Happy Monday everyone! It's that time of year again ...
at SIMON SAYS STAMP MONDAY CHALLENGE!
This week, we're asking you to join us with your favorite stamp; be it a background stamp or that "go to" stamp that you always seem to find yourself using. Or maybe you have a favorite ink pad that you just cannot do without. Whatever it is, create something wonderful and enter our challenge. We'd love to see your work!
This week, we're asking you to join us with your favorite stamp; be it a background stamp or that "go to" stamp that you always seem to find yourself using. Or maybe you have a favorite ink pad that you just cannot do without. Whatever it is, create something wonderful and enter our challenge. We'd love to see your work!
As for me, when Tim Holtz released his line of stamps at January's CHA, my bank account took a big hit! (smile) His vintage London and Paris themed stamps and papers just spoke to me ... especially that sweet little old gentleman. And my favorite set of background and accessory stamps has got to be Tim's Artful Tools. So, I have combined those stamp sets to create this ...
A Tim Holtz Pocket Envelope. This little envelope is so fun because it makes a wonderful gift card holder or an added vintage pocket in art journals or mini books.
I began with a piece of manila card stock and die cut my pocket envelope on my Vagabond. Then I distressed it using Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge Distress Inks. I love their warm, rich tones. I also did Tim's spritz and flick method of adding water to further distress the pocket envelope with water splotches. But, my "go to" inks when doing vintage pieces that require stamping is a tie between Jet Black Archival and Coffee Archival ... or in this case; both used at the same time!
I stamped the measuring tape background from Artful Tools onto the distressed pocket envelope. But I used both Jet Black Archival and Coffee to ink up the background stamp. I did the same thing on the two sides where I partially stamped the paint brush images. I love how those two colors combined really compliment each other; giving warm tones yet not quite such a defined image or edge.
Next I added a little Coffee and Jet Black Archival to all of the edges to make them look more worn and defined. Next I created the images used on the front: my favorite little gentleman, the Union Jack, a bitty postage stamp and the top of Big Ben all from either Tim's Paris To London or London Sights stamp sets. All were stamped onto Specialty Stamping Paper. I also lightly applied Antique Linen with an Ink Applicator after coloring all of the images to soften them and give them a more vintage appearance.
I stamped the little man in both Jet Black and Coffee Archival to see which one I would like the best. I settled on the Coffee Archival one. I colorized him with a Detailer Water Brush and various Distress Inks: Weathered Wood for his coat, Scattered Straw for his vest and edging aroundd him, Broken China for his shirt, Barn Door for his tie and Pumice for his shoes and mustache. After he was cut out, he was pop dotted onto the pocket front.
The Union Jack was done a bit differently. I used Distress Markers and applied the color directly to the stamp. Faded Jeans and Barn Door provided the color and I added just a touch of Coffee Archival Ink here and there. And ... because they are Distress Inks, cleanup was a snap. I just let the stream of water from the faucet hit it, wiped it off with a paper towel and it was all clean! (Yes, I am one of those people who actually DO clean their stamps!) I tore the one edge of the flag and applied Coffee Archival to the torn edge. I added a small stick rubbed with Coffee Archival to serve as a flag pole. I also worked the paper a little so that the flag was curved and almost like it is waving from the flagpole a little. It is glued to the flagpole but other than that, the flag is free to proudly wave.
Big Ben was lightly colored with Antique Linen and the shading and roofs were colored with Tea Dye Distress Ink. The clock faces were given a coat of Glossy Accents for dimension and also to resemble glass covering the clock faces. I bent Big Ben at the "corner" and attached it to the envelope with pop dots; giving it some dimension. The bitty stamp was colored with Peeled Paint and pop dotted as well.
After I assembled the cover of the pocket envelope, I turned it over and added the two little circle closures. These were easy to add and the instructions are included in the die cut. Finally, I used some of Tim Holtz' Paper String to close the pocket envelope.
I think this turned out really cute and even better ... I completed this project in less than two hours! Don't you just love it when the stars all align and a project comes together so easily?
Happy Stamptember everybody! Get in on all of the fun now at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.
You could be the lucky winner of our random weekly
$50.00 credit voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp!
And ... your work could also be showcased in our
This is quite an honor as we receive so many beautiful works of art each week.
Good luck! I can't wait to see what are your "All Star" Stamping products!
Here are all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in creating this vintage pocket envelope:
