Capture Life's Moments

This is the 5th & last technique I learned in a class taught by Tim Holtz in April.  The technique using Oxide Inks is called Luminous Layers.

This #8 tag was done in Tim's class by smooshing Oxide Inks (Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans, Cracked Pistachio & Spiced Marmalade) on a craft mat.  Instead of spraying the Oxide Inks with water they were sprayed with Brushed Pewter Mica Spray.  The tag was then swiped through the ink & dried with a heat gun.  Then I continued to swipe or tap the tag into the inks, drying in between layers.  Stamps used were from Classic #1, Classic #3 & Classic #4 stamped in Black Archival Ink.

Using the technique above, I made this #10 tag for a class at The Craft Shack.  The Oxide Inks I used, Fossilized Amber, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves, Peeled Paint & Frayed Burlap, were sprayed with Antique Bronze Mica Spray.  Several  different leaves from Tim's Leaf Print Set were stamped with Monarch Orange, Coffee, Plum & Vermillion Archival Inks.  The flourishes from Tim's Sketch Elements was stamped with Olive Archival Ink.  Two acorns from Tim's Autumn Blueprint Set were stamped with Coffee Archival, then inked with Frayed Burlap & Walnut Stain Oxides, spritzed with water & cut out.  One acorn was popped up then the other cap was layered on top.  I added "Autumn" from Chit Chat Seasonal stickers on the acorn & splattered Black Soot Paint over the tag.  I rubbed a Rusty Hinge Crayon over the Word Band that says "Capture Life's Moments" then wiped the excess off & added twine.

For my fluffy bow I followed Freddie's bow tutorial & used 3 distress markers, Barn Door, Gathered Twigs, Carved Pumpkin on crinkle ribbon.  I love the effect of the Gathered Twigs down the center of the ribbon but I think I used to much water because there wasn't any cream left showing. 

The photos don't do the technique justice.  The mica spray is so shimmery & pretty I almost didn't add the acorn & word band.  Hope you enjoyed my September tag & TFL!

I've Go An Idea!

It's time for another Giggler's birthday project & it's for Susan!  I've made birthday tags for Susan before but I promised everyone a light up card this year so I decided to make her a light up tag!  I usually use white card stock so I know the light shines through but the tag is a little heavier & it was harder to see so I made a few modifications.  I also used a technique I learned in a class taught by Tim using Mica spray instead of water to activate the Oxide inks!!

First I figured out where I wanted the image for the crazy bird & light bulb plus the balloons which will be pressed for the light to come on.  Then I placed the stamps on the Tim Holt Stamp Platform & stamped 2 #10 tags in black archival ink.   I find it helpful to have the same images on both layers so I know where to place the Chibitronics Led Light & it's easier to line up when the layers are put together.  I inked the tag by smooshing Tim's Oxide Inks (Salty Ocean, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet & Spiced Marmalade on my craft sheet & spritzing the ink with brushed pewter mica spray.  I pressed the tag into the ink, dried it & repeated several times.  The mica spray gives it a very cool shimmery effect.  I don't normally ink the bottom layer (tag on the right) but it was an "oopsie" & I didn't want to waste a good tag.

To make the the circuit, first I adhered a folded piece of copy paper over the balloon where the battery will be.  The copper tape needs to connect to the positive side (+) side of the battery (top) & the negative (-) side of the battery (bottom) with a small gap between where the LED light will be.

The LED light has a sticky back so I pressed it down with the point (-) over the negative cooper tape & the (+) over the positive cooper tape.  Make sure you press down hard enough so it makes the connection.  Using a glue dot, I placed the battery over the cooper tape with the (-) down & the (+) up.  The top of the copy paper was then folded over the top of the battery.  Layers of foam tape were placed around & built up slightly above the battery so the cooper tape on the copy paper only touches the battery when the balloons are pressed.  Leave the covering on the top of the last layer of foam tape so it won't stick to the top layers when it's added.

Once I had tested the circuit so I knew it would light & made sure it would line up when the layers were put together, I layered double sided foam tape around the edges & in the middle (right photo) so you can't see the mess inside & it wouldn't flex.  My original plan was not to put 2 layers of foam around the out side edges so I cut a hole in the top layer (at left) for the battery to be above the top layer.  I was going to add the second layer of foam to the balloons but changed after I cut the hole.  The light was dim through the tag, so I cut a small hole in the light bulb & adhered a light bulb over it that I stamped on plain white card stock, colored with Copics & fussy cut.

When I put the two layers together, I don't remove all the tops off the foam tape at once.  Instead I pull a small piece to the side, using the exposed sticky part of the foam tape to tack the layers together.  Once I was sure it's lined up I removed the remaining top of the tape by pulling off.  Tweezers were helpful when I needed to grab the edge of the foam tape covering.  Next I stamped, colored & die cut several balloons which are layered over the battery.  I stamp "Press Here" on the top balloon.  I also stamped, colored & die cut out the crazy bird to layer on the tag so it would really stand out!  Of course I had to add a fluffy bow!

Hope you enjoyed hearing how I made my first light up tag light!  TFL!!