Thursday, December 16, 2010

Theme Thursday/Tim's Tag #11

Another day, another tag that took me way too long to make. The fun part of this one was making your own stamps out of fun foam. I don't have any edge dies, but I did think the gears die might be kind of interesting. Not very Christmas-y, but very Steampunky! I have been dying to use this bird from Oxford Impression's Steampunk Works collection.....I felt a plan coming together.

Quick tut! I always drool over Tim's metal frames, but at over $1 each, I just can't bring myself to buy them yet. I did want the look of his tag though, so I decided to make my own. (I apologize for the quality of my pics - they were taken with my phone.)

First, emboss a frame (mine is from Innovative Stamp Creations) on Grungepaper or Grungeboard using Versamark and silver embossing powder. I used Ranger Silver ep. When cool, trim closely as shown.

Cover entire piece with black acrylic paint. One of Tim's dabbers would be great for this. I don't have one in black, so I used a Hillbilly Dabber: cosmetic sponge and Walmart paint. Immediately wipe off with a tissue. You may have to dampen it if the paint has dried too much. If the embossing looks dull, try heating it again, just until you see the shine come back.

Here's your completed frame! Now, use your sharpest scissors to cut out the center and you're set. Not quite as cool as store-bought, but definitely metal framey looking. :-)

As I was looking through my stamps, fixing to put the frame away, I came across another frame and loved it even more! Again, from ISC. The sentiment I used is the last part of a quote from one of Tim's acrylic stamp sets. I adhered the frame to my tag with foam squares, so it looked more 3-d.

Another quick tip - I didn't have the thick fun foam like Tim used, so I die cut two pieces of the thinner foam and glued them together. When I went to cut out one more, I used only one piece and it worked fine too! For my background, I ended up doing a version of the Faux Designer Paper technique from the Technique Junkie newsletter. I didn't like the thickness and shininess of the clear embossing, so I ironed it off and stamped various images from Oxford Impressions and Tim Holtz.

My bird was stamped on Grungepaper using black ink and then sponged with brown Distress ink. I stamped the wing portion again, cut it out, inked it, and adhered it to the bird. A few clock bits and metal do dads and I was done. I'm kind of glad this isn't a Christmas-themed tag - I can display it year round!

Theme Thursday - Tags
Arty Jen's T!m Splinter Group

30 comments:

  1. You are too ingenious for your own good! So glad to see your wonderful, inventive creations again, Shelly!

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  2. Very cool! You'll use the homemade gears stamp more anyway, me thinks!

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  3. wow - this is a gorgeous tag Shelly!

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  4. this really touches me! lovely. xo

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  5. Splendid use of the gears as a mask and embellishment! Christmaslike or not -- I like it!

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  6. Love this! And I am going to have to steal your frame idea! Wonderful!

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  7. Shelly, this is absolutely fantastic! I think this is exactly what Tim wants to see ... people making use of what they have. Take the idea and make it your own.You have created an amazing piece of art! I am more than impressed!

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  8. Love the idea of making your own frame!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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  9. Wow, wow, wow! Shelley, this is fantastic! I LOVE that frame! And the steampunk theme is just awesome!

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  10. Oh, Shelly, I LOVE your steampunk tag!!! Your other tags are also really lovely. Great job. . . and inspiration.

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  11. Another amazing tag and I think your frame is better than bought. Wonderful bird.

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  12. I absolutely love this one! I got very excited because I've been working on Christmas cards with that very same steampunk bird...I just put a little Santa hat on his head!
    Eileen

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  13. Wonderful creation, love it!
    JoZarty x

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  14. Hello Shelly,

    you are an inspiration for me !

    I'm working on my sketchbookproject " dirigibles and submersibles" and this is the look I want for certain parts of the book !
    I think your frame looks as good as the real ones ! I really like how it turned out using the black paint on top of the embossing.
    Great use of the selfmade gearsstamp and the bird : I have this stamp too, but must use it more often and I love what you have done with it.

    I love the whole look of your tag : colorscheme : the brown, the old paper, the black,...

    Thanks for sharing !
    greetings from Belgium
    Inge

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  15. Great tag, Shelly! Love the bird and the gears:)

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  16. Shelly your tags are fabulous!!!! I love them all! I didn't get to play along, I was busy quilting, but I finished that so maybe now I can play a bit... Marva

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  17. Hello Shelly
    Please let me introduce myself,
    I am Sue from New Zealand I came across your Blog through Evelyns at 'Beyond Just Black and White'.
    I would like to comment on your Tags that I have just been browsing over and to say they are wonderful I am really inspired by your work. I am now a follower, so I will call in often. If you have time pop over to me at "Scrumplescrunch" and see my work, I did not manage to do all the Tags!
    Smiles:)

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  18. Love the quick tut on the 'metal' frame. I'll have to tray that. :)

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  19. WOW, this one's totally stunning, love every little detail, how talented are you!
    Wishing you a very Happy Christmas
    hugs Minxy

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  20. Wow! Love this! Beautiful steampunk tag!

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  21. Thanks for the little "tut" on the silver frame...they look like metal...very cooool!! This is gorgeous tag too!

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  22. Awesome!! LOVE your faux metal tag!! it's every bit as cool as Tims :) And your piece is right up my alley!! Standing ovations for you my friend!! Bravo!!

    Hugs and smiles,
    Linda

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  23. Great tutorial on the frame. I too use "hillbilly" methods many times! This tag is amazing.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!