Paper craft project no. 436: A trio of one layer cards featuring Trendy Feathers 2

It's stamp release week over at STAMPlorations! There are 4 fun stamps in this release and each day we are featuring one stamp set and cards made by each designer! I'm kicking off the blog hop with my set, Trendy Feathers 2. It will be Shirley's turn tomorrow with her super cool Groovy Shoes, and then Deepti will be back Wednesday with her Smile, followed by Becca and her Strong Women. The STAMPlorations girls in the Inspiration team will finish off the week with a mega-inspiration post where they'll share their projects featuring the new stamps. There are tons of prizes for those who hop along, with one lucky hopper winning the entire release.

Here are cards I created with my fun feathers set. I kept the cards one layer and used simple techniques such as embossing, sponging, masking, and stenciling.

(Other stamps used: Mixed Media Elements)

(Other products used: Artsy Border Maker, Strong Women, Perched Bird stencil)

Hope you liked the cards and are inspired by them! Tomorrow, the spotlight will be on Shirley and her Groovy Shoes set.  Leave a comment here and on the STAMP blog here for your chance to win either a gift certificate or the entire release.

If you'd rather skip the hopping, this set and the other three are available in the shop at 10% off each until May 6. Buy all 4 as a bundle and get it at 15% off. See them here. 

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

Paper craft project no. 392: Believe and shine one layer card

Hey, all. It's the third and last day of the STAMPlorations October stamp release blog hop and we are featuring FOLK FLOWERS, the really, really, really fun set that Shirley designed for her stamp line. If you like building flowers, this is the set! :o)

This is a card that took a few days to make because I was doing it in stages (re: when I managed to snatch 5 minutes here and there away from the little one). Lots of masking, coloring, and then doodling. I stamped the sentiment and then finished the card by drawing the border.

Check out what the rest of the STAMPlorations girls made! You'll find links to all our projects here. Comment on the projects and you could win one of several prizes.

Plus...we have a Flash Fall Flowers Linky Party! Link up a new project that has flowers in it and you could be one of the 3 winners of a stamp set from the October release! The linky is open until Sunday, October 25. For the details, click here.

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

Paper craft project no. 391: Bloom, hope, take flight one layer card

It's the second day of the STAMPlorations October stamp release blog hop and this time, we're showcasing the HOPE BLOOMS set I designed.

With a 7-week-old baby that demands 100% of my time, I have to be even faster with my crafting (when I do happen to have 10-15 minutes to spare -- and those spare minutes are very few and far in between) so I've had to stick to a minimal color palette, few supplies, and plain stamping. And this very orange-y one layer card is the result. Stamped the framed butterflies, loosely colored it with Japanese watercolor brush pens before masking it, stamped the background in a frenzy with stamps from the Mixed Media Elements set, and finally stamped the sentiments. Got the card done before the hubby finished feeding our little one, who always wants mommy right after :o)

Check out what the rest of the STAMPlorations girls made! You'll find links to all our projects here. Comment on the projects and you could win one of several prizes. 

Plus...we have a Flash Fall Flowers Linky Party! Link up a new project that has flowers in it and you could be one of the 3 winners of a stamp set from the October release! The linky is open until Sunday, October 25. For the details, click here.

Fun challenges:

• Addicted to Stamps and More #167 - Make Your Mark (I used brush pens for coloring)
• 613 Avenue Create #146 - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends #8 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz #297 - Anything Goes

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

Paper craft project no. 390: Thanks one layer card

Today is yet another fun day at the STAMPlorations blog because we've got the October Stamp Release Blog Hop happening over the next 3 days! To kick things off, we're featuring FRIENDS AND FLOWERS, a delightful set designed by Deepti for her stamp line. 

My card features the watering can, which I stamped and colored loosely with my Japanese watercolor brush pens. I masked it and then did some collage stamping using stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge and Mixed Media Elements.

Check out what the rest of the STAMPlorations girls made! You'll find links to all our projects here. Comment on the projects and you could win one of several prizes. 

Plus...we have a Flash Fall Flowers Linky Party! Link up a new project that has flowers in it and you could be one of the 3 winners of a stamp set from the October release! The linky is open until Sunday, October 25. For the details, click here.

Fun challenges:

• Crafting from the Heart #82 - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion #284 - Anything Goes
• Stempelgarten #42 - Stamping

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

Paper craft project no. 358: You are the best ever one layer card

Hey there! It's the last day of the STAMPlorations stamp spotlight week blog hop. Have you hopped all the previous days yet? According to a little birdie, 5 prizes have been added, so there are now 11 prizes instead of 6 up for grabs! You can read all about it here.

We're ending the blog hop with a super fun set: SmallBirds, designed by STAMPlorations girl Shirley Bampton!

For my happy one layer card, I used the two cute birds. I diecut a circle from a post-it note and used that to mask the center of the card base before stamping the birds all over. I flipped the birds and inked the backsides with dandelion Memento ink to color my birds. Then I stamped my customized sentiment (from the Boxed Blooms & Bold Sentiments, Sentiment Builders: Happy, Joyful, and Fond Expressions) and finished the card by defining the circle with a black gel pen. 

Do check out the fun projects that the STAMPlorations girls and our awesome guest designer Darnell made showcasing this super fun doodled birds stamps! The DAY 5 projects are here. Hop along and you can win one of 6 11 prizes we've got up for grabs! You have until Monday, April 27 to leave comments on the STAMPlorations blog and designers blogs.

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

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 357: You are heaven sent one layer card

Hi, everyone! My second pink/girly card in a week! Because my baby was my inspiration back in January when I was designing and illustrating Heaven Sent, the stamp set we're spotlighting today, I felt it fitting to make a card for her -- the first card she'll receive when DH and I welcome her into the world in August. I've started planning and making her baby memory book and this card from us will be in there. It reflects exactly what we think of her :o)

To create this one layer card, I cut out a scallop border from scrap paper, placed that on the card base, and stamped the grunge floral strip in rose red Memento ink. Then I moved the scallop border another inch for the second border and stamped the mixed media grunge floral in lulu lavender Memento ink. I stamped the teddy bear and newsprint in spun sugar Distress ink all over the remaining area, stamped the sentiment (the "you are" is from Sentiment Builders: Happy), and sponged a little spun sugar Distress ink. I finished the card by defining the scallop borders with black gel pen.

I hope you'll come check out the beautiful cards that the STAMPlorations girls and super wonderful guest designer Darnell made featuring this sweet baby set! You'll find links to all our projects here. Hop along and you can win one of the prizes we've got up for grabs :o)

See you tomorrow for the last day of the hop! Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 356: Embrace life one layer mixed media card

Hello! Thank you so much for the sweet messages you all left on my post yesterday! You all made this very pregger girl happy :o) We're now on DAY 3 of the STAMPlorations stamp spotlight week blog hop. Today, we're putting the spotlight on another sentiment set, Noteworthy.

To create my one layer mixed media card, I applied a thin coat of gesso on my card base, placed the happy flowers stencil over it, and applied Gelatos. I blended the colors by running a damp paint brush over the Gelatos. Then I watercolored the background with Sakura Koi watercolors. I randomly stamped the newsprint and postmark in coffee archival ink and finished the card by stamping the sentiment.

Hope you can hop today and check out the gorgeous makes by the STAMPlorations girls and our awesome guest designer Darnell! You'll find links to all our projects here. Hop along and you can win on of the prizes we've got up for grabs. 

See you tomorrow for DAY 4! Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 355: Russ family baby news :o)

Hello! It's DAY 2 of the STAMPlorations stamp spotlight week blog hop and today we're putting the spotlight on one of the two sets that Shirley designed: BabyBump! This is a darling set!

I also have some wonderful news to share. That news is pretty obvious in my card for today: DH and I are having a baby girl! :o)

Yesterday morning, as the blog hop was starting, DH and I were on the road to my ultrasound appointment. Pregnant at 21 weeks and 4 days, I had been looking forward to this appointment for weeks because we'd finally find out our baby's gender. At an earlier ultrasound (at 13 weeks), the sonographer couldn't tell the gender because the little one remained modest the whole time (even though she was pushing and kicking back with her arms and legs and turning every which way). 

Yesterday, however, the little one was asleep the entire time (with her mouth open!), her legs all stretched out, and her head thrown back so we could clearly see her neck. At one point, we saw her move her right arm and touch her hand to her knee. She even hiccupped a few times!

A convo snippet with the sonographer, Emilee:

her: so do you want to know if you're having a boy or a girl?

me: yes.

her: okay, let's take a look...and it looks like you're having a girl.

me: really? are you sure?

her: yes, see...that's her girl parts.

me: you're sure it's not going to grow into boy parts later on? 'cause stuff happens you know!

her: [laughing] i'm pretty sure it won't. it's very clear here.

me: [turning to DH with a big smile] we're having a mini me, dear!

The sonographer and perinatologist were both happy with what they saw: my baby looks healthy, great measurements of the vital organs, and all my prenatal tests results came back normal. I'm very happy and excited I'm having a daughter, although I would be equally happy and excited if my baby turned out a boy. (I didn't have a preference; I simply wanted a healthy baby.) So in about 18 weeks, we'll be welcoming our daughter and I can't wait to hold her! :o)

Which brings me to my card today. I waited until we got home to make this one because I wanted to make a card that revealed the gender of my baby. I adore the images in Shirley's BabyBump set, especially the onesie! So I naturally used that adorable image. I stamped it on a diecut circle and then colored it with Japanese watercolor brush pens. To make the background for my card base, I reached (again) for the daisy dance stencil (I just love this stencil), inked it up with Memento inks, spritzed with a little bit of water, and then placed my card on top to transfer the ink. I adhered the cute stamped onesie circle with foam tape, stamped the sentiment (from Heaven Sent -- more of it on Day 4), and rounded the corners. I don't typically do all pink or too girly cards, but this one is extra special and I love it :o)

I hope you'll check out the beautiful cards that the STAMPlorations girls and our guest designer Darnell made for today! You'll find links to all our projects here. There are prizes to be won for lucky hoppers!

If you've read this far...thank you! I'm sorry for the rather lengthy post. I promise future posts won't be as long :o) Stop by again tomorrow for DAY 3!

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

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 353: Best ever in the world one layer card

Hello! It's DAY 1 of the STAMPlorations stamp spotlight week blog hop! For the next 5 days, the STAMPlorations girls will be sharing projects showcasing the April stamps. Joining us is the super awesome Darnell Knauss! We are thrilled to have her playing with our stamps. Darnell created cards that beautifully showcase STAMPlorations stamps.

And a blog hop wouldn't be complete without prizes along the way! Simply leave a comment here, on the designers' blogs, and on the STAMPlorations blog by April 27, Monday, 11:55 p.m. PDT (GMT-7), for lots of chances to win one of several prizes.

FIVE (5) lucky hoppers randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate to spend on the shop. ONE (1) lucky hopper randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate to the shop. Plus there'll be surprise prizes along the way :o)

Today, we're putting the spotlight on FOND EXPRESSIONS, a set that's perfect for almost any occasion! You'll love the mix of handwritten and calligraphy styles in the sentiments.

I created a bold, graphic one layer card. I sprinkled a bit of Brusho powders (rose red and yellow chrome) on the daisy dance stencil, spritzed with water to activate the powders, and placed my card base (I'd masked the lower portion with post-it notes) on top to transfer the colors. I loved the inky, artsy effect! I stamped the coordinating daisy stamp in jet black archival ink, as well as a few mixed media grunge elements in coffee archival ink (for the flower background) and sienna archival ink (for the border). Last, I stamped the sentiment. This card made me smile after I got done :o)

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here. Stop by again tomorrow for DAY 2 of the STAMPlorations stamp spotlight week blog hop!

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

~Shery