Country Roads

It's time for another Simon Says challenge - this week Simon Says Stamp and Show Us a Childhood Memory.  I absolutely LOVED this challenge.  It was so much fun for me to think back and reminisce about my childhood.  I had a couple of ideas for projects but in the end I decided to go with a country theme.

I grew up on a farm in a small country town and wanted to recapture that childhood feeling.  I needed a fairy large "canvas" to fit in all the wonderful images I selected.  I scouted around the antique/junk shops in my area and came up with a 11.5 x 15 inch frame that I thought would be the perfect size.  Stamps from Artistic Outpost's Home and Keeper stamp sets plus some vintage images were used. You can't see it too well because I covered up so much of it, but the designer paper background was cut with Spellbinders square dies and then patchworked together and sewn to resemble a quilt.  The denim look of the chipboard letter backing was created with the Cuttlebug Paisley embossing folder with white pigment ink sponged on the high parts. And, of course, the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die was used to create the handmade paper/fabric flowers.  A Jenni Bowlin chipboard vintage milk cap was also added.

I ran a strip of denim across the top and the bottom and the chipboard squares/letters were mounted on a piece of gathered gingham ribbon that was frayed.  The largest flower is made up of layers of denim, a country calico fabric, crinoline and a couple of paper layers stamped with a text stamp.  

You can probably tell how much fun I had putting this together.  It is now hanging in my studio, right across from where my laptop sits so I can see it any time I look up from my computer.  Now it's time to head on over to Simon Says Stamp and Show to see the childhood memories of the rest of the design team.  Can't wait to see yours entered into our challenge this week.  Our super sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, is offering a $50 shopping spree to the lucky random winner this week so why wait?  Get going IMMEDIATELY on your project and get it entered!