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!

Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween 2022 - Colorize Otis Moon with Mischievous Cats on Halloween Lighted Vignette Tray

Hello Everyone! Today I have the second project I made for the after Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween Live (the big one)...A Lighted (2 colors) Halloween Vignette Tray, made with the Colorize Otis and Mischievous Cats Thinlits. I SERIOUSLY had the best time making this...those cats and that moon are too too fun! The pics just don't do this project justice. Enjoy the tut, and grab a snack!

 

 

Using the Colorize Otis and Metallic Kraftstock, figure out which colors to use, and then add two sided tape to the backs of the papers and die cut the pieces. Assemble all the pieces of the moon. Use grays from the Classic Kraftstock to die cut the bats and assemble. Use more Metallic in gold and silver and die cut several of the stars and assemble. Die cut two of the string pieces in silver Metallic, and then lay them on top of each other for a little more sturdiness. Set all these aside. 

 

 

Die cut all eight of the Mischievous cats (and their faces) from Black Kraftstock with two sided tape on the back. Leave them all inside the Kraftstock for now. Shake up Wicked Elixir and lightly mist it over the Kraftstock, and then clean the hole in the nozzle to be safe. Let the cats dry on the sheet and set aside for now.

 

Die cut the sentiment from the Bold Text Halloween using the new Black Two-Tone Woodgrain. Save the inside letters for another project, but keep the little bits that go inside the letters as you will need those. Cut around it randomly to make it look tattered leaving about 1/4 inch border.  Ink the edges and inside parts with Black Soot Archival and an ink blending tool. Add a few thin strips of black foam tape to the back and set this aside for now.

 

 

Place Gesso in a cup and water it down about half as much and mix. Paint over the back and sides of the Vignette Tray with the Gesso. Let dry. Starting at the top of the tray, paint about two inches down (and the top and sides) with Uncharted Mariner Distress Paint. While wet add Villainous Potion Paint and blend in with the blue, carrying it down about two inches, doing the sides as well. Continue adding about an inch wide coat of paint (Next Wilted Violet, then Picked Raspberry, then Carved Pumpkin, and finally Mustard Seed) and blending all the paints where they meet, ending with Mustard Seed and painting the bottom with it. Let dry. 

 

 

Shake Iron Gate Distress Mica Stain, and mist the Vignette Tray liberally on all sides. Use a paper towel to blot the Stain where it is pooling up. Let dry. 

 

 This is after the Iron Gate Distress Mica Stain...perfection!

 

 

Using the Twisted Layering Stencil from Stamper's Anonymous, lay it at the bottom of the Vignette Tray but leave the wooden border out from the stencil design. Use a palette knife to spread a nice medium layer of Distress Crypt Grit Paste through the tree looking portions of the stencil. Let dry and immediately clean the stencil and knife with water. Use the black glitter tape from the Materialize Design Tape set and adhere to the borders of the Vignette Tray where the pieces meet and are glued for a nice border, using a little Collage Medium for reinforcement so it doesn't come off later. 

 

 

Place the drawer pull on top of the Vignette Tray and center it. Use a craft pick to mark the holes in the drawer pull, then move the pull off and use a hand drill with a thin bit and drill the holes for the fasteners to go through. Place the pull back on and match the holes and add a little Collage Medium and then push the Long Fasteners through and open them to secure them underneath. 

 

 

Lay all the die cut pieces on the tray and arrange them where they will go, but only adhere the six cats at the bottom of the tray, and the three bats by removing the backing from them. Don't add the faces of the cats yet as they will come later. You are going to add clear Tiny Lights through the back of the tray to all the stars, the sign, and the moon. There are 20 lights on the string, so you need to know how you will divide them up...five will be for the stars, eight for the sign, and the rest for the moon. Having foam tape on the back of these pieces will allow the lights to really shine behind, so go ahead and add thin pieces of black foam tape randomly to the back of these pieces keeping them toward the outside border of each piece so there is room for the lights on the inside parts. Add Velcro to the back of the battery pack on the lights and then stick it down (on the bottom right of the inside of the tray) and have them ready to go. Starting with the two bottom stars first to help you get the hang of the process, lay one star where it will go (don't stick it down yet) and then use a Craft Pick, pressing it into the wood, to mark underneath it where the there is no foam tape. Remove the star and then use the hand drill to make a hole where the tiny Craft Pick hole was. Drill a hole for the other star as well.

 

   

Turn the tray over, and starting with the first light that is closest to the battery pack, fold the wires down on each side of the light, and then push the light through the lowest star hole so that it is just slightly above the hole on the front side of the tray. Do the same for the other star. (NOTE: My stars where a little too far away from each other so I had to skip a light between the stars.) Now drill holes under where the other two stars will go, and eight under the sign where there is no foam tape, and seven under the moon, and one behind the star hanging from the moon. Finish pushing the lights into the holes, and secure the wire with strips of tape to make sure they stay put. Remove the foam tape backing for the stars, moon, and sign, and adhere them in place making sure they are covering up the white lights. Use Collage Medium to adhere the inside bits of the letters on the sign directly to the tray. One of my lights can be seen in the sign because I didn't line the hole up, so be careful if you don't want that to happen. 

 

 

Add the sleeping cat to the right top of the sign using foam tape on his head and rump so that he matches the depth of the sign. Adhere the laying cat on the left of him but with no foam tape. The green lights will be for the cats eyes, except for the sleeping cat. Drill holes in the very center of each cat's head, except the sleeping cat. Use velcro to adhere to green lights battery pack to the back of the tray. Starting with the closest light to the battery pack, push the lights into the holes as you did before. There will be holes that are too far away from each other so you will have to skip some lights. When finished, cut off the excess light strand and toss. Turn the tray over and add tiny squares of black foam tape to each ear of the cats. Take the matching faces of each cat and punch holes for eyes, keeping them about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart because the lights will be in the middle, using a jewelry hole punch. Remove the backing on each face and backing on the foam tape, and adhere the matching faces on each cat. For the sleeping cat, use a black permanent pen to add slits for sleeping eyes. You won't be able to see it much, but that's okay. To finish apply dots of Tarnished Brass Distress Paints for more stars randomly over the whole tray, and when dry add smaller dots of Picket Fence Distress Paint to the centers of the Brass. Let dry.

 

Supplies: 

(Die Cut Machine, Die Pick, Scissors, Two Sided Tape, Ink Blending Tool, Black Foam Tape, Glass Mat, Paint Brush, Palette Knife, Craft Pick, Hand Drill, Jewelry Hole Punch) 

-Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Metallic Classics Kraftstock, Metallic Colors Kraftstock, Metallic Kraftstock, Metallic 3 Kraftstock, Classic Kraftstock, Black Kraftstock, Vignette Tray, Materialize Design Tape, Mini Hardware Set, Long Fasteners, Halloween Tiny Lights, Tiny Lights

-Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits (Halloween 2022): Colorize Otis, Mischievous, Bold Text Halloween 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Mica Stain: Wicked Elixir. Iron Gate 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Woodgrain: Black Two-Tone 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink: Black Soot 

-Ranger Gesso: White 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint: Uncharted Mariner, Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Tarnished Brass, Picket Fence 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Grit Paste: Crypt 

-Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Twisted 

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium: Matte 

-Velcro, Black Permanent Pen

 

This one just might be my favorite Halloween make yet. Thank you so very much for stopping by and for commenting. I'll be back with makes from the Live next week. Until then, I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!