Idea-ology Project #1

Hi everyone! I'm posting from CHA today - so excited to be here! I'll be keeping this brief, but I did want to give you a peek at one of the projects I made for Tim Holtz using the new Idea-ology findings and papers.

The new Idea-ology Pulley Wheels are probably my favorite thing of all - my piece is basically built just to show them off! I also love the Mini Gears and Box Corners. So cool!

Here, I used a Wire Pin to hold a Mini Numeral and a Vial that I attached using a Screw Eye. A Clock Key sits atop a little clock I made using a toilet paper tube (more about that later!), some leftover packaging, and a clock image from the new papers.

All the little houses were cut from heavy mat board using the Sizzix Artful Dwellings die. I added a little door to this one - one of the new Faucet Knobs is perfect as a handle!

One of my favorite new products is the Word Bands. Love this sentiment!

Ok, must run now - CHA is open in 10 minutes! I'll try to share pictures when I can. If you want to follow my Twitter feed, the link is near the top on my sidebar. Hope you enjoyed this first project!

WOYWW - Chaos!

I don't generally join in with the What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday crowd, but I thought my desk might make someone else feel better about the state of theirs! I'm still finishing up a couple quick projects to take to CHA - I wish I had another week. So many ideas are still running through my head. I guess they will just have to wait until after I get back.

Be sure and check in next week! I'm going to try to schedule some posts to share my favorite projects that I made using the new Idea-ology products. So much fun!!

BTW, for anyone who is freaked out by how messy my desk is...I did do a quick tidy before I started working again. ;-)

Love is in the Air

This week's theme over at the Simon Says Stamp and Show is such a fun one! It's all about song titles, so there are some really fun submissions. I chose 'Love is in the Air', a disco song from 1978 (you should watch it...you'll have flashbacks if you're around my age). The only problem is that it's now firmly stuck in my brain!

I have been dying to use this hot air balloon man from Artistic Outpost's French Flight stamp set like this since I first got it. Originally, I thought I'd use a gear for the balloon, but I love the heart! The tag was cut from red Kraft Core'dinations using Tim's Tag and Bookplates die. It was embossed with Tim's new Valentine's Texture Fade and then sanded with an idea-ology Sanding Grip.

The heart shape for the balloon was cut from chipboard using the new Sizzix Love Struck die. I used my Faux Crazed Porcelain technique on it - love how it looks! The wings on the heart were cut from chipboard with the Sizzix Heart Wings die, and painted with a Silver Dabber. The stamp is from Tim's Stuff to Say stamp set.

BTW, you may have seen that Wendy Vecchi has a new technique with the same name, but it's totally different. I can't wait to try it!) If you haven't tried mine yet, you can view my tutorial (and a pretty dorky video), on the Splitcoast Stampers site.

I love these letters so much! They were cut from black cardstock using the Sizzix Chip Block die. To really make them pop, I coated them with Glossy Accents. Such an easy way to add dimension to your die cuts! The bottom of my tag is finished with seam binding and a bit of lace border that was cut using the Sizzix Vintage Lace die and painted with a Silver Dabber.

All of the items I used can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium. When you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll save 10% off your order! The products are listed below, clicking on them will take you to the store - have fun!

Sizzix Love Struck Die
Sizzix Chip Block Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Sizzix Tag and Bookplates Die
Sizzix Heart Wings Die
Kraft Core'dinations
Adirondack Silver Dabber
Idea-ology Sandiing Grip
Ranger Glossy Accents

Love Struck!

This past week I've been consumed with working on my Idea-ology CHA projects (you guys are gonna go crazy for the new stuff!) and haven't had a lot of extra time to make anything to share on my blog. Last night I decided to take a little time and create something for a couple different challenges: Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything But a Card, and Hels' Sunday Stamper - Gold.

I just bought the new Sizzix/Tim Holtz Valentine's dies this past weekend and have been using them like crazy - I think they are so cute! For this project, I started by creating a little hanging treat box from the Technique Junkie 3D and Fun Folds CD. By the way, thanks to those of you who've purchased it! If you've never heard of it, the 3D and Fun Folds CD is produced by the Technique Junkie newsletter - some of you have thought it's my creation, but I can't claim credit. I did design work for it and Pat Huntoon was gracious enough to let me offer it to my readers (I get a little commission whenever you buy it through my link!). You can read more about it here, but please purchase through my link below so I get credit! :-)

The box was created from kraft cardstock and then painted with a Snow Cap Dabber. After it dried, I embossed the top portion with one of the border dies from the new Sizzix Valentine Texture Fades collection. In order to flip the border and create a mirror image, I slit the Texture Fade on the fold, leaving just a bit to hold it together. I don't know if I would recommend that to anyone, but like Tim says, you can always tape it back together! The border along the top is made from Kraft Core'dinations paper that was cut with the Sizzix Vintage Lace die, sanded, and glittered.

Isn't this just gorgeous??? I used the Mini Lovestruck die to cut my little cupid, then covered him with gold glitter. The heart was cut with the same die, then painted with a Snow Cap Dabber and sanded. The xoxo (from Tim's Stuff to Say set) was stamped with black ink. Underneath my cupid, I have a rosette that was cut from Kraft Core'dinations and glittered. To make it even prettier, I added a ruffle using Tim's District Market tissue paper. In the corner I added a banner cut from kraft paper using the Tattered Banners die. The sentiment is from Tim's Stuff to Say stamp set.

Another new die for me is the Mini Flourish - so cute!! I cut my flourishes from light chipboard and painted them with a Pitch Black Dabber, then sanded lightly. The little penguin peeking out is from the Valentine's paper in the Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash. Just behind the flourish, you can see a little strip of rosettes from the Idea-ology Lavish Trimmings set.

All of the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Don't forget, if you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you will save 10% off your order!! They have great prices on shipping too, so be sure to check them out through the links below.

Supplies:
Sizzix Mini Love Struck Die
Sizzix Mini Flourish Die
Sizzix Paper Rosette Die
Sizzix Borders Texture Fade
Sizzix Tattered Banners Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Kraft Core'dinations Paper
Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash
Idea-ology Lavish Trimmings
Stampers Anonymous Stuff to Say Rubber Stamps
District Market Tissue Paper - Terminology
Ranger Adirondack Dabbers - Snow Cap and Pitch Black
Idea-ology Sanding Grip

Finally, here is the link if you're interested in purchasing the 3D and Fun Folds CD. If you love paper crafting, this is the CD for you!

Oh, one more thing! I know this is getting a little long, but I wanted to show you my Movers and Shapers storage. Awhile ago, there was a discussion on the All Things Tim Yahoo group about ways to store these little dies. Someone suggested using a silver platter (remember when the Brady kids entered that contest as the Silver Platters? I still love that song!). Anyway....I started hunting around thrift stores and estate sales and found some cheap! I think this one only cost $2. You definitely need to have a magnet with you - I had some at home that I thought would work and they didn't. I love storing them this way. When I get time, I'm going to drill holes in the corners and mount it to the wall by my Vagabond.

Thanks so much for visiting - have a great week!!

Grungy Monday #32

For this week's Grungy Monday challenge (sponsored by Simon Says Stamp), we're revisiting Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas from a few weeks ago, and choosing one of the techniques to highlight. One of my favorites was the die cut metal tape technique from the Day 12. Such a fun way to use the strip dies!

The base of my tag was created with the Chalked Emboss technique from the latest issue of the Technique Junkie newsletter. I thought this looked so cool when I first saw it - then I read that it was one I'd come up with a couple years ago. Changed up just a bit, it's really a fun and easy technique!

After I'd colored my tag, I embossed it with the Retro Circles Texture Fade from Sizzix. I just got the new French Flight stamps from Artistic Outpost and thought they would be perfect with this background. I stamped the men on a small tag that was cut using the Sizzix Tiny Tabs and Tags die. The souvenir tag was stamped on heavy chipboard and a small ribbon (dyed using Faded Jeans Distress Stain) was added using the Idea-ology Tiny Attacher. The balloon (from Artistic Outpost's Paris Exposition collection) was stamped on chipboard and then colored with Faded Jeans Distress ink.

My letters were cut using the Sizzix Vintage Market die and adhered to the bottom along with a strip of Idea-ology Tissue Tape. An Idea-ology Muse Token is attached to the top using a Trinket Pin.

All of the products I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium. If you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll save 10% off your order!

Supplies:
Sizzix Retro Circles Texture Fade
Sizzix Vintage Market Die
Sizzix Tiny Tabs and Tags Die
Idea-ology Tissue Tape
Idea-ology Tiny Attacher
Idea-ology Trinket Pins
Idea-ology Muse Token
Ranger Distress Stain - Faded Jeans
Ranger Distress Ink - Faded Jeans

My Heart's All Aflutter

Ok, so....I went out to the studio, fully intending on working on some CHA stuff. But. Those wicked Inspiration Emporium people had sent me a box full of temptation. What was I to do??? I have been in love with the Distress Doily die since I first saw it. While I was putting it carefully on the shelf, it called out to me. It said, "Hey, Lady! Make something with me...now!" I'm not one to argue with inanimate objects, so I agreed.

First, I folded some plain white, text weight paper in half and then cut it with the die. After I'd done about 10, I sprayed them with a shimmer mist solution I made by combining Cranberry Adirondack Colorwash, Worn Lipstick Distress Reinker, Pearl Perfect Pearls, and water. I used my heat gun to dry them and then added little hearts inside each fold. The hearts were cut from vintage French book pages using the Mini Hearts Movers and Shapers die from Sizzix..

When everything was dry, I glued the 'backs' of each doily to the next one, creating a....hmmm...what to call it? I created a pretty thing. A little ornament you can use to decorate for Valentine's Day. To hang my paper ornament, I glued a loop of Idea-ology ribbon in the center, before the doilies were all glued together. If I'd had any Idea-ology Baubles, I would have added one to the bottom - I think that would really finish it off!

The supplies I used are listed below and can be purchased at Inspiration Emporium. In celebration of Jay's (one of the owners) and Tim's (Holtz) birthdays, they are running a Birthday Special! When you use the coupon code, birthdayboyz, you'll receive 17% off your order! Happy Birthday to all of us!

Supplies:
Sizzix Distress Doily Die
Sizzix Mini Hearts Set
Idea-ology Lavish Trimmings
Adirondack Colorwash - Cranberry
Ranger Distress Reinker - Worn Lipstick
Ranger Perfect Pearls - Perfect Pearl

I'm linking up with this week's Simon Says Show Something Old (vintage hearts)...Something New (my new die!). Make sure you check out all the wonderful submissions!

Happy Birthday, Tim (and some cool news)!

This week's Grungy Monday challenge is a celebration of the man who started it all - Tim Holtz! His birthday is January 7th and we're celebrating by creating birthday cards. I decided to try my hand at making an Easel Card - one of the 70 projects in the Technique Junkie 3D and Fun Folds CD. This is a view of it flat....

And here it is 'opened'. How cool is that?! I love that it slides up for easy display. This is the first one I've ever made and it was really simple.

Obviously, I knew I wanted to make a masculine card, but beyond that, I had no idea where to start! I decided on a Steampunk theme and started pulling out anything that would work. The background is cardstock that was embossed using the Sizzix Steampunk Texture fade, and then painted with Silver and Pitch Black Adirondack Dabber Paints. The gears were cut from chipboard using Tim's Mini Gears dies. They were painted with Gold and Copper Dabbers and layered onto the background with Idea-ology Sprocket Gears, Washers, a Game Spinner, and attached with Long Fasteners.

The men are from Tim's Steampunk stamp collection. I cut off their top hats and added party hats cut from paper from Idea-ology Lost and Found Paper stash. The little light bulb on the top is also from Idea-ology.

I thought the Sizzix Baroque die would be perfect to use as a mat. When I was getting ready to cut it, I spotted the Mini Baroque die and was like...hmmmm..... I've never used them together to make a frame and decided to have a little experiment. I LOVE how easy it is to use these two dies together! I used chipboard for the frame and then painted it with a Pitch Black Dabber, sanded it, and inked it with Bundled Twigs Distress ink. I think it looks so cool - like old leather. You can barely see it peeking out, but the background paper for the card front is Kraft Resist that I inked with a Black Soot Dabber and then lightly sanded.

To add a little interest to the front of my card, I cut some light chipboard using the Sizzix Vintage Lace die and painted it was Gold and Pitch Black Dabbers. Metal Idea-ology Corners embellish the bottom of the card.

While racking my brain, trying to think of a sentiment to stamp (I have almost NO everyday sayings), I kept thinking of Prince's 1999. Why not change it up a little to reflect the Steampunk theme? ;-) I computer-generated the sentiment and then added it to a Faux Mercury (click here for my tutorial) piece that I cut using Sizzix' Mini Labels die.

I hope Tim likes it! If you're interested in purchasing the 3D and Fun Folds CD, you can use the link below, or the one at the top of my sidebar.

Location

United States $17.95 Canada $17.95 Overseas $19.95

All the supplies used in creating my card can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. If you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll save 10% off your order!

Supplies:

Sizzix Baroque Die
Sizzix Mini Baroque Die
Sizzix Mini Labels Die
Sizzix Mini Gears Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Adirondack Dabbers - Pitch Black, Gold, Silver, Copper
Idea-ology Sprocket Gears, Game Spinners, Long Fasteners, Corners, Washers, Light Bulb
Idea-ology Kraft Resist Paper, Lost and Found Paper Stash
Ranger Distress Stain - Black Soot
Ranger Distress Ink - Bundled Twigs
Stampers Anonymous Steampunk Rubber Stamps

Dang, I almost forgot my news (is anyone still reading this?)! About a month ago Tim asked me to create samples for him for CHA, later this month. How cool is that?! I won't be able to share anything until after the show, but I have been dying to tell you all and Tim said it was ok! And yes, I still think I may have just dreamed the whole thing. ;-)