Simon Says Stamp - Frame 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

and the theme for this week is...
FRAME IT

I created an Art Journal page using Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Found Relatives and Sizzix Geo Frames Thinlits to create portraits of friends who share a love of flowers and I'm currently suffering all the symptoms of a kid in a candy store so couldn't resist using Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glazes with the Doodle Art Layering Stencil and Distress Translucent Grit Paste to create texture and interest on the background and add a hint of colour to the photos.

I began by trimming Distress Watercolor card to create a panel slightly smaller than the burlap page in my Dina Wakley Media Journal. I spritzed the panel with water and sprayed with Bundled Sage and Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide sprays to create a soft muted look. I inked the images from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Faded Type with Black Soot and Ground Espresso Distress Archival inks and stamped randomly on the background.

I applied Distress Translucent Grit Paste through the Doodle Art Layering Stencil, sprinkled the Distress Embossing Glazes randomly over the paste, tapped gently with my fingers from underneath to mix the powders and heat set until melted. You can see the yummy texture and shine in the photo below.

I die-cut the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Geo Frames Thinlits 4 times from Idea-ology BlackOut Kraftstock and twice from Idea-ology Metallic 3 Kraftstock, sanded back to reveal the silvery tones underneath and layered together to create dimensional frames.

I die-cut the Idea-ology Found Relatives using the same Geo Frames die so that the photos would fit perfectly in to the negative space of the frames.

I applied the embossing ink from the Distress Embossing Pens on to the hat, coat and dress, sprinkled with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Glazes and heated until melted.

I flicked droplets of water on to the background, sprinkled with Walnut Stain Embossing Glaze, heat set and fixed the framed photos in place with Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Foam Adhesive.

I fixed Tim Holtz/Sizzix Sticky Grid sheet to the left over scrap of Idea-ology Metallic 3 KraftStock, arranged the Alphanumeric 1" Thinlits and die-cut to create the Friends Banner.

I die-cut Tim Holtz/ Sizzix Wildflower Stems 1 Thinlits from Distress Watercolor card, coloured the edges lightly with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide ink and the centre with Fossilized Amber using Distress Blending Brushes.

I finished off by adding Idea-ology Clippings Stickers and added splatters of Ground Espresso Distress Oxide ink to the flowers.

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 Cristina, our February Designer In The Spotlight 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

Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find my affiliate and product disclosure HERE

A Spinning Plates Weekend...

Hi my friends, I don't normally post on a Sunday and as a rule the cubbyhole is out of bounds at the weekend but when your back is against the wall and you're frantically spinning plates, I suspect I may be working the midnight shift to get up to speed before tomorrow. My Grandson Brodie, the World Challenge Adventurer, is coming to stay and help out on the fund raising production line. Many hands make light work or will there be more chatting and coffee/tea/snack breaks going on than crafting. Time will tell but I've been getting a head start, scoring, folding, packing and labelling blank cards and envelopes ready to be decorated...

delving into the hidden depths of the cubbyhole and unearthing a shed load of blank gift bags...

making a start on the stamping, colouring and die-cutting for the first batch of Easter cards

and nothing is going to waste, the Distress Embossing Glaze "just having a play" panels have been used to decorate two gift bags.

The weather outside is frightful so I'm looking forward to this morning's hot date in the snug and cosy cubbyhole die-cutting some adorable bunnies. 

Enjoy what's left of your weekend, stay safe, if you're out and about and I'll see you all tomorrow to share my DT project for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

Toodle-oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx

Spring Love Art Panel...

I'm thrilled to be back on the Sizzix UK Blog today to share some love and a project I made using dies from Tim Holtz Chapter 1 release. I recycled a cake board to create an Art Panel using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bouquet, Bunny Hop, Falling Hearts and Alphanumeric Classic and Tiny Type Thinlits. You will find all the details and a step-by-by tutorial with photographs on the Sizzix Blog HERE.

Have a great weekend whatever you have planned

Toodle-oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx

Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find my affiliate and product disclosure HERE

A Fun Playtime with Distress Embossing Glazes

Happy Valentine's Day my friends, love has definitely been in the air in the cubbyhole. I've been on a mission this week to catch up with the crafty schedule but that flew out the window when the new Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glazes arrived and I'm well and truly smitten. I've been heat embossing for years but once again, my adorable Professor has released yet another innovative Distress product, coloured translucent powders which put a spin on heat embossing as we know it, taking it to a whole new level. There are so many amazing ways to use these glazes to achieve cool effects. If you missed it, you can check out Tim demonstrating the glazes and sharing lots of hints and tips at Creativation 2020 HERE.

So here's what I made on my sneaky playtime adventure yesterday afternoon

I began with two panels of  4" x 5.1/4" Distress Watercolor card retrieved from my scrap box, already decorated with Tim Holtz/Sizzix Stacked Hexagon Thinlits, die-cut from Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric, one of those great intentions projects which I ended up not making after all.

I flicked water on to the panel on the right, sprinkled with Tattered Rose Embossing Glaze, tapped off the excess and heat set until the glaze had melted. I repeated the process on the second panel, using Weathered Wood and woohoo, who knew, you could use emboss with water, mind you, you have to be quick before the water droplets dry. I then applied Distress Translucent Grit Paste through the Digits Mini Layering Stencil from Set 48 and while the paste was still wet, sprinkled randomly with Weathered Wood and Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Glazes. I gently tapped my fingers on the underside of the panel to mix the glazes  (a great tip from my adorable Professor), tapped the panel gently on my workdesk to remove the excess and heat set. The paste will bubble as you heat it but will settle and create a more textured effect when it dries.II die-cut the flowers from Sizzix Mat Board and Distress Watercolor card using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Large Stems BigZ die

I coloured with Weathered Wood and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks using Distress Blending Brushes

I spritzed the stems of the flowers with water, sprinkled with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Glazes and heat set. I repeated the process several times to create texture which is more visible in the close up photos below. I applied Weathered Wood Distress Oxide ink through the Digits Mini Layering Stencil on both panels using a Distress Blending Brush.

I added shading around the flowers and centres with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink using a Distress Blending Brush, added teeny dots with the Distress Bullet Tip Embossing Pen, sprinkled with Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Enamel and heat set. I fixed the flowers to the panels using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Foam Adhesive.

I added Idea-ology Small Talk and Big Chat Stickers, trimmed to separate the words, sanded back to reveal the white core and added a twine bow.

I matted the panels on to A2 Kraft Card blanks.

But it's back to trying to catch up with the crafty list of things to do, because it's half term holiday next week and a special someone is coming to stay, to lend a hand with the fund raising production line. Two pairs of hands are definitely better than one and I'm really looking forward to spending time with my new cubbyhole companion. 

Toodle-oo for now
Hugs Kath xxx

Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find my affiliate and product disclosure HERE

Head Over Heels In Love...

Hi my friends, I couldn't resist finishing off the Valentine's Day card making with a "head over heels in love" declaration from one of Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Snarky Cats. I also used Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Heart from the Love You More release and Tim Holtz/Sizzix Falling Hearts, Media Marks and Alphanumeric Tiny Type Lower Thinlits.

I began by trimming Distress Watercolor card to 4.3/4" x 6.3/4" and die-cut using Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Heart. I used Spun Sugar, Festive Berries and Aged Mahogany Distress Oxide inks, applied with blending brushes to create an ombre effect on the panel.

I die-cut a scrap of card using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Falling Hearts Thinlits to use as a stencil and applied Festive Berries Distress Oxide ink with a blending brush to the background and the rainbow section of the heart.

I inked the Snarky Cat with Black Soot Distress Archival ink and stamped on to the panel and a scrap of Distress Watercolor card and fussy cut.

I pieced the waste from the Rainbow Heart back in place and fixed the snarky cat to the panel popped up on Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Foam Adhesive. I die-cut Simon Says Stamp Love Shadow from Distress Watercolour card and a scrap coloured with Festive Berries Distress Oxide ink and used Mini Foam Adhesive again to create dimension.

I fixed a Tim Holtz/Sizzix Self Adhesive Sheet to scraps of plain and coloured Distress Watercolor card, a Tim Holtz/Sizzix Sticky Grid Sheet to the Sidekick Cutting Plate and die-cut the wording using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alphanumeric Tiny Type Thinlits.

I used my trusty but very mucky T Square Ruler to align the letters

and used the remaining scrap of Distress Watercolor card to die-cut white hearts using the Falling Hearts Thinlits.

I die-cut the squiggles from Idea-ology BlackOut Kraftstock, backed with a Self Adhesive Sheet, using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Media Marks Thinlits.

As an afterthought, I re-stamped the snarky cat, fussy cut only the head, coloured the eyelids using Salty Ocean Distress Marker and a Distress Detailer Brush, fixed in place with Mini Foam Adhesive and added Ranger Glossy Accents to the nose.

I finished by matting the panel on to a 5" x 7" white card blank.

Toodle-oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx

Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find my affiliate and product disclosure HERE