STAMPlorations birthday blog hop & linky party - DAY ONE!

Hey, everyone! Today's a great day because it's STAMPlorations' 2nd birthday! I'm quite excited that my little stamp company has reached this milestone. Over at the STAMPlorations blog, we are celebrating with a blog hop and a linky party all week. More than $100 worth of prizes are up for grabs for those who hop along and even link up their projects with a birthday, party, or celebration theme.

For my card, I turned to my trusty Gelli plate. Brayered magenta, ocean green, and medium yellow acrylic paints and then stamped the Party Mates stamps all over before placing my card base on top to transfer the design. I stamped the Party Time sentiment and finished it by stamping a doodled border from the Artsy Border Maker set. Voila -- the card's done. 

Click here to see what the STAMPlorations girls and our wonderful guest designer have created for Day 1 of our birthday blog hop and linky party!

And below is the mood board to inspire you in creating projects to link up!

There are waaayyy too many prizes up for grabs to list so just head on to the blog. Commenting and linking projects up close on Monday, July 6, with the winners announced the following day. 

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile, and come back again tomorrow for Day 2! 

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 376: Be authentic mixed media card

At Time Out Challenges, the challenge is Home Sweet Home -- and we have a photo to inspire you!

Source

I was inspired by the colors and the brick-like design. To make my mixed media card, I started by covering my card base with gesso. Next I dabbed spiced marmalade and barn door Distress paints and then spritzed a little water over the paints to let them blend and run. Once dry, I stamped various images (from Trendy Birds, Mixed Media Grunge, and Bloom Factory) in rich cocoa Memento Luxe ink and heat set. Then I took the ARTplorations Gridlocked stencil and partially stenciled around with modeling paste. I grunged it up a bit by sponging chrome and coffee archival inks over the modeling paste. I finished the card by adhering the banner where I had stamped the sentiment (Hashtag Authentic) in Delicata gold ink.

What will you create based on the inspiration photo? Don't forget to link up to the challenge! Check out what the TO design team made, as well as our guest designer this round: the lovely Sue from Foleysfriend!

Linking up to these fun challenges:

• Crafty Gals Corner #25 - ATG
• Inspiration Destination #39 - ATG
• Penny's Paper-Crafty #233 - ATG
• Word Art Wednesday #189 - ATG/Family Friendly
• Clear It Out Challenge - Your Style & Favorite Craft Product (my style is mixed media; used several of my favorite stash in my card: gesso, Distress paints, and modeling paste!)

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 375: Blossom like a butterfly mixed media card

I had a little bit of mixed media fun with my stamps, stencils, and tissue paper and created this card. I wasn't up to coloring with markers so I used a technique of coloring them without really coloring. Basically, I applied gesso and Gelatos on my panel, stamped my images and sentiment on tissue paper, and then used gel medium to decoupage the tissue paper onto the panel.

I've got a step-by-step photo tutorial here if you'd like to see exactly how I put this card together :o)

Ingredients:  STAMPlorations stamps (The Birds and the Blooms, Mixed Media Grunge, Blossom Like A Butterfly, Big Numbers Background); ARTplorations stencil (Gridlocked); Liquitex (gesso, matte gel medium, modeling paste); Faber-Castell Gelatos; Ranger Archival Inks; Tsukineko Memento Luxe Inks; Koi Watercolors; Japanese watercolor brush pen.

Linking up my card to these fun challenges:

• Fusion - Bright Butterfly - I went with the photo
• Simon Says Anything Goes 
• Sister Act Card Challenge #111
• Creative Moments #71 - ATG
• Through the Craft Room Door - ATG

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 374: Merry one layer card

My one layer card today is for the current challenge at the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge, where it's always anything one layer Christmas card goes. There's an optional twist: green.

Paper craft project no. 373: Have an amazing birthday one layer card

Sharing a quick one layer card today. I started by placing the Bloom Factory stencil on my card base and sponging Distress inks (dried marigold, spiced marmalade, fired brick, dusty concord) and then stamping the coordinating Bloom Factory stamps in Hero Arts and Memento Luxe inks. I stamped one of the borders from Artsy Border Maker in red archival ink and finished the card by stamping the sentiment from Party Time in Memento Luxe. The sentiment set is one of 3 exclusive party-themed STAMPlorations stamps to celebrate its 2nd birthday! (There's going to be a birthday blog hop to celebrate in 2 weeks! Deets are here.)

{Just sharing} A wonderful surprise in the mail!

I don't have a project to share today but I wanted to share something. I'm now on my third trimester (29 weeks this week) and getting bigger by the day, although the hubby thinks I've lost weight. (I've gained 15 pounds so far.)

Yesterday a most wonderful surprise came in the mail -- a package from the awesome Petra (hellerlittle)! I was completely caught off guard by her happy mail I teared up when I opened the package and saw the wonderful things she put together:

Inside the box were 2 cards she made and 2 gift bags. (Cool bird card, huh? I love it!)

Another shot of the goodies she sent. The card on the right is so adorable and something I can't ever make! I love that it's for my little girl -- it'll definitely go into the "Welcome home, baby" stuff I'll put together as my baby's first gift package when we bring her home from the hospital :o)

And here's what's inside the two gift bags. Eeek - they're adorable!

So thank you so much, Petra! You have made me (and my baby) so happy with these gifts you lovingly made and put together :o)

Paper craft project no. 372: You are beautiful one layer card

For the next couple of weeks it's the Inspired by Words challenge over at Time Out. Our inspirational quote this time is "Happy is the bride that the sun shines on." To play along, simply create a project inspired by the quote. You can be inspired by the whole quote or just a word or two. 

Paper craft project no. 371: Go after your dreams mixed media inspirational artwork

Popping by to share a mixed media inspirational piece I made using monoprinting, stenciling, and stamping techniques. I created this one specifically as a wall decor for the travel trailer that hubby is converting into a home office/art studio for me. I used really thick cardstock (160#), acrylic paints, gesso, texture gel, inks, watercolor brush pens, ARTplorations stencils, and STAMPlorations stamps.

You can find my step-by-step photo tutorial here.

Paper craft project no. 370: Aloha summer with a whole latte love one layer card

Quick post to share a summer-themed coffee one layer card I made for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop that's happening right now. STAMPlorations is one of 30+ sponsors so there are tons of prizes up for grabs when you link up your summer-inspired cards with a coffee, tea, or cocoa theme.