Simon Says: It's A Dogs Life

This week on the Simon Says Monday Challenge we've got - It's A Dogs Life.  

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $50 voucher to shop at their store.

I had a lot of fun (an some frustrating moments) creating this ornament using one of the crazy dogs from the Tim Holtz/Stamper's Anonymous set, Mini Cats & Dogs along with the matching die.  The trees inside the ornament are part of the Tim Holtz/Sizzix thinlits Tree Line cutting die. I first tried these items using card stock but I could not roll it up, get it inside, and unroll it without making lines and creases in the paper...  So I've used White Yupo Paper.  I stamped the dog with Archival Ink Jet Black, die cut it, and then used the Detailer Water Brush and Distress Inks to color it.  Nope, that wasn't easy either and it took quite a bit of time and using the heat tool a little at a time to get the coloring dry.  I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks to color trees.  So much easier :-)  For the "snow" inside the ornament I've used a few things - Scotch Create Permanent Tacky Glue, Sparkly Fluff, Glossy Accents, and Rock Candy Dry Glitter.  First I was using the Sparkly Fluff and it wouldn't keep it's "whiteness" with the clear glue but worked really well with the white glue except that static cling also caused it to stick everywhere inside the ornament, lol.  I still like it and was able to go in with a small piece of a Swiffer sheet using tweezers and clean much of it off the front area of the ornament so things were easier to see.  I left the back as I like that it looks like the snow blowing around.  When I decided I need more "snow" in the bottom partially for support for the dog and trees and also just for more "ground cover" I thought some glitter would also look nice and added that with the clear glue.  Over all I think it turned out well.  Finally I added some Tim Holtz Baubles to the inside for some added color and fun. They are colored with Alcohol Inks, Red Pepper and Mushroom.

On the top of the ornament I've used one of the dies from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini set.  I cut three of the pine branch pieces from green card stock, added shading with Distress Ink Pine Needles and splattered them with Distress Paint Tarnished Brass. Also used is Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon (dyed with Distress Ink Festive Berries), Metallic Ribbon, Jump Rings, and a Tidings Token (Tarnished Brass paint around edges and Picket Fence Distress Crayon in the letters).

It was also difficult getting good pictures so I've taken extra (many more than I'm sharing even) and hopefully you can see how great this turned out.  I'm pretty sure my daughter is going to claim it :-)

I hope you've enjoyed today's project!!!!

Hugs, Wanda