My Take on Tim's October 2015 Tag

As some of my followers know Halloween is my FAVORITE time of year and I am bummed that October is almost over - yeah, we still have 2 weeks or so left, but it feels like the month is flying by. This month, Tim used a newly released die by Sizzix and shows how the die creates dimension on his tag:

The only thing I had that was used this month is the paper pad Regions Beyond (which I bought as quick as I could since it is so perfect for Halloween), so I decided to wing it once again (like last month) and make a card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Square White Base, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
Tim Holtz Regions Beyond Mini Paper Stash, #TH93226
Sizzix Framelits Skull Blueprint, #659375
Black Soot Distress Ink
Mini Blending Tool
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
White Cardstock
Black Cardstock
Pop Dots
Embossing Ink & Custom Blend Black & Silver Embossing Powder
Silver Brads

The very first thing I did was I stamped the skull 3 times on white card, using the Jet Black ink and cut it out using the dies in the set.  I added some googly eyes to the fellow so perhaps he isn't so scary and then I popped out the main skull and the jaw using pop dots (truthfully I used some waste from some already used pop dots).

I set the skull aside and cut out the designer paper from the Regions Beyond pad and edged it using the Mini Blending Tool - funny, I resisted buying this for SO long and I use it SO much. Once the ink from the edging dried, I glued it onto my square card. 

I set about figuring out how I was going to make the band (like the word band on Tim's tag) and I decided to use the Trick or Treat stamp included in the set. I stamped the saying on white card in embossing ink, then heat embossed it with a blend of embossing powder I had already made - it's just some black powder with a hint of silver-  then I  used the frame die to cut it out.  The final step was cutting a band of black cardstock and attaching the Trick or Treat cut out to it - I used both glue and 2 silver brads to mimic the Word Band on Tim's tag.

Another look

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and my interpretation of Tim's October 2015 Tag.  I have to say how proud I am of myself that I have actually made a project for every month in 2015, so far anyway.  I actually intend on continuing to join the 12 Tags of 2016 as well. Participating has definitely stretched my imagination and I love trying the new techniques every month.  Thank you for stopping by & I hope to see you again soon ~ Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - October
Eileen Hull Art With Heart (October) - Hauntings & Holidays
Try it on Tuesday - It's Frightening/Halloween 
Retro Rubber - #25, Get Your Spook On (I have had the Framelits set for over a year)
Vintage Stamping by Flonzcraft (October) - #37, Use a Die/Dies
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - #234, The Dark Side
Fantasy Stampers - #47, Fright Night
Crafty Catz - #296, Embossing
Wags 'n Whiskers - #163, Use a Die Cut
DRS Designs - Spooky or Cutesy (I went with spooky)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Work it Wednesday, Use a Stamp

My Take on Tim's September 2015 Tag - Butterfly Card

*** If you are looking for my Stampotique Halloween Card, please click on the link or scroll down ~ Crazy me did 2 posts in one day!

For this month I went totally off the grid.  I struggled with how to duplicate the beauty of this tag immensely, until I came to the conclusion that I didn't HAVE to copy Tim's tag, but I could be inspired by it!  What a revelation!

So, here is my interpretation of Tim's September 2015 Tag :

How I made my Card:
White Card Base
Black Cardstock
Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations French Flight, #659884
FLY stamp from Redlead Paperworks (set I used is discontinued)
Ranger Glossy Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Assorted Alcohol Inks (Ranger, TRIA refills, Pinata Inks)
Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Alcohol Blending Fluid
Silver Paper
Pop Dots
2 Black Brads

First I alcohol inked my glossy paper,  After putting on my rubber gloves, I dripped ink, added blending solution, used the ink blending tool, dripped more ink and generally had a great time.  When

I was finished I had 2 totally different sheets bursting with the vibrant colors of alcohol ink. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the sheet I used, but here are some of the butterflies I cut out using the French Flight die set.

I choose 3 butterflies and set then aside.  I took a strip of silver paper and stamped the word FLY on it to simulate the word band that Tim used on his tag.  I attached that to the black cardstock, using the black brads, that I was going to use to mount my butterflies.  I know I have Ranger's Black Mounting Foam somewhere in this mess, but I couldn't find it, so I settled for standard white pop dots.  I dotted the back of my butterflies and adhered them to the panel of black cardstock.  Lastly, I glued the black panel to my white card base.

There you have it.  While I wished I could have duplicated that background Tim made using the Texture Paste I don't have any, but no fear, that and the frosted film are on the wish list.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial ~ Christi

 

Ages ago I wrote a little blog post on Alcohol Inks - you can take a look at it HERE.

I am entering my Butterfly Card in the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - September
Use Your Stuff - #193, Markers/Inks
Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog - Anything Goes/Twist of Black
Craftin Desert Divas - Things with Wings
Addicted to Stamps - #110, Butterflies
Less is More - #243, Something Shiny 
Collage Obsession - Trio

Tim's 12 of 2015 Tags - August 2015

Before I get into the Tag I want to shout out to all my followers & friends that we need a bit of help over at Challenges for Days.  We are looking for someone to handle the management of the Monday list and all you need is about an hour a week, a computer and a Blogger account.  If you are interested, please email Zoe at zoechaos@icloud.com if you can help ~ Thanks! Now, on with the show!

Tim's Tag

This month I decided to capture the essence of Tim's tag and go completely out on a limb and just let pure inspiration guide me.  I actually love the way this tag came out! As always, you can go to Tim's blog and see how he created his August tag by clicking here.  Here is my take on Tim's August 2015 tag:

What I Used to Make my Tag:

Tag, 8" x 4" (I needed a big one for this!)
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Alphanumerics  #660056
Tim Holtz Sizzix ShadowPress Debossing Folders, Documented Set, #659856
Tim Holtz Stamp Set, Time Travelers, #CMS157
Tim Holtz Stamp Set, Playful Journey, CSS27812 (small clock)
Tim Holtz Stamp Set, Life's Possibilities, CSS25870, (large clock)
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Small Talk Stickers, TH93193
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Loop Pins, TH93200
Distress Markers in Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Pumice Stone, Tumbled Glass, Walnut Stain & Vintage Photo
Glue 'n Seal
Distress Ink in Faded Jeans
Distress Crackle Paint in Rock Candy, TDC26686
Embossing Ink & Black Embossing Powder
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Marker Spritzer
Maya Road Chipboard Circle
Water Brush
Old Map
Other Trinkets & Lace from my stash

(I am not sure why this text is darker than the rest of the blog. Well, I have an idea why, but I have no idea how to fix it.Sorry!)

OK, I am going to try to remember how I made this, step by step (yes, it's been a while!).  If something in my description doesn't seem clear, or you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave me a comment.

Step 1

The first thing I did was cut the words, I decided on adventure & time travel, out of the tag using the Alphanumerics dies - this is fabulous set of Sizzix dies. There is 121 pieces and at 3/4" tall there are tons of possibilities!  I was able to cut out all of the words at once. I used the word "Remember" out of the debossing folders set Documented along the side of the tag.  Then I took pieces of an old map I and adhered that behind the word cut outs. 

Crackled Clock

I stamped the large clock, using Faded Jeans distress ink, above the time travel cut out.  I stamped one of the men from the Time Travelers' set on vanilla card and embossed him with black embossing powder.  I painted him using distress markers and a water brush then fussy cut him out.  Set him aside. 

I stamped the small clock onto the chipboard circle using Jet Black ink and I dotted some other colors around the clock since it was so drab. Then I crackled it using the distress crackle paint in Rock Candy, set that aside.  While my clock was crackling, I tore bits of the map and glued them onto the background where there was no stamping.  

Close-Up

I used the marker spritz tool to spritz some of the blue markers on the background and 
then I outlined the debossed word with Pumice Stone.  Didn't exactly come out as I intended, but I like the fuzzy quality of the word.  I covered the tag with Glue 'n Seal.

Close-Up

Once everything was done drying, I glued the man where I wanted him and chose two phrases, that I felt fit the theme of my tag, from the Small Talk Stickers to adhere over him.  I then adhered my crackled clock and a few other clocks I had in my stash.  I finished the tag off using some lace that I had colored with Walnut Stain distress marker and hung another clock a using Loop Pin. I'm thinking this is quite a manly tag, don't you agree?

Another month down! I have to say, I am very impressed with myself that I have stuck with this challenge.  It's a great excuse for me to buy more Tim Holtz goodies <grin>.  I hope you enjoyed my short tutorial & I hope you'll consider joining me on Tim's Tags journey ~ fondly, Christi  

Another look :)

I would like to enter my tag in the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - August
Use Your Stuff - (runs until 9/5) #189, Anything Goes, entry 2
Oh La La Creations - #187, One for the Boys
Vintage Stamping Challenge - #35, Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #16, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Work it Wednesday - Die Cuts

Tim's 2015 Tags - July

I was waiting for the Americana set to get here and I was on pins and needles since I am going away July 21 to August 2, but thankfully the set came the other day & I got to work :)  I actually made a back-up tag just in case the set didn't come in time. Anyway, here is my take on Tim's July Tag:

And here is Tim's tag:

As usual, I am not going through the process here, since you can find that on Tim's blog, but am going to list the things I improvised on.

• I used the American set THMB006, which is the mini blueprint set.
• I used every marker listed except Hickory Smoke - I don't have it, so I used Pumice Stone in place of it.
• For the loop pin, I used a Mini Paper Clip and Pin from Tim's Ideology line.
• I didn't have the star charm, so I took one out of my stash and colored it with a Krylon Silver Leafing Pen.
• I don't have a sewing machine (well I have 2, but am clueless on how to use them) so no sewing.
• I used a background paper from Glitz Designs, Beautiful Dreamer Polka, #BD3579
• No microglaze (on my wish list)
• My #4 was made with File Tabs, also from the Ideology Collection
• I cut the word Brave from a Redlead Paperworks stamp set called "She Knows all Things"

Ribbon

All colored and lined up

So here are some of my process photos, the three images all lined up before the sides were cut. And my ribbon, which came out purplish, so I guess I used too much blue and not enough red.  But it was fun anyway! 

I am really happy I bought this set, I can see many uses for the flag and the star, and I honestly can't wait to color the Statue of Liberty.  I thought you might want to see 
my backup tag that I made in case the stamp set didn't make it here on time. Not too bad, it would of worked, but I like the one I made to mimic Tim's much better. That's it for me today - I actually have to pack (something I am very bad at and I usually just throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase and sort it out later) and do all the girly things we do to prepare.  I hope you enjoyed my take on Tim's Tag and if you did, please consider following my blog - I am trying to get 100 new followers in 2015.  Also, check back here for the first posts for the NEW Twofers Challenge, starting August 1,2015.  Enjoy your week ~ Christi

Another look :)

I would like to enter my Tag into the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - July
Not Just Cards - (July) Theme - July
Timbro Scrap - #11, Summer
Amuse Studio - Anything Goes (entire month of July)
Allsorts Challenge - #320, Add a Banner or Flag
Crafting with an Attitude - #5, Anything Goes (July)

Tim's Tags for June 2015 AND The Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Hi all - this is my monthly take on Tim's Tags of 2015 for June and it's my first entry into the Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.

 It is one of my favorite tags thus far, I love iced coffee and tea, and I am SO proud of myself that I have been keeping up with this challenge the whole year.  I am actually enjoying this much more than I thought I would, so count on seeing many more of my takes on Tim's Tags.  

 

This month I didn't have some of the major components, but I made do pretty well with my Silhouette Cameo and stuff I had hanging around. As you know, you can go to Tim's Blog and see how he created his tag, so I am continuing to just list the things I did differently:

Things I Did Differently:
I made a wash using the Tea Dye re-inker 
Distressed using Scissors (I have to get that Paper Distresser Tool!)
Made my Own Stripes (see below)
Coffee Cup Cut File
Silhouette Cameo
Homemade Corrugated Cardboard
Little Vellum Envelope
1" & 2 1/4" Circle Punch
Tim Holtz Simple Sayings Stamp Set #CMS155
Round Tag
Gem Star
Scrap Ribbon
DCWV Burlap Paper Stack, 6 x 6 (and glued that on my tag)

The Stripes:
The hardest thing about this tag was trying to figure out how I was going to make the stripes. I had made a wash using the Tea Dye re-inker and  I don't have the stencil he used (I love how he used it!) so I thought maybe I could use the craft sheet and the same color markers he did to make my plaid.  I literally took the markers and hand made lines, going up & down, on the sheet.  I alternated the order of the colors and pressed the tag directly on the lines at first, then I misted them lightly with water and pressed the tag onto the sheet again.  I cleaned the craft sheet in between and repeated the process until I was happy with the tag.  Well, it didn't come out nearly as neat as his did but I'm pleased with the effect.  

The Coffee Cup:
I made the cup using a cut file I had and my Silhouette Cameo. The top is cut from a small vellum bag I had in my stash, I cut the bag, using the flap, with a circle punch that was 2 1/4" and then just folded and glued the layers.  I thought that was what Tim used when I saw his post, so when I found out he actually used plastic, I just went with my first thought.

The Rest:
I just used the items I had already to finish the tag, the green paper was in my stash. I used a piece of handmade corrugated cardboard, the little heart was leftover from a die cut, the straw was just cut from the same green paper the circle was cut from (using a 1" circle punch). I used my ever faithful DCWV Burlap Paper to show off my handmade banner. I printed the word coffee and glued it to the little circle tag and I attached that to the ribbon using a fastener

that I just got off a new pair of pants - it was holding one of the tags. I think that was one of my best finds ever!  

There you have it! My take on Tim's Tag for June 2015. I hope you enjoyed my tag and all my little tweaks to Tim's design - and you have to the end of the month to join in on Tim's Blog. And please, do pop over to the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - I am furiously creating more cards to enter, and there is more time for you to enter as it doesn't close until June 12, 2015! Please consider following my blog and help me to make my goal of 100 new followers - thanks! Christi

I would like to enter my tag in the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 June
Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Not Just Cards - #21, Anything Goes
Silhouette Challenges - (M) #26, Anything Goes

May 2015 - Tim's 12 Tags of 2015

OK, let me preface this with please be kind as I thought I had until tomorrow to finish this tag, and while I was casually glancing at Tim's Blog, to my horror, I saw that the link up closes in 2 hours!! ACK! So this is going to be fast and furious ~

Also, this was my first time using hot glue - ever. I have a small, push the stick in the thing hot glue gun that was given to me.  It was no where as clean & neat as Tim's hot glue gun - those strings get everywhere, as evidenced by my hair and my cat Bud chewing on one.  Good times. . .

Here is my take on Tim's May 2015 Tag:

What I did Differently than t!m:
DCWV Burlap Paper Stack, 6 x 6 (and glued that on my tag)
Schoolhouse Stencil THS011 (instead of the Typo Stencil)
Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass (over the embossing paste instead of cracked pistachio)
Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy (edged the tag)
Distress Ink Frayed Burlap (edged the ephemera & dyed the crinkle ribbon)
Core'dinations Pastel Cardstock (instead of the Kraft Core)
Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs in Life Quotes (instead of special delivery)
Tim Holtz Trinket Pin (instead of the memo pin & star fastener)
Tim Holtz File Tabs (instead of the typed token)
Tim Holtz Mini Pins (instead of the loop pin)
And I used different sayings from the Small Talk Stickers than Tim did.

I used everything else that Tim did - even the cute little white button, the same picture out of the Photobooth cards and the same ephemera packs. I followed the same directions he did (and I have a hint - regular glue does NOT work with the Tiny Tattered Florals - unless its a really quick drying glue - as you can see if you look close at the "daisy" I made.  The roses came out very cute, but my daisy is not a pretty flower.  This was my very first time making this type of rolled flower and it really was as easy as his video shows.  Well worth the money in my book!) and assembled my tag as close to his as I could.  I apologize for the lack of pictures, but I was pressed for time.  Thank you SO much for stopping by & please consider becoming a follower of mine to help me reach my goal of 100 new followers in 2015. Blessings! Christi

Entering my tag in the following challenges: 
12 Tags of 2015 - Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 Challenge
Simon Says Stamp, Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Allsorts - #313, Vintage
Creative Inspirations - #315, Pastel Shades

Happy Spring! Tim's 12 tags of 2015 - April

 

Here is my interpretation of Tim's Tag for April 2015.  As typical, lots of improvising (which I find SO much fun!), and I really think the little "band" on the tag is cool - I am going to make some cards using that technique.

What I Used to Make my Tag:
Wendy Vecchi Stamp it Stencil it, Marigold, WVSTST013
#8 Kraft Tag (homemade)
Distress Markers in Evergreen Bough, Riper Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemon, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Soot Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone.
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Brush - Detail
Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap
Sizzix Tim Holtz Alphanumeric #660056
Silhouette Machine
Piece of Light Brown cardstock
Wink of Stella, Clear
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Marker Spritzer

Stamped flowers

First, as I don't have any Kraft tags, I made my own.  I folded a piece of Kraft paper in half, glued it together and trimmed it down to tag size.  I put the tag aside and concentrated on finding a good flower to use as the focal point. I have some flower stamps, but none of the ones I looked at had an open enough space in the petals - until I remembered I have some Wendy Vecchi SiSi stamps - SiSi stands for Stamp and Stencil (there are some really cute sets!).  I finally chose the Marigold stamp and stamped it 3 times on my watercolor paper, that I had cut down to size as instructed, in the Jet Black ink.  I used my ink spritzer (for the very first time! I need a bit more practice) to spritz the background of the tag in Evergreen Bough, dried it with my heat gun and let it sit aside to fully dry.

Once the tag was fully dry, I water colored my flowers; I can remember coloring

like that with watercolor pencils, back when the water brushes first came out.  I used more color on my flowers than Tim did on his.  I finished the water colored portion by edging it in Frayed Burlap.  Set that aside and began to figure out how I was going to go on to the next step.

I was hoping I had a word I could use in the Holiday Words Script die set, but, none of them really worked. I knew I was going to make my second word, Spring, out of the Alphanumeric Die Set, but I struggled with how I was going to make my first word.  As usual, when I don't have the products to make something the way I want, my Silhouette machine steps in.  I designed and cut several "happy" cuts, using different fonts, and chose the one I liked best.  Then came cutting the strip into the tag.

I am not gifted with measurement gene (or the driving directions gene), but I tried to measure the way Tim tells it on his blog - I finally just measured from each side of the tag, and then the strip part itself.  I spelled out Spring with my Alphanumeric dies, then attached them all together with temporary tape (I use regular clear temporary tape, so I can see the placement).  Held my breath, and

cut the word out.  That's one of those moments if you mess up the entire project goes in the garbage.  But I did it (whew!) and it was while testing the water colored insert that I realized I stamped too many flowers on the paper.  If I hadn't of put the little piece of light brown card there, the flower made it difficult to read. So I glued that piece in place and added some sparkle with Wink of Stella in Clear.  Thought I was done with the tag, took a bunch of pictures and realized I had forgotten the star! I found a star that I had already punched out of silver paper and attached that.  I debated hand drawing the stitches, but. . .I don't trust myself. So I took more pictures, added the little piece of ribbon and took even more pictures.  That's it! I had forgotten how much fun water coloring is and have added that set Tim used in his tag to my Need ASAP list (which grows longer and longer and longer. . . ).

Please consider helping me meet my goal of 100 new followers/subscribers in 2015. And leave me your blog info in the comments ~ I'd love to pop over to your blog and take a look! Fondly, Christi


And one last look ~

I'd like to enter my Happy Spring Tag in the following challenges:
Tim's 12 Tags Challenge - April 2015
Artistic Inspirations - #129,  Anything Goes with a twist of Spring 
Not Just Cards Challenge - #17, Always Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Anything But a Card
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Week 173
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - #137, Springtime Flowers
Frilly and Funkie -  Springtime Die Cuts

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - March Tag

I have to admit - this whole time that I have been making my 12 tags of 2015, I have been using the wrong sized tags! But, thanks to my good friend at Alleystamps (I was running out last month if you recall) I got my tags and they are the correct size! So here is my take on Tim's March Tag

 

 What I Used to Create my Tag:
#8 Manilla Tag
Scrap Paper already colored with Distress Paints 
Golden Light Molding Paste
Gold Embossing Powder
Clear Embossing Powder
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Butterfly Stamp - Magenta, 36-002-K
Tim Holtz Schoolhouse Stencil #THS011
Assorted Embellishments

I used some leftover paper I had colored with Distress Paints for another project, so I used that and covered my tag with it.  I stamped on the butterfly (which I have had for years but never used!) and made an old fashioned mask (with post it notes) and spread the light molding paste through the stencil. I wasn't sure if the molding paste would work, but I didn't have much choice. Thank goodness I think it worked fine.  I sprinkled the gold embossing powder over the molding paste,  but I didn't read what Tim posted about waiting for the paste to dry before heating the embossing powder - live and learn - but even with that being a potential disaster, once again the tag made it through.  Because the tag is so colorful, I just added a few butterfly and flower gems to it and topped it off with a Chit Chat sticker, in Kraft, that reads imagination and skipped the ribbon.  A bit of film strip embellishment,

held on with brads and I am done.  Not bad at all!

I am so excited that I am actually keeping this promise I made to myself, and I am going to complete the 12 Tags of 2015 Challenge! If you enjoyed reading this post, I'd love for you to help me reach my goal of 100 new subscribers in 2015 ~ Thanks! Christi

Another look at the final tag.

I would like to enter my tag in the following challenges:
Not Just Cards Challenge - #16, Anything Goes 
The Pink Elephant - #292, Anything Goes
Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2015, March Tag
Artful Times - #77, In the Style of Tim Holtz
NBUS Challenge - #4, Anything Goes #2

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - February Tag

Ahhh - love is in the air and I can't breathe. Just kidding! This is my take on Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 February. As you know t!m encourages us to use what we have, and this tag is full of my "substitutes" for all the glorious t!m stuff I don't have (yet). Including a tag; I ran out! Here we go!

What I Used to Make my Tag:
Homemade #8 Tag
Tim Holtz Paper Stash - 8 x 8 Seasonal
Love Sticker - #31012, Pebbles Inc. (discontinued)
Ranger Snow Cap Ink
Distress Paint in Picket Fence
Distress Marker in Soot
Stampers Anonymous Stitches Stamp
Sharpie White Water Based Paint Pen, Extra Fine Point
Silver Paper
Red Paper (for the heart)
Scrap of Lace (dyed with Brushed Corduroy & Tea Dye Distress Markers)
Spellbinder Nestabilities Imperial Gold, Gold Labels 4
Embellishments - old silver hoop earring, wire, love charm, red glitter fiber, fabric tape, collage sheets, heart cut from Silhouette Cameo
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape 
Ranger Glue 'n Seal

OK, as you know, there is an awesome tutorial on t!m's blog, so I am just going to go over what I did with the tag. After I cut the tag to the correct dimensions, I covered it with the black & white Valentine's paper

smudged & painted

in the Seasonal Stash pad. I did notice that the sides of the tag didn't quite get covered, so I ran some tissue tape up and down each side. I chose the black & white "love" sticker,  the "14" (which was punched out of a collage sheet that's older than t!m), the woman (cut her out of a collage sheet from Somerset Studio magazine), the sticker up top, and the "february" (fabric tape from 7 gypsies) just to collage the piece a bit.  I covered it with the Glue 'n Seal and let it dry.  I wanted to keep the tag as monochrome as I could so the embellishments would stand out more. After another coat of Glue 'n Seal, I used my Distress Marker to smudge the edges of the collaged items.  The I smooshed some Picket Fence paint on my craft mat and used my finger to add some of the paint to various places on the tag.  I ended up using more Pickett Fence after this picture was taken, but I didn't take another picture. Sorry! 

The LOVE Charm

I don't have the frame stickers t!m used on his tag, so I cut one out of silver paper using the Spellbinders die.  I was pretty stoked that I had a "frame" that fit on the tag. I also improvised on the arrow and the heart charm. I went through my stash and found and old hoop earring; I bent it straight and I knew I had these love charms, so I got one of them out and improvised.  Not bad!  I had to cut the earring down a bit, but all in all, I think it looks pretty good.  On to the heart.  I confess, I do have a sewing machine, but I lost the directions to it and I have NO idea how to even thread it.  I used to know how to thread a machine, but apparently that knowledge was deemed unnecessary and pushed out to make room for fun facts about chocolate - you know, the important stuff.  No fear, I turned to my Silhouette Cameo and cut out some hearts - then I remembered I had the stitches stamp from Stampers

Anonymous - perfect! Inked the stamp up with some Snow Cap ink and stamped on the heart.  Well, due to the texture of the paper, the ink wasn't as bright as I'd like, so I touched it up with the Sharpie Pen (if you don't have one of these - make sure you get the WATER BASED one - you are so missing out!).  I put my heart on my frame and attached it to the tag.  I was going to skip the lace, but then I found a scrap, dyed it up, and glued it to the bottom of the tag (the tag was too thick to get a staple through).  I used an awl to punch a hole in the top of the tag, and I added some red glitter fiber to the top.  There you go! Oh, I did find my spritzer (it was missing last month) but I couldn't get it to work, so no spritzing this month.  Here is another look at my final tag:

Ta Da!

I know that was awfully long, I appreciate you hanging in there and reading the whole thing (if you didn't, go stand in the corner until I tell you to come out!).  If you liked what you read, or just want to be a nice person, please consider following me - I am trying to reach my goal of 100 new subscribers this year. Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Tag in the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - February
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can - #88, Stitching, Faux or Real
Make my Monday - Tags
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge Blog - #13, Anything Goes

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - January Tag

I have decided I am going to participate in the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015 and make a tag every month for this year. I will be doing a fair amount of substituting, mostly due to the fact while I have a lot of Tim Holtz products, I am far from having everything, and frankly, I can't keep up!  CHA just ended and I already have a wish list a mile long - he is just so darn creative and I want everything! Anyway, here is my January 2015 tag:

This is What I Used on my Tag:
8" x 4" Manila Tag 
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Gold Tissue Paper
Ticket Alphabet by MaVinci's Reliquary numbers 1-8 (the shop is closed, but you can still get awesome alphabet sets from MaVinci on her eBay page - and ask her if she has any of this set left if you want it!)
Stamps from the following Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous sets: (stamped on the gold tissue - I don't have any of Tim's Tissue Paper)
Train Ticket & Clock Face from The Journey, Paris Postale from French Market, Type Block from Lost & Found, Ticket Strip from Life's Possibilities
Distress Paint in Chipped Sapphire, Broken China & Stormy Sky
Chipboard #5 from 7 Gypsies "Gypsy Mart" 
Gold Glitter from the Art Institute
Tim Holtz Alpha Parts/Numeric
Adirondack Dauber Paint in Metallic Gold
Distress Marker in Soot
Dylusions Ink Spray in White Linen
Various Stashed Trinkets
Krylon Leafing Pen in Silver
Ranger Glue 'n Seal
Gold Sheer Ribbon 

Stamping on the tissue

 You can go to Tim's blog and read about how he made his tag and what products he used - just click HERE.  The very first thing I did was get out the gold tissue and chose the stamps that I felt matched the tissue on the tag.  I stamped my heart out and it was SO much fun - back to the basics; stamps, ink and paper.  While the stamping dried I moved on to figure out the 5 (ok, I had the Alpha Parts/Numeric on order but I didn't w- it's a fairly focal part of the tag so I found a large chipboard 5 in my stash and covered it with gold glitter from my stash.  Some of you recall that me and glitter don't really get along, but this time things went fine.  So the glittered five went to dry - out of reach of the cats.  I adhered the stamped gold tissue on the tag and set that aside to dry also, overnight and under a book because my tag was curling. 

Wet Paint

Dry Paint

Then it was time to play with 
the Distress Paints. I pounced my paints on the craft sheet, spritzed them with water and dragged my tag through the paint.  I dabbed some areas with my finger so I could get the look I wanted.  Then I used my heat gun to dry and set the paint.

Once the painting was done I cut out my twenty and one from the Alpha Parts/Numeric and since I don't have the Distress gold paint, I used the Adirondack Gold paint - it wasn't as easy to paint the twenty and the one as it looked on Tim's blog, but I did the best I could with what I had. I daubed the paint on and wiped some of it offand then heat what was left with my heat gun (I have a Weller Heat Gun which is sold to be used in industrial situations, so I had to be EXTRA careful that the plastic didn't melt).  

Chit Chat Time!

Then I placed my focal pieces on the tag to get the idea where my Chit Chat stickers should go - I used both the regular stickers and the Holiday version, mostly so I didn't use up all my precious Chit Chat stickers.   Here is where I got a tad carried away and forgot to take pictures of the process.  Honestly, I did just what Tim did, put all my stickers in place, coated the tag with Glue 'n Seal, waited for it to dry (it dries fast since you only need a thin coat) and then outlined all my stickers with the Distress Marker in Soot.  I smudged away (have the black fingers to prove it) and messed around a bit to get the proper amount of smudge and non-smudge. Then, since I didn't have the splatter brush, I used Dylusions Spray Ink in White Linen and gave the tag a few light spritzes.  I began looking for embellishments to use on the tag and I was really wanting toput an arrow on the tag like Tim, but I had no arrow.  But I did have an old game spinner and a Krylon Silver leaf pen, so I inked the spinner up and cut the back piece off (yes, I saved it) and viola! I now had an arrow!

Not bad if I do say so myself.  Then I pulled a few other trinkets I had in my stash that I felt would at least try to get the look of the original tag. I glued everything down onto the tag and let it sit overnight again (mostly because the metal star I used is open on the other side and I wanted to give the glue enough time to drip down from the star to the tag).  I skipped splattering the tag with the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen because I can't find my brand new Distress Spritzer - I am thinking someone borrowed it to use on a model they are building, but I'm not naming names.  I cut a legnth of gold sheer ribbon that I have had since my demonstrator days and tied it onto the hole of the tag.  My ribbon refused to hang as nicely as Tim's so I fixed it by tying it into a bow.  There you have it - my first tag of 2015! 

Another look at the finished tag

I truly enjoyed myself (and I will probably say that each month) and I urge you to break out those tags and play along with Tim!

I am entering my January Tag into the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - January Tag Challenge
Papertake Weekly - It's All New (some of the embellishments are new) 
Fashionable Stamping Challenges -#89, Something New (some of the embellishments are new)
Order of the Opus Gleui - #200, Anything But a Card