That's Life

Friday, 12 June 2026

Tim Holtz stamps and Simon Says Stamp co-ordinating dies Blog Hop Details

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 Nichol Spohr'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 make, I have used the gorgeous Moth Study stamp and co-ordinating die set and made a trio of specimens using a selection of the dies.

So, let's get started ~ it's time to begin this stop on the hop!

I began by cutting my bases for each of these pieces from Mixed Media Heavystock card, Kraft Heavystock and Metallic Kraft card.

You will need to create:

1 x Collector Envelope using the Collector Thinlits Die Set by Tim Holtz ~ Mixed Media Heavystock

1 x Folder using the Vault Noteworthy Die Set ~ Mixed Media Heavystock

1 x Mini Clipboard using the Vault Noteworthy Die Set ~ Mixed Media and Kraft Heavystock

You will also need to stamp 6 of the moths using a selection of the moths from the Moth Study stamp, before I used dies from the co-ordinating die set to die cut each piece. I then coloured my moths using Distress Watercolour Pencils.

Once you have all your pieces cut, and assembled...it's time to start making each of these tiny projects.

COLLECTOR ENVELOPE

Before assembling the envelope, I added some vintage tones by spritzing the surface with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains. I wiped away any excess ink and then heat dried the surface. I then assembled the envelope and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I then covered the front of the envelope with some decorative papers. I used papers from the Tim Holtz Dapper Paper Pad which I have in my stash, but if you don't have this, Tim has plenty of similar papers in his idea-ology line of products.

I added some rips and tears around the edges of the paper and then matted the top sheet onto a second design before machine stitching a border around the outside edge.

I then mounted the layers onto the front of my envelope and added a couple of pieces of cello sticker tape to the edges. Finally, I inked the "Example 3" from the Tidbits, with Black Soot Archival Ink and stamped this to the flap on the envelope before adding a Remnant Rub On, Jun 9 to complete it.

For the circle, I used the SSS Basic Shapes Circle dies to cut a layer of idea-ology black kraft card, followed by a smaller circle of Mixed Media Heavystock card, inked with the same colours as the envelope itself.

I then stamped the "Corresponding Order, No 7859" from the Field Notes stamp set and used the co-ordinating die from the SSS Bundle to cut the circle. I mounted this onto a piece of mica tile from my stash and used foam pads to mount the circle in the centre before attaching the completed layers to the front of my envelope.

I dyed some Mummy Cloth with Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain, ripped the cloth into threads and then attached the moth over the top of the cloth, placing it in the centre of the circle.

Beneath the mounted image, I added a tiny ephemera label from the Moth Study stamp set which I stamped in Fired Brick Archival Ink. I used the co-ordinating die to die cut the label and after inking the edges, I attached it to the envelope using foam pads.

FOLDER

Moving onto the folder and after inking the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I covered the inside and outside of the folder with papers from the Dapper Pad and papers from Backdrops Vol 4.

I then added some Cello Sticker Tape to the front of the folder before attaching 2 of my watercolored moths to the cover, lifting the wings of each, to give them movement. Underneath each moth, I attached the No. 1 and No.2 labels which are stamped and die cut using the Moth Study stamps and dies.

On the inside, I placed a ruler strip, again cut from paper in the paper stash, and placed this down the left hand side. I then attached my moth and a stamped and die cut label, which I placed in the centre of the ruler strip.

I also stamped the "Finest In The World"quote from the Eccentric stamp set and stamped this in black archival ink.

On the opposite side, I attached a torn piece of paper from Backdrops Vol.4, complete with stamped detail and a moth placed over the top of some more of the Mummy Cloth threads. I then added a mini paper, the stamped no.3 before attaching this paper piece to my folder using Cello Sticker Tape.

To complete the folder, I added a date from the Labeled Remnant Rubs and a Type Chip.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the third and final piece, the Mini Clipboard...

MINI CLIPBOARD

For this I cut the main base of the clipboard from Kraft Heavystock, cutting it a couple of times and layering these over the top of one another to form a solid piece.

I then cut the clip piece from silver metallic Kraft card and attached that to my clipboard before painting the surface with a combination of Crackling Campfire, Antiqued Bronze and Black Soot Distress Paints. In the centre I added an oval die cut, which is from the same set ~ Vault Noteworthy and added a Labeled Remnant Rub '401' to the centre.

I cut a couple of piece of the paper which will be clipped to the board, from Backdrops Vol. 4 and inked the edges before adding small rips and tears. I attached these, tucking them underneath the clip and adhering them to the board with Matte Collage Medium.

I then stamped and die cut a label using the co-ordinating stamps and dies from the Field Notes bundle before matting it onto gold metallic card and mounting it onto my clipboard.

The final stamped and die cut moth was placed over a bed of mummy cloth threads and then attached to the label before I added the 'type slide' die cut beneath it ~ which was once again stamped and die cut using the Moth Study bundle.

To complete the mini clipboard, I added some Hardware Heads to either side of the clip and a tiny piece of cello sticker tape to complete the project.

I hope you love these pieces and it's inspired you to create something similar because it's so much fun to make and with the new co-ordinating dies, it makes life so much simpler and yay to no more fussy cutting!

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

RECIPE FOR PROJECT

CLICK HERE to shop all products used to make this card

Tim Holtz/Simon Says Stamp Co-ordinating Dies and Stamps: Field Notes Bundle, Moth Study Bundle

Simon Says Stamp Basic Shapes Circle Die Set

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Tidbits, Eccentric

Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Sizzix Big Shot , Collector, Vault Noteworthy

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Walnut Stain

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Distress Spray Stains: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Distress Watercolour Pencils

Tim Holtz idea_ology: Screw Heads, Cello Stickers, Labelled Remnant Rubs, Backdrops Volume 4, Type Chips, Mini Paper Clip, Mummy Cloth, Dapper 8" x 8" Paper Stash from my stash

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Black Soot Archival, Archival Inks

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

Tools: Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Mica Tiles from my stash

Monday, 8 June 2026

Hey Mickey...

Hello everyone and Happy Monday...

Hope you've all had a good weekend and as we begin the new week, I hope you're ready to get creative with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. This week, our theme is all things MASCULINE and we can't wait for you to join us and play along.

For my make, and with Father's Day just around the corner, I wanted to celebrate a very special man ~ my Dad and even though he is no longer with me, he is always in my heart. My Dad absolutely loved all things Disney, and since I was a young child I remember how we would sit and watch all the Disney films and remember his face and smiles. So, with this in mind, I thought what could be better than creating a project using Mickey Mouse and I hope you'll join me, to see how I made this piece!

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

ETCETERA PANEL

To begin with I used the smaller size of the Stampers Anonymous Etcetera Panels and I ran a black marker pen around the edge of the panel.

I then cut a piece of Black Heavystock Card, the same size as the panel itself and spritzed the card with a combination of Crooked Broomsticks, Unravelled and Burning Ember Mica Stains. I misted the card stock with water and allowed the stains to blend before heat drying the card and machine stitching a border around the outside.

After adhering the card to the panel, I then cut a piece of paper from Backdrops vol 4, (I chose the paper that has the bookplate design) and cut this slightly smaller than the Etcetera Panel, ensuring the bookplate was placed at the top.

I added some rips and tears around the outside edge of the paper before once again, machine stitching a border around the outside.

To add some more detail to the paper I used the Digits Mini Layering Stencil from Set 48 and applied Walnut Stain Distress Ink through the stencil directly onto the paper.

I then used the Circuit stencil from the same set, and applied Crackle Paste through the stencil onto random areas of my paper. Once this is dry, I mounted the paper onto my covered Etcetera Panel.

Where the book plate is, I cut a separate panel of paper from the Backdrops pack so that it will fit inside the bookplate frame.

I inked up the Stampers Anonymous newsprint stamp by Tim with Black Soot Archival Ink and stamped this directly onto the panel of paper. After inking the edges, I matted the piece inside the frame on the background and added some pieces of Cello Sticker Tape around the edges.

To complete the background, ready for the star of the show, I attached a Ruler piece across the panel. I broke the ends of the ruler piece and then dragged the Walnut Stain Distress Ink across surface to alter the colour. Underneath the ruler, I added a strip of the polka dot Design Tape Trim.

Finally, I stamped the No. 5726 in Black Soot Archival Ink, placing it in the top left hand corner using the stamp from the SA Eccentric Stamp Set.

MICKEY MOUSE

Now to bring this piece to life and we'll start with Mickey.

Mickey is die cut from card using the Spellbinders Classic Mouse Steamboat Willie Die Set, and because I wanted to keep him black and white, as was the original Steamboat Willie, I inked the card with the following Distress Spray Stains:

Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen, Lost Shadow

Once I'd assembled Mickey, which is really easy because all the lines are scored into the die cut pieces for you to follow, I added some white pen detail before setting him to one side to create the frame behind him.

The frame is cut from Black Heavystock card using the die set, Frames and Sentiments and I cut three layers to make one solid piece and layered these to create one solid frame. I then cut a 4th frame from Mixed Media Heavystock card, but this time I placed the "Oh Boy" die into the dies so that it will cut the letters into the circular frame. Run this through the machine.

I then used Antique Bronze, Black Soot and Distress Paints to add the coppery tones to this sentiment frame, applying the paints one at a time to build up the tones I wanted and to create tarnished look to the card. Once I was happy, I attached the frame over the top of the black card layers.

With the frame complete, I added an idea-ology Gauge Dial to the back of the aperture, before attaching Mickey with foam pads onto the frame, and then attaching him to the panel using more foam pads and adding him to the left hand side of the ruler piece.

To the right of Mickey, I added the word "DAD" and used the Classic Mouse Alphabet dies to cut layers of card which I coloured with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stain.

I adhered the layers to form the letters which should resemble the thickness of chipboard and then mounted the letters onto black card to form a drop shadow behind.

I attached the letters to the panel and added some die cut hearts around them.

SPROCKETS AND GEARS

For my sprockets and gears, I cut a selection from metallic cardstock using the Vault Industrial die set. As with all my pieces on this make, I wanted them to be more substantial, so I cut multiple layers to form each individual piece.

I used the same Distress Paints as I used on the frame to add colour to my metallic gears and at this stage, I also painted some of the idea-ology sprocket gears which I combined with the die cuts.

Once I was happy with the colour and they had a rusty appearance, I arranged the gears on either side of Mickey and placed Screw Heads in the centres of some of the gears.

Finally, I added an Ephemera piece, "'A Token of Love" behind one of the larger die cut gears and placed this amongst the arrangement.

COMPLETING THE PANEL

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

I mounted the "In My Heart" Theories Quote Chip onto a piece of cotton fabric and then attached this to the bottom section of the panel. I placed a Screw Head on either side, again rusted with the same colours of Distress Paint.

I also added some more screw heads to the top section of the panel, together with a Hinge Clip and a binder ring.

Finally, I cut some stars using the Frames and Sentiments set and cut these from the same red card as I used for the hearts. Once cut, I placed three stars around the quote at the bottom of the panel.

So that's my make complete and I hope you love this piece as much as I loved making it ~ 'oh boy', it sure was fun.

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:

Spellbinders: Classic Mouse Steamboat Willie Mickey and Minnie, Frame and Sentiments, Alphabet

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Etcetera Panel, Set 48 Mini Layering Stencil, Newsprint and Type, Eccentric

Sizzix: Big Shot, Vault Industrial

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Spray Stains: Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen, Lost Shadow, Lumberjack Plaid

Mica Stains: Crooked Broomsticks, Unravelled and Burning Ember

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Screw Heads, Backdrops Vol.4, Gauge Dials, Design Tape Trim, Palette Ephemera, Theories Quote Chips, Mini Sprocket Gears, Sprocket Gears

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

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

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Monday, 1 June 2026

The Artist...

Hello friends and followers...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and you're ready for a week of creativity and fun. This week, on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, we are challenging you to ADD A RAINBOW OF COLOUR to your projects and we hope you'll join us and play along. The DT are showcasing Dylusions products within their makes...

For my project, I created a double page journal layout and used the Dylusions Journal and I told the story of the artist, surround by a rainbow of colour swatches.

So let's get started and let's begin journalling....

TO BEGIN...

I started by covering the page on the right hand side using the Palette Collage paper. Each page measures 8" x 5'.

The depth of the paper won't cover the page completely, so I used two panels that I pieced together to cover the entire page and adhered them into the book with Matte Collage Medium, applying a coat over the top to seal the paper and adding some machine stitching around the edges of the page on the right.

I then ran the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges, blending it with my fingertip and dragging the colour towards the centre of the page.

Even though my intention was to leave "white space" on the left hand side, I also wanted for the two pages to come together as one. So to do this and create continuity, I added strips of Design Tape, placing the first strip of Tape Trim down the join of the journal. I continued adding torn strips of the design tape on the left hand page.

At this stage, I also cut one of the quotes from the Dina Wakley Typed Ledgers 2 and I added this down the central spine of the book, using Matte Collage Medium to adhere it into position.

Using a palette knife, I added lines of white gesso over the surface of the taped area, followed by scribbling some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the top which helps to blend away the harsh edges of the collage paper and tape.

To complete the surface of the book, I applied some Distress Paint, Old Paper and Pumice Stone to the left hand page, using a dry paint brush to add the colour and blending it out with a baby wipe.

I attached a little group of idea-ology in the bottom right of the left hand page including a cello sticker tape piece, a Labelled Remnant Rub and a Postmarked stamp before adding some stencil work.

For this I used the stencil from Set 48 of Tim's Mini Layering Stencil set and blended Speckled Egg through the stencil directly onto the page.

Finally, I flicked some Black Spot Distress Paint across the pages.

PHOTO ARRANGEMENT

For the central focal point, and beginning with the Photomatic Vintage Photo, I applied a coat of clear gesso onto the photo, allowed this to dry and then colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I distressed the edges of the photo and inked them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before matting the photo onto two layers of cotton calico fabric. I stained the calico with Frayed Burlap and Brushed Corduroy Distress Spray Stains and after a light mist of water, I allowed the fabric to dry. I then attached the photo using Matte Collage Medium and machine stitched around the edges.

I completed the photo with a Labeled Remnant Rub, cello sticker tape and some white pen work doodling.

Finally, I added a Mini Pin in the top right of the photo before attaching the image to my page. I didn't apply adhesive to the edges, so this will allow me to easily tuck my ephemera pieces and foliage behind the photo.

LEAVES

For the leafy arrangement that sits around the outside of the photo, I used a combination of some leaves from the idea-ology Organic Layers pack and some die cut leaves that I cut with the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Floristry Thinlits Die set. I began by adhering the Organic Layers leaves to my page, placing them directly onto the surface. Then after cutting a selection of leaves with the die set, I inked them with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, and used a black pen to add veins, followed by a white pen to add highlights. I then tucked these pieces behind the photo, some in the top right corner and some in the bottom left corner.

EPHEMERA

The ephemera pieces are from Tim's Keepsakes ephemera pack, the Numbers Ephemera pack and another Postmarked stamp. All the pieces, are arranged around the photo and I also added some more of the Cello Stickers.

To complete the right hand page, I used the Pumice Stone Crayon around the edges of the pieces, blending out any harsh lines.

THE ARTIST

Finally, I added my wording which I cut from black cardstock using the alpha dies form the Vault World Travel die set. I cut each letter from the card, which I backed with self adhesive sheet and then placed them on the left hand page, with an arrow underneath, also cut using the same die set.