That's Life: brutus monroe

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Monday, 1 January 2024

All That Jazz....

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Festive Holiday season and I hope you're now ready for 2024, which I can guarantee is already going to be an exciting Tim Holtz making season!

Today the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge team are back after their break and we have a brand new challenge starting today, which is appropriately called A NEW START! So, whether you received new goodies for Christmas, want to make a new year card or just want to try a new technique, then this is the challenge for you and we hope you'll join us and play along! The DT are showcasing the products of Brutus Monroe.

For my make, I chose to create a card to celebrate 2024 and all those new adventures that a new year, and new start bring with it and I combined products from Tim Holtz, Sizzix and Stampers Anonymous with a Brutus Monroe stencil to create my 1920's inspired card...

It's time for that new start, new year and a brand new challenge....

This gold card base measures 21 x 12.5cm and uses a Size 8 tag which I mounted onto the stencilled background panel. I'm hoping the photos do the gold embossing justice, but UK weather hasn't been the best and some of the shimmer and shine has been lost.

ENAMELLED STENCILLED BACKGROUND

To begin with I cut a piece of Distress Black Heavystock card measuring 19.5 x 10cm and I placed the Macrame Stencil over the top before applying Translucent Grit Paste through the design. After removing the stencil and working quickly, I sprinkled Gold Embossing Powder over the top and set the panel to one side to dry.

Once the paste feel firm to touch, I heat embossed the powder on a very low setting. You can build up the heat if you want, but be careful not to overheat the paste as this will cause it to bubble.

Once the powder had become molten and glossy, I attached the panel to a piece of black card, followed by gold metallic kraft card. I used foam pads to mount this onto a further panel of black card, that had a border which I machine stitched around the edge and finally attached the panels onto my gold card blank. The background is now complete and ready for the tag.

TAG

For the tag, I began by misting the tag with water and then adding the colour, and used Distress Spray Stains and Oxides Sprays in the following colours:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAINS: Speckled Egg, Uncharted Mariner, Walnut Stain and Stormy Sky

OXIDE SPRAYS: Speckled Egg, Broken China

MICA SPRAYS: Unravelled

After another mist of water, and a few flicks of both colours of Oxide Sprays, I heat dried the tag thoroughly.

Making sure my tag was dry, I then applied Crackle Paste through the Stampers Anonymous Falling Stars Layering Stencil, and whilst the paste was still wet, I sprinkled a combination of Distress Glaze over the top. These include:

Fossilized Amber, Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina and Broken China

I just randomly sprinkled each powder to create the colour on the background. Tap away the excess, and again set the tag to one side to dry before heat embossing the powder, until it becomes molten.

After inking the edge of the tag with Walnut stain Distress Ink, I then machine stitched a border and matted it onto black kraft card. I then mounted the tag onto the centre of my card blank.

At the top of the tag, I placed an Index Clip idea-ology piece and then added a Hardware Head to the centre. Both pieces are altered with a touch of Distress Paint; Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze.

We're now ready to embellish the tag and to add all that jazz....

SENTIMENT

The sentiment is stamped onto a die cut circle of mixed media heavystock card which I coloured with the same sprays as I used on the background.

I then used clear embossing ink to stamp the sentiment from the Festive Overlay stamp set in the centre. You will notice that I masked off the 'in the new year' part from sentiment.

Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the top and then heat emboss until molten. I then flicked a light coverage of gold paint over the circle before matting it onto a mount which is cut from gold metallic kraft card, using the Seal Die and Switchlits Embossing Folder.

I then mounted the sentiment onto my tag, using foam pads.

TAILORED

For the hat and suit, I used the Tim Holtz Tailored Die Set from Sizzix and cut all of my pieces. I chose a black suit, black top hat and red accessories, but you can choose whatever colours you prefer. For the bow tie, I added polka dots with a white pen.

As a final touch I added a tiny vintage metal bead onto the shirt and a gold adornment star onto the hat.

I then used foam pads for height to attach the pieces to my tag.

2024 STARS

The stars across the bottom of the tag, are all cut using the largest die from more of the card that I used for the sentiment and I used the the Falling Stars die set. I then layered each star over gold metallic card again cut with the same die, to create a drop shadow and outline.

I then attached them in a swathe across the tag using various depths of foam pads.

On each star, I added the numbers, 2024, again cut from gold Metallic kraft card using the Alphanumeric Bold Thinlits dies and layered these onto the stars.

FINISHING DETAILS

For the final details, I added Hardware Heads painted with Candied Apple distress Paint for a chippy vintage look and placed these in each corner of the card....

...and finally I added the Metallic Sticker, The Adventure Begins beneath the 2024.

So, that's my card ready for 2024 and I hope you've loved the tricks and techniques I've used to create 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!

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 and Happy 2024 ~ I hope it brings you everything you wish for!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Brutus Monroe Macrame Stencil and Gilded Ultra Fine embossing powder

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Falling Stars Layering Stencil, Festive Overlay

Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway, Seal Dies and Switchlits Embossing folder, Tailored, Falling Stars, Alphanumeric Bold Thinlits Die

Distress Paint: Candied Apple, Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze

Tim Holtz Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg, Broken China

Mica Spray: Unravelled

Distress Spray Stains: Speckled Egg, Uncharted Mariner, Walnut Stain and Stormy Sky

Distress Glaze: Fossilized Amber, Speckled Egg, Broken China, Salvaged Patina

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Hardware Heads, Metallic Sticker Book, Star Adornment

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Grit Paste, Crackle Paste, Gold Paint

Surfaces: Black Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft Stash, Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Tag

Hot Glue Gun

****These are not affiliate links****

Monday, 3 July 2023

That Summer Feeling...

Hey everyone...

Hope you all had a great weekend and as another new week begins, so does a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is all about SUMMER and the DT are also showcasing Brutus Monroe products within their designs! So back to the theme, and with all the gorgeous seasonal products that are available, I'm sure you'll be spoilt for choice but if you do need some extra inspiration, then our lovely teamie, Macarena has designed a mood board which you can see HERE!

For my make, I decided to say hello to Gladys the Flamingo to create a card with a tropical, summery vibe and combined the Brutus Monroe Flowering Vine stencil with products from Tim Holtz, Sizzix and Ranger Ink to bring this fun scene to life.

So let's get started, it's time to say aloha to Gladys....

If you ever watch the Tim Holtz lives then you will know that Tim ofter refers to an "Emma sized card", which is slightly larger in size than the standard size card but here in the UK, we do tend to make slightly larger cards, and this is one of them...

CARD BLANK

I began by making a white card blank measuring 14 x 18cm and I matted a piece of kraft cardstock onto the front. I sanded the edges of the card to reveal the kraft core, and for this I used a sanding disk, attached to the blending tool.

Along the bottom edge of the kraft card, I stamped a decorative border in black Archival Ink and this is taken from The Inspector stamp set.

LAYERS

Now to start building up the layers and for the next layer, I cut a panel of Watercolour card, 11.5 x 15cm, spritzed it with a light mist of water before applying a blend of the following Distress Sprays and Oxide Sprays:

Distress Spray Stains: Rustic Wilderness, Antique Linen, Speckled Egg

Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg

Once I was happy, I dried the card and then placed the Brutus Monroe Flowering Vine Stencil in the centre. Using a palette knife, I applied some Distress Translucent Texture Paste through the design. After removing the stencil, I sprinkled Rustic Wilderness Distress Glaze over the top, tapped away the excess and then allowed for the paste to dry thoroughly.

Once the paste is touch dry, I then heat embossed the glaze until shiny and molten but always move the heat gun around and be careful not to apply too much heat in one spot as this will cause the paste to bubble.

I completed the panel by adding a machine stitched border around the edge and then matted it onto silver metallic kraft card, followed by a layer of card, that has a border of Journey Design Tape applied around the edge.

I then mounted the panels onto my card blank.

TAG

Moving onto the next layer and this is a size 8 tag which features the same stencil as I used on the backing layer but this time used Crackle Paste.

To start with I placed part of the stencil directly onto the tag and then applied Crackle Paste through the design.

After removing the stencil, I used Distress Glazes to add colour:

Speckled Egg for the petals, Fossilized Amber for the centres and Peeled Paint for the leaves. I then set to one side and allowed for the crackles to appear and the paste to become touch dry. Once that happens, then just as I did for the previous layer, I heat embossed the glaze.

I then spritzed the tag with the same colours of Distress Sprays and Oxide Sprays as I used on the previous layer before I allowed the inks to dry.

Ink the edges of the tag with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before machine stitching a border around the edge and then matt the completed tag onto silver metallic kraft cardstock. I finished the tag by adding an eyelet through the hole reinforcer and fixing it with my crop-a-dile tool.

Before I mounted the tag onto my card, I applied a Remnant Rub date in the top left hadn't corner, together with an Ephemera Label taken from the Keepsakes pack.

I then mounted the tag onto my card blank using foam pads...

...placing it in the centre of the card, but allowing it to slightly overhang the top edge of the card blank.

GLADYS

We're now ready to introduce the star of the show...say hello to Gladys!

Using the Gladys Thinlits Die Set, I cut all my pieces and layers from Mixed Media Heavysotck Card inked with Picked Raspberry, Saltwater Taffy and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Inks. The beak is cut from card coloured with Mustard Seed and Fossilized Amber and the remaining pieces are cut from black kraftstock and white card. I then assembled the pieces to bring Gladys to life.

I placed Gladys onto the tag, placing her on the right hand side and attaching it with foam pads.

FOLIAGE and FLOWERS

Around the base of Gladys' feet, I added an arrangement of Funky Foliage.

The leaves and foliage are all cut from Mixed Media Heavystock card using dies from the Large Funky Florals dies set. The card panels are coloured with Rustic Wilderness and Peeled Paint Spray Stains, and once dry, I cut each leaf before blending Forest Moss around the edges and then shaped them before arranging them onto my card, attaching them to a real twig that I adhered across the tag.

To add some more texture, I placed moss and curly moss into the arrangement. This moss is from my stash but can be bought from many craft stores and finsihed the arrangement with some bouquet findings, which I dyed using Taffy Saltwater and Kitsch Flamingo Spray Stains.

We're nearly there and all that's left is to add the quote chip that I placed on the left hand side...

...and the tiny Par Avion label from the Field Notes Snippets pack, that I adhered with Matte Collage Medium across the bottom of the card panels.

Finally, I threaded some rope from my stash through the hole in that tag to complete my make for this week, which I hope you love!

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

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Brutus Monroe: Flowering Vine Stencil

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: The Inspector

Tim Holtz for Sizzix: Gladys Colorize, Funky Florals Large, Tim Holtz/Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway

Distress Spray Stain: Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, Rustic Wilderness and Peeled Paint

Distress Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg

Distress Inks: Walnut Stain

Distress Glaze: Speckled Egg, Peeled Paint, Fossilized Amber, Rustic Wilderness

Black Soot Archival Ink

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Journey Design Trim Tape, Labeled Remnant Rubs, Keepsakes Ephemera, Bouquet Findings, Field Notes Snippets, Quote Chip Label

Mediums: Foam Pads, Translucent Texture Paste, Crackle Paste

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock, Mixed Media Tag, Cool Kraft Card, Black Kraft Stock Card, Metallic Kraft Stock

Glass Media Mat

Blending Brushes and Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Rotary Paper Trimmer

Heat Gun

Rope from my own stash

Monday, 4 January 2021

A Heart Full of Bright Hopes

Hello friends and Happy 2021!

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe Christmas! It was definitely different to other years where we've had family gatherings and spent time with loved ones but even though it was quiet, it was definitely a special day!

So as we close the door on 2020, we say hello to a brand new year and this week's Monday Challenge at Simon Says Stamp see's us celebrating all things new with our challenge ~ USE A NEW/OR UNUSED PRODUCT! The DT are also showcasing Brutus Monroe products within our projects, which is not something you need to do to play along but if you have any of their products in your craft stash, then we'd love to see what you do with them.

For my project, I chose to use a brand new Brutus Monroe stencil to create a background for my tag, which is all about a brand new year, one that I think we all hope will bring us all health, happiness and maybe even a small return to normality!

Here we go...it's time to start the first SSS challenge of 2021!

I started by creating a background for my tag and I wanted to use watercolour card for this particular project and I cut the card into a Size 8 tag shape. You can get a die for this, but I haven't got one so I just cut around the outline of a Mixed Media Heavystock tag in my stash.

I then inked the tag with a combination of Speckled Egg, Ice Spruce, Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stains. I misted the stains over the tag which I'd dampened with a light misting of water, I also spritzed more water over the inks to blend them together.

After heating drying the tag, I added some stamping to the background. I used the script and music score stamp from the Poinsettia stamp set and stamped directly onto the tag with Black Soot Archival Ink. I also used the flourish stamp and stamped the image around the edge of the tag using clear embossing ink and Ultra Fine Gilded embossing powder by Brutus Monroe.

Now for my new product and I used the Bubbles stencil from Brutus Monroe and applied Distress Crackle Paste through the stencil, applying it to the top right and bottom left hand corner.

Working quickly whilst the paste is still wet, I sprinkled Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder over the top, tapped away the excess and then set to one side, allowing the paste to crackle and do it's thing. And once that has happened, I then heat embossed the powdered covered crackle, being careful not to overheat the paste.

After machine stitching a border around the edge, I adhered it onto a Size 8 Etcetera Tag, using Matte Collage Medium and added the hole reinforcer piece, which I'd crackled and painted with Evergreen Bough and a touch of Walnut Stain Distress paint.

Moving on, it's time to make my heart...

For this I used the Sizzix Heartbeat Thinlits die by Tim Holtz and a panel of white heavystock card. This die actually cuts into the card but I wanted to have a stand alone heart. So to create this, I began by die cutting the heart as normal and then just used the pieces that fall out of the die cut. I also removed the heartbeat rhythm line from inside the die cut, before putting the waste to one side to use later.

Taking the two heart sections, I painted these with a combination of Candied Apple and Black Soot Distress Paint, applying a layer of Candied Apple first and then dry brushing a layer of Black Soot over the top to deepen and intensify the colour.

Once happy, I then applied the Distress Embossing Dabber over the top of each of the painted heart sections, sprinkled with Brutus Monroe Icicle Ultra Fine embossing powder and then heat embossed each piece.

I repeated this process a further couple of times to create an enamelled effect to the heart.

Taking the heartbeat line, I applied the dabber to the line and embossed this with Brutus Monroe Gilded Ultra Fine embossing powder.

Now to piece my heart back together and I used the heart section that I placed to one side and I needed to create a solid heart shape to mount my pieces on to and this is where the waste heart die cut comes into play, I used this as a stencil to trace around the heart onto a piece of card before cutting around the pencil outline to give me one solid heart.

I then pieced my painted heart sections and the heartbeat line onto the solid heart that I cut, giving me one complete red heart, the thickness of chipboard.

To add some detail and shading to the heart, I just dabbed around the edge of the die cut with my embossing dabber before applying some gold embossing powder and heat embossing to create more of a vintage feel.

To finish the heart, I added some Black Soot Distress Paint, and using a minimal amount on a paintbrush, I brushed the paint over the top and working quickly before it dried, I wiped away the excess, just allowing the paint to sit in all the 'nooks and crannies' on the die cut.

For the wings, I used the Winged 3D Embossing Die and cut one set of wings from gold metallic kraft stash. I applied some Black Soot Distress Paint over the top of the wings, and as before, I wiped away the excess so that it just accentuated the die cut.

To elongate the wings so that they are behind the heart, I snipped them into half and reattached each one behind my heart shape.

Attach the heart to the tag using foam pads.

Beneath the heart, I added a piece of torn corrugated card, which I painted with a combination of Tumbled Glass, Evergreen Bough, Ground Espresso and Black Soot Distress Paints before adding some Vintage Gold Alchemy Gilding Wax over the top. I inked the torn edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and attached across the bottom section of the tag.

The embossed metal was actually left over from a separate project, but this is just a piece of metallic 3 kraft stash embossed using the 3D Foundry Texture Fade. I then used a combination of Black Soot, Antiqued Bronze, and Ground Espresso to colour the metal.

I attached the strip of metal across the tag, placing it over the top of the corrugated card and wrapping it around the sides before adding some Hardware Heads to either side. These are painted with Distress Paints to create more of rusty finish.

After die cutting the numbers, 2021 and cutting each number three times from black card using the Alphanumeric Classic lower case Thinlits die ~ I layered the die cuts over the top of one another to create the look of chipboard letters. I then used a little of the Alchemy Gilding Wax over the top and attached them onto my metal strip using matte collage medium.

I added a few die cut hearts, cut from red card using the Falling Hearts die and all found in my leftovers box and attached these to the background and also placed some smaller strips of the embossed metal, wrapping them around the edges of the tag.

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

I added a Clippings Sticker to tell the story ~ "heart full of bright hopes"...

...and then added a Swivel Clasp into the hole at the top of the tag, complete with a Typed Token, "hope", both of which I altered with Distress Paints to create more of a vintage, rusty feel to the metal work.

So that's it from me for today and I hope you love this tag and the ideas and inspiration I've shown in my post.

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 Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....