That's Life

Thursday, 11 August 2022

Insect Specimen Box for Simon Says Stamp

Hello friends!

Today, I'm so happy to be back on the Simon Says Stamp Store blog to share my latest project with you all and if you love the sneak peek below and want to see more of this piece, then you can head over to their blog, CLICK HERE to check out the step by step process of how I created this piece!

Hope you love what I've made and as always, I can't wait to see if you've been inspired by this make and if you are, then please tag me on social media or here on the blog and I will pop by to see your gorgeous pieces!

Thanks so much for stopping by and see you again soon!

Love Emma x

Monday, 8 August 2022

Boo!

Hello friends...

Hope you all had an amazing weekend and now ready and refreshed for another week that will be packed full of inspiration because as many of you know, Tim Holtz's brand new Halloween release from Sizzix is now available worldwide and if you watched Tim's epic live, (click here for replay) you know you really do need it ALL!

But to kick the week off, we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is SPRITZ AND SPLATTER!

Now of course, when it comes spritzing there is one product that I love and that's Tim's sprays and to celebrate the launch of Halloween, I created a card using a couple of the new die sets, Mischievous and Bold Text Halloween and combined the new with old because they work together so well!

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

BACKGROUND

We'll start with the background and for this I used a couple of the brand new colours of Mica Spray, Iron Gate and Decayed. These are available to reserve now at Simon Says Stamp, so if I were you, I would get ahead of the game, and put them in your shopping basket ASAP!

After cutting a panel of black card, I spritzed the two colours onto the surface, together with Antique Linen Oxide Spray. I always allow my Mica Sprays to dry naturally as I think it really enhances that shimmer and shine, but if you can't wait ~ then you can heat dry.

I love the effect of these sprays and love how it resembles a Halloween sky so perfectly. I machine stitched a squiggly border around the outside before adding the swathe of stars that go across the top of the card.

For this I used the Hocus Pocus Layering Stencil and placed it onto my spritzed background before applying Translucent Paste through the stencil. Whilst the paste was still wet, I sprinkled gold embossing powder over the top and set it to one side for about 30 mins before I used my heat gun to melt the powder until glossy and molten. I then mounted the panel onto black kraft stash before matting the layers onto a panel of card where I applied a border of Design Trim around the edge, which just creates a decorative border before mounting all the layers onto my black card blank.

Now we're ready to decorate and create the magical scene of the black cat and his two batty friends...

MOON

To begin with I made my moon and for this I cut a circle, approx 9cm diameter and inked the circle with a little Antique Linen Distress Ink. I then placed the largest sized Moon Mask over the top of the circle and used Frayed Burlap to ink through the mask to create the craters. After stamping some cobwebs across the top of the moon using the Tangled Webs Stamp Set and inking the edges with a little Fossilised Amber, I wanted to add the stars which will also continue and match up with the spritzed background.

So for this I laid down my moon onto the background, placing it centrally onto the card and then positioned the Hocus Pocus Layering stencil onto the moon, applying the paste through the stencil onto the moon section only to create the continuous flow of stars. Sprinkle the gold embossing powder over the top and heat set.

Attach the moon into position with foam pads to add a little dimension.

LEAVES

I used the Oak Leaf 3D Impresslits Die for the leaves and cut them all from Mixed Media Heavystock card. I spritzed the card with a combination of distress sprays; Spiced Marmalade, Aged Mahogany, Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Peeled Paint and after a light misting of water, I allowed the colours to blend and heat dried the card before die cutting each leaf.

I only used the smaller leaf of the two die cuts for this make and inked the edge with Gathered Twigs.

With my leaves cut, I then cut some foliage from black card, using the Festive Bouquet die set.

To give an little more shimmer to each card, I splattered the foliage with some of the Mica Spray that I used on the background and then highlighted the detail using the matching Distress Crayons.

CAT

Now to add the star of the show and for this I cut the cat three times from black card using the Mischievous die set and layers the die cuts to make one solid image that has quite a bit of dimension.

I added the facial details with a white gel pen and then ran the Decayed Distress Crayon around the edge to add some shimmery highlights.

I had the bats cut from a previous project, so if you have any of the previous Halloween die sets from Tim, and they feature the bats, then you can use these ~ they all work perfectly!

So we're good to go and can now build the scene...

I arranged all the foliage across the bottom of my moon, and then placed my black cat in the centre, sitting him on a bed of shredded Mummy Cloth that I dyed with Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen Distress Stain.

I added the bats and then some extra stars, which again were on my desk from a previous make. They are cut from the Falling Stars Thinlits die set.

BOO!

We're nearly there and all that's left is the beautiful Bold Text which sits at the bottom of the card.

For this I used the Bold Text Halloween die set and cut three layers, two from gold metallic kraft card and one from silver. I layered the gold letters over the top of one another before adhering them to the silver layer, slightly offsetting them to create a drop shadow. I didn't want the letters to be too bright in colour, so I knocked them back slightly by adding a smear of Espresso Distress Paint over the top, wiping away the excess before adding some Vintage Photo crayon. I then attached each letter to my card front to complete the card....

...and that's my project for this week's challenge 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 and if sometimes I miss it ~ just keep nudging me!

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 ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Stampers Anonymous: Hocus Pocus Layering Stencil, Tangled Webs, Moon Mask

Sizzix: Big Shot Foldway, Bold Text Halloween, Mischievous, Oak Leaf 3D Impresslits Cut and Emboss, Festive Bouquet

Distress Spray Stain: Spiced Marmalade, Aged Mahogany, Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Peeled Paint, Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen

Oxide Spray: Antique Linen

Distress Crayons

Distress Paint: Ground Espresso

Mica Spray

Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Mummy cloth

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

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Translucent Paste, Gold Ultra Fine Embossing Powder

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Collage Brush, Waterbrush

Monday, 25 July 2022

School Days....

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

This week our theme is BACK TO SCHOOL and we'd love for you to join us and play along and create a project inspired by anything that is school related.

For my make, I used an idea-ology square vignette box to create my project and packed it full of everything I could find that had anything to do with this theme, from backdrop papers and rulers, to ephemera to paper dolls ~ it all came together perfectly to tell the story of one little girl who's favourite lesson was art...so, ring the bell, because it's time for class and here's how I made my vignette box...

VIGNETTE BOX

To begin with I covered the square vignette box, and this is the largest sized box of the set of 3. I cut a panel of backdrop paper, from Vol. 1 and cut the top section showing the Lestershire Public Schools heading.

I ripped and tore the edges of the paper, before machine stitching a border and adhering the panel onto the box which I flipped over to show the flat side uppermost.

On the sides of the box, I chose another piece of paper, this time from Backdrops Vol. 3 and this showed a classroom of kids and their teacher. I'd used the reverse side on a previous project, so only had a portion of this paper left but it fit the sides and bottom edge of my box perfectly.

I adhered each of the panels into place, across the bottom...

This is the right hand side of the box....

...and this is the left.

On the top of the box, I used another strip of the Lestershire Public School paper. After applying a coat of Matte Collage Medium over the top of all the papers to seal them, I ran the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon around the edges, and blended out any harsh lines before I splattered a little Black Soot Distress Paint over the top and front, and set it to one side to allow it to dry thoroughly.

With my box covered, I moved onto the next stage...the collage section on the front.

COLLAGE

As I mentioned, I sorted out all my school related idea-ology pieces and then just played with them to create the focal point.

I started with the stencil card that sits behind my image, and for this I used a stencil card. I roughly tore the bottom section of the card, to reveal a raggedy edge and then I applied a little bit of Sterling Foundry Wax over the surface, concentrating on the edges. After heat setting the wax, I flicked some Speckled Egg Oxide Spray across the surface, heat dried the droplets before using a blending tool to apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I then misted the card with water, dabbing away the excess.

I matted my stencil card over the top of some Worn Wallpaper and then mounted this onto the front of my box, placing it on the left hand side.

Next comes the rulers and the ephemera pieces...

I broke two rulers into pieces, and coloured them by swiping a Walnut stain Distress Ink pad across the surface. I then blended the ink with a baby wipe before I arranged them across the box, together with some Snippets Ephemera pieces that I placed at the top and bottom of the arrangement. All the ephemera is inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink to add more of a vintage feel to the paper.

Now for the star of the school and I used my favourite Portrait Paper doll ~ I just think she is adorable and I've been waiting for the right project to use this one.

I applied colour to the paper doll by first adding a layer of clear gesso over the surface and then once dry, I watercolored the image with Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I then mounted the paper doll over the top of the rulers using foam pads to add a little more dimension to the piece and placed some threads of Mummy Cloth around the base of the image.

You can see the dimension in the photo below.

Together with a piece of torn design tape, I added a final ephemera piece to the background ~ placing the enclosure sticker just behind her head.

On the opposite side, I adhered a Numbers Strip, Form 153. Once again I inked these with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then smeared a little Prima Burnt Sienna Liquid Acrylic Paint over the top. To complete this section, I added the "red swoosh" which is a die cut from the Postale Thinlits Die Set. I already had this cut and it was on my desk, and it was the perfect finishing touch to the collage.

To the left of the portrait, I added a gold star. I altered the largest sized Star Adornment with Gilded Foundry Wax and once I'd heat set the wax, I attached it to my ruler and then just beneath the ruler, I applied a Labeled remnant rub, #95 Level.

To complete the collage, I added a Metallic Sticker Quote "Create Art" and placed this on a piece of linen, before attaching it across the bottom of my portrait.

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

DETAILS

I placed a pen nib in the bottom right hand corner of the box, which I altered with white gesso and a little Mushroom alcohol ink and adhered with matte collage medium. I placed a memo pin above, sticking it into one of the foam pads to secure it into place.

Finally, I added the Mini Hardware knob on the top of my box. Again this is altered with gesso and Mushroom Alcohol Ink and attached to my box, together with Hardware Heads either side.

I completed the box by wrapping some twine around the neck of the knob and hanging a story stick.

So that's my project finished for this week and I hope you've loved what I've made and been inspired by the ideas.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Sizzix: Big Shot Foldway, Postale Thinlits Die Set

Distress Spray Stain

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Crayons

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Backdrops Vol 1, Backdrops Vol 3, Numbers Strips Ephemera, Stencil Cards, Snippets Ephemera, Labeled Remnant Rubs, Metallic Sticker Book, Paper Dolls, Mummy cloth, Star Adornments, Mini Hardware, Odds and Ends, Hardware Heads, Memo Pin, Story Stick, Worn Wallpaper, square vignette boxes, Portrait Paper Dolls

Mediums: Burnt Sienna Liquid Acrylic Paint, Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, White Gesso, Gilded Foundry Wax,

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Collage Brush, Waterbrush

Monday, 18 July 2022

Here Comes The Sun...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and if you're currently in a place where there is a heatwave, I feel your pain because here in London, we currently have record temperatures over the next two days ~ if you've ever visited the UK, you'll know that most of us Brits, we don't do heat and when it's hot...we melt!

So, as I sit here surrounded by fans to keep me cool, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week's theme, LET'S GO ON VACATION couldn't be more appropriate and whether you're off on holiday, or having a staycation, we can't wait to see what you'll create!

For my project, I chose to go with one of my favourite Tim Holtz dies from recent years, Baggage Claim and created a piece all about travel and seeing the world.

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

For this make, I used a Size 8 Etcetera Tag and began by apply Design Tape around the edge of the tag to create a border that just peeks through from behind the paper. I used an older tape from the Vintage Tape set, but you can choose any tape you like, or just use papers, it really is what you have in your stash.

BACKGROUND

Now for the background to my tag, and for this I used a panel of map design paper, from the Journal Cards set.

I distressed the edges of the paper by adding lots of rips and tears and then I machine stitched a border. before I adhered the panel onto my tag, ensuring that the torn, curled edges show hints of the design tape that I'd applied around the edge.

After adding some watered down Distress Paint to the torn edges, I used a blend of Rusty Hinge and Ground Espresso, I punched the hole in the top of the tag and then set this to one side to move onto the next stage.

BAGGAGE

To begin with I cut all the pieces for the three suitcases from mountboard. I then cut the inked and coloured cardstock and layered this over the top of the mount board die cuts.

I used pieces that I had in my stash, this is one of those dies that is perfect for all those offcuts. The suitcase on the bottom is cut from card that I embossed using the Cracked Leather 3D Texture Fade and I used various shades of Distress Spray Stains to colour the card stock ~ Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs and Ground Espresso.

The yellow and blue cases are both cut from inked Mixed Media heavy stock card, that has been coloured with Distress Spray Stains ~ as these are scraps, I can't remember exactly which colours I used but I would say, Brushed Corduroy, Fossilised Amber and Gathered Twigs for the yellow case and Faded Jeans, Walnut Stain and Speckled Egg for the case at the top.

On the blue case, I added a little piece of ephemera.

All of the metallic handles that I cut from the mountboard, are gilded using Gilded Foundry Wax. I just applied a little wax over the top and then heat set it, before inking the edges to create more of a vintage feel.

The remaining trims are all cut from gold metallic kraft stash, layered over the top of the remaining embossed leather cardstock.

Once my pieces were all assembled, I then attached them to my tag, placing them on different depths of foam pads, to create dimension. I attached the first two suitcases so they are level, but the blue case, at a slight angle, so it looks as if it's falling and creates movement on the tag. I also let the cases overhang the edge of the tag, which I thought looked so cool

You can see from the photo below, how much dimension is in this piece.

With the suitcases in place, I added an Etcetera Trim beneath them. This is a straight edged trim from the Bat Web Trims, which I painted black before I attached it to my tag with Matte Collage Medium. I added some moss along the trim and some Design Tape Trim just beneath.

I used this paper doll because I thought he was the perfect proportion for the cases, and but before I attached him, I added a ticket in his hand. I just cut along the line of his hand with a craft knife, then slid the ticket from the Snippets set, underneath, attaching it with a dab of collage medium.

I then colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and layered it onto my tag, using foam pads to create even more depth to this piece. The foam pads are placed strategically so they are hidden from view but give support.

I also placed small torn pieces of Mummy Cloth, dyed with Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stains, and just tucked these behind the cases, and the paper doll.

FINISHING DETAILS

Now for the finishing details...

To begin with I added a little cluster of ephemera pieces on the top left of the tag. I used pieces from the Snippets set, a US postage stamp, pointy finger and ticket. I then attached a mini pin and star adornment, painted with Candied Apple Distress Paint.

To complete this section, I ran a black charcoal pencil around the edges, then smudged it out with my finger.

Just above the head of my gentleman, I added some Remnant Rubs from the Labeled Set ~ Transportation Co. Register 02408.

We're nearly there and there's just two last details ~ some rope through the top of the tag, and I attached a ticket and compass to the end using a loop pin. The compass is from my stash and is from one of Tim's older idea-ology packs, Souvenir which is now retired but if you don't have this, then any travel themed charm will do. I altered the metal with White Gesso, Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress Paints for a more rusty, crusty feel and then attached it with a tag from the Snippets Ephemera set, all crumpled and inked to once again, carry on the worn, aged look of this piece.