Christmas has come and gone, but I still wanted to share a few posts of things I've made this year- all 3 items are first-time crafts for me, since I hadn't had much chance to use these certain TH dies/products. While I am late getting these posted; it's only that I haven't had the proper chance to work the photos of these already-given gifts. That's all good, since the business now involves chillin' with the peeps! Two more gatherings/events to attend & the Holidays come to a close. That means clean up, & inventory for the next season of the year: the deep freeze of Winter. Sitting here in warmer (but rainy today & in our jammies) Florida, I contemplate the coming season: NOT my fave by far! But, it's a chance to try out all the new crafting items I found at bargain prices; courtesy of my fab ChiefHubby (who is at the very moment of this typing, a front-row-50-yard-line Attendee at the Purdue vs Auburn Music City Bowl football game (the only BOILERMAKER from our sidecompletely surrounded by 6 or 7 Auburn "so-called family" *huff* lol) who drove back UP to Tennessee from here last night. We'll head home early next week- with him having driven the same route 4x in 12 days.I need a VACATION! *grinning*
Ok, this will give you the basic "how-to" for the Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Die; Poinsettia...
I purchased a full 12x12 stack (The Paper Studio) for use in several projects over the
December gift-making days. This stack has a thick paper-backing which holds up really well-
without having to put a card stock in between a double-sided Tag.
I purchased the TH Alterations Poinsettia
Die/Embossing Folder Set At The end of 2017, then promptly forgot I had it!
So as the Holidays got closer, I took this set out for some serious fun.
Out came the TH Thinlits Set: Greenery.
This is a very versatile die set, and cutting in different shades, patterns , & colors....
it’s really easy to make these dies look like many more different cuts than the four included in this set.
(*Thinlits are NOT meant for cutting thicker materials such as the burlap above.
Always check your die’s instructions for material limits.)
the following cuts were made to make all the petal layers I wanted for just one flower.
Next is adding a bit of dimension to each petal/layer of paper by using TH Distress &
You can see where the Distress & Distress Oxide Inks allow the embossing on the petals
A VERY IMPORTANT STEP: using a craft heat gun/wand to dry the Distress/Oxide Inks.
Next, add more Greenery, keeping each layer as natural-looking as you build up.
(*The above photo shows all cuts I used to make
TWO FULL POINSETTIA BLOOMS WITH GREENERY BACKING.)
2 green- large petal cuts (this is the “dying”,oldest, most putter set of petals
3 red patterned- again using the largest petals.
3 solid red colored- using the medium petals. The solid gives a background to
the smallest petals in front of them.
3 red patterned- using the smallest petal cut.
1 green “stamen” cut for the center. You can double up on this if you want,
for added thickness & pop.
Tip: I usually cut 3 layers at one time in the Bigz dies, and was able to emboss 2 layers
of the cuts at one time in the embossing folder, just fine, with no tearing or other problems.
Tip: When layering more than one set of cuts to emboss; turn the folder “backwards”
(top/front side onto the table) & use the
black outlines to make lining up the cuts easier, & much faster!
While I do have both the TH Tags Thinlits Set and the TH BigzXL Tags & Bookplates Die,
I chose to cut the burlap with the much-stronger BigzXL.
Distress Oxide Inks with a Blending Tool. You can use any slightly-darker, or slightly
lighter shades as you like, but I chose Old Paper & Iced Spruce Distress Oxides
for the Greenery & the outermost green petals, and went with Fired Brick Distress (regular)
for the large and small red patterned petals. The middle petals that were a more
solid red color got edged all around in Vintage Photo Distress Oxide.
just barely show, while at the same time; rimming the edges & making them stand out.
Otherwise; the Inks will still be “wet” & will smear onto hands & other objects.
I start layering the Greenery pieces first.
(I was in the kitchen to keep an eye on cookies baking at the same time, so I was using
my Craft Sheet- which is heatproof and kept the glue gun from harming my bar cabinet's
custom-made countertop. Those Craft Sheets still come in handy, so don't toss it just
because you've done likewise & are now using that AWESOME TH Glass Mat!!)
Start with 2 pieces of Greenery cuts- setting them in a natural "floral pattern".
This is where my 6 week college course taken upon my graduation from High School
(with an Honors Diploma in May 1984) on Floral Arrangements comes in handy! I wasn't sure
what I wanted to do for a career, but I was 18 years old & had my own wedding coming up
that I wanted to create everything for- all hand-made MYSELF. And, yes, the ChiefHubby & I
were successful; with a VERY LIMITED income at the ages of 18 & 21 out on our own!
Check your nearest campuses- especially city colleges- for their list of cirriculum from
which you may find professional/craft courses both very affordable, & useful!
Then begin the first layer of petals- starting with the two green petals. These are the two
most outer leaves. Before adding each Petal cut, turn it over and add a one-layered line
of glue in a "dot",then follow the middle of the individual petal moving out toward the pointed
end of each, until you have created a glue "star" on the backside. Allow to cool a few minutes
before turning the petal right side up and adding it as a new layer. Just press down with the
glue gun's point to reheat the middle "dot" on the underside. (For some un-even natural look;
try reheating here or there just a bit along one of the lines of the underside middle of one petal.)
The cooled glue "star" on the underside of each Petal layer pushes each into a bowl-shape;
as each layer is added, the middle stays pushed INWARD (where it was reheated)
while the outer edges are pushed UPWARD from the Greenery. It looks like an actual flower!
Once I got going, I was busy reheating a Petal cut into the "stack" while the
next Petal was cooling. This was a quick process, and before I knew it: I had these 2 finished!
That's a good thing; I had 12 to get done altogether.
And, I am now seriously looking into purchasing a wireless glue gun!!
Look at how PRETTY these turned out!!
I made 2 Tags from this (1 for a family gift exchange & 1 to keep as usual)...
Closeup: sewing around the edges (just one burlap side at a time &
then adhearing both sides (front & back) of the burlap die cut Tags
& embellishing the top with some TH IdeaOlogy: Pinecones on Wired Pins
-purchased from The Funkie Junkie Boutique
Backsides of the 2 Poinsettia Tags.
The 2 Tags that went together for an exchange gift.
The "Merry Moose" Tag on the right side can be found by clicking HERE
THANK YOU: for checking in to see this latest post...
& MOST ESPECIALLY, THANKS to all who followed my "Sneak Peeks"
on various Social Media all year long!!
You've given me some AWESOME INSPIRATION to keep on Craftin'!
I hope you will be inspired enough from this step-by-step to give it a try!!
Another Post will be up shortly- GOD willing!
Here's hoping your CHRISTmas was a wonderful time,
& another hope for a great 2019!!
Be Safe &
HAPPY BLOGGING!!!
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