Here for the Candy

Hello friends!

Back again with another idea-ology Halloween project! This one features a double stack of Vignette Boxes packed with plenty of eerie idea-ology embellishments.

Each box was created as its own individual scene before being joined together to form a whimsical wooden tower. Those two Paper Doll brothers look like they’re strictly "here for the candy," and the Trick or Treat pumpkin overflowing with Confections is primed for picking. It’s definitely going to be a fun Halloween night!

All the details + step-out photos can be found on the Simon Says Stamp blog. Just click HERE.

Now carry on,

Paula

(Here is the link again)

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.

Palette Blue Tag Book

Hello friends,

Things are buzzing in the studio with the arrival of three stunning new Palette paper colors: Teal, Blue, and Indigo. To celebrate, I’ve put together a tag book featuring the Palette Blue 8x8" pack, paired with some of my go-to idea-ology essentials like Organic Layers, Transparent Layers, and those charming Paper Dolls from the Groups pack.
I’ve gathered the completed tags on a Ball Chain loop—I love this method because it’s so flexible; you can start with a few tags today and easily add more as your inspiration grows.
Want to make your own? You can find the full step-out instructions over on the
Simon Says Stamp Blog. I hope you’ll follow along and see just how quickly this little book comes together!

Pop by the Simon blog to take a quick view all the tags made for this fun project.

Now carry on,

paula

Hope Panel

Hello Friends,

I was listening to a podcast recently where the speaker shared a simple observation: she loved seeing tiny flowers growing in the cracks of a sidewalk. To her, those stubborn little blooms were a visual definition of hope. 

When I sat down to create this project, I found myself staring at a sheet of cracked-pattern paper from the Palette Yellow collection. Immediately, her words flashed back to me. I wanted to create a piece that mirrored that exact feeling—the idea that even in the fractured, "broken" places, there is space for something bright to grow. This project is my version of that sidewalk flower: a reminder that hope always finds a way through.

The inspiration paper from the Palette Yellow Collection!

If you'd liked to see the step-out tutorial for this project, you will find it HERE on the Simon Says Stamp Blog. It's an easy project and most relaxing with easy to color florals and the beautiful Palette paper. The Palette Yellow Collection really shines!

Now carry on,

paula

Woven Heart Cards

Hello friends,

Since February is the month of love, I decided to create a few simple cards to celebrate the season! Usually, idea-ology Paper Strips are just lined up and glued down in rows. While that’s a classic look, I wanted to take things to the next level by weaving them! 

I have a step-out tutorial for my woven heart cards over on the Simon Says Stamp blog. I think you will be surprised how EASY it is to make 4 cards at once! 

Link to the tutorial HERE

Now carry on,

Paula

Correspondence Tags

Hello friends,

Happy to be here to share another make using the new Simon Says Stamp Wafer Dies that coordinate with the Stampers Anonymous stamp set, Correspondence. Since we are heading into February, I thought I'd go with a Valentine theme by using the red and pink papers of Palette as a jumping off point.

As I said, I used both red and pink Palette papers for the collaged backgrounds. I had lots of little pieces left from my last project (8x8 scale) so I decided to use up the scraps by creating collaged backgrounds on Ranger #8 tags. Use Collage Medium to add the papers (there is no wrong way to do that). Once dry, I sewed along the lines for some added texture. If you are not a sewer, then just skip that step.

I stamped and cut all the images from the Correspondence stamp set that had Wafer Dies. I did not end up even using them all in my tags. But gosh it was so EASY to use the Wafer Dies to cut all these shapes (can you imagine trying to cut the stars along the top of the wings)? One million times better than using scissors! 

I used different colors of Archival Ink to stamp the images. Here, the images were stamped with Ground Espresso. I also used a Detailer Water Brush and Distress Crayons to color a few of the images.

I also added Clipping stickers and Cello Tape to each. All the hearts were cut with a die from the Love Notes (Sizzix) set using Kraft Stock Sparkle for a bit of shine.

I love this tag project because anything goes. You could add more or less, you could use a family photo, and any color scheme would work. And with Tag Envelopes from Simon, you can slip a #8 tag in and mail it right out! A great way to say, I remember you! ...Thank you for being my friend! ...I love you!

Now carry on,

Paula

The Art of Thinking

Hello friends,

I have a fun project to share today! I’m diving back into a classic with The Inspector stamp set, but giving it a major upgrade using the brand-new matching Wafer Dies.

The Inspector has always been a fan favorite, but Simon Says Stamp has officially upped the game. These all-new wafer dies are designed specifically for this set, meaning no more fussy cutting—just perfectly crisp edges that take your projects from 'handmade' to 'pro' in seconds. To show them off, I’ve used the largest Vignette Square Box to create a dimensional scene that really lets The Inspector shine.

As you can see on the right, the die set cuts many of the basic pieces. It also has added dies to cut out several layers like his googles, the ring and clocks on the gauge, and the body of the lamp.

To get started on the Vignette Box structure, I added neutral paper from the Backdrops #4 paper pack. This is a small box so you can cover the inside with one sheet of Backdrop paper. I also added Collage Medium over the top of the paper to seal it. Now, you could set the box aside to dry naturally... but if you’re impatient like me, a heat tool is your best friend. 

You might use Design Tape to cover the lip edge of the square Vignette, but I decided to just paint it for a rustic look. If you get any paint on the inside, just wipe it off. NOTE: Since the paper is sealed with Collage Medium so you can easily wipe any excess paint away with a wet wipe.

Once the paint is dry, sand the painted edge with a sanding block to give it an aged appearance.

For the outside of the Vignette, I chose the stamp print from the 8x8 Palette Red paper pack. Adhere it just as you did on the inside, Collage Medium under to adhere and over the top to seal.

For the inside:

I stamped the images from The Inspector with Archival ink. The Inspector was stamped with Black Soot and the gauge with Hickory Smoke. I also re-stamped the gauge with Embossing ink and embossed with Ranger Superfine Embossing Powder (gold). That gave me the layering pieces for the gauge.  

All the coloring was done with Distress Crayons and fat brush (that can hold water) from the Ranger Paint Brush set. Hickory Smoke and Stormy Sky Distress Crayon were used on the gauge.

His glasses are Fossilized Amber and the jacket and hat are Uncharted Mariner. Much easier to see the layering in this shot!

I also wanted to use a few Industrial Gears in the background so I added Long Fasteners to the center of each gear, then smashed it with the Texture Hammer. I painted the gears with Speckled Egg Distress Paint and let dry. Then I rubbed Black Soot Distress Paint over the top of the Speckled Egg. The last step was to sand a bit with some steel wool to bring back some of the metal.

Everything I cut out or worked on was added to the Vignette Box using Foam Squares and small wood blocks to raise the inspector from the Vignette.

I added the Clippings sticker, "the Art of Thinking" to the Inspector, as well as Sprocket Gears and string to the bottom of the box.

I also added a Figure Stand that I painted in black and white + a little Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

I also added the die cut piece, "Strictly Hand Made", to the top of the box after coloring it in with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Crayon. I think it makes the perfect finish.

The new Simon Says Stamp Wafer Dies are a total dream to use. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate skipping the fussy cutting! It made creating this fun, layered effect so much faster and gave the whole project such a polished look.

Now carry on,
Paula

It's all Perspective

Hello Friends!

I'm here today sharing a make using one of the new Wafer Dies from Simon Says Stamp. The four new SSS Wafer dies coordinate with Tim Holtz stamp sets and I couldn't be loving that more! It makes cutting the shapes of stamps so very easy! And...I love that they even incorporated the torn edges of the Field Notes stamps. 

I started by stamping the Field Notes images in Archival Ground Espresso on Distress Watercolor Cardstock. Then cut out the images with the new wafer dies. 

I used a Detailer Water Brush and Distress Crayons to color in some of the images and backgrounds. I just scribbled the crayon on my glass Studio mat then picked up the color with a Detailer Water Brush - that was so relaxing just sitting and coloring!

Once the coloring was done, I added the pieces to an Etcetera Tag that had I covered in paper from the new 8x8 Palette Orange pack.

Even though it is had to tell, some of the pieces are raised with Thin Foam Squares, like the Collect piece, the butterfly at the bottom and the red postmark at the top. 

White paint was added to a Large Hinge Clip. It was added to the top of the tag with some inked string and a sentiment from the Small Talk sticker book.

The sentiment at the top goes with the the second one so that it reads, "It's all perspective, everything has beauty".

I used Thin Foam Squares to the add the transparent bird at the bottom. The last thing was to add Cello Tape stickers over a few pieces so it looks taped together. Gosh, I sure love that stuff!

Well that is it for the first project using the new SSS Wafer Dies and Tim Holtz stamps. I'll have a project using another set in the next week or so, so stay tuned for that!

Now carry on,

Paula

Go with your Heart Panel

Hello friends,

I’m so excited to share my very first project of 2026 with you all! To kick off the year, I decided to work on a small Etcetera Panel layered with a collage of idea-ology Paper Strips.

One of the things I love most about Paper Strips is their versatility—whether you’re covering a rigid panel or the cover of a junk journal, they create such an effortless vintage surface. For this piece, I let the sentiment "My dearest" lead the way. The idea of featuring the "My dearest" strip as a focal point in the design led me to my other choices of a Mini Pocket Watch, pieces from the Lucky Adornments pack and the Salvaged Heart. All were chosen to reinforce the "My dearest" Paper Strip.

Want to see how it all came together? I’ve posted the full tutorial, including step-by-step images, over on the Simon Says Stamp blog. I’d love for you to stop by and check it out!

Click here for the link to the TUTORIAL.
Now carry on,
Paula