12 Tags of 2012-December Tag #2

I'm back again with my second tag for December.  I am still in the holiday spirit and loved making both of the December tags!  I took the easy route and followed Tim's instructions.  I didn't have the snowflake embellishment so I used the Alterations Movers & Shapers snowflake die to cut one from grungeboard and then colored it with the Brushed Pewter distress stain.  I also used the blue tinsel trim instead of the silver.

I really love the effect that the metallic stains give.  I'll have to remember to use them more often!

I'm also entering this at Inspiration Emporium where the monthly challenge is Joyful Creations.

Thanks for stopping by!  I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!!

12 Tags of 2012-December Tag #1

I'm bringing up the rear again with my December tag for the 12 Tags of 2012.  I really loved the original 12 Tags of December format and was so excited to see a new tag every day beginning December 1st.  But I was never able to keep up with Tim and make a tag each day.  The change to the tag-a-month format is much more my pace!!

This month I made a little change to the first tag.  My neighbor has a beautiful holiday wreath on her door with purple poinsettias and a big purple and gold ribbon.  I love that wreath!  So I decided to make my poinsettia tag using Distress stain in Seedless Preserves and Brushed Pewter instead of Fired Brick and Tarnished Brass.  I love the way it turned out!

I'm also entering this at Inspiration Emporium where the monthly challenge theme is Joyful Creations.

I'll be back soon with my second tag for December.  Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

A Merry Little Christmas Card to Everyone

I've neglected my blog, my blog followers and the blogs I follow over the past few weeks.  I was diligently making my Christmas cards.  I try to do this every year since I'm not very good at making cards for birthdays, etc., during the year. This year I waited too late to start and took on a design that was too detailed given the amount of time I had to make them.  But once I realized how long they would take I had already invested too much to turn back.  So here is a holiday card to all of you!  Thank you so much for all of your support and your kind comments.  I hope that the holiday finds you happy, healthy and surrounded by friends and family!!

The sentiment at the top right corner says "Wishing you a sparkling holiday!".

12 Tags of 2012-November

Happy Friday Everyone!  I hope you are all looking forward to the weekend like I am.  Today I have my November tag for Tim's 12 Tags of 2012.  I didn't follow the November-Thankful theme.  I tried, really I did. My first attempt at Tim's tag resulted in the tag sticking to the iron, instead of just the embossing material-FAIL :( -so that one went into the trash.  On the second attempt I used too much stain or water, or both, and the stain/water leeched under the embossed area so when I finally got the ironing technique to work you couldn't really tell what the image was supposed to be-FAIL AGAIN.  Ugh.  This was at about 8:45pm last night, too.  My punishment for waiting until the last minute to do something!!

So after ruining two tags I decided to move on to a different technique and theme.  I switched gears and used the Paint Dabber Resist technique from the Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 1.  I also decided to make a Wintry tag instead of a Thankful tag since I'm in Christmas mode now.  Don't be fooled though...my tree is up and has lights on it (because it's a pre-lit one, LOL!) but no ornaments.  The boxes with my decorations have been sitting in my dining room since last weekend.  I just keep stepping over them.  And I haven't even begun making my Christmas cards for this year yet.  Meh...it will all get done eventually.  I hope.  :)

Well, enough of that, here's my tag...

 

I started off by stamping the trees from the Reindeer Flight set with the Ranger Snow Cap paint dabber.  I applied heat to dry it and then inked the tag with Distress Inks in Faded Jeans and Weathered Wood.  Then I lightly rubbed the trees with a damp paper towel to remove the ink.  I distressed the edges of the tag and then inked them with Walnut Stain DI.  Then did the Spritz and Flick technique.  Once the tag was dry I stamped the sentiment from the Seasons Silhouettes stamp set using the masking tape technique that Tim demonstrated. Great technique!  I added Picket Fence stickles to the trees to give them the icy-snowy look and then randomly stamped the small snowflake from the Winter Sketchbook stamp set using the Snow Cap paint dabber.

 

The die cuts are Core'dinations paper cut with the TH Alterations Festive Greenery strip and they were sanded and distressed as well.  The ribbon was dyed using Distress Stain in Faded Jeans, Iced Spruce (new!) and Brushed Pewter.  I added the decorative corners (Michael's Recollections) as an afterthought. Maybe I should have stamped my sentiment a little higher I guess.  Lastly, I added the Idea-ology Trinket Pin and Muse Token.

 

Well, that's about it!  All-in-all I'm happy with how this turned out.  I wish it had come out a little brighter.  Since it didn't I've decided that it's a wintry nighttime scene!  Yeah, that works!

 

In addition to entering this at Tim's 12 Tags of 2012 , I'm also entering it at Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Goes.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Christmas Reflections

Hi Everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful week.  It's difficult to not get caught up in the holiday rush, isn't it?  I should be focusing on holiday shopping, and decorating, but instead I decided to work on my weekly compendium challenge entry!  Much more fun I think!

 

The technique chosen this week by Linda at Studio L3 is Reflective Imagery.  The instructions for the technique can be found on page 55 of Tim Holtz's book A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2.  If you don't already have the book you can buy a copy, autographed by Tim, right here.  I 've been patiently waiting for this technique to come around!  I saw it in the book and thought it looked so cool but decided to wait until the challenge to give it a try.

 

I always like to have a little handmade gift to give to friends and family.  So I decided to make ornaments from my pieces.  Can you see the shimmery background the technique adds to the images?  I just love how they turned out!

 

 

 

 

The images are from Artchix Studios. I attached the TH Idea-ology Fragments to Swivel Clasp chains and then added beads, bells and mini-ornaments from Michael's! Easy peasy! I plan to make a bunch more of these between now and Christmas!  That is, after I make my Christmas cards!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

A New Tradition

Hi Everyone!  I'm here to share a Thanksgiving project that I've been working on.  Yes, I know it's past Thanksgiving but this has been a work in progress and still is!  I decided to start a new tradition this year by making a Thanksgiving memory book.  I started by making a small folder for everyone in my family.  I used the Sizzix Bigz XL Envelope/Pocket die and embossed it with the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades Textured Leaves folder.  The pockets were distressed using TH Ranger Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy.  The embossed area was colored using TH Distress Ink in Fired Brick, Forest Moss, and Spiced Marmalade.  Then the pockets were sprayed with Ranger Perfect Pearls in Sunflower Sparkle.  I embellished each folder with leaves, acorns and a flourish cut with the TH Sizzix Movers & Shapers Mini Tattered Leaves, Mini Acorn and Mini Flourish.  Inside each pocket I tucked a tag and a stamped index card.

The pockets were handed out and I asked each person to do two things: 1) on the tag they had to write what they were thankful for; 2) on the index card they were to write down their Christmas wish list!  Here's what I ended up with...

Everyone was very excited to do this!  Adding the card for the Christmas wish list was a last minute idea.  I figured I better get those while I had everyone together!  A couple of them weren't complete.  My mom wrote "Whatever!" and my dad wrote "Lots of Hugs" which I thought was so cute!

So this past weekend I created the memory book to hold everyone's "Thankful" tags.

The book is an Accu-cut design cut from chipboard.  I used Bo-Bunny Apple Cider and Double Dots papers along with matching stickers and chipboard die cuts.  I added die cut TH Sizzix Mini Tattered Leaves and an Idea-ology Muse token to the cover.  The stamps are Unity.  The tags were put into TH Idea-ology Kraft Glassine pockets. I cut off the top flap and punched a half-circle notch using a circle punch.  I still have to add the pictures but I'm really pleased with how it turned out!  Everyone was interested to see what we were all thankful for.  I promised to bring the finished book to our next get together.  That will be week after next since all of our birthdays are between October and December!

I'm entering this at Frilly and Funkie where the challenge is Chipboard and Metal.  I'm also entering this at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is Thank You.

Melissa Frances DIY Houses



I've been busy these last couple of weeks working on the these two Melissa Frances DIY Houses for Whim So Doodle.  These were time consuming but really fun to put together and decorate.  

  

This first one is the Large Queen Anne.  I covered it with MF 5th Avenue papers in Hattie and Essie.  The base is covered with MF Countdown to Christmas-Salutations.  After covering each piece with paper I ran the pieces face down through my Xyron 850 and applied adhesive to the front side. Then I applied Martha Stewart Crystal Fine glitter.  Adding the glitter with the Xyron was super easy and the results are fabulous! The glitter is evenly distributed and it really does stay on!  The credit for that step belongs to this blog, Ain't She Crafty.  I'll definitely be using this method in the future when I want to add some bling to something!

 

I used Zip-Dry glue both for covering the pieces with paper and for assembling the house.  The trees and wreath were dyed using TH Ranger Distress Ink reinker in Picked Raspberry combined with water in a Ranger Mini-Mister. The pearls are from Michael's Recollections line. The fence was painted with a Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber in Snow Cap and then glitter was pressed into the paint while it was wet.  

 

 

This second house is the Large Chapel.  I followed the same steps as shown above for covering and assembling the house.  The trees and wreath were dyed using TH Ranger Distress Ink reinker in Pine Needles combined with water in a Ranger Mini-Mister. The pearls are from Micheal's Recollections line. The fence was painted with a Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber in Snow Cap and then glitter was pressed into the paint while it was wet.  The tinsel is TH Rope Tinsel.  The snow accents were added using a DecoArt Snow Writer.

 





I really like how they both turned out and I think they're charming Christmas decorations reminiscent of a bygone era.

Ornamental

Hi Everyone!  I hope your having a splendid week.  Today I have my entry for the weekly Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge over at Studio L3.   The challenge this week is Alcohol Ink Palette and it can be found on page 52 of the fabulous book by Tim Holtz titled A Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2.  Of course, I can't explain the details of the technique.  For that you need to get your hands on a copy of the book which you can do here.

I followed the steps for the technique, as outlined in the book, and created my ink palette.  Using the ink palette I decorated two plastic ornaments that I purchased at Michael's.

 

In the center of the round ornament is the larger snowflake from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Mini Snowflake Rosettes Decorative Strip die.  The snowflake was inked with Distress Ink in Salty Ocean and the embellished with Ranger Stickles in Stardust.  I tinted the rhinestones to match using my alcohol ink palette.  The Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon was dyed with Distress Stains in Faded Jeans and Broken China.

The square ornament was designed to look like a present and is decorated with pearls and rhinestones in varying colors.  The Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon was dyed with Distress Stain in Fired Brick and Worn Lipstick.

I love that I was able to create pearls and rhinestones in such a variety of different colors using only plain clear rhinestones and plain white pearls!  It certainly would have been more costly to purchase all of the different colors individually.  I'll definitely be looking for other ways to use this ink palette!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Joy to the World

I'm back with my make for the weekly Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is week 26 and we're making Crumpled Kraft Suede!  The technique can be found on page 40 in A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2 by Tim Holtz.  I can't divulge the steps of the technique because if I did then we wouldn't buy Tim's book, now would we??!!  So you should grab a copy of the book for yourself right here!  This week's challenge is sponsored by Linda at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Linda is generously offering a $25 gift certificate, to her web store, to one lucky participant!  Linda has a great selection of merchandise so you should check out her store! 

I recently purchased some of the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations dies and wanted to use them for this challenge.  So I chose the Tattered Poinsettia die and the Stacked Christmas Words decorative strip.

The poinsettia flowers were created using the technique described in Tim's book.  The background paper is from the Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash.  I distressed the edges of the tag with Brushed Corduroy distress ink and then spritzed the tag with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold.  The decorative strip along the bottom is from the TH Sizzix Alterations Vintage Lace decorative strip.  I added Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stickles in Aged Mahogany and Peeled Paint to the sentiment.

I'm also entering this at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is Just Add Pearl.  I've included Ranger Perfect Pearls and added pearls to the center of the flowers.

Thank so much for stopping by! Now go make something!





12 Tags of 2012-October

Wow, two posts in one day!  That hardly ever happens for me.  I had time this weekend to work on my October tag, for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012, just before the deadline.  I've been mulling over what I wanted to do with my tag but I liked Tim's version so much that I pretty much followed the same design but with a few changes.  I decided to use the #10 tag so that I could add some more Halloween elements.  And I also wanted to try some other colors.  But I couldn't make up my mind which colors so I made three different tags!!

My first tag is the same color base as Tim's tag but I decided to tint the Distress Stickles Rock Candy Dry Glitter using Adirondack Sunset Orange alcohol ink.  I like how vibrant it turned out but wish I had thought to paint and glitter the spider web portion of the TH Sizzix Alterations Gothic Boo die cut black instead of orange.  The bats are from the Bewitching Hour die.  The spider is from the Candlelight Fright die.

On the second tag I added bright green to the base colors of purple and orange.  I LOVE the color you get using the Pitch Black alcohol ink on the dry glitter!!  It almost has a slight purple hue.  Love how this came out!  The cat is from the TH Sizzix Alterations Raven and Scaredy Cat die.

This last tag is my favorite color combination!  I love the pink, silver and black together and it's much prettier in person!  I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to brighten it.  The glitter is from my stash as I didn't have a bright pink alcohol ink to use with the dry glitter.  Using the larger tag allowed me to add the TH Sizzix Alterations On The Edge Graveyard die cut along the bottom.  This was the perfect touch!

I really had a lot of fun with these.  I had to stop myself from making several more in other color combinations!

Thanks for stopping by.  Now go make something !

Holiday Blueprint Cards

Hello!  Last Friday I was supposed to go to Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival.  I should have been eating and drinking my way around the "world" but Hurricane Sandy, passing along the east coast of Florida, nixed those plans!!  So, since I had the day off from work I did the next best thing...spent the day in my craft room working on my Whim So Doodle DT assignment, Tim Holtz inspired holiday cards.  I really had a difficult time with these cards!  I can whip up a tag pretty quickly but working on a card format was different!  In the end I was pleased with how they came out.

This first card showcases the new Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mirrored sheets.  These are very cool!

Supplies: Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations-Bigz Vintage Noel Die, Bigz Styled Labels Die, Movers & Shapers Styled Labels, Tattered Flower Garland Strip, Christmas Background and Borders Texture Fades Set; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stains-Victorian Velvet, Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink-Brushed Corduroy; Ideaology-Seasonal Paper Stash, Mirrored; Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber-Snow Cap; Core’dinations Paper

Last week I posted a couple of tags, for the Studio L3 weekly CC2C challenge, which I've now completed by making a pocket for each tag.

Supplies: Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous-Christmas Blueprints, Grunge Snowflakes; Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Tattered Pinecone Die, Festive Greenery Strip; Sizzix Bigz XL Die-Envelope/Pocket; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink-Iced Spruce, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Walnut Stain, Forest Moss; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain-Broken China, Faded Jeans; Ranger Perfect Pearls Powder; Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist-Turquiose; Idea-ology-Seasonal Paper Stash, Kraft Paper Stash, Crinkle Ribbon, Christmas Muse Token, Seasonal Chit Chat; Core’dinations Paper

Supplies: Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous -Christmas Blueprints, Holiday Wishes; Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Tattered Pinecone Die, Festive Greenery Strip; Sizzix Bigz XL Die-Envelope/Pocket; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink-Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain-Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy; Ranger Perfect Pearls Powder; Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist-Sunflower Sparkle; Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber-Snow Cap; Ideaology-Seasonal Paper Stash, Kraft Paper Stash, Crinkle Ribbon, Christmas Muse Token, Seasonal Chit Chat; Core’dinations Paper

These last two cards feature the blueprint stamps embossed in white on paper that I inked to look like blueprint paper.  I blended Distress Ink in Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky and then did the Sprintz & Flick technique on the paper before embossing.

Supplies: Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous -Christmas Blueprints; Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations-Bigz Carved Ornaments #2, Movers & Shapers Joy, Festive Greenery Strip; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink-Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Brushed Corduroy, Emboss; Ideaology-Patterned Grungeboard, Seasonal Paper Stash, Mirrored, Plaquettes, Clip; Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber-Gold, Silver; Core’dinations Paper; Personal Stash-White EP, ribbon, wire, rhinestones

Supplies: Tim Holtz Stamper’s Anonymous -Christmas Blueprints, Odds & Ends; Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations-Bigz Winter Wonder Die, Movers & Shapers Mini Snowflakes, Ticket Strip, Snow Flurries Texture Fades; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink-Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Brushed Corduroy, Emboss; Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain-Broken China, Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter; Ideaology-Seasonal Paper Stash, Clip, Tiny Brads; Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber-Snow Cap Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist-Perfect Pearl; Core’dinations Paper; Personal Stash-White EP, plastic packaging

I am really happy with how the snowman card turned out.  It's difficult to see in the photo but the snowman is sprayed with Perfect Pearls Mist in Perfect Pearl underneath the embossed plastic.  The effect was really pretty!

I hope you like them! Thanks for stopping by. Now go make something!

Blueprints for a Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone! Thank you so much to my new followers!  I was completely blown-away to find my name on Tim Holtz's blog.  There's no way for me to express how much that meant to me.  I'm still shaking my head over being included in that list of crafters/bloggers, many that I have long admired and whose level of talent I aspire to.  I love that I am able share in this wonderful obsession we all have and I thank you for all that I've learned from each of you as I visit your blogs.

I've been working on some tags/cards as a Whimsodoodle design team assignment.  I'm using one of the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous sets, Christmas Blueprints.  I decided to incorporate this week's Compendium of Curiousities 2 challenge technique into the tags.  The challenge is sponsored by Linda at Studio L3.  The technique for this week is Ink Palette: Perfect Pearls and it can be found on page 53 of Tim's book titled A Compendium of Curiousities, Volume 2.  If you'd like to see how the technique is done you'll need to buy the book as I won't be divulging it here.  But you really should buy the book anyway! It chock-full of great techniques and inspiration.  If you buy it here, you'll receive a copy autographed by Tim Holtz!  What are you waiting for?!

This week's challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.  A lucky entrant will be randomly chosen to receive a $25 gift certificate to their online store.  And they have an AWESOME store!  Thank you Simon Says Stamp!!

I chose two images from the TH Christmas Blueprints stamp set and embossed them using Distress Embossing Ink and Ranger Black EP.  I applied the Ink Palette: Perfect Pearls technique to both images.  I stamped the same images again on white paper, cut them out and used that as a mask to protect the images when I distressed the rest of the tag.  I really like the halo effect that I ended up with as I tried to not get distress ink on the already-colored images.  Very cool!

The Snowman tag was colored with Distress Ink in Iced Spruce, Faded Jeans, and Salty Ocean.  I added Distress Ink in Walnut Stain to the edges of the tag.  I then randomly stamped TH Grunge Flakes using Distress Ink in Faded Jeans.  After it dried I spritzed it with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist in Turquoise while keeping the mask in place over the main image.

The Toy Soldier tag was colored with Distress Ink in Wild Honey, Scattered Straw and Brushed Corduroy.  I added Distress Ink in Walnut Stain to the edges of the tag.  I then stamped the holly branch from the TH Holiday Wishes stamp set using Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy. After it dried I spritzed it with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist in Sunflower Sparkle while keeping the mask in place over the main image.  This is my absolute favorite shade of Perfect Pearls mist!  I think you could use it on anything!!  That being said I'm also entering this at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is Your Favorite.

I dyed the Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon using the Distress Stains in the same colors that I used on each tag.  I added an Idea-ology Christmas Muse Token and Ideaology Seasonal ChitChat Stickers to each tag.  I plan to make pockets for each of the tags to be inserted in.  I'll include those in a later post along with the other cards that I made using the same stamp set.

Here's a side view of each tag that hopefully shows all of the gorgeous shimmer!  Love that Perfect Pearls!!  I think I've decided what I'm going to make for Christmas cards this year.  If you're a member of my family don't look too closely.  You'll be seeing one of these in your mailbox in a couple of months!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Getting Dylusional at Whimsodoodle

Last week I had the pleasure of taking some classes with Dyan Reaveley when she visited my local scrapbook store, Whimsodoodle, in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I was only able to take two classes but I had a great time and learned so much!  Dyan is a wonderful person and a great teacher!  I also had the pleasure of meeting Sue, who blogs at This Life.  I recognized her immediately from her blog photo!  We were able to sit together for the second class and she was so generous to share her newly purchased stencils with me!  Thanks Sue!  Hope to see you again soon!

 

Below are some photos from the classes.

 

Here's Dyan demonstrating her "Kitchen Roll" technique!

  

 My tag from the Down & Dirty Tag workshop.  The backside is below. 



 

 

 

 Here are some of the mop-up tags I made. Can you tell I like Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist?

 

 My very own Dylusions Creative Journal!!  Can't wait to get it inky!



Inky fingers...a badge of honor!

 

My Background Tag Journal.  I was so happy with the way it turned out and the way my spritzed ribbon turned out.  I can't bear to cut the ribbon into pieces so I think I'll use it to tie around the journal.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Halloween Flight



Today I have my entry for the Compendium of Curiosities 2 weekly challenge hosted by Linda on the Studio L3 blog.  I can't believe that this is week 24!  The technique chosen for this week is Alcohol Ink Resist and it can be found on page 59 of Tim Holtz's book titled A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2. If you buy it through the link you can get it autographed by Tim!  You need this book! Trust me.

 

I had to try multiple stamps before I found ones that didn't have too much negative space.  My first attempt was barely visible!  But once I got the first stamp to work I was hooked!  Originally I thought I'd use just one or two images with the technique and then add the rest of my embellishing to the front but this technique is so cool I just kept adding images to see how it looked!  I'll definitely be trying this again!

 

 

 

The images used are from the Tim Holtz SA cling sets: Mini Halloween 3, Trick or Treat, Halloween Silhouettes and Halloween Cutouts.  The moon is from Rubber Stamps of America.  There wasn't much room for embellishing, since I added so many images, so I stamped the sentiment using an Adirondack Paint Dabber in Silver.  I cut "31" from Grungeboard using the new Alterations Movers and Shapers mini 31 die and painted that silver.  I added ribbon and an Idealogy Halloween Muse Token that I colored with Adirondack Sunset Orange alcohol ink.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Bad Hair Day

Today I have my entry for the Compendium of Curiosities 2 weekly challenge hosted by Linda on the Studio L3 blog.  The technique chosen for this week is Distress Markers and it can be found on page 50 of Tim Holtz's book titled A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2.  If you buy it through the link you can get it autographed by Tim!  One lucky participant in this week's challenge will receive something from Mario's prize box!

I was out of town over the weekend and didn't have time to get anything started.  So I pulled out a few things, and my Distress Markers of course, and this is the result!  I don't have time to provide many details since I'm posting this close to the deadline.  I'll come back and add those later.

Thanks for stopping by!

Life-Admit One

Happy Thursday!  Today I have my entry for the Compendium of Curiosities 2 weekly challenge hosted by Linda on the Studio L3 blog.  The technique chosen for this week is Riveted Patchwork and it can be found on page 57 of Tim Holtz's book titled A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2.  If you buy it through the link above you can get it autographed by Tim!  Our sponsor this week is Linda at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!  Linda has generously offered a $25 gift certificate to one lucky participant.

I really love this technique but I made the tag and then stared at it...having no idea where I wanted to take it.  So I pulled out my Dylusions stamps that I haven't had a chance to use.  BTW, Dyan Reaveley is coming to my local scrapbook store, Whim So Doodle, in a few weeks and I'm lucky enough to be able to take a couple of her classes. I'm really looking forward to meeting her!

I started working with the doll parts from the Curious Corrin and Doolally Dorris sets.  I stamped them with Ranger Black Archival Ink, colored them with Distress Markers and cut them out.  The heart was cut from Idea-ology Grungeboard using one of the TH Sizzix Alterations Movers and Shapers Mini Gadget Hearts.  I glittered it up with Ranger Stickles in Xmas Red and added the Idea-ology Chit Chat sticker.  The sticker is coated with Ranger Glossy Accents to give it a little shine.  The sentiment is a TH Stampers Anonymous stamp that I've always loved and wanted to use.

As I put the pieces together it still needed something.  In my head I kept picturing the riveted background with brick so I embossed a piece of cardstock with the TH Sizzix Alterations Brick Texture Fade and distressed it with Distress Ink in Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick and Walnut Stain.  Then I tore it and glued it to the tag with Ranger Glue N Seal.  I added the graffiti with the Dylusions Letter Jumble and Number Jumble stencils and a Ranger Adirondack Snow Cap paint dabber.  Perfect!

As I dug through my embellishments looking for a metal charm to use I came across the ticket.  It was left over from the classes that I took last year when Tim came to teach classes at Whim So Doodle.  I remembered the Idea-ology Word Stick that said "Life" and it came together!

As this technique is the same one that Tim used on his September tag, in his 12 Tags of 2012 series, I'll be entering it there.  I'll also be entering it at Simon Says Stamp and Show-For the Love of Sparkle and at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!

Holiday Configurations

I just completed my first Whim So Doodle design team project!  They liked my Configurations Crypt so I was asked to create a Christmas-themed Configurations box using the 6.75 x 8.75 box, Woodland Trees and the Mini Lantern, all from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology line.  Here's what I came up with...

I removed all of the small boxes from the upper two-thirds of the Configurations box so that I could create the woodland scene.  I covered the lid, the inside boxes and back of the box using paper from the Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash.  I positioned the background paper, from the Idea-ology Seasonal stash, so that Santa's face would be visible.  Unfortunately, by the time I added everything else he became a little obscured.  It still works though!  I sealed all of the edges using Symphony tissue tape and then distressed the box using Distress Ink in Iced Spruce, Broken China and Walnut Stain.

For the background snowflakes, I embossed a piece of plastic packaging with the TH Alterations Snowflurries Texture Fade.  I cut out the snowflakes and applied Ranger Stardust Stickles.  Then I glued the snowflakes inside the upper section of the box using Ranger Crystal Accents.  The header was also embossed on a piece of plastic packaging using the snowflake border from the TH Alterations Christmas Backgrounds Texture Fades. After embossing I cut out the design and decorated it with Stardust Stickles.  I attached the header to the inside of the box lid.

I dyed the Woodland tree, and wreath, using a combination of Distress Iced Spruce and Broken China reinkers. Then I added glitter snowtex to the tree.  The owl is a find from Michael's.  I die-cut the branch, as well as the background tree, using the TH Alterations Branch Tree.  I wired the branch through the side of the box base.  (This was done only after I realized that a blob of silicone wouldn't hold up for very long!)  I cut the snowbank, behind the reindeer, from a Grungeboard scrap that already had the snowflakes embossed on it. (Always save your scraps!)  I painted it with a Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber in White and then applied Distress Ink in Broken China, Iced Spruce, and Walnut Stain.  I die-cut the reindeer from Grungeboard using the TH Alternations Mini Reindeer, painted it with an Adirondack Paint Dabber in Hazelnut and distressed it with Walnut Distress Ink.  The white accents were added using a white Sharpie paint pen.

The Mini Lantern is suspended from the top of the base box using an Idea-ology Screw Eye.  I cut a small opening in the back of the box for the cord and I added an elastic toggle at the bottom of the back of the box to hold the battery compartment.  The elastic toggle is hidden in the front by the "25" Grungeblock!

I filled the Corked Vial with blue glass glitter.  Behind that is a small heart ornament from my personal stash.  The "25" is an Idea-ology Grungeblock.  I used an Adirondack Paint Dabber in Cloudy Blue for the background.  I coated the numbers with Martha Stewart Glitter Glue in Sterling.  The wreath is decorated with a Grungepaper bow, from the TH Alterations Movers and Shapers Mini Bunny and Bow, and decorated with some pearls.  The bow was painted with an Adirondack Paint Dabber in Red Pepper.  The cardinal is from Michael's.

The final touches were the Christmas Adornments Wreath behind a Curio Knob, the Christmas Adornments Snowflake at the top, the "Believe" Philosophy tag and the Foundations box feet!

I'm entering this in Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge: Tape It Up for including Idea-ology Tissue Tape.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now go make something!