Countdown to Creativity

I have a special preview for everyone today!  I'm sharing a canvas that I created using three new Sizzix Tim Holtz dies that are being pre-released before CHA in January.  I know that a lot of you will want these dies, they are amazing!  I created this 16 x 20 canvas:

One of the dies is a Bigz XL die called, "Jumbo Tattered Florals(659441)".  Yes, that's right, your favourite tattered flowers but jumbo!  The largest flower measures 5" in diameter, and there are three other flowers, along with two leaves.  The other two dies are Garden Greens(bigz die 659436) and Spring Greenery(decorative strip 659573).  I see a lot of fabric cutting in the future!

Here's how I created my canvas:

First I took my 16 x 20 linen canvas (it came already primed with a clear gesso) and using black crackle paint, painted the center area.  Then with Tim Holtz Bubble and Dot Fade stencils, I painted randomly around the edges.

After my canvas was dry, I added in a few places, leaves with black crackle paint that was tinted with Primary Elements pigment powders. I used a  stencil I made with acrylic and the Garden Greens bigz die.  That's the beauty of bigz dies, you can use acrylic to make your own stencils.  After my paint dried, I used my Dot Fade, Bubble and Splattered stencils and green Tim Holtz Distress paint to add a bit of colour in random areas. I also used a bit of Lindy's starburst spray.  Set this aside to dry.

For my flowers, I used a combination of burlap, Tim Holtz "Eclectic Elements" fabric and paper.  After I cut out my larger burlap flower, I used a very fine wire and machine zigzagged it to my flower.  I wanted to be  able to shape my flower so it was more dimensional.  I then layered a fabric die cut flower over top with a hot glue gun.  

I cut out various flowers and leaves out of the different materials.  For the large paper flower, I embossed it with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Springtime (657491) embossing folder.  The smaller flower was fabric and burlap pieces glue gunned together.  

Glue these altogether and add a Tim Holtz compass coin in the middle.  When I was working with the burlap, I found it came apart easy.  I ended up painting a layer of Ranger's Matte Medium on one side which held the piece together and it dried transparent.

For the greenery, I cut these out of various patterned papers.  I always cut out quite a few, as sometimes I like to cut them apart.

I adhered a 12 x 12 fabric piece from Tim Holtz elements with a clear thick gel molding paste.  For my various die-cut pieces, I applied Tim Holtz clear rock candy crackle paint generously to the area and then laid down the die cut and applied more crackle paint.  Some of the pieces, I didn't glue down the entire piece.

I added in my flowers, more die-cut greenery, my photos (inserted into Tim Holtz Cabinet Card Frames), my title, and a small quote on a die-cut piece of paper.  When I was searching for photos, I realized I don't have very many recent photos of my kids!  I have to resort to using what I can find on Facebook or Instagram!  

 I love using different types of greenery dies in my layouts and cards, I know these dies will be well used! Make sure you let your local scrapbook store about these dies, I know The Urban Scrapbook will definitely be preordering these.  To learn more about these dies, visit the Sizzix website or visit Tim's blog.  

To help get you inspired, the Sizzix Design Team has created projects using these dies.  Throughout the month, the Sizzix blog will be sharing a link to one of the designer's blogs featuring their fabulous project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan