That's Life: baubles

Showing posts with label baubles. Show all posts

Monday, 25 May 2026

Love & Marriage...

Hello everyone and Happy Monday...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and the sun has been shining wherever you are. As always, on a Monday, we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, the DT are feeling some love in the air because our theme is all about WEDDINGS/ANNIVERSARIES. So, if you would love to join us and share your makes, then all the details are at the end of this post.

For my make, I chose to make something with a wedding theme using products from Tim Holtz, including idea-ology and Sizzix and even though I used a paper doll couple on this piece, it would be wonderful to personalise it with a precious photo and create a special gift for someone getting married, or a memory of someone who is now celebrating an anniversary of many happy years together.

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

TAG

To begin with I used a Mini Etcetera Tag and flipped it upside down, so the shorter edge is on the bottom.

I then covered my tag using a selection of pinks and blues from the Large Collage Strip pack. I cut these down to size, to ensure that they fit the tag and then adhered them directly onto the tag using Matte Collage Medium.

I applied a coat of the medium over the top to seal the paper and once dry, I ran my Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges, and blended out any harsh colour with my fingertip.

I then attached a couple of idea-ology Ephemera pieces from the Field Notes Snippets and the Memoirs pack, adhering these to the covered tag. You can see the snippet in the top left corner...

...and the date, which I placed in the top right corner, placed vertically down the side.

I splattered the surface with some white acrylic paint, allowed this to dry and then added some gilding flakes around the edges of the tag.

The gilding flakes create a beautiful distressed look to the tag and are adhered to the project using Prima Gilding Flakes Glue.

I applied the glue by stippling it down the edges of the tag using a fairly stiff paint brush. Allow for the glue to become tacky before applying the gilding flakes. Ensure the flakes cover all the sticky areas and buff any excess flakes away.

The tag is now complete and ready for the next stage...

LEDGE

For the ledge, I used two Etcetera Trims, one Pinked Trim and one Bracket Trim. I covered the pinked trim with some paper in my scrap box, I believe this offcut was from Backdrops Vol 5 and used the co-ordinating Sizzix die to cut the paper before adhering it onto my trim. I then painted the bracket trim with Speckled Egg Distress Paint. Once the paint was dry, I attached the bracket trim to the pinked trim to form a 'L' shape which will become my ledge.

I adhered the ledge to the tag with Matte Collage Medium.

I chose the bride and groom, from the Group Pack of Paper Dolls and colour tinted it using Distress Crayons. I attached the couple to my tag using foam pads.

Now to colour those beautiful shiny baubles around their feet and for this I used various sized baubles from the Bauble pack.

I wanted three separate colours and used Aqua, Sherbet and Mushroom Alcohol Inks. With the selection of baubles ready, I then placed them one, by one onto the ledge using Glossy Accents to adhere them and hold them into position.

Once all the baubles were added, I walked away, had a coffee and allowed the medium to set and make sure those baubles were not going anywhere.

After my break, I added some moss and dried flower stems in amongst the baubles.

idea-ology ADORNMENTS

With the focal point completed, I moved onto my embellishments and started with the quote, 'my whole heart'. The quote token is from the Typed Tags set and I mounted this over the top of two Foliage Adornment pieces.

To add the bronzed effect to the metal, I began by adding Statue Foundry Wax directly onto the surface of the token and the foliage pieces. I then heat set the wax before applying a light touch of Sterling Foundry Wax and again heat set the wax. Finally, I applied some of the Gilded Foundry Wax to the raised areas only and heat set this.

I attached the foliage pieces to the tag, placing them so they mirror one another and then attached the token using a foam pad on the back. To complete the arrangement, I hammered a Nail Tack through the hole of the tag.

Beneath the ledge, I added a Salvaged Heart. I painted the surface of the heart with Spun Sugar Distress Paint and then once it was dry, I rubbed some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the top and added the word 'Love" from an older set of Tim's Remnant Rubs that I have in my stash.

I attached the heart to the tag with Matte Collage Medium and then added some Screw Heads to this bottom section, again altered with the same process as I altered the metal quote.

Finally I added some Cello Sticker Tape to the tag...

...and I completed the project by attaching a Hinge Clip complete with a Swivel Fastener and lock and key for the symbolism that he holds the key to her heart! All these metal pieces are altered with the Foundry Waxes as before.

So, that's my make complete and I hope you love the piece I've created.

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:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Pinked Etcetera Trims

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Decorative Trims, Big Shot

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antiqued Bronze, Speckled Egg

Distress Crayons

Alcohol Inks: Sherbet, Aqua

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Cello Sticker Tape, Key Adornment, Screwheads, Nail Tacks, Baubles, Backdrops Vol. 5, Group Paper Dolls, Typed Tags, Foliage Adornments, Lock and Key, Swivel Clasp, Hinge Clip

Gilding Flakes

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Foundry Wax, Gilding Flake Glue

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Moss

Monday, 28 April 2025

We'll Meet Again....

Hello friends...

As we begin a new week, it's time for the next Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is called WHATEVER THE WEATHER!

Now, I always like to try and think outside the box and for this project you might be thinking, 'what's that got to do with weather"? Well, the story behind this piece is all about a street party, and here in the UK, us Brits have always celebrated big occasions, such as a Royal Weddings, a Jubilee or a Coronation with a street party and 'whatever the weather', come rain or come shine, these parties always go ahead. But maybe the biggest street party in history was the celebration of victory in Europe in 1945 and with this in mind, and with the 80th Anniversary of VE Day on the 8th May, I chose to create a project celebrating this special occasion and hope you love the piece I've made using products from Tim Holtz.

So, whatever the weather, let's get started and here's how I created this tag!

PREPPING THE TAG

I used a Mini Etcetera Tag as my base and began by covering the edges with Tim Holtz Design Tape. The one that I used is an older design that I had in my stash, but you can use any available design for this purpose.

I then cut a panel of paper from the Correspondence Paper Stash to fit the front of my panel, leaving a narrow border of the tape showing around the outside. You will notice that there is a different design at the bottom and this is because I cut the paper into two pieces, and the blue design is the reverse side of the Union Jack section.

After ripping and tearing the edges of the paper, I machine stitched a border around the outside of both my panels, and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before attaching the separate panels to my tag using Matte Collage Medium. It doesn't matter about the join of the two papers at this stage as we will be hiding that with Etcetera Trims.

In the top left and right hand corners, I attached Screwheads which I painted with LumberJack Plaid Distress Paint.

To complete the background, I used one of the Numbers Snippets which I attache to the top left hand corner. The date on this piece is actually May 12th but I snipped the year off and then altered the date to the 8th, so it would be the correct date. I adhered this into place with Matte Collage Medium, and added a Cello Sticker down the side.

Finally, I used the stars from the Labeled rub ons and placed these above the date.

...and I added some Black Soot Distress Paint splatters across the surface.

ETCETERA TRIMS

I used two of the medium lengths of Scalloped Trims, and using the matching dies that are available from Tim and Sizzix, I die cut and covered one side of each of these trims with some more of the papers from the Correspondence Stash.

Run the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon along the edge to make them appear more worn and shabby before attaching the trims to one another to form an 'L' shape which is going to become a ledge.

I then attached this ledge to my tag, hiding the join in the papers. With the ledge in place, I applied some Crackle Paste to the top section of the ledge, and also along the edge. Allow for this to dry before adding Pumice Stone Distress Crayon to accentuate the crackle. I always run the crayon over the surface and then use a baby wipe to blend it into the cracks.

I attached two Hardware Heads to either side of the ledge, and painted these with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint.

In the centre of the ledge, I placed an idea-ology Let's Celebrate Metallic Sticker.

SCENE

We're now ready to decorate the tag and we'll start with the scene.

For this I used a Paper Doll from the Poses set and I applied a coat of Clear Gesso to the surface. I allowed for this to dry before I used Distress Crayons to colour tint the image. I also added white highlights to the dresses to give a little more interest.

I mounted the Paper Doll onto the left hand side of my tag, using foam pads to add some dimension.

Now for the fun part and colouring those Red, White and Blue baubles. After selecting various sizes of the Baubles, I used the following Alcohol Inks to add colour; Denim, Red Pepper and Mushroom.

I placed the baubles in a small zip lock bag, or you can use a plastic container, and add a few drops of the alcohol ink. I then seal the bag and give them a shake to cover the baubles with ink. After I'd emptied them out onto a paper towel, I allowed them to dry before I attached them to my project using Glossy Accents and placing them along the length of the ledge.

I then added some moss clusters in between and some dried grasses from my stash.

Just above these ladies heads, I added a Clippings Sticker, "peace and happiness", and to their left, I attached an ephemera piece, a stamp from Field Notes Snippets.

1945 and VE DAY

For the year 1945, I used the Alphanumeric Label Die Set. This is from my stash, and is sadly unavailable at SSS but I'm sure most TH addicts probably have it their stash. I cut each number 3 times from gold metallic card, and layered them up and then cut a further layer from black Kraft card and attached the gold numbers to the black layer to create a drop shadow,

I attached the numbers down the centre of the Union Jack.

Underneath the ledge, I cut the words VE DAY using the Bold Alphanumeric Die Set. Once again I cut three layers from gold metallic Kraft card, followed by a fourth layer from black Kraft card. After attaching these letters to my tray, placing them underneath the ledge, I altered them with Distress Paints for more of a worn, vintage look to the lettering. I used Crackling Campfire and Black Soot, with a hint of Antiqued Bronze.

BUNTING

The bunting die is part of the Bunny Games Die Set, and I just cut this three times, once from Mixed Media Heavystock inked with Antique Linen, once from card stock inked with Candied Apple, and a third time from card stock inked with Faded Jeans. I repeated to make a second strip of bunting before I assembled each piece by adding the little flags to the solid die cut section. After inking the the edges of each die cut, I placed these across the top of the tag.

To complete the bunting, I tied pieces of string into tiny knots, and placed these on each end of the bunting rope.

DETAILS

We're nearly there and all that's left is the finishing touches...

I altered a Hinge Clip with Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze and Salvaged Patina Distress Paint and clipped this to the left hand side of the tag. I then attached some chain from my stash, and hung a Word Tag from the end.

I painted the "Hope' word tag with more of the Lumberjack Plaid paint before accentuating the letters using some gilding wax from my stash.

...and that's my make for this week complete and I hope you love this piece and the inspiration behind 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!