Merry & Bright...

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT and we would love for you to join us and play along with this fun challenge!

For my project, I created a vintage style wallhanging perfect for Christmas which used an embroidery hoop as the frame. I included one of my favourite dies from Tim Holtz and Sizzix called Candlelight and surrounded it with beautiful die cut foliage that shimmers and sparkles under the twinkling lights.

So, let's get started and here's how I created this project...

 

To begin with I took my 6.25" wooden embroidery hoop and gave it a coat of gesso. Once I'd dried the paint, I then moved onto adding some colour to the frame. I wanted to keep it quite neutral and vintage in it's feel, so I started by layering a coat of Antique Linen over the top. I then dried the paint before dry brushing a small amount of Frayed Burlap over the surface ~ you only want the brush to kiss the neutral colour, giving it a more antique feel to the wood.

Dry the painted frame once again and then I used a combination of Brushed Iron and Old Brass Alchemy Waxes over the top, applying them with my finger and just rubbing them onto random  areas of the frame. To complete the frame, I then used my finger to smear small amounts of Unicorn's Hair Paint onto the wood, which just gave the hoop a slight shimmer.

Putting the hoop to one side, I then cut a piece of canvas paper, measuring the same size as the hoop and added a coat of Antique Linen over the surface. I then dry brushed Frayed Burlap over the top before applying pieces of torn tissue tape onto the painted surface, concentrating on what will be the centre of the hoop.

I then applied some Collage Medium to the card, dried the surface before scraping a small amount of gesso over the top of the tissue tape. Once the gesso is thoroughly dry, I used Pumice Stone, Vintage Photo and Iced Spruce Crayons to add some colour and more depth to the background.

Once happy, I then placed the Starry Layering Stencil over the top and applied Grit Paste through the stencil directly onto the background. I let the paste dry before applying Tarnished Brass Distress Crayon over the surface of the embossed areas, blending the colour out with a damp fingertip. Flick small amounts of gold paint and Black Soot Distress Paint across the finished background and dry.

Now that the background is complete, I attached the card onto the back of the hoop using Matte Collage Medium.

Whilst this is adhering, I cut some foliage using a combination of the Holiday Greens and Festive Greens dies and cutting the greenery in a variety of greens and gold kraft card.

Using the splatter brush, splatter Picket Fence Distress paint across the foliage and then add some frosting to the tips, using Collage Medium and Rock Candy Glitter. At this stage, I also added some berries using Nuvo Crystal Drops in Autumn Red.

For the candles, I used the Candlelight die and cut the pieces from chipboard. I then gave them a coat of gesso and once the medium was dry, I used Antique Linen, Old Paper and Pumice Stone Distress paints to add colour to the candles themselves and to the flames, I used Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade. To add some shimmer to the die cuts, I used a small amount of the Unicorn's Hair Sparks paint and just let my brush touch areas of the candles, so that it would pick up the smallest amounts of paint.

Once dry, I then inked the edges of each piece with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then built up the layers of my die cuts. To complete the candles, I added a touch of Golden Rod Stickles Glitter to the flames.

Now for the fun part of putting this all together and I started by attaching the candles, using foam to create dimension and placing them onto a bed of sisal fibres and cheesecloth which I dyed using Antique Linen and Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stain.

I then arranged the greenery around the candles.

I attached a Christmas Word Band over the top of the candles which I'd altered with Gold Mixative and Mushroom Alcohol Ink and then accentuated the wording with Picket Fence Distress Paint.

For the finishing touches, I added a couple of mirrored stars, again altered with the Gold Mixative and Mushroom Alcohol ink and the Christmas Clippings...December 25th ~ The Candles Glimmer.

To complete the frame, I tied a loop through the bar at the top and added a bow and two of the pinecone adornments, which again were altered with alcohol ink....

...and that completes this week's project! A piece of home decor that is full of dimension and plenty of shimmer and shine!

As always, I hope you love the project I've created and enjoyed how I built up the layers to create the dimension on this piece. 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: Holiday Greens, Festive Greens, Candlelight

Distress Paints: Picket Fence, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade
Distress Inks: Walnut Stain
Distress Crayons: Iced Spruce Set 10, Pumice Stone, Vintage Photo
Distress Spray Stains: Antique Linen, Iced Spruce
Alcohol Ink: Gold Mixative, Mushroom
Layering Stencils: Starry

Idea-ology: Mirrored Stars, Christmas Clippings, Tissue Tape, Pinecones
Mediums: Collage Medium, Rock Candy Dry Glitter, Nuvo Crystal Drops, Gesso, Golden Rod Glitter Glue, Grit Paste
Alchemy Wax: Aged Brass, Brushed Iron
Alchemy Paint: Unicorn's Hair
Surfaces: Classic Kraft Stash, Metallic Kraft Stash, Chipboard
Ranger Craft Sheet
Splatter Brush

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Cheesecloth, sisal fibres and embroidery hoop from my own stash