1. Specimen

   23rd August, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello everyone. Did you catch the Tim Holtz facebook LIVE showcasing the new Stampers Anonymous Halloween stamps? If you know me, you know that stamps are my jam and Halloween is my favourite flavour, so this is always my favourite release of the year.

   
   I love tapping into my dark side during Halloween and those dark days are coming… but I wanted to share this card first and show that these stamps are not just for Halloween…

   The specimen CMS410 stamps blew me away. They are big bugs, but certainly not too big for cards. The detail is incredible and they totally have a silence of the lambs vibe… (trust me, it’s going to get really freaky in the coming weeks)!

   
   Background stamps are so useful and this set Tapestry CMS414, can certainly be used all year, like the Specimen set.

   
   I covered the stamp with distress embossing goo, I hate the stuff, it’s sticky and gross but it’s awesome for embossing and a baby wipe takes it off your stamp and lets face it, who isn’t washing their hands 60 times an hour?! Be gentle with it, it’s thick and if you squeeze it you’ll blow the top off and you’ll have sticky gross goo everywhere! I store mine upside down and pump the dabber top on my glass media mat to prime the dabber and then you’re ready to go. I used speckled egg distress glaze and walnut stain distress crayon, using a baby wipe to remove some of the crayon from the glaze, which acts as a resist.

   
   It wouldn’t be Halloween without Blackout kraft-stock from the idea-ology range. There’a truly nothing else like this and I’m beyond happy that it comes in paper pads of 24 sheets of just black. I sanded the edges and blended in walnut stain distress ink. I cut the banner frame using the retired sizzix banner die set. I can’t wait to share this years Halloween banner with you…

   
   I used sizzix square frames die set to create a faux slide. I stamped “Identification Check” from the new Examination CMS412 stamp set and flicked ground espresso distress paint at the slide to give it an aged look.

   
   These are my background pieces ready to be assembled. I use dimensional adhesive foam on some layers to give some height. I also use scor-tape and distress collage medium as my go to adhesives.

   
   I love this die from the Tim Holtz mixed media thinlits die set. It reminds me of bubble wrap and adds a little texture.

   
   I added the small “refer to” stamp from the Examination CMS412 stamp set and the “collection of specimens” stamp from the Specimen CMS410 stamp set and of course that beautiful moth. I stamped with distress archival ink onto distress watercolor cardstock and fussy cut,  bending the wings up to give some dimension.

   
   I stitched the base layers using my Singer Heavy duty sewing machine. My stitching is getting better and I’m going to try stitching fabric next month with some fabric that’s “winging” it’s way t0 me… I’m nervous-excited.

   
   Seriously, how awesome are these stamps?!

   
   Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend and I’ll be back next week with some more Halloween makes.

   Let me know if you have any questions.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Halloween, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 22 Comments | Views: 4,253

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2. Focus On The Good

   20th July, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends

   A few months ago I shared a tag on social media that I made using one of my favourite techniques from the incredible 16 weeks of demos Tim Holtz shared. If you missed any of these, you can find them all on Tim’s blog. Hands up who misses the Saturday party at Tim and Mario’s?!

   
   Now more than ever I think it’s so important to focus on the good and I thought it would be nice to share the tag in a little more detail, so here we go.

   
   I followed Tim’s distress crayon and distress embossing glaze technique, which you can see here. I have been a long time fan of distress crayons and used with the new distress embossing glaze, WOW!! This grungy weathered effect is completely up my street and it’s so easy to do.

   
   I stitched the edges of my tag with my Singer heavyduty sewing machine. Practice makes perfect with stitching and mine is definitely getting better! Tip, if you miss a stitch, (which happens to me all the time), draw it on after with a marker. The background stamp is from the professor 2 CMS395 stamp set.

   
   I had to add a hat, I think dapper CMS267 and distinguished CMS371 stamp sets will always have my heart, it doesn’t matter how stuck I get creatively, I break out these sets and it inspires me. Stampers Anonymous never retire Tim’s stamps so you can pick up them up from set 001 to set 406! I added a bug from the entomology CMS328 stamp set, the matching thinlits dies makes it really easy and they fit in the Sizzix sidekick.

   
   I used part of the weathered clock (664173) bigz die cut with texture paste and distress crayon added to weather.

   
   Using the same technique as linked to above, I altered this quote chip. I always remove several layers of the cardboard to make the quote lower profile. The layers separate really easily, you can do it with your finger nail. They are now longer so you can add hardware to the end. I used idea-ology hardware heads with distress crayon and a waterbrush to add a little rust effect.

   
   Hope you have a creative week and focus on the good.

   Zoe x

   
   

   Category Mixed Media, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Tags, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 10 Comments | Views: 2,049

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3. The Professor 2

   1st May, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Anyone know what day it is? It’s Sunday right?! Speaking of days, who’s been counting down until Saturday? I know I have! Whilst we wait, I wanted to share a card shown during the first Tim Holtz Saturday facebook LIVE, which by the way was 7 weeks ago! Wowzer that’s a lot of techniques and inspiration. I’m so grateful to Tim and Mario for all the time they dedicate and work they put in to bring us this weekly treat.

   
   This year at Creativation Tim Holtz released a new bigger Professor stamp – Professor 2 (CMS395) and he both stole our hearts and the show! I stamped him onto plain collage paper with distress archival ink. Using a detailer waterbrush, I painted a line of water around the edge of the professor and gently tore away the excess paper. I then burnished it to the background with distress collage medium.

   
   This grungy background was created using distress spray stains, lots of water and rubbing until the paper pilled away. As a side note, because the distress surfaces are designed to take water so well, it took some doing! I dried it so it was really crispy and added walnut stain distress ink to the edges and worn portions.

   
   I used the new digits stencil (THS145) with black soot distress ink blended through. This stencil is so awesome!

   
   I also had a chance to briefly play with the new distress cracked leather cardstock. I swiped the surface through a walnut stain distress ink wash on my glass media mat, drying between layers. I added a little black soot distress ink over the top to make it look weathered, worn and water damaged. Really looking forward to trying out some of the techniques shown by Tim Holtz that were inspired by Ann Sullivan Barnes using the distress cracked leather cardstock.

   
   I love love love the new idea-ology factory tags. I distressed with a little iced spruce distress paint and frayed burlap distress crayon. I attached it with an idea-ology mini fastener over a fussy cut stamped image from the mini glitch (CMS405) stamp set.

   Thanks for stopping by and see you at the facebook LIVE party tomorrow…
   Zoe

   
   

   Category Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 9 Comments | Views: 1,273

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4. Gears Up

   26th April, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello everyone and happy Sunday. Like many people I am still spinning after yesterdays epic 3 hour facebook LIVE demo with Tim Holtz. Saturday has become my favourite day of the week, getting together with everyone and watching the professor work his magic inspiring us all to create. And Mario Rossi totally upped his sound effect game yesterday! I’m still laughing…

   
   The card that I’m sharing today uses techniques from the previous Saturday’s demo. Tim revisited an old technique that I learned from his 12 tags years ago and I simply love. I hadn’t tried the technique with the idea-ology metallic kraft-stock before and wanted to see how it looked! You can see the technique on Tim Holtz Blog.

   
   I stamped the gear stamp from the dapper (CMS267) stamp set and watercolored with oxides as per Tim’s demo. I used the new Tim Holtz Tonic craft knife to cut away 2 sections of the stamped image and mounted over a small piece of metallic kraft-stock, embossed with the 3D mechanic folder and following Tim’s demo again.

   
   I have been asked a few times what the difference is between Tim’s craft knives. The new retractable craft knife comes with 3 blades. The blades are bigger and more heavy duty for a more precision cut. I’m really impressed with the new craft knife. You can see from the photo that the blade on the older knife is tiny (how tiny) 😉

   
   The foil technique is so easy and works perfectly on the metallic kraft-stock and cutting the hole with the new craft knife was really easy. It cut away the piece first time. The blade is sharp, so please be careful.

   
   I took pieces of the leftover foil embossed background and added over the top of the card and underneath the blackout kraft-stock which I use on almost every card I make. Love having an entire pad of black!

   
   This is what the back of the top layer of my card looks like. I only used a small piece of embossed metallic kraft-stock behind the cut out sections and secured with tape.

   
   I used another of the awesome techniques Tim shared during the demo. This was a new one, using impresslits, distress embossing glaze and distress crayons. Check out Tim Holtz blog for details. I used the star trim impresslit folder and created a frame layer for my card. I added my favourite idea-ology hardware heads with some rusty hinge distress crayon to create a simple rust effect.

   
   I shared this photo on my instagram-stories and thought I would share here too. This is my work in progress shot.

   
   Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’re having a relaxing Sunday crafting. I want to say a great big thank you to Tim and Mario for all the work they put in to bringing us these weekly demos, it’s created a new normal for me and a sense of comfort in the familiar during this time. I am very thankful for them both.

   Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 13 Comments | Views: 1,816

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5. Field Notes

   13th April, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Hope you are well and still enjoying your Easter candy! 😉
   I’m sharing a card today that was shown during the first Tim Holtz facebook LIVE demo. If you’ve missed any of the awesome demos you can catch up with them all on the Tim Holtz blog. It’s the perfect creative distraction and there are so many techniques to try and revisit. Saturdays have never been so much fun!

   
   I made this card prior to the global pandemic and had no idea how impactful the words on this card would be! Whilst some may view our current situation of being quarantined as being “condemned” or stuck at home, I don’t see it that way. I am thankful to be safe at home and I choose to live each day with purpose and choosing to see the good, like this rather distinguished gentleman who is dressed up ready for a video chat… he may or may not be wearing pants! 😉

   
   The new field notes stamp set (CMS396) has been a firm favourite of mine since it’s release. It works perfectly with the entomology set, but I wanted to take it in a slightly different direction and make it a little more steampunk, so I added a hat (of course) using the distinguished stamps (CMS371) which is my all time favourite, but please don’t tell the other stamp sets!

   
   There are so many gorgeous stamps in the field notes set (CMS396) and it’s perfect for layering. I used the distress archival inks and created some vintage labels, which I stitched before layering them onto my card.

   
   I used a stamp from the new grunged stamp set (CMS402), which worked perfectly down the side of the card. I inked the stamp and stamped once lightly onto scrap paper and a second time onto my card to give a more faded image.

   
   I added a prize ribbon from the idea-ology adornment ribbons set, with a stamped image from the field notes set (CMS396), cut to the right size with a circle punch.

   
   Thanks for stopping by, please take good care and have a great Monday.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 5 Comments | Views: 2,284

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6. Circuit

   12th April, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Happy Easter to you all. If this is a holiday weekend for you, I hope you have planned to do some nice things at home. I’ve been doing some cooking this week, I know, who am I?! It’s been a fun and positive learning experience. I’ve also been following Tim Holtz demos on facebook LIVE each Saturday and trying out some techniques. It’s been another fun learning experience and don’t even get me started on the distress crayon and distress embossing glaze technique or we’ll never get to today’s post…

   
   Today I’m sharing a card that I made using the new Tim Holtz circuit stencil (THS146) from Stampers Anonymous. When I first laid eyes on this stencil it spoke to my Star Wars loving heart. Apologies, it’s not Easter themed, I’m actually making an Easter themed project today.

   
   To create the background, I spread distress texture paste through the circuit stencil (THS146) with a palette knife, removed the stencil and immediately poured over liquid platinum embossing powder. Like many of you, I am obsessed with the new distress embossing glazes, but for this card I wanted a more metallic look so used liquid platinum embossing powder.

   
   To continue the Star Wars inspired vibe, this stencil screamed out for the inventor 2 stamp (CMS341) which I painted with distress crayons. The crayons are so versatile, right?! This stamp reminds me of the pod racers from Star Wars. Anyone else?

   
   I dug this high voltage die leftover from a previous making session out of my bit box and it was just perfect for this card. I used thinlits alphanumeric thin dies to die cut “High Voltage” and covered the top of the plaque with distress grit-paste and coloured with distress crayons. Adding idea-0logy hardware heads (as always), these are one of my favourite ever idea-ology lines.

   
   I added more distress grit-paste to the background of the card between the stenciled detail. Just to keep it real, the reason I did this was because I was trying to hide embossing powder spackle. I think the background was still not fully dry when I poured the embossing powder over the texture paste and there was embossing powder where I didn’t want there to be. I loved the crusty look of the grit-paste so I added more where there wasn’t spackle. We’ll file this one under “happy accident” 😉

   
   I used the new mini glitch stamps (CMS405) to add some more cool “Star Wars esq” detail. These stamps really remind me of the markings found on the junk dealers scrap metal on Tatooine from the Star Wars movies, I love love love them!

   
   Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a very Happy Easter and may the force be with you, always!

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Card, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 6 Comments | Views: 1,349

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7. Bubbles

   6th April, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello everyone! It’s been a month since I last blogged and I’ve been adjusting to our new normal. I hope you’re all doing well, staying safe and using this extra time to do something you love. If you need some creative inspiration and would like to try out some cool techniques, Tim Holtz has done some awesome demos the past few Saturdays. There are so many techniques to try or revisit, it’s the perfect creative distraction. You can catch up with all of the fun over on Tim Holtz Blog.

   
   I wanted to share a card I made using the new bubbles (THS138) stencil that was shared during the first in the series of demos Tim has done. You can see that demo on Tim Holtz Blog as well as so much inspiration from the other makers.

   
   I love this bubbles (THS138) stencil. Using a palette knife, I spread distress texture crackle paste through the stencil and set aside to dry. I sprayed with distress spray stain and a light mist of water and set aside to dry again. I love how the distress ink really highlights the crackle. So cool.

   
   I say it a lot, but I love that Stampers Anonymous never retire any of Tim’s stamp sets so I’m always adding to my collection. I love this octopus stamp from an older set, sea life (CMS304), his crazy eyes and all of those arms, he’s so squirly! I fussy cut the octopus, it relaxes me and that’s only a good thing right now. To highlight the suckers on the octopus I used a sakura gelly roll pen in clear star. You just need to touch the paper with the pen and you get a tiny dot of sparkle

   
   Steampunk parts is one of my favourite dies, it just speaks to my steampunk, industrial loving heart! I used grungeboard (sorry not sorry), it’s retired and I’ve been hoarding it like toilet paper in a pandemic, but with the zombie apocalypse looming, I decided to live my best life and start using my grungeboard stash before the zombie crafters come knocking at my door looking for it. I digress…
   I used distress grit-paste and distress crayons to create this rust effect and added my favourite idea-ology hardware heads.

   
   This sentiment from the snarky cat (CMS392) stamp set was perfect for this card. I love these snarky stamps and have used them inside and on the back of my cards too. They just add a je ne sais snark! 😉

   
   And of course he wouldn’t be complete without a hat! This one from my very favourite stamp set, distinguished (CMS371). I hope you’ll take time to check out Tim’s demos and I really recommend being creative as a great way to combat the stress and anxiety that this uncertain time brings. Getting lost doing what I love has really helped me to stay positive. We can get through this together.

   Take good care of yourselves and each other.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 6 Comments | Views: 2,027

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8. The Holly and The Professor

   15th November, 2019 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello Friends! I’m back with the 5th and final of the cards I made with this years Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Christmas stamps. If you missed the launch party, you can catch up on all the fun on Tim’s blog!

   
   I love mixing and matching stamp sets, especially the seasonal with the non seasonal. Just a few sprigs of holly from the new yuletide gathering (CMS390) stamp set and the professor (CMS373) was ready for Christmas. I used a background stamp from last years music and advert (CMS358) stamp set, stamped with ground espresso distress archival ink. Stampers Anonymous never retire their stamps and stock the entire stamp catalogue, so you can always add to your collection.

   
   I stamped the professor (CMS373) stamp set and his very dapper hat onto distress watercolor cardstock and watercolored with distress re-inkers. I fussy cut and mounted inside a stitched ovals die cut, blended with distress ink and mounted onto foam. Of course he had to have a sprig of holly added to his top hat.

   
   If fussy cutting isn’t for you, you may want to look away now… I stamped holly from the yuletide gathering (CMS390) stamp set, watercolored with re-inkers and fussy cut. I curled the leaves to give dimension and adhered just at the stem.

   
   I tiptoed back to the modern christmas (CMS388) stamps for a moment to use the “Merry Christmas” sentiment which I added to a label stamp from another set, I’m not sure which set it’s from as it lives permanently on my desk. I’d love a stamp set with assorted smaller labels… *cough cough* #badzoe

   
   Thanks for stopping by and a big thanks to everyone who left kind comments here and on social media, I really appreciate the encouragement. A big thank you to Tim Holtz, Mario Rossi and Paula Cheney who work really hard to bring these products to market for us all to play with and help to support the makers while we create samples and Stampers Anonymous for bringing us awesome red rubber stamps.

   As always, if you have any questions please ask and I will do my best to help you.
   Have a great weekend and I hope that you have been inspired to get making.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Card, Christmas, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 4 Comments | Views: 765

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9. Hatty New Year

   14th November, 2019 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello Friends! As promised I’m back with another card that I made with the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Christmas stamps for the launch. If you missed the launch party, you can catch up with all the fun over on Tim’s Blog!

   
   I was delighted to see a New Year stamp in the christmastime 2 (CMS389) stamp set. I’m hosting a New Years Eve party this year and I’m going to create some variations of this card as invitations as well as some new years cards to send to friends.

   
   To begin, I used a stamp from the music and advert (CMS358) stamp set to create a background. I stamped with ground espresso distress archival ink, sprayed with frayed burlap distress ink and dried with a heat tool. I then sprayed with antique linen distress oxide spray and dried with a heat tool again. Finally I spritzed with water droplets and lifted with a clean cloth leaving behind bleached drops.

   
   I pulled out another of my favourite stamp sets distinguished (CMS371) and stamped and fussy cut the top hat and dinner jacket. I stamped the Happy New Year sentiment from christmastime 2 (CMS389) stamp set and mounted over the background. I added an idea-ology adornment star to the hat, with candied apple distress paint rubbed off to leave a chippy paint effect. I got a little crazy and added some zig zag stitching with my Singer heavy duty sewing machine!

   
   I spread crackle opaque texture paste through the sparkle stencil (THS132) and set aside to dry. I love this stencil so much and the stencil lives up to it’s name!

   
   The background mounts are kraft cardstock covered in ground espresso distress paint and when dry sanded and kraft cardstock with a little antique linen oxide spray and more stitching. Practice practice practice…

   Thanks for stopping by and I will be back tomorrow with one last card and one more hat…

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Card, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 677

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10. Yuletide Gatherings

    13th November, 2019 by iGirlZoe

    

    Hello Friends! Today I’m sharing a super simple card that I made with the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Christmas stamps. If you missed the facebook LIVE you can catch up with all of the fun on Tim’s blog!

    
    I finally managed to put down the modern christmas stamp set for a second and used the yuletide gathering (CMS390) and christmastime 2 (CMS389) stamp sets. To begin I created a background with black soot distress spray and antique linen oxide spray onto distress watercolor cardstock and dried with a heat tool.

    
    Using a stamp from the yuletide gathering (CMS390) stamp set, stamp with distress archival ink and watercolor with distress re-inkers. I used peeled paint and gathered twigs.

    
    I added 2 pinecones from the idea-ology festive adornment set which I added picket fence distress paint and mushroom alcohol ink to and tied them to the twine wrapped around the card.

    
    I edged the card with walnut stain and stitched with my sewing machine, I use a Singer heavy duty machine. I painted the edges of a piece of kraft stock with ground espresso distress paint and sanded.

    
    I used a sentiment from the christmastime 2 (CMS389) stamp set. This card is so quick and easy to make, which is helpful if you have a lot of cards to make this year and like me, haven’t really started yet!

    Thanks for stopping by, I will be back again tomorrow and there’s going to be a hat…

    Zoe

    
    

    Category Card, Christmas, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 7 Comments | Views: 1,057

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  A procrastinator, easily distracted by shiny things.
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