Monday, October 30, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Thinking of You Card using ALL & Create's Frayed Frames Dies

"Thinking of You" is this week's theme for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I made a card that's cut out with  AALL & Create's Frayed Frames die set.  I love those grungy edges!



I started out with the tattered frame die shape, then I painted some splotches on it using Tim Holtz's Brush Mark stencil and Dylusions Polished Jade paint.  Next I tore up some pieces of Dina Wakley Ledger Paper, Set 2, and glued those on.


I stuck on a piece of black and white washi tape from AALL & Create, then I shook on some Paper Artsy Infusions colored stain and spritzed it with water.  I also flicked on some Dina Wakley media gloss spray in Olive.


While that dried, I heat-embossed some white doodles onto some dark blue cardstock (I drew the doodles with an embossing pen, then sprinkled them with white embossing powder, shook off the excess, and heated them up with a heat tool).  I also made a circle frame out of Distress Kraft Heavystock paper, which I added some white paint to.


I tore up the Heavystock frame pretty good and painted it with pink paint.  I also cut my dark blue embossed paper into a wonky oval frame.  I found a scrap collage piece of paper from a former project and added that into the mix (the scrap with the white stars on it).  I scribbled around the focal point with Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks and glued everything to my background.  Then I cut out a person from Tim Holtz's Photoboth images, made a crown for her, and stamped out a "Thinking of You" sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Printmaking Postage stamp set.  I added a fun little edge to the bottom of the frame area that was also cut with the Frayed Frames die set.  It looks like torn notebook paper or something.


I glued the girl to the open frame area, gave her a crown, and also glued on the sentiment.  I was kind of sad to cover up that nice plus-sign washi tape, but so goes the never-ending process of layering and having things disappear as you go along sometimes!


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

We'd love for you to upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!  You could win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store.




Monday, October 23, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Spooky Card using Avery Elle's Creepy Cameos Stamps and Die Set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is SPOOKY!  I decided to crack open Avery Elle's Creepy Cameos stamps and dies to make this card:


I started by stamping and cutting the cameo shapes, then I stamped and polka-dot-painted a background, which I cut out with Avery Elle's Pierced Rounded Frame die.  I cut a smaller rectangle and made it black and white stripped using ink and Tim Holtz's Stripes stencil. I also used Waffle Flower's Grip Mat and the Tonic 12x12 Glass Mat as I stenciled.  The combo worked well for stenciling!


I added some more turquoise paint around the stripped panel and stamped the sentiment, which I cut out and added as a final touch after everything was assembled.  I popped the skeleton lady's head further out with some foam squares for added depth and dimension.  I also scribbled around the oval frame with Tim Holtz Watercolor Pencils.


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

What spooky creation will you make 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.


Monday, October 16, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Text It Notebook using Tim Holtz's Photomatic Elements and Glitch 2 Stamp Set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is text it!  I get pretty nerdy about fonts, so I was all too happy to incorporate several different types of text onto this notebook cover.


I started out with text washi tape from AALL & Create: Poets and Mix and Match.  I also cut out the face from one of Tim Holtz's Photomatic pictures and replaced it with a polka dot pattern I'd made using Tim Holtz's Dotted stencil.


Next I stamped some circles onto my background using Darkroom Door's Open Circles stamp set and Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink.  I painted some of the circles in with browns and blues. To add in some more color, I tore off a piece of Tim Holtz's Abandoned patterned paper, punched some holes into it and got ready to layer that onto my notebook cover.  I guess I was in full dot mode this time!


Once I had the Abandoned paper glued down, I also added in some text strips cut from Dina Wakley's Ledger Paper, Set 1.


I needed some more color, so I stamped some letters in red using Tim Holtz's Glitch 2 stamp set, along with some plus signs that I fussy-cut.  I painted them in tones of orange and green and cut the red letters into a scallop-edge.  I used Tim Holtz's Backdrops 4 to cut a crown for my silhouette and added that on.  I dabbed on some orange and yellow dots of paint and this notebook cover was done!


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

How will you interpret our text theme this week?  We're looking forward to your creations!  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.



Monday, October 9, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Explore Tag using Paper Rose's Abstract Trees Dies

EXPLORE is this week's exciting theme over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  I decided to make a tag featuring trees in fall-ish colors to honor what a beautiful time of year it is to go exploring.


The focal point for my tag are these great trees by Paper Rose.  I wasn't sure which patterns I would use for them when I cut them out and painted them, but here's a glimpse into the layers of these babies.


I used Simple Stories' Wildflower and Flea Market patterned paper sets, Dina Wakley's Ledger Paper (set 1) and also created my own patterned background using Tim Holtz's Brush Mark stencil in shades of green and grey.


I stamped the word "Explore" onto Kraft Heavystock paper using Whimsy Stamps' Alfrogabet stamp set.  All that was left to do was the gluing of all the elements.  After everything was in place, I went around the edge of my tag with dark brown paint.


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

We're excited, as always, to see your creations.  Upload them to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.


Monday, October 2, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Banner Panel using Katzelkraft's Be Brave Stamp

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to add some texture.  We're also featuring products from Katzelkraft.  I made a banner panel hangy-thingy (not sure what to call it?) using this great Katzelkraft quote stamp.  I gave my project texture through sewing and adding fabric.


I started by hand-cutting a wonky oval-frame out of Tim Holtz's Backdrops paper (volume 4) and cut a background piece of Kraft Heavystock using my Sizzix Big Shot and Avery Elle's Pierced Rounded Frames die set.  I stamped the Katzelkraft sentiment onto another piece of Backdrops paper, then used my sewing machine to sew the quote inside of my oval frame.


I glued the framed quote to my Kraft Heavystock background and painted around it with acrylics.  I meant to leave more of the cursive paper showing through, but I got a little out of control with my paint and covered everything.  Once that dried, I scribbled some dots and scallops and doodles.  I used Distress Watercolor Pencils to draw around my oval in red and yellow-green.


I wanted to add something to the top to hang my card from, so I grabbed a twig (yes, I do have a bag of random twigs in my stash) and attached that to the top of my project by sewing some fabric tabs on and then gluing the twig to the fabric tabs.  When that was done, I hung it onto my metal display board using a hook magnet.  I love this quote because too often, I let my fear of failure stop me from starting new projects or trying new techniques.  This was a good reminder to boldly get out of my comfort zone!


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

How will you add some texture this week?  Upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog to inspire others and to have a chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!



Saturday, September 30, 2023

Simon Says Stamp: Tim Holtz STAMPtember 2023 Project

Hello all and happy last day of September!  Unveiled today as the wrap-up of Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember celebration was Tim Holtz's exclusive stamp set, which I really like a lot. Here's the project I made with it:

The stamp set is fantastically whimsical and very versatile.  I used the sweater stamp and put it onto one of Tim's paperdolls, which I thought was a great fit!  Ditto with the Santa hat.  I have to give a big thumb's up to all of the sentiments, too. 


I colored in the sweater and hat with Distress Watercolor Pencils and made the red and white striped accents with Tim's stripe stencil and Candied Apple Distress Ink.  Most of the paper I used on this project is from Tim's Backdrops, Vol. 4 paper collection.  Once I had everything made, I glued it all down on a canvas panel for a sturdy holiday display.


STAMPtember has been a lot of fun, as always.  If you like the look of Tim's exclusive stamp set and want to snag one before they sell out, hop on over to the Simon Says Stamp store!




Monday, September 25, 2023

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Christmas Card using Julie Hickey Designs' Essentially Christmas 3 Stamp Set

CHRISTMAS is the theme for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  I know!  I was just getting my Halloween decorations out, but I appreciated getting a head start on a Christmas card or two.


I started by making the background.  I tore up pieces of polka-dot paper that I'd stamped and painted and glued it to my card.  I added green tones to the edges with more acrylic paint.


Next I made some scallop borders and stamped the center image.  The wreath and dangling trees were made with Julie Hickey Designs' Essentially Christmas 3 stamp set, then I added the sentiment from Tim Holtz's Seasonal Scribbles stamp set.  I also cut some sprigs using Memory Box's Layered Star dies.


I assembled the elements and scribbled around the square with Distress watercolor pencils.  I made some red berries to add to the wreath and also threw on some hot pink dots.


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

Share in this week's fun by uploading your Christmas creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!  You could win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.  And don't forget to check out the last week of STAMPtember!