the edges. 

STEP 9

The last step is putting the card together! I adhered the panel onto my card base before adhering everything else. I used foam dots and double-sided tape. I stamped the sentiment from Bloom Sketches in jet black archival ink onto scrap white card stock, cut it out, and matted it onto dark blue textured card stock. And my mixed media card is done! That wasn't so hard now, was it?

I have one more project (a mixed media layout) to show you that features our stamps and the newsprint gift wrapping paper. (I'm getting so much mileage from just one roll!) I'll share it in my next spotlight post. 

Before I go, though, I'd like to share another mixed media layout that I did for the current challenge at Time Out Challenges, a challenge blog that Nonni and Sandie own. (Check it out and come play!)

Here's a partial shot of my 12" by 12" layout:

That's the hubby and me, by the way. (Photo was taken 11 years ago, a year before we got sentenced to life married.) And here's a video where I show how I put together the layout from start to finish. It's a little over 13 minutes -- in fast-forward motion, captioned, and accompanied by Mozart my voice-over narration (!).

Thanks for stopping by! See you in a couple of weeks!

~Shery