Craft Creations – iGirlZoe, Crafter & Tim Holtz Addict

‘Craft Creations’ Category

12 Tags of 2015 – July

27th July, 2015 by iGirlZoe

At the beginning of the month I made a July 4th wall hanging inspired by Tim’s July Tag. Since then Tim has announced his new Halloween products as well as some awesome accessory stamps and dies for those crazy birds we’ve all gone crazy over. It was all the excuse I needed…

I have been so inspired by Richele Christensen’s awesome crazy bird cards, (complete with names and personalities), that I had to create my own.
…May I introduce, “Count Peckula,” an Undertaker from Twittervania. 😉

The base is black soot distress spray stain sprayed on a manila tag and watercolor cardstock and paper from the industrial stash, stamped with the new Undertaker set.

The tag is edged with idea-ology industrious stickers, covered with a little mushroom and espresso alcohol ink and stitched.

I wanted to give the impression of lots of bats hiding in the dark, so stamped the bird crazy eyes onto watercolor cardstock lots of times and cut with the corresponding die. I edged the eyes with black soot distress marker to fully immerse them into the dark background.

This is how I made Count Peckula…

See a video on how to create the base bird here!

CAPE POINTS: die cut an additional set of wings from watercolor cardstock, colour with festive berries and edge with black soot distress markers.

VAMPIRE FANGS: die cut using the die pictured from watercolor cardstock, trim (as pictured) to create the fangs.

WALKING STICK & TOP HAT: stamp the candy cane from the new crazy things stamp set and elongated the stem with a journaling pen. Coloure with the black soot distress marker to cover the candy cane stripes. Stamp the top hat from the Undertaker stamp set.

Attach the cape points and the vampire fangs with a dab of glossy accents and then cover the vampire fangs with glossy accents to give an enameled look.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my tag. You can see this months tag and techniques on Tim’s blog.

CMS #240 Undertaker / CMS#237 Crazy Things / CM#212 Bird Crazy / #660954 Bird Crazy Thinlit Dies

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 14 Comments | Views: 901
Ranger Ink Mixed Media Summer Canvas

13th July, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello everyone. I am really excited to share my guest tutorial over at Ranger Ink today with step-by-step mixed media summer themed canvas.

I hope you can hop over and take a look, there are lots of step-by-step tutorials from other guest artists in the Ranger Ink Project Library.

Have a great week.

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 4 Comments | Views: 518
12 Tags of 2015 – May

5th May, 2015 by iGirlZoe

I love it when the 12 tags of 2015 are posted just before the weekend as it allows me to dive straight in. The reveal of May’s distress colour twisted citron AND May’s tag ON THE SAME DAY got me really ramped up to get inky.

I had a look through the new Tim Holtz photobooth cards and found a card that inspired me to pay homage to my postman …bringer of happy mail, (who I love and regularly run towards, screaming, whooping and cheering loudly)!

I reached for a sheet of new idea-ology burlap, which comes with corregated and cork sheets and decided that the cork worked better for me. I used this new stencil which I am a little bit in LOVE with and reminds me of the arrows on postal packaging I’ve received.

The Swiss post colours are yellow so I grabbed my mustard seed distress paint and covered some alphaparts.

There was lots of postal ephemera to choose from in Tim Holtz’s ephemera packs. I also used mustard seed distress markers to colour the postal uniform in the photobooth card. Check out Tim’s tag for techniques. I cut up one of the new small talk sayings to read “always be on the lookout for the” and placed above the “postie” alphaparts. I am always on the lookout for the postie! 😉

Thanks for taking the time to look at my tag. You can see this months tag and techniques on Tim’s blog and you can see the post translated into French on Scrapdeco’s blog.

I hope you can check out the following challenge blogs.
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015
Inspiration Journal Monthly Challenge
Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 10 Comments | Views: 937

Mother’s Day Cards

30th April, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Just squeezing in a second post inspired by April’s 12 Tags of 2015. This time with 2 Mother’s Day cards for a lovely American girl from my French class to send home. She asked me where she could buy Mother’s Day cards in Switzerland so I offered to make her a couple. She had recently given me some Reese’s candy, (and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for chocolate)!!!

As time was limited, I turned once again to Tim’s April tag for inspiration. I am still waiting for my “craft dealer”, (as my DH calls her), to return from holiday so I can get my hands on Tim’s new flower garden stamps. However, with a little distress ink you can make any stamp work… (temporarily anyway)!

I used the alphanumeric thinlit dies to create a customised “Mother’s Day” banner. I LOVE these dies, they are SO versatile, I LOVE that about Tim’s products!

I can’t wait for Friday! Tim’s May tag and the new distress color is unveiled! Could Fridays get any better? I DON’T THINK SO!!! 😉

Thanks for taking a look at my cards and I hope you can check out the following challenge blogs.

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015
Inspiration Journal Monthly Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Blog Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

$23.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps – Perspective	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Markers – Full Set	Sizzix® Thinlits™ Die Set 7PK – Handwritten Celebrate by Tim Holtz®	Sizzix® Texture Fades™ Embossing Folder – Mesh by Tim Holtz®	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Textured Surfaces
Core′dinations – Tim Holtz Ranger- Nostalgic Kraft Core Cardstock 12 x 12	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Walnut Stain	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Vintage Photo	Ranger Archival Ink – Jet Black
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint – Picket Fence	Ranger Glue n’ Seal Matte 3.5 oz.	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer	Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool – With 4 Blending Foams	Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Grid-Blocks XL	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 1/8" x 27 Yards

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations | Tags: | 5 Comments | Views: 1,199

Through the Looking Glass

10th April, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello everyone. I am guest blogging over at A Vintage Journey today where Julia set an awesome theme, “Through the looking Glass!” You can see the finished project over there and the step-by-step below.

Take Tim Holtz’s square 5.75″ x 5.75″ idea-ology configuration box. This one was very kindly gifted to me by my good friend Genevieve, (thank you <3)!
Put aside the lid and insert boxes to use another day.

Cut a sheet of paper (7.5″ x 9.25″). Score across the top of the longest edge (1.75″), then turn the paper 180 degrees and score left to right (1.75″ & 7.5″).

Trim the excess square out of each top corner and cover the reverse in glue n seal.
*TIP: work quickly, glue n seal waits for no one. 😉

Line the configuration box and paint the edges with distress crackle paint and set aside to dry.

Cover Tim Holtz idea-ology tiny vials and light bulbs with multi medium matte and set aside to dry.

Cover each with a good layer of distress crackle glaze and set aside to dry.

Once completely dry, drop alcohol ink on each bottle and set aside to air dry.

Put the corks back into the vials and make tiny labels to attach to the vials with string.

Arrange vials into your configuration box and then glue into place with glossy accents.

These hanging bulb lights were inspired by the AWESOME lights from this years Tim Holtz CHA idea-ology booth!

Crackle glaze the bulbs, (same method as before), wrap wire around the top, secure in place with glossy accents and set aside. While waiting for the glossy accents to dry, poke 3 holes into the top of the configuration box. Once the glossy accents are dry, poke the wire underside through the top and secure with tape, (which will be covered next).

Cover the outer top and side of the configuration box with picket fence distress paint and once dry, cover in a layer of distress crackle paint. Allow the box to dry completely and then rub walnut stain distress ink into the cracks and remove excess with kitchen roll (paper towel).

Next prepare the mirror frame. Die cut a Tim Holtz ornate frame from grungeboard and cover with tarnished brass distress paint and set aside to air dry. Once thoroughly dry, sand portions of the frame and cover in cracked pistachio distress paint and allow to almost dry. Wipe away paint with kitchen roll (paper towel), the cracked pistachio distress paint will come away easily from the painted surfaces and cling to the edges of the sanded areas giving a faux aged patina look.

In order to hide the reverse side of my stamped fussy cut Alice image, I added distress crackle paint to idea-ology mirror. It also gives a cool shattered effect.

Finally, assemble your confirguration box adding several of the bottles to the top and adding some idea-ology hardware.

I die cut “WONDERLAND” from Tim Holtz holiday words script thinlit die set. This fits in perfectly with the theme and helps me to continue my challenge to use my festive dies for other things throughout the year.

Hope you’re still with me! To see the finished project, stop by A Vintage Journey and enter the “Through the Looking Glass” challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and for your comments, I really appreciate them.
Have a great weekend.

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 13 Comments | Views: 1,547
Ranger Ink Butterfly Collage

6th April, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello everyone. I am SO excited to let you know that I have a guest blog post over at Ranger Ink today.

I hope you will stop by and check out my tutorial.

Have a great Monday.

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 7 Comments | Views: 787
B is for Balloon

16th March, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello. Just a quick post to share a birthday card that I made for my Nephew’s first birthday. I meant to post this a week ago, but I went back to school to study French and the first week was a bit hectic.

Excuse the poor lighting. Daylight saving time hasn’t begun in Europe yet and it had been a bit grey outside when I took this pic! I need to sort myself out a portable light box. If anyone has any recommendations, I would appreciate them.

I made the negative by die cutting shrink plastic with Tim Holtz mini filmstrip and ticket decorative strip die. I dropped alcohol inks onto the plastic until it resembled a real negative strip. I printed miniature photos of my Nephew throughout his first year using my Canon Selphy printer.

I stamped, watercolored with distress markers and fussy cut the balloon blueprints and die cut a cameo frame from grungeboard and inked with distress paint and inks.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my card and thank you for your comments, I really do appreciate them.

~

supplies: tim holtz; surfaces (distress watercolor cardstock, grungeboard, manilla cardstock, shrink plastic, core-dinations kraft core)/distress ink (stormy sky, vintage photo, walnut stain)/distress ink markers (stormy sky, frayed burlap, pumice stone)/distress paint (stormy sky, picket fence)/alcohol inks (espresso)/idea-ology (paper stash french industrial, industrious stickers borders)/dies (cameo frame, sized ovals, tattered banners, mini filmstrip & mini tickets)/stamps (#154 mini blueprints 4)
other: archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents/sewing machine

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 802
Matchbox Valentines Collage

14th February, 2015 by iGirlZoe

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Whether you are celebrating Valentine’s with your honey or celebrating being single and fabulous, it’s a great excuse for making stuff.

Today I want to share with you a matchbox valentines collage that I made using the Tim Holtz Sizzix matchbox die and following the really detailed tutorial by Paula Cheney.

I had to include a photo of my sewing machine in action. I am still in shock that I can now use a machine, (albeit basically).

I cut, distressed, inked and stitched the matchbox panels. This time I made side panels which I stamped using the new Tim Holtz watercolor stamp set. I stitched through the centre of the side panels and stuck a strip of scor-tape to the back.

Here you can see the side panels stuck down as well as the heart stamps that I used to stamp the inside of the matchbox sides, (before I built them).

I gathered my distress products ready to decorate my matchboxes.

I made another tiny garden terracotta plant pot using the same techniques as I demonstrated in my matchbox halloween collage post. This time I twisted wire around the skewer and tucked in die cut hearts.

I was still swooning over the new cracked pistachio distress products, so I couldn’t resist using the paint on the arrow adornment to create faux patina. I made a second embellishment for a Valentine’s Day card.

In my matchbox halloween collage I also used corked vials. This time I filled them with tiny die cut hearts and festive berries distress glitter. I made a slit in the top of the cork and pushed a die cut heart into each with a drop of glossy accents to secure.

Thank you for taking time to look at my matchbox valentines collage. Be sure to check out Paula Cheney’s tutorial for detailed instructions on how to make your own matchbox collage.

Be sure to stop by the following online challenges and join in the fun…

“Love is in the Air” – Inspiration Journal
“It’s time to play Tic Tac Toe” – A Vintage Journey
(ideaology, sprays, ribbon)

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 17 Comments | Views: 3,019
Love Distress

13th February, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Yesterday I sat down to work on a final Valentines project and I made this card while waiting for various parts of the other project to dry.

I know the stitching is not going to win any awards, but given that this time last year I couldn’t use a sewing machine… it’s progress. I still haven’t mastered “tension” and I think my machine probably needs dismantling and cleaning because it bangs each time the needle comes down. Someone asked me if I had oiled it and I laughed, (because I thought it was a joke)!! Okay I better shut up before someone calls the sewing machine police!

Quick, I’ll distract you with a close-up! 😉

I die cut a grungeboard heart from the movers and shaper mini hearts set and covered in fired brick distress ink, fired brick distress stickles and glossy accents.
The most difficult part was leaving it alone to dry. Hands up anyone who has impatiently stuck their finger into not quite dry glossy accents?!

It didn’t take long until I had found another excuse to break open my cracked pistachio again. The paint works beautifully as a patina, I think I even prefer the patina effect over the evergreen bough, (sorry eb).

The background was done by stamping the small hearts from the new Tim Holtz watercolor stamp set using picket fence distress paint onto kraft cardstock. The paint smooshes to the edges of the stamp when you press down and leaves a really cool border. I covered XO alpha parts with picket fence distress paint and then weathered.

Thanks for taking time to look at my card and stop by tomorrow to see my Valentines Matchbox Collage.

I am playing along with the “Love is in the Air” challenge over at Inspiration Journal.

~

supplies: tim holtz; surfaces (kraft cardstock, grungeboard core-dinations kraft core)/distress ink (vintage photo)/distress paint (picket fence, fired brick, cracked pistachio)/distress stickles (fired brick)/idea-ology (arrows adornements, alpha parts)/stamps (#217 watercolor)/dies (mini hearts, stacked words: valentines)/tools (paper distresser, blending tool)
other: glossy accents/sewing machine

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations | Tags: | 12 Comments | Views: 1,296
Be My Valentine?

10th February, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello. Thanks very much for the kind comments on my blog. It’s so much fun connecting with such a fantastic community of ~~shopaholics~~ crafters! 😉

Today I wanted to share a Valentine’s card I made. I decided at the beginning of the year not to pack away my festive dies, but rather to alter them for use in projects throughout the year.

This time I altered the Victorian Caroller and the holiday words: script thinlits dies.

I cut “believe” and “merry” to give me “be my”. I also used the alphanumeric dies, which I am obsessed with. I love having the ability to title your cards with whatever you can think of.

I used my new stamp sets watercolor and handwritten thoughts to decorate the background and with a bit of stitching I was done.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my card.

~

supplies: tim holtz; surfaces (distress watercolor cardstock, core-dinations kraft core)/distress ink (antique linen, vintage photo, walnut stain)/dies (victorian carrolers, alphanumeric, holiday words: script)/stamps (#217 watercolor, #218 handwritten thoughts)/tools (water mister, blending tool, paper distresser)
other: archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents/sewing machine

Category Craft, Craft Creations | Tags: | 5 Comments | Views: 803

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