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.

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)

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)

Almost Masculine card...

In my house, I'm the official card maker for the family.  So when I showed this card to my husband and asked "Do you think this is a masculine card?"  I got a scrunched up nose with this reply:  "For a dude to send to a dude, or are you sending this to a dude?"  So my husband (who is not from California, despite the lingo) has stated, he wouldn't send it to another man, but if I were to send it to a man that would be artistically acceptable.  So, I'll call it an almost masculine card....

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp sets:  Truly Grateful (w131730, c131733)

      Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Midnight Muse (126843), Cherry Cobbler (119685)

Ink: Soft Suede (126978), Versamark (102283)

Tools:  Label Bracket Punch (132153), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860),  Itty Bitty Punch Pack(118309), Heat Tool (129053)

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder (122949) Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon (126847)

Eastern Elegance Card

I love the colors Smoky Slate and Crushed Curry together!  The Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper artfully blends these colors together.  I used a couple different sheets - both sides to decorate this gate-fold card.

Supplies:

Card stock: Smoky Slate (131202), Basic Gray (21044) and Crushed Curry (131199)

Ink: Crushed Curry (131173)

Stamp Set:  Hello, Lovely (w130240, c130243)

Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (130131)

Label Bracket Punch (132153)

Enjoy!!

Paper Pumpkin can be at your door...

This is one of the coolest crafty things and I just had to let you know about it... The Paper Pumpkin is a card kit that you receive via UPS monthly, it comes with everything you need to make a stash of fabulous all occasion cards.  Stamps, ink, pre-cut card stock, embellishments and instructions.  Paper Pumpkin is a stamp class in a box - at your convenience.  It's different every month - endless variety!  Right now its 50% off, so it's a great time to give it a try.

If you'd like to try before you buy, Stampin' Up has a "Try It" kit (132600) that you can order from  my website www.creativeflare.stampinup.net that is a little journal making kit, comes with 2 passport sized journals and embellishments, cling mount stamps and a stamp block for 16.95 plus shipping and tax.  They're so cute and a great back to school gift.

Enjoy!

The Moon

Some days simple is best.  As I was chomping bits out of 2-1/2" circles to make feathers the other day, I had a variety of crescent shapes left over... perfect for a moon card.  I crumpled the crescent and backed it with a 2-1/2" crumpled circle of Basic Grey card stock - easy texture!  The sentiment and heart come from the Chalk Talk stamp set, embossed with white embossing powder on Smoky Slate card stock. 

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Chalk Talk stamp set (w130631/c130634); 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/8" Circle punch (119860); Chevron embossing folder (127749), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439);  white embossing powder (109132), Versamark Watermark Ink (102283); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Perfect Blend - Fast and Fun Card

This was very simple.  It's a 5-1/4" x 4" Pistachio Pudding card front with 3 coffee cups stamped using the masking technique.  The forward most cup was stamped on Whisper White card stock in Early Espresso ink (of course) and colored with a Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker.  The cup sleeve was made by stamping a cup on Crumb Cake card stock, stamping the sentiment in Garden Green, and then trimming out the sleeve and adding it to the card using a Stampin' Dimensional.

These days everything looks better with banners, so I rummaged through my scrap keepers and found some Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Strawberry Slush to add some pizzazz.  The finishing touch was a little bow of Early Espresso Baker's twine and a small heart punched from Strawberry Slush card stock.

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Perfect Blend (w130745, c131392)

Ink: Early Espresso (126974)

Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker (part of In Color 2013-15 collection 131260)

Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe (In Color 2013-15 collection 131200)
Whisper White and Crumb Cake (Neutrals Collection 131191)

Tools:  Small Heart Punch: (117193)  3/16" Corner Rounder (119871) Paper Snips (103579) Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Morning Coffee.... Perfect Blend with Gorgeous Grunge

"Given enough coffee, I could rule the world...temporarily."  Yeah, I feel like that most days.  This card is  done in what you can call "The Starbucks color scheme"  - Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso, Garden Green and Very Vanilla.  The coffee cup is stamped with Early Espresso on Whisper White and colored in with a Blender Pen loaded with Baked Brown Sugar ink.  The sentiment stamped in Garden Green ink, and the cup was cut out and attached to the Very Vanilla background with Stampin" Dimensionals.  The coffee splatters are Baked Brown Sugar - stamped off for the big splat, straight to paper for the darker spot, and Early Espresso for the spray.  The washi tape is the Witches' Brew from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Sets:  Perfect Blend (w 130745, c 131392), Gorgeous Grunge (w 130514, c 130517)

Card Stock:

Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Garden Green (102584), Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730)

Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar (131174), Garden Green (126973), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:

Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), Witches' Brew Washi tape (132156)

Enjoy your coffee!

Convention Make & Take - Tag a Bag

The new little Tag a Bag gift bags and Accessory kit are going to be great materials to have on hand this holiday season.  They're fast and fun and perfectly sized for giving a little "something something" to family and friends.  The bags are flat, but at convention they showed us how to turn a cute little flat bag into a cuter little gusseted bag within about 60 seconds.  Check it out:

Here's the bag that started out a flat 5" x 8-1/4", and became a 3" x 2" x 7" gusseted bag.  The stamp is from this year's Ronald McDonald House stamp set "Tag It" (wood mounted item #130300 $22.95/cling mount item #130303 $16.95)  $3 from the sale of each stamp set goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  

It's recommended to use the Simply Scored tool to make the score lines, but the Stampin' Trimmer also has a scoring blade, the Simply Scored just makes a softer, deeper score.

After scoring, trim just a hair off the bottom to open the bottom of the bag.

Pre-fold along the score lines ....

Fold in the short sides first, then close up with the long sides.  I used SNAIL adhesive to secure mine, the Tag a Bag accessory kit also comes with Smoky Slate tape to secure the bags decoratively.  You can add a cut piece of chipboard from the kit to the inside bottom to stabilize the bag, just a little smaller than 2" x 3".

Supplies:

Tag a Bag Gift Bags: (item #131370 $3.95 for 10)

Tag a Bag Accessory Kit (item #130153 $7.95 for 10 large tags, 10 medium tags, 10 mini clothespins, 3 colors of baker's twine -20' ea-, 40 Stampin' Dimensionals, 5" of Smoky Slate self-adhesive strips)

Related items - Tag a Bag Gift Boxes: (item #130927 $6.95 for 8 Kraft food safe boxes with acetate sleeves, 6-7/8" x 2-1/8" x 2-1/2")

UNDEFINED

Ladies and gentlemen!  I'd like to introduce to you....

UNDEFINED!

This is Stampin' Up's latest innovation, stamp carving!  While it's not a new concept (just check out Albrecht Durer's work back in 1500) it hasn't been widely accessible outside the art classroom ... until NOW!

Here's what is inside the kit (item # 133402) - you get a thick linoleum block (that grey thing at the bottom left) mounting foam, 4 wood blocks, an Island Indigo Stampin' Write marker, and a "V" carving tool and a "U" carving tool, plus directions and cards to stamp.  You can also get a refill kit that includes just the blocks, mounting foam and linoleum. (item #134808)

First, sketch out your stamp design on plain paper with a pencil, keep trying until you get it just the way you like.  Using pencil is key here, because the next step...

...is where you transfer the graphite from the drawing to your linoleum by placing your drawing face down and rubbing firmly with the back of one of your tools, a bone folder, wood block... something firm but not scratchy.

Here is the transfer of my design on the linoleum block.  I used Stampin' Up's old Craft and Rubber scissors to cut out near the edge of my design, and try to preserve as much of my block as possible for future stamps.

For the carving, start with the "V" tool and carefully outline ALL the inside and outside edges of your design.  Be sure to keep your free hand BEHIND the cutting edge, these tools are EXTREMELY SHARP.  Always cut away from yourself and away from your design.  It is better to turn your block as you cut, rather than try to turn your hand to go around shapes.

Outlined.  Ta-da!

.   

 Using the "U" tool will carve out large areas that you don't want as part of the stamp - the "negative space".  Always carve from the edge of the design outward.  If you accidentally scratch into your design, there's no fixing that.

After carving everything the way you want, test your stamp on some scratch paper to make sure there's no errant ridges that will be transferring ink to your final printing.  Once you've made all your tweaks, stamp  the image on your wood block.  Finally cut your mounting foam to fit your linoleum, and attach it to the block.

This was my first UNDEFINED stamp - I actually made this one at convention.  They gave us each a block and a little linoleum to get started with, and had a station where we could carve our stamps.  This design was inspired by a drawing of sliced through rocks that was the decor in a clothing store.   Turning the stamp 90 degrees each time gave it just enough variation in the background.

Finished project! A 100% Creative Flare Card!  Gives me a warm glow inside :).  I finished off the card with a little Washi Tape from the Witches' Brew collection in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Washi tape is a great substitute for ribbon stripes on a card, is re-positionable and easy to use.  It also works great to adhere a note inside a card - adds a colorful touch.

I would like to thank Ms. Joan Andre and Ms. Nell Landry for having taught block carving as part of their Junior High and High School Art curriculum.  It's been fun!

Welcome to Reverse Spotlighting

This card is an adaptation of one that I received in a Convention Swap from Cathy Fluellen of Surprise, AZ. I needed a quick "Welcome" card that would be suitable for a man or woman, and this one with a geometric pattern and "Reverse Spotlighting" was perfect.  Fast and fabulous.  Thanks, Cathy!

I cut a 5-1/4" x 4" card front in Very Vanilla to go over a Night Of Navy card base.  It was easiest to place my hexagons first and mark where the final hex should be punched.  Then the large oval was easy to punch using the edge of the card stock as a guide. (Hold the punched "upside down" so that you can see through the window on the underside of the punch and get exact placement) I used the oval template from the Occasions Paper Piercing pack to space the piercing - FYI:  The Large Oval Punch corresponds to the Oval Framelets dies - it's one size smaller that the smallest framelet.  The Very Vanilla card stock was attached to the base using Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some depth.

Supplies:

Fabulous Phrases Set; Hexagon and Large Oval Punch; Occasions Piercing Pack, Piercing tool and mat; Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, and Real Red card stock;  Night of Navy ink pad; Night of Navy Designer Series Paper (now restyled for 2013);  Stampin' Dimensionals; Woodgrain embossing folder and Big Shot; Merry Minis punch pack -little star (discontinued)

Enjoy!

Convention Swaps, part 5

This card was my favorite.  Once upon a time, in my wild and almost unruly youth I was a Naval Officer, and while the ships I worked and lived on didn't have sails, the romantic in me loves the ones that do.  Fortuitously, the "frames" was left over from a previous project where I needed a stack of Crumb Cake card stock Top Note Dies.  

All supplies are available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Supplies:
Stamp set:  The Open Sea (wood mounted item #128454 $26.95/ cling mount item #123032 $18.95, Clear Block D or larger recommended); Simply Serif Mini Alphabet (item #126360 $20.95)

Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Natural Ivory

Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Tools:  Top Note Die, Woodgrain embossing folder, Big Shot, Sponge Daubers, Modern Label Punch

Other:  Linen Thread (item #104199 $4.50 for 15 yards)

Convention Swaps, part 4

This card got quite a few complements at convention, and because Stampin' Up Demonstrators are a very discerning crowd, it must be a good card.  It fits my friend (and fellow Demonstrator) Jan's description of a perfect "WOW" card - as in "Wow, that's really pretty" not "Wow, I would never spend a whole afternoon making that".  This is definitely a fast and fun card, and one I would even demonstrate at a party, it's that easy.  It also looks suspiciously like the mother's day card I posted last May...

1) Stamp "Swallowtail" in Staz-On Jet Black on the Whisper White card stock.  

2) Using sponge daubers, smudge in color on the Swallowtail, starting with the darker color (Cajun Craze) at the center, then smudge the whole swallowtail with the lighter color (Crushed Curry).  Sponge the edge of the white card stock with Elegant Eggplant.

3) Stamp the letters "f" "l" & "y" onto scraps of So Saffron card stock, punch out with Little Labels punches.  Punch a couple long little labels for hinges from Cajun Craze card stock.  

4) Using a piercing tool and mat, poke holes for "eyes" and attach silver mini-brads in place. 

5) After SNAILing all your pieces in place, draw little hinge parts using a the pointy end of a Cajun Craze marker. (Optional.  It's easy, looks cool.  You can even sponge the little hinges around the edges for added effect)

Supplies, available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp sets: 

Swallowtail (wood mounted item #129736 $17.95; cling mount item #123608 $13.95 - clear block F required)

Simply Serif Mini Alphabet (item #126360 $20.95) 

       - this set is my secret weapon - any short phrase I want to think of can be put on any card,  loads of flexibility... This set is a must-have.  LOVE IT!

Card stock:  

Elegant Eggplant 4-1/4" x 11, folded in half long ways 

Whisper White card stock, 4" x 5-1/4 " 

Cajun Craze - scrap 

So Saffron - scrap 

Punches:  

Little Labels Punch Pack 

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Elegant Eggplant Staz-On Jet Black  

           Staz-On is my preferred ink for stamping in black, and is solvent based - it won't smudge when you go over it with a dauber.

Regals Collection Stampin' Write Markers: (item #131262 set of 10 dual-tipped artist quality markers)

Other:  Silver colored Mini-Brads (item # 122941 $5.50 for 200)
SNAIL double sided adhesive

Hello, Lovely Make & Take, part IV

Here's card #4 from the make & take - the original, if you look at the instruction guide on yesterday's blog, just had the sentiment "You make me happy" stamped in the lower right hand corner, and the ornate square pattern on the envelope.  I decided to incorporate all of it on the card front.  

"You make me happy" is stamped in Coastal Cabana on Whisper White card stock, trimmed and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The ornate square is stamped on the card front using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I added a 1/2" strip of double-sided Crisp Canteloupe designer series paper - it's all from the same 1/2" x 12" strip cut for the first card, just flipped over to the pattern on the reverse side for this card.  Rhinestones, a Bermuda Bay card stock hexagon, and a Old Olive chevron keep the color theme going.  

All supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net.

Enjoy