Mushroom Zine

 

 

 Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the  Cold and Frosty  Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

A new month means we are showcasing a great company - AALL & CREATE! They have such an imaginative array of designs. If you have some, we would love to see them in your makes this week.  

Please join me in welcoming back Pauline C as our guest designer for January!  It's great to have you back with us Pauline!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!

This week the challenge is: SOMETHING NEW!

This week's challenge is an opportunity to try something new, a technique, new product, or a new color palette, for example.  Maybe you got some crafting goodies over the holidays? Now is the time to try them out!

I am working with a new technique - making Zines (which I love) and using some new stamps. I was also inspired by Anita , our guest designer for December, and her tea stained slimline envelope.  In some European cultures, the mushroom is seen as a symbol of good luck and blessing for the new year.

I began with one sheet of watercolor paper and added blues and browns with watercolor for my background. I worked on leaving white space, as I often struggle with that. 

Once the background dried, I went in with the ALL and Create Onion Skin stencil in the blue areas. I removed color by rubbing a baby wipe (or damp cloth) into the stencil design. 

I used the same technique in the brown areas with the Lotza Diamondz stencil.

I like the combination of organic and geometric designs.  Let this dry completely. 

Now, fold in half lengthwise (1) and use a bone folder to get a crisp edge.  Next, Open, and fold in half portrait style (2). Open again and fold each half to the center (3). 

Now, open and fold in half like a book. Cut from the folded end into the first fold.

Open and hold fold lengthwise, pinch edges and push to create design like below. This will create the folds for the zine. 

I stamped the images, colored with watercolor and attached to some pages. 

When you are done, your zine will look like this - a little book with 4 pages.   I added ephemera from AALL and Create, and word stickers from Tim Holtz. 

 

Cover with an Edison bulb in the background, mushrooms and butterflies - Key to Life : stay simple.  I distressed the edges and added white acrylic ink splatter. 

I hand lettered a mushroom quote here...

Ephemera, word stickers and splatter...

Another hand lettered quote...

Back cover...

May mushrooms bring you blessings in the new year!

 

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store 

Supplies:

AALL and Create Mycelium Potions #1078

AALL and Create Edison Glow #1228

AALL and Create Expression #1160

AALL and Create Onion Skins Stencil #210

AALL and Create Lotza  Diamondz Stencil #124

AALL and Create Fungal Trips Ephemera #45

AALL and Create Aerial Beauties Ephemera #28

Daniel Smith Watercolors - Phthalo Turquoise , Mayan Blue, Indanthrone Blue, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Deep Gold

Tim Holtz Big Chat and Small Talk stickers

Tim Holtz Ground Espresso ink

Tim Holtz Small Blending Tool

 Tim Holtz Splatter Brush

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink

Simon Says Stamp Everyday Scissors

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

 Bearly Art Precision Glue

Ranger Mister 

watercolor brush

White Acrylic Bleedproof ink

Bone Folder

Canson Watercolor Paper

Baby wipes

Black Archival Pen

Ranger Heat It tool

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting! Maura

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You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in .