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

CC3C Challenge 20 - Watercoloring

Hello again, I am pleased to be back with one of my favorite techniques using Distress Markers - Watercoloring - from Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Volume III, page 40.  What a great way to start the New Year with special thanks to Tim Holtz, Linda Ledbetter & Team and challenge sponsors Funkie Junkie Boutique and Inspiration Emporium for their continued support and encouragement.  I hope you enjoy this project, please leave me comments and share our links and enthusiasm with like minded friends.

Tag Pocket Card

                                                     

I used a 9" x 12" watercolor paper sheet - cut down to a 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" size.  Watercolor papers traditionally have two distinct sides - one rough (the front) and one smooth (the back) although you could use either.  In the illustration below, you see the paper from the back, score the cut paper from the left hand side at 1/2" - to fold and secure pocket side - and again at 5 1/2" for your center line to create the back of the pocket.  Score the bottom at 1/2" and trim at corner and side as shown to fold and secure pocket bottom.  Using a 1" circle punch, create the thumb hole at center top of the left hand side - remember this "center" does not include the 1/2" side to be folded under:

Turn the paper over to the front (rough side) leaving flat not folded, then using Archival black permanent ink, stamp two large "Fabulous Flourishes" images as shown - going off the paper:

I also like to use a "signature motif" on the back of my projects, and selected one from the Wallflower collection, adding name and info with a fine tip permanent marker.  Allow stamped images to dry or set with a heat tool.

Using a craft knife, ruler and/or scissors, cut a window frame "into" the stamped flourishes, leaving a bit of edge detail as shown:

The inner "tag" card is the same watercolor paper cut to a 6 3/4" x 4 3/4" size, corner rounded and center hole punched at top. I added a paper reinforcement on the back to avoid tears.  Stamp images with Archival black permanent ink - I used several of Tim's designs to build a scene & saying.  TIP - to finish the inside edge of the cut out "frame", I use the brush end of Black Soot Distress Marker to gently "outline" and match stamp edge instead of having the white edge show.

Now the fun begins - following Tim's book techniques, color all images using the following Distress Markers:
Sky & background - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Weathered Wood
Branches - Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo
Bird - Gathered Twigs, Antique Linen, Bard Door
Greenery - "splotches" of Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Mowed Lawn
Flowers - "splotches" of Worn Lipstick and Barn Door
Flourishes - Mustard Seed, Frayed Burlap
Drop Shadows - Pumice Stone, Frayed Burlap - heat set between "layers" of color or when finished.
This is also a good time to use watered down markers or Distress Spray Stain to colorize a 10" piece of crinkle ribbon for the top - wrinkle it up and set aside to dry on your mat.
                                                           

I used Antique Linen to create a blended edge on the pocket front, then spritzed both with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo markers - heat set.  To create a "window", use a 4" x 6" piece of clear Transparent Presentation Cover NOT a printable transparency which has a blurry film.  Flip your pocket to the back, add double stick adhesive/tape around the cut out frame edge, then smooth down the clear film - you can also add regular transparent tape over the film edges to secure and keep the card from snagging when removing.

The 1/2" scored side and bottom edges are now folded to the inside and flattened, add a strip of double-stick adhesive to both then fold over the back to secure to the edges - thus closing and forming the pocket.

When the pocket is assembled and the tag is done, spritzed and dry, Distress Ink the edges in Antique Linen then a bit of Vintage Photo to finish.  Add your dry crinkle ribbon to the top of the card and insert into the pocket - voila!

You might also want to ink and spritz a matching envelope - this pocket with card will fit into a A7 size (5 1/4" x 7 1/4").  This project could easily be adapted into a Easter, Mothers Day, Birthday or whatever kind of card you might want - hope you enjoy!

Supplies:
Surfaces: 140 lb. Watercolor paper; transparent presentation/booklet cover
Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz: Fabulous Flourishes, Wallflower, sayings
Distress Ink Markers: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Weathered Wood, Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Barn Door, Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Mowed Lawn, Worn Lipstick, Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Black Soot
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink - black
Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon
Tools: Tim Holtz idea-ology Spritzer; 12" scoring board + scoring tool