Channeling my inner Picasso

Channeling my inner Picasso (and fondly remembering punch art) for the next page in my all Tim Holtz art journal project, using Sizzix Thinlits Abstract Elements and Sizzix Bigz Steampunk Parts. 

Short process video: https://youtu.be/Wv3Mqo8OP8o

Supplies:

Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Abstract Elements 666280, $18.95  https://amzn.to/3PLDhqd

Sizzix Bigz Tim Holtz Steampunk Parts 664185, $16.22  https://amzn.to/3rPKLAy

(As usual, buying from Sizzix on Amazon is less than buying from Sizzix on its own website.)

“talk talk” cut with letters in Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Gift Card Bag 662687, discontinued but similar in size to Santa Greetings Colorize 666338

New favorite craft tool: silicone face mask applicator from the dollar store

Stencils used on green backgrounds:

THS006 irregular tiny circles

THS040 ragged alpha

THS099 tiny x’s

THS100 small irregular circles

THS101 horizontal dashes

THS102 vertical dashes

THS104 basket weave dash blocks

Punches:

Stampin Up 1 3/4” circle

Let me know if you need a rep in the greater Houston area, happy to introduce you to mine.

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Prices are current as of the day I typed all this out (obvs.)  Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Take your cards from basic to extra

How to step up your holiday cards: I run through extra die cuts in vellum and gold, ink effects on the embossing folder, embossing glaze, gold watercolor, gold Foundry wax, gold thread, velvet ribbon, twine, ink blending the background, gold spatter, gold edge, extra die cutting of the background layer, gold highlights, glitter glue, and decorated envelopes.  Learn from my mistakes!

Short video showing each option: https://youtu.be/YNHnI7y4lCo

Ultimately, I decided on a plain embossed background, watercoloring the white edges of the die cut to match the leaves, and glitter glue over all the berries.

Supplies used:

Ranger Stickles Star Dust $5.15 https://amzn.to/3RTdS0M

Pinkfresh Essentials Ornate Banners $18 https://www.pinkfreshstudio.com/products/essentials-ornate-banner-die-set?_pos=1&_sid=f2b7c0627&_ss=r

Stamplistic Envelope Dress-Up Holiday $12 https://www.stamplistic.com/collections/envelope-dress-ups/products/holiday

Also comes in birthday, halloween, and a ton of other options if you like the concept.

Stampendous Intricate Snowflakes $15.99 https://createandcraft.com/product/65318/stampendous-stamp-and-stencil-set-intricate-snowflake-6-stamps/%7B%7BviewAllCategoryURL%7D%7D\

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry colors 6 color set $17.50 https://amzn.to/46IRWJY

Ranger Foundry Wax in Gilded (gold) and Mined (copper) $12.99 https://amzn.to/46otQEi 

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Prices are current as of the day I’m typing this out (obvs).

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

My working life in coffee cups

This is the next page in my all Tim Holtz art journal.  I feel like I don’t journal or scrapbook my working life in any proportion to the amount of time I spend at work, but this page covers my working life in coffee cups.  The left side features an impressionist take on the Jazz cup design ubiquitous in the ‘90s, and the right side the common cup of today, from Starbucks.  The no-sewing mini-books made from file folders (using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Specimen dies) really fit the work theme.

Short process video: https://youtu.be/KXmxrFr_1QM

The phrase “but first, coffee” was popularized by Topher McCulloch.  Article about how it went from a single print to a meme: https://sprudge.com/but-first-coffee-128580.html

“Jazz” design on disposable Solo cups: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_(design) and a list from Mentalfloss: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70381/12-moments-history-solo-jazz-cup.  If you are planning a themed party, you can still buy these, 100 for $25.99 https://amzn.to/46zQQjz

Dies

Sizzix Tim Holtz “Fresh Brewed” #660232, discontinued but available on eBay as die $37, or as die cuts $3.

Current alternatives

Generic $9.97 https://amzn.to/45bMFJu

Honey Bee $26.06 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/hbs-hbds-cc.html makes a shaped card

Waffle Flower $21.57 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/wfc-420606.html nesting

Spellbinders $17.07 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/spe-s4-1269.html

Mini-books

Sizzix collector die 665926 $29.99 at website $25.47 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3skgc6h

(This is the one with the large envelope.)

Sizzix postale die 665927 $29.99 at website $23.32 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3KP4Ey5

(This is the one with the mini-envelope.)

Sizzix specimen die 665930 $29.99 at website, same at Simon Says Stamp https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/products/tim-holtz-sizzix-specimen-thinlits-dies-665930

(This is the one with the file folder.)

Sizzix Tim Holtz alphanumeric 1” die 660210, discontinued but Tim Holtz has many other alpha sets.

Older Sizzix products are always less from Sizzix on Amazon (when available) than from Sizzix on its own website, so always check.

Stamps

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz “Documented” CMS226

$24.95 https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-cling-mount-stamps-documented-cms226.html

or $18.73 from the same vendor on Amazon https://amzn.to/48wd87B 

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz “School Desk” CMS057

$24.95 https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-cling-mount-stamps-school-desk-cms057.html 

or $18.73 from the same vendor on Amazon https://amzn.to/3PzjgmR

Older Stampers Anonymous products are always less from SA on Amazon (when available) than from SA on its own website, so always check.

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Prices current as of the day I typed this out.  Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Christmas card with layered stamp die and coloring stencil

I’m using Pinkfresh Berry Branch, which was from last year’s Create and Connect holiday card event.

Short process video: https://youtu.be/D4Ob6LFyXaU

The trick to speed and efficiency when making multiples from a co-ordinated set is to save the die-cut outlines. Use one in your stamping platform to quickly rotate through the die cuts to stamp the image. Use one on each layer of the coloring stencil to quickly rotate through your stamped images to color.

This week was focused on speed tips; next week we’ll talk about how to step up from the basic card to a next-level card.

Stamp-die-stencil sets are a specialty of Pinkfresh Studios

current holiday collection  https://www.pinkfreshstudio.com/collections/christmas

Similar berry branch stamps:

Hero Arts Holly Berries $12.79 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/hro-cm557.html

Penny Black Holly Berry Branch $11.09 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/pbs-40-798.html

Set of 5 blending brushes, color handles $7.99 https://amzn.to/487xqE2

Altenew inks https://altenew.com/collections/inks single oval Crisp Dye Ink pads from $4.13 to $7.50.  These are being phased out in favor of round Fresh Dye ink pads so watch for sales.

This Stampin Up embossing folder is old, but Spellbinders offers a wealth of embossing folders  from $3.59 

https://spellbinderspaperarts.com/search?q=embossing+folder

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Prices are current as of the day I’m typing this out (obvs).

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Tim Holtz angels

If you’re thinking, “Wait, did Tim Holtz do angel dies?”  No, no he did not.  He did a cupid die that apparently did not sell well, since Sizzix literally gave them away.  I have no need for a cupid, but I wanted to see what I could make that I did want, hence angels.

This is part of my fall all-Tim-Holz, all-the-time art journal.  I hesitate to say “junk journal” since nothing is re-purposed or found, but it has the spontaneous, maximalist, layered feel of junk journaling.

Short process video: https://youtu.be/PLvyg78hunI

I cut the “Love Struck” cupid multiple times and selectively cut the die to add additional wings and remove the weaponry.  I added white tissue paper robes using matte gel to adhere and shape, using my new favorite craft tool: a silicone face mask applicator from the dollar store.  Top layer on angels is matte gel and fine glitter.  

I used one page of patterned paper from Ideology and one collaged from Ideology off-cuts.  The collaged page got an overall coat of white gesso tinted with pink re-inker, with a darker section of clear gesso tinted with Picked Raspberry.  The floral page got a section of white gesso tinted with pink re-inker.  

The “angel” die is actually Sizzix Bigz Tim Holtz “Love Struck” 657484

https://www.sizzix.com/657484/sizzix-bigz-die-love-struck

originally $22.99 in 2011, given away to all attendees at Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in the welcome bag years later so you may have this in your stash.

If you want one today third-party sellers offer it for $23.90 on Amazon https://amzn.to/460IcL0 and eBay seems to be $9.99 and up, readily available.

Small Talk stickers $6.90 https://amzn.to/3qDw1o1 

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Tim Holtz journal page 4

This is the fourth page in my journal using all Tim Holtz products.  It’s a self-challenge to fill in from #junkjournaljuly (@megjournals) to December ephemera (@49dragonflies).  I’m using all Tim Holtz products because every Tim Holtz Live on YouTube inspires me to go shopping.  (Yes, I’m on a self-imposed shopping hiatus and yes I fell off the wagon.  OK, jumped off the wagon.  Those embossing glazes were too hard to resist!)

Short process video: https://youtu.be/r3M574kr17c

Supplies used:

Sizzix Bigz Tim Holtz Vintage Fan

From Sizzix on Amazon $25.98 https://amzn.to/3R2vFC9

From FranticStamper $15.95 https://www.franticstamper.com/Sizzix-Tim-Holtz-Bigz-Die–Vintage-Fan-CLEARANCE–All-sales-final_p_67861.html

Ideology Tim Holtz collage paper Travel / Voyage 

Scrapbook $6.99 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/ch-th93950.html

From Advantus on Amazon $6.44 https://amzn.to/3EwXMle 

Sizzix Tim Holtz gift card bag #662687 (discontinued)

I made the gift card bags from this die, but you can buy similar bags ready-made.  The gift card bags are 2.25” x 3.5”.  These are 2.75 x 4.5” https://amzn.to/45DssNQ or this one, same size, comes in a dozen colors https://amzn.to/3ZktWud‘ which would be pretty perfect for ATC!

This waterfall pocket project would also work quite well with the current thinlet set Collector.

Stampers Anonymous Noteworthy CMS446

Amazon $24.08 https://amzn.to/3EoORm7

Scrapbook $26.96 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/sta-cms446.html

Stampers Anonymous $29.95 https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-cling-mount-stamps-noteworthy-cms446.html

Other Tim Holtz products used:

Black heavy stock

Distress Oxide vintage photo, tea dye, antique linen

Distress mica spray tarnished brass 

Ideology kraft stock metallic in copper

Distress ink in Speckled Egg, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Broken China

Distress markers in Abandoned Coral, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers

Not Tim Holtz products

Copper embossing powder Stampin Up 155555 $18 (trio with gold and silver)

Let me know if you need a rep in the greater Houston area, happy to introduce you to mine.

Picqued washi tape from celestial set

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Prices are current as of the day I typed all this out (obvs.)

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Gift card holder

A quick project for personal use, or it makes a great craft fair project.  

Short process video: https://youtu.be/ry-vyYH-QJU 

Cut 12 x 12 paper as follows:  

Cut one inch off, then trim that piece to two one inch by six inch pieces.

Cut remaining large piece into two 5.5 inch by 12 inch pieces.

Cut each 5.5 inch by 12 inch piece into three 4 by 5.5 inch pieces.

Score each 4 inch by 5.5 inch piece on long side at 1.5 inches and 4 inches.

Fold each piece at score lines.

Use 1 inch circle punch to cut a thumb notch, if desired.

Wrap one 1 inch by 6 inch piece around a card holder, including a card so the size is right, and glue in place.  Use solid cardstock or ribbon for belly band if desired.  If using ribbon, use hot glue or fabric glue.  Wrap the card you are using for size in waxed paper to prevent hot glue from getting on card holder.

For packaging, cut cardstock to 2 inch by 7 inches, apply repositionable adhesive, then apply card holders in a pleasing visual array.

The bags I used are these, $8.98 at the time I typed this up:

https://amzn.to/45A0WAB

And the adhesive is this:

https://www.michaels.com/product/recollections-adhesive-runner-repositionable-10147424

Five sheets of 12 x 12 paper makes 30 gift card holders, which I packaged in six groups of five (one of each type of paper).  I buy the paper on clearance after the holidays.

The cost of this project is very dependent on the cost of paper.  I get 20 sheets of paper from a clearance 24-sheet pad (the pages of ephemera are not useful) so if I pay $3.99 then total cost of one set of five holders is about 35 cents for paper, glue, and the clear bag.  (I’m using ribbon left from that trend in card making, so it’s a sunk cost… I’m not buying ribbon for this.)

If you want to try one of the die approaches, the mini-envelope die is this one, $13.61:

https://amzn.to/481pmoh

Sizzix products are virtually always less from Sizzix on Amazon than from the Sizzix website, although that doesn’t seem to hold true for new products.  Sizzix does offer a 20% new customer discount.

The Tim Holtz gift card envelope die is discontinued, but there are many other thin steel die options!

Instagram and YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Tim Holtz Tuesdays journal cover

Since I’ve made a few pages I needed somewhere to put them! This is the cover – or the cover so far – for my all-Tim-Holtz journal. The front and back are re-purposed food box panels, covered in 12 x 12 scrapbook paper. The inside covers are brown paper with collage paper from the Tim Holtz line.

Short process video: https://youtu.be/8erRVV6HMTM

Supplies:

The 12 x 12 paper is Ideology Memoranda, which I can’t find anywhere.  The similar items I can find:

French Industrial 12 x 12 Amazon $16.14  https://amzn.to/3QOzZ7W 

Wallflower vellum 12 x 12 Amazon $25.88 https://amzn.to/3KUYXij 

Ideology seems to have stopped producing Tim Holtz paper in 12 x 12 after 2021, so maybe snap these up while you can, if you are interested.

Collage paper Document 

$6.99  https://www.scrapbook.com/store/ch-th93951.html 

$8.23  https://amzn.to/3EcUEel 

Stamp set Noteworthy 

$29.99 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/sta-cms446.html

$24.99 https://amzn.to/45mT3hW (sold by Stampers Anonymous)

$29.95 https://stampersanonymous.com/tim-holtz-cling-mount-stamps-noteworthy-cms446.html (on Stampers Anonymous website)

I’ve long been saying one should always by Sizzix products from Sizzix on Amazon, not their own website, because of the price difference… may have to add Stampers Anonymous to this advice!

Ideology Kraft Stock Metallic Jewels

$15.27 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/ch-th93781.html

$14.99 https://amzn.to/45hwmM9 

Distress Crayon metallic set 

$6.28 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/ri-tdbk58700.html 

$6.99 https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/products/ranger-tim-holtz-distress-crayons-metallics-set-tdbk58700 

$7.63 https://amzn.to/44qpevI 

Vintage products:

Sizzix embossing folder Regal Flourishes

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Instagram: @papercraftcrystal

YouTube: @papercraftcrystal

Artsy Leaves card

I used leftover, rejected panels from the paint swipe cards plus some scraps to die-cut leaves from Sizzix Tim Holtz Arsty Leaves (#668380).

Short process video: https://youtu.be/a4lO6K6Izmk

The gold edge will work with this particular type of watercolor.  If you want to try a different method, consider metallic acrylic paint, gold heat embossing, gold Sharpie, gold washi tape, or metallic gel crayon (such as Distress crayon).

The Kuretake Gansi Tambi watercolors contain a high amount of glycerin and dry glossy.  While they are watercolors, they are pretty opaque, do not dry lighter, and work surprisingly well on regular cardstock.  The metallics are available separately as a six-pan “starry colors” set.

Supplies:

Tim Holtz Artsy Leaves #666380

Sizzix on their website $24.99 https://www.sizzix.com/666380/thinlits-die-set-18pk-artsy-leaves-by-tim-holtz 

Sizzix on Amazon $27.99 https://amzn.to/3PdQ9GH and no Prime shipping

I guess the Amazon discount for Sizzix only applies once an item has sold at a discount on their website, not new items, which makes sense.

Simon Says Stamp $24.99 https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/products/tim-holtz-sizzix-artsy-leaves-thinlits-dies-666380

Scrapbook $22.47 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/sz-666380.html

They regularly run all dies on sale, so watch their sale schedule if you are shopping for new releases.

Kuretake 36-pan watercolor

Scrapbook $47.99 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/kur-mc20-36v.html

Amazon $37.50 https://amzn.to/3srsiKF

Kuretake 6-pan starry colors

Amazon $13.96 https://amzn.to/3YRK0TK

Scrapbook $19.99 https://www.scrapbook.com/store/kur-mc20sc-6v.html

Cards

18 color set of blank A2 cards and matching envelopes in a rainbow of colors

https://amzn.to/3qU4vCE

For white cards, especially if you make a lot, check out The Papermill Store at

https://www.thepapermillstore.com.  They will also cut Neenah Desert Storm to size, and carry a wide variety of colors and sizes in bulk amounts at good prices.

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Instagram: papercraftcrystal

YouTube: papercraftcrystal

Tim Holtz Tuesdays journal page 3

This is an all Tim Holtz journal project.  I wouldn’t call it a “junk journal” exactly, since nothing is re-purposed or found, but it’s in that maximalist, spontaneous style.  I get so inspired by watching his live YouTubes that I buy all the things, so I’m challenging myself to Tim Holtz Tuesdays this fall to use all those products.

For this two-page spread, I used all the wildflower dies I had, cut each set twice from mixed media paper, then went to town with the ink.

Short process video: https://youtu.be/AHkPDE1tuJo

Supplies:

Sizzix products are almost always cheaper from Sizzix on Amazon that from Sizzix on their own website; always check.  They do offer a new customer discount to new subscribers to email alerts and periodically run sales.  Simon Says Stamp carries all of these as well; they carry a full range of Tim Holtz products in one place: https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/collections/tim-holtz-1

Sizzix garden greens die 661206  $24.99 at Sizzix website or $12.64 on Amazon https://amzn.to/47BPUMN

Sizzix wildflowers #1 die 661190 $24.99 at Sizzix website or $17.26 on Amazon https://amzn.to/47HeHPM  (this is the fiddly one with all the tiny holes)

Sizzix wildflower stems #1 die 661163 $24.99 at Sizzix website https://www.sizzix.com/661190/sizzix-thinlits-die-set-7pk-wildflowers-1

Sizzix wildflower stems #2 die 664164 $24.99 at Sizzix website, same at Simon Says Stamp https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/products/tim-holtz-sizzix-wildflower-stems-2-thinlits-die-664164

Sizzix large stems 664170 steel rule die $34.99 at Sizzix website or $28.49 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3OFWZ6n

Small Talk stickers $6.97 https://amzn.to/45le7p9

Amazon links are affiliate, others are not.

Instagram: @papercraftcrystal

YouTube: @papercraftcrystal