2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #6

  Here we are half way through the Christmas tags. We are playing with metal today. Go here to see Tim's tag and instructions.
Supplies- metal from the hardware store, clear and winter wonderland embossing powder, faded jeans distress ink, Ranger paint dabbers and other acrylic paints, embossing folders - Th Sizzix alterations- snowflakes and trees, Cuttlebug , TH die tag and bookplates, glossy accents. TH charm clip, charm and ribbon from my stash.


Thank you for looking! I hope you are all ready for Christmas. I sure am not.

2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #5

Here we are almost halfway through Tim's Tags for 2011. Tim shares some interesting techniques for this one including using his "backward " stamps. Go to his blog here for all of the details. I don't own any of his backward stamps so I have gone my own way with this one. Because my tags are to save for the techniques, I am not usually adding embellishments. It makes them much easier to mount. I hope you are having a great Monday. Thank you for looking!
Supplies I used- glossy accents, cranberry alcohol ink, black Archival ink, plastic. coated card stock, TH SA stamps, TH trimmings , netting.

2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #2

  Tim's tags for day 2 are my favorite so far . Go here to view them and see how he does it. I made my own emboss resist background for this one. I haven't been able to get any of Tim's new Christmas paper yet.
Supplies- dies-tag, reindeer flight,vintage lace, Claudine Hellmuth studio sticky back canvas, Stamps-SA-TH., clearartstamps, graphic 45, distress inks,clear embossing powder, picket fence distress stain,rock candy distress stickles, archival black ink, gold pot scrubber and brown toile.


So now I am all caught up and ready for tomorrow, except for the huge mess I have made. Thank you for looking!

2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #3

 This is my tag for day 3. It is totally different than Tim's. Go check out his amazing tag here. I like this technique and thought I would try it with these Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stamps.
Supplies- TH Alterations dies- tag, festive greenery autumn gatherings, Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stamps-flourish, bird, cage,greeting, clear and gold embossing powders,glossy accents,enamel accents, distress stickles, cranberry alcohol ink, distress ink refills, distress ink pads, twill tape, ribbon and embellishment.


I like my festive bird and I hope you do too. Thanks for looking!

2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #4

 I had to go to town for a few days so now I am playing catch up with my Tim tags. Lucky Tim had a snowy day to inspire him for tag #4. Go here to see how he did it. I followed Tim's tag a lot for this one. He used the distress stains in a way I had never tried. A great technique that I will definitely use again.
Supplies- snowman and snowflake die cuts (from a friend), tag die,on the edge die, distress stains, glossy accents, snowflake stamp, plastic packaging, buttons, ribbon, acrylic paint, rock candy crackle paint and distress stickles.


I hope you are all having a creative Sunday. Thank you for looking!

2011 Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas #1

 Here we go on another creative journey with Tim who for the last 5 years has been adding Magic to our Christmas Creating. Please go and visit Tim's blog here to see his first tag and all of the instructions. This year we get to post on his blog and will able to see lots of wonderful tags.  
  I have used some different supplies than Tim to make my tag including the Sizzix TH Alteration Dies -Carved Ornaments, Regal Crest (for the banner) and Joy. My pine cones are dried real ones. I used Deco Art Snow Writer for my snow. I mixed weathered wood and Bundled Sage Ranger Distress inks to make a new color for the ribbon and tag. My ornament was cut from Sparkle Foam that I added extra glitter to. Other supplies include Tag and book plate die,festive greenery die, Snowflake embossing folder (Sizzix TH Alterations) white embossing powder (dream impression), ribbon(TH idea-ology) Ranger TH brushed corduroy and embossing ink, Ranger glossy accents and clear rock candy stickles. The pearls and bird are from my stash.
I hope everyone comes along on this fun journey. Thank you for looking!!

Christmas cards

 Hi! It's been a while. I am still having to stay away from the computer as much as I can. Not easy. I thought I would show you a few of the Christmas cards I have been making. The idea here was to make a bunch of cards all the same. These stamps are from Graphic 45- Christmas Emporium except the "happy Christmas which is from Artistic Outpost.  I was having fun with the main image but making the cards the same didn't happen.
I hope you are all in the Christmas swing of things and having fun creating. Thank you for looking!

The Craft Barn Celebrates 600 followers!

  The Craft Barn is offering a huge prize to Celebrate 600 followers. I am thinking this would make a wonderful Christmas present. Don't you agree? Go here to get all the details. Remember - you can't win if you don't enter.

GRUNGY MONDAY 26

  The Challenge Linda at Studio L3 this week is to use Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas 2009, Day 7 as our inspiration. Go here to watch the video. I have made a Christmas card using Tim's techniques. Silly me chose to make my stencil with this bird and holly stamp from SU ( It took forever to cut out). The snowflake and greeting are also from SU. The music is from River City Rubber Works and the Scroll came from my winnings from Ali Manning. I have used Ranger TH distress inks - broken china, faded jeans and tumbled glass for the front piece and the background piece. I used SU punches for the snowflakes and tag. Card stock, watercolor pencils, stencil material and ribbon are from my stash. Originally I had coated the bird with Ranger Matte accents but when I was trimming the card front, part of the wing pulled off on the cutter. To save the card I stamped and colored the bird with faded jeans, cut it out and mounted on top of the injured one. I also had to make a new tag because I couldn't find the first one. Seems to be how my day is going. 


I am still avoiding the computer but will visit when I can. Have a great day!  Thank you for looking!

JUST FOR FUN

  Are you ready for more Christmas. My long time friend Carolyn has been playing with me for the last few days. Every year I help her out with making Christmas cards and small gifts for co-workers. This year it has gone wonderfully. It is so great to combine ideas and create something we are both pleased with.  Vintage flavored by Tim Holtz - my latest favorite style.
  I have to tell you I have been very inspired by Ali Manning(New England Stamper) this last while.  I was very lucky to win a give away celebrating her new Etsy shop - Vintage Page Designs last month.
I have always loved vintage and she has provided the push I needed to play with it again.

This is some of what Ali sent me. I also received  quite a few stamps. Thanks again Ali. Doesn't she package everything beautifully?   While I haven't used the lovely papers she sent me yet,you will see the pink buttons are now on my ornaments. I know I will be making a lot of these this year.  I will be entering this in the Just for Fun Challenge where they want to see a favorite stamp. That little old SU snowflake stamp was a definite favorite for this project.


Thank you all for your kind comments. They make me feel so good.  Sorry about the poor photography but  it is a dark, rainy day. Thanks for looking!

 It seems like a long time since I last posted, so I thought I would show you what I have been doing. I made this Christmas card this morning but mostly I have been making up Christmas card kits for some friends. I have to send them early so they have time to make them up. It isn't helping that my arm keeps going numb (from an old neck injury). It seems to only happen when I use the keyboard so I am being forced to be on the computer much less.


 By the way the Halloween wind left just in time for the firemen to put on a wonderful display. 


Thank you for looking. Have a great weekend!

GC123: Random Redhead Challenge- Ravens

Here is my creation for the Ravens challenge at Gingersnap Creations. I picked up this statue some time ago and thought he would be a good candidate to alter for this challenge. He has been painted, sanded and, glued on, glazed and painted some more. The images are from Plush Possum Studio. The red heart and glass beads are from my stash. Trying to get a decent picture was impossible so this is what you get.


  Finally we have a Halloween where no rain is forecasted. Instead it has gotten very windy, which means the Halloween Fireworks Display put on by our Volunteer Firefighters will most likely be cancelled. A Halloween trick perhaps. 
Thanks for looking and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

GRUNGY MONDAY 24

  This weeks challenge over at Studio L3 is called Perfect Distress. Go here to see Tim's inspiring video. I am trying to focus on Christmas cards, so that is what I made. I have used the technique on the snowflakes and on the background. Here is what I used:  weathered wood and black soot distress inks(Ranger TH); TH stamps - speckles and greeting; TH Sizzix embossing folder- snowflakes; Ranger Perfect Pearls-Perfect Pearl; TH/Ranger/ Core'dinations paper. White card stock, sander and embellishments from my stash.
  Linda has a "way cool prize" this week so make sure you get over there and check it out. Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend.

GC121: Chestnut Challenge- Horror Stories

  I started this a week ago but am entering at almost the last minute. The theme this month is Go Poe and the Chestnut Challenge is Horror Stories. I am not a fan of Horror unless you are creating it on paper. I have used images from Plush Possum Studio and Itkapilli. The raven stamps are from Magenta and "tapping" is from Quietfire Design. I used Tim Holtz Alteration dies Vintage Cabinet Card and mini cabinet card to create my window. I used distress inks- black soot and walnut stain.


Thank you for looking. I hope you are having a fine weekend.

Grungy Monday 23: Tim in 10

    This week at Studio L3 our challenge is to create a greeting card in 10 minutes using at least one Tim Holtz product. You can check them out and get inspired at Tim's website.  The card stock I used (black and very vanilla) is from Stampin Up. The die cuts ( Scaredy Cat and Picket Fence) are from Sizzix- Tim Holtz Alterations. The greeting is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology. I have used Ranger Tim Holtx distress inks-  stormy sky and black soot. Archival ink is from Ranger. Stamps are from Tim Holtz(Stampers Anonymous) , Scrolls Work and INKADINKADO. The google eye is from my stash.Yes it took more time to list the supplies than to make the card.
Thanks for the challenge Linda. It is good practice.  Thank you for looking!!

GRUNGY MONDAY 22

    Grungy Monday is back and this week Linda is challenging us with a Holtz-ian Halloween. Check out Tim's blog for inspiration. The generous people at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring this challenge so you really want to check it out.
  My tag (TH Alterations-tag and bookplates) started out with a piece of Tim's Halloween paper and his spider web stamp from his SA mini halloween set. I just kept on stamping and embossing that spider web. I added the witch and cat and bat (TH Alterations by Sizzix -Bewitching Hour / Raven and Scaredy Cat). I stamped and embossed more spider webs on top and then added the spider using black Stazon and clear embossing powder. The beware and spider are from Basic Grey and the trick spider are from Tim's paper. Orange ribbon is from my stash. 


    Thank you for looking! 

GC120: Color Challenge- Turquoise, Blue and Purple

   The color challenge for last month at Gingersnap Creations was Turquoise, blue and purple. These are usually my favorite colors so I had to play. I have used stamps from Stampin Up and Tim Holtz. My inks are also from Tim Holtz and Stampin Up. I added an embellishment from TH Ideology and a Mica tile. I am not sure where I got the image.
  Thank you for looking!   Rain, rain go away...

Just for Fun- recycling books or magazines

   I made this tag for Just for Fun where the challenge is to use recycled books or magazines in your project. Well they might have to disqualify me because my tag and butterflies are made with newspapers and glue and paint. What can I say. My newspapers were close to the magazines and I remembered how I use to make broaches by gluing layers of newsprint shapes together and then painting it. I made the tag the same way but used newspaper images for the top. Newsprint is similar to book paper and that might work the same.


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!
Thank you for looking.

Just For Fun- Anything but a card

 Well I thought I had missed the whole month of challenges at Just For Fun but with five weeks in September there is an Anything goes challenge. I made this tag yesterday using distress inks,pencil crayons, modeling paste and embossing powders. The stamps are from Lost Coast, Stampin Up and Old Island Stamp Co.


Thanks you for looking! I hope it is sunny wherever you are.

Less is More - Week 34- Card Sketch

    Here is the card I made for this week at Less is More. We were given a simple sketch to follow.The card stock is from Stampin Up and Papertrey. The sentiment is Stampin Up and the bird in cage I don't remember. I stamped it with Stone Grey Stazon and then over stamped with Color Box pigment Sky Gray.

 Thank you for looking! Happy Sunday!