Sunflowers In Spring? Why Not?!

Hello Friends! I hope this post will find you well! :). A very warm welcome to my newest readers and the regular followers, too! So happy to see you here!

Can you feel it? Can you smell it? Yes, Spring is finally in the air! Beautiful sunny banks of daffodils, cheerful bunches of tulips, magnolia blooms... aaah, I love this time of year! 

In keeping with the season our Stampendous HQ powers are focusing on all things Spring this week and I wanted to join in, too! Here's a birthday card I made for my Mum and while sunflowers are not normally associated with Spring, I thought these lovely sunny blooms would be a great addition to my delicate springtime lilacs hiding in the background.

I stamped the Lilac and Sunny Vase flowers on the Mixed Media Paper and coloured the images with Inktense pencils. I then die cut the images with the corresponding Sunny Vase and Lilac die sets. I varied the height of the blooms with my trusty 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

For my background and vase I used some papers from 7Dots Studio which I stamped with Scrollwork Leaves and which I embossed with the Dreamweaver Metallic Gold Embossing Paste over the Corner Flourishes stencil. The little tag is from the Sunny Vase stamps set.

For the bottom of my vase I sprinkled some flower dust - aka Frantage and (my newly re-discovered loOOOove for) the encrusted jewel technique. I used Bronze Glass Glitter, Spoonful of Rust, Copper Lux Mix and Shabby White Embossing Enamel. 

I finished the card with a little butterfly - because I absolutely looove butterflies and always look for an excuse to add one in lol :).

Also sharing today are:

Stampendous Blog
Pam Bray
Louise Healy

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and thank you for all your lovely comments that you may wish to leave (please do!) :). Have a fabulous day!

Big crafty hugs




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Stampendous and DecoArt - Medialicious Blog Hop Finale!

Hello! And welcome to our Stampendous and DecoArt blog hop finale! We have been hopping (and hoping!) all week to bring you the latest, most awesome products, techniques and inspiration projects! I hope we didn't disappoint and oh boy, I have been drooling over the projects shared by both DTs! If you've missed my Steampunk heart card, that I shared on Monday, you can check it out here. Be sure to check out other projects shared this week as you don't want to miss out on this treat and on the fabulous prizes!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Here's what you need to do to enter into a draw for the Mega Prizes!!!!! Comment to win one of three HUGE prize packages that includes Andy Skinner stamps and DecoArt Media™ Paint plus more! US winners only, please see Stampendous Official Contest Rules here for more details. Want to see all that’s in each prize package? Take a look below:

Stampendous:

ASCRS07 Cling Handle with Care

ASCRS08 Cling Skuldoggery

ASCRS09 Cling Unexplained

DecoArt:

Quinacridone Magenta

Cobalt Turquoise Hue

Cobalt Teal Hue

Primary Magenta

Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

Paynes Gray

Carbon Black

Titanium White

Prussian Blue Hue

Phthalo Blue

Quinacridone Gold

Diarylide Yellow

Pyrrole Red

Green Gold

Primary Yellow Media Mister

Titanium White Antiquing Cream

Patina Antiquing Cream

8oz Bottle Lamp Black Americana Acrylic Paint

Now, onto my today's make. For the focal point I used my all time favourite butterfly stamp from the Butterfly Trio set which I die cut using Butterfly Die Sets die. I stamped it with Sepia Archival ink and painted it with diluted acrylic paints.

My background was stenciled with paints over the Mandala Stencil and I added some stamping with the Script Lines and Andy Skinner's Unexplained Stamp Set. I distressed my background panels with paints and distressing tool.

The sentiment is from the Bible Promises Perfectly Clear Stamp Set which I heat embossed with Detail Black Embossing Powder.

My butterfly was inspired by this gorgeous canvas from Kirsten Sheridan. The little plastic spoon was painted with acrylic paints before it received a Fran-tage Magic treatment with Copper Lux Mix and Champagne Crushed Glass Glitter. This is how it looked before the paints/Fran-tage make over...

And that's after the make-over...:-)

To finish off my card I added some splatters with Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold.

DecoArt paints used: Americana Country Red, Bittersweet Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Island Blue, Golden Straw and Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold (perfect for vintage rusty makes).

Other Supplies:
Inks: Spiced Chai StazOn Mini, Sepia Archival, Jet Black Archival, Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Papers: Authentique Latest & Greatest, BazzillBasicsPaper Ambrosia
Adhesives: Multi-Medium Matte, E-Z Runner® Grand Dispenser, 3D Foam Squares - Black, Small

Here's the full line-up of the blogs playing today:

Stampendous Blog

Pam Bray

Jamie Martin

Louise Healy

Asia King

Janelle Stollfus

Lea Fritts

Alison Heikkila

Katy Leitch

Mark Gould

DecoArt Blog

I hope you've enjoyed today's post! Thank you for stopping by and for all your lovely comments. Have a fabulous weekend!

Big crafty hugs



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Happiness In A Teacup - Stampendous and May Arts Blog Hop

Hello everybody! Are you ready for some Friday blog hoppiness and weekend treats?

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my previous post with the vintage Near The Sea Card. And big crafty squeezes to my newest followers - thank you so much for joining in!

My card is was a contribution towards two great blog hops Stampendous gals are taking part in this week - one with Spellbinders and one with May Arts. Spellbinder's contest in now closed but there is still time to enter our May Arts blog hop - and you really don't want to miss these amazinglicious prices! Check out the amazing inspiration that was shared earlier this week:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Now, blog hop means prizes! And when Stampendous peeps say prizes are on offer - they mean business! Three lucky peeps (with a US shipping address) will win a $20 voucher to spend on Stampendous website. And we also have a little treat for a lucky crafter from down under - that's right, Aussie blog hoppers, we're waiting for you! What do you have to do to take part in the draw? Leave some love on the participating blogs throughout the collaboration week. The more love you leave, the more chances to win! :)

Now, onto my inspirational project for your viewing pleasure! This card makes my tummy ramble every time - and I get a total cupcake craving! Which is not ideal as I'm on a diet... but hey, at least I have a delicious stamp to keep me happy... should be enough, shouldn't it...? :) This little beauty is a cling Teacup Cupcake stamp and it is soooo yummy!

Teacups and cupcakes are my all time favourites. A cupcake in a teacup - that's just pure happiness! :)

Supplies:

From Stampendous: Teacup Cupcake,  Holiday Words Perfectly Clear Stamps, Aged Marine Embossing Enamel 
MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink by Tsukineko® SSH57 Jumbo Perfectly Clear™ Acrylic Handle 

May Arts: 1.5 Inch Solid Wired Ribbon 

Plus: Cardstock by Bazill Basics Paper® and Core'dinations David Tutera Decorative Layers 

Adhesives by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: 3D Foam Squares - White, Regular; E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips; DODZ™ - 3D; DODZ™ - Medium 

STAEDTLER® ergosoft® watercolour pencils and Tim Holtz® Distress™ Markers, Midnight Blue Ink by Tsukineko®  Patterned Paper Cheesecloth, Gems, Brads

Instructions:

1. Prepare card base 17 cm high x 21 cm long. Score and fold at 9 cm from the left.
2. Cover the front and inside with cardstock and patterned papers. Add ribbon.
3. Sprinkle Aged Marine powder over a postage stamp layer panel and heat from underneath.
4. Add cheese cloth on top while the powder is still hot. Add and heat more powder if desired.
5. Mount the postage stamp card panel onto foam squares and add to the card, overhanging the front fold.
6. Stamp the Teacup Cupcake onto white card and colour with pencils and markers. Fussy cut the image.
7. Add the image to the card using foam squares.
8. Finish the card with gems, brads and ribbon bow and adhere using DODZ. 

That's all from me! Here are the blogs participating in today's blog hop:

Stampendous Blog

Amy Hurley-Purdie

Louise Healy

Asia King (you are here)

Laura Drahozal

Pam Hornschu

Lyn Bernatovich

Jamie Martin

Pam Bray

Kristine Reynolds

Janelle Stollfus

Tenia Nelson

Lea Kimmel

Wendy Price

May Arts Blog

Thank you for stopping by and for all your heart warming comments! Enjoy the hop and have a wonderful weekend!

Big crafty hugs

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Floral Pillow Boxes And Seed Packets Tutorial

Hello friends! I hope you are all keeping well. Today I'm sharing a floral trio of DIY seed packets which I made using some gorgeous stamps and sparkles courtesy of the lovely Stampendous. I know I'm bias but I must say - I feel really blessed whenever my DT packages arrive because I absolutely love their products.

When I saw these flower stamps I instantly thought of making little gift packages which would be perfect for any keen gardener and sure to bring a smile - they certainly did for me! And with the summertime sunshine just outside my window, there's nothing else I love more about this time of year than the abundance of flowers! :)

DIY Seed Packet Tutorial - a perfect gift for a keen gardener. Ręcznie wykonane torebki na nasiona - pomysł na prezent dla zapalonego działkowicza lub ogrodnika.

And once I started playing I thought I would share a mini tutorial with you as well :). So here it goes. 

Supplies:

Stampendous: cling Cosmos Spray, cling Peony Spray, cling Pansy Spray, cling Seed Background, Aged Rose Embossing Enamel, Shabby Pink Embossing Enamel
MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink by Tsukineko®
Plus: Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: 3D Thin Foam Squares - White, Crafty Power Tape
Other: Inktense pencils, seam binding ribbon dyed with Distress Inks, Faber-Castell PITT Magenta pen, pillow box template, corner punch

Instructions:
1. Using the digital template print three packets onto kraft cardstock. Do not assemble yet.
2. Stamp the your chosen flower image in black inside the template markings as shown.
3. Colour the blooms in with the Antique White pencil and distribute the colour with a water brush. Allow to dry.
4. Start adding colour to the blooms as shown.

5. Next, build layers of colour on the leaves.

6. Add some shading to the background.

7. Sprinkle the template areas with embossing enamels and heat from underneath.
8. Cut the template out and score along the dotted lines. Form the pillow box and secure with Crafty Power Tape.
9. Finish the edges with a gold pen.

10. Wrap a hand dyed seam binding ribbon around the packet.
11. Ink up the required part of the Seed Background stamp with a PITT pen and stamp onto your leftover card. Trim around the stamped label.
12. Round the corners with a corner punch. Adhere to the pillow box over 3D Thin Foam Squares.

Here is the finished seed packet :).

And here are a couple of further ideas, if you would like to give it a go!

Pansy Spray seed packet. Torebka na nsiona ze stemplem Bratki.

Cosmos Spray seed packet. Torebka na nasiona ze stemplem kosmos.

I hope you enjoyed today's mini tutorial! Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your sweet comments.

Big crafty hugs




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Challenges for this project:
Frilly and Funkie - It's Summer
Live and Love Crafts # - In the Garden
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Country View Challenges June - Shabby Chic
Our Creative Corner - What Makes You Smile
Vintage Stamping Challenges # - Hot Sunny Colours
Noor Design #7 - Here Comes Summer

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Colour Burst With Stampendous And Faber-Castell - Big Blog Hop Finale

Hello and welcome to our big blog hop finale featuring two amazing companies - Stampendous and Faber-Castell!
If you missed all the amazing and colourful projects shared earlier this week, be sure to check them out!

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

Of course we also have prizes! Three Lucky Winners this week will get three sets of the PITT Pastel Pencils (red/yellow, blue/green, neutrals), a jar of Faber-Castell Chalkboard Paint, and $20 http://www.stampendous.com reward card to choose their favorite images to color! WOW… these winners must have a U.S. mailing address (official rules here!)… BUT WAIT - Aussie Fans – The Stencil Specialist has you covered again this time! One Australian Hopper will win a Stampendous Stamp, a Dreamweaver Stencil (LJ size customer choice), and one Dreamweaver Stencils Regular Embossing Paste.

My offering today is this little shabby chic number, sporting this gorgeous Peony Spray stamp in a velvety pink attire :). I absolutely ADORE this stamp - and you might remember it from my Mother's Day card I shared recently.

Shabby vintage card with Stampendous peonies - water coloured with ART GRIP AQUARELLE pencils

After stamping the peony onto the Mixed Media White Paper I coloured the image using Watercolour ART GRIP AQUARELLE pencils (102- cream, 119-light magenta, 130-dark flesh, 133-magenta, 156-cobalt green, 163-emerald green, 166-grass green, 168-earth green yellowish, 250-gold) and also added some tinting on the leaves with the PITT Big Brush pen in Chromium Green.

For ma a shabby chic card cannot do without a touch Fran-tage so I also sprinkled some Shabby Pink and Aged Rose Embossing Enamels, too!

Other supplies:
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: 3D Foam Squares - White Mix, DODZ™ - 3D, E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips Refillable Dispenser
Papers - Authentique Harmony collection
Ribbon - May Arts

That's all from me for today! Now it's time for you to indulge in fabulous inspiration from the talented DT taking part today. Make sure to leave some love while visiting to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous crafty goodies!

Stampendous Impressions Blog

Nathalie Kalbach

Louise Healy

Janelle Stollfus

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Bray

Asia King (you're here)

Pam Hornschu

Tenia Nelson

Laura Drahozal

Lea Kimmel

Alison Keikkila

Wendy Price

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Blog*

For a shabby chic look on your card add a touch Fran-tage

Thank you for stopping by and your lovely comments! 

Big crafty hugs




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Where Hummingbirds Nest, Butterflies Rest - Upcycled Yarn Birdhouse

Hello dear friends! Thank you for stopping by today and my warmest welcome to my newest followers from Bloglovin' and Networkblogs! So lovely to see you here!

In case you missed my last post, be sure to check out my CHA2015 Mixed Media Dragonflies Canvas with dry decoupage technique :).

Today I have another 3D make - a colourful fluffy birdhouse. This project was so much fun to make! It's a weaved collection of yarn, fibers, feathers etc - I almost felt like a little bird weaving a nest myself lol :). And of course it also includes some stamping, colouring and Frantage-ing!

Here is the front view of the birdhouse and inside you can see some tiny spotted eggs. To make these I squashed some small Styrofoam balls to form an egg shape. Then after painting them with acrylic paints I added some spots by flicking a paintbrush over them with some watered down brown paint. To weave the birdhouse itself I needed a base to work on - and for that I used super hi-tech equipment. Read on to find out more...:)

Supplies:

Stampendous: PenPattern Butterflies, Butterflies Die Set, Cling Hummingbirds, Hummingbirds Die Set, Aged Hunter Embossing Enamel 
MEM01 Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink by Tsukineko® 
SSH57 Jumbo Perfectly Clear™ Acrylic Handle

Cardstock by Bazill Basics Paper®

Adhesives by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: 3D Foam Pennants, 3D Foam Squares Regular and 3D Foam Squares Small - white, DODZ™ - 3D

Inktense Pencils, plastic florist stand, multicolour yarn and threads, ribbon, cheesecloth, watered down white acrylic paint in a spray bottle, feathers, Liquid Pearls 

Instructions:

1. Weave the yarns and threads through the gaps of a florist stand, leaving one gap open to create a nest's entrance. 

2. Spray generously with watered down acrylic to tone down the bright colours. Repeat until you are happy with the result. 

3. Wrap around with hand died cheesecloth and secure with matching threads.

4. Stamp the Hummingbirds and PenPattern Butterflies and colour them in. Die cut the images.

5. Add some Aged Hunter enamel to the birds' wings. 

6. Stamp the flowers, colour in with pencils and cut them out.

7. Start layering the images over the nest as shown, securing them with DODZ and Foam Squares.

8. Embellish further with foam pennants, feathers and flowers. Add little eggs inside the nest. 

I absolutely adore those little hummingbirds - they look super cute! And the patterns and colouring options for them are just endless! If you'd like to see some more 'humming' inspiration check out the projects my Stampendous teammies are sharing today!

Stampendous Blog

Lea Kimmel

Kristine Reynolds

Asia King (that's me!)

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your heart warming comments! Take care of yourselves and stay warm!

Big crafty hugs

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Colouring My Way Through Tombow and Stampendous Team Up

Hello everyone! I think Christmas must be in the air as everyone seems to be very much in a blog hopping/prize giveawaying mode at the moment :). Yes, that's right - another blog hop share and more prizes to come!

But first I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who left some love on my previous post with the Poinsettias Christmas Card - your kind words are so appreciated. I've also welcomed new peeps who signed up to receive my posts by email - thank you so much for your support! If you'd like to see my future posts popping in straight into your inbox, you can subscribe to my blog with a couple of easy clicks.

Now, back to the blog hop bonanza. This weekend Stampendous and Tombow are playing together to colour their way right into Christmas! From first thing on Friday till COP on Sunday evening we are sharing projects featuring magical stamped images coloured with Tombow markers. And here is my inspiration for today.

This is a 6x6" card with a kraft base and the background covered with Authentique paper from the Rustic Collection. To adhere I used MyStik dispenser. 

I stamped my Jumbo Dear Santa image with Ganache StazOn ink onto the back of my patterned paper - the paper is quite thick and textured so the colouring was a lot of fun. To colour the image I used the following markers, picking up the colours from the blending palette with my water brush: 905, 985, 879, 098, 947, 856, 837, N35 and 026.

Next I stamped the presents again onto the background paper, cut them out and added to the main image with Adhesive Sheets. To embellish the corners of my stamped panel I used the encrusted jewel technique with Encrusted Jewel Kit - Red, Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel and White Mica Fragments. Finally I added the panel to the card base over White Thin 3D Foam Squares.

I also added a sticky canvas panel which I smooshed around in ink from the pens, misted with lots of water. The seam binding ribbon received the same treatment. When the canvas dried I repeatedly stamped the worded panel from the Jumbo Dear Santa set with Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy ink. 

To finish off the card I added a banner made from 3D Foam Pennants covered with the stamped canvas. I also added some glittered baubles and dots from the 3D Foam Christmas Shapes set. To add the sparkle I used Gold, Maroon, Copper and Crystal Micro Glitters.

So, are you ready to hop over to the next and final stop - Tombow blog? Here's the prize that three lucky people will receive:

To take part in the prize draw, hop over to all the participating blogs and leave some love (cuz we loooove to know what you think about our projects!). The winner has to have a US mailing address. Here is who's playing today:

Stampendous Blog

Lea Kimmel

Janelle Stollfus

Marie Browning

Asia King (you are here!)

Tombow Blog

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your lovely comments! Feel free to also browse other Christmas projects on my blog :).

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Big crafty hugs

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