Simon Says - Make Your Own Background

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 first challenge of the month is when the design team feature one particular company/brand and this month we are all using the fabulous products from Tracy Evans Boutiqe Designs. You don't have to use these products to join in the challenge but we would love to see what you make, if you have them in your stash.

We are also welcoming back the lovely Simona Rebecchi and if you haven't visited Simona's Instagram page before, be sure to pop over, you will be in for a real treat.

The theme for this week is...

MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND

I created a page in my Stamperia Stone Paper A5 Mixed Media Journal using Tracy Evans Boutique Designs Artsy Alpha and Numbers and Background Elements A7 stamps, Daisy Daisy 6" x 6" Stencil, Distress Grit Paste Opaque and Simon Says Stamp EZ Strips XL Reverse Basics for the title.

I inked Tracy Evans Boutique Designs Artsy Alphas/Numbers stamp set with Versamark ink and stamped randomly on the Journal pages, sprinkled with White Embossing Powder and heat set. I spritzed the pages with Bundled Sage Distress Spray Stain and Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide Spray, spritzed with water and dried. I removed any ink sitting on the embossed areas with a soft cloth.

I stamped the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs Background Elements stamp, inked with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink, randomly over the pages.

I stamped the splatter image on the pages using Simon Says Watercolor Bouquet stamp set, inked with the same ink.

I applied Distress Grit Paste Opaque on to Distress Black HeavyStock through Tracy Evans Daisy Daisy 6" x 6" Stencil and set aside to dry.

I trimmed around the stencilled flowers to leave a small border using my trusty Tim Holtz Mini Recoil Snips. I fixed Black Hemp Twine in place to create stems and a bow and fixed the flowers in place using Simon Says Stamp 3D Thin Foam Squares to create dimension.

To finish I trimmed Simon Says Stamp EZ Strips XL Reverse Basics to create individual words and fixed to the page using the 3D Thin Foam Squares.

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

Beautiful Moments Blog Hop Day 2

Hi my friends, welcome to my stop on Day 2 of the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop for the Beautiful Moments 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 Exclusive and "Not Yet Released Clover Shaker Sentiment 3" x 4" stamp set will be automatically added to your cart that contains any of the Beautiful Moments products! This gift with purchase will be valid until 1st March at 11:59 pm ET or while supplies last.

Simon Says Stamp 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 4th March, and if you are a lucky winner, you can e-mail Simon Says Stamp to claim your prize. 

I created a card using the adorable Sweet Sheep wafer dies and Groovy Daisies 6" x 6" clear stamp from the Beautiful Moments release along with the Fancy Love die and Love Letter/Basic Brushstrokes Greetings stamps and dies from previous releases.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to 4" x 5.1/4", inked the Groovy Daisies stamp set with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink, stamped on to the background, sprinkled randomly with Tattered Rose Distress Embossing Glaze and heat set. I inked the bottom section of the panel with Bundled Sage Distress Oxide ink using a Mini Round Blending Tool.
I die-cut the Sweet Sheep from Distress Watercolor card, Distress Black HeavyStock and card coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink and assembled.

I die-cut the Fancy Love shadow and word 4 times from Distress Watercolor card. I die-cut the word again from Distress Watercolor card coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide ink and layered to create a dimensional sentiment.

I stamped the sentiment from Basic Brushstroke Greetings on to a scrap of Distress Black HeavyStock, inked with Versamark ink, sprinkled with White Embossing Powder, heat set and die-cut using the Basic Brushstroke Greetings co-ordinating dies.

I stamped the strip from the Love Letter stamp set, inked with Bundled Sage and the hearts with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide inks, sprinkled with Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage Distress Embossing Glazes, heat set and die-cut using the Love Letter co-ordinating dies.

I fixed the Fancy Love and Love Letter strip die-cuts in place with Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Perfect Glue and added the extra sentiment and sheep popped up on Thin 3D foam squares to add dimension. I added the extra hearts and applied a coat of Ranger Glossy Accents.

To finish I fixed the panel to an A2 white card blank.

If you've arrived from the very talented Alberto Gava, you're in the right place but if you happen to get lost along the way, the list of participants below will help you get back on track. Your Next stop on the hop is the amazing Betsy Green.

·  Simon Says Stamp Blog 

·  Nina-Marie Trapani

·  Heather Hoffman

·  Suzy Plantamura

·  Cathy Zielske

·  Jennifer McGuire

·  Laura Bassen

·  Amy Rysavy

·  Mindy Eggen

·  Miriam Prantner

·  Alberto Gava

·  Kath Stewart (you are here)

·  Betsy Green

·  Mary Reiner

·  Nicki Baxley

·  Savannah O'Gwynn

You'll find more inspiration from the release on Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Moments Gallery HERE and if you make anything with the release, we would love you to share with us all in the Gallery. If you missed Day 1 of the Blog Hop, you can catch up HERE. In the meantime, I'm off to make myself a cuppa, find a comfy sofa and enjoy an afternoon of blog hopping and be inspired by all the makes.

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Crocus Field

Hello my friends, Simon Says Stamp have just released Beautiful Moments, a brand new collection of fabulous products to inspire your creativity and perfect for all your spring themed makes. You can check out all the products in the release HERE.

I used Simon Says Stamp Crocus Field Embossing Folder with a favourite blackout technique and EZ Strips XL Basics and XL EZ Strips Rounded Rectangles dies to create a quick and easy card.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to 4" x 5.1/4", spritzed the back of the card with water and embossed using Simon Says Stamp Crocus Field Embossing Folder. I coloured the debossed flowers and leaves using Distress Watercolor Pencils and Detailer Waterbrush.

I dragged the Versafine Clair Nocturne ink pad over the panel to create a patchy faded look rather than the usual all over black blackout effect.

I die-cut the EZ Strips XL Basics sheet using the XL EZ Strips Rounded Rectangles dies, fixed to the panel with Simon Says Stamp Thin Foam Squares and added Simon Says Stamp Duckling Embellishments.

To finish I matted the panel on to an A2 white card blank.

I'll be back tomorrow to share a special make using products from the release, in the meantime, enjoy your weekend whatever you have planned.

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Whatever The Weather

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

and the theme for this week is...

WHATEVER THE WEATHER

I was inspired by the signs in my garden that Spring is on the way to create a series of notecards using Simon Says Stamp Watercolor Bouquet and Brushstroke Greetings stamp sets, Watercolor Bouquet and Brushstroke Greetings co-ordinating dies and Pawsitively Saturated Inks.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to make 3 - 3.1/2" x 4.12" panels and stamped the 3 larger floral images from the Watercolor Bouquet stamp set inked with Violet, Rhubarb and a mix of Zest and Rose Pawsitively Saturated inks.

I die-cut masks from Gina K Masking Magic paper using the Watercolor Bouquet co-ordinating dies and fixed over the stamped images.

I stamped the leaf sprig from the Watercolor Bouquet stamp set, inked with a mix of Marine, Violet, Zest and Field Pawsitively Saturated Inks. I removed the masks and stamped the small floral and splatters from the stamp set, inked with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink to fill in the blank areas.

I inked lightly around the edges with Field Pawsitively Saturated ink using a Mini Round Blending Tool.

I stamped the sentiments from Bruhstroke Greetings on to scraps of Distress Black Heavystock, inked with Versamark ink, sprinkled with White Embossing Powder, heat set and die-cut with the Brushstroke Greetings co-ordinating dies.

I die-cut each sentiment again twice from Distress Black Heavystock and layered to create dimensional greetings.

I fixed the sentiments in place with Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Perfect Glue and matted the panels on to 3.3/4" x 4.3/4" top folding white card blanks.

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

Watercolor Bouquet Shaker Card

Hello my friends, I'm back to share a shaker card using products from Simon Says Stamp Watercolor Bouquet March 2026 card kit. You can check out what is included in the kit, subscribe if you don't already or purchase individual items from the kit, if you wish, HERE.

I used Simon Says Stamp Watercolor Bouquet 6" x 8" stamp set with the co-ordinating dies to create a wreath on the Simon Says Stamp Modern Loop Embossing Folder background and XL EZ Strips Basics Sentiment Strip Sheet for the sentiment die-cut with XL EZ Strips Rounded Rectangles Wafer Dies. 

I embossed an A2 panel of Distress Watercolor card using Simon Says Stamp Modern Loop Embossing Folder and coloured the centre and around the edges using the Zest and Rhubarb Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink Cubes included in the kit with a mini round blending tool.

I die-cut a circle frame from Distress Watercolor card and began fixing the Watercolor Bouquet stamped die-cuts in place using Pawsitively Perfect Glue. The details on how I created the stamped die-cuts can be found HERE.

Once I had fixed all the die-cuts in place, I trimmed a circle from acetate, fixed to the back of the frame and added Gina K Shaker Strips to create a well for the shaker sequins.

I placed Simon Says Stamp Duckling and Starbright Embellishment mixes on the centre coloured circle and fixed the wreath on top.

I die-cut the XL EZ Strips Basics Sentiment Strip Sheet included in the kit using the XL EZ Strips Rounded Rectangles Wafer Dies. (The dies are not included in the kit but are available as a separate purchase). I left my chosen sentiment in the die, coloured with Zest and Rhubarb Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink Cubes to colour co-ordinate with the background using the Distress Blending Brush included in the kit and fixed to the panel using Simon Says 3D Foam Squares. 

I added Gina K Mini Black Pearls to the centres of the die-cut flowers and the sentiment banner and a White Hemp Twine bow to the wreath.

To finish I matted the panel on to a top folding A2 white card blank.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you have planned and I'll be back on Monday to share my DT project for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

Hugs Kath xxx