SIMON SAYS SHOW A BIT OF BROWN!!

I LOVE BROWN!  When I think of brown, I think of Tim Holtz!  If you are a Tim Holtz fan, you already know that his original claim to fame is convincing Ranger to introduce a few shades of brown ink; the beginnings of the Distress Ink line, at CHA (after he became part of the Ranger family.)  So...here's to Tim and his vision!  It all began with BROWN! 

 

This is my creation for Simon Says Stamp and Show this week...and also Tim's 12 Tags of 2012 - June Tag challenge.  The baby on this tag is very special to me.  It's a picture of my Dad when he was a baby.  He has passed on now...but I still wanted to honor his memory on a (belated) Father's Day type of tag.

I started with a blank manila #8 tag.  I used Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Picket Fence Distress Stains to create my marbleized background.  Then I spritzed it with a touch of water to create the mottled effect.  Next I used Jet Black Archival Ink to randomly stamp portions of the larger flourish from Tim Holtz' Fabulous Flourish stamp set.

  

I added a piece of vintage lace to the bottom using 1/8" Wonder Tape and little mesh metal screening with my Tiny Attacher.  That little tool is soooo handy!  This is the base of my tag.

I sized the vintage portrait of my Dad and printed it out on Semi Gloss Photo Paper.  The original picture had a lot more sepia tones in it, so I photo edited the picture to be more black and white.  I think Tim's colorizing technique looks better on a more black and white picture.  I used Ranger's Craft Nibs and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to create the light blue romper. The little bit of blush in his cheeks was achieved using Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  You color by lightly rubbing the nib onto the Distress Ink pad and then gently rubbing the nib over the area you want to color.  For me, the key is to just color a couple of things, not the entire picture.  This really creates a beautiful old vintage look and really brings the picture to life!  After you've finished coloring, lightly rub a pad of Antique Linen Distress Ink over the entire picture and let it dry.  This really gives those golden, aged tones to the photograph. 

I then tore some corrugated paper, distressed it with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and rubbed the edges with a Black Cats Eye Ink Pad.  That would serve as the base for my vintage photograph and later be added to the tag.  All of the added Ideaology has some symbolism behind it. 

 I added the Mini Numeral "1" to the tag because my Dad was about a year old in this picture.  The little Adornment Star is attached to a Gem Clip.  This symbolizes my Dad's military service.  The little File Tab displays the letter "C".  My Dad's first name was "Calvin".  The Adornment Wing hanging from the Hinge Clip also refers to my Dad's military service.  He was a Navy radioman and gunner during during World War II, stationed in the Philippines. 

The wing, as well as the other metal pieces, have been altered.  They started out as a silver metal.  I lightly alcohol inked parts of the metal with Gold Alcohol Ink.  Next I rubbed just a touch of Pool Paint Dabber over the metal with my fingers to give it a more patina look.  The Pool blue also coordinated with the light blue in my Dad's romper.

Next, I added Pool to fill in the lettering of the Word Band.  It reads "Dream As If You'll Live Forever".  I loved that sentiment coupled with this portrait.  I attached the Word Band with a piece of crochet thread that I braided and wrapped around the tag.  Finally, I added a few light blue buttons and the orangeish-brown ribbon at the top.


Stop by Simon Says Stamp and Show's blog and check out the amazing idea that my Design Team buddies have waiting for you!  Then, enter your Bit of Brown piece to our challenge.  You could be the lucky winner of our most generous sponsors ...

$50.00 credit voucher.  You could also be named as one of our TOP THREE entries for the week! So....put your creative thinking caps on and let's see what you can come up with!
Good luck!!!
 

TIM HOLTZ MAY TAG ... OR IN MY CASE ... AN ATC

I love Tim Holtz' TWELVE TAGS of 2012!  If you're not participating, I encourage you to do so!  Not only are the tags really pretty and fun to do, but the techniques are way cool, too.  Click HERE to see Tim's May tag.

Here is my version of Tim's tag.  Instead of making a tag...I made an ATC.  I used Tim's miniature dress form, needle book, spool label, ruler and pattern image from his Attic Treasures stamp set.  They are the perfect size for ATCs!  

The background was done with Tim's new Spring Distress Ink colors; Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade.  I also did the spritz and flick technique to add some interest to the background.  Stamping is all done with Jet Black Archival Ink, except for the pattern image.  That was stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

  

The dress form was stamped directly on to the background.  I stamped another dress form and cut out the bodice.  I added the skirt made from Tim's Tissue Tape.  I added some Orange Peel to the skirt and drew a line at the bottom of the skirt to give it some definition.

The wings are stamped using Tim's Distress Markers directly onto the stamp and then stamping them on Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper.  There is a bit of a glare in the photo but they really blended nicely.  I added the smaller flower from Tim's Ideaology Foliage.  I colored it using Vintaj Patina in the green tones.  

Finally, I hot glued a little Ideaology Hanger underneath the Foliage flower to hold it in place. I also added an Ideaology Type Charm with the letter "T" to dangle from the hanger. 

The needle book and spool label are also stamped onto Specialty Stamp paper and then colorized using Tim's Distress Markers.  The little butterfly and the larger wings used on the dress form are from Tim's Papillion and the Attic Treasures Stamp sets.

The faux porcelain flowers were originally little white flowers.  I sprayed them with a mixture of Spiced Marmalade Ink Refiller, Bronze Perfect Pearls Powder and water in a Mini Mister.  Then I dipped the flowers in hot UTEE (see Tim's tutorial for the May tag) and then glued them in place on my little ATC.  They are so easy to make but really look like little porcelain flowers.

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful Spring weather and you're taking time out of your busy schedules to stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy your day and take time to play!

 

 

 

APRIL TIM TAG

Better late than never!

April has been such a busy month for me! I am just now getting around to making my April tag to join in on the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 using the Reflections Stamp and the Fancy and Floral Texture Fades.

Tim used his new Bird Branch die cut on his example.  I did not have that, so I improvised; using that beautiful bird on a branch stamp from his Urban Tapestries stamp set.  I colored the stamp using my Tim Holtz Distress Markers and then stamped onto the Specialty Stamping.  

I cut it out and pop dotted it onto the already stamped, embossed and distressed tag.  I drew a few extra twigs onto the tag using the Vintage Photo Distress Marker and Crushed Olive for the leaves.  Then I hot glued a little brown excelsior "nest" onto a branch.  I love the dimension it gave.

I added the Word Band using twine for a more rustic "natural" look.  I thought the corners of the tag needed something.  So, I used the smaller version of the vine from Tim Holtz' Fairytale Frenzy.  I inked it with Gathered Twig and without using a block, randomly stamped portions of the vine image onto the corners of the tag.

Wonder what technique Tim will use for May's tag?  

I hope you all are having a wonderfully creative week! I am enjoying this beautiful Midwest Springtime!

Much love & take time to play!