A Tim Holtz Christmas Part 2

Hey, everybody!  Welcome back! I want to begin this post by saying a big giant "thank you" to all of the folks who have joined my giveaway.  If you haven't signed up yet, there is still plenty of time before the contest closes, which is December 31st.

Today I am sharing the second of 2 cards I created for a Tim Holtz inspired Christmas Card class I am teaching this Firday.  Neither card uses Copics or stamping!  Can you believe it?!  Instead, we'll dig deep into our grade school art class skills chest and paint, glue, glitter, and dye these cards.  

I had such a good time making these 2 cards and using a number of Tim's techniques.  He's been sharing so many with the 12-tags of Christmas, my head is spinning with ideas.

If you are in the Albuquerque area and would like to take this class with me send me an email at cvaladez@comcast.net.  The class is this Friday (December 9th) from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at Harwood United Methodist Church located at 420 San Lorenzo.

I'll keep this post short.  Time to pay the Sandman a little visit...lol!

Come back tomorrow because the Krafty Peeks begin over at the Kraftin' Kimmie blog.  You're going love this new release!

Challenge #75 at Tiddley Inks - Ooh La La!

Hello, good people of Blogland!  I hope you are staying warm at your end of the keyboard.  It is quite chilly here in the Duke City and Mother Nature is still attempting to douse us with snow. In some parts of the city she has been successful, in other parts, namely mine, not so much.  Ah, well, maybe that's a good thing, but the 12 year old inside of me is really wanting to see some white stuff :D

Speaking of snow and the holidays, Tiddly Inks has a brand new challenge this week and you are going to love it.  Everybody is being challenged to create an Ooh La La type card, you know, a card to warm things up...something a bit on the sexy side, if you will.  I used Crafty Devil and she is perfect for this challenge!  Right down to her Naughty or Nice list...lol!  I cheated a bit and added the Naughty or Nice part myself ;D

A couple of things about this card...I created the mottled background by heavily sponging Fired Brick Red Distress Ink onto a white circle die cut panel and then spritzing it with water.  The water reacts with the dye based ink and basically makes the ink bleed.  I love that!  Also, I hit the miniature ornament section of my local Hobby Lobby hard the other day.  All of the ornaments were half off, so I went looking for the tiniest ornaments and decor I could possibly find so that I could use them on my cards.  I hit the mother load!  I picked up a ton of tiny trims designed to decorate smaller table top trees.  They are perfect for cards.  No, you're not going to be able to mail your card in a standard envelope once you add them, but I usually do a bubble mailer anyway, so no big deal.  Plus, I picked them up for practically nothing.  I think I paid $1 for a package of 12 decorative balls.  That's a heck of a lot cheaper than most embellishments in the paper crafting section of the store.  Anyway, keep that in mind next time you head to Michael's or Hobby Lobby.  You might be surprised at the treasures you will find ;D

Before I go, be sure to head to the Tiddly Inks challenge blog and check out all of the uber-fabulous cards my fellow DT-ers have created to inspire you.  Also, be sure to stop by Christy's blog.  She usually has lots of fun surprises waiting to be discovered.  Finally, don't forget to hit the shop for all of the latest and greatest Tiddly Ink images and designs.  There is truly something for everybody :D
   

A Tim Holtz Inspired Christmas Card Class

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Not because there's piles of snow on the ground, because sadly, here in Albuquerque, after a recent less than stellar effort to squeeze out a few flakes, Mother Nature has ultimately left us high and dry.  Instead, we rely on other ways to identify the onslaught of the Yuletide.  Every year, December 1st marks the first day in an age old tradition that many of us hold dear in our hearts.  Okay, so maybe "age old" is a bit of an exaggeration.  I think it's been around 4 years now but that just doesn't have the same ring.  If you follow my blog, you already know I not only use a lot of embellishments on my cards, but in my stories, as well...ha!  Anyway...we wait for this event with extreme anticipation and salivate at the thought of the eye-candy to come. 'Tis the season when a good lot of us crazy crafters trample each other in a virtual stampede each morning to see what gift our craft guru, The Sultan of Grunge, Tim Holtz, has whipped up to share with us.  Yes, I'm talking about the 12-Tags of Christmas. 

Some folks play along, day by day, using the inspiration laid out before them to create utterly breathtaking works of art.  I never seem to carve out the time.  Last year, I made one tag. Tsk, tsk.  This year is not looking much better, even though the 4 tags that have been revealed thus far are exceptional.  However, I've been so insanely inspired that I've created a card that's an amalgamation of several of the techniques Timbo (that's what I call him) has shared to date.

I started by glittering a die cut deer using the technique Tim describes on his blog.  Then I moved to the background and painted a piece of Kraft Resist paper with Black Soot Distress Stain, boy do I LOVE that stuff.  I set it aside to thoroughly dry and then embossed it with a Swirly Cuttle Bug folder.  I then sanded off some of the black to let those fab swirls show through.  I painted the Snowflake border with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint and let it do it's thang.  Next, I swiped Evergreen Bough Distress Ink onto a long piece of seam binding, misted it with water, crumpled it up by hand and sat it aside to dry.  I picked up the crazy cute pine cones at Michael's and they were already painted with no additional preparation needed.  A couple of stamped images on a small tag and my card was ready to assemble.  

I rather like this card.  It was fun and by the end of it, I was completely inky, which is the true measure of a successful day in the old craft room.   This is one of two Tim Holtz themed cards I'll be teaching this Friday, December 9th, from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at Harwood United Methodist Church located at 420 San Lorenzo.  If you're in the Albuquerque area and want to join me Friday, just send me a note via email at cvaladez@comcast.net.  I'm working on a second card and it will include lots of TH inspired techniques, as well.

That's it for today, folks.  Look for that second card in a day or two.  Until then, stay crafty!        

A New Challenge at Kraftin' Kimmies!

Hey, all!  Guess what?  I'm up super late, or super early, depending on how you look at it, and it is SNOWING in Albuquerque.  Better look quick, because it will be gone in the blink of an eye once the sun makes an appearance.  I guess we'll just have to enjoy it while we can ;D

Speaking of snow, my card today features a bit of the white stuff on it, as well.  Before I get to that, let me start by saying that this card is for the new Kraftin' Kimmie challenge and the theme is to Use Dry or Heat Embossing.  Diana Pickering is hosting this week and she has used Takara on her card, which means that image is the prize for this go round.  You have a week to join the fun, just be sure to include some sort of embossing on your card.

My card features Eva.  Isn't she fun!  I opted for a bit of dry embossing using the TH snowflake texture fade and then I sanded off some of the color to better expose the flakes.  Designer Papers with a white core are perfect for this technique.  A few Copic dots and a bit of embellishment using Liquid Pearls makes it appear that it's snowing, hopefully...lol!

Visit the shop and pick up some images and be sure to also stop by the blog where you'll find a number of fabulous stamps at a deep discount as part of the Frugal Friday Special.  You'll also want to see what beautiful cards the DT created for the embossing challenge.  By the way, this is my first official post as one of December's Krafty Guest Designers.  So happy!

What are you waiting for?  Break out that heat gun or embossing folder and get to stamping ;D

Copics used:
skin - E11, E02, E00, E000, R20
hair - E49, E37, E35, E31, E50
jeans - B97, B95, B93
sweater and red details - R59, R29, R22
boots and gray details - C7, C5, C3
blue green details - BG18, BG15, BG13, BG10
dots - B91, B000, B0000       

Little So and So...

Hey, all!  How are you holding up at your end of the keyboard?  It was been one heck of a cold, blustery day here in Albuquerque, as Winnie the Pooh might put it.  Actually, it's blowing like the dickens out there.  I don't even know what a "dickens" is or why it would be a good simile for my statement, but just pretend I know what I'm talking about.  The wind is whipping around so hard that dirt and dust are coming in via the skylights, which is worrisome, because those skylights are practically brand new.  Anyway, needless to say, it was perfect weather to stay inside and make a couple of cards and that's exactly what I did.

Christy at Tiddly Inks has released a new line of images called Little Somethings and these guys are so flipping adorable I wish I could pinch their wittle itty bitty cheeks ;D  The crazy cute little fellow I used on my card is called "Little So and So" and as soon as I saw his name, I knew I would have to use him on something.  Plus he has that whole Where the Wild Things Are look about him, so I couldn't resist.

The Little Somethings are on sale right now, so head to the shop; you can practically pick them up for a song.  Also, there's still time to enter the current challenge, because it was a two-weeker.  Why not craft something cool and share it with us?  We love to see the wonderful creations of the customers.

Okay, I best be signing off!  Until next time, stay crafty!

November Bombshell Blog Hop!

Well, hello my lovelies!  It's the last Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for the monthly Bombshell Blog Hop.  This month our Great and Powerful Empress of the Hop, Alison, has proclaimed November's theme to be a color challenge.  Usually I dread a color challenge, because it can feel a bit restrictive, but this month Alison has selected a rockin' palette that celebrates the colors of Fall.  Take a gander:

Choose a minimum of 3 of the colors and go to town.  These hues are fabulous together and every time I see them I automatically think of Western Gal, which is a digi set available in the shop.  I had some new papers from Authentique that I picked up last month and, lo and behold, they pretty much fall into this palette, as well.  Alison must be a mind reader!    

Okay, that's enough chit chat...you have some serious hopping to do today, so hit the list below because each stop is sure to have an awesome creation waiting to be discovered!  Your next stop on the list is Stempelientje's fabulous blog.  If you get lost along the way, head to the Bombshell Blog and it will get you back on track.  Have fun!  

Bombshell Blog: http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/
Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com 
Laura: http://craftylittlewoman.blogspot.com/
Mary G.: blog: http://www.mystampinhide-away.blogspot.com
Torrey: http://left-field-studio.blogspot.com/
Cheryl: http://inktrap.blogspot.com <---Hola!  Tis me!
Stempelintje: http://stempelientje.blogspot.com/
Kelli: http://www.cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com
Alaine: http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/ 
Glittery Katie: http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com/
Celina Anthony: http://poniesandcrafts.blogspot.com
Paula: http://heyheypaula-heyheypaula.blogspot.com/
Milo: http://milolilja.net
Sparkly Mary (The Birthday Girl!): http://sparkly-train.blogspot.com/
Alex: http://paperandstring.blogspot.com/

Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com 

A fun announcement and a new Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge!

It's been a couple of days since the big meal, are you beginning to stir from your turkey and carb induced coma?  Actually, I was lucky enough to celebrate twice by spending Thursday feasting at my mom and dad's house and Friday stuffing myself with my husband's family.  Hmmm, that's one of those sentences that really takes on a different meaning depending on how it's read.  Let me clarify, I don't mean that I ate my husband's family, instead I ate with my husband's family.  Anyway, you know what I mean.  

While the food was delicious at both meals, it was the time spent with family I cherished the most.  A quick glance through the laundry list of blessings that have been bestowed upon me makes me ever so grateful and abundantly humble.  My family, my husband and his family, my friends both in and out of the crafting community, my Blogland buddies, and of course, my furry feline babies, have all helped shape my little corner of this big blue marble.  I am truly thankful for each and every one of you and because of you, my world is a better place.

The "thankful" theme carries over into this week's Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge.  I know that wasn't a very smooth segue, but you'll have to forgive my clunkiness, because my brain is still not quite functioning at full capacity.  

I have been invited to spend the month of December playing along with the ridiculously talented Kraftin' Kimmie Design Team and was able to kick it off a little early by joining this week's challenge, as well.  As implied previously, the theme is "thanks, so thankful, or Thanksgiving" and I chose to work with Mizuki for my card.  Kerry is the hostess for this challenge and if you hit the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog, you'll see that the design she has used on her card is the image that one lucky random winner will receive if they are selected.  Get out those Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps and join the fun!  Check out all of the Krafty Girls' creations while you are there, because they will undoubtedly "WOW" you.  

Also, Kimmie is running an enormous sale in her shop from now until Monday.  Most of her items are on special except for the newest ones and they are anywhere from 25- 75% off.  I know!  That is just 

KRAZY!  Now is the time to grab those images you have been eyeing for awhile and treat yourself to an early Christmas present.  Go ahead, you deserve it *wink*      

A New Video Tutorial for Color Me Copic Club!

Hey, everybody!  I'm back today with a video tutorial that I made for the Color Me Copic Club featuring dotty backgrounds with Copics.  Carlene runs the show over at the Color Me Copic Club.  What?!  You don't know what the club is?  Well, let me fill you in...members of the Color Me Copic Club share ideas and projects in a private Facebook forum and they receive 6 Copic marker colors each month specially selected to round out their Copic inventory.  If they already own some of the colors selected, they just contact Carlene and request other colors instead.  Carlene has created a pretty awesome Copic community and all the cool kids hang out there ;D  She also has a fabulous online store chock-full of way cool paper crafting tools and supplies.  Check it out at Pink Scrapper's Boutique.

Today's video features an easy technique that adds an interesting little detail to the backgrounds of stamped and digital images.  Quick little random dots in an array of colors are great ways to showcase an image or provide a bit of fill for a space that might seem too open.  If I had opted to stay a little lighter with my background dots on this project I could have probably added some spots of liquid appliqué or glitter to resemble snow.  Instead, Lilli Claire - Warm Wishes (by Tiddly Inks), dressed in her gray coat and tights looks a tad goth to me so I went with some coordinating dots in gray, as well.  Change up your colors to achieve different results...bright oranges and soft yellows might resemble sunlight...darker blues and violets might lend itself to a nighttime feel.  I've added some compact dots in darker browns under her feet to mirror tiny pebbles or dirt, which I really like, but some bright greens mixed with olives to resemble grass would have been fun, too.  Anything goes ;D

I've included the video at the bottom of this post, so I hope you'll stick around long enough to take a peek.  Again, I had to fast forward through some of the coloring scenes, just because I am a babbler and don't know when to stop talking.  Watching the video, you'd think I was actually holding a conversation with someone.  Hmmm...crazy?  Perhaps!  Ooops...there I go again...LOL!

Before I dash, I wanted to thank the wonderful ladies who joined me Saturday at Harwood United Methodist Church for a small, but fun, Beginning Copic Class.  It was really nice that we were able to gather and play a bit.  I also want to thank Harwood UMC for generously allowing us to use their fellowship hall for our class.  Pastor Cheri was so kind and showed me around their facility including their Abundant Grace Free Store.  It's a humble store that's abuzz with activity as a number of cheerful volunteers accept donated home goods from a steady stream of kind folks, and assist others who may have found themselves in a time of need.  The whole facility was filled with a powerful positive energy.  You could literally feel it in the air.  If you are in or near the Albuquerque area and have some household items that might benefit someone else through a domestic items relocation program, consider Harwood UMC.  They are good people :)  Read more about their free store here.

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner, literally!  Do you have your bird, yet?  What's on your holiday menu?  Whatever it may be, I hope you enjoy it among the warmth and love of family and friends :)

Copic colors used:
skin - E11, E00, E000, R20
hair - E15, E13, Y21, Y11
reds - R39, R29, R22
grays - C5, C3, C1
white details - BG10, B0000
background dots - C7, C5, C3, C1, C0, B01, BG10, B000
ground dots - E49, E37, E35, E31

A New Challenge at The Octopode: Things with Wings

Hey, all!  I'm back to join Lily's latest challenge at The Octopode Factory.  Do you ever play along with these challenges?  You should, because at the end of the month, Lily throws everyone's name into the hat (so to speak) and draws a random winner to receive a gift certificate for use in her shop. 

These images are off-the-wall amazing!  The theme this week is Things with Wings and I think I still have a little bit of leftover candy corn coursing through my veins, so I had to go with Halloween again.  I know, it is long gone, but I just can't help myself.  Halloween makes me happy ;D  Today I used Pumpkin Border and the Owls set. 

Stop by the The Octopode Factory Blog and and see what mischief the DT has been up to.  And don't forget to the join the challenge ;D  

Catch ya' later!    

Did you miss me?

Hey, all!  I've been out of commission for what seems like forever, but I'm back now.  We had a devastating event shake up our arts and crafts community here in Albuquerque last week (you can read it about it here) and that kept me away from my blog for a few days.  Not only because I wanted to help out, but also because it put me into a funk of sorts and I just didn't feel like making anything.  BUT...now I'm back and I'm itching to make some cards!

Originally I didn't think I was going to have a card made in time for this week's Tiddly Inks challenge, but low and behold, I managed to crank something out.  Of course, I didn't finish it in time to make into the TI post, but I get to join the fun from the sidelines, never-the-less.  

The entire month of November, the theme at the Tiddly Inks challenge blog is, your favorite and mine, Anything Goes.  This time I opted for a bit of romance with this sweet image called, You and Me.  This is the second time I've used this image and I just love it.  It reminds me of Buttercup and Westley from The Princess Bride.  Do movies get any better than that one?  I think not!

Do you see that fancy black die cut framing my plain white circle die cut?  I received that from Pink Scrappers Boutique the other day.  It's my friend, Carlene's, shop.  You should really check it out.  She has such amazing items at really good prices!  AND...the shipping was lightening fast!     

Anyway, while you're out and about tooling around on the Internet, stop by the TI challenge blog and see what my talented teammies are up to this week.  Your sure to be inspired to create something fabulous!

Later, crafty people of Blogland!   

Copics used: 

woman - 

skin - E11, E01, E00, E000, R20

hair - E13, Y21, Y00, Y000

dress - BG09, BG05, BG02, BG01

man - 

skin - E11, E00, E000

hair - E37, E35, E31, E50

jacket - E43, E42, E41, E40

pants - C5, C3, C1

shoes - E37, E35, E31