Sunday, September 22, 2013

STAMPtember!

It is STAMPtember time over at Simon Says Stamp!  
I hope you will pop over to see the card I made!
Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps. It didn’t take long until we realized we couldn’t stop there. During the past 11 years we celebrate rubber stamping in its full glory by giving access to people around the world to a one stop shop. Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business and we are celebrating by hosting a STAMPtember® event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping. Part of the enticement of rubber stamping is that stamps can be used in creating or complementing ANYTHING! From stamping dates on bank documents and postage parcels in the early 18th century, rubber stamping has dramatically expanded to include card making, scrapbooking, mixed media, life documenting, art journaling, and many forms of altering and expressing art.

It's getting to feel a bit like Christmas...ho, ho, ho
paula

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Faux Croc

First off, apologies for the week long absence.  Lots of things happening in the background that cannot be shared till 2014, but let me tell you, I am excited for the new year already!  I also have been preparing for the Inspiration Unlimited event in Las Vegas this coming weekend.  Lots and lots of hours of work have gone into the preparation of over 250 kits.  Thanks to friends and family who have helped put kits together!
I posted this picture on Facebook a couple weeks ago.  This is my husband cutting 1200 grungeboard letters with the Vagabond machine.  He had a whole system worked out that included his portable garage work table, a bin of pre-painted grungeboard, and a golf match on the TV.  Gotta love him...he made it through, then moved on to 275 leaves and another 275 postage stamp frames.  He is a keeper.
Enough about what I have been doing as of late...
Lets get started making an easy card today.  I couldn't decide what colors, so I made two #8 colored tags using Distress Stain and water technique.
First up the warm group - ripe persimmon, milled lavender, and squeezed lemonade
yum.
Next up - mustard seed, peacock feathers, seedless preserves
wow, that came out brighter than I thought it would...but I like it. 
I'm going to use the Sizzix Writing Desk Bigz die - that feather was calling my name! 
 
The feather runs diagonal across the die so my tag needed to run that way.  I just laid the tag on the die and clipped the corners so it would run through the Vagabond machine. Easy solution.
It's hard to see the lavender color on screen but it is a great contrast to the orange and yellow. 
Love the green too.  I think I will go with this one today and save the orange for another day next week.
I glued some Core'dinations Kraft core cardstock to a piece of chipboard and cut out the ink bottle with the same die.  Use the sanding grip to sand away some of the black to reveal the kraft color underneath.
Next I cut a piece of cardstock for the center of my card.  I painted it with Bundled Sage distress paint.
I chose the new Distress Paint Dusty Concord for the edges of the card.  Then used the Burlap layering stencil and a blending tool to rub on the paint around the edges of the card, making sure to leave a uneven line on the center of the card.
Before letting go of the stencil, I used the tip of my finger to rub over the stencil...basically wiping away the color from the middle of the burlap....
And transforming the burlap texture, into "faux croc". 
My, oh my, I love this look.  Can't wait to try it with darker colors.
Once dry, I stitched the cardstock piece to the card front.  I used a standard size 14 needle (sharp not ballpoint) for the stitching.
I used Archival Ink - Watering Can (grey) and the Tall Text stamp set to add a message.  As you can see, I use the lines on the mat board and a ruler to keep my text straight.  Once I have the top line done, I use the bottom of the stamped text as a visual line for the second row.
I added the stamped label from the Mini Halloween 3 set (Aquamarine Archival ink).  And there you have it...super simple!  Still love that feather!


So I am now off to Inspiration Unlimited!  I have a tutorial coming up on Sunday over at Simon Says Stamp as part of STAMPtember...I will send out a reminder post so you don't miss it.  Then I will be back next week using that orange feather I made.  I that that one is going on a layout I have in mind.
carry on,
paula



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

I want it all!

Look at what's in the house at Simon Says Stamp!  
The quilting and crafting packs have arrived! 
 There are so many different sets, I had to make myself a chart just to get the available sizes straight!


If you want all 24 patterns
 Fat Quarter -Each pack contains 24 pieces of 18 x 21" fabric

Fat Eighth - Each pack contains 24 pieces of 9" x 21" fabric.


Or you can buy smaller packs listed below 

Pick from 3 fabric groups
Documentation - Labels - Melange
 


Pick the size you need
I listed the ending digits of each pack to go with the links at the bottom.

Fat Quarter pack - 8 pieces of 18" x 21" fabric
39 - documentation
40 - labels
41 - melange

Fat Eight pack - 8 pieces of 9" x 21" fabric 
42 - documentation
43 - labels
44 - melange

Design Roll - 8 pieces of 2.5" x 44" fabric
45 - documentation
46 - labels
47 - melange

Charm Pack 5" - 8 pieces of 5" x 5" Fabric
48 - documentation
49 - labels
50 - melange

Charm Pack - 8 pieces of 10" x 10" fabric.
51 - documentation
52 - labels
53 - melange
6" Crafting pack - 8 pieces of 6 x 6" fabric
54 - documentation
55 - labels
56 - melange
12" Crafting pack - 8 pieces of 12 x 12" fabric
57 - documentation
58 - labels
59 - melange

And yes, you can buy yardage however, you will need to contact a local fabric or quilting store to see if they carry it.  Please don't forget to check out what has been posted the last week or so on Sew4Home.  This amazing quilt sewn by Michele Mishner is amazing.  Such detail in the stitch work.
Project Design: Alicia Thommas  
Quilting Stitch Design: Michele Mishler
Sample Creation and Instructional Outline: Michele Mishler

carry on,
paula