Stamping Sensations November Challenge

 The theme this month at Stamping Sensations is 'Garlands, Wreaths and Christmas Flowers'.  Another great prize this month and details are over on the challenge blog - whilst you''re there check out our rules and have a look at some of the great makes from the rest of the DT!

I used kraft card and stamped my woodgrain panel.

The snowflake wreath and the baubles were magazine freebies earlier in the year - from the Silhouette Scenes by Phil Martin. Stamped and white heat embossed before adding a little bit of sparkle.

I sponged some Gathered Twigs round the edge to soften it but thought it still looked a little bare - I found a really old holly flourish stamp so inked it in Olive Green and randomly stamped round the edge before matting onto a dark brown card and popping the whole thing onto my card base.

Hope you will join us this month!

Autumn Day

A quick card make to share.

Simply done by blending an ink background and using a coin to mask off a circle.

I opted not to make the circle really defined as I wanted it to look misty! (Not sure I've achieved that but....!!)

Graduated Stormy Sky down to Shabby Shutters  with a touch of Peeled Pain at the bottom.

The stamp was a gift from a friend and I don't know which make it is.

I positioned my background in the Misti and added some colour to the stamp with my Arteza brush pens and just kept adding different colours till I was happy that the colours reflected Autumn trees.

The sentiment came from the same set and I think it may become a favourite!

Thanks for looking today. x

Stamping Sensations September Challenge

Our challenge at Stamping Sensations for September is 'The Great Outdoors'.

I've used stamps from Hunkydory for my scene and watercoloured.

I wanted to use the hiking man silhouette but when I tried him on the scene background he was all out of perspective so I extended the scene background by turning it round and stamping at the bottom - this gave me a bit more 'path' for him to stand on - he still looks like he's about to go for a swim but at least he is the right size!!

We've got a great prize this month -   2 A4 stamps sheets from Rare Earth Illuminated Florals collection - full pics are over on the challenge blog.

Please read our challenge rules - we're a stamping challenge so the focal point of your entry MUST be stamping!

Hope my card has inspired you to join us - if not there's lots of lovely inspiration from the Stamping Sensations DT!

Stamping Sensations August Challenge

The dreaded 'MAN' cards are the challenge we have set for you this month at Stamping Sensations!
The challenge title is 'Make It Masculine' - so now is the time to make those cards so many of us find difficult and to swell your stash so you always have one on hand.

This heron stamp I have owned for a long time and it has never seen ink... (hangs head in shame), but I thought it would be a good image to use for a male themed card.

I also adore this sentiment- it is just perfect for someone who is very special to you don't you think?

I had fun getting inky  and was quite pleased with the background although maybe the reflected sun could have been a bit more precise but overall am happy with how it turned out.

The bamboo stamp is another old one (from when I was going through my 'Everything Asian' period.... - go on, I know we all did it)


I made my own mountain mask for this one too!

Please read our rules before you link up - we are a STAMPING challenge so stamping must be the focal point of your creation!  We have a brilliant prize this month too - pop over to the blog, check it out and make something masculine!

Stamping Sensations July Mid Month Reminder

Our challenge theme at Stamping Sensations this month is 'ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL'  so there's lots of options for you to choose from and provided you follow our rules and make stamping the focal point of your entry, you could be in with a chance of winning a great prize from our wonderful sponsor, CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS.

My panel background was created using an embossing folder and distress inks, then stamped with some foliage before matting onto a piece of dark brown card.

I coloured the giraffe and fussy cut and popped him on top of a small tag.

The sentiment was done using a set of alphabet letters stamps inked in Brushed Corduroy and part of a PB sentiment stamp!

Why don't you get out your creature stamps and join us in the gallery - we'd love to see you!

Happy weekend everybody!

July Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Our challenge theme at Stamping Sensations this month is 'ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL'  so there's lots of options for you to choose from and provided you follow our rules and make stamping the focal point of your entry, you could be in with a chance of winning sthe goody on offer from our sponsor, CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS

I had a bit of an inky fest with this one!

I masked off a big moon and then stamped the Owl image (Crafty Individuals CI-512). It does come with it's own moon but I wanted a bigger one!
Blended the background and then coloured the tree stump.
The branches, tiny bird and the foliage stamps are all from Inkylicious.

Stamped the owl again onto watercolour card and clear embossed. After watercolouring I fussy cut the owl and popped him on top of the stamped image.

Really pleased with the way the eyes turned out after adding some glossy accents - he really does look at you in real life!
   

Stamping Sensations Mid Month reminder

We're half way through our June 'Make It Colourful' challenge at Stamping Sensations. 

There's some lovely creations in our gallery and you still have time to join in!

I have used a stamp from our sponsor Visible Image (Ink Splats Set)  which is sadly 😭 no longer available but I love it!

I combined it with a brick background stencil, a large sentiment stamp from Bee  Crafty and some other grungey inky stamps from another very old set to make a quick card which was for a young man who is about to embark on the next exciting chapter of his life.

I thought the sentiment was perfect to remind him that he only gets one chance and to make the most of everything that comes his way!


More inspiration (if you need it) over on the challenge blog along with our rules (please read!) and of course details of the prize!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x     

June Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Mid way through the year! It's true that time really does fly past the older you get!
This month at Stamping Sensations we have the wonderful Visible Image as our sponsors and I have used one of their older sets called 'Free Your Imagination' - some of the stamps from my set are still available in the new updated set here

Our challenge is to 'Make It Colourful' (and please remember we are a stamping challenge so stamps have to be the focal point of your work)

I used the smaller feather stamp and (with the aid of my Misti) stamped the feathers in Distress Ink colours before adding the sentiment.

The splats and the circles are from an old grungey set (make unknown) and to finish I stamped a few Inkylicious birds.

Pop over to the challenge blog for details of the prize and while you're there take a look at some of the wonderful creations from our Design Team this month!

Thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing! x

May Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

Wee half way through our 'Say it with Flowers' challenge at  Stamping Sensations  and this month we have prizes from Chocolate Baroque and our teamie Dora , who has a wonderful artistic talent and produces some gorgeous hand drawn images.

I have again used one of Dora's beautiful flowers -  isn't it pretty?! (if you want to see another -  click here to go to my first DT post)

Watercoloured and fussy cut first - I opted for blue as for me it's a bit of a change from my normal pinks and yellows for flowers!

I didn't want a fussy background as wanted the flower to be the star of the front of the card - I stamped a few grassy strands and then second generation stamped a few pale blue flowers in Broken China DI.

I overstamped the bottom of the flower stem a few times with another grass stamp and think I have achieved my intention of disguising the cut flower stem at the bottom!

A few ink spatters and sentiment to finish.

Still lots of time for you to put in an entry  - and with some great prizes, you'd be daft not to have a go!
Thanks for looking today - have a great day! x

May Challenge at Stamping Sensations

'Say it with Flowers' is our Stamping Sensations May challenge and this month we have prizes from Chocolate Baroque and our teamie Dora , who has a wonderful artistic talent and produces some beautiful hand drawn images.

For my first card this challenge I have used one of Dora's fab images - I love Hellebores so as soon as I saw this one I had to have it!

I coloured it with watercolours and fussy cut.

The background behind the die cut trellis was some by smooshing the ink used for the flowers onto a piece of acetate and transferred to the background card. I find that using the acetate is easier for managing where and how much ink you want rather than just pressing the card direct into the ink on the craft mat.

Finished Dora's pretty flower with some Nuvo Pearls for the stamens and the flower centre.
Sentiment is from Altenew

Hop over to the Challenge Blog and check out my team mates creations this month - then grab your stamps and join us! (Don't forget to read our rules - we're a stamping challenge and stamping has to be the focal point of your entry).

Have a great day. x

April Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

Back with my mid month reminder for Stamping Sensations!
Our 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' theme is proving popular but there is still time for you to enter!
Pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the great prize from Be Creative - and if you're still seeking inspiration the DT have done some great makes on the original post HERE and also on the reminder post! Please take some time to read our challenge rules before submitting your entry!
Once again I used the Rainbow colours as a base for my card.

Making these rainbow coloured cards made me feel quite contented! There is something quite therapeutic and soothing  about these shades I think.
Distress inks used (from the bottom of the card)- Faded Jeans, Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Spun Sugar, Festive Berries, Shaded Lilac.

The Cherry Blossom stamp is one of the first wood backed stamps that I bought. At some point I have removed it from it's wood backing! Stamped in Versafine and used Gathered Twigs on the branches, and coloured the flowers with a white Gel pen, adding a little Gold Pearl to each flower centre.
A couple of punched butterflies, a sentiment and a black card mat to finish before popping it onto the white card base.
Am sharing over at - 

Allsorts - Flowers
Alphabet - A for A/Goes
Stamplorations - Stamps and Flight
Just Add Ink - Photo #501 colours

Hugs to everyone - have a good weekend. xx

April Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Our theme this month at Stamping Sensations is called 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. 
We want to see rainbow colours or something you have interpreted from the words of the song and we have the wonderful Be Creative as our sponsors this month.
I have used the colours as my inspiration for this card.

My background was done with lots of different Distress Inks and a stencil. This was the first time I have used this stencil (which was a VERY cheap one) and I was really pleased with how it turned out.

I stamped the ballerina and clear embossed.

The odd grunge stamps  are from an old Textures set - I wanted to show her as emerging from the bottom into the rainbow light.

Matted onto black before layering onto the base card.

Hope you will have a go this month - details of the brilliant prize and brilliant cards from the rest of the DT are over on the blog - just remember -
We are a STAMPING challenge and stamping MUST be the focal point of your entry!
Happy Crafting! x

Spring Florals - Stamping Sensations Mid Month Reminder- March

I have copied the message from our Stamping Sensations challenge blog - 

We hope everyone is keeping safe and well during these unprecedented troubled times, it's all quite surreal and the daily news bulletins from all around the World suggest we are going to have to weather some stormy times before it improves. 

Amidst all that's going on posting a mid month reminder seems futile, but we know craft has helped many through difficult times in the past and perhaps now more than ever we will be grateful of our hobby to help us through and keep us sane. We as a team send our love and thoughts to everyone.

 Our challenge is Spring Florals and we have a new sponsor this month - Thirsty Brush - so pop over to the challenge blog and take a look!

Whilst I had the vellum out for my sparkly Christmas card (below!) I used up some of the small pieces and stamped a scribbly flower and heat embossed in white. 

I thought about colouring the back of them but then decided to use coloured card base instead so I stamped the stems and leaves, heat embossed and added a little colour before popping on the fussy cut flower heads.

Thanks for looking today - I suspect that I (and lots of you) will be posting more over the coming weeks whilst we keep ourselves occupied during self isolating or following the advice to 'socially distance' - at least the power of blogland will keep us all in touch with each other.   

I appreciate all my visitors and never more so than now! Stay safe. x

March challenge at Stamping Sensations

Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations.

This month our theme is Spring Flowers - not much chance of them here - we are currently in the middle of yet another round of wet and very very windy weather!

My card is made using a stamp and die set called 'Let Friendship Bloom' by Thirsty Brush.

This is a really big stamp and therefore a really quick make!

Stamped and watercoloured then cut out and popped onto a white card base with 3d foam pads which gives it some dimension.

A little ink spattering and a sentiment from the same set - all done!

Hope you can join in this month - please pop over to the challenge blog and have a look at what my teamies have done -
oh and you can also see what prize you can win - IF you have followed our rules!! We ARE a stamping challenge so please make stamping the focal point of your entry!

See you soon. x

February Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

It's half way time at the Stamping Sensations challenge this month.
Our theme is 'Feminine' and if you've not yet entered grab those girly themed stamps and get making!

Our sponsors are JMC Designs and  Bee Crafty and rather than me tell you about it, pop over to the challenge blog, have a look at what you could win and don't forget to check out our rules!
If you don't follow them then we can't select you for the prize!

I used one of Julia's digis called 'Marcelle', who is so obviously French (well she is to me anyway!).

So a French girl simply HAS to have a French background!

I printed the digi out onto watercolour paper and left overnight.

Stamped an Eiffel Tower from a very old stamp set and watercoloured a background.

After colouring the digi was fussy cut and popped onto the background using foam pads.
The sentiment is from the same set.

Hope you can find time to make a 'girly' card/project and look forward to seeing it in the gallery! x

Feminine for February at Stamping Sensations

Bee Crafty is our sponsor this month at Stamping Sensations.

Our theme is 'Feminine' so there are lots of things that you can stamp relating to girly stuff!


Please follow our challenge rules because if you don't we can't consider you for the prize (details of which are over on the challenge blog along with some inspiration from the DT -if you need it!)

My 'fabulous flamingo' was stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut. Highlighted a little with a white gel pen.

The background done with some ink blending and tropical palm stamps.

I thought she needed a bit of bling so stamped and fussy cut a couple of the petals from the tiny flower stamp (not something I am repeating any time soon!!!) and made a little necklace

Sentiment stamped and then matted onto dark green card before placing on the card base.

Hope you find time to join in with us this month! x

January mid month at Stamping Sensations

If you are here looking for my CAS Stencil DT card please scroll down to the next post or click on the link HERE

Half way through the first month of 2020 and here's a reminder for this month's challenge at Stamping Sensations
The challenge is to 'Use your Favourite Stamps' - which is simply impossible for me!! I have so many stamps that I like it is really hard to choose a favourite one so I have opted to use a set which sees ink quite a bit!

Lots of second and third generation stamping on bright white card using stamps from Stampin' Up's Flowering Fields set.

Inked the stamps using distress markers and spritzed some before stamping - quite like the watercolour effect!

This was quick and simple to do and brilliant for last minute makes!

There's still plenty of time for you to join us and to be in with a chance of winning!  Please though have a look at our rules before you link up!

Our prize this month is sponsored by the wonderful Tattered Lace.

So get making and linking, go over to the challenge blog, check out the inspiration from my teamies and whilst you're there have a look at the prize!

January challenge at Stamping Sensations!

(If you are here looking for my CAS Stencil card please scroll down to the post below - sometimes Mr Blogger misbehaves and send you to the wrong post!)
After all the festivities, Stamping Sensations has a not too difficult challenge for the start of this new year!

The challenge is 'USE YOUR FAVOURITE STAMP'...... errmmm... did I say not too difficult???😵😵  This was soooo hard for me  - I love most of my stamps and my fave is usually the newest! Finding it impossible to pick I simply stuck my hand in one of the containers that store my stamps and picked one out!
To be honest, I was really VERY happy when I saw which one it was as it is a much loved but recently quite neglected set.
My inky background created using Distress Oxides and some water.

I gold embossed some of the Ranunculus flowers from the set and watercoloured.

Did some random stamping at the bottom and fold embossed a sentiment before adding a few sequins (a girl has to have a bit of bling💎💎)

Matted onto gold card before adding to the card base.

Hope you will join us this month - PLEASE PLEASE remember we are a STAMPING challenge and stamping must be the focal point of your entry.

If you don't follow our rules then you can't be considered for our prize this month which is sponsored by the wonderful Tattered Lace.
So go over to the challenge blog, check out the inspiration from my teamies and whilst you're there have a look at the prize!

Am also linking up at Allsorts where the challenge is Pretty Pastels.
Have a great day! x

December Mid Month reminder at Stamping Sensations

Our Anything Goes challenge is well under way at Stamping Sensations but you still have time to enter.

There's a £25 voucher for you to spend at Be Creative if we choose you as the winner this month - so please follow our challenge rules and link up a make!

I made a batch of these - quick, easy and I think quite pretty!

Heat embossed the PB Berry Bevy stamp in the corner first, then dusted lightly with Tumbled Glass fading out as I went down the front.

Finished with some Red Nuvo Crystal Drops and a PB sentiment.
Job done!

Just one week to go now  before Christmas is here - and for once I am not panicking about cards. I am currently away on a short indoor bowling break with some friends - so instead I am panicking about no decorations up and no shopping done!!

Thanks for looking - and hope all your preparations are well in hand! x
Am linking up at -
CAS on Friday - Christmas
Jingle Belles - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - A/Christmas
Crafty Gals - Tis the Season

December's Stamping Sensations Challenge

As the Christmas madness of shopping, wrapping and all the other stuff that we do this month is upon us, we have a nice easy 'Anything Goes' theme at Stamping Sensations!

And although a nice easy theme please remember we are a STAMPING challenge so your entry MUST have stamping as the focal point. If you don't follow our rules you won't be in with a chance of winning our wonderful prize this month which is a very generous £25 voucher from Be Creative.

I did a batch of these - quick and easy - just what we want when we have lots of things to do!

The trusty 'snow' embossing folder took a bit of a battering - but I confess it is definitely the one that I go to every year!

Masked off the moon (£1 coin! - knew the change that dear husband leaves lying round would come in useful) and then brushed Faded Jeans DI.

A few different tree stamps also in Faded Jeans, and then took a damp paintbrush and dragged the colour below the trees a bit.
Details of the prize and lots of lovely inspiration from my teamies are over on the challenge blog!

Please visit their blogs and leave them some love!
Sharing over at -
Sweet Stampin' - Blue and White
Creative Knockouts - Winter
Krafty Chicks - Monochrome
A2S&M - CAS
Christmas@Sweet Stampin' - Trees

Happy Crafting and have a great day whatever you're doing. x