Happy Fall! November Tag

Happy Saturday, everyone! When I saw the November tag from Tim Holtz, I fell in love. Tim is so good at using the negative space in dies and this tag is the perfect example. So many cool ideas, and so much grungy goodness - I had to make some time in the stamp shack to make one of my own!

Since I don't have the new leaf die, I crossed my fingers that I'd be able to use my old Tattered Leaves die in the same way. I did have to use a smaller piece of cardboard, but since I covered the top and the bottom, it was no problem. When it came to embossing the leaf, I had the same issue (both the die and the coordinating Texture Fade have three leaves on them). To work around it, I embossed the leaf, cut it out and adhered it to a tag that was covered with the new idea-ology Tissue Wrap, then layered the cardboard over the top.

Speaking of which - when I saw that nice leaf-shaped depression in the cardboard, all I could think about was filling it with UTEE! After I adhered my cardboard and leaf cutout to the tag, I used a Versamark pen to ink the leaf. Then I added several layers of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel to the depression, heating it each time. On the final layer, I added a bit of gold ep, to simulate the gold leafing Tim used.

My tag has a little secret! It's actually an easel tag. I wanted to make something that the recipient could display easily (Ha, get it? Easely?) and thought adhering it to an easel fold would be perfect. To create the easel layer, I just cut a strip of Tim's Kraft Resist paper the same width as the tag and slightly shorter (so it wouldn't interfere with the hole). I folded it in half and then folded the top layer in half, adhering the bottom of the tag to the bottom fold. Two brads make it easy to keep in the upright position.

I also had a little fun playing with my new Alphanumeric dies. So cool! I wanted to kind of mimic Tim's Alpha Parts piece, so I used the letters to spell out 'fall' on a piece of black Kraft Core'dinations. I used a scrap of plain kraft on the back side to highlight the letters. I'm working on a tutorial to show an easy way to line these little dies up easily. Stay tuned for that next week!

All the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order.

Sizzix Alphanumeric	Sizzix Tattered Leaves Die	Sizzix Textured Leaves Texture Fades	Sizzix Mini Acorn & Pumpkin Set	Inkssentials Manila Tag
Fired Brick Distress Paint	Walnut Stain Distress Paint	Vintage Photo Distress Paint	Spiced Marmalade Distress Paint	Distress Stain Spray - Fired Brick
Distress Stain Spray - Vintage Photo	Distress Stain Spray - Brushed Pewter	Distress Stain Spray - Rusty Hinge	Tarnished Brass Distress Stain	idea-ology Index Labels
Remnant Rubs - Christmastime	idea-ology Tissue Wrap - Postale	idea-ology Resist Paper Stash - Motif	Core'dinations Kraft Core - Black	idea-ology Trimmings - Black and Cream
idea-ology Jump Rings	Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Idea-ology Wire Pins	Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon	Ranger Gold Embossing Powder
Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel 8 oz	Grungeboard	Gathered Twigs Distress Ink	Walnut Stain Distress Ink	Scotch Tape Glider
Vagabond

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Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a fantastic week!

Inspiration Journal Challenge - Happy Holidays!

Hi all! I have a cozy winter card to share with you today. It's one of the cards I created for Tim Holtz's latest Stampers Anonymous release using a few different stamp sets. Here's a quick description of how I made it:

To created the background, I started by coloring Ranger's Watercolor paper with a variation of the wrinkle free distress technique. Instead of spritzing the inks with water, I used gold Perfect Pearls mist. I love the antique effect (the original idea is from the Dec/Jan '09 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter). For this layer I used Frayed Burlap, Broken China, and Gathered Twigs ink. After the paper dried, I stamped one of the Holiday Knits using Potting Soil Archival ink.

For the central image, I used Broken China with a bit of Frayed Burlap. After I stamped the snowshoes, I colored them in with a water pen and Frayed Burlap ink. The edges were inked with Gather Twigs Distress ink and frayed using a Paper Distresser.

To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment on a scrap and layered it with a pine cone cut using Tim's Festive Greenery die and an evergreen sprig cut with the Tattered Pinecone die. It's all tied together with a length of Jute String and adhered to a brown Core'dinations card.

All of the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order!

Sizzix Tattered Pinecone Die	Sizzix Festive Greenery Die	Christmas Blueprink 5	Handwritten Holidays 2	Holiday Knits
Distress Watercolor Cardstock	Core'dinations Kraft Core - Spruce	Core'dinations Kraft Core - Brown	idea-ology Jute String	Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist
Water Brush - Detailer Tip	Gathered Twigs Distress Ink	Frayed Burlap Distress Ink	Broken China Distress Ink	Scotch Tape Glider
Inkssentials Blending Tool	Tim Holtz Paper Distresser	Idea-ology Sanding Grip	Vagabond

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Have you had a chance to check out Inspiration Emporium's November challenge? This month's theme is Happy Holidays. Now is the perfect time to start your Christmas and other winter holiday projects. If you share yours with us, you could win a $50 IE shopping spree!

Pop it Ups Ring Accordion Christmas Card

Hi all! Hope you're having a cozy Sunday. Today I'm sharing a card I made a few months ago using Karen Burniston's Ring Accordion Album die, which was released this summer. It was so hard to save this one until now - I am so in love with it!

I'm always a sucker for this color combo. Kraft and red with a touch of aqua is such a fresh Chrismas/Winter look. For my card, I first cut the panels from kraft cardstock and added the scalloped border that was cut from red cardstock. For the inner panels, I layered red cardstock with a kraft panel that was stamped with white paint. I fussy-cut the decorative elements from My Mind's Eye Christmas paper and adhered everything with foam dots.

To add a little sparkle, I adhered glittered snowflakes that were cut with the snowflake die included in Karen's All Seasons Tree set. Finally, I sponged the edges with white paint to give it a soft and frosty look.

I hope you enjoyed my card today! Everything can be found at Elizabeth Craft Designs and Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order!

(BTW, Karen also has a new collection of frames that work perfectly with the Ring Accorcion Album. I've added a link below for that as well.)

Karen Burniston Ring Accordion Album Die Karen Burniston All Seasons Tree Karen Burniston Ring Frame Edges Silk Microfine Glitter - Antique Silver Ranger Kraft Cardstock 12x12 Distress Paint - Picket Fence Foam Sticky Squares Sizzix Magnetic Platform Scotch Tape Glider Vagabond

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Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a wonderful week!

Halloween Crow Altered Trading Block

Hi all! I can't believe it's almost Halloween! I was so inspired by Tim Holtz's October tag that I popped out to my studio for a couple hours today and ended up making this cute Artist Trading Block. I have been wanting to do something like this for ages and I'm so happy I finally got around to it!

I started by cutting the box panels from Eileen Hull's cream mat board using her 3D Block die. Then, I pretty much followed Tim's tag instructions. I wasn't able to find his new texture paste so I had to make do with Martha Stewart's brand. After everything was dry, I assembled the box, leaving the top unglued so I could secure the crow.

The crow is from the Dollar Tree. I created a ruffled collar from crepe paper and then colored it to match the box using the new Peeled Paint Distress Stain Spray. I added a hat made from orange Kraft Core'dinations paper and trimmed it with a tiny bit of Tissue Tape. He came with wires on his feet, so I punched holes in the top of the box, threaded them through, and secured with tape.

If you'd like to make one of your own, you can find all the products I used at Inspiration Emporium via the links below (except for the mat board, which is from Sizzix). Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order!

Sizzix 3D Block Die Sizzix Cream Mat Board idea-ology Monocles idea-ology Elements Tissue Tape idea-ology Alpha Chips idea-ology Remnant Rubs - Apothecary idea-ology Tinsel Twine idea-ology Paper String - Stripes idea-ology Trimmings - Black and Cream Halloween Stencil Distress Stain Spray - Peeled Paint Distress Stain Spray - Vintage Photo Distress Stain Spray - Rusty Hinge Inkssentials Wonder Tape 1/4"

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Have you joined in with this month's Art With Heart Challenge over at Eileen Hull's blog? We'd love to have you play along with us! And guess what the prize is this month? It's the 3D Block die I used in my project! Please share your wonderful Tricks and Treats with us HERE!

I'm also entering my ATB in the Halloween To Die For challenge over at A Vintage Journey's challenge blog. Lots of great TH inspiration over there!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a wonderful week!