Floral Elements Coorindating Dies

Hello friends,

Excited to share another make using the NEW Simon Says Stamp wafer die sets that coordinate perfectly with some of the beautiful Cling Rubber stamps from Tim Holtz’s collection!

Today, I used Floral Elements for the flowers and leaves, along with Tiny Text for the sentiments. To bring it all together, I used an idea-ology Mini Clipboard—it's the absolute perfect size to sit on an easel on your desk as a gentle, daily reminder to lead with a grateful heart.

My absolute favorite thing about the Tiny Text die set? It comes with a chart that tells you exactly which size die to use for each sentiment. It is a total GENIUS idea and makes finding the right frame size completely effortless. No more guessing games or fussy measuring!

Tiny Text

Floral Elements

Now carry on,

paula

Product used in this project

Liberty Vignette Tray

Happy Saturday, friends! 

Summer is officially here, and I have a fun new project to share that is just in time for your 4th of July crafting. 

I decided to bring two favorite Paper Dolls together for this Vignette Tray- the girl holding the flag and the boy with the leather gloves. (Fun fact: if you look at the original photo, his gloves have large stars stitched on the wrists!) I think that tiny, historic detail is what made me realize they would be the absolute perfect pair for this patriotic Vignette Tray. Sure enough, they look like they were meant to be together, creating the perfect vintage holiday scene.

I've shared the full step-by-step tutorial over on the Simon Says Stamp blog, so grab a cold drink and come check out how it all came together!

(direct link to the Simon Says Stamp blog)

Now carry on,
Paula

Product used in today's project.

Still Climbing Heavenward

Hello friends,

There has been so much going on behind the scenes around here lately! Between life in general and wrapping up the end of the school year with my husband, finding dedicated time at my desk has been a bit of a challenge. I finally decided that I just needed to set aside a few hours to play, be creative, and make something entirely for fun.

That’s exactly how this Square Vignette came about. I’ve always loved the Worn Wallpaper Scraps pack but realized I hadn't reached for them in a while because I've been so focused on the Palette papers. Well, not today! I went a little old-school with a tape transfer, lots of Collage Paper, and Cello Tape. Follow along and I’ll show you the easy steps to recreate this project using some favorite idea-ology products.

Lets get started with the Vignette. This is the largest of the square boxes but you could use any of the three sizes using these same techniques. I used Collage Medium to add a sheet from the Worn Wallpaper Scraps pack + a scrap paper from Backdrops (I always save my scraps!).

I love a good tape transfer! So easy to add packing tape over one of the Portraits. Just remember to burnish!

I was easily able to peel off one layer of paper backing before I even took it to the sink to submerge it. That means less work for me!

I left the Portrait in water for 2-3 minutes, then rubbed off all the paper on the back till the image was transparent.

Wipe off any remaining water and let it dry for a few minutes. I used Collage Medium to add it to the Vignette. I love how the pattern in the paper comes through the image!

Next up a a little bit of Collage Paper was added to the right side. I always have a puddle of Gathered Twigs ink to work with. Adding the ink with your fingertip over the wet glue helps the Collage Paper to be even more transparent over the surface. It's a fun trick.

Now more small pieces of Collage Paper on the left side.

I made ANOTHER tape transfer of leaves from the Layers Organic pack and added them to the surface with Collage Medium. Once dry, I added Cello Tape Stickers to a few places.

I created a short sentiment using Clippings stickers. 

And in a last step, I used a Tim Holtz stencil (Nordic 070) and Speckled Egg Distress Paint to add some pattern in a few places. I like to use foam on the end of a Blending Tool, but VERY LITTLE paint on the foam so the paint comes out almost sheer and the pattern below shows through. I do not pounce (as you normally would with a stencil). Instead I make quick circles over the stencil - with VERY little paint.

Just the right amount of blue over the neutral!

Now carry on,

Paula

Colorful Graduation cards

Hello friends! With June just around the corner, graduation season is officially on the horizon, which means it's time to make a few special cards. To get a head start, I decided to use the versatile idea-ology Folio Folders as my base. Combining Distress Paint, Spray Stain, and beautiful Collage Paper made personalizing the covers a breeze. 

I added Palette Paper envelopes to the inside so a gift card or money can be easily added! I hope you'll come along with me today as I show you how just a few simple materials can come together to create truly memorable cards.

I started with three large Folio Folders. There are three more smaller folders in the pack, but I'll be saving them for another time.

I used a Blending Tool with a foam pad to add Lost Shadow Distress Paint to the three folders. It takes very little paint to get a great image through the stencil.  So remember, "Less is more"!

TIP: If you don't want to wipe the paint off the stencil immediately, throw it into a tray of water until you have the time to wash it.

I used three different stencils - Deco Feather, Deco Leaf, and Deco Floral. These are some of my favorite stencils!

Spray a few colors of Distress Spray Stain + enough water to help it bead up. I chose Mustard Seed, Speckled Egg, Saltwater Taffy, but many color combinations from the Distress line will work. NOTE: I also gave the Folio Folder a light spritz of water before dipping into the ink.

Here's my first go - I got a lot more yellow than I anticipated but I still like it. 

Love how the three turned out. Each different and unique! The Lost Shadow Distress Paint is perfect with the bright colors.

I'm going to add a few flowers from Collage Paper over the inked folio. I used a water brush to cut out each flower from the background. 

Super easy to add the Collage Paper to the front of the Folio with Collage Medium. Remember, a layer of Collage Medium, then the Collage Paper, then another layer of Collage Medium over the top.

Here are the three images I chose but any from the Serendipity pack would do.

Next up, use the Distress Splatter Tool to flick Picket Fence Distress Paint over the folders. It might be hard to see all the paint flicks but they really add to the overall look.

While the paint is drying, I'm going to stamp on some Cello Tape. You must use StazOn ink so it will be permanent (Archival ink will not work for this). I'm also using the Stampers Anonymous Tidbits stamp set since the size/scale works perfectly. 

#1 TIP: Make sure you are stamping on the right side of the tape that peels off! You might notice that in the upper left hand corner I stamped on the wrong side and had to turn the tape over to continue stamping!

Another tip...If you spray some Isopropyl Alcohol on to a paper towel you can remove bad stamping. Turn the tape over to stamp a new image (Example 3).

I used Collage Medium to add 8x8" Palette paper to the inside of the folders. I used Palette Teal, Palette Yellow, and Palette Pink. 

When I was working on the outside, some ink managed to make its way onto the inside. I decided to just go with it and instead of covering it up with paper, I stamped each folder using my favorite florals and black soot Archival Ink. I also added a few more splatters just to give it more color.

Now a little Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on the edges of the folders.

Now to finish the outside of the folders:

I used Postmarked stamps, Tiny Text Remnant Rubs, the pre-stamped Cello Tape Stickers to decorate each of the Folio Folders. Don't be afraid to cut up the Remnant Rubs to suit what you want it to say. For instance, I changed "Free to Fly" to "Remember to Fly".

I also added a vintage button to each little collage. Any other small embellishment could be substituted if you don't have a button!

To further decorate the folders, I gathered a few charms to hang from some string. I thought the bird would work well with "Remember to fly". I use Speckled Egg Distress Paint to paint the bird and a Picket Fence Crayon to fill the recessed portion of the idea-ology Word Tags.

Just a bit of twine to tie the charms to the folios!

Since I decided to make these cards for upcoming graduates, I thought I better add a pocket on the inside for a gift card or money. I did that by cutting Palette paper (in Teal, Pink, and Yellow) with the envelope die from the Sizzix Collector Thinlit. The size is perfect.

I used tape to add each envelope to the inside of the folder. They really are mix and match envelopes at this point!

One last idea! 

I wanted to add a note as a closure on the envelope so I looked through my stamps to find Note Quotes. It had the perfect saying, "You got this",

I sprayed a piece of Distress Watercolor paper with Antique Linen Spray Stain.

I stamped the circles and the saying using Archival Ink, then cut them out.

I made a puddle of Speckled Egg ink to hand color the circles to give it more depth and interest. The color combo looks so good in person. I wish the photo could do it justice.

I added the circles to the envelope with tape but left the bottom portion open so I could add the gift card or money.

There is enough room to slip a note inside too!

Now carry on,

paula

Cabinet of Curiosities

Hello friends,

After many requests, I have added the instructions to my Etsy shop, for the "Cabinet of Curiosities" class I taught at the Simon Says Stamp Create Event earlier this month. 

The instructions include -
- 5 page PDF of color step-out photos - these can be viewed on a computer/ipad or printed
- Written Instructions + additional notes

- Complete supply list of product used: idea-ology, Ranger, and other items

(click on photo to enlarge)

I created a list of products used in the project that Simon Says Stamp sells. I thought I would link to them since they hosted the class and brought in all the products needed. Obviously, check your stash - you may just have everything you need on hand!

Now carry on, Paula