Monday, 29 October 2018

Santa's Christmas Eve Journey....

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend? Here in London, the temperatures have definitely taken a tumble and we've already had a visit from Jack Frost who's spread his icy magic and bought a touch of winter to our mornings! And with this in mind, I can't think of anything better than staying inside where it's warm and cosy and maybe join us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for the brand new challenge ~ TAKE FLIGHT!

For my project, I created a framed panel telling the story of Santa's Christmas Eve journey and charting his flight around the world and I used plenty of Tim Holtz products, old and new to build the scene and bring this project to life....

So, it's time for the new challenge to begin and here's how I created this piece...
 
To start with I painted my framed panel. This panel comes in two separate pieces, the frame and the back board and to prep these I applied a layer of gesso over the two.

Once dry, I then used Barn Door Distress Paint to add colour to my frame and to the back and sides of the panel. Once again dry the painted surfaces and then using a paint brush, I dry brushed Black Soot Distress Paint over the top to create a more vintage look to the paintwork. To complete the frame, I added a touch of Vintage Gold Alchemy Wax over the top to accentuate the beading.

Set the frame to one side but with the backboard in front of you, cover the surface of the board with a piece of paper from Tim's Christmas Paper Stash. I just adore this design and love that it has a black background showcasing that gorgeous Christmas foliage.

I adhered the paper with Matte Collage Medium, which I also applied over the top to seal the surface. To create an inner frame to the panel, I used some Polka Dot Design Tape, which I adhered around the outside so that it will show when the red painted frame is laid over the top. Attach your frame to the backboard using Matte Collage Medium.
Moving on, it's time to build up the scene and I started by creating my globe which I die cut from Mixed Media Heavystock card. I then applied a layer of Versamark Ink over the top of the die cut and sprinkled with Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder. After heat embossing the powder until molten and shiny, allow it to cool slightly before dabbing the ink pad over the top again and repeating the process. I did this three times to create the enamelled look before then applying a small amount of gold embossing powder which I then melted into the final layer.
I used foam pads to attach the enamelled die cut over a circle of card covered with the gold glittered Deco Sheet. By applying different heights of pads, it creates a domed effect to the globe. I then attached the globe over the top of one of the Baseboard frames, matted onto burlap and a layer of gold metallic kraft stash card. Attach the mounted globe over the top of the patterned paper.
Now to chart Santa's flight path and for this I used decorative pins but cut them down so they would be the exact height that I needed. I then placed the pins into the globe before wrapping cotton around them.
For the next step, I stamped the image of Santa from Tim's stunning Yuletide Stamp Set and stamped him in Jet Black Archival Ink onto Mixed Media Heavystock Card. He was then watercolored using Distress Marker Pens before I went on to fussy cut him, carefully trimming around the outline. Setting Santa to one side, I moved onto creating the baubles and for this I didn't want any colour on them, they needed to remain white but I did add some Rock Candy Glitter to half of them ~ so some of them sparkled and others shone which created a lovely contrast. I attached each of the baubles with Matte Collage Medium, placing them beneath the frame and attaching a Christmas Quote Chip directly below.
Retrieving Santa, I attached him with foam pads, placing a Christmas Tree taken from the Tim Holtz Ephemera Pack behind him. You will see that I have lightly glittered the tree for added sparkle and adding a small amount of cheesecloth beneath his feet to ground him.
The foam pads create wonderful dimension to this piece, which you can see below....
For the little details to complete the project, I added hex Fasteners to the corners of the frame and placed a mini plaquette at the top.
As a finishing touch, I added some stars ~ three die cut stars, left over from a previous project and cut from gold metallic kraft stash which I placed onto the globe and then two small Star Adornments painted with Barn Door Distress Paint and added to either side of the Quote Chip.
As always, I hope you've loved how this project came together and the story behind it ~ it sure was a lot of fun to create and I hope the photos show all the sparkle and shimmer that this gives!

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....





See you very soon, love Emma xxx




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Monday, 22 October 2018

Would You Dare Take A Bite?

Hello everyone...

Another week has flown by and it's Monday already but the good news is that because it's Monday, it means that there is a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge starting today and this week our theme is all about HALLOWEEN and everything SPOOKY! As always, we would love you to join us and play along and the DT can't wait to see your projects.

This is sadly my last Halloween project of the year because it's time to pack away the ghouls and break out the snowflakes but I wanted to make a Halloween Treat Box, that could be filled with chocolate pumpkins and ready to display amongst my table decorations. So, with this in mind, I chose to create a vignette box, packed full of Tim Holtz goodies that will create a spooktacular scene including tombstones, wonky trees and an uninvited guest...
So, it's time for the brand new challenge to begin and here's how I created this piece...
 



To begin with I took the second largest vignette box and matching Vignette Panel which would become the lid and painted them both with Black Soot Distress Paint. Once the painted box and lid was thoroughly dry, I then cut and attached panels of the beautiful flocked paper (I am in love with this design, it's so rich and opulent and perfect for this project) and using Matte Collage Medium, adhered these to the sides of my box. I then cut a panel of the wood effect paper from the Paper Stash and adhered this to the lid.

At this stage, I also lined the inside of the box with paper, giving it a really nice finish before adding the Mini Foundations to the bottom of the box, which I'd altered with Mushroom Alcohol Ink, combined with a little Rose Gold Mixative.

Setting the box to one side but with the lid in front of me, I started work on this section ~ bringing Count Dracula to life!

For this I used the vampire from the Ghoulish die set and started by cutting four images from thick pieces of card, about 350gsm in weight and then layering the card over the top of one another to create one solid figure. Once the figure is set and it feels solid, I then painted it with Black Soot Paint, back and front and again allowed it to dry. I also added just a flash of Festive Berries Distress Paint to his collar.

To give some shading to the figure and add a look of being dusty and worn, I applied a touch of Old Silver Alchemy Wax around the edge.
To build up the scene, I added some cheesecloth, or Mummy Cloth whichever you have to hand which I dyed with Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone and Black Soot Distress Spray Stain and draped the cloth over the lid, attaching it with dots of Matte Collage Medium to hold it in place. At this stage, I also attached my black silhouette, applying the medium along the bottom of the die cut and just holding it in place until it felt as if it would stand. To make sure this is solid, I would leave it overnight with a support at the back!

Next, I took my Tombstones and using my fingertip, I smeared a tiny amount of Grit Paste over the surface, you only need a minimal amount. Once the paste was dry and I'd given it a dirty appearance, I added the Remnant Rubs onto the fronts (I just love the names of these people, makes me laugh every time). I attached the Ima Goner and Izzy Dead's tombstones over the top of the cloth, placing them either side of Count Dracula.
Now for my wonky trees, and for these I used the Mini Woodland trees, dyed with a combination of Peeled Paint and Pumice Stone Distress Spray Stain. Once the trees are dry, I then bend them slightly to give the weird and wacky look and attached them amongst the scene.
I used the die cut bats, taken from the Ghoulish Die set and placed these onto the trees...
...before attaching some moss in-between all the pieces and adding some pumpkins, a skull and boneyard findings. I also added some Mini Art Stones at the front, just to create a little texture. These stones are adhered with the Collage Medium and painted with metallic paints.
As the finishing touch, I added my metal gates either side of the scene.
Finally, I attached a Halloween Quote Chip, 'an uninvited guest' to the front of the box...
...and all that's left for me to do is fill it with chocolate pumpkins (thank you Marks & Spencer for making these every year because they are delicious) and it's all ready to add to my decorations!
Thank you so much for daring to drop by today and all that's left for me to do is wish you all a very happy and safe Halloween!

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....





See you very soon, love Emma xxx




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Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Dr. T Bones...

Hello friends...

It's hard to believe that Halloween is just around the corner, where is October going? But as we start the final countdown, I wanted to share another of my Tim Holtz Halloween projects with you all. This is something that I had in mind ever since I saw the Etcetera Tombstone Overlays from Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous and something I've been working on in between my DT projects but I am so thrilled with how it's turned out and now, I can now finally welcome you to Dr. T Bones crypt...a forgotten place covered with undergrowth from years of neglect ~ a place that only the bravest will visit!

With this piece, I wanted to make the project freestanding, so that it would sit perfectly amongst my Halloween decorations and wouldn't keep falling down. So, I started by constructing the base and used the Medium sized Tombstone Overlay and also a piece of thick board, which measured, 11.5 x 17cm.

I attached all my overlay pieces directly onto the tag, using Matte Collage Medium and then gessoed the surface of both the tag and the separate board that will become the base, applying the gesso to the front and back of the Overlay pieces ~ the back is going to be on show once you've finished this piece. When the gesso is thoroughly dry, I then applied some Grit Paste onto the front of the tag, varying the thickness of the paste I was adding ~ thicker around the edges and the joins and a very light layer across the centre. At this stage, I also added the paste to the rectangular base section.
Spooky story about the photo below, is that when I took this image, the face recognition actually kept picking up on a couple of "grinning faces" in the centre of the tombstone, not once or twice ~ every single time I tried to focus and if you do look hard ~ you can actually see the effigy of a face!!!! Very spooky.....
I then added the wording and for this I used the Deco Alpha Die to cut the name from thick chipboard and the Alphanumeric Thin Die to cut Mixed Media card for the remaining letters and numbers. Attach the wording onto the central section of the tag using Matte Collage Medium. I added some more Grit Paste over the chipboard lettering. The wording reads: In Memory Of Dr T Bones, 1253 - 1331....
Allow the paste to dry thoroughly before moving on and don't be tempted to add paint until the paste is dry. Once the paste was dry, I then repeated the process on the back of the tag, again varying the thicknesses before setting it aside to dry ~ this is where you test your patience!

****cup of coffee, answered emails, clean down the desk and drying time later****

I applied a coat of Pumice Stone Distress Paint over all the pieces, including the base and back and front of the tag. Once again, you need to ensure it's thoroughly dry before moving on and you can use a heat tool to speed up this process but only gentle heat, moving the tool around as you go.

It's now time for another layer of paint and for this I dry brushed Black Soot Distress Paint over the surface ~ you don't need to go in too heavy with your paint at this stage, you want light touches and have very little paint on your brush, just enough to kiss the surface and i would suggest that you start work on the back of the tag before applying paint to the all important front section of the tag.

Allow the paint to dry and then using a sponge or scrunched up tissue paper, pick up some Picket Fence Distress Paint from your glass mat or craft sheet and just pounce the paint over the surface. I repeated this process using the Pumice Stone and Black Soot until I created the look of stone ~ all done with Distress Paint. More drying time....

To add some more layers and character to my tombstone, I then went in with Distress Crayons, Peeled Paint, Black Soot and Ground Espresso and just added colour directly onto the surface to accentuate the textures and blending out any harsh lines with my fingertips. I also added crayon to accentuate the wording.

As the final part to this section, I used a Halloween Vignette piece, placed vertically down the top section of the tombstone and added a skull and crossbones in the centre. These metal pieces were altered with a little Picket Fence Paint and a gold metallic wax before they were attached. I also placed some moss behind the vignette piece.
I also attached two Vignette Accent pieces to each corner of the tombstone, covering them with a light coverage of Grit Paste and then adding Black Soot and Peeled Paint Distress Crayon over the top of the paste once it was dry. To finish this section the tombstone, I added a screw fixing to each side and hung some chain.
To attach the completed tombstone to the base, I used Matte Collage Medium applied along the bottom edge of the tag and then placed the upright section onto the base. I added plenty of support, bottles etc to ensure the tag remained perfectly upright and straight and then just walked away and left it to dry in position overnight.

In the morning, it was absolutely 100% solid and upright and now that the hard work is all done, I can now move onto building up the scene!
I won't go into this too much as you can see what I've done...the main technique here is probably the Trophy Cup that you can see in the centre and for this, I painted the surface with gesso before allowing it to dry and then adding Grit Paste over the top. Once the paste was dry, I then added the same colours I used on the tombstone and just set it aside...
When my stone trophy cup was ready, I placed some foam inside the cup so that it would give me a solid surface for me to attach my arrangement of skulls. Once again, I attached the skulls with Matte Collage Medium, this stuff really does stick anything and then placed moss in between before attaching the urn to my base.
I attached the metal fences with Matte Collage Medium and placed these at the front of the base to appear as if they were being opened by the zombie hands, which are wrapped around the gates.
I also attached a spider adornment to one of the fingers of the zombie hand.
I added regular moss and Spanish Moss and I also took this around the back, making that as attractive as the front. 
You'll also notice on the back, I added the 'Undertaker' Remnant rub...
As a final touch I added some die cut ivy, cut from Classic Kraft Cardstock and inked with Ground Espresso DI. I left a floral bouquet, dyed with Pumice Stone and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and hand wrapped in Collage Paper, tied with twine and complete with a small tag that I hand cut from inked card, quoting the date.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you've enjoyed this wander through the undergrowth to visit Dr T Bones' crypt  ~ may he now rest in peace!

See you again very soon ~ love Emma x


Recipe for project:



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Monday, 15 October 2018

Toil & Trouble...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a great weekend and thank you so much for all the lovely comments I received on the projects I shared with you all last week ~ I really was blown away with all the kind words and I'm thrilled you loved them all!

Today we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge starting and this week our theme is called Starry Night and as the title suggests, we want you to create a project that features stars!

For my project, I felt the magic in the air and decided to create a tag that featured one of my favourite ever Halloween dies from Tim Holtz ~ Witchcraft. This project was in my head from the very first time I saw the brand new Swirling Stars die and I've just been waiting to share it with you all because I knew from that moment, I wanted to combine these two beautiful dies with this challenge theme and create a magical scene that I hope you love....
So, it's time for the brand new challenge to begin and here's how I created this piece...
 

To begin with I started with my witch and used the Witchcraft die to die cut three pieces of really thick card, the thickest card that can be cut using a thinlit die. I cut away the witches broomstick from the original image and then layered the die cuts together, using Matte Collage Medium to secure them into place and painted the card black with Black Soot Distress Paint. Once dry, I added a thin layer of Matte Collage Medium over the top and sprinkled the surface with Black Soot Distress Glitter. Tap away the excess and set aside to dry.
Moving onto the background, I used a piece of watercolour card, cut to the same size as the Mini Etcetera Tag. I then applied the following colours of Distress Oxide Inks to my glass mat ~ Faded Jeans, Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen and Stormy Sky. I then spritzed the inks and my card very lightly with a mist of water before swooshing the card through the inks, picking up the colour. If you need more colour to a particular area, just heat dry the surface and then go back in and pick up some more until you're happy with your background.
Once I had the colour I wanted, I then spritzed with Brushed Pewter Distress Mica Spray, heat dried the card and inked the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.

To die cut the stars into the card, I placed my witch, which should be dry by now and popped her into the position on the background, placing her where she would finally be standing on the finished project. I then placed the swirl of stars die, from the Swirling Stars die set to appear as if they would be coming from the wand in her hand. Attach the die with some low tack masking tape and then die cut the card. Place a piece of gold metallic card behind the die cut stars, so that it shows through and attach the gold card into place.
Mount the watercolour background onto your tag, adhering it into place with Matte Collage Medium and trim away any excess card overlapping the tag.

To create a really nice edge to the covered tag, I used the Sanding Tool and just sand away any stray pieces of card.

Around the edge of the tag, I used the Black Soot Distress Crayon, blending out any harsh lines with my fingertips.

To complete the background of the tag, I inked up the Tangled Webs stamp with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamped the image across the top section before adding some texture using Grit Paste through  the Speckles Layering Stencil. Add a final splatter of Picket Fence Distress Paint across the background and allow to dry.
Taking my glittered witch, I placed her onto some foam pads to add dimension and then attached her to the tags slightly overlapping the edge, adding a piece of wood beneath her feet, so that she was standing on something and not floating in mid air. At this stage, I also added a little wand which is from the Tim Holtz idea-ology Treasure's Adornments set and placed this in her hand.
I then placed moss around the base of her feet, attaching it with the Collage Medium.

Using the single dies from the Swirling Stars die set, die cut the stars from gold metallic kraft card and attach three of them around the witch. I also added a couple of spiders from the Halloween Remnant Rubs to complete this section of the background.

For the little spooky arrangement by the side of her, I used some of the Pumpkins, that I sliced in half and just made a bit dirtier by rubbing the Black Soot Distress Crayon over the top. I attached these to the tag, together with a grinning skull and some more moss, tucking some Boneyard Findings into the moss.
Finally, I added my wording and for this I used a Quote Chip, 'toil & trouble' and a Clippings Sticker, 'in the dead of the night' and attached these to the left of the witch.
To complete my tag, I added some hand dyed crinkle ribbon, dyed using Black Soot and Hickory Smoke Distress Spray Stain and threaded it thought the hole at the top.
Finally, I placed a hinge clip onto the side of the tag and attached a Halloween Story Stick, 'spells' which I altered with a little Picket Fence Distress Paint to accentuate the wording and wrapped some chain around a Halloween Key, again altered with some Picket Fence...
...and that completes this week's project and my magical tag and hope you've enjoyed the creative process! I just wish you could all see this project in real life as it does really sparkle and shine but cut to the good old British weather and the fact it was so dark due to a storm, I just couldn't capture it quite as much as I wanted to but hope I managed to show you some of that starry night shimmer!

 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






Moss, chain and crinkle ribbon from my own stash
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