1. Home Sweet Home

   3rd November, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Have you seen the new Paper Village thinlits dies? I am totally in love with them!! I made this sample for the Tim Holtz facebook LIVE Sizzix chapter 4 release. If you missed the LIVE you can catch up on all the fun over on Tim’s blog.

   
   With many of us staying safe at home this year, home really is sweet. I created a gift tin as an idea for a new home gift using the new Paper Village thinlits dies (664741) and the yummy new distress cracked leather cardstock.

   
   Here’s how I made it…

   
   – Coat the inside of an idea-ology trinket tin with a thin layer of distress collage medium.
   – I tucked dictionary pages into the tin.
   – Once dry I trimmed the edges and added gesso to parts of the dictionary page using my finger.
   – Allowing to dry between layers, I added distress texture crackle paste and once it had dried and cracked, rubbed distress crayon in with my finger.

   
   I die cut a frame using the Trinket Frames Bigz die (664186) from the distress cracked leather cardstock with vintage photo distress ink blended in. I also die cut a piece of chipboard which I mounted under the cracked leather to give the die cut some height. I blended some ground espresso distress ink into the edges and glued it into the lid of the trinket tin. This die is so cool and made to fit both sides of the tin.

   
   Using the Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper (664406) and Lower (664407) thinlits dies, I die cut the distress cracked leather cardstock and added “home sweet home.” The strip of stars was created using the Star Trim impresslits folder (663297).

   
   – To create the house I die cut distress cracked leather cardstock, using painters tape to hold the windows in place as I ran the die cuts through my sidekick.
   – I blended vintage photo distress ink to both sides of the die cut house and added a piece of dictionary page to the back wall of the house as this will be seen through the windows and door.
   – Using scor-tape to attach the front and back pieces of the house.
   – Adding the roof using distress collage medium. I made sure the roof sits forward and is flush with the back of the house so it will sit against the back of the tin.

   
   Using the etcetera thickboard scalloped trim, I created a shelf for the house to sit on. I covered this with distress cracked leather cardstock, can you tell I LOVE this cardstock? I found the perfect idea-ology thought token that made me think of a porch light being left on to light the way home.

   
   I added a key from the idea-ology keys adornments, with thread wrapped around it. If you were buying a new home or moving in with someone you could add a real key instead to make it more personal.

   
   The outside of the tin was grunged up using scraps of dictionary paper, cracked leather cardstock and gesso, distress crackle texture paste and distress crayons. To stop the crackle texture paste from flaking off the shiny trinket tin, I covered with a layer of distress vintage collage medium. I love the brown tint it gave the gesso and texture paste.

   
   I dyed an idea-ology finial with vintage photo and ground espresso distress ink and sanded back. I added chain and an o ring from the idea-0l0gy swivel clasps, removing the clasp and adding tiny keys from the keys adornments set. All of which I covered with picket fence distress paint. I added a piece of black thread from the halloween trimmings pack.

   
   I added an idea-ology finial to the base of the trinket tin using distress collage medium. The trick is to stick it and walk away. The glue shrinks as it dries and creates a really good bond, but you gotta walk away and not come back 10 times to see if you can just move it! LOL

   
   Thanks for stopping by, I hope you found this useful and it’s inspired you to make something. You could easily add tiny lights through the back of the tin and with a little holly and some mica or glitter it would make a cute Christmas piece.
   Zoe

   
   

   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 15 Comments | Views: 4,664

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2. Baggage!

   2nd November, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. I hope you had a Happy Halloween. I managed to visit Tivoli for a couple of hours last week, we went late and had the place almost to ourselves. Tivoli have worked really hard to make it a safe guest experience and we can’t wait to go back to see it decked out for Christmas.

   
   We watched a gigantic pumpkin being carved and they had dressed the annual jack-o-lantern, that hangs over the entrance, with a mask! Inside the park the lights were as beautiful as ever and there was the perfect atmospheric sky with an almost full moon casting a magical light over the pirate ship. So many great memories and so many great pumpkins. 😉

   
   We have been staying safe at home for so much of this year and truly appreciate the time we do get to enjoy being “in the wild” even for just a few hours. I’m looking forward to packing my bags and traveling again as soon as it’s safe to do so. I wanted to share this sample I made for Creativation using the Baggage Bigz die (664439) from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 1 release.

   
   I created a quick colour coded guide, in case it helps those new to die cutting or needing some “first build” guidance. You can of course customize this anyway that you wish. I added a red box to the first picture to show which portion of the die needs to be cut twice. I mounted the finished versions onto card to keep as it’s a great quick reminder for me when I want to build some more. I plan to make some travel journals from past trips.

   
   I used an etcetera thickboard tag as my base and covered with some paper from Tim’s idea-ology paper stash, sanding the edges and blending in distress ink. I die cut the baggage out of grungeboard that I’ve been hoarding. Sanding the edges and blending in a little distress ink. I wanted to create the look of vintage trunks, so added some tiny fussy cut travel labels out of paper from the Tim Holtz paper stash.

   
   I added a thickoard trim which I added letters to from the alphanumeric tiny text upper thinlits die set (664406). I added Phoenix as that’s where Creativation was held.

   
   I also added an idea-ology compass coin and game spinner, plus the year… it’s one we won’t forget in a hurry!

   
   I die cut the globe thinlits die (660214) from idea-ology metallic kraft-stock, sanded and blended with ground espresso distress ink. A chippy red painted adornment arrow and a couple of idea-ology hardware heads and my tag was finished.

   Thanks for stopping by, I will be back tomorrow with a project made using the new paper village thinlits dies.
   Zoe

   
   

   Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 9 Comments | Views: 2,485

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3. Makers Gonna Make

   17th October, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello Friends. I had the best of intentions to share a post each day with samples I’ve made for the Tim Holtz seasonal releases. 3 days in and I’ve come unstuck (maker joke)! 😉

   
   I was gathering supplies for the LIVE “watch and make” that Tim Holtz is hosting on his facebook page later today and it gave me an idea which fueled my desire to change my plans and make for me, for Halloween and because I love to make.

   
   For the supply list and to learn how to make these beauties during the LIVE later today, go to the Tim Holtz Facebook Page and remember to like the page and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a thing.

   
   I’ve had really positive feedback for sharing more detailed step outs and tips for each project. I’d like to do this more where needed, which of course takes time and is now in direct competition with my wish to celebrate Halloween and make for the current season. I’m sure you can relate that, as makers, we often make “out of season” and miss being in the current one. As this is my favourite season, I want to take a couple of weeks to be “in it” and make for Halloween and put out pumpkins.

   
   I will begin posting my Christmas makes on November 2nd. I hope you can join me then and thank you for your patience.

   In the meantime, I gathered the supply list (see pics below) that Tim posted for today’s Halloween Part 2 that is being hosted on the Tim Holtz facebook page, LIVE at 10AM PT (pacific time). I’m so excited to follow and make with Tim, Mario and all the other makers who watch and make LIVE.

   
   Crystal Ball supplies.

   
   Candles supplies.

   
   Ready to make…

   Hope to see you there and if you would like to socialise beforehand and share your excitement afterwards, check out the Tim Holtz Addicts group on facebook and bring snacks! 😉

   Have a great weekend and please please take time for yourself and make time to make.

   Zoe

   Category Halloween, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 12 Comments | Views: 1,682

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4. Halloween Street

   16th October, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Firstly I want to say a great big thank you for your kind comments on yesterdays post. I really appreciate the encouragement and I hope that the post will encourage you to make and share something too. I’m back today with a sample I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 4 die release. If you’re ready to get your spook on, take a walk with me down to Halloween street where there are bats in the belfry and something sinister is stirring behind those smashed out windows…

   
   When I received the chapter 4 dies I confess that I completely overlooked the paper village thinlits dies (664741) . It wasn’t until we had our maker team zoom call with Tim and he showed them built that I “got it” and was hooked! They are so versatile, not only in the way that you can customise and accessorise the buildings, windows, doors and roofs; but that they will be suitable for every season. Plus they make a pretty cute birdhouse. 😉

   
   Gather an idea-ology vignette tray, paintbrush, distress collage medium matte, black soot distress paint, a sanding grip or sandpaper and etcetera thickboard pinked trims.

   
   Using the paint brush, cover the vignette tray with black soot distress paint and sand the back and edges to give a distressed look.

   I wanted to use the small vignette tray as my base but the ledge wasn’t deep enough to seat the largest house that I had planned to make into a church. By overhanging the edge of the vignette you would see the light from the tiny lights and it would spoil the effect of a darkened street, so I came up with a solution… etcetera thickboard pinked trim!

   
   I used etcetera thickboard pinked trims together with trim from the bat web trims which worked perfectly. Using distress collage medium matte to glue the trim into place, I painted with black soot distress paint to match the vignette.

   
   I love the pinked trim for this, it works with the creepy vibe of the vignette and gave me the perfect platform for my paper village…

   
   Next it was time to build my street using the paper village (664741) thinlits dies from Chapter 4 and gate keeper (664734) thinlits dies from Chapter 3… If you’re new to Tim Holtz and or the Sizzix dies, they are released in 4 “Chapters” throughout the year.

   
   Gather idea-ology Blackout Kraf-Stock (because it is the BEST), alcohol ink foil tape, vellum, paintbrush, sanding grip or sandpaper, distress collage medium matte (you’ll want the bottle for this) and fosslized amber distress paint.

   
   Die cut your village from the Blackout Kraft-stock and sand, it will reveal the cool kraft core. For the back of the houses, cover the blackout with foil tape before die cutting. You don’t need to do this, but the reason that I did with some of the houses was to reflect the tiny light and give a brighter light compared to those which I didn’t line with foil and painted black inside. I didn’t add lights inside those houses to give the effect that the lights were out.

   
   You can see in the pic above that only the house on the right is foil lined. The other two were painted with black soot distress paint and won’t be lit inside.

   
   The tiny lights were fed through a hole in the back of the vignette tray I made using a dremel micro and drill bit. I got this for my birthday and it’s the business. I used a hot glue gun to hold the tiny lights in place before securing them with distress collage medium matte. The hot glue is easier than using tape to hold them in place but I pulled up the hot glue after the Distress collage medium had bonded as the houses won’t sit flush on hot glue. Do not put hot glue on the bulb of the tiny lights, only use it on the wire part or you could damage your lights.

   
   Place your houses into the vignette tray to see where you want them. You will see from the pic above that apart from the large house that would become the church, none of the houses had the roof on. The reason for this was because I wanted to be able to flatten the houses and trim the bottom using my TH tonic guillotine to vary the height of the houses. I didn’t want to trim them until I could see how they looked stood next to each other. I was tucking the lights in to each house to figure out the placement of these too. I thought this picture might be useful for you…

   
   Then it was time to assemble the tray. I thread the lights through the hole at the far left end of the vignette box and ran them along the back, keeping the wire taught and securing in place with distress collage medium. When the lights were at the very right hand end of the vignette I turned them back and used the excess to start to tuck into the houses as I glued them down. The tiny lights are really easy because the wire allows you to bend them into shape, allowing you to place the house over the top and secure by running a line of distress collage medium to the base of the house. The glue shrinks as it dries so you won’t be left with residue.

   
   To create the church spire, I die cut the tall thin house and used one of the doors as a window. I cut a V into the front and back (as pictured above) which allowed it to sit on top of the church roof.

   
   I cut a hole in the roof to allow the light to be fed up into the spire.

   
   I definitely tapped into my love of Tim Burton and the movie Beetlejuice when I sat down to make this. I curled the roofs slightly to give it a creepy look. I found it was best to place the roof over the house without glue first and curl the roof. Then add glue and hold into place. If you try to curl it as you stick it down for the first time, it peels back up.

   
   I die cut the moon from the gate keeper thinlits die (664734) out of vellum which I painted with fossilized amber distress paint. I used this paint covered vellum to line the inside of the front of the houses over the windows. The tiny lights thread back out through the hole on the left of vignette and back in through a hole I drilled behind the moon. It allowed me to just use one set of lights for the entire vignette tray.

   
   Using my scissors I poked holes through some of the vellum and used the non brush end of my paintbrush to widen them and make them looked smashed out.

   
   You can see the houses on the left that were painted black inside and had no tiny lights tucked inside. With smashed out windows and no lights they look abandoned…

   
   I’m very lucky to have a husband who will help me die cut to meet a deadline. As I was racing the clock to get the houses assembled before FedEx came to collect, my sweet husband die cut all these bats from the gate keeper thinlits die set for me. He’s a keeper.

   
   If you missed out on the facebook LIVE, you can catch up on all the fun over on Tim’s blog.

   Thanks for stopping by. I will be back tomorrow with more makey makes.
   Zoe

   
   

   Category Halloween, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 20 Comments | Views: 5,467

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5. Snarky Christmas

   15th October, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Thanks for joining me, I hope you have snacks because this is quite a long post. I’ve been quite the makey maker recently and have lots of posts coming. First up is a fun tag I made using the new Snarky Christmas CMS416 stamp set for the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Christmas stamp release. If you missed the facebook LIVE on Saturday you can catch up on all the action on Tim’s blog.

   
   I’ve added some “how to” steps and hope that this helps you to make your own birdhouse tag. This could be adapted for Valentines with the addition of a heart above the birdhouse or for Spring, Halloween or Easter by just swapping out a few items.

   
   When the Snarky STAMPtember stamps were released, I was really taken with the tiny bird and I was so excited to see him return, facing in the opposite direction and with different foliage on the snarky christmas set. I wanted to make something that included them both and this was my starting point for this tag.

   
   Gather a #8 kraft tag, mini brayer, picket fence distress paint, vintage photo distress archival ink and the snowflake stamp from the snarky christmas CMS416 stamp set.

   
   Add a few drops of the paint to your glass media mat or non stick surface, roll the brayer in the paint and roll over the kraft tag. Any direction, messy is perfect and don’t go too heavy on the paint. Allow it to air dry.

   
   Ink up the snowflake stamp with the distress archival ink and stamp several times over the tag. The colour is a great match and gives the illusion of the snowflakes having resisted the paint you brayered on in the last step.

   
   Lightly sand the edges of your tag (you can skip this if you like it less grungy). Using a mini blending tool, blend distress ink into the edges. I used ground espresso.

   
   Gather your decorated kraft tag, a #8 thickboard etcetera tag, paintbrush, distress brush, distress collage medium and ground espresso distress paint.

   
   I like to paint around the edge of the etcetera tags with ground espresso distress paint because it gives it a nice dark edge that looks like burnt wood. You could add distress ink or leave it natural.

   
   Using the distress brush, cover the etcetera tag with distress collage medium matte and adhere the kraft tag over the top. Distress collage medium dries fast, so work quickly.

   
   Gather scissors (you will need heavy duty ones like the Tim Holtz Tonic Snips), etcetera thickboard scallop trim, distress crackle texture paste, paint brush, ground espresso distress paint, walnut stain distress crayon, a stick and a sanding grip or sandpaper.

   
   Cut the etcetera scallop trim to fit the tag and keep the excess. Paint both with ground espresso distress paint and when dry, sand back the edges. Using your finger, add distress crackle texture paste to parts of the tag and parts of the trim and set aside to dry. Once dry, add walnut stain distress crayon and rub in with your finger. Using a babywipe or damp cloth, remove some of the crayon. Set aside whilst you build your birdhouse…

   
   Using the largest house from the paper village and a circle from the stacked circles thinlits die sets, die cut from distress woodgrain cardstock. The paper village thinlits dies are perfect with the Sizzix sidekick. So easy right?!

   
   In order to get the house to sit comfortably on the trim and make the roof seem larger, I altered the die cut. Here’s how…

   
   Using my Tim Holtz Tonic guillotine, I trimmed off a quarter of an inch from the side tab. I repeated this on the other die cut, (the back of the house).

   
   Using a score board, I created a new tab by scoring a quarter inch in from the edge. I repeated this on the other die cut, (the front of the house).

   
   Using a mini blending tool, blend in vintage photo distress ink. I covered both sides with ink as you will see portions of the underneath of the roof and inside of the birdhouse once it’s assembled.

   
   You can use distress collage medium to put these together and I do for the roof but I find scor-tape is perfect for the side tabs. Cut the top of the tab at a slight angle (see pic above).

   TIP: Make sure the ink is dry before using the scor-tape or it will slide off.

   
   Assemble the house by laying the back of the house over the tab on the front of the house (see pic above).

   
   Fold the house over (see pic above) and add the second tab in the same way as the first and then press down so the house is flat and the tabs are secure.

   
   Pop the house up and add distress collage medium to the tabs on the top where the roof will sit.

   
   Add the roof and hold down with your fingers for a few moments until bonded. I positioned the roof flush with the back of the house so it would sit flush against my tag and give more overhang.

   
   Like this…

   
   Using stamps from Snarky Christmas CMS416 set, stamp with distress archival ink onto distress watercolor cardstock (smooth side) and fussy cut. I used a tail from one cat and the body from another (you’ll see why later on). I stamped the tiny bird from this set and the one from the STAMPtember 2020 set.

   
   Place your fussy cut snarky cat into the back of the birdhouse and trim to fit. Color and then adhere him to the inside with a little 3D foam so he pops forward a little.

   
   Now it’s time to assemble the tag. Using distress collage medium, glue the etcetera thickboard scallop trim across the tag. Once dry, add the stick and base trim underneath and finally the bird house, with the tiny birds in front.

   
   Using 3D foam, mount the cat tail (from the other snarky cat) under the bottom of the trim, the join will be covered by the icicles.

   
   Add distress collage medium to idea-ology icicles and cover with distress glitter using the glitter duster. I hate glitter, I really do and I have to say that the glitter duster eliminates a lot of escaped glitter. I used a splat box and did the glitter work on my balcony… I wish to apologise to my neighbours! LOL

   I added more distress collage medium and sprinkled with distress mica. I LOVE DISTRESS MICA! It’s not glitter, it’s like shards of vintage sugar glass….

   
   I added mica to the roof and splatted it with some picket fence distress paint to give the appearance of snow… or bird poop… you decide! 😉

   
   As there’s a very naughty snarky cat hiding in the birdhouse, I thought this snarky sentiment from the Snarky Christmas CMS416 set was perfect. I stamped it with distress archival ink onto distress watercolor cardstock, cut with my scissors and edged with a little ground espresso distress ink.

   
   Thank you Tim for adding the idea-ology snowflakes adornments with an idea-ology loop pin to hold the GORGEOUS new idea-ology christmas velvet trim in place. I would love to see these trims in shades of brown in the every day line, it’s so nice… stock up!

   A big thank you to Tim Holtz, Mario Rossi and Paula Cheney for all they do for the makers and a big thank you to you for stopping by. If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll do my best to help.

   If you’re a Tim Holtz Addict looking for a home, check out the Tim Holtz Addicts group on facebook. For an encyclopedia of demos, techniques, tips and tricks, check out the 16 weeks of demo magic on Tim’s blog.

   Have a great Thursday and see you tomorrow for my next project.
   Zoe

   
   

   Category Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 31 Comments | Views: 3,361

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6. Resting Witch Face & Sisters

   11th September, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello Witches… There have been so many awesome makes with the new crackling campfire distress colour and I was excited to get to making something myself. If you missed the facebook LIVE, grab your snacks, jump on your broomsticks and fly on over to Tim’s blog to catch up on all the fun.

   
   There’s been some serious story telling going on over at Resting Witch Face & Sisters publishing company! Their witchy typewriters have been clackety clacking away, as they write by the light of the crackling campfire. The full moon seems to make them particularly imaginative and they’ve been cooking up some serious story soup…

   
   Much like speckled egg, crackling campfire is a chameleon of the distress family. It’s not one colour, it’s many and this would be one I would travel with now (if we could), because it’s like those retro pens with 4 colours in one. I’ve had yellow, orange, pink and a red tone all from one distress colour! It will sit alongside rusty hinge as my fave in that colour range …once it’s been released from it’s special quarantine tin of course! 😉

   
   I used the retro type bigz die from this years Sizzix chapter 1 release to die cut grungeboard. Unfortunately, grungeboard is long retired, but I have a small hoarded stash that I’ve decided to use and enjoy! I sanded the die cut and blended in walnut stain distress ink and added a little crackling campfire distress paint to the edges. I used a stamp from school desk CMS057 stamp. Stampers Anonymous don’t retire Tim’s stamps and if you’re having trouble finding a set, especially an older one, they’re always available direct from Stampers Anonymous.

   
   The keys fit pretty well over the typed stamp. I filled them with glossy accents, added brushed pewter distress paint to parts of the typewriter and set aside to dry.

   
   The card background was made by stamping the new background stamp from tapestry stamp set CMS414 in crackling campfire distress ink, spritzed with water. I blended in antique linen and hickory smoke distress inks and edged with walnut stain. Using the new snarky cats halloween stamp set CMS407 to stamp a sentiment in black soot distress archival ink over the top of cardstock, which was covered with the new crackling campfire distress paint. I also stamped the hat from the same set and used the crackling campfire distress ink to watercolor the band. See all the different tones?

   
   You can see the dual colours in the paint on the cardstock too. When the paint was mixed with water it took on a pinkish tone and when I picked up the droplets with less water, they remained really orange. Walnut stain distress ink was the perfect match to tone down the brightness, which was perfect for me. You can see where I didn’t quite wipe the ink away when stamping the snarky sentiment on different lines. I was going to do it again but I liked the imperfection of it, it’s like an actual “typo”…

   
   I used the alphanumeric tiny type upper and lower thinlit die sets from this years Sizzix chapter 1 release to cut my message. Die cut from the new distress cracked leather cardstock and blended crackling campfire distress ink over the top with a blending tool, edging with walnut stain distress ink. I love that it looks burnt like fire. I used distress collage medium (and tweezers) to attach them to the card. I stitched with my sewing machine and mounted onto blackout kraft-stock and sanded the bottom layer but left the middle layer unsanded.

   
   Thanks for flying by and a big thank you to those who left kind comments, and to those who left the other ones, oh well, thanks for taking time to swing by anyway. Fly safe when you leave, there’s a lot of trees out there and karma is a witch. 😉

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Halloween, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 16 Comments | Views: 1,575

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7. Surgeon

   5th September, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. Happy Saturday! I’m sharing another card I made with the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous halloween stamps. If you missed the Halloween party on facebook LIVE you can catch up on all the fun on Tim’s blog.

   
   I love the new Anatomy Chart CMS411 stamp set, the detail on the stamps is incredible and they’re beautifully vintage, which I really love. Here’s how I made the card…

   
   I squished speckled egg distress oxide and frayed burlap distress ink onto my glass media mat and spritzed with water. I laid a piece of distress watercolor cardstock over the top and pressed down, leaving for a moment for the ink to be absorbed and then lifted. Once dry, I added distress crackle texture paste around the edges and stamped the rib cage from Anatomy Chart CMS411 in hickory smoke distress archival ink using my stamp platform, leaving the stamp in place so it can be stamped a second time later.

   
   Mixing gesso and water I painted the rib cage, don’t worry about covering the detail. I used Dina Wakley’s gesso, adding water to get a slightly more translucent look.

   
   Once dry, I placed back onto the stamp platform moving the cardstock ever so slightly and stamping again, this time in black soot distress archival ink.

   
   Check out the detail of this stamp!! You see the nice subtle drop shadow from stamping the first time in hickory smoke distress archival ink.

   
   I pulled out Examination CMS412 stamp set and stamped the awesome poison label. Cutting it in half and sliding it underneath the frame I made using the Tim Holtz Sizzix stitched rectangles thinlits dies (661189). I use these all the time to make frames cut from idea-ology blackout kraft-stock, sanded and blended with walnut stain distress ink.

   
   I added idea-ology hardware heads that I covered in distress grit-paste, iced spruce and ground espresso distress paint. Check out the crackle from the distress crackle texture paste. I blended in walnut stain distress crayon to highlight the crackle. I stitch my cards using a singer heavy duty sewing machine and a sharp needle, I don’t use special needles.

   
   I added a piece of packaging I recycled from a Sizzix bigz die with Surgeon stamped using the Examination CMS412 stamp set which I cut a jagged edge and added mushroom alcohol ink to the back. I glued under the frame at the top and side edge with a tiny line of distress collage medium using the fine tip applicator bottle.

   
   I mounted the card onto more idea-ology blackout kraft-stock and added some idea-ology halloween design tape.

   
   Using the same technique as with the rib cage, I added another stamp from the Examination CMS412 stamp set.I love love love this little stamp.

   
   I used the technique again with the hand stamp. How cool is this?! You’ll see this crop up in a project coming later in the season, there is literally not a surface in my apartment that is free from craft supplies and “in process” projects. I simply love this time of year and it’s definitely my favourite time for making.

   
   Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Halloween, Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 18 Comments | Views: 1,607

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8. The Crypt

   25th August, 2020 by iGirlZoe

   

   Hello friends. I’m back again with another Halloween sample that I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 Halloween release last month. If you missed it, you can catch up on all the fun on Tim’s blog.

   
   I love the new Tim Holtz Sizzix gate keeper thinlits die set. I immediately fell for the grungy, twisted, gothic style gates, coupled with the moon and bats and knew I was going to make a crypt. They fit perfectly on the idea-ology vignette boxes. Here’s what I did…

   
   Covered an idea-ology vignette box with distress texture crackle paste and sprayed with distress and oxide sprays.

   
   Using the 3D brickwork texture fades embossing folder, I tore portions of the brickwork away to make it look like exposed wall, before gluing it to the back of the vignette box with distress collage medium and rubbing walnut stain distress crayon over the top to age.

   
   The lit up moon was a bit of a triumph for me. I got a Dremel micro for my birthday, it’s an awesome tiny tool and makes short work of drilling through the back of vignette boxes, (please wear safety glasses). I die cut the moon twice from vellum and glued together with the moon slice between. I painted an antique linen distress paint wash over the top of the moon to diffuse the light (see next pic).

   
   Threading one tiny light in behind the moon, I added a thin layer of hot glue to the back edge of the moon which created an invisible lift. The rest of the tiny lights were threaded in through the second hole I drilled behind the idea-ology tombstone, (retired) (inserts sobbing).

   
   I stacked idea-ology skulls either side and added some remnant rubs to the tombstone and some creepy moss. I cut bats from blackout kraft-stock from the gate keeper die set.  I shaped the wings slightly and glued in the center of the bat with distress collage medium.

   
   The gates were die cut from blackout kraft-stock and the highlighted portions from distress watercolor cardstock with an antique linen distress paint wash added and walnut stain distress crayon rubbed over the top. The gates were glued together with distress collage medium. The precision tip bottle makes it really easy. I attached the gates to the edge of the vignette box and when dry, bent the gate prongs slightly.

   
   I pulled out an older and retired die, Pediments (658557) to create the top of the crypt. I die cut it several times, glued it together and covered with distress texture crackle paste. I added letters from the alphanumeric labels die set, cut from blackout kraft-stock and added with distress collage medium.

   
   Attaching a small wood block at the back to stabilize the die cut. This could be covered with some die cut foliage or even have a skull mounted to the top. I wish I had added some die cut ivy to the crypt. Tim Holtz Sizzix garden greens thinlits die set (661206) has the best ivy die and wouldn’t it look nice climbing the gates…

   That’s what I love about investing in craft tools, you can mix and match over the years as you build your collection. The seasonal dies are produced in limited numbers, so please pick up your must haves for your collection.

   
   Thanks for stopping by, only 24 hours until the new Distress color is revealed and I can’t wait! See you there and don’t forget your snacks…

   Zoe

   
   

   Category Halloween, Ideaology, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 16 Comments | Views: 2,231

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9. 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: 4,736

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10. Dapper Arthur

    13th August, 2020 by iGirlZoe

    

    Hello everyone. I’m still buzzing with creative inspiration from Saturday’s Tim Holtz halloween idea-ology facebook LIVE. It was so nice having Tim and Mario back on our screens after being spoiled with 16 weeks of demos.

    
    Even though it’s too hot for hats here, I’m sharing a sample I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 Halloween release. If you missed this LIVE, you can catch up and see all the samples on Tim’s blog.

    
    Meet Arthur, the grumpiest owl you never hope to meet and he’s definitely reached the edge of his branch, so to speak! He’s not really an owls owl and if you do see him, it’s probably better if you don’t make eye contact!

    
    If you know me, you know that hats are my jam and as soon as my dies arrived I grabbed Arthur and the Winter Wardrobe die and cut the hat. The winter wardrobe dies are part of the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 holiday release, and perfectly sized for the colorize dies, including Arthur. Mixy matchy for the win. This hat will be used all year for me. It’s a hat thing! <3

    I like to make a prototype of the dies using scrap paper first. It helps me to have a visual and decide if there are some bits I don’t want to include, you can do that you know, it’s totally allowed. 😉

    
    I covered a mini etcetera thickboard tag with distress texture crackle paste and set aside to dry. I rubbed walnut stain distress crayon into the crackle and wiped some of the surface crayon away with a baby wipe. The ‘Arthur & Co’ is cut using the alphanumeric labels thinlits dies. These are probably one of my favourite alpha sets.

    
    I added an idea-ology vignette frame sprayed with walnut stain distress spray, over the top of the tangled twigs die cut also dyed with walnut stain distress. Mixy matchy again, it’s so fun to use old dies with new ones as you add to your collection.

    
    Arthur’s tree branch was die cut and run through my machine in the lumbar 3D folder to give a nice wood effect. When I mounted Arthur, I tucked his tail behind the branch as I thought he looked properly perched and he is a dapper owl after all, being proper is of the upmost importance.

    
    I added a stamped sentiment from the stamper anonymous field notes stamp set CMS396, which I attached using mini fasteners.

    
    I love the idea-ology mini fasteners because they have tiny screw heads on top and they’re just so tiny! And the distress texture crackle paste is the boss! Look at that crackley goodness!! If you love the crackle look but don’t want to play with the paste, check out my previous post, I used paper from the new idea-ology Halloween departed paper stash. If you love it, grab a pad before it departs forever *inserts SOBBING

    
    Once I had fully assembled Arthur, I carefully curled him and then glued the edges to the vignette frame which gave him some extra depth… and he needed it, he’s pretty shallow to be honest! 😉

    Thanks for stopping by.
    Zoe

    
    

    Category Halloween, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 7 Comments | Views: 1,637

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  A procrastinator, easily distracted by shiny things.
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