A lightbulb moment...

Hi folks...would you believe the weather boys have got it horribly wrong again...instead of the predicted doom and gloom rain fog and any other kind of nasty weather you can think of...we've had Mr Sunshine come to visit for 5 or 6 days on the trot...not exactly Mediterranean temperatures but pleasant enough to make us want to stay outdoors but I wasn't really in the mood to tackle the never-ending grass needs cutting and flowers need dead-heading tasks nor did I fancy being cooped up indoors paintbrush in hand...getting stuck in to the tidy-up DIY paint job in the kitchen...instead we skipped off to the cubbyhole for some playtime with new goodies from Mr H with as many alfresco coffee breaks as we could get away with.

I was determined this project was not going to end up in the "oh no...not another wall-hanger" box and as luck would have it I had a rare lightbulb moment and remembered the frames I'd bought for the TV den make-over and never got round to using...

I love the Leaf Prints stamps and the new Linen Mini Layering stencil and don't you just love when a plan comes together...

 a perfect fit with my leaf motif curtains and cushions..

 and I had so much fun...I made a matching pair...

But if I don't deal with the grass issue soon...we'll have to resort to hiring a combine harvester so today is going to be an outdoors day and if that doesn't guarantee Mr Sunshine taking to his heels and hiding behind the clouds...my name's not "spoke too soon" Kath. 

Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of September and that means...STAMPtember over at Simon Says Stamp...woohoo a whole month of fabulous stamps...dies and inspiration...

not forgetting there will also be a brand new technique remix tag over at "12 Tags".

Catch up with you all later.

Hugs Kath xxx

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It's A Stitch Up...

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

and the theme for this week is...

"IT'S A STITCH UP"

I decorated a canvas panel which could be used as a wallhanger or to decorate the front of a sewing bits and bobs box. I started off by coating the panel with a layer of white Gesso and then applied Antique Linen Distress Paint with a baby wipe. I used Faded Jeans Distress Ink and Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Patchwork Pieces to decorate the panel but we all know that stamping on a textured surface can be a little bit hit and miss but thanks to the Misti...it's a piece of cake...however did we manage without it.

I then stamped the measuring tape image from Artful Tools randomly with Potting Soil Archival ink...

and a few of the smaller Patchwork Pieces images with Potting Soil Archival (oops...forgot to take a photo at that stage)

I then stamped the stitched line from Patchwork Pieces with Black Archival and.added Washi Tape from my stash. I fixed some Eclectic Elements Melange fabric on to card...cut a few small sections out to add to the canvas. I used the Misti again to stamp the Sewing Blueprint images with Black Archival on to the canvas. I had to reink and stamp 3 times until I got the really crisp black impression I wanted.

and again on to the card covered with Eclectic Elements fabric and cut out. I stamped the cotton reel on to sticky-back canvas and coloured with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink...cut out the thread section from the Eclectic Elements Card...coloured the needle with a Silver Pen and fixed in place with 3D foam.

I created a hole in the eye of the needle and threaded it with twine decorated with sequins and a Wire Pin.

I die cut flowers and leaves using Plush Blooming Heart dies from scraps of White Substrate Sheet and Linen and DenimTextile Surfaces...coloured the white one with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and stamped the linen one with the stitched border from Patchwork Pieces inked with Potting Soil Archival

I stitched the flowers and leaves with contrasting thread (a task done whilst watching TV)...cut out individual flowers from Prima Plumeria Floral Lace..fixed them all in place using a hot glue gun...added Memo Pins and sequins to the centre of the flowers.

I added a Trinket Pin threaded with twine...created splatters with Black Soot and Picket Fence Distress Paints using a small paintbrush...added some shadow around the Washi Tape with the Walnut Stain Distress Marker...added highlights with Dylusions White Paint Pen...coloured the edge of the canvas with the Black Soot Distress Paint dabber and finished off with Idea-ology Small Talk Stickers.

You can find all the products I used over at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp online store...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 all 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

And don't forget the...

you still have time (2 days left) to get crafting with your kids...grandkids...nieces or nephews

CLICK HERE to join in the fun

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all make this week

Have Fun & Happy Crafting

Hugs Kath xxx

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