Smile! A simple card thanks to some of the new Sizzix Alterations dies from Tim Holtz. I used the Mixed Media 5 die set and the Shadow Script 2 die set.

The patterned  papers are all from the Memoranda Paper Stash and the word and background are Distress Mixed Media Heavystock inked with Iced Spruce.

The Shadow Script word, Smile, was cut from DMM Heavystock, then embossed with Black Embossing powder and Gold Embossing Powder for an enameled look. The word Smile was inset into the outer shadow instead of layering them for a different look and use for these dies.

Thank You For All You Do

I was a public school junior high teacher for fifteen years, and for the last ten years I’ve been teaching school kids in my city from kindergarten through high school about water and water issues. So it’s safe to say that I know something about teachers.

Over the years, I appreciated the sweet and thoughtful gifts my students would bring to me, but what really touched my heart were the notes from parents and students. The kind words when a parent noticed something I did for their child or even more, when a student expressed something I had done that helped them...those are the things I treasured, and I still have them saved in a wooden treasure chest for keepsakes.

In that light, I created this card with two Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamp sets, Pennants CMS330 and Composition & Lined CMS332. These two paired together make it really simple to stamp a bunch of backgrounds and pennants for notecards for teachers, or others who could  use a kind, encouraging word.

There really isn’t much technique to what I did here. I stamped the composition background onto Distress Mixed Media Heavystock in Black Soot Archival, then used a blending  tool to add some Old Paper and Brushed Corduroy around the edges. I stamped the Lined background in Tumbled Glass and added the same Distress Inks around the edges. The pennant and sentiment were stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink.

To finish it off I added a piece of Ruler Ribbon and some Mini Paper Clips from the Tim Holtz Ideaology line. I adhered the clips with Distress Collage Medium and machine zig zagged across the ends of the Ruler Ribbon.

Liberty

It’s President’s Day in the US, which is a Federal Holiday celebrating the office of the presidency of the US, but we used to have two separate holidays in February, for President Washington’s and President Lincoln’s birthdays both in February. Since 1869 we have celebrated Washington’s Birthday on th day, February 22nd. But in 1971 it got changed to the 3rd Monday in February and in most states it’s consolidated into one day to celebrate all the Presidents.

So it’s in that spirit that I’m posting this sample from Creativation celebrating the spirit of liberty from which the US Presidency was born.

I used several of Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations dies on this card and papers from the Correspondence Paper Stash, but it's a pretty straight forward design.

The dies I used are the Rosette Set #662691, Stacked Arches #662692, and Cut Out Script #662709. All of these dies are what I consider staple dies. Staple dies are the ones that I can use over and over on a variety of crafts, from card making to scrapbooking layouts or mini books or tags or mixed media, so I always put them on my wish list. You just can't go wrong with staple dies.

Numbers, Numbers and More Numbers

While making Stampers Anonymous samples for Creativation, I heartily embraced a little challenge from Tim and Paula. The challenge was to limit the number of stamp sets used on each card to no more than one or two sets. With some stamp sets this is easy, but with others it’s a little more challenging. So when I put the Merchant CMS331 stamps on my desk, I had to think a bit about how to meet that challenge.

This birthday card is the result of that little additional challenge. I used only Merchant and the sentiments from Glorious Bouquet CMS325 to make this card, and it may be shocking to those who follow me, but I didn’t use any other outside inspiration for this one, just the challenge.

I started by scattering the various numbers from smallest to largest onto a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock on my Tonic Stamp Platform, and then applying Distress Inks from light to dark in a sort of ombré style. Before stamping I misted the stamps with water so the Inks would blend nicely on the watercolor paper. Then I used the Distress Splatter Brush and added a few tiny splatters of Chipped Sapphire across the background.

Then I used a blending tool to color the watercolor mats with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and misted them with water for a vibrant, saturated color. I found myself reaching for my Chipped Sapphire a lot this time. It was my “go to” blue for some reason. My favorite colors change frequently and I was really feeling Chipped Sapphire while I was designing samples in December and January.

The sentiment was the large 8 from Merchant and the Happy Birthday from Glorious Bouquet. The th for 8th is from the thanks sentiment from Glorious Bouquet and I just inked the first two letters and stamped them after the 8. The mat and sentiment piece were cut from the new Sizzix Alterations Stacked Labels dies.

The decorative border is a 1/2” piece of Distress Water Color paper that was colored with Chipped Sapphire and then I stamped one of the smaller 8 stamps sideways also in Chipped Sapphire.

For the balloons, I stamped two different sizes of Os from Merchant in the various background colors and then used my waterbrush to color them in and make the little tie thingy. I cut them out and adhered some with some pop dots for dimension. Then attached pieces of Eclectic Elements Crafters Thread to each one and tied them at the bottom.

And there you have it, a festive birthday card using only number stamps!

My Kind of Planking

Tim Holtz is introducing an exciting, brand new form of planking in 2018, and the best part is you never even have to break a sweat! Now that’s my kinda work out!

I love so many of this year’s Sizzix Alterations dies from Tim Holtz that I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but if I had to, I think the Wooden Planks might be it....and not just because he gave me a shout out when he introduced them either, although that was really cool! Thanks Tim!

The Planks #662705 are so versatile and you can do a lot with them, but I knew I had to use the Distress Woodgrain Cardstock with them. Definitely one of my favorite papers to use with die cuts. Such fantastic texture.

For this first card I found some inspiration on Pinterest with a warm, happy, Caribbean feel. I colored pieces of Distress Woodgrain Cardstock with brightly colored Distress Oxides and just used them as a background. So simple!

Then the sentiment is made using one of the new Shadow Script #3 Item #662686 dies and cutting the shadow die out of Idea-ology TEXTURED SURFACES TH93204 burlap, lightly brushed with Picket Fence Distress Paint. The word is cut out of Woodgrain Cardstock.

This second card is also very simple but uses one of the new alphabets, Cut Out Upper #662707. I can never have enough alphas. Especially these large steel rule due alphas! I know they cost a bit more but it is so worth it to be able to cut so many things like chipboard and thick fabric for card or layout titles. The alphas are always on the top of my wish list.

For this card, I cut one of the planks for use as a sign. The plaid frame is cut from Dapper paper using two of the largest Stacked Deckle dies. Then I cut the word Explore from the Cut Out Upper Alphabet from both Woodgrain Cardstock and chipboard for dimension. The back ground is layered over the Treeline #661604 die cut from two different colors of green paper.

Although both of these are in card form for Creativation sample display purposes, these could easily be used for pocket pages, or layout title blocks for scrapbooking.

Bugs, Botanicals and Bouquets

Did you ever have a school assignment on entomology? I remember in elementary school we studied bugs and had to do an insect board where we pinned and identified a bunch of insects. My dad was a yard and tree man and he cut burlwood slabs on the side, so he was always finding interesting bugs and critters to show us. When I got that assignment he was so in his element! He found some of the coolest bugs out in the wood piles. 
So when I saw these new entomology stamps from Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous, I fondly remembered that assignment and all the help I got from my dad. They also made me think of all the cool insect displays on the walls off the upstairs queue in Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise. 

So with that in mind I set out to make some fun bug cards. Both of these cards are very simple, but show that bug cards can work for anybody, not just little boys.

Congrats on Your BUG Day - features the Entomology CMS328 and Glorious Bouquet CMS325 and the frame was cut from Distressed Woodgrain paper using the Sizzix Alterations Stacked Deckle Thinlits. I used the leaf corner of the Glorious Bouquet for the large background and stamped it in Peeled Paint, then in Brushed Corduroy in spots on the smaller background. 

 

 Inside the frame I stamped the script as the main background, then stamped the insects on top of it in Ground Espresso Archival Ink. 
I stamped them a second time on  Distress MM Heavystock and then watercolored with my Distress Markers. I cut them out and 
popped them up for dimension. The sentiment is from Glorious Bouquet, but I cut B U and G out of the second stamping of the sentiment to cover the word big with bug just for a fun play on words. 

The second card features Botanical and Batik CMS327 and Entomology CMS328.  
The large background is the Entomology script stamped in Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and then lightly blending in the background with the same color. The smaller background is the Botanical background stamp with several green colors applied to the stamp
 and then a few light sprays with water before stamping onto Distress Watercolor Paper. The background was then cut out using the Sizzix Alterations Stacked Label. 

I again stamped the insects onto the background with Ground Espresso Archival Ink kissed with a little Black Soot Archival and a second set for Watercoloring and cutting out to pop up for dimension. 
 

There you go! Two simple cards and all three stamp sets are available now.

Use Your Wings - Luminary

The Floral Collage Paper that Tim Holtz introduced to his Ideaology line this year is so beautiful and a fantastic product to work with. When I got it, I started thinking about all the things I could put it on and I thought it might turn a Mini Mason Jar into a pretty Valentine’s Day luminary. So I got right to work and this was the outcome. You might have spotted it in the feminine side Tim's Ideaology Booth at Creativiation 2018,

I started by tearing the pink and red roses from the collage paper and saving the blue and yellow roses for another project. Then I attached it to the bottle with Distress Collage Medium. Once it was dry, I covered it in Picket Fence Distress Paint and then wiped it off to lighten the colors. 

I painted the original lid and the Mini Mason Jar Photo Clip Kit Tray with the metal rod all Picket Fence white. I also painted the smallest Vignette Frame with Picket Fence as well. Once they were all dry I distressed them by wiping some Frayed Burlap Distress Paint over them to make them look a little shabby. 

I added attached a piece of Worn Wallpaper to the smallest Vignette Panel and then attached the frame on top of it. for some final touches I added two of the new metal Butterflies and Ribbons and Bows Adornments.

Here are a few details for the top of the luminary. Age all the metals: the Butterflies, Ribbon, and Quote Token with Picket Fence Distress Paint and wipe off. 

Color three of the Heirloom Roses with Mountain Rose Alcohol Ink and Cranberry Alcohol Ink. 

Cut some greenery out of cardstock from the Funky Florals 3. Lighten the paper by wiping some Picket Fence Distress Paint on it and right off.

To assemble, attach the original lid to the bottom of the jar with Distress Collage Medium. Attach a row of rhinestone trim (I found mine at Hobby Lobby) then add a set of mini led lights inside the jar, attach the metal rod to the accessory lid.

 

 I tied some Eclectic Elements Craft Thread around the lip of the jar and added one of the gorgeous new Jeweled Charms.

And there you have it. An adorable Valentine Luminary to decorate a desk, bedside table, bookcase or mantle.

Creativations 2018 - Tim Holtz Blog Hop and Give Away!

Welcome!! I hope you are enjoying all the marvelous creations so far! I’m thrilled to be included with this group of insanely talented artists to share a project from one of Tim Holtz’s Creativation 2018 booths. 

I am sharing a card I made from some of Tim’s new Sizzix releases. When I got the die cuts, I just started combing Pinterest for some inspiration. I have an inspiration board that I add to when I get a new stamp or die cut release. It’s a bunch of pretty eclectic images that I use for color, texture or theming inspiration. For this project I was inspired by these images from my board:

I just loved the aged, yet romantic framed mirror and the worn teal frames and felt they should be a Valentine card. 

To make this card I used the following from Sizzix Alterations:

• Stacked Baroque
• Shadow Script 1
• Tiny Tattered Florals
• Funky Florals 2
• Rosette Texture Fade

Additionally, you will need:

• Ideaology Mirrored Sheets
• Gold Metallic Kraftstock
• Ground Espresso Distress Paint
• Peacock Feathers Distress Paint
• Mushroom Alcohol Ink
• Gold Distress Spray
• White Textured Cardstock
• Distress Heavy Stock
• Picked Raspberry Distress Ink
• Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink
• Hand Sanitizer and Alcohol Ink Blending Solution

Begin by cutting the largest Stacked Baroque shape out of the Ideaology Mirrored Sheets. I cut this out on my Vagabond and it cut beautifully in one pass. Then cut the middle size from the mirrored paper as well. 

These pieces will be sticky on the back with a very good adhesive. You want to wear this adhesive away gently in some spots so it looks like an old antique mirror. 

 To do this you can use plain hand sanitizer, a plastic scraping tool, and a felt blending tool. Leave the protective film on the mirrored side. 

 Put some hand sanitizer in a small spot on the adhesive backing and gently scrape it away down to the mirror. Don’t scrape the mirrored paint. 

Now, clean the sanitizer off with water and using the alcohol ink tool with felt and Blending Solution, gently buff away the mirrored paint in that section. Repeat in several places on the piece, especially around the edges. Clean off the back with paper towels and water. This is what it will look like on the back,

 and the front.

Once you have sufficiently worn away the mirror and cleaned up, (because it will be messy but so worth it!) apply some Mushroom Alcohol Ink to a felt covered blending tool and cover the worn away places on the back. Once dry add a little of the Ground Espresso Paint over the worn places on the back as well. Let dry.

Now turn the pieces over and remove the protective film. Cover the mirror with a thin layer of Mushroom Alcohol Ink, then flick some drops of the Blending Solution onto the front of the mirrored piece so it will make little splotches like an old mirror. Set aside to dry.

To make the frame, use the largest Stacked Baroque die and the second largest. 

 

 

Using a few pieces of Design Tape, to keep them from moving, place the smaller die inside the larger one and cut a frame from a piece of gold Metallic Kraftstock. 

Then cut several more from black cardstock to add dimension. Glue the 3-4 black frames together. Run the gold frame through the Rosette texture fade and attach to the stack of black frames. 

Using a piece of blending foam on a blending tool, pounce some Ground Espresso Distress Paint onto the frame. Let it dry a little, the wipe some of it away off the raised areas so the gold will show through. Then dry.

Repeat the paint step again with Peacock Feathers Distress Paint. Let dry a little and again wipe away from raised areas. Dry.

For the assembly, I cut a cardbase from white cardstock to make a 4.25 x 5.5 inch card base. Cut a 4 x 5.25 piece of gold and cream paper from the Wallflowers paper pad. I did a simple stitch around mine on my sewing machine before attaching it. Add a piece of gold ribbon across the center. I dyed some seam binding with Gold Metallic Distress Spray. 
Adhere the large mirror to the center of the card. Add the frame. Then center the smaller mirror, and attach.

I decorated the frame with a few greenery pieces from the Funky Florals 3 die set and few roses from the Tiny Tattered Florals set. Finally attach the Shadow Script “love” cut from white cardstock and Gold Metallic Kraftstock.  I used the white kraft core cardstock from Coredinations.

And that’s it! You have a beautiful Valentine for someone you love.

If you made it this far, thank you! Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blog posts to be eligible for one of the awesome prizes!

Now head on over to the very talented Audrey Petit’s blog to see her fabulous project!

PRIZES, PRIZES,PRIZES!

We have a few prizes to give away and the more blog hop posts you comment on the more chances you have to win! 

Comments must be posted by midnight PST on Tuesday, February 6th. 

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 7th on Richele's blog (californiaARTgirl.blogspot.com) 

Paula Cheney

Vicki Evans

Emma Williams

Cathie Parreco

Kaz Hall

Jan Hobbins

Jenny Marples

Tami Bastiaans (you are here)

Audrey Pettit (next)

Mou Saha

Richele Christensen 

Kath Stewart

Cheiron Brandon

Stacy Hutchinson

Chelle Fowler

Zoe Hillman

Joy Kennedy

Bobbie Smith