Every Detail Of Their Journey...

Hello friends and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week we are asking you to Transport It and however you choose to interpret the theme, whether that be with trains, planes or automobiles or maybe you want to do some time traveling in a place far, far away ~ we can't wait to see your wonderful projects and creations!

For my project, I chose to transport you to a tropical paradise, a place where adventure awaits the family in the photo and every detail of their journey in 1948 is documented within this vintage style tag full of layers and dimension.

So, let's get started because it's time for the new challenge!

I started by prepping the background for my tag, a medium sized Etcetera tag which I love to use as these tags are so robust and can take all the mediums that will be added.

I began by adhering a piece of paper from the Correspondence paper stash using a Collage Brush to apply the Matte Collage Medium to the paper. I then used a sanding tool to burnish the edges of the paper to create a smooth finish before applying a coat of the medium over the top and attaching the hole reinforcer which is painted with Ground Espresso and Antique Linen Distress Paints.

Once the medium is completely dry, I used a palette knife to apply Crackle Texture Paste around the edges of the tag. Set the tag aside and wait for the crackles to appear and whilst this magic is happening, I moved onto prepping the vignette frame.

For this I used the largest in the set of four frames and applied a coat of gesso to the surface. I heat dried the medium and then used a combination of Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Paints as a base layer on the frame. Once the paint is dry, I then dry brushed Ground Espresso DP over the top, dried the final layer before adding a touch of Aged Brass Alchemy Wax.

The crackles should now have appeared on the tag and to accentuate these, I used a blending tool to apply Ground Espresso Ink over the top of the crackles and then used a damp cloth to gently wipe away any excess ink. By doing this, the residue of ink should soak into the crackles. To finish the tag, I ran the Ground Espresso Distress Crayon around the edges and blended out any harsh lines with my finger.

Now to build up the layers and I began by attaching some Ephemera pieces from the Expedition set, together with torn pieces of Design Tape and collaged them directly onto my background using Collage Medium. I finished off by adding some shading and paint layers around the pieces and stamping a postmark from the Correspondence Stamp Set.

I aged a photo from the Found Relatives Occasions set by using a sanding tool around the edges and across the photo to create scratches. I wanted to keep this photo black and white, no added colour but I did apply small amounts of Vintage Collage Medium to random areas, just to age the image slightly before attaching the photo to the frame and adhering the frame over the top of the layered ephemera pieces.

Add a few splatters of Black Soot Distress Paint across the surface and set aside to move onto the flowers.

For these, you need to use both sizes of the flower dies from the Tropical Thinlits set to die cut lightweight card. I then painted the die cuts with a combination of Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin and Picked Raspberry Distress Paint, allowed the paint to dry before misting with the Pearl Mica Spray from Wendy Vecchi's Mica Spray Set.

I then shaped the petals and using three petals for each flower, I layered the two sizes to create my hibiscus flowers, making six flowers in total. For the centres of each flower I attached the stamens cut from the flower dies and then placed the pistil, cut from black card in the centre. To complete the flowers, I added a dome of Glossy Accents and sprinkled black micro beads over the top. Allow the centres to dry thoroughly, as these need to be set before you touch them.

For the foliage, I used Mixed Media Card. I applied Evergreen Bough and Forest Moss Distress Oxide Inks and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink to my Mixed Media Mat and then misted with water before swiping the card through the inks. Heat dry and then use both leaf dies to die cut the card. Ink the edges of the die cuts with Gathered Twigs.

I can now attach my flowers to the tag and arranged these, together with the leaves, sisal fibres and some twigs to the top right and bottom left corners of my frame. I also added some Melange Pebbles, which I painted with acrylic paints.

You can see the dimension that these give to this piece in the photo below.

To finish my tag, I added a mini plaquette, clippings sticker, 'Every Detail Of Their Journey' and a quote chip, 'Adventure Awaits' and placed these above and below the frame...

...before finishing with a hinge clip and swivel fastener, clipped to the side of the frame complete with some charms including a typed token, compass and metal gear.

I hope you love the creative process behind this project and enjoyed my interpretation of the challenge theme ~ it was such a fun piece to make and as always, I've loved sharing some tips and techniques that I've used to bring this project together.

 

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 stopping by today and I'll see you very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies: Tropical
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamps: Correspondence

Distress Paint: Antique Linen, Ground Espresso, Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Ground Espresso
Distress Oxide Inks: Forest Moss, Evergreen Bough
Distress Inks: Ground Espresso, Gathered Twigs, Shabby Shutters

Idea-ology: Clippings Stickers, Quote Chip, Mini Plaquette, Found Relative Occasions, Vignette Frame, Expedition Ephemera, Snippets, Typed Token, Swivel Clasp, Hinge Clip, Souvenir Adornments, Journey Design Tape

Mediums: Gesso, Matte Collage Medium, Vintage Collage Medium, Glossy Accents, Wendy Vecchi Mica Spray

Surfaces: Etcetera Tag, Correspondence Paper Stash

Tim Holtz Media Glass Mat
Big Shot Plus

Heat Gun
Sisal Fibres, Micro Beads and Moss from my own stash

Sugarplum Dreams...

Hope you've all had a fabulous start to your weekend!!

I just wanted to let you all know that today, I'm sharing one of my card projects over on the Craftwork Cards blog and here is a little sneaky peek of what you will find if you head on over there!!

I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about this card project and I can't wait to read all your comments!!

See you all soon...bye for now!

Love Emma xxx

Rhapsody In Blue...

Good morning everyone and hello to 2013!!

Hope you all had a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve!! Have you made any new year resolutions? Are you going to stick to them?? Lol! I think my new year resolution is going to have to be "find some me~time" and I'm sure from reading this blog, you will know as to whether I stick to it!!!

Anyway, a new month, means a new challenge over on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog and this month, it's all about YOUR FAVOURITE STAMP!!! Me? How could I choose just one??? But in the end, I slightly cheated and chose a couple and this is what I created...as always, I hope you like it!!

The stamps I chose were Tim Holtz's Papillon set and the Flower Power stamp plate from The Artistic Stamper. All products that I used to make this card are available from The Artistic Stamper and all the details are here.

Okey dokey, time for me to go and tidy up and then fill my new 2013 diary with new and exciting adventures.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look at what I've created and I can't wait to read all your comments. I will be visiting you all, asap and hope you will all join in with the new challenge and show us YOUR favourite stamp!

See you all soon and bye for now!

Love Emma xx

Candy Cane...

Hi everyone and happy Friday!! I only blinked and another week has flown by...eek!! Someone stop it now...time is going way too fast!! lol.

Some of you might have been expecting to see the final card in my Clarity shares, (it will be here tomorrow...promise) but today, I just wanted to let you all know about something very exciting happening over on the Craftwork Cards blog. Yes, we have a giveaway happening right now and you could all be in with the chance of winning one of three cards made especially for you by myself, Julie Cassidy and the wonderful Julie Hickey!! All you have to do is click HERE and head on over there, right now and leave your name and a comment and you could be one of the lucky winner!!!

...and this is my card...I hope you like it!!

Close up of all the detail of my card, using the stunning Candy Cane Glitter Pad and many more gorgeous products from Craftwork Cards.

See you tomorrow with my final Clarity card and until then....

GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters, I'll keep my fingers crossed and can't wait to see who the lucky winner will be!!!

Bye for now...love Emma xxx

From The Heart...

Another flying visit from me...to show you the final part of my Wedding Collection that I made for Craftwork Cards and CHA!! I had such fun working with all these products...they are just so gorgeous and as always, the quality of CWC, is second to none and it just keeps getting better and better!!

So, here is the last of my creations to complete the ensemble and I hope you like what I've created!

Wedding Card

Thank You Card

Table Decorations

The Gift Collection

Okey dokey, time for me to go and cook dinner but before I head into the kitchen...if you are a huge fan of Craftwork Cards, and who isn't?!?!?! If you have already started to think about your Christmas cards, eek...I know, terrible isn't it...but if you have, then why don't you head on over to the Craftwork Cards right now or click HERE because there's something very special waiting for you and I think you will love what they have on offer!!

Sorry for being so secretive but if you check back tomorrow...all will be revealed here on my blog!!

Bye for now and see you soon!

Love Emma xxx

Flowers In Bloom...

Anyone else finding that this week is flying again? I can't believe that it's Wednesday already...I'm sure someone is speeding time up...there is just not enough hours in the day for me to get everything done!! When I was a little girl, school days seemed an eternity...why can't craft days be like this?

Thank you to everyone who left such a lovely comment on my post yesterday and as promised, here is part two of my wedding collection that I made for Craftwork Cards and CHA 2012! I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about them...

This is a little place setting that I made, which once again has one of the gorgeous blooms that I built up from a few of the die cut flowers in the pad to create a 3D flower. I used the Candi Stamps to stamp the name of the person onto the Candi. Of course, if the name was longer the design would have to change slightly...lol!

I also made a small favour box from scratch, to accompany the collection. I thought this could be used for confetti, a slice of wedding cake...the possibilities are endless! The box itself is so easy to make, it's just a matter of getting the measurements and scorelines absolutely spot on...once that's done, easy peasy...just decorate it however you choose but I think these blooms just lend themselves to creating something really special and that would be treasured for a long, long time to come!

Once again, I've showed lots of pics to give you close ups of all the detail...

So, that's part two and I hope you like it... If you can check back tomorrow, and I would love it if you could, then I will be showing part three of this collection and you can see how everything comes together to make a very special wedding set.

Look forward to seeing you then...same time, same place!

Bye for now.

Love Emma xxx

L.O.V.E.

Good morning!!

Hope you are all well. Firstly an apology for being a little more quiet here in blogland lately but I have got a really good excuse....I have been run off my feet, I literally haven't had time to think and been crafting away for England. At the weekend, I spent two 14 hour days on the production line, making cards and meeting deadlines...it's a good job I love what I do!! lol...

In the meantime, you might remember that a while back I was creating something a little special for Craftwork Cards and CHA! Some of you might have already seen the photos over on the Craftwork Cards blog and I also was so excited to see photos on Flickr and Pinterest that someone had very kindly taken of this collection...I felt quite humbled and proud!! But, today I can start to reveal exactly what I made, with lots of close up pics to show all the details, and here is the first of those creations, a wedding gift box...I hope you like it!

The brief I was given was a vintage wedding, using the gorgeous flowers, Candi stamps and of course, Candi. I made the box from scratch, and just covered it in these fabulous blooms, that I built up for dimension. I added Candi clusters to some of the centres and gems to others.

You can just see the ribbon that goes around the box on this photo. I actually stamped directly onto the ribbon and then attached it to the box, adding a piece of Candi to each of the "O's" in LOVE!

Finally, I attached my message in the centre, die cut using Spellbinders dies and added Liquid Pearls around the edge.

So, this is just the beginning of my wedding collection and I hope you will keep checking back to see how this little set grows and grows and...grows!!!

I'll be catching up with all your blogs later today...

See you tomorrow with more CHA goodies.

Bye for now...love Emma xxx