Enjoy Life...

Hello everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and ready for the week ahead! As always on a Monday, I'm here to tell you all about the latest Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is ~ EMBOSS IT! There are so many different ways to emboss ~ dry embossing, embossing folders, embossing powder, the choices are endless and we can't wait to see what you create....or you can even create your own raised surfaces to create the look of embossing, which is exactly what I did on my canvas panel and I hope you love the piece that I've created for you!

and this is how I created this project!

To begin with, I took a 9" x 12"media board and I wanted to create texture to my canvas so, I cut a couple of pieces of Plain Tissue Wrap, scrunched the tissue in my hand to create creases and then carefully opened it out. I then attached the scrunched tissue wrap to my canvas, using Collage Medium and moving the tissue around to form this creased effect to the board.

Once dry, I then started to create the raised panel that would create the look of embossing. For this, I used the Crosshatch Frameworks die and cut four panels from chipboard which I then attached to the central area of the canvas with Collage Medium. At this point, I also used some of the little crosses from the die cuts and placed these randomly around the raised panel.

Allow to dry before coating the entire surface with gesso.

When the gesso is thoroughly dry, I started to add my colour using Distress Crayons. I start by scribbling a base colour onto the canvas and blend it out using a baby wipe before then adding layers of colour over the top and just using my fingertips to blend them. The crayons are so beautiful to work with and if you haven't tried them yet, then you must...they are fabulous!

At this stage, I just kept going, adding more crayon where needed and blending them out with my fingers until I was happy with the colour. To complete the background, I flicked some Black Soot and Picked Raspberry Distress Paint across my background and I also used a little watered down gesso and gently flicked that across the surface too. I also used my finger to apply small amounts of gesso to the background.

Once I was happy with the finished canvas, I just added some Black Soot Crayon around the outside.

Now, for the layered elements and for this, you can use whatever you choose ~ how about an old family photo or a photo of a special day...whatever you decide, it will work and will be a wonderful keepsake.

For my photo, I used a image from the Found Relatives pack by Tim Holtz and this worked so well as I wanted to create a fun canvas with a vintage feel to my layered elements.

To begin with I wanted to create even more texture and for this I covered some card with metal foil tape and then embossed the card with the Bullseye Texture Fade. Once I'd done this, I then applied Black Soot and Tarnished Brass Distress Paint over the top of the card to create the rusty effect to the metal ~ at this stage, I use a piece of kitchen towel to rub the paint into the raised areas before wiping away any excess.

Allow the paint to dry and then die cut the card using the Mosaic die to create these small panels, that you can see layered onto the background, together with vintage ephemera pieces, the photo and I also used the reverse side of one of the photos, which looks so cool just poking out from behind the main image.

Arrange and attach all the pieces to the background.

I then added some metal Gadget Gears, together with the smaller sprocket gears and applied a small amount of Gilding Wax over the surface of the metal to create a more brassy tone.

Add some colour to the "Enjoy" Flash Card using the crayons and then pop this into the arrangement.

As a finishing touches, I added some twine, Dapper Designer Tape, pins, some gorgeous 28 Lilac Lane Buttons, (which are now stocked at Simon Says Stamp ~ yay), some metal embellishments and completed it with some Nailhead Findings.

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....

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: Mosaic, Crosshatch Frame

Texture Fades: Dotted Bullseye

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Tarnished Brass, Picked Raspberry, Picket Fence

Distress Crayons: Set 1, 2 and 3

Idea-ology: Flash Cards, Dapper Design Tape, Gadget Gears, Sprocket Gears, Nailheads, Found Relatives, Expedition Ephemera, Emporium Ephemera, Plain Tissue Wrap

Collage Medium

28 Lilac Lane Buttons ~ Toasted Graham

Surfaces: Metal Foil Tape Sheets, Media Board

Metal Embellishments: Finnabair Mini Hardware, Mini Stars

Twine

Gesso

Ranger Black Adhesive Foam

Treasure Gold Gilding Wax ~ Spanish Topaz

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun