Let's Get This Party Started...

Hello friends...

It's time for the final Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge of 2022. This challenge is running for TWO weeks until the 2nd January, so you'll have plenty of time to play along with our fun challenge theme ~ Party Time and we can't wait to see what you create.

Now for my final make of 2022, and these were inspired by Raymond Briggs’ book, The Snowman and especially the scene at the North Pole when all the snowmen from around the world throw a Christmas party with Santa! So, with this in mind, I wanted to make some place settings that I'll be placing on each dinner plate at my Christmas gathering, and all of them will have a Christmas message inside and as no party is complete without special guests, I decided to use the infamous Twig And Stump from Tim Holtz and Sizzix...I'm still waiting for my Chilly & Freezy die set to arrive, and if it makes it to the UK before the big day, then they will also join in, but for now, I've used just the original die.

So let's get this party started and hope you’ll join Twig, Stump and friends for their Christmas party.

ENVELOPES AND SLIDE FOLDERS

To begin with I made my envelopes.

I used the Collector Thinlits Die Set as my base, and cut each envelope from Light Gray Woodgrain Cardstock. I also cut the cards for inside my pockets, using dies from the same die set to cut Christmas Pocket Cards for the backgrounds and then, some more of that gorgeous Light Grey Woodgrain card which I will be stamping on. 

I applied Grit Paste through the Speckles Layering Stencil to the front of the envelopes before setting to one side to dry. Once the paste is dry, I machine stitched a border around the outside before assembling the pockets and inking the edges with Pumice Stone DI!

With my pockets ready, I began to cut the slide frames from the same woodgrain cardstock using the die from the Specimen Die Set.

I folded along the scorelines to assemble the die cut and then placed the blue option from the Winter Deco Sheets so that they will show behind the aperture windows. 

Don't stick the slides together just yet!!!

TWIG AND STUMP

Moving on, I cut all my layers and pieces to assemble all my different versions of Twig and Stump. I used Distress Watercolour Card for the snowmen because I like the texture it gives the die cuts, and then I coloured Heavystock Mixed Media card with various Distress Inks and sprays for all the remaining pieces that are die cut. I also used some of my previously made backgrounds for their scarves and hats.

POCKET ENVELOPE 1 ~ DECK THE HALLS

For my first envelope, which is vertical, I began by wrapping some candy cane twine around the envelope and tying it on the left hand side to secure it. I then took one of the specimen slides and my finished Twig and cut a small section away from the bottom of Twig before placing him behind the specimen slide aperture.

I added a mouth using a black pen and placed a small woodland tree beside him, wrapping his twiggy arms around the tree. The Woodland Tree is dyed using Kitsch Flamingo Spray Stain, sprayed directly onto the tree itself before drying the stain. After removing the wooden base from the tree, I rolled each one in Glossy Accents that I applied to my glass matt and sprinkled with Rock Candy Dry Glitter and Mica Flakes for a little sparkle. I then attached the tree to my envelope and added a Mirrored Star on top.

Spilling out from the image is some more frosty sparkle and I drizzled Glossy Accents along the base of Twig and the tree, and then sprinkled Mica Flakes over the top.

After adding Mini Fasteners to each corner, I applied a Remnant Rub along the bottom of the slide frame before attaching it to my envelope, using foam pads.

To add a little greenery, I cut pieces from green inked card, using one of Tim’s older Sizzix die sets, called Festive Greens (662425) but if you don't have this set, you can use any foliage die you have in your stash.

I arranged the greenery around the bow before adding two tiny bells, that I attached with hot glue.

To add a frosty look to the entire piece, I applied Snow Fall paste onto the bells and onto Twig, including  his little frosty carrot nose, and then cut some snowflakes from the silver Winter Deco Sheets, using the dies in the Twig and Stump Set. I adhered these to my pocket, adding small crystal gems in the centre of each snowflake.

To complete pocket number 1, I added a small Christmas ephemera piece in the top left corner, complete with the no. 25 remnant rub and then added a Mini clip to the side.

POCKET ENVELOPE 2 ~ BELIEVE IN MAGIC

Each of the envelopes follow the same design but for these two, I switched the pocket to be horizontal.

Once again, I wrapped the twine around and then added frosted greenery...

...and then placed Stump with his arms in the air inside my specimen slide and attached this to my pocket.

In the corners of this slide, I added Metallic Droplets and then I made a bow using the dies from the Yuletide Colorize die set. I cut each layer of the bow from Mixed Media Heavystock card that I coloured with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stain and attached this to the envelope, adding a smear of Glossy Accents over the edges, and a sprinkle of Mica Flakes.

After applying the Believe In Magic Remnant Rub, I attached my slide and then added a snowflake in Stump's twiggy hand. To complete the piece, I attached a small die cut heart that I had on my desk from a previous project and placed this in the centre of the snowflake for some snowflake kisses.

POCKET ENVELOPE 3  ~ NAUGHTY OR NICE

For the final envelope, I added the twine, some greenery and my slide folder but this time it has Stump facing a different direction but once again, he's holding a small woodland tree.

I then added the Mini Fasteners to the slide and a Christmas Pearl Droplet in the centre of the holly greenery.

Finally, I added the "Naughty or Nice' Remnant Rub.

MESSAGE CARDS

Inside the pockets, are my messages, stamped in Archival Inks using the Mini Bold Tidings Stamp Sets and the little stars from the Darling Christmas ~ both dies are perfect for these small pocket sized project. Each card has a different message and I didn't want to give to much away to my family who will be receiving these but below, is an example of just one of them...

So that completes my makes for this week and I hope you love them and you're inspired by them!

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 and to all the followers and friends of my blog ~ thank you for all your love and support in 2022!

Merry Christmas everyone, be safe and hope 2023 brings you everything you wish for!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous: Speckles Layering Stencil, Mini Bold Tidings, Darling Christmas

Tim Holtz for Sizzix: Twig and Stump, Yuletide Colorize, Collector Thinlits Dies, Specimen Die Set, Tim Holtz/Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway

Distress Spray Stain: Kitsch Flamingo

Distress Inks

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Christmas Droplets, Winter Deco Sheets, Mini Fasteners, Metallic Droplet, Woodland Trees, Christmas Remnant Rubs, Christmas Pocket Cards, Christmas Ephemera

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Sizzix Adhesive Sheets, Foam Pads, Snowfall Paste, Mica Flakes, Rock Candy Dry Glitter, Glossy Accents

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock, Metallic Kraft Stash, Light Grey Woodgrain Cardstock, Distress Watercolour Card

Glass Media Mat

Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer

Heat Gun

Candy Cane Twine