That's Life: A Royal Celebration....

Hello friends...

As another Monday comes around, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge to begin and this week our theme is called, IT'S UP IN THE AIR! So whether you choose to use planes, things with wings or have a completely different idea, then if you'd like to join us, the DT can't wait to see what you create!

When I plan for these challenges, I always like to try and think outside the box and after going through all the ideas buzzing in my head, I decided that with a very special occasion happening here in the UK this week, it would be the perfect time to make something to celebrate Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee. So as we hang our bunting and raise a glass in the air ~ I've created a home decor piece to commemorate this momentous week of celebrations.

So let's get started ~ her Majesty is waiting, and will see you now!

TAG

To begin with I used the small Etcetera Tag and painted the surface with Black Soot Distress Paint. Once dry, I sanded the edges to create more of a vintage feel to the piece.

For the background, I wanted something that looked very 1950's and chose a piece of paper from the Wallpaper Scraps pack. I created small rips and tears around the edge of the paper before I then machine stitched a border in black cotton thread. I then adhered the panel onto my tag.

Around the outside of the worn wallpaper, I applied some of the polka dot design tape trim to create the appearance of an extra layer.

At the very top of the paper panel, I placed a Handle With Care Memoir Ephemera piece. I used Matte Collage Medium to attach it centrally and then added two hardware heads either side.

UNION JACK FLAG

With the tag ready, I moved onto the flag...

For this I used the Stampers Anonymous London Sights stamp set by Tim Holtz and because I wanted to stamp the flag in red, white and blue, I used my stamp platform, which is perfect for this technique.

To begin with I placed the stamp onto the platform and then used masking tape to mask of the areas of the stamp that will be stamped in blue, leaving the areas that will be red. I then inked up the stamp with Barn Door Archival Ink, removed my masking tape and stamped the image onto white heavy stock card.

If you need to go over any areas, just place the tape back onto the stamp that needs to be masked and re-ink until your happy, remembering to remove the tape before stamping again.

Now for the blue areas and all you need to do now, is mask off the parts of the stamp that were inked in red and ink up the remaining parts in Prize Ribbon Archival Ink. Remove the tape and stamp...

With the flag complete, I inked the surface with a little Old Paper Distress Ink, spritzed water over the top and dabbed away the excess with a paper towel. I heat dried the image and then machine stitched around the edge.

I mounted the flag onto a Baseboard Frame, slightly larger in size than the flag itself and then attached the frame to my tag using foam pads to add height.

I added two hardware heads to the top corners on either side of the flag, and then I added the dates, 1952 - 2022. For this I used the Sizzix Alphanumeric Upper Type Die Set by Tim Holtz and cut each number from black kraft card.

Now this celebration wouldn't be complete without a crown and I placed my golden crown at the top of the flag. This particular piece is from the idea-ology Regal Adornments set by Tim and all I did was apply some Gilded Foundry Wax over the top to colour the metal. I heat set the wax before I attached my crown above the year date.

PAPER DOLLS and LEDGE

Now for the paper dolls, and I used a group paper doll image which I colour tinted with Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I added some white pen work over the top of the dresses.

My three ladies needed to stand on something and for this I used two Pinked Etcetera Trims, that I attached to form an 'L' shape. I covered the surface with Crackle Paste and once the paste was dry, I attached my ledge onto the tag.

I added some of the beautiful floral scraps that come in the Wallpaper Scraps pack and then attached my painted paper doll image onto the tag using foam pads.

To complete the scene, I added clumps of moss around their feet.

Just underneath the ledge, I used one of the "Made In England" strips that is in the Halloween Worn Wallpaper Scraps set and after trimming it down to fit across my tag, I adhered it into place using Matte Collage Medium. I absolutely LOVE these scraps and if I could have a whole pack, I would!

Finally, I added a Numbers strip ephemera piece to the side of the frame and thought this fit the scene perfectly ~ No. 520 Blackberry Jam.

BUNTING

So the tag is nearly ready but there's just one thing left to do and that's to hang the bunting in the air....

I began by colouring some Distress Watercolour card...

RED: Aged Mahogany, Barn Door

BLUE: Blueprint Sketch, Prize Ribbon

WHITE: Embossed with Woven Embossing Folder

With my card inked, embossed and ready to use, I die cut the small pennants using the Sizzix Stacked Triangles die set by Tim. I then inked the edges with walnut Stain Distress Ink and arranged them across the top of the tag.

Finally, I attached some twine to the bunting and hand tied little knots, which I placed onto the pennants. The finishing touch is some tacks which I hammered into the tag itself, placing them on either side of the bunting.

So that's my project finished for another week and I hope you've loved this piece as much as I loved making it! Hope everyone who is celebrating the Platinum Jubilee has a wonderful and safe time and here's to her Majesty the Queen!

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....