My Other Creations: Paper Christmas Village Using Hero Arts' Gingerbread House die

"Let There Be Snow" is this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme.  I made a mini paper village celebrating the first dusting of snow, which is always beautiful!

I started out by building a 3D house using Hero Arts' Gingerbread House die.  The houses are nice and deep, so I actually cut one house in half to make two more narrow houses.  I stuck on some patterned paper and washi tape to give them some oomph.

Once I'd embellished them a bit, I added a thin layer of white paint here and there to represent just a touch of snow.

The little kitty cat is from Crate Paper's Cute Girl paper pad and the flower cluster is from My Mind's Eye's Hello Gorgeous collection.

The second house has patterned paper from Bo Bunny's Believe set (orange polka dots), Perfectly Plaid, and another flower from My Mind's Eye's Hello Gorgeous line.  I added a number from a strip of measuring tape ribbon I had in my stash.

I made some trees for my village by cutting triangle shapes and rolling them into cones, then adding stars to the top.  The paper is from Sizzix's Merry and Bright collection and the stars are cut with a die from Neat and Tangled called, "Seeing Stars."  The "Merry Christmas" sentiment is washi tape from Doodlebug.

Hope you stay warm and dry (or pleasantly cool- depending on the climate) for your holiday season!  And if you do get snowed in, browse Simon Says Stamp!  Here are the supplies I used that you can find there:

Hero Arts Gingerbread House die	Sizzix Big Shot	Neat and Tangled Seeing Stars die	Bo Bunny Believe 6x6 Paper	Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid 6x6 Paper
MME Hello Gorgeous 6x6 Paper	Crate Paper Cute Girl 6x6 Stack	Sizzix Merry and Bright 6x12 Paper Pad	Illustrated Faith Reminders Washi Tape	Tim Holtz Idea-ology TISSUE TAPE SYMPHONY Music Self Adhesive Vintage Paper
Doodlebug Dainty Dots Spring Garden Washi Tape	My Mind′s Eye Sugar Plum Tape	Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Doodlebug Merry Christmas Washi Tape

What wonderful snowy creations will you create this week?  Be sure to upload your project to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!

My Cards and Tags: Simon Says Stamp 2016 DieCember Release- Missing You

Oh how I love the Simon Says Stamp new releases!  And this DieCember's line-up is no exception!  I made this quick tag using the Missing You die, which I love because it comes with three different font choices.

I started this off by die-cutting a tag shape (Tim Holtz Sizzix Tag Collection) out of an atlas that I got at the thrift store.  I added a die-cut section of text paper that I cut with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Courtyard die.  I then rubbed on some Distress Ink (Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron) with sponges.

I glued on a piece of orange polka dot patterned paper, then a die-cut ring from Seth Apter's Coffee Ring set.  I smeared a bit of white paint here and there to blend the elements together and finished it off with the new Simon Says Stamp Missing You die sentiment.

Quick and easy and even though I am geographically-challenged, I do love a good map for crafting projects!  And check out Simon's DieCember release if you're looking for some new crafting goodies to enjoy.

My Other Creations: Notebook Made with Simon Says Stamp's Hand Lettered Encouragement set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is all about Christmas gifts!  Decorate them, make them-- whatever you feel inspired to do.  And we're highlighting some of Simon's own fabulous products.  I decided to make a notebook to give as a gift.

I started out with a notebook and all I did was revamp the cover.  I traced the shape of the notebook onto Strathmore Mixed Media paper and stamped on some images with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink.  I used trees from Simon's One With Nature stamp set (I wanted the inside of the trees blank, so I didn't ink the branches of the stamp this time) and the circles are a versatile fave from Simon's I Love Donuts stamp set.

Next I started "coloring" with sponges dabbed in Distress Ink.  I smeared color into the trees and into some of the different circles.  Then I dragged white paint down the piece. 

I've been having fun experimenting with coffee filters lately, so I cut a filter into strips, colored them with green Distress Ink, and glued them to the base of the cover.  I stamped a sentiment that I love (from Simon's Hand Lettered Encouragement set) on top of everything and glued my cover on top of the notebook.  Then I decided to add an embellishment to the top of the spine.  I made it by setting an eyelet in a piece of ruler ribbon and looping some Tim Holtz crinkle ribbon and other fibers through.  I colored the crinkle ribbon with Distress Ink and water.  Once it was done, I glued it to the top of the spine.

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

Strathmore Mixed Media Paper	Simon Says Stamp One With Nature Clear Stamps	Simon Says Stamp Hand Lettered Encouragement Clear Stamps	Simon Says Stamp I Love Donuts Clear Stamps	*We R Memory Keepers CROP-A-DILE Eyelet and Snap Punch Pink
We R Memories Eyelets	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon	Simon Says Stamp Coffee Filters	Salty Ocean - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WILTED VIOLET
Picked Raspberry - Distress Ink	Shaded Lilac - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Twisted Citron Ink Pad	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad LUCKY CLOVER Ranger	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad
Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Mixed Media Sponges Bars

I can't wait to see how you are inspired by this week's theme!  Upload your works of genius to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win $50 to the Simon Says Stamp store!