Pages

Thursday, October 31, 2013

I'm Back with Tim ... Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 -- October Tag

It has been some time since I last visited Crafty Blogland.  I haven't been feeling the best in the world and I have had more things to do at work than I could actually accomplish.  It's been a slight bump in the road of my life.  I hope to catch up with you all sometime soon via Pinterest and your wonderful blogs.

I'm back with my take on Tim's October Tag for 2013.  Check out all of the details of his really cool way to celebrate Halloween with gorgeous Distress Glitter!

I had such fun playing with these ideas that I made two tag contributions this month.  I didn't have the Ornate Frame die, so I thought it would be fun to make a wreath to create a focal area on the tag instead. I immediately thought of the Autumn Gatherings Sizzlit Die Strip and thought about making an Autumn leaf wreath.  But then I thought about Halloween and wanted to make a spooky "wreath".  I started thinking of this spooky wreath as the kind of wreath that Dr Frankenstein would make if he also liked scrapbooking; he would make it out of spare parts laying around the lab.  So I found a skeleton clipart online and the rest is history!

 Here are some close ups of each tag:

The Fall Wreath Tag



I used Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain Distress paint to create the background.  I then added some fall and script stamped images.  The edges were distressed with sand paper.  I added to Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the distressed edges.


All of the pieces that created the fall wreath were die cut out of cream card stock.  I then painted them with different colors of Distress paint.  Sometimes I spritzed the pieces with water to marbelized the colors.  After the paint dried, I added Glossy Accents and Rock Candy Distressed Glitter.  When that dried, I added some coordinating Distress Stain to provide and overall rich color for each piece.  I started off with stick pieces to form the base layer of the wreath. Then each of the leaves, wheat, and acorn pieces were added so that colors were distributed around the wreath.  I loved it!!


I attached the wreath with Glossy Accents to the tag.  Then I grabbed one of my Tim Holtz pumpkin die cuts.  I tried an orange pumpkin, but it got lost in all the colors of the wreath.  So I went with a white pumpkin and only glittered the white part (and not the lines that create the shadowed creases of the pumpkin).  Some alcohol colored jewelry wire create the vine spirals off of the pumpkin.


The tag was finished with part of a Tim Holtz Tattered Banners die cut that was cut out of some pattered paper.  I stamped the words Fall Fields and added some color with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I embellished this with a chunky staple and a flower charm. 


And one last shot of the complete tag.

 

Dr. Frankenstein's Spare Parts Wreath Tag:


I love the colors on the background of this tag.  I used Seedless Preserves, Walnut Stain, and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints as well as some regular Copper acrylic paint. I stamped some barbed wire, "skeleton" keys, and Happy Halloween on the back ground.  To add even more interest, I put some Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge and Black Soot Distress Paint on my craft mat, misted them with water, and laid my chicken wire stencil (from The Crafter's Workshop) on the paint.  I lifted it up and laid the paint-covered stencil on my tag.  I pressed it down with a paper towel and then lifted it off.  I really like the effect.  The edges were sanded and I distressed them with Black Soot Distress Ink.


Now to make my wreath, I started with a skull and crossbones die cut from Tim Holtz movers and shapers dies.  I cut off the "crossed bones" part because I want them to have a little more presence in the overall structure.  Next I took the skeleton clipart and printed it onto matte photo paper.  The bones were fussy cut and I added a few more bones for good measure.  I put Rock Candy Distress Glitter on the white parts of all the bones with Glossy Accents.


When they were dry, I started piecing them together with some Tim Holtz Idea-ology long fasteners and tiny fasteners.  It really does look like a Dr. Frankenstein construction project.


Before I attached the skeleton wreath to the card, I stamped the black chain so that it looks like the skull at the bottom and the armbones at the top are linked together.


As I constructed the wreath, I thought it might be fun to have the wreath hanging on the tag by one of the skeletal hands.  But then I realized it would cover the tag hole.  I tried several different ribbons in the hand to see if I could make a tag tie that way, but nothing really fit.  That's when the idea of a hangman's noose came to me.  It worked perfectly.  I had some black netting that I used as a back drop for the noose.  I think it turned out particularly creepy :)

I added a wonderful Distress Glittered bat, some alcohol ink colored stars, a 31 for today's big Halloween celebration, and a stamped "welcome" from Dr Frankenstein that says BEWARE (colored with some seasonal Distress Markers). 


I'm leaving you with one last pic of the entire tag.  Hope it inspires you have a spooky good time tonight!  Since Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge is "Anything Goes", I'm going to enter both of my October tags.  Drop by and see all the cool DT projects as well as all of the talented entries :)  -- Mary Elizabeth

17 comments:

Paper Profusion said...

Hello Mary Elizabeth.

Firstly I'm sorry you havn't been well and I hope you are back 'on course' asap.

Secondly these tags are truly wonderful!! The first foliage one looks brilliant and I bet is even more spectacular to behold. Love the sparkly foliage and interesting the way you added stain on top of the applied glitter - the colours are stunning!

Your second, skeletal tag is very very fun and very very clever - love the moveable joints. I had to laugh at "and I added a few more bones for good measure". The chain link from skull to hand is fantastic and then the hangman's noose is really inspired. I love your background too!

Your creative thought process behind these may not have been intentionally funny but your post is very entertaining. I reckon if some non-creative folk saw the lenghts that we go to for the right effects they would think us nuts! Anyways, all your work and tryouts have given superb results. This skeleton really rocks!

Have a spooky good time yourself tonight! Happy Halloween! Nicola x

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

BEST TAGS EVER!!! Wow! These were so amazing that I dragged my husband to the computer to make him look at them. And hey- he agreed that they were very cool, so that says something right there! I was stunned by the amount of detail that went into your autumn wreath and it made me really want to buy some Distress glitter (which somehow has eluded me). And the skeleton?? Brilliant!! I thought how you arranged his bones was so clever! It made me smile and it also made me think that you are one serious out-of-the-box artist! Love that and really love these tags. I'm so glad you shared them for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

Michelle said...

These tags are amazing! I love the glittered laves. And the skeleton is so fun! His little noose is fabulous! Thank you for sharing them with us this week for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. ~ Michelle

barbarayaya62 said...

Welcome back! I was worried, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better! Tags are both amazing, in the first I love frame of leaves (what a great work) and in the second the skeleton is absolutely unique! A masterpiece! BArbarayaya

Candy C said...

Mary Elizabeth...your two tags are AH-DOR-ABLE! Love them both. So different but so beautifully done. The fall one has such a classic elegance to it. Love the little leaves and wreath encircling the pumpkin! Beautiful design. The little Halloween skeleton one...darling! Thanks for sharing these great tags with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. <3 Candy

Gabrielle Pollacco said...

Seriously WOW!!!!!! Your tags are little works of art Mary Elizabeth! I love the close-up photos of the finish you gave the leaves, I just want to reach out and touch them!! I love the idea of doing tags to represent each month of the year! I just may give that a go myself! (BTW, thank you for ALL the sweet comments you left at my blog, you made my day! xo xo

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Glorious fall tag Elizabeth, love the leaves and theconderful texture from the glitter. The pumpkin is fabulous set in the centre. I also love your funky skeleton on the second . Tracy x

Words and Pictures said...

So sorry to hear things have been difficult - but it's wonderful to have you back. That was a marathon catch-up this morning, thank you so much for all those lovely comments!

I have to agree with everyone so far - these are outstanding tags... That glittery autumnal wreath is simply gorgeous (and I don't even really like glitter), and Mr Bones and his noose is completely inspired, and brilliantly constructed. Huge WOWs from me, as well of lots of love.
Alison xx

Unknown said...

These tags are beautiful!!!

Unknown said...

These tags are beautiful!! I love the pumpkin

Meihsia Liu said...

Wow.. both tags are just stunning! Love the beautiful colors and great textures. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. :)

Candy C said...

Hi Mary Elizabeth...I just wanted to stop by quickly this Monday morning and say "thank you" for being my breath of sunshine as I begin my day. :) Your comments left on my blog about the vintage patchwork Christmas card were so sweet. <3 Candy

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

So glad you are feeling better and able to craft again! Hope things lighten up for you! These two tags are both gorgeous! Love love the sparkly wreath, and the skeleton is delightful!

barbarayaya62 said...

Congrats Mary Elizabeth for your win on Simonsays!!!!!! Tomorrow I' ll go to Rome for a workshop with Dyan Revealey! I'm thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BArbarayaya

Maura said...

Very cool! Congratulations!!

Candy C said...

Mary Elizabeth...I am SO HAPPY that your tags were spolighted on our Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Designers Spotlight. They are so cute and beautifully done. Hooray for you! <3 Candy

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

Hey talented lady! Just wanted to give you a congrats and an extra big kudos for having these tags spotlighted at Simon Says Stamp. Totally deserving...times a billion!