Simon Says...Anything But A Card

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

and the theme for this week is...

ANYTHING BUT A CARD

I decided to decorate a Sizzix/Eileen Hull Journal with a floral theme to give to a friend, using Idea-ology Correspondence papers and because I wanted it to be practical, something she can use frequently, I kept the decoration as flat and un-dimensional as possible but this was definitely one of those projects that fell into the "far easier to make than photograph" category.

I started off by covering two pieces of Sizzix Mat Board with the Correspondence papers using Distress Collage Medium Matte and die cut using the Sizzix/Eileen Hull Scoreboards XL die. I find that you get much neater results if you cover the mat board before die-cutting rather than the other way round. I then covered the inside of the covers with matching papers and re-punched the holes using my Crop-a-dile.

I stamped the typewriter image from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Inventor 1 on the front cover with Hickory Smoke Archival ink to get a softer faded look.

I fixed the covers together with Ranger Multi Medium Matte and strung with 1mm black elastic which will accommodate 4 signatures or inserts which I have still to make but will probably include a couple of notebooks, a diary and calendar section and lots of pockets. You can find an excellent tutorial on how to assemble the journal, add the elastic and create inserts from Eileen Hull HERE.

I die cut the closure tab which is included on the Journal Die from mat board and Black Classic Kraft Stock and cut it in half. I attached Idea-ology Lace Trimmings to the back of the journal using Ranger Wonder Tape, threaded the lace through the holes in the tab, leaving enough to tie in a bow and fixed the tabs in place using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

Then the fun part, decorating the front cover. I die-cut different sizes of Tim Holtz/Sizzix Stacked Labels from white card stock inked with Hickory Smoke and Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide ink and Correspondence papers. I die-cut Mixed Media 5 from the Abandoned Coral frame and fixed the left over from the die to the Hickory Smoke frame.

I die-cut 3 layers for the large words from black and white cardstock using Tim Holltz/Sizzix Alphanumeric Thinlits. I die-cut small circles from Black Classic Kraft Stock and used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Gift Card Bag alphabet to cut out the individual letters.

I backed each circle with a white die-cut circle, added a flower instead of the "O" die cut from a scrap of card coloured with Abandoned Coral and Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide inks using Tim Holtz.Sizzix Funky Floral 3 Thinlits and added Idea-ology Label Letters to complete the wording. I then die-cut extra flowers and added randomly on the cover.

I spritzed the front cover with Distress Resist Spray, sprinkled on Ranger Super Fine White Embossing Powder and heat set. I added dots of Ranger Black Enamel Accents in the centre of the flowers on the Mixed Media 5 label and Glossy Accents to the centres of the Funky Floral flowers and finished off with Idea-ology Special Delivery and Numbers Remnant Rubs.

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 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