Hello Monday! I hope all of you are having a beautiful day! As you know, around here, Monday means it is time for a new challenge! Yay! This week, we are busy making gifts for Christmas using the wonderful Simon Says Stamp products. I am guessing Santa's elves might be just a smidgen busier than the team, but around here, you never know!
This month we have a special guest designer, Cate Dixson, an amazingly talented 14 year old! Please join me in welcoming her to our Monday challenge for December. I know I am really looking forward to her creative work!
I will admit, I struggled a bit with this challenge. It seemed to take me forever to finally come up with an idea I liked. I don't think it's because of a lack of ideas, but there are some many amazing choices out there, I think I was overwhelmed. Does that ever happen to you?
I decided to make something fairly simple - a notepad for the holidays that could be used for shopping or keeping track of everything that needs to get done, and hand stenciled tissue wrap, plus a gift tag.
I up cycled some tissue wrap and used Simon's Candy Swirl stencil and Teeny Bikini and Doll Pink inks to make my own gift wrap.
With the gift wrap finished, it's time to move on to making the notepad. I up cycled one from the Dollar Store that I had in my stash. I added a bit of Spun Sugar Distress paint on my patterned papers. Once again, I took the stencil and inks, but this time I stenciled once, then moved it slightly and used the other color to get this pretty duo.
I traced around the notepad, adhered the papers, and did a bit of stamping.
On the inside as well...
I also stamped a few snowflakes on the cover, and I messed one up - it partially stamped - yep, should have used the MISTI...but I didn't. I tried laying the stamp down exactly over the first image to stamp again, and nope, that didn't work. So, I just stamped another and popped it up - hides my mistake.
Ready for wrapping...
One Christmas gift done!
I hope you will take the time this week to make some Christmas Gifts along with us! I hope we can inspire each other with our gifting ideas. I'm looking forward to seeing your projects! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Remember, Simon offers a lovely $50 voucher to one of you, and wouldn't that be a nice gift!
SUPPLIES:
Fast and Friendly! A great place to shop!
Simon is on Instagram! Use hashtag #sssmchallenge.
Let's head on over to the challenge blog and see what kinds of gifts the design team has dreamed up! I know we will find some wonderful inspiration there!
This is so fun and festive, Maura! I love how you used the stamp on tissue paper to create your own wrapping paper. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCathie ♥
Ay, what a cute technique of inkink! Love the pinks and patterns. Lovely girly project! Hugs, Macarena
ReplyDeleteHow cute! Love the color combination for the candies :)
ReplyDelete*mwah*
Steph
Simon Says Stamp!
I love the fun stamping and pretty pink! Such a wonderful gift!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day,
Migdalia
Crafting with Creative M
Thanks so much Migdalia!
Deletebeautiful gift Maura with the beautiful matching tissue wrap and tag...enjoy your weekend...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable gift Maura! Love the way you decorated the tissue wrap paper! Love it when everything coordinates!
ReplyDeleteWow... this is such an awesome and beautiful gift! Maura. I really love the pretty pink color scheme! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Maura! I enjoyed this post for so many reasons! And let me start by saying YES! For some reason, the challenges I struggle the most with are the ones that I have too many ideas for. So you are definitely not alone when you feel overwhelmed with decision overload! But look at how you triumphed! I love your yummy swirly theme and since I'm a notebook addict, it was a special bonus to see yours here! And because you always seem to bring out my memories with your art, I do have a peppermint story that came to mind. I had to get my tonsils out when I was a teenager and it was horrible! Everyone told me it would be awesome because I could sit around and eat ice cream all day, but that was NOT the reality! They didn't mention that my throat would feel like I'd swallowed a cheese grater! I won't go into the gory details of the experience, but the doctors asked me what kind of "laughing gas" flavor I wanted and I chose peppermint because it was my favorite kind of candy ever. BAD MOVE! It took me years, seriously...a lot of years, to even be able to taste peppermint again! Today I do enjoy peppermint from time to time, but I would take your swirly art over real peppermint anytime!
ReplyDeleteOh my!!! Quite the story Andrea! I can see why an artsy peppermint is so much better than the real thing in your experience. The only person in my family who made out getting out their tonsils was my brother (the only boy) who got our first TV because he'd be bored. Oh well, I really love reading way more than tv! Thanks for sharing your story! Maura
DeleteGorgeous gift packaging and I love the contemporary colours and feel you've given to this ~ it's fabulous, Maura!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas card you sent me, it will have pride of place and I adored it! Hugs xx
You are welcome Emma! Merry Christmas!!
DeleteMAura your project is totally stunning! I love the idea to stamp the tissue wrap! Your packages are so original and I love this stencil! BArbara
ReplyDeleteWonderful project, Maura! Love the colors and the stencil is so fun! Hugs, Sandra
ReplyDelete