Simon Says Stamp DieCember® Blog Hop Day 2

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 2 of the DieCember® Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be joining this hop, and you might have arrived here from Melissa Phillips' blog, but if not, and you want to catch up with everyone who is participating in this hop, then don't worry because you can head back to the beginning, by clicking HERE and if you would like to see the entire product release , then pop on over to HERE.

With so many wonderful new releases for DieCember®, you will be spoilt for choice but hopefully this hop and all the amazing designers are going to inspire you and we can't wait to see your makes. For my project, I wanted to create something that wasn't using the traditional colours of Christmas and the holidays and I chose to create a card and matching gift tag using the Blooming Poinsettia Embossing Folder and matching die set, and hope you'll enjoy reading all the details of how I created this card.

So, let's get started...it's time to hop along!

To begin with I created the card blank and used white cardstock to make a tent fold card measuring, 14.5 x 18.5cm.

I cut a panel of slate grey cardstock, 14 x 18cm and stitched a border around the outside edge, before matting this onto the card blank.

EMBOSSING FOLDER BACKGROUND

Taking the Blooming Poinsettia Embossing Folder and Matching Die, I place a piece of black card inside the folder and ran it through my die cutting machine.

To accentuate the embossing, I gently brushed a white ink pad over the raised areas. Set aside to dry, or use a heat tool.

Once the ink is thoroughly dry, I started to apply and layer the waxes to the cardstock. For this I used a combination of Lisa Horton and Finnabair metallic waxes.

Using my fingertip, you can use a dauber or blending tool, I started by applying the teal, followed by the rich gold, before adding light touches of the Firebird and White Gold waxes. You don't need a lot of wax, less is more and you can build up the intensity by adding more if needed.

Once I was happy with how the waxes had added the metallic shimmer to the design, I moved onto stamping the border at the top and bottom.

For this I used the Stampers Anonymous Ornate Trims stamp set by Tim Holtz and used clear embossing ink to stamp the border along the top of the card panel. Sprinkle with Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder before tapping away the excess and heat embossing the powder until molten.

Repeat with a border along the bottom of the card panel.

After adding some machine stitching down the left and right hand sides, I matted the card panel onto gold metallic Kraft card. I then used foam pads to matt the layered panel onto black cardstock.

To complete the background, lightly splatter white paint over the embossed panel and allow to dry.

RIBBON

Cut a strip of ribbon, and using either a splatter box, or a craft sheet, spritz the ribbon with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stain. Scrunch the ribbon inside a piece of paper towel to remove any excess stain and then heat dry.

Wrap the ribbon around the bottom section of the layered card panels and tie with a bow on the left hand side.

Attach two Holiday Bells to the centre of the bow, using hot glue.

Mount the panel onto the card front.

DIE CUT POINSETTIA

Taking the die from this embossing folder set, cut two poinsettias from black card before embossing both of them using the matching folder.

Using the same technique as I used on the background, apply the waxes to accentuate the embossing ~ start with the white ink pad, and then apply the waxes over the top.

To add dimension to the flower, I began by attaching the first poinsettia to my background panel, using foam pads and slightly offsetting the die cut.

I then took the second poinsettia and cut away some of the petals. I cut away two sections from opposite sides of the die cut before attaching this with foam pads. Place it directly over the top of the previous die cut, before adding a gold metallic droplet in the centre.

Cut 4 individual pine sprigs from more of the black card, using the Pointy Pine Sprig die from this release and once again, I used waxes over the die cuts.

To add some sparkle to the sprigs, smear each of the die cuts with a light touch of Matte Collage Medium and then sprinkle them with Rock Candy Crystal Glitter. Once they are touch dry, arrange and attach them around the poinsettia.

At this stage, I also added some Rock Candy Glitter to the petals of the poinsettia ~ who doesn't love some sparkle?!?

We're nearly there and all that's left is some finishing details....

SENTIMENT

The sentiment, 'Season's Greetings' is from the Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz, Scribbly Trees stamp set and after stamping and embossing it with gold embossing powder, I used the coordinating die set to die cut the wording before mounting it onto my card with foam pads, placing it in the bottom left hand corner.

To complete the card, add three gold metallic droplets to the background panel.

TAG

To create the gift tag, I used exactly the same techniques as to make the card but this time, I cut the shape from the embossed background using one of the Nested Stitched Ovals, which then mounted onto a gold metallic stitched oval die cut, approx 7cm in width.

I punched a hole in the top of the tag, and threaded more of the ribbon through before stamping and attaching the Merry Christmas sentiment from the Scribbly Trees stamp and coordinating die set.

To complete the tag, and add some more sparkle ~ I applied Glossy Accents around the gold layer, and then sprinkled Mica Flakes over the top. Tap away the excess and allow to dry.

So, that's my card and gift tag complete and I hope you love what I've created.

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the blog hop from the blog comment section! So, this means you can leave a comment here and on every stop along the way to increase your chances. Winners will be notified and they will be posted on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, 10th December and all winners will need to contact/email Simon Says Stamp to claim their prize. 

Also, don't forget that you have until the 7th December at 11:59 EDT or whilst stocks last, to grab yourselves the exclusive Bundled Snowman die set which will be automatically added to your cart.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and see you soon, love Emma x

HOP ORDER

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Nina-Marie Trapani

Laura Bassen

Suzy Plantamura

Nichol Spohr

Mindy Eggen

Sandi MacIver

Keisha Charles

Melissa Phillips

Emma Williams

Lorraine Aquilina

Rachel Alvarado

Barb Engler

Dana Joy

Carol Hintermeier

Trina Pham

Click HERE to shop for products

Simon Says Stamp: Blooming Poinsettia Embossing Folder and Die, Pointy Pine Sprigs, Nested Stitched Ovals, White Ink Pad

Stampers Anonymous Stamp Sets: Scribbly Trees Bundle, Ornate Trims

Distress Spray Stain: Lumberjack Plaid

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Glossy Accents, Snowflakes, Firebird Wax, Rock Candy Glitter, Matte Collage Medium, Gold embossing Powder, Versamark Clear Ink

Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Stash, Black Card, Slate Grey Card

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Metallic Droplets, Holiday Bells

Lisa Horton Metallic Wax: Teal, White Gold, Rich Gold

Tools: Blending Brushes, Blending Tool

Ribbon

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway Machine