N*Studio Creative Squad: I Am A Collage

Hello creative friends! I am over at N*Studio Creative Squad today HERE sharing my take on our theme this month "I Am A Collage." (I learned this collage technique from Elizabeth St. Hilaire.)

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 .

Simon Says: Emboss It!

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

It's been wonderful having Anita with us this month! I am sure you are as inspired by the awesome makes Anita made as I am! 

This week the challenge is: EMBOSS IT!

I began my project by embossing the tag and working mica stains into it. (I think these are the holiday mica stains from last year.) Let it dry. 

Next, work in the foundry waxes. I like blending several of them. Use the heat tool to bring out the shine. 

Add a bit more color with Tim's new Distress Watercolor pencils. I scribbled them into areas of the design, then dried it. It's a very subtle look over the wax.

Then, I added my die cuts to create the design and added some gears too. I used leaves that I had made quite awhile back for another project. If you are interested in how I made my leaves, check out my post HERE.

I almost forgot the Simon acorns that I wanted to add! I cut them from watercolor paper and colored them with the distress watercolor pencils. 

gears...

Oak leaf specimens...a few raindrops (gems), gears and distressed edges and we are done!

Ready for Fall!

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 Swirls Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz/Sizzix  Oak Leaf 3D Cut and Emboss Folder

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Specimen Folders die cuts

Simon Says Stamp Acorn Trio die cuts

Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway

Tim Holtz Foundry Waxes

Tim Holtz Watercolor Pencils Set 1

Tim Holtz holiday Mica Stains

Tim Holtz Ground Espresso distress ink

Dina Wakley Media Tag

Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

Beacon 3 in 1 glue

TIm Holtz Classic Kraft paper

Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock

Canson Watercolor paper

Mini Blender

Waterbrush

Foam tape 

Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears

Ranger Heat It tool

Nuvo Crystal Gems

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 .

Tim Holtz STAMPtember Release!!

GIFT TAGS

Hello Creative friends! I am so happy to be able to share three projects I created with the fabulous Tim Holtz STAMPtember 2022 release!! This is such a lovely set from Tim for the upcoming holidays and winter season. 

My first project above is a set of present tags. I had a lot of fun trying out Tim's new Distress Watercolor Pencils with my projects. I rubbed the pencils on the stamp itself, spritzed it with water and stamped onto the watercolor paper. 

THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON

The watercolor crayons make it so easy to color the image and then use a water brush to change it into watercolor.

I just had to add some sparkle to all my projects, so I used Glossy Accents and Simon Says Stamp Unicorn Confetti.

WINTER WONDERLAND

 I decided to use a warm background to make the snowflakes pop out. I did some ink smooshing, and added dots with the stencil that comes with the stamp set.

For these snowflakes, I colored each one then used a water brush to soften them.

What fun to have Tim's STAMPtember set to play with, AND his new distress watercolor pencils. I know you will have as much fun with it as I did!

Sparkle and Shine!

 

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

This week the challenge is: SPARKLE AND SHINE

Today, the Monday team is honoring Queen Elizabeth II as she is laid to rest today. For many many years she was a shining light to her people, and added some sparkle to our world. Today I am thinking of her and my team members who are most affected by her loss. May you always sparkle and shine on Queen Elizabeth!

 

I began with some ink smooshing for my background with these luscious colors. Once dry, I blended in more of the Citrine. I decided to do both the front and back of my card, so I could carry the images over. Once the inks were dry, I blended some pixie dust over it, just blending it in with my fingers. This gave it a pearly sheen.  

Once the images were stamped, I added some shadow and interest with Scribble Sticks. 

More sparkle is added with Glossy Accents, Simon's Unicorn Confetti and Wink of Stella on the wings. 

Sparkly detail...

BE A LIGHT, SPARKLE! 

I think that is some wonderful advice for us to follow as fall approaches. 

 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 Slimline White Scored Cards

Carabelle Studio Butterfly Sparkle stamp set

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated inks - Pucker, Sweets, Citrine, Grapefruit

Simon Says Stamp Black Dye ink

Ink on 3 Liquid Pixie Dust

Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks

Ranger Mister bottle

Wendy Vecchi Make Art Nonstick Craft Sheet

Ranger Heat It tool

Ranger Glossy Accents

Wink of Stella clear

Simon Says Stamp Unicorn Confetti

Simon Says Stamp Small Citrine Blending brush

Waterbrush

 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 .