Simon Says...In My Garden

Hi Everyone...welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog...thank you for joining us for last week's challenge...we hope you can join us this week too because...

and the theme for this week is...

IN MY GARDEN

I decorated an Etcetera Mini Tag inspired by the signs in my garden that Spring is just around the corner and forgive me for once again indulging my obsession with these great value for money mixed media surfaces.

I started off by applying a coat of White Gesso and once it was dry, I brushed Broken China Distress Paint on to the centre. I wanted a fairly pale look so then I brushed Antique Linen Distress Paint around the edges without cleaning my brush to blend the colours together.

I fixed torn strips of Tim Holtz Memoranda paper in place with Distress Collage Medium...

and applied Ranger Opague Texture Paste through the Latticework Mini Layering Stencil from Set 4

and Walnut Stain Distress Ink through the Blossom Mini Layering Stencil also from Set 4

I stamped the script from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Entomology with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine White embossing powder

I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Stacked Deckles set of Thinlits to die cut a frame and panels from Idea-ology Memoranda paper and white cardstock.

I applied Ranger Opague Texture Paste through the Blossom Layering Stencil on to one panel and once it was dry, coloured the background with Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink using the Detailer Brush.

but had a change of heart, went back in with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide ink to darken it up and die-cut it again with a smaller Stacked Deckle die. I arranged the deckle panels on the tag with circles of Hemptique White Cord to get an idea of placement.

I coloured Distress Watercolor card with Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber and Wild Honey Distress Oxide inks, die cut the flowers using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Funky Florals 1 Thinlits and coloured the centres of the white flowers with a Wild Honey Distress Marker.

and this brush and foam pad from Sizzix are an absolute must-have for removing all those itty bitty pieces that get left in your dies.

I fixed the Stacked Deckle panels, white cord and die cut flowers in place with Distress Collage Medium with the centre panel popped up with 3D foam. I used Wild Honey Distress Oxide ink with the Detailer Brush to colour the centre of the daisies.

I stamped the butterflies from Entomology with Ground Espresso Archival ink on to Distress Watercolor card, coloured with Broken China, Fossilized Amber and Walnut Stain Distress Oxide inks using the Detailer Brush and fussy cut.

fixed the butterflies and the rest of the flowers in place with Distress Collage Medium

and added an Idea-ology Clippings Sticker, Big Chat and ChitChat Stickers.

You can find all the products I used over at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp online store...just click on the links below...

Why don't you pop over to the Monday Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations from my very talented Design Team mates and as always you all have the chance to win a $50 gift voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time...1pm UK time...2 pm CET to join in...

You can also follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

and if you use Instagram...

please add #sssmchallenge to your entry uploads so we can see them on there too

I look forward to seeing what you create this week...

Have Fun and Happy Crafting

Hugs Kath xxx