That's Life: A Fine Romance...

Hello everyone and Happy Monday!

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and as we start the brand new week, it's time for a new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is all about Romance, and whether you want to celebrate upcoming weddings, anniversaries or just feel the love in the air, then we are excited to see what you will be creating and hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.

For my make, I chose to make an Etcetera Tag and used some of my favourite Sizzix Vault Dies from Tim Holtz to create a project celebrating LOVE and I combined these amazing dies with Foundry Wax, an idea-ology photo and the Palette Collage Paper.

So, let's begin and hope you enjoy how I made this piece.

For this make I used a Mini Etcetera Tag and primed the surface with a coat of white Gesso, which I allowed to dry and I also used a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag, that is layered over the top.

DOUBLE LAYERED TAGS

Once the gesso is completely dry, I began to cover the background of the tag using the Palette Collage Paper. You will need to do this in two sections, and I began by adhering the first section of collage paper along the top of the tag using Matte Collage Medium to attach it into position.

I carefully applied a coat of the medium over the top of the paper, making sure that I didn't tear it and then cut another panel which I attached to cover the remaining part of the tag, again applying a coat of the medium over the top.

I allowed for the medium to dry, and then used Design Tape Trims around the outside edge of tag itself.

Setting the etcetera tag to one side, I then prepped the Size 8 tag.

Once again, I covered the card tag using the Collage Paper, and applying it exactly the same as I did on the etcetera tag. I then allowed for this to dry before machine stitching a border around the outside.

To knock back the whiteness of both tags, I ran the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the outside edges and then blended the colour with my fingertip.

After attaching the smaller tag in the centrally onto the Etcetera Tag using foam pads, I splattered white gesso across the surface and set them to one side to dry.

In each of the four corners of the Etcetera Tag, I attached Hardware Heads, which I painted with a combination of Antiqued Bronze and Ground Espresso Distress Paint.

PHOTO WREATH

Moving on to the wreath and the photo and for this I used the Sizzix Vault Funky Wreath Die Set by Tim and an idea-ology photomatic image.

To begin with I took a panel of black heavystock card and cut all my pieces using a selection of the dies from the Vault Funky Wreath Die Set by Tim. With my die cut pieces in front of me, I wanted to create this brushed metallic effect, aged bronze effect and for this I used Statue and Sterling Foundry Waxes.

I began by squeezing a little of the Statue Foundry wax onto my glass mat and then taking a brush, I picked up a little of the wax on the brush, wiped away the excess onto a tissue and then dry brushed the wax across the surface.

I then heat set the wax with my heat tool before adding another layer, this time using the Sterling Foundry Wax.

You can keep alternating and building up the intensity as you go, heat drying between applications but always allow some of the black card to show through.

I then layered the wreath to create the dimension ~ I cut three layers of the wreath which I layered over the top of one another, slightly offsetting them to form more of a fluffy, layered look to the finished piece.

I then took all the tiny pieces of foliage and flowers and layered these onto the wreath. To stick these into position, I just add a dab of collage medium to the ends of then tuck each piece into the main wreath itself.

I then added the beautiful die cut flowers, layering them and shaping them to create more dimension, and once again just tucking them in and placing them amongst the foliage.

Once I was happy with the wreath itself, I added pearls to the centres of the flowers.

Inside the wreath, I inlaid the photo. I used an image of a couple from the Photomatic set and to inlay the image, I used the large wreath die to cut the photo. It won't look perfect at this stage, but don't worry, all that is hidden by the wreath itself.

With my photo cut. I then applied a coat of Matte Collage Medium over the top, and colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and a waterbrush.

Taking the dimensional wreath, I placed this over the top of the die cut photo, lining up the two pieces so that the wreath will seamlessly fit into the cuts on the photo, therefore creating an inlaid appearance.

I then attached the finished wreath onto my smaller tag, placing it over the top of a piece of Mica tile from my stash.

On the Mica Tile, I placed a Clippings Sticker, "in my heart", attaching it to the bottom right of the wreath itself.

LOVE PLAQUE

Now for the plaque...

For this I used the alphanumeric letters from the Vault World Travel die set and cut three layers of each of the four letters.

After layering them over the top of one another to form the thickness of chipboard, I attached each of the letters onto a strip of black card.

I then created the aged bronze effect on this strip of black card using the same technique with the Foundry Waxes as I used on the wreath, highlighting the lettering with a touch of Gilded Foundry Wax.

On either side of the card strip, I punched two holes using the Crop-A-Dile Tool and fixed eyelets into the position.

I attached the plaque using foam pads, and placing it across the bottom section of the smaller tag.

In the centre of the 'O', I placed a small heart which I die cut from some inky red card that I had in my stash box, using the Falling Hearts die. Once again, I cut three layers to form one heart, which I then attached inside the 'O'.

I also placed two further hearts just to the top left of the plaque.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the final detail...the clip!

CLIP

The clip is from Tim's idea-ology range and they come in a set of 3. Using one of these Vintage Clips, I wanted to continue with the aged bronze effect on the clip and again, I used Foundry Wax to achieve this.

Before applying the wax, I applied a small amount of Translucent Grit Paste over the surface of the clip, and allowed for this to dry.

Once dry, I applied the waxes but this time I used my fingertip to create a heavier coverage. You can use a brush if you have allergies or sensitivities to the waxes, please always check before using.

I heat set the wax between applications and then wrapped some twine around the neck of the clip itself.

From the twine, I hung a Heart Adornment which I painted using Distress Paint. I used Candied Apple on the heart itself and then dry brushed Black Soot over the top to give more of an aged effect. I attached the adornment to a ring fastener and then hung it from the twine.

I then clipped it to the top of my tag.

Finally, I added a small torn piece of linen from my stash. I dyed the linen with some Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain, added some stitching and then placed a tiny stitch die cut, that I had left over from a previous project in the centre. I attached the linen with Matte Collage Medium, placing it on the left hand side of the tag.

That final touch, completes my project for this week and I hope you love my interpretation of the challenge theme and the techniques I've used to create an aged bronze finish to the pieces on this tag, and how I created the dimension on the photo wreath.

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....