12 Tags of 2014 - August

Hello everyone crafty! Can you believe it's not the end of the month yet, and I have already created my tag for August for Tim's 12 Tags of 2014?!! The words Tim wrote on his blog this month moved me so, and I had to get started earlier. If you haven't read them, I copied them here. Tim said...

"our style is as unique as our individual personality, the art we make is an expression of that, and sometimes we simply have to follow that creative muse…

muse /myo͞oz/: to become absorbed in thought or dreamy abstraction

now usually i have a pretty good idea of what i want to create before i start the tag each month since i try to feature a new product or design with a seasonal theme.  however this month i didn’t plan a thing, i just gathered some of my favorite stamps, stencils, idea-ology findings, and distress products in a pile on my table.  i wanted to create something for the art of it.  this tutorial will give you a glimpse into my creative process (however crazy it may be), and you will see that like anyone else who creates, i change my mind along the way, think of new ideas that probably should have been done before something else, but nevertheless i just keep going until i’m happy with the end result.  i’ve learned long ago to embrace my imperfections and that sure makes creating so much more enjoyable.  so whether you’re obsessed with distress, or clean and simple is your thing, perhaps your happy place is bright colors, heck maybe even glitter is your sparkly obsession, this month i challenge you to create showcasing your own creative muse.   it doesn’t get any better than that…t!m"

I was moved because even Tim, and we all know how great he is, doesn't have a plan before he sets out, and he even has mishaps along the way, but he just goes for it anyway until he is happy! He fulfills his muse! Art doesn't have to be perfect and all that matters is that you are happy with the end result! There are no mistakes in Art! Set yourself free, create, and be happy! That can apply to every area of our lives!  I needed to hear that (again and again) because I get bogged down in the planning of it all, and trying to make too many people happy before I make myself happy. Creating Art shouldn't be that way...after all, we are the ones creating it. Right?!!

Anyway...enough of what goes through my crazy mind. Here is my take for this month's tag, and I followed Tim to the letter, just using my own favorites along the way!

 

 

 

 

Supplies:

Ranger Inkssentials #10 Jumbo Manila Tags	Tim Holtz Tissue Tape in Elements	Idea-ology Tissue Tape - Sketchbook	$23.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Nature Walk	$23.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Mercantile
Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Doily	Ranger Texture Paste	Tonic Tim Holtz Distress Tool	Distress Stain In Aged Mahogany
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Victorian Velvet	Ranger Inkssentials Mister	Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Mini Ink Blending Tool	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Speckles
Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder	Idea-ology Film Strip Ribbon	Idea-ology Vial Labels	Idea-ology Remnant Rubs in Botanical	Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Aged Mahogany
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Peeled Paint	Idea-ology Word Bands	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments - Nature
Idea-ology Game Spinners	Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Idea-ology Jute String	Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

CC3C - Stamps and Framelits

I cannot believe it's the middle of August! My kids start school in a couple of days...yikes! Happy Saturday all things crafty people! It's also time for another challenge in the new Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge!!! Big thank you's all around for the many thanks entries in the last challenge and of course for all the lovely comments! I am such a fortunate person to get to do this thing I love...Crafting! The Curiosity Crew and I are always humbled! Please keep those projects coming so you have a chance to win some amazing loot.
This new challenge, number nine, is the ultra cool new way to get things done in a flash...Stamps and Framelits!  I hope you have the goods and the book to show you the technique, because once you do it you'll see what I mean by getting things done in a flash...it's time saving, and space saving! Please play along so you can win some fabulous prizes donated by the ever generous Tim and Mario, and this challenge's sponsor, Inspiration Emporium!!! You will have two weeks to complete this challenge and link it up to the CC3Challenge site, and you can read all the rules here. Please take the time to visit every member of the Curiosity Crew (See below.) for not only some beautiful die cutting and stamping inspiration, but for a chance to win some extra goodies! They also inspire me so much. I love being apart of this group! Thank you ladies!

Linda Ledbetter

Annette Green

Candy Colwell

Cheryl Grigsby

Hels Sheridan

Marjie Kemper

Susan Mostek

Yvonne Blair

Yup! I have Christmas on the brain again, but that's probably because once August rolls around all the stores already start decorating and displaying their Christmas goodies....it's crazy! BUT, it's never too early to start making gifts, so that is what I've done here on these Vintage Snowman Ornament Plaques. 

Using the Christmas Words Stencil I inked them on a pressed wood panel using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I used the Distress Marker Spritzer and a Black Soot Distress Marker to add splatter all of the panel.

After shaking a white painting pen, I added splatters of the white paint as well. Then I inked the edges of the panel.

An oldie but a goodie, the Stamper's Anonymous Christmas Carol stamp was used to stamp on Ranger's #8 Kraft tags using Watermark Resist Ink. I love the subtle shade it gives on Kraft.  I trimmed off the bottom and inked the edges in Black Soot. These will be used with Tim's Stamps and Framelits technique.

Using a technique I use in classes, that I call Gesso Starching, I coated Tim's Eclectic Elements material with white Gesso and water. This makes the material stiffen up and give it a water proof like quality. I love it.

I used the Gesso starching on another piece of material using Black Gesso. Both pieces of the material will be used for Tim's technique.

I cut strips of more of the fabric to be used for the snowman's scarf.

Using the Framelits and Stamps makes life to much simpler. If you haven't done the technique, I really suggest you try it and see how much time, as well as space, you save! My snowman are sturdy little guys and oh so cute!

Using smaller #6 Kraft tags, I inked and splatter with water. I love the molted look.

I cut the 25's out of more fabric and stitched them on to the smaller tags.

These were so simple and really look cool. I layered everything on to the wood panels and inked everything up, and added some scraps of burlap and Idea-ology metal and paper string.

More of Tim's technique was used on the snowflakes!

Then I used some of the new Ranger Stickles to add some Christmas sparkle!

 

 

 

 

I cannot stress enough the space and time saving with Tim's Stamps & Framelits! I hope you give this challenge a spin!!!

Supplies:

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Minis #6	Tim Holtz Collection Stencil in Christmas	Tim Holtz Mini Ink Blending Tool	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer	Distress Markers Set
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Mediums Kit	Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements Melange Fabric Pack 12 Inch	Tim Holtz Coats Eclectic Elements Documentation 12x12"	Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements in Labels 12 x12
#8 Craft Tags	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set in Holiday Wishes	Watermark Resist	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Minis - Kit 3	Ranger Craft Tags in Kraft #5
Ranger Inkssentials Mister	Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink	Tim Holtz Sizzix Framelits in Snowman Blueprint	Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Framelits Die Set 7PK w/Stamps - Holiday Joy	Ranger Inkssentials Kraft Cardstock 8.5x11"
Ranger Archival Ink In Coffee	Tim Holtz Tonic Retractable Craft Scratcher	Jute Mesh (Burlap) Ribbon	Ranger Stickles in Seafoam	Ranger Stickles in Rose Gold
Ranger Stickles in Cranberry	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper String - Solids	Idea-ology Jump Rings	Idea-ology Muse Tokens In Christmas

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!