Clean and Simple

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thank you for joining us for the Christmas To Die For Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher

This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

This week we are showcasing Concord & 9th Products.  You don't have to use them for the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

When choosing products for our DT card I always try to get something that I know I would use again. This Mistletoe die from Concord and 9th I knew would be a good addition to my craft room.

 Initially my first thought was to colour the die cut which would be very unusual for me to do. Time was against me and I went for the striking red and white that also looked elegant too.

I actually cut twice and cut some 3D Foam to fit the slim and wasn't that brilliant matching up but it did look more natural. My mistletoe berries I used Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls since there was quite a few berries.

Although there is bow on the main die you get a separate bow which you could cut out in a different colour but since only red would suit my card and it would disappeared into the red backing card I made it in white.

All that was left was a fabulous sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Christmas Toys and it had to be stamped in Versamark and WOW White embossing powder. I did use a dust buddy first before stamping it helps the white powder not sticking where it shouldn't.

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting 

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too.

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

I in the middle of two busy weekends, last weekend started on Friday to the Historic Docks Victorian Christmas Fair, Saturday I had a crop, Sunday I took it easy and on Monday I went to the Making of Harry Potter in the Snow. I'm having a week of card making and taking it easy ready for the another busy weekend and then life turns to normal till Christmas I hope.

Packaging

The new challenge on Everybody Art Challenge is for packaging wasn't quite sure what that meant but I hunted down for my Sizzix Matchbox die and made three boxes.

Found some gold ribbon to hold them together. Rather than a gold bow I found my Creative Expression Ivy die to cut out Ivy so it could drape over the sides. In a different green I used a Holly die, I think possibly my holly could be Paper Smooches, its not Memory Box because the ones I have, have faux stitching.
To finish I some red berries pearls.

I was really pleased how it turned but its tiny and rather than put a present in the boxes it would be ideal to hang on the tree.

RSVP

My daughter wanted to send her friend an RSVP for her wedding even though the bride already had a yes on her answer list. DD wanted bunnies on the card they were even on the wedding invitation.

To start with I tried to think of a rabbit stamp without Easter eggs, when I realised I had the long stamp with five bunnies in flower pot and two of the bunnies were looking at each other and the idea for my card came to me.

Yes that is a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle and the grass is MFT with some brought flowers from Hobbycraft but did speed things up a bit. I cut the bunnies and once I had cut the letters from a Memory Box Alphabet die I worked out where they would be placed. Really pleased how it turned out.

He Still Got It

I need a couple cards one for man and one for a boy, both had to be made specially since I had use all my male cards in bag. Add the fact I've been busy and will continue to busy for a couple of weeks means CAS card.

I used the brilliant He's Still Got It from Mo Manning, I like the fact my card can be pants but Mo's images always saves my card.

The papers are Doodlebug and my fishtail banners are made using a square punch. The little dots are made with 1/4 inch punch and embossed to give a rounded look. The sentiment was stamped using a Paper Smooches stamp, love the fun font they use.

I must try and remember to schedule my PB post, I'm going to a Victorian Christmas Market at the Historic Dockyards at Postmouth on Friday. Have an all day crop on Saturday but possibly won't be all day for me. Monday sees me going up the M25 to Harry Potter World. The rest of the week will be simple that resting because next weekend I'm going up North to see my BiL.

Believe

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thank you for joining us for the Christmas Critters Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Christmas To Die For

Use any die cut on your creation and if you don't have one you can use a punch instead. The main thing is to make something for Christmas and have fun!

We would also like to wish all of our friends in the United States a Very Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you have a lovely time with your family and friends.

This week we are showcasing our very own  Simon's Exclusive Products.  You don't have to use them for the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

I've worked out my settings on my camera is wrong or I've reduced the pixels too low because when I make the cards large they're all fuzzy. This is my busy time at the moment and I've got to get well in advanced with my DT cards along with my Christmas Cards, with that in mind and with the help of Simon Says Stamp dies I made some Clean and Simple cards.

It just so happens I have the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Believe die and stamp Set, this set will work all the year round, in fact its coming with me on Saturday to the Scrapbooking Crop I go to. I have the perfect picture for the die. I used the Simon Says Stamp Aubrey and the tiny snowflakes are Simon Says Stamp Stitched Snowflakes

I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Rectangles, this set get so much use.

I originally used Memory Box Star of Wonder but since we are showcasing Simon says Stamp made the others using snowflakes. I cut the stars and snowflakes out of silver foil card and I stamped the sentiment using  a grey inkpad.

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting 

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too.

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

Winter Fairy

Its sketch time this week at Everybody Art Challenge, I had to move the image mat slightly to work with the image.

The papers are some old Penny Black ones and I've used some dies which are slightly larger than nestablities to make my background circle. It just so happened the snowflake border arrived in my my craftroom along with the replacement of my Stitched Banners, the missing ones have never been found.

You know I love this sentiment from Simon Says Stamp and the glitter swirl is using glitter card and a Penny Black die. There was no point adding much more because the you wouldn't see the pretty snowflakes on the patterned card.

Flippin' heck I forget to say that my image is Winter Fairy Halla from Mo Manning

Christmas Tags

I failed miserably at the beginning of the month with the Anything BUT a card for this months Penny Black Saturday Challenge. It's still a bit of cop out but for the mid month reminder I've made some tags!!!

I first cut out the tags using Simon Says Stamp Dressed Tags die till I was bored. I actually used a stamp a ma jig to stamp the Penny Black Snowflake and Holly because I wanted to stamp part of the image and leave enough space to write on. I stamped using a green inkpad and used my Polyochromos to colour in circular motion because the inkpad wasn't the right type to use sandsador and paper stubs.

Here's a link to a card with the stamp in its entirety and here is a link to a card I made that inspired my tags.

That is pretty much it, just added some red gingham ribbon and 15 tags done. I've made these for the Christmas Fair at Queen Elizabeth Nursing Home next week.

The staff really make this special not only for visitors but the residents love the party atmosphere. Although the funds raised goes to charity my sister is having a stall and the money raised will be for residents activities. My sister is a volunteer helper so more residents can join in the activities so she knows how much a few more pounds to their small budget would be gratefully received.

Tim Holtz Treeline

I've busy of late but not with making cards, yes we have been Christmas Shopping and we are almost done. This is because in a weeks time I have so many things going on we know I will suffer after its all done.

So in between time I've been trying to keep up with DT cards and making Christmas Cards. It just so happens that I go my hands on Tim Holtz Tree Line die  and make a few quick cards. Well it would be quick if I didn't decide on using the snow falling stamp on the Be Joyful and  WOW white embossing powder.

Once the snow was done it was fairly easy to put them together add my favourite sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Christmas Toys. Using fun foam I cut out the Aubrey Snowflake and the using the blue card cut out one of the Stitched Snowflakes.

I made about 6 of these, that is usually my limit, wonder what I can do next that will be as quick.

Thanks

We are Blog Hopping on Mo's Dream Team and this month the theme is Thanks. I decided to use the Girl with Sign with the idea of stamping the sentiment inside the box easier said then done. I had to hunt through loads of old stamps till I found one that fitted. Next time I will work it out how to do it in the sign before printing out.

The papers are Echo Park, the sketch is a Splitcoast Stampers SC611 but I added a bit ribbon and some flowers. The flowers are a bit of an experiment but I think I will try with a small snowflake in the centre next time.

So if you been Hopping with us then you should arrived from Julie and now you need HOP, SKIP and JUMP over to Daria.

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thank you for joining us for the Thanks/Thanksgiving Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Christmas Critters

This week we are showcasing Stampendous Products.  You don't have to use them for the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

  

Remember to click on the person's name to see all of the details and leave these wonderful girls some comment love

I'm stalking the postman, my Simon Says Stamp parcel with the Stitched Banners I've brought to replace the ones I've lost are in it and I so wanted to use them for this card whats the betting it will come today.

So today Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge are showcasing Stampendous and how could I resist this Wonderous Christmas Kitten.

I used the Simon Say Stamp Stitched Squares to give my Kitten a frame to put his paws on. The papers are Doodlebug Here comes Christmas. I've used the Simon Says Stamp Wavy Scallop Border to give interest and hide my join of my two papers.

Using the green paper I stamped the holly of the kitten to paper piece the leaves on the hat and I used Memory Box Stitched Holly Leaves.

Instead of using my favourite Christmas Sentiment in a Stitched Banner I used the Simon Says Stamp Winter Snow die with fun foam and the wishes are from Christmas stamp set. To finish I used some glitter on the hat and pom pom.

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting 

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too.

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

Santa

Oh dear who forgot to photo my card for today and had to wait till it was daylight this morning to take it. Better late than never.

Its a Santa Challenge this week on Everybody Art Challenge, I thought by using this old wooden stamp that has been collecting dust would make a quick card. So why did I think watercolouring with inkpads would be a good idea. Had to wait till it dried before matting and layering.

Found some old papers in the same box as Santa is was only right to use it up. I added some pearls to the image not sure if that worked. Thankfully Martha Stewart punch is still cutting just to make my little holly corner.

To finish a bit of ribbon and a flat bow, fingers crossed it will go in standard post.

Pop over and check out the challenge blog. Meanwhile I shall be making Birthday cards I have a couple that have got to be done since they are for male cards and I've used all the men ones in my ready to use pile.

Scrapbooking

The last couple of layouts I made at the retreat, the one above is of Hubby and myself at the my nephew's Wedding. I had to add the pink because of my pink top. The first row of hearts are on the actual scrapbooking paper so I carefully cut the tops so I could slide the photo mat underneath them.

This was a sketch challenge at the retreat, the photo of Gt nephew's first birthday, the papers are Echo Park. The large inksplat is Tim Holtz, the smaller ones and spray are Stampin Up gorgeous grunge.

There's no more layouts in my drafts but in a couple weeks I'm off to an All Day Crop so there maybe a couple more before the year ends!

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

The trend at the moment is for small cute images but before all the companies old and new started this we had Penny Black. This little chap in his walnut bed is quite a small wooden stamp.

I'm not sure who created the sketch its one of many on my card sketch board on Pinterest but this one worked perfectly with my Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle frame. The snow falling embossing folder is an old Cuttlebug one, the papers are some old Doodlebug. The holly I think is Poppystamps die, the leaves are cut separately and even though there was die for berries I used some small red pearls.

Nearly forgot my bit of Doodlebug twine and a bit of glamour dust on the light of the candle.

Christmas Fairy

I was worried about taking a photo of my card, its been dark dank and dreary again and flipping cold. I had to wait various times first for the glue on all my layers dried, then the glossy accents and glitter before added the flowersoft and fun flock mixture.

For an experiement I didn't cut out the pom poms just flowersoft mixture guess I won't be doing that again. Luckily Mo's gorgeous Winter Fairy Talva saves the day and she is a massive favourite of mine, wouldn't be Christmas cards without her. You used to be able to get the Penny Black stamp but I think you would have a hard time finding it.

The papers are some old Echo Park ones and in RL they aren't that dark but hey ho just blame the camera. The snowflakes are cut from Fun Foam and are from Simon Says Stamp, along with the winter sentiment again cut fun foam. The wishes I found on an old stamp.

I may try again to take a photo if only to make her outfit match the papers which it does in RL.

Thanks

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thank you for joining us for the Thinking Of You Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher

This week the challenge is

Thanks/Thanksgiving

This week we are showcasing Tim Holtz Products.  You don't have to use them for the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them used.

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

A friend of my showed me a technique using a baby wipe and reinkers. To make it a less messy I placed my baby wipe in a plastic container, if it has a lid even better because once its been used you can put the lid on and get on with your card.

So I used three colours of Autumn re-inkers a red, green and brown  and put random drops on the baby wipe. I didn't go too made with the brown but one of the things about using this technique its very random and no two cards will look the same.

I use Tim Holtz Leaf Prints which is ideal for the technique and I added some random ink splats by using Wplus 9 stamps.

The Stitched die is from Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Shapes that I used once the the stamping was dry. It just so happened the November Card Kit arrived with a fabulous sentiment set inside called Thankful Heart which was a great finished touch.

To finally finish I've used the Avery Elle Sweet Scallops.

Here's my failure, I used the Simon Says Stamp thanks die about three dies and layered them together to make sure it showed up. Obviously the less is more theory works here.

Bells

After all the hunting for a image with bells for the new Everybody Art Challenge, I then promptly forget to photo the card yesterday after I been to the Doctors.

Anyway if you haven't guess yet it is an old Penny Black and these Hedgies are a large wooden stamp and I had to put them on a long card.

I've hunted out my all my Christmas papers some are really old like this set with no manufacture details long gone.

There was much you could fit into the card and used some gold ribbon and made some gold poinsettias from Simon says Stamp poinsettias parade. I wish I had worked out something better for the sentiment but in RL its quite easy to see but the camera has almost faded it out.

Hubby is going to have a go at cleaning the oven and I will making sure I keep well out of the way.

Wedding Layouts

Last week you saw the Pocket Pages for my nephew's wedding, this week I'm posting a couple of normal size layouts.

I've used the same papers from Simple Stories and an awful lot of die cutting. The above layout especially have a lot with my floral spray.

I've an old MFT swirl I think its called divine but don't hold me to that, my favourite leaves from Memory Box Tender Fern and Fresh Foliage The daisies are again from MFT along with the scallop frame.

An awful lot of die cut hearts from Simon Says Stamp.

It was really difficult to decide what I wanted to do with this amazing photo. In the end I used the Tim Holtz Flowers stem stamps and dies. I also used the Gorgeous Grunge from Stampin Up. The corner is from Spellbinders but cut twice and stuck together to give it some depth.

The title is cut from Storybook using the cricut, cut twice and stuck together. It was really hard to step away but less is more!

Whoops

It's a new challenge on Penny Black Saturday Challenge but you won't find my card there because someone had a serious senior moment or it could wishful thinking but the challenge is for Anything but a card and not Anything Goes.

So as you can see here's my CARD. The little mouse is from a clear set from Penny Black called Jolly Friends. I think the sketch could be Retro Sketch it seemed a good idea but there's a bit too much white and maybe a smaller card would be better.

The papers you should know by now are Doodlebug Here comes Christmas, think I better get another one. The snowflakes are Simon Says Stamp Aubrey and the Stitched Snowflakes.

The sentiment is Simon Says Stamp Christmas Essential which I haven't bothered to put away and is on a clear stamp block ready to be used.

I'm of to a crop tomorrow morning hopefully Mr Blogger plays ball with this schedule post. I'm not scrapbooking though I'm taking my colouring pencils with some Christmas images and my crocheting if I need a break from colouring.

25 Tags of Christmas

Simon Says Stamps are one of the companies that has sponsor this event and ask the Design Teams to contribute if they can.  I am a bit worried my photography skills are rubbish and dressing my card photo area is non existent, so I found my Santa pepper pot to give me a hand. (it still not very professional)
                                          
I did like how my tag worked out and it would have been quick but you see those dots in the top of the tag I only die cut them specially to be stuck in the holes. I did make it easier by putting doublesided tape on the back of the red card but they are really tiny and for speed I won't be doing that again, especially the last one disappeared and I had to cut another lot to finish.

My tags are Stitched Dress Up Tags and you can't go far wrong using red and white. I used same inkpad and gold powder as below to stamp the Simon Say Stamp Christmas Toys sentiment which is a favourite of mine.

Now for quickness I used the new Poinsettia stamp and die set using an Versamark inkpad and gold embossing powder I made two flowers. One I cut using the die and the other to cut round to layer on top.

I used a pen to round my petals, stuck the bottom one in the centre to the tag and put some 3d foam squares, I actually cut them in half and placed one in the centre of each petal and used small bit of American craft red tape in the centre, this helps to lift petals. To finish some red pearls or white ones that you can colour with copics and some gold twine I found in my stash.

I've just discovered there's a chance to win $50 click here to Tracey's blog to discover how.

Toyshop Helper

Now I'm in two minds about this card, don't get me wrong I do love how it turned out and you can't go far wrong with a Mo Manning image. Normally I would get my Flowersoft and Fun Flock mixture for his hat but decided to leave it alone, I even didn't put any shading on the white just left it as it is.

Of course the sweet chap is Toyshop Helper from Mo and he looks fab layered up but boy was there was a lot pieces. The paper on the side is Doodlebug and the my Holly leaves are Penny Black ones from a few years back. Finished off with the Martha Stewart punched Holly and quite a few red pearls.

I also added this card to the blog post on the DP2 Challenge there is a new Anything Goes challenge that starts today.