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!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone! It has been an absolutely fabulous day for me since the moment I was woken up at 9 am! Yes, I stayed up way to late last night, so sleeping in from my usual 6:30 am was wonderful in itself! I was being read to by my 11 year old, who is enthralled by The Hunger Games, when I heard the chime on my cell phone, cluing me in that there was a new twitter message. I checked it and saw that Tim posted something on his blog. When I clicked on over, I read that 12 bloggers out of hundreds, had been drawn to receive gift certificates because we  finished all 12 tags, and I was one of them. You would have thought that I was either in massive pain or had gotten the worst news, because I screamed out and proceeded to cry like a baby for about 30 minutes...no joke! My husband and children were deeply concerned until I passed the phone over for them to read the news...they were relieved and joined in the joy!  Since then, it's been a nonstop emailing of thank you's between trying to finish up the following tag and getting those black-eyed peas finished for tonight's special dinner. My new friend Anna from across the pond, gave me an idea though, so before I continue on with my tag I have to give a shout out to somebody special.

You totally never seize to amaze me! Not only are you awe inspiring but your generosity is beyond belief! Happy New Year Tim! May it be the best one yet!

This gaudy little tag gave me some fits today, but I'm love with it. The pictures really do it no justice as there is too much detail that just can't be photographed with my currant camera. I used a new product I have, called Sophisticated Finishes in Patina Green,  to see just what it can do when you don't use it correctly in the first place!

First, I sprayed Perfect Pearls Mist in Blue Patina and let it dry. Then brushed on a coat of Sophisticated Finishes. When it dried I noticed that some of the streaks were darker and the paper underneath looked sanded. I don't know if it sort of eats the paper some, but it looked so cool. I inked over it with Iced Spruce and Broken China, then splattered on some water droplets.

I love the look of this background. I really hated covered it up.

I heat embossed Tim's clock stamp image with CTMH  white embossing powder.

I printed the music for Auld Lang Syne on transparency and adhered it to the tag with the tiny attacher. I used metal sheet and die cut lace using my new Vintage Lace die (loving that) and adhered that as well. I added some tulle and ribbon at the top and now my tag was ready for some gaudiness!

I die cut foliage and flourishes from Tim's Festive Greenery die and adhered a Rock Candy crackled and UTEE heat embossed sentiment from Pink Paislee House of Three Daily Junque, with 2 brads.

Here's where things get tricky. I die cut the birdcage and bird using grunge paper. I crackled and heat embossed the cage after adding a few extra pieces of grunge to make a door. It's difficult to see the open door but it's there. I added some more Sophisticated Finishes to the cage but it didn't do much here, so I inked it with Gathered Twigs. I stained the bird with White Picket Stain, inked with Broken China, and highlighted a few key parts with a sharpie. Rock Candy Stickles was added for extra shine. I made a banner with number stickers and twine and tied it to the cage. A mini clock, hands, and brad where added to indicate that this is the cage of yearly time. I had this great Prima bedazzled bird cage outline and added it to the tag, glued the bird on, and doubled up on the foam tape to adhere the cage. A chain and charms attached the cage to the ribbons above.

Last, I added a heat embossed Dresden bird, who is flying away with the old year, giving way to the new and fresh year.

I send out heart felt thanks to all my followers, subscribers, and commentors! I really have no words to express how wonderful it makes me feel and how I am inspired everyday from all of you. I have met new friends cyberly that I would never have had the chance to otherwise, and I so love that. Blogging has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I wish you all, as well as those who drop by, a wonderful and immensely blessed new year!!!

 

My Top 10 Favorite Craft Products of 2011

As crafters we buy a lot of stuff...well at least I do (zip it hubby)! Stuff that we either love and can't live without. Stuff that we like, look at, and think we will use someday (zip). Stuff we don't like (in some cases "yet") and horde or give away (ZIP IT PLEASE!). And, sometimes we buy stuff we already had...just did that a few weeks ago...oops! I don't know why I don't use up every single bit of everything before I buy more, or at least stick with a certain genre of art for awhile before moving on with another.  I think I have a craft product sickness...or as some (hubby) would call it crap product sickness, i.e. "crap-booking". I probably need a 12 step program, but it would have to involve inking, painting, gluing, and cutting homework before I would even sign up. I have brilliantly managed to fit most of it in a 7 x 7 foot space...until somebody (hubby) builds me an awesome studio. Anyway, here is my list of all my favorite products from this year, and even though some have been around longer, I only started using them this year. 

 In No Particular Order:

1.  Core'dinations Paper - TH Kraft-Core; Core Impressions for Graphic 45, Jenni Bowlin, and Cosmo Cricket; Color Core Cardstock for TH and Ranger, and Black Magic (Yummo...I love paper! I totally understand why goats eat it!)

2. More Paper (Sorry!) - Graphic 45's Communique Collection; TH Idea-ology Kraft Resist

3. TH Idea-ology Tissue Wrap (Both designs...need more please Tim!)

4. Cosmo Crickett Glubbers...those really large glue dots great for flowers and rosette dies (I'm told you can make your own. Someone give me the tutorial.)

5. Dies & Fades - All TH Alterations Mini's (Hello!..The big ones are grand and now little ones...love them!); TH Alterations Texture Fades in the Jack, Queen, King (How cool are those? I need stamps too please Tim!); and you guessed it...TH Alterations...duh!...Mini Rosettes and Vintage Lace (Just got the latter, and have already been playing.)

6. Prima's Shabby Chic Treasure Pieces - Chandelier, Candelabra, Bicycle, and Birdcages (I love everything metal! These rock!)

7. TH Distress Stain - Every single color, but especially White Picket Fence and Black Soot. (This is probably the most genius of all projects this year!)

8. Stamps - (Oh no...get ready!) Hero Arts (All the vintage lady ones.); Graphic 45 for Hampton Art Vintage Ladies (Who knew they even made stamps?); Pink Persimmon Antiquated Collection by Lisa M. Pace (All of them are fantastic!); Artistic Outpost (The Paris and SteamPunk ones.)

9. TH Distress Ink in Festive Berries, Iced Spruce, and Gathered Twigs (The latter is my new favorite. Vintage Photo is now gathering dust.)

10. Wendy Vecchi Studion 490 Art Parts "Clearly for Art Blackout" Modeling Film (Phew...that is a mouthful!) (This stuff is amazing when heated. The possibilities are endless!)

I really do have issues! Please tell me I'm not the only one! Leave a comment and let me know your favs for this year as well! And, before anyone asks, no, I did not get paid to advertise for any of this. They are just my favorites and my opinion. Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!


 

Debby's NYC Christmas Project Completed!

Our whole little group in Rockefeller Center!

The roomies...Heather, Susan, Karen, and me, in front of How To Succeed In Business (I highly recommend it)!

 I decided to take the whole day today and finally finish up my project from Debby Schuh's New York City tour and Tinsel Trading Company class back in November (have I mentioned I had a blast?). True to my form, I did not follow her sample, but made it my own. She gave us SO MUCH ephemera, embellishments, paper, etc., that my mind went into overdrive at several different points along the way. WOW!!! The whole paper line and all the journal cards and ephemera were from October Afternoon's new Holiday Style line. They had not even put this on the market yet at that point. How cool was that? Debby even mentioned that if she did design a Christmas line, it would look just like this. It was hard to choose which to use and which to horde away, as is my usual nature, because every single item was fab.  I have been working on this project here and there since November, just tinkering and trying out new techniques I have learned on bits and pieces of it. I loved Tim's wrinkled up Tissue Wrap background technique so much I tried it here on this background and as you already know on a few tags. So, I found it ironic when I read the Grungy Monday challenge this week to use "Tissue Tape and/or Tissue Wrap". I have already used both on this project, so I will enter it on GM 30, as well as the Sunday Stamper, where there is an "anything you want" challenge. These two challenges did spur me on to finish this up, so I hope this project qualifies for both even though technically it is a Debby kitted project. In any case, I had the best time of my late autumn, made a gorgeous project I am proud of, and met the most wonderful people (several who are now close friends) on that trip. Thank you so much Debby...for every single bit of all of it!!!

The pictures are so not doing this project justice...sorry.

Tissue Wrap background...I love how you can see through it.

 

This is Debby's sample picture.

Supplies:
Paper Used- Holiday Style by October Afternoon; TH Idea-ology Tissue Wrap in Composer and Tissue Tape in Tidings (snowflake)
Stamps Used- TH Collection for Stampers Anonymous in Reindeer Flight (snowflakes)
Coloration Used- TH Distress Inks in Gathered Twigs, Tumbled Glass, and Peeled Paint; TH Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy; TH Distress Stickles in Clear Rock Candy, Brushed Pewter, and Peeled Paint; Ranger Stickles in Black Diamonds, Diamond, Green, and Christmas Red; Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents
Embellishments Used- Amy Tangerine Thickers in Goodness by American Crafts (Noel); Thickers Eclair by Amercian Crafts (Joy); The Girls Paperie Tinsel & Twig Chipboard Alphabet (Merry Christmas); The Girls Paperie Tinsel & Twig Flower Market Crepe Paper (snowflake flowers); TH Idea-ology Mini Paper Clips; October Afternoon Holiday Style Tin Pins; candy canes, vintage tinsel, holly, and red polka dot ribbon are from my stash
*The rhinestones, all other ribbon, die cuts, glitter, and clothes pins, were given to me by Debby, as well as the 14 3/4 in. x 14 3/4 in. wooden frame.

I really wish these pictures were better. I really need a better camera. It is hard to pick up all the glitter and shine of this project. It doesn't help either that I typically photograph in the late evening after I finish up, when all natural light is gone. Any-who...I hope you get your hands creatively dirty soon!

December ATC Swap

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! My clan had a wonderful time with family. It is always a special time of year for us...everyone really seems to shine. But, it ended, and alas, the mail came today after its little hiatus, and a small package came for me. My "All White ATC's" from the All Things Tim Yahoo Group monthly swap had arrived. I tore into them as fast as I could, this my last Christmas present. I love them all! I was especially excited to see one that is similar to my own...great minds!

This cutey is from Susan Salyer...who ironically lives pretty close to me, and we've never met...small world! Love this happy Santee!!! Fabulous pattern that sparkles too...beautiful!

This pure white beauty is from Jocelyn Cazier. These sparkly white gears really had me turning! Have you ever noticed that pearls add instant old school class? I'm in love!

And...here is  Donna Jean Eno's beautiful winter white scene! Isn't it funny that we used the same dies, and had polka dot backgrounds? I love it! Her deer is really raised up from the card which really makes it pop. It is so striking!

And...here is mine again.

Thanks again to all the participants and especially to Sandy who does all the work! I look forward to next months theme. If you have not joined in on the fun and you are in the group, why not give it a try? It will be a new year, a new beginning, and a time to try new things! I hope you get your hands creatively dirty soon!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Twas The Night Before A Crafter's Christmas!!!

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wonderin' what Santa, brought just for me;

Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace?
or a cricut? I said with a smile on my face!

and that's when I heard him...''HI SANTA,'' I said.
''you know good little girls should be in their beds''.

I know I should Santa, and now I've been caught!
but I was excited, to see what you brought.

well, lets take a look in this room where you work.
he shook his head quickly and left with a jerk!

I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear...
you've got enough stuff, I'll see you next year!

(Borrowed this poem from my friend Jody Myslinski. Thanks girl!!!) 

I am so grateful to all of you who have supported this blog and me!  I wish each and every one of you the most beautiful and joy filled Christmas, Hanukkah, holiday, and/or weekend! Hugs to all, Anita

3 Challenges Christmas Tag

Hello again today!!! I wanted to quickly do one more project before Christmas, and then take a little break for a couple of days. Hels Sheridan, from the Sunday Stamper, has a challenge this week to show a Santa Claus. Simon Says Stamp and Show has a challenge to make a Tim inspired tag. Our Creative Corner has a color challenge to make something using pink, blue, red, and white. I really didn't know if I could handle this. Pink, Santa, and Tim inspired??? I gave it my best shot. It is not so grungy, but somewhat vintage. I really wanted to make one of Tim's trees that he blogged about this week. I loved that project! I tweaked it some to make a taller tree, and one that lays on a tag...not even possible without a glue gun, because I had to cut each rosette in half.  Kudos to the inventor of that!!!

I die cut 3 rosettes from the TH Alterations dies Paper Rosette and Mini Paper Rosette, using white cardstock. Only half way closed, I set each one in a glob of glue on my craft mat until hardened. I cut each one in half, making 6 now. Then I stacked them up biggest to smallest and glued them together.

cut a piece of Imaginisce Snowy Jo paper 1/4 inch smaller on all four sides than my jumbo sized manilla tag (4 1/4 in. x 8 1/2 in) in. The tag was coated in TH Distress Stain in Spun Sugar, and left to dry. I stamped the Christmas Carol music stamp from TH for Stamper's Anonymous Holiday Wishes Collection, using Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink. Then I stamped the Hero Arts College Music Background stamp all around the sides of my jumbo tag using TH Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick. I adhered the snowflake paper to my tag, and then ink around it with Worn Lipstick. I added a TH Idea-ology Reinforcer and inked it with Tumbled Glass. Then, I used a Uniball Signo pigment ink pen in White (my fav) and traced over the green snowflakes on the paper. I cannot have any green on this tag. Since my paper had glitter snowflakes in pink and blue, I added a little more sparkle with TH Distress  Stickles in Worn Lipstick and Clear Rock Candy.

I tied pink tulle, white webbed ribbon, and Tumbled Glass stained ribbon around the tag, and affixed a sanded rose gold Muse Token from TH Idea-ology. The sanding gave it a shiny quality that I liked. The transparency sentiment is from K&Company's Brenda Walton Evergreen Die Cut Collection. I adhered it with 3 glittered brads placed strategically on each dotted letter i.