Embrace The Journey...

Hello everyone and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called ~ NAUTICAL!

definition: of or relating to sailors, ships, or navigation:

Many of our friends have spent their summer vacation on board cruise ships, some have been boating on lakes, and some have been sailing across one of the seven seas, so we would like you to cruise along with us and create something with sea related voyages in mind.

For my project, I chose to create this canvas panel to embrace the journey telling the story of one man's adventures at sea and I hope you love the piece that I've made...

 

So, it's time to start a brand new challenge and here's how I created this project!

To begin with I cut a panel of canvas paper from my own stash and started by adhering some card to create the look of planks ~ these are just offcuts that I had and I used Collage Medium to attach them into place by lining them up across the middle section of the background. I then added some Grit Paste through the Bubbles Layering Stencil and allowed this to dry before layering some Distress Paints over the surface ~ Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Old Paper, Pumice Stone and Tumbled Glass! I blended the paints with a semi dry baby wipe until I was happy with the depth of colour. I then applied some gesso over the top, using my trusty old out of date credit card to scrape the colour across the surface.

I heat dried the background ensuring that everything was completely dry before applying Pumice Stone Distress Crayon around the edges of the "card planks", blending out and softening the colour with my fingers and then dry brushing a hint of gold paint over the top of the grit paste to accentuate the raised areas.

The next stage was to add some rust around the edges and for this I dabbed the edges with a Embossing Dabber and then added some Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder. Once the powder is heated and melted, I rubbed away the excess particles of powder (do not put these back in the pot, just bin them) and then I added a touch of Rich Copper Alchemy Wax over the top.

For the next stage, I used the Industrial die to die cut some gears from chipboard which I covered in Metal Foil sheets and then applied Alcohol Ink over the top to create the rusty effect. 

I then attached my gears onto the background cascading them down the page and adding some rust around the edges using Gold Rush and Steampunk Copper Alchemy Paint.

For those who visit my blog regularly you'll know that I LOVE dimension and to create it on this piece, I used some driftwood pieces which I attached across the central section of my page. 

I then applied some 3D Gel and scattered a mixture of Art Stones and Glass Glitter over the top of the wood, the gears and dripping out onto the page which helped to create the look of sand.

Once the stones are set and dried into the gel, I then attached my photo from Tim's Photobooth set of vintage images and placed this onto some corrugated card, which I tore around the edges, then painted with gesso and gold paint before inking the edges with Distress Inks.

At this stage, I also added an ephemera piece, a clip and a Clippings Sticker. I attached the photo over a bed of cheesecloth which was dyed with Tumbled Glass Distress Spray Stain and a coil of wire.

To complete the focal point I added a Parcel Post ephemera piece and a Quote Chip, sanded around the edges.

Finally I placed four bolts in each corner, some St Tropez crystals and a metal ship's wheel trinket from Prima.

To complete the project, I really wanted to create the look of a wooden frame to mount my artwork onto...so, I matted the panel onto kraft card before attaching it onto a canvas which I painted with Walnut Stain, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints...

...and that is how I created this piece all about life at sea!

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then 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: Industrial

Distress Paints: Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze, Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Old Paper, Pumice Stone and Tumbled Glass

Distress Spray Stains: Tumbled Glass
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Bubbles
Distress Crayons: Pumice Stone
Tim Holtz idea-ology: Quote Chips, Snippets, Photobooth Vintage Images, Index Clips, Clippings
Mediums: Collage Medium, Grit Paste, Gesso, 3D Matte Gel, Ranger Ink Emboss It Dabber
Prima Marketing Acrylic Paints: Gold Rush, Steampunk Copper
Prima Marketing: St Tropez Metal Pack, St Tropez Say It In Crystals, Mechanical Mini Hardware, Rich Copper Alchemy Wax, Art Stones, Mini Art Stones, Mega Art Stones
Metal Foil Tape Sheets
Dina Wakley Media Board
Ranger Craft Sheet
Paper Distresser
Sanding Tool

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Sisal fibres, driftwood, canvas paper, wire, cheesecloth and Vintage Photo Distress Emboss Powder from my own stash