That's Life

Monday, 6 April 2026

Men At Work...

Hello everyone...

Hope you've all had a wonderful Easter and the Easter Bunny left you some treats...

As always on a Monday, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is called ANYTHING BUT A CARD. and we are showcasing the amazing products of the one and only, Tim Holtz. If you'd like to join us, then all the details are at the bottom of this post and we would love to see what you create...

For my make, I created a Tim Holtz idea-ology Mini Clipboard and used some of the brand Neutral 8 x 8 Palette Paper Collection for the background to this masculine project all about skilful workmen. The idea for this came from the famous 1932 photo showing 11 ironworkers eating their lunch of a steel beam above NYC, and with this in mind...I chose to use a Paper Doll couple, sitting on a ruler that stretches across the clipboard and over the edge....

So, let's get started because it's time to share how I created my project...

COVERING THE CLIPBOARD

To begin with I removed the metal clip from the board itself by unscrewing the screws on the back. Set this to one side.

I painted the board with Black Soot Distress Paint and whilst this was drying, I cut a panel of paper from the Neutral Palette paper pack. I chose the paper with the horizontal strips, showcasing the various different designs in the pack. I cut slightly smaller than my board, so that the finished piece will have a black border showing around the edge.

At this point, I did add an additional strip of paper from the collection, as I didn't want the black blueprint design to sit prominently at the top of my project, so I cut a separate, lighter strip and adhered this to the centre of the dark band.

After machine stitching a border in black cotton thread around the outside of the paper, and adding some rips and tears around the edges, I adhered the panel onto my board using Matte Collage Medium.

I splattered Black Soot Distress Paint across the surface and then used the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon around the edges of the paper, blending out the colour towards the centre of the covered board.

CLIP

Firstly, I attached a star adornment to the centre of the clip before adding texture to the surface and then changing the colour of the clip. For this, I used Translucent Grit Paste and Distress Paints.

I began by applying the paste to the surface of the clip, adding it randomly and not paying too much attention to where I placed it. Once the paste is dry, I added the colour ~ I used a brush to apply a combination of Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress Paints.

I added the Crackling Campfire first, allowed for this to dry and then dry brushed Black Soot over the top, allowing the brush to lightly kiss the surface with the paint and not adding too much. Once I was happy with the combination, I applied some Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint over the top of the textured areas to add some highlights.

Once the paint was thoroughly dry, I re-attached the clip to the board.

FOCAL POINT

With my board complete, it's time to move onto the scene and we'll start with the circle that sits at the back of the men.

For the base of the circle, I used the inside pop out section from one of the Etcetera Facades. You can also die cut or cut a circle of mount board to create this.

I covered the circle with another design from the Neutral Palette Collection and then cut a slightly smaller circle from the same design. I machine stitched around the edge of the circle before matting this piece over the top of the larger circle.

I then used foam pads to attach a target ephemera piece, which is from the idea-ology Urban Layers pack that is now sadly retired. If you don't own this pack, then you can always die cut the layers from card....

In the centre of my circular layers, I added a Junk Drawer Baseboard piece.

To add some texture around the edges of the large circle, I used more of the Translucent Grit Paste, applying it around the outside.

Once the paste was dry, I mounted my circles onto the clipboard with foam pads and placed some Screwheads around the outside. I altered the metal and the Translucent Grit Paste with a combination of Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze and Crackling Campfire Distress Paints.

Beneath the circles, I needed to add my beam and for this, I used a Ruler Piece, covered with a Paper Strip and a Pinked Etcetera Trim, that sits underneath to support the ruler piece.

To cover the Etcetera Trim, I used the Decorative Trims die from Sizzix/Tim Holtz and cut a piece of the paper from the pack. I adhered it to the trim with Matte collage Medium, and also applied the medium over the top to seal the paper, before I applied Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon to the surface, blending out the colour with my finger tip.

For the ruler piece, I broke each end carefully snapping them off and then covered the ruler with a Paper Strip. I then applied Matte Collage Medium over the top and used my Gathered Twigs Crayon to age this piece.

I attached the Etcetera Trim underneath the Ruler Piece, allowing the pinked edge to show and then attached this to my project, placing it directly beneath the layered circles. The ruler is attached so that it overhangs the right hand side of the clipboard.

I then attached one of the Paper Doll Poses figures to the project using foam pads and placing it on the left of the clipboard.

To colour tint the paper doll, I used Distress Crayons in, Faded Jeans, Rustic Wilderness, Gathered Twigs, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye and Aged Mahogany.

Finally, I added clumps of moss along the ledge and hammered a couple of Nail Tacks into the ruler, placing them on either side.

FINISHING DETAILS

For those all important final touches, I added a Quote Label Chip in the bottom right hand corner...

...and then attached a swivel clasp to the clip. I then added some extra chain and attached a Junk Drawer Baseboard piece with the number 35 to the end of the chain...

Finally, I added some Cello Stickers around the edges of the paper, where it's attached to the back board.

So, that's my make finished for today and I hope you love the piece I've made and inspiration behind it...

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 win. You 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:

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Distress Crayons: Gathered Twigs

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Mini Clipboard, Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, Quote Chip Label, Neutral 8 x 8 Paper Collection, Junk Drawer Baseboard, Paper Strips, Paper Doll Poses, Ruler Piece, Swivel Clasp, Star Adornment, Nail Tacks

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Translucent Grit Paste

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Pinked Etcetera Trims, Etcetera Facade

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Decorative Trims

Monday, 30 March 2026

No.63 Warren Street...

Hello everyone and Happy Monday....

As we start the new week, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is called EMBOSS IT and with so many ways to add embossing to a project, I'm sure you'll want to join us and play along...

For my project, I chose to make a tag to celebrate Easter and I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder to create the background for Mr Rabbit, who is proudly residing over his garden at No.63 Warren Street.

So, let's get started because it's time to share how I created my tag...

For this make, I used a Mini Etcetera Tag and an Etcetera Facade.

TAG

To begin with I flipped the tag 180° and covered it with a sheet of Tim's Worn Wallpaper from the idea-ology range. Before adhering the paper with Matte Collage Medium, I added some rips and tears around the edge and then machine stitched a border.

Once the panel was in position, I crumpled the corners of the paper, folding them back to reveal the tag, and then added some Crackle Paste directly to the surface of the tag. Allow for the paste to dry, and work its magic, before applying Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon around the edges and also over the top of the paste to accentuate the crackle.

ETCETERA FACADE

For the next layers, I used an Etcetera Facade and the waste frame from the facade pack that holds the 'risers', which once added to the back of the facade, create dimension to your project. These risers are secured in the frame and that's the piece that I've used at the back of the facade, to create a window for this piece.

I covered the waste frame with some more of the Worn Wallpaper that I used on the tag and added some twine and a mini pin on the right hand side...

...and a Stitched Scrap, which I wrapped around the frame and attached to the left hand side.

Adhere the frame to the tag using Matte Collage Medium.

Moving onto the facade, and I covered this with my embossed card panel.

I cut a panel of Mixed Heavystock Card to match the shape of the facade I was using, and spritzed this with a light mist of water and then used the following Distress Spray Stains:

Evergreen Bough, Bundled Sage and Speckled Egg

Once happy with the blend, I heat dried the card and then added some stamped detail using the plaid stamp from Mr Rabbit and randomly stamping this onto the background in Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink.

I then added another layer of stamping using the calligraphy stamp from Tiny Toadstools, inked with Black Soot Archival Ink and once again, randomly stamping this onto the background.

With my panel complete, I then placed this into the Sizzix Botanical 3D embossing folder by Tim Holtz and ran it through my Big Shot to emboss the card.

To accentuate the embossing, I applied some Gilded Foundry Wax to the raised areas. I used my finger but if you have allergies or sensitivities then please use a brush. Heat set the wax.

Machine stitch a border around the outside and then adhere the embossed panel to the facade,

Attach the facade to the tag, placing risers on the back and attaching it over the top of the frame.

To complete the layered frame and facade, I hammered a nail tack into the top left and top right hand corners of the facade itself.

MR RABBIT

Now for the star, the great adventurer and I began by stamping the image of Mr Rabbit from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz stamp set of the same name, onto watercolor card and watercoloring the image with Distress Watercolor Pencils. You will also need to stamp Mr Rabbit's jacket and bow tie onto a second piece of watercolour card.

I used the Simon Says Stamp coordinating die set to die cut all my pieces ~ Mr Rabbit, his jacket and the bow tie. Layer the jacket and tie over the top of the main image using foam pads,

For buttons I used metallic silver pearls.

I also added a monocle to this handsome rabbit and this is die cut from gold metallic card using the monocle die from one of Tim's older Sizzix Dies, The Gent which is now sadly retired. If you don't have this set, then you can always use make a monocle using a Jump Ring.

I flipped the die cut piece over so that it would fit on the left hand side of Mr Rabbit and adhered it into place with a tiny amount of adhesive.

Place Mr Rabbit on foam pads and attach him to the facade, placing him over the top of a Worn Wallpaper scrap ~ the pink flower border.

To complete Mr Rabbit, I added a Mini Plaquette, no.63 and also stamped the wording 'Mr Rabbit', which is taken from one of the stamps in the stamp set and then just cut down to size and placed underneath the plaque itself.

DIE CUT FOLIAGE AND FLOWERS

For the foliage, I inked some watercolour card with Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage Distress Spray Stain and once the card was dry, I cut my pieces using a combination of dies ~ Brushstroke Flowers 1 and foliage from the Foliage Wreath die set.

After arranging the foliage around the base of Mr Rabbit, I added small clumps of moss in and around the frame.

Using the Foliage Wreath die set, I cut the flowers from scrap card in my scrap box and layered them to create different sizes. I attached the six flowers to the foliage arrangement and added small pearls to the centres.

FINISHING DETAILS

Finally, I added the finishing details...

I attached the Theories Quote Chip ~ 'never stop exploring' to my tag, and completed this with a screwhead on either side.

I also added some Cello Sticker Tape...

At the top, I clipped a Large Hinge Clip to the tag and attached a piece of chain. I then attached a Word Tag to the end of the chain and accentuated the wording by adding Picket Fence Distress Paint to the metal, before wiping the paint away from the raised area.

As the final touch to the project, I altered all my metal adornments with Distress paint (Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze), to create a more rusty finish to the surface and that's my make complete and I hope you love the finished piece and will be inspired by the ideas.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Etcetera Facade, Mr Rabbit stamp and SSS die Bundle

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Botanical 3D Large embossing Folder, Brushstroke Flowers, Foliage Wreath

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Distress Crayons: Gathered Twigs

Distress Spray Stain: Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough, Bundled Sage and Speckled Egg

Distress Ink: Rustic Wilderness

Distress Watercolor Pencils

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, Large Hinge Clip, Theories Chip Label, Stitched Scrap, Worn Wallpaper Scraps, Mini Plaquette

Metallic Gold Pearls

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Gilded Foundry Wax, Black Soot Archival

Glass Media Mat

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Distress Watercolour Card

Heat Gun

Chain from my own stash

Friday, 20 March 2026

Simon Says Stamp In My Heart Blog Hop ~ Day 1

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 1 of the In My Heart Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be joining this hop, and you might have arrived here from Miriam Prantner's blog, but if not, and you want to catch up with everyone who is participating in this hop, then don't worry because you can head back to the beginning, by clicking HERE and if you would like to see the entire product release, then pop on over to HERE.

For my card, I was inspired by watching the flowers come to life in the garden, and knowing that spring is finally on its way. But of course, spring also brings another special occasion ~ Mother's Day and with this card, I wanted to celebrate all those special Moms out there who deserve to be made a fuss of. And even though my Mom is a bright star in the sky, that would never stop me celebrating and honouring her and I used some of the gorgeous products from the release, together with a few Tim Holtz products to make a very special card for my best friend, my mom!

So, let's begin ~ it's time to share how I created this card and the arrangment of flowers.

CARD BLANK and LAYERS

I started by making a card blank from Kraft card measuring, 17.5 x 13.5cm.

I then cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card, and lightly misted the surface with water before applying Speckled Egg, Bundled Sage and Pumice Stone Distress Spray Stains. After another mist of water to blend the inks, I heat dried the panel.

I then inked up the 'dots" stamp from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Dots and Floral stamp set using Peeled Paint Archival Ink, and stamped onto the panel. For a panel of this size, you will need to re-ink the stamp and repeat to get a continuous pattern.

After machine stitched a border around the edge of the stamped panel, I mounted it onto the centre of my card blank.

I then cut a panel of green card from the Cool Kraft Stock Stack measuring, 14.5 x 10.5cm and matted this onto a layer of mixed media heavystock inked with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, and a second layer of the green card, each time leaving a narrow border showing around the outside.

Attach the panels to the centre of the covered card blank to form the base layers for the floral centrepiece.

EMBOSSED PANEL

For my next layers, I used the AALL & Create Quirky Postage Dies and cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock using the largest size of postage stamp, together with the inner solid layer.

I inked the die cut cardstock with the same sprays as I previously used on the background, heat dried the inks and then inked the edges of each piece with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Taking the inner die cut layer, I placed this inside the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Intertwined Embossing Folder and ran this through my Big Shot.

I then added a machine stitched border before attaching this piece to my postage stamp die cut and wrapping a piece of velvet ribbon around the bottom section of the panel, securing the ends at the back.

On either end of the ribbon, I added two idea-ology Mini Clips.

Using foam pads, I attached the layers to my card front.

CIRCLE OF FLOWERS

For the circle itself, I used the SSS Stitched Circles die set, approx 8.5cm in diameter and the SSS Basic Circles Die Set. Using the Stitched Circle die, die cut a piece of Kraft heavystock. You only need the solid section from the die cut, discard the remaining waste or you can use it as frame for another project.

I then took the next size down in the Stitched Circles die set and using a circle, slightly larger in size, I placed this on the outside of the Stitched Circle die. Run this through the Big Shot and you will be left with a frame and a solid circle. You need both of these. Repeat this process three more times but this time I cut the pieces from gold metallic Kraft card. You should now have one solid large circle in Kraft, one smaller circle in the mixed media heavy stock and four frames. Place any leftover circles to one side for another day.

Ink the edges of the Kraft circle with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then layer the frames over one another to form a raised edge to the circle.

Add colour to the remaining solid mixed media heavystock circle, using the same Distress Stray Stains as used on the background. Once dry, attach the solid circle to the centre of the frame.

To create more of a vintage feel to the gold metallic frame, I lightly sanded the surface and then used Crackling Campfire, Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints and a light touch of Black Soot Distress Paints. Apply these in layers directly onto the metallic surface, building up the colour to create the rusty look to the frame.

Attach the circle to the card front with foam pads.

FLORAL CENTREPIECE

The flowers and stems are die cut from Distress Watercolour Card using the Jaunty Stem Die Set.

I used two layers for each flower and then coloured the petals and stems with Distress Inks in the following colours:

Flowers: Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed and Saltwater Taffy

Stems: Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage and Rustic Wilderness

Once all my die cuts were watercolored, I layered the pieces to create double petals, added the centres and completed each flower with some white pen work. I then attached all the die cuts to my circle, arranging them to fill the circle and using foam pads to add height and dimension.

FINISHING DETAILS

We're nearly there and all that's left is those finishing details....

Using the Mom set of EZ Strips, I cut the "To the best mom ever', which I matted onto Kraft card and 'I love you" from the sheets.

I attached the first sentiment across the bottom of my circle of flowers.

With the other sentiment, I placed this into a die cut label frame. The label is cut from metallic cardstock using the dies from the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Specimen Die Set and I attached a screw head to either side of the frame. I then altered the surface using the same technique as I used on the circle.

The label frame is attached to the centre of the velvet ribbon strip using Matte collage Medium to secure it into place.

Finally, I added some Cello Sticker Tape pieces around the edges of the card...

...pinned a Mini Pin to the corner of the background layer, which I folded back, and completed the card by placing a Snippets Ephemera Piece, '5 For' to the top right hand corner.

So, that's my card finished and I hope you love what I've created and enjoyed the techniques I've used.

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the blog hop from the blog comment section! So, this means you can leave a comment here and on every stop along the way to increase your chances. Winners will be notified and they will be posted on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, 25th March and all winners will need to contact/email Simon Says Stamp to claim their prize.

Also, don't forget that you will have the not yet released Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Day 3x4 stamp automatically added to your card that contains any purchase from the In My Heart Collection. The gift with purchase will expire on the 22nd March at 11;59pm EDT or whilst stocks last.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and don't forget to go and check out Day 2 of the hop tomorrow!!!

See you soon, love Emma x

HOP ORDER:

Simon Says Stamp Blog