Monday 12 May 2014

M Is For... Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Hello friends...

There's a brand new challenge starting over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and this week's challenge and is all about ~ M Is For....?? So what are you going to create?  M could stand for the month  of May, mist, markers, magenta, mowed lawn, metal, millinery, a masculine project or mounted stamps! There are so many options and we can't wait to see what you come up with!!

For my piece, I chose M is for...mini matchbox and I'm taking you on a seaside adventure and tried to encapsulate everything about a beautiful day on the beach, collecting seashells and having the sand between your feet. As always, I really hope you love what I've made...

To begin with, I had to make my matchbox and because I don't own Tim's wonderful Matchbox die from Sizzix...YET (I'm sure it will slip into my collection sooner or later)...I used kraft card and created the wraparound section and the slider box from scratch. The finished box measures 5.75" in height x 3" in width.
I then started to paint the outside of the box with a combination of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint in Snowflake and Tim Holtz Distress Paints in Broken China, Tumbled Glass and Brushed Pewter. I would also recommend that you paint the outside of the box when it's flat and not constructed, you can do it afterward, but I just found it easier.

The next stage was to add some texture and I used Wendy Vecchi's Crackle Embossing Paste and applied it with a palette knife onto random areas of the front and sides of the box and then used the white Embossing Paste through a PaperArtsy stencil to add the look of the bubbles.
To highlight the bubbles, I used a touch of Treasure Gold over the top and then inked the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.
Once everything is dry, you can now form the basic shape of the wraparound section and decorate it. For this I chose to use Tim Holtz's Honeycomb Frameworks die which I painted with Evergreen Bough and Shabby Shutters Distress Paint and then aged slightly with some more Treasure Gold and Frayed Burlap DI.
I added the Frameworks die cut together with some die cut fronds from the Tattered Pinecone die which I then painted using Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint Distress Paint. The shells and driftwood came from my own crafty stash and I attached these onto the front of the box together with some cheesecloth and twine.
The final touch on the front of the box was a stamped #lifeisgood Hashtag from Tim's fabulous stamp set which I added to the arrangement using a Memo Pin.

So, now we need to decorate the inside of the box and this is where my inspiration came from to create this piece, Tim's Nautical Blueprint stamp set. As soon as I saw this, I was in love and knew I needed it and if I was lucky enough to get it, I knew exactly what I wanted to create with it.
I stamped the seashell image onto watercolour card and then painted it using Distress Marker Pens and a waterbrush. I gently flicked some speckles of Antique Linen over the top to give the appearance of sand and then attached the image onto the inside of my box.
I added the #wishyouwerehere Hashtag onto the inside together with some more cheesecloth which I attached around the sides and some die cut fronds.
To complete the box, I added a Vintage Trinket from Prima to the top of my closed box.

So, I really hope you've enjoyed today's photo tutorial of how I made this little seaside scene and that you loved what I've shared with you all. As always, for more great ideas and inspiration, then you need to look no further than the blog to see all the wonderful creations from my very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. Good luck....
Products used:


Distress Inks ~ Frayed Burlap
Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste ~ Crackled Texture and White
Idea-Ology ~ Memo PinJute String
Shells and Driftwood from my crafty stash


Thank you so much for all your visits today and I'll see you all very soon!!
Bye for now...love Emma xx



35 comments:

  1. Beautiful match box Emma, love all detailing

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  2. Oh! It is wonderful! Sometimes beachy themed projects can look not right. This looks so fresh and natural, just beautiful!

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  3. Such an awesome mini project Emma! Love all the texture and beautiful color palette! The little beach scene looks fabulous!

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  4. You really have created THE most wonderful seaside project Emma, it is an absolute delight both inside and out! A stunning project! Anne x

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  5. Wow,that is beyond gorgeous,you have such a great eye for things

    Donna.x

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  6. Small in size but big on impact Emma. Love the fresh feel to this and the stamping is beautiful. Love the touch of crackle too. Lovely piece of art. Tracy x

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  7. This is such a gorgeous piece, Emma. Love the beautiful texture and shells on the Matchbox. The stamping inside the box is wonderful! :)

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  8. Beautiful matchbox. I am kicking myself for not getting the mini sea stamps. I am loving the frameworks tucked in there. All pulled together with perfection!

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  9. Fantastic matchbox Emma! The tattered pinecone leaves were perfect for the sea them and the box is the perfect home for that blueprint stamp.

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  10. I have this "thing" for little art boxes and this one is darling! I love your little box of wonders.

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  11. Just like the days I used to enjoy pottering along the shore. Mind you, I'm talking about 50 years ago! However, rousing someone's memories with a piece like this is an art in itself.

    In fact, many of your creations would work well at stimulating memory recall in those challenged in that area. There's a practical thought.

    But, really, I love the romance of your craft, Emma.

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  12. Emma, this is gorgeous! Love theme you gave the match box! The crackle on top and the beautiful blueprint shell inside! Stunning! Hugs, Sandra

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  13. So beautiful Emma, inside & out. Really gorgeous.

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  14. oh Emma you did it again. stunning. i do love that seashell stamp and would love to own it too - one day.....
    and while reading your post i found myself wondering...... what do you end up doing with all of your awesome creations? xx

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  15. This is just beautiful, I am lucky to live by a sandy beach and this little box just encapsulated the feel of where I live x

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  16. Absolutely stunning, Emma! I'm really loving the overall dimension! Just beautiful!


    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  17. Oh Emma! I adore your box! What a great keepsake for a sea side vacation. Wonderful colors and textures.

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  18. Had to come over from FaceBook and say that this is absolutely amazing. Such a clever idea!

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  19. Emma this matchbox is a masterpiece! Every little details is totally amazing, outside and inside! love it! barbarayaya

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  20. This is just amazing! I love every detail of this project! What a great job!!!
    I definitely staying here on your blog :-)

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  21. So glad I popped over from the link-up otherwise I would have missed the matchbox surprise inside. This is really pretty and clever and I can just see it sitting on the shelf in a beach house cottage somewhere.

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  22. Love this. I have that die and haven't used it yet. Inspired!!

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  23. Emma, I can't even express how much I love this project. It's beautiful. I am such a nautical/beach obsessed crafter and this one just spoke to me. Thank you for making my heart smile.

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  25. Surprising beautiful project! Love the seaside theme and colours you used!

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  26. This is so adorable! Fantastic little project!

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  27. I LOVE this matchbox nautical masterpiece. The layers of detailing are incredible. Blessings!

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  28. Beautful! I love the texture with the crackle paste, gauzey material and the beautiful hues in the blue. Gorgeous inside and out!

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  29. Such a beautiful weathered driftwood look to the outside - love that crackle - and gorgeous on the inside too!
    Alison x

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  30. This is one of my favorite pieces that you've EVER made (even though I think I've said that before a few tiemes). :) I am such a beach nut and I am simply crazy about eveything you did with this piece. The color palette is a dream and I love your bubbles! And how clever are you to have used the Tattered Pinecone die for seaweed?? Genius! The crackled surface made me smile and think about beautifl driftwood and that memo pin and messages are perfect. I also love how you gave the inside some spunk, too. Truly a stellar piece!

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  31. totally fantastic!!!

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  32. so many little details! Love this!

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  33. This is uh-may-ZING! Love, love love...

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  34. How lovely! How on earth did I not know about your blog till today?! Tammy mentioned you on her blog and I am so thrilled to be here. Your project here (and that Paris tag) are just FABULOUS!!!! I have a ready match box of this size, I have gotta try this. I am going on a beach vacation next week and can't wait to make this after that. TFS!

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Thank you for all your comments and messages, they are all appreciated and I hope you'll come back and visit again soon...
Emma ~xx

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