12 Tags of 2012 - January/December

Happy New Year everyone!  Well, we have made it through our first year of Tim's 12 Tags challenge.  Since his first tag was for February, he has included January with December.  I can't wait to see what next year brings!  And with CHA starting in less than two weeks, I'm eagerly awaiting Tim's new products!

 

 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years!  Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Ornament

Hello and Merry Christmas Eve!  Over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge this week, Maria wants us to create a Christmas ornament for the tree, the front door, or to put on a gift. 

I'm also entering this ornament into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week, which calls for 'Anything Christmassy'.

These little guys were begging for Santa hats, so I was happy to oblige.

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #34

Well, this is it!...the last technique to master in Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities Vol II, Glazed Mosaics, page 60!  The lovely Linda has made some beautiful ornament tags and now it's our turn to create something fun. 

I can't seem to take a picture that doesn't make this look bent and wonky, but IRL it's pretty square.

(Please be careful with this technique...I'm wearing a band-aid courtesy of my Melting Pot). 

Even though this is the last CC2 challenge, Linda has teased us with a big challenge next week...hmmm...stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challlenge #33

Hello!  For this week's challenge, Linda has chosen Tim's Tissue Tape Technique (4 x T = FUN!).  I'm so very happy I had inspiration strike, as I've been wanting to decorate some craft store Christmas bulbs, and Tim's tape was the perfect medium for this project.  I wish I could share the how-to's, but you'll have to buy his awesome book, Compendium of Curiosities Voll II to learn this and so many other great techniques.  With this technique alone, he shows us four ideas for using it.  I've used both the first and fourth. 

I cut the word Joy from Tim's Mirror Film and his WordPlay die, and shadowed it with white chipboard.  I used Distress Inks in Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers, and of course finished it all off with my favorite, Dry Rock Candy Stickles.

The wonderful folks at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring this week's challenge, and a $25 gift certificate will be going to one lucky entry!

 

 

I'm also entering this project into these challenges:

 

Simon Says Stamp - What'sYour Favourite?

Inspiration Emporium - Joyful Creations

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

SDC78: Non-Traditional Christmas

Hello!  The lovely France is hostess this week, and she has challenged us to use a non-Christmas themed stamp to create a Christmas card.  So many possibilites!  Be sure to check out all the other great cards on the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #32

Hello all!  We're having ridiculously warm days this week, not conducive to holiday spirit usherings at all!  But I shall persevere (or melt)...For this week's Compendium of Curiosities Vol II challenge, #32, Linda has chosen the Paper Rosette technique.  You can find it on page 63 of Tim's latest book, Compendium of Curiosities Volume II.  Out of respect for Tim, you'll have to buy the book to get the how-to's.  Totally worth it! 

I've been stuck on this tag for the last two days.  I know it needs more, but apparently my muse is taking a break and I got nothin'.  So for now...

 

 

I've adopted the phrase 'when in doubt, bling it out', and have misted my tag with Perfect Pearls and dusted my rosettes with Dry Rock Candy Stickles.  All three buttons are Tim's, as is the tinsel.  And even though I wasn't paying attention, the sheet music is in fact, right side up (small victories).

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

 

 

Oh My (Shooting) Stars!

Hey all!  Two posts in two days!  Today I've created an ATC with Stampotique's Tree Topper stamp.  I cut her out of cardstock, colored her with pencils and applied Stickles to her wings.   I cut some star garland with the beads attached to create a shooting star.  I inked the edges with Faded Jeans Distress Ink and the sentiment is from Tim Holtz's Seasonal Chit Chat Stickers.

 

 

I'm entering this ATC into the following challenges:

 

Wicked Wednesday:  Wing It!

Simon Says Stamp:  Snowflakes

Desert Islands Crafts #43:  Anything But A Card+Glitter+Let It Snow!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

SDC77: Let's Get Sentimental

Hello crafty peeps!  I've had a very creative weekend (the laundry's not going anywhere, right?) and am excited to participate in this week's Stampotique Designer Challenge!  Gez has challenged us to use a sentiment.

I started with a 5 x 7 canvas panel and painted it various shades of blue.  I used the Dylusions snowflake stencil and molding paste to create my snowflakes.  Once they dried I covered them with Distress Stickles Rock Candy.  I stamped Tangled Enthusiam onto cardstock, cut him out and colored him.  I also stamped him on the canvas to include the lights around him.  I added Stringed Lights and used Opal Perfect Pearls Paint to 'light' them.  For my snow I used Aleene's True Snow Paint and sprinkled it with dry Stickles Rock Candy.  My sentiment is from Obsession Impression.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!  The pictures are a LOT more blue than they really are.  Maybe just pretend you're looking through blue lenses ;)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #31

Hello all!  Hope you're having a wonderful, crafty week!  Now you know the drill...for week #31, Linda has chosen the Ink Palette: Distress technique.  It's the third and final Ink Palette technique in Tim's latest book, Compendium of Curiosities Volume II.  You'll have to buy the book to get the how-to's, and if you buy it from Tim, he'll autograph it for free! Bonus!  (On a side note, you should check out Linda's Christmas configurations box she just created...so fun!)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments :)

Reflective Snowmen

Hi all!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I was out of town visiting family, so I'm doing double duty playing catch-up.  This is my tag for Tim's November 12 Tags of 2012, for Linda's Compendium of Curiosities II Challenge #30, and for Simon Say Stamp's Challenge this week...Anything Goes! 

Linda has chosen 'Reflective Imagery' for this week's challenge.  You can find all the deets on page 55 of Tim's latest book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II .  I'd love to share this awesome technique with you, but out of respect to Tim, you'll have to buy the book for all the juicy details.  (btw, totally worth it!).

I can, however, share how I created my November tag!  Using the Tag and Bookplates die, I cut a tag out heavy white cardstock.  I used Versamark on a Hero Arts stamp and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I didn't iron it like Tim did because I don't have a craft-dedicated iron.  I used Tumbled Glass and Fades Jeans Distress Ink to color the tag, then distressed and inked the edges, then flicked it all with water (always love those results!).  I cut 'Wishes' from Tim's Typeset die, then covered the letters with Faded Jeans Distress Stickles.

I've been loving sparkly blue this season, which you've probably gathered if you've seen some of my previous creations.  I think I must be in need of some icy coldness, because I really want the opportunity to bundle up in a blanket and usher in my creative holiday spirit!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Tomorrow kicks off week 31!  See you there :)

CC2 Challenge #29

Hi all!  Cruising right along!  This week Linda has chosen the Texture Fade technique for our Compendium of Curiosities Vol II challenge.  You can find all the how-to's on page 64 of Tim's book of the same name.

I'm also entering this in Frilly and Funkie's challenge, Metal and Chipboard.  The chipboard is what I embossed, and the cool, metal snowflake I purchased from their Funkie Junkie Boutique.  .

I had a hard time capturing the true colors of this card.  It's so much brighter IRL.  The seam binding isn't black, but navy blue.  And I painted the snowflake with Snow Cap Paint Dabber, so it really is white.  Hmmm...maybe it's time I read my camera manual.  But that would take away from crafting time...nah.  I'm sure you all understand ;)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

Stampotique Designers Challenge SDC 74

Hello crafty peeps!  Nellie is the hostess this week for the Stampotique Designers Challenge and has chosen 'Nature' as the theme.  I really miss the changing of the leaves, living so far south now, so I love to re-create my fond memories. 

I embossed a piece of cardstock with Tim Holtz's new Textured Leaves Embossing Folder.  I inked it up with Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Barn Door and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks.  I cut an old file folder with the Branch Tree die, and I cut out Stampotique's 'Kitty' stamp.  It's a pretty simple card, but reminds me of my white cat, Thomas, I had growing up.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #28

Hello!  Week 28 already??!!  It's all going by so fast, but oh so fun!  This week on Studio 3's Compendium of Curiosities Vol II challenge, the technique is Reflections Stamping.  You can find out all the how-to's on page 65 of Tim's latest book of the same name. 
The wonderful folks at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring this week's challenge!

For my tag, I stamped Dyan's pine sprig for my background using Archival Ink in Olive.  Not sure if I inked the background with Shabby Shutters or Peeled Paint (probably both).  The ornament and greenery are cut from Tim's dies.  I cut chipboard from his Wordplay die for the 25, painted it with the Cranberry Paint Dabber, then covered it with Fired Brick Distress Stickles and Glossy Accents.  I went around the ornament with Ice Stickles, (Crystal or Diamond), and since I'm addicted to the new dry Rock Candy Stickles, I poured it all over the ornament.  I love the frosty look it has!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

Stampotique Challenge! SDC 73

Hello!  This week's challenge over on the Stampotique blog calls for a hanging decoration for the home.  I've been wanting to use my Tree Topper stamp and this gave me the inspiration to do so.  I just love this stamp, the little angel is soooo cute! 

I recently received an email from Cloth Paper and Scissors with gift project tutorials, and I fell in love with the Snowmen gift pockets made by Melony Bradley.  I've had a pocket I cut out from an old pair of jeans just waiting to be altered.  I painted it with Ranger's Snow Cap dabber and used a Snow Writer for the snow and flakes, then sprinkled it with glass glitter.  The fringe/yarn is Martha Stewart's.  Wrapped some wire and viola!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

 

CC2C #27 and Tic Tac Toe

Hi all!  This week I created a tag for two challenges:  Linda Ledbetter's Studio 3 Compendium of Curiosities Vol II week 27, and Linda Coughlin's Frilly and Funkie, Tic Tac Toe.

This week's CC2C technique is another palette creation, this time with Alcohol Inks.  You can find out all the how-to's on page 52 of Tim's latest book of the same name.

This week's challenge is sponsored by Linda C. at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  You should check out her store, such a great selection of unique items!  And over at the Frilly and Funkie blog, her challenge involves this Tic Tac Toe grid...

 

 

We are to pick any line of techniques to use in our project.  I chose Metal, Alcohol Inks and Glitter.  I used Tim's technique in his October tag of 2012, covering the tag with his tissue paper (great stuff!) and scrunching it a bit.  I inked over it with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, hit the distressed edges with Gathered Twigs, then added a layer of Rock Candy Stickles.  I wanted more bling, so I sprinkled his new dry Rock Candy Stickles over it while it was still wet...yummy!  I used the CC2C technique above to color his cool, new poinsettas, and the tinsel I was lucky enough to get from his etsy shop last Christmas.  The ribbons are from my stash.

 

 

I'm pretty happy with it.  Hope my Mom is too, as it will join last year's 12 Tags of Christmas on her tree.  (and if you're reading this, Mom...surprise! ;))

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

 

 

12 Tags of 2012 - October

Happy Halloween!  Since it's the last day of the month, it must be time for me to submit my entry in Tim's 12 Tags of 2012.  There's nothing like a deadline to light a creative fire under me :)  I pretty much followed Tim's tag to the letter (or letters, haha).  I opted for the '31' as, even though I have the candelabra/spider die, I don't really do spiders.  I did add a tiny one from his new set of stamps, and that suffices for me ;)  Tomorrow I'll have to make a Boo-Hoo tag, as I'll be really sad Halloween is over.

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments are appreciated :)

CC2 Challenge #26

Hi all!  This week's challenge over at Linda's blog involves a technique called Crumpled Kraft Suede.   It's a really cool technique, and if you'd like to know how to do it yourself, you can find all the how-to's on page 40 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.

Our challenge this week is being sponsored by Linda Coughlin over at Frilly and Funkie, who is giving away a $25 gift certificate to a randomly chosen (and very lucky!) entrant this week!  You should check out her boutique, there are so many cool items!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments are appreciated :)

 

Spooky Shadow Box

Well, I've been meaning to make one of these since last Halloween, so I'm very happy to have accomplished it.  It took me most of the month with an hour here or there, but I did it!
 
There are two challenges I'm entering this in:  Inspiration Emporium's, 'Spooktacular Decorations', i.e. a Halloween decoration for your home, and Frilly and Funkie's, 'Anything BUT a card, with a twist!'.  The twist is that you make a place to hide something.  (Hint:  Don't get too close to one of the tombstones...you never know what's lurking in the shadows ;))

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, turn away now if you scare easily...

 

 

 

BOO!

 

Hope you like it!  Thanks for stopping by.  Your comments are always appreciated :)

 

My First Journal Page!

Hi all!  My brand new Dyan Reaveley Journal was just begging to be arted up, and thanks to the very talented Marjie Kemper, I found Dyan's Art Journaling Group on Facebook!  These are my first attempts at the coloring techniques I'm using, so I'm experiencing a major learning curve.  All part of the fun, right?

 

Dyan's challenge this week is to create a page that incorporates her spider stamp, the color orange, and the words 'New Beginnings'.  Sounds fun, huh?  I took pics this time to show my progress (another first).

 
To start, I sprayed my pages with Dylusions Sprays in Vibrant Turquoise, Fresh Lime and Peeled Orange (I'm getting hungry). Then I used a couple of her stencils to spray water on, removing some of the color. I didn't mean to do the reverse circle stamping in the same direction, but it will disappear later. I also learned to pay attention to the edge of the stencil, if that's not what you're going for ;)

I then took one of her border stamps to stamp, um, the border. I did some random stamp rolls, which I wish I had done a little lighter or with another color, and a little doodling with my white pen. 

 



I stamped Dyan's stamp circles onto white cardstock, cut them out and adhered them with a glue stick.  I used Tim Holtz's Sizzix die, Typeset, to create my 'New Beginnings'. I went over the letters with my white pen, but will probably go back and outline them with a black pen to make the letters stand out more.

I knew I wanted to use wings to convey the exhilarating feeling of starting something new, and I thought it would be cute for the spider to go along for the ride to start his own new beginning :)
 
Here are some close-ups...

 

 

 



I had a lot of fun creating this!  I'd love to know what you think (creative criticism is always welcome).  Thanks for stopping by!

CC2 Challenge #25

Hi all!  Wow, I can't believe how fast these weeks are flying by!  We're already on week 25 over at Linda's blog challenge, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.  This week's technique is called Ink Palette - Perfect Pearls, and you can find out all the how-to's in Tim's book on page 53.  The wonderful folks at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring this week's challenge! 

I've been out of town visiting family since last Friday, so it was crunch time tonight to complete this by the deadline.  I'm committed to entering this challenge every week, and by golly, that's what I'm going to do (God willing)!

It is so hard to capture the lovely shimmer of the Perfect Pearls with the camera, but if you've used these before, you know what I mean.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #24

Hello! I can't believe it's already week 24 over at Linda's blog!  This week's technique is called Alcohol Ink Resist.  If you'd like to to check out how it's done, you can find it on page 59 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.  I just received Tim's Movers and Shapers Headstone die so I had to break it in right away. Ditto for his Ornate Crosses.  I can't wait to use them again!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

CC2 Challenge #23

Hi all! This week's challenge over at Linda's blog involves a technique using Distress Markers. It's really fun, almost like being a kid again.   You can find all the how-to's on page 50 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.

I'm also entering my tag in the current challenge over at Frilly and Funkie. Their theme is 'Fall into Fall', which makes for a perfect opportunity to use Mario III's new blueprint stamps.

Linda is also giving away an awesome prize package to a randomly chosen (and very lucky!) entrant this week!

 

 

 

 

Now if only I could find some changing leaves for real!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

12 Tags of 2012 AND CC2 Challenge #22

Hi all!  I've got a two-fer this week!  It's week #22 over at Linda's blog, and since this week's technique, Riveted Patchwork, coincides with Tim's September 12 Tags of 2012, I'm submitting my tag for both.  If you'd like to to check out how it's done, you can find it on page 57 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II, or you can check out Tim's September tag here. 

Being the third week of the month, this challenge is sponsored by the wonderful The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  You should stop by and give Linda a visit.  She has a lot of fab items for sale!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments are appreciated :)

 

CC2 Challenge #21

Hi all! Welcome to week 21 of Linda's Compendium of Curiosities Vol II challenge. This week's technique is called Blended Stains. If you'd like to learn this technique, you can find it on page 45 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.

I went through quite a few colors before I settled on Black Soot, Dusty Concord and Stormy Sky.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.


To add to the fun, Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring this week's challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments :)

Grungy Little Chest

Hi all!  I have to say, when I first saw Shelly Hickox's Grungy Embellishment Chest my jaw dropped.  It was love at first sight and I knew I wanted one!   Shelly made a fantastic tutorial on the Sizzix blog, which you can find here.  

Because I loved hers so much, I followed her instructions and made one (almost) just like it.

 

 

 

Thank you so much, Shelly, for sharing such an awesome project!!

 

 

 

CC2 Challenge #20

Hi all! This week's challenge over at Linda's blog involves the technique Enameled Stamping. It's a really cool technique.  You can find all the how-to's on page 44 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II.

I'm also entering my tag in the current challenge over at Frilly and Funkie.   Their theme is called 'The Great Outdoors'.  One requirement is that you must include a quote about outdoors/nature.  I chose this one from Henry David Thoreau.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments are appreciated :)

Halloween Chaos Swap

Hello and welcome!  Over at my 'All Things Tim' yahoo group, we're having a Halloween Chaos swap.  It involves making tags of different sizes and assembling them onto a 12 x 12 canvas, done by our lovely hostess, Stacy (she rocks!).  There are eleven tag spots, therefore eleven people make up one canvas.  I love Halloween, so I've joined in two of them.  This tag is for my first group; it's size is 1 1/4" by 3 1/4".  I used Tim's Sizzix Die 'Tiny Tabs and Tags' and his Mini Bat and Skull Set, Kaiserkraft's new black roses, and I covered the whole thing with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  I used Rock Candy Crackle Paint on the skull, along with some Black Soot Distress Ink.  It's hard to see, but the black roses are in a mini bottle filled with 'poison' ;)

 

 

For my second tag, I used the familiar #8 tag.  It's been inked, embossed, stenciled and sprayed.  The skull and the sentiment are both from Tim's new stamp set Mini Halloween 3.  I painted the Halloween Tokens (also Tim's) with his Pitch Black Paint Dabber, then sanded over the words.  I used his On The Edge - Iron Gate die with Grunge Paper, distressed it with Black Soot, and put a strip of Dresden trim over it.  It sits off the tag with foam adhesive.  I didn't use ribbons on either tag because we have to stay within the size of the tag (so as not to obstruct our next door neighbors' awesome artwork). 

 

 

 

I really like how they both turned out. I hope my fellow swappers do, too :)  I can't wait to see the final project!

 

Thanks for stopping by! 







CC2 Challenge #19

Hi all!  It's time again for Linda's Compendium of Curiosities Volume II Challenge, week 19. This week's technique is called Kraft Resist. You can find out how to do it on page 41 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Volume II. 

I'm also entering my tag in this week's challenge over at Frilly and Funkie.  Their theme is called 'How can you resist?'  I can't, nor do I want to.  This is such a fun technique!

I love this stamp of Tim's.  I'm not sure if it was intended to look spooky on it's own, but I made sure it was here. 






Thanks for stopping by!

12 Tags of 2012 - August

Hello crafty peeps!  Another month, another of Tim's '12 Tags of 2012'.   Yeah!  Given the date yet again this month, I'm starting to realize I craft better under pressure.   You can check out Tim's tag here.  I've put my own spin on it, and am pretty happy with how it turned out. 

 

Thank you for stopping by!  I'd love to hear from you :)

CC2 Challenge #18

Hello! It's week #18 over at Linda's blog. This week's technique is called Whitewash Stamping. If you'd like to to check out how it's done, you can find it on page 47 of Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol II. This week's challenge is sponsored by the wonderful The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Thanks for stopping by!