August Butterflies

I'm sorry but I absolutely love Simon Says Stamp Modern Rose Background and I'm sure it will be in stock soon. I made two more cards with the stamp, the first card I stamped the background twice and used one of them to make my modern rose butterflies using Simon says Stamp Adeline Butterfly die.  To finish I used the Simon says Stamp Birthday Messages and the hearts are from the other stamp set from the August kit called Mandy's Flowers.

I cut out a banner die out of a piece of card that was already measured up for a card front by mistake. Rather than using it for scraps I kept it, trimmed it down a touch and used the background stamp over it. Stamped the same sentiment as the card above on a plain white card and stuck the rose one on top.

This time I used the Simon says Stamp Stitching Butterflies but I prefer the Adeline butterfly's body so I used that one rather the ones with the stitching butterflies.

Updated Version

There is a card of mine that seems to be always popping up on Pinterest, after a bit of checking this card comes from 2012 in March. I discovered I had actually cased this card.

When I saw the stamp in the Simon Says Stamp August kit which unfortunately has now sold out and even the individual Modern Rose stamp is now out of stock but I would use the notify when back in stock key that's how I brought their bicycle die which is now winging its way over the Atlantic as we speak. There is no reason why another large background stamp could work the same way.
I used a stamp positioner and stamp the 6inch stamp.

Instead of making my own strips by measuring and cutting, I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners. I cut with the one up from the smallest and cut five full banners, then using the die again but cutting the straight end of the die and now with what would be the waste. I lined the straight ends across my card. This allows for the proper length banner cut down to the size I want.

I made the flower banner using Simon Says Stamp Stitched borders and added a bit of green card, you can use ribbon. My large flower is Simon says Stamp Stitched Daisies and it's leaves are Forget me Knot flowers.

Using the banner across the card trim the small ends to fit underneath it. Then add the full length  banners trimming the ends so they too are hidden under the flower banner. Leave enough room for a sentiment I've used the Simon says Stamp Thoughtful Messages  and the hearts are from the other stamp set in the kit called Mandy's Flowers and at this moment still available to order and look out for the dies they are coming soon.

We had rain yesterday can't believe how excited everyone was, thankfully the temperature as dropped a bit, maybe I'll get more time in my craft room and PC.

Friendly Folic

Simon says Stamp have a new release called Friendly Frolic and I was lucky to received a stamp set from them called School Bus Messages.

Over here we don't have school buses they are usually coach companies so I decided to colour my bus not in the obvious yellow and since its a good size I paper pieced it and coloured the lights and chrome etc with copics.

I used the Doodlebug Sweet Summer and I stamped my bus twice, its no obvious here but the bonnet is raised from the back of the bus, I also added a bit of acetate for a windscreen. I had to have somebody inside my bus and I decided to used the Picture Book Monkey, Zebra and Giraffe.

I very carefully covered the words school before stamping an extra bus on white card and I cut the sign out and stamped Simon Says Stamp Everyday Messages and stuck over the school bus sign.

Once my bus was made with its passengers it needed a road and this wonderful bit of patterned paper was in Doodlebug pack. I used the Simon Says Stamp Slopes and Hills twice and placed it on the road coloured card either side making sure it was wide enough for the wheels. I added the little Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banner with an Everyday message to introduce a bit more blue.


Check out the Simon Says Stamp Blog, there is loads on inspiration in the galleries not just the latest release.

The South East of UK heatwave is suppose to cool down after today fingers crossed, I want it sunny but with a nice 24c with a light breeze. Meanwhile off to cool off this morning with the Friday Swimmers Disabled Club.

Beary Merry Christmas

I can confirm making Christmas cards in hot weather doesn't make you cooler even though Mo's Beary Merry Christmas image is soooo cute. I decided on a white and red card for some reason I thought it would speed me up. It was when I also decided to used Splitcoast Stampers Card sketch 705 that things started to get tricky.

I only had one piece of dotty red, there was just a bit left to used Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners to make my straps. I had to make used of some white card which I embossed with the Taylored Expression Snow Falling. My frame is MFT but cut from a different bit of white to help to show up the white layers that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

The sentiment is LOTV stamp not sure is available anymore and I framed it with MFT circle scallop frame. To finish some Simon Says Stamps Maryanne Snowflake and Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes, all cut from fun foam.

Anything Goes

CLICK HERE if you would like to go directly to the Kids Vacation Challenge You have until this Sunday 6pm EST to join in!

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

Anything Goes

We are showcasing Art Impressions Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your creative makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

The problem with Art Impressions is knowing which image to use, when its for a challenge you need to buy a new one and again I couldn't choose. In the end I brought the Office Party but the Pack Your Bags also fell into my basket.

As you can see I used Office Party but a couple of images from the other set is coloured up and waiting for me. I went for this image because I love paper piecing and add some Doodlebug 6inch papers this time I've used Hello. 

To make the card I used the Simon Says Stamp Wonky Rectangles and since I'm retired the sentiment didn't really work for me so I went to my favourite sentiments of the moment my Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Messages.

I noticed that a bit of my stamping from paper piecing was in the corner of my pattern paper, I quickly remedied this by die cutting the Simon Says Stamp Hydrangea Petals. To finish the flowers I used the small snowflakes from the Simon says Stamp Stitched Snowflakes and the waste from one of the Tim Holtz Gearhead dies for the white centres. 

Finally I decided I wasn't keen on all the white space so out came my Simon Says Stamps Holiday Shapes an essential bit of kit. You can see how tiny they are ideal for making shaker cards with. To complete the set you would also need the next size up Large Holiday Shapes.

July Kit

I had a quick play with the Simon Says Stamps July Kit its now sold out but you can still buy the One Cool Pineapple Stamp Set and Flamingo die. 

My first card is an easy peasy one, stamped the perfect sentiment for the stamped and fussy cut fish.

Ok my second card is just as easy. I stamped the flamingo from the stamp set with Versamark on the pink card, once dried I cut out with the die. Added a bit of white and black to his beak. I used the another perfect sentiment and die cut it with the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares.

The patterned paper and sequins were in the kit.

Last week the weather had cooled slightly but I had a rubbish week health wise so a Doctors Appointment as been made since they played with my pain meds I've had more off days than good. Its having a huge effect on my card making I have some lovely new stuff to play with. Now the weather as turned really hot again.

Using a Die

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

Use A Die and/or Punch 

We are showcasing Birch Press Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your creative makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I love these flowers from Simon Says Stamp called Bouquet of Thanks, it took a while for me to get my hands on them since they would sell out quickly. They are safely arrived in my craftroom along with the matching die which I also used for my base image.

I fussy cut all the individual petals and edged them with a Pumice Stone Distress Marker this hides all my rubbish cutting. I embossed the back of each petal using a large embossing ball tool, like this set.

The picture below shows have I added 3d fixers to add dimension to the petals. These are do-crafts 3d foam squares that have been cut in half and into quarters.

The picture below show why I have a base image. When I fussy cut the petals there is a little bit of the next petal, this helps to line the finished Petal in place with all the others. I add a little bit of glue at the ends that doesn't have foam squares

I added the fussy cut petals on each flower working out which one is in front.

The flower buds were made the same way but the green stem were glued on. You have to work out whether the stems need placing before the make the flower.

The actual card is fairly simple I cut the oval using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Ovals which I used some large 3d foam tape on the coloured card. My sentiment is using the Birch Press Big Hugs, I love have the background for the word makes it much easier to glue or layer onto a card.

I didn't really need the Simon Says Stamp Flickering Butterflies but tried not to use all of them just three tiny ones.

Believe

I wanted to post this card today because its the latest Freshly Made Sketch 345 and I will be in time to enter the challenge. My problem is it too hot in the dining room to download photos and edit them in the afternoon.

As soon as I saw the sketch this idea took place, mainly because there is a baggie hanging in front of me of left over die cuts from last Christmas.

The Believe die is from Simon Says Stamp and the stamped sentiment is from the matching stamp set.  I also used the MFT Stitched Fishtail Sentiments. To make my poinsettia I used Simon Says Stamp Poinsettia Parade with some Nuvo Crystal Drops Autumn Pearl. I wanted to add a bit more interest in the flower so I cut out the Pine Needle Wreath and added a couple underneath.

I knew I wanted a strip of red and white the tricky bit was finding which paper pack would I find it in. Surprising I had one piece left in the Doodlebug Milk and Cookies and since I cut a strip I will put the rest somewhere safe, I think I will repeat this card till the all the paper is gone.

Awesome Me

This as to be the quickest layout I've made, the awesome banner was already on the patterned paper which I carefully cut the banner with a craft knife so I could slip the photo in.

The circle stars were on another piece of patterned paper that I fussy cut out. I had a sheet of stripy paper had already been used so I cut a small strip. Words were from a Sticker sheet from Kaiser I think. Job done.

Skater Dude

Now and again while I'm in blogger dashboard I click on drafts to make sure I've posted everything. This time I discovered Skater Dude from Dr Digi hiding in them.

The papers are Doodlebug, I think possibly Dragon's Tail but don't hold me to that. The large sentiment stamp is from Simon says Stamps Big Birthday Wishes and the image mat is using their Wonky Frame.

The stars are mixture of Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Stitched Shapes and MFT dies. I have several number dies so not sure which ones I used here and the today die is from a random die manufacture that I brought at a craft show can't remember who.

Crochet Update

Another Rainbow Ripple Blanket with a matching comforter. I do love this colour combo for a baby whose gender is not known. The yarn is Stylecraft Special, I think the grey is called Silver and the yellow is Buttermilk.

Opps sorry about the toes I thought I had cropped them out! Another Rainbow Ripple, not keen on the colour combo but eventually I'm hoping it will look like this. I'm using both patterns since I can automatically make the Rainbow Ripple I've made so many times. Again Stylecraft Special, the red is Lipstick and the blue is Aster since I've got loads of them already.

Fred

Meet Fred do love Mo's doggie images, especially ones that I find easy to colour and layer.

I used a MFT frame and placed it on the image so it left enough room at the bottom for Fred to stand on the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banner.

The papers are some old Doodlebug and the paw-prints are Paper Smooches die. Nearly forgot the scallop border which is a very old MFT which I think could be retired now.

I think I could be stung from the first wasp of summer, which is still itching after a couple of days, lucky its not so hot and we've even forecasted showers!

Its a Parade

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

This week the challenge is

Fun In The Sun 

We are showcasing  Mama Elephant Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your fun in the sun makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I wish now I had stamped and fussy cut the whole parade, my little bear on his own looks so lonely. He is from Mama Elephant Animal Parade. It's while you fussy cut a white border round your image is when you wish you had brought the dies to match.

Hadn't a clue what to do next just know I wanted to use the little bear. I used the Echo Park Birthday Boy and the number sheet patterned paper, I used the Simon Says Bundle of Shapes, the large rectangle and the stitched strip, then when I was happy with the size of my strip I cut out a stitched square using Simon says Stamp Stitched Square dies. The stars were the Bundle of Shapes ones, this set is a really good essential piece of kit.

Goodness that all I've used, I did layer my bear, by cutting out two. One for a foot, ear, tail and paw which I stuck down on top of my main image.The second piece with the head, body, ear, paw, and leg. I embossed on the back, two foam squares one under the head and one under the body both in their centres. I glued down the ear, foot and nose which helped to give a rounded look.

It's time for our annual Simon Says Stamp Summer Vacation Kid's Challenge where we host a special challenge dedicated to our young designers! CLICK HERE or on the logo below for more info 

Beautiful Flowers

First of all a bit of an apology its bad enough that I'm not posting as often but since having pain patches I seemed to have more off days than on.

I did make this card last week but just didn't feel up to photo and resizing it but its done now. I actually used my Polychromos Pencils on the Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Flowers stamp, these are the individual flowers that came on the stamp set. The leaves come from the cluster of flowers which I didn't stamp well but the leaves were ok. Each flower and leaves were fussy cut and layered.

The background was made using the Wonky Frames from Simon Says Stamp and a dusting of Salty Ocean Oxide and I must of misted some water because my paper wrinkled but I forgot to let it dry and then place under my die boxes to weigh down the creases. That's what happens when you a cheap-skate.

Finally my sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Messages for Everyday and using their Stitched Banners. 

We've brought a black out blind for my craftroom hoping that might block out some of the heat from the window in the door. The jury is still out on that one but the weathermen said the temperature was going to drop 4-5 degrees today much more pleasant.

Duke

I had coloured Duke from Mo Manning and saw last weeks sketch on Freshly Made Sketches 343 and decided it would work out for him.

The end result is very CAS but I kind of like it. I used the Simon Says Stamp Wonky Frames to make the mat in the centre finished look. The papers are some old Lawn Fawn ones.

I had to stamp some bees to go with the one on his nose these are from Simon Says Stamp Encouraging Animals which also had the perfect sentiment on.

I've enjoyed the sunny weather but now its getting a bit much my craft room is very hot in the afternoon and evening and I think its zapped my mojo too.

Red and White

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.

This week the challenge is

Red, White and/or Blue 

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

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I love using White and Red for Christmas Cards, so I thought I would challenge myself not to make one and the one I made was more for a Wedding or an Engagement.

To make it easier to write my post my card all the products I used are Simon Says Stamp.

First up I used the Falling Hearts stencil and used it to emboss my hearts I should have done that after I used the Wonky Frames to prevent the rollers making my hearts slightly flat.

I used the Cluster of Leaves, trimming it  slightly to fit my card. My flowers are the Hydrangea Petals die with Stitched Snowflakes cut in red in the centre. I've told a lie I have used another companies product the Tim Holtz Gearhead Thinlets die, some of the gears have circles for waste and I used them for the round centres.

Back to Simon Says Stamp products I used their Love die which I cut in red as well as white. The small sentiment is from their sentiment stamps called Messages for Everday and I stamped it first and when properly dried I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners.  Finally some red butterflies using the Flickering Butterflies die.

Little did I know when I was making this card that England would play and win to the Quarter Finals.

To all my friends at Simon Says Stamp and the USA

 have a wonderful

 4th July.

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

Scrapbooking

My lovely Auntie Jane is the now my only Auntie and I know all my Brothers and my Sister think she is the best Auntie. Originally from Wales which explains the Welsh words on her cake.

I think the papers could be My Minds Eye but don't hold me to that.

I really feel I need more journaling on this layout explaining that the Afternoon Tea was a present from my daughter.

I can't believe its now July either but enjoying the warm spell which as been made pleasant with a strong breeze. It does mean my craftroom get a touch warm in the afternoon and the baby blanket I'm making which is near the end get quite warm when working with it on your lap.