That's Life: die cut flowers

Showing posts with label die cut flowers. Show all posts

Friday, 20 March 2026

Simon Says Stamp In My Heart Blog Hop ~ Day 1

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 1 of the In My Heart Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be joining this hop, and you might have arrived here from Miriam Prantner's blog, but if not, and you want to catch up with everyone who is participating in this hop, then don't worry because you can head back to the beginning, by clicking HERE and if you would like to see the entire product release, then pop on over to HERE.

For my card, I was inspired by watching the flowers come to life in the garden, and knowing that spring is finally on its way. But of course, spring also brings another special occasion ~ Mother's Day and with this card, I wanted to celebrate all those special Moms out there who deserve to be made a fuss of. And even though my Mom is a bright star in the sky, that would never stop me celebrating and honouring her and I used some of the gorgeous products from the release, together with a few Tim Holtz products to make a very special card for my best friend, my mom!

So, let's begin ~ it's time to share how I created this card and the arrangment of flowers.

CARD BLANK and LAYERS

I started by making a card blank from Kraft card measuring, 17.5 x 13.5cm.

I then cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card, and lightly misted the surface with water before applying Speckled Egg, Bundled Sage and Pumice Stone Distress Spray Stains. After another mist of water to blend the inks, I heat dried the panel.

I then inked up the 'dots" stamp from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Dots and Floral stamp set using Peeled Paint Archival Ink, and stamped onto the panel. For a panel of this size, you will need to re-ink the stamp and repeat to get a continuous pattern.

After machine stitched a border around the edge of the stamped panel, I mounted it onto the centre of my card blank.

I then cut a panel of green card from the Cool Kraft Stock Stack measuring, 14.5 x 10.5cm and matted this onto a layer of mixed media heavystock inked with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, and a second layer of the green card, each time leaving a narrow border showing around the outside.

Attach the panels to the centre of the covered card blank to form the base layers for the floral centrepiece.

EMBOSSED PANEL

For my next layers, I used the AALL & Create Quirky Postage Dies and cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock using the largest size of postage stamp, together with the inner solid layer.

I inked the die cut cardstock with the same sprays as I previously used on the background, heat dried the inks and then inked the edges of each piece with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Taking the inner die cut layer, I placed this inside the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Intertwined Embossing Folder and ran this through my Big Shot.

I then added a machine stitched border before attaching this piece to my postage stamp die cut and wrapping a piece of velvet ribbon around the bottom section of the panel, securing the ends at the back.

On either end of the ribbon, I added two idea-ology Mini Clips.

Using foam pads, I attached the layers to my card front.

CIRCLE OF FLOWERS

For the circle itself, I used the SSS Stitched Circles die set, approx 8.5cm in diameter and the SSS Basic Circles Die Set. Using the Stitched Circle die, die cut a piece of Kraft heavystock. You only need the solid section from the die cut, discard the remaining waste or you can use it as frame for another project.

I then took the next size down in the Stitched Circles die set and using a circle, slightly larger in size, I placed this on the outside of the Stitched Circle die. Run this through the Big Shot and you will be left with a frame and a solid circle. You need both of these. Repeat this process three more times but this time I cut the pieces from gold metallic Kraft card. You should now have one solid large circle in Kraft, one smaller circle in the mixed media heavy stock and four frames. Place any leftover circles to one side for another day.

Ink the edges of the Kraft circle with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then layer the frames over one another to form a raised edge to the circle.

Add colour to the remaining solid mixed media heavystock circle, using the same Distress Stray Stains as used on the background. Once dry, attach the solid circle to the centre of the frame.

To create more of a vintage feel to the gold metallic frame, I lightly sanded the surface and then used Crackling Campfire, Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints and a light touch of Black Soot Distress Paints. Apply these in layers directly onto the metallic surface, building up the colour to create the rusty look to the frame.

Attach the circle to the card front with foam pads.

FLORAL CENTREPIECE

The flowers and stems are die cut from Distress Watercolour Card using the Jaunty Stem Die Set.

I used two layers for each flower and then coloured the petals and stems with Distress Inks in the following colours:

Flowers: Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed and Saltwater Taffy

Stems: Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage and Rustic Wilderness

Once all my die cuts were watercolored, I layered the pieces to create double petals, added the centres and completed each flower with some white pen work. I then attached all the die cuts to my circle, arranging them to fill the circle and using foam pads to add height and dimension.

FINISHING DETAILS

We're nearly there and all that's left is those finishing details....

Using the Mom set of EZ Strips, I cut the "To the best mom ever', which I matted onto Kraft card and 'I love you" from the sheets.

I attached the first sentiment across the bottom of my circle of flowers.

With the other sentiment, I placed this into a die cut label frame. The label is cut from metallic cardstock using the dies from the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Specimen Die Set and I attached a screw head to either side of the frame. I then altered the surface using the same technique as I used on the circle.

The label frame is attached to the centre of the velvet ribbon strip using Matte collage Medium to secure it into place.

Finally, I added some Cello Sticker Tape pieces around the edges of the card...

...pinned a Mini Pin to the corner of the background layer, which I folded back, and completed the card by placing a Snippets Ephemera Piece, '5 For' to the top right hand corner.

So, that's my card finished and I hope you love what I've created and enjoyed the techniques I've used.

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the blog hop from the blog comment section! So, this means you can leave a comment here and on every stop along the way to increase your chances. Winners will be notified and they will be posted on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, 25th March and all winners will need to contact/email Simon Says Stamp to claim their prize.

Also, don't forget that you will have the not yet released Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Day 3x4 stamp automatically added to your card that contains any purchase from the In My Heart Collection. The gift with purchase will expire on the 22nd March at 11;59pm EDT or whilst stocks last.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and don't forget to go and check out Day 2 of the hop tomorrow!!!

See you soon, love Emma x

HOP ORDER:

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Emma Williams <<<you are here

CLICK HERE to shop all products used to make this card

Simon Says Stamp: Basic Circles Die Set, Stitched Circles, Jaunty Stem, EZ Strips Mom Set

Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Intertwined Embossing Folder, Specimen

AALL & Create: Quirky Post Dies

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Dots and Floral

Distress Spray Stains: Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, Bundled Sage

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Saltwater Taffy, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage and Rustic Wilderness

Tim Holtz Distress Paints: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Black Pen, Matte Collage Medium

Surfaces: Kraft Card, Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Distress Watercolour Card

Tim Holtz idea-ology: Mini Pins, Kraft Stock Stack Cool, Hardware Heads, Cello Sticker Tape, Snippets Ephemera, Tiny Clips

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Sizzix Big Shot

Now, it's time to hop to the next stop...

Kim Hamilton

Monday, 10 November 2025

Never Forget...

Hello friends....

This week's brand new Simon Says Stamp Challenge is called THINKING OF YOU and we would love for you to join us and play along with this fun theme!

As always, there are so many interpretations for this challenge and we can't wait to see what you create.

For my make, I chose to honour and remember all those who have fought so bravely for our countries and as tomorrow is Armistice Day, I thought there was no better time than to make this tag featuring a poppy wreath, made using Tim Holtz dies from Sizzix.

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

For this project I used a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag, and a Size 8 Etcetera Tag as my base.

BACKGROUND

To create the background, I used the Heavystock Tag and began by applying a coat of Black Opaque Paste through the Rosettes Mini Layering Stencil. I wanted quite a dark background for this piece to reflect the occasion, but used Mica Spray Stains to add a slight hint of shimmer and shine.

I allowed for the paste to dry thoroughly and then after misting the tag lightly with water, I applied my background colours:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAIN: Black Soot, Antique Linen

OXIDE SPRAY: Speckled Egg

MICA SPRAY STAIN: Crooked Broomstick, Unravelled, Iron Gate

Once I was happy with the colour, I dried the tag before adding some stamping across the bottom. For this I used the border stamp from The Inspector Stampers Anonymous set and stamped the border using clear embossing ink. I then sprinkled gold embossing powder over the top and heat embossed the powder until molten.

To complete the tag, I added some machine stitching around the edge before adhering the tag onto the Etcetera Tag, using Matte Collage Medium.

Finally, I used gold watercolour paint to add some splatters across the surface...

...and placed a Snippets Ephemera piece in the top right hand corner.

POPPY WREATH

To create the poppies and greenery for this wreath, I used a selection of the smaller floral and foliage dies from the Sizzix Brushstroke 2 Thinlits die set by Tim Holtz.

I began by using Distress Spray Stains to add colour to the Mixed Media Heavystock card...

POPPIES: Lumberjack Plaid, Crackling Campfire

LEAVES: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Holly Branch Mica Spray

I then cut all my pieces ~ each poppy has two die cut layers and I also cut two layers of the stamens, from black card and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I layered the die cut pieces over the top of one another, offsetting the second layer and then shaped the petals. I made 8 flowers in total.

Cut the foliage pieces from the inky green card.

I then used circle dies to form my base. You will need approx 8cm and 6.5cm dies to form the frame for your poppy wreath.

I then built up my poppies and greenery around the circular frame, covering the circle so that it doesn't show.

With my wreath complete, I added gold Metallic Droplets into the centres of each poppy.

PLAQUE

To create the plaque that sits across the wreath, I cut a piece of gold metallic Kraft card, 8 x 2.5cm and then applied some Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress Paint over the surface. Wipe away any excess paint, as you don't want this to become too dark, you just want it to look weathered.

I then die cut each of my letters to spell the word "REMEMBER". I cut these four times to create and then layered them over the top of one another to create dimensional letters. I attached the letters to my strip and then dry brushed some Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint over the top.

Once dry, I then attached the plaque across the centre of the wreath, using foam pads to secure it into position.

Finally, I added two Tiny Clips to each side of the plaque.

FINISHING DETAILS

I finished this tag by adding 3 Hardware Heads across the bottom of the tag, all of which I painted with the same paints as I used on the plaque.

I then added some rope from my stash.

So, that's my tag complete, and I hope you love the details and techniques I've used to make 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...

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Stampers Anonymous: Mini Rosette Layering Stencil from Set 30, size 8 Etcetera Tag, The Inspector

Sizzix: Brushstroke Flowers 2, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Vault World Travel

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Paint: Antiqued Bronze, Black Soot, Crackling Campfire

Mica Spray Stain: Crooked Broomstick, Unravelled, Iron Gate, Holly Branch

Distress Spray Stains: Black Soot, Antique Linen, Lumberjack Plaid, Crackling Campfire, Peeled Paint and Bundled Moss

Oxide Spray: Speckled Egg

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Hardware Heads, Snippets Ephemera, Tiny Clips

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Black Distress Opaque Paste, Ultrafine Gold Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Ink

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

SSS Basic Shapes ~ Circle Dies

Rope and Gold Watercolour Paint from my own stash

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

Monday, 30 October 2023

We Will Not Forget...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a good weekend and for those who love Halloween, hope you're ready for some spooktacular fun tomorrow...

As always, the start of a new week brings a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is called "Thinking Of You". There are so many ways you can interpret this theme, whether it's to share the love, show you care or just that you're thinking of someone at Christmas...so, with all these ideas, we hope you'll come and join us and have some fun!

For my project, I created a tag for Remembrance Day, a piece to remember and honour those who have bravely fought for our countries, for the lives that have been lost and for those who are still fighting for peace. We will never forget....

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

We will remember them.

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

I used a size 8 Mixed Media Tag and a size 8 Etcetera Tag.

TAG BACKGROUND

The background for this tag is to symbolise the fact that these people are remembered 365 days of the year, which is why I used numbers.

Taking my size 8 tag, I placed the Numeric Mini Layering Stencil from Set 7 over the top and then applied a layer of Translucent Grit Paste through the design. Remove the stencil and working quickly, sprinkle Pumice Stone Distress Glaze over the paste and then set to one side to dry.

Once the paste has set, then use a heat tool to gently melt the glaze to create the enamelled effect to the stencil work, moving the heat gun around and not concentrating on one area too long as this will cause bubbling.

Now to add the background colour and for this I used a combination of the following:

Distress Stain Sprays: Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg

Oxide Spray: Speckled Egg

Mist water to blend the colours and then either leave to air dry or gently dry with a heat tool. Sometimes it's really hard to cover up these backgrounds but, you can always make more....

After inking the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink, I machine stitched a border around the outside and then mounted the tag onto my Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium.

Now we can move onto the poppies and quote plaque...

PLAQUE

To create the plaque, I used the Sizzix Label Alphanumeric Die Set by Tim Holtz and metallic kraft card. I cut the word REMEMBER twice from silver metallic card, then layered the letters over one another to form a double thickness. I then attached each letter to a strip of gold metallic kraft card.

Using Black Soot Distress Paint, apply the paint over the entire plaque, allow for the paint to become slightly tacky, not dry and then wipe away the excess. Take a second colour of Distress Paint, Ground Espresso and repeat the process. Finally to accentuate the lettering, apply a small amount of Gilded Foundry Wax over the top of the lettering and using a very gentle setting heat set the wax.

I matted the plaque onto a further strip of gold metallic card and once I'd machine stitched down either side, I mounted the plaque onto my tag using foam pads.

To complete the plaque, I hammered two Tack Nails into each side and altered them with a little Distress Paint in the same colours as I used on the plaque itself.

POPPIES

Now to make those poppies using the Sizzix Modern Floristry die set from Tim.

I began by colouring some Heavystock Card with Barn Door, Crackling Campfire and Candied Apple Distress Spray Stain. Once happy with the blend, I heat dried the card and then used two of the dies to make two sizes of poppies and the layers.

Each poppy has a double layer and if you take a look at the packaging itself, I used two of the dies that are shown as red flowers on the front and cut enough pieces to form 6 flowers.

You will need 3 x large flowers and 9 smaller flowers

With the die cut pieces on my glass mat, I then spritzed the backs of each die cut with water and scrunched the card to break down the fibres of the card itself before I opened them out again and shaped the petals. Ink the edges of each die cut with Lumberjack Plaid and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Place the smaller die cuts inside the larger ones to create three large poppies and then layer the remaining flowers to make the smaller poppies.

Die cut two centres from black cardstock for each poppy using the larger of the dies and then use a ball tool to shape them before layering them inside each flower.

In the centres, I added a small vintage pearl that I had in my stash but you can use baubles and colour them with alcohol inks.

ARRANGING THE POPPIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Arrange four poppies onto the top section of the tag.

The remaining two poppies are arranged with the metal branches that I took from the idea-ology Spiders and Branches Adornments set. I LOVE these and would be so happy to have just a pack of these for everyday embellishments.

To add some colour to the embellishments, I used a combination of Foundry Waxes and Mushroom Alcohol Ink. Firstly, I apply a layer of Statue Foundry Wax to the surface of the metal, heat set and then apply a layer of Sterling Foundry Wax over the top but this time, not a solid layer, you still want some of the colour from the previous wax to show underneath. Heat set again and then drip Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the top, dabbing away any excess puddles with a paper towel.

Attach the finished metal pieces with the poppies in a swathe across the bottom section of the tag.

FINISHING DETAILS

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

I attached four Hardware Heads to each corner, and painted the metal with a combination of Black Soot and Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.

I then attached rope through the hole at the top of the tag...

...and pinned a Word Tag, "HOPE", altered with Distress Paints and Foundry Wax, using exactly the same technique as I used to alter the word plaque.

Down the left hand side of the tag, I added a Remnant Rub from the Labeled set, "Identification Card Stub".

FALLING PETALS

Finally, I added the falling petals. For these, I once again used the smaller flower die and cut one more petal. I then snipped into the flower to cut individual petals which I shaped before attaching them to my tag.