Washi Tape: Halloween Tag #4

 I'm on quit the Halloween Tag roll here…I ADORE Halloween and I know I am not alone.  This tag is pure Halloween fun…or what I love about Halloween…the juxtaposition of scare and whimsical.

I made the bow out of Washi Tape (the Smash Book version to be precise) and Tiny Attacher. It is simply embellished with Crystals from Prima. 

The tag was inked using a Blending Tool and Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks.  Then I used Tim's Spritz and Flick Technique- it has certainly become a favorite of mine as I love the texture it adds to my tags.  Finally, the numbers "3" and "1"were stenciled using a Crafter's Workshop Stencil called Numerals and Spiced Marmalade Distress using the Blending Tool.  You could certainly get the same effect with number stamps and Versamark Ink.  Finally, I stamped the script stamp from the Apothecary stamp set randomly using Silver Pigment Ink. 

 The ruffle is Washi tape.  After I pleated it across the front I ran the extra around the back to cover all the adhesive.  I don't always do that but it worked out perfectly this time and I like the way it looks and keeps the tag from sticking to random items on my work space.  The Tinsel is Tim Holtz's new black

Idea-ology Tinsel Twine.  

To make the skull, I took a #8 manilla tag and glued a page from Twilight (it fell apart after we read it so now I use it for crafting).  After the glue dried -I used glue stick- I ripped the book page off by going from the outside toward the center. This way some of it rips off and some stays.  The Skull was stamped using the skull from the Stampers Anonymous set Apothecary using Distress Embossing Ink and black fine-detail embossing powder.  After the powder was melted, the skull was fussy cut (or not-so-fussy since I cannot stand fussy cutting) and attached using Pop Dots. 

The label is a 7 Gypsies but any label will work.  I hand wrote "boo"- you won't see me use my horrible handwriting often but it worked with these 3 simple letters.

Laters Baby….
This tag was Linked to the following Linky Parties:
Weekly Wednesday Linky Party #2
Just Us Four
Twigg Studios
Craft-o-Maniac

September Tag of the Month: 12 Tags of 2012

If you are following along with Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012 you may have noticed I forgot to make my version.  Ooops, thankfully I remember it in time.

First Tim's version…..

Source: TimHoltz.com

This month Tim used the same technique we used for this week's Compendium Challenge, the Riveted Patchwork.  I'm making it all about Halloween now so here is my take on it.

The BOO is made using Alternations Wordplay Die and Tim's new mirror plastic colored with alcohol inks.  

I didn't catch this until I was Photoshopping this picture but I used a page from an old thesaurus for the text paper and literally just reached in and grabbed a page and cut it to size without looking at what letter I had.  How ironic, or serendipitous maybe, that I got "D" and DOG words for this space below the cat.

Laters Baby….
This tag was Linked to the following Linky Parties:
Tea Rose Home
Craft-o-Maniac

Compendium Week 22: It's All Halloween in My Studio

It is once again time to post my Compendium of Curiosity Vol 2. Challenge tag. This week is Riveted Patchwork Page 57.  The good news this week is that while I CANNOT post the directions because I have to respect Tim's intellectual property, Tim posted them.  Yay Tim!  They are posted here as part of his September Tag 12 of 2012.

For more Compendium tags check out Linda's Blog at StudioL3

This week is being sponsored by Funkie Junkie Boutique who is offering a $25 gift certificate to one randomly drawn winner.
Added to the following Linky Parties:
Just Us Four
Laters Baby….
Craft-o-Maniac
Tea Rose Home

Compendium of Curiosity Vol 2 Week 21:Blended Stains

Time for another Compendium of Curiosity Vol 2 Tag.  This week is all about Blended Stains (pg 45).  Of course this challenge is all based on the instructions in Tim Holtz's amazing book of the same name and because it is Tim's intellectual property I cannot share the trade secrets behind the how-to.  Ah, but I can share how to make the cute ticket that I added to my tag (below).

The challenge is, as always, hosted by Linda at Studio L3 and this week Simon Says Stamp is offering a $25 gift certificate to one randomly drawn participant.

First, I apologize for taking the pictures on my nasty silicon mat- it's a mess but I was not paying attention and didn't realize it until I was editing.  Second, I took them horizontally and they don't convert to vertical without becoming freakishly distorted…. so I'm stuck with a weird horizontal photo. 

Personally I think the bow is just fabulous.  I used the Blended Stains technique on the seam binding as well as the background of the tag.  This ribbon was made using two colors of Distress Stain- Spiced Marmalade and Dried Marigold.  I love the results.

Ticket Tutorial 

I'm having an addiction to tickets right now.  Vintage is always best but if you can't get vintage tickets then making them specific to your project works as well.  
1. I started with a die cut using Tim Holtz Alterations Decorative Strip Ticket Strip.  The cardstock is old piece of Basic Grey that already had a cobweb design on it but you could start with a solid cardstock as well.

2. Begin by inking the edges with a Blending Tool and Dried Marigold Distress Ink.  Don't cover the entire surface but cover almost all of it-leaving the center lighter than the edges.

3. Ink the edges with a Blending Tool (use the same  foam pad) and Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

 This time you want to ink toward the center but not as far as you did in step 2.

 4.  Finally you want to tip the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink and the Blending Tool (I use a new pad for each color family).

 5.  This is what you want the strip to look like after you have inked the edges.  Stamp the Halloween ticket from Stampers Anonymous Odds and Ends on to each ticket using black Archival Ink.

Done!

Laters Baby.
This Project was linked to the following Linky parties:
Just Us Four
Tater Tots And Jello
Twigg Studios
Weekly Wednesday Linky Party #2

Paula's Gratitude Journal

My friend Paula of 2GypsyGirls designed an amazing little Gratitude Journal kit a few months ago and of course I had to have one.  You know that occasionally I like to work on projects from other designers.  I think it's a great way to learn new ways of book binding or embellishing; a good way to try out new products or ephemera that I might not otherwise ever work with; and see things from another angle. 

 The inside cover is a pretty piece of flocked damask paper that I covered with Vintage Photo Distress Ink which aged it perfectly.   

As I was putting this together I texted Paula  to alert her and she sent a text back taunting me that I had to deal with the 100s of pieces in her design.   I thought she was exaggerating.  That is until I tried to find the various pieces that came in the kit…I found parts and pieces all over my desk, on the floor, and on my lap.  No, she wasn't kidding.  There are hundreds of little pieces to this journal, but that is what makes it special and makes it unique to her.  

 I love the tickets used on the end of the short sentiment page.

 The vintage lace and ribbon are fabulous.  See the little vintage pearls on the white lattice lace?  Such a special little touch. 

 More vintage ribbon.  There is nothing as pretty as vintage seam binding and ribbons.

This page really excited me because I copied her color combination and it is something I would never pick but I LOVE it.  Going outside my comfort zone for colors really is what makes it worth the effort.  

 Never saw a glittered embellishment I didn't LOVE.  I think she added this little butterfly just for me!  She sent a little packet of glitter but I didn't even realize it was there so I used my own- Martha Stewart White Gold Fine Glitter.  Perfection. 

 I would have never sewn a strip of rough edged fabric to the edge of a page but I love the look. 

 Again a vintage fabric embellishment that I would not have thought of but I love the layers and the fact that it is just a short embellishment at the bottom edge of the page.

 This tag was aged using Distress Ink and Tim Holtz's Spritz Flick technique - doesn't it look vintage?  

 An entire page made of fabric- sewn onto a narrow piece of cardstock to give some stability.  I would never have thought of it-but it is really a great addition.

One of my favorite pages.  I love the tiny jewelers tag with the small faceted crystal drop and the glittered star all attacked to vintage ribbon and cheese cloth….so many textures.  

Now I have to sit down and journal what I am grateful for. 

Laters Baby….

Things Crafty Activities

Things Crafty is laughing their new season and some new and interesting events will be taking place starting this month.

Tuesday Sept 18th will be the launch party with live craft demos and giveaways.  The fun starts at 9am.  For more info click here .

Starting Sept 26th I will be hosting a Weekly Wednesday Linky Party on the Things Crafty site.  Come over and link your hand made projects and see what everyone is working on.  More info to come.


Laters Baby….

Learn to Dance in the Rain Mixed Media Piece

I was playing around the other day and whipped up a little mixed media piece that turned out rather nice if I do say so myself.  The ribbon and buttons are vintage, the scalloped topper is actually a rosette that I didn't fold up- hilarious use for that but I love the way it looks.  The chair is Idea-logy, the sentiment is Tim's as well.

Laters Baby

This post was Linked to the following Linky Parties:

http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/09/sunday-show-off-linky-party_22.html

Compendium Week 20: Enameled Stamping

Source: Just Jared

Today is GLEE Day…GLEE is back….GLEE is back….GLEE is ba…...

What?  You don't watch Glee?  But Glee has music….You don't' Care?  But through Glee gave me Imagine Dragons…Still not with me?  But Glee has Darren Criss… Come on …I'm talking Darren Criss.  And Darren Criss and I went to the same college…albeit a few (Cough) months, (Cough) years, decades (Ugh) apart.  Hail to the Victors and all that.  

You still don't care?  Hmmmm, well then I apologize….I'm just a little pathetic over excited….It's been a loooong summer...or as I call it… a long Glee Hiatus.
On to a Halloween Project:

Today I am back with The Compendium of Curiosity Vol. 2 Challenge Week 20 .  The CC2C is hosted by Linda of Studio L3.  This week it is all about Enameled Stamping.  This technique can be found on page 44 of Tim Holtz's terrific book Compendium of Curiosity Vol 2.  The challenge has been a blast but fun and games aside it is important that we continue to support Tim's hard work and intellectual property by  NOT giving specific directions on the techniques in our blog posts.  You have to go and buy the book…you won't be sorry.  It is full of great ideas, step-by-step pictures,  and lots and lots of samples.  There are 15 challenges left giving you plenty of time to join in the fun.

While I won't discuss Enameled Stamping, I can share a few other fun details.

 The bottom ruffle is super simple….You probably have left over party crepe paper streamer.  The kind they sell at the everywhere on a big roll of something like 8000 yards for $1.99.  After the party keep the leftover with your craft supplies.

To make the ruffle: Flip the card or tag over so the back is facing up and run a line of double sided adhesive along the bottom edge.  I like something like MonoAdhesive by Tombo or Redline Tape.  I wouldn't use Glossy Accents or a Glue Stick because they don't dry fast enough;  you want to gather, stick and go.  Start at one end and stick the edge of the crepe paper to the edge of the tag.  Move over 1/4 of an inch (or so) and gather the crepe into a small ruffle as you stick the crepe paper down.  Keep doing this across the card.  You don't need the ruffles to be even or perfect and you will end up with a little ruffled edge. If your ruffle hangs uneven- or is too long-simply trim it after it is in place.  

The bats were cut with a Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die- Bats.  They were all connected so I snipped them apart.  Using foam tape I placed them on the card before I added two tiny black flat-back rhinestones to each bat for eyes.  Finally I flooded each bat with Glossy Accents.   Glossy Accents is self-leveling so be sure to place it on a flat surface and allow it to dry.   It probably takes an hour or two to dry completely depending on how thick the glue is and how humid it is.  The Glossy Accents goes on milky and dry clear.  

The crystals are the Prima Marketing Faceted Crystals that I am so in love with.  You can see a small piece of harlequin Washi tape peeking out.  It really is All In The Details!

The bow was made using a length of silver seam binding -which to be honest looks almost white.  First it was wet lightly with water and then misted with a homemade black mist (Ranger MiniMister filled with 1 dropper full of Black Soot Distress Reinker and water).  The wet ribbon was scrunched and dried using a heat gun to achieve this beautiful vintage look.


The ticket was made using Tim Holtz Alterations Decorative Strip: Ticket Strip and Tim's Stampers Anonymous Odd's And Ends stamp.  The paper was basic white cardstock that was die cut and then inked with Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink, stamped with Black Archival Ink and the edges inked with Black Soot Distress Ink.  The completed ticket was attached with foam dots.

Boo.



Laters Baby….

This tag was Linked to the following Linky Parties
Just For Us Blog
Tater Tots and Jello
Itsy Bitsy Paperblog
Twigg Studios
Craftberry Bush
I Gotta Try That
Tea Rose Home
Just Us Four