Stamp It...

Hello friends and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge called STAMP IT! This month, is a very special month over at SSS because...we're celebrating StampTember ~ a month long party full of exclusive new products, giveaways and special guests and the Monday Challenge team will be joining in with the celebrations and we hope you will too!

For this week's challenge, each team member was sent a surprise product from the brand new release and today, we are all sharing the projects we made using those stamps and dies! The stamp set that I was sent is the cute Carol Singers set and I decided to create my first Christmas card of 2017 using these fun characters.

So, here we go...it's time for this week's challenge and here's how I created my card! 

  

Many of my regular visitors will know that I don't usually do "cute" but today I have embraced my cute side with this card and to begin with I started with the stamping...

I began by stamping my bear image onto a piece of heavyweight mixed media card using Archival Ink and stamping a second image that once cut out, will be used as a mask for when I create the background. I then cut a circle to use as a template for the moon and placed this directly onto my card, overlapping the image of the bear and place the mask of the bear directly over the top of the image on the card. Now just work that Distress Ink magic by blending Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen inks over the surface and directly over the top of the masks, probably inking two thirds of the way down and leaving the bottom section free. I kept going until I was happy and then with the masks still in place, I splattered a small amount of water over the inked background before dabbing away the excess with a paper towel.

Removing the moon mask, I then inked the colour of the moon using some more Antique Linen and a touch of Frayed Burlap to add the depth.

For the snowy effect at the bottom, I just painted on some gesso, adding it thicker to places than others and then once the paint was dry, added some shadows using the same coloured inks as I used on the sky.

Next, I removed the bear mask and coloured the image using Distress Marker pens. Adding light and shade to certain areas. You'll also notice if you look real close, I've actually given the bear some eyes by colouring in the whites and adding little pupils. I also gave him some polka dot trousers, just for fun!

I then stamped the image of the cat onto a further piece of card, coloured the image and cut around the outline before attaching it with foam pads to create my scene.

I stamped some music notes from the stamp set around the image and then added the wording, again from the same stamp set.

For a base for the cuties to stand on, I used some cheesecloth ~ one section coloured with Tumbled Glass and one left white. I entwined the two pieces together and then using Collage Medium, I stuck the cloth to the background, adding some Art Stones to look like little snowballs around their feet.

To complete the scene, I added some gold die cut stars that were left over from a future Halloween project and placed them amongst dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops, applied directly onto the card.

Finally I added a sticker, (from Tim's Holiday Talk Metallic Sticker set from last year) along the bottom and two pearl baubles to either side.

To finish my card, I matted it onto layers of various coloured card and a piece of the gorgeous paper from last years Tidings Paper Stash by Tim Holtz. I finished the card with a piece of twine wrapped around and tied into a bow and added a button.

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then 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. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and see you again very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Simon Says Stamp Stamps: Carol Singers

Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Tumbled Glass
Distress Marker Pens
Tim Holtz idea-ology: Christmas Jute String, Baubles
Surfaces: Tidings Paper Stash, Classic Kraft Paperie
Mediums: Collage Medium, Jet Black Archival Ink, Nuvo Crystal Drops, Gesso
Surfaces: Heavyweight Mixed Media Card
Ranger Craft Sheet
Paper Distresser
Sanding Tool

Heat Gun
Tim Holtz Holiday Talk Metallic Stickers 2016 from my own stash