My Other Creations: London Cards Using Penny Black's Tabs and Toggles Die

When I was a delightfully clueless young twenty-something, I moved thousands of miles from home and lived in London for about a year and a half.  It was a life-changing adventure that, even years later, continues to fuel my spirit.  Simon and Garfunkel sang it best: "I gaze beyond the rain drenched streets to England where my heart lies."  Yep.  That's how I feel.  Part of my heart will always be there. 

When I left for London, my older brother gave me an excellent bit of advice, along with a farewell headlock (older brother, you know).  He told me to take pictures not just of the touristy stuff, but also of the common everyday little things because that's what I would miss the most when I came back.  He was right!  And since this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is World Traveler, I have created some London tribute cards that celebrate some of the everyday things I still miss.

Knowing that I'd be making cards for this World Traveler theme, I started by painting three pages of sturdy paper with acrylic paint.  I just streak and blend it with my fingers cause I'm lazy like that.  I also spritzed it with some Dylusions Ink Spray and then went back and covered over some sections with white acrylic paint.

Next I whipped out my Big Shot and Penny Black's Tabs and Toggles die and cut out several of these fabulous file shapes.  Then I added some Tim Holtz Symphony washi tape for some more visual interest.  I also smudge on some Distress Ink with sponges if there are areas that I want to make more colorful.

  
All that remained was to stamp some background imagery (Tim Holtz's Documented stamp set) with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink.  I also added a Swirlies die from Reverse Confetti and then stuck my picture on top.  I added the sentiment, which I typed in Word.  Last but not least, I outlined the edges with a black Sharpie, then added some more detail with the Bo Bunny Stitches stamp set.

  
Here are some close-up's of the other cards.  I was there before GPS was really a "thing," so I lived or died by my A to Zed (road atlas).

  
I didn't think I'd ever miss the scavenger pigeons that hang out in the subway system, but I do.  And hey - good news!  It only took me, an English major and college grad, a mere three months or so to figure out what in the heck all those "mind the gap" signs meant!  Brilliant!

  
Ah, London!  I have the yen for some fish and chips just thinking about you!  But for now, I'll keep making more tribute cards.  And shopping at Simon, of course, which is where I found all of these great supplies that I used:

Penny Black Tabs & Toggles Die Set	Reverse Confetti Swirlies die cuts	Paper Smooches Lattice Wise Dies	Seth Apter Spellbinders Drip Drop die	Sizzix Big Shot	Dina Wakley Textures Cling Stamps	Tim Holtz Documented Stamp Set
Bo Bunny STITCHES Clear Stamps	Dina Wakley Gals and Borders Stamp Set	Idea-ology Tissue Tape In Symphony	Doodlebug Deck The Halls Washi Tape	Dina Wakley Fuchsia Acrylic Paint	Dina Wakley Ranger Night Acrylic Paint	Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints
Dina Wakley Lime Acrylic Paint	Dina Wakley MAGENTA Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley LEMON Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley TURQUOISE Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley LAPIS Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley BLACKBERRY VIOLET Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley Evergreen Acrylic Paint
Dylusions Lemon Zest Ink Spray	Dylusions Ink Spray Cut Grass	Dylusions Ink Sprays - Vibrant Turquiose	Dylusions Ink Sprays - Bubblegum Pink	Dylusions Ink Sprays - Fresh Lime	Dylusions Ink Sprays - Crushed Grape	Dylusions Ink Spray - Funky Fuchsia
Dylusions Ink Spray Calypso Teal	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad	Peacock Feathers - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Twisted Citron Ink Pad	Mustard Seed - Distress Ink	Ripe Persimmon - Distress Ink	Picked Raspberry - Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WILTED VIOLET	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad BLUEPRINT SKETCH Ranger	Mixed Media Sponges Bars	Ranger Non Stick Craft Sheet

I can't wait to see how you interpret our World Traveler theme this week.  Be sure to upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!