Taking A Leap Into The Unknown

Hi Everyone...welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog...thank you for joining us for last week's "Inspired By A Song" challenge...we would love if you could join us this week too...

and the theme for this week is...

TAKING A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN

As this is a Leap Year...we are leaping into the unknown...you can choose a new technique or it can also mean a new way of life...getting engaged...married...having a baby...starting a new job...the possibilities are endless.

I decided to make a Wedding Memory Book using 2 new (to me) techniques. I started off by covering chipboard with Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric using Ranger Multi Matte Medium and once it was dry...I applied Hickory Smoke Distress Paint spritzed with water using a baby wipe to give it a slightly grey tint. I trimmed down a sheet of Hessian from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Textured Surfaces and applied gesso to the edges to lighten it up. I cut a piece of Ranger Watercolor Paper slightly smaller than the hessian and stitched around the edge to attach it to the hessian. 

then it was time to try out the first new technique...Distress Crayon Resist. I rubbed the White Distress Crayon randomly across the Bubbles Layering Stencil...smoothed it out with my finger and left it to dry. I then dabbed my Hickory Smoke Distress Ink Pad on to my non stick craft mat...spritzed with water and applied a thin wash over the Distress Crayon with a brush and I love the subtle textured effect...

Then it was time for the second new technique...using the Paper Mosaic Kit on a chipboard heart...the largest heart from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Heartfelt BigZ die but instead of using paper I used little bits of Eclectic Elements fabric. Once dry I edged the heart with the Hickory Smoke Distress Crayon and smudged the colour with my finger to blend. If you're not familiar with the Paper Mosaic technique you can watch Tim Holtz demonstrate it HERE...

I added the left over strips of the hessian and die cut images from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Photobooth with the Heartfelt Die...

I covered white cardstock with Eclectic Elements Fabric using Ranger Multi Medium Matte...die cut small "Heartfelt" hearts and gave them a coat of Glossy Accents and added a Heart Charm and a twine bow.

 and finished off by applying Remnant Rubs and tying ribbons around the binding wire.

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 the chance to win a $50 gift voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time...1pm UK time...2 pm CET to join in...

You can also follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Thanks for stopping by...Happy Crafting
Hugs Kath xxx

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Fun With Our Fiskars Friends...

Hi folks...I'm jumping around again...back to Day 1 at Stitches and first stop on the Kath & Enfys Whirlwind Tour of the show was a visit to the Fiskars Stand to meet up with our Fiskars Family...Hina...Rachel...Steve and Xavier and the Cool Orange Wall of Fiskars "New Products"...

some of the cards that Enfys made on display with our lovely buddy Hina in the background...

I was playing around doing a little photoshoot with the Home Wall Hanger I made and another of my famous Kath "Fiskarisms" was born when I asked "do we have any scissors"...

"just a few" my colleagues shouted in unison...

and a few more of the many samples I made with the new Power Punches and Love and Bird Intricate Shape Punches...

and I wonder if the naughty Fiskars Elves have been able to resist the yummy Mini Eggs...mentioning no names...

And in the evenings...we all got together for dinner...refreshments and some Fiskars "let our hair down" time...a little bit of  "we're not ready to act our age instead of our shoe size" fun...

Have a great weekend everyone...I'll be back on Monday with another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge project followed by "Look Who We Met At Stitches" on Tuesday.

Hugs Kath xxx

More Thank Yous...

Hi folks...OK here we go with the first of many posts about my adventures at Stitches...I'm starting off with a huge thank you to my bestest bud and Fiskars colleague Enfys for her welcoming hospitality at Hotel En & Mike and for keeping me company walking the show...needless to say there were many "talking the hind legs of a donkey" late night chatty sessions and lots of fun and laughter along the way...thank you my lovely friend and I look forward to seeing you again at Hobbycrafts at the NEC...only 3 weeks away.
But I'm jumping to the last day of the show...because everything in between is still en route...starting off with a fun Decoart/Tando Creative Mixed Media workshop with the adorable Andy Skinner...making a Copper Patina Industrial Winged Tag...

dabbing your fingers into paint to create various effects resulting in the obligatory "I'm having great fun" mucky hands...is right up my street and a big thank you to my new friend Marie from Artful Artisan for her fun company and the endless supply of baby wipes...

and thanks to Andy for the give-away stencil...stamp set and paints. 

But I suspect I'm coming down with a cold...the downside of being in a confined space with lots of people for 4 days perhaps or was it the woman sitting behind me on the flight home who coughed non stop all the way to Aberdeen...sharing her germs with everyone on board but I'm currently dosing myself up with Manuka Honey and Hot Lemon because Simon Says Stamp Happy Mail arrived in my absence...can't wait to dig in and play.

I'll be back tomorrow with more Stitches News
Hugs Kath xxx

Special Friends...

Hi Everyone...apologies for being a bit late to the party this morning...it may take this cream crackered crafter a few days to recover from the most fabulous long weekend spent at Stitches and as soon as the "run over by a bus" body catches up...I'll be sharing all the gossip and lots of photos with you all...in the meantime...let's kick off with Saturday and an extra special treat...a wonderful workshop with Tim Holtz in the company of my crafting bestie...the lovely Anne, a day spent with special friends filled with memories I will treasure forever...

We had a whale of a time...loved the workshop to create a beautiful vintage project using Tim's new Framed Panel...

 and yes I was in need of a good old rub-a-dub in the tub at the end of a fun morning...

I'll share the finished project with you later...it's currently en route from Birmingham via Mr Hermes along with other workshop projects and a very special surprise from the sweetest nicest most generous people I know. A big thank you to Tim and Mario...Ranger and Notions and the lovely Jayne for a magical morning and all the hard work that goes into organising such an event. I'll be back tomorrow with a huge thank you for a very special friend...more news and photos...in the meantime the crafty list is waiting.

Hugs Kath xxx