Hope Your Birthday Is A Splash

 

There's a new challenge at Time Out. This time it is a Photo Inspiration Challenge. 

This photo enlargement will help you see the details.

For your project, you can take inspiration from the entire picture, or just pick one or a few things as your starting point. For example you can pick stripes or the glass of iced tea for your inspiration, or the pool or make it about summer, or focus on the trees and sky... Use your imagination. Whatever your choice, please tell us in your post, how you were inspired by the photo.

Our wonderful sponsor is Lawn Fawn with a generous prize of a $25.00 store credit for our challenge winner who will also be invited to join us as a Guest Designer for a future challenge..

I love this photo and interpreted it rather literally. I used an embossing folder for the stone around the pool, placed the photographer on a pink striped raft in the pool, added a blue striped umbrella like the blue & white pillow in the photo, put some palm trees in the scene and matted it on black cardstock to mimic the lanai. This was a very fun card to make.

Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration. Come play with us! We would LOVE to see you in the gallery!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies/Stencils Embossing Folders	Waffle Flower Beach Umbrella Stencil MFT Perfect Pool Water Stencil Essentials by Ellen Everything's Beachy and Tropical Paradise Stamps/Dies Avery Elle Splash Pool Die Creative Expressions Brick Wall EF
Cardstock	90lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Gina K Black Onyx Base Weight SSS Fog
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Onyx Black Various Distress and DO Inks, Copic markers
Embellishments	Queen & Company Silver Pearls
Other	WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/4" SSS Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Just Us Girls #829 - Stencil Week

Anything Goes With A Stencil

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps & More #520

Java Delight

Hello and Happy Monday! It is my day to feature my projects on the STAMPlorations Blog. Today I have 2 projects  showcasing The Coffee House Collage Paper. This paper pack is a cozy and inviting addition to The Artistic Crafter's Collage Paper Anthology, Vol. 1. released earlier this year. 

The Coffee House Collage Paper

For my first card, I used a sheet of coffee beans from The Coffee House Collage Paper as my background and mounted it on a card base of Neenah Solar White. I stamped and heat embossed Zen Coffee ATC #2 using Ranger Brown Embossing Powder and attached it to the background. I then stamped a sentiment from Fond Expressions 2 with VersaFine Onyx Black and heat embossed with WOW Clear Embossing Powder. I die cut it with with an oval die and added it to the card front.

For my second project, I used the same background from The Coffee House Collage Paper as the card above. I fussy cut some of the images from The Coffee House Collage Paper and glued them onto the foreground. I die cut the sentiment three times using Java Great Day Phrase Die and added it as the finishing touch. I mounted the coffee panel on some coordinating card stock, then onto the card base and my card was complete.

You can get more details and wonderful inspiration on the STAMPlorations Blog. 

On another note,  STAMPlorations owner, Shery Russ, is about to celebrate its13th birthday with a week long event starting a week from today on June 29th. To kick off the celebrations early, Shery is bringing back a community favorite: The Wishlist Party, with a chance to win items directly from your STAMPlorations wishlist. Click HERE for all the details.

 Save 20% off your order by using my code at checkout:

STAMPGIRLSTEPHANIEL

Exciting News!

Hello and welcome! I have some exciting news to share today. I am so pleased to announce that I have joined the STAMPlorations Design Team featuring their paper goods products. Starting today, I will post 2 projects for STAMPLORATIONS every Monday. I have long been a fan of this company owned and managed by Shery and David Russ. 

And now for my projects for today, both of which feature Botanical Beats, a standout collection in The Artistic Crafter's Collage Paper Anthology, Vol. 1:

These papers are absolutely gorgeous and with the 5 3/4" x 8" sizing, one sheet goes a long way. Each paper pack is available with a choice or 3 or 5 of each sheet. They are a joy to work with!

Project #1:

Botanical Beats Collage Papers
Bloomtangled 1

Stitched Tags

Bloomdala Bliss

Project #2:

Botanical Beats Collage Papers
Flutter Zen Dies
Boxed Blooms & Bold Sentiments (retired)

You can get more details and wonderful inspiration on the STAMPlorations Blog. 

STAMPlorations offers all kinds of products for stampers, card makers, scrapbookers, mixed media artists, and all other kinds of crafters. Products  include paper goods, clear and digital stamps, stencils, thin metal dies and more. The products are wonderful as is the pricing. Shery has reopened her business after four years of a hiatus due to health issues. You can read about her journey HERE.  Grab a cuppa and visit the STAMPlorations Store HERE. You are sure to be inspired by all of the fabulous products you will find.

Please head on over and check it out!

 You can also save 20% off your order by using my code:

STAMPGIRLSTEPHANIEL

Wanna Beach It Up??

 There 's a new challenge at Time Out starting today. It's a "Pick 2" challenge where we are challenged to  pick at least 2 of the six given cues and incorporate them into our projects. You may pick more than 2 but you must pick at least 2. Our cues this time are: Vacation, Summer, Camping, Sun, Water and Ice Cream.

We are generously sponsored by Newton's Nook Designs with an offer of a $25 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner. In addition, the winner will receive an invitation to join us as a Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by Sherri Schmidt, winner of Time Out #310, as Guest Designer. Sherri is a talented card maker and a frequent player at Time Out. Check out her wonderful Hard on the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can link to her card on Flickr.

For my card, I chose Summer and Water. I used products fro several different companies to create a beachy, Summer scene. I just LOVE the sentiment. So. Much. Fun. 

Please head on over to the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Pick at least 2 of our queues for your project! Don't forget to tell us in your post, what your picks were. I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Waffle Flower Beach Umbrella Die & Stencil Pink & Main Sentiments Strip Dies Neat & Tangled Hello Summer Coordinating Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest
Ink	DO Inks: Salty Ocean, Antique Linen & Vintage Photo
Embellishments
Other	MFT Perfect Pool Water Stencil CZ Design Reverse Chill Summer Sentiment Strips  Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Waffle Flower Foam Strips Simon Says Stamp Thin 3D Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Word Power June 2026

Little Red Wagon 3862 - O is for Outdoor

Stencil Fun Challenge June 2026

The Four Seasons Challenge - AG Summer

Cheers On Your Birthday

 There's a new challenge at Time Out starting today. It is an "Inspired By" Challenge where we are challenged to create a project featuring "A Favorite Drink".  There are so many ways to go with this. Think warm or iced coffee or tea, champagne, lemonade, latte, water, cocktail, mocktail, matcha, bubble tea... and the list goes on. 

Whatever inspires your project, please be sure to tell us about it in your post. We can’t wait to see what you create!... use your imagination and come play with us!

We are generously sponsored by our Design Team Member Carol McFarland with a wonderful hand made Beverage Bag for our winner. Thank you, dear Carol, for offering this fun prize to our Challenge Winner!

We are joined by Joanne James of The Crafty Owl as Guest Designer, and winner of Challenge #309. Check out her FABULOUS card on the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can link to Joanne's blog and get all the details of her creation. 

I can't say I have a favorite drink, but I can say that I love to drink from beautiful glassware. If it is a cocktail, iced tea, mocktail or anything else, I LOVE to drink it from a beautiful glass. That made me pull out my new-to-me BetterPress Classy Glasses Press Plate. I inked it up with silver metallic ink, then stenciled it with the coordinating stencil. I added a BetterPress sentiment that was popped up with 3 extra die cuts, and my card was complete.  

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Create something featuring a favorite drink on your project! I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	BetterPress Classy Glasses Press Plate BetterPress Cheers Sentiments
Cardstock	LCI Cotton Paper for BetterPress Hero Arts Hero Hues Layering Paper
Ink	Lisa Horton Silver Shine Metallic Pigment Ink PTI Dye Inks - Lavender Moon, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist
Embellishments
Other	Spellbinders BetterPress Letterpress System Spellbinders Classy Glasses Stencil Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press

I'm also playing at:

Allsorts Challenge #850

17th Birthday Challenge

Addicted To Stamps & More #518 - Birthdays

The Male Room Challenge #210 - Food and/or Drink

AAA #85 - 7h Birthday

Music Speaks

There 's a new challenge at Time Out starting today with a theme of Playing Music. There are so many ways you can interpret this theme! You might be inspired by playing an instrument, listening to the radio or recorded music, singing, sheet music, a favorite song, or even music from a film — anything connected to music is welcome.

Whatever inspires your project, please be sure to tell us about it in your post. We can’t wait to see what you create!... use your imagination and come play with us!

We are generously sponsored by Gina K. Designs with a $25.00 store credit for our winner. Thank you, dear Gina K, for your continued support of Time Out Challenges!

We are joined by Cindy Chiu of Escape To Stamping as Guest Designer, and winner of Challenge #308. Check out her FABULOUS card on the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can link to Cindy's blog and get all the details of her creation. 

The other day I ran across THIS video by Laurafadora and used her SSS Spring Birds card as inspiration for my card for this challenge. I used Guitar Hero Stamps from Funky Fossil Designs (retired) and created a slimline card with a row of rainbow colored guitars.

Please head on over the the Time Out Challenge Blog and join us in the gallery. Create something with a musical theme for your project! I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Funky Fossil Guitar Hero Stamps (retired) MFT Fishtail Flag Die-nam-ics
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Gina K. Black Onyx Cardstock SSS Rainbow Splash Buttercream Cardstock
Ink	VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	WOW Clear EP Ranger White Super Fine EP WOW Dual Speed Heat tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press 3M foam tape

I'm also playing at:

A Cut Above May 2026 Challenge

AG - Use at least One Die Cut

Colorful Options May 2026

Option 3 - Rainbow

Happy Birthday Tommy!

I made this card for a sweet 6 year old in our family whose birthday is tomorrow. He loves all things art, so we got him a bunch of grown up art supplies chosen with the help of my art teacher friend who I love. She is the coolest Art Girl in the world! I was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #734, and also by a post on Instagram about Paper Smooches former owner Kim (Hughes) Mraz collaborating with Honey Bee Stamps. Who knew? It's so wonderful to see her back in the card making world. So I went through my Paper Smooches stash and came up with this card for this special little ginger who is dear to my heart. The sentiment is a little heady for a 6 year old, but his parents save these handmade things and hopefully he will revisit it some day with a smile.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Paper Smooches Birthday Sampler, I Heart Art,  and Spreading Sunshine Stamp Sets, Easel Die. Spellbinders Torn Paper Edges Die.
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock STAMPlorations Mixed Media Card Fronts
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Various PTI Inks Diane Davenport Mermaid Markers
Embellishments
Other	WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press SSS Foam Squares

I'm also playing at:

Seize The Birthday #325 - AG

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #291

Bottom Row

Creative Artiste Challenge #126