Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween 2022 - Acorns and Pumpkin Duo Autumn Alcohol Ink Cards

It's not quite Autumn yet, but it's coming soon and it's my favorite season and time of the year. Today, I have one of two of the makes from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween Live, and I am in love with how these four cards came out as I was just experimenting really, because I had not used the Alcohol Ink surfaces like this before, and never have embossed them. Boy oh boy was the Acorns 3D Texture Fade the right one to start with! And..it pairs so wonderful with the Pumpkin Duo. The experiment yielded four great cards, so I decided to show you all of them and the differences with them. Enjoy!

 

I ran a piece of regular white cardstock (lightly misted with water) through the Acorns 3D Texture Fade just to see all the little intricacies and details of the Fade...so so good...to have for comparison and as a sample, plus I can use it another time (far lower left in the photo). Because I couldn't decide which Alcohol Ink Cardstock from Ranger to use (or if dry embossing was even going to work), I just decided to use all four and see the differences after to decide which one I wanted for my card. I wasn't sure what was the best way to dry emboss these (especially the Yupo) as these paper are different from regular cardstock, but on the Yupo (made from plastic), I lightly misted both sides with 91% Rubbing Alcohol, placed it inside the Acorns 3D Texture Fade, and then ran it through the machine in and out and in and out again, so a total of four times. The image came out pretty good (lower left)...not as good as regular cardstock, but still pretty sharp. I decided to see what it would be like to not use the alcohol, so I did another Yupo piece (not shown) and it did not come out as good as the alcohol misted one, plus it buckled the paper a bunch more than the other, so I think the alcohol helped. Then I did the Silver Sparkle next (upper left) not misting it at all, and it came out SUPER!. Then I did the Brushed Silver next (upper right), with no misting, and it came out EXCEPTIONAL, even better than the white sample cardstock. I guess because it's metallic foil like so it molded so so well. Then I did the Matte Black, the one I was really worried about because it's thicker and almost suede like. I misted it with alcohol on both sides and ran it through same as the others, and then bam it was FABULOUS! Not as good as the Brushed Silver but close. I decided then that I was going to do four cards using each of these and using all the same things and colors to see the differences later. Why not? So, you can decide which to use or even do all four and do as I did or find an even better way to dry emboss on these surfaces. Don't trim off the unembossed sides yet, as it's easier to hold to add your color next, and you can trim after. 

 

 

I wanted each to have a blue sky background (they are in the same order as before), so I added Aquamarine and Aqua Alcohol Inks to the felt on an Alcohol Ink Applicator with a little Blending Solution, and pounced it on the Yupo and silver papers. You can't do that on the black though as it won't show up, so I pounced on Snow Cap Mixative first and covered all the black, let that dry, and then added the blues. It worked great, subtle, but I liked it. So that is the only difference of the things I did for each paper, only adding the Snow Cap to the black first. I lightly misted a piece of paper towel with 91% rubbing alcohol, and then rubbed over each leaf and acorn to remove some of the blue for easier color application later. It worked good on all of the papers, especially the Yupo and Brushed Silver. The other two worked okay to remove the blue, but some of the blue soaked in, so these two are more absorbent than the Yupo and Brushed Silver.

 

 

I removed the silicon mat from the Glass Mat to use the grid as my palette for Alcohol Inks...works so good. I started with Ember, a color I haven't used yet. I am in love with this color, yum! I added a little Blending Solution to extend the open time, and painted on the color here and there on the leaves of each paper. Do you see how different the color looks on each paper...so so good.

 

I used Moss next, adding it here and there on the leaves and adding it on all the stems and branches as well. Then I added Dijon next, filling in whatever was not colored on the leaves. I decided the leaves looked a little blotchy with the three colors, and needed balancing, so I used Honeycomb to paint on top of each leaf. On the Yupo and Brushed Silver the Honeycomb moved the other colors a little, but on the other two the Honeycomb stayed on top and balanced it all out like I wanted. Just when I pick a favorite, they change and then I have a new favorite. Typical of me! They still look so different even though the colors are the same, especially the black. 

 

 

I painted the tops of the acorns with Sandal and the bottoms with Caramel. Then I used Moss again to paint over all the veins in the leaves and the stems.

 

 

I trimmed the umembossed borders off of each one. I shook up the new Harvest Moon Mica Stain, and going outside, I misted it in the air and ran the papers through the mist and got the finest of dots all over each one...so good and warm. Then I set these aside.

 

 

I added two sided tape to the back of another sheet of each of the cardstocks. I die cut all the Pumpkin Duo pieces on each one keeping them in a layering order and the base and stem pieces on the right side...a perfect fit for all of them. I was surprised as well that the Thinlits cut through the Yupo and Black, really nice, but I did the same as before, in and out and in and out, so that is four passes. I punched out the base and stem pieces and then left the pumpkin body pieces inside the paper for easier coloring.

 

 

Again, I repeated what I did before on the Pumpkin Duo pieces as I did the 3D Acorns, using the same of everything and same process except adding the Snow Cap to the black. I started with the base pieces and stems of the pumpkins, pouncing on Limeade to all the pieces, and then adding Moss onto the felt and pouncing on only on the stems that will go on the top.

 

 

For the bodies of pumpkins (and because my pieces were in layering order) I started with the lightest color on the felt for the smallest (also very top pieces) pieces using Butterscotch. Then using the same felt, I added Sunset Orange and pounced it on the next size, then added my fav, Ember, and pounced it on the next set, and finally added Sienna (still the same felt) and pounced it on the largest pieces. I love the color variegation on these. Then I removed the backing on the pieces and assembled the pumpkins.

 

 

I cut and folded a Kraft Cardstock base card to 5x7 inches for each one, and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I mounted a gorgeous blue Metallic Kraftstock to the top cut slightly smaller using two sided tape. Back to the Acorn, I inked the edges of paper with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and then mounted them to Mixed Media Heavystock cut slightly bigger. Then I mounted this on top of the blue Metallic with two sided tape, deciding to turn two horizontal and two vertical for a little difference. I decided the tops of the acorns needed something to help them stand out, so I poured a tiny bit of Harvest Moon Mica Stain out and painted the tops of each acorn with a paintbrush. 

 

 

I selected sentiments from kraft Chit Chat Stickers and mounted them  on Mixed Media Heavystock and cut a fishtail at the end of each. I cut two strips of Mummy Cloth, both five inches long, gathered one up slightly and adhered it to the card front below where the pumpkins would sit with two sided tape, for each card. I added the pumpkin (the one that will be sitting furthest behind) on the strip of Mummy Clothe, and then added the other strip on top slightly gathered. I added the sentiment to the side of the other pumpkin and then adhered them on with foam tape so it would be slightly forward and overlapping. 

 

NOTE: I decided I love each one, and although I was not initially happy with the Yupo one probably the most, I do love the end result. Yupo allows the Alcohol Ink to move around, which is great, but I wanted it to stay still this time. Ultimately though, I love the artsy look of the leaves on the Yupo. Probably my fav though (at the moment) is a tie between the Brushed Silver and the Black...they are most like me...dark with a little color. LOL! If you haven't played with these substrates yet, I really suggest you do...so much fun and exciting at the same time. 

Acorns and Pumpkin Duo Autumn Alcohol Ink Card on White Yupo

Acorns and Pumpkin Duo Autumn Alcohol Ink Card on Matte Black

Acorns and Pumpkin Duo Autumn Alcohol Ink Card on Metallic Brushed Silver

Acorns and Pumpkin Duo Autumn Alcohol Ink Card on Silver Sparkle

Supplies: 

(Die Cut Machine, 91% Rubbing Alcohol In Sprayer, Scissors, Two Sided Tape, Alcohol Ink Applicator with Felt, Small Paint Brush, Glass Mat, Paper Towel, Paper Trimmer, Ink Blending Tool, Foam Tape) 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Cardstock: White Yupo, Brushed Silver, Silver Sparkle, Matte Black

-Sizzix Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fade (Halloween 2022): Acorns 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Blending Solution 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink: Aquamarine, Aqua, Ember, Moss, Dijon, Honeycomb, Sandal, Caramel, Limeade, Butterscotch, Sunset Orange, Sienna 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Mixative: Snow Cap 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Mica Stain: Harvest Moon

-Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits (Halloween 2022): Colorize Pumpkin Duo 

-Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Metallic Classics Kraftstock, Metallic Jewels Kraftstock, Halloween Trimmings, Seasonal Chit Chat Stickers, Chit Chat Stickers 

-Ranger Surfaces: Mixed Media Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium: Matte

 

Making these cards brought memories of Ranger U back to my mind...the experimenting and playing with mediums...I've missed doing that, so you will probably see more of this. Thank you so much for stopping by. I'll be back soon with my last make for the Live. I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!