JUNE TAG- The 12 Tags of 2015

      

   

      It should come as no surprise for me to say how much I LOVED Tim's June Tag!!! Not just the new die that makes us all wanna rush for the coffee pot, but Ooooh! That background; simply STUNNING! Each month, I get awed all over again with the stuff that guy churns out in his studio. So while I am gah-gah over the overall look, I gave my take on this June creation it's own summer glow (that's been sorely missing with all this rain here in Indiana), and decided to go with the Americana theme colors. I took it a bit further when I was busy doing some stars on the ChiefHubby's man-project (his redone pontoon boat is up next on my posts) when the idea struck "why not make a star for my tag,"? And there ya go! So here's how I went about it....

This Sizzix die was on sale for a measly $6 at a Michael's in Florida during after- CHRISTmas shopping. A STEAL for a die I've been waiting to find! The star it makes can be adjusted for different sizes as well as making a 3D one-sided star or double the sides for a hanging 3D ornament. I used a heavy cardstock here so that the star would be firm after being put together. I think it would make a FANTASTIC CHRISTmas tree ornament! You'll see in the next posting how I used it to make a stencil for spraying paint onto the ChiefHubby's man-project Pontoon Boat !!! 



I used Glossy Accents to put the stars together. GA dries extremely fast and stays firm - helping the stars keep their shape very nicely ! Like I keep saying....one'na these days I am gonna own stock in that stuff... : )
I then added some Tarnished Brass Distress Paint all over the stars and just under the edges, so the backsides would be colored as they overlapped the tag just a tiny bit.




I then chose to 'distress' my stars further by 'rusting' them - sanding lightly first, then using my heater and some emboss power with Vintage Photo Distress Ink for color.



I followed Tim's instructions for the basic start of the background. But I didn't have one of the new DoItYourself  Inkpads for the next step. Which grates on me to no end, of course. BUT, in thinking up my red, white, and blue theme; an idea hit on me....

Since the TH Stencils are so flexible, I wondered if I could add each color on the bend of my table (it has a rounded edge...not squared) and hold the pad right up against the edge by gliding it over as close to the next color as I could. Hey; it worked pretty good! Let's just say it took ALOT of inking, wiping, reinking, and rewiping in order to make 6 backgrounds on 6 tag sides. So the DoItYourself Inkpads REALLY ARE worth it to get for this technique- definitely would save a lot of time and effort!



So here are my finished Americana Tag backgrounds finished- 3 of them with frontside and backside. My color choices for the theme were from the Americana Set of three that was sold a cpl yrs ago: Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, and Faded Jeans. I just LOVE those colors together !!! And the Frayed Burlap looked PERFECT with the binder twine and the bit of burlap under the worded piece! The backsides would stay plain- I figured any photo tucked onto it would look cute if done so.




Here's distressed sides and adding some Vintage photo to make it look a bit 'older'.



Using popdots to keep the stars in place. I used my guntape (LOVE THAT THING!!) to add the worded burlap bit.



This photo shows the 'rusting' of the star a bit closer for you to see better. I have at least 3 of these on the outside of our home, and at least 3....or 4??...on the inside. So it was easy to duplicate the look of real rain-rusting going on.



And this photo shows the IdeaOlogy HeartCharm with the American Flag photo inside. I have a TH new for 2015 Heart Shape-Cutter on the way (pre-odered from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and I can't wait for it to get here! I love putting my own photos and sayings into those sweet heart charms!!

 

 

         I chose two special families to recieve the tags this month: one is Mrs. Diane Good, whose husband, Stan Good has been dealing with a brain tumor. Stan and Diane have been living a new life in Indianapolis, Indiana in 'retirement' from Winamac, where he was Principle at the High School. Far from relaxing, they have entered a new phase of their lives in service (as they have most of their life already) to The LORD by creating and planting Crossing Schools that help previously fallen-through-the-cracks students to be able to graduate in a CHRIST-centered, supported environment. Indiana's Governor has met with Stan and Diane and heartily approved the program and its awesome accomplishments. Our own Church of Christ at Logansport (where we first met Stan and Diane and became friends with them) recently graduated a student from the program who would otherwise never have graduated! Stan was diagnosed with the tumor and able to recieve treatment at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (where I also was treated for my hearing problem back in the 80's) in early June and we are waiting to see how the results will pan out. I believe EVERYTHING has a reason, and this does also. So far, I have played 'tag' (pun intended here) just missing them at church in passing, but don't really want to mail the Tag in case of damage. So I am hoping she will read this and know it is waiting for her on the usual "back table" at church. And know that MANY OTHERS will keep them in thought and prayer during this time! (WE LOVE YOU BOTH!!)

            The second Tag was given in a Welcome basket to our new Associate Minister and Wife, Scott and Terri, and their lovely -and FUN- daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth. We've been seeing alot of them and they are definitely 'our type' as they love to laugh and do things together....even with all this MUD. Ugh! LOL!

THANKS SO MUCH for kind comments and ESPECIALLY just for checking in to see what new thing I've got going on! Next post is a goodie for guys- and big gurls who like boats, water, and fishing!! So c'mon back in and check it out!

Meanwhile, as always; Safe Journeys and Happy Blogging!  

Americana Tags; Just For Gift Giving...

   Like most people in Indiana at this time of year, I love just being outside in summer! And, like most people in Indiana at this time, I am SICK TO DEATH OF RAIN! What little sunshine that has managed to get through the consistenly and constantly cloudy skies above us, has been pitifully minimal indeed. Flood waters have backed up into most of the camping areas, and the Wabash River (part of the Green Rivers of America) is so swollen most of the time, it can't be safely trusted for anyone living closeby its banks. Thankfully, our family lives on the highest ridge of our county- and most of the surrounding areas. One set of Besties actually have their home sitting point-blank on top of the Highest Point of Cass County; just north on the same ridgeline as our home. While it is comforting to know we are pretty much safely above the flood levels, we are also only one mile away from the Wabash. So far for this Summer 2015... I WANT A DO-OVER!!!! :`(

         With that rant out of the way, I feel somewhat better. Soggy. But better. And I have been keeping almost TOO busy and running pretty much ragged trying to keep up with everyone and everything. We had a front and back porch both built on within a 2 week period- the very start of the rains- from the 1st of June, already hosted two gatherings with another slated for July 4th, got the boat done and relaunched (post is almost ready, so watch for it guys), and are presently pup-sitting for our Minnesota Purdue couple while they are here in Indiana on his first vacation (he just got hired in October but is halfway done with training that he is now into a regular schedule that allows a one-week off every 6 weeks). So that meant 6 adults, 3 dogs, and 2 cats all loose in the house over the past weekend. Plus, getting to have the ChiefHubby's Dad here, and I finally got to spend a day with MY Dad- when we BOTH were having a GOOD DAY!!!
         You'd think I didn't have time to get anything else done- but I not only got it all done, but got MOST of the photos ready now so blogging them up is all that is needed. That said.....I noticed I was out of tags while giving out a jar of BlackRaspberry Jelly at a family gathering. (I have been maddeningly picking at least 4 hours every day in and out of rain and have 4 gallons put away plus another already served in one pie!) So, I took a couple of hours to craft out tags and get them tucked away for grabbing out as needed.


I chose Americana colors in CoOrdinations- and sanded the 2-toned lighter shade but left the other two plain...tearing the blue and red into strips, and using Mod-Podge to paste them in order of American Flag red, white, and blue.




After allowing the Mod-Podge to dry completely, I decided to use my Stampin Up roller- my fave is the USA July 4th Jumbo Roll. Black Archival Ink stands out well and won't smear.




I chose to run the roller stamp against the stripes since the tags would be cut the other way.




After cutting (with a fave tag cutter that was given to me as a CHRISTmas gift from a Bestie who was a Creative Memories Consultant at that time), I used binder twine to tie a little half-knot through the hole. I used my Tonic Scissors to cut any larger pieces and set those aside for a bit.



I distressed the sides and added a little edging of Vintage Photo for antiqued look.

A little red, white, and blue hemp string....and it's ready to tie onto a gift using the opposite (and less grainier textured side of the Coordinations paper) to write my message to the recipient.




Now, those extra pieces that were too small for a tag the size of my CM cutter.... I got out my 3- sized Sizzix Tags die and kept right on making tags- just in other sizes! These are usuable not just for smaller gifts, but are really CUTE when I add a letter onto the tiny tags and line them all up on a jute string as a banner on a page in an album, or onto a larger tag, or even onto a CAKE as a removable decoration that makes a HUGE STATEMENT!!! :)

            I usually make a bunch of these at once and use them all through the year. Usually running out at CHRISTmas time (when I use the most tags at once), I had more than enough this year and actually just ran out at the first of June this year! This is the reason there are not as many here for this batch when a 'normal' amount made is about 100. I try to make them different every year but I have been staying with the same Americana theme for the past 5 years. I have yet to get wind of any complaint about that. : )
         Thanks for taking the time to check in again, and I'll be back-2-back on this with June Tag finally posting. Getting them DONE is the EASY part...making time to post when it's NOT storming and needing to shut down all the computers....has not been as easy. But, there is a reason for everything under the sun...
er.....cloud?? LOL! Wishing you safe summer days and...
                                                                      Happy Blogging!

Compendium Of Curiosities Challenge #30- Faux Cracked Glass

           It's a CC3 Challenge and there are only THREE LEFT!!! Tim Holtz best get another COC book out...FAST!!! I'm gonna end up on withdrawl if he doesn't! LOL!! It's been a very challenging month and I'll be happy to see the sunshine when it finally comes back out. Until the next posting....I'll be hanging in there. Don't forget: PRIZES...PRIZES...PRIZES !!! Sponsors are: The Funkie Junkie Boutique , The Inspiration Emporium , and some from Tim Holtz (and BTS Mario Rossi) himself!!! It's fun and EASY!! Just get a copy of the COC book and get going! See you at the next Challenge!!


Gathering items is part of the FUN!



My theme for the faux cracked glass comes from thinking about our 31st Wedding Anniversary next month- July 14th. It was on my mind because June 16, 1982 was our first date and it seems like yesterday, but yet so long ago! It got me to thinking on how we have changed and grown over the years. So that's how the Faux Cracked Glass came up in this: those "pearls of wisdom" inside the tiny vial, and around our wedding photo on the fragment. You'll notice that the only bright color you will see on the front is the colors of our wedding: red (the ChiefHubby's choice) and pink (my own choice)...which are still our favorite colors. The rest is all neutral coloring was used for this: shades of taupe in Alcohol Inks, and Distress Black Soot & Distress Antique Photo along with blacks and whites, with some taupe-colored jute string and long fasteners.

Here's a good closeup of the fragment...

...and a closeup of the vial w the pearls inside.



For the backside, I added some of the photos we had taken on our Bahama Cruise last July. I still have to blog those!! Argh!! But, added some of the handmade cabinet cards with a mix of old and new of our own family.

                                      Thanks for checking in and the kind comments, everyone!!!
                                                         Be safe and Happy Blogging!!

Compendium Of Curiosities Challenge #29.... Getting our kicks on Route 66; our end of it anyway...

     

         

              
                I've said it many times, but there is nothing quite like a 'deadline' to get you motivated, *pant-pant-pant!* and I am awfully MOTIVATED right now, lemme tell ya! It's fryin' time, the fire's on 'high' and Yours Truly is definitely gettin' all crispy. So here's my entry for Challenge #29 (Eroded Metal) without further ado....You're thinkin" "AwwwRiiiiiiight! It's gonna be one 'a those FUN ones where she can't do much typing/talking !!! Aaaaaand....ur right on, baby. :)



Some of my best inspiration comes from doing what Tim Holtz once suggested he does; 'just grab a whole bunch of different items you THINK might look ok, and then take it from there'.



Part of the main rule is having your own COC Vol3 Book to work with, and not sharing the technique used for the main Challenge. So while I cannot show you the technique itself, I CAN show you the finished part of it. So here is what I ended up wtih- along with a bit more on my own...rusted edges. This is one of my VERY FAVE ways of starting a Tag background !!! 



Ok, this is where I veer off the main highway a bit and take a few of those little backroads... ;)



Here, you can see where I added the background of the stars and stripes snipped-out papers. I had full sheets of stars and stripes seperately and snipped my own pieces to make my own American Flag to fit the NEW Tim Holtz Thinlit die cut of "States"....this has GOT to be my FAVE of his new 2015 dies, and it was one of my choices of PRIZE from a previous CC3 win!!  

 

Here's where my fun came in! I took a full die cut of the 48 states shape, and matched up whatever parts of it would fit up against a REAL MAP printed out of Route 66. Then I cut each 'line' as needed till I could form the entire highway across my own map on the Tag.



Using good old favie Ranger's Glossy Accents Someday, I am gonna own stock in that company because I buy so much of this great stuff!! LOL! I even use it to fix household things and also just patched my pool raft from last year- thus saving me another $12 from purchasing a new pool suntanner mat...for probably spending on another bottle of Glossy Accents. :/  Go figure! :)

Anyway..... I matched up piece line by line and came up with an almost EXACTLY MATCHING highway!! 



Here you see how I also added INDIANA simply because that's where we start out from....and are only about 3 hours away from the Route 66 Museum which we are planning to visit on a stop along the way back up to Minnesota at the end of July. We're also only 4 hours from the very start of Route 66, and could go up that way- IF either of us cared to sit in hour-long traffic on The LOOP through Chicago. Trust me....You DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. Only if you are a CAMEL and can hold you water for DAYS.



Here's the other best part: EMBELLIES !!!! Oh the FUN of digging through your stash, then goind online to your Products Pages on Tim's Site, so you can make your shopping list easier to replenish your stash from what you used. (Or NOT used....hehehe!)



I got out a couple of favie Sizzix and TH dies and made a few of my own 'keys' which I then rusted all three keys, and then used my hammer and metal tiny letterpress to add the year 1966 to the silver ones. That just so happens to be the very year of my first car: 1966 white 4-dr Chevy Chevelle with a full red interior.... and no trunk floor. lol!! My Dad bought it for me to drive back and forth to my first indoor job (I worked detassling for 4 summers before that) at Bressler's 33 Flavors Ice Cream Shoppe. A whole $1.35 an hour starting out in 1982. Yeah, you kids today have it SO BAaaaaD ! Right.)  


      Here are some closeups so you can see the grungy details....The sign was made from Grungepaper- doubled up, with "Signs" embossing folder, Picket Fence Distress Paint, and then Distress Embossing Powders. The "sheet music" is the real thing only miniturized on my scanner. My Ygr PURDUE Son did alot of belting this tune out in Jazz Band....he was also in the All-LoganLand Jazz Band (an honors Band) and got to play alongside the late, infamous (and extremely nice posing for my photos of him with the kids) Jazz Music great Mr. Med Flory.




This was so COOL...adding a little piece of Grungepaper that I embossed with my "Games" in a corner where the ticket is , then painted, sanded, and blended some Distress colors, punched a hole and added a gromet. It made a perfect backing for the little piece of FilmStrip Ribbon from the PACKAGE (the outside piece that shows you what it looks like inside the package of what you are buying) !!! I just LOVE saving those things cause you never know where they will end up looking SO CUTE at !!! BONUS stuff !!! And I also added "Listen" to the KeyChain. 



I am looking VERY forward to the stop-over at the Route 66 Museum as part of our travels this summer! We are short of time this year due to the ChiefHubby's heavy work schedule. But we hope to make it worthwhile in all the stuff we are ACTUALLY GETTING DONE around the house and property !! So we can stay on track for plans to 'motor West' for a few weeks in the next couple of years. Our first trip to California, and all points West will HAVE to be by car. We have so many things we want to see, and want to take our time seeing them !!! Then, secondary trips can be by plane and I won't complain. :)

This entry is part of the Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3 by Tim Holtz. Tim, and his Behind The Scenes super-funny helper, is one of the sponsors of FABULOUS PRIZES in these Challenges held on Linda Ledbetter's Blog. Linda's The Funkie Junkie Boutique shop as well as Inspiration Emporium add to the prizes given away. There are so many talented crafters who are WONDERFUL inspirations to making your efforts really worthwhile!!!

THANKS SO MUCH for checking in to see my projects !!! You'll soon be seeing one of The ChiefHubby's projects I will be blogging on here (along with about a dozen I am currently typing up and getting the photos done for them) as we HOPE to be re-launching our boat this weekend!! It's been his pet-project all winter and spring and is finally just NAMED yesterday after all the work came together and it's nearly finished. Like,....you're NEVER 'late' like ME, huh, Dearest ?? lol!!!

Please come back again, and I hope to see you join in on this- and future TH books !!!

Safe Journeys and Happy Blogging!