A Card With A Touch Of Mystery!

From Nancy Drew books to techniques that are hard to figure out just from looking at a finished project. The Simon Says Stamp and Monday Challenge would like you to embrace your inner Sherlock Holmes! Mystify us with your technique prowess? Or perhaps your project ties into this week's theme by simply mysteriously being unclear on how exactly it fits! However you choose to interpret the theme, we cannot wait to see your creations!

I decided to create a pop up card this week for my Nephew's birthday. I always feel a door adds a little mystery to a project or design, it always has me thinking what could be behind the door! The Sizzix Door, Opening and Wreath die was perfect to add that touch of I wonder what to my design. However, that's not the only mystery to my design, I have also created a background using an unusual item, can you guess what it is?

.................... Have you guessed it?

I used lemon juice to age my background and it works fabulously! Simply decant some lemon juice into a mister bottle and we are ready to start.

Spritz a piece of white card with plenty of the lemon juice. At this stage I also die cut a circle aperture from the bottom of my card using the Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large Dies. Ensure your work surface is protected.

Heat the card with a heat tool, it does take a while for the card to start to age/burn and the card does get extremely hot, so it is important to work on a protective surface.

Continue to heat the card until you have the desired effect. You can continue to add further lemon juice to add more of an aged/burnt appearance to your background.

I also ironed my card to flatten and this also aged the background further, just remember to take your iron off the steam setting. I then applied Frayed Burlap Distress Ink to the back of the aperture and I then stamped the cake image into the aperture using black Archival Ink. I also added touches of white for some contrast using a white pencil crayon. I machine stitched the two pieces together for added interest.

I added a Wishbone and some mini paper clips around the outer edge of my aperture to add a masculine touch to my card.

I added the Sizzix Door to the front of my card cut from Tim Holtz Nostalgic Kraft Core Paper Stack, which I sanded to add to the aged feel. I also added a pediment to the top of the door cut from the same card stock and sanded once again around the edges.

Banners have been added to the top of my card, adding mini cakes to the top of each banner along with WISH using Signmaker Alpha Parts. I also added touches of Treasure Silver to the top of each letter to add highlights. Make a Wish has been stamped onto white card, coloured with Frayed Burlap ink and added to the front of the card.

I added 23 to the front of my door as my Nephew will be 23 this time. I also added random stamping to the background using the background stamp from Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set.

A pop up has been added to the centre of my card using Karen Burniston's Pop 'n' Cuts Base and Circle Label Die. I then cut a piece of card 6" x 12" from Kraft Core cardstock and then added behind the pop up, sanding the edges to add to that aged worn feel. I also added kraft card to the inside of my card machine stitched into place and coloured with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

Two large cake images have been added to the pop up, stamped onto Kraft card and coloured with a white pencil crayon for some highlights. I have also stamped the mini balloons onto craft card and attached to wire so they appear to be floating from behind the pop up. I also added two banners stamped with 'just celebrate' and coloured with Distress Ink.

I have added a Clock Face and Game Spinner which I thought was perfect to coordinate with "TIME TO PARTY". I added a twine bow to the back of my Clock Face for added texture.

A Word Band has been added to the centre of the pop up along with some random stamping around the background.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Mini Blueprints 4 Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Birthday Sketch Stamp
Tim Holtz Simple Sayings
Tim Holtz Alterations - Pediments Die
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Wishbones,  Mini Paper Clips, Signmaker Alpha Parts, Timepieces Metal Watch Clock Face, Game Spinners, Word Bands
Tim Holtz Core'dinations Kraft Core Nostalgic Paper Stack
Karen Burniston Pop 'n' Cuts Base and Circle Label Die
Distress Inks - Frayed Burlap
Archival Ink - Black
Sizzix Door, Opening and Wreath Die
Ranger Mini Mister
Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large Dies
Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Heat Tool
White Pencil
PaperArtsy Treasure Silver Gilding Wax
Twine
Studio Calico Alphabet Wood Veneers