Relish Simple Pleasures!

Not only is today Monday, and a new challenge for Simon Says Stamp & Show, but Spring has officially sprung Crafters! YAY! This week, our challenge is all about words. From your favorite movie lines, to a sentiment on a stamp you keep meaning to use more, to an inspirational quote,  to something a family member is always saying...this week we challenge you to "Use a Quote" on your craft project!

I love quotes, heart felt sayings, thought provoking phrases, meaningful Scriptures, and stamp sets that contain them. I often cut quotes out from magazine articles and pin them to my corkboard. I even save every fortune from fortune cookies. I really am turning into a hoarder...wow! That is why I have so many stamp sets...I love the words they contain and not just the images. That is a big reason why I love Wendy Vecchi's stamp sets from Stamper's Anonymous. Not only do they have great images, but they always contain great phrases or quotes. I thought this one from her new Sunshine & Art set was perfect to celebrate the delights of the awakenings of the Spring Season on this canvas. 

I've had this gesso'd, and collaged with ephemera and flower canvas for ages with absolutely nothing in mind to do with it (actually have 4 of them), until now. I have it a little more color on the base with Claudine's paint to make a fleshy color.

I stamped this beauty in Jet Black, although she came out a little choppy with all the texture on the canvas. Not to worry though. I used a Sharpie to fill in, but it altered her looks some.

Tim's Distress Paints came next, first with a paint brush. I love using a paint brush and these paints. With their thin consistency, if you make a mistake you can just use your fingernail and easily clean up the mistake. You can't do that with acrylic paints without making a mark. That's a huge selling point for me! 

Next use for them...stencils. I used a Crafter's Workshop Cosmic Swirl Stencil here. But, no squeezing or dabbing, just gently swipe side to side. It side might run under the stencil some, so if you want a crisp image, don't use them, but I didn't need anything precise here, as I was going to be making layers anyway. I used a scrap piece of paper to block off the portions of her face I didn't want covered.

She looks totally different with hair! I used the stencil and a Krylon Gold Leafing Pen to add more detail and highlighting to her hair. I also used more of Claudine's Paints to elongate her neck.

Wendy's Embossing Paste and her Wildflowers & Bird Stencil came next. I wanted her to smell the Spring flowers! I used tape to hold the stencil down. I love this Paste!

More paint brushing and Distress Paint onto the Embossing Paste. It takes it fabulously! I also painted the collaged flower and freehanded background flowers, leaves, and stems. Then, using my finger, and channeling my inner preschooler, I used the Salty Ocean and a little water and colored in the sky portion of the canvas. I love the versatility of these paints! I can still see the lady up in the corner and music notes perfectly, while still having a beautiful blue hue! Perfect!

Using a Walnut Stain Distress Marker I gave her hair a little more contrast and bounce!

A Spring scene needs a sun! Wendy's stamps helped me out with that and the quote! I colored it in with Distress Paint and the face with Distress Marker. I love the way it came out.

 

 

Is there a particular quote or saying that is your favorite of all time? Or maybe there is one that is pertaining to you at this very moment. If so, create an inspirational work of Art and enter it into our challenge. You just might be the lucky winner of a $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp. You can also be named as one of the "Top Three Picks" for this challenge. Good luck, and please visit the other DT member's blogs, their inspiration abounds!

 

Supplies:


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!