Chalk One up for Tim ... Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 -- November

It's time to a new tag, or in this case tags, inspired by Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013.  For the month of November, Tim is showcasing his technique for reproducing the feel a schoolroom chalkboard on paper.  I was blown away by this technique in Creative Chemistry 102 and I am so excited Tim included it in one of 2013 tags.  Please take a moment to check out Tim's step by step tutorial for his November 2013 Tag.

 My first tag is my nod to the schoolroom slate boards, all dressed up for Christmas.  I used Tim's chalkboard technique on a tag of black cardstock.  I then covered some chipboard with a specialty paper that I found at Michaels craft store.  It's a paper covered with a thin cherry wood veneer.  I cut strips to make my slate board frame.  I used Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Ink to give the wood a deeper color.

I used some wire cutters to cut a piece of a paper clip to make the hook for my chalked Christmas tree ornament.  Some holly leaves were die cut with Tim Holtz's Holiday Garland Sizzlits out of Core'Dinations cardstock.  The leaves were distressed with sandpaper, inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and adhered with foam squares.  Some pearls were colored with alcohol ink and glued on to the tag with Glossy Accents.  To go along with the vintage school look, I added some simple twine for the tag tie. 

I created second tag out of Tim Holtz Core 'Dination cardstock that painted black (I had already used the black in the pack -- sigh).  I wanted a heavier cardstock because I wanted to dry emboss it with an embossing folder, in this case, Tim's Alterations Texture Fade Snowman. I used a small paintbrush to "paint on" the Distress Embossing Ink on the embossed snowman to apply the Antiquities embossing powder.  I stamped the other images as per Tim's original instructions.  After applying the chalk, I added some Crackle Accent in the debossed snowflakes.

The tag was topped with some silver cord and white ribbon.  I embellished this with a lovely silver Merry Christmas charm.

I'm going to leave you with a couple pics of the two tags together.  I hope you get a chance to try this for yourself before the month is over.  It's so much fun to play with chalk :)  -- Mary Elizabeth