Red, White and Blue...

Happy 4th of July everyone and welcome to a brand new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog where this week the design team are showcasing IndigoBlu stamps with our RED, WHITE AND/OR BLUE challenge theme!

We can't wait to see what you create using either one or all of the colours and hope you'll play along with us in this fun challenge...

For my project, I decided to use all the colours and create a celebration panel for Independence Day and used IndigoBlu stamps to create the background for my mixed media collage.

To begin with I took a piece of white canvas paper and cut this to measure 20 x 18cm. I then started to create the background by stamping the various sized circles from the Limor Circles stamp set, and stamping them across the centre of the page using Jet Black Archival Ink. Once I was happy with the positioning, I then started to colour them and for this I used Snowflake PaperArtsy Chalk Paint for the white areas, Festive Berries and Fired Brick Distress Paint for the red circles and finally, Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint for the blue.

Once the paint was dry, I then added some white gesso to highlight the circles before adding Black Soot to create some shadow. To complete the circles, I used the smallest script stamp from the set and stamped onto the small white circles.

For the next stage of the background I wanted to create a worn, vintage look to the paper and for this I applied a layer of Antique Linen paint, using a paint brush to carefully blend and apply it around the circles and then applied Frayed Burlap and Ground Espresso which I dry brushed over the top.

I flicked some Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint and Snowflake Chalk Paint over the background before using Walnut Stain and Black Soot Distress Crayons around the edge, blending them with my finger to give a soft, smudged look.

Matt the finished background onto a piece of silver metallic kraft core card, followed by a layer of paper from the Correspondence paper stash and finally a piece of red Core'Dinations card.

Now that I have my background, it's time to create that centrepiece...

...and to do this I started with the stars. I attached a piece of metal foil tape over the top of some thick card and then placed the card in the Tiny Stars Texture Fade to emboss it.

I then used the Stacked Stars die to die cut the embossed metal covered card stock.

Ink the embossed stars with a combination of Gold Metallic Mixative and Hazelnut Alcohol Ink before applying a Black Soot and Vintage Photo Distress Crayons over the top, rubbing the crayon into the recessed areas to create the look of rust.

Randomly tear a piece of cardboard from the Textured Surfaces pack, which as you can just about see in the photo below, I used as a base to build up my layers and then can be easily transferred to your background to complete it.

 Attach the stars to the corrugated card, using foam pads to create dimension.

Spritz some cheesecloth with Weathered Wood Distress Spray Stain and attach the cloth to the corrugated stars, placing it underneath and around the stars.

Take an Ephemera piece and screw it up before flattening it out and inking over the top and around the edges. Place the piece over the top of your stars and cheesecloth.

I then took the gorgeous photo from the Occasions Found Relatives pack and fussy cut around the image before applying a wash of colour onto the flag using Festive Berries and Chipped Sapphire Distress Marker Pens. Attach the image over the top of the corrugated card arrangement.

I then attached my centrepiece onto the background and added Occasions Small Talk Sticker, 'Red White & Blue' and a number 4 from the Letterpress set. which I painted with Antique Linen Distress Paint.

As a finishing touch, I added some Remnant Rubs...

...and some Mirrored Stars!

To frame and complete the entire panel, I used a ruler which I dipped into gesso and then just added the straight lines of paint around to each corner.

I really hope you've enjoyed the process of how this piece was put together...it was so much fun to work on and I was so happy with the finished project! I always say it but it's my new favourite!

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:
IndigoBlu Stamps: Limor Circles

Tim Holtz Sizzix Dies/Texture Fades: Stacked Stars, Tiny Stars and Dotted Bullseye Texture Fade

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Festive Berries, Chipped Sapphire, Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen
Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain: Weathered Wood
Distress Marker Pens: Chipped Sapphire, Festive Berries
Distress Crayons Set 3

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap
Alcohol Ink: Gold Mixative, Hazelnut

Idea-ology: Letterpress, Mirrored Stars, Occasions Found Relatives, Occasions Small Talk, Special Delivery Remnant Rubs, Emporium Ephemera

Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Core Card, Correspondence Paper Stash, Kraft Core Core'Dinations, Textured Surfaces, Metal Foil Tape

Jet Black Archival Ink

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint Snowflake

Gesso

Ranger Craft Sheet

Scissors

Heat Gun

Blending Tool
Cheesecloth and canvas paper from my own stash