12 TAGS OF 2012 - DECEMBER

Did I tell you that I won a prize for my November tag? A whopping $25 voucher from Inspirations Emporium. Thank you Tim for picking my entry, thank you Mario for emailing me and organising the voucher and thank you Joy for giving the voucher in the first place. I am one happy cookie. 
This month was a bonus because Tim made 2 tags making up for missing the one last January. I finally made the time yesterday to complete mine.

They are so lovely especially the backgrounds. I got to open my metallic stains at last!

I realised after I took the photos, that I had forgotten to add a little gem above the 'j', I've done that now.

I wish I had the strip die that Tim cut the words 'joy to the world' from. Not seen that one but I will acquire it at some point because it's really a lovely die. I used a salvage sticker from the seasonal range. 
Tim also posted another tag that was made for the CHA show so once I have made my Xmas cards, I'll have a go at that one too.

WW #58 - BE THANKFUL

So many ways of being thankful, that being the theme over at Wicked Wednesday ATCs this week. I decided to go with a sort of harvest card in the style of Tim's November tag.

I used a cream base card, stamped the grasses with embossing ink and added clear powder which I heat set. I then used various distress inks on the background and 'flicked' water over it to add some 'bleached' areas. I stamped the word thankful (a Hero Arts stamp) in black Archival and the background stamps with distress ink wiping away any ink from the embossed grass. I then stuck a little array of tiny leaves and an acorn to the bottom corner. Oh, and I roughed the edges of the card too.
It's a cutie eh?

WOYWW #179

I'm up a bit earlier this week in practice for a very early start tomorrow in order to travel down the horrid M6 to the NEC show. I wonder whether our leader of the Wednesday desk hop, Julia will be there or any of you fellow woywwers. If so, give us a wave.
I've actually been crafting my little heart out this week although some of my work has been on the computer and to do with my DT slot. However, I've made Tim's tag, a couple of ATCs and am now working on a birthday card which I hope to finish today. So this is the state of my desk:

Obviously taken last night but it is still the same this morning except for the banana. I ate that! Lots of distress stains and ink pads together with a few leaves, die cut from the Autumn strip die. The rest is probably the same as always.
Right then, I'm off to start my travels and hopefully leave a few comments, that's if Blogger doesn't play up like it has for the past 2 days making my life so difficult.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - NOVEMBER

Another wonderful tag from Tim for this month. I adore the Autumn colours although not the season. I much prefer it when everything is springing into life rather than going to sleep because the awful cold is coming.
I had all the distress inks and stains plus the strip die, but that was it really, so another compromise which I think has worked really well.

I think the squirrel has his eye on that acorn but he had better wait a while because the glossy accents aren't quite dry!!
The leaf stamp is from Tim's Falling Leaf collection, the word is a Hero Arts stamp, the chicken wire stamp is from The Artistic Stamper and the gingham stamp is from Wendy Vecchi.
Another fun project which has given me a great idea for a birthday card I have to go and make now for an elderly male neighbour. Thanks Tim.

MY HELS WORKSHOP PIECE

I knew I'd taken a couple of photos but they weren't on my camera or computer, then I realised, I'd used my phone. A bit of bluetoothing later and here they are:

We began with a 12"x12" page from one of Tim's stash and cut and folded it before decorating it with distress inks and masks. We used 3 techniques to decorate 3 tags and then made up our own decoration for a 4th tag using any of the techniques that Hels had shown us. I managed to stick to the colour combinations on the paper for all of mine and used the 4th tag to help decorated the outside middle of my sample.

The tags were placed in little pockets on the inside, held in place by 3 tickets on which we stamped various sayings.  I loved the use of several masks (stencils) on one tag, building up the decoration with different colours. I also adored the effect that the new metallic stains give, although I am still to open mine at home.
The whole project took all day so you can judge how many techniques we were shown.
Some samples were simply stunning especially the tickets made by Lou who had used a diamond mask inked through with red/white/blue. It looked amazing.
I hope Hels gets invited back to take more workshops because the day was fantastic.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - OCTOBER

Somehow it seems longer than a month since Tim made the monthly tag. Got used to the 12 tags of Christmas I suppose. Anyway, how to compromise this time as I don't have the BOO die nor the ticket die nor the date stamps.
I came up with this:

I had everything to create the base tag so that was easy, I cut the spider from grungepaper but I already had the cat which was part of some pre-cut grunge from way back. The colouring of the glitter was quite messy and it took an age to dry so really it remained kind of lumpy!!!! Don't like that technique Tim, however, I do agree about the extra sparkle you get by colouring it with ink so maybe I'll have another go. I cut the October from the Lost & Found papers and stamped 'creepy' using some tiny Halloween stamps I have. The black wool tied at the top is also coloured with pitch black alcohol ink.
All in all, it turned out fine and I adore the colours. Thanks Tim for another fun tag time.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - SEPTEMBER

Oh Tim, you were a bit naughty this month. Has the typewriter mover and shaper die actually hit the UK yet??  Some of us like to make a replica tag to have a first class example of the techniques you use. I'm one of those folk. Ok, I accept that the real technique was the metal and the handy work on it which made it look like real metal 'stitched' together, so I forgive you.
I had some wonderful people, especially Anne, who offered both advice or a mocked up typewriter, thank you so much all of you, but I have decided that if I can't either obtain or afford a new crafty 'toy' then I MUST try something else from now on. With that said, I stamped an old jalopy and some words to replace the typewriter. Here, therefore, is my September version:

WOYWW #170

A bright and sunny morning to all woyww-ers around the world especially our lovely leader Julia who by now will be off doing other things after having posted a photo of her desk earlier.
I haven't done very much crafting of late because there are so many jobs to do around the house before the onset of winter. Oh! listen to me, as if we had a summer!!!!! Anyway, here is the usual bit of my desk:

Nothing new there except my DT book, my partly finished Tim 2012 September tag - I don't have the typewriter die so am pondering what to add instead - a tiny piece of crinkle ribbon on top of a bit of metal sheet, a pan scrub that I used on the tag as I don't have any nasty wire wool and a tiny perfume bottle.
The rest of my desk looks like this:

Empty apart from a part eaten bag of chocolate peanuts, some indigestion tablets, the piece of card I used to mark my green' should be brown' distress markers (now replaced by Ranger - thank you so much for such an amazingly quick service), an external hard drive and my wonderful glasses case and drinks mat.
So no crafty project in the making. Goodness knows when I shall be able to start something. We still have the shed fascia boards to replace, the greenhouse to re-coat (it's wooden) some cementing to do, a paving slab to lift and straighten as tree roots have raised it, plus ordinary life which keeps getting in the way. Hope we finish everything before our next set of booked dates which begin in 2/3 weeks. Righto, off to start again.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

That's what my DH and I have been since we came home from our hols - busy.
The outside looked like a bomb had dropped after the awful wet weather of this year. Black, almost, paths, flowers that had been attacked by the rain, empty flower pots that I never got a chance to plant. So drastic action had to be taken.
DH started to re-paint the fence panels only to find that some of the wood between the panels and posts was rotten. Amazing how one simple job becomes umpteen major ones. Then it rained - again! Anyway, after having spent days of having to go out for one thing or another, we finally got to power wash the paths last Thursday. It took all day and we were so tired and aching after it. I had the unenviable job of sweeping away the water. Just look at my feet:

The dye came out of my shoes and added to the dirt from the paths. I had a right job showering that lot off.
Anyway, we started to sort out the plants, re-preserve the wooden garden furniture, paint some trellis, treat ourselves to another tree fern and a chiminea. Still more to do but here is the result so far:

It would be lovely if the winter stayed mild so that I don't have to put fleece round the tree ferns and some other plants round the other side, but that's asking rather a lot I think.
Right, today I'm going to have a go at Tim's september tag. Not sure what die cut to use though as I don't have the typwriter one. Still, somthing will come to mind.

WOYWW #169

I wonder when our lovely Julia publishes her woyww post each week? I've scheduled posts, stayed up until midnight to publish a post, kept my phone in bed and checked through the night to see if Julia's is on, I've even jumped out of bed at 6am to be an early bird and link mine so I get near the beginning of the list. Why?? because this woyww 'thing' is exciting. Being able to visit with crafty folk all over the world and see the creations, stash and sometimes, awful mess that we are all capable of making, is the highlight of each week. However, today I decided to simply get up - whenever - take my photo and write up a little ditty before joining you all, so here goes:

Quite tidy again. I have been making a few things for anniversaries and challenges this week as proved by the little pile of scraps to the left. You can see 3 lovely Inkadinkadoo stamps that I used to stamp on tissue paper for a canvas I made, the flower and rosette are still waiting for a project, there's a little box about to be decorated, 2 paper flowers I made from Tim's pine cone die for the August tag - trouble with them is, I made them inside out, der!! the usual scissors etc, and 4, actually, distress stains that are all brown but come out green. I marked them on white card and then emailed Ranger who are going to replace them.
That's how it is today, all ready to play on the next set of projects. I have to write another post now because the 3rd of the little tutorials I did for Just Some Lines is live today, then I can call round yours.

TIM'S 12 TAGS OF 2012 - AUGUST

At long last I have made the August tag. I couldn't take my craft room on holiday so, having just returned after 4 weeks, I have just completed it. I just want to say a great big thank you to Jennie of the Artistic Stamper fame. I placed an order with her for a few things with which to make my tag, one item being the small leaf and branch die. Jennie thought she had one in stock but it turned out not to be the case so as a good will gesture, she cut some leaves and branches from her own die and sent them to me. How generous is that then. Thank you so very much Jennie.
Right then, another gorgeous tag from Tim. Here is my version,

WOYWW FROM HOME - is it BOOHOO or AT LAST!??!!

Well certainly the washing and ironing is a boohoo but having a phone that works is an 'at last.' I have missed being able to reply to our Julia and the rest of you wonderful Woywwers out there over the last 4 weeks because, to be honest, this is the very first time that O2 has ever let me down.
I have had their connection for over 14yrs because it serves the majority of the places we go to - not any more. My mobile web connection, although archaic, is T-Mobile and that was much better, but I can't email from it. Well, looks like I have to do a-think when my contract is up in December.
The holiday - it was special. My DH hates all sport not related to motorbikes. We watched almost every minute of the olympics. I was in heaven and he is now a convert eagerly awaiting the paralympics. We met up with special friends but missed another. We had fantastic weather and we drank far too much, - who cares...... We laughed, we howled at late night comedy tv, we walked around wonderful places, saw birds and animals that made us stop and stare, we had ' do nothing days', we drove miles, we shopped in Asda for groceries and spent £'s in Trago Mills in Devon - but for me, the best part of the whole 4 weeks was sitting on the quay side watching the Sunseeker Yachts being built in Poole, Dorset. I simply adore that sight. It gives me dreams like no other. They are only for the super rich but I dream of the places they can take you. Magical, just magical.
I have already shared a very special day with you that I had with my pal Sylvia and hubby Reg.  Asa and Kobe are starting to shed their unbelievable coats ready for the winter but will still look wonderful. Sylvia spoilt me with hand-made presents and I leave you with photos of my work space and their glory:

Oops, that's me trying to make Tim's August tag at last.

TIM HOLTZ APP

Have you seen what Tim has done now??? Produced an i-phone app.

I guess I shall be playing with my hubby's i-pad and i-phone every day now. Just off to create my stock list before I have a go at a wish list.

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - PAGES 33 & 34

The current challenge from Linda runs for 2 weeks because it's a biggy.
Either start a new configuration box or tray or continue with one already started, either way, so long as you follow the instructions on pages 33 & 34 of Tim's book, you can enter this time round.
I have a large box which I started ages ago but keep pinching bits off and adding other things. The latest bit that was added is a small compartment to the top made by my friend Lindsay Mason. Here is my box to date:

I have a special little shelf in my bedroom where I keep my box. It's a constant source of memories too. I love it to bits.
I used all sorts of Tim goodies including papers, tissue tape, Idea-o-logy, etc and added my own personal trinkets such as a photo of my 3 boys taken nearly 40yrs ago, my pram mobile - which is Victorian and was given to me by my god Mother, my school badge, oh! and a little frog that one day I hope to kiss so it turns into a Prince LOL.
I wonder what I shall do to my box next.........

12 TAGS OF 2012 - JULY

Tim certainly set a challenge today. Not the actual techniques to achieve this month's tag, but where to find my air can!!!!!
In the end I had to resort to using a straw and nearly blowing my brains out apart from almost choking.....However, on the second attempt I managed to make a 'reasonable' background . Obviously July 4th is very special in the US but the colours, red, white and blue have also been special for us in the UK. I therefore decided to go patriotic myself and came up with this interpretation for the July tag -

The flag is one given to me by the olympic torch procession, so glad I kept it.
Thanks for another bit of fun Tim.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - JUNE

I think Tim's June tag is wonderful. However, I don't have half the embellishments he used so as usual, I had to make some.

I don't have any of the gem paper pins, so I used an ordinary paper clip, unbent one end and stuck a bead on it, simples. I didn't have a single metal number but did have one that said 1/2. I simply cut it apart and used the no. 2. I didn't have the background stamp but did have Visual Artistry - lost and found. I didn't have the stamp he used on the photo but did have one from The Artistic Stamper which works well. The rest is all Tim's stuff, just different. It broke my heart to have to cut into the Destinations papers. I keep going through the whole stash and reading each page. It's a trip back into history.
Another fun tag from the master himself.

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - #6 - TISSUE WRAP COLLAGE PAGE 38

I've missed the last 2 weeks of Linda's challenges but decided to make an effort this week. #6 has all the details on page 38 of Tim's book so you will need to have a look at that before having a go yourself. Just to add a little more excitement to the challenge, there is a prize of a $25 voucher from sponsor The Funkie Junkie's Boutique, wow.
This challenge is more about the background and I decided to make a card:

The photo doesn't do this justice but shows it well enough. This is what I used:
tissue wrap
grungeboard
paint dabbers - juniper, terracotta.
glue and seal
Vagabond
on the edge die - scallops
stamps - good thoughts, fabulous flourishes
glossy accents
distress inks - peacock feathers, rusty hinge
ink blending tool and foam
Tonic scissors
clear stamp - visual artistry regal flourish
Archival ink - black, aquamarine

IT'S ARRIVED

My apron from Tim showing that I 'graduated' from his Creative Chemistry 101 class.

I enjoyed the 2 week classes so much that I treated myself to the pinny. No guilt feeling either because I had sold some bits on eBay not only to pay for the classes, but also to buy the apron. the dilemma now is - do I wear it or do I keep it nice and clean along with the one I got Tim to sign last year at his UK workshop...... Decisions, decisions.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - MAY

We've had a little wait for this month's tag because Tim has been teaching at Ranger U, but he caught up with the May tag just the other day.
I started mine yesterday but didn't get it finished because I needed to lift my big sewing machine - my titchy craft one doesn't do zig zag - and my right wrist is sore with arthritis just now so I couldn't manage it yesterday. However, onwards and upwards as they say and I just got on with it today.

I got to use one of the brass type charms that my DH made for me before he sold all his engineering machines and tools. Cute eh? I so love making faux porcelain flowers and adding a bit of distressing with the new spring colours made them even more special.
I really like this month's tag. It was simple to make but is so effective.

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - TECHNIQUE 1, CUSTOM FOAM STAMPS

Having already entered Linda's challenge this week, I was surprised at the comments I received as they were negative.  I couldn't understand why until I went through all the other entries and saw that none of them had used the technique I had, DER!!! I read foam stamps as felt stamps and thought, I've just done that on Tim's Creative Chemistry 101 so I can use the same stamp. Can you see where I am coming from yet? Non clever me didn't even bother to look at page 66 in the Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2, which is our challenge page, so today, I am washing egg off my face. I have emailed Linda and asked her to remove my entry because I obviously now realise it doesn't conform to the rules. When will I ever learn!!!
I hope this card will be correct:

Materials used:
Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2
Lost and Found papers
Alteration strip dies, Autumn gatherings, Festive Greenery, Tattered Flower Garland
Alterations on the Edge die, Butterflight
Speciality stamping paper
Distress inks, Barn Door, rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogony, Dusty Concord. Tumbled Glass,
Multi Matt Medium
Visual Artistry stamps, Regal Flourish
Vagabond
Packaging from Idea-ology
Idea-ology ruler
Tonic Scissors