▼

Monday, September 26, 2022

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Embossed Card using Papertrey Ink's Witches Brew Stamps and Brew to Go Dies

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is to emboss!  I did some heat embossing (cobwebs and white stars) on this card I made with some fantastic stamps and a die set from Papertrey Ink.  All I can say is that there are times in every crafter's life when a die or a stamp set is a MUST HAVE; like crack-out-the-emergency-cash-stash-from-under-your-mattress-level-must-have.  Even though I'm not into coffee, I guzzle hot chocolate and cider by the gallons during the fall and winter and I loved the idea of a quaint little witch café serving up all sorts of batty beverages!

I started by cutting out the components of the coffee cup and coloring them with Distress Ink and paint.  I also heat-embossed the white stars onto the black paper.  I stamped the "witches brew" sentiment and cut it out with a circle punch.


Next I made the background out of Tim Holtz's Abandoned paper with some more heat-embossing on those white cobwebs from Tim Holtz's Trick or Treat stamp set.  I cut out some bats from yet another Tim Holtz supply: the Toil and Trouble die set.


I put all of that together, then added some paint around the edge of the card and it was done.


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

Let's see your embossing skills!  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!



at

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Simon Says Stamp: Folder Made with Tim Holtz's Exclusive STAMPtember Release Stamp Set

We're in the final week of Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember extravaganza and I wanted to share a folder I made using the exclusive STAMPtember stamp set by Tim Holtz.


I started with a Tim Holtz mini file folder and a piece of paper that I'd stamped some Tim Holtz Big Number Blocks images onto.  I also grabbed this wonderful set of ladies from the Groups Paperdoll set.


I glued the number background onto the folder and while that was drying, I colored stripes onto a strip of paper using Distress Crayons (sets 1, 2, 4 and 12) and some water to blend them a bit.


I stamped and embossed some snowflakes (using Distress Embossing Ink, white embossing powder and the exclusive stamp set) onto the background and assembled all my elements.  I drew a Santa hat for one of the ladies in the group and also stamped the "nice" sentiment from the same set.


I added color to my folder using Distress Paint (Salvaged Patina, Salty Ocean, Kitsch Flamingo, Twisted Citron and Saltwater Taffy) and scribbled along the edges with a black pen.  I cut out an arrow to show which of these ladies was really on the nice list, then I glued all my elements together and this folder was done!


I hope we're all earning our place on the "Nice List" and we still have some time to make amends if not.  In the meantime, keep enjoying Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember festivities!

at

Monday, September 19, 2022

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Shine On Tag using Studio Light's Label and Moodles Die

It's time to get our "sparkle and shine" on over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  We're also paying homage to Queen Elizabeth II.  I lived in England for over a year in my younger days, so it has always had a special place in my heart.  I hope I can honor those who've gone before me by carrying on their positive traits and traditions. 



I started out with black Strathmore Mixed Media paper and cut out this cool funky tag from a Studio Light die set.  I stenciled stars onto it using white paint and Simon Says Stamp's Scattered Stars stencil.  Then I added more white paint around the edges as the base for the color that would be coming next.


I added purple and blue paint over the white areas plus an oval of typed text paper.  I scribbled and painted around the oval with some teals and purples and pinks.   While that was drying, I cut out a head to use for my queen.  I drew and colored a crown and stamped the torso outfit from a Carabelle Studio stamp set called Martians.  Then I colored the torso using Tim Holtz's watercolor pencils and a little more paint.



I assembled everything and stamped the "Shine On" sentiment using My Favorite Things' Connected stamp set.  I cut out the sentiment and inked it up with Mermaid Lagoon and Wilted Violet Distress Ink.  I wanted some of the white stars to show up better, so I colored them in with a white paint pen (Posca).  I also cut stars out of white paper and glued them on top of the white stenciled stars.  Lastly, I cut the word "courage" from Dina Wakley's ledger paper and glued that to the crown.  This tag was done!

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

I'm excited to see how you sparkle and shine 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.  And don't forget to check out all the exciting STAMPtember goodness going on now!




at

Monday, September 12, 2022

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Die Cut Folder using Papertrey Ink's Go To Gift Card Holder Book Dies and Simon Says Stamp's Fine Petal Leaf Branches

Hello again and welcome to this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme, which is to use die cuts.  I used four die cut sets to make this folder: Papertrey Ink's Go To Gift Card Holder Book dies, Go To Gift Card Holder Book Pockets, Studio Light's Writing Background Elements and Simon Says Stamp's Fine Petal Leaf Branches.


This project was a mess in terms of the process, so I don't have any decent process shots.  Sometimes the creative process drives you nuts or winds around so many twists and turns that you don't even stop to take pictures...or if you do, the finished project is so far from the process pics that they're irrelevant anyway.  Such was the case of this one.


I made it with Kraft Heavystock and put some pockets on the inside to hold little scraps that might be handy in future projects.  The die set (from Papertrey Ink) made both the folder and the pockets.  Here's a picture of the inside, where I added some pockets to hold ephemera scraps.


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

What will you create with die cuts this week?  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.  And don't forget to check out all the great collaboration stamp sets as part of STAMPtember.




at

Monday, September 5, 2022

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Introvert Tag using Simon Says Stamp's Bold Leaves and Introverts Unite Stamp Sets

Ah, Stamptember!  It's a wonderful time of year if you love cooler weather and exclusive stamp sets.  And because we are kicking off Stamptember, stamping is the theme this week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  I made this tag featuring one of my all-time favorite SSS/CZ Design stamp sets, Introverts Unite, and Simon's new Bold Leaves stamp.


My stamp technique or advice to share in this post is don't be afraid to cut up your stamps!  I know, I know.  It seems inherently wrong to cut up a stamp and it goes against all of our elementary school training of keeping supplies intact and pristine.  But if you look at a stamp, particularly a large stamp, and see how it can be even more versatile if it's cut into smaller pieces that can be rearranged, then go for it!  There's no law that says you have to keep the stamp in the same shape that it came in.  Trim it up and try something new with it.  That's exactly what I did with this big background stamp.  I cut off one little leaf to be able to create my own patterns with one shape.  And the beauty here is that if I ever did want the whole stamp to be in one piece again, I just pop the single leaf back into its empty space when I stick it on an acrylic block.


Once I had my single leaf stamp, I mixed some Distress Paint with a little bit of water and used that as my "ink."  I stamped this shape onto a tag that I die-cut.  By adding some water to paint, it gives the stamped images a little bit of a looser, watercolor look.


Next I cut out a frame shape using a Pretty Pink Posh die (Halloween Circle Dies), and also cut out a circle using a Simon Says Stamp die (Circle Loops).  I used patterned paper from the Color Study collection.  I also stamped my sentiment (the sayings in the Introverts Unite set crack me up).


I ended up outlining my leaves with some scribbly penciling and then all that was left was to glue everything down.  I added one more zig-zag ring shape, then glued everything onto the tag and flicked some Night gloss spray on it. 


Does it take courage to chop up a perfectly good stamp?  Sure it does.  Is it worth it?  Well, I suppose it could go awry, but all I can tell you is that I have never regretted the stamp-cutting I've done.  Make your stamps work for YOU in whatever way you envision them working the best.

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

Let's see what stampy goodness you come up with this week!  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!  And don't forget to check out all the Stamptember collaborations that are happening this month.





at