Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Peace Notebook using Spectrum Noir's Triblend Markers

Stenciling is the name of the game for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I decided to do some drawing in order to experiment with Spectrum Noir's Triblend markers.  Here's the notebook cover that I made using the markers and some of my favorite stencils to add pattern details.

I started with Strathmore Mixed Media paper, which I sketched a face onto.  For the record, I am NOT an artist, so this was the closest face-ish thing I ended up with.

I went in next with Spectrum Noir's Triblend markers to add some color to the face (again, I'm not a pro artist of any level).  The thing I like about these markers is that you have three ready-to-blend colors all in ONE marker, which makes blending pretty easy.  Each marker has a light, medium and dark shade of the same color palette.  I used the markers to do some rough blending and then I added some additional shading here and there with Distress Crayons.  I also threw in some white highlights using a Posca pen.

I added black paint and some stenciling to the background using Altenew's Halftone stencil.

I added some more stenciling on top of the image using white paint and Dina Wakley's X's stencil and Simon Says Stamp's Falling Stars stencil.  I had no idea what I was doing at this point, so I made a colorful arch around my girl's head just to give some more color.

I drew and painted a crown and stamped the word "peace" on it and tacked that on as well.  I also added some highlights to my girl's hair with white paint.  I had a disaster at this point when I tried to splatter some Dylusions spray onto this and it went too crazy.  Have you ever tried to remove Dylusions spray once it's been sprayed?  I don't recommend it.  I had to scrub off the Dylusions spray and that left the surface of my girl's face in bad shape.  Grrrrr!  Things were going poorly here and the whole thing was looking like TOO MUCH.  

Anyway, in the end, I decided to cut the edges off of this and just use the central part of my image as the front of a notebook.  I trimmed down my picture to the size of my notebook cover and sewed it in place.  This project, disasters and all, was done!

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

• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Spectrum Noir Triblend Markers
• Distress Crayons: Set 3, Set 12
• White Posca Pen
• Altenew Halftone Stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Falling Stars Stencil
• Dina Wakley XS Stencil
• My Favorite Things' Connected Alphabet Stamps
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Black, Ruby, Fuchsia, Peacock, Olive, Tangerine, Blushing, Turquoise

Do you love to stencil?  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for a chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!

Simon Says Stamp: Easter Card using Poppy Stamp's Basic Junk Journal Die Set and Simple Stories Wildflower Paper

Easter/Spring is the theme of this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  In my neck of the woods, we still have snow in the forecast, but I was thinking how wonderful it is to have changing seasons.  I can go sledding in the winter, swimming in the summer, adventuring in perfect temperatures in the spring, and watch the leaves change in the fall.  I love how the different seasons keep us on our toes, whether those toes be clad in sandals or ski boots!

For my Easter card, I started out with Simple Stories' beautiful Wildflower paper, which I cut into a folder shape using Poppy Stamp's Basic Junk Journal die set.  I also cut out an egg using Waffle Flower's Nesting Eggs dies.  I colored some Tim Holtz Bouquet Findings flowers.  I added some white paint so I could color it in a bit more with other colors (which show up best on a white background).

Next I typed a "He is risen" sentiment on a typewriter and added some paint to my pieces.  I also made a scallop border from Simple Stories' Flea Market paper set that I cut with Studio Light's Scallop Fun die set.  I drew on some scribbly circles and outlined my elements with a dark pencil.

All that was left was to assemble!  My Easter card was complete.

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

• Poppy Stamps Basic Junk Journal Set
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Simple Stories Wildflower 12x12 Paper Pack
• Simple Stories Flea Market 12x12 Paper Pack
• Waffle Flower Nesting Eggs Die Set
• Tim Holtz Bouquet Findings
• Studio Light Scallop Fun Die Set
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Lemon, Carnation, Turquoise, Blushing
• Dylusions Paint: Pure Sunshine

How will you celebrate Spring/Easter?  Upload your crafty 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: Whatever the Weather Tag using Dina Wakley's Side Eye Stamp Set

 "Whatever the weather" is our theme this week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  Living in a desert state that has seen droughts, I decided to give a nod to rain.  And why not bring a fantastic Les Miserables song to mind while I was at it?

I started with a tag that I cut out of Kraft Heavystock.  I glued some scraps of patterned paper to in, namely Spellbinders Florals, Dina Wakley's Ledger Paper 1, and Tim Holtz's Abandoned.

Next I stamped on the Dina Wakley image from the Side Eye stamp set and colored the face in with paint.  I added some blue paint around the edges to give the look of rain.

Next I used paint and Distress Crayons to add some shading and color to the face.  I made some highlights with a white Posca paint pen.  I also added more blue around the edges of the tag.

Next I brightened up the flowers with more paint.  I added some raindrops using Tim Holtz's Mixed Media Marks 2 stamp set.  I made the blue paint streak down a bit to try to mimic rain a bit more.

I typed out the sentiment on a typewriter and glued it to the bottom of the tag.  I also added some dots of white paint as a final touch and this tag was done!

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

• Dina Wakley Side Eye Stamp Set
• Kraft Heavystock
• Sizzix Tag Collection Dies
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Spellbinders Florals Palette Paper
• Tim Holtz Abandoned Paper
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper: Set 1
• Tim Holtz Media Marks 2
• White Posca Paint Pen
• Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint: White, Apricot, Lapis, Ocean, Eggplant, Fir, Lime, Rouge, Lemon
• Distress Crayons: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Spun Sugar
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink

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: Notebook Cover using Simon Says Stamp Thin Frames Die and Simple Stories' Flea Market Paper

Embossing is this week's focus over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  We're also featuring products from Simon Says Stamp.  I made a notebook cover using all sorts of things, but the spoiler alert here is that the process pics look NOTHING like the finished product.  I honestly don't know why I work so hard on backgrounds and then completely cover them up, but such is the crafty project journey sometimes (eyeroll at myself).

I started by outlining a Big Spools stencil with an embossing pen.  I added white embossing powder and heat set it.  Then I doodled some wonky dots with the aforementioned embossing pen, sprinkled on some black embossing powder and hit that with the heat tool as well.

With my outlines embossed, I started smearing acrylic paint around the circle shapes.  Very therapeutic, I must say.  Once I'd added paint around the outsides of the circles, I water-colored the insides of the circles in shades of blue, green and yellow.

Next I wanted to add some more circle power, so I cut out some circle frames using Simon's Circle Loops dies.  I glued these to my background.

I added more white using Simon's Scattered Stars stencil and white paint.  My background with the die-cut circles glued on was not the flattest surface in the world (I should've rethought my order of operations there), so the stencil didn't lay down flat and the stars got a little smooshy-looking, which was fine by me.  I added more paint around the edges.

I liked the background, but what to put on it?  Hmmmm.  I reached for my Tim Holtz Photobooth images and also opened up my Simple Stories Flea Market paper pack.  There I found a nice tag that I liked the looks of.  And as always, I made a pointy hat for my girl.  Then I made a number file tab using Tim Holtz's Specimen die set.  I also grabbed a Dina Wakley ledger paper scrap.  I cut some square frames out of Simon's Thin Frames die set and painted those as well.

Assembly time!  I sewed my cover onto my notebook and then glued everything down and blended the edges a bit with more white paint.  I added some orange painted polka dots.  But I felt like my girl needed something else at the top of her hat.  I decided to use the petals of Simon's Fine Petal Leaf Branches die to add a propeller-looking thing to the top of the hat.

Here's how it all turned out, close-up:

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

• The Crafter's Workshop Big Spools Stencil
• WOW Embossing Pen
• Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Black Embossing Powder
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Prima Watercolors
• Simon Says Stamp Scattered Stars Stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Circle Loops Dies
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Simon Says Stamp Thin Frames Dies
• Tim Holtz Photobooth
• Dina Wakley Ledger 2 Paper
• Simple Stories Flea Market 12x12 Paper Collection
• Tim Holtz Specimen Dies
• Simon Says Stamp Fine Petal Leaf Branches Dies
• Ranger Heat Tool
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Fuchsia, Marine, Ruby, Sage, Tangelo, Syrup

We're looking forward to seeing how you incorporate embossing into your projects 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!