Grungy Monday + a New Technique!

I was so happy to see that so many of you wanted a stepped-out tutorial for my Faux Mercury Glass technique! I created a card for this week's Grungy Monday challenge (sponsored by Simon Says Stamp!) and I think it highlights the technique very well. It was also an excuse to use a lot of new products, experiment, and try a new card fold - the 5 x 7 Step Ladder Card - from the new 3D and Fun Folds CD from Technique Junkies!

First, the star of the show is this technique. Oh, I love how it turned out! I decided to try it using the Weathered Clock die from Sizzix. The clock made me think of New Years, which led to the theme for the card. Everything just snowballed from there!

My favorite new die - Sizzix' Festive Greenery - provides a nice embellishment for the clock. For the center, I used the Paper Rosette die and Kraft Resist paper that was painted with a Snowcap Dabber. The clock hands were painted with a Pitch Black Dabber and then sanded. They're attached with an Idea-ology Long Fastener that was pierced with an awl to give it the look of an eyelet (great tip from Tim!).

Here is a side view where you can see the steps better. So many possibilities with this card idea! The Grungy Monday challenge is to use Tim Holtz's Tissue Wrap or Tissue Tape in your creation. I don't have the Wrap, so I applied strips of  Tidings Tissue Tape (where it says Post Card) to the folds of the card. I gave them a frosty look with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber and covered them with fine glitter.

This is a close-up view of the card when closed. To create the 2012 piece, I cut numbers from green Kraft Core'dinations using the Sizzix Vintage Market die. I applied them to a piece cut from kraft paper using the Sizzix Mini Labels die. The sentiment was computer-generated, printed on kraft paper, and then cut using the Sizzix Tattered Banners die. Quick tip! If you're trying to line something up to cut (like my text on the banner) using a die, align your paper and then tape in place using Tissue Tape. The tape will prevent the paper from sliding out of alignment when it goes through your machine!

Here is another view of the card closed. I just love how all the layers line up!

The card front is a panel of green Kraft Core'dinations paper. I used the small border Texture Fade from the Christmas Background and Borders set to emboss the edges...I am kicking myself for taking so long to use these - they are so cool! After I embossed, I sanded the raised portion with my Idea-ology Sanding Grip and added a sprinkling of glitter. Do you notice anything interesting about the lace border? It's ribbon! I adhered a piece of seam binding to cardstock and then cut it using the Sizzix Vintage Lace die. So pretty!

Ok, enough of my blah blah blah....here is the tute! I hope you enjoy it!

Faux Mercury Glass

Supplies: Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), Ranger Distress Crackle Paint - Picket Fence, Ranger Adirondack Dabber - Silver, Ranger Distress Embossing Ink, Shape cut from chipboard (the piece shown above was already painted when I took the pic), Heat gun.

Step 1: Paint your chipboard piece with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint. For this technique, you want a medium-thick application. This detailed die cut doesn't have a lot of paintable area, so I wanted the cracks to be a bit on the large side (the heavier the application, the larger your cracks will be). Set aside to dry.

Step 2: When Crackle paint is completely dry, cover surface with paint using a Silver Dabber. This coat should be on the light side - you don't want to fill your cracks in, but you do want to have the whole thing colored silver.

Step 4: When paint is dry, coat the entire piece with Distress Embossing Ink and cover with UTEE.

Step 5: Heat UTEE until it melts. When cool, recoat with embossing ink and another layer of UTEE. Heat final layer until it is smooth. That's it!

Some of you might be wondering why I didn't just use Metallic Crackle Paint and save myself a step. Well, the first reason is that I didn't have any at the time and wanted to use what I had on hand. The second reason is that I think the Picket Fence Crackle Paint cracks in a different way and wouldn't look quite the same. I would definitely experiment with it, though, if you have it!

If you're interested in purchasing the Technique Junkie 3D and Fun Folds CD, you can do so through this link. In case you haven't heard of it, it is a CD containing pdf tutorials with step-by-step photo instructions for 70 different projects. You will create everything from gift card boxes, to pop ups, and more. It also makes a great gift!

All of the products (other than the CD) I used can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium. OH! And they are having a big sale right now! Use the coupon code - awesome2011 - to save 20% off your order. This code is good until 12/31/11.

Supply List:
Sizzix Dies: Tattered Banners, Vintage Market, Vintage Lace, Festive Greenery, Paper Rosette, Weathered Clock, Mini Labels
Sizzix Texture Fades: Christmas Background and Borders
Kraft Core'dinations Paper
Kraft Resist Paper
Ranger Adirondack Dabbers - Silver Metallic, Snow Cap, Pitch Black
Ranger Distress Embossing Ink
Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE)
Idea-ology Tissue Tape - Tidings
Idea-ology Long Fasteners
Idea-ology Sanding Grip
Inkssentials Glue n Seal (seriously love this stuff!)

My son will be here tomorrow - yay! - so I'll be taking a few days off. Best wishes to all of you for a happy and creative New Year!

Merry Christmas (And a Little Technique)!

I just wanted to take a minute to wish all of my stamping friends a very Merry Christmas! This afternoon, I spent a little time in my studio, playing around with an idea I've had for a few days. It's kind of a faux mercury glass look. I love when something that I've imagined actually ends up working!

Basically, it's my faux crazed porcelain technique with a twist. After I painted my Noel chipboard piece with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint and let it dry, I went over the paint with a Silver Adirondack Paint Dabber. When that was dry, I inked the whole thing with Distress Embossing ink and covered it with Ranger's Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE). After I embossed it, I added one more layer to give it a thicker, chunkier look. I wish so much my pics had come out a bit better...it is a really gorgeous look. Let me know if you're interested in a stepped-out tutorial - I'd be happy to do one!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, surrounded by friends and family! We are delaying our celebration by a few days - my Air Force son wasn't able to get leave until the 29th. It's our first Christmas without both our kids here and it's very strange. All a part of growing up, I guess (for all of us). ;-)

Take care! xoxo

Tim's Tags, Day 11 & 12 - I'm Done (Finally)!

After getting back into the groove with my little Tim Holtz rosette tree yesterday, I decided I would buckle down and finish the last two tag from his 12 Tags of Christmas. I didn't think I was going to like this one, but I am in love!

My background started with a script stamp from Artistic Outpost's new French Flight stamp set. Instead of washing over it with Picket Fence Distress stain, I used my Snow Cap Paint Dabber to tone it down. I don't have any of Tim's Tissue, so I made do. Instead of music, I decided to stamp snowflakes from AO's Snowy Woods collection. I used Brushed Pewter Distress Stickles for my dot outline. It seems like every year I find an excuse to use this gorgeous angel rubber stamp from Oxford Impressions. So hard to believe it's a stamp! I lightly colored her with Distress inks so she stood out a bit. My tissue flower was also hand stamped - this time using a music rubber stamp from Artistic Outpost's Ephemeral Backgrounds collection.

I didn't have the Adornments snowflake Tim used, but I DID have the Sizzix Mini Snowflakes dies! I had so much fun cutting the metal-covered paper when I made the lace trim and letters, I thought I would try it with the snowflakes and see what happened. Well...magic happened!

After I cut them, I was trying to figure out how to make them a bit bulkier - more like a charm. I stacked one on top of the other (they're slightly different) and a little light bulb went off - they fit together so well and looked like a really cool charm! After I stacked and glued them, I noticed that the die had created a little raised edge with a depression in the center. Hmmmm....I thought...what if I filled that with Rock Candy Distress Crackle medium (thanks to Tammy Tutterow for planting that little seed in my brain!)? As you can see, it is insanely cool looking! Love my icy little snowflake! It's attached to the tag with an Idea-ology Jump Ring and Charm Clip.

Ok, I will just say that I didn't really want to post this! I am so not a retro kind of girl. I love when other people do it, it's just not my thing. I DO love these stamps from Artistic Outpost's Frosty and Friends stamp set though, and thought they were perfect for this tag.

I didn't have shrink plastic, so I did a different technique for my holly. I cut thin metal using the Sizzix Mini Holly die. I used Adirondack Alcohol ink and dropped it directly onto the metal. When it dried, I inked my leaves with Distress Embossing Ink and then embossed them using Ranger's Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE). I love the look of these! Sorry my pic isn't the greatest, but you get the idea. :-) I also inked my jingle bells with Adirondack Alcohol ink - they make perfect holly berries!

In case you didn't know, you still have time to enter Inspiration Emporium's 12 Tags giveaway! Check out this post on the Inspiration Journal blog. We'd love to have you play along! If you need any of the supplies I used, they are listed below and can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Be sure and use my discount code - stamptramp - to save yourself 10%!

Sizzix Mini Holly Die
Sizzix Artful Dwellings Die
Sizzix Mini Snowflake Die
Sizzix Vintage Market Alpha Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Sizzix Festive Greenery Die
Sizzix Tag and Bookplates Die
Adirondack Paint Dabber - Snow Cap
Ranger Distress Stickles - Brushed Pewter & Rock Candy
Ranger Distress Crackle Paint - Rock Candy
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Bottle and Red Pepper
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black (the ONLY ink I use for photo image rubber stamps!)
Ranger Distress Ink - Winter Limited Edition Collection
Idea-ology Jump Ring & Charm Clip

I'm linking up with Simon Says Stamp and Show a Tim Holtz Tag and Hels' Sunday Stamper - Santa Claus. Take care, everyone!

O Christmas Tree!

First, let me say I'm so sorry I haven't posted in awhile! I even had someone write to make sure I was ok (thanks, Anita!), which was really sweet. This summer we built a porch that turned into a sunroom that ended up being pretty much an addition and we really wanted to get the inside done (we're slow!) by Christmas, so the past week or so has been dedicated to getting it finished. I'm exhausted! Holding up my end of a piece of plywood beadboard for the ceiling (times 10) was very tiring. Anywhooooooo.....

I haven't even finished the last two tags from Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas, but when I saw his little rosette tree, I knew I had to make one! I decided to plop mine on top of an old papier mache box that I had lying around. I covered the box with papers from the Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash. I used Ranger's Inkssentials Glue n' Seal to adhere the paper. The top of the box was painted with a Snow Cap Dabber and then stamped with the music stamp from Tim's Holiday Minis set. The whole thing was then coated with more Glue n' Seal and covered with crystal glitter.

The spool was wrapped with ribbon and topped with a little banner that was cut using the Sizzix Tattered Banner die. It was too long, but I wanted the larger width, so I clipped the ends to size. The banner was stamped with a sentiment from Artistic Outpost's Snowy Woods stamp set and then given its own coat of glitter. For the edges of the lid, I cut trim from white cardstock using the Sizzix Vintage Lace die. Again, I used Glue n' Seal to coat it and then covered it with chunky glitter. So pretty!! I love how versatile that die is!

I didn't have any of the Christmas Muse Tokens for the top, so I cut a bird from chipboard using the Mini Bird and Cage die from Sizzix. A coat of paint from my Snow Cap Dabber and a little more glitter and it was perfect to sit atop my tree!

I am so happy with how this turned out! If you're interested in purchasing any of the materials I used, you can get them at Inspiration Emporium. If you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you can save 10% off your order! The products I used are listed below:

Sizzix Paper Rosette Die
Sizzix Mini Paper Rosettes Die
Sizzix Tattered Banners Die
Sizzix Mini Bird and Cage Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Idea-ology Seasonal Paper
Inkssentials Glue n' Seal
Ranger Adirondack Dabber - Snow Cap
Core'dinations Kraft Cardstock
Tim Holtz Mini Holidays 3 Stamp Set

I'm a bit late, but I'm linking to Terri's Deck the Halls Sunday. Make sure you check out all the wonderful submissions!

Tim's Tag, Day 10 - A New Technique!

It seems like it happens every year...I keep up with the tags until the end, and then I start falling behind. As anyone who has been keeping up can tell you, it takes a lot of time to do these each day! At some point you do have to actually get some work done, feed your family, etc. I stole a little time today to work on #10 and #11, but only managed to get this one done.

I had tried the tape transfer technique before, but never got great results. Mine came out this time, but for some reason I am very challenged when it comes to gluing stuff to Fragments! For that reason, I decided to do just one and doll it up with a Sizzix Paper Rosette die. Behind the rosette, I added a border cut using the Sizzix Vintage Lace die - I just found this technique in the latest issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter and couldn't wait to try it! The tag background stamp and holly stamp are both from Tim Holtz's Mini Holidays 3 stamp set.

To finish off my tag I added some tinsel garland, tulle, a dyed ribbon, and more pearl acorns. I tried to resist using them, but they're so adorable!

All the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Be sure you use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!

Supplies used:
Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Mini Holidays 3 set
Inkssentials Kraft Tag
Idea-ology Fragments
Idea-ology Alpha Parts - Newsprint
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Sizzix Paper Rosette Die
Sizzix Tattered Banners Die
Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabbers - Silver, Snow Cap

Tim's Tag, Day 9 - When in Doubt, Glitter!

Today, I wasn't much in the tag mood. I think I might just be getting a little tag burnout! I finally decided I'd go ahead give today's tag from Tim a try. My biggest problem was trying to figure out what to use in place of the Candlelight Fright die he used. I ended up rifling through my bin of Grungeboard pieces and found this bird, which I thought was perfect!

I knew I wanted to do a softer color palette for today's tag, so I chose to stamp my background (from Artistic Outpost's Jane's Countryside collection) with the new Iced Spruce Distress ink. I tried a little experiment to see what it would look like if I used Picket Fence Distress Stain for my other color. It worked ok...not sure I would recommend using it for embossing, but I still love how it looks!

I felt like my tag was a little blah, so I reheated my embossing powder and sprinkled some of Martha's clear glitter over the top. It added just enough sparkle to give the tag some life. My Grungeboard bird was painted with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber and then covered with more glitter. I tied a little piece of silver garland around his neck and embellished with with foliage that was cut from Kraft Core'dinations using the Sizzix Festive Greenery die. The ribbon on the tag was dyed with Iced Spruce Distress ink.

I think this is my favorite part of the whole tag! I used Tim's Sizzix Vintage Market alpha die to cut the letters from white cardstock. I sponged them with Iced Spruce Distress ink and then covered them with more of Martha's glitter. They kind of blended into the background too much, so I cut more letters from white cardstock, glittered them, and then layered the green letters on top for a 3d effect. Love the glitter on top of the Iced Spruce! To finish the bottom, I cut a strip of lace from white cardstock, using the Vintage Lace die. It, too, was given the glitter treatment and adhered to the bottom of the tag.

This is one of those tags that you have to see in person - it just glistens from all that glitter! If you'd like to purchase the supplies I used, they are available at Inspiration Emporium. When you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll receive 10% off your order! Yay!

Supplies used:
Sizzix Vintage Market Die
Sizzix Vintage Lace Die
Sizzix Festive Greenery Die
Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
Ranger Distress Ink - Iced Spruce
Ranger Distress Stain - Picket Fence
Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber - Snow Cap
Kraft Core'diantions Paper

Have a great weekend, everyone! :-)