Simon Says...Summer Fun

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...

SUMMER FUN

I decorated a Mat Board panel to remind me of happy fun filled summer days spent with my sister, those carefree idyllic childhood days, out and about in the fresh air, long before the days of computers and I Pads, when we created our own adventures and only returned home when we were hungry.

I cut the Mat Board to measure 6" x 8", fixed a slightly smaller piece of Memoranda paper in place with Distress Collage Medium Matte and applied a light coat of White Gesso.

I die-cut a Tim Holtz/Sizzix Stitched Oval from another Memoranda paper, stamped randomly with the script stamp fromTim Holtz/Stamper Anonymous Entomology inked with Ground Espresso Archival ink and inked the edge with Ground Espresso Distress Ink using a mini round blending tool.

I die-cut the word Summer from a scrap of Memoranda paper using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alphanumeric Thinlits and fixed to the panel with thin strips of 3D foam tape.

I added interest to the background with Harlequin and Linen Mini Layering Stencils from Sets 9 and 22 with Broken China and Fossilized Amber Distress Oxides using Distress Blending Brushes which I find so much easier to use than the round blending tools when you want to add small areas of colour.

I coloured a piece of Distress Media Heavystock with Evergreen Bough and Iced Spruce Distress Oxide inks, using the "familiar by now" smooshing, dragging, drying, spritzing with water and tapping back into the remaining droplets technique

and die-cut the foliage using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Garden Greens Thinlits and a decorative border using Tim Holtz/Sizzix 3D Provincial Impresslits which die cuts and embosses at the same time and oh boy, the texture is amazing, definitely IMPRESS-IVE.

I coloured some sections of the Provincial Impresslits with a Fossilized Amber Distress Marker and sanded back to reveal some of the detail. I stamped the cone flower from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Flower Garden with Black Soot Archival ink on to Distress Watercolor Card and fussy cut. There is a matching Framelits die set which I don't have...a mega fail it would seem on the part of the cubbyhole procurement department and one I need to rectify. I coloured the cone flowers with Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Markers using a Distress Detailer Water Brush.

I applied a coat of Clear Gesso to these adorable Paper Dolls and coloured with Iced Spruce, Wild Honey and Spun Sugar Distress Markers.

I added a mix of Idea-ology Small Chat and Big Talk Stickers for the sentiment

and flowers die-cut from white cardstock using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Funky Florals 1 Thinlits, coloured with Fossilized Amber and Walnut Stain Distress Markers and finished with a little splattering of White Gesso.

and here's the inspiration for my project, two nineteen oatcake golden oldie photos harking back to those carefree days.

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