Don't Cut, Just Paste ~ Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Hello everyone!

Another week has flown by and here we are at Monday already but that means it's the start of a brand new week and a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week is called "Don't Cut, Just Paste". From texture paste to paste like paints, molding paste to gesso, this is all a staple of great mixed media projects and we can't wait to see how you will incorporate paste into your project!

For my project, I wanted to make a bright, summery canvas recreating the feel of summer meadows blowing in the wind against a bright blue sky and for this, I used texture paste to create the background that would also become the focal point for the entire piece.

To begin with I painted the surface of a primed canvas using Sky Blue paint from Dina Wakley. I added some splashes of Picket Fence Distress Paint to the background and around the edges and then applied some Black Soot Distress Paint using my finger. When the canvas was completely dry, I wanted to add a touch of opulence and for this, I dabbed some embossing ink onto random areas around the edge of the canvas and added some sticky embossing powder. Once I heated the powder with a heat gun and it became tacky, I applied some gold transfer foil to these sticky areas.

For the next stage I applied the Broken China Mini Distress Ink pad directly to a piece of watercolour card which I cut slightly smaller than my canvas. I spritzed the ink with water and then let the colour run to create a background before heat drying and setting the ink. Once dry, I then place the Wild Flower Layering stencil over the top and using a palette knife added Texture Paste through the stencil. Remove the stencil carefully and allow the paste to completely dry. Once dry, place the stencil back over the top of the paste and using Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Wild Honey and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, apply the inks over the top of the paste, blending the colours together to create the scene. Whilst the ink is still wet, dust a small amount of Perfect Pearls over the top to create a beautiful shimmer.

Remove the stencil and using Pumice Stone Distress Marker Pen, carefully edge around the paste to create a shadow and make the flowers pop. As a finishing touch, I stitched around the edge of the card and then using the Distress Marker Spritzer Tool, I lightly spritzed some Black Soot over the top.

Cut a length of Crinkle Ribbon and dye the ribbon using a small amount of Broken China and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink applied to a craft sheet and spritzed with water. Once the ribbon is dyed and thoroughly dry, cut and wrap a small piece around the bottom section of the canvas and secure the ends at the back.

With the remaining ribbon, I tied it into a scruffy bow and attach it to the left hand side of my canvas.

As a finishing touch to the bow arrangement, I added a small amount of Scattered Straw Distress Paint to the surface of an enameled tag, added the wording "Gather Moments" using Remnant Rubs and attached the tag with a loop pin. I then added an antique button to the centre of the bow, again adding a touch of Scattered Straw Distress Paint for a hint of colour and a decorative pin.

To complete the canvas I just felt it needed one more statement and for this, no meadow would be complete without a butterfly and I used the Butterfly duo die to die cut one of the butterflies from a piece of card. I then coloured the die cut shape with Barn Door, Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks before embossing it with the co-ordinating folder. I added some Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the body of the butterfly and very lightly added the ink to the embossed areas to accentuate them before adding a small amount of Treasure Gold Gilding Wax around the edge to give a slight shimmer.

I attached the butterfly to a piece of wire that I coiled around a pencil and then popped it into my bow arrangement to give the effect of it fluttering.

Finally, I die cut the word Cherish from black card and attached it to the ribbon on my canvas and added a ...

To display my summer meadows canvas, I popped it onto an easel which I painted in a co-ordinating colour to match my canvas.

 I really hope you've enjoyed the creative process behind this project and that it brings some sunshine into your day!

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:

Tim Holtz Dies: Butterfly Duo, Handwritten Love

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Picket Fence, Scattered Straw

Distress Ink: Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Gathered Twigs, Mustard Seed, Broken China

Distress Marker Pens: Black Soot, Pumice Stone

Mediums: Ranger Texture Paste, Sticky Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Ink Pad

Treasure Gold ~ White Fire

Ranger Perfect Pearls

Idea-Ology: Crinkle Ribbon, Enameled Tag, Loop Pin, Remnant Rubs

Paint: Dina Wakley Sky Blue

Embellishments: Button and decorative pin from my own stash

Surfaces: White Card, Watercolour Card, Black Card, Ranger Transfer Foil

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun

Big Shot

Blending Tool

Easel

Distress Marker Spritzer Tool

Palette Knife

Distress Sprayer