Thursday, November 29, 2012

UPS Truck Continued -

Well folks - I have been playing non stop since the arrival of Mr. UPS.  As promised, I have a couple more things to share.  Here is what I've been up to.

I couldn't wait to try the new Karen Burniston Accordion Die and matching Frame and Label Die so here is what I made first.  I am very happy with the results.


You may recognize the Quirky Turkey on the end from last year's Tim Holtz post.  I also added a few pumpkins.  The large one on the end is the Pumpkin Jack die from Tim Holtz as well as some small ones on top that spell out GIVE from his Movers & Shapers line.

I can't believe that I still have dies that have not met the Big Shot yet but it's true.  I will keep working at it until I have complete success.


In the shipment was the new POP N' CUT insert, Ribbon Tree.  I made 3 cards that are pretty much the same with different papers.



These cards were lots of fun and so easy to make with the POP N' CUT system and the coordinating Sizzlet Noel Set.  I cut the tree insert out of white and then used the On The Edge Snow Flurries die for the top and bottom.  I trimmed the cards with some October Afternoon Christmas papers and then stamped Merry Christmas on white cardstock.   Just love the POP N" CUTS.

Friday, November 23, 2012

November Tim Tag

Hey Everyone -

Well, this month I actually managed to get my tag completed.  A couple weeks ago I was the lucky winner of a challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show so I used my gift certificate to buy some new "Tim" stuff.  The package arrived on Wednesday and today I got to play.  One of the items I chose was the Textured Leaves Embossing Folders that go with the Tattered Leaves Die that I already had.  Here is what I did, hope you like it.

Yes, the lettering is a little backwards but that's how it fit so that's how it is!  It is art after all.

This month Tim used Versa Mark and clear embossing powder to stamp with. I decided to make my own stamps using Fun Foam and my Tattered Leaves Die.  I had sticky back Fun Foam and sticky back EZ Mount Stamp N' Stor so I put the two sticky sides together and then ran it through my Big Shot Pro and ended up with a foam stamp. 

They look different because I had to use two different colors foam but they are the same.

I next colored my tag with wild honey Distress Ink and then stamped the leaves on using Versa Mark and Ranger Clear Embossing powder & being very careful to get the stamps where they will still fit in the embossing folder.  Then heat set.



I then put the tag in the embossing folder lining up the stamped image with the image on the folder.  When I ran the folder through the machine I only covered the part of the folder that I wanted embossed.  It took me a couple tries before I got the desired results but was happy with it.



I added more color to the tag using Distress Ink, ripe persimmon and forest moss.
The finishing touches were added, I cut and embossed more leaves to go on top and inked them with ripe persimmon.  Adding some ribbon to the top and then a pin and tag that says "play" which is just what I did.  The lettering is some plastic ones from my stash.



Friday, November 16, 2012

Stamp Without Ink

What, stamp without ink? 

That is the challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog this week.  Although I haven't done any gourd art lately this is a stamping method that I used on a shard (a random hunk of gourd) awhile back.


I used the Ranger Melting Pot and UTEE for this one.  After melting the Clear UTEE I added some Aqua embossing powder for color.  While waiting for the UTEE and embossing powder to completely melt I used Versa Mark Embossing Ink on the stamp to act as a releasing agent.  This is one of my all time favorite stamps from Paula Best.  After all the embossing powder was melted I poured it out on my Non Stick Craft Sheet, also from Ranger. While the puddle of UTEE was still warm, I stamped into it.  You need to work rather quickly on this project, as soon as the stamped image was set and the embossing was still warm and pliable I lifted it off the non stick sheet and molded it to the shape of of the gourd shard.   When the piece was all molded and cooled I lifted it off the gourd and then replaced it using glue (E6000) to hold it together permanently.

One of these days I will add some wire and beads on the top and some chimes or pieces of glass and beads at the bottom to make a lovely wind chime for our patio.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Sizzix Blog - Pop 'n Cuts Mania

News Flash --- I was the lucky winner of a Sizzix Prize Package for my entry in the Pop 'n Cuts Mania event over at the Sizzix Blog.  I am so excited, even though it was a random drawing, I am still enjoying my moment in the spotlight.  Thanks Sizzix.

Hi -

Since I have been playing with my new stuff non stop the past few days, I thought I would enter a couple cards on the Sizzix Blog (one I visit daily).  They are doing Pop 'n Cut Mania and who doesn't like that?  Mine are both Christmas themed.





I started out using the Pop'n Cut Base Tray and Circle Insert for both cards.  

On the outside of the "Joy to the World" card I used Karen Burniston's new die, Frame Label, in white.  This one is designed to go with her new Accordian Album Die that I haven't had a chance to get to yet.  The lettering is cut using the new Tim Holtz strip die - Stacked Words, Christmas.  The snowflake is cut from the Tim Holtz - Snowflake Rosette.  On the inside I cut the Vintage Globe twice, one in blue an one in green and cut off the stand.  I cut Santa and his reindeer with my Wishblade and glued them to a piece of clear packaging and added it to the back of the globe. 

For the "Seasons Greeting Card" I once again used lots of Tim's Dies with the Pop 'n Cuts.  Both borders, the phrase, the wreath and the 25 all came from Tim's collection of Sizzix Dies.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Give A Cheer! The UPS Truck Is Here

The big brown truck pulled up in front of my house yesterday afternoon.  I am so excited because my new Tim Holtz Dies have arrived.

I didn't waste any time, I started digging in right away and here is the first project I have to share with you.  Hope you like it.


I used the new Christmas Cardinal Die.  I cut it from Grunge Paper and colored the branch and leaves with Sharpie Pens.  For the Cardinal, I covered it with embossing ink and then red embossing powder.  I'm happy with the color and sparkle.  I added some yellow embossing powder for the beak and then colored the black part of the face with a Sharpie.

When the clock is removed, it opens to reveal a mini album.  After I add my photos I will do some more embellishing but at this point it is complete. I plan to use it for my Christmas photos.




I think the TH Tick Tock Die is totally cute and wanted to make it into something useful so came up with this round tin with a clear lid.  I got the tin at one of the rubber stamp show from Rubber Stamp Concepts.  I cut a clock face out of plain paper, distressed the edges and placed it inside the lid of the tin.  I drilled a hole in the center and placed a brad through it to hold the hands in place. The clock and the hands are cut from Grunge Board. The tin was just a tiny bit smaller than the die so I glued some cord around the tin just above the edge of the rim of the lid and then glued the die cut to the cord.

Ok, now how do I make it stand up?  Magnets of course. I sacked two round ones, found at Michael's, and they were just right to hold the clock up.



For the base, I used the Top Note Die from Stampin Up.  I covered chipboard with Christmas paper and then ran it through my Big Shot Pro.  I inked the edges with Cherry Cobbler Ink from Stampin Up.  I glued the magnets to the base for my clock.

The Poinsettia Die was also in this shipment.  I covered Grunge Paper with pages from an old book and ran it through the die cutting machine.  I wanted a smaller poinsettia so I used the medium and small size from the Poinsettia Die and the poinsettia from the movers and shapers set.  Just right.  The leaves were stacked and held together with a gold brad.  Because the cardinal and poinsettia are both cut from Grunge Paper they are flexible and lay againt the clock.