Tim's 12 Tags of 2012, February Edition

Every so often, I look at a calendar and made a shocked, squeaky sound. Today was one of those days. I guess it's because it's Wednesday and I've already worked, liked, four thousand hours this week. Or maybe I'm just super dotty and disorganized. In any case, I realized a couple of hours ago that it is, in fact, the last day of February, and that Tim Holtz's inaugural "12 Tags of 2012" is closing tonight.

YIKES!

So, this tag is the result of what I like to refer to as Extreme Under-the-Wire Crafting.

Seeing as how Valentine's Day is but a fading memory, I went with a more timely theme. Okay, so it's snowing here as I type this, but we're only a few short weeks away from the Spring Equinox, so let's just go with it.

Here comes the low-down:

For the background, I dry-brushed the negative space of the Sizzix Alterations Floral Frame Texture Fade with Lake Mist and Cloudy Blue Adirondack Paints, the embossed a standard-size manila tag. Once dry, I carefully smudged Pine Needles Distress Ink over the raised design. I used a little strip of Tissue Tape from the Symphony set along the top edge. Finally, I roughed up the edges and smudged them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. 

Umbrella Man was cut with the Sizzix Alterations Die, then embossed with the Pocketwatch Texture Fade. He was colored with Walnut Stain and Wild Honey Distress Inks. I freehand cut the umbrella from rainbow Honeycomb Paper. 

"Spring" is from Tim's Seasonal Salvage Stickers set, and it's attached with pop dots. 

To finish, I attached an Idea-ology Reinforcer, then colored a strip of Trimmings with Pumice Stone Distress Stain and threaded it through the tag. 


And I'd better get this baby posted before time runs out!

Have an awesome day!
Linda

It's Almost Here: A Compendium of Curiosities 2!

Hello, blog friends! I've left submissions for Grungy Monday 37: Tim Holtz Wearable Art open through Sunday, March 4. If you haven't had the opportunity to submit a piece yet, please do! If you have, why not submit a second entry? I'll be sending a cool prize to one randomly-selected entrant! A new Grungy Monday challenge will post Monday, March 5, and it's going to be a blast! This week, though, is about getting ready for the NEXT big thing:

Tim Holtz's A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume II

This. Is. HUGE! Trust me, I got to peek through a copy at CHA last month, and Tim has truly outdone himself. Here's the lowdown from his website:

The creativity continues with Volume II of Compendium of Curiosities filled with new ideas, new products, and new techniques. Just like the first volume, this is not your typical "how to make" book, but "how to create" so you can explore and apply these new techniques however you decide. I hope to lead you on another artful journey filled with unexpected inspiration.

Awesome!

A lot of kind people have asked if I'll be hosting a challenge series for this book as I did for Volume 1, and the answer is, "Yes, yes and more yes!" I truly can't wait!

Of course, that will happen after everyone has had the opportunity to get a copy for themselves. For those who wish to purchase their book directly from Tim-- which I highly recommend, as he will autograph it for you-- there's now a link on his site where you can pre-order. Currently, he's estimating a ship date of March 1. Holy moly, that's this week, you guys! And, he ships internationally. Just so you know. ;-)

I'll post an announcement as soon as I have a starting date for CCC2 (or, I might just tell you to keep April 13 open...shhh!). Meanwhile, if you want to play along (and I hope you do!) get yourself a copy of the book, skim through it and make a list of any new products you might need, and stay turned for more information. Grungy Monday will continue until CCC2 begins, so there's tons more Tim technique action coming!

YAY!

Grungy Monday 37: Tim Holtz Wearable Art!

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Update! Our friends at Simon Says Stamp have chosen a winner for Grungy Monday 36! Click here to see if it's you!!!

Good Monday, everyone! My gosh, those Valentines you guys created for GM36 were AMAZING! Simon Says Stamp will choose the winner soon and post the name on their blog, and I'll edit this post with the link as soon as I have it!

I hope you had a great week and are ready to rock what I think will be a really fun challenge:

Tim Holtz Wearable Art!

Jewelry, clothing, buttons and badges-- you're welcome to submit anything wearable, as long as you've incorporated at least one Tim Holtz product and/or technique. Idea-ology pieces are a natural fit for this challenge, but you could also decorate a T-shirt or scarf, make a hair ornament... there are so many options!

I love, love, love Tim's Idea-ology Pocket Watch, and was delighted that we used it for a project in one of his classes last fall. This is such a simple project, but every one I've seen is so beautiful and unique. You can certainly share your own version for this challenge... or, you can go in a completely different direction!

To play along at home:

1. Create a piece of wearable art using at least one Tim Holtz product and/or technique.
2. Post a photo of your creation on your blog or at an online, public photo-hosting site like Flickr or Photobucket. You can enter this super-sized, two-week challenge anytime before Sunday, March 4 at 8pm MST.
3. Be sure to include a link Tim's website (www.timholtz.com).
4. Finally, please include a link to this Studio L3 challenge post.
5. Link your art below using the handy InLinks button.
6. Bast in your artistic brilliance!

You're also encouraged to upload your art to the Grungy Monday album at All Things Tim, where a worldwide community of Tim fans is just waiting to welcome you!

Go out and have a spectacular week, blog friends! I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge!

Hugs,

Linda

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Grungy Monday 36: Who Loves Ya, Baby?

Sponsored by....

Happy Monday, and happy Valentine's Day Eve, blog friends! Tonight, Cupid loads up his sleigh and hitches up eight tiny reindeer....

Oh, wait. 

Actually, he loads up his quiver with heart-shaped arrows and shoots them randomly at unsuspecting mortals. 

But enough about that. How 'bout we celebrate the holiday like this:

Valentines Day, Tim Holtz-Style!

Background card is Tim Holtz/Core'dinations Distress paper. Inside panel is from the Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash; it's stamped randomly with Fired Brick Distress Ink using Tim's large Harlequin Stamp from the Creative Textures set by Stampers Anonymous. Sentiment is from the Love Struck set. It's stamped with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink, embossed with clear powder, then edged with Bronze UTEE. 

Rose was made with the Sizzix Tattered Pinecone and Mini Leaf dies. The hearts were cut from Grungeboard using Tim's Alterations Mini Heart Set. They were inked with Fired Brick Distress Ink, then coated with clear UTEE. During the melting process, I sprinkled some Bronze UTEE onto the hearts to give them a mottled look. The ribbon was colored with Evergreen Bough Distress Ink. 

Just to make our Valentine challenge even more fun, our friends at Simon Says Stamp will be giving one of this week's participants a $25 shopping spree in their amazing online shop! With all those new products rolling in, someone is going to have a great time with that extra treat!

To be eligible to win:

1. Create a Valentine-themed piece using at least one Tim Holtz product and/or technique.
2. Post a photo of your creation on your blog or at an online, public photo-hosting site like Flickr or Photobucket. You can enter anytime before Sunday, February 19 at 8pm MST.
3. Be sure to include a link Tim's website (www.timholtz.com).
4. Also include a link to our sponsor's site, www.SimonSaysStamp.com.
5. Finally, please include a link to this Studio L3 challenge post.
6. Link your art below using the handy InLinks button.
7. Revel in your awesomeness!

Remember to upload a photo of your Grungy Monday art in the designated folder at the All Things Tim group, too. It's a great place to meet other Tim fans and share your creations!


Thanks so much for being part of Grungy Monday! Have a spectacular week, and watch out for random, heart-shaped arrows!

Hugs,
Linda

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Inspiration 366

Once upon a time, on January 1, 2012 to be exact, I did something very, very out of character: I made a New Year's Resolution. Amazingly, hell did not freeze over. My resolution was a pretty simple one, really: Take a couple of minutes each day in 2012 (all 366 of 'em, this being Leap Year) to acknowledge something that inspired me. And, just to keep myself honest, I decided to post these daily inspirations online.

I figure there's a 30-day limited warranty on New Year's Resolutions,  and if you want to return them for a full refund before the end of January, that's cool. Now that it's nearly mid-February, though, my self-imposed statute of limitations has come and gone, and I feel confident enough in my commitment to this project to actually tell you guys about it. So, I humbly invite you to check out my 366 Day Journal:

Inspired By...

You'll note that it's sometimes goofy, sometimes heartfelt, but always genuine in its appreciation for whatever my weird little creative spirit has latched onto for that particular day. I truly hope you enjoy it if you decide to visit, and that it might even inspire you to keep your own daily appreciation list in some form. I'm learning that it's a pretty powerful, gratitude-filled exercise.


Thanks...and big hugs!
Linda

Grungy Monday 35: Holtz-ian ATCs!

Good Monday, everyone! I'm back from CHA, all fired up and SO excited to have spent a few days in the company of a whole bunch of brilliant craft artists-- chief among them, Mr. Holtz himself. Tim has so many amazing new Ranger (the Distress Markers are GENIUS!), Sizzix, Core'dinations, Stampers Anonymous and Idea-ology products hitting the market, including the fabulous and much-anticipated Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2. We've got a lot to look forward to, guys!

Meanwhile, I realized we'd never done an ATC challenge here, and that's just not right! So, grab yourself a 2.5 x 3.5" piece of card stock, your favorite Tim Holtz products, and let's got rockin'!

Challenge 35: A Holtzian ATC

(Product list is at the end of this post!)

1. Create an ATC using at least one Tim Holtz product and/or technique.
2. Post a photo of your creation on your blog or at an online, public photo-hosting site like Flickr or Photobucket. You can enter anytime before Sunday, February 12 at 8pm MST.
3. Be sure to include a link to the post to Tim's website (www.timholtz.com) 
4. Finally, please include a link to this Studio L3 challenge post
5. Link your art below using the handy InLinks button
6. Know you're a rockstar!

New things are happening over at the All Things Tim group at Yahoo, and Stephen, Laurel and Deb want you all to know that they're still offering a photo album for your fabulous Grungy Monday creations! Head on over and say "hello!" to this dynamic group of Tim fans!

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Okay, my brilliant friends, have a blast making your Holtz-ian ATCs! I'm looking forward to admiring your art, and hope you have a fantastic week!

Hugs,
Linda

Products I Used for my ATC:

• Background: Claudine Hellmuth Sticky-Back Canvas, colored with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink (Ranger Ink).
• Black Panel: Black cardstock stamped with Snow Cap Adirondack Paint Dabber (Ranger Ink) using the text stamp from Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz "Attic Treasures" set, then rubbed with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and set with heat tool. 
• Dress Form: Manila tag stamped with Worn Lipstick and Aged Mahogany Distress Inks using the mini dress from stamp from the same Attic Treasures stamp set. 
• Wings: Core'dinations/Tim Holtz Kraft Core paper embossed with Sizzix Tim Holtz Dot Matrix Texture Fade, then cut with Sixxix Alterations Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Mini Butterfly. Sparkle added with Ranger Ink's Rock Candy Distress Stickles. 
• Sash is Tim Holtz Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon, tinted with Iced Spruce Distress Ink.
• Tiny hanger is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology. 

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