Sending Love

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Animal Magic 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

ADD SOME SHIMMER 

We are showcasing Lindy's Gang 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. The lovely people at Lindy's Gang sent all of the DT a parcel of samples to use, thank you so much, we really appreciate them!

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

Now most of my followers know I'm not keen on Arty stuff, love looking at it but not that great at actually doing it myself. So you can imagine how my heart dropped when Lindy's Gang DT package arrived, don't get me wrong they are extremely generous but I hadn't a clue what to do with it.

First of all I had last month's Simon Says Stamp Card Kit that I only had time to peep at, but I was keen on using the leaves and the cluster of dots from the stamp set. You can buy the stamp set on its own, its called Look for the Miracles. First of I set up three pieces of paper and stamped in Versamark and used WOW white embossing powder.

Now came the messy bit, first I used the Mermaid Seaside Magical powders and mixed a little with water (I used too much at first you only need a little bit). In this case I used the Sea Mint Green to make a colourwash across the card, I blotted the watery excess and left to dry while I made two others in case it all went pants.

Once it was dry I cut out using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles and using the Azure Sea Asters from the set to colour the leaves I had to blot it as I did it because I had made my colour really watery because I added too much powder!

I also received a couple of sprays which you add water to and in this case I used Sassy Sapphire which is in the Drop Dead Diva set. Of course the day I made this card it was pouring down with rain and I had to cover my untidy craftroom with newspaper.

Finally I added the Avery Elle  Sweet Scallop and I added the Penny Black Sending Love which I cut from fun foam. This gave me dimension without having to layer. Out of the three backgrounds two worked out really well so that wasn't bad and I decided the second card would work for a future SSS Wednesday Challenge but you will have to wait to see that one. Now you could be wondering where the shimmer is, my whole card has a lovely shimmer but of course my camera doesn't pick it up.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out

 

Arrow

I blow some dust of some of my LOTV stamps including this little chap and I though somehow I would coporate the new challenge from Everybody Art Challenge is for Arrows into it.

First of all I used the Sketch Saturday sketch but I've turned the sketch on it side and my MFT fence is the border in the centre. I then had to add arrows which are not in the sketch but they are MFT Arrow dies. I trimmed both of them to fit and still allow the the 4 Today. A few stars and the job is done but the image had some tricky small bits to layer.

Do pop over and check out the team, also hope you can join us this week.

I'm trying to get ahead with my DT cards there's a holiday on the horizon but first I have the Friday Swimmers lunch and an All Day Crop to fit in so I reckon my cards will be clean and simple for the next few weeks.

Birthday Reminder

Well we are Midway at Penny Black Saturday Challenge with our Birthday theme. I thought I would use this Penny Black Sweet Ride just cos it got hearts doesn't mean its just for Valentines.

I used the Taylored Expression Heart embossing folder since the cuttlebug hearts folder is not available anymore the hearts are a bit bigger but I think I could live with that. The papers are theirs too called Hello Happiness.

I made the sentiment circle with Simon Says stamp Stitched circles dies, along with Holiday shapes for the heart die and I believe the sentiment is theirs too.

Nearly forgot the Stitched Daisies are Simon Says Stamp as well.

Now I do have some Birthday candy and I have a Mr Linky on this POST. I noticed that I have lots of comments but you really need to use Mr Linky.

Bit of an emotional day yesterday brought some Sweet Williams flowers for my Dad's Birthday he used to grow them on his allotment when I was little. I'm pretty sure he used to sell them to someone who had market stall in North Street this was in the 60's and it wasn't something I paid attention then but remember seeing them when I used to walk up there to met him.

Among the Stars

I was really lucky to receive the Stacked Stars from Simon Says Stamp Among The Stars release since I have the Stacked Hearts which I use for Scrapbooking as well this die will make a brilliant addition to my dies.

I used it for this card using the ties from the Special Dad stamps and die set from Simon Says Stamps and with some added Doodblebug paper.

This was the first card I made, I wanted to see how well it worked, again with Doodlebug paper and Simon Says Stamps Stitched Rectangles. I added the sentiment from the Special Dad set and I also used the Smile die again from Simon Says Stamps.

Hopefully if I've linked it right clicking onto the banner should take you straight to the new release.

Meanwhile I shall be getting ready to go swimming.

Dream Team Blog Hop

Its time for our monthly Dream Team Blog Hop and my lovely team-mate 

Anneke has chosen the theme of BABIES

So which Mo's Baby image should I use there are loads and it was a tricky choice but I thought I would use one of the cry-babies she rarely gets used and she makes such a fun card.

Maybe its my sense of humour of using a crying baby for a leaving card, it could also work for someone going on maternity leave. This little one is called Fussy Frankie she can also be brought as a single image.

The papers are LOTVE and the daisies are MFT Upsy Daisy dies, along with the Crochet Border that edges my curve which I made using Simon Says Stamp Curved die.

The Good Luck is cut from Impression Obession die which I layered once again. The fishtail banner is made using the banner punch from Stampin Up who in their wisdom retired but can be easily done with a square punch.

So if we are running smoothly but I'm in charge so anything is possible you should of arrived from Gaynor and now your are HOP, SKIP and JUMP away to Lou's blog.
Now don't forget to comment along the way there are two $5 vouchers to be random chosen from our comments.

Animal Magic

Hello, all! Welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!
Thank you for joining us for the Father's Day/For A Guy Challenge! We loved seeing your fun and innovative designs this week! Please join us this week for our brand new challenge!
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher.
This week the challenge is...

ANIMAL MAGIC

We are looking to the animal kingdom for inspiration for our 'Animal Magic' projects! From butterflies to buffalos, kittens to kingfishers, we will be looking forward to see which animal you choose for your project!
Many of us have fur babies that are very much a part of our family and we would love to know what little critters live with you! Maybe you could add photo's of them on your post too!

We are showcasing Paper Smooches 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 Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store.

I already had the Chubby Chums but I needed the Chubby Chum Pals I simple loved the sentiment so I had to use the crab but is he an animal maybe I've stretched the challenge a bit. I also decided I would use the Splitcoast Stampers  Card Sketch 596.

I had already recently brought from Simon Says Stamps the Doodlebug Anchors Aweigh no worries there. The sketch called for a shaker box but I if I had planned that I would have brought Simon Says Stamp Sunshine Mix sequins which would have given the shaker more interest. Instead I used the Mixed Baby Cup Sequins which is out of stock needless to say my basket is full of sequins while I wait for new release.

Back to the card less waffling using the Simon Says Stamps Stitched Squares I made my shaker box and using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Border I made the red borders.

My crab was layered and I saved one image uncoloured so I had one to cut the eyes out I would have used goggle eyes but they're in a safe place! The sketch called for something either side of my crab so I made two life savers from the Simon Says Stamp Sailing stamp set as you can see I didn't like it so I added one of them in corner. I finished the card with some twine from Doodlebug Lipstick and Bubble Blue.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out

 

Notice

This weeks Everybody Art Challenge is for a Notice I wasn't sure of this challenge so I guess you are given notice of an event them my card turned into a invitation.

First I stamped the Tim Holtz butterfly from a stamp set called Perspective, I didn't use the first image of stamping but rather the second this give a lighter image.

I knew Simon Says Stamp had a stamp set for making invitation so I used that but I stamped in a gold pigment ink and added gold embossing powder. I did try with just a versamark inkpad instead of gold but the butterfly show through a lot worse than it does here.

I had already used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle before embossing with the idea of stamping central and I added the Avery Elle Scalloped frame.

Do pop over and check out the team also I do hope you can join us.

New Home

I thought I would open the pack of the Toadstools die that I brought from a craft fair and how perfect they would work with this cute Penny Black Mouse. They were a bit fiddly to get the different colours but the ones at the top I think they need a bit of ink because they look like I've just plonked them there.

The papers are leftovers and I used the Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Borders, not sure who made the toadstools, I got them from Sandown. The sentiment is from Altenew Succulent set that I used for a Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Well I failed miserably with making a card a day and I'm going to a crop today but I scrapbook there since I never seemed to have time at home. Then I will chasing my tail to catch up on my DT work.

Crochet

No card today but a pic of a finish Star Baby' Blanket although I'm not sure how large it should be.

I used a smaller hook anyway but even then the I didn't like the look of my stitches so I used a 3mm hook with double knitting. It looks a lot neater and I'm really pleased with it.

So much so that I another on the go and nearly finished this time we know its for a girl and made in the appropriate colours. But I've been a bit generous in buying the wool and have quite a bit left so I'm thinking of making a Jellyfish which I've seen lots of.

Fore You

That's it I'm never going to to say that I'll try to make a card a day because best laid plans have to be flexible and it just didn't happen. This little chap was made very quickly yesterday and with hindsight I may have made the flag a bit smaller.

Anyway his a newish image from Mo Manning called Four, isn't he cute not sure on the all the green.

My golf flag was made with Stampin Up punches and I saw on Pinterest someone had added the brown shading which I appealed to me.

Apart from that I used spellbinders for the images mats and my favourite sentiment was made into a fishtail banner using the tiny banner punch which Stampin Up has retired but can easily be made with a square punch.

Busy day today and tomorrow its swimming and packing for the crop on Saturday.

Birthday Cats

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Mask It 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

 FATHER'S DAY/FOR A GUY 

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

I decided not to make a Father's Day card but a Birthday card for my Dad, his birthday is always round Father's day, even falls on the same day sometimes. For the first time I didn't panic when I saw we had to use Tim Holtz products I knew I wanted to use either the Crazy Cats or Birds.

I wanted to use a couple of cats and then I had a lightbulb moment that I could used the Happy Birthday from Simon Say Stamps. It just so happened that the Lawn Fawn Beachside Pint patterned paper had arrived in the craftroom. I did cut the sentiment in plain card before the final patterned layer.

My cats were blended with various inkpads and  rather than black cat I made the cat blue because I thought I could get the shading better with dark blues although my first colour was a grey. I always put one stamped image to one side so I can cut out the eyes and don't have to worry about working round them when I'm blending.

Since this is my Dad's Birthday Card and I'm lucky that where he was cremated has somewhere to place cards I added the tiny message from the Simon Says Stamp Ranunculus stamp set. In the end I had to place the cats and sentiment on a tall card but longwise made it a bit tricky to photo.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out

 

Blue Poppies

Everybody Art Challenge has decided to go Non-cute this week and I thought it was time to use Hero Arts Poppies not sure they still do this clear stamp anymore but I love paper-piecing the poppies.

The paper is from a Penny Black pack and my all time favourite Floral Oval from Spellbinders, I also used a smaller one for the Happy Birthday. I think its the Simon Says Stamp Cat in a box. The small beads are from e-bay and are for nail art but with a bit wet glue they are just like accent beads you buy years ago.

Do pop over to the team and check out their creations.

Daisy Leftovers

I made a card a few weeks ago for Simon says Stamp Wednesday Challenge using this Stampendous Daisy. I had no idea what I was going to do for the challenge so I made several daisies and I didn't use all of them and these two cards were made with them.

The first I used the left over strip from this card rather than throw it away I kept that too. The papers are Taylored Expression Hello Happiness. I found the sentiment on a Simon Says Stamp set but I've had a bit of tidy and I can't find it now. Finally my leaves are Simon Says Stamp Cluster of Leaves which works pretty well with this large bloom.

This time I'm kicking myself cos I cut Taylored Expression paper the wrong way didn't notice it until I stamped the Sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Furry Cat in box. If I discovered it earlier I could have turned the card and stamped the sentiment the other way too.
The rest is all the same as the card above with the help of Simon Says Stamp Wavy Stitched Scallop Border.

Well finally we got a taste of Summer yesterday and once I made a card, I spent the rest of the day soaking up the sun, finishing we a bit of bat watching before we called it a night.

Its a bit of a busy week finishing with a crop on Saturday but I given myself a goal a card a day to get me back on track.

Happy Birthday Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Happy 8th Birthday to Penny Black Saturday Challenge 

This months challenge is for Birthdays well it had to be and as soon as I saw the mice with birthday cupcake I knew that had to be the one to use and it fitted brilliantly in the floral oval.

The papers are leftovers from a Doodlebug pack, the flowers are some old MFT and the leaves are a Poppystamps die. It looks like a really busy card but that because of the papers.

Now the teamies are having a Birthday Blog Hop and some of us have a little prize, mines here.

Just add you name to Mr Linky and the bottom of this post then you can HOP, SKIP and JUMP over to my team-mate Greta.

Anniversary Hugs

I decided to use the sketch on Sketch Saturday and this sweet image from Mo Manning its called Tom and Tilly.

The sketch called for clean and simple so I just add the bit of colour from some more scraps of patterned paper and I also used the Lawn Fawn Scallop Borders die.

To finish off I used the Simon Says Stamp Doily Heart and a small heart die to my heart cluster and the sentiment is LOTV.

I have an hospital appointment today so not much card making going on today.

Masking

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.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher
This week the challenge is

 MASK IT 

there are several ways you can create a mask, by simply tearing paper you can create hills and valleys, die cutting a shape, using a stencil or masking fluid or simply stamping an image onto scratch paper and cutting around it. The possibilities are almost endless! We will be looking forward to seeing what technique you use to create your project!

We are showcasing Altenew 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 Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

Generally the masking technique is a technique that I know and have done but because I layer my images I don't necessary to do that often.

So for this challenge I thought I would actually show masking and gave myself another challenge by making a one layer card what on earth was I thinking.

First of all I stamped my Altenew Succulents on piece of thin copy paper, its important to stamp on paper to make you mask to try and avoid the halo effect. I then had the pleasure of cutting out and again its important to cut close to the edge of the outline nearest the image. This again to try and avoid the halo but I have a black pen ready in case it happens. To make my masks repositionally I used a Zig two way glue pen on the back.

I stamped the middle pot first and when I'm sure the ink is dry I carefully place the mask making sure is it correctly cover the image. Then stamp the two pots on each side of the central image. I would at this point embossed the Simon Stamps Stitched Rectangles. Of foolish me I embossed after I use Prismacolour Pencils to colour my images and held my breath that I have embossed them crooked.

What was I thinking I stamped the beautiful sentiment from the Succulents stamp set over my image and to make it stand out I used WOW black embossing powder. So much could have gone at the last moment that when it didn't I almost needed a lie down in a dark room to recover.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out