Your Next Stamp May Feature - Art Inspiration (Fairy Dust)

Welcome to the May Your Next Stamp feature post. Each month the design team uses specific stamps, dies or themes to create projects that will hopefully inspire you.

You will want to check out the feature post each month at the YNS blog because in addition to inspiration, there is also a chance to WIN a stamp set of your choice.

This month we were asked to find a famous painting and draw our creative inspiration from it for our project. This feature was a challenge. There were so many amazing pieces of art, however I did find it difficult to find one that really inspired me for a card. That was of course until I started looking through paintings by Claude Monet. From here, I was completely inspired to grab my inks and get a little messy.

The painting I selected for my inspiration is called SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE AT DUSK. 

My inspiration came from the painting colours. I tried to recreate the colours and a little of the texture with my Distress ink. I applied the distress ink using the applicator to water colour paper. I then used a paint brush and water to blend the colours, giving it a weathered look.

I used the sweet FAIRY DUST stamp set for this thank you card, along with the Stitched Rectangles and the Double Stitched Hill die.

 OTHER YNS Products: Crystal Clear and Sparkle Gumdrops, YNS Black Olive and Almond Latte ink

This feature posts also happens to fall on the birthday of Karen's son Brandon. To celebrate Brandon's birthday, Karen has a surprise sale for 3 days only. Happy Birthday Brandon!!!

Head over to the YNS blog to see all of the Design Team members sharing projects for this month's feature. Leave a comment on the blog post for the May Feature and you will have a chance to win a prize. One lucky crafter will WIN a YNS stamp set of their choice.

Have a happy day!!!!

Your Next Stamp Sketch/Colour Challenge 64 - Teacher Thank you!

Hello and welcome to another week of the Your Next Stamp sketch/colour challenge #63. 

Every two weeks, there is a new challenge that features a sketch and colour inspiration. Pick the one that inspires you most, or try both for an added challenge. The best part of these challenges is you could win a gift certificate to the YNS store!

 When using the colour inspiration, you must use at least 3 colours. You may also add neutrals 

Today I used the colours for my inspiration to create a Teacher thank you card. We are nearing the end of the school year, so this will come in handy.

Supplies on this card include:

• Little Notes
• Spectacular Teacher stamp/Die
• Apple Die
• Stitched Rectangle Die
• Paint Swooshes and Splatters
• Sunset Sparkly Gumdrops
• Various YNS Inks

For the sketch/colour challenge #64, you will have until Thursday May 25th (midnight EST) to play along. Head over to the Your Next Stamp blog for more inspiration and to link up your creation.

One random participant will win a $15 gift card to the YNS store. If you feature YNS products (it must be the main focus of your project), you will receive an additional $5. When you use a YNS stamp/die, there is a chance of being selected as the YNS top pick. The winner and top pick are announced on the YNS blog, the Sunday after the close of the challenge.

If you use YNS products on your project, you can also take part in the YNS Social Media challenge. Simply showcase your YNS sketch/colour challenge #64 project on Instagram, Splitcoast Stampers or Facebook. Check out the currently challenge post at the YNS blog for more details on the social media challenge.

Have a wonderful and crafty day!

Your Next Stamp May DT Dare (Good Vibes)

It's time for the May Your Next Stamp Design Team Dare challenge.

Each month the design team is given a special challenge to help show off the new release stamps and dies. The challenge may be seasonal or technique bases, but whatever it may be, you will see a lot of fun projects.

This month our Designer challenge is all about  GUMDROPS! Not the yummy edible treat, the fabulous YNS enable dot gumdrops!

One of my favourite stamps for this month's release it the GOOD VIBES. I am pretty sure this image is going to make an appearance a few more times this year. The toucan is so fun and you can really play around with a lot of different colours, if you want to get creative.

I had the chance to use the new Heart and Dot Gumdrops to achieve success on our DT Dare challenge. I love the fun colours and shapes on the new gumdrops.

Head over to the Your Next Stamp blog and look for the May DT Dare post. Leave a comment on that post for the chance to WIN a stamp set of your choice!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Your Next Stamp May New Release (Good Vibes / Nailed It)

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp May release hop. This release is filled with fun and fabulous stamps, dies, and beautiful new gumdrops! There is a little something for everyone in this month's release.

We have an amazing blog hop to showcase so many wonderful stamps, and dies! This month we have a number of talented guest joining us for our May release hop. Sit back, grab a beverage (a Mint Mocha Frappuccino would be yummy) and maybe a pen and paper to joint down an item or two or three for your wish list.

My first card features the exotic Good Vibes stamp and Die! I used my distress inks to create a vibrant background, to show off this fabulous stamp. I also added a few new fun gumdrops. The colours are just stunning!

YNS Products: Good Vibes stamp and die, Stitched Rectangle, Black Olive Ink

For my next card, I made a rare masculine card with the Nailed It! stamp set. I don't have a lot of masculine stamps, so when I saw this one, I knew I had to use it. I love all the fun accessories.....tools can be accessories right? Anyway, there are great tools in this set to help create a super fun card!

YNS Products: Nailed It, Stitched Rectangle, Black Olive Ink, Mocha Ink, Milk and Cookie Matte Gumdrops

In celebration of this new release, check out the fabulous deal Karen is offering!

Thank you for joining us for our new release hop! I hope you found a little inspiration and maybe a few stamps or dies that you'd like to add to your YNS collection. As you are hoping along, we would love for you to leave a comment. There will be a $25 YNS gift certificates available to win, so the more blogs you visit, the greater your chances to win the prize!

Remember to also come back to the YNS blog on March 8th to check out the next Design Team Dare challenge.

Have a great day and happy hopping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Your Next Stamp May Release Preview (Great Catch)

Happy May Crafty Friends!

I think Mother Nature is a little confused at the moment. Our weather is a little more cold and wet for my liking. I hope seeing some new stamps will make everyone feel great! I am excited today to share a preview for the Your Next Stamp May release.

With the new release just around the corner (later tonight), I have the pleasure of sharing a little preview of one of the stamps you will see in this amazing release. I love preview day. All of the stamps and dies will be available really soon, so you may want to check out the previews today and start making your wish list!

In this release there a number of great masculine stamp sets which will be great for those special men in your life. I used the Great Catch stamp along with a few goodies from last month (Crazy for Coffee Paper, Enchanted Forest Gumdrops) for my preview card.

YNS Supplies used: Great Catch, Stitched Rectangles, Stitched Ovals, Crazy for Coffee paper, Enchanted Forest Gumdrops, YNS Ink (Black Olive, Mocha)

I hope you enjoy the previews for the Your Next Stamp May release. Remember to check out all of the previews from the design team. The complete list of previews is available on the YNS blog.

Stop back later tonight (10:00 pm EST) for the start of the May release blog hop. There will be a lot of amazing projects to see and a great prize to be one. You don't want to miss this amazing release. On May 10th there will be another chance for inspiration and a prize with the next DT dare challenge. You don't want to miss all of these chance to see the May release in action.

Happy Peeking everyone!

Your Next Stamp Sketch/Colour Challenge # 63 (

Hello and welcome to another week of the Your Next Stamp sketch/colour challenge #63. 

Every two weeks, there is a new challenge that features a sketch and colour inspiration. Pick the one that inspires you most, or try both for an added challenge. The best part of these challenges is you could win a gift certificate to the YNS store!

 hen using the colour inspiration, you must use at least 3 colours. You may also add neutrals 

This week I used the darling Scratch Pad and played along with the sketch. Of course my card would not be complete without using my newest favourite paper. That would be the YNS Hugs and Kisses paper. Seriously this pad of paper has everything I love!

For the sketch/colour challenge #63, you will have until Thursday May 11th (midnight EST) to play along. Head over to the Your Next Stamp blog for more inspiration and to link up your creation.

One random participant will win a $15 gift card to the YNS store. If you feature YNS products (it must be the main focus of your project), you will receive an additional $5. When you use a YNS stamp/die, there is a chance of being selected as the YNS top pick. The winner and top pick are announced on the YNS blog, the Sunday after the close of the challenge.

If you use YNS products on your project, you can also take part in the YNS Social Media challenge. Simply showcase your YNS sketch/colour challenge #63 project on Instagram, Splitcoast Stampers or Facebook. Check out the currently challenge post at the YNS blog for more details on the social media challenge.

Have a wonderful and crafty day!