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.

Winter Plants Tag

Hi friends! It is the last day of January. Normally, I think that the months fly past, but so many things happened this month, that it feels like it has been an unusually long month. 

I have a winter plant tag to share today.

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.

Plants can be very beautiful in winter too, stark and textured, with or without frost. I wanted a tag that captured that feeling. Most of the stamps come from Paper Artsy Winter Grasses Edition and Winter Umbels Edition by Alison Bomber. 

Start by white embossing three of the flowers on a heavystock tag.

Ink the tag with Distress Ink, using an ink-blending tool. 

Mist with water droplets.

Stamp the tag here and there with Simon Says Stamp Crackle Background.

Stamp again with the same flower stamps, but using Uncharted Mariner ink.

I stamped this sentiment from the Winter Umbels Edition with blue ink on the background first, but decided to stamp it on left over inky paper instead and glue to the background.

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Opal Gems were glued to the background.

You can also stamp the darker impression close to the white-embossed on, to create a shadow, but that is not what I was aiming for here.

Beautiful sentiments from the Winter Grasses and the Winter Umbels Edition sets.

I made a border from cheese cloth, lace trim and twine and also added some gems.

I hope this tag inspired you to go out and look at some plants, even though it may be winter.

Thank you for visiting!

Happy Christmas 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.

Paint Sampler Notebook

Hi friends! I hope you are well! Today I have a notebook tutorial to share using mainly patterned papers. You can easily turn it into a sketchbook instead, by just using different papers for the inside.

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 really like the papers in Tim Holtz various Backdrops paper packs and they are great when it comes to making your own notebook or sketchbook. Here I mainly used papers from the Christmas Backdrops pack. The cover was embellished with stamping, sentiments and sequins.

Start by deciding which papers that you want to use. I cut out some of the paint samplers. 

Stamp a title with Simon Says Stamp Create Stamp set using Guava Pawsitively Saturated Ink.

Stamp the cover here and there with the alphabet stamp from Tim Holtz School Desk set and a coffee stain stamp. I stamped both the back and the front cover.

Cut pages for the inserts. One of my favorite things with making my own notebooks is that I can use my favorite papers. Here I used fairly thin notebook paper, but I often use watercolor paper instead. Make a template and attach it to the cover and the inserts as show. Pierce holes.

Stitch the spine with embroidery floss. 

Tie the floss on the inside and trim the cover with a craft knife.

I distressed and tore some of the edges. 

These paint samples are great. You can also use them to cover the entire notebook. The smaller sentiments come from Simon Says Stamp Create and were stamped with brown ink and die cut with the coordinating dies.

I like how the patterned paper shows through the stamped title. I also glued a bunch of sequins to the background.

Stamp a ticket from Simon Says Stamp Mixed Labels and die cut with the coordinating die. Fold the ticket over the edge of the cover and add a stamped and die cut sentiment. 

The Backdrops papers are double-sided, so inside covers are patterned too.

Handmade notebooks are great gifts and I like having one in my bag at all times.

I hope this inspired you to make your own notebook. It is a great way to use your favorite patterned papers. 

Thank you for visiting!

Happy Christmas 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.