12 tags ala tim holtz

anyone remember Tim Holtz's ultra-fab tutorials last year - the 12 tags of christmas?? they were my first intro to all things tim and i was hooked instantly! i have since used many of the techniques in all sorts of projects since. i asked tim and he does not know if there will be a similar set of tuts this year BUT in honor of the creative genius that is tim a new yahoo group was started called all things tim which i of course joined immediately (you can too - see the button on the right hand column of my blog). on the group we have decided to go through each of his 12 tags tutorials IN ORDER. our goal is 2 a week but we all know how time can get away from us!! at the groups request for ease of supply buying i have created a new page on my website that has kits put together for the supplies for each tag AT A 10% DISCOUNT! i am hoping y'all will all join in too! i have to say it is a wonderful journey through product exploration and creativity with tips that you will use over and over again.

and while we are talking all things tim - STILL NO DISTRESS STICKLES. i am quite sure i will spontaneously combust if i don't see them today (EGADS)! so i appreciate all your patience with getting your orders! and still no word on distress crackle paint......

and while we are talking tim here is a recent card using one of his tag tutorial lessons on distress embossing powders:

i have lots more stuff to come - i was very busy for the crop over at Scrapping Friends and will be getting the items up soon along with a tutorial on porcelain ornaments....... here's a teaser for you:
yep that started out as WHITE! my mom will be here tomorrow *happy dance* and we will be working on more. also i will be doing a one time custom order for blanks so if you want some be sure to tune in and get the info - there are alot of different styles to choose from!

Tutorial - masking fun!!

ok i will apologize now for this post being so photo heavy BUT i want to make sure i explain this technique well enough for y'all to follow along! my fabby talented friend suzanne told me she was lurking around my blog waiting for this tutorial i teased y'all with and then promptly dropped in order to get my shipping done. SO - want a great use for all those little studio Gs you have been collecting??? this is the perfect technique!! i will apologize now for not having the completed project to show you but there is a bit of a back-up in the studio these days AND i made this for a gift bag which i have yet to go out and purchase.....

i first showed this technique a few days ago - we did this in my monthly SU tech club that i go to. stacey always comes up with something i love!

SO gather some supplies - you will need a larger (or regular size) stamp as a focal image and then you will need numerous coordinating smaller stamps - 5-7 (grab those studio Gs girls and guys!) three ink colors - light, medium and dark - same color family. ink blending foam or sponge, glitter or embossing powder, the larger size rectangle post it notes - 3-4 (OR you can do like me and cut your own scrap paper and put repositionable adhesive on it but the post it notes work better - just couldn't find any)

Cut your cardstock to the size you want and stamp your focal image in your darkest color. OPTIONAL - create more emphasis by embossing it or adding glitter - here i decided to do some distress embossing powders on the large cardinal stamp from inkadinkado's winter birds set. when using distress embossing be sure to shake them well!

Now starting on one corner mask your main image with the post it - best to not make it an exact corner but a little askew. take your ink blending tool and smudge from the post it note onto the paper in your LIGHTEST ink color.

DO this for all four corners. Be sure not to have any of the previously inke area showing when you ink a different area.

NOw continue working your way around the edges of your paper creating a "frame." At this point it is unavoidable to have previously inked areas unmasked so you will need to use additional post it notes to cover up any inking. keep going around the paper and inking sections just along the edges of the post it note(s).

SOme areas will even require three post its to mask adequately.

Next repeat the same masking process BUT use your medium color to ink the outer edges toward the post it note but not covering your lighter ink - just up to it or almost up to it.

Continue moving the mask(s) around again to add your medium color to each masked off area.

Final step - again place the masks in the same spot for each area and stamp random small images in the 3 different colors - BUT if using the darkest color stamp on a scratch paper and then your piece so the image does not overpower the focal image. again placing the masks correctly is what makes this so cool!

i hope that is clear - if it isn't PLEASE let me know, ask me questions!!

ok i'm off - working on some cool new things.....oh so much to show you, so little time.......

not much to post and no time to post it! i am getting the series 25 studio g out as fast as i can - thank you all for your patience!!

two MUST SEE things today

distress stickles - scoot on over to t!m's and check out all the info and pics pics pics!!!
i am expecting mine monday - i know they were shipped wednesday

and new cuppies!!! christmas cuppies!!! run over to Taylor's and check 'em out - of course i HAD HAD HAD to have them!!!!

leave me a comment and let me know what you think of either or both of these - are you as excited as i am?????

SU tech club and series 25 and distress stickles news!!

GREAT NEWS FOLKS!!! series 25 is HERE and distress stickles were shipped out to me TODAY!!!

SO this means i will be sorting as fast as i can and packaging them up to send out. the orders go out in the same order they came in so that helps determine when your might go out but i try to get them all out in a couple days......please try and be patient as i work on them! i appreciate it.

I expect the distress stickles friday or monday. i will have samples posted as soon as they arrive so y'all can see them.

and now some pics. i belong to a monthly stampin up tech club. i love their stuff, especially the paper, and my demo stacey ALWAYS manages to come up with something i have never done or seen before. last week was no different! i LOVE this technique!!!


i think the tree came out better but i like them both. i did another one and a tutorial which i will be posting soon. and this is a PERFECT technique to put a bunch of those cute little studio G stamps we all collect to use!!!! ok i am outta here - WAY too much work to do!!!

SF online crop - 2 card sketches complete

hi everyone -i have been hideously busy but wanted to share two card sketch challenges i completed for the online crop over on Scrapping Friends MSN group:

the angel is an inkadinkado, stamped in versamark and embossed with bridal tinsel. distress ink smudged on with foam blending tool and then wiped off of the embossed part.

the snowflakes are versamark and perfect pearls, the wreath is red and green embossing tinsels.

sorry so brieif but i AM working on some stuff to share - a heritage album that is going really well and some tutorials.

business blurb - ranger lost my last order SO at this point i am out of LOTS of stuff since this order should have been here more than a week ago but it is being shipped out in the morning so for any of you waiting on stuff (stickles) SOON SOON!!!

SF online crop - LOs and a tutorial with alcohol inks

hi all! i am participating in the online crop over on Scrapping Friends - an MSN group that i just ADORE!!! the crop is 10 dyas and has TONS of great stuff to get you motivated! here are 2 LOs i finished for 2 of the sketch challenges:

the watermarks on the background are done with the new versamark dazzle - the shimmer is VERY subtle and i just could not capture it with my camera.

Next up is a LO using a background i made with alcohol inks and stamps from a new SU set i just got:

i was trying to mimic the look of Pezzy's shirt - not sure if i succeeded but i like it anyway!

here is a close up where you can see the subtle stamping.

again i tried to sort of mimic the colors and watercolor-y effect of her shirt on my journaling and title. i just used a foam blending tool and distress inks. the "2" is grungeboard.

I do not have ALL of the steps for alcohol ink here since i have done those before but if you are unsure about materials or how to ink up your blending tool you can look here.

This pic shows the very different looks you can get by continuing to go over you glossy cardstock with more ink and blending solution. the right side is pounced only once. the left side was pounced mulitple times - be sure to add more ink and blending solution (or even just blending solution) because if your ink gets dry it becomes sticky and then the felt fibers get stuck in it.

stamping off - i wanted to show you how i stamped - i wanted a more subtle look so i inked my stamp, stamped on scratch paper and then on my inked piece so the ink was not as stark. i did the same thing with a number 2 on the title piece.

and now i am off to see what else i can accomplish - limited time to play today *cries*

tutorial (sort of) and WOJ + TSSC39 challenges

so this is really more of a cool tip/trick than an actual tutorial. i read this on my ranger ink yahoo group. my cards are based on MJ's sketch->

AND this first one is ALSO for this week's WOJ challenge - use fall colors and one of the Whiff of Joy stamps:

COOL???!!!

Here's a close up:

i started by embossing a piece of acetate (transparency from Staples) with my cuttlebug embossing folder. then i flipped it over and filled in the "wells" on the back with stickles and let dry. i attached this one to a piece of very vanilla cardstock with brads (so i wouldn't have any adhesive showing). the image is colored with copics and spicas and the wings are stickled with crsytal ice stickles. on the actual stamp Melinda is blowing hearts but i replaced them with the tip of an inkadinkado leaf pattern...

Next up is a christmas one:

i layered this one on top of brushed gold cardstock. the poinsettia is cut from the joys of the season cricut cartridge. the center is dots of gld liquid pearls. this was quick and easy and looks awesome!!!

what do y'all think of it???

the MSN group i am in, Scrapping Friends, has a 10 day online crop starting tomorrow so i hope to get a heritage album done for my brother for Christmas :)

more halloween gift bags! SFYTT and WOJ sketch challenges

My last two Halloween bags are done!! YAY!! i based them both on sketch challenges meant for cards but you know how i like to change them up! one was Jen's SFYTT ->






and the other was from the WOJ challenge blog->










And here are the bags:

The first one for WOJ uses one of the new releases - it is not a halloween stamp but i tried...
i painted the bags with crackle paints. the shimmery background pieces are done with shimmery mist made with perfect pearls, water and distress reinkers in a mini mister.

both bags have prima flowers

the images are colored with copics and highlighted with spica glitter pens. the second stamped image is from SUINK.

stay tuned tomorrow for my first CHRISTMAS TUTORIAL!! christmas ornaments using alcohol inks.

HOLY COW a tutorial!!!! PURE halloween distress!

That's right! i am finally back to doing some tutorials for y'all! today's is actually the October technique challenge issued by T!m Holtz over on his blog - that man is just inCREDible!! he did a tag as usual so i expanded on it and came up with these little goodies:

these are jars i am going to fill with hallowen nonsense and send to my brother and his friend. i think they will get a kick out of them. we will be using crackle paint - an amazing product that i just adore!!

Let's gather supplies: Crackle paint (only one color is necessary but i did several projects at once), cardstock, stamps, black soot distress ink, coordinating colors of distress ink (two is nice to use as opposed to one), foam ink blending tool, black paint dabber, fragments charm (brand spankin' new!), patterned paper, glossy accents, brad or eyelet, ribbon or fiber, stickles, grungeboard - all of these items can be found on my website except for paper and ribbon.

Start by painting on the crackle paint - it will take awhile to dry. Shake the paint well and then paint it on with the brush cap - just cover SOME of your cardstock - not all of it. Put it on a little thick so the cracks are nice and noticeable - i don't find it curls my paper too badly once it is glued down. i did gift bags too which will be a project posted later this week....

i did two pieces of cardstock and two bags. The top one uses shabby shutters and dusty concord. this one uses antique linen and black soot.

next let's do our fragment so it can dry. these come in a package with a wide variety of shapes and sizes. choose one that fits nicely over a portion of your patterned paper you want to highlight. squirt some glossy accents on the back of your fragment.

Place the piece over the patterned paper and press down from the center out gently - wiggle it a bit if necessary - so there are no air bubbles. Let it dry and then trim it out.

Also - optional - choose some grungeboard (i used "boo" letters but the seasonal set has some great halloween ones too. color your grungeboard - you can ink it directly with an ink pad, cover it in stickles, paint it, use perfect pearls shimmer mist and let dry if necessary.

Once the crackle paint is completley dry choose a couple ink colors and blend them over the unpainted portions of your cardstock. it doesn't matter if you get it on the paint too. the best way to use this tool is to dab it on the ink pad, then start off the edge of your piece on the craft sheet and begin rubbing in a circular motion with light pressure. gradually move onto your cardstock.

Next stamp you background stamps with black soot distress ink. using a slightly damp paper towel GENTLY rub the stamped image off of the painted areas:



Ink your main image(s) with the black paint dabber - rub across to knock the peaks of paint down. stamp it.

Last step - using the foam ink blending tool again - rub vintage photo distress ink or similar dark brownish color along all the edges. use a distressing tool along the edges for added distress look if you want.

Here is a close up of one of the jars.

Attach your fragment charm with ribbon or fiber using a brad or an eyelet. glue grungeboard pieces on.

To make the jar i attached my paper pieces with mod podge and used alcohol ink on the plastic lids.

crackle paint is GREAT stuff but especially for halloween!! i am hoping to get a wooden halloween plaque done using it too.........

i hope you enjoy this project -if you choose to do it i hope you come back and share a link with me so i can see it!! remember all of these great products can be found at http://www.pezadoodle.com/ !!