Tutorials: House Embroidery Floss Holders

Today marks another fantastic theme for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!  The theme is Stamp and Punch, which leaves the field wide open for any projects involving punching/cutting and stamping.  In my ongoing efforts to be organized and snazzy at the same time, I decided to make some decorative embroidery floss holders:

I started by cutting out the house shapes with Tim Holtz's Artful Dwellings die.  I used the Big Shot and cut the shapes out of both chipboard and patterned paper.

I glued the patterned paper to the chipboard, then I needed a "blank space" on top of the patterned paper to be able to stamp on.  So I smudged on some white Gesso to cover up sections of the patterned paper.

When the Gesso dried, I stamped on some circles and black text (SSS Scribble flowers stamp  set and Avery Elle's Write It stamps) using Ranger Jet Black Archival ink.  I also smudged on some color using Distress Inks on sponges.

I outlined the houses with a black Sharpie to give them some definition.  Last but not least, I cut a small horizontal notch in the side of each house so I could wrap embroidery floss around it and tuck the end into the notch to keep it secure.  I also stamped and cut out numbers (SSS Game Tiles stamp set), which I added to the houses.  The numbers correspond to the embroidery floss number.  I also glued on little pieces of accent fabric to each house for a final touch.

I enjoyed this project and love the sturdiness of the chipboard.  Altful Dwellings has been a favorite die of mine for quite awhile and I'm always looking to incorporate houses when I can! 

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

Tim Holtz Sizzix die: Artful Dwellings	Sizzix Big Shot Machine	Simon Says Clear Stamps SCRIBBLE FLOWERS	Avery Elle Write It Clear Stamps	Simon Says Clear Stamps GAME TILE LETTERS sss101518 The Color of Fun	Fiskars Acrylic Blocks	Tim Holtz 12 x 12 Correspondence Paper Pack
American Crafts Dear Lizzie 12x12 Documentary Paper	October Afternoon Summertime 12x12 Paper	Prima White Heavy Gesso	Festive Berries - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad ABANDONED CORAL	Ripe Persimmon - Distress Ink	Mustard Seed - Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad CRACKED PISTACHIO	Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MERMAID LAGOON	Stormy Sky - Distress Ink	Picked Raspberry - Distress Ink	Black Sharpie Fine Point Pen

This theme is so versatile and I can't wait to see what you come up with.  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!

My Other Creations: Fabric Collage Using Tim Holtz Stamptember 2015 Release

Oh what exciting things are happening at Simon Says Stamp!  We are in full swing with Stamptember and Tim Holtz has released an exclusive stamp set which I had the chance to play with.  I made a fabric collage using his iced coffee image (though I don't drink coffee, so I always think of it as a refreshing Slurpee instead) and incorporated the wonderful sentiment he added, "Today is a good day."

I created this by stamping the image onto a fabric collage background I made, then highlighting certain areas with various colors of Distress Ink.

If you haven't seen Tim's new exclusive Simon Says Stamp set for Stamptember 2015, here it is in all its glory:

I had so much fun working with this stamp set and I know there is more Stamptember goodness happening all month long!  Be sure to swing by Simon Says Stamp to purchase this set and to stay up on all the Stamptember fun!

 

My Other Creations: Muse Jars

I am quite a color-holic, so when I learned that this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme was, "A Trio of Color," I really had to stave off panic mode as I decided to limit myself to just three colors.  Peacock Feathers, Mustard Yellow and Worn Lipstick were the three I decided to go with and I used them to help dress up some, "Muse Jars."

Am I the only one that needs a weekend to hit in the middle of a Wednesday?  Maybe that's part of what prompted this idea.  Sometimes the weeks are too long and the days are even longer!  I really do wish you could have a pinch of pep lying around or an ounce of oomph when you feel wiped out.  And there have been plenty of times when I've needed a measure of muse!

These began as salt shakers and my first step was to make some crinkle ribbon for them.  Just as a review on how to make crinkle ribbon, you can start by dabbing some Distress Ink onto a nonstick craft mat.  Here I'm using Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers.

Spritz a small amount of water onto your ink and add your ribbon into the mix.

If you don't want your hands stained with ink for awhile, wear gloves or use a tool (Popsicle stick, bamboo skewer, etc.) to stir, squish, swirl, and mash your ribbon around in the watery ink until the ribbon mops it all up.

To get it to crinkle, you have a couple of options.  If you planned ahead (round of applause), you can smoosh it down into the corner of a plastic bag.  Tie or clip the bag shut, then let it dry overnight.

If you didn't plan ahead (like someone who might be typing this post right now), you'll have to wad it up, hold it in place with something (I used these handy alligator clippy-tool  thingies), then shoot it with a heat gun until it dries.  When it does, your ribbon should be nice and crinkly!

I filled my jars with random bits of glitter, sequins and beads, then added labels held on by little pins.  I stamped the words with alphabet stamps and my little jars were done.

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

Idea-ology CRINKLE RIBBON	Peacock Feathers - Distress Ink	Mustard Seed - Distress Ink	Worn Lipstick Distress Ink Pad	Tim Holtz Sizzix Tag Collection	Sizzix Big Shot Machine	Lifestyle Crafts Genius Ultimate Platform System
Trinket Pins - Idea-ology	Prima A4 Garden Fable Paper	Stamper′s Anonymous Tim Holtz Worn Text Stamp Set	Hero Arts Playful Alphabet Stamps	Cup Sequins Go Green	Cup Sequins Princess	Cup Sequins Viola
Heat Embossing Tool	Ranger Non Stick Craft Sheet	Stampendous Clip Tools

Can't wait to see how you interpret our Trio of Color challenge!  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and you'll have a chance to win the $50 gift voucher to Simon Says Stamp!