Life Is A Great Adventure ~ Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Hey everyone!

Hope you've all enjoyed the weekend and hopefully, you managed to see some sunshine but if you weren't lucky enough then look no further than this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge because this week, we challenge you to create some sunshine of your own in our "Summer Challenge"!

For some people this time of year means pools, beaches and warm weather. Some love to travel and enjoy vacations and other just like to soak up the sunshine. So we ask you "how does summer translate into your creative life"? What do you make to celebrate it? Are you inspired by the colours? The theme is wide open and we can't wait to see what you come up with...

For my project, I made a 12' x 12" canvas all about friendship. What better way to enjoy a summer than spending warm sunny days with friends and making sure that life is a great adventure!

I really loved creating this piece and as with many of my projects, I loved layering all the different elements which lead up to the main focal point and I only wish you could see this in real life as it's such a touchy feely canvas, full of textures and fun...

...and here's how I created it!

I started by adding Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Paint directly to my canvas and then misting the paints with water. I then just moved the canvas around allowing the paint to blend, puddle, drip and really just do it's own thing to create a background.

When I was happy with how it looked I then started to add some texture and began by adding torn pieces of Tissue Tape onto my background. I used various tapes and stuck them to random areas.

I then used some 3D Gloss Gel and applied it through the Splotches Layering Stencil. As you can see, the gel goes on white but it does dry clear...

...and I loved how it created the look of water droplets on my finished canvas.

Finally, I added some Texture Paste applied through my beloved and well used Dot Fade Layering Stencil and then added some gentle flicks of paint across the canvas, which completed the background.

Now to move onto the layers and to begin with I took a piece of manila card stock and painted the surface with Weathered Wood Distress Paint. Once the card was dry, I embossed it with the Compass Texture Fade, before sanding back the raised embossed areas with a sanding tool. I then distressed the edges, adding small tears and rips and inked them with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. To add a touch of shimmer to the raised areas, I lightly applied some Gilding Wax using my fingertip and then buffed it with a dry cloth.

For the next stage, I collected together all my pieces of ephemera, which included the photograph from the Found Relatives pack, ephemera pieces and a ticket stub.

I wanted the photo to look a little worn, so used a sander across the surface to create scratches and to remove some of the edges ~ at this point, I also added a Remnant Rub directly to the photo and colour tinted it using Distress Marker Pens.

I layered all my pieces onto the canvas and attached them into place, tucking some film ribbon and various pieces of idea-ology underneath the pieces.

I applied Cracked Pistachio and Picket Fence Distress Paint to the Friendship Alpha Part and attached this to my canvas with a beautiful Prima crystal...

...before adding a small talk sticker, industrious border and a few more Remnant Rubs directly to the canvas.

I then applied some Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around the edge of the canvas and a small amount of gilding wax as a finishing touch.

I really hope you've enjoyed how I created this canvas and that it will inspire you with your summer projects. How wonderful would this look with a family photo attached and maybe proudly displayed in your home or office!

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:

Distress Paint: Picket Fence, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon, Weathered Wood

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap

Tim Holtz Texture Fade: Airmail and Compass Set

Mediums: Ranger Texture Paste, 3D Gloss Gel

Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Splotches, Dot Fade

Distress Marker Pens

Embellishments: Prima Marketing Timeless Memories Crystal

Idea-ology: Special Delivery Remnant Rubs, Found Relatives, Journaling Tickets, Film Ribbon, Ephemera Pack, Small Talk Stickers, Industrious Stickers, Tissue Tape, Passport Design Tape, Mini Sprocket Gears, Alpha Part

Treasure Gold White Fire Gilding Wax

Surfaces: Manila Card

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun

Big Shot

Distress Sprayer

Palette Knife

Sanding Tool

12" x 12" Canvas