It's Time To Sparkle...

Hello friends and welcome to our last Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge of 2016!! Hasn't this year flown? This challenge is going to last for TWO weeks and we will be back on 2nd January, so if you have the time to join in and play along, we would love to see what you create for our PARTY TIME theme! Whether it be last minute Christmas ideas or maybe New Year...let's party!!

For my project, I created one last very special Christmas card to wish all my friends and followers a very Happy Christmas and New Year! I wanted to make something really frivolous and create the look of a real party atmosphere and the ideas and techniques that I used on this card can be used on any projects and wouldn't this make a wonderful scrapbook layout for New Year or even a personalised party invite....

So, it's time for a brand new challenge and here's how I created this piece...

 

To begin with I cut a piece of canvas card stock which I have in my stash and prepped it with a coat of Picket Fence Distress Paint. As I mentioned last week, I always add a layer of Distress Paint (you can use gesso or a multi medium) because it easily allows me to blend the Distress Crayons onto my surface and it also creates a white background and doesn't change the colour of the mediums I'm applying.

Heat dry the painted surface and then start layering the Distress Crayons. I used Victorian Velvet, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen and a touch of Hickory Smoke and blended the colours with a semi dry baby wipe. Once I was happy, I then added some texture and for this I started with some offcuts of card that I had in my stash and just attached them onto the background using Collage Medium, slightly offsetting each piece. I added some gesso over the top and then went in with the same crayons as I used on the background to build up the colour. To add some more texture, I applied Transparent Texture Paste through the Splotches Layering Stencil and allowed to dry, before flicking some Gold Watercolor Ink and Black Soot Distress Paint over the entire background.

Matt and layer the background onto kraft card, followed by a layer of corrugated card with a hint of gesso applied around the edges and finally a layer of gold card.

Now to create the party vibe and for this I began by altering one of the photos from the Found Relatives Occasions pack and just adding a wash of colour with Distress Marker Pens.

Matt the photo onto metallic kraft core cardstock and then attach with foam pads, sticking it directly onto the background over a layer of cheesecloth. I then added an Ephemera piece, which I cut in half and added to the top and bottom of the photo, (I'm really sorry but can't remember which pack this was from as mine are a little jumbled up).

Using the Dimensional Stars die, die cut three various sizes from gold metallic kraft core card and assemble them.

Using Collage Medium, apply the gel over the top of the cheesecloth and smear small amounts onto the background. Sprinkle Gold Rush Glass Glitter, Copper Micro Beads and some small gems over the medium and allow to dry.

Attach the stars with a strong adhesive, placing them around the photo. Cover the photo and then using the Distress Splatter Brush, splatter a small amount of Picket Fence over the stars.

To compliment the die cut stars, I also added some Finnabair metal stars, coloured with Gold Alcohol Ink and placed these in the top right hand corner.

Finally, I added some Gold Gilded Remnant Rubs, a couple of crystals in the bottom left and right hand corners and a Chit Chat sticker.

I really hope you've enjoyed the creative process behind this piece and you're inspired by some of my ideas!

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and Merry Christmas everyone!

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Dies: Dimensional Stars

Distress Paint: Picket Fence, Black Soot

Distress Crayons: Set 3 and 6, Hickory Smoke
Distress Marker Pens

Layering Stencils: Splotches

Idea-ology: Found Relatives, Gilded Christmas Time Remnant Rubs, Holiday Talk Metallic Stickers

Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Core

Mediums: Gesso, Collage Medium, Transparent Texture Paste, Royal Talens Ecoline Liquid Watercolor Gold, Gold Alcohol Ink

Finnabair Mechanical Mini Stars, Gold Rush Glass Glitter, Copper Micro Beads, Prima Fragments Crystal Stones

Tim Holtz Splatter Brush
Palette Knife

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun
Cheesecloth and Canvas Paper are from my own stash

Let There Be Snow...

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! This week our thoughts are turning to Christmas and I think we're all hoping that it will be a white Christmas with our theme ~ "Let There Be Snow"! Whatever you choose to create, we can't wait to see what you make and hope you'll join us for our fun challenge...

For my project, I created a panel inspired by a vintage photo from Tim Holtz's ChristmasTime Ephemera pack and I'm telling the story of a cold and frosty morning and three friends who I've affectionately named ~ Holly, Ivy and Myrtle! As always, I hope you love what I've created!

...and here's how I made this panel!

 

To begin with I cut a piece of canvas paper to measure, 28 x 19cm and prepped the paper by adding a layer of Picket Fence Distress Paint. I add this because I'm going to be using Distress Crayons and I find that the crayons blend really easily when I've added this layer underneath.

I then began adding my layers of colour and as I mentioned I used Distress Crayons ~ Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac and a touch of Blueprint Sketch, blending and layering up the colours to create this beautiful aurora borealis effect. Finally, for some added depth, I went in with Hickory Smoke and also added this around the edges. Once I was happy with the colour, I then needed some texture and for this, I used the Speckles and Snowflakes Layering Stencil and applied Grit Paste through the stencil. Whilst the medium is still wet, I then sprinkled the paste with a light dusting of Rock Candy Dry Distress Glitter and set it aside to dry. Layer the background onto a piece of silver metallic card stock, followed by a layer of corrugated card and a final layer of black Nostalgic Core'Dinations card.

For the snowflakes I actually used a background that I'd previously made but in the end didn't suit the project, so it never saw the light of day. Again it was created using Distress Crayons and then had Grit Paste applied over the top through a stencil. I added a touch of gold over the top of the dried paste. So once I'd found this old background, I decided to use it for the snowflakes which I die cut using the Stacked Snowflake die from Tim Holtz.

I layered the snowflakes using foam pads to create two dimensional pieces and added a jingle bell to the centre of each before flicking Picket Fence over the top to create a fine splatter effect.

For the focal point of the project, I used the beautiful vintage photo, inked lightly around the edges with Frayed Burlap and then matted it onto a piece of Core'Dinations cardstock, leaving a border around the outside.

I then roughly tore some pieces of corrugated card and added some gesso over the corrugations. I attached the card together with some Ephemera pieces onto my background, attaching the ephemera pieces with Collage Medium and the card layers with foam pads to create some dimension to the whole piece. I also had one die cut snowflake left over and cut this in half and just tucked it underneath the corrugated card pieces.

I then added some floristry fibres before attaching the photo into place.

To add some more texture, I smeared some Collage Medium onto the corrugated backing card and then sprinkled Glass Glitter and Micro Beads over the top. Leave this to dry before adding the gorgeous layered snowflakes to the opposite corners of the photo.

Finally, I added a message, die cut from Metallic Card using the "Greetings" from the Holiday Words die set and then layered over the top of a silver deco sheet. I love how these deco sheets sparkle when the light hits them...

Pop the message onto the canvas using foam pads and then to complete the canvas, I added one last die cut snowflake with an added a crystal in the centre.

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Dies: Stacked Snowflakes, Holiday Words

Distress Paint: Picket Fence

Distress Crayons: Set 5 and 6, Hickory Smoke

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap
Layering Stencils: Snowflakes, Speckles

Idea-ology: Christmas Time Ephemera, Jingle Brads

Surfaces: Nostalgic Kraft Core Card, Metallic Kraft Core, Deco Sheets

Mediums: Gesso, Collage Medium, Rock Candy Distress Glitter, Grit Paste

Pearl Art Ingredients Glass Glitter

Tim Holtz Splatter Brush

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun
Micro Beads, Floristry Fibres and Canvas Paper are from my own stash

'O' Christmas Tree...'O' Christmas Tree...

Hello everyone...

Can you believe we're fast approaching December? Where has this year gone?!?! At the moment, I think I've suddenly gone into panic mode and realised that I need to start thinking about Christmas, there are presents to buy, cards to write, food to prepare and so much more...

But in between all that, we have a brand new challenge starting today over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week it's called ~ "O" Christmas Tree! We would love for you to join us and can't wait to see what you create...

For my project, I made a dimensional home decor piece but it can also be used as a really special gift box or if you don't want to use the box, then why not use the sleigh for a Christmas ornament ~ the choices really are endless!

So, it's time for a brand new challenge and here's how I created this piece...

 

We'll start with the box and for this you can use any old box that you have, it really doesn't matter. For my box, I created a cube from mat board, using a Sizzix die from my stash.

I then painted the box with a coat of gesso before using a blend of Ground Espresso Distress Paint, painted directly onto the surface and heat dried and then dry brushed Tarnished Brass over the top.

Once the paint was thoroughly dry, I then cut panels of paper from the Tidings Paper Stash, inked the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and using Collage Medium to attach them into place, I covered each side in this beautiful mistletoe and berries design.

To create the embellishments, I took a Baroque Frame, painted it with a mix of Turquoise and Steampunk Copper Alchemy Paints to create a tarnished look and then, using a co-ordinating pattern, I attached a piece of paper from the Tidings Paper Stash to the frame. Attach the frame to front of the box.

For the deer, I used one of the Trophy Antler pieces from Tim Holtz. To begin colouring the piece, I removed the antlers and painted those with the Steampunk Copper Paint and then dry brushed the head with a small amount of Frayed Burlap Distress Paint. When the antlers are dry, pop them back into the slots and then attach the head to the centre of the frame.

On the remaining sides of the box, I added some Finnabair knobs.

For the top section which will be the base for the sleigh, I used some cheesecloth and attached this with Collage Medium and then sprinkled glass glitter, mica flakes and Distress Rock Candy Glitter over the top of the cloth to create a subtle sparkle.

I then used a Special Delivery Ephemera piece and attached this to a strip of woodgrain cardstock before securing it onto my box, together with some Bauble Findings. Add a smear of Collage Medium over the Baubles and then sprinkle with glitter.

Now for the sleigh...

To create this sleigh which is freestanding and 3D I used the Tim Holtz Sleighride die by Sizzix.

I began by die cutting two of the Sleigh Ride images from Little Sizzles Mat Board. Cut two pieces of chipboard measuring 1” square and a second piece to measure, 2” x 1”. Prime each of the die cut pieces with Gesso and set aside to dry.

Take one of the sides and the larger piece of cut mat board. Add a small amount of Glossy Accents along the longest edge of the rectangular piece of mat board and attach it to the sleigh. This forms the base and seat on the inside of the sleigh.

Take the square piece of mat board and attach this piece at a slight angle to form the back section of the sleigh. Attach with Glossy Accents applied along the edge of the chipboard.

Attach the final die cut sleigh piece, lining it up so that the die cut pieces are perfectly aligned and level and the sleigh stands freely on it's own. Leave the Glossy Accents to dry completely.

Paint the main body of the sleigh, inside and out using Candied Apple Distress Paint and then use Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint to paint the sleigh gliders. Leave to dry and then using your finger, run a small amount of Antiqued Bronze around the edge of the red section.

Once happy with the colour, use the Black Soot Distress Crayon to create a more worn, vintage look around the edges, blending the colour with a semi-dry wet wipe. To add a little more authenticity to the sleigh, I added some texture paste to the gliders and sprinkled with glitter.

Attach the number 25 Mini Plaquette to the side of the sleigh.

Now for the main part of this project...the tree! I used the largest Woodland tree and spritzed it with Forest Moss Distress Spray Stain and then painted the trunk with Ground Espresso.

Once dry, use your finger to smear small amounts of Glossy Accents over the tips of the branches and then dip into Rock Candy Distress Glitter. To complete my tree, I attached some red and white pearls and also covered these with some of the glitter.

To secure the tree to the sleigh, I wrapped a piece of Christmas jute around both pieces and secured it with a knot.

Attach the finished sleigh to the top of your box at a slight angle...

...and that is my project complete! I hope you love what I created and that you might use some of the ideas for projects of your own...if you do, I'd love to see them so please tag me wherever you know me!

As always if you do need any further inspiration, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Punches Dies: Sleigh Ride

Distress Paint: Tarnished Brass, Ground Espresso, Antiqued Bronze, Candied Apple, Frayed Burlap

Distress Crayons: Black Soot

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap

Idea-ology: Baubles, Christmas Jute String, Christmas Time Ephemera, Mini Plaquettes, Trophy Antlers, Baroque Frames, Woodlands Tree and Wreath Set

Surfaces: Tidings paper Stash, Little Sizzles Mat Board

Mediums: Gesso, Collage Medium, Rock Candy Distress Glitter, Texture Paste

Pearl Art Ingredients Glass Glitter
Prima Métallique Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint: Steampunk Copper, Rich Turquoise
Finnabair Mechanicals Mini Knobs

Ranger Craft Sheet

Heat Gun
Cheesecloth, Sizzix Cube die and pearls from my own stash

Shine Like A Diamond...

Hello friends...

It's time for a new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and this week we are showcasing Tim Holtz products with our theme...SHINE LIKE A DIAMOND. We really hope you'll join us and play along and can't wait to see how you add some sparkle and shine into your projects!

For my project, I created a Christmas card with a difference...inspired by the chalkboard style and using Perfect Pearls to create the shimmery chalkboard effect.

It's time for a brand new...

...and here's how I created this Christmas card full of sparkly goodness!

To begin with I started by stamping the wonderful message sentiment from the Tim Holtz Doodle Greetings Stamp Set 2. I cut a panel of black card and inked up the message with Versamark Ink, stamping the wording centrally onto the card. Whilst the ink is still wet, use a brush to pick up some Perfect Pearls from the pot and pounce the powder over the ink. When the entire inked surface is covered, gently brush away the excess to reveal the wording in all it's shimmery glory.

To set the powder, I spray the card surface with a very light spritz of hairspray. It doesn't have to be expensive, the cheapest is fine...it's just to set the powder. NOTE: You can also spritz with a fine water mist but I like the hairspray as it doesn't wet the cardstock.

Edge the border of the card panel using the Picket Fence Distress Crayon and then set aside.

To create the sparkly layers for the message, I cut another piece of black card, slightly larger in size than the message layer. I then added some Transparent Texture Paste around the outside edge of the card, using a palette knife to apply it. Sprinkle a combination of micro beads, glass glitter and Sugar Glitter over the top and allow to dry completely.

Once dry, matt the sparkly layer onto a piece of corrugated card, followed by a layer of gold metallic kraft core cardstock. I used foam pads to each layer for added dimension.

Now moving onto the background ~ and for this I cut another piece of black card and began by spritzing the card with Prima Color Bloom Spray in Frost. Heat dry the surface before then adding the next layer but I love the way that the spray creates this wonderful effect of the galaxy onto the card ~ it reminds me of the opening credits to Star Wars!

Using the Snowflakes Layering Stencil, I applied Transparent Texture Paste through the stencil and whilst the paste is still wet, sprinkle Vintage Platinum Distress Glitter Dust over the top. Set aside to dry and be patient...don't go poking the paste with your fingers!!!

Once dry, matt and layer the background onto a piece of gold metallic card, followed by a layer of silver metallic card and then wrap some twine around the centre.

I mounted my card layers onto the front of a kraft card, card blank and then attached my sparkly message onto the right hand side using foam pads to secure into place.

Now as if there wasn't enough shimmer and shine, I decided to add some more and attached sequins from the 28 Lilac Lane neutrals tin, sorting through the selection to get all the coppery, bronze metallic tones and attached these to the corners of the message....

...and also onto the background, clustering and layering them together.

The final part of all this shimmer is to create those poinsettias and for this I used the Tattered Poinsettia die to die cut gold kraft core card stock. I then layered each of the petals to give me these beautiful dimensional blooms.

Attach the blooms to the left of the message, together with some foliage cut from silver metallic card, using the Holiday Greens die set.

Finally, add some crystal gems in the centre of the flowers to complete this wonderland of sparkle.

 

I hope you've enjoyed how I created this chalkboard inspired Christmas card and as always if you do need any further inspiration, then you need look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz Dies: Holiday Greens Mini Thinlits, Tattered Poinsettia
Tim Holtz Stamps: Doodle Greetings Stamp Set 2
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Snowflakes

Distress Crayons: Picket Fence

Surfaces: Metallic Kraft Core, Kraft Card, Yupo, Black Card
Mediums: Ranger Transparent Texture Paste, Vintage Platinum Glitter Dust, Prima Color Bloom Spray Frost, Perfect Pearls, Versamark
Glitters: Gold Rush Glass Glitter, Copper Micro Beads, Antique Silver Art Sugar

Embellishments: 28 Lilac Lane Neutrals Sequin Tin, Prima Sweet Peppermint Crystals, White Hemptique Twine

Ranger Craft Sheet

Palette Knife

Foam Pads

Heat Gun