Like A Moth To The Flame...

Hi friends...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Simon Says Stamp Christmas In July Blog Hop, it was such a fun week over on SSS and so lovely to see all your projects and read your comments!

Today, we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week our theme is called WILD THINGS. This theme can be interpreted in so many different ways ~ you could use wild animals, wild flowers or maybe you would prefer to used wild and funky colours but however you choose to interpret the theme ~ we can't wait to see what you create!

For my project, I was inspired by the beautiful warm summer evenings we've been having lately and as I sat in my garden, watching how the moths were attracted by the lights, I thought it would be fun to create a journal layout using two of Tim Holtz's recent stamp sets. So, with these in mind, I got to work and had fun creating a layout that stretched across two pages with a vintage style, parchment background...

So, it's time to get started and time for the new challenge to begin...

To begin with I used my Dina Wakley Journal and applied my Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone Distress paint to the right hand page, taking it slightly over to the left hand page but still keeping some of that page white. I used this combination of paints to create the look of old pages as I didn't want to much colour, I wanted the insects and the other images to stand out.

I then applied some design tape down the gutter of the book and then added some scrapes of gesso and some Crackle Paste. Set the book aside for the crackles to appear and to work on the next stage...

I then took a piece of cotton paper and cut it slightly smaller in size than the full size page and again applied the same colours of Distress Paints over the surface.

Once the paints were dry, I then added some torn tissue tape directly onto the surface to create a base layer for me to work on. I applied a layer of Matte Collage Medium over the top and then used my Distress Crayons ~ Black Soot, Pumice Stone and Weathered Wood to add some depth of colour. After applying some gesso, I used an old credit card to scrape the gesso over the central section of the background and a little bit of text stamping using the script stamp from the Entomology set, I added some black paint splashes and then machine stitched a border around the outside in black cotton before matting it onto my right hand page.

Once I was happy I then started working on my focal point of the bulbs, and inked up the stamp from the Inventors 2 set with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamped the image onto a further sheet of cotton paper, again painted with the same colours of Distress Paints. I stamped the image again, this time onto a piece of watercolour card and then coloured the bulbs using Distress Marker Pens before cutting them out and layering them over the top of the first stamped image. I machine stitched a border around this panel and then mounted this onto my page.

To complete the pages, I added some Ephemera pieces around the main image, some ripped pieces of Design Tape (any design can be used for this), a clip and a sprocket gear, complete with Nailhead Finding.

Now that I have my background ready, I moved onto my moths ~ now moths don't always have to be brown, I checked this one out ~ so, I stamped a three different images from the Entomology set and coloured them with a variety of Distress Marker Pens so that they would pop right off the page. I cut out each little bug by hand ~ I can't wait for the new die set, it's going to save me so much time! You'll also notice that some of the moths have been layered to create double wings...

I attached all my moths so that they flutter over the two pages, all travelling in different directions but always towards the light...

...I also added some adornment stars.

To complete my pages, and to add the final touches, I placed a Quote Chip across the centre of the bulbs...

...and then added some Clippings Stickers to create a quote ~ "Look around for light, every road should have a path".

 I finished by adding a Remnant Rub, "Curiosities" to complete the page...

I hope you've enjoyed this week's project, all the techniques that I've used and most of all, loved how this piece came together ~ it was definitely a lightbulb moment!

Don't forget, you can find more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog 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 I'll see you very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamps: Entomology, Inventor 2

Distress Paint: Pumice Stone, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Distress Crayons: Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Distress Marker Pens

Idea-ology: Snippets Ephemera, Index Clip, Nailhead Findings, Quote Chips, Adornment Stars, Clippings Stickers, Tiny Text Remnant Rubs, A selection of Design Tape, Symphony Tissue Tape

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, gesso

Surfaces: Dina Wakley Journal, Cotton Paper, Watercolour Cardstock 

Tim Holtz Media Glass Mat

Tim Holtz Guillotine

Heat Gun