My Thoughts, My Life

My Prize Package Arrived!

2012-01-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

Today my prize package that I won from Tim Holtz that was so graciously and carefully packed by Mario Rossi arrived today.

WOW

The breakdown of all the wonderful goodness is as follows:

Mini Holidays Stamp set CMS066
Mini Holidays Stamp set CMS096
6 x 6 Grunge book
Game Pieces
Pocket watch
Pen Nibs
Movers and Shapers Mini Tickets
"Brand New" Love Stuck Biz Die
Plaquettes
Hanger Clips
Fractured Dolls
Bird cage
Nostalgic Tissue Tape
Studio Matte Multi Medium
Glossy Accents

Its Like Christmas Day all over again. Believe it or not there were only 2 items in the box that I already have. Its like you knew exactly what my stash was missing.

Thank you Thank you Tim and Mario for making my day with your wonderful generosity.

You two are just the greatest. Hopefully I can thank you in person one day.

Stephen - Bearcrazyman

Happy "LUCKY" New Year

2012-01-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to take a moment and wish you all an Happy New Year and to share in my luck. I was chosen by Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi to win one of the $100 prize giveaways for finishing all 12 tags this year. How cool is that?

But... Not only did I win there but I won the $50 Grand Prize from Inspiration Emporium. If you havent shopped with them before please check them out for they are always more than helpful and willing to please.

Im gonna have to play the lotto this week :)

One Last Post on the 12 Tags of Christmas 2011

2011-12-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

After all the fun I had making the 12 Tags of Christmas this year how could I not post a picture of them all together.

Well here they are all 24 tags 2011

Close up of Set 1. the set my sister will be receiving.

Of course set 2 that will me staying with me.

Set 1 is all wrapped up in tissue paper along with this card and envelope I made for her. I am going out of town for the week end on Friday and she will be coming over to feed my cat. I am going to leave her set on the table with the card as an open me now gift that she can enjoy over the holidays.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 12 Final Tag!

2011-12-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

Well this Journey ended all too quick for today is Day 12 in the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz

Tim's design was all about Shabby Chic. I had almost nothing that Tim used so this is my interpretation.

I first covered my tag in Seasonal Tissue tape. Next I covered the tape with Picket Fence Distress stain, then white paint dabber. Once that dried I then covered the whole tag with embossing ink and embossed the whole tag with iridescent embossing powder then inked over that. The Artful Dwelling piece I covered in Broken China distress paint and inked the edges with Black Soot.

I love the layered letters that Tim showed. I have been doing this for a while and love the way it makes letters pop.

I was trying to show the colors that are reflecting in the background which doesn't come across too well in the photo.

What a great year of tags. Now I need to get busy with some cards.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Week End Catch Up

2011-12-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that we are on the eve of the last day of Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2011?

The days have gone quickly and the tags have been amazing.

Day 11 was all about Glossy card stock and Shrink plastic. I didn't have any shrink plastic so I had to be all about the glossy card stock.

The retro colors used help accent the vintage look of the stamp set used on this tag.

No shrink plastic for me so I had to make my holly and branches from more glossy card stock and berries from distress stickles.

Day 10's technique was making transparencies from packing tape and foil backing.

The technique really makes the facet and fragments sparkle like crazy.

With all the light bouncing from the facets and fragments I couldn't help but to add more bling on the corners of the tag. Love this technique.

Day 8 and 9 Catch Up

2011-12-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

OK so real life occasionally gets in the way of our play time but I used this afternoon to catch up on the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz.

First up Day 8 Steam punk Christmas.

Tim said this was a Tim tag just for fun, combining Steam punk and Christmas.

This is my take on his inspiration.

Not having all the same materials he used I had to improvise and just do without some of the elements but over all I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Close ups of the details showing my home made holly clusters and my Christmas embellishment.

Next up Day 9

Double Distressed Rusted Enamel

This is my most improvised tag yet this year. I have been trying to match Tim's tags as close as possible this year for the sheer lack of time to design and wanting my sisters tags to show his incredible art style.

However not having the stamp and die he used I had to come up with my own design for this one.

I really like the way it turned out. This technique is definitely one of my favorites.

I covered the JOY in iridescent embossing power to compliment the bling forest floor.

Tag Day 7

2011-12-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the technique that Tim Holtz used today on his 12 Tags of Christmas.

Glassine paper was the item to be utilized and I couldnt be happier with my results.

Not having all the items he used I had to improvise from the holly leaf die and pearls to the lace and bling. I have been dying to use this stamp set and todays tag gave me that chance.

Close up of my interpretation of the holly cluster.

Day 6... Yippee Halfway Done

2011-12-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

As most of you know we are halfway through the 12 Tags of Christmas being hosted by

Tim Holtz.

Since I am making 2 each day this was actually tag 11 and 12 for me. I can honestly say that today's challenge of Distressed/ Enameled Metal was more kind to me than yesterdays challenge.

As Tim states it don't look like much when you are creating it but the results well they speak for themselves.

I didn't have any of the self adhesive metal pages that Tim used so I substituted metal heating and a/c duct tape. Works great and looks really good. Cost next to nothing at your local hardware store.

I have to admit the pictures don't do the art justice. They look and feel like antique metal tags. This technique is a keeper for sure!

Not having any of the Holiday charms I substituted a mover and shaper cut out that I finished with the same technique. It doesn't show so well for it was painted silver/gray. But it mimics the deer already in the background.

Silver rick rack finishes the tag off for a complete metal overload look.

Tag 7.... Bring it on! :)

Day 5 Grrr....!

2011-12-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Ok its day 5 on the 12 Tags Christmas being hosted by Tim Holtz.

I would be lying to say I didn't cringe a little bit when I saw this technique posted this morning.

I absolutely cant stand this technique or should I say that this technique doenst like me.

After 3 attempts using the Holiday Reflections Stamp I said forget this. I have to use a stamp that doesnt have some many small areas. Below is what I finally got accomplished using the reverse alcohol ink technique.

Again, after 3 attemps I just couldnt get a smooth uniform look on the plastic. UGH!

Close up of the ornament.

Heres to hoping tomorrows tag works out better for me, LOL

Catch up Week End Tags 3 and 4

2011-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

I used this week end to Catch up on my Tags that Im making inspired by the 12 Tags of Christmas by Tim Holtz.

Day 3 the technique was to make your own stamp pad and by alternating the position of the tags stamp 2 at a time. If I'm honest this isnt my favorite technique but wanting to play along the 2 tags above are my results.

I dont have the festive greenery die so I used an older poinsettia die from Sizzix embossed and inked it of course.

You were to emboss the top half of the tag with the matching embossing folder. It took me more than once to get it close. LOL....

I did however love the vintage look of the inks on the kraft tag and had some embellishments that worked perfectly :)

Day 4 however brought some techniques that I love to use and are some of my favorites.

Grungeboard, Rock Candy crackle, Distress stains, On the Edge dies all rolled into one winter tag that just pops with layers.

I went for the mono chromatic look that just says cold winter day.

Anxiously awaiting day 5 :)

12 Tags of Christmas 2011 Day 2

2011-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

Day 2 of the 12 Tags of Christmas according to

Tim Holtz

Day 2 brought more wonderful techniques using Kraft resist paper, sticky back canvas, trinket pins and more just to name a few. As most playing along its hard to have everything Tim uses but it inspires your so much to come up with your own alternate ideas.

No Sticky back canvas for me but I did have some sticky back fabric from Making Memories that I inked up really good.

Nor did I have any of the stars for the reindeer's necks or the Holiday muse tokens but I like my choices for replacements.

As for the on the edge die Tim used at the bottom of his tag, as fate would have it I have almost everyone of them but the one he used, LOL.

However I did have a border by K&Company that after I inked it up some matched just perfectly.

Something that I am doing to all of my tags this year is using the Tag die to cut tags from corrugated cardboard and using them on the backs.

Since so many of the designs are heavily embellished it really does help stabilize the tag and make it so much more substantial.

He's Back!!!

2011-12-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

Not just me.... But Tim Holtz is back with his 12 Tags of Christmas!!

Yeah!

I have been absent for so long I cant believe it. I even missed my 2nd Blogversary :(

However I cant think of a better way to get my creative muse back in high gear than to get going with Tim's Tags.

There was much anticipation that Tim would use his new pine cone die and to the delight of many of us he did!!

No your not seeing double but every year I make 2 sets of tags and give one to my sister for an open me now Christmas gift. I always give them to her the day after the designs end.

The past 2 years she has framed each set of hers in shadowbox frames and displays them during the Holidays.

I didnt have any of the baubles that Tim uses but hey its all about inspiration isn't it. Just use what you do have. In my case I blinged up some filigree shower curtain rings. I think they look great.

I also do not have the strip die with all the holiday greenery but I had some leaves and used more bling instead. I love the way they turned out and cant wait to see tomorrows tag challenge.

WOW it feels so good to be back!

Chck out Nancys Blog for a Cool Giveaway!

2011-11-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

http://whatsnextnancy.blogspot.com/2011/11/small-giveaway.html?showComment=1320977412305#c4307489805499399633

Grungy Monday 18 and Simon Says Show a Tag!

2011-08-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Due to some time constraints I have combined two challenge this week into one piece.

First off over at Studio L3 the challenge is

Tim Holtz's

12 Tags of Christmas 2009, Day 8

Over at Simon Say Stamp and Show the Challenge is

Show a Tag

I am very happy with the way the card turned out.

I think the small tag and key just pops on top of the vellum and the

splash of red adds a little bit of romance.

Hope you like it to.

Friends

Grungy Monday #17 Are You Ready to Rock?

2011-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when Linda over at Studio L3

asked me to be one of the Guest Designers for this weeks Challenge.

And if that wasn't cool enough I was getting to host along with one of my good online friends

Nancy Crissinger of What's Next Nancy.

This weeks Challenge is Tim's

Are you Ready to Rock Technique

You guessed it,

Rock Candy Distress Paint

Rock Candy Stickles.

I chose to use Rock Candy Distress Paint for my first piece by first stamping with one of Tim's new stamps from the Christmas Memories Set.

Don't worry if you don't have this stamp, its the technique we are after. Use whatever stamp and stash you have. That's the great part about these challenges is to use what you have.

I covered the whole tag with Pine Needles Distress stain and spritzed it with water. Ran a strip of Tim's Tidings Tissue tape down one side and made a rosette out of the Seasonal Stash paper stack which I topped with a sticker from the Seasonal Salvage Stickers.

Here is a close up of the Rock Candy Distress paint over the Santa image. If you click on the image above it will enlarge and you can really see all the cracks. It gives the whole image an encased in ice look and feel.

Wanting to use both Rock Candy products I made a second piece.

Using Rock Candy Stickles I created a friendship card.

First I inked one of Tim's Reflection stamps and used it on one of his Fancy and Floral embossing folders then inked the all the raised image with Weathered Wood Distress ink. When it dried I then went back and covered it with the Rock Candy stickles too.

I cut and inked a Butterfly from Tim's Mini Butterfly Mover and Shapers die which I stamped with an image from his Ultimate Grunge Stamp Set. When it dried I sprayed it all with

Tattered Angels Black Graphite Glimmer Mist. Then I covered it with the Rock Candy Stickles too!

The label is an embossed sticker from K and Company, Life's Journey Freedom Tags which is mounted on a piece of chipboard sitting on die cut from

Spellbinders Fancy Tag set.

Here is a close up so you can see the detail of the stamping and the Rock Candy. It gives everything you use it on a beautiful shimmer and shine.

I hope you will join us in this weeks challenge.

Let your creativity run wild and Rock On!

Grungy Monday Number #15

2011-07-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Where or where has my muse been? Oh yeah he's been trying to beat the heat in the sweltering weather we have been having in Georgia. Its been brutal and not a very creative climate when all you want to do is lie in front of an A/C unit. :)

Anyway....

We are up to week 15 in the Grungy Monday Challenge being held over at Studio L3.

Linda has been keeping us busy with techniques from the master himself Tim Holtz.

This week the challenge is

12 Tags of Christmas 2007, Day 7

I used this challenge to play with some of Tim's new Glassine paper. I used his movers and shapers butterfly die along with the Tattered Floral die to cut the glassine shapes.

Stamped the butterflies with his checkered stamp from his

Ultimate Grunge Set.

Added a button center to the flower and set it all on a cardboard flourish cut from the

Elegant Flourishes die.

Grungy Monday Number #14

2011-07-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

So Monday kept me busy as I'm sure it did a lot of you here in the

USA.

I did however today get some time to create my offering for this weeks

Grungy Monday Challenge on Linda's Blog Studio L3

This week the Challenge is

Tim's March 2008 Technique Challenge

A super cool technique that gives wonderful results.

Monday, Monday... So Good to Me..

2011-06-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Well its Monday again and that can only mean one thing, actually two things,

Its time for me to combine a couple of blog challenges. Does combining them make it 3 challenges? hmmmm?

Anyway.....

Studio L3 - Tim Holtz's Adirondack Alcohol Ink Technique

and

Simon Say Stamp and Show- Show a Word.

I used this challenge to create a card. Using the alcohol inks on some grunge board that I die cut served as the base for my Live word that I painted and misted with Glimmer mist. I also used some pearl bling dots to give it that extra Pop!

Close up so you can see the details better. I love how the alcohol inks make the grunge board almost look like metal.

Grungy Metal Monday Tribute to Ranger!

2011-06-20T16:29:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday Everyone, Good Bye Spring, Hello Summer!

In my usual fashion I am combining two art challenges this week.

Something a Queen of Paper taught me. She know who she is.

Grungy Monday at Studio L3

Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Grungy Monday is up to week 12 where the challenge is

Tim Holtz Technique Challenge from April 2008

Simon Says Stamp and Show is Show Some Metal

Having just received some product direct from Ranger I was amazed at how cool the packing tape they use looked. I knew that I couldn't just throw something that looked so cool in the trash.

When I saw today's blog challenges I knew that I was going to have to come up with some way to re-use this tape.

I'm so happy at the way it turned out. It is indeed a Tribute to Ranger for giving us such wonderful products to create with.

Close up so you can see the technique Tim demonstrated.

Another view trying to show the technique.

Everything used on this tag is indeed from Ranger, Inks, Embossing powder, Paint Dabbers, Grunge board, Ideology metal embellishments, Paper reinforcements and Tissue Tape.

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T06:57:00.001-07:00

Happy Fathers Day!

Earlier this week I posted the picture below on my Facebook page. My father with John Wayne during the filming of the Green Berets in Columbus GA 1967.

Above is one of my fathers military photos where he served in the US Army.

Happy Fathers Day. I miss you so much!

Grungy Monday #11 and Show Your Distressed / Torn Edges

2011-06-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

Ok its Monday again and I always look forward to the Art Challenges from

Linda at Studio L3 and the staff at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

At Studio L3 the challenge is Tim Holtz's Technique Challenge from January 2008.

At Simon Says Stamp and Show the challenge is Show Your Distress/ Torn Edge.

This challenge seemed perfect to use my dress form stamps and embossing folders from Tim .

I really wish you could see this tag in person for when I finished I cut a tag from corrugated cardboard using Tim's Tag and Bookplate die and adhered my inked tag to it.

This gave me just the perfect thickness to insert the trinket pins through the piece.

I'm really happy with the way this one turned out.

This will most likely go it to my sister tied to a gift of some sort :)

Grungy Monday #10 and Show a Tag!

2011-06-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

I couldnt believe when I saw that the 2 challenges that I follow the most,

Grungy Monday over at Studio L3

And Simon Says Stamp and Show

went so hand and hand in what I with the project that I have been working on.

Grungy Monday is Distress Ink o Rama.

Simon Says is Show Us a Tag.

Well you see I am currently hosting a tag swap over at All Things Tim Yahoo Group and of course my tags are full of Distress ink! So......

Here is my offering for this weeks challenges and also a teaser for those in the swap.

Grungy Monday Number #9

2011-05-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day!!

I took some time this morning to make my tag for the challenge that Linda is hosting on her blog

Studio L3.

This week the challenge is

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas, 2007, Day 10

Of course the challenge doesn't have to be about Christmas, its the technique that we are revisiting here. Please click the link above to get all the details. I wanted to use one of the new dies I recently purchased along with some other stamps from Tim to create my tag.

Here is a close up of the technique I used on the background.

I really like the surreal, dream like way the hand stamp and the clock die give the tag.

Grungy Monday Number #8

2011-05-23T17:34:00.001-07:00

I cant believe that I actually got another Grungy Monday Challenge completed on Monday....

Over at Studio L3 Linda is helping refresh our memories with techniques by the one and only

Tim Holtz.

This week the challenge is

Tims September 2008 Technique Challenge

Please click on the link above to get all the details. The results give you a wonderful water color effect that I used for a tag.

I will most likely give this for a birthday or it would work for a Valentine too!

Grungy Monday Number 7

2011-05-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

This week over at Studio L3 the challenge is

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Color Blocking

I dont know where I have been but I missed this simple technique somehow. Hop on over to Linda's blog to get all the details.

As I often do I used this challenge to create a card.

After getting my background done I decided to stamp over the blocks with some postage stamp

images.

Deciding that it had a distinct travel feel to the result I of course had to use Tim's umbrella man die cut and top it all off with a voyage stamp that I cut out and covered in glossy accents.