it's day 11 - so let's do some distressin'...

"wreath of joy" - tim holtz 2007
supplies:
craft sheet (ranger)
ink blending tool & foam (ranger)
distress embossing ink (ranger)
distress embossing powders: pine needles, shabby shutters, vintage photo (ranger)
distress crackle paint: shabby shutters (ranger)
distress ink: brushed corduroy (ranger)
mini mister (ranger)
stickles (ranger)
stamp set (stampers anonymous)
paper distresser (tonic studios)
scissors (tonic studios)
thickers letters (american crafts)
glue dots (glue dots)
tag and embellishments

step 1: paint tag with shabby shutters distress crackle paint and allow to dry and crack. (*tip: remember - a medium to heavy coat of paint for a larger crackle effect.  distress crackle paint is a one step crackle paint.)

step 2: on a new tag, stamp pine stamp with distress embossing ink. (*tip: i love using these smaller stamps as accent stamps to create bigger things!)

step 3: re-ink the stamp and stamp 3 more times on tag for a total of 4 images. (*tip: don't worry about time - you have about 5-10 minutes to get your powders on while the ink stays wet so relax!).

step 4: using your fingers, take a "pinch" of vintage photo distress powder and hold your fingers directly over the part of the image you want to color (the branches).  twist your fingers together to SLOWLY let the powder fall on that part of the image (*tip: hold your hand directly over the tag.)

step 5: repeat the above step using pine needles powder on the "needles" and until entire image is colored with powders.

step 6: IMPORTANT STEP - keeping your tag flat, hold it up with one hand and place 2 fingers under the tag with the other hand. using a tapping motion with your fingers, tap under that tag to bounce around the powders.

step 7: tip tag to remove any/all excess powders that don't stick to your stamped image - cool huh? (*tip: do not flick! these leftover powders are obviously all mixed up, but store them in an empty jar to save as a "party mix" for another project)

step 8: on another new tag, stamp holly stamp with distress embossing ink, and re-ink the stamp and stamp 3 more times on tag for a total of 4 images.

step 9: repeat embossing technique above using vintage photo on branches and shabby shutters on holly leaves.  emboss the images on both tags using your heat tool.  first thing you'll notice is that these powders never really change from matte to glossy like regular embossing powders do when they melt.  so how do you know when they're done?  well, practice...  the colors of the powders will actually change when they are melted, but if you're not sure, just heat as long as you think you would normally emboss something (*tip: the best part of distress powders is they can never be over-embossed like regular powders can so no worries).

step 10: THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP - distress powders MUST COOL before you can touch them.  unlike regular embossing powders that stick when melted, distress powders only stick once they have been melted and COOLED!  that's right, if you rub them while they're still hot, everything will fall off the paper.  just be patient.

step 11: once cool, touch areas of your image to make sure they feel like sandpaper vs. sand on the beach.  if they feel loose, just re-heat, let cool again, and then rub your hand across the image to remove the release crystals. (*tip: the release crystals are random what's done is done. do not put release crystals back into the jar, just throw them away)

step 12: ink the tags with old paper distress ink using an ink blending tool with ink blending foam. your image is already colored with the powders so you're just filling in the background.

step 13: cut out all 4 pine boughs, and 4 holly springs with scissors.

step 14: ink edges of cut pieces with ink blending tool & foam using brushed corduroy distress ink.

step 15: once tag has dried and crackled, ink with brushed corduroy using ink blending tool & foam - be sure to cover tag with ink and force down into cracks with foam. (*tip: if tag is not completely crackled, but has started to crack, you can use your heat tool on it to dry and finish cracking).

step 16: mist tag with water using mini mister and blot excess ink off using a paper towel. (*tip: the brown ink will remain in the cracks and the rest will be removed to reveal painted color).

step 17: drag paper distresser along edges of tag to tatter tag.

step 18: ink edges using ink blending tool & foam with brushed corduroy distress ink. (*tip: this will stain the raw paper edge and make it appear burnt).

step 19: begin assembling tag by adhering the pine and holly pieces in a "wreath" form - alternating each image piece with dimensional glue dots (*tip: you can overlap each image or tuck one under the other as you build the wreath).

step 20: repeat until wreath is completed

step 21: accent holly images with xmas red stickles. let dry.

step 22: place "thickers" letters JOY on craft sheet and accent with platinum stickles. let dry.

step 23: attach ribbon bow to top of wreath and embellish tag.

Comments

[stretch]

I made it 'till midnight ... now I don't have to wait until morning for the tag ... I'll have visions of distress powder!
Goodnight!

[Cathy K.]

Each tag is more beautiful than the last. Thanks so much for this "class" it's been so much fun and very inspiring. I'm sorry to see the tags coming to end.

[Yaritza]

Good thing I can't sleep. This is beautiful. Glad to see the crackle paints in action. I've been drooling over those for quite some time now. Thanks again for such wonderful creativity.

Yaritza

[SarahG]

love love love it Tim you are such a clever fellow! love the distress crackle!
Sarah

[Linda van Vliet]

Great tag. I don't have ditressing powders yet, but they look great. Also the crackle paint is new to me. I would love to win today because everything in the prize is new to me!
Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Michelle]

I didn't realize there are crackle paints on the market that we can incorporate into our stamping projects. Yeah! I hope to get some of this paint sometime and play with it. Thanks, Tim!

[Anita]

Great tag again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really really would like to win such a beautiful tag.
Thanks again for your instructions.
Tim you ROCK!!!!!!!

[Sarah]

Fabulous work yet again Tim! You never fail to impress me.
Will be sad after tomorrow when there are no more new tags! :(
Have immensely enjoyed the last 12 days. :)

[deb]

I'm so glad i checked your site before i went to bed. This is just beautiful and i love all the embellishment. Finally got hold of some grungeboard...the letters and plain to cut with die cut machine & punches.

[Mary Mitchell]

I am so excited to see the crackle paint being used. I love the crackle look and can't wait to get my frost bitten hands on those cool paints. I've heard rumors that a local store is considering ordering the paints after Christmas.....but if I'm a very very good little girl....maybe Santa Tim and his elf Mario will be dropping some down my chimney very soon. I'm off to bed to dream with of sugar plums and crackle paint dancing in my head.