1. Specimen Box – Contents

   15th July, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Happy Friday friends. Today I’m sharing the contents of the specimen box I made for the Tim Holtz Chapter 3 LIVE launch which I shared in a separate post. You can see the LIVE launch replay and maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

   
   The specimen set was certainly my favorite and I do love them all and have to have them all, but the file folder and the specimen slide stole my heart. I’ve been so excited at the thought of a social media world flooded with specimen slides and file folders and I’m waiting on pins for your dies to arrive and see what you make. For today, I’m going to share some details of the contents of my specimen box…

   
   I die cut file folders from the specimen set from distress mixed media heavystock. Painted with a light layer of white gesso mixed with a little water. I brayered a watered down layer of speckled egg distress paint over the top and stamped using distress archival ink and stamps. Here I used insects from the specimen stamp set and added index clips to hold the folders closed.

   
   I stamped on the back of the file folders with stamps from the new Eccentric stamp set in distress archival ink.

   
   I used stamps from field notes stamp set to stamp the inside of the file folders in different distress archival inks and added a stamp from the idea-ology field notes ephemera set. It reminds me of how they would validate some documents when I lived in Geneva, by using a postage stamp. I always think it makes a boring admin document look so pretty.

   
   Next I made some insert cards using more of the dies from the specimen set. I used the index tab die (which I LOVE) and several insert dies and cut more distress mixed media heavystock. I used remnant rubs to add numbers to the background and a distress tool to scratch it up. I then blended in walnut stain distress ink and wiped with a damp cloth, removing some of the excess ink.

   
   I used stamps from field notes and correspondence, mixed with a little idea-ology ephemera to create this tabbed card. I love having so many different distress archival inks to stamp with too.

   
   I used a stamp from the Laboratorie set on the back of both cards. I tapped each into a distress ink wash.

   Beginner Tip: To create a “distress ink wash”, simply squish your ink pad onto a non stick craft mat, spritz with lots of water and mix it all up with your finger. Then tap your card into the ink wash, lift out and dry with a heat tool or use a dry cloth to pick up excess water. Practice until you find the ink to water ratio you like. These things soon become second nature.

   
   Next to the specimen slides. They are so simple to die cut, ready to be decorated with endless possibilities. I added ephemera to the inside of mine, used a mica tile on top and added “FILED” cut from idea-ology black kraft stock. Because the letters are so tiny I mounted the kraft stock onto double sided adhesive sheets before die cutting. I stuck them onto the outer part of the slide.

   
   I added more idea-ology ephemera to the back of the slides and stamped over top with distress archival ink.

   
   I couldn’t stop making them but I didn’t have time to do step outs so I will be making some more and will share them in the next blog post.

   
   It’s a great way to use your ephemera, I know you’re hoarding it too! 😉

   
   My make concentrated on the specimen set and industrious 3D folder but I couldn’t resist using the postale set to make one tiny envelope. I’m really into airmail themed things so I pulled out some hoarded retired correspondence design tape with that gorgeous airmail striped tape. I die cut my envelope from a recycled envelope. I kept the clear glassine window and reused that too.

   
   I cut the arrows out of envelope front before mounting idea-ology black kraft stock into the recess. I added stamps from the snippets ephemera set and stamped with stamps from the correspondence set.

   
   I used various colors of distress archival inks and stamps from Eccentric, Field Notes and Correspondence stamp sets to decorate the back of the envelope.

   
   I love to use idea-ology apothecary bottles and domes and love that the Chapter 3 dies work perfectly with my favorite pieces. I added a label from the vintage label thinlits die set to and apothecary bottle with remnant rubs added. I tore a corner off the label for a worn look. You have to check out Tim’s cool demo on how to ink and cut the vintage labels.

   
   I added “specimen” to the mini dome. I die cut this from idea-ology metallic kraft stock which I had backed with an adhesive sheet before die cutting. This is a much easier way to add the tiny letters to glass. I added an insect to the optical lens and wrapped with a piece of twine.

   
   I added wadding and an idea-ology bone to a test tube and added a tiny label from the collector set with “bones” rubbed on from the halloween remnant rubs set. I like to do “Halloween” all year round so I always stock up on Halloween idea-ology when it comes around. Speaking of Halloween… I’ve got a busy weekend making ahead… 😉

   
   Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour around my specimen box.  Let me know if you have any questions in comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

   Have a great weekend.
   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 18 Comments | Views: 10,962

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2. Tim Holtz – The Best Chapter

   14th July, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. I’m sure by now you’ve seen the incredible new Tim Holtz Chapter 3 dies and 3D folders. This is Tim’s chapter and the best ever chapter! If you missed the LIVE or want to have it on replay all day, you can see it and all the mind blowing maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

   
   If you know my maker style, I definitely have a love for all things industrial, so the new Industrious 3D folder made my grunge loving heart sing! The detail you get with this folder is incredible and those rivets! WHAAAT!!! The folder was the starting point of my specimen box which I’m going to share details of in this blog post.

   The contents of the box will be in a separate post as I’ve added extra detail in the description to hopefully answer some of the questions I’ve had from makers just starting out. Grab yourself some snacks, get comfortable and let’s get into it…

   
   Prime a large idea-ology vignette box with white gesso and once dry, add distress opaque crackle paste to the inside sides and border of the vignette. Dry brush vintage photo distress paint over the crackle and rub in walnut stain distress crayon.

   Beginner Tip: Dry brushing is an almost dry paint free brush. Add a little paint to a dry paint brush and remove the excess with a paper towel. Repeat, building the color slowly to add highlight but not a thick layer of paint.

   
   Gather your supplies and using the new industrious 3D embossing folder, emboss idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock. Spritz the kraft side of the metallic kraft stock with a light mist of water and run through your machine inside the 3D folder.

   Note: I used the Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway machine and the pressure is so good that it only needs one pass.
   

   
   Add a little mushroom alcohol ink to random parts of the background and allow to air dry.

   Note: You can skip this part, I find it adds a little “tooth” to the slick metallic kraft stock which the other mediums cling to, giving a more uneven finish, which I like.

   
   Add a layer of ground espresso distress paint using a paintbrush. Get the paint right into the de-bossed areas. Allow the paint to dry a little and then wipe the excess away with a dry clean cloth.

   
   Add a little black gesso with your finger but this time don’t allow to dry.

   
   Use a clean dry cloth to wipe away most of the gesso and allow the remaining to dry.

   
   Add walnut stain distress crayon to parts of the metallic kraft stock that you would like to be darker or grungier. Keep tinkering with it until you’re happy.

   
   Measure the parts of the vignette box you intend to cover and cut the embossed kraft stock to size. When cutting, think about where you want the rivets to sit on your panel.

   
   Using distress collage medium, add the embossed panels to the vignette box.

   Note: I found it worked best to add a layer of collage medium to the vignette box and to the embossed panel.

   
   To create the box dividers, use the decorative trims thinlits dies to cut strips from the metallic embossed kraft stock. Using distress collage medium, add them to both sides of etcetera thickboard pinked edge trims.

   Beginner Tip: Die cut first and 3D emboss second so you don’t flatten the embossed detail.

   
   Using Tim’s Tonic scissors, trim the trims to fit inside the vignette box. Add a line of distress collage medium using the precision bottle to the bottom and sides of the trims and push into place. Hold in place for a few moments and then set aside and allow the collage medium to completely dry.

   
   I used an offcut to add a compartment to fit an idea-ology test tube! Cut the trim to size and add the distress collage medium. Hold the test tube in place with one hand and slide the trim into place and then remove the test tube and allow to dry.

   Tip: If you need both hands, use a little poster putty/blu-tack to hold the test tube in place while you slide the trim in beside it.

   
   How cute is the tiny label from the Collector set? I have wanted a label this size for so long. Thanks Tim!

   
   I can see why Tim loves the new Theory Alphanumeric die set! You get 2 sizes of alphas and the blocks that sit under the smaller letters to lift them to the height of the larger set. SO COOL! I used idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock to cut “Specimen”, sanded, blended in a little walnut stain distress ink and added it to the back panel of the vignette box.

   
   On the front panel I added No 05. Gently sand the rivets to remove a layer of paint and show the metallic kraft stock underneath.

   Tip: I found sanding the rivets once the embossed panels were on the vignette box was easier as it’s a rigid surface to sand and you just catch the raised rivets without sanding the rest.

   
   I die cut idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock, black kraft stock and mixed media heavystock using the label frame and tiny word dies from the Specimen set. Layering them up to create a thicker label frame for the front of the specimen box. (ignore the word “Archive,” this was just to show what layers I used).

   
   I added mica tile under the top label piece and used idea-ology long fasteners through the holes and secured at the back and added the label frame to the front panel of the vignette box with distress collage medium.

   
   Using the idea-ology vignette hardware set, I added a hook and an idea-ology hook clasp to the corner of the vignette box.

   
   Does anyone remember the tools you would get at the science museum interactive exhibits that would be attached by chain so they wouldn’t be removed? That gave me the idea to use the hook clasp to attach the idea-ology optical lens to the specimen box.

   
   Now your box is ready to fill…

   
   I’ll be sharing the contents of this specimen box on my blog tomorrow, I hope you can stop by and take a look. If you have any questions, leave them in comments and I’ll do my best to reply.

   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 13 Comments | Views: 5,959

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3. Lucky is a state of mind

   12th April, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Day 2 of my week of sharing here on my blog with another make for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2 launch. If you’re looking for a quick and simple card, this is it. And if you missed the launch party, you can catch the replay and the inspiration makes over on Tim’s blog.

   
   “Lucky is a state of mind!” I have been trying to live this phrase a little more in my own life. It’s one of my many favourite quotes from the bold text 2 thinlits die set from Tim’s Chapter 2 release.

   I love that the bold text dies add a real statement to the card allowing you to keep it simple. Let’s get into how to make this quick card…

   
   To die cut the background I used a sticky grid covered cutting plate with a die from the bold text 2 thinlits set. Placed a piece of distress watercolor cardstock 3.5 inches by 5.25 inches over the top and ran it through my machine. For a quick cut like this, I use my bigshot foldaway machine. It’s quick to pull out and use and the pressure is AMAZING!

   
   Next I spritzed with water and embossed with the cracked 3D embossing folder.

   
   Finally I sprayed the background with frayed burlap distress spray and a little water and dried. I lightly blended in some walnut stain distress ink.

   
   I embossed a piece of distress watercolor cardstock sized 3.25 inches by 2.75 inches with the woven 3D embossing folder.

   
   Spritzed the background with distress spray stain and once dry, rubbed a walnut stain distress ink pad directly onto the raised detail.

   
   I die cut a couple of four leaf clovers from the lucky love impresslits folder from distress watercolor cardstock.

   
   Sprayed the clovers with frayed burlap and peeled paint distress spray stain.

   
   I added a little statue distress foundry wax over the top. Check out Tim’s awesome demo of this new product HERE.

   
   I added walnut stain distress crayon over the top to grunge it up a little and then stacked the 2 clovers over each other and glued to the background with distress collage medium.

   
   I assembled and stitched my card.

   
   Finally I mounted onto idea-ology black kraftstock and distress kraft heavystock.

   
   Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.

   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 6 Comments | Views: 2,174

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4. Tim Holtz Chapter 2

   11th April, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Happy Monday friends! I hope your week is off to a great start. I’m starting a week of sharing with a make for the newly released Tim Holtz Chapter 2 dies. If you missed the launch, you can catch up on all the fun and see the inspirational makes over on Tim’s blog.

   
   When I saw the modern floristry die set, I knew I wanted to use them with my (retired) pillowbox die. I realise that using retired dies can cause frustration but as someone who has passionately collected for over a decade, I want to be able to use all the dies from my collection and I want you to be able to make along too; so I made a wrap that you can easily adapt to fit something else if you don’t have a pillowbox or the die.

   
   I added all of the elements to the wrap so it’s is easy to adapt and add to another box, envelope, card or even a napkin ring, (which I show later in the post). Let’s get into how…

   
   I die cut a few pieces from the new modern floristry thinlits die set from distress watercolor cardstock.

   
   Using distress archival ink and the ledger script stamp from CMS241, stamped the die cut pieces.

   
   I sprayed with distress ink spray and once dry, used the shaping kit to shape the petals and leaves, ready to add with distress collage medium.

   
   I LOVE the 3D embossing folders Tim designs and they just keep getting better. The texture on the new woven 3D folder is outstanding and goes so well with the modern floristry.

   I cut a strip from distress mixed media heavystock and ran it through my die cutting machine with the woven 3D embossing folder. I used a scoring board to create 2 folds so that it would fit around the pillowbox and snipped the ends at an angle with scissors to create a neat end, adding scor tape along this end.

   The pillowbox wrap pictured here is 2 inches wide x 7 inches long.
   Score lines at 3 inches + 6.25 inches.

   Adapt the measurements to fit other things and use a practice piece first so you have the measurements figured out.

   
   The woven background was sprayed with walnut stain distress spray stain and spritzed with water. Once dry I rubbed the walnut stain distress ink pad directly onto the woven embossed detail to darken the raised parts.

   
   I used a little iced spruce distress spray and walnut stain distress ink to the edges of my pillowbox that I die cut from distress mixed media heavystock. Using distress archival inks and stamps from the field notes CMS396 set, I stamped the sides.

   
   Ready for the wrap to be slid onto the pillowbox.

   
   It could be adapted to create a napkin ring. I used the pillowbox wrap for demonstration purposes, but for a napkin ring would reduce the width and cut the length to fit. It’s given me some ideas to play with and I’ll share what I make.

   
   This one is ready to have a gift added and sent out to a friend.

   Thanks for stopping by. I hope this has inspired you to make and let me know if you have any questions.
   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 12 Comments | Views: 3,404

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5. Lovestruck for Woodgrain

   14th February, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Happy Valentines Day friends! Are you still swooning over the incredible Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 1 launch?! I know I am and excited to see the dies starting to arrive in your hands. If you missed the LIVE launch party, you can catch the replay and all of the inspirational makes over on Tim’s blog.

   
   I truly am lovestruck for woodgrain colorize and for lovestruck colorize too and was delighted to make some samples for the Launch after party! Let’s get into the details…

   
   I gasped when Tim showed us the Woodgrain Colorize die set during our makers call and I know I wasn’t alone. You could see eyes light up from those tiny zoom squares. The new colorize couldn’t be more straightforward and it takes your wood effect to the next level!!

   
   Cut the 4 pieces from distress white heavystock and blend in distress ink.

   – Base layer = ground espresso + black soot.
   – Next 2 layers = walnut stain heavy blend / walnut stain light blend.
   – Top layer = ground espresso.

   
   I trimmed the woodgrain planks to fit the idea-ology mini framed panel. You can see I trimmed one of the planks length ways with my Tim Holtz shears. If you want to use your guillotine for this, I recommend adding one layer of the woodgrain to the base and trimming, then adding the top layers and trimming with your scissors.

   
   I AM IN AWE OF THIS DIE!! I used distress collage medium to add each layer and it created some resist effect where the glue spilled over. You can see this at the top, I love the effect, albeit accidental.

   
   I altered an idea-ology mini framed panel. Cover the frame with a layer of white gesso. Next add distress crackle texture paste and set aside to air dry and crack. Once dry, dry brush with vintage photo distress paints. Finally rub walnut stain distress crayon into the cracks and blend with your finger.

   
   Using distress collage medium and a distress collage brush, add the frame to the panel and set aside to dry while you make the topper. At this stage you could add anything on top and you could skip the frame panel and make this a card.

   
   I happened to have the Lovestruck Colorize die set hanging around 😉 so I decided to use that. Again, another easy to put together colorize die and mostly large pieces. I die cut the smaller heart from the set from distress watercolor cardstock and blended in aged mahogany, fired brick, candied apple and ground espresso distress inks and assembled.

   
   I am OBSESSED with this arrow. I cut it in half a removed a section to shorten the arrow to fit my framed panel. I used distress white heavystock for the base piece covered in black soot distress ink and die cut idea-ology metallic kraft stock for the top and added a little mushroom alcohol ink and walnut stain distress crayon to grunge it up.

   
   I cut XO from alphanumeric shadow upper thinlits die set from distress white heavystock. I used the inside of the die cut, covered with candied apple, fired brick and walnut stain distress inks. I also die cut a couple of letters from fun foam and added underneath for dimension.

   
   Of course… stamped from distinguished CMS391 stamp set in distress archival ink.

   
   I used the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway for my die cutting. I love this machine, the pressure is insanely good and 3D embossing folders only require one pass. Cutting detailed dies from distress white heavystock may require a second pass because the cardstock is so thick.

   
   
   Thanks for stopping by. Whether you are celebrating today or not, I wish you love and happiness today and all days.

   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 5 Comments | Views: 3,328

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6. Gladys

   8th February, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello Friends. What a weekend! Did you join the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 1 launch party? The dies are fantastic and there was so much maker inspiration, Tim joined the maker train and made some gorgeous little bunny cards (yes you read that right but you will get it when you see it); and Mario Rossi brought his FLAMAZING flamingo onesie out for another tour! You can catch up on all of the fun and replay over on Tim’s blog.

   
   I was delighted to make for this launch and Gladys was top of my pick list for this chapter. She is so sassy and so damn fabulous, she most definitely has arrived!!

   
   I went grungy with Gladys, she’s “Grunge-Glam!”…it’s a thing!! I wanted to add tiny little diamonties to her eyes but I couldn’t find them so I added a dot of white gel pen instead.

   
   Each of these squares was cut with a different die plate. If you turn your dies over there is a color written on the back which really helped me as a beginner to colorize. You can of course change the color, but it’s helped me get started. See the Sizzix Gladys Colorize video for details on how to assemble Gladys.

   
   I  raised Gladys up with adhesive foam! I love her lifted leg it just makes her so much more sassy! Tim designed such a great die that I pushed through my fear of colorize and I’m so happy I did. As Tim has said many times before, they have learned along the way and colorize is now really simple. Even the eyes, which I sweated about took me minutes the second time I made Gladys. Remember when we make these for the first time, we don’t have any instructions, just a cover photo. I’m telling you this to show that colorize is pretty simple now.

   
   I used a mini thickboard etcetera tag as my surface. I cut a piece of distress watercolor cardstock the same size as the tag, covered with frayed burlap and hickory smoke distress spray. Once dry I spread distress crackle texture paste through the sparkle stencil and set aside to dry. Next I added some watered down white gesso and set aside to dry again. Finally I added walnut stain distress crayon to parts of the background and removed the excess with a damp cloth. I stitched the edges with my sewing machine and glued the background to the etcetera tag.

   
   I used the alphanumeric bold thinlits dies to create “GLADYS” at the top of the tag. I cut the letters twice from distress watercolor cardstock and sprayed one set with black soot and the other with kitsch flamingo distress spray. I cut a third set from fun foam to raise the letters off the tag. This is such a cool trick that Tim taught me and I use it all the time, see it here. I put the black letters through my new Big Shot Foldaway inside the quilted 3D embossing folder and then lightly sanded and blended in walnut stain distress ink. I offset the black and pink letters, added the foam to the back and glued to the tag with distress collage medium.

   
   For the base I added a thickboard etcetera scalloped trim. I used the trim thinlits dies to die cut several of the scallop trim strips from distress watercolor cardstock and sprayed with black soot distress spray. Once dry I ran them through my foldaway machine inside the quilted 3D folder. I lightly sanded and blended in walnut stain distress ink. I added the trims to either side of the thickboard trim and one along the base of the etcetera tag. I glued the trim to the tag with a line of distress collage medium. Finally I die cut “I Have Arrived” from idea-ology metallic kraft-stock with the alphanumeric tiny type upper thinlits die set.

   
   I used the new Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway machine. The pressure is so epic that you only need one pass for the 3D folder. Check out Tim demo the foldaway at the end of the Chapter 1 LIVE.

   
   I grunged up a set of gates cut from the gatekeeper thinlits die set. I die cut the base gates from distress watercolor cardstock that I sprayed with black soot distress spray and the highlight pieces from idea-ology metallic kraft-stock. Assembled using distress collage medium and then rubbed some gilders wax over parts of the gates.

   
   I attached them to the tag by the hinge with distress collage medium and carefully molded the gates with my fingers so they sit open.

   
   For the greenery I sprayed separate pieces of distress watercolor cardstock with bundled sage, peeled paint and forest moss distress sprays, spritzed with water and dried with a heat tool.

   
   Using a die from the funky florals #3 set I die cut the base leaves from the lighter cardstock and the upper leaves from the darker cardstocks. I blended in walnut stain distress ink with a mini blending tool.

   
   I assembled the leaves using distress collage medium and set aside to dry. The drying time of distress collage medium is ‘now” but I wanted to make sure the leaves were completely dry so that they wouldn’t come apart when I shaped them.

   
   I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix shaping kit to shape my leaves. Tim did a fantastic demo with the shaping kit, you can see that here, it’s really worth watching. The shaping kit is a game changer for me, it takes your die cuts to another level.

   
   Add the leaves to the trim shelf using distress collage medium. Glue them at the stem only. The shaping kit really does bring the dies to life and it’s so simple.

   
   Thanks for stopping by. I am so excited to see Gladys arrive in your homes and to see all the different and crazy things you make.

   Zoe

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   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 23 Comments | Views: 5,623

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7. Mr Frost

   7th January, 2022 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends and Happy 2022. I took some time away over Christmas to relax with my guy who took some much needed vacay days. We watched some good TV, ate like kings, built a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, completed some home projects and celebrated with friends over zoom. I enjoyed taking time out to rest and now that the first crazy busy week back to reality is done, I’m ready and excited to have some making time this weekend. I hope you’re taking some making time for yourself and what better day to make than on Tim Holtz’s Birthday!

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!

   
   It feels like a long time ago in “maker years” but when I first saw the Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas dies, I LOVED Mr Frost. He just looks like he’s causing trouble. Like maybe he wouldn’t melt when he was supposed to! Remind you of anyone? LOL

   I made this framed panel for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas LIVE launch. You can see the replay and all the makes over on Tim’s Blog. Here’s a few of the details for my make…

   
   I created a background by spraying antique linen distress spray, edging with walnut stain distress ink and adding drops of snow flurries mica spray.

   
   Using a palette knife, spread distress crackle texture paste through a stencil, I used the hocus pocus stencil, one of my faves.

   
   Soak your stencil right away, I use a “lasagna pan” (thanks Mario). Followers of Tim and Mario’s Saturday LIVES will know exactly what I mean! 😉

   
   Once dry, place the stencil back over stars and brush a layer of vintage distress collage medium over the top and remove stencil and soak the stencil again. Once the background is dry, place the stencil over once more and rub with distress crayon and blend with your finger. You can do the second and third steps without the stencil but it maybe helpful for beginners and I do this because I find it keeps my background cleaner.

   
   I altered an idea-ology framed panel. Cover the frame with a layer of white gesso. Once dry, dry brush with iced spruce and vintage photo distress paints. Next add distress crackle texture paste and set aside to air dry and crack. Finally rub distress crayon into the cracks and blend with your finger.

   
   Mr Frost is a mutli-layer die that makes assembly really simple. The black buttons, mouth and nose are simply a layer underneath the top layer which I sprayed with black soot distress spray. It’s much easier than gluing on all those tiny pieces.

   
   I added Mr Frost with adhesive foam to give some additional dimension and to lift his arm to hold the star…

   
   I added a star from the Vault Series Holiday 2021 die set which I glued into Mr Frost’s twig hand! I did try a tiny light inside the star but it didn’t really show up, BUT, you could make one from vellum and add a tiny light or a cluster of tiny lights.

   
   That hat though!

   
   Thanks for stopping by. It’s World Snowman Day on January 18. I hope you’ll join me for a day of fun making and I’ll have some giveaways here on my blog and on instagram.

   I wish you a very healthy and happy 2022 and don’t let anyone melt your snowman!
   Zoe

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   Category Christmas, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 20 Comments | Views: 2,601

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8. Vault Series Christmas 2021

   20th November, 2021 by iGirlZoe

   

   Happy Saturday friends. Day 6 of my week of Chrismas makes and I feel ready to bake some Christmas cookies and put up my Christmas tree. I’m sharing one of my makes from the launch of Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas die release. You can see the replay and all the inspiration makes over on Tim’s Blog.

   
   I LOVE the vault series. Both the Halloween 2021 set and this Christmas 2021 set. I really hope that Tim and Sizzix release more of these die sets. I love that “new to Tim Holtz” makers can now own these gorgeous dies and the more seasoned Addicts can add them to our collections.

   
   Speaking of collections. I used the older (but still available) alphanumeric tiny upper dies mixed with the new festive bouquet and vault series christmas 2021 dies. I love how my die collection works together and how fun it is to mixy matchy the old and new. Let’s get into the details of this make…

   
   I took an idea-ology framed panel and covered the frame with a layer of white gesso. Once dry, I dry brushed with iced spruce and vintage photo distress paints. Next I added distress crackle texture paste and set aside to air dry and crack. Finally I rubbed distress crayon into the cracks.

   I created a background on a piece of distress watercolor cardstock. I painted on layers of gesso and distress paint and stamped with distress archival ink. I stitched a border with my sewing machine before adding to the panel base and mounting the frame over the top.

   
   Using my Dremel Micro I drilled a hole where I wanted my light to sit for the street light.

   
   I only wanted 2 lights so I cut and discarded the excess. I love that you can cut the idea-ology tiny lights, just remember to cut the right end! I thread the lights up through from the back and secured the battery pack to the back of the framed panel.

   
   I die cut the street light from the vault series christmas 2021 thinlits die set several times, glued the layers together and sprayed with black soot distress spray. Added a piece of vellum covered with fossilized amber distress paint to the back of the die cut.

   
   Die cut several more street lights, glue together and cut the center bar out and mount underneath the light die cut pictured on the right. There’s an easier way to add layers by using a piece of fun foam! Tim shared this game changing tip with me after I had made this but you can see the how to here.

   
   Place the street light over the tiny light and once you’re sure it fits, glue into place with distress collage medium.

   
   Die cut the carolers, spray with black soot distress spray and add adhesive foam to the back of the die cuts. I left one side without foam as it was sitting it over the top of the other caroler and the foam was under his leg.

   
   I mounted the carolers in such a way that the guy doesn’t look like he’s running off somewhere by hiding his “running off” leg behind the lady. I added the wreath and bow to the street light, the bow was coloured with seasonal mica spray to match the star. I love that Tim and Ranger released these seasonal mica sprays and crayons. Can’t wait to see what’s to come next year.

   
   I created some snowballs by adding snowfall grit-paste to idea-ology baubles. Making sure your hands are ink free, put some snowfall on your fingers and roll the bauble between them. Lay on your non stick craft mat to dry. Repeat until you’re happy with the look.

   
   I added scallop thickboard etcetera trims which I treated with the same technique as the framed panel. I glued them with distress collage medium and added idea-ology hardware heads to each end. This created the shelf for the carolers, street light and snowballs to sit on.

   
   I added a star cut from the vault series christmas 2021 die set and sprayed with seasonal mica spray and splattered with picket fence distress paint.

   
   I die cut some foliage from the festive bouquet thinlits die set and sprayed with seasonal mica spray.

   Thanks for stopping by.

   Zoe

   …
   affiliate links used at no cost to you

   
   

   Category Christmas, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 10 Comments | Views: 2,974

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9. Special Delivery

   19th November, 2021 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. It’s Day 5 of my week of Christmas makes and I wanted to thank you for your kind comments. I hope these posts encourage you to make a little something something during the season. I have some fall/thanksgiving makes planned for this weekend which I’ll be sharing next week, but on with the Christmas makes. If you’d like to see the Tim Holtz holiday stamp launch and all the inspiration makes, head over to Tim’s Blog.

   
   I made a little box of tiny cards and envelopes using the curio box bigz die and retired envelope die and the magical new Tim Holtz holiday stamps and stencils. I made one of these boxes for the villainous potions distress launch which you can see here. They make such sweet gifts for non card makers (and card makers too) and it’s always so handy to have notecards and gift cards ready to go.

   
   For the mixed media heavystock box top, I sprayed frayed burlap onto the non stick mat portion of my glass media mat and picked up with the heavystock and spritzed with water and dried. I sprayed a little antique linen distress spray direct onto the box top and dried again. I stamped the santa from the holiday things stamp set and the text from the jolly santa stamp set. I stamped the sides and once finished I assembled the box. How to a little further down…

   
   The base of the curio box was die cut from distress kraft heavystock and I used the new stripes shifter stencils to create these cool candy cane stripes. I LOVE candy cane stripes like I LOVE pumpkins and this stripes stencil is perfect for creating your own. I used distress paints candied apple and picket fence and painted through the stencil. Shifting slightly to leave a strip of the kraft heavystock showing through. I did this before assembling the box.

   
   Using the curio box bigz die, cut distress mixed media heavystock and distress kraft heavystock. You will see that the box on the left has tabs, this is the top of the box and it slides over the top of the box on the right that has no tabs.

   
   I add a little scor-tape to the tabs and stick into place. Super super simple.

   
   The base is a little more fiddly, but only until you find your way. I used distress collage medium in the precision bottle. Run a line of glue along the edges of the end pieces and hold them together until they dry. You don’t need much glue and it doesn’t take long to dry. It can be a little tricky the first time you do it, but once you’ve made a few it’s really easy. I suggest die cutting a cereal box and practice on that so you’re not worrying about wasting the good cardstock.

   Pro Tip: Ask your husband/wife/friend/family member to hold it while it dries. Thanks to my sweet husband for always being willing to lend a hand (literally).

   
   Your box is ready to fill with tiny cards and envelopes.

   
   
   Using the holiday things stamps, I stamped onto distress watercolor cardstock with distress archival ink and watercolored with distress reinkers. I stamped the sentiments from the cozy christmas stamp set with distress archival ink. Once dry, I gave the card toppers a light mist with the seasonal mica sprays. I decorated in the inside of an envelope using the same technique as the box base and stamped onto the front with a stamp from the jolly santa stamp set.

   
   
   
   
   
   I stamped and fussy cut a label with “special delivery” from the jolly santa stamp set stamped inside with distress archival ink and added it to the bottom of the box.

   
   I used my sewing machine to stitch the distress watercolor cardstock toppers before I attached them to the distress kraft heavystock card.

   
   I attached an idea-ology tiny clip to connect each card and envelope. This is such a cute addition if you’re sending this out as a gift for someone.

   
   Brown paper packages tied up with string… these are a few of my favorite things!

   Thanks for stopping and don’t forget to join Tim and Mario tomorrow for part 3 of the holiday demos on Tim’s YouTube channel. See you there.

   Zoe

   …
   affiliate links used at no cost to you

   
   

   Category Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 14 Comments | Views: 3,190

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10. Mountain Pass

    17th November, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    

    Hello friends and welcome to Day 3 of my week of Christmas makes. Today we are up in the mountains with the tall pine trees and charming chalets with the help of these amazing dies that Tim Holtz designed for his Sizzix holiday release. You can see the launch replay and all of the inspiration makes over on Tim’s blog.

    
    The mountain top and tall pines dies made me think of winters spent in the snow capped Swiss mountains. We would drive up nearly every weekend and had the most incredible views. I decided to create a scene inspired by those memories. I really loved making this piece, here’s how…

    
    I took a small idea-ology vignette tray and covered it with a thin layer of gesso. Once dry I covered the inside back panel with speckled egg distress paint. I dry brushed the sides, inside and out with vintage photo distress paint. I covered the outside and front edges with distress crackle texture paste and once dry, rubbed distress crayon into the cracks.

    
    I die cut the pieces from the mountain top thinlits die set from distress watercolor cardstock. I sprayed the pieces with hickory smoke and frayed burlap distress spray and blended walnut stain distress ink into the edges and then assembled using distress collage medium.

    
    I posted this in the Tim Holtz Addicts group to help a couple of Addicts with their first time builds. In case it helps you… Working up from the base A and 1.

    
    This is the finished puzzle taken from the packaging because I didn’t have a photo of the assembled piece!

    
    Once you have assembled your mountains, add to the back of the vignette tray with distress collage medium.

    
    To extend the base of the vignette tray I added thickboard etcetera trims. I used the thin trims from the bat web trims set and a wider trim at the front from the pinking trims set. Using distress collage medium to attach them. It doesn’t have to be pretty, you’re going to cover them.

    
    I used the new decorative trims dies to cut pieces of distress watercolor cardstock. In order to get the correct depth I hung the decorative die straight cutting edge over the edge of my cutting plates so that it wouldn’t cut and then used my paper trimmer to cut that edge to fit the vignette tray. This is a hack and probably not advised by Sizzix… but look at me going all rogue! LOL

    I ran the strip through the mini 3D cobblestone embossing folder. I had to do one end at a time but it worked. I lined the stones up the best I could. You can see the join line just in front of the pine tree.

    
    I meant to hide the join underneath the paper village buildings! I realised after I had glued the first strip down so I used a little snowfall grit-paste to cover the join and rubbed in a little distress crayon to blend. It worked pretty well but if I had to do it again, I would put the join under the buildings! Also, look at the detail of that cobblestone embossing folder! It’s AMAZING!!

    
    I drilled a hole in one end of the vignette tray trim to thread tiny lights through, securing the battery pack at the back of the tray. I gathered the lights up into a strip (as pictured) and then ran them under where the next building would be and made another one. This helps to light up each structure.

    I love the decorative trim dies because you get such a perfect clean edge when mounting die cut paper over the thickboard etcetera trims.Total game changer as I used to trace around them, fussy cut, mount and then sand between each point! THANK YOU TIM!!

    
    I used the paper village #2 thinlits die set to create these little faux Swiss chalets. I built each structure out of distress kraft heavystock and then used corrugated cardstock for the sidings. Oh my gosh these windows that open slightly are the cutest! They really look like the shutters on Swiss chalets. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

    
    I added a little snowfall grit-paste to the roofs and splatted with white gesso using a splatter brush.

    
    This is what the underside of the vignette tray looks like with the extended trim platform. You can see the crackle texture paste that I added to the front trim of the vignette tray. You can decorate the underside of the trim, but I didn’t for this.

    
    I die cut trees with the tall pines thinlits die set and sprayed with peeled paint and rustic wilderness distress spray. I used adhesive foam to mount the trees.

    
    This conveniently hides the mountain join and gives some perspective by mounting the smaller trees at the front.

    
    I added the moon from the vault series halloween 2021 thinlits die set. I LOVE this moon and it was perfectly sized for this scene.

    
    
    Thanks for stopping by.

    Zoe

    …
    affiliate links used at no cost to you

    
    

    Category Christmas, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 11 Comments | Views: 3,097

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