BLOG HOP SIMON SAYS STAMP MONDAY CHALLENGE

Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps. It didn’t take long until we realized we couldn’t stop there. During the past 11 years we celebrate rubber stamping in its full glory by giving access to people around the world to a one stop shop. Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business and we are celebrating by hosting a STAMPtember® event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping. Part of the enticement of rubber stamping is that stamps can be used in creating or complementing ANYTHING! From stamping dates on bank documents and postage parcels in the early 18th century, rubber stamping has dramatically expanded to include card making, scrapbooking, mixed media, life documenting, art journaling, and many forms of altering and expressing art.

 

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge this week is simply to use ANY "Simon Exclusive" product or kit (any stamp, stencil, paper, anything!)

We are also thrilled to have the very talented Shari Carroll http://shari-design.blogspot.com/ joining us this week, welcome Shari. Shari designed the Art Journaling Kit we were all sent, which is now available from Simon Says Stamp. The Art Journaling Kit is absolutely fabulous and has so many wonderful products to use in your creative pieces, whether mixed media, art journaling, altered art etc. I loved creating with the products we were sent.

 http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-60688/*Simon-Says-Stamp-STAMPtember®/Detail.

You should have arrived here from Dan http://dan99.blogspot.com/2013/09/stamptember-blog-hop.html .

I decided to decorate the cover of the fabulous journal within the kit.

I began my piece by die cutting the Cameo Frame six times from white card and then colouring with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and adhering each layer together. The bottom panel was stamped with the IndigoBlu Owl image using Black Archival Ink and again coloured with gathered twigs Distress Ink and then flicked with water.

I affixed my die cut dimensional panel to the small creative journal which we received in our kit and once dry I tore tissue paper into pieces and then scrunched up.

Multi Medium Matte was applied to the journal and then I added the tissue paper.

Layers of tissue paper have been added to give wonderful texture to the cover.

Layers were added until the journal was covered with tissue applying in a random fashion to add as much texture as possible.

 

Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste has been applied through the Blocked Circles Stencil provided in the kit.

Three circles were added to the bottom of the journal using the stencil and Embossing Paste and then wooden letters have been added to the centre of each to add OWL to the journal.

We also received this fabulous paper flower in our kit so I added a Martha Stewart Medallion to the centre for further interest and then added to the journal.

The journal was then painted with a coat of Gesso, also in the kit to give a good base for painting.

One coat gives a fabulous covering.

Next a coat of Charcoal Black paint was added to the journal (again in the kit).

The front and back of the journal was given one coat but it now needed the embellishments and texture highlighted.

Place a small amount of Altered Orange paint (contained within the kit) onto a non-stick craft sheet. do not load the brush with too much paint, in fact I dabbed the excess paint off the brush; it is important that your brush is almost dry. Then the next stage takes time, simply apply light brush strokes over the texture on the journal, adding a bit of paint each time. We are aiming to dry brush the paint onto the texture.

Apply the Charcoal Black paint to an owl embellishment, simply dabbing onto the embellishment using kitchen towel, removing any excess. Once dry add touches of Altered Orange paint to the top.

Dry brushing the Altered Orange acrylic paint onto the texture really does highlight all the texture and dimension on the journal, I love it!

You would never know that all the texture has been achieved from tissue paper.

From this angle you can also see the wonderful dimension from layering the die cut pieces.

I also added OWL to the inside of the frame to echo the lettering on the outside of the frame.

It still amazes me how much paint can alter a simple white flower.

I also added some of the Alphabet Stickers to the journal prior to painting, again these were supplied in the fabulous kit we were sent.

Here are those Alphabet Stickers once painted.

The next stop on the hop is Anna-Karin Evaldsson 

http://layersofink.blogspot.com/2013/09/simon-says-stamp-stamptember-blog-hop.html

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

Don't forget our new name Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and our new home is HERE.

I have also included the complete list of the HOP should you get lost along the way.

http://shari-design.blogspot.com/2013/09/simon-says-stamp-art-journal-blog-hop.html

http://candycreates.blogspot.com/2013/09/stamptember-blog-hop.html

http://www.suzzstampingspot.blogspot.com/2013/09/stamptember-hop.html

http://dan99.blogspot.com/2013/09/stamptember-blog-hop.html

http://craftaddicts-tracyevans.blogspot.com/2013/09/blog-hop-simon-says-stamp-monday.html

http://layersofink.blogspot.com/2013/09/simon-says-stamp-stamptember-blog-hop.html

http://mayflaum.com/2013/09/22/monday-challenge-and-a-hop/

http://meihsia.blogspot.com/2013/09/simon-says-stamp-stamptember-blog-hop.html

http://www.madebysannie.blogspot.com/2013/09/blog-hop-kit.html

http://snappingmonsters.blogspot.com/2013/09/all-things-crafty-simon-says-stamp.html

http://purplemailbox.blogspot.com/2013/09/fabulous-kit-fabulous-fall.html

http://cupcakescreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-love-art.html

http://michellezerull.blogspot.com/2013/09/simon-says-stamp-kit-hop.html

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Alterations - Cameo Frame Die
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Halloween Adornments
Dyan Reaveley Small Creative Journal
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste
Distress Inks - Gathered Twigs
Archival Inks - Black
Claudine Hellmuth Multi Matte Medium
Claudine Hellmuth Gesso
Claudine Hellmuth Charcoal Black Acrylic Paint
Claudine Hellmuth Altered Orange Acrylic Paint
Simon Says Stamp Blocked Circles Stencil

Studio Calico Alphabet Wood Veneers
Martha Stewart Heirloom Metal Medallion
Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Kelly Purkey Alphabet Stickers White