That's Life

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.

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

Emma Williams <<<you are here

CLICK HERE to shop all products used to make this card

Simon Says Stamp: Basic Circles Die Set, Stitched Circles, Jaunty Stem, EZ Strips Mom Set

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Intertwined Embossing Folder, Specimen

AALL & Create: Quirky Post Dies

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Dots and Floral

Distress Spray Stains: Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, Bundled Sage

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Saltwater Taffy, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage and Rustic Wilderness

Tim Holtz Distress Paints: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Black Pen, Matte Collage Medium

Surfaces: Kraft Card, Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Distress Watercolour Card

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Mini Pins, Kraft Stock Stack Cool, Hardware Heads, Cello Sticker Tape, Snippets Ephemera, Tiny Clips

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Sizzix Big Shot

Now, it's time to hop to the next stop...

Kim Hamilton

Monday, 16 March 2026

Spring Is Here....

Hello everyone and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week we challenge you to create some Beautiful Blooms and the DT are really looking forward to how you will interpret the challenge.

For my make, I chose to make a framed panel and for my beautiful blooms, I used one of my favourite floral stamp sets from Tim Holtz, Floral Trims. I combined this with another favourite product, this time The Park die set to create a springtime scene with a Mary Poppins theme...

So, let's get started, it's time to create....

For this make, I used a 6" x 8" framed panel. This is one of Tim's but is now sadly retired, but any frame of choosing will be perfect for this piece, or you can just use the inspiration for a card, tag, really anything you choose.

The original framed panel does come as bare wood, so if you do have one still in your stash then, I layered Distress Paints ~ Black Soot, Walnut Stain and Antiqued Bronze to add colour to my frame and the baseboard. I added Design tape Trim around the edges to give a border to my finished piece and then attached the frame to the board, adding some gilding wax to accentuate the beading. The panel is now ready to decorate.

BACKDROP

For the background to this panel, I cut a panel of watercolour card aprox 13.5 x 19cm. I then inked one of the floral trims stamps with Black Soot Archival Ink and stamped the trim down the left hand side of the card, making sure the stamp started in the top left hand corner. This stamp doesn't fit the entire length to the card panel but don't worry about that.

Using Distress Watercolour pencils, I added colour by watercoloring the image in a very loose style.

COLOURS: Mustard Seed, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Once my watercoloring was complete, I applied colour to the plain background using a large brush dipped into water and applying a colour wash of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.

After inking the edges of the card panel with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I smooshed some Frayed Burlap Oxide Ink onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and then dipped the edges of the card into the ink to form some droplets on the card. I also added some white paint splatters over the background.

I heat dried the inks and then added some stamping to the background. I inked the script only from the one of the Botanic Collage stamps with Hickory Smoke Archival Ink and randomly applied the stamp to the blue section of the background.

Now to cover that plain section of card across the bottom, and for this I cut a piece of paper from the Backdrops Vol 5 pack. I used a yellow tiny prints design, cut to fit perfectly and then adhered it into position using Matte Collage Medium.

With the panel complete, I machine stitched a border around the outside and then attached the panel, placing it centrally onto my framed panel.

DECORATIVE TRIMS

Using the Sizzix Decorative Trims die set, I cut some more of the yellow tiny prints paper to fit two scalloped Etcetera Trims. I used the middle size of the narrowest trims.

The paper is attached using Matte Collage Medium which I also applied over the top to seal them, and then once dry I applied the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to age the paper.

I attached the first trim directly onto my panel, placing it so that it hides the join in the two sections of card and paper on the background. The second trim was then placed above the first, but I attached it a slight angle.

THE PARK

We can start to bring this scene to life....

I started by die cutting the figures using The Park Die Set by Sizzix/Tim Holtz. I cut each piece which includes the umbrellas and the kite, 3 times from black card and then layered them over one another to create the thickness of chipboard.

After adding some white pencil and white pen highlights to the die cuts, I attached these to the background with foam pads, placing them on the right hand side of the backdrop and standing them on the trim.

Around the base of their feet, I applied some moss, attaching small clumps along the entire length of the trim. I then attached some Bouquet Findings flowers to either side. This is another product that is retired but if you're like me, you probably have a good stock of these. I coloured them with Mustard Seed Distress Spray Stain and once dry, snipped the individual flowers from the bouquet, before attaching them to my project. In the centres of each flower, I added some Platinum Stickles Glitter Glue.

Finally, I added some dry grasses that I had in my stash and can be bought from any craft store that sells floristry items....

...and then in the top right hand corner, I had a few hearts left over on my desk from a previous project and I thought these were perfect for this make and attached them to the background.

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

FINISHING DETAILS

I began these tiny finishing details by adding a Theories Quote Chip beneath the trims using foam pads. I sanded the edges of the chip and then inked them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before attaching a Screw Head to either side. The screw heads are altered with Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints and attached with Matte Collage Medium.

I then pinned a mini pin to the stitching on the watercoloured panel....

After a couple of Cello Sticker Tape pieces are attached to the panel....

...I finally a Labeled Remnant Rub in the top left hand corner.

So, that's my make finished and I hope you love what I've created....

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 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...see you soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Floral Trims, Botanic Collage, Etcetera Facades, Scalloped Etcetera Trims

Sizzix: Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway, The Park, Decorative Trims

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze, Walnut Stain

Distress Watercolor Pencils

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Screw Heads, Cello Sticker Tape, Backdrops Vol 5, Bouquet Findings, Theories Quote Chips, 6' x 8" Framed Panel, Labeled Remnant Rub, Mini Pin

Surfaces: Distress Watercolour Card, Black Card

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Polychromos Pencils, Black soot Archival Ink, Hickory Smoke, Platinum Stickles

Moss

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Monday, 9 March 2026

Lucky Man...

Hello everyone...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and as we head into a new week, it's time for the new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge to begin. This week our theme is all about adding A Bit O' Green to your projects and we hope you'll join us and play along.

For my make, and with St. Patrick's Day in mind, I chose to go full on green and used a combination of Tim Holtz products from Sizzix and Stampers Anonymous to create my project which features plenty of layers.

So, let's get started and it's time to share all the details of how I created this lucky man...

To begin with I used a Size 8 Stampers Anonymous Etcetera tag and a Facade which I twisted around to have the point at the bottom.

FACADE

The facade is covered with some of the Large Collage Strips from Tim's idea-ology range. I cut the strips down into smaller sections, so that they fit the facade perfectly and then attached them using Matte Collage Medium.

I applied a coat of the medium over the top, and once this was dry I used the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to add a vintage touch, applying it around the edges of the facade and in between each of the joins of the collage strips.

At the bottom of the facade, I placed a Machinery Head which I painted green with Rustic Wilderness Distress Paint. I then added a touch of gold Gilding Wax over the top.

TAG

Moving onto the tag and for this I used a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag and the size 8 Etcetera Tag.

To begin with I lightly misted water onto a Heavystock tag before applying the colour using the following Distress Stains and Oxide Spray.

Distress Spray Stains: Speckled Egg, Rustic Wilderness, Black Soot

Oxide Spray: Speckled Egg

Once I was happy, I heat dried the tag before inking the numbers strip stamp from the Stampers Anonymous Curiosity Shop Stamp Set by Tim with a Versamark Clear Embossing Pad. I stamped the numbers down the right hand side and then sprinkled the ink with gold embossing powder. Heat set the powder until molten.

To add more detail to the background, I used the Botanic Collage stamp set and used Black Soot Archival Ink to stamp the print from one of the stamps in this set down the left hand side.

After machine stitching a border around the outside edge, I mounted the tag onto the Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium and then mounted this onto my covered Etcetera Facade using the risers from the facade pack to add height to this piece.

COLOUR WHEEL

Now to create the colour wheel and using the round viewfinder dies from the Picture Show Die Set, I cut the solid piece and the top layer, together with the smaller inner pieces that will become the shades of green that sit around the wheel.

I added colour to the main wheel with Old Paper and Frayed Burlap Spray Stains, and once these were dry, I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Adhere the top layer to the bottom layer.

I inked the small die cut squares with shades of green Distress Inks. You can choose which colours of green you prefer for this.

I then inked the edges of each square with Walnut Stain DI before placing each one into the wheel.

To complete the wheel, I attached Screw Heads and altered these with Black Soot, Antique Bronze, Crackling Campfire to add a rusty finish to the metal.

With the colour wheel complete, I wanted to build up the central section and used the Sizzix Vintage Labels Die Set by Tim Holtz (unfortunately this is now retired and if you don't own it, then you can replace this layer with a circle cut from red card), and the SSS Basic Shapes Circle Die Set to cut 4 circles, 3 from Mixed Media Heavystock card and 1 from gold metallic Kraft stock. The size of the first circle needs to fit in the centre of the wheel and the remaining 3 circles are in descending order.

After inking each circle, I layered them and attached the completed layers to the centre of the picture wheel using foam pads.

Mount the wheel onto the tag using foam pads to add height and dimension.

TAILORED

In the centre of the colour wheel, I used the bowler hat and the suit and bow tie from the Tailored Die Set. I cut all my pieces from inked and stamped cardstock that I have in my scrap box. This is such a great way of using up these tiny pieces of scrap card, and of course you can choose to create unique designs to the clothing.

All the pieces were assembled them to create the two pieces of clothing.

After adding the button from my stash to the centre of the bow tie, I mounted each piece onto the layered circles, again using foam pads to add even more height.

I then placed the 13￠ piece from the Junk Drawer Baseboard pack in the centre before attaching a screw head to either side of the piece, again altered with the same colours of Distress Paint as used previously.

LUCKY CLOVER

For the clover leaves, I used the stamp from the Curiosity Shop stamp set, together with coordinating SSS die.

I stamped four separate images of the clove leaf with Versamark clear embossing ink onto card inked with Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink and then sprinkled the gold embossing powder over the top. Heat emboss until molten and glossy.

Die cut each of the four leaves and then layer them over one another, attaching them by the centres and shaping the leaves to create two dimensional pieces.

Attach the two leaves to the tag, placing them in the bottom left corner. In the centres of each leaf, I added a gold Metallic Droplet.

I had the Air Mail label, stamped and cut from the Correspondence stamp and die bundle leftover on my desk from a previous project and I thought it was perfect for this make. I attached this to the clover arrangement using foam pads.