May 2014 Tim Holtz Tag of 2014

Today I am sharing the tag I made for the Tim Holtz monthly challenge for May 2014.  Tim encouraged us take out our trinkets that we have in our stash and use them (what a novel thought!). It was a lot of fun digging through my collection of goodies to narrow down my choices.  Believe it or not, that took me a long time in itself!

This tag was fun as I got to use grungeboard, Distress Inks, an embossing folder and, of course, various ephemera.   If you know me personally, you would know I have a Diet Pepsi habit (some say addiction ...), so I love Tim's bottle cap embossing folder. I used one cap that I sanded using his Core-dinations paper.  I came across a fun piece of ephemera that said Serve ICE and knew I had to use it along with it.

The composed look is something I normally never do, so this really gave me something new to try.

I have some news to share with you today.  I will be taking a couple of classes given by Tim soon!  I cannot wait!  I have been waiting a long time, and the countdown has begun!  Okay, that is a lot of exclamation points, but that is only because I am truly excited.

Until next time!

March 2014 - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - Spring Has Sprung

Today I am sharing with you my long overdue March Tim Holtz Tag of 2014! As I mentioned in an earlier post, March seemed to fly by and I never got to my monthly tag challenge.  Well, I was finally able to get to it and had fun!  I was very happy to see Tim used a stamp set this month that I owned so I inked it up and here is my finished product:

On this tag I used Distress Inks, and Distress Markers.  The Distress Markers were used with a Spritzer tool to add color to the background using one of Tim's stencils.  It is a fun way to lay down color!

I am very excited today, as I was able to register to be in a class given by Tim Holtz at our local scrapbooking shop Scrapper's Playground here on Long Island!  My husband was a trouper, as we both got up very early on a Sunday to start calling, and after an hour I got through.  My sister and I will be taking the class in June.  This is a big deal to me, as I have always wanted to take a class of Tim's and now I will be taking classes with him in Ohio, and here on LI.  I look forward to sharing the experience with you!

Until next time!

April 2014 - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - Spring Journey

Last month (March) was the only month where I didn't have time to do my monthly Tim Holtz Tag! I have been doing them for years but life got in the way.  Today I am sharing my April Tag with you that I got to work on yesterday.  For this tag, I got to use my pine cone die to make roses and I love that I can get more than one use for that die.

This was a lot of fun to make.  I used my Distress Inks, Distress Paints, stencils, and lots of Tim's tissue tapes. One of the best things about taking part in this monthly challenge is sitting down and using your supplies and stretching your imagination to make something along the lines of Tim's creation.  I went with a Journey theme.  Since spring is here, people are riding bicycles again, and when I noticed the bike image on the tape, I thought "Journey" and even included a wooden bicycle from my stash.

Later in the week, I will be sharing my overdue March 2014 tag.  It is almost done and drying!

If you haven't tried making one of these tags, I would highly recommend you visit Tim and give it a shot! It is a lot of fun and you learn so much.

Until next time!

February 2014 Tim Holtz Tag - 12 Tags of 2014

I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by! I know February is a short month, but this one just got away from me early on!

Today I am sharing the tag I made for the monthly tag challenge - 12 Tags of 2014 by Tim Holtz.  This month he did stenciling with distress inks and a fun chalkboard technique.  I was fortunate that I have the stamp Tim used this month, as well as the stencil (this is not always the case). After that I was on my own to give it my own touches.  As many of you know, I have been participating in this challenge from the beginning and some months I get them done early, and other months I am scrambling to finish.  This was one of the latter.

I am looking forward to seeing what Tim creates for March!  I actually will be around that day, so maybe I can get a jump on it next time!   If you haven't tried a tag, I would suggest you pop over and see what all the talk is about.  You will learn fun techniques and how to use fun products and enjoy such a great community!  I love seeing what everyone creates and how unique everyone's work turns out to be.

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - January - Leave Ordinary Behind

My husband loves his pocket watches.  He has three:  one his parents gave him when he graduated college, one he bought himself and the one I gave him when we got married. So, tonight I had an extra good time creating my monthly Tim Holtz Tag as it featured such a watch.  Tim used his large die, but I had his mini die and so I decided to give it a go using that one.  For this tag, I used only Tim Holtz and/or Ranger products.  That is not always the case, but this time I was able to find all I needed in my stash.

Lots of stains, inks and embossing were used on this tag.  I got to use a sentiment from a new stamp set by Tim on this tag.  I don't know many people who strive to be ordinary, why not try to be unique!

If you haven't tried making a tag of your own, I would suggest you visit  Tim's blog and he will show you how to make one, and give it your own spin!  Looking forward to seeing what the February tag will be and what new things I can learn and share.

Hashtag Love

Many of us have had days where you are feeling rather blue, or just plain blah.  Well, the other day I was having one of those days and it turned into a fun, happy day by a generous act.  Mario Rossi came up with a great idea for a stamp set for Stampers Anonymous called Hashtags! It was perfect for him as he is a great Twitter and Facebook user.  If you aren't following him, I highly recommend you do, as he is so much fun!  When I saw he was giving away some of these stamp sets on Facebook just by leaving a comment I did.  When I saw I was one of the winners I was so happy and excited!   After a long day of working and commuting in below zero weather on Friday, I came home to find it in the mail!

Last night I used the stamp set to decorate packaging and make a tag for my girlfriend Amy, who we are celebrating with this afternoon at a brunch.  The gift bag was a plain inexpensive bag, but by using my various Stampers Anonymous stamps to decorate it, it made it personalized to my friend (one of my Jane Austen group ladies).  The fun hashtags look great scattered throughout.

I am looking forward to making more fun things with this set.  Thank you to Mario Rossi and Tim Holtz for your generosity of spirit.

Just remember as you go through your day, a kind word or action can really mean a lot to those you encounter along the way.  No act is too small to make a BIG difference!

December Tag - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013

Hi, guys! Hope all is well.  This is the last month of 2013, and so I am sharing the last of my tags for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013.  While I was making my tag, I made an extra poinsettia to use for packaging.  My sister loves scratch-lottery tickets and gift cards, so I decided to make a small envelope using some of Tim's vintage Christmas paper that I love.  I then attached the poinsettia to it to make it extra special.

I am often asked what I do with all the tags I make.  Well, this December tag was used to give a bottle of wine as a gift.  I feel it gives the gift a personal touch.

If you would like the details of how these tags are made, I would highly recommend you pay Tim Holtz a visit at his blog as he takes you step by step and encourages you to put your own spin on them. 

I am looking forward to seeing what Tim comes up with in 2014, as I am sure it will be fun creating along with him, and, more importantly, learning some new things.

Off to get my fingers inky!

Until next time!

November 2013 - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013

Hi, guys! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  I have been so focused on Thanksgiving, and decorating for the holiday, that the date on the calendar saying it was the last day of November came as a bit of a surprise to me.  So today, I am sharing my November tag for the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013. This month he focused on using the Chalkboard Technique using the Ranger Embossing Antiquities Frosted Crystal powder and real chalk. This was so much fun that not only did I make a tag, but I also made a card using a Giant Tag by Ranger (#12 size).

Tim made Fall themed tags this month, but I decided that since Christmas is very close that I would make holiday ones.  For the tag, I used Tim's iceskate stamp from his blueprint series.  The skate was stamped a few times and foam squares were added to give it a 3D look.  I also decided to add pom-poms to the skates as that brought back fun memories from my youth.  The tinsel was then colored with Mushroom Alcohol Ink to give it an aged look.

The Christmas Card was made with the Giant #12 Black Tag by Ranger as I mentioned above.  It was scored and I used a punch to create the tie on the side.  Seam Binding was used to close the card.

If you want to make a tag or a card using this technique, I would suggest you head over to Tim Holtz's blog as he takes you step by step in the process.  Once you try Frosted Crystal powder, you will fall in love with it.

Wishing you all a fabulous rest of the weekend!  Until next time!

WOYWW #227- A Distressed Desk

Hi, guys! Hope all is well.  Missed participating in WOYWW last week, but my husband and I were away celebrating our wedding anniversary at a local vineyard.  It was amazing. Thanks to Julia for this desk hopping fun!

This week I am participating in the online Creative Chemistry Class by Tim Holtz.  So this is my desk now after Day 1!  Lots of Distress on this desk for sure!

We are making technique tags as we go along.  These tags each represent a technique we learned in class.    I am sharing the three I completed last night. Each is using the Distress Paints (Marble, Distress Paint Crackle, Distress Paint Resist).  I am a bit behind, but work and home have to come first.

If you want to learn some fun techniques, and the science behind these great Distress Products,  I highly recommend this class to you.  It is never too late to join in the fun as the class has lifelong access.

Have a great day!  I look forward to visiting with you and seeing what you are up to!

Until next time!

WOYWW#220 / August 2013 Tim Holtz Tag - Harry Potter Inspired

Hi, guys! Hope all is well! Today is Wednesday, so that means I am sharing what is on my work desk with you! Thank you to Julia for this fun desk hopping (snooping) fun! Last week you may recall I was sorting through my Tim Holtz stamps and supplies to prepare to make my August 2013 Tag.  You will see I used a lot of distress products on this tag.  Distress Stains, Distress Inks, and even my Distress Markers. 

When I was looking at Tim's travel set and spotted the train, my mind went directly to Harry Potter!  It reminded me of the Hogwarts Express.  I am a big Harry Potter fan, so I decided to make a tag with that theme. Hedwig the owl is even represented in his cage.  In the story, the train arrives/departs from a magical track #9 3/4.  The large alpha stickers by Tim were fun to use to add that to the tag. The ribbon was stained in the colors of Gryffindor (one of the 4 houses of Hogwarts).  The tag this month is the GIANT size #12.

Lots of inky fun, and now the clean-up begins!  I hope to visit with as many of you as I can today.  Thanks so much for visiting me (and my desk!) today!  Until next week!

WOYWW #219 - Tag Preparation

Hi, guys! Hope the week has been treating you well! It is Wednesday, so I am sharing what is on my work desk!  Thank you to Julia for all the desk hopping (and snooping) fun!

Today you will see that my desk is currently covered with supplies.  I am planning my monthly Tim Holtz tag, and before I begin each month, I root through my Ranger and Tim supplies and try and formulate how to begin.  This month he focused on masking, and used his travel stamps - which I happened to have!

My tag is still being kicked around in my head, but I have an idea that I hope to start working on tomorrow.   Currently I am digging through my Tim Holtz tool box I put together to see what embellishments I will be adding, etc.

I will share the tag here as I always do when I am finished.

Looking forward to visiting with you today, and hope you have a great day!  Until next time!

WOYWW #215 - Patriotic Tag Fun

Hi, guys! Hope all is well! Today is Wednesday, so you know what that means by now.  I am sharing what is on my work desk!  Thank you to Julia of Stamping-Ground for this desk-hopping fun!

Today I am in the process of making my July Tag for the 12 Tags of 2013 challenge by Tim Holtz.  You will see that these tags are technique and supply heavy so I have lots of inks, stains, crackle paint etc. going on at the same time.

I have lots of the components done, just a matter of drying and assembling all of them.

As you can see, Winnie's fingers are definitely INKY now! I am a cross between a Smurf and Barney the Purple Dinosaur!  The Ranger scrubbie will definitely be needed to restore my hands to their original look!

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to visiting with you today to see what you are up to!!

Enjoy the day! Hope you find some time in the day to do something YOU love!

20th Year of Teaching Anniversary Card (Chalkboard Technique)

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a very special card I made.  My very good friend Asia is celebrating her 20th anniversary as a teacher!  I am in awe of her talents and kind nature.  She teaches kindergarten and I know she gave so many kids such a great start in their schooling.

I decided to use the chalkboard technique and to use one of my very large Ranger Tags as the card.  I found these adorable bags that look just like looseleaf paper and so I decided to use one of those instead of an envelope.

The stamps I used for the tag are from Stampendous.  I used some fun math-themed washi tape as the ribbon pull.  I think it was a fun touch.  The funniest thing for me while making this card was to try and print the way I used to in grade school.  I was much neater as a kid, and formed my letters properly back then, too.

This was a fun card to make, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful friend in Asia.  Her students  sure hit the jackpot by getting her as their teacher!

Have a great day!  Until next time!

St. Paddy's Day Tag

Hi, guys! Gearing up for St. Paddy's Day on Sunday here!  I was asked to make a tag for my friend Ruth to give her husband for St. Paddy's Day.  She likes funny sayings, and wanted a bit of a twist on the sentiment.  She is funny, and last year her tag was telling her husband how lucky he was to have her, so I went with this one below this year.

Front of tag

Back of tag

I used Dylusion Sprays on this tag.  I had fun with them, and yes, my fingers got very inky. I like to spray things like this in a big box to prevent my overanxious self from spraying my area (yep, I have been known to get it everywhere!).

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up,STP Canadian Maple Collections
Ink: Distress Ink, Dylusions Sprays, Copic Markers
Paper: Ranger Manila Tag, Gina K (White)
Misc.: Bakers Twine (Green and Orange), Tim Holtz Tradition Token, Computer Generated Sentiment

I want to thank my hubby for giving me the fun sentiment, as he understood what I needed and phrased it perfectly.

Hope you have a great day!  I can't wait for the Corned Beef dinner (we will be having it on Saturday with my father in-law)!

Timeless Tag

Hi, guys! It is tag time again!  I am participating in the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013.  I had such a blast participating last year and even was a winner in December.  My friend Ruth loves my tags.  She has asked that I make them for her, so when I can, I will be making two each month and will be giving one to her.

I am very happy with how they turned out.  Distress inks and Distress stains (even the metallics) were used.  I didn't have the cute finger stamp Tim used, so I decided to use various arrows on mine.  Being the klutzy person I am, I was hesitant to cut my embossing folder as instructed. Now, I know X-Acto knives and myself do not play nice together.  My late hubby used to hide them from me.  I didn't cut myself, but I did cut my folder completely in half instead of just enough to insert the tag.  I was able to do this to another of my folders with no incident, but not this time.  Packing tape came in handy to mend it.

If you would like to learn some cool techniques and have a lot of fun, I would highly recommend you take part.  I can't wait to see what Tim comes up with for February!

Until next time!