Red + Pink = Love Is In The Air ~ Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new challenge week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! This week is all about Red + Pink and even though it is Valentine week and love is in the air, you don't necessarily have to be inspired by the spirit of the holiday but rather the traditional colours associated with it! Are you a red or pink person? Will you use the colours separately or combine them together in your project? Whatever you decide, we hope you will join us!

For my project, I decided to create a quirky and fun ATB (Artist Trading Block) combining the red and pink colour palette and because it's Valentine's week, it had to have a LOVE theme!

To begin with, I used a sheet of Speciality Stamping card and spritzed the card with a combination of  Antique Bronze, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries Distress Spray Stains. I misted the stains with water to create this gorgeous marbling effect and then used a heat tool to dry the card, spritzing more water if needed. Once dry, I cut the card stock into five squares to fit the sides of the block.

I applied some Antique Bronze Distress Paint directly onto the scratchy heart stamp from the Love Struck stamp set and stamped onto four of the five pieces of coloured card before attaching them around the sides and to the top of the block.

For the front section of the block, I inked up the "Love" wording from the Locking Hearts stamp set with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamped directly onto the card. 

I attached this remaining square of card to the front of the block and then added Remnant Rubs to each side of the block.

Finally, to complete the box, I added Box Corners.

Now to create all the embellishments and for this, I started by die cutting a heart from Grungeboard, painting it with Festive Berries Distress Paint and once the paint was dry, I applied a layer of Glossy Accents before adding Festive Berries Distress Glitter over the top. I dried the heart thoroughly and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain and added a Sprocket Gear and Game Spinner to the centre before attaching it to the front of your block.

For the top of my block I used a large and small woodland tree and spritzed them with Spun Sugar Distress Spray Stain. When the trees are dry, I then added some Rock Candy Distress Glitter for a bit of sparkle and covered them with red and white gems.

I attached the trees to the top, placing them over a layer of cheesecloth and some small leftover off-cuts of Eclectic Elements fabric, which I frayed around the edges.

For the final embellishments on my block, I added a photograph from the Ephemera collection (to be honest, I'm not sure which set this came from as mine have got a bit mixed up but you will NEED both packs, lol, they are that gorgeous and so useful)...

I also attached a small glass corked vial (crackled with the technique of using a layer of Multi Medium, followed by a layer of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint), added a Heart Charm and completed the decorating with a beautiful fabric flower.

I really hope you love the finished project, as much as I loved creating it and that it will inspire you when making your red and pink projects!

Don't forget that if you're looking for some more great ideas and inspiration for this challenge, then you need to look no further than the blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the 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....

Thank you so much for all your visits today and hope you all have a great week ahead

See you again soon...love Emma xx

Products used:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Locking Hearts, Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Love Struck

Distress Paint: Antiqued Bronze, Festive Berries, Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint

Distress Spray Stains: Festive Berries, Antiqued Bronze, Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar

Sizzix Dies: Mini Hearts Movers & Shapers

Inks: Jet Black Archival Ink

Mediums: Glossy Accents, Multi Medium

Festive Berries Distress Glitter

Idea-Ology ~ Ephemera Pack Expedition, Ephemera Pack Thrift Shop, Sprocket Gears, Words Remnant Rubs, Game Spinner, Box Corners, Woodland Trees, Heart Charms, corked Vials

Embellishments: Pearls, Gems, Prima Fabric Flower

Surfaces: Eclectic Elements Charm Pack, Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper

Ranger Craft Sheet

Hot Glue Gun

Cheesecloth from my own collection