Guest designing for Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge

Hi guys!

I am tickled pink that I was asked to be guest designing for the Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge #78, yay!

This time it is all about dots and/or stripes, such a fun and easy one!! :-)

I created two cards for your inspiriation - let's start with the first one!

I love this set called "Coffee and Tea"! I wanted to create a cozy and homy feeling so I grabbed lots of different patterned papers out of my stash. I combined a red gingham patterned paper with some wooden patterns. And of course I had to create a coffee cup with dots! This is also stamped onto patterned paper. I just added shadows in different shades of blue Copic markers. Then I diecut that beyond adorable coffee mug out of white cardstock and added a piece of the same dotted patterned paper as a sleeve and added some shades to it, too. Eyes and mouth are colored with Copics as well. Then I glued the arms onto the sleeve and added a full heart diecut (it is separate since the one of the dicut won't be a full one). I love how those teeny tiny arms are holding that heart :-D

To give my red and white striped gingham tablecloth a special something something, I added a white scalloped border diecut. I think at least such details make the difference! The sentiment is heat embossed twice (make sure the first embossing is cooled down well before starting the second layer!) with white embossing powder. To finish off my design, I added a little bunting with the same gingham paper.

I really like how it turned out, I hope you like it too!



My second card is a complete different style, using lots and lots of layers of Distress Oxides and regular Distress ink:

This stamp set called "Look for the miracles" is so versatile and gorgeous! The design of the flowers and leaves allows a lot of different techniques.

First, I heat embossed all pieces (flowers and leaves) and the sentiment with white embossing powder. Then I added Distress ink over the entire images with a finger dauber (mowed lawn and twisted citron for the leaves and fossilized amber and picked raspberry for the flowers) and just added some dots and details to the flower petals with a Stabilo marker. Now I fussy cut all images and left a small border around each image.

The main panel is a blend of Distress Oxides (fossilized amber and spiced marmalade) and regular Distress ink (fired brick) . I love the heat embossed resist technique (the color won't stay onto the white heat embossed parts), you can create easily outstanding backgrounds!

So now I could start assembling my bits and pieces onto the panel. I always take my time for a nice composition; I try to create a well balanced design so that the eye is a kind of guided when looking at the card.

Then I stamped the dots cluster (also included in the stamp set) with white pigment ink between the free spots on the panel. This makes such a difference!

I hope you got inspired and you will play along with us on the Simon Says Stamp flickr challenge! 

And thanks again to Simon for having me!

Have an amazing day!

Hugs,