Bright Squares Background

Hello crafters! I hope your weekend was nice. We had really good and sunny weather and went looking for blue and white anemone flowers. Blue anemone flowers are protected here and when I was a child, I hardly ever saw one. They are easier to find now, especially if you know where to look.

This week we have a Bright and and Cheerful Colors theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. I hope you will join us and don't miss the stunning project by our April guest designer Autumn Clark.

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

I made an art journal page this week, in my Dina Wakley Media Journal and with a very bright and happy color combo. The background was made with square stamps from the Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Squares stamp set, using both Distress Ink and Distress Oxide ink to get a layered effect.

Working on watercolor paper, use the solid squares from Mix and Match Squares and ink them with various shades of yellow, pink, orange and red Distress Ink. Mist with water about three times before stamping. I used three sizes of solid squares here, the smallest one was used a little later. Mist the paper with extra water when you are done stamping and the squares will blend into each other. Let dry.

Next I stamped with Distress Oxide ink and this time without adding water. Stamp with various frame or outline squares from Mix and Match Squares. I also used the smallest solid square. Use stamps in different sizes. The stamps in the set are designed to coordinate and you can create many different patterns and layered effects with them.

I wanted a bold flower to fit with the background and used the Simon Says Stamp Hibiscus Bloom. Die cut from white and heavystock paper.

Glue the white outline on the background and ink a piece at a time from the heavystock flower. Glue into the outline to create an inlay look.

I stamped the petals with the Old Letter Background and Candied Apple Oxide ink, for more texture.

I was in a bit of a hurry and had ink on my fingers, which is why the white outline is no longer completely white. To avoid that, let the pieces dry a bit first (and wash your hands).

I stamped sentiments and star from Mix and Match Squares on the background with black ink, adding a few other sentiments too.

The watercolor look of the solid Distress Ink squares combine very well with the opaque Oxide stamping.

This sentiment comes from Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Butterflies.

Bright colors are great for a cheerful and uplifting project.

I embossed two butterflies from Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Flowers, with Cream Embossing powder on vellum. They were colored with colored pencils.

Here's the second butterfly. Apply glue only under the more solid embossed area to prevent the glue from showing through.

Two more sentiments, from Mix and Match Squares and Beautiful Butterflies.

The title was die cut with Simon Says Stamp Beautiful die using Memory Box Frosted Glitter paper.

I hope you will join us this week in our Bright and and Cheerful Colors 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 taking the time to stop by here 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.