That's Life: distress paint

Showing posts with label distress paint. Show all posts

Monday, 29 June 2026

Born In The USA...

Hello friends...

Hope you've all had a fabulous weekend and you're ready for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, our theme is all about STARS AND/OR STRIPES and we hope you will join us and play along with our fun challenge theme.

For my make, I created a tag in celebration of the 4th of July and dedicate this to all my friends and followers in the USA. To make this tag, I used a combination of Tim Holtz products, including Sizzix dies, idea-ology and a Stampers Anonymous Etcetera Tag.

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

TAG

To begin with I covered the Mini Etcetera Tag with one of the papers from the Blue 8 x 8 Palette Paper Collection. After adhering the paper to the tag with Matte Collage Medium, I applied a coat of medium over the surface, allowed this to dry and then ran my Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges.

To add layers on this tag, I chose to use a combination of Large Etcetera Tiles and Mosaic Tiles. These tile will fit around the outside of the tag, and you will be left with a small gap in the centre which you don't need to worry about as it will be covered.

I covered each tile in various papers from the Blue Palette Collection and sanded the edges back to give a neat finish. I then applied a coat of the medium over the top and as with the tag, I ran the Walnut Stain Crayon around the edges before attaching the tiles to the tag.

Set to one side to dry, and I would recommend putting something weighty on top to ensure the tiles are completely flat and adhered to the tag.

Approximately two thirds of the way down, I added a Scalloped Etcetera Trim that I covered in the same paper as I used on the tag. I cut the paper with the Decorative Trims die by Sizzix and then attached the covered trim across the tag.

PHOTO AND FRAME

The frame and the photo are both cut using the Marquee Sign Die Set. I began by cutting the background from Distress Watercolour Card inked with Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Ink, and then cut the inner frame with the cut out circles from a piece of card painted with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint. After adhering this frame over the top of the solid piece, I then used the third die, the smallest in the set to cut the photo.

I use a photo from the Tim Holtz idea-ology Snapshots Vol 2 pack, I just adore this image and it was perfect for my tag. To cut the photo, I positioned the die on the area I wanted to use and then ran it through the die cutting machine.

Once cut, I colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and once dry, I attached this to the centre of the frame.

I then mounted the frame onto my tag with foam pads.

In the bottom right hand corner of the photograph there is a date, July 4th and I cut this down to size to use. You can see it attached to one of the large Etcetera Tiles in the top right corner of the tag and then attached a screw head.

USA

For the USA plaque, I used Mini Stencil Chips and stuck these onto a piece of Palette Paper. I matted the chips onto a piece of mount board and then attached the plaque to my tag with foam pads.

To add a touch more rusty goodness to the plaque, I adhered a Screwed in each of the four corners that I painted with a combination of the following Distress Paints; Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze. I also stuck a small piece of Cello Sticker Tape to the plaque.

STARS

Now to cut the dimensional stars and I used the die in the Tim Holtz Vault Rosette set by Sizzix. I cut 3 pieces from Mixed Media Heavystock and then painted them red, white and blue using Distress Paints ~ Lumberjack Plaid, Uncharted Mariner and Picket Fence. You can use Distress Inks, but I wanted more of a solid coverage, so the paint worked better.

Once dry, I folded along the scorelines to create the dimensional stars. I then attached the stars to the tag, arranging them around the bottom of the photo frame...

...and adding some shredded Mummy Cloth, dyed with Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stain, which I attached along the Etcetera Trim.

To accentuate the folds on each of the stars, I applied some metallic wax.

You can see how dimensional these beautiful stars are in the photo below...

FINISHING DETAILS

All that's left now is the finishing details and I began by adding the Decorative Clip at the top of the tag. You get three clips in the pack and I chose to use the narrower one. I attached a Star Adornment in the centre of the clip and once dry, I applied some Translucent Grit Paste over the surface.

Once again, I allowed this to dry before painting the surface of the metal with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint. I used Gilding Wax to accentuate the pasted areas on the painted clip which I had left to dry completely before applying the wax.

Place the clip at the top of the tag.

Finally, I added a Screwhead to the tile on the top left of my tag, and also some cello sticker tape, which completed my project for this week

I hope you love the tag I've made and if you're inspired by this project, I would love to see your makes. So, drop me a message on socials and I will pop on 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.

HAPPY 4TH JULY TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE USA!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Etcetera Large Tiles, Etcetera Mosaic Tiles

Sizzix: Big Shot, Vault Rosettes

Simon Says Stamp Marquee Sign Die Set

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze, Lumberjack Plaid, Uncharted Mariner, Picket Fence

Distress Spray Stain: Frayed Burlap

Distress Crayons

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, 8" x 8" Blue Palette Paper Collection, Labeled Remnant Rub, Snapshots Vol 2, Mini Stencil Chips, Vintage Clip, Mummy Cloth, Star Adornments

Surfaces: Distress Watercolour Card, Mixed Media Heavystock Card

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Finnabair Bronzer Age Metallic Wax

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Monday, 8 June 2026

Hey Mickey...

Hello everyone and Happy Monday...

Hope you've all had a good weekend and as we begin the new week, I hope you're ready to get creative with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. This week, our theme is all things MASCULINE and we can't wait for you to join us and play along.

For my make, and with Father's Day just around the corner, I wanted to celebrate a very special man ~ my Dad and even though he is no longer with me, he is always in my heart. My Dad absolutely loved all things Disney, and since I was a young child I remember how we would sit and watch all the Disney films and remember his face and smiles. So, with this in mind, I thought what could be better than creating a project using Mickey Mouse and I hope you'll join me, to see how I made this piece!

So, let's get started, it's time to create....

ETCETERA PANEL

To begin with I used the smaller size of the Stampers Anonymous Etcetera Panels and I ran a black marker pen around the edge of the panel.

I then cut a piece of Black Heavystock Card, the same size as the panel itself and spritzed the card with a combination of Crooked Broomsticks, Unravelled and Burning Ember Mica Stains. I misted the card stock with water and allowed the stains to blend before heat drying the card and machine stitching a border around the outside.

After adhering the card to the panel, I then cut a piece of paper from Backdrops vol 4, (I chose the paper that has the bookplate design) and cut this slightly smaller than the Etcetera Panel, ensuring the bookplate was placed at the top.

I added some rips and tears around the outside edge of the paper before once again, machine stitching a border around the outside.

To add some more detail to the paper I used the Digits Mini Layering Stencil from Set 48 and applied Walnut Stain Distress Ink through the stencil directly onto the paper.

I then used the Circuit stencil from the same set, and applied Crackle Paste through the stencil onto random areas of my paper. Once this is dry, I mounted the paper onto my covered Etcetera Panel.

Where the book plate is, I cut a separate panel of paper from the Backdrops pack so that it will fit inside the bookplate frame.

I inked up the Stampers Anonymous newsprint stamp by Tim with Black Soot Archival Ink and stamped this directly onto the panel of paper. After inking the edges, I matted the piece inside the frame on the background and added some pieces of Cello Sticker Tape around the edges.

To complete the background, ready for the star of the show, I attached a Ruler piece across the panel. I broke the ends of the ruler piece and then dragged the Walnut Stain Distress Ink across surface to alter the colour. Underneath the ruler, I added a strip of the polka dot Design Tape Trim.

Finally, I stamped the No. 5726 in Black Soot Archival Ink, placing it in the top left hand corner using the stamp from the SA Eccentric Stamp Set.

MICKEY MOUSE

Now to bring this piece to life and we'll start with Mickey.

Mickey is die cut from card using the Spellbinders Classic Mouse Steamboat Willie Die Set, and because I wanted to keep him black and white, as was the original Steamboat Willie, I inked the card with the following Distress Spray Stains:

Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen, Lost Shadow

Once I'd assembled Mickey, which is really easy because all the lines are scored into the die cut pieces for you to follow, I added some white pen detail before setting him to one side to create the frame behind him.

The frame is cut from Black Heavystock card using the die set, Frames and Sentiments and I cut three layers to make one solid piece and layered these to create one solid frame. I then cut a 4th frame from Mixed Media Heavystock card, but this time I placed the "Oh Boy" die into the dies so that it will cut the letters into the circular frame. Run this through the machine.

I then used Antique Bronze, Black Soot and Distress Paints to add the coppery tones to this sentiment frame, applying the paints one at a time to build up the tones I wanted and to create tarnished look to the card. Once I was happy, I attached the frame over the top of the black card layers.

With the frame complete, I added an idea-ology Gauge Dial to the back of the aperture, before attaching Mickey with foam pads onto the frame, and then attaching him to the panel using more foam pads and adding him to the left hand side of the ruler piece.

To the right of Mickey, I added the word "DAD" and used the Classic Mouse Alphabet dies to cut layers of card which I coloured with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stain.

I adhered the layers to form the letters which should resemble the thickness of chipboard and then mounted the letters onto black card to form a drop shadow behind.

I attached the letters to the panel and added some die cut hearts around them.

SPROCKETS AND GEARS

For my sprockets and gears, I cut a selection from metallic cardstock using the Vault Industrial die set. As with all my pieces on this make, I wanted them to be more substantial, so I cut multiple layers to form each individual piece.

I used the same Distress Paints as I used on the frame to add colour to my metallic gears and at this stage, I also painted some of the idea-ology sprocket gears which I combined with the die cuts.

Once I was happy with the colour and they had a rusty appearance, I arranged the gears on either side of Mickey and placed Screw Heads in the centres of some of the gears.

Finally, I added an Ephemera piece, "'A Token of Love" behind one of the larger die cut gears and placed this amongst the arrangement.

COMPLETING THE PANEL

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

I mounted the "In My Heart" Theories Quote Chip onto a piece of cotton fabric and then attached this to the bottom section of the panel. I placed a Screw Head on either side, again rusted with the same colours of Distress Paint.

I also added some more screw heads to the top section of the panel, together with a Hinge Clip and a binder ring.

Finally, I cut some stars using the Frames and Sentiments set and cut these from the same red card as I used for the hearts. Once cut, I placed three stars around the quote at the bottom of the panel.

So that's my make complete and I hope you love this piece as much as I loved making it ~ 'oh boy', it sure was fun.

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!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today...see you soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Spellbinders: Classic Mouse Steamboat Willie Mickey and Minnie, Frame and Sentiments, Alphabet

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Etcetera Panel, Set 48 Mini Layering Stencil, Newsprint and Type, Eccentric

Sizzix: Big Shot, Vault Industrial

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Distress Spray Stains: Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen, Lost Shadow, Lumberjack Plaid

Mica Stains: Crooked Broomsticks, Unravelled and Burning Ember

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Screw Heads, Backdrops Vol.4, Gauge Dials, Design Tape Trim, Palette Ephemera, Theories Quote Chips, Mini Sprocket Gears, Sprocket Gears

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock card, Metallic Kraft Card, Black Heavystock

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Black Soot Archival Ink

Glass Media Mat

Heat Gun

Monday, 1 June 2026

The Artist...

Hello friends and followers...

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and you're ready for a week of creativity and fun. This week, on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog, we are challenging you to ADD A RAINBOW OF COLOUR to your projects and we hope you'll join us and play along. The DT are showcasing Dylusions products within their makes...

For my project, I created a double page journal layout and used the Dylusions Journal and I told the story of the artist, surround by a rainbow of colour swatches.

So let's get started and let's begin journalling....

TO BEGIN...

I started by covering the page on the right hand side using the Palette Collage paper. Each page measures 8" x 5'.

The depth of the paper won't cover the page completely, so I used two panels that I pieced together to cover the entire page and adhered them into the book with Matte Collage Medium, applying a coat over the top to seal the paper and adding some machine stitching around the edges of the page on the right.

I then ran the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges, blending it with my fingertip and dragging the colour towards the centre of the page.

Even though my intention was to leave "white space" on the left hand side, I also wanted for the two pages to come together as one. So to do this and create continuity, I added strips of Design Tape, placing the first strip of Tape Trim down the join of the journal. I continued adding torn strips of the design tape on the left hand page.

At this stage, I also cut one of the quotes from the Dina Wakley Typed Ledgers 2 and I added this down the central spine of the book, using Matte Collage Medium to adhere it into position.

Using a palette knife, I added lines of white gesso over the surface of the taped area, followed by scribbling some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the top which helps to blend away the harsh edges of the collage paper and tape.

To complete the surface of the book, I applied some Distress Paint, Old Paper and Pumice Stone to the left hand page, using a dry paint brush to add the colour and blending it out with a baby wipe.

I attached a little group of idea-ology in the bottom right of the left hand page including a cello sticker tape piece, a Labelled Remnant Rub and a Postmarked stamp before adding some stencil work.

For this I used the stencil from Set 48 of Tim's Mini Layering Stencil set and blended Speckled Egg through the stencil directly onto the page.

Finally, I flicked some Black Spot Distress Paint across the pages.

PHOTO ARRANGEMENT

For the central focal point, and beginning with the Photomatic Vintage Photo, I applied a coat of clear gesso onto the photo, allowed this to dry and then colour tinted the image with Distress Crayons and a water brush.

I distressed the edges of the photo and inked them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before matting the photo onto two layers of cotton calico fabric. I stained the calico with Frayed Burlap and Brushed Corduroy Distress Spray Stains and after a light mist of water, I allowed the fabric to dry. I then attached the photo using Matte Collage Medium and machine stitched around the edges.

I completed the photo with a Labeled Remnant Rub, cello sticker tape and some white pen work doodling.

Finally, I added a Mini Pin in the top right of the photo before attaching the image to my page. I didn't apply adhesive to the edges, so this will allow me to easily tuck my ephemera pieces and foliage behind the photo.

LEAVES

For the leafy arrangement that sits around the outside of the photo, I used a combination of some leaves from the idea-ology Organic Layers pack and some die cut leaves that I cut with the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Floristry Thinlits Die set. I began by adhering the Organic Layers leaves to my page, placing them directly onto the surface. Then after cutting a selection of leaves with the die set, I inked them with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, and used a black pen to add veins, followed by a white pen to add highlights. I then tucked these pieces behind the photo, some in the top right corner and some in the bottom left corner.

EPHEMERA

The ephemera pieces are from Tim's Keepsakes ephemera pack, the Numbers Ephemera pack and another Postmarked stamp. All the pieces, are arranged around the photo and I also added some more of the Cello Stickers.

To complete the right hand page, I used the Pumice Stone Crayon around the edges of the pieces, blending out any harsh lines.

THE ARTIST

Finally, I added my wording which I cut from black cardstock using the alpha dies form the Vault World Travel die set. I cut each letter from the card, which I backed with self adhesive sheet and then placed them on the left hand page, with an arrow underneath, also cut using the same die set.