A Bit of Texture

Hello, folks! We have another fabulous new challenge for you today on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog! This week we are ADDING A LITTLE TEXTURE to our projects! Yes, that's right, we want to see you add texture in some way to your creations this week. The design team is showcasing Simon Says Stamp Exclusives on our projects this week. If you have some, we'd LOVE to see how you use them for the challenge, but they aren't required to enter.



I pulled out some favorites for this one! I used the Grid Background stamp along with the Dots and Lines stencil to create my physically AND visually textured background. I then added a bit more texture by gold embossing the flower from Friendly Florals and layering that over some gold thread. The sentiment is die cut from Bazzill Gold cardstock and layered a few times to give it depth and dimension. I super duper love how this card turned out.



As I was beginning the design work on this card, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with the white grid background or something darker. Soooo...instead of actually MAKING a decision (who wants to do that, anyway), I just went ahead and made BOTH! Here is another take on this design.



For this one, the background is left a bit more plain, but the dark color fills that space beautifully. I used the same techniques for the rest of the design and even used the same colors. I love how they are both so pretty, and yet, pretty different.



You can find the complete list of products I used for my two cards below, along with links (they are affiliate links) to find the items in the Simon Says Stamp Store.

OH! And Speaking of the Simon Says Stamp store, one lucky participant in this week's challenge will win a $50 Gift Voucher to Simon Says Stamp! TOTALLY worth entering, you guys. For reals, though. Just do it. Go make something fabulous!

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Friendly Flowers, Simon Says Stamp Grid Background (love these SO MUCH!)

Stencil: Simon Says Stamp Dots & Lines

Gold Cardstock: Bazzill Gold Metallic (DUDE... you need it.)

Thread: DMC Metallic Trio

Embossing Paste: Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste

Ink: Simon Says Stamp Fossil, Slate and Versamark

White cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White

Gold Sequins: Studio Calico

Embossing Powder: Stampendous (Gold detail)

Tools: Milwaukee Heat Gun, Fiskars Stamp Press, Teflon Bone Folder

Die Cut Machine: Spellbinders Artisan Explorer

Have a Happy!

It's time for a new Challenge! (I know...I just said that in banner form, but now I've said it in word form, too, so it is REALLY time. For reals, though. No.. really....it's time.)

This week we are SEEING STARS! That's right! The challenge is all about STARS this week! The Design Team is using Studio Calico products and if you have some we'd LOVE to see you rock them, but they are not required to enter.



I created a fun little starry city scene using both glittered chipboard star stickers and star sequins from Studio Calico. I used dies and an embossing folder from Spellbinders® along with them to create my scene.

Now it's your turn! Create a fabulous project featuring STARS in some way and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!

You can find a complete supply list below.

Have a Happy!!!

Supplies

Dies: Spellbinders® Row Houses, Spellbinders® Pierced Rectangles, Spellbinders ® Matting Basics A,  Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banner Dies, Memory Box Urban Lowercase Alphabet Dies
Embossing Folder: Spellbinders® Bricks and Bark
Star Sequins and Star Stickers: Studio Calico
Ink: Wedding Dress Momento Luxe, VersaMark - Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: Stampendous!

You're the Best!

When I saw this playful image over on Moxie Fab World Just Blocky Challenge, I just loved the bright color tones and the classic wood blocks. Such a simple toy, but still such a fun one! That inspired me to create a clean and simple design inspired by both the color in the photo and the material represented.



I pulled out some fun Mama Elephant stamps and some new markers I recently received recently. They are Sakura Koi watercolor markers and I absolutely LOVE how vibrant they are! I used the awesome pierced circle dies from Spellbinders® to die cut the window on the card and add some detail around it. LOVE that! I brought in the wood with three simple, unfinished wood stars from Studio Calico.



So... I may or may not have whipped this card together this morning before work and photographed it while the matte medium was still wet, so, yes, you can see it in that shot. Don't worry...it' dries clear and matte. LOL!

I am also linking this up to the Mama Elephant and Me Anything Goes Challenge and the Virginia's View Clean and Simple Challenge.

Have a Happy!!!

A Watercolor Christmas

We have a brand new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for you today and, given the weather here in Massachusetts today, it is quite appropriate! It's a WATERCOLOR challenge! (It's raining. The weather could do half the work for you. For reals, though.)



Okay, so here's my confession. I made three projects for this challenge. Seriously. I just couldn't decide which to use and I didn't hate them, but I was sure I loved them, either, so really, it was kind of a crazy-town sort of mess. BUT, alas, I decided on this one. I painted the scene using my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paints. Which I love. With all of my heart. I added a bit of sparkle with my Wink of Stella because... glitter.



I added a few gem stone ornaments and then stamped the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Essential Greetings, embossing only the 'Merry' in gold. I like it. It is kind of cozy, I think.

And now it's YOUR turn! Create a project using watercolor of some kind and link it up over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Woot! Woot!!!

Have a Happy!

To The Moon And Back!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog! This week is ANYTHING GOES week! The Design Team is showcasing Hero Arts products, so if you have them, we'd love to see you use them, however, that is not required for participation. We just want to see you make awesome stuff!



I created this fun, inky card using Hero Arts Shoot for the Moon Stamp set and some distress inks. I love how the inks allow you to create a glowing look.



I used both my clear and gold Wink of Stella pens to add a bit of sparkle to my design.

Now it's YOUR turn! One lucky participant is going to win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Simply create a project - ANYTHING GOES! - and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog before next Wednesday for your chance to win!

Another Fabulous Year of Being Awesome

It's time for another fun Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge! This week it is BACK TO SCHOOL time! The Design team is using My Favorite Things products this week. If you have them, we would LOVE to see you rock them, but if you don't, that's cool, you don't have to use them to participate in the challenge.



I used the Blueprints 17 die for my card and all I can say about that is that I am in love with it!!! I will be honest, that was a bit of a splurge for me, but it was SO worth it! The die set included the frame, the banner pieces, and the embossed rectangle that I cut from wood. There are a bunch more dies in the set, too! Definitely one of my new favorite things in my stash! The sentiment comes from a birthday set from Altenew, but I thought it worked brilliantly for Back to School!



Now it's your turn! Create something awesome with the Back to School theme in mind and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!

Don't forget to check out the Kid's Challenge, too! It is open through the month of August so there is still time!

I am also linking my card up to the Trendy Triangles Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Have a Happy!

Altenew Birthday Bash My Favorite Things Blueprints 17 Market Street Nob Hill 6x6 Paper Pad DCWV Chalkboard Stack 12x12 Simon Says Stamp Birch Veneer Sheets *Memento Luxe Ink Pad WEDDING DRESS Tsukineko *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *Ranger Embossing Powder WHITE EPJ36685 *May Arts GOLD Metallic String *Studio Calico GOLD Essentials Sequins 332149 *Precision Heat Embossing Emboss Tool Gun Hero Arts PW200 *Sistema KLIP IT 3 Containers Clear Three Pack 1523 *Mini Plastic TASTING SPOONS Pack of 100 47051 *Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE Powder Blue & Teal 657900 *Claudine Hellmuth Studio MINI MULTI MEDIUM MATTE Glue Adhesive Paint Ranger *Elmer's CLEAR BOND Foam Mounting Tape Permanent Adhesive

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