That's Life: Feeling Good...

Hello friends...

Thank you for all the lovely messages I received last week when I was missing from the Monday Challenge and the only reason I couldn't play along was because of Storm Eunice who took down the power and internet as she blasted her way through the UK but this week I'm back and the DT are ready to begin the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! We are challenging you to USE AT LEAST ONE STENCIL and can't wait to see what you create.

For my make, I chose to create a tag, and chose to use three Tim Holtz Layering Stencils to create a rusty, crusty background which is packed full of texture. This is actually inspired by a make that is coming very, very soon...so keep watching this space!

So let's get started, it's time to pull up a chair to see how I created this week's make!

BACKGROUND

To begin we start with the background and I applied some Humidor Design Tape down the two longest sides of a Mini Etcetera Tag. I then cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card, slightly smaller in width than the tag itself and after spritzing the tag with a light misting of water, I applied Distress Spray Stains, and Oxide Sprays to add colour. I used Ground Espresso, Pumice Stone, Bundled Sage and Speckled Egg sprays and added a small amount of Speckled Egg Oxide Spray into the mix. Once happy, I heat dried the background ready for the stencils.

STENCILING

The first stencil I used was the Script Layering Stencil by Tim Holtz and using a blending tool, I applied Gathered Twigs Distress Ink directly onto the background. Unfortunately, most of this ended up underneath the main design but you can see a small amount just above the Paper Doll's head.

I then went on to adding my next stencil to create the enamelled effect that you can see at the top of the tag and applied Translucent Grit Paste through the Mosaic Layering Stencil, moving the stencil around the tag to create the areas where I wanted to apply the paste. Whilst the paste is still wet and working quickly, I sprinkled Walnut Stain, Crackling Campfire and Speckled Egg Distress Glazes over the top and then set to one side to dry.

...and once the paste is dry, I then heat embossed the glaze very gently and this melts beautifully over the top of the raised areas of paste. Be sure not to overheat the pasted areas as it will bubble!

The final layer of stencilling is created using the Digits Layering Stencil and once again, I used areas of the stencil, not the entire design and applied the paste through it. This time I added Walnut Stain Glaze with a sprinkling of Gold embossing powder over the top and once dry, I heat embossed the stencilled areas.

My background is ready and after inking the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then adding a machine stitched border, I matted it onto a piece of Backdrops paper and then mounted this onto the centre of my etcetera tag.

Now for the focal point and creating that scene...

BUILDING THE SCENE

GEARS

I started with the gears and these are a combination of dies and idea-ology. I used a few of the original Sprocket Gears, two of the metal Industrial gears, including that half one which I just LOVE and I then used the Mechanical Bigz L die to cut some chipboard dies.

The next stage is to create a rusty finish on the gears and whether it's for metal or for chipboard, the process is exactly the same and I used the following...

I apply a layer of Translucent Grit Paste over the top of the surface, sometimes just a smear and other times I leave it chunky.

Once the paste is dry, I then add Distress Paints ~ a combination of Black Soot, Ground Espresso, Rusty Hinge, Antiqued Bronze, Salvaged Patina and Picket Fence are my go-to colours and I just apply the paints one at a time, building up the colour and always drying between my layers.

The gears needed a platform and for this I used a Ruler piece which I broke on one end before applying Walnut Stain Distress Ink to add more richness to the wood colour. I attached my ruler across the tag, slightly overhanging the edges and used foam pads for a little height.

In the centres of all my gears, I added Hardware Heads. Now, I am completely out of these at the moment but I really did need them for this make...so, I borrowed them from previous projects, picking them off one at a time and transferring them to this make! That's how serious my Hardware Head addiction is and I promise I will replace them to the old makes, as soon as my new packs arrive because they're now BACK IN STOCK at SSS!!!

I then attached all of my gears, layering them with foam pads for various depths and attaching them to form a cluster so that my Paper Doll will nestle comfortably.

PAPER DOLL

I chose this paper doll because I've basically wanted to use him for a while but just haven't found the right project, until now and he was perfect for this one.

I always apply a layer of Clear Gesso over my Paper Doll before adding colour, and then I coloured him using Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I used Faded Jeans, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs and Peeled Paint crayons.

My gentleman is now ready to be seated and after adding some Mummy Cloth dyed with a little Frayed Burlap Spray, I placed him on the gears.

To complete the arrangement, I added a Mini Flair to the left of the paper doll.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the quote and a few more embellishments

QUOTE

I was intending to use the brand new Sizzix Bold Text 1 die set by Tim but it didn't fit in the space, so I took just the word "Focus" from one of the dies in the set which I cut from gold metallic kraft card, and I combined this with die cut letters from the Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper die set to complete the quote ~ FOCUS ON THE GOOD!

For the word "FOCUS" I used the same paints as I used on the metal to create more of a rusty finish, and then layered them over a second die cut to create a drop shadow, and then attached each letter underneath the ruler piece using the adhesive backing sheets that I applied to the metallic kraft stash before die cutting the lettering.

Finally, I added a Machinery Head at the top of my tag, (and a huge thank you to Mario for arranging it that I had a a few of these to be going on with 🤎) and once again coloured this with the same paints as I used on the gears.

The finishing touch is the Hinge Clip, that I just clipped to the top which means my make is finished for this week and I hope you've loved and been inspired by it.

As always, if you make anything, or if you've 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 next Monday at 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....