Primula Artist Trading Cards

Hi friends! I am happy to have a tutorial on the Simon Says Stamp store blog. I made three Artist Trading Cards, with fun techniques.

The ATC is such a fun size to work on and it is a great way of making small stamps or die cuts appear larger. I used the Simon Says Stamp Poised Primula die set from the You Are My Favorite release. Here is a sneak peek of one of the three cards. You will find all the three cards and the tutorial on the Simon Says Stamp store blog. 

Thank you for visiting!

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Mother's Day Card

Hello friends! It is Monday and we have a new challenge for you at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. 

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 Things with Wings theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. I hope you will join us! Don't miss the project by our May guest designer Estelle Palumbo.

I am so glad to be back at the challenge after a couple of weeks. We moved and my craft room has been in boxes. Now, most of those boxes are unpacked, but some things are still missing. Where could my stencils be? Most likely in a box with books. Mother's Day is in a couple of weeks here and for today's challenge I made a card with butterflies. I used products from Simon Says Stamp new You Are My Favorite release.

I white embossed butterflies from Simon Says Stamp Mandala Blossoms on scrap pieces of pink inky paper and colored them partly with pencils.

The panels were die cut with Simon Says Stamp Petal Tipped Labels, which is such a lovely die set. I die cut the main panel from a piece of paper that was made with watercolors and cling wrap and the larger label from Simon Says Stamp new Ice Vellum. The main sentiment was stamped with Cobalt Archival Ink and comes from Simon Says Stamp Mother's Day.

Simon Says Stamp Mint cardstock was stamped with the Old Letter background and Cobalt ink, aiming for a distressed look.

Shape the wings of the butterflies before gluing them to the card.

I wanted a soft, pastel look to the card, which is why I didn't stamp the main sentiment with black ink, but it also couldn't be too light colored because of the textured background.

Trails were added after the butterflies with Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Prism Gems. 

Stamping on inky paper gives an instant texture to the butterflies, while the colored pencil add variation in shades.

I cut the butterflies with scissors, but there are also coordinating dies.

The Simon Says Stamp Ice Vellum is so pretty and shimmery.

Join us this week in our Things with Wings 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.

Paper Board Tag Tutorial

 Hi friends! It is the last day of April and I have a tag to share with fun techniques.

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.

I always liked these boards that hold paper in place and wanted to make one with dimension, for a tag with a 'take note' theme. The background was stamped and then inked with Distress Ink för a resist effect. I also used embossing powder to create a faux metal look to some of the details.

Cut pieces of thin notebook paper and die cut the edges with Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Edges die set.

Stamp the papers with Simon Says Stamp Ledger Paper stamp and Cobalt blue ink.

Die cut boards and clips using Tim Holtz Vault Noteworthy set. Die cut quite a lot of boards from kraft paper and then glue them together.

When you glue the kraft paper boards together the board becomes thick and sturdy, almost like wood. Ink the edges. Emboss the metallic parts with several layers of silver powder. Be very careful and do not touch the melted powder until it has cooled down completely. Stamp a sentiment. 

White emboss Tim Holtz Tiny Textures on a tag.

Ink with Distress Inks.

Die cut the globe from Simon Says Stamp Color-Blend cardstock.

Stamp a sentiment on the top papers and shape the others a bit, for dimension.

Stamp sentiments and arrows and glue Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Gems to the tag. The arrow comes from Simon Says Stamp Love Letter.

The paperclip was also embossed with silver powder.

I also added a frame, which was embossed and some design tape.

Thank you for visiting!

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.

Spring Art Journal Page

Hi friends! Today I have a spring-themed art journal page to share, with stamping and watercoloring.

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.

Every year, I am amazed by all the shades of green that appear during spring and this page is all about spring. I used a mix of stamping, watercolors and die cuts and worked in my Stamperia Happiness Mixed Media Journal 4x8.5 in.

I stamped plants from Paper Artsy Winter Umbels and Winter Grasses by Alison Bomber and white embossed.

Paint the background with watercolor paint, letting the paints blend on the paper. 

When dry, restamp the images with Distress Ink, misting with water before stamping. I also stamped Simon Says Stamp Crackle Background here and there.

Splatter with Winsor & Newton Permanent White gouache.

I used words from AALL & Create Mindful Moments.

The title was die cut with Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Edge set.

Add more words.

Make the page darker towards the bottom. 

Thank you for visiting!

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.

Dimensional Floral Card

Hello friends! Today I have a floral card to share, with dimensional flowers die cut from left-over watercolored and inky paper. The background is three different dry embossed papers.

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.

I used Tim Holtz Vault Floristry for the flowers and the top embossed panel. It was fun to arrange the flowers on the card. I also sprinkled gems all over the bouquet of flowers.

Start by die cutting the flowers from Tim Holtz Vault Floristry from left over watercolor and inky paper. Most of my paper had been watercolored. 

Shape the flowers with Tim Holtz Shaping Tool Kit and glue together. I used foam tape for some of the flowers. 

I needed some stems too and die cut stems with Simon Says Stamp Fresh Cut Floral Stem, Lily Duo and Poppy Stem. 

I embossed watercolored paper that had already been inked with Distress Inks in light brown shades. Ink the highlight the pattern. 

I found another two dry embossed papers in my scrap box. Distress the edges. The first paper was embossed with Tim Holtz Tapestry, the middle one with Simon Says Stamp Spun Glass, and the last one with the embossing folder that comes with the Vault Floristry set.

When die cutting from leftover papers you can get all kinds of interesting effects and patterns.

Layering dry embossed papers give interest to the background.

I glued Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Opal Gems here and there among the bouquet of flowers.

Look at your scrap papers to see if there are particularly interesting sections. Sometimes it is fun to place a die where two colors blend or interact.

Using a variety of stems fit well with there being so many different flowers.

The sentiments were stamped with Simon Says Stamp Thank You Basics. 

If you use foam tape here and there for added dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! It is a great way to use scraps and get a colorful project at the same time.

Thank you for visiting!

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.