The End...

Hello friends...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and ready for the week ahead and a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called Tag It and the Dt are showcasing Tim Holtz products, which is something that you don't have to do to join in but I think everyone has a few of Tim's products in their stash!

For my project, I decided to carry on with my Halloween inspiration and created a project that tells the story of The Undertaker and used a Mini Etcetera Tag as my base and surrounded her with Tim Holtz idea-ology and a bouquet of dead flowers...

Welcome to the end....

I began by covering the tag with some paper from the Halloween Worn Wallpaper set ~ if only I could have enough of this design to create an accent wall in my home, I would be heaven, it is so beautiful!

I adhered the paper to the tag using Matte Collage Medium and then lightly sanded the edges to create a smooth, seamless edge. I then applied some more medium over the surface to seal the paper and allowed it to dry.

Once it was dry, I moved on to adding that vintage feel and took the Gathered Twigs Crayon and ran it along the edge, blending the colour out with a semi dry baby wipe. I love the way the crayon just sinks into the paper and accentuates the linen texture.

To complete the tag, I flicked some Black Soot Distress Paint across the surface and placed the hole reinforcer piece, painted with Black Soot and Tarnished Brass over the the hole at the top.

I now have my basic tag and can move onto the embellishments, starting with the photo, taken from the Ancestor's Paper Doll set, and this is going to be the main focal point of this piece. I used a sanding tool to just sand the edges of the photo before  applying a small amount of Vintage Collage Medium to create a worn, vintage appearance. I then used the Black Soot Distress Crayon, running it around the edge to create even more of an aged feel. A few rips and tears and curled edges complete the photo before I matted it onto kraft card to create a frame. I then mounted the image onto the right hand side of the tag using foam pads.

Now, we move onto the 'dead bouquet' which has entwined itself around the broomstick and I started by cutting a selection of flowers from cream card using the Tiny Tattered Floral die. I then spritzed the die cuts with Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Spray Stain before heat drying them. At this point you will have a pool of ink on your craft sheet and so not to waste a thing, I mop it up with crinkle ribbon so that I can either use it on a future project or in this case, use it for this one.

Once dry, I added a light misting of Perfect Pearls Biscotti Spray over the top to create a shimmer, heat dried them again before assembling each flower.

A selection of foliage is die cut using the Garden Greens Thinlits die and the Funky Florals 2 die and coloured in exactly the same way as before.

Once I had my foliage, I just placed it over the top of the broomstick which was adhered to the left hand side of the tag and entwined the greenery and the flowers around it.

I then added a Halloween Vignette Accent to the top right hand corner of the photo which I coloured with a small amount of Black Soot Distress Paint, allowing the paint to sink into the recesses of the metal and then buffed away the excess. I then added a small amount of Gilding Wax over the top before attaching it with Matte Collage medium.

I also added a Halloween Story Stick, 'the end' placing it amongst the floral arrangement and placed an Index Clip onto the photo.

I placed a spider onto the broomstick, complete with a painted red body, Candied Apple Distress Paint created this effect and again attached him with some Collage Medium.

To complete the story, I placed a quote chip, The Undertaker underneath the photo and added some Hex Fasteners to either side...

...and finished with a Clippings Sticker, XIII at the top.

As my finishing touch, I attached the previously dyed Crinkle Ribbon through the hole at the top....

...which completes this week's project, a tag that I hope you've loved reading about, just as much as I loved creating it.

 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/Sizzix Dies: Garden Greens, Tiny Tattered Florals, Funky Florals 2

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Candied Apple, Tarnished Brass
Distress Spray Stain: Antique Linen, Pumice Stone
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Gathered Twigs

Idea-ology: Halloween Quote Chips, Worn Wallpaper, Halloween Story Sticks, Hex Fasteners, Halloween Adornments, Ancestors Paper Dolls, Halloween Vignette Accents, Index clip, Halloween Clippings

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Vintage Collage Medium

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavy Stock, Mini Etcetera Tag
Tim Holtz Media Glass Mat

Tim Holtz Guillotine

Heat Gun