Everyday Expressions

Hi Everyone! I have taken a long creative break, and finally am back with a tag for both  Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2016, March, and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, Use Some Lucky Stars. Once again, this tag is jam-packed full of as many Tim Holtz products as I could possibly find!

Tim’s techniques this month focused on textures and dimension with die cuts. So I began by gluing tissue paper on a tag with matte Mod-Podge, and then die cut it with Thinlits dies.

Next I glued paper onto the back and trimmed around the tag. I used white Pickett Fence Distress Paint to lightly soften the paper colors showing through the die cuts. Then I used the yummy new Mermaid Lagoon Distress Crayon to scribble some color onto the tag, misted with water, and blended with my finger. I love how easily the color moves around, and settles into the die cuts for lots of pretty dimension. It’s like buttah – but bettah! (I think I’m going to order the nuetral set next.)

The corrugated paper from DCWV’s Neutrals Stack is a soft linen/tan color, and I like that it softened all of the textures and colors in the background. Next I distressed the edges using my TH edger and sanding block.

I used the butterfly die from Sizzix/Tim’s Framelits Limitations set, but I only cut half of the butterfly. (I’m not sure what this technique is called. LOL.) I love the interest it adds by the wings folding out from the background so that you peek into the inside tag layers with the soft DI crayon color. I folded the wings back into the cardboard, and splattered with Pickett Fence, Antique Linen, and Tumbled Glass Distress Paint. Finally, I used my finger and some of the Distress Crayon to edge the cardboard,  around the inner and outer edges of the butterflies, and on the foldout wings.All of the stamps and dies for this tag are from the same Limitations Framelits set. I stamped the sentiment with black Archival Ink on the reverse, smooth side of an extra piece of the corrugated cardstock and then used the coordinating die to cut it out. Next I die cut the stars from the scraps, and then used the figures stamp for added interest. Then I softly blended Abandoned Coral Distress Ink around the edges. The finishing touch was to use Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder and gold Vintaj Foil to add some gold for a distressed look.

I created the flowers using Tim’s Tattered Florals Dies. I cut the flowers from 90 lb. Canson watercolor paper, lightly colored with Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Spray Stains, burnished the petals, and finally glued the layers together. Then I added the flowers, stars, and sentiment to the tag.

The final steps were to create the tag using Tim’s Crinkle ribbon colored with Mermaid  Lagoon DI and misted with water. The Journey Muse Token was colored with Broken China Distress Paint and Mushroom Adirondack Ink, and then tied to the tag with a simple bow.

There you have it. What do you think? Thanks for stopping by today! Love and crafty hugs!

Erin