Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

Hi friends! Happy Thursday! Welcome to another STUNNING project tutorial by the fabulous Emma Williams! She kindly provided text and photo step by steps so you can try to recreate this for yourself! Read on and enjoy!

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

Hi everyone, it’s Emma here and I’m so happy to be back on the Simon Says Stamp blog to share my latest project with you all ~ my Entomology Frame, a home decor piece that I’ve created using the fabulous Entomology stamps from Tim Holtz and combining them with products from his idea-ology and Sizzix ranges.

I just love these stamps so much, the detail of the images is so beautiful and they create such stunning focal points for any project that you create and with this in mind, I decided to make this project that had just one of the stamps as the focal point and was inspired by the beautiful vintage plates and frames that I’ve seen in museums and books.

1. I began by prepping my small Vignette Frame that sits inside, and the framed panel which comes in two separate pieces, the base, and the frame. For this particular project, I wanted to create an aged, antique feel to the wood and started by applying a layer of gesso to the framed panel, around the edges of the base piece and also the small Vignette Frame.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

2. Once the medium is dry, set aside the smaller frame for later and using the Framed Panel, I started to layer my paints ~ I used Distress Paints for this and started with a layer of Walnut Stain as a base. I usually dry my paints between each layer, just so they are touch dry and won’t become too muddy in appearance when applying each color. I then dry brushed Antiqued Bronze over the top, followed by a layer of Black Soot.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

3. Once I was happy with the color, I then added some Aged Brass Alchemy Wax over the top to accentuate the beading on the frame.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

4. Take the base section and cut a piece of paper from the Etcetera Paper Stash. Adhere the paper with Matte Collage Medium, placing it centrally onto the base and then applying a layer of Collage Medium over the top. The paper won’t fit over the entire base, but this isn’t a problem as the frame will be attached over the top.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

5. To form an inner border to the frame, I then attached tape from the Humidor Design Tape set around the four sides of the panel, placing the tape approximately 1.5cm from each edge.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

6. Attach the frame over the top using Matte Collage Medium before running Ground Espresso Distress Crayon around the inside of the frame, blending out the color with a semi-dry baby wipe, which will create a more worn and aged look to the background paper.
7. For the next step, I embossed a piece of Heavystock Mixed Media card using the 3D Botanical Texture Fade. Place the card measuring 11 x 15.5cm inside the folder and run through the machine before adding a coat of gesso over the top of the surface ~ the gesso acts as a primer on the card, giving a nice surface to work on and allowing you to add all the mediums that are to come.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

8. To add color to my embossed card, I used the following Distress Paints, Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap and Picket Fence.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

9. I started by applying a layer of Picket Fence mixed with a touch of Antique Linen directly onto my card, working the paint into the embossed areas with a brush. Once the paint was touch dry, I then dry brushed Tumbled Glass over the top, followed by a light touch of Frayed Burlap and once again heat dried the surface between each layer. By dry brushing the paint, it won’t create a solid finish and allows some of the paint layer from the underneath to show through
10. I then added my next layer, Walnut Stain and again dry brushed the paint onto the surface but this time, just catching the embossed, raised areas and avoiding the recessed part.
11. Using a semi-dry baby wipe, I gently wiped away the majority of the dark paint from the embossing ~ this technique allows the darker paint to sink into the recesses but not add too much color.
12. Once the paintwork is dry, I lightly swiped a Versamark Embossing Pad over the top of the raised, embossed areas and then using a Perfect Pearls brush, picked up a small number of Perfect Pearls and brushed the pigments, Heirloom Gold, and Perfect Gold, over the top, accentuating the embossing. Lightly spritz with water to set the pigment and heat dry.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

13. The depth of embossing from these folders, which you can see below is simply amazing and by using the Perfect Pearls, it just creates such a wonderful sheen and a beautiful faux patina to this piece.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

14. Machine stitch a border around the edge of the embossed card before attaching a Hex Fastener to the top right and left-hand corners. Apply foam pads to the back of the card and place it inside your frame.
15. Now moving onto the gessoed Vignette Frame that I set aside and I began by painting the entire frame with a coat of Antique Linen, then dry brushing Frayed Burlap over the top. Once dry, I applied Aged Brass Alchemy Wax over the top.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

16. I placed the frame over a bed of cheesecloth which I hand dyed using a combination of Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Spray Stain and adhered the frame into place with College Medium, placing a heavy object over the top to ensure it was well and truly stuck.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

17. Now moving onto the focal point of this project, the pocket watch…

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

18. I started by cutting a circular panel of Mixed Media Heavystock card to fit inside the pocket watch. I then applied Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Oxide Ink directly onto the Glass Media Mat, spritzed the inks with water and smooshed the card through, picking up the color. Heat dry the inked card and then inked up the Entomology Script Stamp with Frayed Burlap and stamp the script over the top of the circle.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

19. I inked up the ladybird with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamped it in the center of the inked circle, and then stamped a further two images on a separate piece of card, before then coloring the body on all three pieces with the Candied Apple Distress Marker Pen.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

20. Cut out the two separate images of the ladybird, each time cutting away a small section of the bug. Layer up each piece using foam pads and placing them over the top of the main image.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

21. Attach the circle in the center of the pocket watch and apply a layer of Glossy Accents over the top of the ladybird. Add a small amount of torn cheesecloth around the edge of the watch. To create a more aged look to the watch, I then applied Rust and Pitch Black Alcohol Ink to the metal and then applying a small amount of Mushroom Alcohol Ink around the edges of the glass, on the front of the watch.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

22. Pop the glass into place and then attach the watch over a bed of sisal fibers in the center of the frame.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

23. Hammer a Vignette Finding through the handle of the watch.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

24. I attached a Measurements piece, altered with a touch of Picket Fence and Ground Espresso Distress Paint for a more worn look and placed this beneath the frame. I then took a Foundry Adornment and applied Rust and Pitch Black Alcohol Ink over the metal. Place two small Hex Fasteners into the fixing holes and then attach the Foundry Piece to the center of the metal ruler using Collage Medium.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

25. Adhere two pieces of Mini Hardware either side of the ruler.
26. Lightly sand the edges of a Quote Chip and then ink with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Attach the quote chip beneath the embossed panel.

Entomology Frame by Emma Williams

Thank you so much for stopping by today ~ it’s been fun to take you through the creative process of this piece and a project that I hope will inspire you with ideas of your own.

See you again soon…

Emma

SUPPLIES:

Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps 2018…
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Tim Holtz Sizzix BOTANICAL 3D Texture…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Distress Paint PICKET FENCE…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Flip Top Distress Paint…
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Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad…
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Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad…
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Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayon…
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Tim Holtz Distress Markers SET OF 61…
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Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink MUSHROOM Ranger…
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Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink RUST Ranger…
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Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink PITCH BLACK…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology VIGNETTE…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology MEASUREMENTS…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Paper…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology POCKET WATCH…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology VIGNETTE FRAMES…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology FRAMED PANEL…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology HEX FASTENERS…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology QUOTE TOKENS…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology FOUNDRY…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology HUMIDOR Design…
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Tim Holtz Idea-ology MINI HARDWARE…
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Ranger Perfect Pearls HEIRLOOM GOLD…
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Ranger Perfect Pearls PERFECT GOLD…
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Ranger MINI ROUND FOAM REFILLS IBT40972
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Ranger Archival Ink Pad JET BLACK…
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Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium…
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Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE GESSO Media…
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Ranger GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue…
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Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD…
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Ranger Tim Holtz Distress 8.5 X 11…
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Tim Holtz Distress COLLAGE BRUSH SET…
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Ranger US HEAT IT CRAFT TOOL United…
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Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink MINI APPLICATOR…
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Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger 4…
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Tim Holtz Tonic GLASS MEDIA MAT 1914e
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Tim Holtz Tonic GUILLOTINE COMFORT…
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Ranger FLAT BRUSHES 2 Pack Perfect…
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Dina Wakley Ranger MEDIA BRUSHES…
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Pure Wipe CHEESE CLOTH Surface…
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Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to Emma for being our guest!

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  1. This is gorgeous Emma, love it. Especially the 3D Botanical Texture Fade embossing folder and what you did with it, I looks like an old copper plate, so awesome. Thank you for showing this beauty!

  2. I have never seen anything quite like this and I love it! Thank you Emma for sharing your steps, techniques, and photos to recreate this. My mind is swirling with ideas LOL, I can’t wait to get started on my own version :)

  3. Wow, stunning! I absolutely love every single detail of this artwork! So much love went Into this … thank you for such a detailed tutorial, too!

  4. Can a bug be considered handsome??? Well this one is very handsome… Love this technique, requires much patience. Nicely done.

  5. What amazes me about this project is all the details you put in to make it cohesive. When I saw the final shot, there were so many things that I assumed “came that way” and you put together, but every step had you buffing, painting, inking, and shellacking to get it to just the right look. So impressive. Thanks for sharing with us!

  6. those 3D embossing folders are fabulous! Great project. Thanks for sharing and teaching us. =)

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