Monday, July 20, 2026

Bird with text background

 Hi friends! It is Monday and it is time for a new 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 our theme is Add Some Text. Adding text elements is one of my favorite things to do, not only for sentiments and titles, but also for texture, backgrounds and more. Don't miss the stunning project by our July guest designer Rox aka Red Dirt Crafter.

Layers of ink - Bird with text background tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I made a tag with a background made from old book paper, folding the paper to create extra texture and interest. The little bird is a Blue Tit and was colored with watercolors. I also added some die cut flowers and a die cut title. Some of the flowers were die cut from old book book and dictionary paper.

Fold old book paper.

Start with a tag and coat with gesso. Let dry. Fold and tear old book paper and glue to the background with matte medium. 

Fold around the edges.

Fold around the back of the tag and adhere there too. Brush matte medium over the entire tag.

Paint with gesso.

When dry, add some gesso, but don't cover up the text completely. 

Paint with Distress Paint.

Paint with watered-down Distress Paint and then mist with Distress Spritz Antique Linen.


When dry, dry brush a little Scorched Timber here and there.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Sweet Songbird.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Sweet Songbird from watercolor paper.

Paint with watercolors.

Paint with watercolor paint. I used a photo as reference.

Shape and assemble the bird.

Shape with Tim Holtz Shaping Kit and glue together.

Add white highlights with a gel pen.

Add a white dot to the eye and white highlights to the bird with a gel pen.

Die cut Simon Says Says Simple Hello.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Simple Hello from gold kraft stock and watercolor paper. Paint the watercolor word in an ombre fashion, making it darker at the top. 


Tie the tag with a mix of ribbons, organza and fibers.

Add sentiments stamped with Tim Holtz Tiny Text.

The small flowers were die cut with Simon Says Stamp Poised Primula, from watercolor paper painted with yellow paint, old book and dictionary paper and Simon Says Stamp Shimmer Vellum. The sentiments are from Tim Holtz Tiny Text.


I also added a couple of word strips from 49 & Market Faded Memory Lane Ephemera. Here you can also see some of the shine from the Distress Spritz.


I used Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Perfect Foam Tape to adhere the bird to the background and made a nest from cheese cloth. The cheese cloth was dyed with Distress Ink. 


The folds in the paper adds interest to the background. 


Off-set the word a little to create a gold shadow. I added Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Opal Gems to the flowers.


In some places, the background looks almost like wood.


I used an old book about gardening in Southern Africa, which I saved from being thrown away years ago.

Layers of ink - Bird with text background tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it inspired you to use some old book paper.

Join us this week in our Add Some Text 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.



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