february technique challenge...
"february technique challenge" - tim holtz(c) 2008
supplies needed: craft sheet, distress crackle paint: fired brick, old paper, distress ink: fired brick, worn lipstick, aged mahogany, brushed corduroy, ink blending tool, metallic paint dabber: gold (ranger); grungeboard: elements (idea-ology); craft pick, scissors (tonic studios); stamps (stampers anonymous); 24ga. wire (artistic wire); glue dots (glue dots); #8 tags (american tag); glue stick; scrap paper; embellishments
step 1: remove selected pieces of grungeboard from elements set *i used heart/dots, wings/plain, crown/swirls, flourish/plain
step 2: attach all grungeboard pieces to the craft sheet using mini glue dots *tip: this will keep the grungeboard or chipboard in place so it can be painted. i also use this if i'm inking small pieces. it's easily removable - i love glue dots too!
step 3: paint grungeboard heart and wings with distress crackle paint and let dry to crackle *tip: i like to use a medium to heavy coat of paint to provide the best crackle finish - the paint will self level so slap it on!
step 4: paint grungeboard crown with metallic paint dabber - let dry
step 5: while painted pieces are drying, ink up the ink blending tool by tapping it on to distress ink pad
step 6: place tool on to craft sheet and begin inking tag in a circular motion with the tool moving the ink from the craft sheet on to the tag *tip: this will blend the colors to create a background on the tag
step 7: once background is inked, stamp images on to tag using various colors of distress ink *tip: work with darker colors than your background for the most contrast
step 8: ink flourish grungeboard piece with distress ink using ink blending tool
step 9: once painted grungeboard pieces have crackled, ink over with distress ink using ink blending tool *tip: i like to use the matching ink color to highlight the cracks
* if crackle paint is not completely crackled, you can finish by heating with your heat tool
step 10: tear a strip of scrapbook paper and ink edges using ink blending tool
step 11: adhere to tag with glue stick
step 12: adhere grungeboard pieces with a glue stick placing wings slightly under the heart, and the crown slightly over the heart *tip: cut the wings apart to place on both sides of the heart - remember the wings can hang off the tag because grungeboard is flexible!
step 13: place tag over a piece of craft foam or cork and pierce holes through heart,wings, and crown with a needle tool *tip: you need to pierce 2 holes through each piece along each overlapping edge totaling 4 holes for each "x" you want to stitch (this is where a picture really comes in handy)
step 14: stitch pieces together through pierced holes in grungeboard and tag with 24ga. wire creating "x"'s with wire *tip: you can get as creative as you want with the stitching - use a separate piece of wire for each piece, it's like a needle and thread in one
step 15: trim all pieces of wire in back of tag *tip: just bend the wire to secure
step 16: embellish tag

















That's a great tag. Thanks for the tip. It's always a pleasure to visit your blog : so inspiring. Claudine
Posted by: didinedumarais | February 01, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Love this so much !!!! Thanks Tim!!!
Posted by: Margaret C | February 01, 2008 at 01:04 AM
very cool tag. I love how you can put all of those stamps together and make it look good! I'd really like to be able to do that. It must come with just messing around with it and seeing what works.
Posted by: Shanna | February 01, 2008 at 01:28 AM
Love this tag, and I definitely love the grungeboard!
Thanks, T!m!
Posted by: Julie Howard | February 01, 2008 at 01:31 AM
wouhaaa ce tag est vraiment superbe....je suis francaise et vraiment j'adore votre travail
bravo et merci
Posted by: crapette | February 01, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Great tag! I love the color combo . . . and the Crackle Paint is fantastic for Grungeboard! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Cathy A. | February 01, 2008 at 01:41 AM
Tim, thanks so much for the wire tip. I see myself using that over and over in the future! Love your products and your blog.
Posted by: Michelle Zindorf | February 01, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Your tag is beautiful ! like Claudine say "so inspiring" ! But it's so hard for me to speak english LOL
TFS
from france
Posted by: Manuela | February 01, 2008 at 02:06 AM
Fabulous - Some ideas for Valentie's that aren't too slushy. Thanks Tim. Elizabeth :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 01, 2008 at 02:09 AM
This tag is beautiful. Another awesome project created by such a talented person. I can't wait to "COPY" it. Thank you again for sharing with us.
Robin from GA
Posted by: Robin Rowe | February 01, 2008 at 02:13 AM
This is gorgeous Tim! Well done yet again! Will be trying this out for sure! I LOVE grungeboard - I've been working with it recently, but had no idea it came in plain sheets - will now have to buy some of them too!! Glad to hear it works in the cuttlebug - was going to try this out on the weekend.
~Sarah~
Posted by: Sarah Schwerin | February 01, 2008 at 02:24 AM
this looks amazing!
Posted by: nat | February 01, 2008 at 02:31 AM
Another great project!!!Thanks Tim for sharing so much with us.
Must buy some grungeboard this weekend,allready using crackle paint and I love that.
Love Tonny
Posted by: tonny | February 01, 2008 at 03:17 AM
I had no idea it came in full sheets, either - what a great idea! I'm afraid I don't have a die-cut system, though.
Posted by: Katy | February 01, 2008 at 03:49 AM
I love hearts with wings attached.. I even use it as my logo. Am going to Craft Hobby and Stitch at the NEC in February so hope to see you there!
Posted by: sue | February 01, 2008 at 04:02 AM
Hi Tim! What a GREAT tag! I have all the supplies and I'm ready to go with this.. THANKS! By the way, you commented that that wonderful grungeboard will cut on Sizzix, Accucut, etc. Well, it also cuts on a Klic-N-Kut.. like butter. Are you familiar withe the Klic-N-Kut? It's an unbelievable die cutter. Thanks again! Have a great and inspirational day! XOXO, Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Barwald | February 01, 2008 at 04:31 AM
Mmmmmm. Yummy! I am a grungeboardaholic.
#1 ;-)
Posted by: Tigger | February 01, 2008 at 04:39 AM
Tim I love this tag it is so pretty and it's just perfect for Valentines Day. I know I'm going to have to do something like this for someone special!! The grungeboard is so much fun to work with, I have used the crackle paints with it and I have used your idea of making a metalic ink using distress reinkers and pearl-x powders. Thanks again Tim for sharing with us all.
NancyP
Jacksonville, FL
Posted by: Nancy P | February 01, 2008 at 04:46 AM
Love it! Love it! Love it!, during the holiday’s I bought tons of grunge board ;-)
Can not wait to get started.. I am a Tim Holtz /grunge/tag making addict..
Posted by: Maritza Rodriguez de Perea | February 01, 2008 at 04:47 AM
Holy Shamokes! That is fabulous! I didn't know the crackle paint would dry that fast and now I can coax it along with my heat gun? Kewl! Awesome project, as usual Ü
Thanks for posting it, Tim!
Tracy M. *Ü*
Posted by: Tracy | February 01, 2008 at 05:04 AM
I have just fallen in love with you :)
I do have grungeboard but I haven't used it much. That will change now! But I really need some crackle paint. Have non of that. All the rest is here. Ready to start!
Thanks for another wonderful tag.
Posted by: Linda van Vliet | February 01, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Wow, I think it's too early in the morning to be confronted with something so cool! I just about fell off my chair when I saw this one. I love Grungeboard and your Texture Hammer. I just made Valentine swaps yesterday with Grungeboard keys & flourishes hanging from a ribbon. The hammer is really fun & I'm so glad you came out with that!
Posted by: Cathy Yamashita | February 01, 2008 at 05:33 AM
Absolutely beautiful!! Of Course!!
Posted by: Sharon Bennett | February 01, 2008 at 05:37 AM
I LOVE this tag! I never thought to ink the crackled item with the same color to make the crackle really stand out! YAY! Something new!!!! I am a sucker for wings and crowns and today's challenge had them both! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Theresa Grdina | February 01, 2008 at 05:52 AM
Thank you again, for the step by step details. We are snowed in, in Chicago so I have all day to play! It is very reassuring to see your stamps with grungy (pun intended)ink marks and fingerprints on the mounts. I too make sure my stamps are 'well loved', and only wash them if I absolutely have to. Have a great weekend & thanks for doin'! -luanne
Posted by: Luanne | February 01, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Seriously..gorgeous. thanks for taking the time to do this with all that is going on with cha and all your other many projects. You are amazing and inspiring lots of folks who otherwise couldn't learn directly from you. Thanks again!!!
Posted by: Robyn Sharp | February 01, 2008 at 06:02 AM
Love this....will use it to make a "manly" Valentine's Day card for my DH...thanks for sharing...
Posted by: Cheryl Schwarz | February 01, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Lovin' this tag!
Lovin' grunge board
Lovin' crackle paint
Lovin' the stitching w/ wire...
Thanks for sharing
Melanie
aka The Craft Diva
Posted by: Melanie Messana | February 01, 2008 at 06:34 AM
Love this tag! I too am a huge fan of grungeboard! Love that stuff and don't think there has ever been a greater invention! Thanks for the tips!!
Posted by: Alicia Sharp | February 01, 2008 at 06:37 AM
Thanks for another techniqe inspiration and shopping temptation. I've not got any crackle paint yet, but how long before I have to get some?
Posted by: Netleigh | February 01, 2008 at 06:45 AM
Like it? LOVE all your work Tim!!
Thanks so much for the Inspiration for the Month!! Can't wait to play for the day now!!
I hope you have a great month and a lovely Valentines!!
Take care! :0)
Dolly
Posted by: Dolly (scrapthat) | February 01, 2008 at 06:57 AM
Beautiful! I absolutely love it. You have inspired me sooooo very much the last few months to create and make messes. Thank you. Question...would you please archive the monthly tags with the Christmas tags for us?
Posted by: cdpeck | February 01, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Wow, what a beautiful tag. I love coming to your blog and seeing all the inspiration. Thank you so much.
Posted by: Brooke Merva | February 01, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Great tag! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Pam | February 01, 2008 at 07:23 AM
great technique! Thanks for the ideas with the grunge board!
Posted by: Heather Wilson | February 01, 2008 at 07:30 AM
OH so COOL!
Posted by: Charity | February 01, 2008 at 07:38 AM
love the valentine tag! I can't wait to gather my supplies.
could you give the item #'s for the stamps?
thanks!
Posted by: ms ellie | February 01, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Ramona | February 01, 2008 at 07:46 AM
I love your design. The idea of inking the crackle paint to pop it a little more is great. I will be using this idea.
I would really like to see you do a project that involved the Crackle Accent. I plan on using it on glass and it would be nice to get some helps and hings.
Thank you Tim, in your busy life, you take time for this. I've learned a wealth of crafy knowledge.
Where the cool kids play!
Posted by: Debby | February 01, 2008 at 08:02 AM
This so rocks! I must get some crackle paint now! Jeese you are so bad for my pocketbook! ;)
Posted by: Pam | February 01, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Beautiful! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Posted by: Shelly | February 01, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Hey Tim,
This is the *sweetest* little tag. I LOVE the wire and how you blend the same colored ink into the paint cracks.
These pictures also make a world of difference. We see the technique, the brands and the skeleton before the masterpiece. We usually only get to see finished products and then we're left with so mnay questions of how or what people did. So, a HUGE thanks for that, Tim.
Helen from the
Midwest
Posted by: helen | February 01, 2008 at 08:29 AM
I am so in LOVE!!! With this tag and all of your techniques. I never can wait to see what else you come up with. You are one of my biggest inspirations when I am feeling less than creative. I can always pop in a DVD, re-read a book you have written, or just check out this blog. Keep the ideas coming. Thanks!
Posted by: Danielle Gaudet | February 01, 2008 at 08:32 AM
I had to share a comment...My 5 year old son saw me watching the grungeboard video and then asked "is that a scrapbook boy, with all those rings?" "That stuff is so cool (he really loves the tag with the heart)...I can't believe it!" "He's better then you are Mommy, I think he knows a little bit more about scrapbooking then you do." :) Thanks for your inspiration and showing my son that it is cool to scrapbook.
Posted by: Kerri | February 01, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Great tag t!m. I guess this means an other trip into town to the sb store to purchase some more grungeboard. I can't wait to give this tag a try.
Jerri Sue
Posted by: Jerri Sue Gauldin | February 01, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Tim: I had bought some of your crackle paint and they said lay it on thick but nothing about the heat gun. I was ok with the results but I just tried on another wood frame and wowza! worked perfectly! Love this tag love you for all the "tips"! Now to find these exact colors and grungeboards and make some Tags! Hugz Grace
Posted by: Grace Palazzolo | February 01, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Tim
What a beautiful tag! Of course, I love Grungeboard and tags, so I'm going to be using these ideas today.
I must tell you that one of the things I love about Grungeboard is that you can do so many things to it. It has all the good points and none of the bad ones of chipboard. I don't wonder that you are so pleased with it.
Lots of folks are having bad weather right now, and can't get out of the house to get any of the missing supplies. So, I have a tip of my own for anyone who doesn't have the metallic paint and can't get it today. I bet you have at least one of the Perfect Pearls(Ranger)sets! So, lightly moisten your fingertip and dip it into some Perfect Pearls then rub it over the piece on which you want to create a metallic look. The result different from the dabber metallic, but, On Grungeboard, is a little more polished than making a 'paint' of the Perfect Pearls and brushing it on.
Posted by: Linda Standart | February 01, 2008 at 08:47 AM
this is so cool...i'm so excited to try it! thanks
Posted by: christen | February 01, 2008 at 08:50 AM
LOVE THI!S!!
I've been at a loss as to what to do for dh for Valentines Day. Cards are so yesterday! This was just the inspiration I needed. Off to create!
Posted by: Sue W | February 01, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Thanks for showing the application of the Crackle Paint, looks like you are supposed to really slather it on to get it to crack. Love the adddition of the stitching, great textured tag!
Posted by: Vicky M. from Michigan | February 01, 2008 at 09:03 AM