12 Tags of 2013- August

It is that time again (where is this year flying to?

See The Original Tim Holtz Tags Here

And here is my take:

</a

Other than Substituting Iced Spruce stain for the weathered wood and creating my own mask with cardstock and repositionable tape (something I learned from The Online Card Classes I took a while back).

I used the Air Travel Stamp Set as well as a Donna Salazar Stamp from my prize pack I won last year.

Along with frayed burlap stain, weathered wood ink, and some leftover letterpress ink on the brayer that made the funky black patterny marks.

Add in some tissue tape and some Alphabet stickers and that is pretty much this months pages 🙂

Denim Mini Album

For about a year or so now I have been totally enchanted by Donna Salazars work with reclaimed denim from her headbands and hand made flowers and embellishments.

Recently I found a 50c clothing section in one of my local op shops and scored 3 pairs of jeans. One was so lovely with embroidered pockets when I discovered they would fit a friend I told her they were hers until they fell appart then they were mine lol. It was a bit of a wrench to part with them because there is the most adorable little embroidered pocket on the front.

Anyway I have pulled appart and cut up one of the pairs and when I got my New Big Shot this week (thanks to an amazing and generous friend) I did some cutting out of the denim and played a bit with some embossing and Inking.

What I have learned is that Denim is a great canvas for ink, it embosses like a dream and is quite a versatile medium.

Steel rule dies are the best to cut through the fabric however as long as you do not mind having to do a little cutting, the thin metal dies work pretty well.

I used a combination of Quickutz and M Press Dies for this album as well as one of the reclaimed denim pockets:

I decorated the pocket to match the Album cover with an M-Press Heart that had been embossed with a Cuttlebug Script folder.

The album is cut from the Quickutz Santa’s Workshop Die Set, I used part of the elastic stretch section of the Jeans as a sort of Handle, all the pages are embossed with an M Press Butterflies embossing folder and then inked over.

and from the back:

The Inside Pages: have spaces added for small photos with more quickutz dies, and random stickers and rub ons from my stash.(not sure of the stickers but the rub ons are from Kaiser Sweet Nothings and bon jour)

I also cut out two pieces of denim for each page though honestly it was quite a sturdy denim and would have been fine as indavidual pages. I used OK to wash it glue to stick it all together, MM Crystal brads to hold it all together

and thats it one Denim Mini Album stored in a Denim Pocket. I may end up cutting out a word from Denim and adding it to the pocket just to tie it all together a little better.

150th Post 12 tags of 2013 April

Can you believe it just about a year and a half ago I started this blog spurred on by what was the final 12 tags of Christmas 2011.

It felt like any other post would not quite fit this rather special occasion. After all it started with 12 tags and so my 150th post (and believe me I have been putting off posting some other projects to make it so) is my Mixed Media Journal Pages for april as always based on the Maestro Tim Holtz’s Tag

Now as usual I was missing a rather major component of this tag this month. No distress paints as yet. However I had an idea and it all started with the dragonfly.

The dragonfly was actually done in stages the first being the wire wings. I used the Tattered Angels Dragonfly stamp and made wire frames using the cover piece that is printed and wire, when I was happy with my wire work (it was never going to be an exact match) I then covered the frames in fantasy film (there are different types of this the one I used is sort of like a cellophane that you crinkle to get pretty shimmery effects).
You then heat it the more you heat it the less the shimmer shows but the more you get some cool melted spots and holes. I did quite a few layers wrapped around and around to get mine to look like they do.

Then I beaded the body with swarovski beads (from ebay before you go but she is a on a budget I lucked out and got them very cheaply). Then attatched it with yet more wire to the wings ( you twist them all together then wire the beads over the center).

I then decided to try stamping each wing with the dragonfly stamp I think it turned out pretty well (though I would suggest doing this before you put your dragonfly together).

I then stamped the body on a small piece of Manila cs and fussy cut it. I tried it plain but was not feeling it so added in the watch parts for my cogs and gears steam punk style element and that is how I got my funky dragon fly.

After I had been working on my background a bit and when I had used some expresso paint dabber on the watch parts I also ran it over the dragonfly for more of a distressed grungy look. I also rubbed over a little crushed soft charcoal.

the dragonfly really was the inspiration for my page. I saw Tim’s and have done the acetate type thing before and being me was like how can I make mine a bit different. I have been working with Fantasy film making butterflies for my Happiness Jar Decorating Kits (will do a blog about the kits soon) and was like Bingo.

Here is the page:

I did distress stains on Ranger Manila cs. For the background and also inked over it with a mix of tea dye, vintage photo and walnut stain (the holy trinity for a true aged distress look). I also rubbed over some crushed soft willow charcoal (it is so hard to explain what it does but it really adds another element to your distress)

Added in the tissue tape Nostaligic and inked over it with tea dye just to tone it in a little.

Then I will be honest I got stuck. I had no real idea about what I wanted to do next. I had my dragonfly stamped where I wanted it. The background pages done, the Journaling book pages inked so it all toned together but not a clue as to what I even wanted to do next so I left it alone for almost a week.

Tonight the damn burst and my mojo was in full swing as I pulled out some stamps ( two sets Air Travel and Urban Tapestry)

I used the big map stamp all over my background inked with picket fence distress stain. I really love how this looked over the background.

I then used my favorite brilliance ink Coffee Bean (I really need to get a re-inker for mine I use it so much) and used the ticket stamp and stamped bits of it over the page.

I then did the same with the Ink splatter stamp.

Used the compass stamp and embossed it in gold. Liked it so much I used the ink splatter stamp in some spots and embossed them in gold as well.

Added in the quote stamp which did not stamp perfectly but I kinda like that it didn’t it fits the whole grungy vintage vibe.

Added in the corner flourishes in black from yet another set of Tim Stamps (not sure of the name they are clear acrylic ones from ages ago).

Then thought about what else I could do. Went to my Tim/Ranger embellishment box and found some Alpha cards and thought ooooh so cut out the letters for April, inked them in tea dye and that is it.

Aprils Mixed Media Journal pages broken down and completed.

I have been having so much fun doing Mixed Media Journaling for the tags this year. Not only am I getting to play with the new techniques that we get each month (or improvising when I do not have the stuff to use) but I get to stretch my mixed media skills and I really love just getting to fool around and play.

If you haven’t guessed it yet I am a crazy fly by the seat of my pants crafter it is very rare for me to plan what I am doing I just tend to flow and hope I get something good out of it.

Have to say I am so pleased with how these pages turned out. It was so much fun to go from a pristine shimmery dragonfly to a steampunk grungy vintage type one still with some of the irradecence.

And so we come to the end of this amazing Milestone. For anyone who has been taking my creative journey with me I appreciate you visiting.

I love hearing your comments on my work and enjoy being inspired by you all.

Lots of Hugs

Amanda

12 Mixed media journal pages of 2013

How exciting that it is a new year which presents 12 chances to play along with Mr Holtz’s 12 tags of 2013

I considered my options for this year, after doing the wee coasters last year I just wanted more room. One of the things I really want to get better at is mixed media art journaling and what better way to do this than to turn each tag for 2013 into a mixed media project, not only this but I was given a gorgeous art journal last year which is perfect so not only will I be using inspiration from Tim each month but also want to create my own page next to it as well the aim is a double page for each month with one incorporating techniques or elements of  Tim’s original tag.

What excited me about this months is I already owned a lot of the elements, in the case of the quote stamp mine is the smaller version, and the pointing finger is a wood mounted one I got from Tattered Inspirations (though I did get the stamp set with it in it for Christmas).

So let me show you my page then I will tell you how it was done.

it is funny looking back at the process I took because the colours I added really don’t all show through though there are a few small spots where a little teeny bit does.

I started off by cutting a piece of manilla from a folder. I then embossed it with the same clock texture fade that was used by Tim.

I then smeared over impasto (which dries an opaque whitish clear its great because if you mix paint with it it will dry the colour mixed in and stay true to that paint colour so great for stencilling with), over the whole thing so as to allow some of the embossing to show through but to blur other bits, I then adheared chipboard cogs and gears both the boarder ones and the normal ones cut from thin chipboard. I smooshed mine into the wet impasto, then I smeared them with more to get the same sort of blurred effect.

Left it overnight to dry and then covered it in two layers of snow cap paint dabber. If you have modelling paste you can skip this step.

Then I played with some colour washes mostly in stream, butterscotch, cranberry, and purple twilight (I know I know you don’t see them now)

then I dried it all with my heat gun and did that till i was happy, then I inked over that with bundled sage and a bunch of other colours. Then I added some vintage photo and walnut stain distress inks, played with a bit of the water swish and flick and such and then smeared multi medium matt over it all and the result was the mottled browns you now see.

Then I was stuck what did I want to do next so again I left it overnight and looked at it with fresh eyes.

I got a big pack of American Crafts Metallic Markers today from my Local spotlight. So I used the gold and went over some of the embossing, also used it to outline my cogs and to then to colour in my butterfly used the pink and green and of course it would not be one of my pages without a little bling.

Then I got out a couple of Tim’s texture stamps that I received for christmas and the black archival ink and stamped a little texture on there.

The rest was fairly simple I coloured the wooden finger with butterscotch colour wash, and  used a couple of thin layers of snow cap paint dabber that I smeared with my finger.

Tore some Kraft CS and inked the edges with vintage photo and walnut stain, stamped the quote and then repeated the same inking on some manila but also inked over the manila so that it was turned brown.

Stamped some crinkle ribbon with a hero arts clock background stamp, used wild honey stain to colour it. Added in some watch parts, and the hardest bit used thin strips of metal found insidesome of the watch parts with some magic tape that I cut thinly by sticking the metal bits down on the tap and trimming it added in my game spinner and mini cog.

And viola my first Mixed Media Page of 2013. It is nice to actually have so much of what was used for a change. Though I would always want to do my take or spin on what is done and not necessarily use every element or tweak it to what my stash contains. I am super excited to see where this journey leads me this year.

 

PS You may ask why not tags? I have nothing against tags at all. To be honest last year I did the coasters to be different and so I would have a lovely piece of wall art, this year I am doing a mixed media journal so I will again have a momento of this year of creativity plus I truly want to learn and stretch myself in mixed media this year. Plus yes I do like to be different and do something that not everyone else is doing 😉

12 Coasters December

Wow this year has flown by. Just one more coaster for me to catch up on and I will be done. Though you will have to wait a bit for the big reveal I am really excited at how it is all coming together.

I have been having some issues with my cb. So have to say I was super happy to find some pre cut mirror stickers which I used on this tag at a local cheapie shop, add in festive Berries and Evergreen Bough distress inks, some rock candy stickles, tissue tape, trim roses, Smooch spritz in golden glow, an angel die cut, some silver tinsel trim, and a festive chit chat sticker and viola you have my December coaster

More October Challenges Pendant

One of the Challenges for last month at Jellybeans was to use the colour pink.

I lucked out earlier in the year and got some amazingly cheap memory glass and memory glass frames.

So rather than a layout or a card I decided to create a pendant.

I love how it turned out and know exactly whose Christmas Stocking this will be going in.

So here it is. I used lots of bling, Pink Paisley Butterfly garden pp, and some glitter as well as the Ranger Memory Glass Products.

12 Tags of 2012 September

So my first challenge was that I do not own the foil sheets, I did however some time ago find foil tape on ebay super cheap and have a roll of that. Yes its skinnier and took longer to cover the coaster, it also seems to scratch up easier.

Or perhaps that was my use of a green scourer rather than steel wool ( which I do not have any of at present).

It is quite funny actually I had such a different idea for my coaster originally. However I could not find my victorian Lady stamp and as I was looking I found the free stamp it stamp I was given at Artful Flight. Funny how that happens. I pulled out some white corrugated cardboard (purchased yesterday from a local cheapie shop), my little container of watch parts and just played.

I truly did not have a set idea in mind once I realised I could not find the stamp I wanted. So I really did just get inky and play.

The only thing I did differently with my background is after I scrubbed off some of the alcohol ink I also added a layer of Black Paint dabber then scratched it off using a paddle pop stick.

So enough rambling I am so excited to share my coaster with you all (the butterflies are mulberry paper ones I alcohol inked and then spritzed with a homemade pearl mist)

The quote is very Apt “Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art” Leonardo Da Vinci

Here is Tim’s Tag for this month, and I have to be honest it both excited and scared me. Though I had a lot of fun doing my coaster this month. (click image to be taken to the post and how to’s). (Moved so I can pin my coaster to pintrest)

Pretty In Pink My first Guest DT Spot for Tattered Inspirations.

I have held back a little on Announcing the news of my Guest DT spot for Tattered Inspirations etsy store because I wanted you to be as excited as I am.

The store is full of wonderful Kits, and bits and pieces of vintage inspired items perfect for all your crafting needs. Especially when you want not only value for money but also something just a little bit different.

Tattered Inspirations Blog and Card Kit

I was lucky enough to receive two kits the Pretty in Pink Card Making Kit, and Pretty in Pink Hat Pins. Here is what was in my Kit including the wonderful wrapping that makes every parcel from Tattered Inspirations feel like the best kind of Present.

The Kit:

The only things I added to the Kit to make my cards were: Victorian Velvet Distress Ink Pad, Ink Blending tool, Pink Cardstock, Papers from the Kaiser Bonjour Range, Home Made Mist, and rub on’s.

The best thing is the kits come with 3 cards and all you need to make 3 complete cards with enough spare to make one or two more. When you look at buying cards from a newsagent the kinds of cards you can create from the kits not only work out to be very economical but also are works of art.

The kits are so easy to work with that even if your not a natural Card Maker you will find it fun to just play and before you know it you will have 3 finished cards.

The first card I did started with the Paper Doily a great tip is to Mist your Doily  on top of your envelope it gives your envelope a really pretty finish and also means you waste less mist that way.

Here is the Card and Envelope and the card on it’s own it is very much about the layers.

&nbsp

The next card is a sweet little girly card that I have decided to give my Niece for Her birthday this month (I hope she will forgive its lack of hot pink and like it anyway)

and the last card is very much just about playing with the kit pieces and some pattern paper.

I do so hope you will go check out the etsy store as it really is a wonderful treasure trove.

And that’s all there is there isn’t anymore

Suitcase Box Tutorial (Yes my own unique box tutorial)

(the pictured suitcase boxes are 5″ wide rather than the 6″ in the tutorial it is explained in the instructions how you can alter the size)

A friend showed me a vintage suitcase that had been turned into a work of scrapbooking art. We were talking and as things go she wanted to figure out how to do the same thing on a smaller scale.

I said I had a few ideas I wanted to try and that I would get back to her and thus this tutorial was born.

This is perfect for the budget crafter as it uses just one sheet of 12 cardstock and the leftover bits are put to use. As well as leaving you with some squares that are perfect for inchies or layout titles and such.

Please do not be daunted by the amount of steps involved once you have made one of these you will discover how easy they are to make and how effective they look.

Materials:

A 12×10” piece of Cardstock in a colour of your choice

A 2”x6” piece of cardstock leftover from your original 12×12 or in a contrasting colour (depending on if you have Distress crackle paint or other acrylic paint to use)

Distress Crackle Paint or a contrasting colour in acrylic

10 brads (optional 26 if you would like all 3 of your corner pieces with a brad)

Ribbon, trim or Thin strips of faux upholstery suede for your straps and handle

2 Buckles (I used pearl ribbon sliders you can however get small buckles off eBay for a more authentic look)

Score board (alternatively a ruler and pencil will work however a score board is the fast simple option)

Strong double sided tape

Optional 1 7/8” x 1 7/8” piece of grungeboard

Multi Medium in Matt

Optional 6”x12” piece of patterned paper

Step 1:

Score your cardstock along the 12” edge at: 1”, 2”, 5”, 6”, 7”, 10” and 11”

Step 2

Turn your cardstock to the 10” length and score at: 1”, 2”, 8” and 9” (Please note if you want a smaller length to your box trim off extra cardstock and make sure you score at 1” and 2” on both sides by flipping the cardstock around I did this for the 2 boxes with the pattern paper on them to make them a 5” box.)

Step 3: Cut down the lines of your box along the 12” sides as shown in the picture. Along the edge lines down to the end of your two 1” score lines, please only do the 2^nd line on the corners (see step 4 for why you need to do this the L shapes are then recycled into your corner pieces) It should look like this image:

Step 4:

Cut off your corner pieces in an L shape (each part of the L should be a one inch square so you will end up with 3 of them. Also cut off the 2 extra squares in the middle leaving two one inch squares. Your box should look like this picture

Step 5: Place tape as shown in the photo: The inside pieces get tape on the flat cardstock that will fold inside the box, the tabs get tape on the rough side or outer side of the cardstock as shown in the following pics

Step 6 OPTIONAL If you are adding patterned paper to the outside of your box. Score it the same way the 12” side of the cardstock was scored in step one.

Place tape around the top edges of the box and on both sides of all score lines. Stick down your patterned Paper (this method allows for the pattern paper to be adhered not only easily but also in a way that means no bubbles and such later)

Step 7: Fold all your score lines and run a bone folder over them for crispness.

Step 8: Remove the top part of your double stick tape from the ‘tabs’ (the small 1” squares) and attach them to the piece next to them. As shown in the photo:

Repeat step 8 until all 8 corners are stuck down giving you your basic box shape

Step 9: Remove the top layer of your tape from all the long flaps and fold them down (this has the added benefit of making your box a little sturdier)

OPTIONAL: Add your grungeboard strip to the inside of the box hinged bit or place underneath your pp on the outside this will help keep your box in shape. You could also paint it with crackle paint or cover it in felt or faux suede for an added luxury look to your suitcase and adhere it to the bottom (the hinged 2” scored bit that allows your suitcase to be opened and closed)

Step 10: Score your 2”x 6” strip straight down the middle so you have two 1” sides. Turn to the 6” length and then score every 1”. (Please not my pic shows a 12″ strip done the same way you can do this if like me you often loose bits as your making things)

Step 11: Cut these into L shapes like your corner pieces you should now have 8 of these in total.

Step 12: Take one of your L shapes and fold over into one square. As shown in the pic

Step 13: Cut along the diagonal of your square. The best way I can describe this is to make sure you do not cut your ‘fold’ line and that you’re cutting off the open side of your square.

Repeat this for all 8 squares they will end up looking like a sort of square pac man:

Step 14: Paint your corner pieces with Distress Crackle paint or acrylic in a contrasting colour. If you chose to use cardstock in a contrasting colour you can skip this step.

Step 15 when dry place a brad in the centre of each corner piece (I use the piece that is in the centre as such) If you want to add brads to all sides do this now to the other two pieces as well.

Step 16: Paint some multi medium or other adhesive onto the non painted/non presentation side of your corner piece. Stick the triangle that has both of the other triangles attached to the top of the corner of your box (as shown) then stick down the other two triangles over your corner (see the pics below).

Repeat with all 8 corners.
This is what your box will look like

Step 17: Cut a strip of faux upholstery suede, ribbon or trim for your handle. Make sure it is a width your happy with.

Place holes for the brads towards the bottom corners of your Handle. Hold the handle to your box where you want it to be and mark the holes.

I used a tapered AWL (one of the benefits of being a bear maker as it is a tool of the trade however I also find it invaluable for scrapbooking as well) to punch the small holes needed in the box.

Add the brads to your handle and put through the holes.

NOTE: It took me a while to find a way to do the handle that I liked. I make the handle a bit thicker and put the brads down the bottom corners so that it overlaps the top part of the suitcase to look more like a real handle. However this is your suitcase you are free to do your handle how you choose.

Step 18: Measure your ribbon, trim or faux upholstery suede around your box making sure you have enough to go all the way around, with added extra to form your ‘straps’

Step 19: Using your ribbon, trim or thin strips of faux upholstery suede glue them into your ‘buckles’ by folding a piece of the end over and gluing it down. Do this for both strips

Step 20: Do up your straps at either end of your suitcase.

And Viola you did it!!  You can now create a mini album or use this as a gift box or decoration. Would also be great for a bon voyage party as party favours. You are only limited by your imagination. I would really love to see your creations if you try this tutorial!

Best of all this really is an economical little project.

June Coaster

Now I know there are a lot of people dying to hear all about my Journey to Sydney and Artful Flight and Meeting a certain Mr Holtz and I will be getting to those posts soon.

However I finished my Coaster for this Month and was so excited I wanted to share it with you all.
There is a technique I am in love with and it is so simple and cheap. You wont really see what it has done even looking at the coaster closely, it is one of those indefinable things that adds an extra layer of grittyness to your aged and worn looks. I used it in the 12 tags of Christmas and have been using it ever since. Soft willow charcoal. However instead of applying it to the edges of the paper this time I rubbed a little along some paper to get some dust up then smudged the charcoal dust over the Patterned Paper before using a blending tool, some foam and Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks (I also used a little of the last two on my flower and then Misted it)

The flower arrived in an Amazing Package of Vintage Girl Swap items from the Amazing Ladies at Jelly Bean Scrappers

I did ink over the top of it then Misted it. It was already that pretty dusky pink colour.

I added two Mulberry Rose Leaves, an I Kan Dee (from quite some time ago) Word Charm that I used a little Picket fence on Just like Tim Taught us on Sunday and a Jute String Bow. The paper is from Kaisers Vintage Timeless 6×6 pad (great value for money lots of PP and very well priced)  And Viola simple, and very pretty

Here it is:

What it has made me realise is that I want to re do my Febuary Coaster I never quite gelled with it completely. However now it does not really fit in to the look of the other coasters and for what I have in mind it just kind of stands out like a sore thumb so I will keep some elements like the flower and the heart and have a play and see what I come up with.