Shine Like A Diamond...

Hello friends...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed Tim's latest party over on YouTube. Thank you for all the wonderful comments and messages about my make ~ I've read them all and they've meant the world to me! If you haven't seen the LIVE yet, then you can catch up with the replay here.

So back to today, and we have a brand new challenge starting today over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week our theme is...Fabulous Florals!

With so many beautiful flower products available, I'm sure this is going to be a popular challenge, and if you'd love to join us, then the DT are looking forward to seeing what you create.

For my make, I chose to use the gorgeous Floral Elements Stamp Set, combined with one of the new products from the brand new Tim Holtz Chapter 3 release by Sizzix and I made a tag card, that celebrates friendship.

Let's get started because it's time to get creative...

I began by making my card blank, and using a Mini Etcetera Tag as a template, I drew around the outline and then cut the card to create the tag shape, which has a fold at the top. I then covered the card front with a panel of paper from the Etcetera paper stash and machine stitched a border around the edge, leaving some of the threads to hang loose.

At the top of my card blank, I used a tab ~ this is one of the new dies in the Specimen Thinlits Die Set and I cut it from Mixed Media Heavystock card that I had inked with a combination of Old Paper and Antique Linen. I then attached the folded tab to the top fold of my card before applying a 'Fig 2' Speciment Remnant Rub.

With my card ready, it's time to add those layers and we'll start with the background....

BACKGROUND

For the background to my card, I used the Linked Circles Layering Stencil for a monoprint technique. I inked the back of the stencil with a combination of Crackling Campfire, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks and then lightly spritzed over the top with water.

I then flipped the stencil over and placed it directly onto a panel of Distress watercolour card to transfer the print onto the surface.

I use a paper towel to dab away any excess water or ink, before lifting the stencil to reveal the print.

After I heat dried the card, I inked the edges with Old Paper Distress Ink, and then flicked droplets of Picked Raspberry over the surface.

To add more interest to the background, I inked up one of the stamps from the Botanic Collage Stamp set with Jet Black Archival Ink and randomly stamped the newsprint part of the stamp onto my background.

After matting the background onto a panel of cream cardstock, I mounted it onto my card front using foam pads.

PHOTO

Moving onto the photo, and for this I used one of Tim's Photobooth images and the slide die from the Specimen Die Set. After applying clear gesso over the photo to prime it, I colour tinted the photo with Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I cut the slide from card that I had in my stash ~ from what I can remember, I inked it with Speckled Egg, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains.

I placed the photo inside the slide die cut and then folded it in half and adhered it shut. I then added Hex Fasteners to each corner of the slide.

I then added some crackle paste to the corners of the frame, and once the paste was dry, I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I then wrapped twine around the wider part of the frame and tied this into a knot before attaching a mini pin and a tiny tag.

The tiny tag is cut using the Collector Thinlits Die Set and I then used Remnant Rubs to add a date, 1965. I'm sending this card to a friend, so that's why I chose this date which I made up from numbers in the remnant rub pack.

I attached the slide to the card front, placing it on the right hand side using foam pads.

FLOWERS

Now we can move onto the flowers and for this I used the Floral Elements stamp set and stamped some flowers and foliage onto watercolour card.

I then watercolored them with Distress Inks that I applied as a palette onto my glass mat and using a water brush, I picked up the colour to add to each stamped image.

Flowers: Crackling Campfire, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Candied Apple with Black Soot centres and white pen highlights

Leaves: Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint

I blasted them dry with a heat gun and then fussy cut each individual element.

I arranged the flowers and foliage to cascade down the card and around the photo, attaching them with various depths of foam pads to add dimension.

Finally, I added a stamped sentiment, Shine Brightly taken from the Noteworthy stamp set.

I stamped this onto an offcut of paper from the Etcetera paper stash and then mounted the sentiment onto a scrap of cotton calico.

I then attach the sentiment beneath my floral arrangement.

To complete the card, I added two small paper clips on the top right hand corner.

...and that is my card finished, ready to send to a friend who is celebrating a birthday next week!

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 and if sometimes I miss it ~ just keep nudging me!

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:

Stampers Anonymous: Linked Circles Layering Stencil, Floral Elements, Noteworthy, Botanic Collage

Sizzix: Big Shot Foldway, Specimen Thinlits Die Set

Distress Spray Stain: Speckled Egg, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen

Distress Ink: Crackling Campfire, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint

Distress Crayons

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Hex Fasteners, Specimen Remnant Rubs, Mini paper Clips, Mini Pins, Photo Booth

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Etcetera Paper Stash, Off White Card

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Crackle Paste, Foam Pads, 

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Collage Brush, Waterbrush

Before I go, I just wanted to let you all know that Simon Says Stamp is currently hosting a Summer Vacation Kids Challenge! So if you know anyone who would love to join in and get involved, then all the details are HERE!