Craft Techniques – iGirlZoe, Crafter & Tim Holtz Addict

‘Craft Techniques’ Category

Matchbox Halloween Collage

31st October, 2014 by iGirlZoe

Paula Cheney created a wonderful Matchbox Halloween Collage using the Tim Holtz Sizzix matchbox die and posted a really detailed tutorial. I decided to try making one of my own with splashes of rusty hinge to compliment the oranges and browns in my autumnal home decor.

I accidentally broke one of the miniature terracotta pots so used my texture hammer to finish the job and break it into pieces small enough to slip into one of the bottles. The other I filled with a little rusty hinge distress glitter and the middle bottle was crackled glazed and inked.

I tried to incorporate orange into each section to get the cohesion through colour that Paula mentions in her tutorial. This is a great project to get your seasonal dies out and stretch their legs.

I made these miniature potted skulls in real terracotta plant pots and photographed a step by step to show how.

1. supplies used: texture paste & tool /distress paints/snips scissors/flower soft/wood skewers/miniature terracotta pots/miniature skulls (repurposed from a halloween bracelet).
2. mix a little texture paste and distress paint on your craft mat and scrape into the terracotta pot using a spatula or lollypop stick. set aside to start drying.
3. paint the pointed ends of 4x wood skewers with peeled paint distress paint and then dab the darker forest moss over the top to give a mottled effect. set aside to dry for a few minutes.
4. before the texture paste dries completely, trim 2x wood skewers to different lengths and gently push into the centre of the pots.
5. once the texture paste is completely dry, cover the top of the top with glossy accents and apply flower soft or faux/real moss. set aside to dry.
6. sit and watch your pots drying while resisting the urge to touch them. 😉
7. cut the remaining 2x wood skewers and push into/glue onto the top of the skull.
8. very very carefully push/glue the skull into/onto the stick in the pot.
9. glue the pots onto the bottom of a matchbox and sprinkle flower soft or moss onto any glue that squeezes out from underneath them to give it an organic look.

Thanks for taking time to look at my Matchbox Halloween Collage and be sure to check out Paula’s tutorial posted on Tim’s Blog. I plan to make a Christmas themed one next, but for now, I hope you have a Happy Halloween.

Before the clock strikes pumpkin hour, I am entering a couple of online challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes
Inspiration Emporium Monday Challenge – In Disguise (matchboxes)
Sizzix – Halloween Challenge

(Sizzix Dies Used)
Tim Holtz Matchbox Bigz
Tim Holtz Spring Greenery Decorative Strip
Tim Holtz Mini Spider & 31 Movers & Shapers
Tim Holtz Cobwebs Decorative Strip
Tim Holtz Ornate Frame Bigz
Tim Holtz Graveyard On The Edge
(there’s a theme here) 😉

~

Supplies: tim holtz; dies (matchbox, ornate frame, mini spider & 31, graveyard, cobwebs, spring greenery)/surfaces (cardboard, grungeboard, manilla cardstock, mirror card, shrink plastic, sticky back canvas)/distress inks (antique linen, rusty hinge, vintage photo, walnut stain, black soot)/distress stains (rusty hinge, black soot)/distress paints (rusty hinge, peeled paint, forest moss, walnut stain, black soot)/distress glitters (antique linen/rusty hinge/black soot)/distress crackle glaze/layering stencil (#26 gothic)/idea-ology (jump rings, screw eyes, wishbones, corked vials, fractured dolls, crossbones, corners, crinkle ribbon, adornment, apothecary remnant rubs, laboratorie tissue tape, menagerie paper stash)/stamps (#140 mini halloween 3, #198 mini halloween 4).
other; glossy accents/archival ink (jet black)/archival ink re-inker (potting soil)/sewing machine/heat tool.

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 11 Comments | Views: 4,494
Card Making Monday : Layered Leaf

16th October, 2014 by iGirlZoe

My local craft store, Scrapdeco, has a Card Making Monday blog challenge. The challenge is to make a card suitable for any occasion, that can be altered in a few minutes by adding a greeting when required.

I have been dying to try out the new Tim Holtz Sizzix alterations layered leaf die and was really inspired by Richele Christensen’s Autumn Wreath tutorial.

I went with quite a muted background to allow the colours on the leaf to really pop. I used lots of texture to compliment the lovely embossed feature of the leaf. I layered a piece of the Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric and paper from the 8×8 menagerie paper stash onto burlap and put them through my sewing machine. It’s hard to believe that at the beginning of this year I was sewing machine phobic!

I added a bit of gold leaf… just because why not. 😉

Thanks for taking time to check out my card and I hope you’re having a nice Autumn wherever you are.

~

supplies: tim holtz; manilla cardstock/die (layered leaf)/distress ink (gathered twigs)/distress marker (gathered twigs)/distress marker spritzer tool/distress stains (scattered straw, wild honey, aged mahogany, peeled paint, antique bronze, tarnished brass)/idea-ology (menagerie paper stash)/eclectic elements fabric
other: burlap, sewing machine, kraft cardstock, gold leaf

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 4 Comments | Views: 1,322
12 Tags of 2014 – October

13th October, 2014 by iGirlZoe

I love this time of year and was inspired by the gothic #26 layering stencil to create a witches boudoir for my October 12 Tags of 2014. The gothic stencil reminds me of wallpaper and it seemed fitting for the background of somewhere a witch could hang up her broomstick and hat. 😉

Tim’s wood planks texture fades folder is perfect for creating some faux wood shelves.

I colour tinted one of Tim’s found relative cards with distress marker to create the photo for a boudoir wall hanging.

I attached some fine twigs to give a wild and withered look to the tag. This was so fiddly, but the glossy accents held them in place, I LOVE this adhesive, it’s one of my most used products.

I used ivy from the spring greenery decorative strip die, intertwined with the twigs and using the leaves to cover the blobs of glossy accents I had used to secure the twigs.

I tried out Tammy Tutterow’s felty witchy hat using felt and phoomph for fabric. Be sure to check out her awesome tutorial.

I picked up this miniature broomstick and witchy shoes from a tiny shop in Gruyere, Switzerland selling all things miniature. You could easily make this broomstick with a BBQ skewer, some fine twigs and a hot glue gun.

This place is amazing for all things miniature. I sent my friend, Sue, a few bits I picked up for her here and she made the most creative Basket Gnome Garden.

Thanks for taking a look at my “Witches Boudoir” tag and take time to hop over to Tim’s blog to see this month’s tag and techniques. If you would like to see the post in French, hop over to Scrapdeco’s blog.

~

supplies: tim holtz; manilla tag/core’dinations kraft core/layering stencil (gothic #26)/distress ink (walnut stain)/distress paint (brushed pewter)/distress marker (peeled paint)/distress sprays (wild honey, rusty hinge, dusty concord, peeled paint)/idea-ology (crinkle ribbon, mini fasteners, found relative cards)/dies (spring greenery decorative strip, wood planks texture fades folder)/cling stamps (mini halloween 3 #140, mini blueprints 7 #203)/mini blending tool/grid blocks
other: texture paste/clear embossing powder/archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents/sticky back canvas/felt/phoomph for fabric/twigs

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 9 Comments | Views: 1,416
12 Tags of 2014 – September

3rd September, 2014 by iGirlZoe

“sometimes we all need to dream in color…” was Tim’s September 12 tags of 2014 message! For for this crafter, (who dreams in shades of brown), it was going to be a challenge!

The moment I lined up my colourful alcohol inks, I felt slightly less like a deer in headlights! That said, I still wanted to celebrate my favourite quarter of the year with something Halloween themed.

When I reached for my new halloween layering stencil I still didn’t know what colour I was going to use for the background. There are not an abundance of subtle colours in my alcohol ink collection and I had a couple of failed attempts… (background colour too dark, not enough blending solution, blending solution residue on the craft mat diluted the alcohol ink)! Practice practice practice though, right?! 😉

After some trial and error I found a colour that worked(ish). I’m not sure that I’ve actually nailed the “ghosting look” but I think this is partly to do with not having a lighter colour, (I have resolved this issue by ordering more alcohol inks)… yes it’s a disease! 😉

Something I really love about the citrus coloured background is that the remnant rubs really POP! This green reminds me of slime, very Halloweenish.

To make the teeth pop I used a white gel pen. I absolutely love this skull stamp.

The next steps of my tag were so fun. I really embraced the shot of colour and actually enjoyed it, (who knew)! I recently got the new bats and crossbones garland die and had a lightbulb moment! Replace the butterflies with bats! It was a little work intensive as I had to cut each bat away from the next in the chain, but worth it. I used the script stamp from the apothecary for the background.

Look at all that colour, (reaches for sunglasses)!

I resisted browns, blacks, distressed or stitched edges, so the linen ribbon stained with brown, green and rust distress stain seemed like a suitable reward for being so “colourful!”

Thanks for taking a look at my “BAT HAIR DAY” tag and take time to hop over to Tim’s blog to see this month’s tag and techniques. If you would like to see the post in French, hop over to Scrapdeco’s blog.

~

supplies: tim holtz; black tag/glossy paper/layering stencil (halloween #27)/alcohol inks (citrus, sandal, butterscotch, latte, rust, red pepper, cranberry, raisin, currant, purple twilight, stonewashed, sail boat blue, lettuce, meadow)/alcohol blending solution/distress stains (wild honey, rusty hinge, peeled paint, frayed burlap)/idea-ology (apothecary remnant rubs, linen ribbon)/dies (bats and crossbones garland)/cling stamps (apothecary #138)/mini blending tool/alcohol ink applicator/alcohol ink applicator felts/grid blocks
other: archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 15 Comments | Views: 1,623
12 Tags of 2014 – August

31st August, 2014 by iGirlZoe

As pumpkins begin to line the streets here in Switzerland, August’s 12 Tags of 2014 had to be Halloween themed.

I grabbed a few of my Tim Holtz products, including the new gothic layering stencil which I LOVE LOVE LOVE! I can’t wait to get my hands on the newly released Halloween stamps next weekend.

I really like the tissue tape resist technique (see Tim’s blog). I laid down my tissue tape, added remnant rubs from the Halloween set and stamped my chosen images with black archival ink.

My favourite part of the tag, adding texture paste through the gothic stencil. Lifting the stencil afterwards just fills me with glee! LOL

I swiped the tag through distress stain, the remnant rubs resist the stain really well. A portion of the skull looked too dark once stained, so I stamped a skull onto another piece of tissue tape, cut out and stuck over the top.

The wishbone seemed very fitting and I added patina to the word band to give it an aged look. I also rubbed antique gold distress paint over the top of texture paste to add highlights. Naturally I stitched everything in site. I only discovered the joys of sewing machines this year. Does the “stitch everything in site” ever pass?

This tag was crying out for a “paula bow“. I stained crinkle ribbon with distress stain and stamped with the background script stamp that I used on the tag. I have to make them in secret as one of our kittens loves them (see June’s tag).

I finished the tag with peeled paint distress embossing powder on the edges which grunged it right up.

Thanks for taking a look at my tag and take time to hop over to Tim’s blog to see this month’s tag and techniques. If you would like to see the post in French, hop over to Scrapdeco’s blog.

~

supplies: tim holtz; manilla tag/texture paste/layering stencil (gothic #26)/distress embossing powder (peeled paint)/mini distress inks (vintage photo)/distress paint (evergreen bough, antique gold)/distress stain (bundled sage, brushed corduroy, peeled paint, forest moss, pumice stone)/idea-ology (tissue tape, filmstrip ribbon, industrious stickers, vial labels, apothecary remnant rubs, crossbone adornments, wishbone, observation word bands, crinkle ribbon)/cling stamps (apothecary #138, poisonous #171)/blending tool/paper distresser/tiny attacher/grid blocks
other: patina, archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents/mister bottle/heat tool/sewing machine

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 1,648
12 Tags of 2014 – January

31st January, 2014 by iGirlZoe

Tim Holtz 12 Tags is back for 2014. I hesitate to state my intention to complete all 12 tags this year, but I have to at least put it out there! 😉

I absolutely adore this month’s tag and it’s reminded me how much I love metal foil embossing. Here is my take on January’s tag, using the techniques Tim demonstrates.

Probably the less said about my stencil addiction the better!

I hadn’t tried sanding the rub-ons before, but it’s such a great distressed effect and the rub-ons are such a pleasure to use.

I got the ornate frame die for Christmas and have been waiting to use it. This seemed like a perfect substitute for the large pocket watch die, which I don’t have, (yet)!

True to form this is very last minute, but the benefit is I don’t have to wait long for the next one…

~

supplies: tim holtz; metal foil/grungepaper/manilla tag/distress block/gears texture fades embossing folder/ornate frame die/distress paint (black soot)/distress stain (frayed burlap)/distress inks (frayed burlap, black soot)/remnant rubs (numbers, words)/assorted idea-ology/layering stencils (cargo, dot fade); liquitex splatter brush

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 1,473
New Year Art Journal

21st January, 2014 by iGirlZoe

I had no idea where I was going with this when I started. I knew I wanted to create some texture and had seen a fabulous art journal video posted by Vicky Papaioannou. I used her background technique, cutting scrap paper into random sized squares and then sticking down with Studio Medium.

I was particularly keen to try this background technique as it goes against my need for the ‘laws of straightness’. This year I’m keen to try out new techniques and use the products I have in different ways.

I used the Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs to create some keys phrases to inspire me throughout the year. You will see I mixed up some of the RR’s, I assure you that Tim hasn’t produced an RR saying “life is lists!” 😉

~

supplies: tim holtz; distress paints (frayed burlap, weathered wood, bundled sage, wild honey, black soot, aged mahongany)/distress markers (vintage photo)/remnant rubs (elements, numbers, words)/layering stencils (cargo, dot fade, splatters); claudine hellmuth studio multi-medium (matte)/faber-castell artist pens (black)/uni-ball signo gel pen (white)/liquitex modelling paste.

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Supplies, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 2 Comments | Views: 1,973
Mini Album Tutorial

10th January, 2014 by iGirlZoe

Shortly before Christmas I was given several sets of gorgeous Wendy Vecchi stamps and asked to do a mini album tutorial for the Scrapdeco blog.

I had been desperate to try out the new Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric, but am not a sewer! However, with Phoomph, even stitch-a-phobes can play with this fabric. I used it to cover the front and back of the mini album, the Phoomph gives it a nice cushioned effect.

I chose a recent day out junking as the theme for my mini album. As well as the Wendy Vecchi Stamps, I used some of her fabulous Art Parts and of course, lashings of Tim Holtz products, (I am hopelessly addicted to the new Tim Holtz layering stencils).

Please visit SCRAPDECO to see the rest of my mini album and the tutorial.

Category Craft, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 2 Comments | Views: 1,721
Christmas Card Tutorial

1st November, 2013 by iGirlZoe

I was delighted to be asked by my friend and owner of Scrapdeco to do a Christmas card tutorial for the blog.

Naturally my card is made almost exclusively with Tim Holtz products. I absolutely love the new Snowman Blueprints Stamp and Framelits Die Set and the new Sizzix Magnetic Platform for Wafer Thin Dies is a total game changer!

Please visit SCRAPDECO to see my tutorial, written in no less than two languages, (thanks to Genevieve for translating into French).

Category Blogging, Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 7 Comments | Views: 7,642
Tattered Floral Challenge

22nd March, 2013 by iGirlZoe

When Tim Holtz challenged us to his Tattered Floral Challenge, the Tattered Florals Die was one of my least used, mainly because it was too, well, floral!

After several attempts I hadn’t created anything that I felt worthy of this challenge. Then it occurred to me that what these flowers were missing was some much needed grunge! I grabbed the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades Gears Folder and came up with this!

This is how I made it…

I embossed a box lid and base and covered with distress paint. Once dry, I added a layer of broken china distress paint and then quickly removed the excess with a dry cloth. I swiped a blending tool with brushed corduroy distress ink over the raised embossed detail. Finally, I used an empty water brush to hightlight the raised areas with antique bronze distress stain.

Next I die cut Rangers Metal Foil Tape with the Tattered Florals Die and covered with Adirondack alcohol inks and set aside to dry.

Once dry, I embossed with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades Gears Folder and then used a sanding block to take the dried alcohol ink off the raised embossed areas.

I attached the flowers with gem brads and curled the leaves to give them a more dimensional look.

Thanks to Tim’s challenge, I have a renewed love for my tattered florals die and look forward to experimenting more with my alcohol inks and metal foil.

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques, Miscellaneous | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 9,277

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