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 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

Stars and the Night Sky Tag

I was bumbling around the Internet the other day reading some blogs and getting inspired when I decided to drop in on the Tim Holtz blog.  I love reading what he and his design team do with his products and you'd be hard pressed to find anything I make that doesn't have something from of one of his product lines in it.  So, I decided to take a chance and see what I could make for his "12 Tags of 2014" for September.

I love playing with alcohol inks.  When I play with these inks I always have a bunch of glossy paper available to grab so I can use every drop and make backgrounds and such for other projects.  That was what really got my interest about this months Tag challenge - Tim used different colors of alcohol inks on his tag.  I have a bunch of alcohol ink papers that I had already made, so this challenge was for me!  I didn't have all the products that Tim used in his tag, but I had fun finding things to substitute.

This is What I Used on my Tag:
8" x 4" Manila Tag 
Glossy Cardstock
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink in Stream
Ranger Alcohol Ink Blending Solution
Tim Holtz Stencil "Shatter"
Stampers Anonymous "Sun Collage" stamp, #U5-709
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Blue, Silver, Purple Alcohol Ink Paper
Star Punches, small & medium
Craft Sheet 
Small Piece of Silver Paper
Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs both Life Quotes & Words
Distress Ink in Black Soot
Heat Gun 
Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue
Dream & Vision stamps were hand mounted and I didn't label them (sorry!)

On Tim's blog, he speaks about a technique using alcohol ink and blending solution to make a "ghosting" effect (click the link to see the how to) - I tried it using Stream alcohol ink (he said to use a light color and that was the lightest I

had) and his "Shatter" stencil but it didn't work at all for me.  And yes, I tried it more than once (after all, Tim told me to).  I think my failure is due to the stencil pattern not being small enough and I don't have any small stencils, so I moved on - I will be trying this again once I get a stencil better suited for this type of technique. The new Compendium of Curiosities (book 3) also has a great tutorial on how to do something similar - I have all 3 of Tim's books and I refer to them often for inspiration.

I had already trimmed my glossy cardstock to fit on the tag, so once my piece of alcohol ink cardstock was done I stamped the Sun Collage on the side of the paper using the Jet Black ink.  I set that aside.  I don't have any black tags but I wanted to try to stick as close to Tim's tag as I could, so I colored my Manila tag with Black Soot ink.  I just pounced the pad all over the tag and used my fingers, dipped in water, to move the ink

My Black Tag

around so the tag was covered, placing special emphasis on the edges since they would show.  I used very little water but I set the ink with my heat gun.  Setting the black(ish) tag aside I went back to the alcohol ink paper.

Close Up of the Remnant Rubs

For the portion of the tag where the rub-ons were used, I used rub-ons from two sets of Remnant Rubs, both "Life Quotes" and "Words" (see I really am trying to get over my rub-on fear that I talked about here). I basically cut out the items I thought fit the tags theme - I could of used more, but I cherish my Tim Holtz products.  After the rub-ons were rubbed on I glued the decorated paper to the tag.
 

The papers I used and some stars already punched

Layering the Stars

I then set about punching out the stars.  I had already made the alcohol ink papers that I used in the project so I just had to dig them out of my stash.  I used papers with various colors of ink, sticking to blues, purples and silver.  My small punch is so old the index star is wearing off and it sticks every time I use it (no matter how many times I punch waxed paper) so I'd punch a few, then take a break.  I ended up with too many stars but I saved them - I am sure they'll turn up in a Halloween project.  I then began to layer the stars with no real pattern and as I was placing them I really felt that I needed a bit more of a wow factor. So I got out some small scrap of silver paper, punched out some moresmall stars and put them on the tag as well.  I finished up with two hand mounted stamps that read "dream" and "vision", also stamped with the Jet black ink.

Close up of the Stars

There you have it!  I really had fun figuring out how to get a similar effect as Tim's tag without having the same supplies.  I rarely work with tags but I think I may just keep trying this challenge.  Thank you for stopping by & enjoy ~ Christi


 

Another Look

I am entering my tag in the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - September
Unruly Paper Arts - September Challenge, The Dark of Night
Divas by Design - Tags!

A Balancing Act. . .

BALANCE is this month’s theme at Anything But a Card and it was a tough one for me. I feel that I lack balance in most aspects of my life, yet it is something that I don’t think about often.  My thought behind my project was that I need a reminder, a daily reminder, to balance my life.  One of the things that I feel will help me balance my crafty life is to use up some of this tremendous stash I have so I decided to make a banner using manila tags.  I recently put a cork board above my craft room computer and with all these elements combined, my balance project was born.

The Tags, already colored & layered

What I Used:

• 7 Manila #8 Tags
• Old book pages dry brushed with gesso (mine were already done)
• Distress Paints in the following colors: Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire and Brushed Pewter.
• Water Spritz Bottle
• Craft Sheet
• Purple Cardstock (for letters)
• Silhouette Cameo (for letters – you can also cut them freehand or use stickers)
• Stickles in Diamond
• White Cardstock
• Gesso
• Eye Dropper
• Silver ribbon
• Your Words (the words you choose to put on your tags)
• 7 plastic coated paper clips
• Crafter’s Pick Glue

First, I “made” the tags.  I used the Distress Paints and just continually made the colors swirl into each other and then I smooshed the tags onto the craft sheet.  When I saw a combination of color I liked, I would allow the tags to dry before adding more color (I used a heat gun or let them dry naturally).  Then I would color them some more with the Distress Paints – I wanted as much of the manila color to be covered as possible, but I didn’t want them to get muddy, which is why the drying is important.   I used some old book pages that I had already covered with plain gesso in the next step.  The white gesso looked too stark next to the warm purples and blues so I colored some gesso with the Seedless Preserves Distress Paint.  I just used an eye dropper and mixed the color in until I got a shade I liked.  Then I put that mix on the pages.  Once they dried, I ripped them into approximately the same size so I could mat them onto the tags. 

The letters were cut out using my Silhouette Cameo.  I just picked a font and spelled out BALANCE using the purple cardstock cut out the letters and glued them onto the tags.

The tags before the bling & some of the goodies I used to decorate the word cards.

 One thing that was important to me was the ability to change what the tags said; so instead of printing my word on the tag, I printed it onto white cardstock.  I used rubber stamps, Distress Markers, the computer, my own printing, decorative scissors, inks and punches to make my words.  I had a fabulous time! It felt like playing – like back when I first started rubber stamping. I just went to town!  I chose words that began with the same letter that was on the tag they were clipped to; for example, on the “L” in balance I stuck the word “learn”. 

The word cards on the first three letters

That’s the way I have it right now, but that may change.  I wanted to be able to change the words because I know if my eye gets used to seeing something I won’t “see” it anymore. 

The word cards on the last four letters

I used plastic coated paperclips to attach my words to my tags.  Lastly, I threaded a small piece of silver ribbon through each tag & then tied that to a long piece of ribbon – this way I can also move the tags around a bit if need be.  This is when I decided that the letters blended in too much and needed a bit of bling, so I took the word cards off the tags and ran the Diamond Stickles inside the letters.  I like it MUCH better with the bling. Then I put the word cards back on & hung the banner up - TADA!

  

All blinged up - complete with cat hair

The banner all done & hanging up!

I really enjoyed making this banner – and once I got going the process was much smoother than I anticipated.  Personally, I enjoy to be challenged; helps me stretch my wings.  I hope this inspires you to create some balance in your life, if needed. Don't forget, there is still time to enter the challenge at Anything But a Card - create some balance & link it up! Thanks for stopping by!  

I would like to enter my Tag Banner in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge - #77 Anything Goes 
Treasured Times Challenge Blog - #10 Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Challenge - #9 Anything Goes (second entry)

Keeper of the Dead Fairies

The weather here in Colorado finally broke - no more 90 plus degree days and no more rain!! I LOVE Halloween (dark & spooky is easier for me than cute & cuddly) and I love the colors of fall.  And, now that my craft room is no longer a sauna, I have started to make some Halloween/fall art.  Please read on. . .

I keep seeing “dead fairies” all over the place – no, not actual dead fairies, but ones crafted out of this and that (maybe it’s the blogs I read. . .hmmm).  I plan on making some as soon as I can get to the dollar store (Dollar Tree in my area) and getting my sticky little hands on some more plastic skeleton garland.  It’s fantastic stuff & you get 4 full skeletons for a $1 – you can even take them apart a bit – you can remove the arms, legs & rib cage; leaves you with a head on a spine, but hey, if that’s your thing. . . Anyway, the planned production of these fairies is what spurned me on to make this tag, Keeper of The Dead Fairies.

I started with a regular #8 manila tag and I used the Black Soot Distress Ink on the background – I first pounced the pad on my craft sheet and then spritzed with water the I put the tag on the watered down ink, just laid it down.  I then saw where the ink didn’t get to and I laid the tag down in the ink in those spots.  You can’t see much of the background except at the very top of the tag.  I colored in the reinforcer around the hole with a black Sharpie and I also edged the edges (ha!) with the same black Sharpie – some of you know how I HATE edges!!

I put the tag aside and knew I wanted to use my flames stencil from Crafters' Workshop somehow on the tag.  I wanted the flames to look really cool & different so I thought I’d use some stuff I’ve had hanging around for years (literally, but in a drawer, not hanging) vellum! Remember vellum? Anyway, I took a piece of regular vellum, put my flame stencil over it and spritzed it with Fireworks! from Imagine Crafts (Fireworks! Is a shimmery, water based spray ink) in Dandelion, Tangelo & Lady Bug.  I let it dry, but wasn’t really pleased because the flames didn’t pop out like I wanted (I really don’t know what I expected being I spritzed them on vellum) and I pondered how to get them to really stand out.  After I showed the spritzed vellum to my honey, he suggested that I outline the flames – TA DA! Sometimes I guess it pays to listen to them, but I don’t plan on making it a habit.  So on the stencil goes and I outlined the flames with a red Sharpie – I LOVE the way they came out!!!  I knew what I wanted to do next so off I went.

 

Here is a close up of my flames

I got my winged skeleton from Meer Image (they make some rocking stamps! Many unusual & cool images) – my skeleton is actually named Sebastian – and stamped him on some plain card stock with my favorite black ink, Ranger Archival in Jet Black.  I then fussy cut him and glued him on the front of the tag.  I computer generated “Keeper of the Dead Fairies”, printed it on a transparency & cut it out.  I also had some leftover Dresden trim in black so I put a bit of that on the tag as well.  Finished off by gluing it all together and there you have it!  My keeper is all ready for some dead fairies (and I finally got some more skeletons, so the parade of dead fairies is on the way)!

And here is the complete tag

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges:

The Crafty Bloggers Network's monthly challenge is "Anything with Wings"
Punk You Girl's current challenge is "Red & Black"

Thank you & please leave a comment!!