Monday, 2 February 2026

Let's Fall In Love....

Hello everyone...

Hope you all had a good weekend and you're ready for the week ahead, and a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is all about ADDING SOME TEXTURE and the DT are showcasing the products of AALL & Create. If you'd like to join us, then all the details are at the end of this post and we would love to see how you interpret this week's fun challenge...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I couldn't help but feel that love is in the air and for my make, I chose to create a tag using AALL & Create Papers that add plenty of texture to the background, together with many layers of Tim Holtz products.

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

TAG

To begin with I used two separate designs from the AAll & Create Distressed Dreams Timber Tints paper pack and began by covering a Mini Etcetera Tag using one of the designs from the pack. I did add some stamping using one of Tim's stamps to some areas of the paper before machine stitching a border around the edge, and also added some stitching and texture to the patchwork design of the paper itself. After inking the edges, I adhered the paper to my Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium, adding a coat of the medium over the top to seal the paper. 

Using a second design from the paper pack, I created a size 8 tag. Once again, I machine stitched a border around the outside before inking the edges, and mounting it onto the centre of my larger Etcetera Tag using foam pads to add dimension.

CENTRAL FOCAL POINT

Now to start building a focal point to this piece and for this, I used Tim Holtz idea-ology products and built them up to create more texture and of course, create the focal point to this make.

I began with the metal pieces and chose to use a Photo Frame and the corner pieces from the Flourish Adornments pack. You will need two packs of these Flourishes to create this piece but with three pieces in each pack, it means you will have plenty of extras for future projects.

To alter all the metal pieces, I began by applying some Foundry Wax, and applied a layer of Statue Wax before heat setting it with a heat tool. I then applied a very thin layer of Sterling over the top, using my fingertip, or you can use a brush but just touching the raised areas, making sure that I didn't go too heavy with the medium. Once I'd heat set this layer, I then used Distress Paints directly onto the surface to add a little more colour and create the tarnished, rusty effect I wanted. I used the following colours:

Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze, Crackling Campfire and Vintage Photo

Build up the layers of paint, drying each layer before adding the next and always add the Black Soot sparingly.

Once I was happy with the finish, I allowed the paint to dry before applying Lisa Horton waxes with my fingertip, As with the paints, I build up the layers to achieve the finish I want.

To create the frame, I attached a piece of scrap paper from a Tim Holtz paper pack behind the aperture and then attached the flourishes at the top and the bottom, attaching them with Matte collage Medium. Set this to one side to dry completely whilst working on the remaining layers.

Behind the frame, I added some cotton calico which I have in my stash. After cutting two separate pieces that are slightly larger in size than my frame, I used Distress Spray Stains, Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap, to dye them. Spritz the fabric with water and heat dry the cotton before fraying the edges.

I machine stitched the two pieces together before adhering them to a mica tile from my stash and then mounting the layers onto the centre of tag, placing it onto the smaller tag. Attach the frame over the top of the fabric. In the photo below, you can see the dimension that I've created by building up these layers.

In the centre of the frame I chose one of the vintage images of a couple from the Photo Booth pack and distressed the edges of the photo, adding small tears to the corner. I then cut a piece of felt using pinking shears and machine stitched the image onto the felt. Once I'd attached the photo in the centre of the frame arrangement, I added a Labeled Remnant Rub in the top left and a piece of cello sticker tape over the top.

To add some detail and even more texture to the fabric, I ruffled it and then pinned it on either side using Mini Pins

Beneath the frame, I added a Theories Quote Chip. I wrapped red cotton around each end of the chip and then mounted this onto my tag using foam pads,

To complete the tag, I added some screwheads, altered with the same paints and waxes that I used on the frame.

CLIP

On this piece, I used one of Tim's Vintage clips, and created a rusty finish to the metal. This is so easy to achieve and you can see a tutorial on how I do this by clicking HERE.

To alter this clip, I used exactly the same process as I used in my earlier post, but I omitted the Salvaged Patina Paint on this particular piece.

In the centre of the clip, I attached a Heart Adornment that I altered with more of the same colours of Distress Paint as I've used throughout and painting the tiny heart with Lumberjack Plaid. I then added some twine around the clip before clipping it onto my tag.

To complete this project, I attached a swivel clasp to the clip and hung an idea-ology lock and key to the chain, again altered for a more rusty, vintage appearance.

So, that's my project for this week finished and I hope you love what I've made...

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: Mini Etcetera Tag
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze, Vintage Photo, Lumberjack Plaid
Distress Spray Stain: Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo
Distress Crayons: Walnut Stain
Lisa Horton Wax: Copper, Rich Gold, Bronze Rose
Cotton Calico and mica tile from my stash

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Blog Hop featuring Tim Holtz stamps and Simon Says Stamp coordinating dies...

Hello everyone and welcome to the latest Blog Hop featuring the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive co-ordinating dies that coordinate beautifully with some of Tim Holtz's best loved stamps.

I'm so excited to be joining this hop, and if you're hopping along, you might have arrived here via Barb Engler'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. Also, if you would like to see the entire product release and many more, then just pop on over to HERE.

For my project, I created a vintage style Etcetera Panel, and combined the Field Notes Co-Ordinating Dies and stamp set with the beautiful butterfly from an older release, Perspective.

So, let's get started and here's how I create this panel....


To begin with I used one of the smaller size of the Stampers Anonymous Rectangular Etcetera Panels from the pack of 4 and I painted it with Scorched Timber Distress Paint.

PANEL

To cover the panel, I used a piece of paper from Backdrops Vol 4, cut to the same size as the panel. I added rips and tears around the outside edge of the paper and machine stitched a border all the way around and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I then adhered the paper to the board with Matte Collage Medium, keeping the rips and tears in place and crumpling the corners for a touch of "oldy worldy vintage".

After adding some splatters of Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint from my stash and flicked this across the covered panel, I set this to one side to move onto the tag.

TAG

For the background, I chose to use the Stampers Anonymous Roses Layering Stencil by Tim Holtz and using blending brushes, I inked through the design with the following colours of Distress inks:

Kitsch Flamingo, Peeled Paint and Rustic Wilderness

Once my inking was complete, I added some text using the script stamp from the Tiny Toadstools stamp set by Tim Holtz before I laid the stencil back over the areas that I had inked and applied Translucent Grit Paste over the inked areas. Remove the stencil and wash immediately and set the tag aside so the paste can dry.

When my paste was thoroughly set, I added a neutral colour to the background using Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and Old Paper. I dabbed away any heavy areas of colour, gently heat dried the tag and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before adding a few splatters of the Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint across the surface of the tag.

After machine stitching a border around the edge of the tag, I mounted this onto a piece of Kraft card, cut slightly larger than the tag itself with strips of Design Trim Tape placed around the edges of the Kraft card.

To complete the tag, I placed a Curator Snippet in the top right hand corner, and added some Cello Sticker Tape over the top.

I then placed a W R Makers Eyelet through the hole at the top of the tag and set it with the Crop A Dile.

Attach the tag to the covered board using foam pads to add dimension.

FIELD NOTES EPHEMERA

Now, it's time to create the ephemera pieces that sits down the left hand side and that's where we can use the Field Notes stamp set with this amazing new coordinating die set...

To begin with I chose the ephemera pieces I wanted to use ~ I chose 5 different pieces. I then used Tim's Archival Inks to stamp these onto Mixed Media Heavystock card inked with various shades of Distress Inks. Once I had the pieces stamped, I then used the coordinating dies to die cut the individual labels and ephemera.

After inking the edges, I attached them to my panel, placing four of them in a cluster on the left of the tag. I adhered some of the labels directly to the panel with Matte Collage Medium, but placed foam pads on the remaining labels to add some dimension...
I attached the last label, "This Side Up" in the top left hand corner.

BUTTERFLY

With my pieces in position, I stamped the image of the butterfly from the Perspective Stamp Set, and watercolored this with Tim's Distress Watercolour Pencils. I then used the coordinating die set to cut out the image.

After shaping the wings, and attaching the thorax to the centre, (which is a separate die cut), I attached the butterfly to a circular Sizzix Vintage Label Die Cut. I used the largest circle in the set.

Finally to complete the panel, I used the wording "Field Notes" from the Specimen Remnant Rubs and applied it to an off-cut of card before adding this to my panel, placing it just beneath the butterfly...
...and I attached to long fasteners to the panel, placing these in the bottom right hand corner and applying some gilding wax over the top to add some shine to the metal.

I finished this piece with a large Hinge Clip that I had in my stash, and clipped this to the top left hand side of the panel.


So, that's my project complete and I hope you love the piece I've created ~ it's so much fun to used these dies and saves so much time on fussy cutting each individual piece ~ which is something I never relish doing but now, don't need to! More time for crafting...
Thanks so much for stopping by today and now it's onto the next stop of this hop...
See you again soon, love Emma xxx


HOP ORDER:


Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Cheiron Brandon

Heather Hoffman

Stacy Hutchinson

Jean Doeringsfeld

Tami Bastiaans

Barb Engler

Emma Williams

Jenn Shurkus



RECIPE FOR CARD


CLICK HERE to shop all products used to make this card

Simon Says Stamp Co-ordinating Dies and Stamps: Field Notes Bundle, Perspective, Perspective Die Set
Tim Holtz?Stampers Anonymous: Etcetera PanelRoses Layering Stencil, Tiny Toadstools
Distress Paint: Lumberjack Plaid, Scorched Timber
Distress Spray Stains: Antique Linen, Old Paper
Tim Holtz idea_ology: Hardware Heads, Cello StickersSpecimen Remnant Rubs, Curator Snippets, Backdrops Volume 4

Monday, 19 January 2026

Spread Your Wings

Hello everyone...

Can you believe how fast this last week has gone? It's literally flown by, which also leads me nicely into the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week our theme is called THINGS WITH WINGS and we would love for you to join us and play along, and share your makes featuring something with wings!

For my make, I chose to focus on insects and some of you might remember a post from last year where I showed you a technique for faux enamelling and how I used this to create some beautiful effects on the Funky Insects. Well, with this week's challenge in mind, I decided to make good use of one of those insects and create a tag to showcase things with wings...

So, let's get started and here's how I made my tag...

For this project, I used a Size 8 Etcetera Tag and Mixed Media Tag...

TAG

To begin with I started with the Mixed Media Heavystock Size 8 tag and I placed the Countdown Layering Stencil over the tag. Using a blending tool and Distress Micro Glaze, I dipped the sponge into the glaze, picking up a tiny amount of the medium, and dabbing away any excess from the sponge. You really only need a small amount of the glaze for this technique. I then applied the glaze through random areas of the stencil. When you remove the stencil and tilt the tag towards the light, you will be able to see the clear glaze that you've applied on the tag.

Allow for the glaze to dry before applying the colours. I used the following Distress Spray Stains:

SPRAY STAINS: Rusty Hinge, Chipped Sapphire, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Antique Linen

OXIDE SPRAYS: Crackling Campfire

Once I was happy with the blend, I allowed the tag to dry, inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before machine stitching a border around the outside edge. 

I then adhered the tag to my Etcetera Tag before adding the postmark stamp, from the Field Notes Stamp Set, which I placed in the top left hand corner.

I added a safety pin to the stitching and a Machinery Head, painted with Black Soot Distress Paint over the hole reinforcer. To accentuate the detail on the metal stud, I applied some gilding wax.

FUNKY INSECT

For the tutorial of how to create the faux enamelling for the insect using Distress Glazes and the Sizzix Funky Insects die set by Tim Holtz, just click HERE

Once the insect is complete, I set this to one side to work on the frame and the layers...

FRAMES

As you might have noticed, I LOVE dimension and layers and this piece has it all...

For the layered focal point, I used an idea-ology Label Frame, some cotton calico and a Mica Tile from my stash, and the idea-ology Optics Frame.

I started by dying my cotton calico using Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain. I misted the material with water, then applied the stain before heat drying the fabric and cutting it to size, slightly larger than the frame. I frayed the edges of the fabric before attaching it to my tag with Matte Collage Medium.

For my next layer, I used the Label Frame. I'm using it vertically, and altered the frame with Distress Paints, Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze. I then applied some Gilding Wax over the surface.

I placed a panel of card behind the aperture which I had in my scraps box. This is just a piece of inked card, stamped with some calligraphy script. I attached the frame over the top of the cotton calico, again using Matte Collage Medium, which I used throughout.

I then attached the Mica Tile before altering the Optic Frame with the same paints as before. I then added some red cotton which I wound around the handle.

Attach the Optic Frame onto the Mica Tile and then add another smaller piece of Mica Tile before attaching the Funky Insect moth.

STAMPED DETAILS

To complete the tag, I added some stamping labels, the FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE.

Both of these are from the Stampers Anonymous Mail Art Stamp set by Tim Holtz, and I stamped them in Fired Brick Archival Ink.

We're nearly there, and all that's left for me to do, is add the two metal studs at the bottom. These are both long fasteners and after carefully snipping off the legs of the fastener, I hammered the studs to look old and beaten up, then attached both in the bottom left and right hand corners of my tag.

I painted them with the same paints as I used to alter the metal frames, and added a touch of wax over the top.

I then completed my tag, by painting a Hinge Clip with a combination of Candied Apple and Black Sloot Distress Paint. Once dry, I clipped this to the side of my tag, added some chain from my stash and Hund a Word Tag, "Found" from the end of the chain.

So, that's my project complete and I hope you love the inspiration and techniques I've shared.

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:

Distress Crayons: Walnut Stain
Distress Spray Stains: Chipped Sapphire, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Crackling Campfire, Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Distress Paint: Candied Apple, Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze
Tools: Blending Tool, Heat Gun
Cotton Calico Fabric and Mica Tile from my stash
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