12 Tags of 2015 - January

I decided this year to make the time to participate in the Tim Holtz 12 Tags challenges because I am busily attempting to finish or complete many project surfaces I have "collected" over the years.   For the January edition I have chosen to adapt a small sketchbook with his techniques, to use as a yearly journal.  Please visit his blog (link above) for any additional directions to these steps & join us each month for a wonderful learning adventure!

"Twenty 15" Journal

My little black journal was an "odd" size of 5 3/4" x 8 1/4" so I measured to have a 1/2" border around the featured collage.  For starters, I cut a 5" x 7 1/2" piece of manila file folder (same weight as a tag), then used Matte Glue n' Seal to apply a piece of Tim's Melange tissue wrap, adding wrinkles, then set aside to dry. After a gentle sand & scuff of the edges and wrinkles, I applied Distress Paints - Broken China and Rusty Hinge along with Adirondack Dauber Acrylics - Aqua and Willow, misting with water to blend - dry.  Next I used Distress Spray Stain - Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and Dylusions Lemon Zest - the messier the better - blend, blot and dry.

TIP - when the background dried, I fed it through a large Xyron sticker machine (note paper backing above) - used to adhere to the journal front when finished - you have to do this while the piece is still flat before adding any embellishments.

While the background drys, prepare the Alpha Parts - the words "twenty" and "Seen & Noted" were painted with Broken China and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints, partially dried, wiped off , completely dried, then coated with Glossy Accents & dried to finish. The number 15 was painted with Broken China Distress Paint - dry - coated with Broken China Distress Stickles - dry - a tiny bit of Crystal Stickles "patted" on with your finger (for a little extra sparkle) - dry - then coat with Glossy Accents to dry and finish:

Choose and position Chit Chat stickers around placement of Alpha Parts:

use bit of Glossy Accents on the back to hold them in place, then coat entire background with Glue n' Seal - dry:

"Brush" on a thin line of Black Soot Distress Marker around the Chit Chat stickers and smear into the background.  Color a piece of crinkle ribbon with same spray stains used on background - crumple up and set aside to dry.  When ribbon is dry, cut in half and thread each end through the side of the Alpha Part and secure with Tiny Attacher, then wrap ribbon ends to the back of the cover piece & tape down.  Remember to add a bit of Glossy Accent to the backs of all the Alpha Parts to secure when putting them down on your background:

I added three of the small Mirrored Stars then spritzed all with Picket Fence Distress Marker and Krylon Gold paint pen - dry.  

To finish, I Distress Inked and heat set the edges with Black Soot, peeled off the Xyron backing paper and placed on the journal.  What a fun start to a Happy New Year!
Thanks for coming by, please leave comments and subscribe, stay warm & safe and I'll see 'ya next month - K

Supplies:
Surface: Ranger manila tag OR piece of manila file folder; Tim Holtz idea-ology Melange tissue wrap
Paints: Distress Paint - Broken China, Rusty Hinge; Adirondack Acrylic  Daubers - Aqua, Willow; Krylon Gold paint pen
Stain: Distress Spray Stain - Spiced Marmalade; Ranger Dylusions - Lemon Zest
Mediums: Ranger Matte Glue n' Seal, Glossy Accents
Distress Ink: Black Soot
Distress Ink Markers: Black Soot, Picket Fence
Stickles: Distress - Broken China; Ranger - Crystal
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology Alpha Parts, Chit Chat stickers, Mirrored Stars, Crinkle Ribbon 

Tools: Tim Holtz Spritzer, Tiny Attacher, Sanding Block; Xyron machine