Simon Says - Stamp It In STAMPtember

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 theme for this week is...

STAMP IT IN STAMPtember

As you know STAMPtember® is a very special month in the Simon Says Stamp calendar. This week we are all using some fabulous products from the latest Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember® Release. You don’t have to use them to join in with the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

I'm getting in the mood for Christmas and used the bold sentiment from Simon Says Block Alpha Words from the STAMPtember release, the beautiful snowflakes from an old favourite, Simon Says Making Spirits Bright and die-cuts from Simon Says Winter Village to create a Christmas scene.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to 4" x 5.1/2" and coloured with Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide ink.

I stamped the large snowflake from Simon Says Making Spirits Bright stamp set on to the panel, inked with Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide ink, sprinkled with Distress Frosted Crystal Embossing Powder and heat set to give a tone on tone effect.

I stamped the Simon Says Block Alpha Word image and smaller snowflakes from Making Spirits Bright, inked with Simon Says White Pigment Ink pad, sprinkled with Simon Says Detail White Embossing and heat set. I lined up the shadow stamp for the Hello word and stamped along with the smaller snowflakes, inked with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide ink..

I coloured a scrap of Distress Watercolor card with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide ink using the direct to paper technique, dried, stamped the sentiment from Making Spirits Bright, inked with White Pigment Ink, sprinkled with White Detail Embossing Powder, heat set and trimmed out the word Christmas.

I die-cut Simon Says Winter Village from Distress Watercolor card and fixed above the Block Alpha Words sentiment using Distress Collage Medium and foam squares to create dimension.

I used my favourite technique for creating dimensional snow - I added splatters of Distress Resist Spray direct from the nozzle, sprinkled with White Detail Embossing Powder and heat set. To finish I added the sentiment popped up with a foam strip and fixed the panel to a white card blank,

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

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Seasonal Sketch

Hello my friends, I'm back to share the acetate cards I made for the YouTube Live launch of Tim Holtz/Sizzix Christmas "back from the vault" release using the Vault Seasonal Sketch Thinlits. If you missed the Live, you can catch up on the new release and the amazing inspiration from the Makers over on Tim's YouTube Channel and Blog.

I scored, folded and trimmed heavyweight acetate sheets to create A2 side and top folding cards, fixed 4" x 5.1/4" panels of Idea-ology Christmas paper from my stash to the inside with strong double sided tape.

I fixed Tim Holtz Sizzix Adhesive sheets to Distress Watercolor card and Gold Idea-ology Metallic KraftStock and die-cut the flowers, leaves, berries and alphabet letters using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Seasonal Sketch Thinlits.

I fixed the gold die-cuts to the panels on the inside of the cards and fixed a panel of Distress Watercolor card on the back of the acetate card to hide the adhesive on the inside panel.

I also die-cut accents from the Gold Idea-ology KraftStock.

I coloured Distress Watercolor card with Barn Door and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, Distress Oxide inks and Distress Spritz, die-cut the base pieces and alphabet letters twice, layered to create dimension and fixed to the inside panels with Distress Collage Medium. I added splatters of Fossilized Amber Distress Spritz to the panels.

I removed the adhesive backing from the gold and white accents and alphabet letters and with the cards closed, fixed to the acetate fronts slightly offset.

Have fun when your Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault parcel arrives.

Hugs Kath xxx

Tim Holtz/Sizzix - Winter Wishes

Hello my friends, if you've just come from the YouTube Live launch of the new Christmas release from Tim Holtz and Sizzix, you'll know that we have more reimagined and resized favourites back from the Vault. If you missed the Live you can always catch up with the release and all the fabulous inspiration from the Makers over on Tim's YouTube Channel and Blog.

I created a trio of cards for the Live using the gorgeous snowflake, adorable snowman and ice skates from the Vault Winter Wishes Thinlits and the alphabet from the Vault Seasonal Sketch Thinlits.

I began by creating the backgrounds for the 3 cards. I smooshed Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink on to the media mat on my Glass Media Mat, spritzed with water and dragged an A2 panel of Distress Watercolor card through the ink, dried and tapped back in to the remaining ink droplets repeatedly, drying between layers. I trimmed Distress Black HeavyStock to create an A2 panel, added splatters of Wilted Violet Distress Spritz and Frozen Fog Distress Mica Spray to both panels and dried.

I die-cut the snowflake from the panel using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Winter Wishes Thinlits. I fixed Tim Holtz/Sizzix Sticky Grid to the bottom of the panel, arranged the alphabet letters from Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Seasonal Sketch Thinits and die-cut.

I die-cut the snowflake 3 times from masking paper and fixed to an A2 panel of Distress Watercolor card for the third background.

I blended Broken China and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks over the panel using Distress Tiny Blending Tools, spritzed with water and dried. As before, I added splatters of Wilted Violet Distress Spritz and Frozen Fog Distress Mica Spray.

I trimmed the Wilted Violet background to 4" x 5.1/4" and matted on to Distress Black HeavyStock trimmed 1/8" larger. I added the negative pieces from the centre of the snowflake back in place  using Distress Collage Medium. I die-cut the Winter Wishes snowman from Distress Watercolor card, card coloured with Broken China Distress Oxide ink, card coloured with Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink and brown cardstock, assembled and fixed above the die-cut sentiment with Distress Collage Medium. To finish I added stars and words from Idea-ology Christmas Remnant Rubs and matted on to a top folding A2 white card blank.

I fixed the die-cut the snowflake, extra snowflakes and the cut out letters from the first card to the Black Distress HeavyStock background, added another snowman, centres from the snowflake die cut from Distress Watercolor card, added an Idea-ology ChitChat Sticker. I trimmed the panel to 4" x 5.1/4" and fixed to an A2 white card blank.

I die-cut the ice skates from Distress Watercolor card, dark grey card and silver Idea-ology Metallic KraftStock, assembled and used white thread to add the laces and bows. I fixed the skates in place popped up on foam squares. I die-cut the snowflake again from the silver Idea-ology Metallic KraftStock and used the negative heart shaped centres to decorate the background. I die-cut the word Winter 3 times from Distress Watercolor card using the alphabet from Seasonal Sketch, layered to create dimension and fixed to the panel using Distress Collage Medium. I added stars and word from Idea-ology Christmas Remnant Rubs and additional splatters of Wilted Violet Distress Spritz. I trimmed the panel to 4" x 5,1/4", fixed to Black Distress HeavyStock, trimmed 1/8" larger and fixed to a top folding A2 white card blank.

I'll be back tomorrow to share the other cards I made for the Live, in the meantime, have fun with whatever you are making

Hugs Kath xxx

Hello Fall

Hello my friends, now that we are in to the BER months, there are signs that Fall or Autumn as we call it in the UK, is definitely just around the corner. There have been some happy mail deliveries in the last week or so to the Cubbyhole Goods Received Department.  I'm so excited about the new tools from Tim Holtz and Tonic Studios, the brilliant white Glass Studio Mat which has taken up residence on my workdesk, his travel size brother and the new Media Ruler with it's handy grip on the underside. Not to mention the parcel of goodies that arrived from Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember release. Yes,unless you've been abducted by aliens and whisked off to Mars, that month long exciting fun and inspirational time of the year known as STAMPtember has come around again and you can check out the release HERE.

Time to play and create a card using the Autumn Leaf Frames dies and Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink Trios from the STAMPtember release.

I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to 4" x 5.1/4", smooshed the Cabbage and Artichoke Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink Cubes on to the Tim Holtz/Tonic Studios Glass Studio Mat and spritzed with water. I dragged the panel through the ink repeatedly, drying between layers until I was happy with the background.

I die-cut the Simon Says Autumn Leaf Frames from Distress Watercolor card.

I placed the outline frame on to Simon Says Perfect Crafty Tacky Mat and coloured with the Nutmeg Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink cube using a Simon Says Round Detail Blending Brush.

I repeated the process with the two inner frames using Cabbage, Nutmeg and Allspice.

I fixed the frames to the panel using Distress Collage Medium, added the hello die cut from Distress Watercolor card, a Tim Holtz/idea-ology Chit Chat Sticker and sequins from Simon Says Mermaid Tail Embellishment Mix.

I fixed a panel of Simon Says Burnt Orange cardstock to the front of an A2 white card blank but it was a bit bright, so I dragged the Nutmeg Pawsitively Saturated Mini Ink cube around the edges and dried.

Have fun with whatever you're making.

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says - Recycle It

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 week of the month is when the team showcase one particular brand/company and this time we are using the fabulous products from Brutus Monroe. You don't have to use their products to join in the challenge but if you have them in your stash, we would love to see what you make with them.

We are also welcoming the lovely and talented Kelly B as our Designer In The Spotlight. If you haven't visited her blog before, pop over, you will be in for a real treat.

The theme for this week is...

RECYCLE IT

I created a Ghostly Halloween Party Banner from old music CD's using Brutus Monroe Watercolor Galaxy patterned paper and Alabaster White Embossing Powder, Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Spooky Spirits/Boo Crazy stamp sets and Batty Layering Stencil.

I selected 3 sheets of the Brutus Monroe Watercolor Galaxy papers to create a spooky night sky background.

I fixed the papers to the CD's using Distress Collage Medium, trimmed roughly around the edges and set aside to dry under a heavy book.

I trimmed the edges and sanded off any excess paper using Tim Holtz/Distress Sanding Disks.

I stamped the large cobweb from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Booz Crazy on to the CD's inked with Versamark ink, sprinkled with Brutus Monroe Alabaster Embossing Powder and heat set. I got my heat tool really hot and kept it moving to prevent warping the CD's.

I then delved into my stash of grommets and eyelets, those purchases made moons ago but that you know you will use someday. I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole, held my breath in case the CD shattered and fixed the grommet in place.

I applied Black Distress Texture Paste through Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Batty Layering Stencil, sprinkled with Distress Rock Candy Glitter and set aside to dry.

I stamped the ghosts from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Spooky Spirits on to Distress Watercolor card, inked with Versafine Onyx Black, sprinkled with Ranger Fine Detail Black Embossing Powder, heat set and coloured with Salty Ocean Distress Watercolor Pencil from my ink palette using a Distress Detailer Brush.

I applied Distress Collage Medium with my fingers to the bottom of the CD's and pressed teased out pieces of batting into the medium.

I fussy cut the ghosts with my trusty Mini Recoil Snips and fixed the ghosts in place popped up on black foam squares.

I stamped the sentiments from Spooky Spirits on to scraps of Distress Watercolor card, inked with Versafine Onyx Black, sprinkled with Ranger Fine Detail Black Embossing Powder and heat set. I coloured around and over the sentiments with Twisted Citron Distress Re-inker using a Distress Detailer Brush, trimmed and fixed in place with black foam squares.

I coloured a scrap of Distress Watercolor card with Crackling Campfire Distress Oxide ink and coloured Distress Rock Candy Glitter with Valencia Alcohol Ink. I sprayed the coloured card with Distress Resist Spray and coated with the glitter. I fixed Tim Holtz Sizzix Adhesive Sheets to the back of the glittered card, die-cut the stars from Tim Holtz/Sizzix Witchcraft Thinlits and fixed to the backgrounds.

To finish I added sparklywhite and silver twine from my stash to hang the banner.

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