Simon Says...It's A Wrap

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...

It's A Wrap

I decided to decorate Kraft Gift Bags with an Autumn theme, a little "thinking of you" gift for dog-walking friends filled with sachets of Hot Chocolate and packs of mini marshmallows, perfect for a warm-up treat after a chilly Autumn stroll through the forest.

I removed the handles which made it easier to decorate, especially when there's stamping involved and applied a light coat of White Gesso fading it out towards the edges.

I placed the bag in my Stamp Platform, inked the beautiful Lace background from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Ornate and Lace with Versamark ink, sprinkled with Ranger Superfine White Embossing Powder. I used a fine dry paintbrush to flick away a little of the embossing powder from the edges and heat set. I did have to give the stamp a bit of CPR due to the uneven surface of the bag and that pesky folded over section at the bottom.I didn't get a completely perfect image but that adds to the vintage feel and I wish you could see the detail on this amazing stamp in real life

I trimmed a piece of the Halloween Idea-ology paper, inked the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress ink and distressed the edges. I applied a coat of Distress Collage Medium Matte and added strips of Idea-ology Mummy Cloth which I suspect has become my current Tim Holtz addiction.

I die cut leaves from Idea-ology Classic and Metallic Kraftstock using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Skeleton Leaves Thinlits and spritzed with Antique Bronze Distress Mica Spray

and once it was dry, inked lightly over the top with Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide inks and flicked on splatters of Black Soot Distress Paint.

I used Tim Holtz/Sizzix Funky Foliage Thinlits and my trusty Sidekick to die cut flowers and leaves from scraps of Idea-ology Classic Kraft Stock.

I used Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alphanumeric Cut Out Lower Thinlits to die cut the wording from yellow Classic Kraft Stock, added a scrap of black to the back, cut out the letters and added a Small Talk Seasonal Sticker.

I stamped the Ladybug from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Entomology on to Distress Watercolor card and coloured with Abandoned Coral Distress Marker using a Distress Detailer Brush

Then came the moment that all us Entomology lovers have been waiting for. I held my breath and watched the magic of die-cutting technology as the matching Entomology Framelits die-cut this little fella perfectly, all six legs present and correct. A huge thank you to Tim and Sizzix for bringing us this game changing set of dies, taking die-cutting to a whole new level. The detail and precision cutting of all those spindly legs is just amazing. I fixed the ladybug to the gift bag using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Foam Adhesive and added Glossy Accents to the body.

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

We have a whole month long STAMPtember party on the Simon Says Stamp Blog! Lots of inspiration, activities and give aways during the whole month of September. Please pop over every day to see whats going on!

I look forward to seeing what you create this week

Have Fun and Happy Crafting

Hugs Kath xxx