Best Friends...

Hey everyone and welcome to a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! Can you believe that we're nearly three weeks into January? Where do these days go? At this rate, it will soon be Christmas again!!!

But back to the challenge and this week's theme is all about BEST FRIENDS! Whether you celebrate your friendship with a card or a scrapbook layout, maybe a journal page showing your appreciation or maybe your best friend is your partner and you want to make them a Valentine's Day card ~ whatever you choose, we can't wait to see what you create and hope you'll play along with us...

For my project, I decided to have some fun and when it comes to fun, there's nothing better than those crazy birds by Tim Holtz! I created a large tag shaped card with a vaudeville theme, using a couple of "Tweethearts" who I've fondly named, Rosie and Harry!

To begin with, I cut a panel of kraft card, 14 x 20cm and created a tag shaped card. I inked around the edge of the tag and then lightly dabbed some Picket Fence Distress Paint onto it. Next, I cut a panel of manila cardstock, large enough for my background and for my message and used Tim's wrinkle free distress technique using Antique Linen, Antiqued Bronze, Brushed Corduroy and Picket Fence Distress Stains to create my neutral, vintage background! I then cut down the inked card to create a background panel and a piece that I could stamp the Wonderful Life quote onto.

I took the larger inked panel and machine stitched around the outside with black cotton before  distressing the edges and matting it onto a piece of white card that I edged using Evergreen Bough Distress Paint to give me the perfect co-ordinating piece of coloured card stock.

I mounted the matted layers onto the kraft tag, using foam pads for dimension and slightly curled the corner for more of a vintage shabby feel.

Ink up the Wonderful Life quote with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamp onto the smaller panel of inked card.

Add some random stitches around the edge and use a credit card to make paint scratches.

I matted the quote onto a piece of gold metallic kraft core card and then attached it to the front of my tag with more foam pads.

Now for Rosie and Harry ~ I stamped the characters and the accessories onto watercolour card, coloured them all with Distress Marker Pens and then die cut using the co-ordinating die sets. Once I'd layered all the pieces together, I attached them onto a base of inked cheesecloth and some twine that I'd previously wrapped around the backing card.

I then added a adornment arrow and mini sprocket gear altered with Treasure Gold Gilding Wax.

Finally, I dyed some crinkle ribbon with Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain and tied the ribbon into a scruffy bow, which I threaded through a hole I made in the top of my tag and as the finishing touch, I added two Tiny Tattered Florals, cut from Core'Dinations card stock...

...which completes my fun tag, perfect for that special person in your life!

As always, if you need any further inspiration for this challenge, then you need look no further than our 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. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Just click on the link below to go shopping:

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Don't forget we still have our Design Team call taking place and for more information about this, then just click HERE!


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:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies and Punches: Tiny Tattered Florals, Bird Crazy, Crazy Things

Tim Holtz Stamps: Bird Crazy, Crazy Things, Wonderful Life

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Paint: Picket Fence, Evergreen Bough

Distress Stains: Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Antique Linen, Antiqued Bronze, Brushed Corduroy and Picket Fence 

Distress Marker Pens

Mediums: Jet Black Archival Ink, Treasure Gold Gilding Wax

Idea-ology: Mini Sprocket Gears, Crinkle Ribbon, Adornment Arrow

Surfaces: Kraft Card, Core'Dinations Paper Stash, Metallic Kraft Core Core'Dinations Card

Ranger Craft Sheet

Blending Tool

Heat Gun

Big Shot

Twine

Cheesecloth from my own stash