Friday, April 26, 2013

****American Proud****

Today I felt like I wanted to create something that makes me, and I hope you, feel good.  With the recent events in Boston and seeing the evil done by a few who claim to hate America - I just had to make something patriotic.
 

This card is my tribute to our wonderful country.  It is a spring loaded card with the Amped-up Pop N Cut inside.  I had so much fun just finding out if I could do it.  Imagine my delight when I found that I could.  For the cover I used the Tim Holtz Old Glory Die.  The card is held closed with a swivel clasp.


I saw the Amped up Pop N Cut card on Karen Burniston's blog so had to try it.  I used the mechanism from the Accordion Album Die to add the word "Proud".  After adding the twine it turns when the card is opened.  The springs just make everything stand to attention.  Last step is to add a banner and done!!

                

                           I don't know about you, but I feel better now.


Sunday, April 21, 2013

April Tag

Last night I finally got the chance to break open my new Distress Paints and had so much fun playing with them.  I tried a few tags using different methods for applying the paint.  I pulled a bunch of stuff out of my stash and just started painting things.  Some turned out great and others - not so much!!

When I got done playing I got down to business and put my April tag together.  When playing I sort of lost track of the colors I used but think they are: fired brick, wild honey, rusty hinge and broken china.  This will be a good one to enter over at Simon Says with their Challenge: Color.  I decided to give the paint (which I love) the full test using paper (the tag), metal (the #4 w/leaves, the pen nib and word stick) and plastic(the dragonfly). 


Once the Distress Paint drys on paper it feels just like printed paper, no bumps or lines.  I drug the tag through the paint using my non stick matt and when it was nearly dry I ran a paint brush through it making the colors blend.  When it was completely dry I used a couple of tim's masks and gathered twigs distress ink.  I then stamped the pen nibs with black and embossed them with clear embossing powder. A little tissue tape and I'm done!!  

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Let's take a "Road Trip"

When I was at CHA this past January I saw the Tim Holtz Configurations Book and fell in love with the idea of a story contained in a box.  Here are a few pictures of my idea - hope you enjoy.


For the front cover I used a real map from an old Atlas attaching it with Glue N Seal.  You will notice lots of Tim Holtz goodies in this project because they just lend themselves to the theme.  In fact one of the stamp sets is called Road Trip.  When I stamp an image I like to use black ink and emboss with clear.  It seems to make the image stand out.  I can always find a use for gears from the Gadget Gear Die.

The book is held shut with a Swivel Clasp and a Hitch Fastener, so glad they are back on the market.  

On the other side I double stamped the tire treads using Tim's Road Trip Set from Stampers Anonymous, I like the way it looks as if a car ran over it.



The back is covered with a complete sheet from Tim's Paper Stash.

Now for the inside -  after  arranging the boxes so the Vintage Valise would fit inside I glued the boxes in and covered the edges with Tissue Tape then inked them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I found some great paper at Michael's for the inside front cover but all the rest is from Tim's collections. I used many dies and findings.  Mac found a spark plug at Home Depot for me.  It is actually for a lawn mower but it fits perfectly and it even says Champion on it.  It was a great finishing touch. 


The Vintage Valise opens to reveal a pull out scrapbook.  I used Tim Holtz Paper to matt each page and then added some stamping and die cuts.  Two of my favorites are the Old Jalopy and the Vintage Camera. The suitcases are from Time Travelers, Tim Holtz/Stamper Anonymous

It is easy to flip the pages back and forth while leaving them in the box or they can be pulled out (still attached to the Valise) in a long strip as shown below.
 


Sunday, April 7, 2013

In Honor of DAD and "GREEN"

I have been feeling inspired lately and have combined two inspirations into one project.
Last week Karen Burniston was showing Floating Framelits where she used a clear window sheet which made part of the die appear to be invisible. I just couldn't help but give it a try.  I so wanted to join the Ustream with Dawn and Friends but couldn't do it, hope to join the fun next time.

Tim Holtz showed some incredible art from Brett Weldele. Brett did a fabulous tutorial on color and after seeing it,  gave it a try. I did try a few times and still want to work  on it but for now I am pretty happy.  Here is my combined project with Father's Day in mind.




I used the Accordion Album from Karen for the frame.  I cut the entire album from clear packaging and then covered the outer frame with paper.  It took me three tries to get what I wanted.  Good thing I saved all those die packages (finally put them to good use).  I then started adding all the things I wanted to convey my message.  I like the way the gears look as if they are floating.

I think this project qualifies as "green" since I used packaging and scraps.

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Products used:

Sizzix Dies:  Accordion Album Die, Gadget Gears & Movers & Shapers, Weathered
                   Clock 

Spellbinders:  Sprinhtly Sprockets

Distress Ink: Vintage Photo, Distress Stain: Weathered Wood

Stamps:  Tim Holtz: Time Traveler Stamp Set, Tim Holtz: Remnants Stamp Set