Sweets for my Sweet...

Hello friends and Happy Monday...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and you're now refreshed and ready for the week ahead and a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is all about SWEET TREATS and with Easter only a week away, this challenge couldn't have come at a better time! So with this theme in mind, we'd love for you to come and join us and play along!

For my make, I created some 'sweet' little Easter treat bags and used dies some of the new Chapter 1 dies from Tim Holtz and Sizzix and combined these with older dies that you might have in your stash already.

So let's get started and here's how I created these little bags ready for Easter....

TREAT BAGS

To make the bags themselves, I used the Sizzix Treat Bag die from Tim to cut a panel of Kraft cardstock. Once cut, I assembled the bags and adhered the join using red line adhesive tape.

After inking the edges of each bag with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I moved onto the panels that I attached the front and back.

For these I used Distress Watercolor Card and inked the sheet with a combination of Old Paper, Saltwater Taffy, Speckled Egg and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks, and Antique Linen Oxide Inks. I applied the inks individually to my media mat and then spritzed each of them with water until it beaded. I then dipped my cardstock into the inks, drying each layer before adding the next.

Once I was happy, I then cut panels of the inked card that would fit inside the Quilted 3D Texture Fade and embossed each individual piece in my Big Shot Foldaway. At this stage, I also used the inked card to cut a Switchlits Seal Dies and Embossing Folder and I will be using this on the bunny bag.

After cutting the panels to fit the fronts and backs of each of my bags, I then machine stitched a border around the edges before inking the paper edge with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I also lightly went over the top of the raised embossed areas, so it would highlight the stitching.

I fixed each panel to the treat bags, using Matte Collage Medium.

On each bag, I added some rope as a handle and after punching a small hole in each side, I threaded the rope through and secured it with a knot.

BUNNY GAMES BAG

I cut the sitting bunny using the Bunny Games die from watercolour card and then inked the various pieces using Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Inks for the body and the pink areas are inked with Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry. The facial details are cut from Black Kraftstock.

To bring bunny to life, I drew whiskers on his little face, and added tiny white pen details.

I also added a tiny bow tie to my bunny, and this is cut using the Sizzix Hip Haunts Thinlits Die Set. It's the one that is used on the cat but if you don't have this set, then you can cut a bow tie shape from a piece of card or you could use ribbon or twine and tie it into a small bow.

In this scene the bunny is holding a kite and this is taken from The Park. I cut my kite piece from card that I have in my stash ~ I never throw any card away as even the smallest of pieces can be used for these tiny dies.

After assembling the kite, I attached this in my bunny's paw and then used foam pads to attach both pieces to the Switchlits Seal that I cut earlier.

I mounted the seal onto the front of the bag using foam pads.

For the foliage around the bunny, I used the Modern Floristry die set but you can use any foliage dies you choose. I cut all my foliage from card inked with a combination of Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage Distress Inks and then inked the edges with Forest Moss Distress Ink.

I arranged the foliage around the base of the bunny and seal before I added a little Mummy Cloth that I dyed with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stains.

I cut a few daisies, which are from the Bunny Games die set and attached them before I then die cut a small pink heart using the Stacked Hearts Thinlits Die Set and more of my inked cardstock in my 'save for later stash' and placed the heart in the bunny's paw.

To complete this bag, I added a Metallic Sticker ~ Sweet Life and attached this underneath the bunny and finally a piece of linen, that I attached to the top right hand corner of the bag using a Mini Pin.

PAPERCUT CHICKS BAG

Using the Papercut Chicks Thinlits Die Set, I cut my chicks from card that I coloured with Mustard Seed, Fossilised Amber and Wild Honey Distress Inks and then assembled the layers to form the two little chicks. Once again, I added a little accessory to this bag, the umbrella. This is once again from The Park die set and after cutting the umbrella from more leftovers in my card stash, I attached it to one of the chicks, tucking it underneath the wing so it appears that the chick is holding it.

Next to the chicks, I added a little egg ~ this is cut from a further piece of cardstock inked with Speckled Egg Distress Ink and the layers are then assembled.

Attach the chicks to the green base, which again is from the Papercut Chicks Die set and cut from the same green card that I inked for the foliage on the previous bag.

Using foam pads, I attached my chicks to stand on the green base, and then attached the egg next to them, together with a couple of sprigs of foliage and some Mummy Cloth. 

I completed the scene with some more of those little daisies.

I added a Special Delivery Remnant Rub, 'special delivery' to the top left hand corner and also cut another of those little pink hearts using the Stacked Hearts die set and placed this to the left of the chicks.

On the back of this bag, I added another heart and the "Love You" Metallic Sticker.

Finally, I cut a tag complete with a daisy and attached this to the rope handle before filling the bags with some chocolate/candy ~ there might also be a few leftovers for the maker as a treat!

So, that completes this week's make for the challenge and I hope you've loved what I've created and been inspired to make some of your own.

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 ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz for Sizzix: Tim Holtz/Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway, Bunny Games, Papercut Chicks, Treat Bag, The Park, Switchlits Seal Dies and Embossing Folder, Modern Floristry, Stacked Hearts, Quilted 3D Texture Fade

Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Speckled Egg, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, Saltwater Taffy, 

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Mini Pin, Mummy Cloth, Metallic Sticker Book, Special Delivery Remnant Rubs

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Sizzix Adhesive Sheets, Foam Pads

Surfaces: Distress Watercolour card and lots of "saved inked card" from my stash

Glass Media Mat

Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer

Heat Gun

Rope from my own stash

Hello Gladys...

Hello friends...

I hope you all had the best weekend you could wish for and as we head into another week, it's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which this week is all about BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL!

I know it's probably hard to feel cheerful when so many are suffering in the Ukraine, but we hope that you will join us and bring some sunshine into the world with your projects!

For my make, I used a Mini Etcetera Tag to create a project using one of my favourite dies from the recent Tim Holtz/Sizzix Chapter 1 release and may I introduce you to Gladys, who is making her first appearance on my blog and definitely making herself at home.

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

BACKGROUND

To begin with I created the background. I cut a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock Card that would fit the Mini Etcetera Tag and then applied Crackle Paste through the Bouquet Layering Stencil. The tag is slightly larger than the stencil, and because I wanted to cover the entire background, I placed the cardstock vertically and then laid the stencil down horizontally across the top section of the cardstock, applied the paste, removed the stencil and allowed to dry and crackles were appearing.

Once the paste was touch dry, I placed the stencil back onto my cardstock, this time placing it just beneath the top layer and I applied the paste onto the lower section of card.

Again allow for the paste to throughly dry.

To add colour, I used Wild Honey and Speckled Egg Distress Spray Stains and spritzed these directly onto the stenciled card stock and gently heat dried the stain.

If there is too much of any one colour, just dab away with a paper towel.

Once I was happy, I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before I machine stitched a border around the outside of the card and then adhered it onto my tag using Matte Collage Medium.

So, we now have a background ready for the next layer, "Hello There".

HELLO THERE

I cut a panel of watercolour card the width of the tag, and approx 6cm in depth. I then placed the Hello There die onto the left hand side of the cardstock ~ this die is from the Bold Text Thinlits Die Set. After die cutting into the cardstock, I removed the letters which I will use at a later date.

I spritzed Speckled Egg and Frayed Burlap Distress Spray Stains onto the card which I slightly dampened with a mist of water and then heat dried it.

Once again, I stitched a border around the outside before I matted it onto a second layer of card that I had previously inked with Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Spray Stains.

I mounted the die cut banner onto my tag using foam pads for added height.

GLADYS

Now for the star of the show, Gladys. 

She is super easy to put together, and there aren't that many layers to her ~ so, if you've always wanted to try one of Tim's Colorize Dies, then try Gladys.

Colours used:

KITSCH FLAMINGO - Body

MUSTARD SEED  - Beak

BLACK KRAFT STASH CARD - Legs, beak and eyes

WHITE CARD - Eyes

Once I'd coloured all my watercolour card stock, I applied Adhesive Sheets to the back of it, and then cut all the pieces for assembling Gladys.

I inked the edges of each piece using Distress Inks. I chose colours that were slightly darker in shade than the main colour ~ ie. Picked Raspberry around the edges of the Kitsch Flamingo and Wild Honey for the Mustard Seed. I also find that doing this will create a natural shading to the layers once you attach them, which if you're not great with watercolouring, then this is an easy way to do it. I finished Gladys with some white pen work on the body.

With Gladys now ready to join the party, I added foam onto the back and set her to one side.

FOLIAGE

For the palm leaves, I used one of the dies from the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Large Funky Florals Thinlits Die Set and cut each leaf from Mixed Media Heavystock Card that I had coloured with Rustic Wilderness and Bundled Sage Distress Spray Stains.

I then arranged the leaves in the top left hand corner...

...and the bottom right hand corner, placing Gladys to stand in them.

To complete this arrangement, I attached a couple of the smaller idea-ology Floral Adornments. To colour these, I used Picked Raspberry Distress Glaze. I used the Embossing Dabber to add ink to the surface fo the metal and then sprinkled the powder over the top, tapping away the excess and then heat embossing.

I attached the florals with hot glue, layering them over the top of a small clump of moss.

BUNTING

Now to make the bunting and I used the die from the Bunny Games Thinlits Die Set and cut scraps of card that I always have leftover from previous projects and placed in my scrap card box.

I layered the coloured flags onto the main die cut piece and then attached them to my tag.

To complete the bunting, I tied tiny knots of twine and attached these with Matte Collage Medium, onto each end of the bunting.

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

I hammered some Tack Nails into the banner, and then placed some moss around the base of each tack.

Finally on the opposite side of the banner, I added two tiny "x stitches" using the Media Marks Die Set. I die cut these for a previous project, and always have a few left over, so they were perfect to attach and complete this make.

So, that's my project finished for this week, and I hope you all love what I've made and it's bought some brightness and a smile into your day!

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 ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Bouquet Layering Stencil

Tim Holtz for Sizzix: Tim Holtz/Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway, Gladys Colorize, Bold Text 1, Funky Florals Large, Bunny Games

Distress Spray Stains: Speckled Egg, Wild Honey, Kitsch Flamingo, Mustard Seed, Bundled Sage, Rustic Wilderness

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, Frayed Burlap,

Distress Glaze: Picked Raspberry

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Tack Nails, Floral Adornments

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Sizzix Adhesive Sheets, Foam Pads, Embossing Dabber, Crackle Paste

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock, Distress Watercolour card, Black Kraft Stash

Glass Media Mat

Blending Tool

Palette Knife

Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer

Heat Gun

Moss

HOPE IS NEVER LOST

Hello friends!

I hope you all had a safe and happy weekend and you're ready for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, we are asking you to ADD SOME GREEN to your projects and if you want to play along with our fun theme, then we can't wait to see what you create. The DT are also showcasing the fabulous AALL & Create products within their makes, something you don't have to do but if you want to, then there are plenty of wonderful designs to choose from, here at SSS!

For my make, I chose to create a Mini Etcetera Tag which is dedicated to the people of Ukraine! I don't think there is anyone who hasn't shed a tear over the images that we're seeing, it's been horrendous to watch at times and my heart goes out to all those who are affected by this conflict. I think we all hope for peace and an end to this war!

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

To begin with I cut a panel of watercolour card the same size as my Mini Etcetera tag.

I then lightly spritzed the surface with water, before adding colour using Distress Spray Stains and Oxide Sprays. I started with Speckled Egg and Tumbled Glass Spray Stains and a touch of Speckled Egg Oxide Spray, as a base and once happy, I heat dried the cardstock. I then smooshed Rusty Hinge and Crackling Campfire Distress inks onto my glass media mat, spritzed these with water and picked up the inks around the edge of my tag to create rusty pockets of colour.

Once the inked card was dry, I machine stitched a border around the edge and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Now for adding some layers to the background and for this I used AALL & Create Washi Tape. I chose the Twine Washi Tape because in amongst the design, it also has the words Courage and Positivity which I wanted to include on my make.

I tore pieces of the tape, and then just adhered them across my inked cardstock, building up layer upon layer and ensuring the two words are standing out. I added Matte Collage Medium over the top of the tape, to seal it.

To knock back the whiteness of the tape, I scribbled a small amount of Walnut Distress Crayon over the surface, blending out the colour with my fingertip and a semi dry baby wipe.

I then added some zig zag machine stitching along the joins of the tape and once that was complete, I adhered the card onto my etcetera tag surface using Matte Collage Medium, cutting the hole away and adding the hole reinforcer piece which I painted with Walnut Stain and Antique Linen Distress Paint.

At this stage, I also added a ledge for my bird to stand on. You can just see this poking out from the undergrowth and I used a Bracket Etcetera Trim, slightly wider than the tag itself and covered it with the same inked card as I used on the background, die cut using the Decorative Trims Thinlits die set. I then attached the trim to my tag.

Setting the tag to one side, I then moved onto the gorgeous bird and of course, this bird is one of the new Sizzix Chapter 1 dies from Tim Holtz.

BIRD

The die is called Bird and Egg and I used the bird only. I cut the base layer of my bird from black kraft stash, the white of the eye from white card and for the body and wings, I used inked Mixed Media Heavystock card, coloured with Distress Spray Stains.

COLOURS USED:

Body: Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen Spray Stains

Wings: Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains; Speckled Egg Oxide Spray

I assembled my bird, layer by layer and then used foam pads to attach it to my tag, placing it to stand on the ledge.

FOLIAGE AND FLOWERS

With the bird complete, I moved onto adding some green and this was achieved by the foliage that the bird is standing in.

I inked more Mixed Media Heavystock card with the following colours:

Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Rustic Wilderness, Speckled Egg and Peeled Paint Distress Spray Stains

I then used the Festive Bouquet Thinlits die set to cut two different types of foliage.

Once I had enough foliage, I arranged it in a swathe around my birdie and added tiny clumps of moss in between the layers.

Now we come to the spray of flowers and of course, these are in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

I used Bouquet Findings and spritzed one set with Prize Ribbon and a second set with Mustard Seed Spray Stains. I dried the flowers thoroughly before attaching them one by one in amongst my foliage.

We're nearly there and all that's left is to add my message.

I cut the word HOPE from metallic kraft stash, cutting three separate layers and adhering these to form letters the thickness of chipboard. I then cut a further layer of black card to create the drop shadow behind the gold lettering.

I then attached the die cut letters to my tag, and added a metallic sticker, (cutting away the word 'hope' from the sticker) beneath it to complete the message that HOPE IS NEVER LOST!

To complete the tag, I threaded rope through the hole, and attached a Thought Token to one of the end of the rope...

...and finally, attached a rusty machinery head in the top right hand corner.

My project is complete and all we can do at the moment is hang on to the fact that HOPE IS NEVER LOST!

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 ~ stay safe and keep well.

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

AALL & Create: Twine Washi Tape

Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous: Mini Etcetera Tag, Bracket Etcetera Trim

Tim Holtz for Sizzix: Tim Holtz/Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway, Alphanumeric Bold Text 1, Decorative Trims Thinlits, Festive Bouquet

Distress Spray Stains: Prize Ribbon, Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Rustic Wilderness, Speckled Egg,  Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Crackling Campfire, Rusty Hinge, 

Distress Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg

Distress Crayon: Walnut Stain

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Machinery Heads, Metallic Sticker Book, Bouquet Findings, 

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Sizzix Adhesive Sheets, Foam Pads

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock, Metallic Kraft Stash, Distress Watercolour card, Black Kraft Stash

Glass Media Mat

Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Paper Trimmer

Heat Gun

Rope from my own stash