it's day 3 - yippee...

"timeless santa" - tim holtz 2007
supplies:
craft sheet (ranger)
distress embossing powders: fired brick, antique linen, peeled paint, black soot (ranger)
distress embossing ink (ranger)
distress inks: antique linen, fired brick, peeled paint, vintage photo (ranger)
ink blending tool & foam (ranger)
heat tool (ranger)
paint dabbers: pitch black, silver metallic (ranger)
stamp set (stampers anonymous)
grungeboard (tim holtz idea-ology)
tag and embellishments

step 1: ink stamp with distress embossing ink and stamp image on to tag (*tip: if you have trouble seeing your image(since the ink is clear), swipe your lightest color of distress ink on to the stamp first - it won't hurt your embossing pad and create a "tinted" embossing ink image)

step 2: shake all color of distress powders you're using. open them all up.

step 3: using your fingers, take a "pinch" of the first color you want to use and hold your fingers directly over the part of the image you want to color.  twist your fingers together to SLOWLY let the powder fall on that part of the image (*tip: hold your hand directly over the tag.  also, it doesn't matter what color you start with - honest!)

step 4: repeat the above steps for all colors you want to use on the image until entire image is colored with powders (*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 5: 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 6: 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 - maybe for grungeboard huh?)

step 7: emboss the image 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: ink the tag with various colors of 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(*tip: i like to leave the center of the focal image light)

step 11: paint grungeboard number plate and mini numbers with paint dabbers and let dry. (*tip: don't forget the glue dot trick we learned on day 1 - Dec.1st post)

step 12: attach to tag with brads or adhesive and embellish tag with old charms, vintage buttons, and german scrap (this is cool stuff from my friends at paper artsy!)

Comments

[Anna]

Another brilliant project that you have shared. Must get me some more distress embossing powders and wait patiently for grunge board to hit Aussie shores.
Thanks Tim for another hit of creativity!
Cheers
Anna

[Sarah]

This is fabulous Tim! Just like the last two. I'm like a kid in a candy store at the moment! Thanks so much for sharing these with us all.

[Lynne]

Good morning Tim! (Just a short comment as you have so many to read!!)

[JEWEL]

Instead of getting my sleep for a busy work day tomorrow, I'm up reading your blog. Thanks for all the ideas.

[Heather]

Thanks for the inspiration and the info on embossing powders. I had no idea. You've given me another thing to try. (Think I'll be busy tommorrow)

[Paula]

I never dare to comment on here but am always in awe! Gorgeous tags, fabulous colours.
I can't wait to collect more products I love the alcohol inks so much & embossing is a fav technique of mine but I have no distressed ones yet. Another shopping list!!!

[Donna]

Love the colours on this one, just wish the grungeboard would get to the uk soon!
Thanks again for the great projects, roll on tomorrow!

[Lisa B]

WOW! I hate to admit I've never tried the distressed embossing powders, but now I'm hooked. What a fantastic vintage look you have achieved with this tag--thank you for sharing another beautiful piece!

[richele]

Hello again!
I've been waiting. This has been a great highlight to my night I wait for you to post and then I go to my studio and I make the tag well actually 2 tags one for me and on for The Stamp Art Shoppe where I work. It's great being reminded of techniques I know and to learn new ones. The photography is great love the action picture of you shaking the distress porder. Thanks again for all you do.
YOU ROCK ~ Richele

[Audrey P from AZ]

I don't normally use embossing powders but this has inspired me! It's so easy and I love the outcome! Thanks Tim!
Audrey P.