Hemingway and the Sea Altered Tim Holtz Journal

 

Hello friends!  I'm back with my final project as April guest designer for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  This week I am sharing my favorite project, one that really means a lot to me, an altered journal with a quote by Ernest Hemingway from The Old Man and the Sea.  The theme for this week's challenge is Add a Quote and this is one that I love...

I was super excited to see the release of Tim Holtz's new Ideaology Backdrops.  I don't know about you, but I wish Tim would release paper regularly.  I miss getting new 12x12 packs!  I was excited that these sheets were just long enough that I could use them to alter a composition notebook.  I use these notebooks regularly for jotting down sketches of stamp projects and home decor and even for brush lettering practice.  So I always enjoy creating my next altered cover, since I go through them so quickly.  If you haven't read The Old Man and the Sea, you can grab it by clicking the photo below.  It is a story of persistence and a man's purpose and one I read during the early days of Covid.  I used tiny alphabet stamps for the quote and lots of layers that reminded me of the story.

I chose a set of the new Paper Doll Groups, boys who reminded me of dock workers from the book.  I then stamped fish from Tim's Sea Life stamp set onto scrap inky paper.  I added detail with a white paint pen, then gave them a brush of mica powder for an authentic fish scale look. 

I crafted a fish hook from jewelry wire and painted it with black gesso.  The boys were sanded and tinted lightly with Distress Inks.  I splashed everything with watery gesso to add a sea spray feel.

I used a piece of braided jute from some packaging and attached it with Tim's Fastener brads on each side.  I layered a piece of vintage holey paper and a boy's clothing label from the Field Notes Ephemera.

I finished the back of the journal with more sheets from the Backdrops and I love the contrast!  I hope you've enjoyed this project and are inspired to put a quote you love onto paper for this week's challenge. 

One lucky winner will receive a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp, so come play along!  Have a great week, Autumn

Tim Holtz Spring Wreath and Brushstroke Flowers Card

 

Hi friends!  I'm so excited to be able to share a new project with you today, as inspiration for the new Bright and Cheerful Colors them for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  My absolute favorite color is the spring green of new oak leaves, so I wanted to use green and balanced it with a bit of bright yellow for today's card.  This time of year it is such fun to create spring themed projects!

I used the Tim Holtz Brushstroke Flowers 1 die set, focusing on the smaller flower and all of the greenery.  I used Distress Inks in Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive and Rustic Wilderness to die the greenery.  I used Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo to die the flowers. 

I absolutely love the Funky Wreath die set and used it to create a nest, dyed with Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs.  Atop of my nest I perched a butterfly, sanded and stained to degloss.  He is from Tim's Botanical Layers ephemera set.  I made a soft background using Bundled Sage and stenciled with texture paste and Tim's Nordic stencil.  Then I mixed more Bundled Sage with Water and let id drip down between the stencil to create shadows, all very subtle.  I finished with a double stitch around the perimeter and a mat.  I really enjoyed making this card and using these products and hope you are inspired today! 

Make sure to play along with your Bright and Cheerful Colored design in this week's challenge for a chance to win a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp.  Have a great week!  Autumn

Tim Holtz Starry Night Paper Dolls Tag

Hi friends!  I'm happy to be back with you to share my latest mixed media tag as inspiration for this week's "Not a Card" theme at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  I have been hoarding my Etcetera thickboard tags for far too long, so I chose to use one as my substrate this week.  The funny thing is that I was going to make a steampunk tag, but it turned out terribly.  I loved the background so much, so I tore everything off of it and repainted areas where the adhesive had torn away the surface and then went in an entirely different direction, a middle school dance theme!  LOL! 

I used PaperArtsy Midnight Frescos to paint my tag. Then I scraped on crackle paste and let it dry.  I went over the dried, cracked portions with PaperArtsy Infusions in In the Navy.  I added some light sponging of Space Cadet Frescos to blend the harsh lines where the crackle met the dark blue background.  I stamped the Fragments stamp by Tim Holtz in Brilliance gold ink over the painted background.  The background reminded me of a magical night, so I chose a group of young girls from Tim's Groups Paper Doll collection, who reminded me very much of girls all dressed up and waiting to be asked to dance.  Because of this, I colored tinted them with Distress Inks in fancy dress colors, AKA Worn Lipstick, Chipped Sapphire and Antique Linen.  :) 

I added distressed wings from Tim's Botanical ephemera.  I embossed Tim's 3D Faceted star die in Tinsel Gold.

I cut down the ABCs from the Field Notes Ephemera to give the girls a perching place.  I painted a Vignette Frame to coordinate and added a bit of sisal for texture.  I added the flowers also from the Botanical ephemera, sanded and dipped in watery Frayed Burlap, like I did to the butterfly wings.  This was a lot of fun to make and I'm so glad I didn't chunk the tag after my first failed attempt.  I am filled with nostalgia when I look at it.  I hope it gives you inspiration today!

Make sure to join this week's Not a Card challenge for your chance to win a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp. 

Tim Holtz Brushstoke Flowers and Butterfly Card

 

Hi friends and happy Monday!  I'm delighted to be joining the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge today, where the challenge this week is Layer It with a focus on Tim Holtz products.  I've created a springtime greeting with Tim's Brushstroke Flowers 2 dies.  I used a variety of Distress Inks to color my die cut flowers.

I made the background panel by dipping a piece of Bristol into watered Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and stamping it with the Fragments stamp set.  I love this set so much!  I chose one of Tim's Cabinet Card frames as a base to layer a butterfly from his Botanical Layers ephemera.  I sanded the butterfly lightly then dipped it into watered Vintage Photo Distress Ink to degloss it.  I finished with an Ideaology Clippings sentiment, also colored with Vintage Photo.  I double stitched around the main panel and matted onto contrasting layers to complete this card.  I hope you're inspired to play along with this week's challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Simon Says Stamp.  Thanks for joining, Autumn