Bloom Where You Are - Miniature Garden - Sizzix Ch 1 and 2

 This miniature Trinket Tin Garden was made using Shrink Plastic with Tim Holtz dies from Sizzix Chapters 1 and 2. I started this in January but had set it aside until this last weekend.  I chose to finish it as a mini tribute to my sister. She loved little miniature gardens, fairy gardens, container gardens, anything tiny that inspired the imagination. In the picture below, we carried the living moss, little gardening tools, wheelbarrow, birdbath and arbor from Gettysburg, PA when we were there on one of her trips to see her oncologist in Philadelphia.

Sunday marked seven years since she stepped into Heaven. I miss her so much, but find joy in so many memories and so much time spent doing things we loved.  As with most of my projects, the details in this piece all have meaning to me, but are probably things that will be overlooked by most.  That's fine with me this time. I'll keep them as special little reminders just for me.

 I will however explain a few things about how I made this piece.  Shrink Plastic is the key.  It is a really fun medium to work with. I used a couple of types that I had on hand from Darcie and Judikins, but Sizzix has some as well. I used white shrink plastic for most of these pieces.

 Begin by cutting the shapes you want with your die cuts. Both thinlits and Bigz dies will cut shrink plastic. Once they are cut, then I color them with Distress Inks. Keep the color fairly light as it will darken as it shrinks. With large pieces like Potted, I will color by going ink pad to surface as in this photo. But with others I color them with the brush end of my Distress Markers.

 The shrink plastic will come with directions for shrinking. I do it this way. I hold the piece and shrink it with a heat tool.

 As it is shrinking it tends to curl up, so I use scissors or a poker tool to hold it down and keep it as flat as possible. Sometimes I like to try and shape it a little as well to give the piece some character or leave a little curl in it.

 I put the pieces in an Ideaology Trinket Tin. Part of the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2 release included a die called Trinket Frames. It is made up of two dies that make this bracket shape and a bracket frame that fits perfectly inside the lip of the tin side. I cut it from Distress Woodgrain Cardstock and included a little sentiment cut from the Alphanumeric Label Dies.

The flowers are from the Stems Sizzix die. You get two flower stems and one greenery stem. I cut them out a couple of times so I had options for this piece.  I also cut several Terra Cotta pots from the Potted Sizzix die. Then I was careful to shape the pots while they were still warm. As you can see, moss covers empty spots and places where the pots don't exactly meet the tin and maybe have a gap.

 Here you can see the frame portion of the Trinket frame in wood that is adhered just behind the lip. But on the back of the tin you can see both the frame and the inside that had been cut from the Intricate Lace die.  I popped the inside portion from the frame by cutting one from chipboard as well and using it to give the back some dimension.

 The Geo Hummingbird was cut from clear shrink plastic. It gave him a more delicate feeling. This one was tough to work with due to all the curling so that is why a few parts are a little crooked, but it turned out pretty well. I'm very happy with it!

 The potted die set is a favorite so I cut several and even broke them to use bits and so it looked like a pile of Terra Cotta pots in a green house. After I got the pots and lips to shrink, I shaped them a little while still warm. This takes patience and a couple of needle nose pliers to hold them because they get a little warm.  To finish them off, I adhered the lips to the pots with Collage Medium. Once they were dry I tapped some grit paste on the edges of the pots using my finger, to simulate moss. When it was dry, I colored it with a little bit of green Distress Paint. Try to arrange them so the edges of the pots don't show, against the wall or behind another die. Add in some of the flower stems and leaves where desired, then fill in any spots with moss.

 I attached the tin to a base I made from 4 pieces of thick chipboard cut 3x6 and adhered together and then covered with 1/2"strips of various colors of 3-D Lumber texture fade paper. I stuck it to the chipboard with Collage Medium and then added Collage Medium over the top as well. I just wanted it to have a rustic table top feel to it. You may be wondering how in the world I always seem to have some little bit of woodgrain here and there in my projects. Well, this might explain it.

Well, I practice with the Woodgrain Cardstock and the 3-D Lumber Texture fade and various colors of Distress paint, stain and inks to get different woodgrain finishes. It's a lot of fun, but it's also helpful when I am making something because I can pull from the stash and not have to take the time to get everything out to make woodgrain.

 Lastly, the outside of the tin was covered roughly with grit paste, covered with a layer of Collage Medium, Distress Paint and Collage Medium.

I love this little reminder of my sister and her fascination with miniatures and gardening.
Tami

 I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Crochet Dies - Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2

The Crochet die set from the Chapter 2 release from Tim Holtz and Sizzix, is such a beautiful die set.  It is definitely one that should be in every die cut library.

This set includes four crochet trim dies, two styles, each in a large and small size. They are so intricate that they look like real crochet trim, but they are cut from paper. Not only can they cut one lovely piece of crochet trim for a card or journal, but it is possible to cut the die end to end and make a long piece of crochet paper trim. 

 

The love sentiment is from Shadow Script 1 cut without the shadow die, The backing is the inside shape from one of the Trinket Frame dies, and the leaves are the tips of two of the greenery pieces from the Wildflower Stems 1.

 

This sample card features one of the crochet trim dies cut from Distress Mixed Media Heavystock. 

It is sewn over the bottom edge of a piece of Heavystock colored with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and run through the Botanical 3-D Texture Fade Embossing Folder. Then painted with Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint. Then I finished it by applying a coat of Gathered Twigs Distress Stain over it so that it would soak into the cracks and highlight the embossed areas, then wiping the excess off.

I made a short video about this die set, how to cut it, how to remove the paper from the die, and how to cut the longer pieces of trim.



I hope you enjoy creating with this beautiful die set as much as I have.
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog and the ideas and tutorials I post here, and your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Miss You - Intricate Lace and Haberdashery Scissors

I'm back with a few more favorites from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2 die release.  This card is chock full of textures and die cuts so let's get started.

The focal point is a watercolored daisy from the Wildflower Stems 1 thinlit set.

It is framed in one of the dies from the Trinket Frames Bigz die. I have named them the Deco frame (L) and the Bracket Frame (R) These are just names I picked so I knew which on I was talking about.

This set was designed to make frames that fit perfectly inside the Ideaology Trinket Tins. I'll be showing you a few samples with that in the future, but for today's card, I used the frame and the center cutout together to showcase the flower. I cut the frame from a piece of Distress Woodgrain Cardstock. The center is Distress Mixed Media Heavystock that was colored with the Wrinkle Free Distress method using I think Evergreen Bough, Pumice Stone, and maybe Frayed Burlap.

The sentiment was just a piece of brown colored Heavystock and the letters are the new Alpha Numeric Label also cut from Heavystock back with a piece of Sizzix Adhesive Sheet so that the letters would stick on the banner.

The background behind the lace, is a piece of Distress Heavystock colored with Hickory Smoke, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks and then run through the 3-D Lumber texture fade colored with Ground Espresso Archival Ink. 

As an added little bit of interest in the corner of the card, I cut one of the paper clips from the Noted Side Order die set out of the Distress Woodgrain piece that was cut out as the center of the frame.

This noted set is great for planners, but I have found it is perfect for adding just the right finishing touch to a card by bringing in a little bit of an accent texture or accent color with addition of one of the clips, as I did on this card. There are even a couple of shapes that are great for focal points or sentiments on cards. It's a terrific little set!

The Intricate Lace die was used to cut out a piece of linen to lay over the wood grain background. I used a piece of linen from the retired Ideaology Textiles Surfaces. I'm bummed they were retired, and I ended up hoarding multiple packages of them.
Since they are difficult to come by, I recommend grabbing them if you see them. But for those who can't get any, here is an option for you.

You will need a piece of linen fabric. and some sharp scissors. I used the brand new fabric scissors, Haberdashery from Tim Holtz and Tonic Studios. These scissors are super sharp and come in a storage tin. Hopefully that will keep them from being used on things that aren't fabricky.

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Natural fibers and a tight weave are the best type of linen to get. I found several at my local fabric store. I checked the info on the end of the roll to be sure about the information.

In the same section as the linen and muslin, you will find a bunch of interfacing, linings, crinoline and fusible webbing. You will want a piece of paper-backed fusible web, sometimes called Wonder Under.  It must be the paper-backed kind.

The fusible web is a "web" of adhesive that becomes sticky when heated with an iron.  In this picture you can see I pulled the webbing away from the paper a little bit so you could see what I mean. You need to cut the fabric and the fusible webbing into 4.5x6 piece to fit the Intricate Lace Die.

 I used my 6" Haberdashery scissors to cut the fabric into squares. They really are very sharp and since they are tonic they are very sturdy, but light and have a soft grip.

 They cut very cleanly through the linen. Perfect!

If you look carefully you can see one side is shiny with the webbing (bottom one, and the top part is the back that is just the paper surface.

What you do is to put the side with the bumpy webbing toward the back of the fabric you are using.

You adhere it with a hot iron. The iron needs to be set on a high but dry (no steam!), then iron over the paper 5-8 seconds, then let it cool. 

Peel the paper off the back. This leaves that fusible webbing on the back of the fabric now.

 Cut a piece of lightweight cardstock the same size as the fabric. Lay the paper on the web side of the fabric, as shown above. If the webbing extends outside the edges of the paper, flip both over so you don't melt the bits of the webbing around the outside edges onto the bottom of the iron. It makes a HUGE mess. I speak from experience.

 Iron them for about 15 seconds , long enough for the webbing to melt again. Check to be sure the  fabric is completely fused to the paper.

Now you can run the fabric through the die cut. The webbing should keep it from fraying and the paper gives it stability and helps it cut cleanly.  I use the Chrome Precision Plate for cutting all the intricate thinlit dies. It really does make a difference and I recommend getting it if you cut a lot of intricate dies. The right tool for the job makes creating so much easier! You can usually get one from a big box store with a coupon.

I learned from Tim Holtz to run a lint roller over the back of the die and it would pull out some of the bits. It works very well, but be careful as you do it with this technique or you could rip some pieces if the fabric is still attached by threads.

Unfortunately some of the pieces will be stuck by a thread or two and this is where the NEW Haberdashery Scissors from Tim Holtz and Tonic USA comes in to play again. I used the smaller 5" scissors to patiently go through and snip any areas where pieces were attached by threads and to tidy up the edges. This worked so much better with the Haberdashery scissors than with the regular snips. The regular snips don't trim threads and fabric things very well, but the super sharp Haberdashery scissors worked like a dream.

To make the card, I trimmed it to fit the base and now I'll pick it up where I left off with the sample card.

I tacked it to the 3-D lumber background in the middle, added the woodgrain paperclip and then sewed all around the outside edges. I attached the sentiment by zigzagging across one side.

To finish it I tied a piece of dark green Eclectic Elements Craft Thread around the Trinket Frame and attached it with dimensional adhesive.

That's a second method for using the NEW Intricate Lace Thinlit Die. It's really fun to experiment and see what you can get to work and which things just won't cut. So be brave. Experiment with your dies and see what happens.  You just might like the outcome.
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog and the ideas and tutorials I post here, and your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Go Seek Adventure - Tim Holtz Chapter 2

This piece was inspired in my sleep. LOL! I really have no other explanation and I don't know what sparked the idea.  You see, I was planning a sample Trinket Tin for Creativation that was spring inspired and I did get that one mostly finished, but decided to go in a completely different direction after waking up with this in my mind.

Warning, this is not going to be a tutorial because I was in the midst of inspired creating and I didn't stop to take any pictures of the process. But just know my studio was pretty messy after this one! Hopefully by explanations with the close-ups will be sufficient.

To start, I took apart an Ideaology Trinket Tin, by loosening the hinges. Next I covered it with a thin coat of Distress Collage Medium. Then painted it with Distress Paint in Vintage Photo, followed by a layer of Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint. When that was dry I rubbed some dark brown Alcohol Ink (I think Teak Wood, but it could have been Espresso) anyway, I rubbed it over the crackle paint so it went into the crevices and then wiped off the excess. 
 I had purchased a $4.99 spool of 2" Faux Leather Trim from Hobby Lobby that I thought would be perfect for this. I cut a piece long enough to go around the deeper bottom part of the Trinket Tin. Then I carefully cut that 2" wide piece into 4 equal 1/2" strips on my Tonic Cutter. I sewed down each side to make them look like bands on a suitcase. Then I went over the pieces with the dark brown alcohol ink so the texture would show.
I attached them to two Ideaology Buckles with Hex Fasteners and then adhered them around both sides of each tin with Collage Medium. Make sure that the buckles are on the top of the top tin. You have to hold it in place for awhile so that it dries. You will need to trim off the part on the bottom of each leather piece so that it sits under the tin and doesn't show on the front. Be sure not to cover up where the little metal hinges on the tins go as you will need to put them back together. The leather straps keep the top of the tin even so that it doesn't tilt back. The last thing to do before you turn your attention to the inside, is to add collage medium on the straps where the top and bottom meet, so that the lid doesn't flip closed.

The featured die for this piece is the Trinket Frame. This die is a Bigz die so it cuts thick material including chipboard. Its purpose is to make frames that will fit inside the Ideaology Trinket Tins in order to make little scenes and things.

The top inside of the tin is painted and inked along with the outside. Then I cut a piece of chipboard and the globe paper with the "bracket" Trinket Frame Bigz die. I attached the paper to the chipboard and then adhered the frame portion to the back of the top tin.
I wanted the sentiment to stand out, so I added some dimensional adhesive to the back of the inside shape cut from the frame and adhered it to the center of the top tin. See how it stand out away from the frame in the back?
Then I used the new Alpha Numeric Label dies to cut the sentiment from black paper backed with Sizzix adhesive sheets to make them easy to attach to the piece. The last detail was to cut the plane from the Side Order Travel set, ink it, spray it with Distress Resist Spray so it was shiny, and then attach it to the corner.

The bottom was what took the most time.  I started by cutting the Trinket Frame and inking it and sealing it with Collage Medium so that it looked like leather, Then I used it to trace a piece of Heavystock so I knew it would fit inside the bottom of the tin. I colored the Heavystock with Old Paper Distress Ink using the Wrinkle Free Distress Method.

I cut the Destinations globe map out of Heavystock I had inked brown. Then adhered it to the Old Paper piece and trimmed it to fit. This was attached to the back of the tin.

Then it was on to the Tiny Travel Globe pieces. I cut the ones I wanted to use out of Heavystock that I had backed with Sizzix Adhesive Strips. I cut these on my Sidekick. All the pieces for each travel place are on one die, so it was easy to sit at my Glass Media Mat, secure my Sidekick and start cutting away.

Once all the pieces were cut, I started watercoloring them with Distress Inks and adhering all the little pieces into place on each one. This was simple to do because I had put the Sizzix Adhesive sheets on the back of the paper. When all of them were colored and assembled, I sprayed them with Distress Resist Spray. This made them shiny, like the airplane in the top tin.

Before I put the pieces into place, I adhered the frame into place right behind the lip of the tin. Then I cut some pieces of black foam that I keep from the Vignette Tray packaging, into little platforms that I wanted to have the pieces sitting on so they were elevated.  I attached these in various spots at different heights along the back and front of the bottom of the tin.

I eventually covered the back pieces of foam with the green moss, but if you do this first you run into some trouble, so wait. The front pieces I covered with collage medium and sprinkled some of my precious, retired, Distress Embossing Powder, to mimic sand. Once I thought the Collage Medium was dry, I did go ahead and use a heat tool to set the powder so it didn't fall out or migrate too far.

My last task was to actually attach the Travel places into the areas where I had test positioned them. First I put a small adhesive foam square or two on a few pf the travel pieces on the back side near the bottom to give them stability. I added collage medium on the bottom edge of the dies and hled them in place until they dried, Then I covered any of the foam that showed with moss. You will most likely need some tweezers for this. I would take a small piece of moss, add a little collage medium to the bottom, and then put it into place and hold it down for a minute with the tweezers.  The other travel spots in the front, I attached with more Collage Medium along the bottom edge and held them in place until they stayed. This is not fast and you need to be patient as you hold them in place, to let the Collage Medium dry.

For the base of the piece, paint the largest Vignette Box with the Old Paper Distress Paint and wipe it off. Let it dry. Then adhere a piece of the globe patterned paper from the Correspondence Stash onto the top.

Color a piece of Heavystock with Old Paper, then cut it into 3/4"strips and run it through the 3-D Star Trim Framelit until you have enough strips to go around the outside edge.  Run the Vintage Photo Ink Pad lightly over the raised areas to give it some dimension and to really let the stars pop! Then adhere to the sides of the box.

Stamp two of the Ticket Booth stamps onto some heavy stock and ink them with Distress Ink before cutting them out with the corresponding Ticket Booth dies. Adhere these on the top of the box over the paper. Then attach the Trinket Tin in the center.

As you can see, there are a ton of steps to this piece but it isn't difficult to make. It just takes patience and a lot of die cutting and coloring.

I really hope this inspired you to want to make your own mini scene in a Trinket Tin.  It's a lot of fun!

Tami