Sizzix Tim Holtz Colorize "Arthur" Halloween Card

Hello Everybody!

Today I'm sharing a card made using the Sizzix Die #664730 Arthur.  Arthur is a colorize die meaning there are layers to cut from different colors to give the project more dimension.  This die has a lot of pieces, but the outcome is worth it. 

First I would suggest you watch the Sizzix video here: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Sizzix+Arthur+die+video&docid=608041646859880493&mid=530CF20DDE1EBA5967D9530CF20DDE1EBA5967D9&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

The video really shows you all of the pieces , where they go and how they layer. It is very helpful and short- so you can get right to work on your version of Arthur. 

For this project I used purples from my scrap bin.  I save my scraps and then cut them into sizes, 2X2, 3X3, 3X4, 3X5, 4X4, 4X5 and 6x6.  I keep them by size so when I have small pieces to cut I can go right to that size of paper and see if I have something I can use. I will say if I end up with a larger piece of more expensive paper like glitter, foil or vellum, I just trim those neatly and keep them in a page protector separately.  I'm also a huge fan of the 4X5 pads you can get of solids so you don't have to cut an 8.5X11 or 12X12 piece of paper for something like Arthurs beak. 

I first layered a piece of patterened paper from Abandoned.  This was a Tim Holtz release last year, but it is still available.  Although this was I think originally marketed for Halloween, it really can be use for a lot of projects.  Next, I cut a piece of Worn Wallpaper -Halloween and distressed the edges.  I inked the edges with carved pumpkin distress ink.  Next I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder with Tim Holtz black cardstock and then I sanded it lightly.  I also distressed the edges and tore a corner.  

Once all of the layers were on the card, I used Candy Apple Red distress paint and the Tim Holtz splatter brush to give some color and spookiness to my background.  Now I'm ready to add Arthur.  I did ink the edges of the branches with Black Soot and Gathered Twigs distress ink  I placed that and Arthur on the front of the card.  Next I punched some bats out of the left over from my abandon paper and popped those in the corner.  I added a sticker from the Curiosities sticker pack. 

Halloween is one of my favorite events to make cards for and now Arthur is ready to fly off and wish someone a fun day.  I hope you have time to get some ink on your fingers today.  

Until next time,

Pamela 

Photo Play Gnome Cards

Hello, 

Well it continues to be Halloween in July here in my craft room.  Halloween is one of my favorite card making opportunities- I always have a great time. 

For these cards I used the Photo Play Home for the Holidays -Halloween line.  I used the stamps, dies and the papers.  First I stamped the images on white card stock. 

I like Gina K luxury card stock and also StampinUp! smooth white card stock for most of my coloring.  I stamped these with Black Tuxedo Momento Ink.  If you put your images on a stamp platform, like the one from Tim Holtz or the Misti you can get all of the images on one 8.5 X 11 piece of paper four times.  I colored all of the images with Distress Markers in pumice, carved pumpkin, mowed lawn, wilted violet, ground espresso, and black soot. 

I put some Vintage photo and Worn lipstick on my glass mat and added a little water to color the noses and hands of the gnomes.  Then I added some clear Wink of Stella to the beards and pom-poms on the hats. You can't really see it in the photo but in person it really adds something.  

Once I finished coloring all of the gnomes I cut them out using the dies.  These dies are really nice and a good price point. 

The first card is  made using half a piece of 8.5 X 11 cardstock, fold it in half to make a 4.25 X 5 card.  Then I cut a piece of the orange polka dot paper and black paper the same size to fit the front of my card.  Using the circles from Elizabeth Crafts I cut the larger circle from the polka dot paper and then laid it on top of the black so I can center the smaller circle inside and use a little tape to hold it place. The cut the smaller circle from the black cardstock.  Cutting the paper the same size ensures the circles line up nicely.  

 I used Twisted Citron Distress Ink and put some in the center of my card base.  Then I adhered my black and orange polka dot paper to the front.   I stamped the sentiment inside the circle.  I decided my bats needed a little dimension so I used a Sakura Black Jelly roll pen to highlight the wings and the eyes.  I used foam tape to adhere the gnome and bats and added a little glitter tape at the bottom.  If you don't have glitter tape you could always use some double sided tape and put glitter on top and make your own.  I inked the edges of the base card with Black Soot distress ink.  The outside is finished!  

The inside of the card is important as well, so I did a little bit of decorating . This is a great way to use some of scraps left over from the outside.  I had a large piece of the polka dot left so I cut a strip of the polka dot paper.  I layered a piece of black and white cardstock.  I stamped the white with the Happy    Halloween sentiment included in                                                        the stamp set .                                            

         I inked the edges of the white cardstock with Carved Pumpkin                     Distress ink and then I put the small strip of the polka dot paper                   across the bottom. Now the inside of the card looks finished. 

       Because I had so many Gnomes stamped and colored I was able to               create another set of cards using the circles I cut on the first card.  

       This is a great way to make the most of your paper.  

 This card is a 5.5 X 5.5 square card.  I layered the spiderweb paper and the green polka dot paper from the Photo play Gnome line.  These papers coordinate very nicely.  Then I used the leftover circle from the first card.  I layered my Gnome and added the sentiment at the bottom. I added two purple gems on the sides of the greeting.  

The inside of the card was also created using some of the leftovers  I cut small strips of the green bat paper.  Then I found some of the spider webs on the patterned paper and cut them to align with a corner.  I cut a square of orange cardstock and layered the bat paper and the square.  I purposely made this a little asymmetrical.  The spiderweb was placed in the corner.  Then using a Sakura Jelly Roll pen I drew a line down to a spider I punched.  This is an old Marvy punch I've had for years. If you don't have a spider punch you could die cut one, or cut some out of paper or even omit the web and spider.  Then I stamped the word Boo from the set and embossed it black Ranger Embossing powder using Versamark ink.  

These cards came together quickly and were fun to make. They will make some little goblin smile. 

 I hope you find some time to get ink on your fingers today! 

Pamela 

3D Poinsettia Embossed Card

Hello, 

I know it is July, but I ordered this embossing folder and when it arrived I couldn't wait to try it.  I tried a few techniques, inking, painting, and finally pan pastels.  I think this is the one I like the best. Here is a brief description of how I created my card.

First, I used Pan Pastels to color my background.  I used a variety of hues in brown, sienna and ochre.  I used red for the flowers.  The one thing I like about using pan pastels is if I get color somewhere I don't want then I can just use an eraser to remove it.  If you haven't tried these I encourage you do to so -  they blend so nicely. 

Next, I used red pan pastels to color the blooms and green for the leaves.  I went over the embossing very lightly with Vintage photo to highlight some of the details.  I tore some pieces of old sheet music and inked them with Vintage Photo Distress ink and glued them using Distress Collage Medium in Vintage.  I used Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo Distess ink to go around the edges.

On the background,  I used Archival Ink in Sepia to stamp text randomly from the Stamper's Anonymous set Faded type.  This set is great for backgrounds. 

Next I sprayed a piece of sage cardstock with Gathered Twigs distress stain and let it dry. I inked the edges of my base card with Vintage photo and then layered red, the sage cardstock and my embossed image for my card.  Finally I added some Christmas Red and Icicle stickles to the centers of the flowers.  

This card was came together really quick and I like the aged look of it.  I hope you do too. 

I hope you have some time to get ink on your fingers today.

Pamela 

Sizzix Holiday Village with Oxide background

Hi Everyone! Today I'm sharing one of my first attempts with the 2020 Sizzix Holiday Village Die #664737 by Tim Holtz.  I have two versions to show you basically created the same way. 

A couple of tips.  These dies are easy to use, there is a Sizzix video to help you know what order to put the items together and how the colors look.  I would suggest you watch that it might save you some frustration. Here is the link: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Tim+Holtz+holiday+village+video&docid=608045417756492928&mid=CC9EB480D719B0183C6CCC9EB480D719B0183C6C&view=detail&FORM=VIRE .

This die is surprisingly easy to assemble, even though it is a little time consuming.  There are some tools I felt really helped me with my assembly.  First, if you have a way to make your card stock with a sticky back, I would suggest you do this.  Tim Holtz Scrapbook.com ,Couture Creations (the one I use) and Ken Oliver all have versions of this product.  If not, you need a glue you can put on small, fine, tiny pieces.  Second, I would suggest a pair of tweezers.  The tweezers were handy to "nudge" my little windows into place and pick up those tiny strips like the one above the door.  Even with my fat fingers and arthritis I was able to get it together.  Next a craft pick, pokey tool, or something to push the paper from the dies.  When I cut them from scrap paper without the pieces fell out easily, but once I cut adhesive backed paper in I had to push them out.  I didn't mind this, because it mean I didn't lose any of those tiny windows. Finally either a bowl or paper plate is handy to put all of the pieces onto as you push them out.  Little tiny pieces have ways of sticking to clothes or flying off even the most organized space.

Each die has the suggested color to use for the pieces.  For this first card I used Tim Holtz paper for all of the paper except the purple and the white. 

 Once you cut your pieces you are ready to begin assembly.  Just follow the layers as described in the video.  I would suggest for the windows, that you lay them out before you glue them, especially the first time. 

Once I had the village together I was able to create my background.  I started with a purple cardstock.  Then I layered Oxide inks in Fossilized Amber, Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet and Black soot.  You can see I didn't go too heavy on any one color. 

I placed my village on top and decided I needed a little something in the sky.  I had a piece of Navy blue cardstock that I had sprayed with Brushed Pewter Distress Stain to try as a background.  I cut it using the Sizzix Die #663095 Swirling Stars and then glued the starts onto the background.  I layered my purple cardstock on a piece of silver glitter cardstock and then on a base card from purple.  I cut Merry Christmas from Sizzix #664196 Christmas Ribbon, using Tim Holtz Metallic Cardstock.  I also added red stickles to the tree for the bulbs.  

The second card I used the same inks for the backgrounds, but I blended them directly on my white base card.  All of the papers for this card were from my scrap bin. I cut the Christmas tree twice so that the balls would be red instead of yellow.  I also cut the top of the tree out of silver metallic so I could have a silver star.  It's a little brighter but I like it.  Instead of the stars for this card I cut Santa and his reindeer from brown and navy cardstock and then layered them.  I also added some silver to the sled rails using a Nuvo Glitter pen as well as the collars of the reindeer.  You can't see it but I also added some gold Nuvo to the reins.  These look much more intricate that than they actually are; I will be making many more for my friends for the holidays.  I hope you have time to get a little ink on your fingers today. 

Time to Get Organized - Swatching my Distress Ink Products

Hello and welcome to a stay inside and stay cool summertime project. 

It's over 94 here today and promises to get hotter and muggier as the week goes on.  Why not make the most of my time inside to get my Distress Ink products sampled and organized? I had already made swatches for my glazes on a tag.  But that was just one product. 

I had the print outs from Ranger Ink for my ink pads- how could I get swatches of all of my products?

l was certain that this would help me keep track of my inks and allow me to compare colors before I put them on a future project.  Creating swatches was something Tim Holtz reiterated over and over again during his Spring 2020 videos, so I decided to give it a try. 

My predicament was first, what kind of paper I wanted to use? Second, how to make it cost effective? I use mixed media heavy stock most frequently for my project, but it isn't readily available in my area.  Most importantly , this would not have been a cost effective method to swatch all of the distress inks, sprays , crayons, glazes and paints.  I also use Dyan Reavley's journals (I often cut the paper our of the journals to use) so when I found the creative flip journals on sale a light bulb came on!  Why not use the pages from those journals and put all of my products on one page?  I have to say the results were better than expected.  Now I can see the sprays, inks, crayons, paint and glazes all on one page. 

I am pleased with the outcome.   I used the printed labels from Ranger's website to label each page.  Then I decided to put the Spray Stain at the top.  A stencil made from chipboard gave me the rectangle  so it didn't just go all over the page. I used my splatter box.  I cut a piece of chipboard the slightly larger than the page so I didn't have to cover other parts every time.  Then I used a circle punch to create two circles for the oxide inks.  I used one of the stamps to stamp the Distress and Oxide inks as well.  I think that many of the inks look different when stamped rather than on a blending tool.  On the third row I placed a scribble of crayon twice.  The first, on the left side is straight crayon to paper, the second one I smudged with my finger which had a little water on it.  I wanted to see how the crayon would look if I used it as a watercolor.  Next I dabbed a little paint and finally on that row the glaze (if available).  Finally at the bottom I used my second rectangle stencil for the Oxide spray. It was easier to make a second template that fit the bottom than reusing the top one.  

A couple of tips if anyone decides to mimic this approach.  First, make sure one medium is dry before you place the second one so you don't smudge.  Second, when I sprayed I made a concerted effort to spray from the same height and angle and the same number of pumps.  I purposely did NOT remove any of the splotches from the sprays.  Sometimes I want those so I thought it was good to see how they would look.  Finally, make sure that your inks are dry before you use your glaze unless you want some of your ink embossed.  Later I thought I probably should have done a few water drops on the oxide ink to see it oxidize but I think I can imagine what that outcome might be.  

This was a great way for me to rediscover colors and really look at how the intensity varied between the two sprays and the inks.  It also gave me a really good inventory of what I was missing.  Now, I will remove the pages from the journals and put them on rings.  I considered leaving them in the journals but I want to be able to compare colors side by side. I wrote what each item was with my Pitt Pen. 

Now, before someone asks...why aren't the markers on here? Well I have the markers, but I don't use them very often and they are being phased out.  I could always add them later but for now I'll leave them off. 

Here is the link on the Ranger page for the labels https://rangerink.com/pages/organize-your-ranger-products.  

I think this will become a valuable tool for me.  It is expandable as colors are added and gives me a true picture of how the mediums differ on the same paper.  By the way, the Picket Fence will be on black.  Later I may add all of them on black, for now I'm happy. 

I hope you have time today to get some ink on your fingers! Take care - Pamela 

A Celebration of Independence and Freedom

Today I wanted to share with you a vignette box I made to celebrate the 4th of July. 

The idea behind this scene is the man on the suitcase has just arrived to town and is waiting on his cab.  He is sitting on his trunk in front of a building that has been painted for the 4th of July. A parade has gone by and the remnants of the parade are still hanging on and all over the street.  The others are watching that last of the parade go by. 

Here is how I created my scene; a list of the supplies is at the end of this post. 

First I painted the box with Distress Paint in Weathered wood.  Even though you can't see the sides and the back I like to have it finished.  Next I covered the back of the box with Typeset tissue paper using Collage medium. I sat that aside to dry.

While I waited I pulled out some old idea-ology paper and cut the word America.  I inked the edges with black soot and put some small white marks to highlight the letters with a pen.  Then I cut the Old Jalopy BIGZ die 4 times   I cut one each from brown, metallic silver, black and the section of the doors in woodgrain paper.  I inked the car with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink.  I layered the pieces to create the cab.  I had to freehand the woodgrain paper to create the doors and the silver for the headlight.  You can't really see it but I also used some clear plastic on the windows.  

Then I colored the paper dolls.  I used distress crayons and also speckled blue embossing glaze.  

I die cut the suitcase from cracked leather cardstock and metallic for the buckles.  I inked the cases with Shabby Shutters distress ink and then embossed it with the glaze in the same color.  Inked the straps with Vintage photo Distress Ink.  I used a black soot crayon to outline the suit case just a bit.  

Next, I used the Impresslits folder Star Trim to create my frame.  I cut it from silver metallic paper and then I used alcohol ink to tint the trim and give it a little age.  While those were drying I went back to my background.  I applied crackle modeling paste through the stencil on the left. I dried it partially with the heat tool and then I let it sit overnight.  I find that with crackle paste a long natural dry time works best for me. Then I died some mica flakes with Poppy Red and Monsoon alcohol inks.  Those dried overnight as well.

When I returned the next evening, I used my Distress crayon in Faded Jeans to create the blue over and around the stars.  Next using the Barn Door Distress crayon I created a border around my edges and then faux stripes using a ruler.  I smudged the crayon with my finger which was damp.  Then I took a permanent pen and wrote the words to part of the Pledge of Allegiance between the stripes (I covered it up later but I know it is there and it peeks out in places) . 

I painted the pole for my flag and the star with Brushed Pewter Distress paint.  When that was dry I glued the flag to the left edge of the box.  I manipulated the flag to create the folds and secured that with some glue dots.   

Then I coated the bottom of the box with collage medium and sprinkled the mica flakes on there.  I added some that I had not died to create red , white and blue confetti, like a ticker tape parade.  I also used some collage medium in spots to sprinkle some of the confetti so it looked like it was caught as it rained down from the buildings above.  

I used score tape to adhere the Impresslits star trim.  Then I layered in my scene using collage medium and foam tape to create the depth for the scene. 

I hope you get time to enjoy some time to celebrate this wonderful country this weekend with your friends and family and perhaps find some time to get some ink on your fingers.

Until next time- Happy 4th - Pamela 

--------------------------------------------------------

Supplies:

 Paper- Tim Holtz Metallic 3, Classic , Woodgrain and Cracked Leather cardstock

Tissue Paper- Typeset

Distress Inks:  Peeled Pain, Vintage Photo Black Soot, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint.

Sizzix BigZ die Baggage Claim  # 664439; Impresslits folder- Star Trim # 663297 and Old Jalopy

Tim Holtz Distress Mica Flakes

Ranger Alcohol Inks : Poppy Red, Monsoon, and Mushroom 

Distress Crayons- Bard door, Faded Jeans, Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahgony, Fossilized Amber

Distress Paint- Weathered Wood and Brushed Pewter

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls 

Adhesives: Scor-tape, Distress Collage Medium, Golden crackle paste

Idea-ology Adornments - Star

Flag- Hobby Lobby

For the Birds

Hello Everyone!

Today I'm sharing a little house that I made using a Tim Holtz Vignette box and a lot of Tim Holtz Distress, Idea-ology, Ranger and Sizzix products.  I love these little boxes to create a scene.  This one is "For the Birds".  The little bird has taken over this little house!

I started by spraying the box with Distress Spray Stain with Walnut Stain.  I then layered the Speckled Egg Stain on top. I forgot that the first stain would be reactivated by the second one, but I like the outcome.  It look like aged barn wood.  

I cut two pieces of the Worn Wallpaper from Ranger Idea-ology and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.  I glued them in the bottom and the top of the box.   I used the smallest of the Baseboard Frames to frame the ephemera piece from the Field Notes Collection.  Before gluing the bird to the frame I rubbed the frame with a little bit of Vintage Photo one the frame.  

I sprayed a piece of cheesecloth (from the paint department of the hardware store) with Speckled Egg and Vintage photo spray stain and set that aside to dry.  Meanwhile, I covered one of the small corked vials from Idea-ology with texture paste.  Because I used the crazed texture I allowed it to dry naturally.  I sprayed some of the flowers from Idea-ology Bouquet with Speckled Egg Spray Stain.  I sat those aside to dry.  Then I used various alcohol inks to color some of the baubles and heirloom roses (also from Idea-ology).  

While my small pieces were drying, I misted some mixed media heavy stock from Ranger lightly with water and then used my Sizzix Impresslit folder (Sizzix 662768) to cut three pieces.  The folder is called mini-provincial.   I then dried them with the heat tool.  I used an embossing dauber to cover the pieces with Distress Antique Linen embossing glaze (I love this stuff). Next I rubbed some of my walnut stain crayon across the top.  It was a bit dark so I wet my finder to move it around a bit and push it into the crevices.  Next I used my finger to rub a little bit of Distress paint in Speckled Egg across the embossed pieces.  I cut them to fit and glued them on the box. The scale of this impresslit folder is perfect for these vignette boxes.

I went back to my corked vial and rubbed it some Vintage photo pain and let that dry.  I didn't really think it looked like I hoped, so I put some Distress Paint in Speckled egg on top of that.  I used a file to pull sand off some of it so the white would poke through.  Then I glued the flowers into the vial and added a piece of string around the top of the bottle.    

I placed excelsior in the top of shelf with a little bird and a nest from my stash.  I wanted it to look a little messy so I let it hang out a bit.  I added a bit of moss under the bird too (here is a little close up)

Moving to the lower level I glued the frame into the back wall of the house.  I placed  the colored cheesecloth into the corner and glued that into place. I pulled a gear from my stash and laid that in front of it and glued it in place.  It reminds me of a wagon wheel.  I placed moss in the bottom of the box and secured it in place.  I prefer to use different colors to give it some texture.  I put my corked vial in the corner and put a little more moss around it.  Next I took one of the Tim Holtz thimbles and turned it upside down.  I didn't want to use a bunch of baubles to stack inside so I cut a circle wide enough to cover the opening and glued that on top.  I then glued the baubles on top  I then placed the heirloom roses in the grass. 

I colored the paper dolls using Distress Crayons in Dusty Concord and Picked Raspberry.  I colored their cheeks with aged mahogany.  I learned this technique from Paula Cheney and her blog One Lucky Day.  She is fantastic at working with the paper dolls (oneluckyday.net).

I used a typed tag and a nail head both from Idea-ology and glued that to the side.  Finally, I added two butterflies to the top of the house in the moss.   

I really enjoyed watching my little house come together.  I think my bird will be very cozy.  Thanks for looking - I hope you have time to get some ink on your fingers today! Pamela