Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Up in the Air Tag using AALL & Create's Our House Stamp Set

"It's Up in the Air" is this week's theme over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  The first thing I thought of was a house with propeller.  I know, but it's just how my brain works.  Here's the tag that resulted:

I like to make multiples of things sometimes to save me work later on, so I actually made four of these tags.  I used Ranger Kraft tags for the base, and smeared them with white acrylic paint, then sprayed on some Dylusions spray over a Dina Wakley dotted stencil.  I also added some spritzes of Distress Oxide.

When that dried, I smeared on some more white paint (which picked up the ink from the previous layer and created some pastel shades).  I glued on some scraps of Dina Wakley ledger paper and made some black squiggles with Scribble Sticks.

And now for more color!  I finger-painted on some other colors of acrylic paint and scribbled some more.

I moved on to creating the houses next.  I stamped them onto Strathmore Mixed Media paper using Ranger Jet Black Archival ink, then I colored them in with Scribble Sticks and blended the color with a water brush pen.  I cut them out and added a little bit of paint to them.  Next I selected one of the tags as my base and saved the other three for future projects.

I drew a propeller for one of the houses and glued the rest of the scene onto the tag.

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

• AALL & Create: Our House Stamp Set
• Ranger Kraft Tags
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks, Set 1
• Water Brush Pen
• Dylusions Spray: Peony Blush, After Midnight
• Dylusions Shimmer Spray: London Blue, Fresh Lime
• Palette Knife
• Distress Oxide Spray: Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, Weathered Wood
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper 2
• Dylusions Paint: Vibrant Turquoise, Tropical Sangria, Pink Flamingo, Polished Jade, Balmy Night, Laidback Lilac
• Dina Wakley paint: White, Lime, Olive, Sky, Eggplant, Turquoise, Blushing, Carnation, Cheddar, Fir, Sage
• Ranger Jet Black Archival
• Acrylic Block
• UHU Glue Stick

What "up in the air" phenomenon will inspire you this week?  Upload your projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Notebook Cover Re-do using Tim Holtz's Ephemera Snippets Number Strips and Media Marks 2 Stamp Set

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog theme for this week is "anything but a card."  I revamped the cover of a notebook.  Wah-la!

I started by slapping some dark paint down on a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media paper that I'd cut to the size of the cover of a small notebook I had.  Then I stenciled some circles on with white paint.

I added some color with more acrylic paint.  I got out some paper number strips, added color to those, and glued them onto my notebook cover.

I needed more color, so I added some pinks and reds and some black and white patterned paper.  But then I felt like it was a little TOO crazy-- as if someone puked out a bunch of colored stuff onto this page.

I'm not going to lie.  What came next was an exercise in frustration and almost trashing this whole thing about five times.  But I toned it down with white paint, sewed the cover onto my notebook, then stamped a bit of a floral branch using Tim Holtz's Media Marks 2 stamp set.  I ripped some things off, then glued them back on, then fiddled and fussed and this is what it ended up like.

I turned to Dina Wakley's Ledger Paper (again -- I love it) and cut out the sentiment "We will try.  Again" and glued that down.

This baby was finally finished.  Here's a picture of it next to a pen to help show the scale.

And here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Fairy Hugs Water Stains Stencil
• Tim Holtz Ephemera Snippets Number Strips
• Dina Wakley Ledger Pages, Set 1
• Tim Holtz Media Marks 2 Stamp Set
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Black, Olive, Sky, Lapis, Lime, Lemon
• Distress Paint: Salvaged Patina, Kitsch Flamingo
• Dylusions Paint: Mushy Peas, Strawberry Daiquiri, Cherry Pie
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Acrylic Block
• UHU Glue Stick

What will you make this week that isn't a card?  Upload your creation to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Add Some Texture using Altenew's Many Dots Washi Tape and Trinity Stamps' Slimline Tags Die Set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is all about adding texture.  I decided to crumple-stick some washi tape down and add lots of layered scraps to build this baby up!

I started by cutting out a long slimline tag shape using Trinity Stamps' Slimline Tags die and Distress Kraft Heavystock.  Then I took some Altenew Many Dots washi tape and tore and wrinkle-crumple-stuck it onto my tag.  Then I smeared some acrylic paint onto it.

It is rare that I totally trash an entire crafty project.  Even if I'm frustrated and don't like what I made, I'll tear a project up, but not throw it ALL out.  I'll keep the torn-up scraps that I like and use those on other projects.  That's what's I did for the next step on my folded-in-half tag.  I glued on some scraps from discarded projects as well as some patterned paper from Maggie Holmes' Market Square collection.

Then I added more paint, and stuck on a "happy" sentiment from AALL & Create's Vivre 23 washi tape.  I also glued on a black die-cut flower outline (Paper Rose Small Eucalyptus Stems).  A little more paint here and there and this tag-card-thing was done!

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

• Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Trinity Stamps Slimline Tags Die Set
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Altenew Many Dots Washi Tape
• AALL & Create Vivre 23 Washi Tape
• Maggie Holmes Market Square Patterned Paper
• Paper Rose Small Eucalyptus Stems Die
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Lime, Olive, Ruby
• Distress Paint: Kitsch Flamingo, Salvaged Patina
• Dylusions Paint: Cherry Pie, Periwinkle Blue, Strawberry Daquiri, Blue Hawaiian, Mango Punch, Lemon Drop
• UHU Glue Stick

What will you do to add some texture this week?  We always love to see your projects, so upload your masterpieces to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog to inspire others and have a chance at winning a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Alcohol Ink Tag using Dina Wakley's Ledger 2 Collection

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is alcohol.  I don't drink alcohol, so I opted for the alcohol ink option.  I made this tag using alcohol ink-colored paper scraps and some Dina Wakley ledger paper.

I started out with some alcohol ink blending.  On the yellow and pink combo, I also spritzed on some Dylusions Lemon Zest spray ink.

I tore and paper-punched some circles out of my alcohol ink-colored papers.  I used a 3/4" paper punch, which is a pretty handy circle size if I do say so myself.  Then I cut a tag out of Strathmore Mixed Media paper, cut a second tag out of Dina Wakley's ledger paper, and glued the ledger paper tag onto the Strathmore Mixed Media paper tag for stability.

I glued my alcohol ink-colored scrap to my tag and started smearing on acrylic paint.  I used some Distress Crayons to smudge some yellow/orange spots.  I did some doodling with a black Scribble Stick.  Next I punched out more circles and tore around them to create little circle frames.

I glued the circle frames onto my tag, then stamped and cut out the words "We Rise" from Dina Wakley's Everyone is Welcome stamp set.  I put it all together, spritzed on some Night Glossy Spray and this tag was done.

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

• Alcohol Ink: Flamingo, Sunshine Yellow, Shell Pink, Sailboat Blue, Tranquil, Vineyard, Fiesta, and Sublime.
• Dylusions Ink Spray: Lemon Zest
• Yupo Paper
• Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Tag Collection Dies
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper, Set 2
• Sizzix Big Shot
• UHU Glue Stick
• 3/4" Circle Punch
• Scribble Sticks, Set 1
• Distress Crayons: Set 1
• Dina Wakley Everyone is Welcome Stamp Set
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint: White, Fuchsia, Night, Sky, Blushing
• Dina Wakley Media Gloss Spray: Night

How will you be inspired by this week's theme?  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Masculine Card using Tim Holtz Mini File Folders and Sideshow Stamp Set

"Masculine" is the theme of the week over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  We're also featuring Tim Holtz products.  Here is the card/altered file folder/not-sure-what-it-is-but-I-had-fun-making-it item that I came up with:

I started with a Tim Holtz mini file folder for my base.  I stamped some text (courtesy of the Sideshow stamp set) onto scrap paper and glued it to the folder.  Then I stamped some numbers from that same stamp set onto the folder itself with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink.

Bring on the paint!  I smeared paint around and got it to looking like this.  I couldn't resist adding some more stamped images from the Halftone and Rings stamp set, too.

Next I took some patterned paper from the Abandoned paper pad, punched circles out of it, then glued that on as well.  I also brought some purples and some navy to the party.

I finished this off with a little more paint, some sewing, a little more stamping (same stamp set) and the addition of some red here and there.  I added this gent to the front from Tim Holtz's Photobooth strips.  I usually add a hat or a crown to these people images, but this guy's hair was too perfect to cover up!  All I did was add one last word (found) from the Chitchat stickers and this project was a wrap!

Here are the supplies I used, which you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

• Tim Holtz Mini File Folders
• Tim Holtz Sideshow Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Halftone and Rings Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Abandoned Patterned Paper
• Tim Holtz Chitchat Stickers
• Tim Holtz Photobooth Images
• Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Blackberry, Night, Olive, Marine
• Palette Knife
• UHU Glue Stick

How will you interpret this week's masculine theme?  Upload your projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store.