The Journey Is Never Truly Over It Just Changed Course

Welcome to STAMPtember®, a wonderful creative month with Simon Says Stamp!  Simon Says Stamp are celebrating for the whole month of September by hosting a STAMPtember® event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping.

From phrases to words to simple alphabets, words can add so much to a creation and can also stand alone as a focal point. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you all to embrace all those letter, word and phrase sentiment stamps on your creative pieces this week. Just a little reminder that Simon Says Stamp have changed the name of their challenge blog to Simon Says Monday Challenge but we are still the same fabulous challenge just a new home and name.

Inspiration this week came from the Stampers Anonymous Paris Memoir stamp set which I thought worked beautifully with the postage stamp frame to create my dimensional hanging.

I began by die cutting one postage stamp and five frames using the sized rectangles die within the postage stamp frame to give me the framed pieces.

I coloured each piece with broken china and gathered twigs Distress Ink and then flicked the ink with water to add bleached out areas.

A touch of background stamping using the stamp as is to give a more random feel.

I love background or text stamps for adding subtle stamping in a lighter colour in the background.

The focal images have been stamped in black Archival Ink, I love how the background stamping is still visible.

I love to add dimension with my dies and on this piece I layered the postage stamp frames, stacking one on top of the other to create a shadow box type effect, love it!

Next I cut a 7" x 7" square piece of card and coloured with gathered twigs Distress Ink.

Again flicked the ink with water and then dabbed off the excess water with kitchen towel to leave bleached out areas.

Using a fine detail water brush bleach out some of the areas on this handsome gentleman.

Stamp the fabulous sentiment onto white card using black Archival Ink.

Cut the sentiment into pieces and then colour with broken china Distress Ink.

I then cut a postage stamp from white shrink plastic and stamped the same images to echo those in my larger stamped postage framed piece. Stazon timber brown and black were used for the stamping onto shrink plastic. I then heated with my heat tool to shrink the postage stamp piece.

It is important to remember to punch any hole in the top prior to shrinking.

I added my decorative piece to corrugated card for added texture and interest and then added rustic twine to hang.

The shrink plastic piece has been added to the bottom of the frame along with a brass Eiffel Tower charm.

I also stamped the gentleman onto shrink plastic and added him to my postage stamp frame along with JOURNEY added using Label Letters.

Remnant Rubs Words have been added throughout my piece along with a compass coin which I have sanded to highlight all the detail.

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.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated.  Enjoy your week. Tracy x x 

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Paris Memoir Stamp Set, Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Words For Thought
Tim Holtz Alterations - Postage Stamp Frame, Sized Rectangles
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Label Letters, Compass Coins, Remnant Rubs Words
Tim Holtz Fine Detail Water Brush
Distress Inks - Broken China, Gathered Twigs
Archival Inks - Sepia, Black
StazOn - Timber Brown, Black

Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Ink Blending Tool
Shrink Plastic
Blue Moon Eiffel Tower Pendant

Artsy Card

I've created an artsy card this week for Creative Expressions using Tim Holtz Classics 4 Stamp Set.

I've also included a Workshop sheet with step by steps which you can print using the link HERE.

I began this piece by applying Cosmic Shimmer Clear Texture Paste through Wendy Vecchi's Lovely Leaves stencil onto a piece of white card measuring 6.5" x 6.5".

I used the background stamp from Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set to add further detail to the paste. Simply spritz the stamp lightly with water and press lighly into the paste. Remember to clean your stamp immediately once you have finished.

From this picture you can see the detail the touch of stamping adds to the Texture Paste.

Cut a piece of white card 4" x 3" and stamp the background stamp from the Classics 4 Stamp Set onto the white card using Black and Coffee Archival Ink to give a two tone effect.

Cut a piece of white card 2" x 2" ink the background stamp with Black and Coffee Archival Ink and press the card onto the stamp, alignment is much simplified this way.

Repeat the stamping twice.

Colour all the stamped pieces with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, this adds a lovely aged feel to the piece.

Flick the inked pieces with water.

Dab off the excess water with a piece of kitchen towel and then dry with a heat tool.

Paint the 6.5" x 6.5" piece of white card with Mushroom Eco Green Acrylic Paint and then apply Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the edges.

Dry brush Pure Copper Eco Green Acrylic Paint over the raised areas to highlight the wonderful texture.

Distress the edges of the card using a pair of scissors.

Apply Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the edges to cover up all thos white distressed edges.

Apply Cast Bronze Metallic Gilding Wax to the edges of the stamped pieces.

Add scratchy paint lines to the background, simply apply a little paint to an old credit card or something similar and press onto the background. This adds another layer of interest.

Apply Pure Copper Acrylic Paint through the Large Polka Dot Mask, using only a small amount of paint.

The polka dots add yet another layer of interest to the card.

Add Alpha Parts Signmaker, Fancy Key Charms and Idea-ology Pen Nib to complete the card and adding further dimension.

Remnant Rubs Numbers have also been added randomly around the card.

I also tore some of the stamped pieces to add to the aged feel of this piece.

From this picture you can see the detail from the Gilding Wax around the edges of the stamped pieces.

I love the dimension from the Fancy Key Charms and the bleached out areas on the stamping.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Creative Expressions Web Page
Creative Expressions Facebook Page
Creative Expressions News Page

HAPPY HAUNTING

I am thrilled to have been asked to Guest Design once again for the talented Sam Poole. This week I am using Sam's newly released HAPPY HAUNTING singles range.

Here is a sneak peek of my project. Pop by Sam Poole's Creative Studios to see how I made this project in more detail. I would love to know what you think.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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