Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Tag using AALL & Create's Intricatags

"Tag It" is this week's theme for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  You just can't get better than tags, in my opinion.  They're a small palette that doesn't get TOO intimidating and the variety of tag shapes is vast.

This tag made quite the journey, so buckle up if you're trying to follow along at home.  I started with a tag cut out using AALL & Create's Intricatags die set.  I love these wonky edges.  I painted the tag white, then spritzed it with some Paper Artsy Infusions.  While that dried, I used embossing pens, white embossing powder and Dina Wakley's Dotted Tape stencil to make white dots on some colored paper.  I tore that up and glued it to my tag.

Next I added some paint.

I cut some black patterned paper from Art by Marlene's Postage Madness paper pack and added that around the edges.

I used paint and Scribble Sticks to make some colorful arches on the inside of the tag and included some ledger paper.  I painted the edges of the tag black.

I added more patterned paper from Postage Madness and made some patterned paper of my own using blue ink and Creative Expressions' Starburst stencil.  I also added some more text paper from Dina Wakley.

Next I went to work on the image for the forefront.  I cut around a headshot image from Tim Hotlz's Photobooth sets and cut a piece of gingham patterned paper from Simple Stories to put behind my girl's head.

I made a crown for my girl, painted some blue onto the frame, and typed a sentiment out on a typewriter that I cut and added to my tag.  I added a fabric scrap to the top for the tag's "string."  But when I looked at the finished product, I felt like it was too black for the look I wanted, so I ended up re-painting the tag edges, which you can see in the final picture at the beginning of this post.  I painted the edges white for a clean slate and then painted them green and turquoise.

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

• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Sizzix Big Shot
• AALL & Create Intricatags Die Set
• Paper Artsy Infusions Stain: The Sage, Sleight Blue, Just Walnut
• Craft Consortium: Grunge Light Paper 
• American Crafts Embossing Pens
• White Embossing Powder
• Dina Wakley Dotted Tape Stencil
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Mustard
• Dylusions Paint: Jungle Leaf
• Distress Paint: Salvaged Patina
• Distress Ink: Salty Ocean
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper 1
• Tim Holtz Photobooth Images
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks 2
• Art by Marlene Postage Madness Patterned Paper
• Creative Expressions Starburst Stencil

Upload your new tag-tastic 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 with Alcohol Ink Panels

Welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  This week's theme is alcohol inks and/or drinks.  I made a bookmark using panels I colored with alcohol ink.

I started by dripping different colors of alcohol ink onto yupo paper.

Next I cut up my panel using scissors and a circle punch.

Onto the bookmark base!  I cut a tag out of Distress Kraft Heavystock, then cut off the vertical sides of the tag to create a bookmark shape.  I stenciled some dots on it using acrylic paint and Tim Holtz's Dotted stencil.

I used a sewing machine to attach my alcohol ink panels to my bookmark.

I wanted some text imagery, so I stamped some text designs onto paper using Tim Holtz's School Desk stamp set.  I cut the stamped paper into circle shapes and glued them to my bookmark.  I added some other pops of colors with acrylic paint (including some bright pink dots that I painted onto deli paper) and typed out the "Read more" sentiment on a typewriter and added that on.  I sewed some fabric scraps to the top and this bookmark was done.

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

• Ranger Alcohol Ink: Sailboat Blue, Citrus, Cloudy Blue, Smolder (Alcohol Pearls)
• EK Success 1" Circle Punch
• Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Yupo Paper
• Tim Holtz Dotted Stencil
• Tim Holtz School Desk Stamp Set
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Sizzix Tag Collection Die Set
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Sapphire, Raspberry, Stoked

Be sure to upload your alcohol ink or drink-themed creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!

We also have the Kids Summer Vacation Challenge going on now through August 31st!  It is always an absolute treat to see what these creative young minds have come up with.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Shine Notebook using Tim Holtz's Abstract Elements and AALL & Create's Letter Soup Dies

"Sparkle and Shine" is this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme.  I went with a notebook cover re-do:

I started by cutting out some Kraft Distress Heavystock in the same size as my notebook.  Then I cut out some shapes from the Sizzix Abstract Elements die set.

Next I painted both the notebook cover and the shapes with acrylic paint.  I also did some stenciling on the notebook cover using Dina Wakley's Dotted Tape stencil.

I glued my shapes onto my notebook cover and added more paint.

Next I cut out and painted some other elements.  The letters are from AALL and Create's Letter Soup die set.  I stamped some polka dots onto a piece of paper (the stamp is from Tim Holtz's Mixed Media 2 set).  I also cut out and painted a slide frame from Tim Holtz's Specimen die set.  I scribbled around the edges with Distress Watercolor Pencils and Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks.

I glued all the elements to my notebook cover and added a few finishing touches.  I drew a crown type of border and wrote "You are gold, baby" in it.  I glued that to the top of the notebook and also glued on some patterned paper scraps.

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

• AALL & Create: Letter Soup Die Set
• Tim Holtz Abstract Elements Die Set
• Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Tim Holtz Mixed Media 2 Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Specimen Die Set
• Dina Wakley Dotted Tape Stencil
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Dylusions Paint: Rainy Day, Jungle Leaf, Tree Bark
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Mustard, Ruby
• Distress Paint: Saltwater Taffy, Kitsch Flamingo, Salvaged Patina
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks 2
• Distress Ink: Peacock Feathers
• Distress Watercolor Pencils: Set 3

We're excited to see how you Sparkle and Shine this week!  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.

Also, we have our annual Simon Says Stamp Kids Summer Vacation Challenge going strong!  This is a special challenge dedicated to young designers and crafters.

The theme is Anything Goes.

It is time for all you crafters to let your children loose in your crafty corners for a few hours. Just close your eyes and set them free to explore their creativity. Adults are allowed to help just a little bit if necessary, but we really want the children to 'DO IT' themselves as much as possible.

This challenge is open to all children aged between 2 and 16 inclusive

We have not 1, not 2 but 3 surprise parcels of crafty goodies, hand picked by Simon. All winners are chosen at random, Good Luck to all!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Happy Birthday Tag using Simon's Label Tags Die Set and Circle Loops Dies

Happy Birthday to Simon Says Stamp!  In honor of Simon's 14th year (wow!), we are including exclusive Simon products in our projects this week and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is birthdays. 

I started with a tag cut with Simon's Label Tags die set.  I added some acrylic paint, which I watered down just a bit to smoosh it around the tag surface.

Next I added some white stars that I made using white acrylic paint and Simon's Scatted Stars stencil.  It's an all-time favorite stencil of mine.

I wanted a different color added into the mix, so mustard yellow it was!  While my tag was drying, I stamped the phrase "happy birthday" over and over again onto a piece of white paper to create my own patterned paper.  This sentiment is from Simon's Beautiful Bouquet stamp set.  I also cut a circle using Simon's Circle Loop die set and painted it.

I tore my patterned "happy birthday" paper into scraps and glued them onto my tag, followed by the circle.  I also did some scribbling with Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks.

I thought I needed more polka dots (cause that's how I roll), so I stenciled on some dots.  The last step was the stamp the "happy birthday wishes" sentiment, which is from Simon's Wild and Free Flowers stamp set.  I added that to my tag and tore some fabric ribbons for the top.

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

• Simon Says Stamp Label Tags Die Set
• Simon Says Stamp Circle Loops Die Set
• Simon Says Stamp Scattered Stars Stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Bouquet Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp Wild and Free Flowers Stamp Set
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Mustard, Malachite, Sapphire, Raspberry
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks 2
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink

Be sure to upload your birthday projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for a chance to win a whopping $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!

Also, if you have bored crafty children (could be a dangerous combo!) direct that creative energy over to Simon Says Stamp's Kid's Summer Vacation Challenge! This is a special challenge dedicated to young designers and crafters.

The theme is Anything Goes.

It is time for all you crafters to let your children loose in your crafty corners for a few hours. Just close your eyes and set them free to explore their creativity. Adults are allowed to help just a little bit if necessary, but we really want the children to 'DO IT' themselves as much as possible.

This challenge is open to all children aged between 2 and 16 inclusive

We have not 1, not 2 but 3 surprise parcels of crafty goodies, hand picked by Simon. All winners are chosen at random, Good Luck to all!