Santa Claus Is Coming To Town...

 Happy Monday friends...

As the Christmas countdown begins, it's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is all about Holiday Cheer and we would love for you to join us and play along. The DT are showcasing the amazing products from the equally amazing Tim Holtz but this isn't something you have to do, but of course if you'd like to ~ then that would be fantastic!

For my project I created a Christmas card full of the holiday spirit and used one of Tim's brand new Christmas dies from Sizzix ~ the beautiful, stylised Retro Santa and hope you'll love how I made my project combining this image with Stampers Anonymous stamps and that gorgeous Moon Mask, which really is the gift that keeps giving ~ other than inks and tools, I honestly think this is the one thing in my stash that I use the most.

So, let's get started, say hello to Santa because it's time for some Christmas joy

To begin with I made a white card blank to measure 14.5 x 19cm and started by adding the first of my base layers.

I cut a panel of white card, and applied the Candy Stripe Christmas Design Tape around the edge of the card stock to create a patterned border. I then matted the panel on to a piece of navy blue cardstock, slightly smaller in size than the card blank and mounted these layers onto my card blank.

MOONLIT BACKGROUND

Now for the background and how I created that big moon behind him. I cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card and 11.5 x 16cm and I placed the solid Moon Mask onto the right hand side of the panel, slightly off the edge.

I then used a blending tool to ink around the mask using Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. starting with the lighter colour and then working my way inwards from the edge using the darker colour, adding less ink as I get towards the edge of the Moon Mask. To complete the background, I blended Villainous Potion Distress Ink around the edges.

Flick water across the surface to add tiny speckles and heat dry thoroughly.

After removing the mask, I inked the inside of the moon with Antique Linen Distress Ink before placing the detail mask over the top and inking through it with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.

To complete the moon, I added some darker shading around the edge and then stamped the sentiment in black Soot Archival Ink, using a stamp from the Festive Overlap set.

Machine stitch a border around the outside of the panel.

Now for the snow and I to create this, I applied Opaque Grit Paste through the Speckles Layering Stencil and then allowed for it to dry.

Matt the background onto a panel of silver metallic cardstock, followed by a layer of black kraft cardstock and a layer of white card. I then mounted the panels onto the front of my card blank, using foam pads.

ICICLES FOR DECORATING BORDER STRIP

Using the "Icicles for decorating Christmas Trees' stamp from the Vintage Holidays stamp set, I placed the stamp into my stamp platform, inked with Barn Door Distress Ink and stamped the border. Without removing the stamp from the platform, I inked it once more with a light touch of Black Soot Archival Ink and then stamped again.

Cut the border strip down to size and then after inking the edges, I attached this along the bottom edge of my card. Add a gold metallic droplet to each side of the strip.

RETRO SANTA

Now for my star, that gorgeous Santa. I just love this die, it really does epitomise Christmas and his face is just one of the best Santa's I've seen. The die itself is so simple to put together and I went for traditional colours, but you can choose anything you want.

To begin with I inked my layers and used the following colours:

Santa's Suit: White Heavystock Card inked with LumberJack Plaid and Candied Apple Distress Spray Stains

Beard and cuffed gloves: White Heavystock Card

Base layer: Black Heavystock Card

Belt Buckle: Gold Metallic Kraft Stock

Once I'd die cut all my layers, I inked the edges of each piece with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, before I started to build Santa. On the original die, Santa's face shows the red layer but I wanted to create a proper face, so after cutting the red layer, I then cut a second layer from white heavystock card, trimming the die to have just the piece that will become his face. I then adhered this over the top of the red layer before adding the final die cut layer, which will form the complete face and his beard. I used Distress Watercolour Pencils to add any details to the face.

With Santa complete, I attached him to my card using foam pads and placing him above the border strip.

FINAL DETAILS

We're nearly there and all that's left for me to do is add those gold snowflakes, complete with the Metallic Droplets centres.

I used the snowflake die from the Cozy Winter set to die cut gold metallic kraft card and attached three snowflakes onto the background. To complete the snowflakes, I added gold droplets in the centres of each

So that's my card finished and I hope you love what I've made and the ideas I've used to create this piece.

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 and if sometimes I miss it ~ just keep nudging me!

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....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Stampers Anonymous: Vintage Holidays, Festive Overlay, Moon Mask, Speckles Layering Stencil

Sizzix: Big Shot Foldway, Retro Santa, Cozy Winter

Distress Ink: Villainous Potion, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Distress Watercolour Pencils

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Christmas Design Tape, Metallic Droplets

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft,  Black Kraft Card, White Heavystock Card, Navy Blue Card

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Barn Door Archival Ink, Black soot Archival Ink, Grit Paste

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Tim Holtz Stamp Platform

Gold Rush

Hello friends and Happy Monday!

Hope you all had a great weekend and as we head into another week, it's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge to begin.

This week our theme is all about FUN WITH FOIL and all you have to do is create something that uses some kind of foiling ~ whether that is using hot foil plates or just adding metallic card, there's so much to choose from to make your projects shine and we would love to see them all!

For my make, I chose to use Metallic Flakes from Prima Marketing and combined these with the gorgeous new poinsettia in the Sizzix Brushstroke 3 Thinlits Die Set by Tim Holtz to create a focal point for my 1920's Hollywood glamour inspired Christmas card.

So let's get started, and I hope you enjoy how I created this card...

To begin with I made a card blank to measure 11 x 19cm before adding my base layers and for these I cut a panel of black card, 10 x 18cm and spritzed the surface with Decayed Mica Spray before heat drying it thoroughly and adding a machine stitched border around the outside. I then mounted the panel onto a piece of gold brushed metal cardstock. I then mounted the panels onto my card blank.

TAG AND LAYERS

Now to start building up the layers for my card and the first layer is created using the largest sized die in the Framed Tags Thinlits Die Set by Tim Holtz.

This is such a clever concept and really does create a beautiful effect and apart from the die, all you need is a brayer, embossing ink and gold embossing to create the debossed double border that you can see around the edge of the tag.

...and the best thing about it, it's so simple to do!

I began by inking the brayer with Simon Says Stamp clear embossing ink and then gently rolled the brayer over the surface of the die with the cutting edge. Place a panel of black card over the inked die and then place into your die cutting plate sandwich and die cut your tag.

Carefully remove the die cut tag from the die and then sprinkle the inked debossed tag with gold embossing powder. Tap away the excess and then heat emboss until the powder become shiny and molten. Flick Decayed Mica Stain across the surface of the tag and allow to dry.

I matted the tag onto a further piece of brushed gold card before mounting it centrally, onto the front of my card blank.

For my next layer, I used a piece of Distress Woodgrain card, 6 x 12.5cm and machine stitch a border around the outside before mounting the panel onto pearl card.

Mount the panel onto the card front using foam pads.

SENTIMENT

I cut a panel of the black card, 8.5 x 3cm and I inked up the sentiment, "Best Wishes For The Holiday Season" from the Stampers Anonymous ChristmasTime 3 stamp set in clear embossing ink and stamped the sentiment onto the centre of the card panel.

I then sprinkled with gold embossing powder, tapping away the excess and heat embossed the powder until molten.

After machine stitching the sides of the panel, I matted it onto gold cardstock and then mounted the sentiment strip onto my card blank using foam pads.

BRUSHSTROKE FLOWER

To create the poinsettia arrangement, I began by cutting the flower. I added a layer of an adhesive sheet to the back of a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card and cut the flower and it's layers, twice.

With my die cut pieces in front of me, I removed the backing sheets from each piece and applied Metallic Flakes over the surface of each of the die cut layers. Rub the excess flakes away, before removing any of the remaining flakes with a brush. I then assembled the flower by attaching and adhering all the tiny layers using Matte Collage Medium.

Once the flower is dry, I then ran my Gathered Twigs Crayon over the layers to give them shading and definition.

In the centre of the poinsettia, I added a gold Metallic Droplet.

For the foliage, I cut a selection of the pieces from gold and silver metallic kraft card.

I wanted to add the same flakes to these pieces but not add a complete coverage, so for this I used Prima Marketing Gilding Glue and roughly applied the glue with a brush to the surface of each piece of foliage.

The glue is ready to use once it's dry but tacky and at this point I applied the flakes, again rubbing away the excess and buffing any remaining flakes away from the surface.

I now have all my pieces ready, and just needed to arrange them onto my card just above the sentiment strip. I shaped and adhered each piece to add height and dimension.

In the centre of the poinsettia, I added a Metallic Droplet.

So that's my card finished and I hope you love this week's inspiration and the piece I've created.

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 and if sometimes I miss it ~ just keep nudging me!

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....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Sizzix: Big Shot Foldway, Brushstrokes 3, Framed Tags, Gold Surfacez Opulent Cardstock

Stampers Anonymous: Christmastime 3

Simon Says Stamp: Ultra Fine Gold Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Ink

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Mica Spray Stain: Decayed

Distress Crayons: Gathered Twigs

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Metallic Droplets

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft, Black Kraft Card, Black Card, Distress Black Woodgrain Card, Adhesive Sheets

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Metallic Flakes, Prima Marketing Gilding Glue,

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Brayer

Joy To The World...

Hello friends...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and ready for a brand new week of crafting and creativity! This week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, our theme is all about the most wonderful time of the year ~ CHRISTMAS and with this in mind, and so many festive products available, we would love for you to join us and play along!

For my make, I chose to create a tag all about the smiles, the laughter and the JOY of this magical season, and I combined products from across the Tim Holtz brands to make a festive project full of ideas that can be used on cards, scrapbooks, journals or home decor pieces...the world is your oyster and you can choose! At the time of making this project, I hadn't seen the new colour to the Tim Holtz Distress family ~ the glorious Lumberjack Plaid, so this was a complete coincidence that I chose to create a festive tag in red but I can't wait to try the new colour once it arrives and looking forward to seeing how it works with all my Christmas makes, and beyond!

So let's get started, and I hope you enjoy the process of how I created this project.

BASE TAG

To begin with I covered a mini size Etcetera Tag using Collage Tiles, which fit perfectly side by side across the tag. When it comes to the length, the tag is a little longer than a full tile, so I just trimmed away the excess, so that it fits. Adhere the tiles onto these surface with Matte Collage Medium and once dry, run a Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over each join and around the edges, blending out the colour and any harsh lines with your fingertip.

SMALLER LAYERED TAG

For the smaller tag that sits in the centre of the large one, I used a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag. I began by applying a layer of Translucent Crackle Paste through the Numeric Layering Stencil. Set the tag to one side and allow for the paste to crackle and do it's thing.

Once that has happened, you can start adding the colour and for this I used Distress Spray Stains; Barn Door, Aged Mahogany, Walnut Stain. I added a spritz of water over the top and allowed the inks to blend, and saturate the cardstock, and sink into those crackles.

I heat dried the tag very carefully, but you can allow it to air dry, and then I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I then stamped some script onto the inked surface, using the a script stamp from the Tiny Toadstools stamp set, before machine stitching a border around the edge.

I matted the tag onto a panel of silver metallic kraft stock and then mounted the layers onto my tag using foam pads.

At the top of the tag, I added a cut strip of Linen Patchwork Tape, folded over and stitched before I stitched a Snowflake Adornment, placing it in the centre of the tape, so it will hang down. Adhere the tape into place along the edge of the tag, and then I placed a mini pin into the fabric.

EMBELLISHMENTS

...and we'll start with the icicles, that sit underneath and can just be seen dripping down.

I took two idea-ology Mini Icicles and painted the backs of each one with Picket Fence Distress Paint, or you can use gesso.

I then allowed for the paint to dry, before flipping them over to the front, and smearing a good coverage of Glossy Accents over the top. I then sprinkled Rock Candy Glitter over them, tapped away the excess and allowed them to dry. Once they are completely dry, I attached them across my layered tags, placing them onto the smaller tag, but ensuring that they go from side to side of the larger tag.

PHOTO TRANSPARENCY

The photo that I used is from the Christmas Paper Dolls pack and I colour tinted it with Distress Watercolour Pencils and a water brush. I then placed the photo behind the Baseboard Transparency which is in the Christmas Baseboards pack. 

The edge of the baseboards piece is actually bare chipboard/mountboard, so a little trick to cover this is to use Design Tape Trims, and I used the matching plaid from the Christmas set, and just run it all along the edge, turning the edges over and adhering them to the back of the transparency.

LAYERS

Now to start building up the layers and I used the Holly branch and poinsettia die cuts from the Christmas Layers Botanicals and shaped each piece to create a more realistic look to the pieces. I then layered these onto my tag, placing them along and above the top edge of the icicle and using foam pads to add various heights and depths to each piece.

On the right hand side, I attached the Transparency frame, again placing it over the top of the botanicals, and adding some poinsettias around the edges to soften the corners.

To add more of an icy feel to the layers, I used Snowfall Grit Paste and a sprinkling of Mica Flakes, just on the tips of the botanicals and across the top of the frame. Leave to dry before splattering Picket Fence Distress Paint across the tag, covering the photo so that it protects it from the paint splatters.

'JOY' WORDING

With the tag set to one side, I moved onto my JOY wording and for this I used the Bold Text Christmas Thinlits Die Set and cut the letters, four times, from gold metallic kraft card.

I then stacked each die cut letter to form a really substantial JOY. I wanted more of a vintage feel to the metal, so I added some Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint over the top of the die cuts. I wiped away the excess, allowed to dry before repeating with Black Soot Distress Paint, again wiping away the excess. This technique just creates more of a tarnished look to the metal, less clean. I attached each letter to the tag, placing them just beneath the floral arrangement, and using foam pads to adhere them before adding a smear of Snowfall Paste and Mica Flakes to add a frosty touch.

We're nearly there and all that's left is a few tiny details...

STARS

The stars are from the Baseboard Layers pack, and I used two which I attached to either side of the lettering and in the centres of each star, I added a pearl droplet.

...and I completed the tag with a couple of Hardware Heads that I placed at the top, on either side.

So that's it, my tag is made and the joy is ready to be shared for Christmas. I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial and all the techniques that are in it.

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 and if sometimes I miss it ~ just keep nudging me!

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....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today...Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Numeric Layering Stencil, Tiny Toadstools

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Bold Text Christmas

Distress Spray Stains: Walnut Stain, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Distress Paint: Picket Fence, Black Soot

Distress Pencils

Distress Crayon: Walnut Stain

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Christmas Paper Dolls, Design Trim Tape, Snowflake Adornment, Christmas Layers, Linen Tape Patchwork, Christmas Ephemera, Collage Tiles, Christmas Baseboards, Christmas Layers Botanicals, Pearl Droplets, Mini Pins

Surfaces: Mixed Media Tags, Metallic Kraft Card

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Translucent Crackle Paste, Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint, Snowfall Paste, Mica Flakes

Tools: Glass Media Mat, Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer, Heat Gun, Splatter Brush, Collage Brush, Waterbrush,