Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Make Your Own Background File Cards using Tim Holtz's Big Number Blocks Stamp Set and Sizzix's Specimen Dies

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is to make your own background.  I made some numbered file cards...which didn't start out as that at all, but you can see the meandering metamorphosis below.

I started with my small Dylusions journal.  I got out my Tim Holtz Big Number Blocks stamps and put some paint on them, then spritzed them with water, and stamped them onto my journal page.

I let that dry and then I painted over the inside of my numbers with white paint.  When that was dry, I got out my Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks and colored in my numbers with a bunch of stripy lines.  Then I painted over some of the lines with a little bit of water on a paintbrush to blend some of the lines together.  I outlined the numbers with a black Scribble Stick.

I intended for this to be a journal page, but it seemed to be crying out to be cut up into individual numbers!  So I tore out the journal page, cut the numbers up, and outlined them with more paint.  I also stamped some images onto the numbers, but I didn't like how that looked, so I had to go back and try to "erase" most of the stamped images with white paint.

While the numbers were drying yet again (lots of dry-time on this project!) I decided to cut some tabbed cards using the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Specimen die set.  I cut them out of Strathmore Mixed Media paper and then spritzed Distress Ink stain spray over Tim Holtz's Dotted stencil.  When THAT dried (impatient sigh), I added paint in different colors around the edges of the tabbed cards.

At long last, I was ready to glue the numbers to the backgrounds! Here's how they turned out:

What will I use these cards for?  Hmmmm.  A good question!  I'm not quite sure yet, but I'm happy to have them in my stash for future projects!

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

• Dylusions Small Creative Journal
• Tim Holtz Big Number Blocks Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Specimen Die Set
• Tim Holtz Dotted Stencil
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks: Set 1 and Set 2
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Olive, Umber, Night, Turquoise, Fuchsia, Carnation, Tangerine, Lemon, Ocean, Peacock
• Dylusions Paint: Polished Jade, Pure Sunshine
• Distress Stain Spray: Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Picked Raspberry
• UHU Glue Stick
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper

Let's see what fabulous backgrounds YOU create this week!  Upload your creations 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: Mixed Media Tag using My Favorite Things Connected Stamps and Dina Wakley Ledger Paper

"Mixed Media" is this week's theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  I decided to make a tag using patterned paper, Distress Crayons, paint and stamps.

I started out with a piece of patterned paper (Vicki Boutin's Color Study) that I cut into a tag shape and glued onto some Strathmore Mixed Media paper for added sturdiness.

I liked this piece of paper, but wanted to alter the colors, so I whited out the green section with white acrylic paint.  I added more white paint to tone down the pattern.  Then I went back in with Distress Crayons and added different colors that I blended and smudged around with a bit of water.  I finger-painted some white dots on as well and added pale pink acrylic paint around the edges.

I wanted to have more orange involved, so I added that around the edges.  I cut an oval shape out of Dina Wakley's ledger paper and glued that to my tag, then scribbled around it with a charcoal pencil. 

I scribbled around some more and added some paint dots smeared on with my fingers.  I threw in some sky blue, another scrap of text paper (stamped with Tim Holtz's Theories stamp set), and finished off the colors with some bright pinks and reds.

I wanted a sentiment, so I used My Favorite Things' Connected Stamps (the alphabet) and stamped out the word "Grit" and used a mini stapler to attach the sentiment to the tag.  I also stamped on some rain drops from Tim Holtz's Media Marks 2 stamp set.  I also added some faux stitching zig-zags along the edges with a stamp set from Studio Light.  

As for my sentiment, grit is officially defined as having courage and resolve; strength of character.  I think of grit when I see people who keep putting one foot in front of the other against overwhelming odds.  It doesn't matter how fast you go in life or how beautifully you're moving.  What matters is that you're still going and I'm grateful to have seen a lot of amazing examples of this trait in people around me.

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

• My Favorite Things Connected Stamp Set
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper, Set 2
• Vicki Boutin Color Study Patterned Paper
• Tim Holtz Theories Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Media Marks 2 Stamp Set
• Studio Light Script and Stitches Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher Stapler
• Sizzix Tag Collection Dies
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Distress Crayons: Set 7, Set 1, Set 12
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Sky, Olive, Night, Carnation, Tangelo, Lemon
• Dylusions Paint: Strawberry Daquiri, Tropical Sangria
• UHU Glue Stick
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Acrylic Block

What will you make for this week's mixed media challenge?  Upload your creations 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: Stencil Fun Tri-fold Notebook using Trinity Stamps' Slimline Tags Die Set and AALL & Create's Our House Stamps

"Fun with Stencils" is this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I wanted to try my hand at a tri-fold mini notebook/folio thing, so that's what I created (with plenty of stenciling along the way)!

I started by cutting out a L-O-N-G tag, compliments of Trinity Stamps' Slimline Tags die set.  Then I used a scoring board to divide it in thirds and stenciled white dots on one end (Tim Holtz's Dotted stencil) and black circle outlines on the other end (Fairy Hugs' Water Stains stencil).

Bring on the paint!  Here's what it looked like after smearing and finger-painting around with different colors of acrylic paint.

I needed something to put on the front, so I stamped, cut and painted some houses from AALL & Create's Our House stamp set.  I also stamped some text onto a scrap of old paper (Tim Holtz's Theories stamp set).

I sewed the houses and text scrap to the front of my cover and added some more stenciling (Simon Says Stamp's Scattered Stars stencil).  Then I gathered some paper scraps together and folded it into a section of pages (called a signature), then bound that signature inside my tri-fold notebook.

This thing was so bulky that I had to paperclip it shut, but with that final touch, this project was done!

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

• Trinity Stamps Slimline Tags Die Set
• Sizzix Big Shot
• AALL & Create's Our House Stamp Set
• Fairy Hugs Water Stains Stencil
• Tim Holtz Dotted Stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Scattered Stars Stencil
• Tim Holtz Theories Stamp Set
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Acrylic Block
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Dina Wakley Paint: Black, White, Ruby, Carnation, Lemon, Tangerine, Sage, Ocean, Sky
• Dylusions Paint: Pure Sunshine, Strawberry Daquiri, Tropical Sangria

What fun will you have with stencils this week?  Upload your creations 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: Spritz and Splatter Art Journals using Whimsy Stamps' Boho Rainbow Dies

Spritz and Splatter is this week's theme over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  I do love to get messy in the craft room...unless I'm wearing a new white shirt (note to self: do not do this).  I decided to make two art journals using Whimsy Stamps' fabulous Boho Rainbow die set.

I made the background by squirting dabs of acrylic paint onto my paper and then splattering on a bunch of water and moving around the paint with brushes so that it acts sort of like watercolors.

While that was drying, I cut out and painted some of these gorgeous arches from the Boho Rainbow die set.

I glued the arches to the background paper, like so, and then tore my paper in half.  Then I scribbled around the arches with a pencil (cause if you're getting spritzy and splattery, you might as well throw some scribbly in there, too).

I smeared on some white to tone down the colors, which I thought were a little too salmon-forward.  Then I added in other colors of acrylic paint and reached for the real watercolors.  I painted some watery greens into the mix and then I did more scribbling with Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks.  The colors look brighter here than they actually were due to a late night and weird camera light tricks.

But what to do with these little creations?  I had to sleep on that.  The next day, I decided to make them into mini art journals because I think we all know I'm addicted to notebooks, journals, and any other sort of thing that has covers and pages.  So I glued these onto some Kraft Heavystock.  I also added more splatter with some Dina Wakley Gloss Spray.

I started ripping up some scrap papers for the pages and bound them inside the covers.  Then I added some sentiments to the front that were courtesy of Dina Wakley's ledger paper.  She's got some great quotes in there!  Since these babies were pretty hefty with all the paper I put inside them, I had to tie them closed with some fabric ribbon that I sewed together.

And if you're curious about the insides, here's a little peek:

I quite enjoyed this project because I firmly believe you can never have too many notebooks or sketchbooks or journals or books in general really.

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

• Whimsy Stamps Boho Rainbow Die Set
• Dina Wakley Ledger Sheets, Set 1
• Ranger Kraft Heavystock
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks
• Watercolors
• Dina Wakley Night Gloss Spray
• Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint: White, Olive, Sage, Blushing, Rouge, Turquoise, Sky, Ocean
• Dylusions Acrylic Paint: Pure Sunshine
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Crop-A-Dile
• UHU Glue Stick

What will you spritz and splatter this week?  Upload your creations 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: Happy Birthday Card using Dina Wakley's Alpha Blocks Stamps, Collage Collective and Simon Says Stamp's Time to Party Stamps

Happy Birthday to Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges (and Happy Birthday is also this week's theme)!  We are celebrating 12 years of Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges and that is a wonderful milestone.  These challenges have inspired me and have helped me to push through and keep trying to create even when I haven't felt inspired, so I'm very grateful for them.  We are also featuring one of my favorite designers: Dina Wakley.  You do not have to ask me twice to whip out my Dina supplies!

I started with a piece of paper from the Dina Wakley Collage Collective.  I like to use pre-printed paper or artwork images to get the creative juices flowing.  It's easier to have something on the page than starting from scratch sometimes.  So I found this Dina drawing and added more paint and some black scribbles using her Scribble Sticks.

While that dried, I smeared some paint onto a piece of white cardstock and used a small circle punch to punch circles out of it-- kind of like colorful Swiss cheese.  I tore it into a strip and glued it to the bottom of my card.  

Next I tore off some strips of Dina's ledger paper and glued them to the top of my card.  I stamped some letters from Dina's Alpha Blocks stamp set that spelled out "you" and glued them onto the background.  Then, using another piece of ledger paper, I stamped the sentiment, "Let's celebrate your existence", from Simon Says Stamp's Time to Party stamp set.  I cut around it and glued that on as the final piece.

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

• Dina Wakley Collage Collective 2, Volume 1
• Dina Wakley Alpha Blocks Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp Time to Party Stamp Set
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper, Set 2
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks, Set 1
• Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint: White, Lime, Night, Olive, Tangelo, Lemon
• Dylusions Acrylic Paint: Tropical Sangria
• Distress Ink: Chipped Sapphire, Ground Espresso

What birthday creations will you make this week?  Upload your projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a special Simon birthday celebration edition $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!