Monday, April 21, 2014

Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2014- April entry


DSC01744Well hello bloggerkins’

I am 10 days shy of the deadline again.  I have excuses but more about that later.  Let me show you my April 2014 entry.


There are only a few tags and pieces that I have created that have escaped my habit of excessive judgement and catapulted straight into my ideal of awesomeness. This tag is definitely going to be one of them. It was so fun to make and it turned out so beautifully that even though I made it as the front of a card – I dont think that I am going to give it away, I dont actually know what I am going to do with it – but I am going to keep it all for my selfsome.


 It involved glossy and crackle accents, splashing paint, and some Macguyvering.  I think I might have also unintentionally developed a concerning crush on washi tape in the process. 

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Anyway, my interpretation of the Mr Tim’s inspired work this month, took flight from this one simple image from the line of stamps that was featured in last month’s tag challenge. 


I stamped it onto stamping paper cut to 1/3rd of an A4 sheet, I am all about those tall trifolds right now.  Ranger Inkssentials Specialty Stamping Paper is my new favourite medium to work on.  It kind of looks and feels like shoe-filler board.  But don’t be fooled - this stuff is bloody awesome and will make you buy shoes just to see if you can get the same effects from the shoe-filler (ask me how I can vouch for that?). I swear on every Sizzix die that I own, right from your juicy stamp not sliding at all, to how it reacts with dyes, chalks and paint to get fantastic textural and special colour effects, I have never met any undesirable moments with these sheets of pure brilliance.  DSC01748


I don’t love the Pinecone die as much as I love my other ones.  Firstly, I think I have a defective die cos it doesnt cut all the way through on the last 3 outside petals of the spiral. There unfortunately was a stupid thought that I could remedy the no-cut woes by “tempering” the die with one of my Spellbinders Tan embossing mats.  BAD MACGUYVER MOMENT!!!  I now have a curious tan siliconey rubber pinecone spiral.

DSC01752Eventually, I realised that shimming in just the right outside petal spots with folded newspaper pieces makes the die even enough to cut a perfect die-cut.  

Secondly, have you ever met anyone with infinite amounts of  patience to roll up loads of those pine-rones (Yes I just made up that word – work it out – you’ll want to say pine-rones too, I promise, seriously, do it, do it now……see……)?  Having said that – I forced myself to engage with the die and made a whole lotta pine-rones! Look there on the right and below that on the left – you know why?  Cos I ‘rone like that!!


DSC01756I bought these Idea-ology tag fragment thingies ages ago and never got around to using them, so even though I have those metal word tag token thingies – I decided that the sentimespiration (Yup, invented that one too)would be this month’s test of “use-your-holtzings-in-different-ways” personal challenge.  Love how this turned out darlings…. I love Ranger’s Archival Ink to stamp on anything – more than I love that other brand that promises to stick on anything, you know the one, the ones where they dry up real quick and stays on things you dont want it to stay on, and stays off the things you want it to stay on.

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I think making the branch look all gnarly and dimensional was defo a highlight for me too.


I had fun with the Frameworks die-cuts too. DSC01750Some Macguyvering there too, but good Macguyver had come out as the dominant personality this time.  Did I say that I loved making this tag yet?

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I confess that I haven’t been around to everyone’s of late.  In my real-life I sometimes have to put in extra attention to my work at my day job.  Recently I presented a paper at the UJ Phenomenology and Naturalism conference in Johannesburg and I kind of got distracted with getting that into shape. 


I do not like Jo’burg city in general, whenever I am there I always feel like I am looking in on the set of some kind of Dystopian Novel turned into a movie-set.  But I may be biased because I grew up on one of the Tropical Coasts of my country, and I way prefer my lush part of the world with minimal concrete and it’s natural beauty to the concrete jungle of the Goldmine City.   What I do love about Jo’burg though is it’s amazing twilight and dusk sky. Check this picture out that I took from the balcony of the place that I was bunking in for the duration of the conference.  Isn’t that just a Distress Ink Palette?  Going to have to do something with this skyline and colours soon.  That’s it for me today – catch you soon…ish!

33 comments:

  1. Awesome! LOVE this version of the April tag! Superb colours and that branch is just the perfect addition! Wowowow!
    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  2. Wow, this is absolutely gorgeous.

    Happy Easter

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  3. A truly stunning creation, I just adore the effects you have achieved and your sunset photos are amazing. TFS xx

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  4. Well I can see why you've fallen for this tag - it's beautilicious!!! Your colours and the pine-rones are fab. You do make me smile when I read your blog - keep it up!! Jean.x

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  5. Your tag is so stunning…as are all of your tags.
    I don't have the pinecone die, but looks like you have making the flower out of it mastered.
    I love the vibrant colours you have used on your tag :)
    I really like the frameworks die..I will have to check this one out :)
    Beautiful sunrise and sunset photos. I love to see greenery out my windows as opposed to grey concrete as well

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  6. This is a work of art, no wonder you want to keep it all to yourself! Love all the detail on it. I've lost count of the number of sunset photos I've taken, but I've never seen one as fabulous as that!

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  7. OMG this is superb! I feel like I say that every time I visit your blog but it's true. The whole feel of this is wonderful. Huge congrats on your paper too. How many talents can one girl have?! Jenny x

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  8. This is totally brilliant - you must, must, must keep it for yourself!! Gorgeous colours - the face looks absolutely stunning, and I love the branch - looks amazing! Fabulous take on the April tag - it's breathtaking! As is the sunset, come to that... Hope the paper went down well.
    Alison xx

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  9. I can't reply to your comments from my blog as you don't have it working that way.
    I just wanted to say, don't be afraid to say how you do things..such as using drywall compound. Many don't have access to brand name supplies..or like me, to cheap to pay the high prices. Plus there are many new crafters that would love to hear how you create.
    It doesn't matter what others think :)
    I am so tired of so many saying it is expensive to craft…it really isn't. Unless we want it to be ;)

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  10. Woohoo! So pleased for your win! Congratulations my uber talented friend. Jenny x

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  11. Congrats on winning the April tag of Tim's 12 tags of 2014! Truly deserved! Your tag was one of my favourites too!
    xoxo Claudia x

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  12. Amazing tag. Huge CONGRATULATIONS. Karen.x

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  13. Such a gorgeous tag! Congrat's on your win. Chris xxx

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  14. Congratulations on your win! A lovely colourful tag, so well deserved. Mo x

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  15. Congratulations! Your tag is stunning! Xx

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  16. And she wins! Yay, congratulations - enjoy your goodies - bound to be fabulous!

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  17. Huge congratulations from me too! Well deserved - yay! Anne xx

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  18. Girl....your tag is AWESOME!!! Oh my goodness...the explosion of color! I love it! I love your design and how you've positioned the roses in her hair! I am so happy and excited for you that Tim chose you among his April Tag winners! This tag is so unique! I simply love it! Congratulations. This is so well deserved! <3 Candy

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  19. Oh my gosh, you made my morning with your hysterical post and most delightful interpretation of Tim's tag! I'm so glad that he recognized your brilliance and hope he got a chuckle over your reworking of the English language...

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  20. This is amazing! I love your colorful tag! The flowers are so beautiful and love that you've made them her hair! Really pretty! Congrats on your win! Hugs, Sandra

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  21. Congrats on your win! FAbulous tag! BArbarayaya

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  22. Yours is one the most beautiful, creative tags for April imho! Please, please share the steps if you don't mind. I want to know how you got that background colors. I have much to learn. Oh, and if you are using unusual household stuff instead of expensive crafty brand name stuff, yippee! I love to know that too as this craft can get out of hand and I don't want it to :) Congrats, you have totally earned it!

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  23. Oh, forgot to mention...that coloring of the woman's face...AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME! So darn artistic! Please share the steps...pretty please?

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  24. Wow! You're tag turned out amazing! Love the woman's face and your use of color is outstanding. Really love this one. Congrats on your win too!!

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  25. Gorgeous project! The details and spectacular!

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  26. Oh my heavenly days! This is stunning!

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  27. Actually I think your tag was more spectacular than the Man himself......shhhh! Awesome work and loved the colors you chose!

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    1. Hi there, I couldnt find your blog for me to reply on. Your comment made me smile for a long time. Thank you so much for the kind words you left here about the tag. It was an honour to make the list.

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  28. Your tag is stunning! I can definitely understand why Tim chose yours to be a winner! Love your humor as well!

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  29. Congrats on your win, you tag is really spectacular - fantastic in color and details. I love it.

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  30. where do I begin?!? beautiful tag & excellent tutorial; the photos...WOWSERS, WOW, HOLY COW!! Unreal!! TFS!

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  31. Love these rich colors and the gorgeous flowers in her hair - what a fabulous spin on Tim's tag!

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  32. Congrats on winning! (sorry I'm late to the party!) Beautiful tag! :)

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It makes me happy when you stop by the Tincan deli - I love interacting with other bloggers, crafters and anyone else who is up for a chat. If you leave a comment I am going to come over to your blog and visit there for a while!!!>