It's That Time Again

Another year draws to a close.  A good year for me, and I hope it was a good one for you, too.  There is always a mix of sorrow and happiness, but I do strive to minimize the sad stuff.  For example, I avoid sad movies and books; I befriend upbeat people; I keep a smile on my face most of the time, knowing that not only does my smile make me feel happy, but it can be up-lifting to others; I take a look from another perspective when I'm bothered by something or someone...now that can sure be eye-opening.  All this from the high altitude of 63 years.  Next year, I'll be even higher.  The view is ever changing. 

Priorities

 The other day I questioned my priorities when I was in my studio instead of preparing for the 13 guests who were soon to arrive.  Today I'm questioning laughing at my priorities for what goes into my purse.  Purse space is always limited, right?  I don't care to lug around a heavy purse, but there are essentials that I take along.  And it occurred to me that most of my essentials involve food!  OK, the chocolate covered popcorn was added 'specially for the movie yesterday.  As was a bagel and cream cheese I picked up at the grocery on the way (not pictured as it has been consumed).  All of this fit neatly into my medium sized purse so as to escape the notice of theatre staff. 

I'm also thinking about the end of the year.  Say good  night, my little holiday friends.  Soon you shall be put away for another year.  Gone but not forgotten. 

Merry Christmas 2011

 It is Christmas Eve!  I just feel unprepared for this momentous day.  With 13 in-laws arriving in just 2 hours, what am I doing?  Crafting and blogging!  What is wrong with my priorities?!  I made the glittery Christmas tag for a gift tag, using my brand new Tim's die cut strip alphabet.  Those holly leaves and the banner are also from Tim's die cut strips (festive greenery and tattered banner). 

This tag uses a Tim technique from his 2011 Christmas Tags.  I bought the glossy card stock and metal foil 2 weeks ago but wasn't motivated to use it until last night.  I like the effect and will certainly use it again.  I started making this as a gift tag, but have decided to keep it all to myself.  Merry Christmas to me.  Oh, and Merry Christmas 2011 to you, too! 

A Little Diorama

 I love anything on a pedestal.  I have been looking for a short candle holder with a wide base to use for creating a diorama.  At a kitchen shop in my town I found the perfect thing...except it is a cupcake stand.  Genius!  While it is a lovely way to present a cupcake, it suited my purpose, too. 

So what I did was find a couple small elements for the little scene.  I used museum wax to affix these bottle brush trees. 

Then I sprinkled on some artificial snow, added a brass reindeer, and I was done.  Oooohhhh, this is fun.  What else have I got in my stash to make more, and more and more...

Fun House

 Don't we wait all year for Christmas?  It is special for many reasons.  For me a big part of celebrating Christmas is bringing out some treasures to enjoy for a month or so.  Above is a little tableaux I put together a couple years back.  The 2 small houses are truly vintage, as are all of the the figures. 

 I did this another year, using new cardboard houses, some electrified street lights from Dept 56, and a wonderful old embossed paper calendar. I've collected a bunch of these calendars (thank you eBay) because I think they are rare and reminders of a by-gone time. 

Ah, Steiff stuffed animals.  I never had a Steiff as a child, so I had to compensate by buying a zoo full as an adult.  Really, I'd like to have even more of the older ones. However, I have only so much space for them.  Treasures, each and every one.  PS  Lurkers are always welcome :)

Just for Me

Tim's 12 days of tags ended on Sunday, so now I'm on  my own.  What's first on the agenda?  Supply Shopping!!  By happy coincidence there was a Michael's next door to the family party I attended on Sunday.  I needed a few Tim things that he used during the 12 tag project. Yet even with my new supplies, today I didn't work on Tim tags.  I made 2 for a couple of very good friends.  These will fly away in the mail tomorrow.   

This one is just for me!  I don't make many things to keep.  This very old medal ribbon is too fragile to travel, so it will stay here.   

Baroque Tag

Another great design from Tim.  After thinking about my own supplies for this tag, I decided to use some vintage flocked wallpaper that, frankly, is so gaudy I thought I would never use it.  I had to hand cut the candlestick and candle using a picture of Tim's die for my template.  Came out pretty good.  My greenery is a mix of cut-out stamped swirls and an ersatz leaf cut from kraft glassine.  The letters for PEACE came from some of the goodies Tim gave us on the cruise.  I have used a number of these supplies during Christmas tag construction.  THANK YOU, Tim. 

OK, call me indecisive, or tentative, uncertain...whatever.  Since I did not have the die swirl Tim put above Peace, and could not come up with a substitute, I placed some of the leftover stamped leaves from my bouquet..  Meh. But does it look better with 1 leaf or 2?  Sometimes looking at a pic makes it easier for me to find the best look.  Today?  Not so much.

A One an' A Two...

 Oh yes he did.  Tim decided Steam Punk was a Christmas theme.  I had some of the elements, too.  I finessed the rest.  Here is the 1st version.  After sleeping on it, I decided to make slight modifications.

Can you spot the differences?  It's subtle but now I'm happier with the results.  Or do I prefer version 1?  Drat.  Oh,that Tim! What will he think of next?

Tag #7

When Tim unveiled his #7, at midnight, I knew I was gonna make it that day.  I didn't have most of what he used (again), but I knew I had agreeable substitutes.  I liked the tag so much that I vowed to keep as close to the original as possible, even taking my iPad into my studio to follow along with Tim's instructions.  I did have Kraft glassine envelopes, so I cut 1 open and hand-cut the branches and holly leaves from that.  Dying the glassine left my fingers covered with ink & perfect pearl powder.  Using the Rock Candy stickles on the branches required over-night drying; therefore I couldn't finish the tag until this morning.  More details:  Tim is so articulate with his instructions.  When he tells you do something a specific way, there is a reason for it.  He will usually tell you why.  And his product videos are so very informative in building skills that can be used thereafter.  While I have looked over his 12 tags of Christmas for the last couple of years, this is the first time I have been caught up in making them as he goes along.  I don't know why I am; my housekeeping and Christmas decorating are taking a back seat.  All I can say is...try it, you'll like it. 

Number Whatever

This frosty tag was inspired by Tim's #2 and #4 tags, though the components are entirely different.  Because I don't have the center piece die cuts he's used.  Still, I really liked the sparkly wintry feel of those 2 tags and couldn't wait to see what I could come up with.  I don't know if the red touches are off the mark?  LOTS of different glitters used here, and the usual plethora of glues.  Certainly it was fun.  I cut out and frosted the icicle trim at the bottom, something I've wanted to do for a while now.  Gosh, Tim is on tag #6, half-way done with his Christmas gift to his fans.  And, yes, I do fire up my iPad at midnight or soon thereafter to see his latest creation.  I'm hooked. 

Tag #5 - Mission Impossible

Try, try, try as I might, I could not master Tim's technique with rubbing off the stamped image from a piece of acetate.  On the right is my first attempt, where I overlayed the smeared rubbed image on top of the same image stamped on white card stock.  Yes, yes, first I coated the acetate with stippled on alcohol ink.  The image on the left I, ...oh, I've forgotten what I did.  I've spent 3 hrs in the studio with only this to show. 

Tag #3

This is my interpretation of Tim's Christmas Tag #3.  I liberally substituted products since I had almost nothing Tim used, besides Distress Ink.  I liked Tim's tag because of the look of letterpress embossing and the exuberant colors.  But, oh my, Tim's was a complicated process.  What I did was use a texture fade to emboss the PostCard image, then 1)carefully ran a clear ink stamp pad over some of the words, then carefully brushed on different colored Perfect Pearl powder to the stamped section only, or 2)used a Q-tip to apply Distress Ink to some words.  Then I sprayed the tag with Perfect Pearl Mist in Heirloom Gold to set the powder, followed by inking all edges with Vintage Photo Distress (to age and try to cover up some of the ink/powder that got onto the tag background). For the greenery I substituted millinery velvet flowers and tiny ornament "berries".  Finally, I used a muse token in place of the jingle bell...INSPIRE as an homage to Tim for all that he gives to his fans.   Oh, this is so much fun! 

1st Christmas Tag

Are you following along with Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of Christmas this year?  He posts at midnight PST, starting 12/01, showing a new tag for each day; which he creates ad hoc and documents as he goes along.  Quite an accomplishment. I thought his 1st tag was really pretty and decided to emulate it, using only what I had on hand.  And here it is.  There are many substitutions causing it to be less opulent than Tim's, and MUCH LESS intricate.  I think he had over 20 steps to complete his.  And yes, I am checking in at midnight, with my trusty bedside iPad and my insomnia.  Keep 'em coming Tim.  Love ya!