Monday is in the House...and Simon Says Stamp and Show

Hello There Monday Folk,
It seems the weekend has eloped with the Spring weather on this rather grey morning...and Missy April Showers is holding onto tradition. So, what better way to brighten up your week than some zingy colours and a few sassy flowers on my upcycled paper bag! Especially as it's time for the new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show and this week we say "Show us Anything but a Card!"

I got this bag for free from a recent craft show when I bought some new Paper Artsy stash. It has been winking at me all week...telling me how good it would look after a make-over. For some reason I was also up for some floral frolics and a blast of colour. Also inspired by a great tutorial by Kim Dellow. I started off by sweeping the surface with some Gesso from Claudia Helmuth and then added contrast and details with some stencilling using Rusty Hinge and Bundled Sage Distress Inks.
 

Then I got started on my paper circle flowers  punching three different sized circles from various papers including Graphic 45 Then I distressed and inked the edges as well as rubbing the centres with a paper stump to get some shape. I then fixed them together with a flower brad which I've dyed black with alcohol ink. I have gone for an off-centred flower which I just love.

Here I've used the Chip Block die from Mr.T to create my phrase. Take a look at the 'e'...yes I've been a lazy bunny and used an upside down 6. My desk was already snowed under with a sea of random letter confetti and I fancied a bit of quirkiness. So there you go! I've inked them up and glued them onto a jute strip covered in gesso. Just added a bit of red machine stitching and layered them all up with a strip of torn script paper...

  I added a few had-cut leaves using the same script paper but given them a wash with some diluted distress ink for a green tint. Edged them in Barn Door ink for definition. Or as they say over the pond - to make it pop!

 I'm still a fan of thread, stringy stuff and other faffings, so enter... a line of copper thread, more stitching, lovely lace, rusty staples and some inky string.

The two handles are simply tied together with some ribbon and lace cuttings and decorated with a scrap of the jute. I had to get just one button in there somehow.

 I'm sending you some Bloggy Flower Power and hope the colours and fun feeling will get you raring to go too! See some more fabulous DT ideas here.

Join in the Challenge and show us what ya got! Remember, ANYTHING but a Card - mmm could be quite a risky one!!!
There's a chance of a little celebrity fame if you make the Top Three and $50 retail therapy too...

Hope to see you again soon, thanks for dropping by...

Sarah.