One of Tim's regular blog posts is his "12 Tags" series. Originally begun as the "12 Tags of Christmas" some years back, Tim would create a new, Christmas-themed tag each day from December 1-12, post them, and have a feedback-competition where those who duplicated or adapted the tag could enter to win some embellishments, products, etc. Now Tim blogs a new tag each month, and goes with a new theme each time, so his "12 Tags" series embraces the whole year. You can find them at www.timholtz.com. What's super cool about the blog is he's got a plethora of ideas - techniques, how-to's, new products, videos - all presented on these basic manila tags. It's very easy to incorporate these ideas into scrapbook pages, cards, decor... it's all there. Check it out.
This month he did a tag that really resounded with me. He suggested using all those "special" things we save for a "special" project and use those on this tag. We all have that stuff we save for what's "special," but isn't everything we make special in some way? So I made a submission for Tim's "12 Tags of 2014", May edition.
I made a basic manila tag using the Sizzix Alterations Tag & Bookplates Bigz die and some Stampin' Up Very Vanilla card stock, stamped it with one of the stamps from Tim's "Fabulous Flourishes" stamp set in clear embossing ink, dusted it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. Once it cooled, I patted my craft mat with Crushed Olive, Broken China, and Tumbled Glass Distress ink, spritzed it with a little water and dipped the front of my tag in the puddles a couple of times to get good coverage all over. Be sure to spritz the back of your tag with a little water to keep it from curling up too much as it dries. I dried it briefly with a heat tool, stamped it with "Spills &Splatters" in Dusty Concord, and voila! Classic emboss resist background.
The theme was to create a "tiled" background to showcase all the special embellishments. My inspiration piece was my rivet in the lower left hand corner which says "fabulous" on it, something I acquired from Stampin' Up years ago. I've been saving that thing for years and just needed the right project for it. What is fabulous? Life is fabulous, so my focal point is the word "Life" stamped from the "Mini Cirque Alpha" set, also by Tim, onto paper from the "Lost and Found" paper stash (all the paper on the chipboard "tiles" is from "Lost and Found," also from Tim's product line.) My top embellishment is one of the bookplates from the "Tags and Bookplates" die, in DCWV's metallic stack silver card stock, the flowers were punched from "Lost and Found" paper using Stampin' Up punches. My little glitter mosaic piece was punched out of glitter card stock, and coated with Glossy Accents to keep the glitter in and make the embellishment look like an epoxy charm. Easy to do and totally worth the hour or so drying time.
Thanks to Tim Holtz for this months therapy! Clear the worktable and have your own crafting therapy. It just feels good to make stuff- sometimes you need that. Go play!
Have a blast!
Kristine
Supply List:
Tim's stuff:
Mini Cirque Alpha, Fabulous Flourishes, and Spills &Splatters stamp sets by Stampers Anonymous
Tags & Bookplates Sizzix Alterations Bigz die
"Lost and Found" paper stash by Idea-ology
Distress Ink by Ranger - Crushed Olive, Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Dusty Concord, Pumice Stone (LIFE stamp) with Walnut Stain and Tea Dye for shading.
Glossy Accents and Ink Blending Tool by Inksentials
Stampin' Up stuff:
Very Vanilla card stock
Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals, Mosaic, Little Labels Punch Pack
"Fabulous" rivet, discontinued
Other: glitter card stock, brads, and DCWV metallic card stock.
