In My Own Imagination: 2014

SIZZIX INSPIRATION

Altered Projects, Sizzix Sunday, December 21, 2014

Happy Holidays Everyone! Hope you are enjoying the season! I am really late with everything this year, so hopefully I get everything done before Christmas gets here. For those of you still crafting away until the last minute, I have an inspiration post on the Sizzix blog today:

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Jan

Sizzix December Layout Tutorial

Basic Grey, Diecuts, Dies, Layouts, Sizzix Monday, December 8, 2014

Hi Everyone! I have a tutorial on the Sizzix blog today featuring this layout:

I'm featuring new dies from Sizzix's Jen Long. Love the Calendar die set! Hope you visit me there.

I also want to thank everyone for the wonderful comments on my last post, they are much appreciated!

Have a great day,

Jan

MERRY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

Christmas, Diecuts, Dies, Embossing, Glitter, Home Decor, Sizzix, Stamping, Tim Holtz, Tim Holtz Media Team Saturday, December 6, 2014

Here's my final project for the Tim Holtz Media Team that I haven't had a chance to post yet. It's been awhile since I've completed it, so hopefully I can remember all the details on how I created it. I can't get enough of snowflakes, so when Sizzix and Tim Holtz came out with all these wonderful snowflake dies, I couldn't wait to use them. My colouring isn't your typical Christmas colours, but I love the frosty, icy kind of look. When I combined the Distress Spray Stains in Iced Spruce, Brushed Pewter and Picket Fence, I loved the result and that is how this ornament started.

I started out die-cutting a movers & shapers Sizzix Cameo Frame from chipboard. I used the Rectangle Movers & Shapers Magnetic die inside the die to make an opening. This chipboard is white on one side, so my colours probably showed up better. I would probably gesso or paint it white if it was natural coloured chipboard.

I then sprayed a combination of Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter, and Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stain.

This is what my frame looked like.

Next I stamped my frame with the Tim Holtz Distress Damask stamp and Iced Spruce Distress ink. I wanted a faint pattern on my frame. I embossed with clear embossing powder.

The edges were inked and a few parts of my frame with Iced Spruce Distress Ink.

For my little shadow box I die-cut the inside part of the Tim Holtz Matchbox Die using Core-Dinations Distress Kraft Cardstock. It's just slightly larger than the rectangle hole in the frame, but this helps hold in the snow under the tree and you don't see any glue when the box is adhered.

For the inside of my shadowbox, I cut out a rectangle piece from a Found Relatives Card Back. I lightly sanded the edges and a few areas to give it a distressed look.

Next, I sprayed my rectangle piece with Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stain.

Adhere it to the inside of your matchbox.

I took off the base of a Tim Holtz Mini Tree so it would fit in the box. The tree was sprayed with Iced Spruce and Picket Fence Distress Spray Stain. I lightly touched the edges with Picket Fence paint. Glue the tree to the bottom of the box (I used a glue gun). The box can be adhered to the back of the open rectangle in your cameo chipboard die-cut. I wanted it to be secure, so I used my hot glue gun and applied to the edges of the box. Next I made some snow, using Tim's formula for sand that he used on one of his tags here, but changing the colouring for snow. You'll need glossy accents, rock candy glitter, cement distress embossing powder (for that grey tint), clear utee, a small disposable mixing cup, and a craft stick.

After your ingredients are mixed, adhere this with glossy accents to the bottom of your shadowbox. I filled up the snow to just above the frame inside. Add a Tim Holtz star to the top of your tree. Sorry for the bad photo, I had terrible lighting for this photo!

Now for the two large snowflakes on the top and bottom. I used Ranger's water-colour paper and adhered a piece to some chipboard with Ranger's multi-medium. I die-cut two snowflakes from Sizzix's Layered Snowflake. I used the watercolor paper this time on plain chipboard, as I liked the way it absorbed the spray colour.

After the snowflakes are die-cut run them through your machine with the co-ordinating texture fade embossing folder that comes with this die.

Spray the snowflakes with the combination of Picket Fence, Iced Spruce, and Brushed Pewter.

Once the snowflakes are dry, apply Glossy Accents randomly to the raised areas and sprinkle with Rock Candy Distress Glitter. Set aside to dry.

To achieve the dimensional snowflakes, I also cut out of papered chipboard, the Sizzix Stacked Snowflakes, a set for each snowflake. These were also sprayed with the same combination.

These snowflakes were also stamped with the Distress Damask stamp, but with Picket Fence Distress Paint.

These pieces were also highlighted with Glossy Accents and Distress Rock Candy Glitter. Once they were all dry, I stacked the layers and adhered them together.

The Tim Holtz Gumdrops were used for the snowflake centres. I coloured this with Alcohol ink (Silver and Pearl) and a bit of Iced Spruce Spray stain.

To adhere the snowflakes on the ends of the frame, I used pieces of foam. When you purchase Sizzix embossing folders, there are these rectangle pieces of dense foam in the bottom of the plastic packages. I like to save these, they are great for craft projects. I sliced one down the center, which ended up being the perfect depth for my frame. Using my hot glue gun again, I adhered my snowflakes by first tucking the frame under one of the snowflake layers (second from the bottom) and the rest of the snowflake goes to the back of the frame. I then adhered my foam piece to the snowflake and frame, touching the end of the box.

This is what your snowflake should look like. Repeat for the bottom snowflake.

I cut out a Sizzix Tattered Curvy Banner from Core-dinations Kraft Cardstock. After sanding the edges and painting the edges with Picket Fence Distress paint, I applied a Merry Christmas white rub-on from Tim Holtz. Shape the die-cut and adhere to just below the shadowbox on the frame.

My snowflake charm hanging from the bottom is from Tim Holtz and is dabbed with Picket Fence Distress Paint, then Glossy Accents and Distress Rock Candy Glitter applied.

Hang your snowflake from the bottom snowflake piece.

Dye some Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon to match with the same three colours of Distress Spray Stain. Tie in a bow and adhere to the back of the snowflake with a hot glue gun.

Here's a look at my finished project again. Hopefully my directions make sense!

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me here on my blog. Thanks also to those who have left comments, I appreciate them so much!

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Jan

Season's Greetings Card

Cards, Christmas, Diecuts, Dies, Glitter, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Tim Holtz Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Hopefully, there are some crafter's out there who are like me. I leave my cards until the last minute. My number of cards to make keeps shrinking, the closer it gets to Christmas. Here's another one for some Christmas Card inspiration:

I've used this Sizzix Season's Greetings stamp and die set before in a post for Tim Holtz here. It's amazing how different it looks just by changing up the ink colours. Here's some quick instructions how I made my card.

I started out with a piece of white cardstock. I used the Tim Holtz Festive stencil and Distress Stain Spray in the colour, Old Paper. After I had sprayed my stencil, it was covered in stain, so I flipped it and pressed down to use up the colour. I really liked how this side turned out, so I decided to use this section for my card.

After trimming my paper to the size I wanted for my card (7 x 4), I flipped my stencil again so it matched the sprayed pattern and laid it on top.

Using the Ranger Emboss It Dabber, I dabbed in the open areas of the stencil. The dabber gets in the small areas better than an embossing pad. After this is done, remove the stencil and apply Ranger's Sticky Embossing Powder. Shake of the excess and heat just like regular embossing powder with a heat gun. Once melted, this powder turns sticky, and glitter can be applied. I applied Tim Holtz Rock Candy Distress glitter.

For my Season's Greetings wreath, I stamped on Ranger's Speciality Stamping paper, my wreath stamp with Old Paper Distress Ink. Clear embossing ink was used and heat set. I then die-cut my stamped image. I stamped two more wreaths with Old Paper Distress ink, one for the parts and the other for the bottom background layer. The parts were embossed with Sticky Embossing Powder and then Rock Candy Glitter on top. The bottom wreath was embossed with clear embossing powder and then die-cut. I adhered it to the middle of my card. The middle (Season's Greetings) was die-cut out, but I just placed it back in the center and adhered it also. Before pop dotting the next wreath layer, I sprayed with it Old Paper Distress Stain Spray, the embossed areas acting as a resist, and let it dry. This was then pop-dotted to my bottom layer. For the final layer, the small foliage and flower parts, I die-cut the parts, shaped slightly with a stylus and adhered to my wreath in the matching areas. For extra sparkle, (you can never have enough glitter for Christmas), I added Ranger's Crystal Stickles to the poinsettias, and the berries on my wreath. I took a Distress Pen (Bundled Sage, I think) and ran it along the edge of my card rectangle before adhering it to a white cardstock base.

I really liked the soft colour of "Old Paper" on this stamp. I might have use this colour on some different stamps!

Haven't finished editing my post for my last Tim Holtz project. Here's a sneak peek!

Hopefully I'll have it done in the next day or two!
Have a great day,

Jan

A Christmas Card

Cards, Christmas, Diecuts, Dies, Sizzix, Tim Holtz Sunday, November 30, 2014

It seems like it's been a long time since I've posted. I took a short break from here and my scrapbooking. I usually am in my room, creating but I just haven't felt like it. Unfortunately my dad passed away on November 18th and family has taken priority as it should. We all knew he was failing fast, but it's hard to believe he's gone. At least he went peacefully in his sleep, and was not in any pain. My mom is doing pretty good, considering she has lost her husband of 65 years.

Christmas was my dad's favourite time of year and we are all determined to celebrate it as best we can in his honour. I have a few projects that I had completed before his passing, but I haven't shared so I will be doing this, hopefully this week. One of these is my last post with the Tim Holtz Media Team. Tim has made the decision and I'm sure a very hard one for him, to end the Media Team. He has worked very hard to build his brand and, as far as I'm concerned, has the best customer and fan base ever! I can see why he has missed them and the interaction on his blog. Working in a store, and helping customers with their purchases, projects, sharing ideas and just inspiring them is so rewarding for me and I know I would miss that part of scrapbooking if it ever ended. I am so lucky and grateful that I was chosen to represent the Tim Holtz brand, even if it was for a short time. So, hopefully I can finish editing my photos and post my tutorial this week.

For now, here is a card I have done for the Sizzix Design Team:

This card has lots of layers! I embossed the top layer with Sizzix's Tim Holtz 660043 Holiday Knit folder, then die-cut the center out with Tim Holtz Labels thinlit die . The edge was accented with Liquid Pearls. The next layer was die-cut with Tim's Block Holiday Words thinlit set. These thinlit dies use the negative space. I cut this slightly larger than the embossed layer and pop-dotted it to the woodgrain patterned paper (from Webster's Pages Nest and also Gingerbread Collection). I then added in a red cardstock layer, slightly larger than the die-cut paper. I finished off with another white cardstock layer, about 1/4 border all around. This was adhered to my white cardstock base.

My white winter greens were die-cut using the Tim Holtz Holiday Greens thinlit die set. I can't stop using this die set! Love, love, love!! To finish off my card, I added in some Petaloo Sugared Blooms.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

Tim Holtz Media Team Countdown Calendar

Altered Projects, Christmas, Diecuts, Dies, Home Decor, Sizzix, Tim Holtz, Tim Holtz Media Team Friday, November 14, 2014

I have a tutorial for the Tim Holtz Media Team on Tim's blog today. I will be sharing how I made this Christmas Countdown Calendar:

Hope you visit me there!

Have a great weekend,
Jan

Urban Scrapbook November Monthly Challenge

Layouts, Mixed Media, Monthly Challenge, Packaging, Stencils, Urban Scrapbook Thursday, November 13, 2014

I can't believe November is almost half over! It's seems like it was just Halloween. Here is my Urban Scrapbook's November Monthly Challenge layout:

It's sad, how in a few short months, life has changed so much for my parents. We were being silly taking photos with my phone in August and since then, my dad's health has declined so much. He had to be placed in an extended care centre last week and most of the time I don't think he knows who we are. It's been hard on my mom and the rest of our family, just getting used to this outgoing and independent person disappearing. It's those spontaneous and silly photos I will cherish the most, remembering the laughs and good times.

The papers and embellishments in the kit were from Simple Stories Legacy collection. I used Wendy Vecchi's Crackle paint (love this crackle paint!), Prima's Stone Wall Stencil, Tim Holtz Distress Stain Sprays.

Check out what the rest of the design team did here.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop

Sizzix, Tim Holtz Sunday, November 9, 2014

Welcome to the final day of the 4th Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop! We hope you enjoyed the projects from the last 2 days! A few years ago we were looking online for handmade gift ideas and thought it would be great if there was a resource dedicated JUST to handmade gift ideas. Enter the Handmade Holidays hop! We've gathered over 100 of our creative blogger friends in the craft industry as well as some of our fellow product manufacturers to bring you a plethora of inspiring gift ideas you can make now to give to your friends, family, and colleagues. Pin and bookmark these ideas for this holiday season and to use throughout the year! Each day of the hop features approximately 30 gift projects and you can "hop" from one blog to another to check them all out.

Here's a gift idea that I have made a few times. These decorative cones are fun to make and perfect for any occasion or holiday. With my Sizzix dies, I am able to create all kinds of cone accents!

I've filled these cones with treats, small gifts, gift certificates, or ornaments. The recipient can use the cone for decoration, even place a small leakproof container inside to display flowers. Here's how I created my cone:

I started off with a 12" papermache cone from a craft store. You can make your own cone out of heavy cardboard, but I like the sturdiness and convenience of these cones.

I made a template out of copy paper to use for tracing onto patterned paper. I just wrapped it around the cone and marked the edges out where I needed to cut out a pattern. I have just wrapped the patterned paper around before, but I have made a few mistakes! I don't want to mess up my good paper and this way I have better control of where I want my pattern. This paper is from Webster's Pages beautiful new collection called Nest.

Glue your paper on with liquid adhesive. I use Ranger's Matte Medium.

Paint the inside with acrylic paint.

I'm going to give the directions for the medallion first, as that is what I started with. I think next time, I would probably do the top of the cone first so the medallion doesn't get damaged. Cut out a strip of crepe paper (about 4" wide) and fold in half. I usually just use a long length as I'm not sure how much I will end up using. Machine stitch a basting(bigger) stitch along the folded edge, leaving threads on each end so they can be gathered up. Using pinking or decorative scissors or even Sizzix's On the Edge dies, trim the other edge to your desired width.

Gather your strip of crepe paper. Next I put some white glue as shown, on my craft mat. I took my strip and ran the edge through the glue.

Pour glitter (I used Tim Holtz Distress Glitter) over the glued edge. Shake off the excess. Set aside to dry.

For the round medallion, I used Sizzix's Scallop Circle Framelit set. I cut out two, one for the top layer, and a darker one for the bottom. The word, "Celebrate" was cut out from Sizzix's Gift Card Thinlit Die Set. This die works a little different, it's the negative space that you use. That's why I cut out a darker piece of paper so the word shows up better. I used pop dots around the edge and adhered the top circle to the bottom.

Adhere the gathered crepe paper to the back of your circle. You'll probably have extra, just cut off the excess.

Next I cut out my bird on a branch using Sizzix's Tim Holtz Bird Branch Bigz die. I also cut out another one, clipping off the bird. I used a white mat board from Sizzix, called Little Sizzles. I really like this stuff, it's like a light foam core/mat board covered in white paper. It's super light weight and cut's beautifully. If you are using chipboard, paint it white after your shape is cut out.

I applied glossy accents all over my die-cuts and then covered with Tim Holtz Rock Candy Glitter. After they were dry, I lightly inked the bird with distress ink.

I applied glue dots to the ends of my branches and stuck them through the middle of my two pop-dotted circles. You will probably have to check first, to see if they need to be clipped so they don't interfere with the"Celebrate" cut out. After I took this photo, I decided I need another bird, so I flipped one to face the other way and added the glitter treatment. Before going onto the trim on the top of the cone, I punched out two small holes on either side of the cone for my ribbon handle.

I used the Sizzix Mini Paper Rosette Decorative strip die and cut out four of each size with coloured vellum from Webster's Pages Nest collection.

This is how I folded my strips.

These two white cardstock border pieces were cut out using Sizzix's Damask and Scallop Border Thinlit set. I felt it was a bit too wide, so I cut off a small amount from the top. This will be covered by the vellum.

Adhere the white damask cardstock border to the cone first. Next, adhere the folded vellum border. I positioned it about 1/8 of inch below the top edge.

I applied my strip of 1/4" wide adhesive against the edge and over the edge of the vellum border. Adhere the smaller vellum folded border as shown in the photo.

There's some exposed adhesive still, but it will provide some added sticking power to the next die-cut.

After die-cutting the Sizzix Vintage Lace Decorative Strip with white cardstock, I chose one and inked the edges. I threaded some very thin velvet ribbon through the holes and applied adhesive to the back.

Before adhering this strip on top of the vellum border, I threaded my ribbon handle through the holes. I had to re-punch my holes, as the vellum covered them up, but because I had previously punched holes through the cone, they were easy to locate and punch through. The lace strip was then adhered to the cone.

I then chose another vintage lace strip, inked it and then adhered to the inside of the cone. It covers up the bare edge and finishes it off.

I adhered a small portion of a beaded trimming and on top of that, a laced vintage lace strip to cover the edge.

To finish off my cone, I added some hand cut feathers from my patterned paper collection, a vintage watch face, and a postage stamp die-cut from Sizzix's Tim Holtz Label Thinlit set.

My cone is finished! I cut out thin strips of vintage book paper, scrunched them, and used them for the filling inside my cone.

Here's another photo of my finished cone. I think I'm going to make a Christmas one too, I have some beautiful snowflake dies I want to use. For more inspiration, I've previously made a Halloween one here, and two here.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your next stop is Rochelle Washington from RoseRedd Paper Studio.

Jan

Are you ready for lots more creative handmade gift ideas and projects??
Follow along on our blog hop! Simply click on each of the links below to be taken to that post with additional information and photos on how to create a handmade gift project. Have fun and pin away!

Clearsnap

Westcott

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Ellison Educational Equipment

ICE Resin

Neat and Tangled

Therm O Web

Walnut Hollow

Elizabeth Craft Designs

Rowland Technologies

Graphic 45

Hydrangea Hippo