A Bit O'Green

 

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

This week the challenge is: A Bit O'Green

Well, I challenged myself to do something green that was not for St Patrick's Day (one of my favorite holidays) and to really just use a little bit of green (my favorite color). Do you know how hard that was for me? Let me tell you, I struggled.

CHOOSE TO SHINE

I knew I wanted to play with my new Simon Says Stamp Honey and Zest ink pads from the Splendor release. I think I really need to play with yellow more, these are so rich! I think that helped keep me away from all my green products. 

I always find it easier to ink smoosh outside of my art journal, so I cut a sheet of watercolor paper 7x7" to work with. After the smooshing, I sprinkled drops of water onto the paper, gave it a few seconds, then lifted it off with a paper towel to add more texture. Let dry, or speed it up with a heat tool.

Next, I did some tone on tone stamping using Tracy Scott's fun mark making stamps and the Honey in.k. 

 I added some drips from the Zest reinker, spritzed a bit of water at the top and let it run down the page.

I had punched various circles from the watercolor paper, and kept the scrap to also use. After it was glued in place, I added some shading with the Rustic Wilderness watercolor pencil and a #4 brush. (I got my inspiration for the circles and shading from a  class with Marta Lapkowska) 

 I blended ink onto the circles, added the green shading and let them dry. Later, I went in and added a bit of doodling.

Next, I figured out the placement for the punched circles and popped them up. I had to double check to make sure the green shading was at the bottom of the circle. So far, I have just used a bit o' green. 

Details... 

I added green wings to this Funky insect from Tim Holtz, and some of Simon's new Dazzling Gems.  

As I was going through my stash of gel prints, I came across a page of green bubbles I had made using bubblewrap. So, I cut out a couple of circles to add a bit more green. 

Getting my page ready to put into the art journal...I decided to stamp a border and keep with the circles theme in my stamp choice. 

 I blended a bit of ink over the Quote Chip, and added the message to "Choose to Shine". 

I think I met my challenge here by going with a nature theme and just a bit of green, YAY!

CHOOSE TO SHINE 

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

Supplies:

Tim Holtz Sizzix Funky Insects Thin Dies 

Tim Holtz Rustic Wilderness Watercolor Pencil

Tim Holtz Quote Chips Theories

Paper Artsy Tracy Scott TS085 stamps

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated inks - Honey and Zest plus reinker

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Gems Clear

Simon Says Stamp Small Blending Brush Citrine

Marvy Jewel Picker Tool

Simon Says Stamp Foam Tape

 Ranger Dylusions Creative 8x8 Creative Journal

Big Shot

Ek Success 1" Circle Punch

Circle Punches 1 3/8 and 1 1/2"

Watercolor Paper 

Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock

Tim Holtz Kraft Cardstock Cool

Bearly Art Precision Glue

Ranger Glossy Accents

Ranger Mister Bottle

Black pen

Zen Size 4 watercolor brush

Tim Holtz Tonic Media Surface Mat

Ranger Heat It Tool

Gel Print from stash

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

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

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

Spooky Halloween

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

This week the challenge is: HALLOWEEN/SPOOKY

CUTE FRANK...ENSTEIN 

Oh my, Frank, you are not looking very happy! Is it because Halloween is not here yet? You really shouldn't be - around here, I am seeing LOTS of Halloween decorations. The stores have been carrying stuff for months. October 31 will be here before you know it!

 

I stamped my Frank images on the slimline card and colored them with distress watercolor pencils. 

 

I changed the mouth a bit with black pen, and added some stitches to poor Frank. Maybe that look is from the stitching...or a toothache...

I was all set to keep this very clean and simple with just the colored images, but then I slept on it, and came up with a new idea to stencil around my Franks. I must say, I do love my Simon Pawsitively Saturated inks - they are so vibrant and juicy!

I doodled this one's mouth too and added stitches.

On the inside, I added a strip of black cardstock, and stamped a Circle Saying and die cut that. I also stenciled the outer edge.

Happy Haunting! Happy Halloween!...from your friendly Frank...enstein

 

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

Supplies:

Simon Says Stamp Oh Frank stamp set

Simon Says Stamp Circle Sayings

Simon Says Stamp White Slimline card

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils

Water brush

Simon Says Stamp Orange Peel and Black card stock

Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway

Simon Says Stamp In The Round stencil

Simon Says Stamp Black dye ink

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated inks - Citrine and Mandarin

Simon Says Stamp Small Blending Brushes

Black Archival pen

3M Adhesive Tape runner

 

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

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

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

Stitch It

 

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

We are showcasing the awesome designs of AALL and Create this week. If you have them, we would love to see them!

Please join me in welcoming our guest designer for October Lori E. Kennedy ! Welcome Lori!!

This week the challenge is: STITCH IT!

Even though I have two sewing machines, yes two...I still reach for my slow stitching materials first. Maybe I am just too lazy to lug out a machine, find a place to set it up to work, and do some paper stitching. I think I only pull it out if I have an extensive sewing project to do. That said, I really enjoy the meditative mood slow stitching puts me in. No matter the method - sewing machine, slow stitching, faux stitching, come have some fun with us this week! 

JAVA STITCHING

I began with a #10 media tag (Dina Wakely) and smooshed on some ink in orange and yellow. I'm thinking fall now, as the leaves are really changing here now.

Then, I smooshed ground espresso over the base colors, spritzed it with water, and lifted a few areas. 

Next step - stencil some X's with the Lotza Crossez stencil from AALL and Create and ground espresso ink.  Edge the tag too. Let dry completely.

Now, let the stitching begin! I used a yellow thread for the smaller x's and just sewed right through the tag. I tried to keep it somewhat random and not do every one.

For the larger X's, I used a blue thread, and again stitched in a random fashion. 

I love the extra pizzaz stitching gives to the tag. (I could just leave it here.)

But, onward and upward! I stamped these awesome coffee images from AALL and Create's Hot Drinks set, onto watercolor paper. Once the archival ink was completely dry, I colored the images with the new Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Pencils. Then, it is easy peasy to use a water brush on the colored areas and turn it into watercolor - like magic! I fussy cut the images after they were dry.

I added a bit more stitching with the stitched scrap that I stamped the word "coffee'" onto. 

I tucked a thermometer gauge behind the old enamel coffee pot, and added a stitched bit from Tim Holtz at the bottom.

I wanted to add more dimension to the coffee pot, so stamped and colored a second one to pop on top.

You know how you think you are done, and then another idea pops up? That happened to me when I decided a washi tape frame would be fun around the tag to finish it off. So here you have my coffee themed tag with slow stitching and stitched scraps from Tim Holtz. I hope I've inspired you to make your own stitched creation and join us this week.

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 *643 Hot Drinks stamp set

AALL and Create #142 Lotza Crossez stencil

Tim Holz Distress Watercolor Pencils

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Gauge Dials

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Stitched Scraps

Embroidery Floss

Needle

Dina Wakley Media Assorted Tags

Canson Watercolor paper

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Simon Says Stamp Black Dye ink

Tim Holtz Distress Ground Espresso ink

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks - Abandoned Coral and Wild Honey

Ranger Mini Blender tool

Ranger Mister Bottle

TIm Holtz Scissors

Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

Simon Says Stamp Foam Tape

Prima Marketing Water Brush

Washi Tape

Mini Alphabet Stamp set

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

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

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