Hello, My Friend...

Hello friends and welcome to another week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.

This week our theme is all about everything Bright and Cheerful and the DT will also be showcasing the products of Katzelkraft within their makes.

Now I will admit, bright is slightly out of my comfort zone ~ I'm more of a subtle colour addict, preferring my blue and neutral tones, but this wasn't a time to shy away from the brighter end of the spectrum and with this in mind, I chose to make a card packed full of colourful florals and a cute little birdie sitting there amongst them.

So let's get started and here's how I created this abundance of bright florals set against the dramatic black and gold background...

CARD BLANK AND BACKGROUND

To begin with I cut a black card blank to measure 18 x 14cm and machine stitched a border around the edge of the front of the card. I then cut a second panel of black card 16 x 12cm and using the Katzelkraft Etoile stamp, I stamped a repeat background over the card panel using clear embossing ink. I sprinkled Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder over the top, tapped away the excess and then heat embossed the powder until molten.

After machine stitching a border around the outside, I added splatters of gold watercolour paint, then matted the card panel onto gold cardstock, followed by a layer of black kraft card. I then mounted the layers onto my card blank using foam pads.

SENTIMENT CIRCLE

Now for the sentiment and once again, I used the Etoile background stamp but this time inked it with Barn Door Archival Ink and stamped the image onto White Heavystock Card.

Using a nesting circle die, that was roughly the same diameter as the stamped image, I cut a circle and then inked the surface with Old Paper Distress Ink. I lightly spritzed water over the top of the circle, dabbed away the excess and then heat dried the card.

Using the Stampers Anonymous Bolding Sayings stamp set by Tim Holtz, I stamped the sentiment 'Hello My Friend' in Black Soot Archival Ink before mounting the circle onto foam pads and adhering it to the front of my card, placing it centrally, on the right hand side.

MODERN FLORISTRY

Now for those florals and for these I used as selection of the dies from the Sizzix Modern Floristry Die set by Tim Holtz to cut watercolour card and inked them with the following:

Large Floral: Picked Raspberry, Crackling Campfire; Middle of flower: Crackling Campfire, Spiced Marmalade

Smaller Florals: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey; Middle of flower: Black Cardstock

Foliage: Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage

With my flowers assembled and shaped to create more dimension, I arranged them around the left hand side of the sentiment circle, tucking pieces of foliage in amongst the florals.

In the centres of all the florals, I used a white gel pen to add the tiny little dots.

In the bottom right hand corner, you'll see there's a tiny little friend and this cute bird is from the Sizzix Silhouette Bird Die Set. I cut the image from watercolour card, before I inked the die cut with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.

I mounted the little silhouette birdie onto foam pads and then tucked him into the arrangement.

For the finishing touches, I added three gold metallic droplets around the edge of the sentiment...

...and finally, I sewed a button onto a stitched scrap, pinned a mini pin onto the scrap and then folded the material in half and attached this to the card blank. placing it on the right hand side of the sentiment circle.

So, that's my project ready to share and I hope you love what I've made.

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....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Katzelkraft: Background Halftones Etoile Unmounted Stamp

Sizzix: Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway Die Cutting Machine, Modern Floristry, Silhouette Birds

SSS Nested Circles Die Set

Stampers Anonymous: Bold Sayings

Distress Ink: Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Crackling Campfire, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Old Paper, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs

Archival Ink: Black Soot, Barn Door

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Metallic Droplets

Surfaces: Distress Watercolour Card, Black Kraft Card, White Heavystock Card, Black Card

Mediums and Inks: Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder, Versamark Embossing Ink, Gold Watercolour Paint

Adhesive: Foam Pads, Adhesive Tape

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, White Gel Pen

Tim Holtz Stamp Platform