‘Craft Techniques’ Category

  1. All You Need Is LOVE!

    7th February, 2018 by iGirlZoe

    It’s Wednesday and time for the funkie side of the design team to share our projects for the current challenge over at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog!

    I am hosting the current challenge and have chosen the theme ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, “With Valentines just a couple of weeks away, it’s time to let cupid draw his paintbrush and create a vintage or shabby chic project with the word “LOVE” somewhere on the project. It can be the focus or just a tiny detail.”

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is LoveI wanted to make a Valentines card for Mister H, (as in Hillman, not Holtz)… just to be clear! 😉

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    To create the background I sprayed old paper distress spray stain onto a non stick craft sheet, misted distress heavystock with water, dragged it through the ink and dried with a heat tool. Then blended frayed burlap through the new stitched stencil (it looks like kisses) and stamped with images from the purveyor stamp set (CMS187) using the stamp platform.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    I love this style of grungy industrial background, which is so very simple to create…

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    – Cover a piece of metallic kraft stock with picket fence distress paint. Set aside to dry.
    – Tap potting soil archival ink directly onto the background using a very light tap. Set aside to dry.
    – Run through your die cutter with an embossing folder.
    – Put a drop of ground espresso distress paint onto a non stick craft sheet, pick up a little with your finger and rub over the raised portions of the background.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    I affectionately call my husband “Mister,” when we’re being silly (there’s a lot of silliness in our house)! I created this using the alphanumeric marquee thinlits die set cut from substrate, mounted over with the alphanumeric thinlits dies cut from metallic kraft stock. I rubbed silver gilding wax over the top of the substrate to make it pop over the grungy background.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    The alphanumeric dies are mounted over a strip of hearts from the shape strips thinlits die set. I grunged up the background and added a drop of alcohol ink to some of the hearts. This is sitting over the top of a strip of the industrial background I mentioned earlier.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    Finally, I added some idea-ology chitchat stickers which I sanded and inked with walnut strain distress ink to create the perfect sentiment for my card.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz All You Need is Love
    I hope you will find time to join in the challenge and pop over to Frilly and Funkie challenge blog to see the rest of the DT’s projects. All the products I used are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

    Thanks for stopping by.
    Zoe

     



  2. Haunted Banner

    21st October, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    With All Hallows’ Eve drawing near, I’m sharing this haunted banner that I made for the Tim Holtz Halloween inspiration series. You can follow along on Tim’s facebook and instagram with a weekly recap on Saturday on his blog.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Here’s how I made the jack-o-lantern banner…

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 1: Cut a piece of black classic kraft stock 5 x 7 inches.
    Step 2: Cut a piece of paper from the Halloween mini stash 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
    Step 3: Cut a second piece of black classic kraft stock 4 x 6 inches.
    Step 4: Cut a piece of mixed media heavystock 3.5 x 5.5 inches.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 5: Using the WRMK banner punch board, cut the ends to create a banner.
    Step 6: Sand the edges of the large black classic kraft stock banner with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 7: Distress the edge of the halloween mini stash paper banner and blend in vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 8: Sand the edges of the small black classic kraft stock banner with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 9: Ink up the ledger script stamp with hickory smoke distress archival ink. Stamp onto the heavystock banner using the stamp platform. Stamp a second time using a very light layer of vintage photo distress archival ink.
    Step 10: Blend in antique linen distress ink.
    Step 11: Blend in pumice stone distress ink.
    Step 12: Blend vintage photo distress ink into the edges.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 13: Sew the edges of the mini stash and heavystock banners with black thread.
    Step 14: Gather the banner pieces ready to assemble.
    Step 15: Adhere using distress collage medium matte.
    Step 16: Punch 2 holes in the top of the assembled banner.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 17: Die cut the jack-0-lantern thinlits die from a heavystock tag.
    Step 18: Blend tea dye, forest moss and brushed corduroy distress ink and splatter with a distress sprayer.
    Step 19: Once dry, spritz rusty hinge distress marker over the die cut with a distress marker spritzer.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 20: Die cut Halloween, jack-o-lantern base and a cobweb from black classic kraft stock. Sand and blend in vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 21: Place the cobweb die cut over the banner and trim any overlap with mini scissors.
    Step 22: Adhere the cobweb with distress collage medium matte.
    Step 23: Add the halloween die cut with hex fasteners. Adhere the 31 die cut and add mini book rings to the holes at the top of the banner.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 24: Add the jack-o-lantern die cut with adhesive black foam.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 25: Die cut the witchcraft die from black classic kraft stock, sand with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink with a mini blending tool. Blend peeled paint distress ink onto the heavystock banner (top one), stamp a sentiment from the monstrous set and adhere the witch with distress collage medium matte.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 26: Die cut the feather and raven die from black classic kraft stock, sand with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink with a mini blending tool. Blend weathered wood distress ink onto the heavystock banner (top one), stamp a sentiment from the monstrous set and adhere the ravens with distress collage medium matte.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 27: Die cut the scarecrow die from black classic kraft stock, sand with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink with a mini blending tool. Blend wild honey distress ink onto the heavystock banner (top one), stamp a bat and 31 using the idea-ology cling foam stamps and adhere the scarecrow with distress collage medium matte, bending the base of the scarecrow to mirror the curve of the banner.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Step 28: Die cut the haunted house and halloween word die from black classic kraft stock, sand with a sanding grip and blend in vintage photo distress ink with a mini blending tool. Blend tea dye distress ink lightly onto the heavystock banner (top one), stamp a bat and the crescent moon from the haunted house set and adhere the haunted house and beware banner, plus an adornment spider with distress collage medium matte. Paint fossilized amber distress paint inside the haunted house’s windows.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted Banner
    Run string, twine, burlap, ribbon or chain through the mini book rings attached to the top of the banner and hang. Why not make one each year and write the year on the back or make a feature of it on your banner. A great way to practice techniques and track your creative progression.

    I hope you enjoyed this step by step and have been enjoying the inspiration series so far. Don’t forget to check out the other designers projects from the series. I will be back next week sharing some walk throughs and close ups of the other projects I have made for the inspiration series.
    Cheers
    Zoe x



  3. Frightful Burlap

    7th August, 2015 by iGirlZoe

    I can’t quite believe I am writing this…

    A month ago I was asked to make some samples with the new seasonal products by Tim Holtz! As a bit of a “fangirl” you can imagine my reaction when my box of goodies arrived from the North Pole! So with dizzy excitement let me share my first sample with you.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Using the really cool new Sizzix Vampire thinlits die by Tim Holtz, allow me to introduce you to Count Frightful, don’t come too close though… he bites!

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Cut a piece of core-dinations kraft core and paper from the new regions beyond paper stash. Distress and ink the edges.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Layer the papers and stitch.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Run a generous line of glossy accents along the back of the layered papers and place onto an idea-ology 6″x 8″ burlap panel and set aside to dry.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Cut a frame from grungeboard with the Sizzix postage stamp frame and rectangles movers and shapers dies.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Cover with black soot distress paint and allow to dry. Using the sanding block, gently sand portions of the frame and swipe vintage photo distress ink over the top with a blending tool.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Dab a little mushroom and espresso alcohol ink onto border strips from the new gothic industrious stickers with a cotton bud. Trim to fit inside the grungeboard frame.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Once dry attach with a line of glossy accents.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Die cut “frightful” from coredinations kraft core with the new Sizzix Halloween Words: Block thinlits dies.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Cover a manila tag with foil tape and coat with red pepper alcohol ink directly from the bottle.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Once dry, cut to size and mount underneath the “frightful” die cut.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Lay out the Tim Holtz Sizzix Vampire thinlits die.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Die cut from mixed media cardstock and core-dinations kraft core.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Fold the head down the center and gently crease the cheeks following the score lines. Cover the top of the head in brushed pewter distress paint to give a streak of silver to the hair, (this isn’t necessary). Cover the lips and blood drip die cuts with festive berries distress marker and assemble the head. There are lightly scored lines which show you where everything goes, so clever!

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Assemble the body as per the step-by-step, (there are score lines to show you), but do not attach the head yet.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Lay the grungeboard frame and vampire die on top of the burlap canvas but do not adhere. Once happy with the position, use a pokey tool to mark the position of both eyes, pushing through the back board, (no vampires were hurt in the making of this canvas)!

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Using the poked holes as a guide, cut the backing die with a craft knife being careful to only cut behind the eye area.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Again, using the poked holes as guides, drill 2 holes into the canvas and use a lighter or match to burn away any frayed strands of burlap.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Cover a piece of shrink plastic with red pepper alcohol ink and adhere over the holes with glossy accents.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Hot glue a battery operated lightbulb to the inside top of the canvas allowing the canvas to still lay flush against a wall. You could use battery operated LED’s or fairy lights too.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    The darker it gets, the more frightful he becomes!

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    BOO!

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    To make a vial of blood to hang from the canvas, gather together the frightful ephemera pack, curiosities remnant rubs, a tiny glass vial bottle and some idea-ology findings.

    Cover the cork from the tiny vial with glue n’ seal to make it water resistant. Unscrew the spray nozzle from the fired brick distress spray and drip into the tiny vial until about half full. Put the cork into the vial and seal around the join with a layer of hot glue. Push a screw eye into the cork and hang from idea-ology chain. Cut up remnant rubs from the curiosities pack and make a label.

    iGirlZoe: Frightful

    iGirlZoe: Frightful
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and thank you so much to Mario, Paula and Tim for inviting me to the best party ever! You can see all the new Halloween dies on Tim’s blog and be sure to check out Tim’s social media and blog all month long for a chance to win some of the incredible new products. Have a great weekend.


  4. 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…

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    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. 😉

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    The tag is edged with idea-ology industrious stickers, covered with a little mushroom and espresso alcohol ink and stitched.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    This is how I made Count Peckula…

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    Thanks for taking the time to look at my tag. You can see this months tag and techniques on Tim’s blog.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 July
    CMS #240 Undertaker / CMS#237 Crazy Things / CM#212 Bird Crazy / #660954 Bird Crazy Thinlit Dies


  5. 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.

    Ranger Ink Mixed Media Summer 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.


  6. Happy 4th of July

    4th July, 2015 by iGirlZoe

    Happy 4th of July!

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    This wall hanging was inspired by Tim Holtz’s July 12 tags of 2015.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    Tim Holtz new United States thinlits die is too cool. It cuts out the outline AND the individual states as well!

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    I used tissue tape to mask out lines and then inked up with distress ink, (don’t worry, I kept the tape to use on another project)! 😉

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    The stars were die cut using the thinlits shape strips.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    Finally the entire die cut got swiped with vintage photo distress ink and spritzed with hickory smoke distress marker and spritzer tool. The hickory smoke is my new go to spritz colour!

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    I used Tim’s cool technique using crinkle ribbon and distress markers. Check out Tim’s blog post to see how.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - July
    Thanks for taking time to stop by and I hope you have a happy July 4th weekend.

     



  7. Ranger Ink Mixed Media Canvas Clock

    2nd June, 2015 by iGirlZoe

    I am VERY excited to share a guest blog post that I have over at Ranger Ink.

    Mixed Media Canvas Clock

    I hope you will be able to stop by and take a look at the mixed media canvas clock tutorial.

    Have a great week.


  8. 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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 May
    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)!

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 May
    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.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 May
    The Swiss post colours are yellow so I grabbed my mustard seed distress paint and covered some alphaparts.

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 May
    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! 😉

    Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 May
    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


  9. 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.

    Through the Looking Glass
    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)! Through the Looking Glass
    Put aside the lid and insert boxes to use another day.

    Through the Looking Glass
    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″).

    Through the Looking Glass
    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. 😉

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

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

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

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

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

    Through the Looking Glass
    Arrange vials into your configuration box and then glue into place with glossy accents.

    Through the Looking Glass
    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).

    Through the Looking Glass
    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.

    Through the Looking Glass
    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.


  10. 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.

    image

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

    Have a great Monday.