Peppermint Sugar Cookies

I designed this 6X6 recipe card for the December class at The Craft Shack.  I knew I wanted to use bright red & candy canes but that was it.  Then I attended a Dickens event  & found my inspiration!  Below are details on how I made the recipe card & a photo of what inspired me.

Sorry the photo is blurry but the white mat was stamped with Tim Holtz Flurry Stamp in Distress Candied Apple Ink & adhered to the SU Real Red CS base.

The snowflakes from Tim Holtz Reindeer Flight Stamp Set were stamped on the next layer of white with Tim Holtz Embossing Ink & sprinkled with Ranger Clear Embossing Powder then heat embossed.  That was added to the base layers.  Next the title & recipe were matted & added.

The candy canes were cut from Neenah Premium 110 lb Extra Heavy CS on my Cricut with Joys of the Season cartridge.  Once cut, I stamped them at an angle with Tim Holtz Stripes Background Stamp in Candied Apple Distress Ink.  After the ink dried, I applied embossing ink then covered them with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel & heat embossed.  I repeated this step so it looked very shiny & thick...like a candy cane.  They were crossed & held together with Ranger Glossy Accents. 

Two pine boughs from Tim Holtz Holiday Mini Greens Dies were cut from Tim Holtz Core-dinations 12-x-12-Cardstock.  They were snipped apart, layered & glued together to form a swag.  Tim's Beaded Berries were dipped in Candied Apple Distress Spray Stain & the stems were colored with a Peeled Paint Distress Marker then added with a glue dot.  I used a glue dot to adhere the swag to the candy canes then wrapped red jute twine around the greens & tied 2 silver Tim Holtz Tiny Bells on with the same twine & tied a bow.  I added the candy canes to the recipe card using mini glue dots & Scor-Tape.

Don't you just love my inspiration?  We attended Dickens of a Christmas Celebration in Wellsboro, PA where I purchased this hand made candy cane door decoration in deep red from a street vendor.  I think the candy canes on the recipe card look pretty close...don't you?

Thanks for looking!!

Rusted Watering Can

Time for another technique tag Tim Holtz style at The Craft Shack!  This month I used his "Rusted Grunge" technique which is so realistic & easy!

TECHNIQUE TAG:
The background of the #8 manila tag was inked with old paper distress ink using a blending tool & flicked with water.  It was then stamped using Tim's Classics #1, Classics #3 & Classics #4 in black Archival ink.

Now for the technique...the Movers & Shapers jalopy & arrow were cut from grungeboard then pressed into distress embossing ink, covering the entire surface.  I did miss a few tiny spots but that'll be OK.  Next the die cuts were covered with vintage photo embossing powder & embossed with a heat tool.  After the EP & grungeboard were totally cool, I scratch the surface with my fingernail to remove some of the granules of the EP.  This gave it a little dimension.  Using a blending tool, I went over it with vintage photo ink, pushing the ink into the EP.  Voila!  There you have it...rust!  It's hard to see but I added a little patina.  With a paint brush, I randomly dabbed the arrow with cracked pistachio paint.  I also used the rust technique on a gold 4mm brad which is used to hold the arrow on the tag.  I placed the tag in a page pocket & will keep it in my Tim Holtz Worn Binder Notebook for future reference.

DECORATED TAG:
The #10 manila tag was covered with the wood grain paper from Tim's Christmas Paper Stash.  It wasn't quite long enough but I added a strip of Yuletide Design Tape at the bottom which was a great place to set the watering can.

The watering can was rusted using the technique described above, I die cut Tim's BigZ Watering Can & added the patina. It looks just like one I have in my flower garden!  After the watering can was decorated I used black foam squares to pop it up.

The pine & holly are several dies from Tim's Mini Holiday Greens set & were die cut from various colors of his Core-dinations Shattered Collection, sanded & adhered behind the watering can using glossy accents.

The beaded berries (which I love!) were colored using fired brick stain & a peeled paint marker on the stems.

The poinsettias were done by covering a small piece of white CS with melange tissue wrap using matte collage medium then I die cut 6 small poinsettias using Tim's BigZ Tattered Poinsettia Die.  They were inked with festive berries & adhered together using glossy accents & a mini gold brad then attached with a glue dot.  Oops..I messed up the one at the top so I cut & inked plain white.

In the middle, I tucked a "Holiday Party Invitation" from a pack of festive ephemera.

At the top, 2 pieces of Christmas Jute were intertwined into the SU ribbon (I was out of crinkle ribbon) with 4 of Tim's tiny bells tied to the ends.

What do you think?

Thanks for visiting my blog!!

Advent Calendar

It's finally done!  I  made this for my grandson but it will stay with me until he's an adult with a family of his own.  I started the KaiserCraft advent calendar in October 2016 in class at The Craft Shack.  I love the distressed look so I decided to use paper from Tim Holtz Yuletide 8x8 paper pack.  Although it was time consuming, the best part was choosing the papers & adding all the embellishments.  I finished the drawers & had most of the inside scene finished then I hit a wall...literally.  The wall of the "living room" needed something & I couldn't decide so I put it away & kept looking & thinking.  Then I found it!!

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ASSEMBLING:
Unfortunately I didn't take photos as I assembled the frame & boxes.  The frame is MDF &  painted white before assembling.  You need to be careful not to paint the tabs.  It fits together so tight I didn't have to glue it together & paint on the tabs would have made the fit impossible.  Also it's easier to put the paper in the center before assembling the frame.   I used glossy accents to glue the drawers together, holding with a rubber band until dry then painted them white inside & out.  There are several good YouTube videos available on how to assemble them & I would suggest watching a couple if you're going to put one of these together.

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FRAME:
Strips of paper from Tim Holt Idea-olgy Yuletide 8x8 paper were adhered around the sides of the frame with Matte Mod Podge.  I got paint on the back so I covered it with a red paper from my stash & added things from Tim's Festive Ephemera Pack, Yuletide paper pack. & a piece stamped with Doodle Greetings #2.  After all the paper was on I went over it with frayed burlap distress ink the gave it another coat of Mod Podge to make sure the paper was sealed.

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DRAWERS:
After cutting strips of various papers from Tim's Yuletide, they were wrapped around the drawer & creased so I'd know where to bone fold for a crisp edge.  I held the paper in place & with a pencil drew a line where the half circle was to be cut with a circle punch.  This is where the drawer will be pulled out.

The paper was adhered to the drawers with Mod Podge.  Once it was dry, frayed burlap distress ink was applied to the edges of the paper & the bottom of the drawers with a mini ink blending tool.  I then went over the entire drawer again the the mod podge to seal it.

Below are the drawers before adding the embellishments.  If you notice originally there was another paper in the middle but decided I wanted to go another direction so I changed it to a paper that has a small dot for the appearance of "wallpaper".

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DRAWER EMBELLISHMENTS:
Now the fun part!  I started by numbering the drawers with  KaiserCraft Metallic Gold Number Stickers distressed with mushroom alcohol ink & adhered using glossy accents.  In the beginning I was going to have the drawers in sequential order so I made sure I mixed the papers up.  But in the end I mixed the numbers up so you'd have to search for them.  That took a little time to figure out where to put them so the papers were different!  Drawer #25 doesn't have a slot so I make a lid & added a ribbon to make it look like a gift then attached it with glossy accents.  I listed the embellishments I used at the bottom of the page & most were put on with a crop-a-dile-hole-punch or glossy accent.  I wish I could have used all Tim Holtz embellishments but I just didn't have enough but did have some other cute things in my stash.  Some were painted or inked if they were shinny.  I even added a little gold foil with a glue stick to a few.

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CENTER:
I started with the tin ceiling made from mirrored sheets, embossed with Tim's Damask EF & inked with black soot ink.  I can't get a good photo of the "hardwood" floor & I'm not sure if the paper is Tim's or something I had in my stash.

The "wainscoting" paper is from Tim's Yuletide with Tim's Yuletide Design Tape used as a border. The Christmas tree is the large tree from Woodlands Trees and Wreath Set sprayed with Peeled Paint Stain. While that was drying, I colored pearls with Adirondack alcohol inks - mushroom, aqua, cranberry, purple twilight, sunshine yellow in small cups. By applying mushroom ink first it tones down the bright colors & gives them a vintage look (learned that from Tim). Gold cord was wrapped around the tree then the dyed pearls were added with glossy accents. The toys & gifts under the tree were from my Department 56 village days. The night scene behind the white CS Memory Box Madison Window is inked with Chipped Sapphire then Santa & his reindeer from SU Holiday Home & the trees tops from Tim's Reindeer Flight were stamped in black Archival Ink.

The SU Festive Fireplace was stamped, embossed with white & inked with Fired Brick then die cut & folded to make it 3D.  The mantel & stockings were from the same set, embossed & colored with several of Tim's markers.  The clock was placed on the wall then the swag from Tim's Mini Holiday Greens in his Kraft Core paper was sanded & added above the mantel.  I also added a few tiny red jewels I had in my stash.  The salvaged doll was painted with black soot (shoes), antique linen (skin), fired brick (nightgown) & vintage photo (hair).  She is standing with her "blanket" which is a piece of crinkle ribbon dyed with tumbled glass.  She' was placed in front of the fireplace amazed Santa had been there! 

The pictures on the wall were vintage images, resized to fit into 3 of the Melissa Frances Resin Frames.  I inked with frayed burlap then added lossy accent over the photos so it looked like glass.

All this was done last winter but as I said it needed something....then I found the Tim Holtz Holly, Beaded, Snowflake Garland Strip Die!  A holly swag was cut from Tim's Kraft Core paper in green & red then sanded...just what it needed!!  I also used a couple of the extra bows on the swag & window.

I probably missed something but if you've read this far it probably doesn't really matter because your head is spinning!

Thanks for looking at my project!


DRAWER EMBELLISHMENTS:
Tim Holt Idea-ology - Christmas typed tokens, mirrored stars, mini fasteners brads, yuletide fasteners, star fasteners, antique nickel arrow, hex fasteners, nailheads; long fasteners, jingle brads, ice skates, pine cones, ring fasteners, frozen snowflakes alpha parts, snowflakes; Ranger - vintage shiny gold transfer foil sheets, mini collage glue stick; KaiserCraft - Metallic Gold Number Sticker Sheet, wooden flourish joy pack; Stampin' Up - Christmas trinkets, mini jingle bells, enamel dots ; Memory Makers - birthday charms; Eyelet Outlet - stocking brads, red Christmas hat brads; Unknown - button brads, lock keys on ring, candy cane charm, mittens, snowflake, jewels, clock charm, swirly clip.

Rudolph Ornament

This project was for a 3D ornament swap at our recent "Let It Snow" Stamp & Swap Event.  I saw these 1" X 2" tin containers used on several Pinterest projects & thought it might be cute for the swap.  My friend, Diane had extras so I bought a box of 9 from her but there are many places you can get them online.  This is what I came up with...isn't Rudolph cute standing in the snow?

I started by coloring the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Decorative Deer with Adirondack Caramel Alcohol Ink & letting them dry.  There are 2 sizes & I used both.

After die cutting a 2" white CS circle from Spellbinder Circles Die, I partially stamped Altenew's Winter Cottage in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink at the top so it would appear to be in the distance.

The image was colored with Copics: B37(sky), E99(cabin), Y11(windows), R39(door), YG63(tree).

I painted Tombow liquid glue over all the areas with snow including the roof, window sill & a dab on the tree branches.

I quickly covered the circle with Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Dry Glitter.  This glitter is the best, it's very fine & does not have any color...it glistens like real snow!

After the alcohol ink was dry, I used a SU Chalk Marker to add spots & white in his ears.  I also put a dot of Ranger Christmas Red Stickles on his nose so he looks like baby Rudolph.

Using a We-R-Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile, I punched 2 holes for the jute string hanger.

I added the cabin scene to the back of the tin with Ranger Glossy Accents.  To keep the deer in place I stacked small pieces of Scotch 3M Form Mounting Tape to the back of the deer then added glossy accents around his feet.  I then put more dry glitter in the tin & secured the lid with glossy accents.

Just one tip - I didn't think of this until after I had glued the lids on but I would put something over the holes on the inside, maybe a small piece of clear tape.  I'm sure it'll be OK but if it's tipped upside down it may lose the glitter but over all I'm pleased how it turned out!  TFL!

Poinsettia Christmas

This Christmas card was for my shoebox project at our recent "Let It Snow" SCS Stamp & Swap Event.  At a shoebox event, everyone makes up 1 or 2 completed projects with kits for everyone else to make.  Since we usually have between 15 to 20 people, we ask participants to keep their project's assembly time between 5 - 10 minutes.  Here's how mine was assembled:

"Merry Christmas" from Tim Holtz Retro Christmas stamp & die set was set up on Tim Holtz Tonic Stamp Platform so everyone would get a solid straight image when they stamped.  It was then stamped in VersaFine Black Onyx Ink on white CS.  Next the poinsettia corner from Tim Holtz Mixed Media Christmas Die was cut from that same CS, saving the die cut leaves & coloring them with Copic G94.  Once the The Paper Cut Red Sparkle Paper was adhered to the Neenah Premium 110-lb Extra Heavy Card Base, the die cut card front was added with Ranger 1/2" Wonder Tape.  The leaves were added back into the negative space with a Zig Fine Point Glue Pen.  I added a touch of clear Wink of Stella to the leaves.  In the center of each poinsettia there are a group of dots made with a gold Jelly Roll pen.

I have to say the photo doesn't do this card justice!  I love how Tim's die cut poinsettias look over glitter paper.  The hardest part of this card is saving the leaves.

TFL!

Craft Fund Shadow Box

This was something I made for the gift exchange at our recent stamping event.  Its a shadow box to save money in for future craft supplies.      

I started with a white shadowbox that holds a 5 X 7 photo.  My hubby used a Dremel tool to cut a slot in the top of the frame big enough to drop folded bills or coins through.  I painted the inside of the slot with DecoArt Americana Snow White Paint. 

After cleaning the acrylic pane with alcohol, I stamped "craft fund" on the outside using Sweet 'n Sassy's Rebecca Script Alpha Stamp Set in Tsukineko StazOn Jet Black Ink.  These are clear lower case letters which are designed to be stamped individually but easily lined up & overlapped to look like cursive.  If you're interested in making one, I've included a few tips at the end of this post. 

For the inside, I stamped SU's Totally Tess holding her craft bag in Memento Black Tuxedo Black Ink then colored the images with Copic.  There was too much blank area but I didn't want a lot of images so I stamped a border from SU's Chalk Lines in Elegant Eggplant & random speckles from SU's Gorgeous Grunge in SU Blushing Bride.  This was mounted on the frame backer with 1" Scor-Tape.  The frame had started to crack at one of the corners so I used Tape Ruban Washi Tape all the way around the frame which is pictured above. 

Just a couple of stamping tips:

1)  I started with "fund", stamping the "d" first.  I used a lined acrylic block that fit down into the front of the frame.  This allowed me to use the frame of the shadow box similar to a stamp platform/Misti.  The "d" was positioned on the acrylic pane then the block was gently placed onto the stamp so it was in the lower right corner.  I then continued stamping the other letters always placing the block in the lower right corner.  I was even able to re-stamp the letter when it wasn't solid.

2}  Next I stamped "craft" starting with the "c".  Before stamping, the letters were placed on the acrylic pane to make sure they didn't over lap onto "fund" & to get a general idea where it should start.  Then a rectangle mask was cut from from scrap paper to mask "fund" (make sure it's cut straight). By bumping the mask into the lower right corner it acts as a guild.  I then placed the "c" on the acrylic pane & gently placed the block on the stamp, making sure the left side of the block was bumped against the left side of the frame.  It's also helpful to have the block's horizontal line across the top of the mask.  You may want to draw a line, trim the mask or move your letters up/down a little but be careful not to go down to far.   
3.  Make sure your stamping on the opposite end of the slot (don't ask why I mentioned this).

4.  If you make a mistake or don't like what how it turns out, rubbing alcohol can be used to remove the ink (again, don't ask me why I mentioned this).  The rubbing alcohol will even take ink off the frame.

Hope you enjoyed my project & thanks for visiting my blog!  

Easy Peasy Hors d'oeuvre

This easy recipe came from my stamping friend, Tina.  I made 12 for the recipe swap at our recent Stamp & Swap Event.  This recipe card is pretty straight forward.  I stamped a pineapple in Hello Honey on the same color CS then made a cute little tab with the pineapple brad through it.  The edges were sponged.  The hardest (or most time consuming) was make the title!  TFL!

SUPPLIES:  SU Very Vanilla, Hello Honey & Cajun Craze Cardstock; Bo Bunny Kiss the Cook CS; SU Hello Honey & Cajun Craze Ink; SU Burlap ribbon; Stampabilities Pineapple; Eyelet Outlet Pineapple Brad; EK Success Mini Corner Rounder; Ranger 1/2" Double Sided Tape

Snowman Photo Shoot

This ATC was for a swap at our 3rd annual NEPA Stamp & Swap "Let It Snow" Event. & I made 13 of them.  I was looking through Pinterest for a little inspiration & this tag by Michelle Short of The Card Groto (2nd project on the page) took my eye.  Of course I put my own spin on them using Tim's new snowman stamp.










After I cut the 2 layers of card stock, I lined them up & held them together with repositionable masking tape.  Using the larger die, I cut the center from both layers at the same time so they would be the same when assembled.

I also cut a frame from white CS using both dies. This was added last.

Using distress ink, I stenciled on the top layer.  I've fallen in love with these mini stencils!

I cut the stencil film & frosted film 2X2 to fit behind the window.  I stamped the snowman on the stencil film using black StazOn then on the back, colored the hat & carrot nose.  I decided to put a piece of frosted film behind the snowman for a snowy effect.

I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set, tore the edges then inked them with SU Baja Breeze to match the CS..

I painted the mitten embellishments, let it dry a little then wiped some of the apint off.  It was then tied with a piece of heavy thread.

Hope you enjoyed my latest ATC projtect.  TFL!!











Supplies: Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Mini Stencils #31, Ranger Ink Blending Tool, Tim Holtz Holiday Postmarks Stamp Set, Tim Holtz Picket Fence Paint, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Frosted, Tsukineko Stazon Jet Black Ink, Grafix Stencil Film,  Masquerade Art Masking Tape; SU Layering Squares Dies, SU Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, SU Whisper White CS, SU Baja Breeze CS,  BIC markers, Tsukineko Versafine Tuxedo Black Ink, Unknown Thread & Mitten Charms.

Give Thanks

For the November ATC class at The Craft Shack, I designed this one with Thanksgiving in mind.  I love to take a technique & make a miniature version so I decided to make an eclipse ATC.

I started by inking white cardstock with Tim Holtz Antique Linen.  The leaves from Tim Holtz Leaf Prints are randomly stamped off the edge with Ranger Archival Inks - Library Green, Monarch Orange & Plum.  I then die cut GIVE with Tim Holtz Alphanumeric 1" Tall Dies.  A piece of May Arts Burlap String was wrapped around the CS with a Tim Holtz Pine cone tied with a bow.  This layer was then adhered to the SU Tangerine Tango base.  Using slivers of foam tape, the letters are placed back in the negative space.  It was finished by adding a "thanks" from Tim's Chit Chat Seasonal Stickers.

It was a quick, fun ATC to make.  TFL!!