That's Life: Life is all about perspective...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a good weekend and ready for a brand new week of creativity because if you are, then the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has just begun and this week our theme is all about HEAT EMBOSSING!

This is a technique that always gives me such satisfaction, I always love how you can transform a piece with the magic of powder and heat and I decided to use this technique to create the texture on the Perspective Moth which I added to an inky background to create my card packed full of layers.

So let's get started ~ it's time for me to share my card project and here's how I made this piece...

To begin with I started with my moth and cut this once from Mixed Media Heavystock and once from Kraft Heavystock. I inked the edges of the kraft die cut with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before I started to add the embossing powders to the second die cut.

I used the Embossing Dabber to apply ink to my die cut and then started to add layers of powder beginning with Antique Linen Embossing Glaze. After heat embossing the glaze, I then moved onto the next layer, adding the embossing dabber down the body of the moth and applying some Walnut Stain Embossing Glaze over the top. Again heat emboss the glaze until molten. Apply some Rusty Hinge Embossing Glaze to random areas of the body and heat emboss.

The next layer of embossing is on the wings and after I applied the Embossing Dabber to the surface, I sprinkled the layers of Embossing Glaze over the top, adding them individually and building up the layers one by one. Top Tip: When adding the powders, start with the palest colour first, then build up the layers but reduce the powder with each application, allowing the previous colour to show beneath.

I started with Speckled Egg, heat embossed the glaze, then added Prize Ribbon. Heat emboss and repeat this process using Salvaged Patina, Hickory Smoke and then a final sprinkling of Walnut Stain.

Finally, I wanted some texture on the body, and where the wings join ~ and for this I used a small amount of Emerald Creek Embossing Powder over the top of the ink and heat embossed this until molten.

I now have my gorgeous moth ready and layered the embossed piece over the top of the kraft die cut, leaving the wings free! I then shaped the wings to create a little more dimension and in the photo below, you can see the width of the wingspan on this beauty ~ it's amazing!!

Now for the background and for this I cut a panel of mixed media heavystock, 12 x 15.5cm.

I began by applying Distress Spray Stains and Oxide Sprays ~ Antique Linen, Ground Espresso, Salvaged Patina, Speckled Egg and a touch of Frayed Burlap Distress Stains and Salvaged Patina and Speckled Egg Oxide Sprays. I built up the colour towards the top of the panel, allowing it to fade towards the bottom.

After adding some stencilling directly onto the panel using Frayed Burlap Oxide Ink, through the Mini Layering Script Stencil from Set 49...

...I then started to add some stamped layers, and for this I used a combination of stamps ~ Entomology Script stamped directly onto the background with Black Soot Archival Ink. Some stamped imagery added to the right hand side using stamps from the Field Notes set and the Mini Glitch, in Barn Door and Black Soot Archival Ink....

...and also adding some stamping in the bottom left hand corner using the same stamp sets and same colours. I always use my stamp platform for this as it creates a really beautiful, clear impression. In this corner, I also added a Remnant Rub, Exhibit A., which I applied above the stamping.

To complete the background, I added some crosses from the Mini Glitch stamp set, and stamped these in the top left hand corner, stamped with Salvaged Patina Oxide Ink.

I inked the edges of the panel with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then machine stitched a border before matting this panel onto silver metallic kraft stash card, followed by a layer of blue kraft card taken from Tim's Cool Kraft Stock.

I then mounted my layers using foam pads, onto a background of script paper which I think was from one of Tim's older paper pads and a layer of blackout card before mounting these layers onto my card blank. Each time I left a border around the outside to create the layers.

Now for the tiny finishing details and in the top right hand corner, I added an offcuts of silver metallic kraft stash, which I had on my desk. This was embossed using the Foundry 3D Texture Fade and is literally a small piece cut that I keep and never throw away but is perfect for wrapping around the edges of background panels to create more interest. I then attached a rolled up Stitched Scrap, complete with Mini Pin before I adhered a Field Notes Ephemera piece into place.

Finally, I added some Index Clips ~ I placed three clips around the edges of the inked background panel and altered these with Distress Paints for a more rusty, crusty look. I used Rusty Hinge, Crackling Campfire, Ground Espresso, and Black Soot.

To complete the clips, I adhered some Hardware Heads over the top, again altered with the same colours of Distress Paints and attached with Matte Collage Medium.

So, that completes my project for this week and I hope you've loved the card I've made...

...as always, if you make anything, or been inspired by anything that you've seen here on my blog ~ then please, let me know by tagging me on social media or leaving a comment here and I will be right over to take a look!

Don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to win. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....