Today we want to challenge you to create your own patterns and use only solid card stock. We hope you will find some inspiration below!

Agata Pfister used stamps from the “Itty Bittys” set to create this clean and simple graphic pattern. The sentiment is from the same set.

Allison Cope used the X from “Rough Copy” to create  the pattern on the teal background. It’s a very subtle and beautiful effect. The outline houses from “No place like Home” are perfect for the house pattern on the white card stock. The sentiment comes from “Whatever!”.

Stephanie Ackermann used several sentiments from “Mention It!” to create this fun background for her Thank You card.

Eva Pizarro created a background from hexagons taken from the “Hive of Live” set. These stamps fit together perfectly, forming a dense pattern on the kraft paper.

Cari Locken used the flower stems and circles from the “Funky Flowers” set for this beautiful graphic pattern. The sentiment comes from the “Seal It!” stamp set.

Look at your stamps in a new way, you can use many of them for unique patterns and share your patterns with us, if you like!

Happy patterning!

This month I wanted to challenge myself to share something outside of the box (no pun intended!) for me!  I have the hardest time altering items.  I’m not certain why but I guess it’s because I thoroughly enjoy creating layouts and cards.

So I was browsing through my local scrapbook store and came across these little shadow boxes by Tim Holtz called “Configurations” and I knew it would be perfect to allow me to create something different… you know… to think “about the box” for once!

This little shadowbox measures about 8 3/4 x 6 3/4 all arranged inside their box.  There are 4 different sizes boxes that fit within the dimensions.  Perfect for little photos, trinkets or just some beautiful things like paper and blooms!

Here’s what I came up with… lots of greens, browns and blues!

Each mini box is decorated differently.  This little box has the word LOVE inside.  I used the “Funky Alphabet” stamp set for this.  I used some of our Preferred Partner, PK Glitz “bronze patina” embossing powder to get a distressed metallic look.

Inside the largest of all the mini boxes I stamped a little scene.  I used the bare tree from “Tree For All Seasons” and the grass from the “Funky Flowers” set.  I also added some delicate Flower Soft to the branches to look like Spring blossoms.

In the top right hand corner box, I first stamped the large daisy image from “Funky Flowers” and then I stamped an “I” from the “Royal Flush” alphabet set right over top of it in a different colour of embossing powder. “I” is the first letter of my married name.

In the bottom right hand corner, I stamped another little scene of some houses.  These sweet little houses and sentiment come from the “No Place Like Home” stamp set.  It fit perfectly in this little space in the corner.

In the center smallest square, I added an embossed butterfly from “Colorful Companions“.  Again I used the beautiful bronze patina embossing powder from PK Glitz.

We have some AMAZING new stamps coming out for CHA this year and I just happen to sneak one of them on my project today!  We have a gorgeous background stamp set coming out and I managed to sneak it on to my project but you’ll just have to wait to see what that stamp set is all about SOON!

The beautifully ornate piece of heart chipboard is also from another one of our Preferred Partners here at myStamp BOX.  It’s made by Magistical Memories and it’s called “Heart Swirl“.  I stamped on it, inked it and also added some of the bronze patina embossing powder to unify it with the rest of my shadow box elements.  I adhered my altered chipboard piece using some of Helmar’s “3D Scrap Dots” adhesive.  Works great for popping things off of your surfaces!

supplies: stamps, myStamp BOX;   embossing powders, PK Glitz, Hero Arts, Ranger;  chipboard, Magistical Memories;  shadowbox, corner hardware, Tim Holtz;  ink, Versamark, Tsukineko, SU!;  patterned papers, brads, BasicGrey;  pearls, paper flowers and leaf, Prima;  silk flower, Heidi Swapp;  other, Flower Soft, Crackle Accents by Ranger.

I hope you too think outside of the box when using your stamps!  I hope you’ve enjoyed my project today!

So today I thought I would show you a few ways to include snow in your next cards.

My first card today uses the Let it Snow stamp set.  I cut a large circle in my card base and then backed it with a piece of solid paper that I had stamped a variety of the snowflakes on.  I used a glue pen to adhere some fine purple glitter to a few of my stamped images to add a touch of shine to my card.

I then created a tag using the stamped title from the stamp set and added a few stamped snowflake images to that.  I attached the tag with foam adhesive to pop it off of my card and attached some ribbon to the ends and wrapped around my card front.

I punched the corners of my card with a fun snowflake corner punch and then stamped some larger snowflake images along the top, added some fun rhinestones and I was done.

Here’s my finished card:

Let it Snow

For my next card, I wanted to add some trendy plaid patterned paper and some elegant pearls so I created this simple snowy card.  I stamped some subtle pink snowflakes using the Let it Snow stamp set inside my oval shape and then inked the inside of the oval with a lighter pink colour.

I added my matted oval to my card base and stuck down some pretty pink pearl flourishes from my stash.

Here is my plaid and pearl creation…

Winter Plaid

For my final card, I thought I would use some fine clear glitter to mimic a snowy scene so I pulled out my No Place Like Home stamp set and created a fun row house scene to decorate for winter.

I coloured my houses to match the patterned papers I had picked to use.  I even raised a few of the houses up on a few layers of paper to get a more 3D effect to my scene.

Once my landscape was coloured and I added a few “decor” and “design” elements to some of my houses, I hand drew some trees and tree tops for a bit of green in my scene.

Lastly, I got out my fine clear glitter and added adhesive wherever I thought that snow may stay…. on the roof tops, on the chimney tops, on window sills and on the ground.

Here’s my final snowy card….

Welcome Winter

The glittery snow was hard to see at this above angle so I took a different angle for you to see my snowy scape…

You can now see the glittery snow and the 3D effect of the slightly raised house images.

I just love the snow and now I hope you can incorporate snow into your cards too!  Add some glitter, stamp some flakes and just plain have fun creating!

IF you would like to purchase the stamp sets that I have used in my creations, you can visit the myStamp BOX store right here.

Thanks for joining me today!

Allison.

There is a night and day version of each of these cute homes. Hope this inspires you to do some fun cards and layouts.

You can use a sentiment from this set and customize it with your own words from the Color Me Alphabet set.

These little pictures are sweet to use on layouts (make backgrounds by using one stamp repeatedly in different colours), cards and tags as well. This set covers many seasons and occasions.

To win one of the stamp sets, you can leave up to two comments, each entry will win you a ballot. You must do one or both (for 2 entries) of the following:

1. leave a comment, please include your first name and last initial, plus your city/country

2. on a second comment post a link to the place where you have posted about my Stamp BOX’s  blog (on your own blog or in a forum), again you need to include your name and last initial, plus your city/country – Good Luck!

This contest is open until August 30, the winner will be announced on August 31. Make sure to check the blog and to send in your address, if you win!

Good luck!

Bettina