That's Life: Never Forget...

Hello friends....

This week's brand new Simon Says Stamp Challenge is called THINKING OF YOU and we would love for you to join us and play along with this fun theme!

As always, there are so many interpretations for this challenge and we can't wait to see what you create.

For my make, I chose to honour and remember all those who have fought so bravely for our countries and as tomorrow is Armistice Day, I thought there was no better time than to make this tag featuring a poppy wreath, made using Tim Holtz dies from Sizzix.

So, let's get started and here's how I created this tag!

For this project I used a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag, and a Size 8 Etcetera Tag as my base.

BACKGROUND

To create the background, I used the Heavystock Tag and began by applying a coat of Black Opaque Paste through the Rosettes Mini Layering Stencil. I wanted quite a dark background for this piece to reflect the occasion, but used Mica Spray Stains to add a slight hint of shimmer and shine.

I allowed for the paste to dry thoroughly and then after misting the tag lightly with water, I applied my background colours:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAIN: Black Soot, Antique Linen

OXIDE SPRAY: Speckled Egg

MICA SPRAY STAIN: Crooked Broomstick, Unravelled, Iron Gate

Once I was happy with the colour, I dried the tag before adding some stamping across the bottom. For this I used the border stamp from The Inspector Stampers Anonymous set and stamped the border using clear embossing ink. I then sprinkled gold embossing powder over the top and heat embossed the powder until molten.

To complete the tag, I added some machine stitching around the edge before adhering the tag onto the Etcetera Tag, using Matte Collage Medium.

Finally, I used gold watercolour paint to add some splatters across the surface...

...and placed a Snippets Ephemera piece in the top right hand corner.

POPPY WREATH

To create the poppies and greenery for this wreath, I used a selection of the smaller floral and foliage dies from the Sizzix Brushstroke 2 Thinlits die set by Tim Holtz.

I began by using Distress Spray Stains to add colour to the Mixed Media Heavystock card...

POPPIES: Lumberjack Plaid, Crackling Campfire

LEAVES: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Holly Branch Mica Spray

I then cut all my pieces ~ each poppy has two die cut layers and I also cut two layers of the stamens, from black card and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I layered the die cut pieces over the top of one another, offsetting the second layer and then shaped the petals. I made 8 flowers in total.

Cut the foliage pieces from the inky green card.

I then used circle dies to form my base. You will need approx 8cm and 6.5cm dies to form the frame for your poppy wreath.

I then built up my poppies and greenery around the circular frame, covering the circle so that it doesn't show.

With my wreath complete, I added gold Metallic Droplets into the centres of each poppy.

PLAQUE

To create the plaque that sits across the wreath, I cut a piece of gold metallic Kraft card, 8 x 2.5cm and then applied some Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress Paint over the surface. Wipe away any excess paint, as you don't want this to become too dark, you just want it to look weathered.

I then die cut each of my letters to spell the word "REMEMBER". I cut these four times to create and then layered them over the top of one another to create dimensional letters. I attached the letters to my strip and then dry brushed some Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint over the top.

Once dry, I then attached the plaque across the centre of the wreath, using foam pads to secure it into position.

Finally, I added two Tiny Clips to each side of the plaque.

FINISHING DETAILS

I finished this tag by adding 3 Hardware Heads across the bottom of the tag, all of which I painted with the same paints as I used on the plaque.

I then added some rope from my stash.

So, that's my tag complete, and I hope you love the details and techniques I've used to make it.

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....