Remembering My Time With Simon Says Stamp and Show

Hi friends, this is my last week of being on the design team for Simon Says Stamp and Show.  I have a lot of new things coming up in my life and I decided not to re-up for another 6 month term.  Believe me, it was extremely tough to make that decision and I am going to miss the team severely.  It has become such a part of my life and my week.  

Just a bit on this week's project.  I altered a box left over from Christmas using Tim Holtz's Mini Love Struck for my winged things and tore and pieced his Tissue Wrap for my torn edges.  Plenty of Old Paper and Vintage Photo distress inks were used to give the piece a vintage look and feel.  Other products used included Picket Fence Distress Stain, Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matte and the Mini Paper Rosette die.

I am entering this project into the Lessology challenge.  This month's theme is Flights of Fancy - projects that incorporate flight in innovative ways and also must include an upcycled item.  This box held a bottle of aftershave and one of cologne that my DH received for Christmas.  I started to toss it and the looked at it again and though shadowbox.   I am also entering it into Sarah Engels-Greer's My Mojo Monthly whose theme this month is Heartstrings and the Love/Romance challenge at Snazzy's Design Team Blog.  

Even after 18 months on the team, I still find it hard to believe that a nobody like me was picked for such an elite team - really there are amazing people with incredible credentials on that team and me - I've never even taken a paper crafting or mixed media class.  What did I know about such things?  The DT call was advertised as a vintage themed challenge so I applied - well, yeah, I made vintage style cards.  Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the team blog and saw the kinds of mixed media projects that the other designers were making - I didn't even know what gesso was!!  I think the only Tim Holtz product I owned was a pad of Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Talk about being intimidated!  But I dug in my heels, rushed out to purchase Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities and dove in.

The rest is history and I wanted to share a little bit of it with you.  I recently saw people sharing their favorite pieces from 2011 so I thought I would share some of my favorite pieces from my 18 months with Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The links are there in case you want the deets.  You can see all my Simon Says projects by clicking the SSSS label on the sidebar.

Things With Wings - My First Simon Says Project

In case you can't make it out, it says "Thank you for taking me on this unique journey.  I'm off in in the right direction on a wing and a prayer.  I hope I can wing it.  I know I will enjoy the journey."

Welcome to the Simon Says Blog Hop

Country Roads

My Vintage Shoebox

Some Stars

My Easter Bonnet

This Challenge is Not To Distressing

Mini Vintage Easter Triptych

A Vintage Sewing Find

Sweet Romance

Communication of Love

What's Your Gilded Cage?

Country Homespun

I Love a Green Challenge

Through the Looking Glass - Projects with Depth

And I did ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!!!!

Kings 'n Things

Good morning all you wonderful followers!  Wonderful to have you back again.  This week the challenge at  Simon Says Stamp and Show is Kings and Queens.  I decided to do a guy thing and kept it to only Kings.  I cut piece of CS roughly the size of a tag and layered Foil Tape over it and then cut it with the Tag and Bookplates die.  After that, I ran it though the ultimate guy icon - the diamond plate EF (and then of course I covered it all up).  The King of Spades was cut from Kraft-Core Core'dinations and embossed with Tim's Poker Face Texture Fade.  I made what I fondly hope looks like a roadside sign using the Styled Labels die to cut chipboard, which was then painted black with a paint dabber and then painted over with a gold paint dabber.  When good and dry, I sanded it giving it the worn streaky look.  Because it's the only Tim Holts letter die I have, the letters were cut with the Vintage Market die (need to branch out in that tool area - LOL).  They were again stacked on a layer of black letters to give them more dimension and covered with Crackle Accents.  The vintage pickup truck from The Journey set.was stamped in Gathered Twigs and I cut the license plates out of the paper from the Lost and Found Paper Stash.   The piece of vintage ephemera was from a vintage image blog that is now closed down.  Sorry, but I've never run across this one anywhere else.  

Now that you have seen my piece for this challenge, I hope you will scoot on over to Simon Says Stamp and Show and see the DT's projects which are WAY more impressive then my simple tag.  And don't forget, Simon Says Stamp will be giving a $50 shopping voucher to some lucky random winner.  

Challenges:
Fashionable Stamping Challenge:  Make it a Guy Thing

Cupid, Let Your Arrow Fly

What a fun challenge we have going for you this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  We want you to show us your project based on a song.  I picked "Cupid, draw back your bow and let your arrow go" by Sam Cooke, listening to it on YouTube while I worked away on my project.   

This was a marathon project and I'll skim lightly over the details.  The stand is an empty ribbon spool and I covered both top and bottom platforms with designer paper.  The core is wrapped with white paper twist ribbon.  The flowers were made with the Tattered Pinecone, stamped with Tim's  Sheet Music stamp with Vintage Photo distress ink and the branches are from the same die and were gold embossed.  

I used Shelly Hickox's Faux Crazed Porcelain technique on the four hearts that I cut from white chipboard.  I need practice on this technique.  Shelly's comes out awesome, but I was less than pleased with my results.  Two things I want to remember the next time I try it is to use much thicker chipboard and less crackle paint.  My chipboard warped so badly.  I kept straightening it but it just warped again.  I put the crackle paint on too thick resulting in cracks that were larger than I preferred and I think the heavy layer of crackle paint contributed to the warping.  The arrows are from the Love Stuck die and gold embossed - shot straight into the heart - great aim, Cupid!

The topper is two sided so I made two exact topper pieces and glued them to a dowel which extends down into the stand.   I cut thin chipboard with the largest Spellbinders scalloped heart, gave it several coats of Picket Fence Distress Stain, and when dry, ran it through the BINGO texture fade.  Then I sanded it with my Sanding Grip.  The Paper Rosette was stamped in Vintage Photo with the Tim Holtz Sheet Music stamp and then ink distressed on the edges with more Vintage Photo.  That sweet cupid was cut with the Love Stuck die from white chipboard and then ink distressed on the edges with Vintage Photo DI.  I liberally smeared him with Claudine Hellmuth's Multi-Medium Matte and sprinkled coarse chunky white glitter over it.  

Okey dokey...I think that pretty much covers it, but if you have questions, please leave in the comments section and I will update the post so everyone benefits.

Now it's time to stop over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge blog to see what amazing art my teamies have made for the song inspired challenge.  And don't forget, it's just like clockwork - every week our generous sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, gives a $50 shopping voucher to a random winner.  So what are you waiting for.  Show us a project inspired by a favorite song!

A reader asked:
- how tall is this piece?  It stands 11 inches tall.

It's Not a Card

I'm back again, dear bloggy friends, to share my weekly make for Simon Says Stamp and Show.  I'm so happy you stopped by to check it out!  This week Simon Says Stamp and Show Us Anything But a Card.  And of course my talented teamies all have amazing and fantastic projects to share and I have this lame tag - LOL.  I thought and thought this week about what I could make, but no fantabulous project came toodling through my brain so I settled for a tag.  I set out to make one of Tim Holtz's 12 Christmas tags that I hadn't done.  I chose #12, the one with the tissue paper adhered to the base of the tag.  His had the Frozen Charlotte doll, which creeps me out so I went for something a bit more shabby chic with the cameo.  

I started by cutting a tag with the Tag and Bookplates die from vanilla card stock and stamped it with the Fabulous Flourishes stamp and Sepia Ranger Archival Ink but the stamping didn't show through the tissue paper.  After stamping the flourish, I applied Picket Fence Distress Stain as per Lord Tim's instuctions.  I don't have Tim's new tissue wrap so I stamped his Sheet Music stamp on regular tissue paper, again using the Sepia Ranger Archival Ink, then ironed it dry with my craft iron and smeared Rock Candy Distress Stickles over the entire tag.  

After that I went my own way.  I decided to fiddle around with some crinoline and tried cutting it with the Mini Rosette die.  It worked great.  The folds in the rosettes were actually crisper, but I misted it with a bit of vintage photo DI and water to make it less white and the water relaxed the crisp folds somewhat.  I tried gently pulling it into an oval and it worked!  I continued adding bits and bots until I had it suitably shabbied up including a chipboard heart that I created using the Spellbinders Classic Hearts die, a little LOVE (from Stuff to Say) banner hand cut because I don't have Tim's die YET, a ruffle made from that wonderful Melissa Frances vintage style crepe paper and and the bottom strip was cut with the Vintage Lace die (which Shelly Hickox totally enabled me to buy because she uses it all the time and makes me drool).  

That pretty much sums it up for this week's project.  Hope you will stop by the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog to see the seriously wonderful projects make my my team mates.  And don't forget, every week there is a random drawing for a $50 shopping voucher compliments of our ever-generous sponsor Simon Says Stamp.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and for any comments you care to leave.  I very much appreciate your visit!  Have a great week.

Simon Says It's a Red Letter Day

 

It's time again for another Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.  This week we are talkin' Red Letter Day.  We, at the design team, have been buzzing all week about how to interpret that theme.  My team mate Tracy Evans did some research and will be sharing on her blog the original meaning of a red letter day.  The team came up with some fun interpretations so be sure to check them out.   Being in a Valentine's Day frame of mind, when I thought of red letter, I thought of Valentine's Day and I literally made a red letter - LOL.  

For my Valentine's Day wall hanging, I first created my red letter using Crafty Secret's Rosy Wishes embossed with Ranger Superfine Gold Embossing Powder.   I read in a craft magazine awhile back about glassine and gesso so I took a glassine bag, crumpled it up and smoothed it back out.  Using a wash of 50% water and 50% gesso, I painted the front and let it dry.  When dry, I stippled it with full strength gesso.  I digitally removed the background with my PhotoShop Elements from this pretty Valentine's girl and printed her on tissue paper, fussy cut her and then glued her to the glassine bag using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi Medium Matte.  Then I gold embossed the flourish from Tim Holtz's Urban Grunge set. 

I cut chipboard with the Elegant Flourishes die and painted them with Gold Metallic acrylic paint and then gave them two coats of UTEE. I used the Gold Metallic paint dabber around the edges of the white corrugated cardboard. The handmade flowers were cut with the Tattered Florals die and the Sizzix Flowers and Vines #3 die, wet, crumpled, dried and spritzed with Biscotti Perfect Pearls mist. 

My bronze filigree corner was heat embossed with white embossing powder and then sanded to give it a worn look. I also rubbed some of the gold acrylic paint over it and then rubbed it off again for a little more aged look.

And finally, I had a little fun with some of my jewelry making supplies and some gold glass glitter.  And that about wraps it up for another Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.  I hope you will play along.  Our ever generous sponsor, Simon Says Stamp and Show has a $50 shopping voucher for the lucky random winner of this week's challenge.  So be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp and Show and maybe even play along!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and for any comment you care to leave!  Hope you have a great week.

Something Old, Something New

Happy New Year everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by today to see what I have made for our latest Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.  This week we want you to show us something old and something new on your artwork. 

I created a little art piece that can be stood, hung or have magnetic strips placed on the back to stick to a refrigerator (jumbo refrigerator magnet - LOL).  I have used lots of favorite oldies (Fabulous Flourishs stamp, Elegant Flourishs die, Tag and Bookplates die, LOVE stamp from Stuff to Say, Picket Fence distress crackle paint) on this project, but my"old" highlights are the four wonderful vintage buttons sent to me recently by my friend Marcy Kaminski from the En Papillote Arts blog.  She sent me such a beautiful RAK - a huge amount of vintage buttons and lots of yummy lace and crocheted work.  The buttons I used here are from that stash.  

My "new" is the tattered rose created with her newly acquired Tattered Pinecone die and the seam binding dyed just for this project with a blend of Aged Mahogony and Tattered Rose distress inks. I used the tattered pinecone die to cut out a book page which I then painted with white gesso and then dry brushed some Aged Mahogany distress ink on it.  Then later I also dry brushed some gold acrylic paint dabber on the edges of the flower.  I wrapped the flower around a toothpick very much like Tim Holtz does in his tutorial for the tattered pinecone, but left it a little looser and also kept squishing it upward so it is flat on the bottom not elongated like the pine cone is.  

The flourish and bookplate were cut from chipboard and painted with Picket Fence Crackle Paint.  When dry I dry brushed the with Aged Mahogany and again with gold acrylic paint dabber.  The background paper is plain old copy paper that I aged by pouring a little coffee into a baking sheet (with sides so it doesn't run off) and coating the paper.  Leave a few puddles of coffee on the sheet of paper and put into a 250 degree oven for 15-20 minutes (check often).  It comes out looking so cool.  I stamped it with the Tim Holtz music stamp and Sepia archival ink before I poured coffee on it.  After it came out of the oven I stamped the flourish stamp with Versamark and gold embossed it.  I adhered it while it was still a tad damp with Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matte.  The seam binding dyed just for this project with a blend of Aged Mahogony and Tattered Rose distress inks.

The image is another of my digital layering experiments.  The cherub is from Luna Girl and I erased the surrounding background and layered it over the post card - love the way it came out!

Now it's time to check out what the other designers have made over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  And our ever generous sponsor is giving awaya  $50 shopping voucher.  You can't win if you don't play so get going on your something old, something new project right away!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the lovely comments!  Wishing you and yours a blessing filled New Year!

Through the Looking Glass - Projects With Depth

Hello and happy Monday!  Thanks so much for stopping back by today.  I know everyone is rushing around at this time of year so I am really thrilled that you took the time to stop by to see what I have to share for our Monday Simon Says Stamp and Show project.  This week our theme is Through the Looking Glass and we want to see your projects with depth and dimension. 

I was probably one of the few crafters left on the planet who hadn't yet done a Tim Holtz configuration box so I thought it was time to get with the program.  With a bit of trepidation, I selected the smallest set of configuration boxes and didn't have a clue how I was going to decorate and embellish it.  And I've been watching and drooling this past week as the rest of the design team turned in photos of their projects.  But I still didn't have a concrete idea of what to do with mine.  I searched my closets, shopped at the craft stores, even hit Walgreens and Big Lots looking for tiny figurines.  I actually did find quite a few, but nothing that excited me.  So I came home and started making my own.  

I found a wonderful video tutorial on the web to make a Christmas tree with a flower punch, taking inspiration from Tracy MacDonald, a recent winner over at Our Creative Corner.  I used the holly leaves from the new Tim Holtz Festive Greenery die to cut the tree branches and covered tiny wooden blocks with vintage style paper to create the gifts under the tree and used a small spool as a tree stand.  

I had some tiny toy blocks that were primary colors.  I painted them with white gesso and when dry, inked the edges with Vintage Photo ID.  The flower was cut with the Tattered Florals die and run through the Textile Cuttlebug embossing folder, then coated with UTEE.  I rolled up a paper cone and added a few tiny Prima paper roses and a bit of eyelash yarn.  

I made a little picture frame with Spellbinders dies and added a charming image of a little girl.  I wanted it to look like enamel so I ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder and double heat embossed it with UTEE. I coated the bronze key with white embossing powder and heated it, then rubbed it off on the wear areas.   The bottom compartment has a white pinecone made with the Tattered Pinecone die and I added a bit of sparkly gold embossing.  

Each cube was lined inside with vintage style paper gold embossed with different Christmas icons.  The outside of each cube was lined with paper stamped with a Tim Holtz music sheet stamp.  All that "paperwork" took forever!  The main back panel is vanilla cardstock embossed with the Tim Holtz Snow Flurries embossing folder and gold embossed with a sparkly gold EP.  

This was a fun project, although a bit labor intensive.  And I learned that you don't have to buy a lot of stuff.  Just make a little collection of bits and pieces from around your home.  I hope you will join in this week with some sort of dimensional project.  It's a perfect time to create a little home decoration for the holidays.  And of course, there is always that $50 shopping spree in the offing.  If you play, you might just be the lucky winner of the random drawing!

Be sure to stop by the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge blog to see what my amazingly talented design team members have to share.  

Links/pics of the products used are shown below.  The sweet little wooden angel was a RAK from my friend Crafty Chris who sent me a lovely package of crafty goodies for no reason at all except that she is a sweetie!  Thanks Chris - the angel worked PERFECTLY here!

InLinkz.com