I am woefully behind in my Simon Says Card Monthly Kits.   I love each one but get so distracted by everything else in life that I never get around to making the cards.

So I grabbed out two cards kit (one being September 2015) and started to create.

One of my goals is to push myself and try something different, either a technique or a style/look.

I usually check out what others had done to make sure I am not “creating” something someone else posted.  LOL,  done that before

I was taken by the wood grain with the white triangles.  I love that look.   I decided to continue to design by adding gold embossing in both the triangles and the sentiment.  My Brother in Law said it looks like my scraproom floor.   Wood floor with scraps of paper on it.   LOL.    The card front is attached to gold foil.

This time I went Silver.   This card looked so wedding, special event to me.  The paper was grey with white florals.   I made a vellum die cut and then drew on the edges with a versamark pen and embossed in silver.  I also edged the sentiment banner.

This time I went for a different look.  When I saw this paper it reminded me of the currently popular adult coloring books.  So I decided to color it myself.   Or as I said to my sister, I am channeling my inner Laura Bassen (with the rainbow colors)

Then it dawned on me that the stamp set was all about balloons.  Opps.  then I focused on those for the next two cards.

I did this card using pastel distress inks.  I wanted it to be light and carefree.

I told myself I needed to use the white gesso that came with the kit.  Using the stencil I covered watercolor paper and then once dried I painted it with Peerless Watercolors.  I then decided to do a shaker card.  I love those sequin bags from Lucy Abrams.   They have the coolest shapes and colors.  That woman has an eye for color.   Even after adding a shaker to the card it still looked a little bland.  So then I decided to use the balloons (smaller size) to the bottom.  I used black sewing thread stiffened with matte medium.

So there is my creations for the Month of September!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Day three was pencils and crayons.   Heck I ran out of time.  I did not even finish the videos.  But then again, I never do.

I had bought those Prima Oil Pastels that are for watercoloring.  I love the intense color.  I tried using it on a backgound stamp.  I failed.   LOL.  But I do like this simple card.  Very Bright.

Thanks for looking

This day was about traditional watercolors.

I used my peerless water colors and my Kuretake

On this card I used Peerless to get a dreamy background

I ended up doing the Gnome twice.  The first time the colors ran so bad.  I then switched to distress inks.  I had more control and it looks way better.

OH MY GOODNESS!  I loved this one.   This is the lineless watercolor technique.  I dont know if it was because I did a good job or those mice are so stinkin cute!!!   I dyed the ribbon to match the color of the paper.  So so so so CUTE!!!

I tried to do a die cut emboss into the water color paper and it still cut some parts of the paper.  It just was not happening for me.   Oh well.

Thanks

Howdy,  Nothing like panicking at the last minute trying to get cards done.  I am sooo bad at finishing early.

Day one is all about watercolor markers!   And boy do I have them.  I have distress markers, I have Zig Real Color Markers.  I even purchased the new ones that Kristina used in her circle card.  They did not come in the mail yet.  Probably tomorrow.  Oh well!

The first card is using a cherry stamp set from Flourishes.

I really liked how it came out.  Struggled a bit to make the cherries show different colors.

I used the Zig Real Color markers on this card

This card technique was using the color right onto the stamp.   I also used the zig real color markers for this one.  I also make the ribbon.  I tried to used zig real color but it was not happening.  So I ended up using distress ink to make the ribbon.  I also added that silver sentiment holder.  This was an attempt to use up old supplies from my closet.

This card is a FAILURE.   LOL, we all have them.  I tried to use the zig markers in a way to so gradual color change.  I fail.  The colors smeared.  I even hate the ribbon.  Oh well.

Thanks for looking!

Ok, off and running with a new watercolor class.   To prep for this class, I did a card using those Cosmo Cricket Watercolor cards.  They prints some wonderful thing on the watercolor paper and then you go ahead and color it!

I used a set of metallic watercolors that I refused to throw away.   I like them.  It was gold, copper, pink and shimmering rose gold.   Loved it.

Thanks for looking!

Yahoo!  I won.   OK, keep in mind that it is truly random, but I always enjoy getting a prize for my efforts.

I only wish my sister won also!

Oh boy, it is finally done.  I actually did every challenge.  I pushed myself and learned, got brain freeze, had laughing fits, drank champagne, got real creative and really enjoyed myself!   Hard to believe it is over with.  I need to wait a whole year to do it again.  I wish I had a clue to what the challenge will be!   They are so much fun!!!!

Thank you everyone for looking at my creations.  See you next year!!!!!

—Create a project that incorporates unconventional materials from a hardware store.  Your budget was $10* and we’d love to see a photo of your receipt next to your card!

This was interesting.  I did this card last because I was afraid I would not have enough time to run to the store and finish my cards.   Fortunately I did finish everything, and I ran to Lowes to look for goodies.

I actually made two cards

Here is the first….can you guess what I got at the hardware store….

Here is a close up of the bird area

Can you see the blues and greens around the embossed areas?

This is the 2nd card

Want to know what I got at the hardware store…..

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The first card used Metal Repair Foil Tape and the second card used paint chips.   I actually did not use the washers.

Card One Supplies:

My Favorite Things After Midnight Cardstock
PTI Simply Chartreuse Cardstock
Metal Foil Tape
Anna Griffin Avery Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz Distress Paint, Blueprint Sketch and Citron Twist
PTI Scripted Die

After I embossed the foil tape, I used both the blue and green paint on the embossed image and then cleaned it with a cloth.  The excess stayed in the cracks.

Card Two Supplies:

Neenah Solar White Cardstock
Paintchips
PTI Cover Plate Circles
Avery Elle Simply Said Hello
Vellum
PTI Summer Sunrise Cardstock

—Create a new card from pieces of reject cards or alter a card from earlier today that you were not happy with.  It’s all about making it work!

Well I knew I was going to redo my first card.  Making that card was a constipated process and I just could not pull it together.  The redo was simple after a whole day of working on cards and stretching myself to create!

Here is the original card.  I did not like the overkill of Tropical teal.  I tried to emboss stars on the background that just did not work.   I did borders around the foiled card that make it look bulky.  The overall card looked unbalanced.

Here is my re-do

I like the cleaner look with more white and the statement more centered.  This is a more clean and simple look that I find more attractive.

Thanks for looking!!!

—Create a project based on one of the runway looks a team member provided above.  You can choose to focus on the colors, the style, the design or whatever other aspect inspires you!

Ohhh this is a hard one because I love all the color choices!!!!

But I settled on this adorable color combo and sweet dress.  I decided to make my card look like the dress…. flowers, pastels, ribbons.  Very Feminine and sweet.

I even dyed the ribbon with sweet blush and spring moss to bring in those colors.  I ended up using another pink for the flowers because my ink pad is so dry that you could not see the flowers.  But overall I like the card.

Supplies:

Kraft Cardstock
Anna Griffin Shimmer Paper
Anna Griffin Crowned Medallion Embossing Folders
PTI Vintage Linens Stamp and Die Set
Seam Binding
PTI Sweet Blush and Spring Moss Ink Pads
Simon Says Stamp Twirling Tutu Ink Pad
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
PTI Tiny Tags
Stick Pin
Pearls