Monday, April 11, 2011

DeStress with Distress...Simon Says Stamp & Show.

Hello there!
Hope you are all wide awake and raring to go...Maybe you're at home, sneaking a peek from the office or on the go with an i-just-have-to-blog-pad. In any case, I'm starting the week with a good dose of distressing. That's the new challenge theme over at Simon Says Stamp & Show. A bit of paper-tearing and inking is good for the soul, so do join in with the challenge and show me what you got!!! Here is my new piece for the Design Team to make you go "Aaaw, how sweet..." and inspire you into creating your own piece of loveliness. Sweet, not cute. Just for the record.
It is real vintage affair today...browns and neutrals, shabby layers, polka dots and flowers. It's all happening in my shadow-box. My starting point was my new stamp from Hero Arts called, "It's a Parade!" Fell for both its charm and simplicity. I didn't plan to use a box but as the layering continued it seemed the right way to go...except I hadn't got one. Old school and cardboard it was then. After a couple of hours measuring, slicing, jiggling and glue - job done - and quite chuffed I am too. A couple of coats of mushroom paint and Vintage Photo Distress ink brought it to life

 Also trying out the Glassine paper from Mr. Tim. I've used it in the layers and for the flowers. You just have to scrunch it up to get all the great textures and wrinkles...it was great for machine-stitching on too. If you're going to die-cut or punch something, do that first for a clean cut, scrunch afterwards.

 I stamped the image onto my dotty paper with White Stazon, dried it with my heat gun and then applied a good dose of Brushed Corduroy ink with some blending foam. The Stazon will resist the ink well but a gentle buff with some kitchen paper will make it pop even more. I've layered it up with a book page and stamped muslin, all distressed and inked.

I used the Tattered Florals die and a punch on the same papers to make my flowers,  lightly inking the edges.
I've shaped the flowers by hand to give more dimension and movement, otherwise they lie too flat.


 I just love little gatherings of snippets. So here in the corner I made a stitched paper frill and piled on a bit of this and that. I finished off with by stamping "good times". I like the petite and subtle sentiment. There are also a few of my well-known button and thread antics going on!

Playing with these wonderful tones and the glorious sunshine streaming into my craft room made for a perfect day. Can't they all be like this?

I do hope you feel inspired...maybe just by the colours or the layers. Distressing works on so many projects...Still wondering? See more really great ideas from the rest of the Simon Says Design team here. I hope to see lots of you there and remember you could win a $50 spree or make the Top Three! So De-stress and Distress because both prizes sound just fine to me...


Wishing you a great week in all you do. Thanks for calling by...would love to hear from you!

Back soon...

Sarah.

18 comments:

Franka Benjaminsen said...

What can I say. Wonderful again. Love all the flowers.
xFranka

Lesley Edmonds said...

WOW! Fabulous composition - just adore all the details and layers.
x

Heidi said...

Beautiful work!
Love the details, layers and flowers:)
Hugs, Heidi:)

Nancy Wethington said...

So beautiful! I love your work and the techniques you use.

Morti said...

Gorgeous work, as per usual!

Candy C said...

My dear Sarah...This is absolutely beautiful! LOVE it! <3 Candy

Julie Kirk said...

Really lovely, creative, work and I *love* the tiny 'good times' stamp. :-)

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Hi
I have no idea how I have managed to miss your Blog.
Beautiful Blog, beautiful artwork.
Wishes
Lynne

salamanda said...

Wonderful distressing and colour palette.

Angelnorth said...

Lovely shadow box, all the different textures look great!

Effie said...

Fab... love that stamp.

Lori said...

Love this Sarah! I'm partial to browns, so this is gorgeous to me! lol! And I love the glassine paper in the flowers!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Mum, mum, mum...totally yummy, Sarah! Just love the color palette you worked with here. The way you stamped the image on the dotted paper is terrific. That glassine paper looks wonderful too, especially with used with the flowers. Must get me some of that. We must have had the muslin thought about the same time, although I might have gone a tiny bit overboard with mine - LOL. Yours looks great! And I can't believe you made that frame - amazing.

Have a great week.

Hugs,
Linda

craftytrog said...

Beautiful artwork Sarah, love the layering! x

Juls said...

stunning!!! I love the sepia colour tones! Hugs Juls

Kaz Hall said...

Hi Sarah
This is just beautiful! I have just bought the glassine paper and am biting at the bit to have a go, I love how you have used it on your piece, the colours are so co-ordinated.....fabulous work! Thanks for all your constant inspiration.....I really enjoyed looking through your work,

(((hugs)))
Kazxx

email: Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com said...

Wow, Sarah, the layering is just gorgeous in the piece and I love the stamp!

*mwah*
Steph
Simon Says Stamp

Marjie Kemper said...

Fantastic piece... love all you've done with the glassine and your layering and flowers and and and.... love it!