Maura's Musings

Monday, January 12

fun With Foil

Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the Something New Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
This week the challenge is: FUN WITH FOIL

I really admire all the gorgeous cards people are making with foiling, they look so professional. But I guess I am a bit more flaky when it comes to foil, and love adding in metallic flakes. I even found some foil washi tape to work into my art journal page.

BE YOURSELF

I started by scraping some paint onto my page. You may see hints of pink in there, and that's because when I have leftover paint, I like to put it on a page for future use. I also helps if you are intimidated by that blank page and struggle to start...I have days like that too.

With a bit of glue scattered randomly, I added metallic flakes.

Looking for a bit more texture, i stamped in this lovely design in Whale ink - very subtle.

I grabbed a bit of paper I had added metallic flakes to from my stash and stamped my focal image.

Next up, bits of paper and this lovely Lawn Fawn foil washi tape.

I needed more, so dug into my stash and pulled out a flower I had made with book paper, and the words be yourself...a little play on the cute bee.

Details...

BE YOURSELF

and enjoy whatever you create, even when you find it's a bit wonky. I noticed once I was done that I was a bit off kilter. It reminded me of my teaching days and how I could never write horizontally on the board.

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

Lawn Fawn Foil Washi Tape

Prima Metallic Flakes

Paper Artsy Kate Crane MKCM024

Paper Artsy Seth Apter Mini 123

Simon Says Stamp Grid Stencil

Simon Says Stamp Nocturne and Whale inks

Dina Wakley Turquoise , (similar) Black and White acrylic paint

Bearly Art Precision Glue

Fine Line Applicator

Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail Scissors

Tim Holtz Collage Medium

small art journal

Papers 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 .

Saturday, January 10

Heart to Heart

Welcome to Day 2 of the HEART TO HEART blog hop!

Check out the new Heart to Heart release.

Be sure to check out the free gift and chance to win a $25 gift certificate towards the bottom of the post!

I am using the brand new Simon Says Stamp Words of Love stamp set for my little mini heart book. Open the heart and you can write love notes to your favorite person.

OPEN YOUR HEART

I began with a mix of pink and red paints for my background.

All right

I pressed in some metallic flakes by using a bit of glue.

Next, I stamped the Words of Love stamp with Nocturen ink.

I cut the heart out, and folded it in half with a bone folder.

I clipped both sides and used my Japanese awl to make two holes down the fold. A hole punch will also work for this step.

I threaded bakers twine through the holes and the junk papers I had cut into the hear shape.

On the outside, I tied the twine and added a couple of charms.

BACK...

Front detail...I added numbers and a cute heart clip to close the book.

FRONTE...

Now, you have a tiny heart book, or an extra special valentine to share.

I thought I would also share several other projects I made with the Words of Love stamp set.

Enjoy!

Enjoy the hop and all the aqwesome inspiration!

SUPPLIES:

Simon Says Stamp Words of Love stamp

Simon Says Stamp Nocturne ink

Simon Says Stamp Everyday Scissors

Simon Says Stamp Bone Folder

Prima Meallic Flakes

Bearly Art Precision Glue

Dina Wakley Ruby, Blushi and White acrylic paint

Dylusions Bubblegum acrylic paint

Canson Watercolor paper

Black and White Twine

CharmsJ

Japanese Awl

BLOG HOP! CHECK OUT ALL THE INSPO!

HOP ORDER:

WE HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOU!

LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM SIIMON SAYS STAMP!

Winners will be announced January 14 on the Simon Says oh dea where am I

Monday, January 5

Something New

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.

Please join me in welcoming Natasha Vacca, our first guest designer of 2026 .Welcome Natasha!

We are showcasing Paper Arsy this week. Be sure to check them out, they offer a wonderful array go creative products.

UPDATE: I AM SO HOONORED FOR HAVE MY ATC'S SELECTED AS A WEEKLY FAVORITE AT SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS!

This week the challenge is: SOMETHING NEW!

I'm using a new Paper Artsy mushroom stamp set and my new Tim Holtz Distress Spritzes for my ATC's.

Happy New Year!

I thought it would be fun to create ATC's to share with others. I wanted a message focused on nature, as one of my intentions this year is to get outside and enjoy the wild.

Mushrooms are symbols of good fortune, prosperity and longevity in many cultures, so I thought they were a great symbol for the new year...besides the fact, I just love mushrooms!

I began by collaging tissue paper onto a piece of watercolor paper. I am starting with one large piece that I will cut into ATC's later in the process.

I added texture with the Simon grid stencil and texture paste. Once that dried, I added acrylic paint...

Next up was to add some shimmer with the Distr4ess Spritzes.

Once everything dried again, I cut the large sheet into ATC sized pieces.

Meanwhile, I stamped mushrooms , words and numbers, then added watercolor to the mushrooms. I fussy cut these.

After layering the images and popping some, I added some gold splatter.

Series of Mushroom ATC's...

I hope you also will enjoy nature and stay wild 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:

Paper Artsy Scrapcosy ESC55

Paper Artsy Scrapcosy ESC05

Paper Artsy Printed Tissue PT01

Simple Stories Vintage Woodlands

Tracy Evans Numerical Cats

Simon Says Stamp Grid Stencil

Simon Says Stamp Nocturne Ink

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Simon Says Stamp Everyday Scissors

Tim Holtz Collage Medium

TIm Holtz Opaques Texture Paste

Palette knife

Gold Gouache

Tim Holtz Distress Spritz - Weathered Wood, Peacock Feathers

watercolor paper

watercolors

Dina Wakley Acrylic Paints - Umber, Cocoa, Peacock

Gold Pen

Tim Holtz Splatter Brush

Paintbrush

Tissue Paper

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 .