That's Life: etcetera trims

Showing posts with label etcetera trims. Show all posts

Monday, 19 October 2026

Ghosts....

Hello everyone, and welcome to the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, our theme is all about Halloween and something spooky. So, with my favourite time of year, well and truly underway, I had no problem deciding what to create and chose to make a panel, using Tim Holtz idea-ology.

This panel tells the story of the man with a haunted look in his eyes! No-one knows why but could it be to do with the three women and the mystery of what happened to them on October 31st....

So, let's get started because it's time to share all the details of this panel...

I used the larger sized Stampers Anonymous Rectangular Etcetera Panel for this project and covered each of the four edges with Tim Holtz Design Tape.

COVERING THE PANEL

To cover my panel, I chose paper from the Halloween Backdrops paper pack, and some photos and various other pieces from the Halloween Collage Pack.

I began by cutting my patterned paper choice, which is going to be adhered to the left hand side off the panel. I added some rips and tears around the three outside edges, but not on the right hand side of the paper, before I machine stitched a border around these three edges. I adhered the stitched paper to my etcetera panel, leaving the corners slightly crumpled and folded back to show the panel underneath.

On the right hand side of the panel, I chose a selection of strips from the Halloween Collage Pack and cut these to fit down the right hand side of my panel.

I machine stitched around the top, bottom and right hand side of the strip and then added some more machine stitched detail around the photo of the three women, which will sit near the top of the panel.

Adhere this to the Etcetera Panel and then apply a coat of Collage Medium over the top to seal the paper.

To add more layers of interest to the background, I attached an ephemera piece in the top left corner. The October 31 piece is from the Halloween Ephemera Pack and I distressed the edges before adhering it directly onto the panel, using Matte Collage Medium. I then ran the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around all the edges, blending out any harsh lines of colour with my finger tip. I then hammered a Nail Tack into the ephemera piece.

Other embellishments that I added to the panel were some strips of Cello Sticker Tape and a Mini Pin to the stitching on the photo.

Along the bottom of the panel, I added the longest length Bat Etcetera Trim from the Bat Webs Trim pack and painted this black, before attaching it to my panel using Matte Collage Medium. I then sanded the edges of the trim before adding some Hardware Heads to the trim, together with two on either side of the panel itself.

Each of these Hardware Heads are altered with the following Distress Paints to add more of a rusty look ot the metal; Black Soot, Crackling Campfire and Antiqued Bronze

EMBELLISHMENTS to tell the story

Now we can begin to bring the story to life.

The layers and image of the man are all from the Halloween Layers and Paper Dolls pack and include the tape measure, roses and the moon. I also used some of the smaller images of the roses from the Halloween Ephemera Pack.

I attached all my pieces using foam pads and started by placing the moon onto the panel, attaching it to the left hand side. I had some small die cut bats on my desk ~ sorry, I'm not sure which die this is from, but it's definitely a Tim Holtz/Sizzix Die, lol and using these two tiny bats, I just placed them onto the moon.

I then added the photo of the man, which I colour tinted using Distress Crayons, and again attached him with another layer of foam pads.

To ground the bottom edge of the image, I added the ruler piece from the Layers pack and attached this with foam pads, placing this directly underneath the image, before then, adding the skull sticker border which I took from the Halloween Sticker Book.

Finally, I placed the quote chip, "A Strange Thing Happened". This chip is from the Halloween Baseboards pack, and I aligned it with the bottom edge of the man, attaching it with more foam pads.

The four layers of roses were then arranged around the man, layering them for more height and dimension using foam pads.

At this stage, I added some moss, which I tucked behind the rose layers.

In amongst the roses, you might see a deathly beetle just crawling away.

For this I used an Entomology Adornment and painted the metal surface with Black Soot Distress Paint. I allowed for the paint to dry before then dry brushing some Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint over the top, just catching the raised areas and details of the metal piece. Once dry, I attached it to my panel.

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

FINISHING DETAILS

To complete the project, I added a Type Chip, which is attached to the left hand side, and tucked underneath the ruler ledge. And finally, I took the quote ~ "with a haunted look in his eyes" from the Collage Strips pack, cut this down to size and then in half, and placed the two pieces onto my panel, in the bottom left hand corner.

So, that's my project complete for this week, and I hope you love 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:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Rectangle Etcetera Panel, Bat Web Etcetera Trims

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire, Antique Bronze

Distress Crayons

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Halloween Backdrops, Halloween Layers and Paper Dolls, Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, Halloween Ephemera, Halloween Collage, Halloween Baseboards, Entomology Adornment, Type Chips, Mini Pin, Nail Tacks, Halloween Sticker Book

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads

Glass Media Mat

Waterbrush

Heat Gun

Moss from my own stash

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...

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, 20 April 2026

The Great Discovery...

Hello everyone...

Another week has flown by and as always on a Monday, it's time to share a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, our theme is all about USING MORE THAN ONE STENCIL and we hope you will join us and play along with this fun challenge.

For my make, I used Tim Holtz Layering Stencils to create a background to my tag which is all about a journey of discovery and once you find what you're looking for, you hold on to it and "do what you love".

So, let's get started and it's time to share all the details of how I made this week's project!

For this make, I used a Stampers Anonymous Size 8 Etcetera Tag and a size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock Tag.

TAG BACKGROUND

I began with my background and for this I used the Size 8 Mixed Media tag. I misted the tag with a light spritz of water and than added the colour using Distress Spray Stains, Oxide Sprays and Mica Sprays in the following colours:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAINS: Ground Espresso, Chipped Sapphire, Speckled Egg

OXIDE SPRAYS: Tumbled Glass

MICA SPRAY: Crooked Broomsticks

I applied the Distress Spray Stains first, and after another spritz of water to blend the colour, I heat dried the surface before adding splatters of Tumbled Glass Oxide Sprays and finally a light misting of the Mica Spray.

Once the surface is completely dry, I moved onto the stencilling and adding some detail to that background.

STENCILS

The stencils I used for the background were the from the following sets:

Mini Layering Stencil Set 33, Mini Layering Stencil Set 48

I began with the Digits from set 48 and applied Translucent Texture Paste through the stencil, placing the stencil down the right hand side of the tag.

Once I removed the stencil, I sprinkled silver embossing powder over the paste, tapping away the excess. When the paste is set, I then heat embossed the powder, moving the heat gun over the area quickly to stop the paste from bubbling.

With the powder molten, I then moved onto adding more stencilling. Unfortunately, some of this is covered by the embellishments, but it is there...I promise! 😉

I added some more Translucent Paste through the Halftone Stencil, placing this along the bottom edge of the tag....

...and to finish this piece, I used the Halftone stencil once again, and this time I applied Lost Shadow Oxide Ink through it and completed the tag with some Walnut Stain Distress Ink which I applied through the Stitches Stencil from set 33.

After machine stitching a border around the outside edge, I attached my tag to the Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium.

EMBELLISHMENTS

We can now start to bring this piece to life and I began by building a ledge for the young boy to stand on.

For this I used a Pinked Etcetera Trim and a Junk Drawer Baseboard piece.

I used the Decorative Trims die set to cut an offcut of some paper from one of Tim's paper pads and then adhered this to my trim with Matte Collage Medium. After applying Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to create more of a worn vintage feel to the paper, I attached the trim across the bottom section of the tag.

I then attached a Junk Drawer Baseboard over the top before adding a ScrewHead to either side of the baseboard piece.

For the focal point which tells the story of the little boy who discovers doing what he loves...I used a Paper Doll, a second Junk Drawer Baseboard piece, a Salvaged Heart and the pointy finger from the idea-ology Figure Stands pack.

I then attached the target from the Junk Drawer pack, placing it on the right hand side using foam pads to add dimension.

Taking the paper doll, I colour tinted this with Distress Crayons and then attached him to the left hand side, so that he leans agains the target.

Now for the Salvaged Heart and using one of the larger pieces, I decided to make this look rusty and used the following Distress Paints and Foundry Waxes to create this look.

Foundry Wax: Sterling and Statue

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Antique Bronze, Crackling Campfire, Salvaged Patina

I layered my paints first, and then once I had the right rusty colour tone, I applied a light coverage of the waxes over the top, heat setting each wax in between applications. Once I was happy with the colour, I attached my heart to my tag.

I then used one of my all time favourite pieces from Tim's idea-ology range ~ a Figure Head. I chose the pointy finger and painted this with Distress Paints, using the same colours as I used on the heart for the stand and then using Barn Door on the finger itself. When the paint becomes tacky, and nearly dry, I removed some of it to create the chippy paint look. I attached the finger to the stand and then attached the piece to my tag, sitting it on the ledge.

I completed the ledge by adding some moss.

DISCOVER

For the word 'Discover', I used the Sizzix Handwritten Love die set by Tim Holtz and cut three separate layers of the word before adhering them together to form one solid piece that resembles the thickness of chipboard.

I then applied some clear embossing ink over the top, sprinkled with gold embossing powder and heat embossed this until molten. After repeating this another couple of times to create the enamelled effect on the word, I attached the word to the heart.

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

FINISHING DETAILS

I added a number snippet down the left hand side...

...before adding a Thought Token to the top right hand corner. The though token is painted using Barn Door and Black Soot Distress Paint, before I highlighted the words with Picket Fence Distress Crayon.