Hello Monday, my friends! Do you find yourself feeling a bit blue as the days start getting shorter? (if you are in the southern hemisphere, lucky you - the days are getting longer!) Maybe the summer adventures are coming to a close? Perhaps school is beginning shortly? No matter, we have a challenge this week to fit that mood - MIDSUMMER BLUES at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, and we'd love to have you join us!
UPDATE: Thrilled to have my Midsummer Blues chosen as a Splitcoast Favorite for the week of August 17!!! Thank you so much for the honor!
Midsummer Dreams meets the Midsummer Blues...
A set of encouragement cards
I began my project by cover 4" x 6" pieces of cardboard with the lovely papers from Stamperia's Wonderland collection. I think Stamperia is my new favorite paper line, be sure to check them out. I love the wonderful mix of blues on these papers, and they also reminded me of scenes from Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream!
Then, I used a variety of stencils and texture paste and added some raised dimension to parts of the cards.
I went over the texture paste with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.
Then, I rubbed Venice Blue around all the edges, and front and back with my finger. Next, I took a flat brush, and dry brushed the Glacier Ice over the Venice Blue to give a nice finished edge to my cards.
I cut out some of the papers to use as embellishment, and made a few of them 3D, as well as added transparent wings to the cards.
I added details with the Nuvo Drops, and encouraging words using the Tim Holtz Chat stickers.
Fronts and backs of the encouragement cards...I'd love to know if you have a favorite!
Tie the set up with a pretty ribbon, and the encouragement cards are ready to be gifted. These would be certain to lift the summertime blues with the thoughts expressed on them. Why not make a set of your own that you can reach for as needed?
Words of encouragement to chase away the midsummer blues...
I hope you are inspired to join us this week in our Midsummer Blues challenge! One lucky participant will be selected to receive a $50 shopping voucher from our generous friends at Simon Says Stamp!
SUPPLIES:
A GREAT place to shop!
Simon is on Instagram - use #sssmchallenge
Don't forget - the Kids Summer Challenge is going on over at the Wednesday Challenge!
The design team has been busy working beating the blues, so be sure to head on over and check out their wonderful creations.
Oh, sigh, so pretty! You've really brought those already-beautiful papers to life with your added texture, dimensional layering and the perfect addition of the transparent wings. I agree completely that there's a Midsummer Night's Dream feel to these gorgeous cards (seems to be running through the projects this week!), and I would certainly be encouraged, not to say over the moon, to have a set of these to gaze at in real life. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
Alison, thank you so much! Your words make my day! I took at quick look at the projects this week, and noticed your lovely one in the Midsummer Night's Dream theme. I'm so glad you like them, and that is encouraging me to make some more, I hope. I like the idea behind them.
Deletehugs, Maura
Oh how I adore your dreamy encouragement cards! I’m hard pressed to pick a favorite, they are all so lovely. Stamperia is also my favorite line at the moment. Their papers are so easy to create beautiful projects. You have elevated the fabulous designs with the inks and added texture. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much for your lovely comment, KG! I keep adding to my stash of Stamperia, and you are right, they make it easy to create. Of course, I look at some of the papers and just want to keep it forever, lol! So happy I've inspired you! Thank you! Maura
DeleteOh, my goodness, Maura! This set of cards took my breath away the moment I saw them on SSS! The papers are lovely, and you have upped their ante with the paints, inks, stencil work and embellishments. These cards would certainly provide oodles of encouragement to anyone who receives one! Pick a favorite??? I think that would be very hard to do, but I am really drawn to the 'ordinary people' panel; perhaps because I am so ordinary! All so beautiful and so very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteSara, thanks so much for your kind words, they mean a lot to me! I had a lot of fun creating these, and those papers make it easy to do! Thanks for sharing your favorite, ordinary people can really do extraordinary things, as we see many times. hugs, Maura
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