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 StampYou 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

28 comments:

  1. I like the stars coming off the wand in a line. The dimensional base is really cool. I especially like the pumpkin skull cluster. Miss the cat from the die though. What is the max thickness (paper lb. #) you can use in the thinlets?
    Overall sweeet!

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  2. oh my goodness EMMA!! how fabulous is this!! I love how you have the witch casting her spell!! BRILLIANT!! Oh I can't tell you how much I love this!!! :-)

    Hope you have a great day!
    luv
    Lols x x x

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  3. I love the texture of the background and the glittery witch!!! It was a brilliant idea to cut off the broom and to place a magic wand in her hand!!! And I also love the swirling stars which come out from the wand!!! Wonderful tag!!!

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  4. Amazing background... the color combo is great ! You worked your product Queen magic ( as usual ) #GiddyQueenisinthehouse

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  5. Wow! This is just so wicked cool!!!

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  6. This is amazing Emma! Totally wicked!! Love the chains around the key, and the mix of witch and magic.Every detail is perfect! hugs, Maura

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  7. Such a gorgeous background and I love the stars! A stunning tag! Jennie x

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  8. Emma, this whole project is a triumph, it has a wonderfully wicked charm about it. The background is superb and I just love the witches star wand and how the stars in the sky come from it. I adore Halloween and this piece is now one of my favourites... Hugs, Anne xx

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  9. Gorgeous way to add those stars Emma!

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  10. Oh Emma, another incredibly beautiful project. The background totally sets the tone for this gorgeous display! From the witch casting her magical spell to the added embellishments it is a dreamy scene of halloween goodness. I love your style (as you know) and feel so fortunate reach time you share it, inspiring me and many others! xxx

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  11. The background on your tag is fabulous. I'm blown away by how much detail went into your creation.

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  12. WOW! Mind. Blown. Your attention to detail is unparalleled, Emma! SO much eye candy! I love the glittery witch and the way the stars perfectly spray from her wand-- just fabulous!

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  13. Pinned this beauty! LOVE the starry sky! Just love every detail!

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  14. Love this die as well, You have done it a great justice on this tag

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  15. Oh my! This two dies match perfectly exactly the way you used them. Love this magic scene and the colors as always. the shades of grey on the background are amazing and the glitter whitch is so elegant. Hugs, Macarena.

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  16. Your tag is simply fabulous Emma!!!!
    I adore it!!!
    Have a lovely (crafty) week-end,
    Corinne x

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  17. This is fantastic Emma! I love how you used the Swirling Stars die, how very clever! And the sky and glittery witch are wonderful

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  18. Love this fantastic tag, Emma. The color scheme and texture on the background you created are amazing. The metal embellishments and all the details are awesome. :)

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  19. What a great tag, I love the stars everywhere- on the dress, from the wand, its perfect

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  20. love how you used all the elements to create such a magical starry night scene, hugs kath xxx

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  21. Amazing tag, Emma! I love you mix your elegant style with Halloween, it's a match made in heaven! The sparkly witch is fabulous and love the gorgeous background! Hugs, Sandra

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  22. Amazing amazing amazing! love every single detail: from colors to stars.... I adore your art Emma!

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  23. This is pure genius!!! Love the start that goes near the wicked wick!! (ehm is wick the name of that thing that the witch is holding?? uhmmmm!!!) anyway!!! Your attention to details is always on point!

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  24. This holds a wonderful magical charm with an eerily wicked feel . You have created such a fabulous atmosphere with your night sky that really sets the scene .
    You never fail , Emma
    Hugs x

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  25. This is an incredible piece of art. If it were mine, it would be displayed on my mantel forever more. Thank you for sharing the process.

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  26. Love everything about your tag, fantastic job and great detail. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  27. Love the sparkly witch, love the stars escaping into the night, love the chained key - gorgeous results!

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Thank you for all your comments and messages, they are all appreciated and I hope you'll come back and visit again soon...
Emma ~xx

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