STAMPlorations - Happy Everything!

Hi everyone and Welcome back! We took a month off, but we are back and ready for another challenger over at STAMPlorations. Our theme this month is Stamps & Nature and Photo Prompt is below. 

I am using the photo prompt for my inspirations and using the stamp set called Happy Everything.

We would love for you to join our challenge this month. We ask you to include stamping of some kind in your project (rubber, clear or digi stamps are all permitted). We love to see you use your STAMPlorations supplies if you have any, but any crafting supplies are allowed. Don't forget to link to this post (find the link above) and make sure you add the challenge graphic to your post to qualify for prizes. We will reveal the winners on the 10th of the following month, so don't forget to check back then to see if you are one of the winners!

If you play, make sure you include the graphic in your post and link back to this challenge post in order to qualify for our prizes :o) Please also read our simple rules, which you'll find toward the end of this post.

Don't forget that you can use my coupon code: STAMPGIRLMONICA for an additions 25% off!

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrating 21 years!

It is hard for me to believe that 21 years ago I became a mother. I only have one child and like most parents, our children become our lives.

My son turned 21 years old today. While I will always think of him as my baby, I am so proud of the young man he has grown into.

While not everything he has done in these 21 years have been "proud moments" and there are memories that I look back on and just shake my head, my life has been full with him in it.

I always love creating his birthday cards. I usually take a little longer and put a little more care into these.  

I used some of my favorite elements and techniques to create this special card...after all, it was for a very special boy!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Reflection of Time

With the start of a new year, many of us often reflect back to the previous year. We take some time to relax after the holiday hustle and bustle, make new year's resolutions, buy brand new calendars and start to plan the new year. 

For the challenge this month, our theme is "lace/Lazy..". We want you to take some time to show us what this means to you. It can be any type of project, just create!

For my project, I created a birthday card for a friend that was celebrating a milestone birthday. Milestone birthdays are often times we reflect back on our lives. For my focal point, I chose to use the Architextures™ Treasures - Tarnished Silver Mirror.  Let me walk you through my process. 

Whenever I am designing a card, I am not always sure what I will use. I typically gather supplies which may or may not fit the theme and let my inspiration guide me. 

I cut out a piece of cardstock from the 7gypsies Gypsy Seamstress: 12x12 Patterns measuring 4.5" x 6.5". I then frayed the edges using my distressing tool. I then added some ivory lace.

I wanted to age my cardstock, so I used Vintage Rose Metalique paint along with some tattered angels Rusty Rose glimmer mist. I used a sponge to add these so that I could control the color and avoid splatter.

As final touches, I added the 7gypsies Collage Tissue Numero some remnant rub numbers and spool stamps. Finally I added my Tarnished Silver mirror for my focal piece. 

This card held lots of embellishments so I made sure to mount it to some heavy cardstock.

Don't forget to check out our challenge. We would love for you to  join us this month in the fun!

~Links to products in this blog post may be affiliate links. This means that when you click and shop, I make a small commission at no cost to you that goes towards the upkeep of this blog and my YouTube channel.~   

Creating Custom Orders

It is always exciting when I get an order in my Etsy shop. But believe it or not, it is twice as exciting when someone contacts me and asks if I can do a special order. 

That is exactly what happened about 3 weeks ago. I was contacted by author Jey Tehya and she asked if I could create a birthday card for her publisher and incorporate the cover of her new book.  She only had three requests.

1.  Use the picture she provided (cover of her book)
2.  Incorporate the month January
3.  Use the words "Happy Birthday"

Other than those 3 requests, she left the creative design to me.  The stamp set I used is from Graphic 45 and is from the Typography set.  I found a vintage library book date card and modified it to add Jey as the Author and The Title of her book.

This is exactly why I love to create cards. Because this is a unique design, it probably will become a keepsake and it has captured a memory.  Many have heard me say that "I capture memories through card making" and this is how I do it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gift of Life

I love making black and white cards and I love washi tape! So I thought I would put the two together with one of the new releases from So Suzy Stamps to create a couple of fun birthday cards.

Now these are not ordinary birthday cards, they are cards made especially for a son or daughter. A special message for a special person!

To see how I created both these cards, be sure to click on the link above that will take you to my You Tube video.


Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Swinging Fairies Frame

One of the things I love about crafting is coming up with new designs. Now this may not be new to anyone but me, but I just love the results.

The Swinging Fairies stamp from So Suzy Stamps is a perfect stamp to create a frame. It is also perfect to frame the Ordinary Days sentiment.

I also went a step further and created a matching envelope! I think it really makes a nice touch.

If you want to see how I created this card, be sure to check out my video link below.

I used two colors of distress inks, Mustard Seed and Stained Glass.  I stamped the Swinging Fairy Stamp with Black Archival ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

I have created links to the supplies I used to create this canvas. Compensated affiliate links can be used at no cost to you. All products were personally purchased and are part of my personal crafting stash. This post is NOT sponsored by any company. 

InLinkz.com