That's Life

Monday, 7 April 2025

Happiness Is A Butterfly....

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week, the DT are showcasing products from Studio Light and combining it with our theme, TAG IT! We'd love for you to join us and of course, unless you want to ~ you don't have to use Studio Light products within your makes.

For my project, I chose to create a Size 8 Etcetera Tag and combined some Studio Light Ephemera with Tim Holtz products.

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

To begin with I used a Size 8 Etcetera Tag, and a Size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock tag.

TAG

Using the Mixed Media Heavystock tag, I chose to add colour with Distress Spray Stains, Oxide Sprays and Mica Spray in the following colours:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAINS: Ground Espresso, Uncharted Mariner, Speckled Egg

OXIDE SPRAYS: Speckled Egg

MICA SPRAYS: Crooked Broomstick

After spritzing the tag with a light misting of water, I then spritzed each of the Distress Spray Stains, and the Oxide Sprays to add colour to the tag. Once I was happy with the blend, I heat dried the inks and then flicked some Crooked Broomstick Mica Spray across the surface to create the splatters. Once again, I heat dried the tag.

Across the bottom section of the tag, I added a separate piece of card, spritzed with the same colours and cut to approx 1". I stamped a border in clear embossing ink, using one of the Ornate Trims from the Stampers Anonymous stamp set and after sprinkling gold embossing powder over the ink, I heat embossed the powder until molten. I then attached the border strip, and machine stitched around the edge of the tag, and along the edges of the strip. I then adhered the tag to the Etcetera Tag using Matte Collage Medium. I did add some stamping to the tag, but in the finished version, it got hidden behind the ephemera...so, just ignore that!

My background is now complete, and is ready to add some embellishments...

STUDIO LIGHT EPHEMERA and RULER PIECE

I began building the scene by snapping a ruler piece into two. Using one half of the ruler, I inked the surface with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then attached it across my tag.

I then chose a selection of the ephemera pieces from the Studio Light Paper Elements People and Botanics Grunge Collection pack, including the little girl, the butterflies and the foliage. I loved the colour tones and the white butterflies from this pack and apart from the little girl, which I colour tinted using Distress Crayons, I left the other pieces as they were.

I attached the foliage piece directly onto the tag using foam pads, which I splattered very lightly with Picket Fence Distress Paint. I then layered the Milk Cap over the top, which once again I gave a light splattering of white paint.

Finally, I added the little girl which I had colour tinted with Distress Crayons. I placed a butterfly behind her and lifted the wings to add dimension.

In the photo below you can see the dimension of this piece...

FLOURISHES

In this arrangement, I added two of the idea-ology metal Flourishes. To add colour to the metal idea-ology Flourishes, I used Statue and Sterling Foundry Wax on each of these pieces, applying one layer of wax at a time and then adding the second layer over the top, but not giving the metal a complete coverage. This will allow the layer of wax underneath to show through and create the variation of colour to the metal.

After I'd heat set the wax on all the pieces, I applied some dribbles of Mushroom alcohol ink over the metal to add more of a vintage feel to the pieces. I then rubbed some Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress paint over the surface, making sure it settled into all the recesses and the detail, before wiping away the excess paint and polishing the metal with a soft cloth to bring back the shine from the waxes.

I attached each flourish to the tag with Matte Collage Medium.

FINISHING DETAILS

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

So that the little girl is grounded, I added some moss around the base of her feet and along the top edge of the ruler piece.

I also added some dried seed heads from my stash...

...and a few Tim Holtz Bouquet Findings, coloured with Wild Honey Distress Spray Stain.

As the finishing touch to the arrangement, I placed two of the smallest butterflies from the Studio Light pack onto this piece.

To complete the tag, I added some Word Clippings ~ "my beautiful butterfly" taken from Tim's Clippings Stickers. I cut the sentiment into three separate words before attaching them to my tag and adding some pencil shading around each.

That's completes my project for this week and I hope you love the piece I've made...

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:

Studio Light Paper Elements People and Botanics Grunge Collection

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Size 8 Etcetera Tag, Ornate Trims

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Crackling Campfire

Distress Crayons

Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs

Foundry Wax

Distress Spray Stains: Ground Espresso, Uncharted Mariner, Speckled Egg, Wild Honey

Mica Sprays: Crooked Broomstick

Distress Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Milk Caps, Bouquet Findings, Ruler Pieces, Flourish Adornments, Clippings Stickers

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads, Gold Embossing Powder

Surfaces: Heavystock Mixed Media Tag

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

Monday, 17 March 2025

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...

Hello everyone...

It's time for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is called TRANSPORT IT and we hope you'll come and join us and play along.

For my project, I decided to take you on a global journey and used some of my favourite Tim Holtz products. I made a Stampers Anonymous Etcetera Panel and framed it with Etcetera Trims to create something a little different in shape. This make would be perfect for anyone who loves cars, travel or even stamp collection...

So, let's get started because it's time to share how I created this hanging panel...

To begin with I chose to use the smaller size in the Rectangular Etcetera Panels pack and I teamed this with Bracket and Pinked Etcetera Trims.

PANEL

Starting with the panel, I covered the raw edges with Design Tape from my stash and then, primed and painted the surface with Black Gesso.

Once the gesso was dry, I started attaching my stamps from the Postmarked Sticker Book. I started my first line of stamps, approx 0.5" from the top and then using the different colours, I carried on attaching them to the panel in straight lines until I reached the bottom.

With my stickers in place, I applied a coat of Matte Collage Medium over the top and allowed this to dry.

Moving onto the trims, I took a selection from the two packs, all of which are slightly wider than the panel itself. I used three bracket trims, 1 wide and 2 narrower, and one narrow pinked trim for this make.

I applied black gesso to the surface of each trim and then taking the wider bracket trim and the pinked trim, I attached this to the top section of my panel, attaching them so that the straight edges are joined together. Over the top of the trims, I used the "G. Montague & Co" strip from the idea-ology Paper Strips pack. This strip is the perfect length for the trims and once I'd adhered it into position, I applied Matted Collage Medium over the top to seal it and when that had dried thoroughly, I sanded the edges of the trims and then applied Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to give the look of ageing.

With the two remaining trims which I will attach to the bottom of the panel, I left one of the trims black and then die cut a piece of Backdrops paper from my scrap box using the Decorative Trims die ~ sorry, I can't remember which set this paper is from but you can choose a pattern you like, it really doesn't matter. I chose an idea-ology Paper Strips, the 'Airmail" design which I adhered to the covered trim and then after applying a coat of collage medium over the top, and allowing it to dry, I used the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edge and blended it over the surface using my fingertip.

Once the trim is in place, I added a Special Delivery Remnant Rub, which funnily enough is from the "Special Delivery" pack. This pack of rubs are unfortunately discontinued but I have a stock pile of them in my stash.

LAYERS

Now for building up those layers and I began by using the globe from the Memoirs Ephemera Pack and I adhered this directly over the top of the stamps, applying a layer of collage medium over the top to seal it.

On either side of the globe, I added a pointy finger, again attached directly to the surface.

At the top of the globe I added a Numbers Snippet, 1907 Model and on the right hand side,

...and I placed a label that I cut in half, which once again is from the Memoirs Ephemera Pack.

You'll notice that my pointy fingers are pointing at London and Australia, and to join these two countries, I wrapped some red cotton thread around a tiny brad and then attached the brads onto the panel by piercing a small hole into the board, adding a touch of glue and placing the brad into it.

I used Walnut Stain Crayon around the edges of all my layers, again blending out any harsh lines with my fingertips.

We're nearly done with the background, and all that's left was for me to add the centre to the globe. This piece is from the Gauge Dials pack and I attached it to the centre using foam pads. I then placed a Screw Head in the centre of the hands, adding some rusty goodness with Distress Paints ~ Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze.

PAPER DOLL AND CAR

When it comes to Paper Dolls, there are always going to be favourite characters and for me, this gentlemen is one of mine and I knew that together with a card, I wanted to include him in this make. Both of these pieces are from the Paper Dolls and Poses pack.

I colour tinted each of the pieces with Distress Crayons, that I applied with a waterbrush over the top of clear gesso.

Behind the windows of the car, I added some Mica Sheets, but I didn't cover the entire window, I wanted them to appear to be rolled down.

Then, on the wheels of the car, I added some Screw Heads that I altered with the same Distress Paints as used on the centre of the gauge dial.

I positioned the car on the right hand side of the panel, using foam pads to attach it into place.

I then attached the gentleman into position on the left of the car and you might notice that he has a little walking stick.

This is actually a cocktail stick that I cut in half and then painted with Walnut Stain Distress Paint. Once it was dry, I attached with a dab of collage medium and placed it so that he was holding it in his hand.

To complete the scene and add some texture, I used moss and dried grasses from my own stash.

HANGER

For the hanger, I used Hinge Clips which I clipped to the trim that is fitted across the top of the panel.

Each of the pewter coloured clips were given a patina using Salvaged Patina, Black Soot and Crackling Campfire Distress Paints and once the paints were dry, I used a little gilding wax from my own stash over the top.

With the clips in position, I added some chain from my stash which will now allow for the piece to be hung on a hook..

FINISHING DETAILS

All that's left to do now is add the finishing details of screw heads that I placed on the trims across the top of the panel.

So that's my make for this week complete and I hope you love the piece that I've designed and will be inspired by the tips and techniques in this project.

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

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Etcetera Trims Bracket and Pinked, Etcetera Panel

Sizzix: Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway, Decorative Trims

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

Distress Crayon

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, Postmarked Sticker Book, Paper Strips, Memoirs Ephemera, Paper Dolls and Poses, Gauge Dials, Hinge Clips, Special Delivery Remnant Rubs, Numbers Snippets

Mediums:Matte Collage Medium, Foam Pads

Glass Media Mat

Waterbrush

Heat Gun

Moss and chain from my own stash

Friday, 28 February 2025

Simon Says Stamp Favourite Things Blog Hop Day 1

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 1 of the Favorite Things Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be joining this hop and you might have arrived here from Caryn Davies' 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, HERE.

For my card, I chose to use the Basic Shapes Circles Die Set and the Eggstra Special Stamp Set from this release, to create a card celebrating Easter. You can check out all the fabulous new products in the Favorite Things release, HERE.

So let's begin and here's how I created my Easter card...

To begin with I made a white card blank measuring 18cm square and with the fold along the top.

BACKGROUND

To create the stamped background, I cut a panel of kraft card, 15cm square and used the small Easter Egg stamp from the Eggstra Special stamp set, inked with Black Soot Archival Ink, to stamp a repeat pattern over the entire panel.

Once my stamping was complete, I then coloured each of the eggs using Polychromos Pencils.

TOP TIP: There is no need to take up precious crafting time colouring any area that will be eventually covered and if you find you missed anything once you do add the artwork, just go back in and colour the areas that need it.

When all my colouring and shading was finished, I took the Tim Holtz Splatter Brush, which I dipped into some Picket Fence Distress Paint, and lightly splattered the surface of the card. I allowed for this to dry, before I added machine stitched border around the outside edge and matted the background panel onto ivory card, followed by another layer of kraft card. I then mounted my layers onto the front of the card blank.

STAMPED IMAGE

We're now ready to create the artwork and for this I began by stamping the Easter Egg image from the Eggstra Special stamp set, inking this with Black Soot Archival Ink and stamping it onto a piece of kraft card. Once again I coloured this image with Polychromos Pencils.

I then fussy cut around the edge of the eggs and the grassy verge, cutting away the three flowers at the top of the image.

Set this to one side to move onto the next layer.

For this layer, I used one of the circular Basic Shapes Dies, to cut a circle of Mixed Media Heavystock Card, (approx 11.5cm in diameter), and inking up the same Easter Egg stamp as before, I stamped this image along the bottom section of the circle

To create the blue sky, I inked the background using a blending tool and Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky Distress Inks being very careful to avoid the three flowers at the top of the image. Once my colour was in place, I then spritzed with water, allowed the inks to blend and then heat dried the surface. If you need more colour, then just repeat this process until you're happy with the blend.

I inked the edges of the circular die cut with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink before taking the fussy cut image of the Easter Eggs, placing foam pads on the back of them and attaching them over the top of the stamped image on the circle. I then added colour with Polychromos Pencils to the remaining three flowers and some white pen detail to the stamped image.

MESSAGE BANNER

Cut a strip of kraft card, 14.5 x 3cm and ink up the Happy Easter message from the stamp set in clear ink. Stamp the message on the centre of the strip, and sprinkle white embossing powder over the surface before heat embossing until molten and glossy.

I mounted the strip onto a further piece of ivory cardstock leaving a border top and bottom, splattered Picket Fence Distress Paint over the top of the strip for a speckled effect and then machine stitched down the two sides of the strip.

On either side I used the Crop A Dile to punch a small hole, and then set an eyelet into each, again using this tool. I then threaded some twine through the eyelets, tying them in a knot to secure them. As the finishing touch to the banner, I placed 3 gold metallic droplets on either side.

Attach the banner across the bottom section of the card, placing it onto foam pads for added dimension.

CIRCLES

Now to build up those circles and for this I began by taking the smaller circle die (approx 11cm) that I used for the artwork, together with the next size down. I then placed the two dies, one inside the other, onto a piece of gold metallic kraft stock card and created a frame by running these two dies through my machine.

I repeated this two more times to create three separate die cuts which I layered together to form a thicker circle that I attached around the edge of my artwork to create the gold frame.

After die cutting a circle of white card, I attached my artwork to the centre of the is piece.

I then continued die cutting the third and fourth circles, from kraft card, and the final layer from gold metallic card using the ascending order of dies in the set, so that each die will create a border for the next one.

With all my circular die cuts complete, I started layering them over one another, and adhered the kraft circle tover the top of the large gold circle and then, using foam pads, I attached the artwork panel to the centre of the layered circles.

Attach the completed layers to the front of the card, so that the circles slightly overlap the top fold. To complete the frame around the edge, I added some small gold metallic droplets.

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

DETAILS

As you can see, I added some clouds to my scene and for this I used a die that I have in my stash, called Sizzix Christmas Cutouts Die Set by Tim Holtz. If you haven't got this die set, then don't worry ~ there are plenty of cloud dies to be found and you might already have some in your stash, including some from this collection from our very own Simon Says Stamp.

I cut four clouds from watercolour card, inked the edges with a little Lost Shadow ink and then placed them onto my circles, using foam pads. I added some black pen highlights to each cloud.

So, that's my card finished and I really hope you love this fun make and all 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, 5th March and all winners will need to contact/email Simon Says Stamp to claim their prize.

Also, don't forget that you have until the 2 March at 11:59 EDT to grab yourselves the exclusive Happy Bee Day stamp set which will be automatically added to your card it if contains $50 or more of Favorite Things release products. This gift with purchase will expire on 2nd March at 11:59EST or while supplies 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