That's Life: A Spoonful Of Sugar...

Hello everyone...

It's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week's theme is called LOOK TO THE NIGHT SKY! ✨ The DT have created lots of inspiration using this fun theme and we can't wait to see what you will create, whether it's all things celestial, or a make inspired by the a creature of the night ~ it will be fun to see your interpretations.

For my make, I created a piece inspired by Mary Poppins and the adventures that await her as she drifts off into a moonlit sky and I used many Tim Holtz products within this make, including Etcetera pieces from Stampers Anonymous and die cuts from Sizzix.

So let's begin...it's time for some 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ fun....

To begin with I used a Size 8 Stampers Anonymous Etcetera tag and a Facade which I twisted around to have the point at the bottom.

FACADE

The facade is covered with some of the smaller sized Collage Tiles from Tim's idea-ology range. I cut the strips down into smaller sections, so that they fit the facade perfectly and then attached them using Matte Collage Medium.

I applied a coat of the medium over the top, and once this was dry I used the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to add a vintage touch, applying it around the edges of the facade and in between each of the joins of the collage strips.

After using the splatter brush to splatter some Picket Fence Distress Paint across the surface, I set this to one side to dry and moved onto the tag.

TAG BACKGROUND

I used a Mixed Media Heavystock Tag and the moon mask, and started by applying Distress Inks to the background to create the night sky.

I laid the smallest moon mask in the top right hand corner and then inked the tag with a combination of the following Distress Inks:

Uncharted Mariner, Stormy Sky, Villainous Potion, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, and Black Soot

I applied each of the first three colours separately to build up the background, taking the ink to approx 2/3rds of the way down the tag, before using Black Soot around the edges. Along the base of the tag, I used the brown tones.

Once I was happy with the night sky, I removed the mask and spritzed the tag with a light misting of water before heat drying the tag.

Taking the co-ordinating inner section of the moon mask, I inked through this with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. I then removed this and applied Antique Linen over the top to create the blend and soften the Hickory Smoke. I also added some shading around the outside of the moon.

After another light mist of water and inking the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, my background is complete and all I needed to do was machine stitch a border around the outside edge, add a few splatters of Unravelled Mica Stain and then attach the tag to a Size 8 Etcetera Tag using Collage Medium.

I then attached my tag to the Etcetera Facade using foam pads for added dimension and placing it so it overlaps the top edge of the facade.

ETCETERA TRIM

Across the bottom of the tag, I placed an Scalloped Etcetera Trim, which I covered with Backdrops paper from my scrap box, cut using the Decorative Trims Die Set. I attached the paper to the trim, placed this directly onto my tag, and then added the Theories Quote Chip, "Adventure Awaits", over the top.

On either side of the chip, I adhered a Screw Head, altered with a little Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antique Bronze Distress Paint, to create a rusty effect to the metal.

At this stage, I also placed an altered Screw Head on the point at the bottom of the Etcetera Facade.

DIE CUTTING THE SCENE

We can now bring the scene together and we'll start with the character herself using the dies from Sizzix/Tim Holtz The Park Thinlits Die Set.

I cut 4 layers of the silhouette and the umbrella from black kraft card, and a 5th layer from silver kraft card.

Once I had layered all my pieces to form one silhouette figure and the umbrella, I placed these over the top of the silver pieces to form a shadow behind her.

The figure and umbrella were attached to the tag using foam pads.

You might notice that I added some silver highlights to the umbrella which I did using a silver Sharpie Pen, running it down the handle and just over the top point.

Around her feet I used dried moss and flowers.

Now Mary wouldn't be complete without her scarf and for this I used an older die set that I had in my stash ~ Christmas Papercuts 2 Colorize. In this set is a snowman and he has a little scarf, which fits this figure perfectly. So I cut the pieces from inked card in my stash and placed the finished scarf around her neck.

With the silhouette in place, I needed to complete the night sky.

I used a couple of Sizzix/Tim Holtz die sets to create the stars and the clouds ~ Vault World Travel and Falling Stars.

The clouds are cut from watercolour card, then inked around the edges with Hickory Smoke and Speckled Egg. The stars are cut from silver metallic kraft stash card. I then attached all the pieces onto the background, adding small gems in the centre of the stars for some added sparkle.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the finishing touches....

DETAILS

In the top left hand corner, I adhered a number 28, which I had on my desk from a previous project but sorry, I can't remember which pack of Tim's ephemera this comes from ~ it's in one of them somewhere!!!!

I completed the piece by hanging a Swivel Clasp from the hole in the top of the tag, and then attaching a "Choose Happy" Thought Token from the end.

I altered the metal of the token using the same paints as I used on the Screw Heads and once dry, I used the Picket Fence Distress Crayon, rubbed over the wording before using a soft cloth to wipe away the excess ~ this technique will accentuate the wording on the token.

So that's my project complete and I hope you love what I've made and feel inspired by the techniques I've used.

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....