Craft Supplies – iGirlZoe, Crafter & Tim Holtz Addict

‘Craft Supplies’ Category

12 Months of Distress – January

9th February, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Oh Cracked Pistachio… I think I love you…

My postman arrived with the much anticipated first new distress colour of the “12 months of distress.” Having a new colour each month is so exciting, it’s like having a year long advent calendar. I could not wait to break into the cracked pistachio and try it out.

I made a tag using various cracked pistachio distress products. I used Tim’s technique from January’s 12 tags of 2015 along with cracked pistachio paint and gathered twigs spray stain to create the background.

I used the cracked pistachio marker to watercolour the stamped image and spray stain to colour the crinkle ribbon.

I used the cracked pistachio ink pad to ink up a heart stamp from the new watercolour stamp set, misted with water and stamped directly onto distress watercolour cardstock. I am going to make a tag each month using the new distress colour. It gives me a chance to try out the colour and build an index.

Thank you for taking time to look at my tag and check out the following online challenges that I am entering.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – H is for… (HOLTZ)
Inspiration Emporium Monthly Challenge – February

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supplies: tim holtz; surfaces (manila tag, distress watercolor cardstock, core-dinations kraft core)/distress ink (cracked pistachio)/distress paint (cracked pistachio)/distress marker (cracked pistachio)/dies (typeset)/idea-ology (crinkle ribbon, tissue wrap, label letters)/stamps (#47 dance card, #217 watercolor)/tools (water mister, blending tool, paper distresser)
other: archival ink (jet black)/glossy accents/glue n seal/sewing machine

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Supplies, Craft Techniques | Tags: | No Comments | Views: 489
Love is… my postman

6th February, 2015 by iGirlZoe

Hello. Thank you for the lovely comments left on my blog, I really appreciate it. It has been an exciting week with new craft products arriving.

I was just getting my new Windsor and Newton watercolour set wet when the postman knocked. I suspect our postman thinks I am a little bit nuts. The Swiss are quite conservative, so my running towards the postman waving, cheering and whooping is usually met with looks of confusion and sometimes fear. It’s nice to arrive to applause and cheering, right?

With my new goodies unpacked, photographed and, (of course), shared on social media, I began to make stuff.

I used the heart stamp from the new Tim Holtz watercolor stamp set. I applied fired brick distress ink to the stamp, misted with water and stamped onto distress watercolor cardstock. I love that this watercolor cardstock has a smooth and dimpled side. Stamping on the smooth side gives you a cleaner stamped image, but for the background I prefered the dimpled effect.

By changing the greeting inside the card, this could be used for Valentines, engagement, Mother’s Day, birthday or just a notecard.

Thank you for taking time to look at my card and check out the following online challenges.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – H is for… (HOLTZ)
Inspiration Emporium Monthly Challenge – February

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supplies: tim holtz; surfaces (distress watercolor cardstock)/distress ink (antique linen, fired brick, vintage photo, walnut stain)/stamps (#47 dance card, #217 watercolor, #218 handwritten thoughts)/tools (water mister, blending tool, paper distresser)
other: windsor and newton watercolors/glossy accents/sewing machine/crystal gem

Category Craft, Craft Challenges, Craft Creations, Craft Supplies | Tags: | 9 Comments | Views: 853
New Year Art Journal

21st January, 2014 by iGirlZoe

I had no idea where I was going with this when I started. I knew I wanted to create some texture and had seen a fabulous art journal video posted by Vicky Papaioannou. I used her background technique, cutting scrap paper into random sized squares and then sticking down with Studio Medium.

I was particularly keen to try this background technique as it goes against my need for the ‘laws of straightness’. This year I’m keen to try out new techniques and use the products I have in different ways.

I used the Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs to create some keys phrases to inspire me throughout the year. You will see I mixed up some of the RR’s, I assure you that Tim hasn’t produced an RR saying “life is lists!” 😉

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supplies: tim holtz; distress paints (frayed burlap, weathered wood, bundled sage, wild honey, black soot, aged mahongany)/distress markers (vintage photo)/remnant rubs (elements, numbers, words)/layering stencils (cargo, dot fade, splatters); claudine hellmuth studio multi-medium (matte)/faber-castell artist pens (black)/uni-ball signo gel pen (white)/liquitex modelling paste.

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Supplies, Craft Techniques | Tags: | 2 Comments | Views: 2,083
Watercolor with Distress

15th July, 2013 by iGirlZoe

Recently I’ve been experimenting with watercolor techniques using different Distress products. I’d only used my Distress Stains to swipe across a tag or stain ribbon, so was thrilled to discover how incredible they are to watercolor with. They are now part of my staple craft supplies and I hope to add more colours to my collection.

I created this card for my Father-in-law’s birthday using Distress Stains, a water-brush and a stamp from the Tim Holtz Time Travelers set. I followed Brett Weldele’s tutorial on monochromatic coloring.

When I had assembled the card I felt as if it needed a little extra something to make it pop, so I added some idea-ology lace chain and secured using mini fasteners to simulate the pocket watch chain.

I’ve also been experimenting with Distress Markers which I got for my birthday. Initially I was skeptical as I wasn’t convinced a marker could watercolor that well. How wrong was I?! So it’s great news that Tim Holtz has just announced the release of 12 new colours of Distress Markers, in the first of his CHA Summer 2013 Sneak Peeks. I’m especially excited about having a new surface to distress, with the launch of Distress Watercolor Cardstock. AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY! WOO HOO!

This card I created with Distress Markers, a water-brush and a stamp from the Tim Holtz Remnants set. I used Distress Stains for the background and a little Distress ink around the edges to age it.

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Storage, Craft Supplies | Tags: | 2 Comments | Views: 4,673
Birthday Weekend

9th July, 2013 by iGirlZoe

It’s been a couple of weeks since I returned home from a lovely long weekend celebrating my birthday in the Swiss mountains.

My DH is such a romantic and surprised me with red helium balloons, a chocolate mousse cake, champagne and fancy chocolates.

As if that wasn’t enough, I was treated to a trip to my favourite store, Scrapdeco. I picked up some Tim Holtz goodies and talked shop with the owner, Genevieve.

Getting some new products has inspired me to get creative again. I’ve been a bit “papered out” after months of making stationery for my brother’s wedding. I’ll share what I made in a later blog post.

Category Craft, Craft Supplies | Tags: | No Comments | Views: 2,279
Distress Stickles Dry Glitter

30th January, 2013 by iGirlZoe

You’re probably on your second or third pot of Distress Stickles Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy by now, but I’ve just discovered it and it’s better than calorie free chocolate! I am utterly addicted and find myself eying up everyday items in my apartment and wondering if I could “DSDG” it!

I went to my local craft store, Scrapdeco, at the weekend as my Christmas gift certificates were burning a hole in my pocket. I picked up the fabulous Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Cargo Stencil Number die set. I couldn’t wait to get home to play with my new goodies and make some tags.

I used black card covered in DSDG to back the cargo numbers. On black card, DSDG looks like gravel and I love that it doubles as pretty Christmas AND grungy gravelly glitter. It works especially well with the new Rangers Sticky Embossing Powder, which I’m going to try gold leafing with this week. I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades Subway Folder to emboss Core’dinations Kraft Core, which I covered in a variety of distress inks. I finished the tag off by distressing the edges with the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and embellished with an assortment of Tim Holtz Idea-ology.

In an attempt to deny that Christmas is over for another year, (and to use MORE DSDG), I dropped back into the festive bubble and made this snowflake using the Tim Holtz Decorative Strip Snowflake Rosette die.

I saw a great tip on Tim Holtz Blog to use a strip of Tissue Tape on the back of the die cut before folding. It prevents tearing and keeps the rosette together, whilst providing a cool background for the reverse. I didn’t have my glue gun with me so used a squirt of Glossy Accents, (one of my dessert island supplies), it’s strong stuff.

Category Craft, Craft Creations, Craft Supplies, Craft Techniques | Tags: | No Comments | Views: 4,933
A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2

8th March, 2012 by iGirlZoe

It’s here! My signed copy of Tim Holtz’s A Compendium of Curiosities volume 2 has arrived and I’m delighted! *doing the happy dance*

I am going to spend the weekend pouring over the pages and getting inky. It should keep me out of trouble until the Creative Chemistry 101 classes start on Monday 19th. Tim has just posted a video teaser and details about the class on his blog.

Category Craft Supplies | Tags: | 3 Comments | Views: 3,853
Ye Olde Tim Holtz

19th February, 2012 by iGirlZoe

Finally my hoarding has paid off and I have a nice little collection of what I like to call ‘Vintage Tim Holtz‘.

Tim’s fabulous Distressables books are jam packed with techniques, projects and inspiration. The easy to follow step-by-step instructions are illustrated beautifully in colour photographs.

My mini avalanche of Distressables 9×9 cardstock.

A snapshot of the Distressables 9×9 cardstock.

Distressables Doo-Dads are seriously awesome! The miniature images are perfect for sanding, distressing and using for collaging on dominos, bottle caps, slide mounts and other tiny altered projects… also great for ransom notes!

As these are rarer than an orderly queue at a craft clearance sale, I propose to share! I’m putting together a little bundle of vintage Timmy love to give away in my next blog post.

Category Craft Supplies | Tags: | 13 Comments | Views: 5,182