{Spotlight Project} Maria Enjoys Embossing and Watercolors

It's so nice to be back home after being in MI for nearly three months helping out my folks. Wanna know what I missed most from my craft room? Heat embossing.

Today I'm pairing heat embossing with the still hot trend of watercolors. Why do they work so well together? Well that raised edge of the embossing works as a great barrier to keep you from getting (too) messy with your watercoloring. It can also help pool color there where you would expect shadows to be.

Here's my card:

{Mixed Media Tutorial} by Kim

Kim shows you how to use the ARTplorations Oh My Stars  and Old Rose Prints stencils and STAMPlorations Artsy Border Maker stamp set to make this gorgeous altered frame. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!

Winners Thankful for Autumn and NBUS#5

Thanks to everyone who joined in the Thankful for Autumn mini release hop featuring Holiday Expressions:  Thankful for Autumn.

Holiday Expressions:  Thankful for Autumn is available in the shop and for one week only (until September 23), it's 10% off.

Now it's time to announce the winner of the set, randomly drawn from comments left here on the blog and the designers' blogs, as well as tags on Facebook and Pinterest pins.  We pooled the entries and with the help of Mr. Random.org. the winner is:

Berina RGA

Congratulations!  Please claim your prize by Friday, September 25.  Send an email to sheryruss@gmail.com with the subject, "STAMPlorations Thankful for Autumn winner". Include your complete mailing address in the email and your stamp set will be on its way to you.

And, STAMPlorations was so happy to be a sponsor for the NBUS#5 Challenge, hosted by the uber fab, Darnell.  It's time to announce the winner, randomly drawn from all the comments left here on the blog.  The winner gets her choice of any 4x6 stamp set from the shop.  With the help of Mr. Random.org. the winner is:

Rosemary Calpin

Congratulations!  Please claim your prize by Friday, September 25.  Send an email to sheryruss@gmail.com with the subject, "STAMPlorations NBUS#5 winner". Include your complete mailing address in the email and the name of the 4x6 stamp set you'd like from the shop. Your stamp set will be on its way to you.

And did you know that we now have lower minimum orders for free shipping to our non-US customers? Orders of at least $25 (previously $35) get free shipping to Canada and orders of at least $35 (previously $50) get free shipping to all other countries. Free shipping coupon codes are found here.

{Stencil Sunday #12}

Hey there, fellow creatives! We've got a new 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, Irit and Susanne are sharing their mixed media projects. You'll find more information about their projects by visiting their blogs -- do check them out!

{Mixed Media Tutorial} Colourful Gift Box by Susanne

For the THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN Special Stamp Release + Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

For the STAMPlorations & NBUS #5 Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

Susanne shows you how to use the ARTplorations Leaf Prints and Botanical Lush stencils and STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamps to make this pretty gift box. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!

{Spotlight Project} Monika Does Multi Colored Embossing

For the THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN Special Stamp Release + Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

For the STAMPlorations & NBUS #5 Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

Hi Everyone! It's Monika back with another Spotlight Feature. Today I felt inspired by the array of coloured embossing powders in my stash and wondered how I could colour stamped images using them. I was working with the helenium from the current Stamp Club set Floral Bliss.

My first card uses the image from the technique video below which I combined with stamps from the Fond Expressions 2 and the Distressed Floral Swirls sets.

August Inspiration CASE Playground Winner & Top Picks

First off, apologies for the late announcement of our CASEplorations winner and top picks for August. But with no further ado, here they are.

August CASE Playground Random Winner

#10 Barb G.

Congratulations, Barb! Please claim your prize by Friday, September 25, by sending an email to sheryruss@gmail.com with the subject "CASEplorations August winner" and indicate your preferred prize: a $15 gift certificate or choice of any two ARTplorations stencils.

CASEplorations August 2015 Top Picks

(in numerical order)

#7 Pink Unicorn

The beautiful blue splatters and swirly sentiment make us happy - a lovely CASE of Monika's card.

#11 Nancy L.

A beautiful CASE of Karen's card -- the vellum leaves add a wonderful touch of softness to the striking blue background.

#12 Rahmat

A different CASE of Karen's card -- using a blue background and adding lots of depth and interest with layers of stamping and embossing.

Congratulations, ladies! Please grab your CASEplorations Top Pick badge below.

Have you seen Gail's super fun tag in the September CASEplorations post? Do have a look. The Playground is open until October 5th and we'd love to see your CASEs!

{Spotlight Project} Shirley's Inspired By Pinterest - Part One

For the THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN Special Stamp Release + Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

For the STAMPlorations & NBUS #5 Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

Are you a Pinner?  For a good while I would Pin, Pin, Pin and never go back to look at what I'd pinned, but now I actually use my Pinterest boards as a resource - great for when I've got creative block.  This one took my eye a while back, and I had the idea of a dress silhouette.

source

So this is what I made:

{Special Stamp Release!} HOLIDAY EXPRESSIONS: THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN by Shery Russ Designs + Mini Release Hop -- Comment to Win!

Hello, STAMPlorations friends! This week, we're kicking off our seasonal/holiday stamp release. For the next four Wednesdays, Deepti and I are releasing stamp sets that are perfect for creating seasonal/holiday projects. This week, we're releasing a fall set I illustrated, Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn. These stamps are great for creating fall-themed cards and projects and they'll also work well for creating cards all year round.

For this mini hop, we have the STAMPlorations girls sharing their projects. We'd love for you to visit the designers' blogs and leave comments along the way. The best part? One lucky commenter will win the Thankful for Autumn stamp set! :o)

SHERY

BECCA

LAURAJANE

    

VICKI

  

How the mini release hop works:

• Comment on this post.
• Visit the designers' blogs and comment on their featured project(s).
• Commenting closes on Friday, September 18, 11:55 p.m. Pacific (GMT-7).
• We'll randomly select a winner of the stamp set from comments left on all the blogs and announce it on Sunday, September 20.

Want to increase your chances of winning?

• Share the link to this blog post on your Facebook status. Make sure to tag your post with #thankfulforautumn and #stamplorations
• When you visit the designers' blog posts, pin their cards to your Pinterest board. Again, make sure to tag your pins with #thankfulforautumn and #stamplorations
• Leave a second comment on this blog post telling us that you've done the above (include a link to your FB profile/page and/or Pinterest board).

By the way, Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn is now available in the shop and for one week only, it's 10% off!

If you haven't visited the shop lately, you're missing out on one awesome change we did back in August: lower minimum orders for free shipping to our non-US customers! Now orders of at least $25 (previously $35) get free shipping to Canada and orders of at least $35 (previously $50) get free shipping to all other countries. Free shipping coupon codes are found here.

Happy hopping!

September Challenge Mid-Month Reminder - More Inspiration

For the THANKFUL FOR AUTUMN Special Stamp Release + Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

For the STAMPlorations & NBUS #5 Comment to Win post, click here. (ends 9/18)

Hey all! Have you played in the September Challenge yet?  We've combined the Theme and Sketch challenges so you can create a project based on the theme, sketch, or both, and link it up!

For September, our theme is STAMPS & MUSIC.

And we've got a fun sketch below for you to get inspired by as well.

LINK UP YOUR PROJECTS HERE

We have another amazing guest designer joining us this month: Keia Shipp. Check out the beautiful card she created and then stop by her blog -- it's full of amazing inspiration and creativity!

{Spotlight Project} Cornelia Does Some Graduated Sponging

Hi! Cornelia here today doing some graduated sponging. I love those flowers - this time I used the dogwood from the August stamp club set - Floral Bliss. but since I am not so good at coloring, I have to come up with other options...

{Mixed Media Tutorial} Altered Home Decor Piece by Lee-Anne

Lee-Anne shows you how to use the ARTplorations Bloom Silhouettes and Old Rose Print stencils  to make this home decor piece. Click on the graphic below for the step-by-step photo tutorial she has on the ARTplorations blog. See you there!