Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2016 for August -- Take 2 ... and 3!

At the beginning of the month I created a tag inspired by Tim Holtz's August tag for 2016.  I also wanted to do a version of the tag that really followed Tim's directions pretty closely.  Instead of just making a 2nd tag, I also made a 3rd take!  The techniques are the same here but I did have to substitute some die cut leaves and pine boughs for Tim's wildflower diecuts.

 I went with seasonal themes for these two tags:  one for fall and one for winter.  The fall tag background was made with Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain along with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.  I die cut Tim's Trellis Frameworks border out of his medium brown substrate.  The insets for the trellis are die cut out of some of Tim's Paper Stash and Textured Surfaces (burlap and cork).

Here are some close ups!

My winter tag background was made with Picket Fence and Shaded Lilac Distress Stains and Ground Espresso Distress Ink.  I die cut the Courtyard Frameworks border out of Tim's grunge paper and painted it with Weathered Wood Distress Paint.  I grunged it with some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I really loved making the inset for my framework.  I used Tim's mirrored sheets and textile surfaces in dark denim.  I also applied Wendy Vecchi's Crackle Paste to some of my grunge paper insets and Tim's Distress Grit Paste others.  I used Hickory Smoke Distress Crayon and water brush to bring out some of the texture on these texture paste insets.  Instead of black paint splatters, I went for snow flurries with Picket Fence Distress Paint splatters.

Now for a few close up pics of the winter tag.  My sentiment comes from lines of the hymn Silent Night.  I got these snippets of the hymn from Tim's Christmas remnant rubs.

 Ok ... that's it for now.  I'm sorry I haven't visited lately.  I will be by to chat soon.  Hugs to you all and thanks for dropping by!  -- Mary Elizabeth

Inspired by Tim ... Holtz 12 Tags for 2016 for August Part 1

I'm back today with my first take on Tim Holtz's tag for August.  I must say that I was more than a little influenced by Creative Chemisty 103 this time around.  I added a couple of techniques here to Tim's August 2016 Remix Techniques of Brayered Stains and Frameworks.  I started my tag with brayering Salty Ocean and Broken China Distress Stains on my manila tag.  However, the stain color was just a little too bold for my taste.

So I grabbed some Tissue Wrap and added some miscellaneous stamping (using one of Tim's Artful Flight stamps).  I collaged this over the entire tag, thus muting the brayered stain colors.

 I die cut several pieces Tim's Courtyard Framework and began to disassemble them to see what I could make of them.  First, I saw a flower.  It is made up of 3 sections of framework diecut grungepaper painted in Seedless Preserves and Victorian Velvet Distressed Paint.  The inserts are some of Tim's paper stash pieces that I've watercolored with Seedless Preserves, Mustard Seed and Fossilized Amber Distress Crayons.   I used some "petal like" pieces from the framework as leaves.  I painted them with Peeled Paint  and Antique Linen Distress Paint and grunged the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

 I also saw a butterfly!  Again the butterfly was made from grungeboard framework pieces.  I painted it with Black Soot, Mustard Seed and Picket Fence Distress paint.  I used some extra wire for antennae.  I used foam squares to mount the butterfly to my tag.

 Finally I  saw the gorgeous summer sun.  My sun was die cut out of some of Tim's Paper Stash print paper.  The "petal-like ray" pieces and central "circular sun" piece came from the framework die.  I collaged them on the tag and waterolored them with Distress Crayons. 

I added a fleeting, floating cloud out of corrugated cardboard (popped up with foam squares).  It was painted with white washed Picket Fence Paint and colored with Black Soot and Hickory Smoke Distress Crayons.  The sentiment comes from Tim's Odds and Ends Stamp Set.  It was embellished with a cute charm from my stash (with "fly" remnant rub added).  A stained crinkle ribbon tag tie finished it off.

Well, that's it for my whimsical summer take on Tim's August tag.  I hope to be back this weekend with another version.  -- Mary Elizabeth

Tiny Travel Trunk

So ... I have been inspired yet again by a couple of great challenges this week: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Try to Contain Yourself and Frilly and Funkie's -- It's a Small Small World Challenge.  For my project, I took a cute little wooden trunk from Michaels that I bought for $1 and tried to give it that aged varnish look. 

I used a variety of Distress Stains (Wild Honey, Black Soot, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo) that I mixed with Gloss Multimedium to create layers of glaze.  Black Soot was used for large grooves.  For the overall woodgrain, Black Soot was also added sparingly in some places to get into the deep crevices of the wood grain.  I then wiped off the surface layer of Black Soot and let the crevice layer dry.  I then added layers of the Wild Honey, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo until I got the color that I was looking for.  

I added some rub on gold letter for my initials and some tiny travel stickers.  The hardware was given some tarnish with alcohol inks. 

Each of the sides of the trunk get some remnant rubs and/or stickers

On this end, I added a handle.  This is made out of grunge paper and Tiny Fasteners. 

The most significant travel that I've made in the last few years has been to New York.  As most of you know, I've had brain surgery and my neurosurgeon in NY literally changed my life.  So I really, really, really love NY.  It has been quite a journey.  You may notice the Subway tissue tape on the interior lid.  I used some industrial stickers and one of Tim Holtz's blue print stamps to decorate the trunk bottom.  I again made a glaze with Gloss Multimedium and Distress Stain (this time in Barn Door) to color the heart.  It makes such a great transparent colored window to view the architecture print underneath.  More tissue tape lines the interior of the trunk. 

 So, I'm going to enter my tiny travel trunk in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (a trunk is a container -- even if it small :)) and Frilly and Funkie's challenge (it definitely is a small world ... isn't it?)  Thanks for dropping by!  -- Mary Elizabeth

Creative Chemistry 103 Day 6 -- Additional Surfaces Project

Hi everyone!  Tim Holtz gave us a Creative Chemistry 103 Bonus Day covering tips and tricks about several different surfaces that we can use in our projects.   Burlap panels were one of those surfaces.  Since my Mom has been such an incredible support to me during my long illness and subsequent surgeries, I wanted to take the alcohol ink Sunflower tag (from Day 5 Technique Tags) that she loved so much and make a special project for her.  This project celebrates the importance of "home" to me and my family.

 I also used one of Tim's Textile Surfaces (in chambray) as a backdrop here.  You can see some collage efforts here (even outlining with a Picket Fence Distress Crayon).  So, I used some of my Creative Chemistry lessons here (past and present) to finish this project.  Here are a few close ups:

 You can see several Idealology pieces here (including a recipe for apple pie that comes one of Tim's Paper Stash pads).  My mom is well-known for her Apple Pie.  Love it!!

By the way, I adhered the floral element to the arrow by using Transparent Texture Paste. (I really needed some thick and this worked!)

 So thank you again Mom.  You really are my best friend.  And this piece literally shows that home is where the heart is.  -- Mary Elizabeth

Creative Chemistry 103 - Day 5 (Final Technique Tags)

Oooooooo!  Day 5 was so much fun.  I really did not realize how versatile alcohol inks are.  Also ... I must admit that I looked at some of Tim's technique tags and videos before trying my own and said to myself "I can't do this!  I'm going to make an ugly mess of this."  And I must admit, when you first start off with some of these techniques ... it does look a bit of a disaster.  But keep at it.  You get the feel for these techniques pretty fast.  You may have to use up some paper to get there ... but you can do this.  I love these techniques!!  So ... on to Day 5!

 
Alcohol Ink Stamped Resist on Yupo Technique -- I played with several color combinations.  Honestly Yupo is amazing!  I will be purchasing vast quantities of this substrate.  Of course I have no money since I've spent my allowance and more on supplies for CC103.  I'm hoarding the rest of the Yupo stash for special projects.  Anyway, I adore this Americana color blend with the ghosted stars.

Alcohol Ink Faded Layers on Yupo Technique -- Love this  ... going to enjoy this playing with this more.

Alcohol Ink Faded Texture on Yupo Technique -- This is so in my wheel house.  What a great technique that lends itself so well to the vintage, grunge look.  Ready to use this on a card for a good friend of mine who is recovering from an almost fatal heart attack.

Alcohol Ink Painting on Yupo Technique:  My mother has already claimed this.  I swear ... I thought this was going to be a disaster.  I'm amazed how well it turned out.

Alcohol Ink Fluid Landscapes on Yupo Technique:  Ok this is the one that scared me.  I seriously thought I would just make a slight attempt at  it and go on.  But oh ... what fantastical worlds of imagery this technique opens up.  I've entitled this piece "Craters in Outer Space"

Alcohol Ink Splattered Floral Technique  So lovely!

 What fun!!!!  I honestly feel like an artist.  Mary Elizabeth

Creative Chemistry 103 - Day 4 Tags Part 2

So here is the "forgotten" tag technique for Day 4.  I literally spent hours on this coloring and recoloring.  It's amazing how "forgiving" Distress Crayons are.  I still have so much to learn about them.  But here is my technique tag for Distress Crayon Layered Coloring Technique.

I'm adding a few detail photos on this technique.  Although I still have a lot to learn about this technique, I found out so much by just playing!  I started by taking the time to do some masking as a part of my stamped collage here.  

I also did some sanding around the edge of the tag to make it add an additional vintage touch.  And check out the crazing crackle around the sentiment!

Layering ... Layering ... Layering

Creating this "window" effect to the stamped background ... I can't wait to try this again on other projects!

 Ok ... So now Day 4 is complete :)

Hugs to you all!  Mary Elizabeth

Creative Chemistry 103 - Day 4 Tags Part 1

Ok ... as I was taking a picture of all my Creative Chemistry 103 Day 4 Tags, I realized I had forgotten to do one.   So here is part 1 of my Day 4 creations ...

Day 4 is all about Distress Crayons.  

Distress Crayon Smudge Technique:  I made two different versions of this one:  one that has a bright palette and one that has a vintage palette.  I added some remnant rubs to this technique as well.

Distress Crayon Gesso Fresco Technique: I loved this one.  I would like to try it with a more porous Gesso as well.  I would like to get the soft colors that Zoey got on her inspiration piece.  We really are so fortunate to have all the guest artists in this class.  Wow!

Distress Crayon Textured Resist Technique:   I really love all the ways that the Distress Products well with each other.  Resist techniques are so fun to use and this one works exceptionally well!!

 Distress Crayon Watercolor Resist Technique:  Another great resist technique!

Distress Crayon Blended Background Technique  And I even found a way to do a resist (using clear embossing powder) with this Distress Crayon Technique

Honestly ... such an amazing time of creativity this week.  I hope you can take this class.  You can  access the files and work on them at you leisure.  I've learned sooooo much!  -- Mary Elizabeth