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 Cabinet Card Valentine Mini Album Tutorial

Today we begin a new challenge at Mini Album Makers.  We would love to have you join us with your own book creations.  I have made a Valentine's "junk journal" from various packets of Tim Holtz cabinet cards, baseboard frames and ephemera.  This December my friend @carolinasweetlee and I started Christmas albums along the same design, but much larger.  Sadly I became overwhelmed and never finished mine.  But the thought kept tugging at me, especially after seeing @shabbysoul's amazing canvas journal from Creativation.  So I pulled out the leftover cards from my stash and tried again, only this time in a much smaller format.  My finished journal is shy of 4x6".  I will share a flip through video on Instagram @sewpaperpaint and on my YouTube channel soon. 

I distressed all of my paper with sandpaper and cumpling and let my pages be as thick as I wanted, resulting in a true junk journal look...

I always like to pick out the elements and embellishments that I might like to use and display them all over my table and pick and choose like a crafty buffet!  LOL!  This method helps me to "try things on" for size and make the best collages.  Here I layered with the Lady Rose stamp set, similar to the Ladies and Gentlemen images only larger.  

Basically, to make this type of album you need to collect five or more cards to form your collages, the fun is in adding the flaps and utilizing the windows to showcase elements on the pages before and after.  Decide where to put your holes and punch them as you go along.  In the end, tie with twine or attach with jump rings.  The 14 page was stamped with Distress Oxide using the Ornate & Lace stamp set, with embossing from the Numeric set.

I only added a little true vintage ephemera, but these buttons from Carol had to find their home here!  <3

This is the first time I've used Tim's Transparent Wings, but I knew they would be perfect for my windows.  I made this page with inky paper and Tim's Stacked Baroque dies.

My dear friend Bonnie shared some vintage tatting with me and I added a snippet here, along with Tim's Lace Baseboard (my favorite set) and his Ribbons & Bows Adornments. 

It's been a while since any Photo Booth or Paper Doll characters came to play in my crafting, but these images just scream dreamy Valentines...

This page is my favorite.  This happy gal reminds me of someone.  :)

The paper for this book comes from Tim's Etcetera collection.  Oh how I wish Tim would release a new 12x12 pad!!! 

Find my tutorial for these cracked glass enamel hearts HERE.   The enamel cracks after it sets if you bend it, but you can certainly leave it smooth. 

The heart below is from a DecoArts 3 step crackle process Sara Emily showed me at the beach the other year.  I have hoarded that paper we made all this time.  

I used the rest of the panel to make the back cover for my book.  The texture is incredible!  I tied more vintage trims onto Tim's gorgeous twine.

The front cover of my book features Tim's Cathedral Window, embossed with chunky gold EP.  I tucked a Tattered Floral behind the happy couple.  The idea of a romantic Valentine's wedding...  Oh how delightful!  I really hope this book has inspired you to make your own dreamy Valentine album.  We would love for you to share in our challenge at Mini Album Makers this month.  Big hugs, Autumn

I'm also sharing with: 

Simon Says Stamp Monday: All Loved Up

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes

Make sure to check out my other Tim Holtz Valentine album tutorials:

And all of my Valentine projects.  

 

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