"Not All Treasure Is Silver & Gold"...

Hello friends...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and ready for a brand new week ahead and a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, which this week is called "A Day At The Beach"!

For my project, I wanted to have some fun and used a combination of new and old Tim Holtz dies to create a piece inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, and giving you my interpretation of the challenge theme but with a slight twist as this isn't going to be a typical day at the beach!

So, buckle up mateys and let's get started because the new challenge has begun and this pirate won't wait for anyone...

To begin with I'll start with the background and for this I used a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock Card, 12.5 x 15cm and swiped the Speckled Egg Distress Ink Pad over the surface of the card, leaving some areas of the card untouched by ink. I then heat dried the inked surface before adding some stamped imagery and layers ~ for this I used stamps from the Mini Glitch Set using Barn Door Archival Ink and the script stamp from the Entomology Stamp Set using Hickory Smoke Archival Ink.

Now for the fun bit and using the Speckled Egg Ink Pad, I once again very lightly swiped the ink over the panel and working quickly, I sprinkled Speckled Egg Embossing Glaze over the top. Tap away the excess and heat emboss the glaze until molten.

I then inked around the edges of the card panel with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before misting the card very lightly with water. Whilst the card is still damp, I applied Rusty Hinge DI to my glass mat, spritzed with water and dipped the card panel into the inks. I repeated this using Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Oxide Inks before finishing with a final dip of Rusty Hinge DI.

This created a really nice rusty feel around the edges of the card and after a final inking of Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I machine stitched a border with black thread and matted the panel onto gold pearl card, followed by a layer of Blackout Kraft Stash.

Placing the mats of card layers to one side and wanting to add some texture to the final layers of card, I cut a panel of copper coloured card from the Metallic 2 Kraft Stash and embossed the card with the 3D Foundry Embossing Folder by Tim Holtz. You will have to do this in two separate passes, as the panel of metallic card is slightly larger than the folder but to do this, just place the embossing folder on the top half of the card, and pass through the machine before then removing the card, and carefully aligning the folder beneath the embossed area, on the bottom half of the card, to emboss this section.

After applying a layer of Black Soot over the entire metallic surface, I then took a soft cloth and wiped away the excess paint, leaving it to sit in the recesses of the embossed areas to accentuate the design. I then took some Old Silver Alchemy Wax and applied a touch of this over the top of card before matting the embossed panel onto bronze pearl card and a layer of black chipboard. Mount the previous inked card layer over the top, using foam pads to add some dimension.

At this stage, I also had some offcuts of the metallic card and I placed these underneath the raised inky glazed panel, placing them either side to create the look of brackets. Add a Hardware Head to each bracket.

Now to start bringing this panel to life and to begin I cut two of the Spider Webs and three spiders all from black card. After applying the embossing dabber to the die cuts, I sprinkled the webs with Bone Media Embossing Powder, tapped away the excess and heat embossed the powder. Attach the webs to the inky glazed background using Matte Collage Medium.

Emboss the spiders in the same way, using the Bone powder for the web and Black Embossing Powder for the bodies. To add a little extra creep, I used Nuvo Vintage Drops and placed a small dot on the back of each spider.

Set the spiders to one side and moving on, I started work on my lifebuoy ring and for this, I used the Steampunk Parts die to cut the large circles from chipboard. I cut four layers of chipboard for this particular piece and then layered them over the top of one another to create one substantial, chunky die cut. I then cut the smaller inner circle and attached this to the die cut.

After painting the entire piece with a coat of gesso, I then took some Candied Apple distress paint and applied the stripes around the lifebuoy. After allowing the paint to dry thoroughly I then took a dry brush and applied Frayed Burlap Distress Paint over the top of the die cut to create more of a vintage feel to the piece.

Once the lifebuoy was complete dry, I then took some twine and wrapped this around either side of the red painted areas on the die cut, securing the ends of the twine at the back. You can also see in the photo below how layering the chipboard creates a really lovely, substantial embellishment.

To finish this piece I threaded a long strip of the twine underneath each of the wrapped sections and allowed it to loop around the outer edge of the lifebuoy.

Moving onto my pirate and for this I used one of the oh so cute little Trick Or Treaters and cut all the pieces I needed from watercolour card to make him come to life before I watercolored him using Distress Marker Pens and a water brush:

Colour guide:

Face ~ Antique Linen, Spun Sugar

Hair ~ Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso, Gathered Twigs

Shirt ~ Chipped Sapphire, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Trousers ~ Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain

Boots and Eye Patch ~ Black Soot

Bandana ~ Candied Apple, Festive Berries

Eye ~ Mowed Lawn

To add some extra highlights and shading, I used Polychromos Pencils.

I assembled and layered all my painted parts of the pirate to create the image and then as a finishing touch, I added a little silver jump ring through his ear, as every pirate needs his silver swag.

Right, we're nearly there and I attached by two die cut elements to the background, using foam pads to add some more height and placing them over the top of the spider webs.

I then placed the spider die cuts around the images....

...and also added a stamped message, Hello Friend. This was stamped in Black Soot Archival Ink, onto an offcut of inked card using the Tiny Text Stamp Set. I attached the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner before adding a little die cut bat that I had left over from last week's project.

Now for the finishing touch, the pearls and the infamous black pearl...

For these I used Bauble Findings and coloured them with Alcohol Inks ~ Butterscotch, Mushroom and Pitch Black before arranging them to cascade out of the centre of the lifebuoy and down the panel. I attached each of these using Matte Collage Medium, placed some moss in amongst them and then set the whole piece to one side to dry.

...and that completes this week's fun project and I hope you've enjoyed how I took a die, the Steampunk Parts, and showed you how you can create something completely different to the original and also I hope you've been inspired with this fun piece, and my little pirate who's not only for Halloween!

Don't forget, if you would like to see more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog and 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 Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and well, and see you again soon, love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Tiny Text, Mini Glitch, Entomology
Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Spider Web, Steampunk Parts, Trick Or Treater, 3D Foundry
Distress Paint: Black Soot, Candied Apple, Frayed Burlap
Distress Marker Set

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Hardware Heads, Baubles
Alcohol Ink: Mushroom, Pitch Black, Butterscotch
Distress Ink: Speckled Egg, Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge
Distress Oxide: Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo
Distress Embossing Glaze: Speckled Egg

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Embossing Dabber, Gesso, SSS Black Embossing Powder, Bone Mixed Media Powder, Black Soot Archival Ink, Barn Door Archival Ink, Polychromos Pencils, Nuvo Vintage Drops Postbox Red

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock, Black Card, Distress Watercolour Card, Blackout Kraft Stash, Metallic 2 Kraft Stash

Glass Media Mat

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Twine
Moss, chipboard and various card from my own stash

Lost & Found ~ The Tale of the Black Pearl

Hello friends and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVES and we hope you will join us, have some real fun making your projects and play along!

When it came to making my project, I was inspired by two things ~ take one of the brand new amazing Chapter Three dies from Tim Holtz, add it to one of my favourite film series, Pirates of the Caribbean and of course, the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow and voilà, welcome to my version of life on the ocean waves and the curse of the black pearl.

So, ship ahoy and here's how I created my dead man's chest...

To begin with I took the large vignette box, I will be using the back of the box as the front of your project, together with the matching size of vignette panel, which will be the base of my project.

To create the wood finish on the chest, I used the Lumber 3D Texture Fade and taking two pieces of watercolour card, I lightly spritzed the card with water, placed it in the folder and ran it through my machine, 3 times. After removing the card and drying it thoroughly I used a brayer to add gesso onto the embossed card. By using a brayer, the paint will only touch parts of the embossed areas, and create a resist when I add the inks over the top. Dry the paint and then I misted Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone and Peeled Paint Distress Spray Stains over the top ~ adding a mist of water to move the inks around. Heat dry, or allow to dry naturally and then to accentuate the raised areas of the wood grain, apply the Gathered Twigs Distress Ink Pad directly over the top. Cut the wood grain paper into pieces to cover the front, the top and the two sides of the box and adhere the panels of card using Matte Collage Medium, which I also applied over the top to seal the card.

Next, I wanted to add some texture around the edges and for this I used Texture Crackle Paste and added it to my box using a palette knife. Allow for the paste to dry and the crackles to appear before adding colour using the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon, applying it directly to the crackle and then using a water brush to move it around and seep into the cracks.

To complete the box, I wrapped some chain from my stash around the box and secured it with a little hot glue at the back.

To create the base for the chest, I took the large vignette panel, applied some Design Tape to the raw edges and then covered the top of the panel with a piece of paper from the Etcetera Paper Stash, adhering it to the panel with Matte Collage Medium. Sand the edges of the panel before ageing it with the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon and then attached the box to my base.

We now have the basic chest, all ready to decorate....

...and let's start with the skull. I used the Tim Holtz Skull and Crossbones die which is one of the brand new Chapter 3 Sizzix releases. If you watched Tim's FB live, last Monday, you will know that I was so fortunate to be asked to design a few projects with these dies and I will be sharing tutorials for all the projects that Tim showed, as well as a few extras ~ so, keep a look out for these!

I cut my skull and crossbones a couple of times from thick chipboard and then layered them over one another to create a really substantial die cut. At this point don't throw away the little pieces that fall out of the die cut, you will need one fo these later!!!! I painted each piece with gesso to prime the chipboard and then applied some Grit Paste over the top, allowing it to dry thoroughly before using Distress Paints ~ Pumice Stone, Old Paper and Picket Fence to add some colour, adding the paint in layers so not to make it look to muddy.

Once my pieces were dry, I applied a little Gathered Twigs and Peeled Paint Distress Crayon over the surface to accentuate the paste and texture.

Now, all good pirates have to be dressed for the occasion and this one might have seen better times but he still needs to look good and to dress him up I added some fashion details, starting with his eye patch. Remember the eye piece that fell out of the die cut, you need one of these which I painted black and then I mounted the piece onto black card, trimming around the outside to create a border and a patch that is slightly larger than the aperture of the eye.

I wrapped a piece of elastic around my skull die cut, securing it with a knot at the back and then attached my eye patch over the left eye.

For his bandana, I used some cheesecloth that I dyed with Barn Door and Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stains and then wrapped around his head, tying it on the left hand side.

To complete this pirate, I added an earring, which is one of the charms from the Milogros set and just attached to a jump ring before I pierced his ear.

I attached my skull and crossbones to the chest using foam pads to add depth and dimension before attaching moss around the die cut and placing a small die cut spider coming out of his eye. This spider is die cut from black card, using the Frightful Things die set and embossed with Gunmetal embossing powder.

Moving onto the base of the piece, you can see I added quite a few bits and pieces that bring this story to life...

All the embellishments sit on a base of moss and then a smattering of Art Stones, which I painted with Unicorn's Hair and Dragon's Eye Sparks Paints. I attached both of these with Matte Collage Medium. I also added a small die cut spider's web, placed along the base of the chest.

To create the little rolled map, I used some of the map design paper from the Etcetera paper pad, rolled it up and then tied it together with some red twine.

I attached this to my base, together with some of those infamous Bauble Adornments that I love to use and yes, multi-buy because I find them so useful for so many different projects!!! Can't get enough!!!! I coloured with Mushroom Alcohol Ink and Smolder Alcohol Pearls. To tell the tale of the Curse of the Black Pearl, I then took two small shells, glued them together to create a hinge and placed a Bauble, inked with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink, inside and attached this to my arrangement, together with some Boneyard Findings.

The finishing touch is the bottle of rum, a tiny corked vial crackled with Rock Candy Crackle Paint and coloured with Sepia Alcohol Ink. I then attached this to the arrangement, but placed the cork below it.

We're nearly there and all that's left is to add the finishing details...

A key hanging from the chain, attached to the side of the box.

Some Vignette Hardware nails hammered into the top of the box and some Hardware Heads on either side...

...and finally, I used one of the Halloween Quote Chips, Lost & Found from last year and placed this onto two hardware pieces to slightly elevate it.

Well, I hope you've stuck with me on this one...it was quite detailed but really worth it and I hope you love the final piece, it was so much fun to create and I loved bring my Dead Man's Chest to life and tell the story of the Curse of the Black Pearl!

Have fun creating your projects and don't forget, you can find more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog 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 taking the time to stop by today and hope to see you again soon, love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Skull and Crossbones, Frightful Things, Lumber 3D Texture Fade
Distress Paint: Old Paper, Pumice Stone, Picket Fence
Distress Spray Stain: Barn Door, Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone and Peeled Paint

Distress Crayons: Gathered Twigs

Idea-ology: Hardware Heads, Halloween Quote Chips, Vignette Boxes, Vignette Panels, Vignette hardware, Word Keys, Boneyard Findings, Bauble Findings, Tiny Corked Vials, Jump Rings, Humidor Design Tape, Milogros Adornments

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Texture Crackle Paste, Grit Paste, Rock Candy Crackle Paint
Surfaces: Watercolour Card, Etcetera Paper Stash
Alcohol Pearls Ink: Smolder
Alcohol Inks: Pitch Black, Mushroom, Sepia
Prima Marketing Art Stones
Tim Holtz Media Glass Mat

Heat Gun
Palette Knife
Moss
Big Shot
Chain, shells, red twine and cheesecloth from my own stash