Under the Sea Magic

 

 Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the  SPRING F LOWERS Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is:  MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND

I had fun this week creating a bit of undersea magic with jellyfish and mermaids. 

It's all about the background this week, and here is the one I created. I began by brushing water on my watercolor paper, then dropping in a variety of colors in the blue, green and purple range. While the watercolors were still wet, I laid a sheet of bubble wrap over it and let it sit for awhile. Then, I blended in a bit more watercolor and added splatters of gold gouache. I was aiming for a mix of bubbles and larger painted areas. 

Now the fun begins! I stamped and painted mermaid tails and fussy cut them out. 

 I die cut these beautiful jellyfish from watercolor paper, and painted them with watercolors. Once dry, I popped another layer on top of the jellyfish with foam squares. 

Next, I figured out the placement for the mermaid tails and jellyfish. I was aiming for  some undersea magic. 

I worked on the large sheet of watercolor paper, and once I was done, I adhered it to a page in one of my art journals.   

Lots of details.... 

 Final step - I wrote "there is magic under the sea..."

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store 

Supplies:

Memory Box Graceful Jellyfish dies

Daniel Smith watercolors - Sap Green, Green Apatite Genuine, Quinacridone Coral, Quinacridone Violet, Yellow Ochre, Phthalo Green Blue,, Permanent Orange, Quinacridone Purple, Indanthrone Blue

Simon Says Stamp Be A Mermaid stamps

Dylusions 8x8 Creative Journal 

Canson watercolor paper

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink

Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail Scissors

Gold Gouache

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Big Shot

Watercolor brushes

Black Pen

Adhesive

Bubblewrap

 

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting! Maura

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in .

Spring Flowers Meet the Solar Eclipse

 

 Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the  Whatever the Weather  Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

The thought of Spring flowers is so appealing right now! But, around here, I think it is going to be awhile before I see any...we just had another major winter storm. So, for those of you enjoying spring and its beautiful flowers, enjoy them for me too, please! 

This week the challenge is: SPRING FLOWERS

Joy is a flower that blooms when you do... 

Somewhere the flowers are blooming, some bloom at night even...and today is the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE in the Adirondack region. I am trying to depict flowers blooming during the eclipse on my page. 

No flowers here yet...we keep getting winter storms. I think most of the winter snow has fallen here in the last few weeks. I am so ready to see blooming plants!! 

 I was working with the idea of flowers blooming during the dark of the solar eclipse, so I decided to stamp with white ink on a black background. 

I stamped a few flowers and a bird on watercolor paper, colored and fussy cut them. 

I popped up my little additions and also added some Glossy Accents and Simon's Clear Gems. 

The stamp set I am using is from a company new to me - Katkin Krafts. I love the detail and the beautiful design. I added the stamped quote strip from the stamp set too.

 Since today is the Total Solar Eclipse in my region, I just had to add that in too. To represent it, I cut a black circle, then a bit larger orange one, and finally a wonky yellow circle. I am looking forward to viewing the eclipse this afternoon, and bought viewing glasses that I gave to everyone at Easter. 

Details... 

Spring flowers under a total eclipse... 

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store 

Supplies:

Katkin Krafts  Dance With Dahlias stamp set

Dylusions 8x8 (Black) Creative Journal

Simon Says Stamp White Pigment ink

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink

Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Splash Rainbow paper

Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock

Canson Watercolor paper

Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail Scissors

Simon Says Srtamp Dazzling Clear Gems

Ranger Glossy Accents

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Tombow Markers

3M ATG Tape

Ranger Heat It tool

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting! Maura

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in .

Whatever the Weather

 

 

 Hello Monday, my friends! And welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Thank you for joining us for the  Emboss It Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

Please join me in welcoming our guest designer for April, Estelle Palumb aka Atouscrapo! I know you will love her creative takes on this month's challenges. Welcome Estelle!

At the beginning of each month, we showcase a company, and this month it's our very own Simon Says Stamp! Be sure to check out all the Simon  Says Stamp branded products - there is an amazing array, from stamps to inks to tools and everything in-between! If you have Simon Says Stamp products, we would love to see them in your makes this week.

This week the challenge is: WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Umbrellas are not just for rain! 

I began by stamping the umbrella image multiple times on each color of Simon's glitter paper. I stamped it on the back, forgetting that I would have to match each piece up on the opposite side. But, it worked out! I also stamped her skirt in this beautiful buttery yellow from the Rainbow Splash collection. 

  

Next, I collaged some Tim Holtz Palette and Terminology papers onto the art journal,. Then I blended yellow and green inks over each area.  

I drew around the umbrella and added a gold dot (from some lettering I had in my stash). I cut out two circles for the sun and doodled a bit around that.

Since it's right around Easter time, I just had to add two adorable rabbits hopping along behind her. 

And, didn't you know that rabbit ears work very well to hold you umbrella? 

Final touch...I hand  lettered  "Umbrellas are not just for rain"

This trio is prepared for just about any weather coming there way. Maybe not the two feet of snow we just had the day before Palm Sunday, here in upstate New York...they'll have to bundle up a bit more for that kind of weather! 

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store 

Supplies:

Simon Says Stamp Follow the Rainbows stamp set

Simon Says Stamp 6x6 Rainbow Glitter pack

Simon Says Stamp Rainbow Pack Rainbow Splash

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated inks - Zest and Pearfection

Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink

Simon Says Stamp Small Blending Brushes

Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail Scissors

Simon Says Stamp White cardstock

Simon Says Stamp Foam Squares

Colorado Craft Company Sunset Rabbits stamp set

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Palette Collage Paper

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Terminology Tissue Wrap

Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte

Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paints - Lemon, Lime, Tangerine and Black

Ranger Dylusions 8x8 Creative Journal

Canson Watercolor paper

Tombow Markers

Waterbrush

Paintbrush

Bearly Art Precision Glue

Black Sharpie

Pentel Gold Pen

Baby wipes

So now it's YOUR turn, Happy Crafting! Maura

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in .