Thursday, January 05, 2012

Happy Birthday Tim Holtz!!!

Happy New Year again everyone!!! I hope everything is well and wonderful with all of you. There has been a firestorm of activity here on the Artful Maven, after Tim linked it on his blog. Several new followers and subscribers have joined us. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my crafty heart! I hope my projects live up to your expectations and inspire you in some way.

On the 7th, Tim will celebrate a birthday! Crafters from near and far are making and sending him cards. Can you imagine the poor, weary mail-person? It will probably play out like the scene from Sleepless In Seattle...when Tom Hanks goes to unlock his front door and the mailman brings bags and bags of letters...in the rain no doubt! I am sure it will be just as crazy at Tim's abode! I finally finished the card I am sending to Tim this evening, after working on it several days. The man just sent me $100 worth of goodies and blog appreciation, so the least I can do is show some appreciation back. Thanks again Tim!

I am also entering the card in a few weekly challenges. Linda from Studio L3, is hosting the Grungy Monday Challenge of "making Tim a card". The submissions are wonderful, and if you have time, please check them out. Simon Says Stamp and Show, is hosting the challenge "something old (paper shopping bag and wire) and something new (corrugated paper and Vintage Lace die". Also, and newer to cyber world, Lisa Somerville's Blogger's Challenge, is hosting a "celebration" theme, and Paper Issues for "using numbers". Warning:  The usual...lots of pictures and a tutorial...grab some chocolate and get comfy!
I wanted to incorporate the embossed metal technique Tim taught us during 12 tags this last year.
Using Ten Seconds Studio soft metal sheets I embossed several designs with texture fades (TH Alterations Jack of Clubs, Admit One Ticket, Number Ledger, Time, & Cuttlebug Music Notes, Happy Birthday, and Gears). I also adhered a chipboard letter "t" to the back of a metal piece and molded it in and gave it some texture with the metal working tools.
I trimmed each design and grouped them as I wanted them laid out, and painted them with Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Dabbers in Gold, Espresso, and Pitch Black. Then they got a soft sanding and inking with TH Distress Ink in Black Soot.
I adhered the metal pieces onto black cardstock, coated them in Ranger Inkssentials Clear Embossing Ink, and covered them in UTEE.http://www.rangerink.com/products.htm..twice. I added some TH Idea-ology Gadget Gears, Spinners, Washers, and Brads, a clock face from the Paper Studio, a crown from Art Chix Studio, a number 7 and gears from my stash, and a headshot of Tim that I coated in Glossy Accents. Crackle Accents was also added to a few images as well.
This is my favorite part...I used a craft tag and covered it in Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink in Latte, Pitch Black, Caramel, and Snow Cap Mixative. I am in love with this look and color combination. It's sort of camouflagey.
Then I ran TH Distress Stain in Tea Dye all over the tag, dried that with a heat gun, and misted with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist.  Then I distressed the edges of the tag.  Hello...I am in love even more! I almost hated to cover this up. It looks like the most beautiful piece of granite....I so need my kitchen redone!
I choose 4 different designs of TH Idea-ology Tissue Tape, stuck it down on grunge board, and coated it with Tea Dye Distress Stain. Then I used brown Craft Core cardstock and embossed a small piece using the TH Alterations Ice-icicles fade, and die cut another small piece using my new TH Alterations Vintage Lace die. I cut out the ice-icicle, now frosting, and gave it and the lace a coating in Glossy Accents.
I went around the borders of the tag with Gold Paint Dabber, adhered a strip of corrugated paper to the bottom of the tag and around the back, and adhered a cut circle from the corrugated paper onto the front and back of the tag hole. All the corrugated paper was trimmed in TH Distress Ink in Gathered Twigs and Black Soot. I had one real mother of pearl button and the backside of it was very jagged and distressed. I trimmed it out in Gold paint dabber and found another vintage looking button and did the same. I poked two holes into the corrugated paper circle and ran a double layer of wire through it and the buttons...one on each side. I curled up the wire sporadically and twisted so it would keep the buttons in place, but leaving a loop so the tag could be pulled or even hung up. I also added some TH hardware to the bottom of the tag and stapled a pattern "x" design there as well.
I cut each of the 4 pieces of tissue tape covered grunge slightly smaller than the other in pyramid fashion. They were inked with Gathered Twigs and coated with TH Distress Stickles in Antique Bronze. I adhered them to the tag from largest to smallest, on top of each other, but staggered them some to suggest uneven cake layers. The lace was adhered to the bottom layer and the frosting to the top. I placed computer generated words "happy birthday Tim" onto the frosting. Last I applied the Antique Bronze Stickles between the cake layers.
Is this over yet? Not quite but almost! I got a TH Idea-ology Pen Nib in "memoirs", dipped the tip in embossing ink and sprinkled a mixture of TH Distress Embossing Powder in Antique Linen and Close To My Heart Gold Embossing Powder onto the nib. I heated embossed it holding it with a pair of pliers. It was adhered to the top of the cake to look like a candle.
I received this vintage printed paper sack after buying something on Etsy many moons ago, but loved the print and images so much I saved it. Tim is so worthy, so I cut it in half and glued it down onto a large white envelope. After trimming and inking with Gathered Twigs and Black Soot, I gave each side a coat of  Liquitex  Gesso. The Gesso not only blended the ink even more but it strengthened  the envelope and actually padded it some, so my card will hopefully arrive safely to Tim after many miles of shipping and handling.
Phew...I am finally finished!
Tim is the "King" of the ATT Yahoo "Club"!!!
 
 
 
 I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!



32 comments:

  1. Want it! Anita - you have 'out awesomed' yourself! This is stunning. I was going to try and say something arty, but alas... found myself thinking of a quote from Finding Nemo, as spoken by the seagulls!:- 'Mine! Mine! Mine!' Anita, buy T!m a card!!! this one needs to visit England - you have the address! I'll add your name on my one - just off to post it in a moment. A glorious card for a great man :)

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  2. Just love these,very cool. Thanks so much for sharing how you made them. Makes me want to play with some metal. :)

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  3. Talk about over the top! Dang Anita, you're gonna put the rest of us to shame with this gorgeousness.

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  4. This is really awesome. I love the birthday cake.

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  5. Wow, wow wow, super cool. Tim is surely going to love this one. I have to get in my art room and make one too. He is going to love all these cards.

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  6. This is absolutely stunning!! Oh my gosh, it's perfect! It has so many things going on and I love every bit of it! The cake is gorgeous and I love the metal art! Tim is so going to love this card!

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  7. Wow Anita! I love all the details you used on these! Tim will too!!!!!

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  8. Anita...oh my gosh....your tag/birthday card to Tim is like..........FABULOUS! I love everything about it. Love all the pics and explanations of techniques, too!! The metal card is fabulous on it's on and then pull out the birthday cake tag...OMG! Tim is gonna LOVE that! <3 Candy

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  9. Oh. My. Goodness. I have been looking at a lot of absolutely fantastic art creations since joining the ATT group. But this one "takes the cake." I mean really. It also amazes me when you gals take the time and effort to post step by steps on projects like this. I thank you, for not only the inspiration but the instruction.

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  10. Great set! I esp love the 'cake' and the 'granite' background - Yep, I need a new kitchen too!

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  11. So cool! Love the birthday cake! He is going to love it!

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  12. Amazing! Love your work girlfriend. Miss you. we need to get together soon.

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  13. Oh My Goodness......stunning work my friend, love all the elements, the metalwork is jus fabulous xxx

    love

    kazxx

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  14. Your birthday cake tag is FAB - lots of techniques. Tim will love it, I'm sure!
    Sharon

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  15. awesome work....wish I was tim....lol~you stepped on this sis~~go girl
    cjeureka

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  16. Wow, Anita... this is spectacular! I love the cake (so clever!) and the pen nib as candle on the cake and all your embossing/metal work is just gorgeous. He will love it!

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  17. What a card/tag this is! Holy Cow, love it all, but the cake with the chocolate frosting is too darn cool!

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  18. Fab masculine BD card - love your embossed metal and that wonderful cake! Thanks so much for playing along with the Bloggers Challenge!

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  19. This is just....WOW! I can't even list everything I love about it. Really cool and so unique!!

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  20. Wow! What an amazing card and tag! It is all too fabulous! Love all the shine!

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  21. WOW!!!!!! I love the metal, the various textures, and that birthday cake is truly outstanding! Love these!!

    Thanks for sharing your creativity at the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge!!!
    -Sarah

    For More Opportunities:
    *Follow Simon Says Stamp on Twitter
    *Like Simon Says Stamp on Facebook
    *Subscribe to Simon Says Stamp on YouTube

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  22. Cor, how cool is this card!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! Happy New Year to you.. hope 2012 is marvellous for you x

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  23. This is so wonderful! Tim will L-O-V-E it!!

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  24. What a great artwork, I really enjoyed the pictures of your artistic process......GREAT!!!

    Greetings, Alie :-)

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  25. wow....I've seen some of your other work, but this one really knocks my socks off. Love the colors and all the layers. Not to mention the granite tag. I've fallen in love with using the alcohol inks on glassine paper...same kind of effect...but your finished products are fabulous. I'm one of your new followers!

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  26. Your card is fab and I love the tissue tape birthday cake!

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  27. Wow, wow, wow, holy moly, Anita, just picking my jaw up off the floor! Two amazing projects and a sensational envelope. Every single tiny detail is perfect. Totally love what you have done here and thanks so much for sharing with us this week over at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

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  28. Congratulations, girl!!! You so deserve the win @ Simon Says... yaaaay!

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  29. WOW1 I am really impressed! What a creative project, the cake and the card! I love it!

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  30. Wonderful project!!!......I really love this style!......

    Thanks for sharing all steps

    Greetings from Spain

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  31. I just love this. Especially the cake tag. It looks like the tag is a vintage metal of sorts the way you did it. Thanks for all of the tips!

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