Hello everyone and Happy Monday!
Can you believe how fast time is flying!?!? It's going so quickly and it's already that time of the week when we welcome a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week's theme is all about BACK TO SCHOOL and the DT are also showcasing the products of 49 & Market.
For my make, I created a card, and a matching gift box that was made using Tim Holtz dies from Sizzix and some beautiful products from 49 & Market. If you haven't checked out this company, then do it now and if you love all things vintage, then you definitely have to look for the Faded Memory Lane collection ~ it's a huge wow from me!
The set that I've made today can be used as a thank you card and gift for a teacher but the reason that I made this was because of a more personal memory. At the start of every school year, my Mom would always write me a note, just a little note of encouragement to tell me how proud she was of me and she would pop these notes in my school bag, or hand it to me on the first day of the new term.
I still have all those notes in a box ~ precious memories of a very special Mom!
So today, I thought I would make a set that can be used for the very same purpose because every kid needs encouragement and support from their parents and those few words will stay with them for life!
So, let's get started, it's time to create!
CARD
I made a 15 x 11.5cm card blank from brown cardstock and matted a layer of 14 x 10.5cm Kraft card, onto ivory card, leaving a narrow border around each layer to create the base.
I then used the largest of the AALL & Create Quirky Post Dies to die cut a piece of Mixed Media Heavystock Card. Once cut, I inked the edges of the card with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, and then smooshed Old Paper Distress Ink onto my craft mat, misted the ink with water and dipped the card into the inky droplets. Once happy with the colour, I heat dried the card and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
This die set comes with a die that creates a matt that will fit perfectly inside the postage frame and I used this to cut a piece of the 49 & Market Faded Memory Lane paper. About 6 weeks ago, and knowing I had this challenge in my schedule, I bought the 6" x 8" paper pad from SSS but unfortunately this pad doesn't seem to be available any more, but they do have the 12" pack ~ so, this could be used but please bear in mind the images will be larger and your card measurements might need to be slightly adapted.
Anyway, back to my make and after cutting one of the papers from the smaller pack with the die, I inked the edges and then added some zig zag machine stitching around the edges. I matted the die cut panel onto a piece of grey cardstock before mounting the layers onto the postage stamp die cut and then using foam pads to attach the layers to my card blank.
Finally, I flicked some white acrylic paint across the surface of the card and allowed this to dry.
Now to create the ephemera layers which are all from 49 & Market. I began with a postage stamp layer from the Faded Memory Lane Ephemera Pack and then placed the clock from the Chipboard pack over the top. I then adhered these layers onto my card front using foam pads.
I added the 'special' ephemera strip down the side of the postage stamp, complete with a Cello Sticker Tape piece...
...and also the number 5 in the top left hand corner, complete with an idea-ology Tiny Clip.
TIME TO STAMPING
We're now ready for the hero of this card, the stamped image of those three little birdies.
This stamp is from the Stampers Anonymous Tiny Things Stamp set by Tim Holtz. I stamped the image onto watercolour card using Black Soot Archival Ink and coloured it with Distress Watercolour Pencils. Once dry, I used the co-ordinating die set to cut the image before inking the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink.
I layered the birdies onto the centre of the chipboard clock using foam pads and adding a piece of Mummy Cloth that I dyed with Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain, and just placing this underneath to ground the stamped image and add some texture.
I then stamped the "Don't Forget To Fly" sentiment from the Tiny Text stamp set and once again, used the co-ordinating die set to cut a perfect banner that I placed onto my card with foam pads and adding it just underneath the birdies.
So that's my card made....now for the gift box!
PILLOW BOX
For the box, I cut a panel of the Faded Memory Lane paper. The quality of this paper is so good and it is a perfect weight for the construction of the box.
You need two separate die cuts to make this box and after folding along the scoreline, I adhered the pieces together to form the box. I then inked the edges before hand cutting a separate panel of paper from the pack which I attached to the front of my box. I also added machine stitching to this panel and added a Faded Memory Lane Ephemera piece in the top right hand corner, and a Mini Pin.
So that box will be sealed tightly, I used Crinkle Ribbon wrapped around it lengthways.
I cut a strip of the ribbon and then misted it with water before adding my colour, using Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains. Scrunch the ribbon into a tight ball and allow to dry before wrapping it around the box and finishing it with a messy bow at the top.
For the topper on the box, I began by cutting a strip of paper from the pad, approx 1" in width and I wrapped this strip around the box to get the correct measurement and folds. You need the strip to be approx 1cm longer in length so that you will be able to attach the end to form the belly band.
Once I had the belly band in place and it slides nicely into position on the front of the box, I cut my topper.
For this I used the Sizzix Interchangeable Seal by Tim Holtz to cut a piece of metallic Kraft card stash but if you don't own this, any circular die will be fine for the job.
I then used the SSS Stitched Circle die to cut a piece of the Faded Memory Lane paper, which I matted in the centre of the seal before I attached the topper onto my belly band.
To complete the topper, I used the little bee from the Tiny Things Stamp Set. As with the birdies, I stamped this onto watercolour card and coloured it with Distress Watercolour Pencils before die cutting it with the co-ordinating stamp set.
Together with the stamped and die cut sentiment 'choose to shine', I attached my bee to the topper.
So, that's my project for this week completed and I hope you love the pieces I've made and the story behind them.
Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to win. You have until next Monday at 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....
Recipe for project:
