12 Tags of 2012, March Edition

Never let it be said that will do today what could be put off until the last possible moment tomorrow... as is the case with my entry for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012, March Challenge. Aw, heck, I've got a whole hour and 45 minutes until March is over... on Planet Linda, that actually IS early.

I took lots of liberties with this, but I did follow the mosaic technique to the letter, using one of the little houses from the Alterations Dwellings Die, and Verdigris Antiquities Embossing Powder. I don't have the cool woodgrain stamp yet, so I used Tim's Woodgrain Texture Fade instead. I inked with with Distress in Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Black Soot. The words are from Cosmo Cricket.

Better post this while there's still time...

--Hugs from Last-Minute Linda

E-Team Special Mission: Faux Postage

The eclectic Paperie E-Team has been faux-ing around lately, and this month, we're having a grand time with our "Faux Postage" theme.

The "classic" approach to faux postage involves meticulously cut and arranged masking, the very thought of which causes me to break out in a cold sweat, so I completely faked it, using some little "Moon Post" stamps I've had since dinosaurs roamed the earth (I wish I knew who made them... alas, I do not). Knowing I'd never pull off "clean and pretty" with this technique, I went with my fallback, "grungy and smudgy"...

Background is Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Kraft Resist Paper, colored with Distress Ink in Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint, Tattered Rose and Faded Jeans. The center panel was cut from Tim's Idea-ology Shabby Chic Paper Stash. The little stamp images were stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink and colored with pencils and Spica Glitter Pens. The little pen nib is from Tim Holtz/ Idea-ology. Please see below for details on creating the (non-masked) faux postage piece. 


As with all the E-Team hops, the very generous Daisy of eclectic Paperie has two $25 Gift Vouchers up for grabs, and will randomly choose the winners for this blog hop! To be eligible to win, simply leave a comment on each blog between now and this Sunday, April 1. The winners will be announced Monday, April 2nd on the eclectic Paperie blog.

The eclectic Paperie E-Team is:

Daisy Sparks, our Fearless Leader

Broni Holcombe

Linda Ledbetter (That's me!)

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

(Starla Nelson is sitting this one out, but be sure to stop by her blog and see the cool things she's been doing!)

Thanks for visiting, and enjoy the gorgeous art my e-Teamates created!
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I lined up the tiny stamps on Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Grid Blocks-- a tool I can not do without-- and stamped them all at once with Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink. I was so delighted to not have to mask, I can't even tell you! 






I used Tim's Idea-ology Design Ruler, with its clever little perfectly-spaced holes, to make the fake perforations. An awl, a cutting mat, and all the day's frustrations made for a satisfying project. ;-)

Creative Chemistry 101: Day 5-7

Did I mention how much I'm loving Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 101 at Online Card Classes? (You're like, "Um, yeah, Linda, you've mentioned it like a gazillion times... on your blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Pinterest.... ") If you're taking the class, though, you certainly know why I continue to wax rhapsodic about it. And if you're not taking it, guess what? You can still sign up and get all the awesome videos and instructions... with lifetime access! Click here for the lowdown. 

Days 5, 6 and 7 continued our exploration of Tim's products and techniques, got inky and had a blast!

Day 5: Spray Inks and Stains

We learned tons about the properties of various liquid colorants, and played with those cool Ranger Ink Distress Stains.

Stained Kraft Resist

Stamping with Stains

Marbled Stains

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Day 6: Distress Markers 

Distress Markers are awesome, you guys. While I only have a few colors so far, I'm already in a serious state of addiction, and once my backordered set shows up, LOOK OUT! 

 Various wet and dry Distress Marker Techniques (right and left photos)

Stamping with Distress Markers (center)

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 Day 7: Embossing Basics

No matter how many times, and how many ways I use it, embossing powder always seems a little bit magical to me. Fun stuff! Magical, fun stuff. 

Nostalgic Batik

Rusted Enamel

Distress Powder Resist

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Okay, I'm off to work on today's lesson! Woot! 

Creative Chemistry 101, Days 1-4

I love being a student. I really, truly do. This is something I'm reminded of whenever I get the opportunity to take a class, whether live or online, from someone whose work I admire. Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 101, currently being offered through Online Card Classes, is filling my head with awesome information and inspiration, as we revisit some classic techniques and learn new ones that are no doubt destined to become classics. Here's a peek at what we've been up to, so far...

Day 1 was introductory -- The story of how Tim became, you know, T!m, along with great info on the differences between various types of ink and the surfaces we use them on. Awesome knowledge for any crafter-- it's so empowering to really understand the mediums we work with every day. 

Day 2: Distress Ink Intro

Does it get any better, or more versatile, then Distress Ink? I don't think so. 

Blended Spritz and Flick

Brushless Watercolor

Wrinkle-Free Distress

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Day 3: Archival Ink
I fell in love with Archival Ink at Ranger U last year, and my devotion has only grown stronger the more I work with it. The reliability, the permanence, the incredible palette of colors... I'm addicted!

Alcohol Ink Agates Stamped with Archival

Archival Resist

Stamping With Reflections

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Day 4: Reinkers
This was such an eye-opener. I don't think about reinkers much beyond using them with water in Mini Misters (oh, and to actually re-ink stamp pads). I'm going to be hitting my stash of reinkers a lot more often after this lesson.

Watercoloring With Reinkers

Layered Misting

Custom Stamp Pad

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More to come....

(By the way, you can still get in on this class, and you'll have lifetime access to the information!)

Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge-- You're Invited!

I'm so, so thrilled to announce this new challenge series! We'll be working our way randomly through each and every technique in Tim Holtz's awesome new book, A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2!

Everyone is welcome to join in as we explore all the fantastic tutorials Tim created for his second Compendium. If you haven't already gotten yours, you can order an autographed copy directly from Tim and you'll have it in plenty of time to dive right into Challenge 1!

Click here to purchase A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2

Thirty-five new techniques. Thirty-five weeks of creative awesomeness. And-- of course!-- there will be some giveaways along the way.

Please mark your calendar, stock up on blank tags, and be ready for the distressing to begin on Friday, April 13!

 (By the way, Tim himself chose Friday the 13th as our start date. Clever guy!)

Hope to see you there!

Hugs,
Linda

Grungy Monday 39 WINNER Announced!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Boy, it's weird getting up on Monday and not having a new Grungy Monday Challenge to post! The good news, is, Tim's Creative Chemistry 101 began today (it's awesome, and you can still sign up!), and tonight I'll be announcing details for the upcoming Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge!

Another bit of good news: The lovely folks at Simon Says Stamp have chosen a winner for Grungy Monday 39, and have announced the name on their blog! Is it you??! Click the blinking image above to read their post.

HUGE congrats to the winner! Enjoy that shopping spree.

Have a fab day, and I'll be back later with CCC2 news...

Hugs,
Linda

Grungy Monday 39!

Sponsored by:

Happy Monday, and welcome to Grungy Monday 39! WOW-- thirty-nine!!! That's a whole lotta distressing, my friends (in a good way!), and I'm so grateful to everyone who's shared their art. This will be the last Grungy Monday for a while, because it's almost time to launch the Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2 series, and which will present 35 shiny new Tim Holtz techniques! If you haven't gotten your copy of CC2 yet, I hope you'll click the blinkie at the top of the right-hand column and order an autographed copy directly from the man himself! I'm putting the info together for the new series now, and should have it all finalized by mid-week, so please watch for an "official" announcement shortly.

Meanwhile, let's re-visit one of Tim's most clever alcohol-ink techniques with a trip back to December, '09:

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2009, Day 3

A little plaid action, my friends!

The fabulous folks at Simon Says Stamp are generously sponsoring this challenge, and will give a $25 shopping spree to one lucky GM39 participant! I just love them.

• Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks: Clover, Butterscotch, Meadow, Lake Mist, Willow
• Ranger Archival Ink: Library Green (queen image) and Jet Black (text)
• Adirondack Gold Paint Dabber (crown)
• Distress Ink in Gathered Twigs (speckles on main panel and flourishes on background)
• Stamps: Wendy Vecchi Regal Art (queen and crown); Tim Holtz Stuff to Say (sentiment); Tim Holtz Spring Sprung (flourishes)-- All by Stampers Anonymous
• Four-leaf clover is Tim's Core'dinations Kraft Core paper cut with Sizzix Alterations Tattered Florals die (the flower was cut apart to make the clover shape).
• Card background is also Tim's Core'dinations Kraft Core
• Button is Idea-ology by Tim Holtz

To participate in GM39:

1. Create a work of art using Tim’s 12 Tags of Christmas 2007, Day 3 technique, with any colors and imagery you wish.
2. Post a photo of your creation on your blog or at an online, public photo-hosting site like Flickr or Photobucket. You can enter this challenge anytime before Sunday, March 11 at 8pm MST.
3. Be sure to include a link to the technique on Tim's website: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/12-tags-of-christmasday-3.html.
4. Also include a link to our fabulous sponsor, Simon Says Stamp: http://www.simonsaysstamp.com
5. Finally, please include a link to this Studio L3 challenge post.
6. Link your art below using the handy InLinks button.
7. Revel in your fabulousness!

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Don't forget to upload your Grungy Monday art to the designated folder at the All Things Tim group at Yahoo, too! 

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There are still a few days left to sign up for Tim's Creative Chemistry online class (which is going to be AWESOME!). It starts on March 19! Click here to read all about it.

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Thanks so much for getting Grungy with me! Enjoy the challenge, and I hope to see you for CCC2!

Hugs,
Linda




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Grungy Monday 38!

Well, every time I think you guys couldn't possibly outdo yourselves... you outdo yourselves. Your wearable, Tim Holtz-style art for GM 37 was absolutely some of the most wonderful stuff I've ever seen. What a creative community we have!!! Bravo-- times a thousand!-- to everyone who participated.

As promised, I have a goodie bag to send to one of the participants, and since there's no possible way I could ever choose a favorite, I'll let the Randomizer do the talking:

Congratulations to entry #52, the ever-brilliant Ali Manning! Yay!!!


This week, let's ride the Wayback Machine to December, 2007, and re-visit...

Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas, 2007, Day 2

• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Creative Layers Stamps: Nature and Dwellings sets
• Distress Inks in Broken China, Weathered Wood, Seedless Preserves, Tumbled Glass, Black Soot
• Adirondack Paint in Salmon and Espresso
• Tim Holtz/Ranger Adirondack Core’dinations Papers
• Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text Stickers

To rock this challenge:

1. Create a work of art using Tim’s 12 Tags of Christmas 2007, Day 2 technique, with any colors and imagery you wish.
2. Post a photo of your creation on your blog or at an online, public photo-hosting site like Flickr or Photobucket. You can enter this challenge anytime before Sunday, March 11 at 8pm MST.
3. Be sure to include a link to the technique on Tim's website (http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/12/its-day-2-of-12.html).
4. Finally, please include a link to this Studio L3 challenge post.
5. Link your art below using the handy InLinks button.
6. Enjoy your art-y awesomeness!

In addition to wow-ing us over here, remember to upload your art to the Grungy Monday album at the All Things Tim group at Yahoo! It's a great place to meet like-minded artists and share ideas and inspiration.

In other Tim-related news:

On the off chance you missed this (bet you didn't, but just in case...), Tim is offering his first online workshop through Online Card Classes. Creative Chemistry 101 is a two-week course that's open to everyone and is undoubtedly going to be EPIC! Check out the link above to sign up, and I'll see you there!

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I hope you all have a spectacular week, and thanks so much for visiting! Oh, by the way, did you order your copy of A Compendium of Curiosities 2 yet? I'll be making an announcement about the new challenge later this week!!!

Hugs,
Linda

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