Baby Giggles

As soon as the word die I was waiting for arrived in my craft room, it needed to be used and since I had Mo's Happy image coloured up I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

The papers are some old scrapbooking ones from Pebbles but I cut them up into 6inch squares because I felt they would get used more as card making. I paper pieces his nappy so it matched the papers.

I used MFT Stitched Scallop Circle Frame, the scallop border is from Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders 4 and the corners are La LaLand but not sure if it still available.

The stars are from Simon Says Stamp Stitched Bundle of shapes and the sentiment is the die I was waitting for from Simon Says Stamp Welcome Little One.

Swans

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Sparkle and Shine Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
This week the challenge is

Anything Goes  

We are showcasing My Favorite Things  Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.
As always the lovely Heidi and team Simon will be giving away a $50 Voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store ! 

I couldn't wait for this challenge because we are showcasing My Favourite Things and my Splendid  Swans have been waiting patiently to be used. I even got the dies even though I didn't use them for the reeds but stamped directly onto my card.

So my background, you've guessed it I've used Oxides and with the smooching technique.  Which is smooch the inkpad on a craft mat, spray with a mister, then lay different pieces of card until all the ink as gone. Some you will like some you won't, I still use the ones I don't like for example that what I used for the leaves on the reeds.

Once my oxide background is dry, I cut using two of the Stitched Rectangles from Simon Says Stamp. You could raised one part to make a frame but I knew I was stamping the reeds and thought it would look better.

I stamped the swans three times, one for the base and cut out using the die, one for the whole body which I fussy cut out and  I embossed the back to give it a slight curved look. Finally the third one was for the wings.

I used the Simon Says Stamp Picture Book Sky Background and the sentiment was made with the You from the I love you die and the Love both from Simon Says Stamp but I'm pretty sure you could just miss out the I and save some pennies to buy something else.

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

Giddy Up

I'm so grateful to Facebook that allows me to keep up with my nephew's progress. I'm still scrapping 2015 and this little chap is a proper boy now.

My papers are so old, initially I think they were brought to make a mini book, but happy to use it for this lovely chap.  The white journalling words I think are Tim Holtz ones. Boy card or Layout stars work out fine.

Croc

I love the Picture Book animals from Simon Says Stamp, they are so much fun. I actually blended some Oxides to make my Crocodile. I'm pretty sure the main body is Lucky Clover but the yellowy green could be Twisted Citron.  Note to self make a note of the colours.

Its the same with the blues could be Broken China and Salty Ocean. I saw someone's card using the Picture Book Sky Background with white clouds overlapping, loved that idea wish my brain wasn't like a sieve and remembered who did this.

I decided to use the Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders 4 die to make a fancy waves. All it need now was a sentiment I used the Simon Says stamp Happy die and stamped the Birthday using the Simon Says Stamp Happy stamp set, I actually keep the two together.

The latest Simon Say Stamp Fluttering By has a Lion and Squirrel in their latest Picture Book dies, my craft wallet couldn't afford the Otter as well, anyway they arrived yesterday but the sunshine is calling me I wonder how long I can resist.

For a Special Nephew

For some reason my Gt Nephew wanted an Army party, I wanted my card to be in the same theme. The image wasn't a problem I used Mo's Soldier Boy fulfilled that.

I had no paper even what I found on google images didn't really go with the image I had already coloured in. So in the end out came the Oxides I used the Twisted Citron and possibly Peeled Paint also maybe Walnut Stain but don't hold me to those colours several cards have been made since.

I used Simon Says Stamp Big Wishes for my sentiments and their Bundle of Stitched dies for my heart and star. The fence is an old one from MFT not sure if its still available.

I found the number and the today already cut out in my random cut numbers. I have this box because I refuse to cut the number dies individually rather let them fall apart from use.

I having to be very productive I have loads of events in May that need cards, plus my DT work and we away in May too. Now the weather as improved to Summer looks like maybe we skipping Spring altogether.

Glitter Pens

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Add Some Texture Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
This week the challenge is

Sparkle and Shine  

We are showcasing Tonic Studio Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.
As always the lovely Heidi and team Simon will be giving away a $50 Voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store ! 

What do you do when you have quite a few of the stamped centre stars of the Simon Says Stamps Centre Cut Star Background use them of course. How to make them glitter after you stamped them onto white card use Tonic Glitter Pens, I've used the Midnight Shadows and used two blue coloured ones.

I had the Blue Oxides Background already made and I used the Simon Says Stamp Wonky Rectangles. Once done it needed a sentiment and the the Simon says Stamp Shine On has perfect ones to chose from. Now that I decided which sentiment I stamped with Versamark and used Simon says Stamp Silver Embossing Powder.

I needed some more stars I could have gone for some glitter card but what if you've used your last sheet. I cut out the Simon Says Stamps Stacked Stars, most of the stars have to poked out so before I did I coloured them with silver glitter pen that came with the set.

Now my wonky frame need a bit of silver to layer onto no glitter paper no problem. I cut the paper to the size I wanted and coloured with  the silver glitter pen a couple centimeters or if you're not metric about 1/4 inch all the way round.

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

Crochet

Yes I making another baby Rainbow Ripple Blanket but I call the Baby Star Blanket. I've lost count how many I've made, you can tell by the colours that the gender isn't known.

Of course I making a matching comforter but I have two to make because I want to make a gift to an acquaintance

.

It all stopped for these tiny booties and mittens, apologies for the yellow photo but they were quickly photo because they have been given away. They are for a premature baby that as recently be born at 32 weeks. I added my chapstick to help give you some idea of the size they weren't that difficult but knowing how tiny the baby is was very difficult to visualise.

This is a new bag for my wheelchair cushion, my first attempt many years ago the cushion kept falling out and it annoyed hubby so I finally managed after promising him for years to make another.

I was going to make a button to close the flap but in the end I put some poppers on. Slightly better version than the last one.

Black and White

Simon says Stamp latest release is called Fluttering By and if you love butterflies you  will love this release.

I was lucky to receive Centre Cut Star Background, it so reminded me that many years ago and I do mean many of medallion stamps. Where we cut out different layers and this background stamp called out to me to do the same.

I actually only coloured in with a black copic pen the little semi circles border and the second border on the large square. I cut out the middle Star and the middle couple of layers are the same level as the rest of the card. When I come back from swimming I'll add another photo to try and show the layers.

Black and white make very striking cards and love how it turned out and I decided to make a black and white sentiment which is very much on trend ( see I can be trendy) The sentiment is from Simon says Stamp Shine On stamp set embossed with WOW opaque Bright White.

Now if you love to see some gorgeous inspirations there is a Blog Hop today at 12 in the UK or 8 ET in the US of course if you can wait there was a blog hop yesterday information will be on the Simon Says Stamp Blog. It is on the blog where you can inspiration on previous release and there are galleries where you can load your Simon says Stamp card.

Yesterday I went to my Slimming World group, I finally got my 3 stone certificate which I have slowing been chipping away the last couple of years and a bit. Which means I have lost 4 stone altogether when I started my weight loss journey many years ago. Now I have to decide how much more I should lose.

April Fairy

She's not really called April Fairy but she is the image that Mo as chosen for us to use for the Facebook challenge. She is called Lydia and is only two dollars.

These papers are some Penny Black ones not sure if they are still available, just checked its called Summertime and I found it still available on Simon Says Stamp.

While looking for a card from 2012 for a crafter who wanted some help and discovered my love of a lace border and how I made a flower spray on nearly all my pretty cards. So it inspired me to have a  one today. My flowers are MFT Upsy Daisy but I think that's retired now along with La LaLand Filigree corner die. I finish up with using a Poppy Stamp Leaf die but I had trim it so it wouldn't over power my flowers.

Had a really busy weekend with a Scrap Cafe Crop and the lovely Jean one of the card ladies who had been very poorly since Christmas came in to say Hello.

Sunday Hubby to took myself as well as my Sister and friend Nikki to Ally Pally bit of a shock I came home with money, never heard of before. I was very conscious I had a pile of new goodies from the little Bracknell Craft show still on my desk waiting to be used. It was even smaller than last April so sad.

Add some Texture

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Happy Birthday Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Add Some Texture 

We are showcasing Tim Holtz  Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.
As always the lovely Heidi and team Simon will be giving away a $50 Voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store ! 

To start with I made the backgrounds that were needed to make the card using the smooching technique with Oxides. First with blues, then I made another with purples and any white space I blended some more oxides. Didn't have to do green found one I had made previously.

After they had dried, I used Simon Says Stamp Time for Wine stamps and stamped into my purples oxides and the green for my leaves. I also stamped them into white card and used the Time for Wine dies to cut them out. This would give me a white border but also the stamped parts would help me to layer better.

I then put them to one side while I went back to my blue background. First off I cut my frame using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles dies this helped to work out what needed covered up. I then used the Tim Holtz Bricked Stencil and Dreamweaver White Embossing Paste.  I did tried to make it not so straight but that did work out. Once it was dried I used I put the stencil back on and used Tim Holtz Blending Brush with the oxide to highlight my bricks.

I laid my frame on the dried card and then placed my wine bottle, glass, grapes and leaves where I thought was pleasant to the eye. I then decided it needed a sentiment and I love this tiny one on the Simon says Stamp Sketch Ranunculus and it fits in the small Simon Says Stamps Stitched Banner Dies.

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

Wisley in Autumn

It's really difficult to make a layout for scenic photo's but I do like how this turned out. The papers are a collection I think it could be My Minds Eye but don't hold me to that.

The fishtail banners are cut by using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banners and cut down or hidden behind the photos. The leaves are Impression Obession Leaves dies somehow I've managed to lose one of the dies which forced me to buy some magnetic sheets for my dies.

The scallop border hidden under everything is a large daisy border punch from Martha Stewart but only half as been used.

The wooden letters are possibly American Crafts and the other letters are from a Simple Stories pack.

Hubby is taking my sister, friend and myself to Ally Pally today, makes it tricky to spend my craft pennies but I will have to convince him their essentials!

Santa Stop Here

Look what I found in my drafts, he must have been hidden away somewhen in December. Those who love Lily of the Valley will recognise James the bear.

The papers are of course Doodlebug but I think possible two or three years old. I've used a MFT grass die for my icicles and their Wooden fence die. The Mini Snowflakes are Lawn Fawns and the Stitched Squared Mat  is a die set from Simon Says Stamp.

Finally the sentiment I do believe is Lily of Valley stamps but I think they have discontinued their actual stamps.

Boo and Tulips

Mmmm I haven't seen any tulips in the garden yet but I did notice my Magnolia is trying flower. So for the time being I will settle with Mo's Boo and Tulips, I do think Boo the kitty is so cute and if you decide to make a white kitty very little colouring.

Yet the leaves and tulips made it a bit tricky to layer but I think its worth it.

The papers are left over old Doodlebug which I used to paper piece the vase and the frame is MFT Stitched Scallop Circle. The sentiment is a Simon says Stamp Birthday Messages but I used my old Stampin Up oval punches.

To finish I made a flat bow, fingers crossed this will go normal post.

Birthday Butterflies

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Anything Goes Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
Before moving on to the challenge we would like to remind you that we have a Design Team Call. If you are interested in joining us then CLICK HERE for more details!

This week the challenge is

Happy Birthday!

We are celebrating our 9th birthday this week so its time for a special celebration!! 🎉
The last 9 years have flown by so quickly and I know that many of you have been joining in with the challenges side the very beginning! This challenge would not be here without YOU and your support. So we would like to say a HUGE thank you and give you the opportunity of winning not one but one of NINE $50 Gift Vouchers to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store How AWESOME is that!!

We are showcasing our very own Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.

Gosh I've been with the team for nine years and I still feel maybe I'm not good enough, for example my card is quite simple but I love how it turned out even if I'm still crooked photographer.

Of course you probably guess I made the card with Oxides, Mermaid Lagoon, Squeezed Lemonade and like yesterday I think the other colour is Picked Raspberry  The background was made with a blending tool and I cut out the Simon says Stamp Happy Birthday sneakily behind the Simon says Stamp Stitched Rectangle white mat.

The Simon says stamp Clear Stamp Beautiful Day butterflies were stamped with Versamark and WOW opaque Bright White power onto a smooched oxides in the colours above, I then fussy cut them. I have quite a few gems in my stash but you can use Nuvo Crystal Drops in whatever colour you wish Simon has a rainbow of colours.

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