We Are Fearless

 Creativity is good for the soul. A healthy escape and cheaper than therapy. I made this mixed media card using many of Tim’s techniques from his demos. 

As I patiently await for the palette papers to arrive I had to get creative. Using recoiling scissors and palette collage strips cutting down in different sizes to make ephemera then collaging it to the card base. 

Building up the layers TH/Sizzix texture fade wood planks, swiping the embossing folder with distress ink in frayed burlap, once embossed swipe a mini cube of distress archival frayed burlap on the raised parts to create dimension. 

Chipped Sapphire is one of my favourite ‘old school’ distress inks/oxides. I used the oxide and smooshed it onto distress watercolour card stock, heating between layers. Next using the same oxide swipe the TH/Sizzix 3D texture fade Typewriter, run it through, then with a brayer and distress paint black soot lightly run over raised areas of embossed background.

 Bringing the flower and greenery to life. I love the thickness of chipboard. It’s sturdy and great for painting. I used lightweight chipboard and dies from vault wildflowers. They are the perfect size for this card. I tucked the banner behind the flower/greenery, using dies from vault bunny and chick. Distress paints to colour the dies. Tim and Ranger came up with these awesome label stickers for their line of distress. I especially love the distress paint stickers. It makes it easier to see what I have or to grab and have at the ready. lol 

Cello sticker tape from Tim’s idea ology line has been my go to for final touches on my cards. I added an extra cello sticker over the bottom part of the stems as if they were wrapped. You can have a closer look in the second picture.

Finishing touches. Tying a piece of twine from my stash around the stems ending with a knot. Tim’s idea ology chit chat sticker book has many sayings to choose from that are perfect for simple sayings on makes. I modified a saying to fit this card perfectly. Even though they are self adhesive I always like to add collage medium for extra tackiness.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and that you take the time to make stuff. It’s a beautiful thing.

Christina

Sweater Weather

 It's beginning to look a lot like sweater weather. Staying inside with a warm cup of cocoa is pure bliss.

The sweater from Tim's STAMPtember 2023 stamp set gave me inspiration for this Christmas card.

Choosing the background came to me easily, as one of my favourite stamp sets was close by. TH/SA cms475 ticking and grain. With distress oxides in rustic wilderness + bundled sage to create a nice subtle background. Adding texture using Sizzic 3D embossing folder in woven and my go to distress ink for blending edges, walnut stain.

Giving the cozy sweater more definition with two toned wood grain grey and 3D texture fades in sparkle. Then swiping over sweater with distress archival ink ground espresso. These stamps come with coordinating dies. No need to worry about fussy cutting. It's easy and fun.

Bringing the trees to life using cms465 bottlebrush trees with coordinating dies, distress oxides, embossing ink, Ranger embossing powder (sticky) + dry glitter (clear rock candy). Tim has an awesome demo applying this technique. You can find it here. It's at the 52:10 mark. 

The sayings from Tim's STAMPtember 2023 are fun + snarky lol. I chose the snarky one. Inked with distress archival in black soot.

For a more cozy look, I carefully machine stitched the outline of the sweater, making sure to leave some loose, messy threads at the top. Added a metal hanger from my stash, for the sweater to hang onto. Wooden planks made with 3D embossing folder tree rings and distress inks. Cut into strips makes a great backdrop for the sweater. 

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina

Faux Wood Tutorial

 Yesterday I was outside in our backyard in the raised beds digging out the weeds, when I came across some beautiful wood that has been slowly chipping away. Or maybe it’s how our deck was built. I couldn’t resist and had to take a picture. Something about it inspired me to make something.

This is what I came up with. 

Using the right tools can give you many options to make faux wood. Starting with distress watercolour card stalk emboss with 3D texture fade in lumber. Choose your favourite distress inks and blend them in to cover the surface. And your choice of which tools to use for hi lights. Picket fence is my go to. Next tear the wood grain in random sections then do a soft blend in a lighter shade on top. My go to is walnut stain. 

Making the illusion of wood chips. Watercolour card stalk emboss with 3D texture fade cracked and a few distress inks to make an intense blend. Adding highlights with distress watercolour pencils (dry colouring). Used scorched timber and wild honey. Then cut to fit the under layer part of the wood. 

Thought I’d replicate part of the wood and add one of Tim’s hardware heads and make it look like it was poking out of the wood. However, after looking at it for awhile I found it to be too much of a focal point so I grabbed some embossed wood grain from my stash and overlapped the wood piece over the hole. To make it look more authentic.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial on how to make faux wood and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina

Immortal Beauty

 Even though it's summer, in my craft space Halloween/Fall is creeping around the corner. Just imagine stepping outside, taking it all in with the cool crisp air, falling leaves, and chopped wood for evening fires. I made a mini slimline card to depict one of my favourite holiday seasons.

The Base:

Kraft heavy stock for the base, distress ink walnut stain + mini ink blending tool, start blending around the edges of heavy stock, blending out towards the centre. Distress archival ink in vintage photo, stamp 'her immortal beauty' from TH/SA cms409 tiny text halloween in random sections of background. This stamp set is perfect as a background or as a simple saying.

Making wood is an all time favourite for me. There's a lot of various tools you can use to create dimension. The 3D texture fade cracked is perfect for this card. Distress archival black soot + ground espresso go into the cracks very nicely. Tim has a really cool demo on this technique. You can find it here. It's at the 1:24:02 mark. To give the background more depth, using a mini ink blending tool, apply distress ink in scorched timber around edges softening as you go.

It's all in the Layers:

I never thought I'd have a blast collaging with Tim's idea ology halloween ephemera until I took his Christmas in July class with Heidi from Simon Says Stamp. Now I'm addicted to collaging! LOL 

It's easy peasy! If you'd like to learn more about collaging with awesome tips, you can find the class here.

It's at the 1:53:46 mark. However, I highly recommend watching it from the beginning. A lot of great education, inspiration. For the base I used a #8 tag from SSS, halloween ephemera and a few pieces of ephemera from expedition to make the collage.

This next step is a turning point for me. I wanted to create the illusion of crackle for the leaves as if they were laid to rest on the ground. Tim's/Sizzix leaf fragments is the perfect die.

Giving the leaves a spooky creepy vibe, I chose a little paper doll (I call her 'little gypsy girl') and die cut her in the same shape as the base leaf. Bringing the leaves to life using 3D texture fade crackle. I started out with distress archival vintage photo, found that it was too dark, to make the veins of the leaf more authentic, I swiped distress oxide antique linen over top with a mini ink blending tool.

Back to the collaged tag..... I decided to crop it and add cello tape in random areas. 

Deciding the right saying and style for this card..... Halloween tiny text to the rescue! LOL I chose 'her immortal beauty' on black kraft stock, distress embossing ink + ranger embossing powder white. And of course my all time favourite Ranger handle IT tool. Definitely my go to for embossing. My goal was to have the saying slightly faded but somewhat legible. After a few attempts, I finally mastered imperfection. LOL Skipidy bits for the win.

Finishing touches:

Before assembling the card, I machine stitched a little zigzag motion in opposite corners of the collaged card. Used pop ups for my gypsy girl, saying and collaged card.

Introducing.......

'HER IMMORTAL BEAUTY'

Berry Wishes

 Winter is here. We had our first snowfall warning for the season, up to 25cm for this weekend. There is a mountain ash tree out front (it has always been a late bloomer) and looks so beautiful especially with all the snow on top of the berries.

I was inspired to make a Winter + Christmas card with all the warm + cozy vintage feels.

The Base:

Distress watercolour card stock is my go to for card bases. Smoosh distress ink lost shadow, distress oxide in pumice stone, distress sprayer for movement, heat set between layers. Spray distress spritz in weather wood in random areas of card base, then heat set.

It's all in the layers:

Creating depth on the card base using texture fades birch trees and falling snow. Distress ink pumice stone for definition.

Adding more layers for depth. Branch birch die + 3D texture fades lumber. Using the poking tool from my sidekick to get all the negative shapes out of the branch birch die. 

Giving the trees a little more character by adding a blend of distress inks frayed burlap + lost shadow. Ending with an even blend on top of lost shadow. This gives a soft wintery effect.

I love the size of birds from the vault series lovebirds. They are perfect for this make. Die cut the bird twice, blend distress inks pumice stone, old paper, distress oxide antique linen to the body and feet of the bird. Distress inks lost shadow + scorched timber for the wings (cut out wing from second bird) and head. Use pop up dots to adhere wing on top of bird. Make sure to leave an opening white on the face of the bird. 

Giving the illusion of snow on the birds wing, using a splatter brush + distress paint picket fence.

Making twigs for the winter bird to perch on with wood planks from my stash + vault wildflowers.

Tim's + Stampers Anonymous new stamp set Florist Floor is definitely another favourite. I love the scale of these stamps. I chose the twig of berries. Stamped in archival ink + coloured with distress watercolour pencil crayons, on the branches and berries. 

Tim's new recoil scissors makes fussy cutting a lot easier. The comfort grip gives you more control when cutting the details of a stamp. Fussy cut the berries from florist floor, then apply texture paste sparkle. Let it air dry. The results are amazing. Gives the right amount of sparkle and give an elegant look of snow + frost on the berries.

The Finishing touches:

Adhere the winter bird with pop up dots, twigs + berries for the bird to perch on with collage medium. Tim's idea ology label stickers 'wishes' 

The final touch that ties everything together, a machine stitched border, leaving a few loose threads at the corners. 

I hope you enjoyed all the warm + cozy vintage feels of this make and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina 

Christmas Magic

 Winter has arrived. The snow is beautiful especially as it weighs on the trees. Looks peaceful. I made a Christmas card inspired by the weather change.

The Base:

Starting with watercolour card stock as a base, emboss with 3D texture fades in wood grain. Then lightly blend distress ink in pumice stone around the edges.

It's all in the Layers:

I love the new Tim Holtz + Stampers Anonymous mini layering stencil, sparkle fade. It's perfect for Christmas. Apply texture paste sparkle through the stencil and let air dry. It adds the perfect subtle bling to your make.

The skates from the vault winter wishes set are the perfect size for this card. Die cut the skates from light chipboard then paint a generous layer of Dina Wakley Gesso on top. This gives a good primer before applying the paint. Distress paints picket fence (skate), scorched timber (heel), once dry sand the heel to give it a worn look. Foundry wax in sterling (blade). Add a little bit of distress ink walnut stain to the back of the skate for a hint of shading.

Finishing touches:

Tim's Mr. Frostie stamp set is so versatile and one of my favourites. The font of the sayings is so elegant. I chose  'christmas magic' with distress embossing ink, Ranger embossing powder, white on black kraft stock, using the Ranger Handle IT tool. This tool is perfect for embossing, it prevents burning fingers lol. 

I'm a huge fan of greenery. Funky festive + holiday green mini + vault holiday classic thinits are my go to's. I love the pop of colour from Tim's kraft stock Cool tones.

For an elegant touch, machine stitch the border with cream thread. I'm slowly getting better at sewing, just have to remember that I'm not in a race car lol and to keep it slow and steady. 

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina

Beauty in Nature

 A couple weeks ago I was driving by the main street where I live and came across these beautiful planters on the medians. They had been switched up for the Winter + Christmas season. 

This planter inspired me to make a card.

The Base:

Distress watercolour card stock embossed with 3D texture fades brickwork.

Giving the bricks more dimension and an authentic look using distress paints in pumice stone and frayed burlap. Let it air dry. I discovered this technique from my friend Zoe Hillman, you can find the how to here on her blog post. 

It's all in the layers:

Bigz die potted works well with this make. Using light weight chipboard as a base, paint it with distress paint pumice stone and heat set. next add a generous amount of grit paste translucent, let air dry. Next take a dry paint brush and apply distress ink pumice stone in the crevices of the planter for added depth.

Using kraft stock in cool tones, die cut various greens with vault holiday classic, funky festive, vault wildflowers (twigs), and holiday green mini. 

For the berry leaves kraft stock classic in red and blend on top with distress inks in aged mahogany, fired brick and walnut stain. Thinlits in vault holiday classic and funky festive.

Giving the birch twigs more texture, I used a background from my stash. Two toned wood grain in grey with 3D texture fades sparkle, then die cut them from thinlits thin ice.

Finishing touches:

Once everything is die cut, randomly place in planter using collage medium to secure in place. Tim's word phrase stickers add the perfect touch to the make. Adhere with pop ups for dimension. Lastly, machine stitch the border with cream thread and adhere to two toned woodgrain grey card stock.

There is beauty and inspiration in nature, take the time to embrace it.

Christina