Learning to Count Board Book

Hello! This week at Simon Says Stamp & Show our challenge is to use 6 x 6 paper pads, which have become very popular lately. I am happy that so many brands now sell their patterned paper in these smaller shapes. You can also use other small versions of larger papers, such as the 6 x 6 paper in the Tim Holtz paper pads.

I love 6 x 6 papers and most of the patterned paper I use nowadays come from these pads. The smaller prints fit perfectly for my favourite ways of using patterned paper: die-cutting, stamping and for smaller sized projects. This week I made a children's board book teaching numbers and counting, using a lot of different 6 x 6 papers and the fun Sizzix Karen Burniston Door die. The book is made from mat board, covered with patterned papers (size). This is the front, with Word Play letters spelling 'Fun numbers'. Some of the letters were coated with Glossy Accents, and so was the arrow.

All the pages are covered with a different patterned paper and this was a great time to use papers I might not otherwise use, such as very busy papers with lots of patterns. I embellished the pages with little things found in my scrap box, even the photo of my son running away was there. The stamped text on the label translates, 'how many'. Each page has a door which was first die cut from mat board. I cut away the door part, to get just a door frame. Then it was die cut again from different patterned papers. Behind this first door, there is, as you might guess, nothing.

Tim Holtz new Numeric stamps were perfect for the numbers on the door, since they are large and also show the numbers very clearly. I stamped each number out with letter stamps too, for another element of learning. The book can help a child recognise numbers, letters and to count, plus that it hides little fun details here and there.

For the inside of the doors, I picked stamps that my son would find interesting. They were stamped with Archival Jet Black ink and coloured with coloured pencils. A Paris to London balloon here.

The Mater character from Cars is very popular, so he had to be in the book.

Some of the papers I used have numbers, map print, text, and other interesting things. All the door frames were painted with a different colour Adirondack paint dabber.

Three Tim Holtz air planes.

Four Hero Arts robots.

These are, I think, my favourite pages in the book, because the papers worked so well together, with the map, the children, the houses and all the numbers.

Five globes. This is a good time to use some small stamps.

And six houses.

More pages, I hope I am not boring you! More people, numbers and balloons. The star circle stamp is from Simon Says Stamp exclusive Shoot for the Stars set.

Seven hearts from the Simon Says Stamps exclusive Lots of Hearts set, stamped with Vermillion ink.

Eight balloons. It was starting to get hard to find small enough stamps, which were still interesting.

And finally, more house paper, some glasses and bicycles. I was happy to have used so many different patterned papers. This book has become very popular and we have read it many times already, counting all the different images. Anton is proud to have his very own handmade book.

Nine mothers (according to my son), stamped with olive ink.

And finally ten red cars.

The back of the book, with this sweet Basic Grey paper. The holes were punched with my Crop-a-Dile. Since I bound it with rings, the pages can be moved around to make it more of a challenge to the child.

I hope you will join us this week and show your projects with 6 x 6 papers. As every week, our sponsor Simon Says Stamp gives a $50 gift voucher to one random participant.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy crafting!!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

Dies: Sizzix: Door, Opening & Wreath, Mini Old Jalopy & Arrow, Word Play, Hearts Set, Banners, Clouds, Chevrons & Arrows, Love Set, Tattered Florals

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: Lots of Hearts, Shoot for the Stars; Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz Numeric, Paris to London, Attic Treasures, Warehouse District; Ranger Dyan Reavelely Right up your Street; Hero Arts: Monster Fun CL391, Going CL478, Hey y'all, Playful Flower Letters, Robot Trio, Past Times; TJ Designs Vintage School Days; EK Success Cars Tow Mater

Surfaces: 6 x 6 paper pads: Hero Arts/Studio Calico: Take Note, Heyday, Abroad, Yearbook, Memoir, Classics 3; BasicGrey: What's Up, Oxford, Life of the Party, Wander, Paper Cottage; My Mind's Eye: Be Happy; Tim Holtz Idea-ology grungeboard, Sizzix Little Sizzles mat board; felt

Ink: Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black, Vernillion, Olive

Paint: Adirondack: Aqua, Sail Boat Blue, Butterscotch, Lettuce, Citrus, Pitch Black, Stream, Lemonade, Silver, Mountain Rose, Red Pepper

Pencils: Derwent Studio Pencils

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Symphony tissue tape; Studio Calico wood veneer shapes: Birds, Tiny Stars, Transportation; Creative Impressions ABC printed twill, Antique Ruler; rhinestones

Adhesive: Ranger Glossy Accents; Claudine Hellmuth multi-medium matte