Sizzix – iGirlZoe, Crafter & Tim Holtz Addict

‘Sizzix’ Category

Christmas Cutouts

2nd October, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends, hope you’re having a nice weekend. I’ve been humming Christmas tunes all day, probably because of the amazing Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas LIVE launch yesterday. You can watch the replay and see all of the incredible makes over on Tim’s blog.

I loved the Christmas cutouts set as soon as I saw it. I love the tiny scene you can build. I decided to make a little box that can be filled with gift tags that you could have on hand during the Christmas season or gift to someone who loves handmade, but may not be a maker themselves. And of course you can make them pretty pretty or grungy.

I used the curio box bigz XL die which is still available and linked at the end of the post. I cut from distress kraft heavystock to give a nice sturdy base and top. I secured the word dies from the Christmas Cutouts set with tape and ran it through my machine.

I covered the sides with candied apple distress paint mixed with a little ground espresso distress paint.

I cut a second curio box top from idea-ology backdrops christmas paper to line the inside of the top.

I cut a piece from the same paper to line the base of the box.

The inside lining of the curio box gives you a base to glue in letters so they’re inset.

I cut them from the new seasonal woodgrain black cardstock. I set aside the outer piece to make a tag with later. I cut the center shapes from the seasonal woodgrain white cardstock and glued them into place with distress collage medium.

For the top of the box I embossed a piece of distress kraft heavystock with the new Tree Rings 3D embossing folder. I simply added gathered twigs distress ink to the top of the embossed tree ring.

I added the embossed piece to the top of the box and decorated with some of the cutouts inked with distress ink. The houses were cut from idea-ology metallic kraftstock, sanded and inked with walnut stain distress ink.

Box Side Panels

I made some little gift tags to fill the box with. I cut the mini tree ring (twice) using the bigz die, still available and linked at the end of the post. I carefully cut away the inside with a craft knife and embossed the center piece with the Tree Ring 3D embossing folder.

I used the complete piece as a base and reassembled the other pieces on top. You could slip a piece of ribbon between if you wished. I punched a small hole in one side and added an idea-ology o ring to thread onto ribbon.

I should add that the mini tree ring bigz die comes with an embossing folder to specifically fit the tree ring. However, the 3D embossing folders are so incredibly detailed, it was worth the extra effort to use the new Tree Ring 3D embossing folder.

I used leftover idea-ology metallic kraftstock from the cutout houses and backed the PEACE outer cut from seasonal woodgrain black cardstock used for the inserts on the side of the box top. I used the new Layered Tags and cards cut from the postale chapter 3 die set to create mini gift tags and cards.

I will be sharing more gift cards/tags later in the season.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.
Zoe

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Category Christmas, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 12 Comments | Views: 3,771
Otisville

16th August, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends. I’m back today sharing something I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween LIVE launch. I love this years Halloween die and folder release. I’m sure I say that each year, but this year is no exception! Make sure you check out the replay and the maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

Welcome to Otisville, population NONE! This creepy abandoned city was inspired by the AMAZING new Otis, Colorize die from the crazy brilliant mind of Tim Holtz! It’s not often that I imagine a project from start to finish before making it, but this was one! Otis had to have his own ville, of course he did. Let’s get into some of the details…

I cut a piece of distress watercolor cardstock to fit the inside of an idea-ology vignette tray and die cut with the swirling stars thinlits dies. I sprayed with black soot distress spray and once dry, blended in walnut stain distress ink.

I also cut a sheet from copy paper making sure it lined up with the first sheet. This is to be used later for light placement.

I covered a piece of vellum with fossilized amber distress paint and adhered to the back of the watercolor distress background.

Ready to add to the vignette tray and be backlit by tiny lights later.

Die cut cityscape buildings from distress watercolor cardstock, sprayed with black soot distress spray and once dry, blended in walnut stain ink.

I die cut Otis from distress watercolor cardstock and covered with frayed burlap distress spray. I blended in different distress inks for each layer and once dry, assembled.

You can see from the base piece the embossed detail that shows you where to place the next layer. Colorize really is easy peasy now.

I die cut the base a second time from fun foam to give Otis a little lift from the background.

I LOVE him grunged up!

I cut a piece of woodgrain cardstock using the decorative trims thinlits die and brayered on vintage photo distress paint and once dry, glued it onto an etcetera trim.

I die cut alphanumeric tiny type upper thinlits from idea-ology metallic kraftstock and black kraftstock and layered, offsetting slightly.

BEGINNER TIP: I measure the trim, find the middle and then glue the middle letter. I continue to add letters working outwards from either side.

I used a piece of copy paper (cut at the same time as the background), as a template to see where the tiny lights should go and where to place my adhesive foam.

I added a piece of idea-ology metallic kraftstock to the back of the vignette tray. I do this because everything sticks better to the cardstock than the wood and the metallic surface better reflects the tiny lights.

Once the tiny lights and foam is in place, I removed the backing sheet and pushed the background into place.

Everything is better with lights!

I added the assembled Otis to the center of the swirling stars

BEGINNER TIP: Work with the lights on so you can better see where they are and when using hot glue, DO NOT get it on the actual light bulb as it can short the lights.

Next I added the cityscape buildings in 2 rows slightly offset and mounted onto idea-ology metallic kraftstock.

I added the trim in front of the base of the cityscape, adding a couple of idea-ology hardware heads.

I used the bold text 2 thinlits dies, cut from idea-ology black kraftstock to add “To The Moon + Back” on both sides of the vignette tray. I painted over the top with a layer of distress collage medium.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.
Zoe

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Category Halloween, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 11 Comments | Views: 2,331
Jack Sparrows Crypt

15th August, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends. Hope you’re doing well. Did you catch the LIVE launch of the Tim Holtz Seasonal Distress products? You can watch the replay and Tim’s amazing demos over on his blog. Please note these products are seasonal, so if you want them and it’s in your budget, I recommend you don’t wait, especially not for the Crypt-Paste with me and Tami B stocking up like it’s the grit-paste apocalypse.

I was delighted to see “Crypt-Paste” back in a bigger pot, the single serve pots were not enough for this grit-paste loving girl! The crypt-paste is bittier and grittier and it spreads like butta and as I had the bigger pot I decided to go to town with it and create a Tombstone fit for a pirate!

I took an etcetera mini tombstone overlay and trims from the etcetera bat web trims set and covered the pieces with a white gesso wash. Once dry, I added crypt-paste to the parts of the tombstone that would show.

Using more of the trims from the bat web trims set, mount onto the back of the base of the tombstone to create a shelf to sit idea-ology pieces on later. I covered the crypt paste with hickory smoke distress paint. I love that the translucency of the crypt-paste means you don’t get white showing through and it really is grittier.

The new Skulls 3D folder is nothing short of amazing. You don’t fully appreciate the depth and detail of the 3D until you have it in your hands and can’t quite believe one pass in a folder gives you THIS!! Make sure you check out Tim’s YouTube replay to see what he did with this folder and the black woodgrain surface! WOW!

I covered a piece of distress watercolor cardstock with a hickory smoke distress paint wash and set aside to dry. I embossed with the Skulls 3D folder then dry brushed white gesso onto the raised parts.

I adhered the 3D skulls background to the tag part of the tombstone overlay and added the tombstone top. To create a side to the tombstone, I mounted 2 trims from the bat web trims set on top of each other to match the height of the top and bottom of the tombtone overlay, trimmed to size and added to the side. I used distress collage medium to glue and lots of clamps to hold in place while it dried!

Using the new Theory alphanumeric thinlits dies, I added “1729” the year that Captain Jack Sparrow met his untimely death.

Using an older piece of halloween idea-ology I hoarded I covered with gesso and wiped away the excess. Once dry I dry brushed black soot distress paint over the top and wiped with a cloth so the black sits in the recessed areas.

I added some moss that I bought from a craft store. You will sometimes find this kind of moss in the model railway section. I painted on a layer of distress collage medium, pressed moss into it and allowed to air dry.

I used a palette knife to spread Crypt-Paste along the edge of the trims to hide the seam and match the rest of the tombstone. Once dry, I covered with hickory smoke distress paint and later dry brushed with black soot distress paint.

Using the Theory alphanumeric thinlits dies again, I cut “Jack Sparrow” from idea-ology black kraft stock several times and layered to give the letters some depth. I lightly sanded small areas and added along the base of the tombstone.

I was able to place idea-ology items along the shelf I created by adding etcetera trims to the back of the tombstone overlay. I covered a bottle from the idea-ology tiny vials with a layer of distress collage medium and once dry, a layer of black soot distress paint. Adding an idea-ology label and skull and cross bones remnant rub. I used mummy cloth colored with distress ink for Jack’s bandana and sewed some beads into the side to imitate Jack’s beaded dreadlock. You can just about see them on the left hand side of the skull.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.

Zoe

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Category Halloween, Mixed Media, Ranger Ink, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 21 Comments | Views: 2,351
Specimen Box – Contents

15th July, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Happy Friday friends. Today I’m sharing the contents of the specimen box I made for the Tim Holtz Chapter 3 LIVE launch which I shared in a separate post. You can see the LIVE launch replay and maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

The specimen set was certainly my favorite and I do love them all and have to have them all, but the file folder and the specimen slide stole my heart. I’ve been so excited at the thought of a social media world flooded with specimen slides and file folders and I’m waiting on pins for your dies to arrive and see what you make. For today, I’m going to share some details of the contents of my specimen box…

I die cut file folders from the specimen set from distress mixed media heavystock. Painted with a light layer of white gesso mixed with a little water. I brayered a watered down layer of speckled egg distress paint over the top and stamped using distress archival ink and stamps. Here I used insects from the specimen stamp set and added index clips to hold the folders closed.

I stamped on the back of the file folders with stamps from the new Eccentric stamp set in distress archival ink.

I used stamps from field notes stamp set to stamp the inside of the file folders in different distress archival inks and added a stamp from the idea-ology field notes ephemera set. It reminds me of how they would validate some documents when I lived in Geneva, by using a postage stamp. I always think it makes a boring admin document look so pretty.

Next I made some insert cards using more of the dies from the specimen set. I used the index tab die (which I LOVE) and several insert dies and cut more distress mixed media heavystock. I used remnant rubs to add numbers to the background and a distress tool to scratch it up. I then blended in walnut stain distress ink and wiped with a damp cloth, removing some of the excess ink.

I used stamps from field notes and correspondence, mixed with a little idea-ology ephemera to create this tabbed card. I love having so many different distress archival inks to stamp with too.

I used a stamp from the Laboratorie set on the back of both cards. I tapped each into a distress ink wash.

Beginner Tip: To create a “distress ink wash”, simply squish your ink pad onto a non stick craft mat, spritz with lots of water and mix it all up with your finger. Then tap your card into the ink wash, lift out and dry with a heat tool or use a dry cloth to pick up excess water. Practice until you find the ink to water ratio you like. These things soon become second nature.

Next to the specimen slides. They are so simple to die cut, ready to be decorated with endless possibilities. I added ephemera to the inside of mine, used a mica tile on top and added “FILED” cut from idea-ology black kraft stock. Because the letters are so tiny I mounted the kraft stock onto double sided adhesive sheets before die cutting. I stuck them onto the outer part of the slide.

I added more idea-ology ephemera to the back of the slides and stamped over top with distress archival ink.

I couldn’t stop making them but I didn’t have time to do step outs so I will be making some more and will share them in the next blog post.

It’s a great way to use your ephemera, I know you’re hoarding it too! 😉

My make concentrated on the specimen set and industrious 3D folder but I couldn’t resist using the postale set to make one tiny envelope. I’m really into airmail themed things so I pulled out some hoarded retired correspondence design tape with that gorgeous airmail striped tape. I die cut my envelope from a recycled envelope. I kept the clear glassine window and reused that too.

I cut the arrows out of envelope front before mounting idea-ology black kraft stock into the recess. I added stamps from the snippets ephemera set and stamped with stamps from the correspondence set.

I used various colors of distress archival inks and stamps from Eccentric, Field Notes and Correspondence stamp sets to decorate the back of the envelope.

I love to use idea-ology apothecary bottles and domes and love that the Chapter 3 dies work perfectly with my favorite pieces. I added a label from the vintage label thinlits die set to and apothecary bottle with remnant rubs added. I tore a corner off the label for a worn look. You have to check out Tim’s cool demo on how to ink and cut the vintage labels.

I added “specimen” to the mini dome. I die cut this from idea-ology metallic kraft stock which I had backed with an adhesive sheet before die cutting. This is a much easier way to add the tiny letters to glass. I added an insect to the optical lens and wrapped with a piece of twine.

I added wadding and an idea-ology bone to a test tube and added a tiny label from the collector set with “bones” rubbed on from the halloween remnant rubs set. I like to do “Halloween” all year round so I always stock up on Halloween idea-ology when it comes around. Speaking of Halloween… I’ve got a busy weekend making ahead… 😉

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour around my specimen box. Let me know if you have any questions in comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Have a great weekend.
Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 18 Comments | Views: 9,956
Tim Holtz – The Best Chapter

14th July, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends. I’m sure by now you’ve seen the incredible new Tim Holtz Chapter 3 dies and 3D folders. This is Tim’s chapter and the best ever chapter! If you missed the LIVE or want to have it on replay all day, you can see it and all the mind blowing maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

If you know my maker style, I definitely have a love for all things industrial, so the new Industrious 3D folder made my grunge loving heart sing! The detail you get with this folder is incredible and those rivets! WHAAAT!!! The folder was the starting point of my specimen box which I’m going to share details of in this blog post.

The contents of the box will be in a separate post as I’ve added extra detail in the description to hopefully answer some of the questions I’ve had from makers just starting out. Grab yourself some snacks, get comfortable and let’s get into it…

Prime a large idea-ology vignette box with white gesso and once dry, add distress opaque crackle paste to the inside sides and border of the vignette. Dry brush vintage photo distress paint over the crackle and rub in walnut stain distress crayon.

Beginner Tip: Dry brushing is an almost dry paint free brush. Add a little paint to a dry paint brush and remove the excess with a paper towel. Repeat, building the color slowly to add highlight but not a thick layer of paint.

Gather your supplies and using the new industrious 3D embossing folder, emboss idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock. Spritz the kraft side of the metallic kraft stock with a light mist of water and run through your machine inside the 3D folder.

Note: I used the Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway machine and the pressure is so good that it only needs one pass.

Add a little mushroom alcohol ink to random parts of the background and allow to air dry.

Note: You can skip this part, I find it adds a little “tooth” to the slick metallic kraft stock which the other mediums cling to, giving a more uneven finish, which I like.

Add a layer of ground espresso distress paint using a paintbrush. Get the paint right into the de-bossed areas. Allow the paint to dry a little and then wipe the excess away with a dry clean cloth.

Add a little black gesso with your finger but this time don’t allow to dry.

Use a clean dry cloth to wipe away most of the gesso and allow the remaining to dry.

Add walnut stain distress crayon to parts of the metallic kraft stock that you would like to be darker or grungier. Keep tinkering with it until you’re happy.

Measure the parts of the vignette box you intend to cover and cut the embossed kraft stock to size. When cutting, think about where you want the rivets to sit on your panel.

Using distress collage medium, add the embossed panels to the vignette box.

Note: I found it worked best to add a layer of collage medium to the vignette box and to the embossed panel.

To create the box dividers, use the decorative trims thinlits dies to cut strips from the metallic embossed kraft stock. Using distress collage medium, add them to both sides of etcetera thickboard pinked edge trims.

Beginner Tip: Die cut first and 3D emboss second so you don’t flatten the embossed detail.

Using Tim’s Tonic scissors, trim the trims to fit inside the vignette box. Add a line of distress collage medium using the precision bottle to the bottom and sides of the trims and push into place. Hold in place for a few moments and then set aside and allow the collage medium to completely dry.

I used an offcut to add a compartment to fit an idea-ology test tube! Cut the trim to size and add the distress collage medium. Hold the test tube in place with one hand and slide the trim into place and then remove the test tube and allow to dry.

Tip: If you need both hands, use a little poster putty/blu-tack to hold the test tube in place while you slide the trim in beside it.

How cute is the tiny label from the Collector set? I have wanted a label this size for so long. Thanks Tim!

I can see why Tim loves the new Theory Alphanumeric die set! You get 2 sizes of alphas and the blocks that sit under the smaller letters to lift them to the height of the larger set. SO COOL! I used idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock to cut “Specimen”, sanded, blended in a little walnut stain distress ink and added it to the back panel of the vignette box.

On the front panel I added No 05. Gently sand the rivets to remove a layer of paint and show the metallic kraft stock underneath.

Tip: I found sanding the rivets once the embossed panels were on the vignette box was easier as it’s a rigid surface to sand and you just catch the raised rivets without sanding the rest.

I die cut idea-ology silver metallic kraft stock, black kraft stock and mixed media heavystock using the label frame and tiny word dies from the Specimen set. Layering them up to create a thicker label frame for the front of the specimen box. (ignore the word “Archive,” this was just to show what layers I used).

I added mica tile under the top label piece and used idea-ology long fasteners through the holes and secured at the back and added the label frame to the front panel of the vignette box with distress collage medium.

Using the idea-ology vignette hardware set, I added a hook and an idea-ology hook clasp to the corner of the vignette box.

Does anyone remember the tools you would get at the science museum interactive exhibits that would be attached by chain so they wouldn’t be removed? That gave me the idea to use the hook clasp to attach the idea-ology optical lens to the specimen box.

Now your box is ready to fill…

I’ll be sharing the contents of this specimen box on my blog tomorrow, I hope you can stop by and take a look. If you have any questions, leave them in comments and I’ll do my best to reply.

Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 13 Comments | Views: 5,439
Lucky is a state of mind

12th April, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends. Day 2 of my week of sharing here on my blog with another make for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2 launch. If you’re looking for a quick and simple card, this is it. And if you missed the launch party, you can catch the replay and the inspiration makes over on Tim’s blog.

“Lucky is a state of mind!” I have been trying to live this phrase a little more in my own life. It’s one of my many favourite quotes from the bold text 2 thinlits die set from Tim’s Chapter 2 release.

I love that the bold text dies add a real statement to the card allowing you to keep it simple. Let’s get into how to make this quick card…

To die cut the background I used a sticky grid covered cutting plate with a die from the bold text 2 thinlits set. Placed a piece of distress watercolor cardstock 3.5 inches by 5.25 inches over the top and ran it through my machine. For a quick cut like this, I use my bigshot foldaway machine. It’s quick to pull out and use and the pressure is AMAZING!

Next I spritzed with water and embossed with the cracked 3D embossing folder.

Finally I sprayed the background with frayed burlap distress spray and a little water and dried. I lightly blended in some walnut stain distress ink.

I embossed a piece of distress watercolor cardstock sized 3.25 inches by 2.75 inches with the woven 3D embossing folder.

Spritzed the background with distress spray stain and once dry, rubbed a walnut stain distress ink pad directly onto the raised detail.

I die cut a couple of four leaf clovers from the lucky love impresslits folder from distress watercolor cardstock.

Sprayed the clovers with frayed burlap and peeled paint distress spray stain.

I added a little statue distress foundry wax over the top. Check out Tim’s awesome demo of this new product HERE.

I added walnut stain distress crayon over the top to grunge it up a little and then stacked the 2 clovers over each other and glued to the background with distress collage medium.

I assembled and stitched my card.

Finally I mounted onto idea-ology black kraftstock and distress kraft heavystock.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.

Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 6 Comments | Views: 2,052
Tim Holtz Chapter 2

11th April, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Happy Monday friends! I hope your week is off to a great start. I’m starting a week of sharing with a make for the newly released Tim Holtz Chapter 2 dies. If you missed the launch, you can catch up on all the fun and see the inspirational makes over on Tim’s blog.

When I saw the modern floristry die set, I knew I wanted to use them with my (retired) pillowbox die. I realise that using retired dies can cause frustration but as someone who has passionately collected for over a decade, I want to be able to use all the dies from my collection and I want you to be able to make along too; so I made a wrap that you can easily adapt to fit something else if you don’t have a pillowbox or the die.

I added all of the elements to the wrap so it’s is easy to adapt and add to another box, envelope, card or even a napkin ring, (which I show later in the post). Let’s get into how…

I die cut a few pieces from the new modern floristry thinlits die set from distress watercolor cardstock.

Using distress archival ink and the ledger script stamp from CMS241, stamped the die cut pieces.

I sprayed with distress ink spray and once dry, used the shaping kit to shape the petals and leaves, ready to add with distress collage medium.

I LOVE the 3D embossing folders Tim designs and they just keep getting better. The texture on the new woven 3D folder is outstanding and goes so well with the modern floristry.

I cut a strip from distress mixed media heavystock and ran it through my die cutting machine with the woven 3D embossing folder. I used a scoring board to create 2 folds so that it would fit around the pillowbox and snipped the ends at an angle with scissors to create a neat end, adding scor tape along this end.

The pillowbox wrap pictured here is 2 inches wide x 7 inches long.
Score lines at 3 inches + 6.25 inches.

Adapt the measurements to fit other things and use a practice piece first so you have the measurements figured out.

The woven background was sprayed with walnut stain distress spray stain and spritzed with water. Once dry I rubbed the walnut stain distress ink pad directly onto the woven embossed detail to darken the raised parts.

I used a little iced spruce distress spray and walnut stain distress ink to the edges of my pillowbox that I die cut from distress mixed media heavystock. Using distress archival inks and stamps from the field notes CMS396 set, I stamped the sides.

Ready for the wrap to be slid onto the pillowbox.

It could be adapted to create a napkin ring. I used the pillowbox wrap for demonstration purposes, but for a napkin ring would reduce the width and cut the length to fit. It’s given me some ideas to play with and I’ll share what I make.

This one is ready to have a gift added and sent out to a friend.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope this has inspired you to make and let me know if you have any questions.
Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 12 Comments | Views: 3,182
Lovestruck for Woodgrain

14th February, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Happy Valentines Day friends! Are you still swooning over the incredible Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 1 launch?! I know I am and excited to see the dies starting to arrive in your hands. If you missed the LIVE launch party, you can catch the replay and all of the inspirational makes over on Tim’s blog.

I truly am lovestruck for woodgrain colorize and for lovestruck colorize too and was delighted to make some samples for the Launch after party! Let’s get into the details…

I gasped when Tim showed us the Woodgrain Colorize die set during our makers call and I know I wasn’t alone. You could see eyes light up from those tiny zoom squares. The new colorize couldn’t be more straightforward and it takes your wood effect to the next level!!

Cut the 4 pieces from distress white heavystock and blend in distress ink.

– Base layer = ground espresso + black soot.
– Next 2 layers = walnut stain heavy blend / walnut stain light blend.
– Top layer = ground espresso.

I trimmed the woodgrain planks to fit the idea-ology mini framed panel. You can see I trimmed one of the planks length ways with my Tim Holtz shears. If you want to use your guillotine for this, I recommend adding one layer of the woodgrain to the base and trimming, then adding the top layers and trimming with your scissors.

I AM IN AWE OF THIS DIE!! I used distress collage medium to add each layer and it created some resist effect where the glue spilled over. You can see this at the top, I love the effect, albeit accidental.

I altered an idea-ology mini framed panel. Cover the frame with a layer of white gesso. Next add distress crackle texture paste and set aside to air dry and crack. Once dry, dry brush with vintage photo distress paints. Finally rub walnut stain distress crayon into the cracks and blend with your finger.

Using distress collage medium and a distress collage brush, add the frame to the panel and set aside to dry while you make the topper. At this stage you could add anything on top and you could skip the frame panel and make this a card.

I happened to have the Lovestruck Colorize die set hanging around 😉 so I decided to use that. Again, another easy to put together colorize die and mostly large pieces. I die cut the smaller heart from the set from distress watercolor cardstock and blended in aged mahogany, fired brick, candied apple and ground espresso distress inks and assembled.

I am OBSESSED with this arrow. I cut it in half a removed a section to shorten the arrow to fit my framed panel. I used distress white heavystock for the base piece covered in black soot distress ink and die cut idea-ology metallic kraft stock for the top and added a little mushroom alcohol ink and walnut stain distress crayon to grunge it up.

I cut XO from alphanumeric shadow upper thinlits die set from distress white heavystock. I used the inside of the die cut, covered with candied apple, fired brick and walnut stain distress inks. I also die cut a couple of letters from fun foam and added underneath for dimension.

Of course… stamped from distinguished CMS391 stamp set in distress archival ink.

I used the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway for my die cutting. I love this machine, the pressure is insanely good and 3D embossing folders only require one pass. Cutting detailed dies from distress white heavystock may require a second pass because the cardstock is so thick.

Thanks for stopping by. Whether you are celebrating today or not, I wish you love and happiness today and all days.

Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 5 Comments | Views: 3,012
Gladys

8th February, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello Friends. What a weekend! Did you join the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 1 launch party? The dies are fantastic and there was so much maker inspiration, Tim joined the maker train and made some gorgeous little bunny cards (yes you read that right but you will get it when you see it); and Mario Rossi brought his FLAMAZING flamingo onesie out for another tour! You can catch up on all of the fun and replay over on Tim’s blog.

I was delighted to make for this launch and Gladys was top of my pick list for this chapter. She is so sassy and so damn fabulous, she most definitely has arrived!!

I went grungy with Gladys, she’s “Grunge-Glam!”…it’s a thing!! I wanted to add tiny little diamonties to her eyes but I couldn’t find them so I added a dot of white gel pen instead.

Each of these squares was cut with a different die plate. If you turn your dies over there is a color written on the back which really helped me as a beginner to colorize. You can of course change the color, but it’s helped me get started. See the Sizzix Gladys Colorize video for details on how to assemble Gladys.

I raised Gladys up with adhesive foam! I love her lifted leg it just makes her so much more sassy! Tim designed such a great die that I pushed through my fear of colorize and I’m so happy I did. As Tim has said many times before, they have learned along the way and colorize is now really simple. Even the eyes, which I sweated about took me minutes the second time I made Gladys. Remember when we make these for the first time, we don’t have any instructions, just a cover photo. I’m telling you this to show that colorize is pretty simple now.

I used a mini thickboard etcetera tag as my surface. I cut a piece of distress watercolor cardstock the same size as the tag, covered with frayed burlap and hickory smoke distress spray. Once dry I spread distress crackle texture paste through the sparkle stencil and set aside to dry. Next I added some watered down white gesso and set aside to dry again. Finally I added walnut stain distress crayon to parts of the background and removed the excess with a damp cloth. I stitched the edges with my sewing machine and glued the background to the etcetera tag.

I used the alphanumeric bold thinlits dies to create “GLADYS” at the top of the tag. I cut the letters twice from distress watercolor cardstock and sprayed one set with black soot and the other with kitsch flamingo distress spray. I cut a third set from fun foam to raise the letters off the tag. This is such a cool trick that Tim taught me and I use it all the time, see it here. I put the black letters through my new Big Shot Foldaway inside the quilted 3D embossing folder and then lightly sanded and blended in walnut stain distress ink. I offset the black and pink letters, added the foam to the back and glued to the tag with distress collage medium.

For the base I added a thickboard etcetera scalloped trim. I used the trim thinlits dies to die cut several of the scallop trim strips from distress watercolor cardstock and sprayed with black soot distress spray. Once dry I ran them through my foldaway machine inside the quilted 3D folder. I lightly sanded and blended in walnut stain distress ink. I added the trims to either side of the thickboard trim and one along the base of the etcetera tag. I glued the trim to the tag with a line of distress collage medium. Finally I die cut “I Have Arrived” from idea-ology metallic kraft-stock with the alphanumeric tiny type upper thinlits die set.

I used the new Tim Holtz Big Shot Foldaway machine. The pressure is so epic that you only need one pass for the 3D folder. Check out Tim demo the foldaway at the end of the Chapter 1 LIVE.

I grunged up a set of gates cut from the gatekeeper thinlits die set. I die cut the base gates from distress watercolor cardstock that I sprayed with black soot distress spray and the highlight pieces from idea-ology metallic kraft-stock. Assembled using distress collage medium and then rubbed some gilders wax over parts of the gates.

I attached them to the tag by the hinge with distress collage medium and carefully molded the gates with my fingers so they sit open.

For the greenery I sprayed separate pieces of distress watercolor cardstock with bundled sage, peeled paint and forest moss distress sprays, spritzed with water and dried with a heat tool.

Using a die from the funky florals #3 set I die cut the base leaves from the lighter cardstock and the upper leaves from the darker cardstocks. I blended in walnut stain distress ink with a mini blending tool.

I assembled the leaves using distress collage medium and set aside to dry. The drying time of distress collage medium is ‘now” but I wanted to make sure the leaves were completely dry so that they wouldn’t come apart when I shaped them.

I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix shaping kit to shape my leaves. Tim did a fantastic demo with the shaping kit, you can see that here, it’s really worth watching. The shaping kit is a game changer for me, it takes your die cuts to another level.

Add the leaves to the trim shelf using distress collage medium. Glue them at the stem only. The shaping kit really does bring the dies to life and it’s so simple.

Thanks for stopping by. I am so excited to see Gladys arrive in your homes and to see all the different and crazy things you make.

Zoe

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Category Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 23 Comments | Views: 5,192
Mr Frost

7th January, 2022 by iGirlZoe

Hello friends and Happy 2022. I took some time away over Christmas to relax with my guy who took some much needed vacay days. We watched some good TV, ate like kings, built a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, completed some home projects and celebrated with friends over zoom. I enjoyed taking time out to rest and now that the first crazy busy week back to reality is done, I’m ready and excited to have some making time this weekend. I hope you’re taking some making time for yourself and what better day to make than on Tim Holtz’s Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!

It feels like a long time ago in “maker years” but when I first saw the Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas dies, I LOVED Mr Frost. He just looks like he’s causing trouble. Like maybe he wouldn’t melt when he was supposed to! Remind you of anyone? LOL

I made this framed panel for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas LIVE launch. You can see the replay and all the makes over on Tim’s Blog. Here’s a few of the details for my make…

I created a background by spraying antique linen distress spray, edging with walnut stain distress ink and adding drops of snow flurries mica spray.

Using a palette knife, spread distress crackle texture paste through a stencil, I used the hocus pocus stencil, one of my faves.

Soak your stencil right away, I use a “lasagna pan” (thanks Mario). Followers of Tim and Mario’s Saturday LIVES will know exactly what I mean! 😉

Once dry, place the stencil back over stars and brush a layer of vintage distress collage medium over the top and remove stencil and soak the stencil again. Once the background is dry, place the stencil over once more and rub with distress crayon and blend with your finger. You can do the second and third steps without the stencil but it maybe helpful for beginners and I do this because I find it keeps my background cleaner.

I altered an idea-ology framed panel. Cover the frame with a layer of white gesso. Once dry, dry brush with iced spruce and vintage photo distress paints. Next add distress crackle texture paste and set aside to air dry and crack. Finally rub distress crayon into the cracks and blend with your finger.

Mr Frost is a mutli-layer die that makes assembly really simple. The black buttons, mouth and nose are simply a layer underneath the top layer which I sprayed with black soot distress spray. It’s much easier than gluing on all those tiny pieces.

I added Mr Frost with adhesive foam to give some additional dimension and to lift his arm to hold the star…

I added a star from the Vault Series Holiday 2021 die set which I glued into Mr Frost’s twig hand! I did try a tiny light inside the star but it didn’t really show up, BUT, you could make one from vellum and add a tiny light or a cluster of tiny lights.

That hat though!

Thanks for stopping by. It’s World Snowman Day on January 18. I hope you’ll join me for a day of fun making and I’ll have some giveaways here on my blog and on instagram.

I wish you a very healthy and happy 2022 and don’t let anyone melt your snowman!
Zoe

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Category Christmas, Sizzix, Tim Holtz | Tags: | 20 Comments | Views: 2,419

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