Monday, March 27, 2017

My Cards and Tags: Making Masks and Stencils from a Stamp

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Theme is, "Things with Wings."  I went for a classic bird shape, which I made into five ATC's.


My bird shape started out as an adorable Darkroom Door stamp called "Robin."  You can easily turn any stamp into a simple stencil/mask combo by stamping the image, then fussy-cutting around it.  I don't stab a hole in the middle to cut the shape out because I want to preserve the inside shape, too.  So I just cut straight into the image from the edge of the paper and then tape that cut back together after I've cut the middle out (you can see my "supplementary cut" if you look closely at the lower right corner of the image).



Now you have a stencil you can use to trace other birds (which is what I did) and you have the inside bird, which you can flip over and use the back of to decorate (which I also did).

Next was to make my ATC backgrounds.  I started with Strathmore Mixed Media paper and cut out the cards with a Project Life die and my Sizzix Big Shot (my cards aren't true ATC's because they're 3" x 4", but I went with it anyway).  I glued on scraps of patterned paper cut in circles and strips and added some Washi tape.



I followed this with some acrylic paint.  I used a lot of white and then some streaks of color.  As usual, probably because I'm lazy, I smeared the paint on with my fingers instead of using brushes.



With my backgrounds complete, I went on to embellish either the bird shape or the negative bird shape from the stencils/masks I made earlier.

On the card below, I added some stamping, more Washi, and Distress Ink.  I left the card background showing through my bird stencil.  I also added a sentiment word to each ATC.  The text stamping on every card is from the same Paper Artsy stamp set.  I also used Tim Holtz Symphony Washi and Doodlebug Spring Garden Washi on several of the cards.



On this next card, I used a Seth Apter Spellbinders ring in the background (Robo Rings set), but I used the negative space left between two of the rings that I cut instead of one of the actual ring shapes.  I went with kind of a party raven vibe.



The card below utilizes another Seth Apter die (Ring Around) and I cut the bird out of some floral patterned paper from the Happiness is Homemade collection by Echo Park.  I used the new Tim Holtz Lower Type alphabet stamps (sideways) for some lettering in the back.  The "I have a song" sentiment is from an old book.



For the card below, I used another Seth Apter die (Splatter Proof) and some Tim holtz ruler ribbon.  I'm loving Bo bunny's Faith collection, where the yellow polka-dot patterned paper came from.



Lastly, on this pink version, I used another bird stencil and let the background show through.  I also used some Washi from my stash.  The gray circles that I stamped are from Simon Says Stamp's I Love Donuts stamp set.



Here are the supplies I used, which you can find at Simon Says Stamp:


This week's theme is so timely with all the Springy things that are flying around!  I can't wait to see what you submit to our Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!  When you enter your creation, you will also be entered to win the random $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.

Monday, March 20, 2017

My Cards and Tags: A Tribute to Paint

Layer it Up is this week's theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.  I made a trio of textured tags celebrating all things paint-y!


I started these tags out on Strathmore Mixed Media paper (my go-to paper anytime I know things are going to involve paint).  I cut the tags using Tim Holtz's Sizzix Tags Collection die set.  I painted streaks of color in the background using Dina Wakley heavy body acrylic paint.


I used an old book page and Tim Holtz's frameworks dies to form some texture in the background, then I painted over everything with a thin layer of white paint.  When the paint dried, I felt like they were looking a little too pale, so I went back in and added some color using Distress Ink that I sponged and smeared on to different areas.


Next I added some fabric scraps and some paint brushes.  I always have a few cheap paint brushes in my stash for projects like these.  I cut the handles shorter and then I wadded some embroidery floss around the tops of the paintbrushes to replicate the look of dripping paint.  I added sentiments I cut from an old children's book, did some random stamping here and there and I was done!


Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

I know you all can layer it up in bold and beautiful ways, so be sure to upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store!