Simon Says - Two Step Simple Leaves

Hello my friends, I'm sharing two cards I made using the Two Step Simple Leaves stamp set, dies and stencils along with the Fluted Forest Decor Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit. The card kit has sold out but individual items from the kit are available for purchase HERE.

I began by creating a stamping template by die-cutting all the leaves from a panel of Distress Watercolor card. The dies were not included in the kit but were available to purchase separately. With the die-cuts in place, I used the Two Step Simple Leaves stencil to colour using Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Crackling Campfire and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks.

I removed the die-cuts from the panel and placed each stamp from Simon Says Two Step Simple Leaves 6" x 8" stamp set into the negative spaces.

I picked up the stamps on to the lid of my stamp platform, inked with Ground Espresso Distress Archival ink, replaced the die-cuts and stamped the detail. I will store the template with the stamps and dies for future use.

To create the backgrounds, I embossed 2 - 4" x 5.1/4" panels of Simon Says Green Leaf cardstock using the Fluted Forest Decor Embossing Folder from the kit. I inked the first panel on the embossed side with Scorched Timber Distress Ink using a Tiny Blending Tool, lightly over the centre and more heavily around the edges.

I used the blackout technique on the debossed side of the second panel, dragging the ink pad repeatedly over the panel.

I fixed the leaves in place with Distress Collage Medium and added splatters of Flickering Candle Distress Mica Stain

which added beautiful golden shimmery highlights when turned to the light.

I stamped the sentiments from the Two Step Simple Leaves stamp set on to scraps of Distress Watercolor card, inked with Ground Espresso Distress Archival ink, die-cut with the matching dies and fixed to the panels with Distress Collage Medium. To finish I added White Twine bows and fixed the panels to A2 white card blanks.

Have fun with whatever you're making.

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Holiday Messages

Hello my friends, I'm sharing a card made using the Holiday Messages 4" x 6" stamp set from Simon Says Stamp Sweet Wishes release along with Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Modern Tree Layering Stencil. You can check out all the products in this release HERE.

I placed the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Modern Tree Layering Stencil on a 4" x 5.1/4" panel of Distress Watercolor card and applied Peeled Paint and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide inks through the stencil.

I stamped the large words from Simon Says Holiday Messages stamp set on to the panel, inked with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide ink, sprinkled with the co-ordinating Distress Embossing Glaze and heat set.

I stamped the sub-sentiments, inked with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and added splatters of Peeled Paint Distress Oxide ink.

I fixed the panel to an A2 panel of Simon Says Schoolhouse Red cardstock and matted on to a 4.1/2" x 5.3/4" white card. To finish I added Simon Says Warm Tones Pawsitively Dazzling Gems.

Have fun with whatever you're making.

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Fall Mood Board

Hi Everyone...welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. Thank you for joining us for last week's challenge and we hope you can join us this week too because

The challenge this week is

FALL MOOD BOARD

created by our teamie Macarena to use as your inspiration

I am definitely feeling Autumn in the air and created a whimsical autumnal woodland scene featuring the adorable ghost from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Boo Crazy on a #8 Etcetera Tag and used Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Foliage Wreath, Vault Wicked, Vault Fright Night and Vault Gothic Portraits Thinlits with a spritz or two of Antique Linen and Rusty Hinge Distress Spritz to add a little woodland shimmer.

I fixed Stamperia patterned paper from my stash to a Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous #8 Etcetera Tag using Distress Collage Medium and added torn strips of Stamperia Secret Diary Rice Paper on top.

I sanded the edges to remove any excess paper, inked the edges with Scorched Timber Distress Ink and added splatters of Tim Holtz/Ranger Rusty Hinge Distress Spritz from the new release.

I applied Black Distress Texture Paste through the Batty Mini Layering Stencil from Set 61.

I stamped the small ghost from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Boo Crazy on to a scrap of Distress Watercolor card, inked with Black Soot Distress Archival ink. I die-cut the wreath twice from Distress Watercolor card using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Foliage Wreath Thinlits and layered to create dimension. I smooshed Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink on to my Tim Holtz/Tonic Studios White Studio Mat, spritzed with water, tapped the wreath and ghost into the ink and dried. I fussy cut around the ghost to leave a small border and inked the edges of the wreath with Scorched Timber Distress Ink using a Tiny Blending Tool.

I die-cut the Foliage Wreath flowers, foliage and bow from Simon Says Burnt Orange, Green Leaf, Green Apple and Sunshine cardstock and shaded with Forest Moss/Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide ink and Scorched Timber Distress Ink using Tiny Blending Tools.

I fixed the ghost in place using foam squares, added the wreath also popped up on foam squares, added the flowers, foliage and bow using Distress Collage Medium and splatters of Antique Linen Distress Spritz.

I die-cut the witches hat from Burnt Orange cardstock, shaded with Scorched Timber Distress Ink, using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Wicked Thinlits to give our friendly ghost a woodsman's hat. I used a Sakura Black Glaze Pen to darken his eyes and once dry, added small dots with a White Gelly Roll Pen. No need to be alarmed if you encounter this cute little fella on a woodland trail.

I die-cut BOO from Burnt Orange cardstock using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Gothic Portrait Thinlits, shaded with Scorched Timber Distress Ink, spritzed with Rusty Hinge Distress Spritz and fixed to the tag using 3D foam squares to add dimension. I die-cut the spiders from Distress Black HeavyStock and Gold Metallic KraftStock using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Fright Night Thinlits and fixed in place with Distress Collage Medium.

It's difficult to photograph the beautiful shimmer from the Distress Spritz but it's definitely there as you tilt and turn the tag in the light.

You can find all the products I used over at Simon Says Stamp, just click on the links below

Why don't you pop over to the Monday Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations from my very talented Design Team mates and as always you have until Monday 8am Ohio time...1pm UK time...2pm CET to join in with the chance to win a $25 voucher to spend online at Simon Says Stamp

You can also follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

and if you use Instagram...

please add #sssmchallenge to your entry uploads so we can see them on there too

I look forward to seeing what you create this week...

Have Fun and Happy Crafting

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Sweet Wishes Blog Hop Day 1

Hi my friends, welcome to my stop on Day 1 of the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop for the Sweet Wishes release.  I'm thrilled to be joining lots of talented friends and designers to share inspiration using products from this fabulous release and you can check out all the products in the release HERE.

Simon Says Stamp has a blog hop exclusive give-away, the Fancy Tidings of Cheer die is FREE with any purchase, just follow the 3 steps on the graphic to claim your free gift. This promotion is valid until October 13 at 11.59 PM EDT or while supplies last.

Simon Says are also giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop so make sure you leave a comment on each participant's blog to be in with a chance of winning. The winners will be chosen and posted on Simon Says Stamp Blog on Wednesday October 16th, and if you are a lucky winner, you can e-mail Simon Says Stamp to claim your prize. 

If you arrived from the very talented Karin Akesdotter, you are in the right place but if you happen to get lost along the way, you will find a list of participants at the end of this post to help you get back on track.

I created a card using the A7 Acetate Cards, Warm Heart 6" x 8" stamp set and Opal Pawsitively Dazzling Gems all from the Sweet Wishes release.

I applied Tim Holtz/Ranger Snowfall Grit Paste through the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Speckles Layering Stencil on to the front of the 5" x 7" acetate card and set aside to dry.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to 4.3/4" x 6.3/4", smooshed Chipped Sapphire and Broken China Distress Oxide inks on to the craft mat on my Tim Holtz/Tonic Studios White Studio Mat, spritzed with water, dragged the card through the inks, dried and tapped back in to the droplets repeatedly, drying between layers, until I was happy with the background.

I stamped the snowflakes from Simon Says Warm Heart on to the panel, inked with Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink.

I applied Tim Holtz/Sizzix Adhesive sheets to Distress Watercolor card, die-cut using Simon Says Stitched Slopes and fixed one to the front of the acetate, one to the inside on the back of the front of the card and the other to the coloured panel.

I fixed the panel inside the acetate card and added a panel of white cardstock on the back of the card to hide the adhesive and to create a space to write a message.

I stamped the images from Warm Heart on to Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock, inked with Versafine Onyx Black and coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.

I fixed self adhesive sheets on the back of the image panels, fussy cut to leave a small border, removed the adhesive carrier sheet and fixed to the front of the card.

I stamped the sentiment from Warm Heart on to the snowball, inked with Versafine Onyx Black and stamped snowflakes on the snowbank, inked with Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide ink. I know I should have done this before assembly, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. To finish I added Simon Says Opal Pawsitively Saturated Dazzling Gems.

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Laura Bassen

Nichol Spohr

Cathy Zielske

Barbara Tarayao

Mindy Eggen

Miriam Prantner

Bibi Cameron

Cheiron Brandon

Heather Ruwe

Keisha Charles

Karin Åkesdotter

Kath Stewart (you are here)

Barb Engler

Betsy Green

You'll find more inspiration from the release on Simon Says Stamp Sweet Wishes Gallery HERE and if you make anything with the release, we would love you to share with us all in the Gallery. There will be more fabulous inspiration tomorrow on Day 2 of the Blog Hop that you don't want to miss. In the meantime, I'm off to make myself a cuppa, find a comfy sofa and enjoy an afternoon of blog hopping and being inspired by all the makes.

Hugs Kath xxx