Birthday Wishes to Tim

This week on Grunge Monday, over at the inspiring Linda Ledbetter's page, the call was for birthday cards for Tim Holtz (who, it turns out got to spend the day at Disneyland - lucky duck). So I put my fears aside and thought why not really jump into this, make a card specifically for Grunge Monday and Tim.

I looked at about 15 of the posts to the site and thought, oooo, best just stay away until I'm finished with mine. There are some things I just associate with Tim. Umbrella Man. The Weathered Clock. Winged Things. Dripping Butterfly. Flourishes, and Tattered Florals. I chose the last two.

I was really taken with the glassine holly leaves he showed us how to make during the 12 tags of Christmas. I was  joyful about how the flowers came out, but I thought they needed a little sparkle. Turns out Scotch Adhesive really does dry clear.....on most things.......but I'm getting head of myself. I tried to do the flourishes in glassine too, but they were just too fragile. So I ended up coloring the paper with about 10 colors of alcohol ink and glued it on to grunge paper and then cut it out...sadly the photo doesn't do the flourishes any favors, so you'll have to trust me on this one.

I auditioned several other components for the card, but finally used one of the frames....Tim has so many amazing quotes, sayings, sentiments, whatever, but turning dreams into wishes has always been one of my favorites. A little paint, a bit of re-cycled cardboard, and there you have it....ta da. My first real entry into challenges. What fun. And how appropriate it was to celebrate Tim Holtz, a man who's creativity seems contagious. Happy Birthday Tim!

Tags 4 and 7 - Tim Holtz's 12 Days of Christmas

That Tim guy.....he's pretty dang clever.

I continue to be amazed by all the new ways of doing things, combining things, and techniques, etc. I had a grand time with these tags. I buy the crackle paint in the large economy size, but I hadn't tried stains with it yet. Love the effect. Although when I tried it at first I forgot to dry it - important step. I can imagine a lot of different ways to use this.

I tried one snowman with grunge paper (right) and one with grunge board (left) and in the end, I think either is fine. Last night I ran out of Glossy Accents, so I used Dimond Glaze, and although it worked, it has just a bit different finish  - almost less dense (right side is Glossy Accents).

I didn't crackle the die-cut snowflake, so I just put on some more bling with crystal snowflakes in the corner. I mean once your decked out in pearls and feathers, what's a few more sparkly things?

I immediately fell in love with Tag 7. Any time I can use alcohol inks is a good day and I really enjoyed playing with the glassine paper that had been sitting around in the fun room for weeks. I know it didn't work for pine-cones ... too thin.  But it works great for ivy.

I love the stamp....and have coveted it for weeks. What a wonderful excuse to purchase it and go see Linda at Stamp Cache. I'm taking a hybrid approach to the tags this year. I don't mind improvising, but if I really like the tag and I have everything, why not make it and try all the new techniques, tips and tricks? And if I can shop local in the bargain, even better...

I didn't have the die so I used the Cricut. It took a little extra care and some free form cutting on my part, but it turned out fine I think.

And before I left the fun room, I started on Tag 6 - the old time metal looking one. I painted the foil, sanded it, inked, and embossed it and am simply blown away. It looked like a hot mess for sure, but the ink and embossing changed everything. Hopefully I'll get to the tag this weekend.