Tim Holtz Tags of 2016

One creative thing that I would like to do this year is participate in Tim Holtz "Tags of 2016" series this year. I really like his concept of remixing two techniques from his previous years tags. Quite a brilliant concept as it allows those that have participated over many years to revisit techniques and come up with something totally new and for newcomers to learn multiple ones each month and not feel like they have missed out. Truly the best of both worlds!

Supplies: tag, foil, Distress paints, Antiquities Frosted Crystals (Ranger), Top Hat High Society Blueprint stamp (Stampers Anonymous), Keyboard Texture fades folder (Sizzix), paper string, label letters, fasteners, mini paper clips, washi tape, charms, tiny attacher staples, word band (Advantus), Versamark and StazOn (Tsukineko), cardstock (Bazzill), chalk (Misc.) 

I had two ideas from one of the blueprint stamp sets that I own. After reviewing all the parts of the tag lesson, I decided that it would be easy enough to make them both at the same time and then see which one I liked best at the end.

Supplies: tag, foil, Distress paints, Distress stain, Antiquities Frosted Crystals (Ranger), Fleur de lis High Society Blueprint stamp (Stampers Anonymous), French Script Texture fades folder (Sizzix), crinkle ribbon, fasteners, mini paper clips, washi tape, typed tokens, word band (Advantus), Versamark and StazOn (Tsukineko), cardstock (Bazzill), chalk (Misc.) 

The best tip for me this month was to cut a slit at the top of the emboss folder to slide the tag through thus allowing you to choose which part of the emboss image you wish to use. Totally awesome and works so well!

Here is a close up of the dimensional foil layering for the hat trim.

Here you can see the dimensional layering with cardstock and foil.

In the end, I can't decide which I like better. I am really happy with each look and they each mean something different for me as the start of a New Year.

TTFN,

Happy Place Art Journaling

My backyard is a place of enjoyment for me. It makes me happy. I love gardening and the wildlife that are attracted to the yard. Currently, it is the various winter birds at the feeders and the antics of the squirrels that makes me smile when I look out the window. While I enjoy all the seasons in the yard, the best time in it to engage all the senses is in the spring.

Supplies: 400 Series Mixed Media Journal (Strathmore), gesso (Golden), clear gesso (Liquitex), gel medium (Ranger), clear emboss powder (CTMH), Versamark (Tsukineko), Gelatos and Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), distressed chicken wire stamp (Magenta), alpha stickers (October Afternoon, Creative Memories), pen (Staedtler)

I created an art journal page to capture a little bit of my Happy Place. Inspiration for this page came from Get Messy season of Adventure prompt 1 and 2.

The image transfer is a photo that I took of the crab apple tree in bloom. The leaves are stamped and heat embossed from actual magnolia and fragrant viburnum bush leaves. I loaded them with Versamark, stamped with them and then clear embossed them.

The background was then coloured with gelatos and stamped with a chicken wire stamp from Magenta.

TTFN,

The Future is Bright

I really love it when things come together creatively. I made a mixed media canvas that was inspired by a combination of three challenges for differing aspects.  The copious amounts of Tim Holtz products comes from the Something New challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. New and cracked open for the first time for this canvas were the Pocket Cards, the Thinlet distressed background die, and the Gumdrops. The colours and bits of glitter and jewels were inspired by the Get Your Sparkle On gorgeous January mood board at Berry71bleu.  Lastly, the elements of time... clocks, calendars, and the butterfly were inspired from the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #20 Time Flies.

Supplies: Tim Holtz - Distress Inks, Distress paint, Stickles, Glue N' seal (Ranger), Distressed background die and Garden Greens die (Sizzix), Urban Grunge script stamp, Life's Possiblities clock stamp, Perspectives butterfly stamp (Stampers Anonymous), Symphony text washi tape, Ideology Pocket Cards, Newsprint Alpha Parts, Crinkle Ribbon, Word Bands, Philosophy Tags, Gumdrops (Advantus), Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection 11 (Core'dinations), canvas (MultiCrafts), gesso (Liquitex), clear emboss powder (CTMH), cardstock and staples (misc.)

It is really neat how these all worked together and are realized in this canvas creation. That is one of the things I like about challenges. The push you to go beyond your norm. Here are some close up detail photos.

You can see that there are multiple layers, starting with the gessoed die cut pieces and washi tape. Then, a Distress Inks colour layer and splatters. Next, Distress Ink stamping and lastly, the multi layering of paper and other embellishments.

For oodles of eye candy, check out each of the challenges by clicking on their respective icons.

      

TTFN,

Cards, Cards, Cards

Yeah! I am finally on Pinterest. You can see my creative collections here. Becoming a follower would really make me happy! ;)

While I was in the process of creating a pinned gallery of my works, I realized that I missed sharing these cards that I made during my summer vacation at the cottage. I was on a card roll and made a few using Maya Road products and Jillibean Soup papers.

I find you can never have enough thank you cards, so they are one of my favourites for card making. They also tend to stay around longer with recipients... 'cause really, who doesn't like to feel appreciated.

Supplies: flowers, pins, ticket stubs, stamps (Maya Road), patterned papers (Jillibean Soup), Tim Holtz Distress ink and archival ink (Ranger), cardstock (Bazzill), embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'ne)

Distressed and Distress inked with lots of flower material textures plus stitching, this little monochromatic 4 5/8" x 4 3/8" beauty is a little less formal with its' text form of thanks.

I kept to those warm vintage creams and browns but added a touch of class to this one with the satin black flower, pearl pins and jewels. I elected to not gesso mute the measurement background patterned paper but rather keep it vivid; however, the flip side of that decision has left me with an ongoing internal design debate as to whether to stitch the linen heart in black or not. Thus far, I have left it as is but I find I teeter on it when I come across the card in my collection. I really should just give it away already and end it but this one needs to go to just the right person who will appreciate it's beauty and keep it rather than discarding it. ;)

Supplies: linen heart, black scalloped ribbon, pins, stamp (Maya Road), patterned paper (Jillibean Soup), cardstock (Bazzill), antique button (misc.)

The flower was made from a scalloped trim and its' piece de resistance is the antique rhinestone jeweled button. Seriously gorgeous in real life.  Love it!

The last one is feminine fun with a fairly clean and simple design.

Supplies: trims, paper thread, wood spools, butterfly pin, bead, stamps (Maya Road), patterned papers (Jillibean Soup), ink and Stickles (Ranger),  cardstock (CTMH), embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'ne)

Pink lace trim shaped into a flower with a pearl centre and a pearlized tiny butterfly pin plus added little bits of glitter on the distressed flower strip of patterned paper make this one "so sweet".

This is a great general sentiment that can be used for a variety of occasions be it a thank you, birthday, or baby card.
There is a fourth one which is a congratulations card that I made with this set however is not shown as yet because it was recently published in Creative Cards (a specialty edition by Scrapbooks and Cards Today Magazine). I will share it when I can.


TTFN,

Bright Times Ahead

Happy New Year!

What better way than to start out the New Year than to spend some family time watching college football bowl games and scrapping a layout. It has been months since I last created a layout and I didn't want to spend time getting sucked into online viewing so instead of finding new January challenges, I went with some challenge inspirations that I was already familiar with so... for colour the inspiration came from the gorgeous final moodboard over at Scrap Around the World and for the sketch, I used Riikka Kovasin's sketch which was Prima's December BAP.

Supplies: patterned paper, stencil, stamps, watercolour pencils, chipboard, flowers, letter stickers, resist canvas, laces (Prima), gesso (Golden), whipped spackle and Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), black Archival ink (Ranger), gold Delicata ink and grey StazOn (Tsukineko), glimmer mist (Tattered Angels), marker (Sharpie), glitter, vellum and gold metallic thread (Dollarama)

I used these funky pinkish filtered selfies my daughter played with and I really like how the colours of the layout brings out the purply-blue hues in her hair. A bit hard to see in these layout photos.

You could say I "got my Prima on" with this layout. It too has been a long time since I have done a PPP or BAP from there. I do love their products and golly gee I own enough of it in my stash, but I couldn't resist the Garden Fable collection when I saw it.

Like with the art journal page this week, it took a long time to get through the process. Hopefully, now that I have gotten "back in the saddle", I will get faster. I am thinking that that might be one of my things to try this year in scrapping... letting go of "just right" and the hemming and the hawing that goes with that and just get'er done.

I am still mulling my one word for this year. I have it down to two and will share it when it is ready.

Wishing you and your families bright times ahead for this coming year.

TTFN,