Saturday, December 31, 2011

How to Get Out of a Crafting Slump with Marah Johnson!

Do you ever look at your cache of craft supplies and want to use everything at once but you can't decide what to do with them all so you just don't make anything? Maybe you feel like you use the same ten products all the time and you want something fresh and different? Marah Johnson has shared some of her creative genius with us to help get out of that crafting rut!

A few fabulous things about this technique:

-You can use it with cards, scrapbooks, art journals, configurations, boxes, canvas, and you can surely adapt for fabrics!


-Your paper projects will not end up floppy - personally, I love a card or scrapbook page that has some weight to it! Because this technique involves layering, you end up with a thicker end product!


-You don't need a ton of supplies to make this technique happen. Try gesso for some tooth and texture, glues & adhesives, an old book or your favorite papers to give it a patchwork feel, scissors, a sewing machine or some We R Memory Keepers goodies, and maybe a paper distresser and you've got your base!


-It's a great way to recycle!

-Depending on your reasons for crafting - to celebrate (a birthday, Valentine's Day, other holidays), to document milestones, or just because you like to make something you can hold and look through - you can adapt the shapes and papers to fit the theme! Marah uses a lot of hearts which...not to be puny...I love, but you could also use stars, or die cut shapes with Spellbinders or Sizzix.

Thank you to Marah Johnson for giving us permission to share this superb technique!!

Would you like to win blog candy?! Join our following and leave a comment about why you love this technique for a chance to win this exclusive Hero Arts Stamp Set!
We will announce a winner on Wednesday!


Happy Crafting!
-Sarah
Sarah@SimonSaysStamp.com
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93 comments:

  1. This is lovely! I love all the vintage papers, and how they all work together!

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  2. Haven't tried this yet, but it looks like a great way to use up left over bits & pieces :)

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  3. wow marah's technique looks so awesome...would definitely want to give it a try!!! it opens up a lot of possibilites.....wishing the whole team of simon says a very happy new year:)

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  4. I'll have to try this. Just grab that box of leftovers and go for it! Sounds fun! Happy New Year everyone! Stay safe and warm tonight!

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  5. Wow! Love the texture on this technique.

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  6. Wow! Love the texture on this technique.

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  7. thank you for sharing the brilliant technique...!!

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  8. What a great idea! I love old book sites and note sheets on cards and layouts.

    Hugs, Uta

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  9. I LOVE the vintage look and that it is different and very beautiful.
    Happy New Year! Thanks for this chance!

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  10. Love the vintage papers, the layering, the sewing, and the paint. It's so simple and elegant. Would love to make a Christmas album like this. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  11. I love the vintage look of your pages. Thanks for the inspiration and the chance to win.

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  12. vintage ist immer schön, tolle ideen
    lg gila

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  13. This looks fabulous! I could use up some bits & pieces that I can't bear to toss.

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  14. Love ephemera and love the look of layering...this has the best of both worlds!! :D

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  15. This technique looks great. Such a vintage look and uses up lots of left over bits and pieces.
    Mags
    x

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  16. Love the piecing of this layout. Makes me think of an old quilt. I use gesso in my painting projects but never thought of it for paper crafting! Such a good tip.

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  17. Thanks for the new "recycling" method. Would love to win a spot in the new class with Jennifer and Kristina. They are super talented girls. Thanks. I am a follower now.

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  18. It's a great way to use leftovers. :)

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  19. This looks great! I will try it - next year. So: Happy new jear everyone!

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  20. It's different and vintage-just my style.I'm thinking it would also make a great card front.Thrilled to know I am not alone in being overwhelmed by my supplies and not knowing where to start.

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  21. What a great way to use up my vintage book supply. Thanks for the great technique.

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  22. Basically, you can dump all the things you like altogether! What a great technique!

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  23. what an awesome technique...thanks for sharing..

    Happy New Year

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  24. That's great way to use up the leftovers or recycle those old books and magazines. Love layering different papers and then adding some paint or gesso, such fun ;-)

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  25. love this, it is a great way to up-cycle, looks wonderful. gets that vintagy look without buying another new product and it will be very personal. then you take the base layer and off you go to wherever that muse takes you

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  26. That is exactly what I need practice doing...layering and making it look good...I love the different stitching she has done. Thank you

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  27. I love stitching and need to do it more often. Love the layering on her project!

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  28. Thanks for these ideas! Best wishes for 2012! ;-)

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  29. Great creatons today...love these idea for recycling my old books!
    Have a nice new year!!!
    Tini

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  30. Love vintage look. Thanks for sharing. Looks great. Happy new Year for everyone

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  31. Wow, I love the look of all these layouts and how you used the same products, but each one looks different. TFS.

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  32. Gorgeous project! Fab papers. Happy New Year! Hugs,moni

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  33. Boy, Marah really knows how to get her craft mojo out of its slumber. KUDOS!

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  34. I adore this vintage collage style!! This could be altered in so many ways:)

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  35. This looks so interesting - just the kind of thing that I like.
    I also love the stamp set, thanks for the chance to win

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  36. What a neat technique! Thanks for the great idea!

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  37. A great technique never thought of sewing it as well!
    Love the stamp set too :-)
    Gini
    xx

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  38. great technique. love the vintage papers, stitching too. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  39. Thanks for the inspiration Marah!

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  40. Great Technique Marah! Thanks for sharing!

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  41. Interesting idea!

    What a sweet stamp set! Oh boy, wouldn't I love to have that. Thank you for all the blog candy opporturnities :) You are the best.

    Happy New Year to Heidi & others at Simon Says Stamp!

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  42. its amazing how all the pages look different but using the same supplies....inspirational,
    Happy New Year to you all
    hugs

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  43. Great technique--I like that you can customize to the recipient what pages you use.

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  44. love the printed papers. so cool and creative...and green! definately will give it a try!

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  45. I haven't tried this technique before, but it looks fab!

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  46. I love it because I can just play! See what lands. Love the vintage and stitching too. Happy New Year SSS blog land!

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  47. Great way to recycle and use what you have. If you don't have vintage papers then you can distress "new" supplies that you have building up in your stash.

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  48. What a cool technique!! Thanks for the chance to win. :)

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  49. What a fascinating idea. So easy and yet so many ways it can be used!

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  50. Love this technique! Great vintage look! Thanks for a chance to win a fab stamp set!!

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  51. First of all I like this technique because it uses old book or vintage papers. I also like it because it is simple yet yields such elegant results.

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  52. Thanks for the idea and the chance to win! A new year, a new technique to try! I love it.

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  53. I definitely want to try sewing! Happy new year! :)

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  54. this looks so cool, love the vintage look it gets. happy new year!

    -rachel w k
    rwkrafts.blogspot.com

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  55. looks like fun, thanks for shring the techniques with us today. Happy New Years to everyone.

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  56. Very cool! I have been wanting to try Gesso for awhile now! I love the look, and it looks like fun to work with it!
    DeniseB

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  57. I love this technique; it is a great
    way to use scraps and supplies to get a lot of different looks. I love all the design and texture possibilities. Thanks for sharing.

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  58. I love these! The vintage look is awesome! I have a new appreciation for "old print". Must start collecting it ;D

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  59. I like how versatile this layout is and I love, love to layer! I have been stuck for about a week now, just dawdling and making flowers but not knowing what to do! Now I do! Thank you so much for sharing this technique:-)

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  60. I LOVE THIS,
    I THINK THAT IS A VERY ORIGINAL IDEA FOR USE OLD PAPER.
    XXX
    COCCINELLE

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  61. I do love this style or "technique" because it's so easy to do, but looks like it could have taken the artist forever :) It's a great way to use up scraps, and who doesn't love book pages?

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  62. Great ideas! Love the theme, it would be great for valentines day! And you are right I do always use the same things even though I have tons!!! of 'other' things. Also, I love this hero arts set! Thank you for sharing.

    Katie B.

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  63. What a great idea! I have to try this. Happy New Year!

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  64. I love this look. The subtle collor shades, visual texture created by the positioning of the words and music - they make a beautiful backdrop for a special stamp or journal entry.
    Rae Ann O.
    http://joyinart.blogspot.com

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  65. I love this technique because it has so much texture. What a great way to do vintage! So romantic! :)

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  66. Great technique. Thanks for the chance to win this fab stamp set.

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  67. great technique and ideas to use up my odds/ends!

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  68. Using scraps of left over paper to give a quilt like feel is very neat

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  69. I love the vintage look of this and up-cycling! Now I really want to find some old sheet music to use for my card-making. Happy New Year!

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  70. Like stated I think it can be used in a variety of projects. It gives you the opportunity to try something new and used new(old ) things you may not have considered

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  71. Like stated I think it can be used in a variety of projects. It gives you the opportunity to try something new and used new(old ) things you may not have considered. Clara Palacios lluvia540

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  72. I love how this looks!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  73. I love vintage style! Good way to recycle old unwanted books!

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  74. What a great way to use scraps and old books. Thanks for sharing! Xx

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  75. Great ideas!Thanks for the inspiration.

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  76. This just looks amazing and I love vintage, so it sems so perfect here to me.

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  77. What a great design!!
    I really like doing this technique for the bases of canvas art or for fun mixed media pieces!! I agree with the fact that it adds weight and texture and i also like you said uses up the scrap pieces you have laying around so it cuts down on the waste!! THANKS for sharing and for the chance to win!! =)

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  78. I love how the layers not only add character and texture but also is a great way to use scraps. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  79. Nice to meet Marah! I will visit her blog now! Thank you for the giveaway! I love Hero Arts and Studio Calico stamps!

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  80. I think it's always good to try out a new technique!

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  81. I'm always looking for ways to use up scraps. I hope to find more of them as I work on my craft room & supply reorganization this year. I love the vintage look and it's one of those techniques where anything goes. Love that!

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  82. I love the idea, I just have never been all that good at choosing what to layer, you know what I mean? I need some help in that area.

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  83. great technique...can't wait to try it with my vintage leftovers!

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  84. I've never tried this technique but always liked the look! Now, maybe I'll give myself permission...

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  85. Love this idea! Some spots of color from paper scraps would ne cool too.

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  86. Love this! I have several library discards floating about that I have not used as I am not sure....will have to try!

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  87. Thank you soooo much for the sweet comments!...happy new yeart to everyone!

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