Monday, 12 January 2026

A Whole New World...

Hello everyone...

It's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is all about having FUN WITH FOIL.

Now, if you're anything like me and foiling just isn't your thing, (to be honest, a foiling machine has never even been on my radar of crafty goodies to buy ~ I know they're fabulous and create wonderful effects but I've just never thought of getting one). So, I had to think of a way to use foiling on my make and decided to use metallic gilding flakes and foil sheets to give accents of metallic shimmer and shine but all without the aid of the machine.

So, let's get started and here's how I made this panel about three young boys, who are embarking on a journey where their hearts take them....

For this make, I used the larger sized Rectangular Etcetera Panel and painted the edges with Black Soot Distress Paint before applying some older Tim Holtz idea-ology design tape from my stash around the outside edge of the panel.

PANEL and EMBOSSING

To begin with I created the background and for this, I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix 3D Large Typewriter Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Distress Watercolour Card, that is cut to be slightly smaller in size than the Etcetera Panel.

With my card embossed, I then started to add colour to create a rusty patina effect to the cardstock using the following Distress Spray Stains and Oxide Sprays:

DISTRESS SPRAYS: Speckled Egg, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Salvaged Patina, Crackling Campfire, Walnut Stain

OXIDE SPRAYS: Speckled Egg

I applied each spray to the cardstock, and then spritzed water over the top to get some movement on those inks. Once I was happy, I then heat dried the card, inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and machine stitched a border around the outside.

Now to add some foil accents and for this I used Deco Foil Transfer Sheets in Champagne, together with Deco Foil Transfer Adhesive, applied to the embossed typewriter letters using a dry paint brush. Dip the brush into some of the adhesive, making sure the brush isn't overloaded, you need a minimal amount. Wash brush immediately you finish with the adhesive!!!

Allow for the adhesive to become tacky, before laying the foil sheet, shiny side uppermost, over the top. Gently rub to ensure contact, but don't rub too hard to damage the embossing and once the foil makes contact with the adhesive, remove and voilĂ , you should see some foil accents over the top of the lettering.

I repeated this technique over random areas of the background until I was happy and then, adhered the embossed card onto the Etcetera Panel using Matte Collage Medium.

ETCETERA FACADE

We're now ready to move onto the next layer, the Etcetera Facade and I chose one from the pack of four and then flipped this upside down, so that point of the facade is downwards and I also kept the circle in place ~ I didn't remove it.

I covered the facade using Large Collage Strips, cut to fit and adhered these with Matte collage Medium, applying a coat of the medium over the top. Once the medium was dry, I rubbed Walnut Stain Distress over the top, focusing on the joins of the collage pieces, which helps to create more of a vintage look to the piece.

I attached the facade to the risers that are included in the pack and then adhered the piece to my panel.

At this stage, I also added a small pointy finger in the top right hand corner, and then die cut a heart from gold foil card which I rusted using some Crackling Campfire and Black Soot Distress Paint, before placing the heart next to the finger.

To form the ledge that sits across the bottom section of the facade, I used one pinked etcetera trim, that I covered in decorative paper, die cut using the Sizzix Decorative trims die set by Tim Holtz and formed an 'L' shape with a ruler piece, that I broke the ends off.

I then adhered this into position, placing it directly onto the facade.

Finally, I added a Nail Tack into each corner and used Distress Paint to add a rusty finish to the nail, and around the entry of the nail, where it's was hammered into the facade itself...

...together with some small strips of Cello Sticker Tape.

WORLD TRAVEL

To create the globe, I cut my individual pieces from silver metallic Kraft card. I applied some Turquoise and Monsoon Alcohol Ink to the solid circle to create the blue colour of the ocean and set this to one side. I then took the remaining three pieces, you will have the circular globe plus two of the land die cuts and using the Transfer Adhesive, I once again painted the surface with this glue.

Once the adhesive becomes tacky, I then applied some Metallic Flakes over the top. Using a stiff brush or pad, remove any excess flakes to reveal the smooth, metallic finish to the die cuts.

To form the globe, layer each of the pieces using foam pads and then attach this to the facade using more foam pads to add dimension.

BRINGING THE SCENE TO LIFE

Next to the globe, I added a Paper Doll from the Paper Doll Poses pack, and colour tinted this with Distress Crayons. If you need to see how I do this, just pop the word paper doll into the search engine on the left of my blog and it will come up with many tutorials.

I attached the paper doll to the facade, placing it so that it will overlap the right side of the globe.

On the left of the paper doll trio, I added a Figure Stand. I LOVE these stands, they are one of my absolute favourites from Tim's idea-ology range and for this piece I chose to use the star, which I painted red using Candied Apple Distress Paint, with a minute amount of Black Soot mixed in, to take away the brightness of the red, and create more of a vintage tone.

I attached the figure stand to the ledge...

...and then placed moss all along the ledge.

FINISHING DETAILS

We're nearly there and all that's left is the details, details, details....

I added two Machinery Heads to the bottom right hand corner of the panel and painted these with Crackling Campfire, Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze and Salvaged Patina Distress Paints to create the rusty look to the metal.

On the side of the facade, I clipped a hinge clip which I painted using Salvaged patina and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint and hung an idea-ology "Story"word tag, from the clip, again painted with Distress Paints to add more of a vintage touch.

Finally I attached the quote chip label, which tells the story, "Go Where Your Heart Takes You", and I placed this onto foam pads and attached it in the bottom left hand corner.

So that's my project for this week complete and I hope you love this piece as much as I loved making it!

As always, if you make anything, or if you've been inspired by anything that you've seen here on my blog ~ then please, let me know by tagging me on social media or leaving a comment here and I will be right over to take a look!

Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to winYou have until next Monday at 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....






Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today...
Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Etcetera Panel, Pinked Etcetera TrimsEtcetera Facade
Distress Crayons: Walnut Stain
Distress Spray Stains: Speckled Egg, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Salvaged Patina, Crackling Campfire, Walnut Stain
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Alcohol Ink: Turquoise, Monsoon
Distress Paint: Candied Apple, Crackling Campfire, Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze and Salvaged Patina

Monday, 22 December 2025

Tis' The Season....

Hello friends...

As we start the final countdown and all important rush to get ready for Christmas and the holidays, here at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, we have one more challenge to complete the year and this is all about Sparkle and Shine. This challenge will run for 2 WEEKS and we hope you'll find some time to join us and play along.

For my make, I used my beloved Tim Holtz idea-ology products, combined with a Sizzix Texture Fade to create one final Christmas make and I hope you love the vintage style piece I've made that is full of shimmering sparkle and shine!

So, let's get started ~ it's time to share my last post of 2025!

For this piece, I used the smaller sized Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Rectangular Etcetera Panel and covered the raw edges with one of Tim's idea-ology design tape trims.

ETCETERA PANEL

To begin with I created the background and for this I used the Sizzix Engraved Large Texture Fade Embossing Folder by Tim Holtz. I ran a piece of Mixed Media Heavystock card through my die cutting machine ~ I usually run it through a couple of times to ensure the embossing has the right level of detail.

To add colour to the cardstock, I lightly spritzed the card with water and then used a combination of Uncharted Mariner, Antique LinenSpeckled EggCrackling Campfire. Once happy, I used my heat tool to dry the card and then cut it down to size, slightly smaller than the Etcetera Panel itself.

I wanted to accentuate the embossed detail and give the first hint of shine to this piece, so I used gilding flakes. I applied the Gilding glue to random areas of the embossed detail, then once the glue has dried and become tacky, I applied the gilding flakes. I used a firm brush to ensure the flakes get into all those tiny details and then brush any residue of flakes away.

After inking the edges and adding a machine stitched border, I matted the embossed card onto a piece of blue Kraft card from the Cool Kraft Stash selection and then matted these layers onto a piece of felt, that I cut with pinking shears.

I adhered these layers onto the Etcetera Panel using matte collage medium, then added a Hardware/Screw Head in each corner, adding a rusty finish to the metal using Distress Paints.

VINTAGE EPHEMERA IMAGE

With my background complete, it's time to begin telling this story and as my main focal point, I used a gorgeous image from Tim's Christmas Layers and Paper Dolls pack. I absolutely LOVE this piece, from the colouring to the image itself, it's the epitome of vintage Christmas.

I added some rips and tears around the outside edge of the ephemera piece, then mounted it onto a piece of kraft card.

After inking the edges of the image, I attached it to my background using foam pads. You can see from the photo below, how much dimension is in this piece....

To add more detail to this gorgeous image, I added some small pieces of Cello Sticker Tape...

...and the stamp from the Ephemera pack, which I placed in the top right hand corner.

Beneath the image, I placed a greeting from the Christmas Baseboards pack. I inked the edges of this piece, then attached it to my panel with foam pads.

GREENERY FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Now it's time to add the foliage arrangement. For this I used some of the pieces from the Christmas Layers and Paper Dolls pack, together with some extra greenery which I die cut from inked cardstock using the Holiday Brushstroke 3 Sizzix die by Tim Holtz.

I gave each of the die cut pieces a dusting of 'snow' by applying Versamark Ink directly to the greenery, then sprinkling white embossing powder over the inked areas. Don't be too heavyhanded with the ink, or powder ~ it's just meant to be a dusting, not a storm!!!

Once all my pieces were ready, I then smeared Collage Medium over the top and dipped them into the Rock Candy Glitter pot before setting them to one side to dry.

I arranged the holly branches and the poinsettia around the top left and bottom right hand corners and then tucked some of the sparkly die cut foliage in between the pieces.

Finally, I added a splatter of white paint across the panel, masking off any areas that I didn't want the paint to hit.

SPARKLE and SHINE

Now for the finishing touches and that glorious sparkle.

After drizzling some Glossy Accents over the areas I want to sparkle, I sprinkled a combination of Mica Flakes and Chunky Rock Candy over the medium.

You can see I added it to the floral display, the top of the image and along the top of the greeting.

Finally, I attached a large Hinge Clip, painted with Distress Paint to alter the colour of the metal and then clipped to the top of my panel to complete the piece.

I hope you love this piece and all the details and techniques that I've used!

As always, if you make anything, or if you've been inspired by anything that you've seen here on my blog ~ then please, let me know by tagging me on social media or leaving a comment here and I will be right over to take a look!

Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to winYou have until next Monday at 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....






Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today and all that's left for me to say is...
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope 2026 brings you health, joy and happiness!

See you in 2 weeks...
Love Emma xxx

Powered By Blogger

Total Pageviews