Tim Holtz

the countdown

as 2007 comes to an end it's always good to reflect on what has happened in the past year.  what is your favorite memory, most ambitious accomplishments, greatest adventure, funniest moments of the past year?  these are the things i like to reflect on.  knowing that no matter what we try to figure out, what we set out to achieve, life takes us on a path of the unknown, sometimes thrilling, sometimes questionable, but always something that plays a role in who we are today.   with all the hopes, dreams, and possibilities of what the new year has in store i can only hope that you take time for yourself, try new things, embrace your imperfections, and remember to live the life you've imagined...thanks for a great year. - t!m
(photo: dust thou art)

busy, busy, busy...

with CHA-winter just around the corner, that means deadlines.  new products, new designs, new exciting things coming out at the trade show in february 2008.  can't go into detail - it's always top secret until the show you know.  i've also been spending my days making samples, testing products, and wrapping up all the details for the classes, make & takes, etc.  it's lots of work getting ready for this show - but worth every minute...
still working on my blog plans for 2008 - i'll be sharing them on january 1st.  have a great day...-t!m  (photo: vintage stamps)

holiday moments...

i hope everyone had a wonderful and memorable holiday!  it was such a nice weekend spending it with family and friends.  it's a great time of year when you get to share the memories of the past and create new ones.  in the chaos of it all, the holiday season is still my favorite.  so i'm working on something exciting for my blog for 2008.  stay tuned.  enjoy your day today...-t!m

it's a wonderful life...

this is my most favorite holiday movie!  it always puts so many things into perspective especially around the holidays.  i remember watching this with my mom as a kid, on Christmas eve, and i've continued with that tradition.  if you've never seen this movie, it's really a must see.  so what are your favorite holiday memories or traditions?  are you starting new ones???
i know this is a busy time for everyone, but don't forget to take time for yourself.  so whatever your holiday plans are, enjoy them, enjoy the moments, and remember - it truly is a wonderful life.  wishing you the happiest of holidays...t!m

a little holiday something for you...

well we're just a few short days away from the holidays and like many of you, i've been busy, busy, busy.  mainly i've been busy doing a little holiday something for you.  so many of you have asked about the "12 Tags of Christmas" that finished up last week:
- how long are they staying up on the blog?
- why are they taking so long to download?
- can i get a printed copy of them?
- how will i find them later on?

so as a little something special for you, i have done the following:
* condensed each of the tag instructions (took out the extra chat and left the basics)
* resized each of the step by step photos (so they will download much faster)
* organized each tag by day in the categories section (located on the left column, you can now click each tag individually)
* if you want to print it out, simply select it all, cut & paste it into a word document or pdf to print out.

so i hope you get even more inspiration throughout the coming year and are able to refer to these techniques whenever you want with ease.
happy holidays once again!...-t!m

questions...

i hope you've enjoyed the pictures of cooper - they make me smile!  many of you have been asking me where you can find certain products that i talk about or show on my blog.  well, my FIRST suggestion is to always shop at your local stamp or scrapbook store.  i can't stress enough about the importance of supporting your local stores - they are the heart and soul of the industry and provide samples, workshops, and education on products.

i do understand however, that not everyone has a store like this in your area.  maybe you're out of the country, maybe your store doesn't carry what you're looking for and many of you have asked where to buy on-line.  although there are many on-line places you can go - a simple google search can often do the trick, i wanted to share with you that scrapbook.com has offered to carry whatever products i talk about on the blog - (whatever they don't have, they're working on getting it in).  simply click the button on the right side of my blog to search for products and shop right from my blog!  how cool is this?  so if you want, check them out - they carry tons of stuff! (like we need any more reasons to shop - right???)...have fun -t!m

a cooper Christmas II...

it was so great yesterday to read your comments about cooper.  yes, he is a star indeed.  so today is day 2 of his holiday photo shoot.  this first one, never made it to a card - this one always cracked me up though with his patience in that suit and that beard - even down to his cuffs!
last year, was a rough time for cooper and he developed glaucoma in his left eye.  the doctor told us either it had to be removed or copper could die from it.  we had it removed after much research and specialists, not knowing what or how cooper would react to this change.  well, it was a rough couple of months, but cooper bounced back without a hitch.  his eyesight in his right eye has gotten even stronger.  of course he has his occasional bumps into things, but that doesn't seem to stop him from being cooper.  we've let his hair grow over the left side and he looks as stylish as ever.  the pouty pic was last years pic when i think he was a bit self conscience of it all.  and we conclude with his recent one this year - clearly he's as happy to spread the holiday spirit as he always has been...-t!m (& cooper too...)

a cooper Christmas!

okay - so a while back i posted a picture of my dog cooper.  i mentioned that each year for the holidays, i dress him up for his annual Christmas card.  i know many of you commented saying he didn't look happy about it - well if you only knew...
you see, cooper likes getting dressed in his holiday finest.  i know, i know, this seems pretty unheard of in animals, but trust me, as a couple of my friends have witnessed personally, he likes it - and is just like a little person in his photo shoot.  i admit not every shot is perfect, but he is just so good about it.  i can place him on props (like the sled tilting down the hill), i can tilt his head just so and he holds it there (like the piano one), i can tuck his ears up in a hat and he even wears mittens (like the jack in the box one) - and honestly he loves every minute of it - of course knowing there are many treats in his future for doing this is good motivation, but hey, it works.
so i thought i would share these with you.  seeing his little face always brings a smile to mine for the holidays.  i'll be posting the rest tomorrow, but for today - enjoy these.  happy holidays...-t!m (& cooper)

 

holiday spirit continues...

 

yes, the holiday spirit is in the air and so many of you made me smile yesterday with you kind comments and congrats to our winners!  it was so great to read how many of you felt like winners yourself.  well clearly there were not as many comments to read as in the days past, so i thought what better way to thank you in return than to give more stuff away!  yes, found even more prizes today so i'm picking 5 more winners!  thought it was a good way to make your holiday merry and bright too so here they are:

winners! nancy lynn, kate, sally sTo, erin glee, charlene...
please e-mail me your address so i can send you your prizes.  here are your comments so you know who you are!  thanks again...
* tomorrow i'll start posting pictures of my dog cooper in his finest holiday attire! don't miss it...-t!m

Look forward to seeing what you post next. I am so happy for everyone who won the prizes.........they will love the goodies. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful tags and techniques. Nancy

Posted by: Nancy Lynn | December 14, 2007 at 10:46 AM

Deb Marie totally desired to win the last day's prize with that epic poem! Wow, what a great 12 days of Christmas, my mind is active on seeing what I can use that I already own to make some gift tags for presents. I too have a list a mile long of things to buy. I think you have single handedly raised the awareness of Ranger products and need to have them by 20,000 fold. Thank you Tim for all the techniques!

Posted by: Kate | December 14, 2007 at 11:26 AM

BRAVO TIM! Thanks for EVERYTHING!
This has been so much fun and so inspiring. Please take a bow for all your hard work and please know how much we appreciate eveything that you do. You are the BEST!

Posted by: Sally sTo | December 14, 2007 at 01:15 PM

So the scurvy-scumbag Capn' Distress nabbed the Loot?! Aye, she's been a bloody entertaining commenter all along-Cheers to Debmarie!!!I want to see that ship after she's been embellished & ditressed by the Crew: YOU!...(And could you please write an acceptance speech on the comments?)...
Great job t!m & Crew!...Erin : )

Posted by: Erin Glee | December 14, 2007 at 02:21 PM

Hi Tim,
Couldn't let the day go by without a comment to let you know how much I appreciate the time and effort you put into sharing the twelve tags with us.
Happy holidays to you! Charlene

Posted by: Charlene | December 14, 2007 at 10:02 PM

and the winner is...

once again - thank you all for making these "12 tags of Christmas" so much fun to do!  i 've enjoyed reading your comments, seeing your creative works many of you have shared, and have been inspired by you....

winner! winner! winner! congratulations - debmarie!
please e-mail me your address so i can send out your loot! (check out this comment...)

Grungy, grungy, little star;
I left no rhyme, but I wasn’t far.
Yesterday I could not get through
Once I wrote my rhyme for you.

I was so sad, but so you know…
That I would never ever go;
I’ve learned so much here, thanks to you!
Now my Christmas List’s long as my leg is, too!

Grungy, grungy, generous star,
Hard to believe how giving you are!
I hope u like the following rhyme,
A twist, oh yes! So until next time…

TIM’Z 12 TAGZ o’ CHRISTMAS
(by Cap’n Coldblood - one angry pirate!)

Arrrrrgh, the 12 tagz of Christmas.
So what! And who carez?!
Ye won’t catch me ‘eartiez
Distressin’ some squarez!

For we’re too busy pillagin’
‘N diggin’ fer treazure!
Ye won’t find ‘em paintin’
‘N stampin’ for pleazure!

We’re lookin’ for booty
In all forms and sizez;
‘N we don’t need no packagez
Fulla surprizez!

We’re here to wreak havoc!
Aye, ‘n boast our pirateness!
There’z no time for glitterin’,
Girly politeness!

Yo ho ho! Walk, now!
Gitta move on that plank!
‘R yew’ll hang from the gallowz
‘N you’ll have YOU t’ thank!

It’s high time that I gather
Me ‘eartiez around
And set sail for the land where
Gold treazurez be found!

Ahoy! let’s go, Tiny!
Arrrrgh, where iz it ye be?
Put DOWN those damned scissorz –
Yer comin’ with me!

It’s time t’ git goin’ –
Arrrgh! What the ‘ell’z THAT?!
Th’ whole crew’z gone loco!
Yer all makin’ TAGZS?!

Ol’ Long John’z got fragmentz –
‘N grungeboard ‘n glue!
Set sail, now, me matez!
There’z plunderin’ to do!

The ol’ Jolly Roger
Is callin’ t’ us!
We’ve no time for ribbonz
‘R makin’ a fuss!

Gangway, Jack & David!
Avast! ‘R ye addled??
Belay all that stampin’!
Yer brainz ‘R all rattled!

Red Beard’z got inkerz!
Arrrrrgh! ‘N Morgan’z got toolz!
Lay down all that bilge, now!
Yer lookin’ like foolz!

No, I DON’T wanna paint!
‘R emboss ‘R delight!
Come on! Grab yer scabbardz!
Git ready t’ fight!

What about wenchez? Arrrrrgh!
And shinin’ dubloonz?!
Blimey! What about treazure
‘Round the next blue lagoon?!

What ‘ave ye DONE, Tim?
Me ‘sea dogs don’t ‘ear!
What ye got in that chest, boy?
Aaaaargh! Hand it up here!

Splice up the mainbrace!
Arrrrrgh! Git me my rum!
Hand over the loot, boy!
Lemme try some…

Well, shiver me timbers!
What’r YOU lookin’ at?!
This stampin’s more fun
Than a bagfull o’ catz!

Gimme those inkerz!
Aaaargh! Gimme th’ bowz!
Put it ALL on th’ ship!
Weigh anchor! Let’s goooo!

Arrrrgh! Fair windz, me landlubberz!
I’m a changin’ me quest!
Ye best be on th’ lookout!
For Cap’n Distress!

Posted by: debmarie | December 13, 2007 at 08:53 AM

enjoy your day - sounds like many of you have tags to catch up on...-t!m