April tag - Steam Guy

Hi, all!  This is my interpretation of Tim's tag for April.  I've been looking for something to use the Steam Guy from Time Travelers on, and this turned out to be the coolest tag! 

The stamp sets used are Time Travelers (CMS 157) and Simple Sayings (CMS 155) by Stampers Anonymous.  

Enjoy!

Steampunk Owl

This A7 size card is a "thank you" I made for my aunt.  Stamps used are "Steampunk Owl" by Stampendous, and Floral Tattoo by Stampers Anonymous.  

Owlie is inked in Memento Tuxedo Black and painted using Derwent Watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.  Background inks are Milled Lavender, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Grape, and Peeled Paint Distress ink.  There's also probably some Walnut Stain Distress ink on there, I can't imagine stamping without it. 

The Background paper is from the Idea-ology "Lost and Found" paper stash, and cut with the largest Nestabilities Label Fourteen die.

The adorable file folder pattern can be downloaded from the Stampendous site: 

http://www.stampendous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Stampendous_Pillow_Box_File_Folder_Templates.pdf

Enjoy!

March Tag!

It's March!  Tim has a fun tag for this month, and I have made a version of the tag using the same techniques and my own favorite colors and stamps.

You can check out Tim's blog at 

http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2015-march/

First, I created a collage on a #8 Manila tag using Idea-ology "Sketchbook" tissue tape.

Next, I smeared Distress Paint onto my craft sheet and misted it with water.  The colors here are: Tarnished Brass (my favorite for the week!), Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Pumice Stone, Crushed Olive and Wild Honey.

 Press the tag into the paint, mist again to blend colors, and dry with a heat tool.  

Quick product review:  Cracked Pistachio is a bold green color with a slight blue undertone.  In the Distress palate it is brighter and yellower than Evergreen Bough (deep green-blue) but bluer than Mowed Lawn (bright grass-green).

Here was a chance to use one of my favorite stamps:  the face of Michaelangelo's David from "Artful Artifacts" CMS 080 by Stampers Anonymous.  I'm fond of David stamps because I have a son by that name.  And Michaelangelo was super awesome.   It is stamped in archival black ink and heat set with clear embossing powder over the top.

Mask the main image - I used the old-fashioned technique of stamping the image on blank printer paper and cutting it out.   Then I used the "Dot Fade" layering stencil by Stampers Anonymous (THS 006) and smeared texture paste over it using a palate knife.  The key to this is choosing a stencil that has more negative space (stencil) than positive space (openings).  The look works best with a smaller amount of paste going through so you can see the awesome background color.  Trying this with the clear texture paste could be a fun option, too.

Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the wet texture paste, shake off excess, and allow to dry.  Definitely use lots of embossing powder.  This happens to be Stampin' Up's gold embossing powder.  This takes 15-20 minutes to air dry.   Set it aside and be patient, using a heat tool makes it bubble. 

Once it is dry, you can gently brush off any excess and set with a heat tool. 

For embellishments, I wanted to use some Ideology paper twine, but didn't want it white.  Using a blending tool, I smudged Crushed Olive over the twine.  It works easiest if you load up the tool with ink, place it on top of the twine, and pull the twine through.  It only takes a couple of passes on each side.

A couple wraps of twine secured with the Tiny Attacher, plus some Idea-ology game spinners, a Philolophy Tag, and Foliage finish it off.  The Crinkle Ribbon is dyed with Cracked Pistachio ink and Tarnished Bronze stain. 

Here's the collection thus far!

February Tag

Hello, friends!

Here's a little copy-cat action for February!  Tim Holtz's tag for this month can be found at http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2015-february/.  Mine's a little different, but the techniques I used were the same, so I'll keep it short and just include a supply list.

By Idea-ology :

Background paper came from the "Lost and Found" and "Crowded Attic" paper stashes. 

Tissue tape is from the "Sketchbook" collection.

Game spinner, fragment, and ring fastener.  

The flower is cut from fun foam with Sizzix Alterations "Tattered Florals" die.  Also used are the "Tag and Bookplates" die for the tag and the bookplate behind the flower; and the "Trellis" Frameworks die.  

Clock stamp is "Clockworks" by Stampin' Up.

Metallic card stock is by DCWV.

Cute and Quick Watercolor Card

Hi everyone!

This card was inspired by "duck" tape  (you can see a piece of the tape at the top of my craft mat).  It had such cute and simple elephant designs, I decided to use that as a model to carve my own stamp.  Because the stamp is a solid image, it works really well with the stain-to-stamp method of creating a watercolor look.  ANY solid image stamp will work well for this technique.

First, I liberally applied Ranger's Distress Stain to my stamp. The colors I used were Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, and Broken China. It's best if the colors overlap a little.

 Then I spritzed it with water and stamped it on Stampin' Up's Natural White Card stock.  Choose an absorbent surface texture, you definitely want to use a watercolor paper or a card stock that will wick up the moisture.

Since I'm kind of limited on my palette of stain colors, my balloon stamp I inked all over with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink, and tapped a little Aged Mahogany stain on one side.  Then I spritzed the inked stamp with water, and stamped it on my card stock.  The balloon stamp is from Stampin' Up's Big Bold Birthday set (retired). 

Any part of the image that does not stamp just right can be smoothed out with a water brush.  Using a heat tool to dry the image, you can blow the colors around to give it a mottled effect.

For the string, I used a Copic Multiliner 0.3 felt tip pen and free-handed a little line between the balloon and the elephant's trunk.  

An easy border idea is to draw a border 1/8 of an inch in using a graph ruler.  

This was super easy to do, very quick, and lots of fun. 

Enjoy!

Copycat Tag of Tim's January 2015 creation

Hello friends!

Tim Holtz has begun another year of tags, and January's had some fun techniques that I wanted to try and share with you.  The link to Tim's tag is http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2015-january . I love Tim's work, but unless you're independently wealthy, hopelessly obsessed, or work for Ranger Industries, you probably don't have everything that Tim uses on hand.  Sometimes we have to go for the next best thing.

Tim's first step is to cover a #8 manila tag with Idea-ology Tissue Wrap - which is gorgeous but not on my shelf.  My solution was to take a sheet of tracing paper and stamp some background using Staz-on ink.  Staz-on works the best, archival ink works in a pinch but it will smear a little bit.  These stamps are from Stamper's Anonymous: "Artful Artifacts" CMS 080 and "Life Adventure" CMS 077.

To adhere the backround, smear Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium over the #8 tag, here cut from Stampin' Up "Very Vanilla" card stock using the Sizzix Alterations Bigz Die "Tag and Bookplates." Lay the tracing paper background on top of the wet medium and trim aound the edges.  That's the medium there, I didn't blow my nose on the tag.

Like Tim, give it a bit of sanding - gently - around the edges and finger-paint another layer of matte medium over the top.  Make sure to put some paper between your sanding block and your craft mat - a scuffed craft mat does not work well.

After the matte medium dries, finger-paint with some Distress Paint for color and spritz it with water.  The colors here are Peacock Feathers, Weathered Wood, and Antique Bronze.

After the paint dries, spritz with Distress Spray Stain.  Here, I used the classic recipe of "1 dropper of Distress Re-inker and fill the rest of a mini-mister with water" to make my own "Walnut Stain" Distress Spray Stain.  The whole tag got a generous spritz.

Because I didn't have the cool plastic words and numbers Tim used in his blog, it was time to "fake it" again.  I cut a "15" from black card stock using Sizzix Bigz die set "Serif Essentials,"  covered them with Glossy Accents and poured Martha Stewart's "Citrine" glitter  over the top and set it aside.  Don't deny that those sparkle-y little vials at the craft store haven't found their way into your basket before.  Martha knows marketing.

For the "twenty" I cut black card stock using Sizzix Alterations "Carnivale" decorative strip die, covered it with "Antique Linen" Distress Paint, and followed up with a coat of "Squeezed Lemonade" for a little extra brightness.  Hey, I could have made myself an "age" tag and said "Twenty x2" instead of "Twenty 15"... that'd be a great birthday card, I think I will do that.

Again, making do with what's on hand, I printed my own words out on the computer using "Bookman Old Style" font, 12 pitch.  After sticking them in place with some tape runner, I covered the tag with matte medium again and let it dry.  There was a futile attempt at splattering some "Picket Fence" Distress paint, which got everywhere but the tag.  Following that debacle, I went around each word with a Stampin' Write marker in Basic Black, smudging off as I went.  

To dye the ribbon, take Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon and smudge "Vintage Photo" Distress Stain all over and spritz it with water.  Crumple and dry with a heat tool. The Crinkle Ribbon is beautiful in person, it has a lovely sheen when it's been 'stained'. 

The Spritzer tool is fun, that's the truth.  My gold pen of choice is a Zig Painty that's been rocking for years.  Finish the tag by gluing the card stock letters and going around them with a black marker to add some depth.  The embellishment in the bottom corner is an Idea-ology Philosophy Tag that says "Simplify."  That seemed like a good resolution for the new year.

Here are the finished tags.  The second one is my "age" tag.  There are a few differences, first is that the "age" tag is sealed with  "Rock Candy" Distress Crackle Paint to cover the tag before adhering the letters and numbers. Also, the "twenty" was cut from black card stock using the Sizzix "Go Go Boots" alphabet.  Each letter was covered with Glossy Accents, for an epoxy look.  The number 2 was traced onto black card stock from the old Idea-ology Grungeboard Numerals, which I saved to use as stencils. The Crinkle Ribbon is dyed with "Broken China" Distress Stain, and the Philosophy Tag is backed with an Idea-ology Vial Label to help it stand out.  

Enjoy, and thanks, Tim!

A little therapeutic "Tim Time"

If you're not familiar with Tim Holtz, as a blog-surfing crafter you should be.  Tim is the Creative Director for Ranger Industries, and the mastermind behind Ranger's Distress product line, Idea-ology line of embellishments, and Sizzix's "Alterations" line of dies and embossing folders, as well as a designer of hundreds of stamp sets vulcanized by Stampers Anonymous. Step back, Martha Stewart, Tim and his team make magic.

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.

everything's new but the stamp set...

Here's another retired stamp set that's on the block at Ebay this week.  Everything in the card is new, but the stamp set.

Stamp set:  Tags so Much (retired)
Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, and Whisper White.
Ink:  Smoky Slate Classic ink pad; Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Deco Labels Framelets, Big Shot, Baroque embossing folder, Large tag punch (retired), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Petite Petals Punch (new!)

Life is a funny thing.  After starting graduate school late fall of 2013, I have really backed off from stamping, so much so that I'm putting many of my retired stamp sets that I no longer use on ebay.  I figured in order to make them more appealing, I would make a card with each stamp set and add that photo to the sale profile. What is funny is that I'm hoping this old hostess set from 2008, which I used probably only once, doesn't sell because the card I CASE'd from the Stampin' Up catalog turned out so cute.

Stamp set:  In the Spotlight (hostess level 2 from 2008 IB&C)
Card stock:  Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Cameo Coral (retired), Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip
Old Olive Designer Series Paper (2010 edition)
Punches: 5 petal flower (retired) Scallop Circle, 3/4" Circle
Ink and Markers: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke.
Also used: Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher

Just a quick note to let you know that while I am still an active Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up, I have let my website www.creativeflare.stampinup.net lapse for the time being.  Due to some minor flood damage to my home I've had to pack up my tools, etc. and wait for repairs, which has taken longer than expected.  I am still taking orders, just not blogging or teaching classes right now.

All the best,
Kristine
creativeflarecards@gmail.com

This is so practical!  I'm excited to get mine for Christmas Card season.

Thought for the day... sympathy and insight

Ever had one of those days?  This is the card for that day...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Trust God (w#132094, c#126702)

Ink:  Basic Black

Card Stock:  Raspberry Ripple, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Modern Medley Designer Series Paper (birds and backing label)

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Hearts Collection Framelits (125599), Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984), Petals a Plenty Embossing Folders (116824),  2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906),  Decorative Label (120907).

Peace!

This card is not totally a Stampin' Up card, my inspiration piece for this card was the elephant/butterfly washi tape that I got from a local craft store...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamps:  Positively Chevron Background (w#130496, c#130499)

Ink:  Versamark

Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Window Frames Framelits (129021), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Elegant Butterfly (127526), Bitty Butterfly (129406), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)

Enjoy!

Epic Thanks

The zig-zags on the Gumball Green background were made with the 1" square punch...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Six Sided Sampler (w#130953, c#130956), Gorgeous Grunge (w#130514, c#130517)

     (*Buy as a bundle with the Hexagon punch and save 15% - w# 132725, c#132724)

Ink:  Gumball Green, Crumb Cake

Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party;  Epic Day Designer Series Paper

Tools:  Hexagon Punch (130919), 1" Square Punch (124094)

A chill in the air would be Tre`s Che`re

August in Kansas has me wishing I was back in the Pacific Northwest... whew, it's hot here!  Here's a little blue and silver sparkle to help me chill out...  Looks like Island Indigo and Pool Party are the colors this winter.

Supplies for this card can be purchased from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Che`re Amie (the French version of My Friend (w# 128670, c#122587)

Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Silver Shimmer, Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Winter Frost Designer Series Paper Pack.

Ink:  Island Indigo and Smoky Slate

Tools and cool stuff:  Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439);  Large Rhinestone Jewels (129324)

Enjoy!

Happy Day Hello

The colors of this card were inspired by the mock-Turkish rug on my living room floor...

Supplies for this card are available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Happy Day (w#130294, c#130297)

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo and Always Artichoke.

Ink:  Island Indigo, Versamark

Tools:  Artisan Label Punch (130920), Scallop Edge Border punch (119882), Floral Frames Collection Framelits (127012), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439)

Enjoy!

Crescent Craze

Last week's feathers and crescents keep popping up.  Like a kid with a new toy, I can't stop playing with these!  

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Lots of Thanks (w129687, c129690)

Card Stock: Midnight Muse (126843), Calypso Coral (122925), Crisp Cantaloupe (131298), Soft Suede (115318), Coastal Cabana (131927), Whisper White (100730)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink: Midnight Muse (126860), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:  Chevron Embossing folder (127749), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Itty Bitty Punches (118309), Big Shot (113439).

Ex Libris - cards for the literature lover

I love the Ex Libris background stamp - probably because I love books.  For this card, I stamped Ex Libris in Soft Suede on a Raspberry Ripple background, and then trimmed it down with the Stampin' trimmer.  It's mounted on a base of Baked Brown Sugar.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Ex Libris (w131992, c129496),  Chalk Talk (w 130631, c130634)

Card Stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Raspberry Ripple (126842) Soft Suede(115318) Crumb Cake (120953)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink:  Soft Suede(126978)

Tools: Label Bracket Punch (132153), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Chalk Talk Framelets (129983), Big Shot (113439)

Moon Shadow Feather Flower Card

Last week I was playing with "feathers" and crescent moon shapes made from 2-1/2" punched circles, so I call these "Moon Shadow Feathers" because it's the shadow area left over from cutting a crescent moon.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Crisp Canteloupe (131298) Coastal Cabana (131297), Whisper White(100730), Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Pistachio Pudding (131294)

Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper (130144)

Ink:  Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (Subtles Collection 131263), Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad (131175)

Tools:  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378);  Big Shot (113439)