Snowbirds

 

 

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

This week the challenge is: USE A DIE CUT

We are celebrating DieCember at Simon Says Stamp! I pulled out a die I haven't used in awhile to create my tag...The Standing Whirl Bird. Pull out your dies and join the fun this week, and all month long!

Don't you wonder sometimes what the birds are chattering and twitterting about? I know I do, especially when a large flock lands in one of our trees and they are all calling at once. I also wonder when I see them all lined up on the wires  just what they are doing.

One trick I have when I die cut, is that I cut out more than I am going to use, and put them in the envelope with the dies. This is a great time saver for me. So, I pulled out my pieces and assembled some birds.  

I wanted them to flow better, so added some gold ink to blend them, and brushed black ink lightly on the whirls to make them stand out. 

Meanwhile I started work on the background of the tag. I wanted lots of color to pop through, so just did a bit of finger painting with these bright colors.  Then, I let it dry completely. 

 Next, I added Heather to tone it all down and pull it together in a c cohesive way.  Usually I use white paint, but I like the subtle pink this color gives.

I used a mark making stamp for the poles, then drew the wires in with black pen. I added a few more marks with Rhubarb ink. 

 The birds found their places and settled on the wire, while I hand lettered  "Birds on a wire...you heading south?"  I was thinking of all the "snowbirds" from the northern states who go south to find the warm and sunny weather. I am not a snowbird, but there are days that I see the appeal.

DETAILS... 

BIRDS ON A WIRE

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 Standing Whirl Bird die

Paper Artsy Kate Crane KC 005 stamps

Dina Wakley Media Assorted Tags

Simon Says Stamp Assorted Card Fronts

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Rhubarb ink

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Dina Wakley Acrylic Paints - Heather, Magenta, Lime, Lemon, Peacock

Cosmic Shimmer Ink-ology Skinners Gold

Big Shot

Ranger Heat Tool

Bearly Art Precision Glue

Black Archival Pen

 

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 .

Monochrome

 

 Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the  NOT A CARD  Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is: MONOCHROME

I don't know about you, but for some reason, I find it hard to create using a monochromatic theme. I had to refresh what monochrome meant,  and in very simple terms, it seems it is choosing one color, and adding black or white to it. I chose to center around Lapis for my card.

BLUE PLAID HELLO

I began with Lapis, Black and White acrylic paints, and painted alternating stripes down the watercolor paper. Then, I turned in sideways and repeated this step.\ with a lighter blue. 

To refine my plaid, I went in with some paint markers and made thinner stripes of clues. I think this gives it more definition. 

I chose the section I liked the best and cut it to fit the card. I die cut the "hello" from Simo Says Stamp, and added some blue feathers from Tim Holtz. 

I doodled a bit of faux stitching around the front, and added a plaid panel inside the card.  

Well, challenge met! I was able to work in a monochrome color story. I think I may be resistant to doing this because I love colors so much, and want to add them all, LOL!I think this makes a great masculine card to send out, or perfect for someone who loves blues. 

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

Supplies:

Dina Wakley Acrylic Paints - Lapis, Black, White

Simon Says Stamp Scripty Hello die

Tim Holtz Sizzix Feathery die

Simon Says Stamp White, Sunflower Blue , Island Bluecardstock

Watercolor paper

 Bearly Art Precision Glue

Blue Gelly Roll pen

Black pen

Dina Wakley Media Brush

Paper Trimmer

Big Shot

 

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: Add A Sentiment

 

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

This week the challenge is: ADD A SENTIMENT

As a teacher (now retired), I think this was my mantra to get through the long days . You know how it seems like some days just fly by and others seem to drag on forever? Well, there were some long days teaching, and coffee got me through!  

STRONG COFFEE!

I began with a watercolor background  for the card, using watercolor paper and Daniel Smith Watercolors. Once I die cut the cups, I ink smooshed them with Simon Says Stamp's Pawsitively Saturated Ocean and Mandarin inks. I love the variegated look of the cups! 

I stenciled over my watercolor background with Simon's Mocha ink, a small blending brush, and their Coffee Drinks stencil. 

I stamped the sentiment from Riley and Co right on one of the cups, then stacked them. I popped the cups, distressed the edges, then adhered it all to the blue background. 

When I saw this stamp, it made me laugh! Just think of all the ways you could change this...May your coffee be stronger than.....I won't even give you any ideas, LOL! 

Stencil detail... 

I decided to add a pretty butterfly from Prima,  sitting on the top mug and kept it in my color range. I do love the combination of turquoise and orange. 

MAY YOUR COFFEE ALWAYS BE STRONGER THAN YOUR KIDS. LOL! ...

because we are most likely going to need it to keep up with them.

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

Supplies:

Riley and Company Coffee stamp (similar stamps)

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tea Time die

Simon Says Stamp Coffee Drinks stencil

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Mocha, Ocean and Mandarin inks

Simon Says Stamp Mocha Small Blending Brush

Simon Says Stamp Peacock Teal cardstock

Daniel Smith Watercolors - Hansa Yellow and Permanent Orange

Watercolor brush

Canson Watercolor paper

Prima Flowers Elegant Wings Butterflies

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Tim Holz Glass Media Mat

3M ATG Tape

Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer

Ranger Mister Bottle

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 .