That's Life

Monday, 31 August 2026

Autumn Serenade....

Happy Monday...

As we begin a new week, it's time for another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, we challenge you to GET IN SHAPE and create anything but a square or rectangular project.

With this in mind, I went to my favourite shape, a circle and used products from Sizzix and Tim Holtz to make a card to celebrate the start of Autumn/Fall. I also used a product that I bought a while ago but haven't used until today, the Sizzix Stamp and Spin Accessory Tool, which is so much fun and I can highly recommend if you love pattern building.

So, let's get started, it's time to get into shape....

CARD BLANK

To begin with I created my card blank, and cut two circles of black card, 16.5cm in diameter. I used a WR Makers Circle Cutter that I bought a while back and is still available to buy from stockists, but you can also cut these circles freehand by drawing around a circular object.

I scored a line across the top section of one piece of card, approx 5cm from the top, folded along the scoreline and then, applied adhesive to the area above the scoreline before attaching this piece to the second circle to form my card blank.

LAYERS

To form the base for my final layer, I cut further circles of card. I began with the largest, a circle of Kraft card which I machine stitched to add a border around the edge.

I then cut a 14.5cm circle of black card, followed by a layer of cream card, inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Each layer is reduced in size by 0.5cm to form a border.

Once I had my card base, it was time to create the wreath design and central focal point...

BACKGROUND

For the background, I used the Sizzix Stamp and Spin Accessory Tool to create my circular wreath.

As I mentioned at the beginning if you circles and you love pattern building, then this tool is a must but, and please be aware of this, you do need to use this product in conjunction with the Sizzix Stamp and Stencil Tool ~ it will not work without.

I began by using a piece of Distress Watercolour card which I placed inside the Stamp and Stencil Tool. For the background, I used stamps from the Stampers Anonymous Leaf Print 2 and Floral Outlines Stamp sets, both by Tim Holtz. I positioned one of the smaller leaf print stamps onto the Stamp and Spin Tool, and inked this with Antique Linen Distress Ink. The finished card panel, is approx 14cm, so be aware to keep the stamping within this diameter.

Stamp the first image onto the watercolour card, and then re-ink the stamp and spin the tool, repeating the stamped image to form the circle.

The reason I stamped the image with a pale ink, is because it is giving you the basic shape for the wreath and acts as a guide for when I add the second layer of leaves.

After selecting some of the stamps from the Floral Elements stamp set and using one stamp at a time, I positioned the chosen stamps onto the stamp and spin tool but this time, I stamped the images using various autumnal colours of Distress Inks, inking up the stamps and then spritzing with a light mist of water and stamping the image onto the card, spinning the tool to create the wreath.

Once I was happy with background, I used the largest of the SSS Basic Shape Circles Die Set to die cut the card shape and machine stitched a border around the edge.

You now have the background and place this to one side to create the next layer.

Using the standalone Stamp and Stencil Tool and the same leaf image from the Leaf Print 2 stamp set, stamp 8 leaves onto Distress Watercolour Card.

To create the watercolour effect, I used the following Mini Distress Inks:

Peeled Paint, Crackling Campfire, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey

I applied the inks to the stamps and then misted the ink with water, before stamping them onto the card.

I then used the SSS Leaf Print 2 Co-ordinating Die set to die cut each image.

After lightly inking the edges of each leaf with Old Paper Distress Ink, I added foam pads to the back and attached them onto my background, using the paler stamped outline, that I did at the beginning as a guide as to where to place them.

CENTRAL LAYERS

For the central layers, I used a combination of Basic Circle Shapes and Stitched Circles to cut and build up my card layers, which I attached with foam pads to the centre of the wreath. The card layers comprise of gold metallic Kraft card, a layer of green Kraft card and watercolour card, inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I then added my Funky Insect, the beetle, which I attached to the centre of the circles, placing it over the top of some frayed Mummy Cloth and a small off cut of a Mica Tile from my own stash.

For the tutorial of how I used Distress Embossing Glaze and the colours that are needed to create this funky insect, just click HERE.

For the finishing touches, I used a remnant rub, no.761, taken from the Specimen Remnant Rub set and added this to the leaf in the centre, at the bottom of the circle....

....and finally, I attached some Hardware Heads around the outside edge of the layered circles, which I altered with Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints, to create more of a rusty finish to the metal.

So that's my project complete and I hope you love the tips and techniques I've used to create 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 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:

SSS/Tim Holtz Stamps and Dies Bundles: Leaf Prints 2

Stampers Anonymous: Floral Elements

Sizzix: Big Shot, Stamp and Spin Accessory Tool, Stamp and Stencil Tool, Funky Insects

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint, Crackling Campfire, Seedless Preserves, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey

Distress Paints: Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze

Distress Embossing Glaze

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Specimen Remnant Rubs, Screw Heads, Mummy cloth

SSS: Basic Shapes Circle Dies, Stitched Circles

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads

Surfaces: Watercolour Card, Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft Classics, Tim Holtz Cool Kraft Stash, Black Card

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Mica Tile

Monday, 24 August 2026

Harvest Moon...

Hello everyone...

Hope you've all had a good weekend and you're now ready for a new week, and a new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, our theme is all about LOTS OF LAYERS and we'd love to see how you will interpret this theme and can't wait to see what you create.

For my make, I chose to create a card to celebrate my favourite season, Autumn/Fall and not only did I add layers to build up the card base, I also added layers of die cuts and layers of Distress Inks, to bring the scene to life.

So, let's get started, it's time to take you through all the details of how I made this layered card.

To begin with I created a black card blank, measuring 20 x 15cm.

CARD LAYERS

To build up the layers of the card, I began by cutting another panel of black card, 19.5 x 14.5cm and I lightly spritzed this layer with Decayed and Unravelled Mica Sprays. I don't want a solid block colour on this panel, just a splatter of shimmery dots. Mount this layer onto the black card blank.

I then cut a piece of silver metallic Kraft card and layered this onto a panel of slate grey card, 18.5 x 13.5cm, which leaves a border of the darker card showing. Mount these layers onto the card blank using foam pads.

The layers are now ready for the background scene...

BACKGROUND

Cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card, 17.5 x 12.5cm.

To create the moon, I used the middle sized, solid piece from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Moon Mask Stencils and placed this on the left hand side of the card panel, positioning it so it's off the edge of the card.

I then used the following colours of Distress Ink to create the night sky, blending the colours in layers.

DISTRESS INK: Black Soot, Villainous Potion, Uncharted Mariner, Ground Espresso

Starting with the blue, followed by purple and ending with the two darker colours, I applied each of these colours with a Blending Tool, and building them up to create the moody sky.

Once I was happy, I removed the mask and then placed the co-ordinating detail mask back onto my panel.

I blended Hickory Smoke through the stencil before removing it and then blended Antique Linen and Fossilised Amber over the entire moon area to create the glow.

Finally, I splattered some Decayed Mica Spray across the skyline and allowed this to dry.

Once I'd machine stitched a border around the outside of the card panel, the scene is ready to bring this story to life.

SCENE BUILDING

For this I used The Scarecrow Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz stamp set and the co-ordinating dies from SSS and firstly, I stamped the bats over the top of the inked moon, using Black Soot Archival Ink.

Now for the fence that you can see sitting at the back of the scarecrow. This is die cut from black card using the Seth Apter Gridiron Die Set by Sizzix. I then cut the die cut down to the size I needed to create my fence and applied Gilding Wax over the surface to add a bronze shimmer to the die cut.

I applied foam pads to the back of the gridiron die cut, placing them where they won't be seen and will be covered by the scarecrow and grasses and attached the 'fence' to my background.

Next I stamped and coloured the scarecrow. I stamped this onto Distress Watercolor Card and then watercolored the image with Distress Watercolour Pencils before using the SSS Co-ordinating dies to die cut the image.

I then stamped the two grasses in Peeled Paint Archival Ink and again used the co-ordinating dies to die cut each piece. I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I attached these pieces to my card using foam pads to add dimension.

I then added some moss and dried grasses around the base of the images.

To complete the card, I stamped the Happy Fall onto the bottom left hand corner....

...and then added some gold stars to the sky. These stars are die cut from gold metallic card, using the waste product from the Falling Stars Die Set but if you don't have this die set, any die that features stars will work.

Finally, I attached the ':' idea-ology Type Chip as a decorative element in the top right hand corner....

So, that's my layered card finished and I hope you love this little scene that was bought to life using many layers.

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

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

SSS/Tim Holtz Stamps and Dies Bundles: The Scarecrow

Stampers Anonymous: Moon Mask Stencils

Sizzix: Big Shot, Gridiron, Falling Stars

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Villainous Potion, Uncharted Mariner, Ground Espresso, Hickory Smoke, Fossilised Amber

Mica Spray: Unravelled, Decayed

Distress Watercolour Pencils

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Black Soot Archival Ink, Peeled Paint Archival Ink, Gold Luster Wax, Rose Gold Luster Wax

Surfaces: Watercolour Card, Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft Classics, Black Card

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Moss

Dried Grasses from my own stash

Monday, 17 August 2026

Take Me To The Beach....

Hello friends....

As always, a brand new week means we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is all about being ON or UNDER THE SEA and we hope you'll join us and play along!

For my project, I created a framed panel all about calm and tranquility, with smooth waters and gentle ripples and used Tim Holtz products from Sizzix and Stampers Anonymous to tell the tale of a little fish, just swimming around in his happy place.

So, let's get started ~ it's time to make this week's project!

For this project I used an idea-ology Mini Framed Panel. I'm sure many Tim Holtz addicts have this older item in their stash but if not, you can use any frame that is available. The size is approx 6.5" x 4.5". You can also use these ideas for a card or tag...the choice is yours!

FRAME

I wanted to get a worn whitewash appearance to the frame and began by painting the sides and back of the backing panel, (you don't need to paint the front of the backing panel, as you'll be doing this in the next step), and the wooden frame with PaperArtsy Heavy Cream Chalk Paint.

I allowed the paint to dry before applying another layer of paint, this time Ground Espresso Distress Paint and picking up some paint with a dry brush, I lightly applied the paint over the surface, allowing the brush to just lightly touch. If you feel it's too heavy in places, you can always re-apply the paler colour to those areas.

Once I was happy with the colour of the frame, I applied a coat of Matte Collage Medium to seal the surface.

BACKGROUND

To create the background, I used the Sizzix Bubbling Die by Tim Holtz to cut a piece of Mixed Media Heavystock card.

I then adhered the die cut to the back panel of the frame with Matte Collage Medium.

Once the medium was dry, I painted the surface with Speckled Egg Distress Paint. Allow the paint to dry before grunging up the background. For this I scribbled Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the entire surface of the die cut, before wiping away any excess crayon with a semi dry baby wipe.

To assemble the framed panel, I attached some Design Tape Trim to the background panel, placing the tape so that it will form an inner layer to the wooden frame.

I then attached the frame over the top, sticking it into position with Matte Collage Medium.

The frame is now ready to create the scene....

MAKING THE SCENE

To create the scene, I used a stamp and co-ordinating die from the Sea Life Tim Holtz/SSS bundle, a selection of greenery from Funky Nature, and Wildflower Die Sets by Sizzix and the sign post, which is die cut using the Road Trip die set.

We'll start with the greenery, which is placed along the seabed. For this, I coloured three separate pieces of Distress Watercolour cardstock using various shades of green Distress Spray Stains and Distress Spritz:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAIN: Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Bundled Sage, Rustic Wilderness

DISTRESS SPRITZ: Rustic Wilderness, Bundled Sage

Once I'd blended the colours and heat dried the cardstock, I used the dies to cut a selection of the foliage and shaped the pieces to create curves and dimension. I then attached each piece of foliage along the bottom edge of the frame.

I also snipped into some pieces, so that they will create different heights. You can see the dimension in the photo below.

Using a hot glue gun, I attached some moss along the bottom of the frame to cover the joins of the foliage.

With the moss in place, I wanted to add some texture and for this I used a product called Meyer Cork Chips. I drizzled some Glossy Accents onto the places I wanted to add the texture and then sprinkled the chips over the top. Tap away the excess and allow to dry.

Once dry, I painted the chips with a layer of gold acrylic paint, allowed this to dry before adding Ground Espresso Distress Paint over the top.

To complete the seabed, I cut a signpost using the Road Trip die set by Sizzix/Tim Holtz.

I cut the pieces from Kraft card and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before assembling each die cut to make the post. I then added a tiny brad through the top section of the sign before applying a Tiny Text Remnant Rub ~ "my happy place".

I then attached the signpost to the right hand side, and added a little moss.

FISH

There's just one thing left to do now, and that's the fishy.

I inked the image of the fish with Black Soot Archival ink ands stamped this onto watercolour card. I then watercolored the image with Distress Watercolor Pencils before using the co-ordinating Sea Life Die Set from Simon Says Stamp to die cut the image.

After inking the edges, I attached the fishy to my project using foam pads.

We're nearly there and to complete this make, I added some Splash Droplets to represent the bubbles from the little fishy's mouth.

...and as the very final detail, I used foam pads to attach the banner flag, 'nature findings', which I shaped, creating a slight wave to the piece, which is from 49 & Market's Faded Memory Lane Ephemera Pack.