Simon Says - Beautiful Botanicals

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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...

Beautiful Botanicals

I couldn't resist using some of the "very versatile and not just for Halloween" stamps from the new Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Halloween release, Dearly Departed, Specimen and Examination with the Deco Arch Layering Stencil and Wildflower Stems 1, one of my favourite botanical Tim Holtz/Sizzix Thinlits dies to create an Art Journal Page.

I began by trimming Dina Wakley Cotton Watercolor paper to be slightly smaller than the page in my Dina Wakley Blue Media Journal, spritzed the paper generously with water, followed by Antique Linen Distress Oxide Spray to create a soft neutral background.

I inked the floral image from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Dearly Departed with Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink and stamped repeatedly to create a tone-on-tone effect.

I applied Aged Mahogany Distress Oxide ink through the Deco Arch Layering Stencil, which I suspect is going to be a much used favourite, using a mini round blending tool.

I created a collage using Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pocket Cards fixed together with Distress Collage Medium and applied a coat of Distress Collage Medium over the top.

I added shading around the cards and along the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Crayon, smudging the colour out with my finger.

I stamped the bug from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Specimen on to the panel inked with Black Soot Distress Archival ink.

I positioned the collage element over the stamped image and re-stamped the bug several times to get a nice dark image.

I fixed the collage in place with Distress Collage Medium Matte, repositioned the Deco Arch Layering Stencil over the original stencilling and continued the stencilling on to the pocket cards.  I cleaned off the stencil, flipped it over and sprayed with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Spray, spritzed with water and pressed on to the background. I patted the stencil with kitchen towel to transfer the ink and remove any excess. I repeated over the other stencilled areas to create a monoprint effect.

Going with the rule of threes, I stamped the bug wings twice more off the edge of the paper, inked the script stamp from Dearly Departed with Versamark ink, sprinkled with Ranger Superfine White Embossing Powder and heat set.

I inked the splatters image from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Examination with Peeled Paint Distress Oxide ink, stamped randomly on the background, sprinkled with Peeled Paint Distress Embossing Glaze and heat set.

I die-cut the flowers from Distress Watercolor card using Tim Holtz Sizzix Wildflowers Stems 1 Thinlits, coloured with Distress and Distress Oxide inks using a Distress Detailer Brush

I fixed the die-cuts in place with Distress Collage Medium Matte and added Eclectic Elements Thread. I inked the ticket and text images from Specimen and Dearly Departed with Black Soot Distress Archival, stamped on to the left over die-cut papers, fussy cut and added to the panel.

I added splatters of White Gesso, an Idea-ology Optical Lens and Specimen Remnant Rubs, outlined the Dearly Departed fussy cut wording and added dots to the flowers with a Kelly Creates Fine Black Liner.

I discovered that the remnant rubs do not like Cotton Watercolor paper, probably because it is very  fibrous so I rubbed a little Distress Collage Medium over the areas with my finger to seal and once dry, they worked a treat.

To finish I edged the page with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and fixed the panel in the journal using Distress Collage Medium Matte.

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...2 pm CET to join in with a chance to win a $25 voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp Online Store.

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

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