Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Christmas Tag using Simon's Small Bottle Brush Tree Die and Burst Snowflakes Embossing Folder

We are focusing on trees this week for our Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I decided to employ some of Simon's own products to make this wintery tree-filled tag:

I started by cutting out the trees and painting them in various shades of green.

Next I cut a tag shape out of kraft cardstock using Simon's Adornments die.  I embossed it with Simon's Burst Snowflakes embossing folder and heat-embossed the raised parts white.

I paper-punched some colored circles and glued them to the main tree then assembled the other trees around it.  I punched out a star, painted it and added it to the top of my tree.  I bent the branches forward and the two other trees to add some dimension.  I also outlined a lot of the components using a black pen.  I added a tag made with Mama Elephants' Goody Bag Topper dies and Mini Messages stamp set and this tag was done!

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

• Simon Says Stamp Small Bottle Brush Tree Dies
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Simon Says Stamps Adornments Dies
• Simon Says Stamp Burst Snowflakes Embossing Folder
• Mama Elephant Goody Bag Topper Dies
• Mama Elephant Mini Messages Stamp Set
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Malachite, Gnarly, Mustard
• 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 Blog: "We Survived" Journal Pages using Studio Light's All White Journal and AALL & Create's Bits of Alpha Stamp Set

Welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  Our task this week is to "emboss it."  I love embossing pens and the freedom they give for embossing anything you want to doodle.  I went with a journal spread in my little white journal from Studio Light.

I started by making a collage page that I could tear up and stick onto my journal page.  I used kraft-colored cardstock, painted it white, then painted black splotches on top of the white.  Once the paint had dried, I doodled some polka dots on top of the black with my embossing pen, shook on some white embossing powder, heat-embossed it and got a polka-dot pattern.

Bring on the color!  I smooshed around some acrylic paint and did some scribbling with Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks.

I cut the paper to size and glued it into my white journal.

I made more background patterned paper by stamping some Tim Holtz stamps onto plain newsprint, and then onto a white piece of paper I'd painted teal.

I cut and tore these papers into various shapes and glued them to the journal page.  I also added some green acrylic paint.

I used the Sizzix Abstract Shapes die set to cut some half-circles, which I painted, using both the half-circle cut outs and the "frame shapes" they left behind.

I glued these to my journal page, too.

All that was left was some more scribbling and to add a sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment onto newsprint using AALL & Create's Bits of Alpha stamp set.  I glued it on top and this journal spread was done!

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

• Studio Light All White Journal
• Dina Wakley Ranger Kraft Cardstock
• American Crafts Embossing Pens
• White Embossing Powder
• Distress Paint: Salvaged Patina
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Black, Raspberry, Mustard
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks: Set 2, Set 4 (Neon)
• Tim Holtz Seasonal Scribbles Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Theories Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Abstract Elements Die Set
• Distress Watercolor Pencils: Set 1
• AALL & Create Bits of Alpha Stamp Set
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink

We're excited to see your embossing skills!  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 gift voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog: Grateful for You Card using Simon's Sketched Leaves and Pinkfresh Studio's Dotted Fancy Frames Dies

Welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  I can't believe we've already hit the double-digits for November.  Time is flying, so this week's theme of Thanks/Thanksgiving seemed right on target!

I started out by stamping some leaves from Simon's Sketched Leaves stamp set.  I inked all around the leaves, but didn't ink the middle of the stamp so that I could have some blank areas in the center to add more colors and patterns to.  I colored around the leaves with Distress Watercolor Pencils, then spread the color around with a paintbrush and some water.

Next I smeared some acrylic paint around my leaves to get them grungy-looking.  I also added dots using Tim Holtz's Mixed Media 2 stamp set.  Then I fussy-cut the leaves out.

For the background of my card, I employed the use of a quirky frame die set by Pinkfresh Studio called Dotted Fancy Frames.  I cut out some frame shapes using Dina Wakley Ledger paper (set 2) and also some plaid from Simple Stories' Snow Pine Lodge patterned paper collection.  I stamped the "Grateful for you" sentiment from Simon's Big Bold 2 stamp set.  I also outlined my leaves and drew in stem-centers with a black pen.

All that was left was the assembly!  I decided my card needed one last element, so I grabbed an image of three girls from Tim's group paper doll images.  I gave a little color to the girls' dresses using Distress Crayons then put the whole thing together.

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

• Simon Says Stamp Sketched Leaves Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Mixed Media 2 Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp Big and Bold Stamp Set
• Pinkfresh Studio Dotted Fancy Frames Die Set
• Dina Wakley Ledger Paper 2
• Simple Stories Snow Pine Lodge 12x12 Patterned Paper
• Distress Watercolor Pencils: Set 1 and Set 3
• Distress Ink: Carved Pumpkin, Shabby Shutters, Peacock Feathers
• Dina Wakley Paint: White, Lemon, Cheddar, Ruby, Lime
• Tim Holtz Paper Dolls, Groups
• Distress Crayons: Set 2 and Set 12

Gratitude is such a great focus and we're truly thankful for everyone who shares their inspiring work!  Upload a picture of your 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: Thinking of You Card using Tim Holtz's Vault Christmas Magic Dies

We are officially into November and are starting out the month with a "Thinking of You" theme for our Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  We're also featuring Tim Holtz products.

I made a card using some great Tim Holtz dies and stamps.  I started with the cityscape cut-outs made with Tim Holtz's Vault Christmas Magic die set.  I cut out two skylines, then flipped one over so they'd look a little different from each other.  I stamped words and numbers onto my building silhouettes.

Next I added some paint and cut up one of the skylines into smaller sections.

I made the background of the card by cutting a file-folder shape out of Distress Kraft Heavystock and cut the shapes out using the Specimen die set.  I painted on the background, then scribbled with Distress Watercolor Pencils.  I stenciled on some dots, too.

All that was left was to assemble!  I glued on the buildings then typed out the sentiment on a typewriter, cut it out, and attached it to the card with Tim Holtz Cello Stickers.  I outlined the edges of the card with a black Sharpie.

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

• Tim Holtz Vault Christmas Magic Diet Set
• Tim Holtz School Desk Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Grunged Stamp Set
• Tim Holtz Distress Kraft Heavystock
• Tim Holtz Specimen Die Set
• Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils, Set 1 and Set 4
• Tim Holtz Gradient Dot Stencil
• Tim Holtz Cello Sticker Tape
• Tim Holtz Distress Paint: Weathered Wood, Ground Espresso, Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink
• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Dina Wakley White Paint

We're excited to see your projects for this week's theme!  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.