‘Sizzix’ Category

  1. Tim Holtz Crypt Paste

    20th October, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween

    Hello friends. I’ve climbed into my time machine today and I’m going way back to the launch of the Tim Holtz Halloween seasonal distress and Halloween dies. It feels like I made this so long ago and yet here we are in Halloween season and the timing couldn’t be more perfect to share this tombstone with a date inspired by the movie Hocus Pocus.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    It’s no surprise that my favourite of all the new seasonal distress products and the one that stole my grunge loving heart was the crypt grit-paste (crypt-paste)! Oh my goodness this stuff is AMAZING. It’s truly the grittiest grit of a paste!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    If you’re still looking for the Halloween Texture Set, there’s a link at the end of the post to some in stock (at the time of posting)!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    I covered a #8 etcetera thickboard tag with a light layer of white gesso. Once dry, covered with a layer of hickory smoke distress paint. Using the new vault series halloween die set, I cut several of the branches and glued them onto the tag to simulate cracks in the tombstone.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    Cover parts of the tag with crypt grit-paste, distress grave texture paste (not pictured) and hickory smoke distress paint drying between each medium. I apply texture paste with a palette knife and grit-paste with my finger, sort of tapping it on to create the really gritty texture.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    Add the #8 etcetera tag tombstone overlay parts and covered with the pastes and paint as before.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    Die cut numbers from the alphanumeric stretch upper thinlits die set several times and mount on top of each other. NOTE: This was before Tim gave me the game changing fun foam tip. See my gravestones post for details. Glue them to the tag and cover with distress crypt grit-paste, distress gravy texture paste and hickory smoke distress paint.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    Dry brush black soot distress paint over the die cut branches to darken and dry brush white gesso over parts of the tombstone to highlight.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    I added the ghosts from the new vault series halloween die set. I LOVE these and I’m so happy to have them in a smaller size and what a great opportunity to own them if you don’t have the retired set they were part of.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    I cut candles from the candlelight colorize die set, another favourite of mine from the halloween die release. This colorize is super simple to put together but if you need any help, let me know and I can put up a step out for you. I trimmed them at the base to different sizes and stacked them along the raised lower ledge of the tombstone.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz ranger ink crypt grit-paste grave texture paste halloween
    Thanks for stopping by and I’ll be back with a graveyard in a tin using these grungetastic texture pastes and the vault series halloween die set in an idea-ology tin.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  2. Gravestones

    15th October, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection

    Hello friends, hope you’re doing well. Today I’m sharing a “how to” for the gravestones I made for a recent village make. You can see my make on Tim’s instagram video, along with a storage idea for the village collection dies. If you missed the LIVE launch you can watch the replay on Tim’s blog and see all the amazing village makes, including one by Tim which will blow your socks off!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    There’s a funny story to these gravestones… I was chatting to Tim and had a maker deadline, so continued to glue together layers and layers AND LAYERS of cardstock to make gravestones as we chatted. Tim watched me for a bit and then asked if I had tried using foam instead of 10 layers of cardstock! I think he laughed as he said “What are you doing and why are you doing that?!” It literally saved ME DAYS! So thank you Tim for this game changing tip and the perfect timing.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    I will be sharing a “how to” for my village build in a later post but for today, it’s all about the gravestones. Let’s get into the how…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    Using the 2021 Halloween Vault Series dies, cut 2 gravestones from distress kraft heavystock and 1 from fun foam. I used black because that’s what I had but you can use any color or any thickness and add a few more pieces of foam if you want thicker gravestones. Really make it your own.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    I glued the layers together with distress collage medium, with the foam in the middle. I did try adding double sided adhesive tape to the foam and then die cutting it but the foam became compacted. You could use adhesive tape on the kraft stock but I found that wet glue works better with all the gesso, paint and paste you’ll add.

    Another great tip that Tim shared with me is to give the foam a quick blast with your heat tool after you’ve die cut it. It reinflates the foam a little after being flattened during die cutting. Seriously! Craft friends are the best!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    Next cover the the entire gravestone with white gesso and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    Apply distress grave texture paste with your finger and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    Paint on a layer of hickory smoke distress paint and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection vault series halloween
    Finally, apply distress crypt texture paste (crypt-paste) to the gravestone with your finger and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    To attach the gravestones to my upturned idea-ology vignette tray, I ran a line of hot glue along the bottom of the gravestone and pressed down into place. As the moss covers the base of all of the gravestones, you won’t see the hot glue and don’t need to be too tidy with it. If you don’t want to use moss, you could add texture paste to the base of the tombstone and paint with hickory smoke paint to hide the hot glue.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Tip: I placed all of my gravestones using blue-tack/poster putty and then lifted the gravestone one at a time, removed the putty and put back into place with the hot glue.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Thanks for stopping by. Don’t forget to set your alarms and plan your snacks for tomorrow’s new distress color launch! I’m so excited. See you there.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  3. Tim Holtz Village Collection

    2nd October, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection

    Hello friends! Did you catch the LIVE launch of the Tim Holtz Village Collection? This is such an exciting day for all the village lovers out there and for those new to the Tim Holtz brand, this is your chance to own your very own set of Village Collection dies.

    Despite the heroic efforts by Mario and his buddy at Fedex, my box didn’t quite make it in time for the LIVE, so Tim came up with a Plan B. I’m very grateful to them both for always looking out for their makers.

    Today I’m sharing some close ups and if you keep scrolling there’s a storage idea too. In another post I’ll share how I put this together, the mistakes I made and the things I learned as a first time village builder.

    EDIT: You can see my cemetery showcased on Tim’s instagram.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collectionigirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection

    STORAGE

    EDIT: You can see my village collection storage idea showcased on Tim’s instagram.

    I wanted to easily see what options I had when building so I used this system to organize and store my dies.

    For the storage I used:
    2x packs of Tim Holtz Sizzix envelopes (+ 2 envelopes from the village collection – totaling 8)
    1x pack Home Depot magnetic vent covers
    2x sheets of Tim Holtz distress white heavystock
    posca pen
    scor-tape

    I cut vent covers to fit the envelopes, mounted onto distress heavystock using scor tape to make the sheet sturdy and used a white posca pen to identify each sheet. The posca pen can be removed with a damp cloth if you make a mistake.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    House 1

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    House 2

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Manor
    *cut halfway across the envelope flap join to allow the longer die to stick out the top

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Rooftops

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Spire + Addition + Towers

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Dormer + Entry Way + Awning + Doorways

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Shutters + Entry Doors + Door Frames + Entry Frames + Chimneys

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix village collection
    Windows + Window Frames

    Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back soon with more details of my cemetery and a funny story behind those gravestones.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  4. Specimen Matchbox

    3rd September, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox

    Hello friends. Another day, another dome! Thank you so much for your kind comments here and on social media about the Jack-O-Lantern dome. I’m so happy that you’re as excited as I am about the new Tim Holtz idea-ology Halloween.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    Today I’m heading back to the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 release. I was so excited to receive the matchbox Bigz L die that comes with the cutest thinlits set. This allows you to cut a dome sized hole in the matchbox and comes with “circle flair” that I can’t stop using.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    I use the idea-ology design ruler to center the circle and secure with a little masking tape and run it through my die cutter. Check out Tim’s matchbox demo, for some great tips on matchbox assembly.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    These are the pieces that I die cut. The matchbox drawer and sleeve, circle flair, a butterfly from the entomology framelits set, intertwined 3D embossed cardstock, honeycomb from the mixed media thinlits set.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    Add the honeycomb die cut to the display dome cork base with distress collage medium. Make a hole in the base for a stick, I used a dremel micro with the drill attachment.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    I added this creepy faux moss that I bought from a craft store in the US years ago!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    The inside of the box is lined with the intertwined 3D embossed piece with a butterfly from the entomology framelits and stamp set mounted under the dome. It’s up-lit with a set of tiny lights that are glued into the bottom of the matchbox and thread through the bottom of the cork display dome base.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    The piece of creepy faux moss perfectly fit the stick. I added a couple of dots of hot glue to hold it in place.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    Finally, I put on the dome and added a piece of idea-ology ephemera and cord to the outside of the glass.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix matchbox
    Thanks for stopping by. This dome is heading to my friend Stacy Hutchinson, who inspired me to use a stick and this most definitely belongs with her stick collection.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  5. Jack-O-Lantern by Candlelight

    2nd September, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead

    Hello friends. Happy second day of September. I am so ready to get my Halloween on and today I’m sharing this tag I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween LIVE launch.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    I was invited to take part in an industry virtual event where Tim showcased his seasonal dies; during the demo he put the pumpkin from the pumpkinhead die set onto a candlestick from the candlelight die set and that inspired this tag. Jack-O-Lantern candles…? YES PLEASE!!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    I LOVE this pumpkinhead, he’s such a troublemaker, you can tell! I added a drippy candle die cut piece over his eye, it reminds me of the poisoned apple from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. You should check out the brilliant make that Tami B (playswellwithpaper) did for the Halloween idea-ology LIVE with a Disney poisoned apple! I can’t wait for that blog post!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    Using a distress heavystock #8 tag, I added antique linen and hickory smoke distress sprays and dried. I spread distress grave texture paste from the Halloween distress paste set through the skull stencil from mini stencil set 23 with a palette knife. How freaking cool is this paste? I have a couple of extra pots, thanks to a very thoughtful friend.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    I’m in love with the new candlelight die set. They may have been released with the Halloween dies, but they are going to rock Christmas and I’ll be using them all year. They are so simple to put together.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    I was practicing a zig zag stitch with my sewing machine on scrap card and got it so on point that I trimmed it off the scrap card, inked it, added a hardware head to each end and used it as a ledge for the candle sticks to sit on and under. I added a sticker from the idea-ology curiosities sticker book and die cut drips underneath.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix candlelight pumpkinhead
    I stitched the tag and then mounted it onto a #8 etctera thickboard tag to give it stability. To finish, I dyed a piece of mummy cloth with distress spray and thread it through the tag and secured in place with an idea-ology mini pin.

    I really wish I had added tiny lights to this tag and I would have done, but I was out of time and racing the clock. Mario very kindly dipped out during the LIVE to collect this from the local Fedex depot and this isn’t the first time he has done this for a maker. Very grateful to Tim and Mario, who always go the extra mile.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  6. The Birds!

    5th August, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork

    Hello friends. I hope you’re having a good week. I’m so excited for the Tim Holtz seasonal LIVE launches to get underway on Tim’s YouTube channel from Saturday! I thought it was probably a good idea to catch up and post my makes from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 2 LIVE launch! We’ll just call this Throwback Thursday and say no more about it. If you want to jump in your time machine and go way back, you can watch the Chapter 2 LIVE on Tim’s blog.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    The new retro TV die is seriously cool! It reminds me of a TV we had when I was a kid. There was no TV remote, you had to get up off your butt to change one of the 5 channels! When you turned it off there would be this line across the middle as the tube cooled down. Generation Netflix will have to google it. 😉

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    The moment I saw the retro TV die came with a “pop out” I knew I wanted to smash it out and the rest came together as I went along (I’m not a planner), clearly based on how long it’s taken me to post this!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    Here are the brickwork panels in their various stages using the AMAZING Tim Holtz brickwork 3D embossing folder. I have a “how to” for this in a previous blog post.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    I covered the base of a vignette tray with the brickwork panels. I took some build photos as I see quite a lot of questions about how to use idea-ology tiny lights with vignette boxes and trays. I use a dremel mirco with the drill bit accessory set and thread the lights through from the back.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    I added a set of idea-ology tiny lights I hoarded from last Halloween. I LOVE the purple set because they look like black lights and was perfect for this project (see final photo). I wound them around the back of the TV die cut, securing in place with hot glue as I went. Being very careful not to touch the actual bulb with hot glue as this can short the lights. I added extra hot glue blobs to create space between the back so it would sit away from the brickwork and allow the light to escape.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    I printed a photo from a famous scene from Hitchcock’s – The Birds movie. I painted a little ground espresso around the edges of the square dome before gluing into place ready to add the top piece.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    Using a craft knife, I cut cracks in the square dome and used pliers to bend back the opening where the birds broke through and escaped. Be careful not to scratch yourself on the sharp edges of the plastic. You could lightly sand if it worries you.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    The panel and feet are separate die cuts and I ran these through my machine with the lumber 3D embossing folder for a faux woodgrain effect. I love being able to emboss different pieces and then assemble after.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    I used alcohol ink foil tape covered with mushroom alcohol ink to create the dials and bars on the TV panel. I used the end of my paper shaping tool to emboss a circle into the smaller dial and added an extra bar I cut to the bigger dial.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    The birds were die cut using retired scarecrow thinlits die set (662382).

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    They were cut from the new idea-ology kraft-stock, which I love. It’s non textured unlike the original kraft-stock. I folded the birds wings up slightly and attached with a dot of distress collage medium added to the body of the bird.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    Cutting Hitchcock twice using the alphanumeric stretch upper thinlits dies. Once from idea-ology kraft-stock and once from distress kraft heavystock. I mounted one over the other, slightly offset to make it pop.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix retro tv alphanumeric stretch upper 3D brickwork
    Doesn’t it look cool lit up in the dark?! I hope there are idea-ology Halloween tiny lights this year! 😉 (photo credit Mario Rossi)…

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  7. Varsity Moth

    30th July, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric

    Hello friends. I’m getting ready for a busy weekend of seasonal making. Before I head off into the inky wilderness, I thought I would stop by and share a tag I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 LIVE launch. You can check out all the launch details and inspirational makes over on Tim’s blog.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    This time I used half of the perspective moth die cut and took the varsity alphanumeric dies out for a test run and wow, it’s an alphanumeric must have set!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    I used a #8 etcetera tag as my base. I love these tags because they are made from thickboard and you can really load them up with paints, pastes and inks. Perfect for mixed media makes. I have a how to with tips for applying the paste on a previous blog post. For this one I added some plain collage paper which I had stamped with the ledger script stamp in hickory smoke distress archival ink. I added a piece of design tape to the bottom which eventually got covered up, but it still adds texture to the background. I added vintage collage medium to give tint before layering with gesso and distress grit-paste.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    I created the moth using the perspective moth thinlits die and rusted the same way as the brickwork moth in a previous blog post. The intricate detail of this wing is incredible. I use a foldaway to cut my intricate dies but if you find you’re having trouble cutting them and you’re not using a foldaway machine, I recommend using a Sizzix Chrome Plate. Details on how to use it and which machines it’s compatible with are on Sizzix website.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    Let’s talk about the new varsity alphanumeric thinlits dies! WOW! I LOVE THEM! They gently emboss this beautiful stitched detail around the inner die cut. You can’t see it as clearly here as I used felt for the inner piece, but trust me, it is actually there. I used some very stiff adhesive backed felt that Tim kindly sent me. It’s like jacket lettering. So so cool!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    I also used a seal outline from the thinlits set that comes with the new matchbox bigz die. I have to admit this die hasn’t been off my desk, love it. I used alphanumeric tiny type lower thinlits dies to spell out perspective.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix perspective moth varsity alphanumeric
    The perspective moth is a large die and still works perfectly on smaller surfaces by simply cutting it down. Thanks for stopping by.

    Zoe


    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  8. Perspective Moth

    16th July, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal

    Hello friends! Happy Friday! I’m back today with a sample that I made for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 3 LIVE launch. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can catch up on all the fun over on Tim’s blog.

    I want to say a big thank you for the amazing response and kind comments on my brickwork post. I hope you’ll try it out and I can’t wait to see all the different combinations you come up with.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    I took a brickwork background and cut it to create this exposed brick effect. I love the industrial look of this. Let’s get into the how to…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Cover a small thickboard etcetera tag with gesso and distress crackle texture paste and set aside to dry. Sand the edges and rub walnut stain distress crayon into the cracks. I did a “how to” for this on a previous blog post.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Once you are happy with your grunged up background, it’s time to add the brickwork pieces. Tutorial below…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Follow the brickwork post to create a brickwork background. Cut pieces and strips with scissors and glue them onto your tag.

    This concludes the cut brickwork tutorial. 😉

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Using the circuit 3D embossing folder I embossed distress watercolor cardstock and covered with a layer of watered down white gesso. I dry brushed ground espresso distress paint over the top and added some distress spray and let it wick through the embossed detail.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    The new switchlits seal is AWESOME! I used it as an anchor point for my moth, to see how the new switchlits work, check out Tim’s LIVE launch.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    The new perspective moth is stunning! When I received the die and cut it for the first time, I couldn’t believe how intricate the wings are. I cut it twice and covered the top layer with distress grit-paste and then painted with ground espresso distress paint and added rusty hinge distress crayon. The bottom layer I did nothing to and offset slightly from the top layer to create a drop shadow.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Here is a quick run through of how I assembled the tag in case it’s helpful. The ruler didn’t make the final piece.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    I use Tim’s design ruler to find the center of my frame and mark with a tiny piece of tape and then again to find the center of the tag. Not at all necessary, but for me it’s all in the details.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    I find adhesive backed foam really expensive and I like to customise the size so I make my own. I buy sheets of kids fun foam and cover each side in 2 inch scor-tape and then cut to size as I need it.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Add the foam adhesive backed circuit background to the center of the frame.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Next add the switchlet seal. I used a little foam backed adhesive again to lift the layer.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    After I had added the seal I wished I’d stamped it but knew if I tried to do it whilst the seal was on my tag it would go wrong, I would try and remove the seal, that would tare the background… house of cards! So I stamped the image onto a piece of plain collage tissue wrap, fussy cut and then glued it on with distress collage medium. The glue makes the collage tissue vanish. I then got a little extra with the paint brush and ripped the bottom piece of the stamp, so added an idea-ology plaquette to cover the mistake. Smoke and mirrors my friends. Nothing I do is ever planned, it’s usually just accidental damage control! LOL

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    I added the perspective moth, attaching the body but leaving the wings free and shaping them slightly with my fingers. I added a strip of idea-ology metallic kraftstock with alphanumeric tiny type letters and idea-ology hardware heads added. I rubbed my NEW FULL SIZE distress archival ink pad over the top. Sorry for the shouting, I’m still so happy that Tim and Ranger released the OG distress archival palette in full size ink pads.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    I added a piece of linen that I dyed with distress spray stain and secured in place with an idea-ology fastener.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder perspective moth switchlit seal
    Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions and set your alarms for tomorrows new distress color reveal. I’m so excited, you’re going to need snacks.

    Zoe



  9. Tim Holtz Brickwork

    14th July, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259

    Hello Friends! I’ve finally got myself organized and have a walk through of the brickwork backgrounds I’ve been using for my makes recently.

    The Tim Holtz Sizzix Brickwork 3D embossing folder is incredibly detailed and does all of the heavy lifting when creating brickwork from paper. It’s the brick pitting detail that makes it look like it should be rough to the touch when it’s not.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Above are a few examples of brickwork used in my makes. For the walk through I haven’t listed specific colours, but if you scroll down there are some different brickwork combinations with colours listed to get you started, but first, let’s get into how to make your own…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Gather these supplies: distress watercolor cardstock, brickwork 3D embossing folder, jar of water, paper towel, white gesso, distress water sprayer bottle, large and detail paint brushes, distress crayons, distress paint and distress sprays.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Emboss distress watercolor cardstock with the 3D brickwork embossing folder. You only need your base platform and one cutting plate when running 3D embossing folders through your Sizzix machine. Lightly mist your cardstock and then roll your embossing folder through 3 times. Remember 3D – 3 passes.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Make a paint wash with distress paint and water and paint over the embossed brickwork background and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Give the background a light mist and spray with distress spray and dry with a heat tool.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Give the background a light mist and spray with another distress spray and dry with a heat tool.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Rub distress crayon onto your finger and rub over portions of the brickwork. Dry with a heat tool.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Once the background is dry, really dry. Go ahead and dry it once more just to be sure and gather white gesso, water spray bottle, detail paint brush and paper towel. Put a little gesso onto your glass media mat or non stick craft mat and add a little water and mix.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Paint lines of gesso into the grooves of the brickwork and then gently rub with your finger. Between each line dip your brush in water to clean and dry with the paper towel. You are getting rid of any crayon or ink your brush picks up before dipping it back into your gesso puddle. If you don’t do this, you will end up with orange gesso. Dry the brush between each line so the gesso is not too wet as it will reduce the amount of ink and crayon you pick up. Don’t worry about going over the lines, it works for you here. Have a second pass if you need to, but dry first. A little practice goes a long way.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Once finished, dry dry dry and the use a finger to add distress crayon to random bricks to create the imperfection of real bricks.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Here are some other combinations for different brickwork…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #1: frayed burlap distress paint, rusty hinge + brushed corduroy distress spray stains, rusty hinge + walnut stain distress crayon, white gesso

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #1

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #2: hickory smoke distress paint, ground espresso + black soot distress spray stains, ground espresso distress crayon, white gesso

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #2

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #3: hickory smoke distress paint, rusty hinge + fired brick + vintage photo distress spray stains, rusty hinge + walnut stain distress crayons, white gesso

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #3

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #4: frayed burlap + hickory smoke distress paint
    This is the easiest combination and does not require gesso and works great behind flowers as a garden wall.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    COMBINATION #4

    igirlzoe: tim holtz sizzix brickwork 3D embossing folder 664259
    Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back soon to share a couple of makes using this brickwork. I encourage you to experiment with other combinations. Try embossing small strips of cardstock to make brickwork swatches…

    Zoe



  10. Happy 4th of July

    4th July, 2021 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432

    Hello friends and Happy July 4th to my family and friends across the pond. To celebrate with you I’m sharing this July 4th inspired tag that I made for the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous LIVE launch. If you missed the LIVE, you can catch up on all the fun over on Tim’s blog.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    Tim definitely had me at hats with this awesome new inquisitive CMS432 stamp set. I immediately thought of Americana and this background tag I made last year was the perfect base for this stamp set. Here’s how I made it…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    Add painters tape to a small etcetera thickboard tag and paint between the tape with picket fence distress paint. Once the paint is dry, remove the tape and mask the painted area with clean tape, mix candied apple, fired brick and aged mahogany distress paints together and paint. Finally paint the top of the tag with blueprint sketch distress paint and set aside to dry.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    Once completely dry, lightly sand and blend in walnut stain distress ink to the edges and blue section of the tag using a mini blending tool.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    Apply distress crackle texture paste through a stencil (stars THS008) with a palette knife and set aside to dry. Your tag is ready to decorate.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    I stamped the larger “hat dudes” from inquisitive set onto distress watercolor cardstock in black soot distress archival ink… Using the newly released full size ink pads!! I embossed with clear embossing powder and fussy cut. I used 3D adhesive foam to create lift for some of the hat dudes and added some etcetera thickboard trims which I decorated using another stamp from the inquisitive set, for them to rest on.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    I used the bullseye stamp from the inquisitive stamp set and stamped in archival ink. I cut equal sections and then used the awesome Tim Holtz shaping kit from Sizzix to create this Americana bunting rosette.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    I stamped the numbers, again from the inquisitive stamp set and used a circle punch and some mica to create a little token to highlight the 4.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous inquisitive CMS432
    Lastly I added July cut from alphanumeric thinlits dies and added some mummy cloth to the top of the tag.

    Thanks for stopping by and have a happy and safe 4th of July.

    Zoe