That's Life: Born In The USA...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a fabulous weekend and you're ready for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, our theme is all about STARS AND/OR STRIPES and we hope you will join us and play along with our fun challenge theme.

For my make, I created a tag in celebration of the 4th of July and dedicate this to all my friends and followers in the USA. To make this tag, I used a combination of Tim Holtz products, including Sizzix dies, idea-ology and a Stampers Anonymous Etcetera Tag.

So, let's get started because it's time to share how I created my tag...

TAG

To begin with I covered the Mini Etcetera Tag with one of the papers from the Blue 8 x 8 Palette Paper Collection. After adhering the paper to the tag with Matte Collage Medium, I applied a coat of medium over the surface, allowed this to dry and then ran my Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges.

To add layers on this tag, I chose to use a combination of Large Etcetera Tiles and Mosaic Tiles. These tile will fit around the outside of the tag, and you will be left with a small gap in the centre which you don't need to worry about as it will be covered.

I covered each tile in various papers from the Blue Palette Collection and sanded the edges back to give a neat finish. I then applied a coat of the medium over the top and as with the tag, I ran the Walnut Stain Crayon around the edges before attaching the tiles to the tag.

Set to one side to dry, and I would recommend putting something weighty on top to ensure the tiles are completely flat and adhered to the tag.

Approximately two thirds of the way down, I added a Scalloped Etcetera Trim that I covered in the same paper as I used on the tag. I cut the paper with the Decorative Trims die by Sizzix and then attached the covered trim across the tag.

PHOTO AND FRAME

The frame and the photo are both cut using the Marquee Sign Die Set. I began by cutting the background from Distress Watercolour Card inked with Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Ink, and then cut the inner frame with the cut out circles from a piece of card painted with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint. After adhering this frame over the top of the solid piece, I then used the third die, the smallest in the set to cut the photo.

I use a photo from the Tim Holtz idea-ology Snapshots Vol 2 pack, I just adore this image and it was perfect for my tag. To cut the photo, I positioned the die on the area I wanted to use and then ran it through the die cutting machine.

Once cut, I colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and once dry, I attached this to the centre of the frame.

I then mounted the frame onto my tag with foam pads.

In the bottom right hand corner of the photograph there is a date, July 4th and I cut this down to size to use. You can see it attached to one of the large Etcetera Tiles in the top right corner of the tag and then attached a screw head.

USA

For the USA plaque, I used Mini Stencil Chips and stuck these onto a piece of Palette Paper. I matted the chips onto a piece of mount board and then attached the plaque to my tag with foam pads.

To add a touch more rusty goodness to the plaque, I adhered a Screwed in each of the four corners that I painted with a combination of the following Distress Paints; Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze. I also stuck a small piece of Cello Sticker Tape to the plaque.

STARS

Now to cut the dimensional stars and I used the die in the Tim Holtz Vault Rosette set by Sizzix. I cut 3 pieces from Mixed Media Heavystock and then painted them red, white and blue using Distress Paints ~ Lumberjack Plaid, Uncharted Mariner and Picket Fence. You can use Distress Inks, but I wanted more of a solid coverage, so the paint worked better.

Once dry, I folded along the scorelines to create the dimensional stars. I then attached the stars to the tag, arranging them around the bottom of the photo frame...

...and adding some shredded Mummy Cloth, dyed with Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain, which I attached along the Etcetera Trim.

To accentuate the folds on each of the stars, I applied some metallic wax.

You can see how dimensional these beautiful stars are in the photo below...

FINISHING DETAILS

All that's left now is the finishing details and I began by adding the Decorative Clip at the top of the tag. You get three clips in the pack and I chose to use the narrower one. I attached a Star Adornment in the centre of the clip and once dry, I applied some Translucent Grit Paste over the surface.

Once again, I allowed this to dry before painting the surface of the metal with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint. I used Gilding Wax to accentuate the pasted areas on the painted clip which I had left to dry completely before applying the wax.

Place the clip at the top of the tag.

Finally, I added a Screwhead to the tile on the top left of my tag, and also some cello sticker tape, which completed my project for this week

I hope you love the tag I've made and if you're inspired by this project, I would love to see your makes. So, drop me a message on socials and I will pop on 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....