Simon Says Stamp: Transport It - Decorated Gift Bag using Tracy Evans' Quirky Birds Stamp Set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is "transport it."  I decided to give a plain old brown bag some oomph with a design on the front.  Now it can feel fancy transporting anything that gets put in it!

I started with a brown bag and I covered with white paint using Studio Light's silicone spatula.  When that dried, I stamped some blue grid designs on it using Tim Holtz's Glitch 1 stamp set.  Then I sketched a branch onto the white background using Distress Watercolor Pencils.  I sprinkled on some Lemoncello Infusions stain powder and sprayed it with water.

Next, I painted the leaves in a bit and while I was waiting for that to dry, I stamped some text designs onto another piece of paper using Tim Holtz's Documented stamp set.

I tore the text page into little scraps which I glued to the leaves.  I stamped a bird onto my branch using Tracy Evans' Quirky Birds stamp set and added scraps to it as well. 

Bring on the color!  I blended in my scraps with paint and Distress Watercolor Pencils.

I stamped on some black dots using Trinity Stamps' Polkadot Background stamp and finished off the bag by stamping the word "Fly" onto the bottom using AALL & Create's Vocabulary Blend stamp set.

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

• Small Brown Kraft Paper Bag
• Studio Light Silicone Spatula
• Dina Wakley White Paint
• Tim Holtz Glitch 1 Stamp Set
• Distress Ink: Peacock Feathers
• Paper Artsy: Infusions Lemoncello
• Tracy Evans Quirky Bird Stamp Set
• Distress Watercolor Pencils, Set 2
• Tim Holtz Documented Stamp Set
• AALL & Create Vocabulary Blend Stamp Set
• Trinity Stamps Polkadot Pattern Background Stamp
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink

We're excited to see what this week's "transport it" theme inspires you to create.  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: A Bit o' Green Lucky Card using Memory Box's Fringed Scallop Dies

With St. Patrick's Day coming up this week, it seemed fitting for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme to be "a bit o' green."  I made a shamrock card.  And spoiler alert!  I didn't have a shamrock die.

I started by cutting the card shape using my trusty Sizzix Big Shot and Memory Box's Fringed Scallop dies.  I stamped some text using Tim Holtz's Glitch 2 set and also tore a scrap of green graph paper out of Amy Tangerine's new Paper Play: Cut, Craft and Create book and glued that to my tag.

Next I added some white paint and scribbled around it with Distress Watercolor Pencils.

While that dried, I decided to create a shamrock using a heart die from Honey Bee's Heart Hugs die set.  I cut out three hearts and painted them green.  I also cut a stem.

I put everything together and finished off the card by cutting out "Lucky" using AALL & Create's Letter Soup dies.

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

• Memory Box Fringed Scallop Die Set
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Honey Bee Heart Hugs Die Set
• Paper Play: Cut, Craft and Create
• Tim Holtz Glitch 2 Stamp Set
• Distress Watercolor Pencils, Set 3
• AALL & Create Letter Soup Die Set

We're excited to see how you incorporate green 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.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Hold Tight Journal Page using Dylusions' Small Creative Journal

We are using a favorite technique this week over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  We're also highlighting Dylusions products.  I made a journal page using my favorite technique of painting and collage.

I started with my Dylusions Small Creative Journal, which can take a lot of water and paint.  I smudged and smooshed some acrylic paint and watercolors around, then sprinkled on some Infusions while I was at it.

While that dried, I found some ephemera elements from Tim Holtz (Large Collage Strips) and AALL & Create (Rose Reverie).  I wasn't sure which I wanted to use, but sometimes it helps to just pull some stuff out of the package and lay it out.

I ended up using a few of these things and altered them by cutting them and adding paint.  Before I glued them to my page, I added some polka dot stenciling in the background.  Then I glued the frame element down, scribbled around it, and added some collage scraps I'd stamped.  Then I added some black washi tape, too.

I stamped some numbers and scribbled around the whole thing with Distress Watercolor Pencils.

I used the "hold tight" portion of the sentiment from Tim Holtz and glued it to the middle of the frame.  I felt like it was completing with the stamped numbers too much for attention, so I added a bit of white paint over the numbers to tone them down.  Here is the whole journal page finished!

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

• Dylusions Small Creative Journal
• Dylusions Shimmer Paint: Cherry Pie
• Infusions Color Stain: The Sage
• Watercolor Paint Set
• Dina Wakley Dotted Tape Stencil
• AALL & Create Washi Tape: Power Words
• AALL & Create Rose Reverie Ephemera
• Tim Holtz Theories Stamp Set
• Tim Holt Large Collage Strips
• Distress Watercolor Pencils: Set 2
• Dina Wakley Paint: White
• AALL & Create Bits of Alpha Stamp Set

We are excited to see your favorite techniques in action this week!  Upload your project 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: Night Sky Tag using AALL & Create's Tag It Yourself Die and Tim Holtz's Star Stencil

Welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  This week's theme is "night sky," so I made an inky dark starry tag.

I started with a black tag that I cut out using my Sizzix Big Shot and an AALL & Create die called "Tag It Yourself."  I used Strathmore Mixed Media black paper, then I added white starts with paint and a Tim Holtz stencil.

I wanted some patterned paper to add, so I stamped a plaid design onto white paper using a Tim Holtz stamp.

I tore off some plaid scraps and glued them onto my tag.  Then I splattered my tag with Dina Wakley Media Gloss Spray and added some blue paint.  While that dried, I cut some circles and painted them.  I also cut some buildings (from Tim Holtz's Vault Christmas Magic) and painted them.

I assembled everything together and stamped the "Stars Shining" words from Tim Holtz's Seasonal Scribbles stamp set.  My night sky tag was done!

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

• AALL & Create Tag It Yourself Die Set
• Strathmore Mixed Media Black Paper
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Tim Holtz Media Marks 2 Stamp Set
• Distress Ink: Mermaid Lagoon
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Sapphire
• Distress Oxide Spray: Salvaged Patina
• Dina Wakley Media Gloss Spray: White
• Tim Holtz Vault Christmas Magic Die Set
• Tim Holtz Seasonal Scribbles Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp Circle Loop Dies

We are excited to see your "night sky" projects!  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: Bookmark using Gina K Designs' Beautiful Bookmarks Dies

Speaking as a very nerdy English major and a former librarian, this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme has my full support!  Our theme is to make a bookmark or a project inspired by books.  I made a bookmark.  And if you want to see a series of process pictures that look absolutely nothing like the finished project, read on!

I started with Distress Heavy Kraftstock, which I cut into a bookmark shape using Gina K Designs' Beautiful Bookmarks die set.  I stamped some circles onto it and painted them in.

I tore off a piece of gorgeous alphabet paper from Simple Stories' Vintage Essentials Color Palette Designer Tags kit and tore it into a semi-circle shape.  I glued that to my bookmark and scribbled around with some of Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks.  I cut a scallop die edge from AALL & Create and painted that, then also glued on a scrap of polka-dot paper I'd painted.

I did not like the tag at this point.  I didn't know what I didn't like, but I was just not feeling it!  So I covered up all the Kraft and polka dots with white paint for a fresh start.  YIKES!  Now it was really looking bad.  I added some stamped open dots and scribbled/painted some petal shapes at the bottom.  I cut out the "READ" letters using an AALL & Create die set and I also found a great little "Me Time" ticket from an American Crafts ephemera pack that I thought tied in nicely.  I painted the edges of the ticket and cut it in half.

This was a disaster of a tag at this point, so I made one last bold move to try to salvage it.  I painted the background with dark grey paint.  When that dried, I made some ruler lines on it that I went over with a white Posca pen for a plaid look in the background.  I glued all the elements to the front of the tag and added some fabric scraps and an embroidery floss bow to the top to finish it off.  And so this little bookmark was done and looking not one little bit like what I started out with!  Such is the meandering crafty journey sometimes.

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

• Gina K Designs Beautiful Bookmarks Die Set
• Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Dina Wakley Paint: Mustard, Malachite, White
• Wendy Vecchi Open Dots Stamp
• American Crafts Whatevs Ephemera
• AALL & Create Letter Soup Dies
• AALL & Create Majestic Borders Die Set
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks 2
• White Posca Paint Marker
• Embroidery Floss

We can't wait to see how you're inspired by books this week!  Feel free to make a bookmark or any other book-related project and upload it 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 Journal Pages using Studio Light's Creative Journal and AALL & Create's Ephemera Packs

Welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  The theme this week is "spritz and splatter," both of which I love doing!  I created a journal spread with lots of spritzy-splattery products.

I started by spraying some Distress Oxide Sprays onto a craft mat with a little water.  When I had a nice colorful puddle, I dragged Tim Holtz's Dotted Stencil through it so that the color was on the outside of the stencil.  I pressed the stencil against the pages (like a stamp) so that the negative image of the stencil went onto my paper.  I also mixed some paint with water and drizzle/dripped that around the edges.

While that dried, I painted the alphabet onto a piece of graph paper with black paint. 

When both were dry, I ripped off a piece of the alphabet paper and glued it to my pages.  I also added some Dina Wakley ledger paper and more paint.

Next I employed the use of AALL & Create's Faded Memories and Rose Reverie ephemera packs.  I added a patterned-paper tab, a frame and a rectangle and also added some scraps from Art by Marlene's Postage Madness paper pack.  I added paint and scribbling (Distress Watercolor Crayons) and splattered on some Dina Wakley Media Gloss Spray in white. I ended up tearing off some paper that I'd glued down (I did not like how it looked), which is what created that lovely "texture" (sure- that's what we'll call it) on the lower middle part of the right side page. 

I added some of Tim Holtz's Cello Tape to cover up that torn-glue area and then liked the look of it okay.  I found this great sentiment in a Nancy Drew book that I cut out and glued to the page to finish it off.  And no- I never ever cut up the gorgeous vintage yellow matte finish Nancy Drew books with the old-school cover artwork that makes me swoon - I just use the cheapy modern reprints.

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

• Studio Light Creative Journal
• Tim Holtz Dotted Stencil
• Distress Oxide Spray: Scorched Timber, Lost Shadow
• Distress Paint: Salvaged Patina
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Black, Ruby, Lemon
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper, Set 1
• AALL & Create Ephemera Packs: Faded Memories, Rose Reverie
• Distress Watercolors, Set 3
• Art by Marlene Postage Madness Paper Pack
• Dina Wakley Gloss Media Spray, White
• Tim Holtz Cello Tape
• Distress Crayon: Kitsch Flamingo

We're excited to see what drippy materials you spritz or splatter onto 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.