Hello everyone and Happy Monday...
Today is the start of a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our challenge theme is called "THINKING OF YOU". We'd love for you to join us and play along, and hope you'll have fun with this theme. The DT are showcasing the products of AALL & Create.
For my project and because it's something I like to do every year, I created a tag and with Remembrance Day on the 8the November here in the UK, and Armistice Day on the 11 November, what better time than to say thank you and remember all those who have lost their lives in battle, and for those who fought in previous wars and those who are still fighting now, to give the world peace. So, with the theme in mind, I decided to make this project, dedicated to all service men and women around the world...
So, let's get started, it's time to get for me to share all the details of this tag....
BACKGROUND
We'll start with the background for this tag, and I began by applying Distress Inks over the surface. I wanted to create the look of a poppy field, so I created the sky and grass onto the surface of my tag by blending Stormy Sky and Uncharted Mariner Distress Inks onto the top section and then approx 1/4 of the way from the bottom, I applied Rustic Wilderness and Peeled Paint. All the inks were applied using a blending tool.
I then spritzed the tag with a light misting of water to blend the inks and also add some tiny splatters. Once dry, I then added some torn pieces of the AALL & Create Twine 15 Washi Tape. I placed these about two thirds of the way down, applying these torn pieces where the sky meets the land and highlighting certain words on the tape ~ you can just see Courage to the right of the young boy.
At the top of the tag, I stamped some branches using the stamp from the Mr Frostie Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz stamp set. I stamped the branches in black but then used a brown pencil over the top. For the tiny little autumn leaves, I used an embossing stylus, which I dipped in Rusty Hinge Distress Paint and then just dabbed onto the branches to look like the tiny leaves. I allowed for the paint to dry before I stamped some text just around the edges.
With the background finished, I machine stitched around the edge and then mounted the tag onto a Size 8 Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium to adhere it into position.
In the top right hand corner, I added a Snippets Ephemera piece, '5 for" and attached this with Matte Collage Medium.
TELLING THE STORY
Now to bring this tag to life and tell the story....
I chose this particular image from the idea-ology Paper Doll Poses pack because I just thought it works so well with the background.
I colour tinted the image with some Distress Crayons, I chose a selection of blues and browns for his clothes but you can select any colour of your choosing. I then scribble the crayon onto my craft sheet and using a paint brush, applied the colour direct to the image. Once dry, I then carefully cut around his glove so that I could place the Palette Snippets Ephemera piece into his hand.
I attached the figure to my tag using foam pads.
MAKING THE POPPIES
To create the poppies, I used Candied Apple and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spray Stains to add colour to to a piece of Mixed Media Heavystock Card. Mist water over the top to blend the colours and then heat dry the card.
Using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Vault Side Order Floristry Dies, I cut ten of the smaller flowers from the card.
After shaping each die cut, I then layered them to create five separate flowers. For the stamens in the centre of each flower, I used one of the smaller, spiky flower dies to cut black card. Again, I cut two layers for each flower and placed them in the centre of the poppies.
To complete the flower, I added a black pearl to each centre.
I then arranged the flowers across the base of the tag, adding some die cut leaves and foliage into the arrangement. These are all cut using Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies and I always have a selection on my desk.
Falling down around the boy, are some poppy petals. These are just more of the die cut flowers but this time I snipped into them and cut away individual petals. I attached each petal with Matte Collage Medium.
To complete the tag, I added the word "Remember" which I cut from one of the sayings int he Metallic Sticker Book. I stuck this in the bottom right hand corner.
So, that's my tag finished and all that's left is to add some rope through the hole at the top and secure it with a mini pin.
Hope you love the piece I've made and love the inspiration behind it.
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....
Recipe for project:
