Tim Holtz Addicts of Facebook: #THA_APR Watercolor Resist...Easter LOVE

   

    Easter may be over, but I'm willing to bet most of you still have some Easter candy leftover. Oh. Ok, so maybe you still have some real boiled Easter Eggs left, then...likely. lol!

I tried to get this posted before leaving over the Easter Weekend to visit the Younger Set of Kids up in Red Wing, MN. But, as usual; best laid plans- and here I am. I think the theme still applies, though. In fact; it ought to apply even MORE on just the daily living we do, instead of only celebrating JESUS' death and Resurrection on one holiday of the year! So I feel confident posting this Tag after Easter, in that "The Easter Story" can be told any time of year. 
  

       Making this oversized Tag was actually a joy for me; I rarely just cut and paste so simply (other than on a computer program, that is). I wanted to keep it simple- again. This 'simplifying' is NOT easy for me to do, but I am challenging myself this year to do less tiny detail and add more color pops- the exact opposites of "my usual thing". Definitely easier said than done! There are a few techniques that Tim Holtz taught back during all the ten years of "The 12 Tags" that I wasn't reeeeeeally fond too of; embossing with chalk was -and still is- one, and water coloring is another. But, using RESIST ...however you choose- with Distress Paints, Resist Paperie, Tissue Tape, or in this case- stamping with Embossing Ink/Powder... is one of the techniques I found to be really FUN! And using the stamp/emboss method was my fave.

         Before we get started on the NEW, let's check out what the ORIGINAL Tag looked like:  

Tim's take on his July Tag used Water coloring, with Resist...

My take on Tim's followed his closely since I LOVED this Tag!!!

It's still one of my faves because my fave month is July- the 14 stands for our Anniversary.

You can see from the photos that I chose more muted shades than Tim.

Let's see what I came up with this time.

Here's that same 'Tuesday Morning' awesome deal on paper...

used yet again for this Tag.

And I knew I wanted to use the TH Alterations Dies Bunny, Butterfly and Bow,

 and it's partner; TH Alterations Movers and Shapers Mini Bunny.

I just got the TH Alterations Thinlits Set Detailed Mini Butterflies, and thought

I'd fussy-cut my own large egg, using the very-long-kept-not-used-in-a-while

TH Stamp Clear Stamp Set Urban Grunge for the Resist Technique.

As per Resist Technique: I chose the stamp and used VersaMark Embossing Ink (clear)

and some Paper Studio Embossing Powder (also in clear).

The TH Glass Mat comes in very handy when you want to perfectly line up a stamp

but need to keep moving the paper or the stamp up and down a lot like I did here.

The first egg: let's just assume this one was PRACTICE, lol!

Not only was this the very last sheet of water coloring paper from a very old tablet of such...

but it's good to have a go at practicing stamp line ups, before shooting for a nice one.

You'll notice that I did the process in bits...

1) Stamped the image ONCE

2) Applied Embossing Powder,

3) Heated Powder until melted,

and then repeated steps 1 to 3 over and over again until the entire egg was covered.

It didn't take as long as it sounds, either.

Here's the second egg: aka the one I wanted to use! hahaha!

And getting out my TH Distress Ink Markers... was a change from using 

TH Distress CRAYONS so much lately!

Then used the water brush to 'fan out' my lines of color from the Markers.

Resulted in this...

FRONT SIDE of Tag.

Closeup of Resist Water Coloring Technique and also

the Cross made from TH IdeaOlogy Letterpress- those little wooden letters

were the PERFECT TOUCH!

Instead of more Letterpress, I chose a TH Quote Chip edged

with Distress Paint in Tarnished Brass.

Closeup of the textures here- and a distressed/scraped Quote Token

(lettering done with Distress Paint in Picket Fence)

paired with TH Heart Charm, on a TH Jump Ring fastened with a TH Wire Pin-

all from the IdeaOlogy collections.

Also- I edged each piece with a co-ordinating TH Regular Distress Ink using

a Blending Tool.. just for a bit of dimension.

 The BACKSIDE:

where the fun part of me resides!

this is where the TH Alterations Dies  kinda...MULTIPLIED!

Closeup of... well, for real here...being DEAF is MY LIFE,

so getting some chuckles out of it, is allowed!!

TIM HOLTZ PRODUCTS USED:

Alterations Dies:    Bigz- Bunny, Butterfly, &Bow

                               Movers&Shapers- Mini Bunny

                                          Thinlits Set- Detailed Mini Butterflies

Stamps:            Clear Cling- Urban Grunge

        IdeaOlogy:      Heart Charm, Jump Ring, Letterpress, 

                             Quote Chip, Quote Token, Wire Pin, 

Ranger TH Distress Products:    Regular Distress Inks (various colors), Blending Tool,

                                                         Distress Ink Marker (Black Soot) with Marker Spritzer

                                                    Distress Paint (Tarnished Brass and Picket Fence)

THANKS! for stopping by once again, and a shoutout to all my fellow TH Addicts

for the constant AWESOME INSPIRATION from all the posts where so many

talented creative minds share their work and their ideas!!!

Most of all- thanks THA folks for admitting your ADDICTION.

I'm most definitely there with ya!!

Until next time...

BE SAFE &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!

UPDATE; Thanks, Everyone!!

The TAGS are back!! New takes on Tim Holtz's "Tags of" gets the fun rolling all over again!!

    Yep, it's true; the Tim Holtz "12 Tags of 2019" are officially back on again! In order to see them, or take part, you will need to join the Facebook Group; Tim Holtz Addicts. The group/group page focuses on projects of crafted and altered items using mainly Tim Holtz products. Since almost everything I make comes from this designer's line, I am having a lot of FUN in there! The Crafters range from the very best Designers, to those who are just starting out, so there is quite a bit of tutorial bits to help a newbie along as well as show off things made by experts. Keep in mind, though: TH products almost exclusively. So it may, or may not be your cuppa tea. It sure is MINE- and gimme seconds, please!! Starting at the first of 2019, the page's Administrators have chosen to try out a monthly challenge theme, and those most-beloved TAGS of Tim Holtz has been welcomed in a HUGE way. My own excitement has boiled over each time I take a look in on the page and see new projects and especially the Tags posted. Way back when I participated (for 5 of Tim's total 10 years), those Tags were my VERY  FAVE Challenges of all! So, it's a no-brainer that I'm all in with this- definitely!!
           Thinking of a design for the first chosen Month & Year of Tag play is not too hard for me. I even took a look back at the Tags I made for that very Monthly Tag back then. I'll post those each time I join in (to be tagged as #THA_Jan for this one) just for the added fun of seeing what I did then as compared to now. There are also so many new TH items out on the market than there were then.

                  Here's a quick look at what I posted for Tim Holtz's Blog January 2015

The rehash of TH Tag from the original posting on Tim's blog.

Oh my: I made THREE!!

These are the FRONTS (I always make a 2-sided Tag)...

...and these are the BACKSIDES.

If I remember right: the first one on the left was just to make a copy for myself

of Tim's very COOL take on the Tag- it does match up to his.

The one in the middle was my chosen Tag for entry (shown as entry Tag in the next photo below),

and that last one on the right....had to be a gift for someone. Anyone remember it??

This one was done in honor of my ChiefHubby's years from 1989 to 2015

as a Firefighter Class II, Firefighter Class I, Hazmat etc, First Responder,

and most of the last 10 years he spent as an Assistant Fire Chief or Fire Chief.

WOW! I can't believe he hasn't been called out of bed in the middle of the night for FOUR YEARS!

Now...THAT'S a LOT of changes we got used to!!

PS: Both Sons are now 'retired' as well- the older is no longer on VFD since he works

50 to 60 hours a week at his paying job (mandatory). And the younger Son no longer 

has to be a FF on his Nuclear Facility's Fire Brigade since he is one of 4 Engineers who RUN the plant and its workers. (Hello, white collar man!)

I really enjoyed posting those memories here instead of sending you back into my blogposts

with a click. My Tags generally show a part of my life. If they are simply 'quirky'...

well,.. that happens, too. But not as often. So when you see a Tag from me; you'll usually get an explanation about what was going on in my mind or in my life at the time I made that Tag.

That's what makes crafting so fun, to me, anyway; sharing!

So let's get on with the rehash of this Tag technique:

The first thing I did: make about two dozen blank dies of Tags.

I plan on being in the THA monthly Tag Challenges throughout 2019, GOD willing, of course!

I chose to make a design that was a bit different than the first take Tim did that used just basic paper

or simple IdeaOlogy items. For this: TH Alterations Movers & Shapers Pocket Watch Frame Die

and the coordinating circle cuts that fit into the space allowing creation of different sized "windows"

or a frame for the front of the Pocketwatch. Since I had some of the new TH IdeaOlogy Clock Hands,

I could make those work with my idea. 

The other items I needed: TH GlueNSeal by Ranger,

Some TH ChitChat Stickers, Wallpaper (in a baby girl color theme),

some die cut TH Tags, and some TH Tissue Paper...

said Tissue Paper is no longer made, BUT; you CAN still find it at JoAnn Fabrics,

and some Hobby Lobby stores where they still have a few rolls left.

OR, you may be like ME; and still have a roll of TH PLAIN TISSUE

that you used back when Tim was showing off the new tissue and how to make it 

your own style by stamping your choice of stamps using Archival Ink!!

I had a mix of TH Stamps that I used to make this TH Plain Tissue Paper

into a few feet of my own kind still stashed away in my odds&ends paperie drawer.

If I cut out a part where there were no "Tim Guys" in there...it was totally perfect!

Here is where I already GlueNSealed once then Tissue Paper, then another GlueNSeal coating.

It was time for some COLORS: TH Distress Paints in Spun Sugar, Salty Ocean, and Mustard Seed.

The BACKSIDE of the Pocket Watch got a coat of Spun Sugar. 

And, then it's time to add some shading for depth- using TH Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet.

"2019: It's Time for a GIRL!"

Our Older Son and Daughter are completing their family by adding a baby SISTER

for our Grandson, Cole, in March !

It's the first GIRL to be born on this side of the family in 54 years- the last was

The ChiefHubby's Sister (who is a twin with her other Brother)!!

9 boys were born in that time and not one girl until now, so we are both excited- and a bit nervous!

If I remember right...from at least 14 Neices and 7 Nephews on all my sides 

(plus our own 2 who are the only boy/boy combo out of all boy&girl or both boy/girl)

...girls can be expensive! Although...it was really COOL to get those two Daughters our Sons brought home, so I think it'll be alright. And, we still have the chance for TWINS...

(Several sets of twins run in both sides.)

that'll end up being our Younger Set of Kids, I am betting on it!

The BACKSIDE

I've added some closeups, as usual...

The TH Clockhands and Paper Doll shown here.

Both have some Distress Ink blended around the edges for some depth: 

Victorian Velvet around the Pocket Watch,

and some Distress Oxide Ink in Vintage Photo around the Paper Doll.

A TH Long Fastener and some Glossy Accents holds the Clockhands in the

1 and 2 (5 minutes and 10 minutes) positions symbolizing Child 1 (Wittle Peanut Cole)

and Child 2 (Wittle Sissy Pistachio on the way). 

There are only 2 elements to the entire Tag that are NOT Tim Holtz brand:

the Matboard used for stiff middles for the Tag itself and the Pocket Watch.

and that little camera charm shown here. I dabbled some TH Distress Paint Spun Sugar 

inside the 'lens' of the camera, and then scratched at it after it dried- to distress it a bit more.

The TH IdeaOlogy Word Stick "season" means it's time for a new season for us: we're adding

another Grandbaby to the one we have now. And I look forward to more as time passes.

This is definitely a GOOD age to be!! 

TH Chit Chat Stickers shaded with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, 

adhered with GlueNSeal, then outlined with a TH Distress Marker in Spun Sugar...

give some 'Girly' details of what baby girls are like.

The TH Alpha Parts (Numeric) and a couple of TH Typography Numbers spell out the year 2019.

Yes, you will notice that the 1 is backwards! I thought it looked cuter that way for some reason.

When I first laid it all out to see what it would look like, the 1 seemed to act together with the

TH IdeaOlogy Rose (with a spattering of Spun Sugar Distress Paint) more than looking like it was together with the 9 to make a 19. So I turned it around and for whatever reason- it worked.

And that TH Crinkle Ribbon.... colored with Victorian Velvet & Picket Fence Distress Inks...

PLEEEEEASE, TIM, get that manufactured again!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that ribbon!!

I would be the first to admit that this Tag is way outta the box for me. I am usually

drawn to the neutral colors- especially the tans and browns- more than bright colors. 

While pink is- and always has been- my favorite color, it's not a fave shared by our Daughters.

The Older one likes Blue best and the Younger favors shades of Purple. It's pretty much a given: 

pink girl things are likely going to stay here at Meemaw Larimore's house. 

And I'm fine with that... and I'll be as happy as a LAD Fan- as long as I can get a couple of

 GIRLY pink LA DODGER shirts made for them to match my Chase Utley jersey!! lol

Thanks for stopping by and sharing this time with me!

Please, feel free to ask to join (you must ask the Administrators for joining)

us in our Tim Holtz Addiction; CLICK HERE

Until next time: Be Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!