Books and Reading Art Journal Page

Hello crafters and welcome to my blog! We have had sunny, snowy and cold weather this weekend. Finally a bit of winter.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Bookmark/Inspired by books theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. Don't miss the bookmark created by our February guest designer Cassie Lynch aka mk_knits.

Books and reading is the theme of this art journal page. I love to read, and I am also very fond of reading-, alphabet- and word-themed stamps, stencils and dies. The page was done in my new Stamperia Create Happiness Mixed Media 4x8.5 Journal, which has a great tall shape, reminding me of both bookmarks and tags. I also like that the pages are watercolor paper.

Start by stamping the stack of books from Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Schoolhouse Blueprint set. 

Paint with watercolors, dropping in darker shades before the first layer is dry.

Paint the background with watercolors.

When dry, add some marks with a black pen, such as the edge of the table, and darken some of the shadow areas.

Ink through Simon Says Stamp ABC stencil with first Salvaged Patina and then just a hint of Frayed Burlap.

Ink through Tim Holtz Sparke Fade. 

Stamp the background here and there with Tim Holtz School Desk alphabet stamp. This is one of my all time favorite stamps. 

Splatter watercolor paint on the background.

Stamp labels and a ticket from Simon Says Stamp Mixed Labels with Archival Cobalt ink. Die cut with the coordinating dies and stamp sentiments on the labels with black ink. The labels were stamped on watercolor paper which had been painted with the same paint as used in the background of the page.

Note: this ink pad is one of my oldest, reinked many times. 

Ink the edges of the labels. I also stamped a circle stamp from Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles stamp set with Cobalt ink in a few places on the background.

Some of the sentiments were stamped right on the background.

Shadows add dimension and can also give a distressed look to the project, such as here with the books.

I really like the Blueprint stamps and they are fun to color. 

The main sentiment was placed at the bottom of the page. 

Join us this week in our Make a Bookmark/Inspired by books challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Peaceful Art Journal

Hello friends! I hope you are well and had a good weekend. The sun is shining here today, which is nice since we had very grey weather lately.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Spritz and Splatter theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. Messy and fun! Don't miss the lovely card by our February guest designer Cassie Lynch aka mk_knits.

I have a brand new journal at home, namely Stamperia's Happiness Mixed Media 6x3.5 in Journal. It is a great little size and the pages are watercolor paper, which is my favorite surface. I made a page without much of a plan, using mists, splatter and ink.

I forgot to take a photo of the first step. I smeared Distress Ink on an acrylic block, misted with water and stamped on the page. When dry, mist Distress Spritz through Tim Holtz Deco Feather stencil.

Mist through Tim's Sparkle Fade stencil with Antique Linen Distress Oxide Spray.

When the page is dry, stamp with Simon Says Stamp Old Letter. 

Smear Ground Espresso on a non-stick craft sheet and mist with water. Flick splatters on the page with a paint brush. 

Smear Distress Inks on a non-stick craft sheet and mist with water. Press watercolor paper into the ink. Let dry and repeat until you are happy with the look.

Do the same with Speckled Egg and Lost Shadow. This paper is for our snow.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Snow Laden Trees from both papers. I added a bit more blue ink on the trees.

Stamp sentiments from Simon Says Stamp Forest Scenery using Pawsitively Saturated Cadette ink.

Assemble the trees and glue them on the background. I used two trees.

Stamp a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Create and die cut with the coordinating die.

It is hard to capture the shimmer of the Distress Spritz, but you can see it a little better here. I also added a few sequins.

Join us this week in our Spritz & Splatter challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Colorful Circles Tag

Hi friends! It is Monday again and what is better than to brighten up the bleak weather with bright colors.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

This week we have a Bright and Cheerful theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge blog. I hope you will join us! Since it is the first Monday of a new month, the team is showcasing products by a specific company/designer. This week it is Simon Says Stamp Exclusive products. You can find the wide variety of stamps, stencils, dies, inks, paper products, embellishments and tools here. 

You don't have to use Simon Says Stamp products to join in the challenge, but it is fun if you do. 

We also have a new guest designer. During February, Cassie Lynch aka mk_knits will be joining us. If you haven't checked out her amazing Instagram feed yet, I hope you will do so.

 

I made a colorful tag with a bokeh background. The background was done with a stencil and various Distress Inks. The dimensional hearts were created from old book paper and vellum, using dies. 

Ink through Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles stencil with yellow ink.

Repeat with Twisted Citron, overlapping some of the circles.

Next, use Salvaged Patina in the same way.

Add a few orange circles.

Add a final layer with Mermaid Lagoon ink.

Stamp here and there with Simon Says Stamp Old Letter.

Die cut hearts from old book paper and vellum with Simon Says Stamp Sweetheart Box die.

Fold the hearts and assemble into dimensional hearts.

Ink the edges with brown ink. Pierce holes and stitch with embroidery floss.

I glued Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Gems to the background in Mandarin, Surf and Sunbeam. 

The May Arts Faux Silk Wrinkled Ribbon was dyed with some of the inks used on the background.

I stamped the title with Simon Says Stamp Create stamp set using Pawsitively Saturated Surf Ink. Die cut with the coordinating die and once more from black cardstock. The smaller sentiments come from the same Create stamp set.

Glue the hearts to the background and fold them up for more dimension.

This sentiment also comes from Simon Says Stamp Create and was die cut with the coordinating die.

Join us this week in our Bright & Cheerful challenge! You have a chance to win a $25 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.

Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.

Thank you so much for visiting today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.