That's Life

Monday, 21 July 2025

It's a Kind of Magic....

Hello everyone...

As we begin the new week, it's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge and this week, we are challenging you to MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND!

So, with so many different ways of doing this, and whether you use inks, sprays, pastes or paints, you will be spoilt for choice and we can't wait to see how you will interpret this fun challenge theme.

For my background I chose to use Distress Spray Stains and Oxide Sprays, together with stamps and I just had so much fun building up those layers to create interest and texture ready for the focal point of those beautiful butterflies.

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

For this make, I used a combination of Tim Holtz products and chose an idea-ology clipboard, a Size 8 Etcetera Tag and a size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock tag as my substrates.

BACKGROUNDS

The background on the tag and the clipboard are both created using the same colours of sprays, oxide sprays and inks. I chose the following:

DISTRESS SPRAY STAINS: Iced Spruce, Old Paper, Speckled Egg. Gathered Twigs

OXIDE SPRAYS: Old Paper

DISTRESS INKS: Uncharted Mariner, Scorched Timber

I began by cutting a panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card, and also used a size 8 Mixed Media Heavystock tag. I misted each of these surfaces with water and then started to apply my sprays, using the Distress Spray Stains first and only applying a light touch of Gathered Twigs, and then some light flicks of Old Paper Oxide. I applied a little more water to blend the colours and then allowed these to dry. You can also use a heat tool to dry the inks.

Once my surfaces were dry, I inked around the edges with Scorched Timber Distress Ink.

To add some more interest to my background, I used Black Soot Archival Ink to ink up the script stamp from the Stampers Anonymous Tiny Toadstools stamp set and added the script randomly onto my card panel and tag.

Set the panel to one side and taking the tag, I added some more stamping down the right hand side. I used one of the stamps from the SA Faded Type stamp set and inked this with clear ink, before applying gold embossing powder over the top. Tap away the excess and then heat emboss until molten.

Finally, I used Tim's Splatter Brush to add some white paint speckles and machine stitched a border around each piece to complete the backgrounds.

CLIPBOARD

We're now ready to start constructing this piece and to begin with I worked on the clipboard and after unscrewing the clip, I attached the inked card panel to the board using Matte Collage Medium.

I then stamped the Factory No.1896 down the left hand side of the board. This stamp is from the Eccentric stamp set.

Taking the clip, I wanted to this to have a rusty, crusty appearance which is so easy to achieve and you can see a tutorial on how I do this by clicking HERE.

To alter this clip, I used exactly the same process as I used in my earlier post, but I omitted the Salvaged Patina Paint on this particular piece.

Once the clip was ready, I reattached it to my board and then attached the Mini Plaquette, No.79 to the centre of the clip.

TAG

Moving onto the tag, and to begin with I stamped the butterflies from the Papillon stamp set down the left hand side of the tag. This stamp set now has co-ordinating dies from Simon Says Stamp, so no more fussy cutting when we move onto the next step.

BUTTERFLIES

To create the butterflies, I re-stamped the image onto watercolour card using the brand new Mini Oxide Ink Pads and my stamp platform.

I inked the stamps directly with various colours from this release, including Crackling Campfire, Barn Door, Peacock Feathers, Bundled Sage, Scorched Timber, and Gathered Twigs. I personally find it easier to do one butterfly at time. I then lightly misted water over the inked stamps before stamping them onto the card.

If you feel you need more colour, then re-position your card on the platform and just go in with the ink pad.

Once I was happy with my butterflies, I used the Simon Says Stamp co-ordinating die set to die cut each one from the card.

I inked the edges of the die cuts with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and then attached them to the tag, lifting the wings and not attaching these. I placed each image over the top of the previously stamped image on my tag, and this ensures I get the correct placement and also you can see the text from the stamp.

Before I attached my tag to the Etcetera Tag, I stitched the bodies of the butterflies to the tag.

With my tag complete, I attached it to the clipboard using Matte Collage Medium.

To complete the tag, I added a Curator Ephemera piece in the top right hand corner.

I also added a Quote Chip, 'A Little Magic Can Take You A Long Way", and once again, I placed a Cello Sticker tape over the chip.

Finally I added an Adornment Star and two hardware heads, all of which I painted with gold acrylic paint.

DETAILS

It's now time for all those tiny finishing details and I began by adding a Numbers Snippet to the right hand side of the clipboard, tucking it underneath the tag, and once again, I added a Cello Sticker Tape.

Finally, I attached a Swivel Clasp to the clip and from the chain, I hung an idea-ology Thought Token which I painted with Candied Apple Distress Paint. Once dry, I then scribbled Phantom Mist Distress Crayon over the token and wiped away the excess to reveal the wording.

So, that's my make complete and I hope you've loved the piece I've created and feel inspired by the techniques.

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: Papillon Trims Die and Stamp Set, Etcetera Tag, Faded Type, Tiny Toadstools, Eccentric

Sizzix: Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway

Distress Spray Stain: Old Paper, Gathered Twigs, Speckled Egg, Uncharted Mariner

Oxide Sprays: Old Paper

Phantom Mist Distress Crayon

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Cello Sticker Tape, Screw Heads, Star Adornment, Quote Chip Labels, Number Strips, Curator Ephemera, Clipboard, Thought Token, Swivel Clasp, Mini Plaquette

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Black Soot Archival, Black Opaque Paste, Gold Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Ink

Surfaces: Heavystock Mixed Media Card, Size 8 Mixed Media Tag, Watercolor Card

Glass Media Mat

Waterbrush

Heat Gun

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Tim Holtz and Simon Says Stamp Dies and Stamps Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Inspirations Blog Hop featuring the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive co-ordinating dies that match Tim Holtz stamps.

I'm so excited to be joining this hop, and you might have arrived here via my very talented friend, Stacy Hutchinson's 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, by clicking HERE. Also, if you would like to see the entire product release , then pop on over to HERE.

So, let's get started and I'll can't wait to share all the details of how I used one of the amazing co-ordinating die and stamps sets to create my mini gift envelopes and gift tag.

To begin with I created my bases and for these I used the Collector (for the gift envelopes) and Specimen (for the tag) die sets and cut my pieces from Mixed Media Heavystock card.

GIFT CARD HOLDERS

Once I'd die cut my card to create two gift card envelopes, I scored along the lines and then added some Distress Spray Stain to create more of a vintage feel to the cardstock. I used a combination of Antique Linen and Pumice Stone sprays, and after misting the surface with water, I applied the sprays and then used a heat tool to dry the card.

I then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress ink before I assembled each of the envelopes.

Along the flap of each envelope, I inked one of the Ornate Trims stamps with Frayed Burlap Archival Ink, and then stamped the decorative trim. I repeated this on the second envelope using a different design of trim.

With the envelopes ready, I moved onto the layers.

For these background layers, I applied Distress Crackle Paste, through the Stampers Anonymous Splash Layering Stencil (THS080) onto a piece of Distress Watercolour Card. I set the card to one side to dry and for the crackles to appear and once this happens, I added the colour.

For this I used Distress Spray Stain in Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage and Uncharted Mariner, together with Speckled Egg and Bundled Sage Oxide Spray.

I spritzed some water over the surface of the crackle pasted card, and then applied each of the colours, one by one. I then gave the card another light misting, you don't want to oversaturated the cardstock, just move the colours around to blend and then I gently heat dried the inks.

Once completely dry, I cut the card into two separate panels to fit the fronts of the envelopes and inked the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

I then attached the panels to layers of Silver metallic Kraft stash and mounted these completed panels onto the fronts of my envelopes.

To complete the envelopes, I used the Crop-A-Dile to punch holes into the flaps and set a couple of eyelets into each before threading some seam binding ribbon through each eyelet, which I coloured with Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains.

As the finishing touch, I added some Cello Tape Stickers to the envelopes.

We can now move onto the butterflies....

BUTTERFLIES

This is now where the fun begins and where we get to use the glorious new co-ordinating die sets from SSS, together with the stamps sets from Tim Holtz. For this make, I chose the Flutter stamp set, and I began by inking each butterfly with Black Soot Archival Ink, (I used three, 1 for each make) and stamping them onto watercolour card stock. I always use the smooth side of the cardstock when I stamp.

I then coloured my butterflies with Distress Watercolour Pencils and once I was happy and the watercoloring was completely dry, I used the co-ordinating Flutter die set to die cut the butterflies.

I then inked the edges of each one with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, and shaped the wings.

BUILDING UP THE LAYERS

We can now start to build the layers and complete the envelopes.

I began by using mica sheets that I have in my stash and I used two pieces and layered these over the top of one another, fixing them to the envelope with foam pads to add dimension.

I then cut two circles from the remaining crackled cardstock that I used for the background, and used these as my base for the butterfly.

I mounted my butterflies over some loose threads from my haberdashery box which I glued directly onto the circle, and then attached the butterfly over the top, leaving the wings free from adhesive, as I want these to rise up, as if the butterflies are in flight.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the sentiments that sit underneath the butterflies...

SENTIMENTS

For each envelope, I used a frame and sentiment. The frame is die cut from silver Metallic Kraft card using the dies in the Specimen die set. I cut three layers to build up the frame and and then added the sentiment to a piece of mixed media cardstock, that I placed inside the frame.

I completed each frame with Hardware Heads on either side.

The "see the world" sentiment is from the Tiny Text Remnant Rub set by Tim Holtz...

...and the "use your wings is from the Tiny Text Stampers Anonymous stamp set.

I completed the envelope with an Ornate Trim, die cut with the co-ordinating die set, and attached this along the bottom of each of the envelopes.

To create more of a rusty finish to the silver metal, I used a paintbrush to apply Crackling Campfire, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints to the metallic surface. I wiped away any excess paint, so that it pools and sits in the recesses, especially where I've added the hardware heads.

FILM SLIDE TAG

As a little extra make, I thought it would be fun to make a gift tag and as I mentioned at the beginning, I used the Film Slide die in the Sizzix Specimen Thinlits Die Set by Tim.

Once my film slide was folded and inked, I used all the same elements as I used on the envelopes and layered the mica sheets, threads and butterfly as my focal point. I then added the ornate trim across the bottom section. To complete the make, I added a "no.48' remnant rub, some tiny nailheads and an eyelet in the top, complete with twine from my stash.

So, that's my makes complete and I hope you've enjoyed this process and it's inspired you with ideas of how to use some of the amazing dies and stamps from this release.....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and before I go, don't forget to join Tim and his star student, Heidi for Create Together, live on the Simon Says Stamp YouTube channel, tomorrow at 12 noon ET.

See you soon, love Emma x

Hop Order

Simon Says Stamp Blog
Nina-Marie Trapani
Caly Person
Stacy Hutchinson
Emma Williams
Cheiron Brandon
Cathie Cowles
Barb Engler

CLICK HERE to shop all products used to make this card

Simon Says Stamp Co-ordinating Dies and Stamps: Flutter, Ornate Trims

Stampers Anonymous: Splash Layering Stencil, Tiny Text

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Sizzix: Specimen, Collector

Distress Paint: Antqiued Bronze, Black Soot, Crackling Campfire

Tim Holtz Oxide Sprays: Speckled Egg, Bundled Sage

Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains: Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage and Uncharted Mariner

Distress Watercolour Pencils

Tim Holtz idea_ology: Tiny Text Remnant Rubs, Hardware Heads

Mediums and Adhesive: SSS Precision Glue, SSS Foam Squares, SSS Tape Runner, Black Soot Archival, Distress Crackle Paste

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Classic Metallic Kraft Stash

Tools: Blending Brushes, Blending Tool

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway Machine

Twine from my own stash

Monday, 30 June 2025

Living In America...

Hello friends...

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and ready for the new week ahead. As always, Monday means that we have a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week, our theme is RED, WHITE and BLUE.

Now, the first thing that will spring to mind is July the 4th, and American Independence Day but you don't have to do that because there are so many other ideas and products that will lend themselves to this fun challenge theme and we can't wait to see how you will be inspired by these colours...

I will admit that I always like to create a US themed make at this time of year and 2025 continues that theme because I was inspired to make a vintage style Stampers Anonymous Etcetera panel and I used a combination of Tim Holtz products, including one of the brand new dies from the exciting launch of the Co-Ordinating die sets from Simon Says Stamp.

So, let's get started because it's time to share how I created this Red, White and Blue panel...

For this make, I used the larger sized Etcetera Panel.

I attached Design tape Trim around the edge of the panel...

ETCETERA PANEL

To cover the background, I used a combination of papers from the 12' x 12" Correspondence Paper Pack that recently came back from the vault for a limited time only. Unfortunately, these are now sold out, but if you were one of the lucky ones to get this, then I hope to tempt you to actually use it but if you didn't manage to get any of these pads, then any red, white and blue papers will work for this make.

To begin with I chose a piece of paper with a red pattern and cut two strips, approx 1" wide and after adding machine stitching down the sides, I attached these to either side of my panel, before cutting a larger panel that will fit down the centre. I chose a blue pattern for this panel, and machine stitched a border around the edges.

I then attached the panel with Matte Collage Medium, and added a different Design Tape Trim to run down each side of this larger panel. I then applied a coat of Collage Medium over the surface of the paper to seal it, and once dry, I used Walnut Stain Distress Crayon, running it around the edges, and blending out the colour with my finger tip.

In each of the four corners of the panel, I adhered some Screw Heads directly to the side strips, and painted these with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint.

Now to make those stripes and this is where I used one of the brand new co-ordinating die sets that work in conjunction with the Stampers Anonymous stamp sets. I chose to use Ornate Trims and began by stamping four different designs of trims.

I stamped these in Barn Door Archival ink, and made sure that I would have enough to attach to my panel.

After inking the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, I then began layering them onto my background, attaching each trim with Matte Collage Medium to form the three sets of stripes that sit across the bottom section of my panel.

You will also notice that I attached a second trim over the top of the first trim to form a different pattern.

With my trims in place, I moved onto adding some Etcetera Scalloped Edge Decorative Trims. For this I used the Scalloped Edge Trim, and using the matching Sizzix Decorative trim Die, I cut some of the same patterned paper and covered two trims.

I then attached two of my stamped and die cut ornate trims over the top. I sealed each piece with Matte collage Medium, and then attached them to my panel, adhering one across the top, and the second one as the fourth stripe on the bottom section. To age the paper, I used Walnut Stain Distress crayon, before I used the Splatter Brush to add speckles of Black soot Distress Paint across the surface.

Once the paint was dry, to complete the panel, I added some Metallic Droplets in between the joins of the Ornate Trims, adding these to just two rows, one at the top and one at the bottom.

We're now ready to move onto the embellishments....

PAPER DOLL PORTRAIT

For this project, I used the image of the elegant gentleman and colour tinted it with Distress Crayons. Once I was happy with the colouring, I attached the photo to my panel using foam pads to add some dimension to the piece and placed some Mummy Cloth around the base of the paper doll.

Just above his head, in the top right hand corner, I added a "Via Air Mail" ephemera piece ~ so sorry, but I don't know which set this from, as a couple of packs of mine fell out of my cupboard, and the ephemera went everywhere and they all got a little bit jumbled up! 😬

To complete my gentleman, I added a monocle. This is actually a very old idea-ology fastening that I have in my stash and it worked perfectly for using as a monocle, which I attached with a dab of collage medium.

STARS

For these stars, I used the 3D star that is included in the Sizzix Vault Rosette Die Thinlits Set by Tim Holtz. I cut three stars from Mixed Media Heavystock, and then folded them along the scoreline to create the stars.

To colour my stars, I used Distress Spray Stains and Distress Spritzes in the following colours:

WHITE: Antique Linen

RED: Lumberjack Plaid

BLUE: Uncharted Mariner

When the card is dry, I created the 3D stars and spritzed a little Antique Linen Distress Spritz over the top. Using a heat tool, I dried the stars, before I attached them to my panel, placing them around the Paper Doll Portrait.

In between the larger stars, I added some smaller die cuts. These stars are cut from silver metallic Kraft card using the Falling Stars die set. I sanded the surface of each star, inked them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then attached them to my panel with collage medium.

FLOURISHES

Across the Etcetera Trim that is beneath the gentleman, I added some idea-ology metal pieces. I used three pieces taken from the Flourishes, Ornate Adornments and Foliage Adornments packs.

To add a touch of vintage to each piece, 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 piece along the trim, using collage medium and after sanding the edges, and inking with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I attached the "Be Brave" Theories Quote Chip over the top.

On either side of the chip, I placed two of the smallest sized Screwheads, painted with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint.

We're nearly there and all that's left are the finishing touches....

FINAL DETAILS

I applied a Labeled Remnant Rub number in the top left hand corner.

I added a Star Adornment on the right hand side of the panel, just underneath the paper doll portrait, and I painted this with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint...

...and then clipped a large Hinge Clip to the left hand side. I painted the clip with a combination of the Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint, Antiqued Bronze and Black Soot. I then hung a no. 4 from a Hook Clasp, which I then clipped onto the hinge clip.

And that is my project for this week complete and I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial and love the piece I've created. It's definitely been a fun piece to make and I hope I've done my friends in the US proud with this panel.