Tim Holtz

c'mon texas...

hey bloggers... at the airport early this morning heading off to texas for the weekend. can't wait to spend time with my students and see all the creativity. i'll be sure to post photos of it all. have a great weekend...t!m

going to the asylum and more goodness...

well just a few more days and we'll be on another plane...this time heading to texas.  oh yes, nothing like texas in august - the breathtaking heat (and by that i mean literally taking your breath away)...the mist in your face (and of course by that i mean so much humidity you sweat like crazy)...ahh texas in the summertime - nothing quite like it?  luckily i'll be in doors all weekend teaching at the stamp asylum!  i love this store, the owner monica, her customers and their genuine texas hospitality - i do love texas!!!  so i wanted to share pics of the classes i'll be teaching this weekend to 100 students in each class - crazy right?  not a problem - it's going to be a creative blast and we're ready to go!...t!m

the first class saturday is called "ultimate alterations" where we are creating a very layered and dimensional grungebook using all things alterations.  from dies, to on the edge, and of course texture fades this class will show it all and i'll also be bringing my vagabond with me for the students to check out...

next up is a class where we are layering up mini canvas, working with inks, paints, and a cool twist on working with beeswax.  this project has so many possibilities i can't wait to see what the students come up with...

then on sunday it's an all-day workshop called "artful curio" where student will be immersed in vintage findings, ephemera, and all sorts of cool treasures as well collage and assemble a dimensional curio box.  techniques for collage, working with tissue tapes, and of course distress inks are included - this one will have everyone talking...

lucky day...

hey bloggers!  hope your week has started off with a smile...especially if you're one of the 10 lucky people who randomly won a set of this NEW snowman & snow flurries texture fades just for posting a comment!  congrats...  it was fun to read so many of your ideas too, and i'm hope you took my suggestion cutting your texture fades and tried it out over the weekend.  i can't wait for these new texture fades to hit the store shelves.  the fall ones will be shipping next month and the christmas ones (including this one) will start shipping in october.  busy in the studio with lots to ship out today.  i'll be posting some project pics of what i'll be teaching this weekend in texas tomorrow.  see you then and congrats once again to the winners...t!m

*please email your shipping info so we can send out your prize! (all prizes were claimed - thank you)

problem solved...

well happy friday bloggers!  seriously a week has flown by already?  there just simply aren't enough hours in my days i'm telling you.  i got a few emails from my previous post with many of you asking about the embossed tags.  asking if they were the large #8 tags i always use (which they are), asking if i fit them in the texture fades (which i did), and asking how i did it (which i'll share).  hope this inspires a little creativity for you this weekend.  also, be sure to click the links to the blogs of my design team.  there are lots of ideas going on there too.  have a great weekend...t!m

you'll first notice that the size of the #8 tag is taller than the texture fades, that's a problem.... what to do?

so maybe you'll just try putting the tag in anyways just to make sure, but wait - the bottom is sticking out.... what to do?

texture fade - meet craft knife!... oh yes, stay with me here people.

open your texture fade and place on to a cutting mat. with a very thin and sharp blade (which is why i love my retractable craft knife) make a cut on the crease of the texture fade about 1/2" from the edge... *all cutting is done at your own risk! (but seriously, don't worry.)

continue cutting along the crease, the knife is pretty locked in the groove so i didn't need a ruler to cut with.  cut until you're about 1/2" from the other end... *if you get too aggressive here, a piece of packing tape will help you out - speaking from experience here.

there you go, a nice opening through your texture fade...

now for the tag again and look at that, it slides right through so you can emboss the "important" part of the tag and leave the top plain (it looks better that way i think)...

run this through your embosser of choice and check out that amazing texture!...

this is also a great trick for embossing a border for a scrapbook page, or book band since you can now slide a long piece of paper, grunge, chipboard, metal, whatever through for a more continuous pattern... oh the possibilities!

things are piling up...

hey bloggers!  it's absolutely insane around here and for me to say it's insane?...well enough said.  it's been busy as ever since cha with all of my upcoming events, classes, and lots of kits to prep.  michele has been in the studio day after day just to try to keep up since we've been on the road.  next stop is stamp asylum in texas with 300 kits, then we're off to scrapfest with close to 400 kits, and then my cruise with scrapmap and more kits than we care to count at this point - insane i'm telling you!  all in the sake of creativity and fun so even though it's lots of work, we do love what we do around here (michele and mario would agree - trust me...)  so i leave you with a few pics of the piles and piles scattered throughout the studio which will all be put together over the next couple of days and shipped out.  then it's full steam ahead with cruise prep, kitting, and so many surprises planned i can't stand it!  more on that later.  enjoy today...t!m

a crazy last couple of days...

hey bloggers!  hard to believe it's sunday already and i'm even  home!?  we spent the last couple of days at one of the last remaining "true" stamp shows in the country - stampaway.  this rubber stamp convention was just like the good ol' days filled to the brim with 2 floors of vendors, thousands of attendees, and creativity galore!  we flew in from ranger on thursday to get set up to teach workshops on friday for 112 students and then that night we were off to a preview party demo which went from 7:30pm-11:00pm - talk about a long day!  then we headed to our hotel for a few hours of shut eye before hitting the show floor at 9:00am-5:00pm for this absolutely insane one-day show!  it was crazy busy, fun, and i loved meeting so many kind, creative, and happy people (it was great to run into some familiar faces as well).  here are just a few photos captured from the whirlwind weekend.  happy to be home and ready for a very busy week around the studio.  thanks to everyone who was at the stampaway show - have a great night... t!m

hello from new jersey...

hey bloggers!  hope your week is already off to a great start.  me?? well i'm here in sunny new jersey to spend a few days at ranger.  i always like being at ranger.  between working on projects and shooting a few videos with the new release products, and planning ahead for 2011 - there is lots to get done over the next couple of days.  looking forward to the challenge!  here are a few pics of some of the great projects we had in our booth at cha from some very talented designers - hopefully you'll get a little creative inspiration for the week.  have fun...t!m

vagabond videos...

hello there bloggers!  it's been a great week around the studio and i hope you're enjoying yours.  as promised i've finished up a couple of videos on my new vagabond machine and one of my favorite new dies - the paper rosette.  i have so many more videos planned, but i'm holding off until all of the new product starts hitting the store shelves in september - the vagabond starts shipping in october.  at least for now, hopefully these new videos will get your creative ideas going - i haven't been this excited about a new product in a long time...t!m

sharing the fun...

they say good things come to those who wait... but i also say that good things come to those who comment and now  won't have to wait!  that's because mario collected a whole bunch of new stuff from cha including my new seasonal papers from idea-ology, sets of new distress stickles from ranger, and my 100th stamp collection set from stampers anonymous!

so...we'll be sending out something from that assortment to the following 20 people - just for leaving a comment on the blog yesterday.  i've said it once and i'll say it again, you simply never know when goodness can come your way from taking the time to post a comment - i like to blog with you and i like to hear back from you - simple huh?  so congrats to the following winners.  please email me your address and we'll get your package right out.  enjoy today...t!m

I love the new shadow box thingys... Can't wait to get my hands on one.
Posted by: Crystal | August 02, 2010 at 08:17 AM

IF I HAVE to choose...your paper...I waited so patiently for it last time around and when I got it, I was NOT let down...now just wondering how soon we can see it in stores.........
Posted by: Lara Carson | August 02, 2010 at 09:38 AM

Wow, Tim! Thanks so much for sharing CHA with us...especially as most of us can't get there...VERY FUN! I LOVE how you decorate your booths...so "distressed"...so you...so cool! :) My favorite product is probably the Vagabond, although right now I am anticipating all of it like Christmas! VERY FUN! (Did I say that already!?!) AND thank YOU!...your dream is inspiration for my dream, and many others too, I am sure! :)
Posted by: Kerry Dahlin | August 02, 2010 at 10:34 AM

That is hard, what's not to love? To pick a favorite, hmmm I guess I would go with the new border dies, but I also love all of the ideology line...Nope, I have to say I LOVE IT ALL!!!
Posted by: Yvonne | August 02, 2010 at 11:02 AM

Thanks for letting me live a sneak peak thru what you see... a.k.a. - be a fly on the wall!
I can't wait to get my hands on the holiday paper, I'm hoping it will be out in time to be able to use it for this season.
Of course I'm "jonesen" for the new Vagabond...you would have to be dead to not want it.
Looking forward to playing with the master with the curio boxes on the 29th, see ya then. ~Jill
Posted by: Jill in Frisco, Tx | August 02, 2010 at 12:16 PM

Hi Tim. Wow, your booth was decorated so beautiful. I wish I could have been there to see that!! You had me teary eyed at the end of your video. You are the one that made your dreams come true. I'm so proud of you!! :) The list is too long of the things I am excited about coming out, but I am very excited about all the new dies and the Halloween and Christmas collections. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. Have a great week. Take care, Jenny L :)
Posted by: Jenny L | August 02, 2010 at 01:33 PM

Hi, T!m, of course I like the Vagabond machine, ''on the edge, and some Bigz die...
But my first choice of all is Distress ink...not new stuff but...sooooowonderfull!
Posted by: Isabelle M | August 02, 2010 at 02:24 PM

Call me a plain jane but I love the stamps and distress inks!!!!!!!!!!!
You just keep dreaming it up.........
Posted by: {vicki} | August 02, 2010 at 03:00 PM

Loved the ribbons and twin. Can't wait to try out the Vagabond machine. Love the sizzix dies and the stamps!
Posted by: Courtney | August 02, 2010 at 04:38 PM

I was really impressed with all the samples in the Advantus, Ranger and Sizzix booths. I was especially drawn to the altered birdhouses. Just spectacular.
Posted by: Lori | August 02, 2010 at 05:19 PM

The new baubles and Sizzix dies are always nice. But they cannot compare with the Vagabond...by far your best new product. So, when are you coming to Hawaii?
Posted by: Gretel | August 02, 2010 at 06:12 PM

How kind to thank us. I am sooooo glad you found your dream early in life. I can't imagine how many People have fallen in love with alterating objects and seeing a whole new life to crafting. You have touch the Industry,cBusiness Owners and Crafters all over the world. Bless You!!! Also I love the new altered boxes collection. Great job.
Posted by: Pene Owens | August 02, 2010 at 07:00 PM

stamps, stamps, stamps, always the stamps...
Posted by: nonnie | August 02, 2010 at 07:17 PM

Thanks for the video...My favorite of the new release stuff is definitely the Bigz tag die...plus a couple of the stamp sets (post card headers, mni holidays, odds & ends...), plus the masks are neat...lots of fun stuff!
Posted by: Diana J. | August 02, 2010 at 08:32 PM

Where do I start? I like the gears, birdcage, and deer and sizzix in general. I like the leaf stamps and some of the others as well. Can hardly wait to see what is next!
Posted by: Scrapycandy | August 02, 2010 at 09:19 PM

What a great video tour. It would be hard to choose a favorite but I love the typewriter you had in your display. I just had to comment on that as I have a love for the old typewriters. I think the new curios and also the trims you are introducing. What can I say - love them all.
Posted by: Judith | August 02, 2010 at 11:45 PM

Ok...here are the things I love, love, love from the video: the stamps (as a 20 year + stamper how could I not?; the stickles (I live for Stickles!); the die cuts; the VAGABOND...OMG it's delicious!; the chandelier and the file drawers in the video; the guy holding the VAGABOND...what an expressive face!; AND.....the highlights in your hair- :) It's all good!
Posted by: Maggie | August 03, 2010 at 12:37 AM

Love the new dies and the new stamps. I can't wait to purchase some of these new products - there goes the budget!
Posted by: Colleen C. | August 03, 2010 at 07:43 AM

Great video!! I was at CHA and in your Ranger workshop. It was a blast!! I absolutely love all of the new products!! It's a tough choice but I think the Advantus Booth was my favorite. Can't wait to get my hands on the Configurations and new holiday paper pack. I found some amazing treasures this weekend while at some garage sales that will be perfect for a configurations project!!
I am once again inspired! Thanks for sharing your creativity!!
Posted by: Lora Kane | August 03, 2010 at 07:47 AM

i am most enthralled with your displays. the antiques you brought with you are must amazing. i do not know which are my favorite. from the chandeliers to the typewriter to the camera to just everything. they were perfect. but, i cannot wait to teach a class with your new "drawers" (LOL) using your "feet" and who knows what else......... and i love the rosette ribbons. everything is amazing and thank you for helping make OUR dreams come true also
hugs and more.  peggy
Posted by: peggy forma | August 03, 2010 at 07:53 AM

cha-summer the video blog...

hello there bloggers!  it's monday and things are getting back to normal around here (relatively speaking).  what an incredible cha show - so much work, planning, booth set up all over in just 3 short days.  as always i wish i would have had more time to catch up with industry friends, walk the show floor more, and experience all of the other new and exciting products.  nevertheless it was a fun time!  the booths were all busy, the samples and displays were amazing, the workshops were a blast, and the demos were full of creativity - everything you can hope for at cha.  i'm home this week and will be busy in the studio creating a few videos and, working on some projects to share on the blog as promised.  here's the video blog of the show highlights for me and a quick walk through of all of the booths i was in - whew!  let me know what new product you're most excited about...t!m