Thursday, January 6, 2011

A Gypsy Inspiration

Tape not only can solve many crafty problems, but it also can accessorize your crafts and your daily knick knacks. Just take a look at 7 Gypsies' selection of Paper Tapes!



Simon Says Stamp offers a variety of the patterned tapes, such as, Victoria and Gypsy Market Patterned Tapes. But if you're feeling a simple look try the Gypsy Market Naked Paper Tape!





Feeling tape crazy yet? :) I am!

Thanks to the 7 Gypsies' designers here are more ways you can accessorize with just TAPE!




Even an ipod cover?!? Well I hope this inspiration adds to your must CRAFT list!

Have a Crafty Day!
:) Fran

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Simon Says Challenge = New Beginnings!

This week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge is all about New Beginnings! What does this mean? We want to see cards for New things: Babies, homes, pets, jobs, weddings, etc.

Show us what you come up with & join our following, and you might be the lucky winner of a $50.00 gift voucher to our store!

Here's what our Design Team made to help inspire you!

Heather used a very cute House Mouse Stamp called Cozy Shoe - how perfect for a new baby theme! She used a Spellbinders die called Eyelet Circles. Like those pink papers? They are Vintage Shabby by Tim Holtz. Also used: Coffee Archival Ink by Ranger, Creme de Chocolat by Tattered Angels, and Glossy Accents to keep it all together.

Christine has made this card so fun! I like how she snipped grass out of patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket has some strawberry paper in the Garden Variety pack) and to snip, you'll need scissors. The lovely house and sentiment is from the Darcie Heater set called Flourish House.

Lorraine used a House Mouse stamp called Sunflower Smooch. Those papers are from the Pyrus Collection by Basic Grey. She accented the Copic coloring with Star Dust Stickles and punched those pretty hearts with the Lace Heart punch by Martha Stewart.

Chris used a Lili of the Valley stamp called Occasions . (I think) it was colored using Pencils. The orange polka dotted ribbon is a lot like Jillibean Soup's. Need to shop New Baby?

Jo's "Home Sweet Home" letters are a lot like the Chipboard Eclectic Alphabet by The Girls Paperie. The pretty papers are from Prima's Jack & Jill collection. The stamp is by Helz Cuppleditch for Stampavie and is called Home Sweet Home.

Mandy has used the Sleeping Baby Tilda and the Happiness Be Yours stamps by Magnolia. The papers are from the Magnolia Hoppy Easter Paper Pack. If you love that bear charm like I do, I suggest you take a look at I Love Boys - it's a charm set.

Domi used the New England Star paper by Magnolia. The image, by House Mouse, is called Patriotic Wrap. Need red paper? Need buttons?

Debby used the Pregnant Willow stamp by Whiff of Joy. The paper is Marjorlaine by Basic Grey (my favorite!!). The pretty corner detail is a lot like Leaf Corner by Nellie Snellen. I'm loving the embossing on the white paper too - she used Cuttlebug's folder called Textile, and a machine!

Jane, this is beautiful and the fact that Bubbling Tilda is blowing her horn to wake up Sleeping Baby Tilda cracks me up - so true to life! The paper is Princess Crown from the Fairytale paper pack by Magnolia.

Thank you to our Design Team!! Lookin' good!

We'd love for you to show us what you come up with & join our following - you might be the lucky winner of a $50.00 gift voucher to our store!

Have a crafty day!
-Sarah
Sarah@SimonSaysStamp.com

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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Do YOU like CANDY?

Happy Tuesday to all! So, do you love candy?! We love candy too.... the real stuff, but also BLOG candy! We love it so much we give it away EVERY week! So if you're new to our blog (WELCOME) and please feel free to stop back, and stop back often...there may be some blog candy in your near future...

Without further ado...
Congratulations KIMBERLEY G!
You won the super fun goodie pack from the 'Time' Blog! Here's what Kimberly had to say about her favorite 'time' of 2010: "My family reunion was the best event in 2010. There were lots of fun activities like carriage rides and a survivor challenge. It was great to see relatives I haven't seen in five years."

And WOW! 3 Lucky Ducks get FREE Craft Scrubbies:

DANIELLE DAWS "My essential item is my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig! Love it! I've even made up permanent templates for the stamp sets I use the most so it's super quick to use. :-)"
LISA "My essentials would be more copics and refills and nesties"
MEGHAN "My essential would be my Cuttlebug and dies to go with! Love having them to get my creativity started!"

I hope you ladies love the craft scrubbie as much as we do!

CONGRATS, winners!! Please email fellow teammate Fran (Fran@SimonSaysStamp.com) and tell her your address and which blog you won!

Fret not if you weren't a winner...more to come!!!!!!!!!!!

Steph

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TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Simon Says Stamp Challenge! | Vintage Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge

Monday, January 3, 2011

Stamp & Show: Your Newest Stamp!

Happy 2011!!! Our talented Design Team has decided upon a fun, first Challenge for the new year - Stamp & Show your Newest Stamp! Enter before Monday the 3rd & join our following for a chance to win a $25.00 gift voucher to Simon Says Stamp!!

Nancy C's newest stamp (set): Postcards by Tim Holtz! This gorgeous tag was distressed using Tim Holtz's Vintage Photo, Forest Moss, and Wild Honey Distress Inks. Film Strip Ribbon and the Lost & Found paper pad were also used.

Dan's newest stamp is the Polka Dot Cling Stamp by Hero Arts. How perfect for giving those pears texture!! He also used the Tim Holtz's Lost & found paper stack, a white paint dabber and the following Distress Inks: Shabby Shutters, Walnut Stain, & Mustard Seed.

Nancy W's newest stamp is Musical Collage by Hero Arts (it's a new one for 2011!!). She probably used an Archival Ink pad to ink the image that she colored with Copic Markers. That lacy ribbon is gorgeous too!!

Terry's newest stamp is Just Fly by Wendy Vecchi. She used an EK Success punch called Scroll Chain, Distress inks by Tim Holtz (you can buy individuals, refills, or sets), Glossy Accents by Ranger, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, and Fairy Garden by Tim Holtz.

Linda C's newest stamp is Fabulous Flourishes. She embossed 10 Seconds Studios Metal with her Cuttlebug (a great tool!) and used a sanding tool like the Sanding Grip. Another stamp set that she used is Mini Classics - by Tim Holtz.

Lori's latest stamp (sets) are Fashion, Style & Art and Be Happy...Make Art by Wendy Vecchi. This tag sure reflects happiness - I love those beautiful bright colors!! The vines are made using the Regal Crest die. As for the background, she used Cranberry and Butterscotch Color Washes.

Lynne's newest stamps are Fabulous Flourishes by Hero Arts and the Winter Sketchbook set by Tim Holtz. She used White UTTE to emboss. Snow Flurries, Winter Wonder, and Faux Snow help make this tag the fine-lookin' creation that it is!

Kim used her new Crafty Secrets stamp sets, one of which is Sweet Stuff - SO cute!! In addition, she used Tattered Florals by Tim Holtz, Art Parts by Wendy Vecchi, Sticky Back Canvas, Heat Tool, and Glimmer Mists by Tattered Angels.

Linda E used her pretty new stamp sets from Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 collection - Residential Art, Seriously Art, Live and Make Art, Alphabetically Art, and Mail Art. She also used Sable Brown Paint by Claudine Hellmuth. Don't the blues and browns look nice together?

Hope you are all having a great 2011 so far! Need a New Year's Resolution? Enter the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge each week!!!

Happy Crafting!
-Sarah
Sarah@SimonSaysStamp.com

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Sunday, January 2, 2011

What a Great Idea!

Feeling slightly brain dead after the holiday season? This is normal, don't panic : ) Here are a few things to help you get sorted out!

This tin can hold ATC cards, ribbon, measuring tools, buttons, brads, gem papers, scraps, beads, pearls, and any other small pieces! Or carry it in your purse...hehe
Don't let the name fool you. The ideas aren't only for Christmas. It's full of winter and everyday fun too! If nothing else, you'll have some gorgeous cards to admire.

I bought these really cool metallic brads. The problem? They somehow exploded into my craft bin. Now. If I had had a Craft Keeper Jar there would not have been a problem!

Clings, clears, papers, and stickers cluttering your crafting area? Go for the Stampendous Storage Solution. You can hang them up too!

Fun, fresh, creative ideas for stamping, card-making, and other crafting projects. How many pages, you ask? 256!

You've gotta love that Tim Holtz has such great taste. This binder is made of faux leather that has a flourish design. It's an attractive way to store your unmounted stamps and acrylic blocks. Why risk losing something you've invested in?

A clear bag with zipper closure and convenient carrying handle. Have paint dabbers, pencils, and/or watercolors that you want to take on a trip? Done. Toss em in the case and they're ready to go!

My friend would kill me if she knew I was exposing her, but she has hundreds of Copic Markers in a large plastic bin. I was looking through for a certain color and couldn't find it. When I did find it, the cap was missing! Sound sadly familiar? You need this.

This soft suede little number has pocket pages for you to store Spellbinders Dies. Not quite impressed yet? The page for small dies holds 10 per page, the medium holds 4 per page, and the large holds 2 per page! Don't have Spellbinders? Not to worry: this case can hold other things too! Gotta love zippable binders.

1. This case is transparent so you can see what you've stored.
2. There are dividers so you can keep separates separated.
3. There's a spot for your chompers!
4. It snaps closed so your stuff is secure and won't escape : )

So...90 pages of card examples, stamps, techniques, a guide to tools & colors, and instructions for other crafty projects like jewelry...how could you even begin to go wrong?! Honestly...I want to go craft right now.

Ah Vera Bradley. Such pretty designs! Sure you could use this as a purse or beach bag, but why not use it as a way to store paper pads or rubber stamps? Going to a friend's for a craft night? Going to a park to do some sketching? Be fashionable with a crafty tote bag! It even has pockets for your pens, pencils and other items! One more thing: it's washable!

With a neat, old-fashioned look, this Craft Spinner will keep your blending tools handy! Never smudge items again in your supply bin with leftover ink. Also, you won't have to buy as many refills if you have a blending tool for each color and you can actually find them!

This 8" x 7" tote bag is made of durable nylon and can store scissors, glues, markers, crayons, pencils, and just about any other small item you can think of!

I've always found that organizing the things around me is a good way to clear my mind and help me relax. Maybe these items will help keep you organized and worry-free!

-Sarah
Sarah@SimonSaysStamp.com

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Air-Brush like a PRO!


Copic DVD 1 ABS Air-brushing System

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope this year, brings you happiness, good health, and prosperity. Maybe some of you are familiar with Copic Markers Air-Brushing system but if you are not, you've gotta check it out! From a beginner to a professional, they have you covered with tips, techniques, and state of the art tools!! Once you try one, you won't be able to put it down....seriously!!

Copic's ABS DVD Series Promo from Pushplay Productions on Vimeo.



If you are new to Air-brushing, I HIGHLY recommend you pick up this awesome DVD pictured above from Copic. Lots of great tips & techniques, get a little teaser above! Perhaps for a slightly more advanced or next step of Air-brushing, we also have another DVD. This one does have more of a focus on comic illustration.


Copic DVD ABS 3 Comic Illustration

We have 3 air-brushing kits. I highly recommend the ABS-1 kit for beginners. It comes with everything you need with the commitment of getting an air compressor. These usually are around a $300 commitment. We also sell air refill cans if you want to continue to air-brush in this way. ABS-2 can also be a set for beginners if you just want to give it a try and aren't too sure how often you'll use it. ABS-3 is to be used with an air compressor.

For some more more Air-Brushing fun, try the MASK IT Sheets!

Mask It Sheets



ABS-1 Starting Set


ABS-2


ABS-3

Don't forget, you'll need Copic markers too!! :)




Happy New Year, Happy Crafting!

Steph

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