My Other Creations: Shine Flag

This week's challenge theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog is Stencil It!  You don't have to tell me twice to whip out the stencils!  I decided to make a pennant flag using a few of my stencil faves and scraps from former projects.

I love the mini paint lids stencil, which I used for the polka-dot effect on the background of this pennant.  I also included some blobs and drips from Tim Holtz's Splatters stencil.  I loved the wacky wonky loops in StencilGirl's Mix and Match Scalloped Edges stencil, so I outlined the stencil, then fussy-cut all the openings and attached it to the top of my pennant. I accented it with hydrangeas cut with the Martha Stewart hydrangea punches.  The lightbulb is from Concord and 9th's Shine Brighter stamp set.  The "Shine" sentiment is spelled with letters from an old stamp set I had from Kaisercraft.

This project was full of scrappy-stencil fun!  Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

The Crafter′s Workshop - Mini Paint Lids 6 x 6 Template	Tim Holtz Layering Stencil SPLATTERS	StencilGirl Mix and Match Scalloped Edges Stencil	Little B Designer Cutting Die Pennants	Sizzix Big Shot	Tim Holtz 12 x 12 Correspondence Paper Pack	Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Hydrangea Punch
Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch	Black Sharpie Fine Point Pen	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad	Concord & 9th Shine Brighter clear stamps	Peacock Feathers - Distress Ink	Squeezed Lemonade - Distress Ink	Festive Berries - Distress Ink
Mustard Seed - Distress Ink	Colorbox Rain Forest Ink	Fiskars Acrylic Blocks

I know you have plenty of stencils at the ready, so show us what clever creations you come up with!  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance at fame and fortune...or at least a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store, which is just as good!

My Other Creations: Simple Stories Carpe Diem Planner

I decided to go with a brand new 2016 planner for this week's Something New theme over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  And after much planner-analyzing, I chose the Simple Stories Carpe Diem planner, which I love!

Since my days are pretty much the same in terms of schedule, I wanted to turn this planner into a place to record inspirational ideas, family moments and memories, study notes and insights-- more like a journal rather than a calendar/schedule-keeper.

The great thing about the Simple Stories Carpe Diem planner is that it's the A5 size and that means the fabulous planner dividers from Webster's Pages also fit in it.  Yes!  Two awesome brands that are compatible!  So I included the Webster's Pages Positive Thoughts divider set (A5 size-- not to be confused with the identical A2 size) at the beginning of the monthly Carpe Diem dividers.  And I decorated the page opposite the divider with one of my favorite Ben Franklin quotes and images that represent my two loves: crafting and writing. Thanks again to my friend Mimi for the awesome library ephemera!

Here's another section-- again with the Webster's Pages divider, then my collage opposite of it.

I chose this quote to help me remember to be kind and to do all I can to bring happiness into the lives of those around me.

This is the page that I made for the beginning of the January section itself.  I've repeated the typewriter theme, which I adore.  The cards all came from the Project Life Odds and Ends kit.

I used the Tim Holtz bird die and the "Good Vibes Only" sentiment comes from Bo Bunny's Calendar Girl paper pack, which is a new favorite of mine.

This planner is a work in progress, but I'm enjoying the journey and look forward to filling this journal/inspiration notebook with lots of good things in 2016!

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

Sizzix Alterations Picture Wheel Die	Tim Holtz Sizzix Bird Silhouette die	My Favorite Things Moroccan Tile Border Die Trio	Tim Holtz Sizzix Scribbles and Splat dies	Sizzix Big Shot	Simple Stories Carpe Diem Pink A5 Planner	Simple Stories Carpe Diem Bookmarks
Simple Stories Carpe Diem Basic Inserts	Simple Stories Carpe Diem Clear Stickers	Simple Stories Carpe Diem Daily Inserts	Simon Says Clear Stamps SCRIBBLE FLOWERS	Hero Arts Basic Alphabet Stamps	Kaisercraft My Year My Story clear stamps	Simple Stories Happy Snap Cards
Bo Bunny Calendar Girl 12x12 Paper	Simple Stories Carpe Diem Decorative Clips	Label Letters - Idea-ology	Idea-ology Ruler Ribbon	Project Life Odds and Ends Kit	Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Hydrangea Punch	Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch
Tim Holtz Latticework Stencil	Tim Holtz Distress Ink and Stain	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad	Black Sharpie Fine Point Pen

What "new" things can you craft up in 2016?  Be sure to upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog to inspire the rest of us and to have a chance at winning the $50 Simon Says Stamp Store voucher!

Tutorials: Ink Smudge Cards

Happy New Year to one and all!  Here's to hoping 2016 is full of all sorts of crafty goodness!  To ring in the new year, I've made a video tutorial showing how to create quick and easy "ink smudge cards."  I made them using my Snapping Monsters stamp set, but the concept works for any type of stamps that you want to color quickly.  Here are some pics, followed by the video:

All I did was stamp the images/words with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink, then used sponges to dab on some different Distress Inks for color.  On "Happy Cake Day," I used Worn Lipstick and Mustard Seed.

On "Glitter Girl," I used Picked Raspberry with just a touch of Festive Berries.

On "Queen of the Glue Gun," I used Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron.

I used Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean on "Kitchen Ninja."

Last but not least, I used Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed for "Genius Squared."

And here's the whole process in video form: