New Wafer Dies from Simon Says Stamp

Hello Friends,

We are celebrating a new release of wafer dies from Simon Says Stamp that match 6 current Stampers Anonymous stamp sets. Here is the list of the stamps and matching dies (images at the bottom of the post).

Tiny Frights Dies: 468sss

Tiny Frights Stamps: CMS468

Doodles Sketch Dies 437sss

Doodles Sketch Stamps CMS437

Sketch Manor Dies 408sss

Sketch Manor Stamps CMS408

Pumpkinhead Dies 309sss

Pumpkinhead Stamps CMS309

Nature's Wonder Dies 434sss

Nature's Wonder Stamps CMS434

Halloween Sketchbook Dies 469sss

Halloween Sketchbook Stamps CMS469

I created a few things to share in the coming days, starting with this fun card that just puts a smile on your face! The line up of Pumpkins is so easy to create using the matching wafer dies. 

For the background, I used my FAVORITE of the "shifter" series of stencils: the Harlequin pack. It is a 3 stencil pack with 3 different sizes of Harlequin stencils to choose from. I used the middle one for both the card and the tags I created.

My base a Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock and I used both Oxide and regular Distress Ink for the colors. The new Mini Blending Tools are the perfect size for this stencil. Of ocurse you need to keep Oxide and Distress Ink on separate brushes so I mark the end of my Distress Ink Brushes with a D (sharpie marker) and keep them in separate tins.

Once I was finished stenciling, I made a puddle of Oxide Ink and used a thick brush to splatter the ink over the surface.

Then it was time to stamp and color the pumpkins - so easy on the Watercolor paper! Next, I went to my workhorse Vagabond machine to cut out the pumpkins. I love how the die cuts so close to the edge and gives you just a bit of a white halo. I swear it makes you smile every time it comes out of the machine.

The words, "A little Hocus Pocus" are from the Life of the Party set (CMS380).

And as a bonus, I used all the same products to create some fun tags.

The stencil is the same size as the cards, but this time I used multiple colors of Distress ink over the harlequin stencil. I love this look!

I used Snarky stickers because they just worked so perfectly with the different faces of the pumpkins.

Stay tuned, because I will be back in a couple days with another wafer die project. 

Now carry on,

paula

Oxide Minis and Brushes

Hello friends,

I have made a few fun tags using the new Oxide Minis and the Mini Blending Brushes. Of course Oxides are not new, but the Mini Size is! For years Ranger could not product Oxides in a Mini Size, but something changed to make it possible. They are perfect to travel with because the fit into the Mini Distress Ink Storage Tin.

The new size of the Blending Brushes are super to use with small stencils. So I decided to use try them with one of my favorite stencil sets: Stampers Anonymous Element Stencil Set-"Everyday Art" and they worked really well. Of course you still have to mask off (I just use Post it notes) because there are multiple stencils on each one, but that was easy.

NOTE: the Sizzix Scallop Circles die I used is still available at Scrapbook.com (includes 8 Scallop Circle dies). Simon Says Stamp also offers a Scallop die with 12 dies, but I believe the scallops are smaller than the Sizzix die that I used. I am sure there are many companies that sell a scallop dies!

I also used the Oxide Inks to color 1/4" ribbon for the tags.

Once they were stenciled, I added Small Talk Stickers and then added some stitching across the top just for texture. To bring in more color, I added Stamps from the Postmarked Sticker Book, then trimmed the excess so it follows the scallop border. Eyelets were added to each tag and then the ribbon.

I've taken a photo of each tag with the stencils and ink colors used. 

All ink was added to the tag with the new Mini Blending Brushes.

This dot stencil is one of my favorite from the set!

Now Carry on,

Paula

Stamped Cards

Hello Friends,

Just a quick post today to share a set of cards using multiple stamps as well as the matching wafer dies from Simon Says Stamp.

I used a lot of stamps and dies for these two cards but I figured I had them, so why not? The first card features the Ornate Trims that I stamped and die cut using the new wafer dies. I colored the trims with Distress Ink before adding them to the card. The background was stamped with Oxide Ink and the butterfly was an extra from the small tray project (I colored more butterflies than I needed).

Card 2 was fun to make with the right side cut short so the Ornate Trim could really be seen as it hovers above the pink embossed paper. 

I love this loop 'd loop trim - it's so fun!

Blush Spellbinders Cardstock was embossed with the Dotted Diamond Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp, then cut to fit the card. It's only about 2" wide so you can still write something on the inside of the card.

I used the three stamp sets seen below

Perspective - sentiment on card 2

Flutter - card 1

Papillion - stamped background on card 1

Wildflower - card 2

Ornate Trims - both cards

And here are the matching dies that I used: Perspective, Flutter, Ornate Trims and Wildflowers.

I'll see you soon with more makes and ideas!

Now carry on,

paula

Perspective Butterfly Panel

Hello friends,

I would call the project I am sharing today, experimental! At one point in the process something out of the ordinary happened and I just decided to just keep going. Nearing the end, a few ideas popped into my head that made everything come together (that made me happy) and made me feel like I had made the right decision to move forward. I hope you enjoy the process of my Perspective Butterfly Panel!

I thought I'd start by showing the ingredients to the background since they are not pictured in the step-out photos. Distress Paint and Distress Embossing Powder are the key ingredients to the transformation of the Embossed Watercolor Cardstock. I used the 3D embossing folder Entangled, that was released earlier this year, to make the impression. These A5 folders are large and fit perfectly on a small rectangle Etcetera Panel. With that being said, lets get started!

Paint the Watercolor Cardstock with Distress Paint. I painted in bands of color, but you can paint however you wish.

Once the paint was dry, I randomly pressed Distress Embossing Ink over the raised pattern (as best I could).  I sprinkled Embossing Glaze over the pattern with my fingers, then used an embossing tool to melt the glaze (it melts fast so watch it carefully).

Now a bit of crazy. I painted over the entire surface with Black Soot Distress Paint. You can see how some of the embossed portions resisted the black paint.

Then I laid a paper towel over the surface and pressed down to remove some of the paint.

And this is the result (that is wasn't expecting).

The paper towel pattern transferred to the surface. I have had that happen before, but the pattern usually disappears with ink...but with paint, it stayed. Hummm. Do I spray it with water? Wipe it all away and start over? What to do when things go awry...that's always the question!

Well, I decided to go with the flow and finish cleaning up the black paint from the edges then setting it aside. What you can't really distinguish in the photo is how much the Embossing Glaze added to the overall look. I'm glad I added that step so I could get more variance to the individual colors of paint.

Once dry, I sanded the edges of the panel and added a layer of Collage Medium to give it a finished look before moving on. 

I'm using Perspective Butterfly CMS213 stamp and the matching wafer die from Simon. The Perspective die set is so good because not only does it cut out the big butterfly, it also cuts the four sentiments. Truth be told, I could possibly cut out a butterfly, but I would never, ever attempt the sentiments. The dies really make this stamp set even more valuable to me.

I colored the butterfly with a Detailer Water Brush and Distress Inks. Then put it in a Splat Box and sprayed the butterfly with Resist Spray which gives it a beautifully shiny surface (photos do not show how good it looks in person).

Another thing that is hard to see in last photo is the die cut center of the butterfly. If you stamp the butterfly a second time, you can use the "body" die to cut out a second body and add it over the first. I used a THIN 3D foam square so it is raised for dimension.

Okay, the butterfly is done so lets work on the backing. Stay with me...this is a layering process!
I used two round transparencies from the Transparent Layers pack. The top transparency has been spun around so the flowers are at the top. You will also need about 10 standard 3D foam squares for the next steps.

Add five squares to the transparency (notice they are in a butterfly configuration?).

Now add the transparency with the daisies to the one with the flowers (now you have flowers all the way around the circle). Don't worry, the foam squares in between the transparencies will be covered up by the butterfly.

Add more 3D foam squares to the back of the butterfly, then adhere to the transparency sandwich.

So here is what it should look like from the side...

butterfly

3D foam squares

transparency

3D foam squares

transparency

Now cut a circle (I used a circle die I have had forever) from metallic cardstock. This time I used THIN foam squares to add the gold metallic circle. 

The metallic gives off a great glow under the transparent layers.

I used my clear Tonic Media ruler to find the center of the Etcetera Panel and placed my sentiment 1" from the bottom of the panel. This clear ruler comes in very handy!

I covered the sentiment with a post it note, then splattered white paint over the surface. That added a pop of bright color that I really like. Even though I was late to think to do this, it was worth it. Post it notes come in very handy in the craft room! 

Now add the layered circle to the center. Again, the white splatter of paint helped to tie everything together! 

I am happy I kept going on this piece because I love how it turned out in the end.  But look, it took all the way to the splatter part to make it work for me. And the transparency idea didn't come till I finished the butterfly and then let it sit for about 3 days. I don't know what made me think of it, but I love that layered transparent look! I hope you do too!

Now carry on!

paula