Live Every Day With Intention ~ Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Hey everyone!

It's the start of a brand new week here on my blog and that means it's the start of a brand new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week there is just one rule ~ we want you to use any one Simon Says Stamp brand stamp, stencil, ink pad, cardstock, die or kit on your project! You can also feature other things ~ just be sure to let us know what Simon brand exclusive product you used in your creation this week!

I chose to use a selection of SSS products to create my card and hope you enjoy the creative process behind it!

To begin with, I cut a piece of watercolour card to measure 6" square. I misted the card with water and then took my Broken China and Shabby Shutters Mini Distress Ink Pads direct to the card and applied some ink from both colours to the damp card. Mist a little more water onto the card and watch the inks blend together, letting them drip and run to create a gorgeous background.

Next, I wanted to add some more to my background and applied a combination of blues and greens directly onto my SSS Ring Cluster stencil, misted the stencil with water and then stamp the stencil directly onto the background and press down. I removed the stencil to leave me with this gorgeous reverse print.

Dry the card thoroughly before applying some Jet Black Archival ink through the Dot Fade Layering Stencil using a blending tool. Add a few flicks and splashes of Distress Stains using a brush to pick up the colour and then just flicking onto the card ~ for this, I used Evergreen Bough and Abandoned Coral. Give another burst of heat to dry the ink completely or set aside whilst you start stamping!

I stamped the Exercise Girl image onto a further piece of watercolour card using black Archival Ink and then coloured her using a water brush and Distress Marker Pens that I scribbled onto my craft sheet. I then used the co-ordinating die to die cut the image and set her to one side to work on the next stage.

...and for this, I applied strips of torn tissue tape across the centre of the inked background and also used the Scribbles and Splats die to die cut one of the scribbles from Kraft Core card stock, which I attached over the top of the tissue tape stuck to my card. I then, inked around the edges of the card using Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

I then used the SSS Chevron Clouds die to die cut a set of clouds from white pearl card which I attached to my background using foam pads for dimension....

...added a coil of white Wired Thread, before popping the beautiful stamped image amongst the clouds. When adding each layer I ensure that each time I used more foam pads to create the height and perspective I wanted.

To complete my card, I added some sequins dotted around the background and a small talk sticker.

I then matted and layered my finished artwork onto layers of white and Fog Gray card stock before mounting it onto a 7" white card blank.

I really hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and you've been inspired by some of the techniques I've used to create my background. If you need any further inspiration for this challenge, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. Good luck....

Thank you so much for all your visits today and hope you all have a great week ahead

See you again soon...love Emma xx

Products used:

Simon Says Stamp Products: Chevron Clouds Die, Exercise Girls Die Set, Work Out Stamp Set, Ring Cluster Stencil, Moonshine Sequins

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies: Scribbles and Splats Thinlits Die Set

Distress Marker Pens

Distress Stain: Abandoned Coral, Evergreen Bough

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap, Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Various shades of blues and green Distress Inks

Inks: Jet Black Archival Ink

Idea-Ology: Small Talk Stickers, Laboratorie Tissue Tape, Symphony Tissue Tape

Embellishments: Prima Wired Thread

Tim Holtz Layering Stencils: Dot Fade

Surfaces: Watercolour Card, white pearl card, SSS Fog Gray Card stock, Tim Holtz Kraft Core Card

Ranger Craft Sheet

Water Brush

Heat Gun

Big Shot

Blending Tool

Foam Squares

Ranger Water Mister