That's Life

Monday, 14 September 2026

Bat Man Returns...

Hello friends...

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week, we challenge you to TRANSPORT IT and hope you'll join us for this fun theme.

For my make, I created a card and because we're now in the 'ber' months, that means Halloween is just around the corner and I couldn't resist making this project featuring Count Dracula and his batty mode of transport. As with most of my projects, I used products from Tim Holtz, Simon Says Stamp, Sizzix and Stampers Anonymous...

So, let's begin and here's how I made this dreadfully wicked card...

CARD BLANK & MATTED LAYERS

To begin with I made a card blank from black card, measuring 19.5 x 15cm.

I then added some background layers to frame the main image. beginning with a layer of Design Tape, that I applied around the edge of the card blank, leaving a border of approx 0.5cm around the edge.

I matted a piece of slate coloured card, 13.5 x 18cm onto the card blank to complete my base.

BACKGROUND

To create the background, I cut a panel of black card, 12 x 16.5cm and spritzed the background with the following Tim Holtz sprays:

Distress Oxide Spray: Speckled Egg

Mica Spray Stain: Unravelled, Decayed, Phantom Mist

Once I was happy with my background and it was dry, I stamped the cobwebs along the top section of the panel. I used one of the stamps from the Tangled Web Stampers Anonymous stamp set and stamped this in clear embossing ink. I then sprinkled silver embossing powder over the top, tapped away the excess and heat embossed the powder until shiny and molten.

I added some die cut clouds, cut from mixed media heavy stock card using the dies in the Sizzix Vault Fright Night Die Set by Tim and after inking them with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap ink, I attached them to the background.

I completed the panel with a machine stitched border around the edge and then matted this onto a plane of silver metallic kraft card, followed by a panel of black card. Mount these layers onto the front of the card blank.

Across the bottom of the panel, I added a border strip for the sentiment. Cut a strip of black card, 2 x 12cm and I used the same Mica Sprays as I used on the background to add colour.

Once dry, I mounted the strip onto silver metallic Kraft card and then attached this across the bottoms edition. of the background using foam pads.

I then attached the "Something Dreadfully Wicked" sentiment across the centre of the strip which I took from the idea-ology Halloween Sticker Book, before completing this section with a Screw head on either side of the sentiment, altered with a little Distress Paint to give a more vintage, rusty look to the metal.

Now we're ready to build the scene...

CREATE A SCENE

For the scene I used the Tim Holtz and Simon Says Stamp Monster Reunion stamp and die bundle, the Sizzix Roadtrip Die Set by Tim, Vault Wicked and Vault Fright Night.

Starting with the character stamps from the Monster Reunion Stamp Set, I stamped the image of my 'Bat Man" and the Tombstone in Black Soot Archival Ink onto a piece of Distress Watercolour Card.

I watercolored the images with Distress Watercolour Pencils and then used the SSS co-ordinating die set to die cut each image. Set these to one side whilst we make the car...

For the car, I used the Roadtrip Die Set by Tim and cut the base layer for the car from gold metallic Kraft card and the next layer from a piece of Mixed Media Heavystock card that I coloured with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stains. For this layer, I only applied the red to the bottom section and then I painted the top section with Black Soot Distress Paint.

For the subsequent layers, I cut all the other pieces from Mixed Media Heavystock Card that I coloured with Black Soot Distress Spray Stain.

Assemble each layer over the top of one another to form the car, and then die cut all the highlights from silver metallic card and attach them to complete the car.

Now, there was one final detail that was needed on this car, and that was the bat. I can't remember which die set of Tim's this bat is from, but with so many to choose from, I'm sure you'll find one that fits. I cut the image from silver metallic Kraft card and then layered a second die cut, cut from black card over the top before attaching it to my car.

The car is now ready and waiting for it's owner to jump in...

I cut the legs off Mr Bat Man and then tucked him into the car, placing him so he sits nicely and looks comfortable before I attached the images to my background, using foam pads, attaching the car to the right, slightly overlapping the edge of the card and the tombstone to the left.

You can see the dimension that foam pads add to the card in the photo below.

Add small clumps of moss along the base of the two images to ground them.

FINISHING DETAILS

For the final details, I used some more die cut bats, cut from black card using the dies in the Vault Wicked Die Set and then added some silver stars, again cut using a die from the Wicked set.

...and completed the card with the 'I don't bite ...usually" sentiment from the Monster Reunion stamp set. This was stamped onto black card in clear embossing ink, then embossed with silver embossing powder before die cutting the sentiment with the co-ordinating die by SSS.

So with the finishing touches add, that completes my card 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 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: Monster Reunion

Stampers Anonymous: Tangled Webs

Sizzix: Big Shot, Road Trip, Fright Night, Vault Wicked

Distress Ink

Distress Spray Stains: Black Soot, Lumberjack Plaid

Oxide Spray Stain: Speckled Egg

Mica Spray: Unravelled, Decayed, Phantom Mist

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Antique Bronze, Crackling Campfire

Distress Watercolour Pencils

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Design Trims, halloween Sticker Book, Screw Heads

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Black Soot Archival Ink, Silver Embossing Powder

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

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Moss

Friday, 4 September 2026

Turn The Page by Spellbinders....

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a wonderful week and today, I'm really excited to be sharing a new project with you all. I was recently asked by the team at Spellbinders to be a guest designer in their blog and create something using the fabulous Turn The Page release by Esther Glas and how could I resist.

So, if you're excited to see what I created from this little sneak peek, then all you have to do is click HERE, to be able to see the make in full, together with a step by step tutorial.

Hope you enjoy and I'll see you over on the Spellbinders Blog...

Love Emma xx

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

STAMPtember® 2026 Blog Party

HAPPY STAMPtember® everyone! 🥳

Today, I'm thrilled to be joining in with the 2026 STAMPtember® celebrations but can you believe it's been 17 years of this exciting event!?! Time sure does fly when you're having fun and that's something that we intend to have a lot of during this month long celebration, and we hope you will celebrate with us.

To kick things off, we're inviting you to our massive STAMPtember party and with so many talented designers joining and so many wonderful products, it's going to be packed full of inspiration. Don't forget, if you want to see the whole release, then just click HERE.

We also have a few exciting promotions running during this party, so I hope you'll play along, keep looking and fingers crossed, you might be lucky to find them all! Below are the details for one of these promotions, just search for sfd633, add it to your cart and enter the code BBEFD at checkout to claim this FREE gift with a $100+ purchase!

Back to the party and the card project that I created. This card features the glorious Sunflower Basket Die Set (S1195) and I decided to use just those beautiful flowers and leaves from this set as my focal point, set against a dramatic black and gold background.

So, let's begin and here's how I made my card...

1. Using the Simon Says Stamp A7 Arched Die Set, die cut two pieces of black card, score approx 1.5" from the top of one of the pieces, fold along the scoreline and attach the second die cut arch to form the card blank.

2. Cut further pieces of black and gold metallic card, which alternate in colour to build up descending layers.

3. On the first layer use the Floral Elements stamp set to stamp some foliage sprigs in clear ink, before embossing with gold embossing powder. Matt this first layer onto the card blank.

4. Follow with a layer of gold metallic card and then a layer of black card, embossed using the Fanfare Embossing Folder. Apply a light coverage of Gilding Wax to accentuate the raised areas and machine stitch a border around the outside. Attach the layer to your card blank.

5. Add a further matt of gold metallic card before applying Distress Translucent Texture Paste through theh Deco Floral Layering Stencil by Tim Holtz onto the final arch die cut, cut from black card. Remove the stencil and wash immediately and leave the card to one side to dry before matting this layer onto the card blank.

6. Cut and colour two separate pieces of Distress Watercolour Card using Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains. The first piece with Mustard Seed, Fossilised Amber, and the second piece with Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage. Allow for the card to dry before die cutting a selection of petals. Each sunflower consists of two layers and the centre. Add white highlights to the petals.

Cut the centres for each sunflower from more of the watercolour card and using a blending tool, add Gathered Twigs, Vintage Photo, Black Soot, Crackling Campfire Disstress Ink to the surface of each centre. Shape the centre to create a dome and then attach to the middles of the flowers using foam pads.

7. Shape and layer the petals to form 7 sunflowers and die cut 9 leaves.

8. Arrange the flowers to cascade down the card front.

9. Arrange the leaves by tucking them in amongst the flowers.

10. Finally, ink up the "Limited Edition' Sentiment from the Tiny Text stamp set in Versamark Ink and stamp onto a piece of black card. Cover with gold embossing powder, tap away excess and heat emboss. Die cut the sentiment using the Simon Says Stamp Co-ordinating Tiny Text Die Set. Attach to the front of your card using foam pads.

The card is complete. In the photo below, you can see how much dimension there is in these flowers ~ this die set is a must and creates such wonderful results.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and see you all again soon!

Love Emma xxx

Click HERE to shop for products

Simon Says Stamp: Sunflower Basket, A7 Arches Wafer Dies, Fanfare Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz and Simon Says Stamp Tiny Text Bundle

Stampers Anonymous Stamp Sets: Floral Elements, Deco Floral Layering Stencil

Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs, Vintage Photo, Black Soot, Crackling Campfire

Distress Spray Stain: Mustard Seed, Fossilised Amber, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Fine Detail Gold embossing Powder, Versamark Clear Ink, Distress Translucent Texture Paste

Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Stash, Black Card, Distress Watercolour Card

Lisa Horton Metallic Wax: White Gold, Rich Gold

Tools: Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Sizzix Big Shot

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.