Monday, March 7, 2016

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Bakground






Hi Everyone! Today's challenge at Simon Says Stamp is all about making your own background. We're featuring Darkroom Door Stamps, which are amazing, and they allow you to make some amazing backgrounds! It can be challenging but trust me, if you stick with it, you will create something beautiful. Adding layers upon layers of ink, paint, stencils and stamps will result not only in a spectacular background, but an original one. There have been many times when I've wanted to throw in the towel as my background seems to get worse and worse but then all of a sudden, something ignites and a beautiful background emerges. When you begin your background, promise me you won't give up half way through and that you will keep going to experience the magic that will happen. I know you can see that garbage can in the corner of your eye, but DON'T DO IT!  Stick with it and you will be amazed!

I have to admit I have a ton of stamps for mixed media but not one of them is a Darkroom Door stamp. I used them for the first time on my project and I can't tell you how impressed I was with them. The stamps are top quality red rubber and have deep etchings. Why does this matter, you may say? Well, for mixed media projects, this mean a lot! You can stamp through any type of medium you chose and get a clean, clear image and because of that I'm going to be adding more to my collection! Now join us and get out those stamps, stencils and inks and let's have some fun!

Remember, your entry could win a $50 gift voucher  for Simon Says Stamp!

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Here's my project for this week's challenge;




I started with an 8x8 canvas and covered it with gesso and allowed it to completely dry.


I randomly covered the canvas with Distress Crayons in Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade which are all included in Set 1.


After completely covering the canvas, I misted it with water and blended the colors together using my fingertip.


I continued with my background by stamping the Darkroom Door Postcard stamp onto tissue paper in a random pattern. 


I tore the tissue paper into several different size pieces after the ink was dry and then adhered the pieces to the canvas.


I applied the pieces with Ranger Multi Medium Matte to my canvas.

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I allowed the pieces to overlap and didn't care if the tissue paper creased or crumpled because it added texture to the surface.


After applying the last piece of tissue, I set the canvas aside to completely dry.



I wanted to soften the colors so I went over the canvas with a gesso wash. (A gesso wash is gesso mixed with water.)



I set my canvas aside to dry and began working on the second background piece for my project. First, I smudged some Distress Crayons onto my craft sheet in a random pattern. I made sure to carefully allow small chunks to break off from the Picked Raspberry Distress Crayon and then spritzed all of them with water.



I took a 8"x 5-3/4"piece of watercolor paper and dipped and smudged it into the Distress Crayon mixture. See how the Distress Crayon chunks leave behind splotches. I thought this was very cool! When the chunks dry, they will not move or come off your paper.


Next, I stamped the Darkroom Door Flourish stamp in a random pattern and also dipped an old gift card in Simon Says Stamp Teeny Bikini Dye Ink mixed with water and used that to put lines of interest on the background.



I continued to add more of the flourish stamp in Simon Says Stamp Jellybean Dye Ink in a random pattern where the grass would fall on my project.


I set both backgrounds aside and began putting together the other pieces to my project. First, I created the bunny with the Tim Holtz Easter Elements die.  I went over the surface of the bunny lightly with Simon Says Stamp Teeny Bikini dye ink using an ink blending tool.


I covered the entire bunny with a thick layer of Ranger Multi Medium in Matte and sprinkled it with Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter


I removed the excess glitter.  Before the glue was dry, I rubbed over the bunny with my fingertip so some of the glitter would clump together with the glue, giving the bunny a furry look. I immediately reapplied a second coat of glitter and turned it over so the excess glitter from the second application would fall off the bunny and then set it aside to completely dry.


For my Easter eggs, I cut two of the smaller size ovals from the Tim Holtz Ovals Movers & Shapers Die Set. For the larger egg, I applied Simon Says Stamp Duckling Dye Ink with a blending tool


I applied Lawn Fawn Mermaid Dye Ink with a blending tool to the smaller egg.


Next, I stamped both eggs with the Darkroom Door Flourish Stamp.


I added some decorations to the eggs using the Tim Holtz Trellis and Courtyard frameworks dies. I cut them out of white cardstock and trimmed them down to one layer of the design. I went over them with Lawn Fawn Mermaid Dye Ink and Simon Says Stamp Teeny Bikini Dye Ink.





I took the cutouts from the inner parts of the designs and adhered them with a tape runner so they would stick to a lined sheet of paper and not move as I stamped them with my Misti tool. To get the images straight, I lined up the points of the shapes with the lines on the paper and stamped them with the Wendy Vecchi Tiles Background Stamp.




While the shapes were still adhered to the lined paper, I applied Hero Arts Clear Embossing powder and then hit them with a heat gun.


When the embossing powder was cooled after heating, I left them adhered to the lined paper and applied Simon Says Stamp Jellybean Dye Ink with a blending tool. Leaving them adhered to the lined paper throughout the entire process makes it much easier to work with these tiny shapes.


I inserted the shapes back into the coordinating framework and carefully turned it over. I then placed a thin piece of 1/8" Double-Sided Scor-Tape to the back of the entire shape to keep the pieces together.


I placed this piece on top of the egg and cut away the edges along the side of the egg.


I did the same thing with the other framework die for the smaller egg.


To create the grass, I smushed some Mowed Lawn, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint Distress Ink onto my craft sheet and spritzed each color with water to create a color wash.


I used a large paint brush to brush the colors over watercolor paper.




When that was completely dry, I used an ink blending tool to edge the paper and add color to the water color wash so the grass would appear to have varying shades of color similar to real grass.


I cut the grass out using the Tim Holtz Tapered Fringe Decorative Strip die.


By setting the two pieces off, one from the other, the "grass" appears fuller. I placed the darker piece in front of the lighter piece.



I wanted the bunny to have a very colorful bow and decided to color some seam binding with Distress Markers. I used Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed, the same colors as the distress crayons I used for the two background pieces. I randomly applied streaks of marker on the seam binding and then spritzed it with water. 


I moved the ribbon around in the beads of water with my fingers until the colors blended together. When the ribbon was dry, I made a simple, single looped bow.


For the letters to spell out "Spring", I purposely blended Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso in circular motions so the circles were visible. This gave the letters a unique appearance with a variation in color with some lines. I then cut out the letters with the Tim Holtz Alphabetical Decorative Strip



I used the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals to create my flowers. Before shaping the flowers I colored them with Simon Says Stamp Duckling Dye Ink and then edged them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  



I shaped my flowers and then put everything in its place on the canvas. When I was finished, I saw a space that needed something but I didn't quite know what. Then it hit me! I had the perfect stencil to add some texture to one of the corners and applied Ranger Texture Paste through the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil.


When that was completely dry, I applied the same colors of Distress Crayons that I used on the rest of the project and blended them in with my fingertips.


My project is now complete and it really reminds me of springtime.  Here again is my canvas.


I hope you enjoyed seeing the process I used to make this springtime canvas and how I created two background pieces with the amazing Darkroom Door Flourish and Postcard stamps. I can't wait to see what kinds of backgrounds you create!

For more inspiration, tips and tricks for all types of papercraft creations, follow Simon Says Stamp on:

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You can find all the following supplies I used to create this project at Simon Says Stamp:






37 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Cathie, this is AWESOME!! I love the colours and all the details, the step by step photos are fabulous, I definitely need to get some of these crayons and other products you used, this is GORGEOUS!! :-)

    luv
    Lols x x x

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    1. Thanks, Lols. I did have fun putting this one together! Cathie <3

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  2. All the texture and color in your background is amazing! Thanks for showing how you did it!

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  3. Now THIS is a work of art! Your canvas is so beautiful. It is my favorite. I am impressed not only with your artwork, but also by the explicit instructions you have given, step-by-step with pictures. You put in hours of details in your project and your how-to directions. I love your style! I am saving this page, as it gives the foundation of many projects that can be made using your techniques. Thank you so much. I hope you never change your way of doing things. :-)

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    1. What a sweet comment, Tricia! Thank you so much! This really made my day because I do put a lot of work in my posts and often wonder if they are helpful. I know not everyone is interested in seeing the process of a project, but for those who are, my hope is that they can see at least one thing they might like to try on a future project of their own. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed my post, that means a lot to me! Cathie <3

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  4. This is a great demonstration of so many techniques. It really shows off the distress crayons. The eggs, the bunny, the grass, the background, everything has such dimension. Really enjoyed reading about this delightful Spring canvas.

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    1. Thank yo so much, Lucy, for taking the time to stop by and leave such a sweet comment. I really appreciate it! Cathie <3

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  5. Awesome background, lot's of steps here (thanks for the detail)--your effort rewarded by a really sweet piece!

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    1. Thank you, Beulah! I enjoy adding photos and information on how I went through the process of a project. I hope you saw something that you'd like to try on a future project. Cathie <3

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  6. Awesome background, lot's of steps here (thanks for the detail)--your effort rewarded by a really sweet piece!

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  7. Gorgeous Spring project, Cathie! I love how you added so much color and texture to your background! Lots of interest!


    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  8. Cathie, this is gorgeous! Love all your step by step showing how you created this little beauty. Love also how you chose a very non traditional stamp to use in your Easter background, but it works so well!

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    1. Thank you, Maura! I was a little nervous about the postcard stamp but overall I was pleased how it turned out. This was my first time using Darkroom Door stamps and I'm totally in love with them! Cathie <3

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  9. Great background. I love all the layers you added!

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    1. Thank you, Amber! This was a fun piece to put together and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cathie <3

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  10. Great background. I love all the layers you added!

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  11. Wonderfully creative & artistic! I love the sparkly bunny!

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    1. Thank you, Greta! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a sweet comment. Cathie <3

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  12. This is so full of Springy goodness!! Seriously- this is on equal ground with those chocolate Cadbury eggs (that is the greatest compliment I can give you at this time of year)! I adore the colors and amazing textures and backgrounds you included and you are a genius at blending elements together in interesting ways. And as always, I really appreciate your detailed pictures. Really lovely work here!

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    1. Aw, thanks, Andrea! You always make me feel better when I doubt myself. As I looked at it when I was putting it together, I felt it was a bit busy. You always give me a lift of confidence. Thanks so much! Cathie <3

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  13. Great work! Your project is full of amazing detail, especially I love your use of Frameworks! I adore the spring mood in your piece! Colors are bright but soft in the same time, love this ! BArbara

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! Your comments always mean a lot to me. Cathie <3

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  14. Great work! Your project is full of amazing detail, especially I love your use of Frameworks! I adore the spring mood in your piece! Colors are bright but soft in the same time, love this ! BArbara

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  15. What a lovely Spring on your canvas! I love the warm sunny colors and the tissue stamping technique, I love it. Hugs, Marzena

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    1. Thank you, Macarena! This was a fun project for me. Cathie <3

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  16. Love your beautiful creation, Cathie. All the details are stunning. :)

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  17. such a gorgeous card Cathie...love that glittery bunny and so much detail to enjoy...hugs kath xxx

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    1. Thank you, Kath! This canvas was fun to put together as I had visions of a glittery bunny for a long time. Cathie <3

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  18. Ohh wow Cathie! This is so beautiful! When I saw it I imagined it must have taken lots of steps to create it, but seeing your tutorial I was blown away how many steps and the little details it really took! I saw even more details after the tutorial! Love that! Absolutely stunning piece! Hugs, Sandra

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  19. What a beautiful project, Cathie...full of detail and I love the background that you've created with the Distress Crayons ~ it's really gorgeous and perfect for Easter! <3

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  20. This is SO pretty! I love the background, bunny and especially how you stamped the Frameworks pieces. Such a great idea!

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  21. Such a fantastic project Cathie! Love how you used distress crayons! The background is fantastic! hugs Zoey

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