The Twelve Tags of Christmas, Day 7

This tag is a neat tag. Nice and vintage-y. Kind of up my alley in terms of style and christmas cheer. But it didn't exactly work the way I wanted it too. Let's have a look.......

And let's see what Mr.Holtz's tag looked like

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-7.html

(Once again, if this link doesn't work...please tell me!)

His background was nice and splotchy and full of niftyness. Mine....not so much. Not sure what happened. I even had THE APPROPRIATE DISTRESS STAINS!!!! And he says spritz with water after applying the distress stains and magic happens. No magic happened people! And he always says, don't be afraid to retry...just swipe that tag through your ink again. So I did. I spritzed with water. No magic. Just a really sopping wet tag that started dripping everywhere. Sure hope distress stain comes out of my jammies.....

I really did like this tag. But my time to do it was so limited...maybe the tag gods felt this and now I'ver supposedly learned my lesson on trying to Tim's tag techniques too fast. Whatever. I'm a fly by the seat of my pants-er. I'll never learn my lesson.

Let's revisit what else I did differently from him.

1.) Failed tag background. Already discussed, not necessarily a failure, but a crafty detour. I would say my supplies failed me here.

2.) He used kraft glassine papers to make the holly leaf. Not this girl. I haven't even see this stuff in the stores. Oh wait....I've been good....and not gone crafty shopping for awhile. Hence why I've not seen the kraft glassine. Mind you that might change...I'm going to a crop on Friday...YEE-HAW! Ok, back to the subject at hand. I used.... a paper bag! Yep, I used a kraft paper bag and did what he did to the glassine. Special.

That was really all that varied. Oh wait...

3.) He punched his holly and branches out with the big shot. I free handed mine with pencil and scissors! Holly leaves AND branches. And I added sparkly stickles to my branches instead of distress stickles. I like the sparkle better.

So that's about it. Done, done and done!

Twelve Tags of Christmas...Day 5

This tag is totally different than the rest of them. It exudes a way different christmassy feel than the previous ones. Dare I say...it's a more elegant tag?

And here is Mr.Holtz's rendition.

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-5.html

I have to admit, I'm still looking for ways to dress this tag up. I guess I've gotten into the habit of over-embellishing so much on the other tags that this tag almost seems too simple. Having said that, creating the background for this tag was not simple. It wasn't hard, but it wasn't simple either. And perhaps that is where the magic is in this tag.

So, what did I do differently?

1.) I used a different colour background ink (I dug out a package of alcohol inks that I think I bought about 2 years ago and have been collecting dust in a basket) and I used a different stamp. So not really big changes here. Thank goodness I did have the black archival ink that I bought way back when I took a Vicki Boutin class with the sisters. I think this is the first time I ever used it. Once again, collecting dust.

2.) I had to change up the wreath on the front. No die cuts here.....I used cut up flowers spritz green with glimmermist....a favorite little trick of mine. Can I just say that having white flowers kicking around is always a good thing?

3.) And I tried to dress up the ribbon a bit on the top. Stuck one of my expensive metal charms on it.

DONE!

Twelve Tags of Christmas....Day 4

Onwards and upwards I do say!!!!

This tag didn't turn out too bad. If you want to check out the T.Holtz tag...take a gander.

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/12/12-tags-of-christmastag-4.html

Aaand what did I do differently?
1.) I didn't have distress stain to work with. So I used Stampin up re-inkers (because apparently at one time I figured I needed reinkers and have a box full of them. Hmmm, I don't use them and I totally forgot about them.That's how dedicated a 'stamper' I am.) Now, re-inkers are a tad different than the distress stains. I have educated myself and watched some youtube demos etc....distress stains are a watered down version of distress ink. Stampin up re-inkers.....well they`re potent!!!! Like any other re-inker, a little is meant to go a really really really long way. And needless to say, as I was swiping my tag through my strategically placed re-inkers on my good ol`craft mat (thanks mom!) that I had re-inker EVERYWHERE!
It got out of control. And I might have panicked. A tad. I`m so glad that I did this after hours (after kids were sleeping). I can`t imagine doing this while Lil`Miss had her fingers in there. Ye GADS! Anyhow, the background ended up a whole lot darker than I had anticipated and wanted... SO
2.) To fix this mess I went to town with my marshmellow glimmer mist. CHECK! It toned the whole background down enough so my snowman scene didn`t look like he was stuck in a dark, dreary tornado cloud. Now he`s just in a dark snowstorm. Add some strategically stamped snowflakes and voila! background is usable.
3.) Thank goodness, back when my big shot still lived, I was so fixated on cutting flowers out of underwear packaging that I created a bit of a stash of transparency flowers. So I could paint up some of those flowers, cut them in half and stick them on the tag. Whew. Dodged that bullet.
4.) The snowman I had to trace from some basic grey chipboard shapes (the snowman had been used on another project....but his outline was still there...traced onto some textured grunge paper and cut out with old fashioned scissors!), distress inked and crackled with paint.
5.) And of course the number 25 was done with thickers, stamped with a stamp and covered in stampin up crystal effects.
Everything else is pretty self explanatory by looking at the picture. Oh yes. I did give in and go shopping at my fav. scrap store TM and bought some TH seasonal metal embellishments. Hence why there is a TH metal embellishment on the tag. I don`t normally buy this kind of stuff, but TM was doing an advent calendar, and I picked lucky 13 and got 20% off my entire purchase. I bought a couple sheets of bazzil and the package of embellishments. There, my conscience in now clear. Oh buyer`s remorse, you have no pity.
And that`s about it for this tag!!

The Twelve Tags of Christmas: Tag #2

Yes, I know I'm behind. It doesn't help that I'm big-shotless. Insert very unhappy face here. All of Tim Holtz's tags require the big shot in some shape, way, and form. So having to come up with alternatives to it are hard...although I really don't mind the challenge. But I've come to a realization that I'm probably not going to be able to do them all. So on that note, let's see what I came up with for Tag #2!

So, let's see what I did differently here.

http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/page/2/

Check out that link above. I hope it takes you to Tag #2. If it's an unusable link, let me know. This is the first time I've ever inserted a link like this using blogger. I hope it works....

OK!

1.) the background of the tag required kraft resist paper. That I have none of. So I cut out my tag, stamped it with a musical background stame and a little pinecone stuffs and THEN stamped over it with versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder to make MY OWN kraft resist. In theory, in my head, it works!!! Ok, I had to re-stamp in versamark and embossing powder because my positioning was just a little off and I was afraid the original black stamping wouldn't show through. Yeah...I didn't really need to worry about that because in the next step....

2.) He had us painting the whole back ground (covering the whole tag) in Picket Fence distress stain. Yeah, I don't have that either...SO I made my own from white acrylic paint and lots and lots of water. Probably TOO MUCH water. But I fixed that and repainted the tag in a thicker concoction.

3.) Then I went to town with my NEW HOLIDAY DISTRESS INKS! WHOOT!

4.) Then I was supposed to do some flicking of some other distress stain or alcohol ink or something that I didn't have....I flicked acrylic paint instead. Too bad most of it landed elsewhere...AND NOT ON THE TAG! Needless to say, I flicked paint for awhile.

5.) The rest of the tag is close to what TH did, only with my own stuff. The reindeer became a bird (cause that's all I had), the wreath became a christmassy branch, and for the ribbon stuffs at the top of the tag, I just used some of my own ribbon I had to pull out of a dusty corner...because I have LOTS of ribbon...and I never use it.

SOOOO that is my Day 2 tag. I had it pinned on my wall to take pictures of it and when I came back after a day or two and actually took the picture, someone else had added their 'two cents' or maybe I should say their own 'artistic expression' to my tag. I'll let you guess what that expression is and who did it.

CURIOUS....Do you guys actually read all that stuff? Or do you just look at the pictures???????

The 12 tags of christmas. Day 1

So, Tim Holtz does this every year. And I admire and think 'wow', 'awsome', 'fantastic'.....and I really do have some intention of trying out his techniques. I never do. I finally have. I tried the first tag of 2011. And it's ok. I really like his. Mine.....well I'm working at a disadvantage. My big shot is broken. So I can't die cut or emboss. Anyhow here is my tag.

Please excuse the picture. Took it with the point and shoot...it didn`t want to focus. Anyhow let me explain this tag....
1.) Big shot...bah. Who needs that? I got out my pencil and scissors to cut out the required shapes...and my rolling pin to dry emboss the background. Yes. My ROLLING PIN!
2.) Specialty dies to create the pine cones. Not this sister...sister. Good ol' edge punch, some water misting and a whack of glimmermist. Done.
3.) Fancy schmancy ribbon? Nada. Using up something I think I cut off of a gift bag. Har!
4.) Expensive scrapbooking bauble thingys? Not from this gal. Swarovski people! Swarovski!
5.) Exclusive holiday ink pads? Oh, wait...yeah I did buy those. And can I say that the distress ink 'iced spruce' is really really cool!
Well, anyhow...there she be!!!!!
Oh yeah...I'm really not expecting to keep up with every tag. Might be a bit time consuming. I might try just to do the ones that I like. Aaannnd... I probably should attempt some housework!

And now, let's move on to cupcakes, shall we?

 A pink fairy house in case Tinkerbell drops by?

 Maybe a traffic pylon for the shopping cart/ stroller races one puts on when your friends come over to play.

 Or perhaps just a bucket of flowers because flowers are just good for any occasion.

This past weekend was a 3 year old birthday party... for 3 wonderful children. Fun was had by all. It was held at a gymnastics club, and what a good idea that was. 1 hour of rolling and tumbling, jumping and running. Followed by 30 minutes of refreshments, 15 minutes of cake and 15 minutes of clean up. Then homeward bound. Doesn't get too much better than that. Other than perhaps Chuck E Cheeze (according to one particular 3 year old. Although she kept asking to go back to the gym after we were done. Then proceeded to have a temper tantrum when she was told she couldn't. Oh well. She is 3.) Anyhow. I'm about partied out. Time to move onto Christmas.

Here Comes the Snow

Welcome to Winter! It's  a  'ye olde blizzarde' out there right now. Winter is coming in with a POW! and a BAM!

How fitting that I cranked out these cookies last week. They were made for a birthday boy's super hero party. I made 2 dozen of these cookies along with a birthday cake (for the same party) and 4 dozen christmas themed  cupcakes in 4 different flavours (for a totally different event...obviously). What a week. And you would think that I'm cupcaked out. But I'm not....I mean what else does one do on a very very wintery cold day, but make cupcakes? Oh wait...go to the pool with kiddos. Right. We're off!

Oh yes, I am a sucker for giveaways right now. And this one looks especially good! Check it out!
http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/2011/11/december-daily-sc-kit-giveaway.html
:)

Ok people, hopefully the comments section is fixed. You should be able to post comments now. Thanks for the heads up!

Welcome to the new blog. I've branched away from the old blog with the hopes that this one would be the 'crafty endevours' blog. Not too much family stuff, but mostly scrapbook layouts, crafty projects and inspiration, and some baking thrown in. We'll see what happens.

Let's christen this blog with some pictures from the online crop I participated in this weekend. Scrapshotz, the local online super scrapbook store, held an online virtual crop. I've not participated in something like this before; I never really thought it would be that much fun or different from just scrapping alone in my craftroom. I guess it could be like that, except I chose to participate in the challenges put out by their design team and I was ON FIRE! The scrapbooking mojo? Alive and RUNNING!!!! I was a furious scrapbooker come Sunday night and Monday morning, trying to get my challenges done so I could enter my name in their grand prize, online cropping prize of Smashbook stuff. Whether or not I win isn't really the point here, the point is...I finished 4 layouts, 2(ish) cards, and a christmas tag! That is a biiiiiiig deal for me....the person who can drag out finishing a scrapbook layout for a week, sometimes 2 weeks. That is just darn amazing. And now I shall show you just what kept me busy for the whole weekend. Remember, I didn't ignore the kids, but I did ignore the housework.

This layout I was just finishing up as the crop started on friday. I figured it was fair game and it fit into one of the crop challenge categories, so I used it. The layout depicts a really great evening we had on the beach on our holiday this year in Sicamous BC. I have a whole series of these particular layouts from that night and this is the last one (thank goodness....now I can move on to a new topic. I enjoyed scrapbooking these memories, but it's definately time to find some new pictures and new papers to scrapbook!).

As I started getting into the crop, I vowed I would try to keep my projects simple and quick. I did manage to do that with this layout. This layout goes back to that Sicamous vacation of this past summer, but it's of the morning we left. Definately the last layout on that topic....for awhile anyhow.

I perused the crop challenges and found one I thought would be fun to do. Then I spotted my glimmermisting surface I use when glimmermisting embellishments and paper. I tend to use brown bags as the protective surface as they soak up the excess glimmermist really good while providing a half decent stable surface (balanced on my garbage can). The challenge stated to just go wild with whatever you chose to do....so that is what I did. I figured it was time to throw the bag out anyhow, so I used it as my layout background! How exciting is that! I was so excited and these pictures were just laying around waiting to be used. So I literally threw this layout together. Took me about an hour. Impressive! And really kind of cool too.

Next I broke away from doing layouts and attempted a christmas tag. Not something I normally do as I don't really know what to do with papercrafting knickknacks after I've made them. Look out sisters....someone may be getting this attached to their christmas gift this year!!!!

I then moved onto trying my hand at making a card. Something else I haven't done for a long while. Besides, it doesn't hurt to have birthday cards on hand, right?

Then finally, into the wee hours of sunday night, I went to town on this layout. Once again, I had these pictures kicking around, waiting to be used and I was in another glimmermisting mood. So I spritzed until my little heart was content until about midnight...then I got up early monday morning and frantically assembled this layout, along with getting Lil' Miss ready for the dayhome halloween party, taking her to the dayhome halloween party and juggling Mr.Mister on my lap because he felt the need to be held and hugged. I'm happy with how it turned out. Think there would be a few things I would do differently if I had had the time and an extra arm (tough to cut and glue while holding an 8 month old Mr. GrabbyHands on your knee)...but it's done and that's that!

So not bad, considering all this was done over the span of Friday to Monday, on a busy Halloween weekend. And now I requre a bit of a break and the office requires a bit of a clean-up. Any volunteers??????