That's Life: Spread Your Wings

Hello everyone...

Can you believe how fast this last week has gone? It's literally flown by, which also leads me nicely into the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. This week our theme is called THINGS WITH WINGS and we would love for you to join us and play along, and share your makes featuring something with wings!

For my make, I chose to focus on insects and some of you might remember a post from last year where I showed you a technique for faux enamelling and how I used this to create some beautiful effects on the Funky Insects. Well, with this week's challenge in mind, I decided to make good use of one of those insects and create a tag to showcase things with wings...

So, let's get started and here's how I made my tag...

For this project, I used a Size 8 Etcetera Tag and Mixed Media Tag...

TAG

To begin with I started with the Mixed Media Heavystock Size 8 tag and I placed the Countdown Layering Stencil over the tag. Using a blending tool and Distress Micro Glaze, I dipped the sponge into the glaze, picking up a tiny amount of the medium, and dabbing away any excess from the sponge. You really only need a small amount of the glaze for this technique. I then applied the glaze through random areas of the stencil. When you remove the stencil and tilt the tag towards the light, you will be able to see the clear glaze that you've applied on the tag.

Allow for the glaze to dry before applying the colours. I used the following Distress Spray Stains:

SPRAY STAINS: Rusty Hinge, Chipped Sapphire, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Antique Linen

OXIDE SPRAYS: Crackling Campfire

Once I was happy with the blend, I allowed the tag to dry, inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before machine stitching a border around the outside edge.

I then adhered the tag to my Etcetera Tag before adding the postmark stamp, from the Field Notes Stamp Set, which I placed in the top left hand corner.

I added a safety pin to the stitching and a Machinery Head, painted with Black Soot Distress Paint over the hole reinforcer. To accentuate the detail on the metal stud, I applied some gilding wax.

FUNKY INSECT

For the tutorial of how to create the faux enamelling for the insect using Distress Glazes and the Sizzix Funky Insects die set by Tim Holtz, just click HERE

Once the insect is complete, I set this to one side to work on the frame and the layers...

FRAMES

As you might have noticed, I LOVE dimension and layers and this piece has it all...

For the layered focal point, I used an idea-ology Label Frame, some cotton calico and a Mica Tile from my stash, and the idea-ology Optics Frame.

I started by dying my cotton calico using Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain. I misted the material with water, then applied the stain before heat drying the fabric and cutting it to size, slightly larger than the frame. I frayed the edges of the fabric before attaching it to my tag with Matte Collage Medium.

For my next layer, I used the Label Frame. I'm using it vertically, and altered the frame with Distress Paints, Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze. I then applied some Gilding Wax over the surface.

I placed a panel of card behind the aperture which I had in my scraps box. This is just a piece of inked card, stamped with some calligraphy script. I attached the frame over the top of the cotton calico, again using Matte Collage Medium, which I used throughout.

I then attached the Mica Tile before altering the Optic Frame with the same paints as before. I then added some red cotton which I wound around the handle.

Attach the Optic Frame onto the Mica Tile and then add another smaller piece of Mica Tile before attaching the Funky Insect moth.

STAMPED DETAILS

To complete the tag, I added some stamping labels, the FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE.

Both of these are from the Stampers Anonymous Mail Art Stamp set by Tim Holtz, and I stamped them in Fired Brick Archival Ink.

We're nearly there, and all that's left for me to do, is add the two metal studs at the bottom. These are both long fasteners and after carefully snipping off the legs of the fastener, I hammered the studs to look old and beaten up, then attached both in the bottom left and right hand corners of my tag.

I painted them with the same paints as I used to alter the metal frames, and added a touch of wax over the top.

I then completed my tag, by painting a Hinge Clip with a combination of Candied Apple and Black Sloot Distress Paint. Once dry, I clipped this to the side of my tag, added some chain from my stash and Hund a Word Tag, "Found" from the end of the chain.

So, that's my project complete and I hope you love the inspiration and techniques I've shared.

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....