StarLitStudio

the journey matters

 

Today's project is a quick 6x6 page for an inspiration journal headed to a friend.  I've used a few Tim Holtz trinkets, which create great dimension and add character to any page.

A strip of Memory Box Sage cardstock was pierced with a template...

... then sponged lightly with a Distress Vintage Pad. 

Pierced Sage strip was elevated on the 6x6 page base (consisting of Memory Box Jack O' Lantern cardstock and Twiggy patterned paper) using the edge remnants of SU foam dimensionals.

     

The above photos depict the sequential addition of Distress inks using a blending tool (left to right:  Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain) to achieve an aged look to the white cardstock.  Stamp credit:  Stampers Anonymous.

 

Martha Stewart lace punch piece was sponged with Antique Linen Distress, and found lace was added as well.  Tim's Keyhole, Long Fasteners and a Word Key were added, along with felt leaves, a found wooden button and fine burlap string to complete the page.  The key is adhered securely using red line tape.

ingredients:  Memory Box papers, ink blending tool, plush piercing pad, piercing templates & piercing tool, Distress ink pads - Ellen Hutson; ink blending tool, felt leaves, fine burlap string, Tim Holtz Trinkets - StarLitStudio

2008 Holiday ATC

My friend Stevie hosted a holiday ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap, and I created mine using one of Tim Holtz's techniques.  These were created assembly-line style, meaning I did all the steps at once for all 16 ATC's.  Here's the directions! 

Step one:  On a 1/2" strip of white cardstock stamp A Muse sentiment with Archival Jet Black ink (Ranger) , use Tim's Paper Distress Tool then ink distressed edges using a blending tool and Distress Vintage Photo and Antique Linen.

Step two:  background.  Using three Distress hues smear them onto a non-stick craft sheet,  spritz with water using a Mini Mister, then drop each white cardstock ATC into the wet colors, spinning it around.  Heat set and repeat spinning & drying until look is achieved.

Step three:  Mist each ATC with a mini mister of water and about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of Perfect Pearls Perfect Sparkle  This will make the inked cardstock sparkle like glistening snow! See how to do this on Tim's blog here.  Iron flat with a craft iron.

Step four: Stamp Memory Box Bare Tree (#E1125) three times without reinking using Espresso ink, and bird (Of a Feather clear set) using Cranberry ink.

Step five:  Adhere torn cranberry mulberry paper, a strip of 7gypsies paper with inked edges, and the verse strip from step one.  As a fininshing touch, thread a mini-bell (Michaels) onto a 7gypsies mini paper clip and slip into place.  Adhere another piece of cardstock to the back, sign, date & number.

Before I go here's another swap I did for Gloria at the All Things Tim Yahoo group, using a simplified tag from an earlier creation: 

This uses Tim's Philosophy Tags and Hitch Fasteners, and a die-cut Cuttlebug butterfly using Swirl Grungeboard.  Cuttlebug dies cut grungeboard easily.

Best wishes for a great weekend!!

sources:  Memory Box stamps:  Stampin' Treasures

Balmy Breezes project

This card and soldered necklace project was a submission to Crafts 'n Things magazine, and appeared in their September, 2008 online newsletter.  Instructions can be found here.  Hope you enjoy this quick gift idea!!

ellen's challenge

Ellen Hutson issued a challenge on her educational CLASSroom blog today regarding adding texture to your creations. 

Ellen is also having a giveaway on the CLASSroom blog too!

I've been inspired by Lisa Spangler's candles, and created one using Karen Lockhart's Lavender image.

I highly recommend watching Lisa's most excellent video tutorial, then trying one!  To begin, I stamped Hero Arts Old Letter Writing onto a piece of tissue paper twice using Adirondack Espresso - twice so it would wrap around the candle completely.

Then I did something stupid.  I tried to use one of Tim Holtz's new masks and thinking I'd airbrush the Old Letter script using the mask.  Nada.  Tim's masks are meant to be used on cardstock weight paper - not flimsy tissue paper.  I'm going to see if I can soak then scrub the tissue off the back of the mask later - it will be time consuming I'm sure... and I tell you this so you won't eveah do this!

... So I restamped the script image again, twice, onto tissue.  Moving on.

I heat set (melted) the stamped script tissue onto the candle.  Then stamped the Lockhart Lavender image in Ranger's Archival Jet Black ink onto a smallish piece of tissue paper.  Colored in using Prismacolor pencils. 

I'd recommend using darker colors than normal.  When you melt the image into the candle the pencil colors lighten - big time.

Trimmed the lavender image and melted into the candle right over the script layer.  Added a punched lace layer (Martha Stewart) sponged with Distress Antique Linen ink to the base.  Finished with a few wraps of fine burlap string.

Lastly, adhered typewriter key eyelet letters (Making Memories) spelling the French word for flower (used Crafters' Pick adhesive - it's a water-based superglue!).  The L in 'fleur' uses a different style typewriter key (Michaels Craft Store), to emphasize the L in Lavender.

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Friday everyone!

edited to add:  due to the metal imbedded in the candle I did not want to burn it directly.  Instead, I hollowed out the top and inserted a tea light.  I just heated the top of the candle slightly with my heat tool, and cut away using an X-acto blade - then smoothed the edges with my heat tool.  Easy peasy!

supplies:  Lockhart Stamp Company stamps - their entire line - Ellen Hutson
Tim Holtz Ink blending tool & foam, fine burlap string - StarLitStudio

Airbrushed Inchie

I posted this gift with card today on the CLASSroom blog, and it details masking and airbrushing.  Please stop by for a quick visit & tutorial!

image credit:  Sand Bucket from Lockhart Stamp Company

collage birthday

I figure if I keep trying to make masculine cards they will become easier.  I enjoy collage work, and when using the Hero Arts collage images most of the work is done for you, making the process super easy.

Simply stamp the collage image onto various cardstocks or patterned papers (or both), and tear and piece together.  Pop some with foam dimensionals if you like.  It's that easy. 

And you can change the image - this 'feminine' gratitude image can be changed to a masculine one by just hiding the flower.  We'll do that later.

I'm into making different sized cards lately, so I took a large card base (Cranberry Memory Box) 6-1/4" x 4-1/2" and stamped the flourish image with black ink on the left side. 

Next, stamped the collage image once each onto Imaginisce paper, ivory cardstock, Cranberry cardstock all with black ink, and once using white ink onto Licorice cardstock.

Tear some, cut some, and ink the edges. 

I added some Tim Holtz hardware and other 'guy' embellishments to give that masculine feel and cover the flower up.  I used Distress pads (Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain) to ink the edges.

Next time you get an itch to try collage and are not sure about it - try one of these collage style stamps.  Makes it a whole lot easier (and faster!).  Thank you for stopping by today! 

Hero Arts (and Memory Box!) stamps: please visit Stampin Treasures - Collage Gratitude, Dot Flourish, and clear Birthday Messages set used.

harvest candle framed

Bev Barton, a dear friend of mine, issued a challenge for last weekend:  to use some stamp supplies that maybe have gathered dust over the summer:  Prismacolor pencils, gamsol, and stumps!

For Bevie's challenge, I decided to use a frame that sits in my foyer.  The story around this frame is, I keep a piece of work that I've made in it and have been trying to build these works into seasonal pieces that can be changed out every few months or so.

This image is what was in the frame. 

Having very little Thanksgiving items, I decided to use Lockhart's new Harvest Candle image and carry a vintage-style theme to it.

I began with a 4" x 6" Licorice (Memory Box) cardstock base, and was going to use a layout from Valerie Stangle, but the frame is just too narrow, so we're keepin' it simple.

Using Distress Antique Linen and Walnut Stain, I inked the edges of the Cezanne (7gypsies) paper, Imaginisce patterned paper, and white cardstock with stamped image.  Using the Imaginisce paper I also punched out corner vintage-style corners.  Vintage-style photo corners were added to the white cardstock layer.

To begin coloring, I started with the apples.  Using three tones of red (light, medium and dark), I layered on a very pale pink, followed by a medium red, using Prismacolor pencils.

Next I added a bit of very dark red pencil.

Then the fun part - using a paper stump and Gamsol (Inky Antics) I blended the colors together!

I used a glue pen to adhere the decorative Vintage corners to the main piece.  Glossy Accents were added to highlight the glass flute around the harvest candle.

Here's a closeup of the coloring/finished piece.  Lockhart 'celebrate' sentiment was stamped onto Meadow cardstock (Memory Box) with edges tapped with Distress Walnut Stain. 

Thank you for stopping by to celebrate autumn with me!!

sources: Lockhart Stamp Company images - including their new ones!, Memory Box cardstocks - Ellen Hutson

Cuttlebug items & Imaginisce paper:  eclecticPaperie

glue pens, 7gypsies paper - StarLitStudio

Color Wash Birthday

When I saw Tim Holtz demo at CHA last month, the rage seemed to be his Color Wash technique.  I had seen Tim demo this technique on his last DVD, bought all the Adirondack Color Wash bottles in every color, then never opened them (don't laugh - I'll bet you've done this too!).

So when Tim broke out the Color Wash bottles I squealed inside (like I wasn't already) with anticipation and excitement!  Here's what I learned:

A first quick note about Ranger's Adirondack Color Washes - these are textile dyes.  That means if you get them on your clothes (or sofa or cat or other artwork laying about) it is NOT coming off.

The last quick note about this product is it is MESSY.  I wear aprons when working without exception.  If you come by during the morning, afternoon or evening you will be greeted by me wearing one!  So go find yours or get a garbage bag with a hole cut in the top & sides for your head and arms.  Trust me - you'll thank me later.

Start by spritzing your cardstock layer (I chose a tag) with a nice layer of water.  Don't over-saturate the tag but don't be skimpy either.  Spritz until the surface is covered by a thin layer of water. 

The water allows the Color Washes to blend.  Without the water layer there will be no blending of color.

After spritzing the water immediately layer on desired Color Wash colors.  The blending effect is amazing and very kewl to watch!  To dry you can speed it along with a heat tool or craft iron.  Tim blotted his too toward the end of the dry time as he was heat drying it.

Next I prepared my mica tile (USArtQuest).  Mica is a mineral found in the Earth that is heat-resistant and acid free.  Commonly used in the electrical industry, we crafters have adapted it for our use!  You can paint it, punch it, die-cut it and, as I did here, run it through a sewing machine, and more.  In this photo, I peeled away a layer (the lightest color).  You can get many layers from one piece of mica.  Reminds me of playing with shale in the hills of Pennsylvania as a kid.  Reserve the balance of the mica piece for future projects.

In my attempt to overcome my masculine card deficiency, I decided to create a masculine birthday card.  I stamped the Lockhart Adirondack Chair using Ranger Archival Ink directly onto the mica piece.  Layered a few torn pieces of 7gypsies paper (inked edges first - Distress Vintage Photo) onto the Color Washed tag, then inked all the edges of the tag. 

Using a small bit of adhesive I stabilized the stamped mica piece to the tag...then ran the whole thing through my sewing machine.

Added a few more snippets of 7gypsies paper to the card front (Memory Box Eggshell cardstock base) and decided to punch a hole through the mica, added a black eyelet and threaded a bit of dark brown waxed linen through it and attached an hourglass charm.  Birthday Wishes is a Hero Arts stamp.

Hope this inspires you to get messy!  Thanks for stopping by!

sources:

Lockhart Stamps - their complete line, with more new images arriving soon!! plus Adirondack Color Washes - Ellen Hutson, LLC

Hero Arts Stamps - their entire line - Stampin' Treasures

DMD tags, 7gypsies papers, charms, waxed linen, Ink Blending Tool - StarLitStudio

The snippet of verse running horizontally is ancient product from Heidi Swapp.

tips from t!m Holtz

Samples of quick tags I made after returning home, inspired by Tim Holtz.

As promised, here are highlights from the five pages of notes I took while entranced by Tim at the Summer 2008 CHA Ranger booth:

1. Cut 'n Dry Foam:  One can use the white part of this product to speed blending and it does not absorb the product - it actually conserves the product and blends ever-so-beautifully...what I learned is the silver side can be heated with a heat tool, push and hold any stamp image firmly into warm/hot silver foam until cooled - using scissors cut the image out and - BAM! - instant reverse image of your stamp.  Works like Clearsnap's MagicStamp.  Try heating a piece then pushing into a pile of rubber bands, twigs, marbles, raffia for a truly unique stamp....
2. You can die-cut Cut 'n Dry Foam.
3. Tim has color index dots on the caps of his Mini Misters to identify what is inside quickly and easily - simply spray contents onto white cardstock, dry and punch with a 1/2" circle punch; adhere to Mini Mister cap with Glossy Accents.
4. Tim has color index dots on the top of his Foam Blending Tools and they are stored in a vintage-style spin rack.  StarLitStudio will be carrying these metal, vintage-style spin racks to house up to eight blending tools early to mid-August.  To create color ID dots for the wooden handles, simply swipe desired colors (Tim had one each of these colors for his blending tools:  red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, light brown and dark brown) onto white cardstock and punch with a 3/4" circle punch.  Adhere with Glossy Accents to top of wooden handle.
5. Speaking of Glossy Accents, Tim slammed the bottle down on his worksurface when finished dispensing the product.  By slamming it down it forces the product out of the nozzle and back into the bottle, preventing the nozzle from getting that common clog, then having to use a needle to reopen it with each use. 
6. Tim opened his Distress Embossing Pad, held it up to his nose, and deeply inhaled!  I said something, and he passed the pad to me.  I did the same - deep inhale through the nose...and guess what ladies... it smells....like PEPPERMINT!!  No stinkie!!  Tim said when he formulated his embossing ink he wanted it to, well, not stink.  Y'all are gonna go smell your Versamark now I know it!  Per Tim, other embossing inks, "...they stink, like STINK!"
7. You can sew directly through Grungeboard. 
8. Grungeboard is safe in your washer.  And dryer.  Grungeboard, altered using either Distress Crackle Paint, Distress Ink, or Adirondack Color Wash, is safe in your washer.  And dryer.  Oh, the possibilities... !!!!!!!  Yes, I am trying this weekend and will report back!!
9. Grungeboard is moldable with coaxing - use your fingers and heavy pressure - look what he did to a butterfly - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoppingdiva/2681553570/in/photostream/ (A special thank you to Christine Urias for allowing me to share this photo with you.)
10. Tim's light carmel colored T-shirt from Advantus reads on the front - very plain, no details - just the words, "Do you see nothing?"  and on the back - highly detailed with stylized multi-colored flourishes - reads, "or possibilities?"  LOVE it. 
11. Distress Pad storage:  OK to store upright or upside down.  Tim explained it this way:  Think of a household sponge.  You wet it, wring it out, then come back 15-30 minutes later - where is it wet?  Everywhere - not on the top or bottom, but wet throughout the sponge.  Same thing with your Distress Pad.
12. You can not contaminate Distress Pads when layering color using the pad itself (direct to paper technique).
13. You can not contaminate Adirondack Acrylic Paint Daubers either - color is dispensed only and can not be 'sucked back into' the container.  Just clean the affixed sponge applicator and you're good to go.
14. One can not 'tone down' a Distress Pad - you can not get a lighter color by generation (or repetition) stamping - color stays true.
15. I asked Tim why his Distress Black Soot was the blackest ink on the market.  He told the story of how he went to the chemists when creating the Distress palette and wanted 'black'.  They told him "black does not exist", and "black is a combination of purple, green and blue."  Tim said,
    "start with black".  The chemists said, "nothing exists in nature that is black except coal".  Tim said, "Okay, so start there."  ...So there you have it - it has coal in it...hence the name 'Black Soot'....he's so clever... and smart...
16. Using Mini Misters, about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of Perfect Pearls, add water and a full dropper full of any Distress reinker to create your own mist of glimmer on projects.  Don't fill the Mini Mister full with water - leave a bit of room (about 3/4") when filling so the water/reinker and powder can emulsify easily.  A popsicle stick makes a great tool to insert a portion of Perfect Pearls into the mini misters - fits perfectly.
17. Check out the new Mini Mister Organizer!  Available soon and yes, we will be carrying this.  I plan on adhering three or four together to keep all of mine organized and together.
18. Tim showed how to get your Mini Mister to 'spit'.  It cracked me up:  hold the nozzle between your thumb and first finger very, very close to the top of the nozzle, and depress ever-so-slightly.  This will cause the Mini Mister to and not mist.
19. Organizational tip:  DON'T!    I had all of my Tim hardware (Sprockets, Word Keys, Trinket Pins, etc.) individually organized in their own glass-topped watchmaker tins.  Not Tim - he has them all jumbled together in a purtty vintage box...I came home and did the same - now they are all jumbled together (OK the jump rings and brads are in clear lidded tins, cuz they'd be hard to find) ...and all of the hardware together...it DOES make you THINK about the possibilities...and outside the box.
20. When poking using Tim's piercer from Tonic, poke, then twist slightly.  It will keep the hole opened nicely.
21. When using your heat tool, hold the paper up at an angle, not flat on your worksurface.  By holding the paper at an angle, you allow the heat to pass through and the paper does not curl.
22. Adirondack Color Wash is a textile dye - you gettie it on your clothie, it stayie.  Tim recommended for folks that are squeamish about a messy product:  Wear a garbage bag and gloves and have fun.  Prepare for a mess and you'll enjoy it!  Me?  I'll stick to my apron and inky hands.  If I get the spray on my shirt I'll just spray the other side.
23. Adirondack Color Washes can not be watered down to get a less-intense color.  Water actually intensifies them - by a factor of TEN...  Try misting tag/paper with water, then go at it with the color washes.  Much different effect than using the product without water beforehand.  The product will not blend unless you have a water layer under the colors.  With water it feathers together oh so nicely (see tag on right above).
24. Tim's Distressing Tool (the one that looks like a thread cutter) contains a titanium blade for maximum life.
25. Use Snow Cap (white) Acrylic Paint Dauber to rub over Tim's Trinket Pins or Philosophy Tags, then wipe away, to make the engraved word easier to read/see.
26. Twelve Distress Stickle colors (not necessarily the original 12 Distress hues...I asked...) are being released now (available soon!), with the balance slotted for release this winter.  Distress Stickles will have a wider opening as the glittah is biggah.  They are actually more pearlesque in sparkle than a metallic sparkle of the original Stickle colors.
27. Masks - VERY exciting new product - $2.99 retail and you get quite a few with each theme, and they are BIG...  On the back of the packaging there is a cute little sentence and signature from Heidi Swapp - endorsing the product.  Tim asked her to do this so folks would not jump to conclusions that he stole her product - Per Tim, Heidi asked him to design a few masks and he agreed, but only if she would endorse them on his packaging.
28. Cling adhesive in the masks - you can wash these masks in your sink and the cling will not wear off - purrty kewl!
29. More about masks: Tim's are CLEAR and more detailed than others on the market.  Yup - clear.  When you layer them on your surface and begin inking, you can SEE where you inked cuz, well, they are CLEAR and not black, so you can see how much to ink.  Yay, Tim!  genius...

In closing, Tim is as genuine in person as he comes across in his DVD's.  After spending about 50 minutes enthralled, watching him demo non-stop, I prepared to depart and thanked him, and I made the statement, "I think one of the reasons you are so amazing is one can watch you and go home and recreate the same techniques with success."  His reply?  "That's what it's all about."

magnetic Inchie board

Want a clever idea to display your inchies? 

Slim design:  1.5mm thick and 5" square (12.5cm), the Inchie Art Magnetic Display Board ($11.99 at Ellen's store) is a pristine, glossy, black magnetic board with a lovely ribbon hanger!

I was tempted to use the magnetic board as is - the unit by itself is attractive and fits into any work area, kitchen, office, cubicle - a clever display device to arrange seasonal Inchie art to inspire you, or those around you.

How I customized my magnetic board: I covered the front with a piece of 7gypsies paper, then with a strip of white cardstock with a Vintage Photo Distress Pad DTP (direct to paper - hold the open stamp pad and rub all over the cardstock with it - fun!); allow to dry then sand.  Meanwhile I painted a few letters from Tim's Mixed Minis Grungeboard  with his Crackle Paint.  It dried super fast as it is getting warmer here in NJ. 

You can always speed along Tim's Distress Crackle Paint with a heat tool once the cracks start forming!  I love that!

Also, I used regular adhesive - what I use for making cards - to adhere the paper to the magnetic board.  Very speedy.

Next, I adhered the dried crackle letters to the brown strip using Glossy Accents, then pried off the attachment loop of a queen bee charm and adhered the charm with Glossy Accents too.  Dry time was a mere minute!

Using a 3mm ball chain as my hanger I wanted to keep with the 'Tim Holtz Feeling' of this Inchie magnetic board.  Anytime I see ball chain or anything hardware-looking I think of Tim!  LOL!

I made a quick cupcake Inchie featuring Karen Lockhart's Itty Bitty Cupcake - I followed Karen's  instructions she gave me once on altering the base color of the Inchie Square.  Inchie Squares are prepackaged, sturdy, pristine, high-end matboard 1" squares that make creating Inchies a snap. 

Using the chisel tip of a light pink Copic marker, I completely covered a White Inchie Square - the premium matboard captured the Copic marker ink like buttah...  then stamped (Palette pad in Noir) the Lockhart IB Cupcake directly onto the altered Inchie Square surface, then further colored the cupcake with Copic Markers.  Amazing markers...

For an added touch, I used a glue pen and covered the icing portion of the cupcake, then dipped into Prisma Glitter.  Added a Pink Crystal Gemstone bling for the cherry!

A Krylon pen was used to create a border on the Inchies - the chisel tip of the Krylon Leafing Pens makes doing this a snap!  You could also use the chisel tip of a Copic marker too.

Lastly, Inchie Magnets:  This handy product, available through Ellen, is a 1/2" tall x 36" long magnetic strip featuring strong adhesive on one side.  I did not need to use additional adhesive with this product - the adhesive that arrives on the magnetic strip securely adheres to the back of an inchie - just cut the strip to the length you need (I cut mine 3/4" long), peel back the protective layer and adhere to the back of your inchie.

Thank you for stopping by and hope this post was Inchie Inspirin'! :)

sources:  Lockhart Stamp Company images (including specially designed Lockhart stamps just for inchies!), Inchie products:  Magnetic Display Board, Inchie Squares, Inchie Magnetic Strips, Pink Crystal Gemstones, Krylon pens, plus Designer Sets or individual Copic markers - please visit Ellen's store at Ellen Hutson, LLC. 

Ellen's educational blog is here too!  www.ellenhutson.typepad.com. 

More info on the wonderful world of Inchies:  Please visit Lisa Lee's website dedicated to the amazing art of Inchies:  www.InchieArts.com

Tim Holtz Grungeboard, 7gypsies papers (Measurement used in this post), Tim's Distress Crackle Paints, paper sanding tool, queen bee charms, ball chain, Krylon pens, glue pens - StarLitStudio.