STAMPlorations New Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello Ladies and Gentlemans! Today is a very special day because it's a new release party!!! I always love breaking open a new package of stamps. Something about hearing the crinkle of the bag and trying desperately to unstick the polymer clings from the packaging just does it for me. 

STAMPlorations is releasing 4 new sets today and they are all focused on the special ladies in your life - yo mama. 

I want to show off the card designs I made using these fantastic new stamps:

Using The Bee's Knees Parfumerie. The vintage perfume bottles were a perfect pairing with these old-timey 1920's ladies.

Using Big Grins by Becca Cruger - Sweet & Sassy Mom. If you're looking for a mother's day/lady set that pairs humor and sweetness, this is the stamp set for you! 

Using Dee's Artsy Impressions - Best Mom Ever. I love this big ol' flower arrangement and used watercolors and gold shimmer to really make it pop. 

Using Shery Russ Designs - One Cool Chick. This artsy girl was just screaming for a graphic, edgy design and I happily obliged. 

Here's what you need to know:
Number one, these stamps are in the STAMPlorations store right now and my bloggy readers can get 20% off their ENTIRE order by using the discount code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout.

Number two - if you hop along, we're drawing 2 prizes. One commenter will win a choice of a stamp set and one commenter will win a $15 gift certificate. Winners will be drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs. 

What are you waiting for! Head over to the New Release Party and hop along!

My New Stamp Release - STAMPlorations Buttercups & Butterflies

Heyyyy you guuuuuuuys! Guess What?! (Well, ok I've already told you in the title, and you clicked through, so presumably you don't have to guess at all because you already know, but now I've already typed the question and so am committed to answer it.)

 My new stamp set gets released today and there's a GIVEAWAY!  Or I should say GIVEAWAYS because there is one right here, and one on the STAMPlorations blog.

*******GIVEAWAY ALERT*******

What am I giving away, you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Check out the latest stamp set designed by yours truly:

Introducing Buttercups & Butterflies

********GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS********

 I'm giving away both the stamp set AND the coordinating die. 

All you have to do to win is leave a comment here AND on the STAMPlorations blog. 

And now - for some examples of how the set can be used, I've made some cards using differing styles.

Shabby Chic

Made using the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches. 

Clean and Layered

Made using the colors from House of Cards current challenge

Clean and Simple

Made for Hiding in My Craft Room Pastels challenge. 

I hope you like the new stamp set! And if you do, it's available in the shop for 10% off until August 15! Make sure you go swing by the STAMPlorations blog to see all of the new sets being released this week.

A Flowery Set of Cards - +Prizes+

I want to say a BIG woohooo to all of the fine folks who've been playing along in my birthday bash linkup and who wished me a happy birthday here or on facebook! I can't seem to wipe the smile off my face! You all ROCK! And a >>GIANT<< shoutout to my latest bloggy followers - you've made my day!

If you haven't played along - don't worry! There's still 10 days to link up for your chance to win one of 7 - Yes SEVEN! - prizes that I'm giving away.

Today I'm going to be sharing with you a set of cards that I made using my Birthday Bash Linkup Moodboard. Haven't heard of it? Well here it is:

In order to win one of the prizes, I'm asking you artists to link up a card that's inspired by one of my favorite things.

Let me break it on down for you. Here are a few 
of my favorite things:

>Purple and teal color combos

>Watercolor washes

>Fun, bright, eclectic clean and simple cards 
>Polka Dots

>PUNS!! :)

>Typography

>Distressed, vintage cards full of texture

...You can use one, two, all of these things... 

Whatever inspires you!

Today, my cards are inspired by the purple and teal color scheme with a little bit of watercoloring thrown in.

Last month, I got a new stamp set to play with - Blooming Buds by Dee's Artsy Impressions for STAMPlorations. I LOVE this set and I sort of got carried away when I busted it out because I couldn't stop making cards!

I started by stamping a big flower. Did you know that you can achieve a watercolor effect with gelatos? It's easy! Start by scribbling some gelatos onto your image:

Then - just add water! I used a water pen and blended. Since I was goign for an artsy feel, I let it bleed all over. You can also wet your finger with a baby wipe or water, too. Oooooo pretty!

Sticking with my mood board, I made a purple card and then I made a teal card.

And then I just couldn't help myself - there were THREE different sentiments included with the set, and I didn't want to make the third one feel lonely, so I made a pink card, too!

I just love the set and how pretty they all look together! :) I'm going to enter my trifecta into the following awesome challenges:
 Hiding in My Craft Room - Lots of Layers 
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - To "Die" for (use a die)
 Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes

So. I mentioned prizes earlier. Let me tell you what they are - 
I'm giving away ALL of these sets PLUS Shery from STAMPlorations is throwing in a $10 gift card, too! (Isn't she the very best!?!)

PRIZES!!!

 


If you click on the image, it will take you to the STAMP shop to view these and other birthday-related sets. I want to spread the wealth around, so I will be doing a drawing for >>7<< different winners! Woohoo!

Oh - before I leave - a couple of people had asked me to share some birthday pictures, so I'll be brief (because I know this post is already long!)

Highlights included:

1 - Lunch with my cousin and her little girls (I'm pretty much their auntie - it's just a technicality) and a surprise visit from my aunt. In this picture we were supposed to be doing silly faces but Phae didn't get the memo. :) 

2 - My amazing boyfriend got me a KITCHENAID!!! I asked him why he spent that much money on a birthday gift and he said "Babe, I don't think of it as JUST a birthday gift; I think of it as an investment in my cookie future." :)

3 & 4 - My coworkers "trashed" my office with balloons and streamers and left me a sweet pair of flamingo sunglasses. Ummm yes please!

5 - We went to the late night comedy improv show. I was up on stage for awhile, but I cannot talk about details. ;) This was my favorite scene - a man in a blindfold and a floor full of loaded mousetraps - use your imagination :)

6 - We went to the new wine bar in town - they have wine DISPENSERS on the wall. In the process of taking a photo, the neighbors on the table over totally photobombed us! haha! :)

Lots of smiles! Ok. I'm done now!  

RULES:
>You MUST use an image from my mood board to inspire you
>You MUST display the mood board graphic in your post
>Although being a follower of my blog is not required, it would be a really AWESOME birthday present to me. :D
>You may enter as many projects as you like (cards, scrapbook, ATCs, Mixed Media projects)
>You MUST link back to this blog post
>Deadline to submit cards is July 31, 2015 at midnight CST

Link up your mood-board inspired cards here:

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you for stopping by! 

It's my BIRTHDAY!!! +PRIZES+

It's my official birthday today!!! WoooohoooooOoo! I've got some big plans which include dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, followed by drinks at a new wine bar that just opened (they have wine DISPENSERS - like pop machines), followed by a late night comedy improv show. I'm ready to kick up my heels and have some fun!

Speaking of fun - look at this guy: 

I can't help BUT to laugh. hahaha - put googly eyes on anything and I'll be mesmerized into laughter for the next 3 hours. 

That bird represents one of the images on my birthday mood board: 

Bet you can't guess which image ;)  

But wait - "Mood board?" you say. YES! To celebrate my big day, I'm having a link up that will be open through the end of July. Just choose one of my favorite things to make a card - represented by my mood board. 

Let me break it on down for you. Here are a few 
of my favorite things:

>Purple and teal color combos

>Watercolor washes

>Fun, bright, eclectic clean and simple cards 
>Polka Dots

>PUNS!! :)

>Typography

>Distressed, vintage cards full of texture

...You can use one, two, all of these things... 
Whatever inspires you!

The card I made is a mashup of the bird (obviously) with a corny pun AND those adorable colorful dots.

 I used stamps from the STAMPlorations Party Time set to do a fun corner of swirly dots and topped it off with that REALLY old bird - I think he's a retired Stampin' Up bird, but I honestly couldn't say.

I repeated the swirly images with metal embellishments and a dry embossed panel. I used the sketch designed by my fellow googly eye-loving friend, Jessi Fogan, who designs for Tuesday Morning Sketches.  

I'm also going to link up to the following fun challenges:
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Virginia's View - 100% stamped

Ok - now to give YOU the details of how the Birthday Bash Linkup will work. I'm giving away ALL of these sets PLUS Shery from STAMPlorations is throwing in a $10 gift card, too! (Isn't she the very best!?!)

PRIZES!!!

 


If you click on the image, it will take you to the STAMP shop to view these and other birthday-related sets. I want to spread the wealth around, so I will be doing a drawing for >>7<< different winners! Woohoo!

RULES:
>You MUST use an image from my mood board to inspire you
>You MUST display the mood board graphic in your post
>Although being a follower of my blog is not required, it would be a really AWESOME birthday present to me. :D
>You may enter as many projects as you like (cards, scrapbook, ATCs, Mixed Media projects)
>You MUST link back to this blog post
>Deadline to submit cards is July 31, 2015 at midnight CST

Link up your mood-board inspired cards here:

An InLinkz Link-up

Becca's Birthday BASH!!! woohoo!!! +PRIZES+

Hullo Friendly Friends!!

This week is extra special for me because it's my BIRTHDAY WEEK! That's right, even though my birthday doesn't happen until Friday, I celebrate for a whole week! Don't judge. :) 

I was pondering what I should do for my birthday to celebrate with you all and then I thought - I know!! I'll have a big giant giveaway with some of my favorite birthday sets! I'm SO beyond grateful for all the friendships I've made over the past almost year of blogging and I want to do something special for YOU!

So that's what's going on. 

I decided to put together a mood board with all of my favorite things and ask you to celebrate with me by making a card that's inspired by the board. If you link it up here and help me celebrate, you'll be entered to win! 

Here's the board:

Let me break it on down for you. Here are a few of my favorite things (represented with pictures of course). 

>Purple and teal color combos

>Watercolor washes

>Fun, bright, eclectic clean and simple cards 
>Polka Dots

>PUNS!! :)

>Typography

>Distressed, vintage cards full of texture

...You can use one, two, all of these things... 
Whatever inspires you!

For the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some inspiration from my mood board. The card I made today combines the watercolor wash, purple and teal color combo, and typography. It's a three-for!

I started by doing a wash with the Distress Ink Dipping technique. Here's how you can get the same effect:

Smoosh Cracked Pistachio, Dusty Concord, Shabby Shutters, and Salty Ocean Distress Inks onto a craft mat and then spritz with water. The more water you add, the more the colors will meld together. Since I wanted these to run, I sprayed quite a bit. 

Dip number one: 

Press the paper into the mixture and wiggle side to side *slightly* You don't want the colors to get muddy. Then air dry or heat dry. As you can see, the round one dip was really pretty, but I wanted some depth and layers so I took the dried papers back to the craft mat and dabbed them in the ink again.

Dip number two: 

See what I mean by depth and layers?! You can continue the drying and rounds of dipping until you are satisfied, but I was happy with my results.

I used the STAMPlorations Hashtag Authentic set to create a positive, uplifting sentiment and added some wooden corners to complete the look. I kept it simpler than I usually do, but that's because I didn't want to cover up any of the wash. :)

Ta-daaaa! I hope you like it!

I'm going to enter it into the following competitions:
Through the Craftroom Door - ATG
Simon Says Stamp Monday - ATG
Try it on Tuesday - In the Frame
613 Ave Create - A2, Encouragement, Watercolor


Ok - now to give YOU the details of how the Birthday Bash Linkup will work. I'm giving away ALL of these sets PLUS Shery from STAMPlorations is throwing in a $10 gift card, too! (Isn't she the very best!?!)

PRIZES!!!

 


If you click on the image, it will take you to the STAMP shop to view these and other birthday-related sets. I want to spread the wealth around, so I will be doing a drawing for >>7<< different winners! Woohoo!

RULES:
>You MUST use an image from my mood board to inspire you
>You MUST display the mood board graphic in your post
>Although being a follower of my blog is not required, it would be a really AWESOME birthday present to me. :D
>You may enter as many projects as you like (cards, scrapbook, ATCs, Mixed Media projects)
>You MUST link back to this blog post
>Deadline to submit cards is July 31, 2015 at midnight CST

Link up your mood-board inspired cards here:

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks for celebrating with me!