The Key To Happiness...

Hello friends and welcome to another Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called Layer It Up. However you choose to create your layers is up to you, maybe you will use inks and paint, maybe paper and card...it's entirely your choice but we can't wait to see what you create!

For my project, this theme was definitely something I enjoyed playing with as I love layers and I love building them up to create focal points on my projects. So, I decided to create a vintage canvas panel celebrating spring, friendship and happiness and I hope you love this finished project.

 

...it's time for a new challenge!

To begin with I took a 18 x 24cm canvas and I applied a coat of Antique Linen Distress Paint blended with Picket Fence. I heat dried the surface before then adding my colour and for this, I used Pumice Stone, Shaded Lilac and Iced Spruce Distress Crayons ~ scribbling the crayons directly onto the canvas and then blending them out using a semi dry baby wipe and my fingers. Once I was happy with the colour, I then applied some torn tissue tape to the central area of my canvas, applying them horizontally and vertically before adding a little more of the Pumice Stone Crayon just to accentuate the outlines of the tissue tape. I applied some Jet Black Archival Ink through the Dot Fade Layering Stencil to add some more depth before applying Gesso which I scraped across the surface of the canvas, leaving it heavier in the central section of the canvas than the outside and then gave it a good blast of heat to dry it thoroughly. 

I now wanted to start adding more layers to the background and dropped small droplets of gold Ecoline Ink onto the centre, spritzed it with water and allowed it to run, creating gorgeous drips of shimmery gold.

Again heat dry the layer thoroughly before adding the next layer...crackle texture paste! I applied the paste through the Mini Layering Stencil and left it to dry and do it's thing ~ crackle. Once it was crackled I dry brushed some of the gold ink over the top. Add some flicks of Black Soot and Gold paint across the canvas.

I now had my background layers ready for the build up of embellishments.

It's easier at this stage to create and collate all the pieces you are going to be layering onto the background so, I started with some of the gorgeous lilac flower pieces from the Botanical Layers pack and which I will attach onto my background using Collage Medium. I then made up some of the Tiny Tattered Florals and Small Tattered Florals. All the petals and leaves are made up from cardstock that I coloured using Shaded Lilac Distress Spray Stain for the flowers and Peeled Paint for the leaves. I then added a mist of Wendy Vecchi Mica Spray over the top before adding enamel dots and stamens to the centres of the flowers.

For the antique white flowers that you can see, I used some of the Bouquet Findings, which I snipped off from the main stem to give me individual flowers that I will combine with the die cut flowers. Colour the little white petals using a light misting of Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and leave to dry.

For the pocket watch, I coloured the metal using some of the Rose Gold Metallique Wax! This is just amazing ~ I'm a huge fan of gilding waxes but this stuff really does take some beating and what I really love you haven't got that petroleum smell that most gilding wax has, this just smells divine. I applied a small amount of the wax to the metal before adding a circle of Memoranda paper on the background of the watch. I then took one of the Paper Dolls, added some colour to it and popped it into my watch. I added a Clippings Sticker and some glass beads and then attached the watch front. To complete the watch, I added a small Star Adornment, coloured with some White Gold Wax.

I also used the Rose Gold wax to colour some white wire, the key adornment and the Sprocket Gears.

I now have all my pieces in place to layer and just arranged each piece to form a beautiful arrangement on the left of my canvas.

I attached each piece over a layer of sisal fibres and twisted wire to add a little more movement and texture.

I also added a little butterfly from the Botanical Layers pack and some glass glitter to add some sparkle.

I completed the arrangement with some crystal gems and Mechanical Knobs.

Finally, I added some of the gold paint around the edges to frame the canvas and attached a vial label complete with remnant rub to the top left hand corner...

I really hope you love this multi layered, detailed project and you've enjoyed the creative process behind it!

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, 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 stopping by today and see you again very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Sizzix Dies: Small Tattered Florals, Tiny Tattered Florals
Distress Crayons: Pumice Stone, Iced Spruce from Set 10, Shaded Lilac

Distress Spray Stain: Antique Linen, Shaded Lilac, Peeled Paint
Distress Paints: Antique Linen, Black Soot and Picket Fence
Idea-ology: Key Adornments, Paper Dolls, Botanical Layers, Clippings Stickers, Star Adornments, Symphony Tissue Tape, Bouquet Findings, Vial Labels, Pocket Watch, Memoranda Paper Stash, Observations Remnant Rubs
Layering Stencil: Set 28, Dot Fade

Mediums: Gesso, Wendy Vecchi Mica Spray, Gold Ecoline Liquid Watercolour, Ranger Crackle Paste, Jet Black Archival Ink
Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Wax: Rose Gold, White Gold
Prima Glass Beads
Prima Mini Hardware Mechanicals
Prima Gold Rush Glass Glitter

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun
Palette Knife
Canvas, Crystal Gems and Sisal Fibres from my own stash