Saturday, May 31, 2014

Hold on to Your Dreams Art Journaling

Hello! I can't believe it is June tomorrow, times flies, which is partly what the art journal page I am sharing today relates to. I used various Tim Holtz Sizzix dies, stamps and papers.
 
The idea for this page came from wanting to use this juggler stamp together with the Big Ticket die. The stamp works perfectly together with the sentiment about holding on to your dreams, from the same set. I typed some journaling and cut into strips and picked other products to support my theme. The background is from the new resist Motif paper, covered with Picket Fence Distress Stain. Love all the patterns in this paper pad. When the page was finished, I adhered it to a page in my Small Creative Journal.
 
The Big Ticket was die cut from watercolour paper and I stamped the main stamp with Jet Black ink. After watercolouring with Distress Inks, the sentiment was stamped as well as the stars using Tree Bark ink. Finally, I gave the ticket some texture with the great Specks stamp and inked the edges.

Behind the ticket there a piece of red kraft-core cardstock, which was embossed with the Drapery folder, sanded, inked and misted with a little bit of Biscotti Perfect Pearls. I cut the lower edge along the scallops. I also die cut a Tattered Curvy Banner from patterned paper, added two words with Chit Chat stickers. There is also an ephemera ticket. 

At the top of the page, I used a bus image cut from a larger patterned paper and an ephemera game piece.
 
Thank you for looking! And remember to hold on to those dreams!
 
Happy crafting!
 
Anna-Karin
 
Supplies:
Surfaces: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Motif Cardstock Pack, Destinations 12 x 12 paper stash, Menagerie paper stash; Ranger Watercolor paper; Core'dinations Tim Holtz Kraft-Core cardstock; Ranger Dylusions Small Creative Journal
Embossing folder: Sizzix: Drapery & Woodgrain
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz: Cracks & Specks, Big Top
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink: Tree Bark, Potting Soil, Jet Black; Distress Ink: Shabby Shutters, Barn Door, Antique Linen
Mist: Ranger Perfect Pearls: Biscotti
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Expedition Ephemera Pack, Chit Chat stickers

Friday, May 30, 2014

12 tags of 2014 May Burlap Panel

Hello everyone! The month is almost over and I have another two blog posts to squeeze in. Today I am sharing my version of Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2014 May.

I normally make tags for the 12 tags, but I really loved the technique with the different blocks and embellishments and wanted more space. Instead, I altered a 6 x 8 burlap panel, and also added a photo. This was fun, I always like to include lots of little meaningful details. Instead of using an inked background paper, as Tim did, I decided to work on the raw burlap, since it fit with the outdoors theme of the panel.

I used mat board instead of chipboard for all the little squares, and planned everything out carefully first, before sticking anything down, to make sure it would all fit. Anton always collects little treasures and I end up with my pockets full of leaves, pebbles, stones, twigs etc. every time we are outdoors. The bottle is supposed to symbolise that and even contains some of his actual finds. The washers were coloured with alcohol ink and there is a rub-on on the bottle.

There is also an Idea-ology Game Spinner, a brad, and some screws. I tied it to the mat board with a wire.

This Word Band refers back to the bottle. Lots of interesting found objects. The panel underneath is covered by ruler paper.

I knew I wanted to use some of the new Letterpress letters, because I love letters and these are as good as it gets. There is a thin layer of Antique Linen Distress Paint on the letters.
 
I used a little prize ribbon, covered with ticket paper. The clock face was cut out from another of Tim's paper and fit perfectly on top. The clock was coated with Glossy Accents and the metallic parts were added after it dried. The panels are covered with papers from various of Tim's paper stashes, picking papers that fit with the theme and the colours.

Insects, butterflies, spiders, anything that moves is interesting (a little too interesting sometimes, have a look at this layout). This Adornment Butterfly is so pretty. I coloured it with a bit of Peeled Paint and Tumbled Glass Distress Paint.

Love the new letterpress debossing folders. I used it together with Jet Black ink, a little rub-on sentiment and a twig.
 
These little heart charms are so sweet. Placed on top of a small ticket panel.

The mini shield was the perfect size for this sentiment stamp. It was paired up with a number brad and a piece of tissue tape. On the narrow panel, there is a mirrored star, Industrious frame and a die cut Cargo stencil number.

Finally there is another Word Band, on top of a panel covered with ruler paper.

Thank you so much for looking!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:
Surfaces: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: 6 x 8 Burlap Panel, Mini Collage Paper Stash, Menagerie Paper Stash, Destinations Paper Stash, Lost and Found, Grungeboard; Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board
Dies: Sizzix: Mini Trophy & Prize RibbonMini Eiffel Tower & Shield, Cargo Stencil Numbers
Embossing folder: Sizzix: Documented Letterpress
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz: Warehouse District
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black; Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain
Alcohol ink: Ranger Adirondack: Ginger, Pesto
Paint: Distress Paint: Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen
Embellishments: Tim Holtz: Word Bands, Life Quotes Remnant Rubs, Words Remnant Rubs, Long Fasteners, Mini Fasteners, Mirrored Stars, Frames & Trims Industrious Stickers, Index Labels, Number Brads, Letterpress, Nature Adornments, Arrows Adornments, Heart Charms, Merriment Tissue Tape, Mini Gears, Game Spinner, Corked Vial, Observations Word Bands

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Space Rocket Tutorial

Hello and very welcome to another fun tutorial! I built something again, using my Sizzix dies and embossing folders, a pretty cool rocket. It is sort of a follow up on the Medieval Castle I built last month, another piece of fun home décor. I love using my dies for things they were not intended for.
 
I was pretty happy with how the rocket turned out, after having tried quite a few different combinations of dies. This was built from just dies, embossing folders, mat board, foil tape, paint and a few embellishments. It is 11.5 in high and about 5 in wide. The idea was originally my son's, we were reading a book where there was a small paper rocket on a picture and he asked me if I could make a rocket. That was a fun challenge of course! We are busy building a second one, which he will paint instead and can play with; there won't be any metal or small parts. This one is meant as an ornament, since some of the metallic edges might be sharp and it contains small parts. Don't make it as a toy for a small child.

You could use some kind of canister as the body of the rocket, but I wanted to use my Eileen Hull 3-D Blocks/Cubes. The rectangular shape also made it easier to do what I was planning with the window. Die cut six pieces of the largest block on the die, which is enough to make three blocks. I used mat board, you can also use chipboard.

The rocket needed a window of course and I die cut it with the smallest Tim Holtz Sized Circles, using masking tape to hold it in place. If you want to you can make more than one window.

I was thinking of using acetate for the window, but wanted something looking more dimensional and like the real thing. The answer was a piece of plastic packaging, formerly housing Tim Holtz Idea-ology Sprocket Gears. I knew I was saving it for a reason! I attached it with mini staples, to make sure it wouldn't fall into the rocket if someone pressed on it.

The inside of the room where the window is was painted silver.

I like to add life and often photos to my projects and the rocket needed an astronaut to fly it. I thought this photo from a few years back of my son sitting in a basket worked well. I cut him out.

Behind the photo, I placed a piece of foam, for dimension. You can also use cork. This is the foam that comes with Sizzix embossing folders, just cut a little smaller. Since he is weightless, I wanted it to look like he was floating.

Assemble the three blocks with strong adhesive and glue them together. I didn't want the window right at the top, so I placed that block in the middle.

First I wasn't sure how to do the fins of the rocket, but after searching for a good shape among my dies, I picked Tim Holtz Sized Arches - the largest of the three. Die cut twice from mat board and cut both in half.

Fold two pieces of cardstock and glue to each side of the fins, forming flaps. Later I cut the fins a little shorter, so that it wouldn't go over the window.

I wanted the rocket to be metallic and embossing foil tape is a favourite technique of mine. For the fins I used the Diamond Plate embossing folder. Adhere to the fin, and trim off the excess. Repeat on all sides. This also covers up the flaps.

For the body of the rocket, I used the Riveted Metal folder.

Die cut the window from a piece of embossed foil tape.

Carefully position the hole over the window and press down the rest of the tape, a little at a time. Don't worry if it wrinkles a bit.

Before continuing with the rest of the rocket, I glued the fins to the body, so that I could cover up those flaps with the foil tape. Cover the whole rocket with tape.

Now, what to do with the roof? After trying a few different dies, I thought that the roof for Susan's Garden Rounded Birdhouse worked the best. Die cut three times from chipboard. If you use the same size blocks as I did, you need to cut off one of the sections, along the score-line.
 
Cut three pieces of cardstock to attach the roof sections together.

For the roof, I used a Starry Night folder. You could also repeat the Diamond Plate (actually I did that first and then changed my mind and made a new roof).  

Paint the rocket body with Tumbled Glass and Evergreen Bough, working one section at a time. Before the paint dries, wipe almost all of it off with a cloth.

Paint the rocket and fins with Black Soot, one side at a time. Wipe most of the paint off with a cloth, before it dries.

Repeat on all the sides of the rocket, the roof and the little roof cap. Leave as much as the paint as you like. 

Before gluing the roof to the rocket, I attached some Idea-ology gears and numbers, using brads. This was a really hard project to photograph, with all the shiny parts.

Glue the cap on top of the roof. The gears were roughened up with paint before adhering to the roof.
 
Ready for take-off! It is pretty dark inside the window, but it should be dark in space and it is fun to use a flash light to see the little astronaut.
 
I printed a sentiment and cut into word strips. I also used a Word Band, with black paint rubbed into the word. Mirrored stars also seemed to fit well.
 
I was planning to place the arrow horizontally, but for Anton it was self-evident that it had to point up, since that was where the rocket would fly.

The texture of the embossed tape is really cool. He got such a surprise when the rocket had magically overnight turned from white mat board to metallic.  

You can use the same embossing folder all over, but I liked the variety.
 
From the back. You can add more windows and embellishments if you want to. For another construction project, check out my Grungy Tall Houses Tutorial

The happy recipient, who also made sure that the rocket was painted underneath. He is looking forward to painting and stamping his own rocket (there will be no metal on that one), and also wants pretend fire to come out from it, let's see how we can figure that out.
 
Thank you for looking at this long post!
 
Happy crafting!!
 
Anna-Karin
 
Supplies:
Surfaces: Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board; Ranger Foil Tape Sheets
Paint: Distress Paint: Black Soot, Tumbled Glass, Evergreen Bough
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Sprocket Gears, Number Brads, Mirrored Stars, Long Fasteners, Adornment Arrows, Mini Fasteners, Observations Word Bands, Mini Gears

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Artsy Stamp Accordion Tutorial

Hi everyone! Today it is my turn to share a tutorial at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. This week's challenge is to use artsy stamps, something that I love.

It was such inky fun to make this ticket accordion! I used Stampers Anonymous Classics stamps, since many of them are artsy. I also used a lot of different Tim Holtz dies, inks, embellishments and stamps.

Join us this week in our artsy stamp challenge and it might be you who wins the randomly drawn $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp.
 
http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/

To see my full tutorial and lots of close-ups, head over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.

Thank you for stopping by! I have many projects lined up for your this week.

Happy stamping!

Anna-Karin

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Music Hall Shadow Box Tutorial

Hello to all and welcome! I have tutorial to share today, for a shadow box made with the new Darkroom Door Music Hall Frame and a Sizzix die. The Music Hall is a lovely stamp and it made me think of a stage, which led to a shadow box.
 
I wanted to create the impression of looking into a scene. For a backdrop I used the large photo stamp from Prague Vol. 2. The Music Hall stamp made me think of a childhood photo of my mom, where she is dressed up for a special occasion together with my grandmother and a friend. I cut them out and placed them into the scene. I took some step-by-step photos as I made this.
 
I tried a few different dies to create the shadow box, and the one that worked the best was Eileen Hull's 3-D Suitcase. Die cut it from mat board, or make a shadow box from a recycled box. Measure and cut out a large enough rectangle in the front.

Ink the box with Distress Ink Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap and stamp the back and sides (also the sides on the inside) with more images, sentiments and the Sheet Music Background stamp.

Stamp the Music Hall and the photo stamp from Prague Vol. 2. on glossy cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink. Detailed stamps look wonderful on glossy cardstock. Colour them with Distress Ink, using an ink-blending tool and a Ranger Craft Nib for the small spaces.

Add highlights with a white gel pen, which makes the scene really come to life.
 
I used a VersaMarker to apply embossing ink on the edges of the curtain. Emboss with gold powder for a great extra touch.

Trim the scene so that it fits into the suitcase. Cut out a photo or a stamped image. Use a piece of foam or cork to adhere the photo, to add dimension, so that it is not right against the background. As you can see, they are floating over the road, otherwise, too much of them were covered by the frame. Once the frame was up, it didn't look like they were floating anymore.
 
Assemble the front of the suitcase, also applying adhesive on the flap – which normally opens when you use this die to make a suitcase. Since we are making a shadow box and not a suitcase, we don’t want it to open. Glue the Music Hall Frame on top.
 
The gold embossing adds a really nice touch to the curtain. I also added three golden pearls.
 
There are also pearls where the curtain is tied.

At the back of the shadow box you could also write a message. I stamped it with a sentiment and a lamp post.
 
Thank you for looking!!
 
Happy stamping!
 
Anna-Karin
 
Supplies:
Stamps: Darkroom Door: Music Hall Frame Stamp, Sheet Music Background, Prague Vol. 2
Surfaces: Ranger Glossy Cardstock; Sizzix Little Sizzles Cream Mat Board 6 x 13
Dies: Sizzix: 3-D Suitcase Bag
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black; Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone, Barn Door, Fired Brick; Tsukineko VersaMarker
Embossing powder: Ranger Gold Embossing Powder
Embellishments: pearls