12th May, 2021

To Thine Own Self Be True

Hello friends. I hope you’re doing well. Today I’m sharing a little something that I made for the Tim Holtz idea-ology 2021 release. If you missed the LIVE, (and to be fair it was a little while ago) you can catch up on all the fun and check out the other makes on Tim’s blog.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
“To thine own self be true” is my favourite quote from Hamlet. I was certainly true to myself with this make for the idea-ology 2021 launch. It has all the things I love, gears, skulls, tiny lights, bottles, crackle and grunge.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
Using a dremel micro with a drill attachment, I made a hole in the cork base of an idea-ology display dome. I used foam circles between my gears, which I made holes in and threaded idea-ology tiny lights through. I carved a line in base of the cork for the tiny lights lead to sit in so the dome sits flat.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
I continued to layer the gears, finishing with one of the new idea-ology industrial gears on top, with a little distress grit-paste and distress crayon added, of course! 😉

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
The detail on the new industrial gears is awesome. I mounted it over a circle of metallic kraft stock embossed using the foundry 3D folder to hide the foam divider. I love all the different gear edges. This just makes me happy!

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
To cover the foam dividers I cut strips from idea-ology metallic kraft stock using the lattice trim impresslits folder and added walnut stain distress crayon to grunge them up. The center strip I ran through my die cutting machine a second time to flatten so it would look worn compared to the others.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
I added a clock key from the new idea-ology odds and ends embellishments pack. I love these new mixed packs with a little old and a little new mixed in. I also added a skull hoarded from the idea-ology pumpkins and skulls pack with a crown added from the treasures adornments pack.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
The light is an upturned idea-ology laboratory bottle with tiny lights inside,  covered in distress crackle paint and vintage distress collage medium. I used the same bottles on another idea-ology sample I made for the launch and will be sharing that with a “how to” tomorrow Friday.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
I love this idea-ology token from the factory tags set. I added a little distress crayon into the recess and added with distress collage medium.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
Finally I added an ephemera piece and idea-ology hardware heads to the cork base, ready to slide on the glass dome.

igirlzoe: tim holtz idea-ology 2021 gears
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that this has inspired you to make your own display dome light.

Zoe



16 Comments »

  1. Nancy Sanchez-Taylor says:

    Love, love, love this piece! It is so creative and looks great beside a stack of books. I hope to make a similar one (and the old typewriter make as well) as gifts for my two children (one is an Assistant Professor and the other is an Editorial Assistant). I think they will get a kick out of it. Thank you for the inspiration!

  2. Love this the way you cantake the familiar elements and tools and transform them is wonderful. The use of the trim and all your great grungy colour and texture are unmistakably yours.

  3. juli says:

    I absolutely love this magical make! I love how you disguised the foam between the gears with the metallic craft stock. The labatory light is my favorite and I’m definitely going to try this technique! Wonderful job my friend! Thank you for always inspiring us to create!

  4. Cindy B says:

    Oh Zoe, I think this is GENIUS!! What an imagination you must have to come up with this awesome piece of artwork. I’m so glad to see this post since I’ve been most curious ever since Tim showed this on his live.
    THANK YOU for sharing your process. While I may not be able to make this, I absolutely admire the inspiration. You never know though…I may actually attempt this – or something similar.

  5. Sue says:

    Love this crazy cool project!!! Love everything about it and then you put lights in it too!!! Great project Zoe!!

  6. J’adore c’est génial 💡

  7. Kim says:

    This is fantastic! Such a clever idea! Thank you for taking the time to explain your process. It amazes me how you come up with your creations!

  8. Faith W says:

    Fantastic Zoe! Awesome creativity and thanks for sharing your process.

  9. Paula says:

    I love this piece – the stacking idea is just brilliant!!!

  10. Anne R says:

    This is just exceptional Zoe, so very you and the lightbulb idea is genius. Love this so much!! x

  11. Henriëtte says:

    So great to see how you made this beauty Zoe.
    I love every piece you used, so awesome.
    Thank you so much for sharing, stay safe and have a wonderful day.

  12. George Bryson says:

    Zoe, this is absolutely brilliant!! Can I just ask 1 simple question about the foam circles between the gears. Did you have to cut these to size or were you able to buy them the size needed. Would the “Replacement Foam Circles by Ranger- Tim Holtz” work?

    Many thanks

    George

    • iGirlZoe says:

      Hey George, I used a 1 inch circle paper punch. You could also draw a circle and cut around it, you won’t see it, so it doesn’t need to be perfect. Hope this helps.

      • George Bryson says:

        Hi Zoe, thanks for your reply it was really helpful. At the risk of being a nuisance can I just check that by ‘foam’ you are referring to Polystyrene?

      • George says:

        Hi Zoe, thanks for your reply it was really helpful. At the risk of being a nuisance can I just check that by ‘foam’ you are referring to Polystyrene?

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