Hello 2018...

Hello friends and happy new year! Today, is the start of a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week we are showcasing Simon Says Stamp products and combining it with our theme ~ SOMETHING NEW! So, if you've had something new for Christmas and you'd like to use it within this challenge or maybe, you've bought yourself something that you'd like to use for the first time, then now is the time to play along and join us for this fun theme and we can't wait to see what you create.

For my project, I created a tag and used a gorgeous Simon Says Stamp die to say 'hello' to 2018.

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

To begin with I took a Size 8 tag. I applied Broken China, Iced Spruce and Antique Linen Distress Oxide Inks to my craft sheet and then lightly misted the inks with water before 'swooshing' the tag through the colours, picking up the ink. I then heat dried the tag before dipping it into the remaining inks on my sheet to pick up the residue colour. Once the tag was dry, I then applied some Frayed Burlap to my craft sheet and again, spritzed it with water and picked up small amounts of colour on my dipping my tag into the inks. Heat dry again to make sure the tag is thoroughly dry.

Now to create some layers on that background and for this, I applied random strips of Tissue Tape, and placed these directly onto the background, focusing in the central area of the tag. I then scraped gesso over the top of the taped area, dried the medium thoroughly before adding some depth of colour using Pumice Stone Distress Crayon, mixed with a little Broken China and Vintage Photo. Once I blended out the colour using my fingertips and a semi dry baby wipe, I then added some Grit Paste through the Mini Layering Stencil. Allow the paste to dry, before spritzing Mica Spray over the top ~ this creates a beautiful, subtle shimmer to the background and blends the inks perfectly.

I gave the tag a blast of heat to set the inks before moving onto all the elements to build up my layers. To begin with I took the Mini Globe die and die cut the image from gold metallic kraft card. I then inked the surface using Hazelnut, Gold Mixative and Espresso Alcohol Inks. I placed the inked globe over the top of a circle of Silver Deco Sheet, trimming around the edge of the die.

I then layered my die cut globe over the top of some Snippet Ephemera pieces which I attached with Collage Medium and coloured a Paper Doll with Distress Marker Pens, which I also added to my layering.

To complete the layering, I added some Sprocket Gears behind the Paper Doll.

For the wording, I used the Small Hello Craft Die from SSS and used this to die cut a section of black card, followed by a layer of gold Deco Sheet. I then layered my wording to create a shadow effect and attached it to my tag, together with some Deco Stickers to spell out the year 2018.

Finally, I added some crinkle ribbon to the top and placed a Clippings Sticker along the bottom of the tag....

...which completes this week's project and this dimensional tag, packed full of layers.

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 wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2018.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

SSS Die: Small Hello
Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Mini Globe Die
Distress Oxide Inks: Frayed Burlap, Broken China, Iced Spruce, Antique Linen
Distress Crayons: Broken China, Vintage Photo, Pumice stone

Idea-ology: Paper Dolls, Clippings Stickers, Snippets Ephemera, Gold Alpha Metallic Stickers, Sprocket Gears, Tissue Tape
Mini Layering stencil Set 30
Mediums: Collage Medium, Mica Sprays, Grit Paste, Gesso
Surfaces: Size 8 Distress Tag, Deco Sheets
Ranger Craft Sheet

Tim Holtz Sidekick Starter Kit

Heat Gun