COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES III ~ A LAYERED STENCIL EMBOSSING CHRISTMAS TAG/ORNAMENT

Welcome back for another technique challenge over at Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge.  It's already challenge number SIXTEEN!  Can you believe that?!  As that famous Christmas carol, "Deck The Halls" says, "fast away the old year passes" and boy, does it ever!

I hope that you have been playing along on these challenges with us.  It's a great way to familiarize yourself with Tim Holtz' fabulous products and and learn new techniques for your creative endeavors. All of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities books are wonderful reference tools to either teach or refresh your memory on SO MANY ways to use all sorts of products.

Your entries are amazing and the Creative Crew continues to drool and delight in ALL of the beautiful art we see each challenge.  We are also humbled by all of your lovely comments. Keep 'em coming!  Those as well as your art inspire us and encourage us every day!

Turn to page 50 in your Compendium of Curiosities III books and check out the Layering Stencil: Embossing technique. 

Here is my finished piece.  It is a large Ranger Manila tag that can be used as either a gift tag or how I am going to use it, as a vintage ornament for my Christmas tree.

I began with a Large #10 Manila Tag that measures 4 1/8" x 8 1/2". I cannot tell you HOW I did the layering stencil:embossing technique but I can say that I used Embossing Ink and Clear Embossing Powder, Tim's Gothic Stencil and Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles Distress Inks to create my background. 

Not long ago, I shared with everyone on my blog my vintage/retro-ish vision for Tim Holtz' St. Nick die cut.  You can see that post HERE for the step by step on how I created my little Santa Head pictured above.  It is so cute and so easy to make and he's just been sitting on my work space, waiting for me to do something with him.  That time has come!

Santa needed a body so I used Tim Holtz' Sized Ovals to create a body for Santa.  First I covered a piece of chipboard with one of the 6" x 6" paper images from Tim's Merriment Paper Stash. I used the large oval for the body.  I then die cut one "JOY" from Tim's Movers & Shapers onto plain chipboard and cut close around the oval encapsulating "JOY". I painted it silver with a Silver Paint Dabber and added Silver Stickles to the letters.  Then I die cut another "JOY" as low as I could onto the lower half of Santa's lower body. (The silver "JOY" would later be glued on top of the "JOY" die cut into the body.)  I fashioned a black belt out of black cardstock, highlighted the edges with the Silver Paint Dabber and glued it in place on Santa's tummy.  Actually, I highlighted all of the edges of Santa's body with the Silver Paint Dabber.

I also created patterns out of scrap manila cardstock to create boots, arms and gloved hands for Santa.  All of those pieces were cut out of various Tim Merriment papers that were glued onto chipboard (for more stability). 

I added 1/8" Scor Tape around the outside edge of the silver "JOY" oval.  To that, I added Tim's Silver Tinsel Twine and glued it in place on top of the "JOY" that was die cut into Santa's body.

Next I used one of Tim's smaller cream colored Woodland Trees from his Mini Tree Lot set. I sprayed it with Shabby Shutters Distress Stain followed by light touches of Peeled Paint Distress Stain.

I wrapped the tree with Tim's Silver Tinsel Twine and secured both ends with Glossy Accents.  Later I would add little red bows.  For now, I set the tree to the side and went back to assembling my Santa.

I added little "fur" tops to the boots, cut the boot tops to fit how I wanted them to fit onto the body and then I added a piece of 1/4" Scor Tape to the top of each boot.  That adhesive cover was then removed and the boots were glued in place at the bottom of the body.

I then added 1/4" Scor Tape to the back side of the arms and gloves to put them in place on the body.  To do this, I laid the head at the top of his body and played around with the placement of the arms until I liked them.  

 

Then I glued them in place, curving the gloves to hold my little Christmas tree.  Next I glued the head in place at the top of the body.

I wanted to add some shiny "berries" to Santa's holly on his hat and also onto my tree, so I colored some little clear rhinestones using Red Pepper Alcohol Ink, a felt strip and my Ink Blending tool.  Alcohol Ink is a great way to quickly colorize anything that is a non porous surface.  It usually dries in about 10 seconds.

And here is my Santa all assembled (minus the little red bows and red "bling" that would alter be added).  Now, Santa is ready to be added to my Layered Stencil:Embossed background but I needed to finish it first!

To my background, I randomly added some of Tim's "Bubbles" (stencil) using White Embossing Paste and then I lightly sprinkled glitter to give a bit of that freshly fallen snow look.

Next I colorized some white Embossing Paste with Red Geranium Archival Ink.  I taped Tim's Christmas Stencil in place to stencil "Christmas" in place.  Once that was dry, I added "Merry" and let it dry.  Be sure to clean your stencils immediately after using Embossing Paste on them!

Here is the finished background complete with layering and Vermillion Archival Ink around the edges of the tag.

I added a 1/8" piece of Scor Tape all around the edge of the tag and added a piece of thin Silver Tinsel Garland around the edge of the tag for a more vintage look.

I colored a piece of white seam tape with Fired Brick Distress Stain and just a touch of Sunflower Sparkle to add to the top of my tag.

Here is my finished Layered Stencil:Embossed tag background.  I love how vintage it looks and it's all ready for Santa to take his proper place.

And here is my Santa, complete with little red bows on the tree ... these little bows are made from remnants of the ribbon I colored to create a bow at the top of the tag.  I cut the ribbon in half and made tiny bows to glue onto the tree.  To the center of each bow, I added a little red rhinestone.  I glued Santa in place on the tag.  Finally, I added a "Merry & Bright" Tidings Token to dangle from the bow using a Jump Ring. 

 

 As you can see, this is a very dimensional piece.  The size of the tag and the fleece used on Santa's beard, fur bands on his hat, sleeves and boots, the little Christmas tree that Santa is holding, the shabby bow and silver tinsel garland and the texture used to create the background really make this a showy tag that will delight all who see it.

Now it's YOUR turn to do some layering and stenciling or stamping and join our challenge. You could be one of two lucky winners chosen to receive some fabulous prizes.  

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is The Funkie Junkie Boutique!  Linda Coughlin is giving away a $25 gift certificate to shop in her fabulous online store.

Our other prize is a huge and wonderful assortment of "goodies" graciously donated by Tim and Mario to be given to one lucky entry each challenge. So, you have TWO chances of winning fabulous prizes while you are also creating wonderful art and sharing with a community of talented people who love to share their art and their ideas!  It's a WIN-WIN all the way around!  

Have fun with this challenge and good luck!