All good things…must come to an end!

Well, I had the privilege to be a part of the first and only design team for Tim Holtz!

With Tim’s hectic schedule and  travels, I don’t know how he gets anything done, so adding a design team and what goes along with that became too much and he felt it was only fair to us to discontinue it!

If you want to read his write-up about it,  go to: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I just wanted to thank all his friends and fans who visited our website to see the projects I posted for Tim.  It was such an honor and privilege to be asked, let alone be named among all the other amazing artists.  I completely felt out of their league, but I so enjoyed the challenge!

Since starting my business, I haven’t had the time to be  creative.  My goal this year was to get back to being the creative person  I’m capable of being.  I claimed the BIG room in my house as “mine” and created a work area I LOVE being in! Next, when my friend Diane, (Graphic 45) asked me to help her with her steampunk line, I was sooooo nervous because she is AMAZING!  I did their hats, the dress form, and some projects for her booth.  It was the first time anyone in the business saw me as a “creative type” instead of just an “organizing type”.  Two weeks later, I got an e-mail from Tim asking me to be on his Design Team!  See…setting goals really help make things happen!

Thank you Tim for this amazing opportunity to push myself, re-create my crazy life, and return to what I love and need to do to feel like I’m being true to who I am!

It was an AMAZING ride while it lasted and I appreciate being on the best Design Team you ever had – and the only one!!!  :>)

Loved the journey!

Renee

Jewelry Time Again…

I had so much fun making the bracelet, I decided to make a necklace!  I make lots of necklaces with old jewelry, and  I like to mix and match different chains.  When I’m out “junking” I like to buy necklaces with fun chains (I may hate what’s on it, but if the chain is cool, it gets to come home with me).  I’m always on the look-out wherever I go for fun jewelry parts!

Here’s some pictures of the chains I mixed and matched.

Excuse the undressed top and messy room!  I did put one of my black fleece jackets on it so you could see the chain better (but you can also see the lint on it).

 

 

I have a hard time photo documenting what I do – I was really good at the first to take pictures as I went along,  BUT…I change my mind so many times, and I forget to take photos cause I’m so busy trying to figure out what looks good, so I’m sorry! One of  these times I swear I’ll take a pic of all the different combinations and it will be a LONG tutorial, so you can thank me now for forgetting.

Here are some close-ups of what I finally ended up with.

 

I used the buttons the same way I did on the bracelet, but separated them so I could use two on one side and three on the other side.  The cute buttons I used would have made another darling bracelet, but they also look great for my necklace!

The center part of the necklace was made by using  Tim’s Facets, Lot and Found paper inked with Frayed Burlap and glued on with Ranger’s Glossy Accent.  I then added one of Tim’s swivel clasps and attached a Muse Token and a  Pearl Bauble.  To the left of it I attached a Charm from Tim’s Adornment collection with one of his Mini Pins.  Loved how easy the pin made attaching the charm!

 

  Front Side   

Back Side

The bottom part of the necklace I used another Muse Token and Mini Pin, two different Baubles  and one of my antique pins.

 

I took pictures of the whole necklace on my jewelry mannequin and on my antique mannequin.  Both made it look at bit different so I included both  for you to see.

Drum roll please - the final and full view of the necklace… 

           

I personally think the old mannequin looks better, but the necklace  looked a little different depending on what it was on. I had a hard time taking the pictures – need to work on my still life photography.  I’m great at action shots of water sports because I get a lot of practice doing it on vacations, but this other is obviously something I need to work on!

Taking off for the International Quilt Show in Houston, Texas.  We have a booth and this will be our second time there.  We’re excited to go and see all the beautiful quilts, fabric and fun “must haves” that are new in the quilt world.  The people are so nice, friendly and we love going!

Since Halloween is on Sunday while we’re at the show, we decided (Carolyn’s idea) to dress up.  We’ve been working on our costumes, so we’ll post some previews of  what we’ve been working on, and then we’ll take pictures at the show!

Thanks again for visiting the blog.  We love this time of year and I’m in the giving mood.  So leave comments because we’re having surprise drawings, announced drawings and our BIG Floor Model give-away for Christmas.

See you after the show!

Renee

 

Products Used:

Tim Holtz’s: Lost and Found Paper, Idea-ology Baubles,Word Keys, Adornment Charms, Mini Pins, Muse Tokens,  Accoutrement Buttons, Fanciful Buttons, Swivel Clips, Facets and Jump Rings, Craft knife, Craft Sheet,  Rangers Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and Glossy Accents.

My personal stash of chains and my antique pin.

And the winner is…

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!   Tiffany Sherman is the winner of the bracelet I made from my Tim Holtz products!  Please email us your address and we’ll get it sent out to you!

Thanks for all the fun comments about the bracelet.  I’m glad you liked it – I really enjoyed making it.  I’m thinking of making a necklace today to see how that will look.

Continue checking back with us!  This is my favorite time of the year and we’ll be doing lots of surprise give-aways for comments left on the posts!  You never know…

Renee

Jewelry Time –Tim Style

My sister Dianna and I got together Monday to make some bracelets for Christmas…you know, trying to be ahead of the holidays anyway I can!  We made bracelets using some  old jewelry and they turned out great!  (sorry – don’t want to show them right now because they’re gifts).  Since I had my jewelry stuff out, I decided to use some of Tim’s embellishments to make a bracelet.

I started with a plain bracelet I’d been using for my other bracelets. 

I scoured through all my “Tim treasures” and pulled out what I thought would be fun to use.  I thought the buttons would look darling on the bracelet, so I chose those first.

 

I then decided on the dangling pieces and laid them out to see how they would look before I started attaching them.

I snipped the loops off the back of all the buttons and then ran my Dremel over it to smooth them down.  I decided it might be easier to hang the danglers before I glued on the buttons, so I attached them first. 

Sorry – I didn’t realize the pictures I took at this stage turned out blurry until I downloaded all of them at the end of the project!

I then used Beacon’s Jewelry Glue to attach the buttons.  It takes 24-48 hours for it to set up completely, so here is a picture of the bracelet while the buttons were setting  up.

I didn’t have a wrist to hang it on for a picture except mine, and I’m not talented enough to have it on my wrist and take the photo.

I thought it was a fun project and it didn’t take long at all!  I wish all my projects could go so fast.

Renee

 

Products Used:

Tim Holtz  Baubles,  Charm Clips, Muse Tokens, Fanciful Buttons, Accoutrement Buttons, Craft Mat, Word Keys

Beacon’s Jewelry Glue

Dremel

Tim Holtz Products used in decorating my new room!

I know -  my room has taken me WAY too long to get it put back and ready, but when you want to organize in a functional, decorative and unique way…it’s takes some time to do it right! 

My goal with my room was to make it so I can sit down, create, and know where everything is. Because I’m a “collector” and I enjoy many different hobbies besides scrapbooking, it becomes a little hard to do this at times.  I had to find a home for all my beautiful fun “treasures.”

I have lots of Tim Holtz products (I couldn’t wait for the designer’s monthly package, so I ordered several things now I have lots to play with).I was excited to use some of his products in my room.

In order to clip up all the new products I have, I am using several of my Clip it Up products to help display and inspire me when I sit down to create!  You saw the Under the Shelf Rod I put the original products on from my first shipment (earlier post).  Since then I’ve added a few more to the collection.

I had a cool piece of metal I wanted to use above my desk  to hang up some fun items that are symbolic or just fun to look at.  One of those items is an upside down Clip it Up Main Base. 

I’ve seen the different ways some of our designers and guest designers have covered up the poles and I like what they did.  So I bought a shipping tube, cut it to size and covered it with Tim Holtz paper.  Ever since I received my first box of goodies from Tim, this paper was one of my favorites and I couldn’t wait to use it in the room, and the upside  down Clip it Up was the winner!

I sprayed the tri-arm and  handle with taupe metallic spray paint and let it dry.  I then took some brown spray paint and added little touches of it.  I thought the colors went well with the fun paper.

I found a rusty tin fence from Darice Rustic Accents and wrapped it around the top and along the bottom of the tube.  I then wrapped it with a gold and black cord from May Arts, and added some fun older buttons from my collection.  The red buttons were too bright so I grabbed my Frayed Burlap Distress Ink from Ranger and rubbed some on to make it just the right color. 

I wrapped the metal ring with some May Arts ribbon and I loved the look of it.  Yes, the clips don’t move back and forth as well, but dang-it just looks cute! 

I took some beads from  an old antique necklace  and added them to Tim’s  Swivel Clasps and Type Charms.  Around the ring I hung three Philosophy Tags,  Added some antique ribbon in a  few places and hung up Tim’s products.

 

I also got around to hanging up the Wall Mount so I could hang up even more products.  Love looking at all the fun items I get to play with when I sit down to create!

Another item that got some Tim touches was my old wooden file box.  Since I have so many items, and several places to store them, I made a file card for all my supplies as I put them away.  So when I can’t remember where I put those sponge brushes, etc. I open up my file box, pull out the card marked sponge brushes and know immediately where I stored them.  I added an antique knob to open it with, and I put the Idea-ology Foundation Metal Feet on the bottom to dress it up.  I love this file box and would be lost without it!

I’m thinking life is pretty good with my new room and fun, cool products to make projects with…sweet!

I can’t show all of my room yet because it’s going to be in the Where Women Create Magazine, but I’ll try to work them in on later posts.

Can’t wait to show you the whole room!

Renee

Treasures sometimes come in small packages!

While visiting a new store the other day I found the cutest little treasure.  Sitting on the display desk was this little oval container made of real silver. It has a cute little lid and shape to it.  I don’t know if it’s for jewelry, pills, gift or whatever – it was just screaming “take me home please!!!!!”  I loved it the way it was, but I thought it would be fun to “add” a few items to it.

I decided to use Tim Holtz Marketplace Tissue Tape to wrap around the bottom.   When I pulled the tape out to start covering it, I saw the words “admit one” which made me think of how it would make a darling little holder for a special piece of jewelry.  After covering it with the tissue tape and inking it with Ranger Old Paper Distress Ink, I then added some Prima Say it in Pearls to the sides and on the top of the lid.

 

  I used two different May Arts ribbons around the little oval knob, and used the small black ribbon to attach three of  Tim’s Adornment Charms. 

I then opened up the inside and added the same green ribbon from the bow around the edges.  I cut the shape of the container on Tim Holtz Lost and Found floral paper with Tim’s craft knife and roughed up the edges of the paper with his distressor and then inked around the edges.  I then added more of the Prima embellishments on the inside to tie into the outside look.

 

Top it off with a pair of vintage earrings and it’s ready for a great gift!

   

 

There’s just something about small, unique metal items I tend to be drawn to... really???!!!  I’m drawn to any size unique metal object of various stages of rust, but it was fun to work with something I didn’t have to worry if I needed a tetanus shot for and it wasn’t as heavy to carry and it didn’t take up much room as most things I drag home!

Renee

 

Products Used:

Tim Holtz -Lost and Found Paper

Tim Holtz -Tonic Paper Distressor

Tim Holtz- Tonic Craft Knife

Tim Holtz Adornment Charms

May Arts Ribbon

Prima –Say it with Pearls

Tim Holtz -Idea-ology Marketplace Tissue Tape

Tim Holtz -Ranger Old Paper Distress Ink 

Cabin Get-away / Creative Retreat

The last time I wrote I was finishing my project so I could head up to my friends cabin for a retreat.  Since I was already running late, I quickly threw some supplies into a container and left hours later than I had planned.  In my hurry to gather the supplies needed, I decided it was time to play around with some products I’d never used before.  You see, since I started the business – I have been “a bit … NO, ALOT out of it” with the new products available.  So I threw in Tim Holtz’s Adirondack Alcohol Inks, an old enamel container, some ribbon, paper and a few other items I could grab quickly!

 

I love going to my friend’s cabin.  We had a cabin about a mile away from there but sold it when life got too busy to spend enough time there to justify having one.  I feel sooo silly now because I didn’t even take one picture to show how beautiful it is up there.  My friend is like Snow White, all the animals love her (because she puts out food for the birds, raccoons, squirrels, etc.)  There is always lots of cute little birds, hummingbirds, Blue Jays, and other birds to watch.  The squirrels will come up right by you to see if you have anything for them.  There’s deer to see, a mother moose and twins, and other furry critters to watch.

My friend invites several of us up every Labor Day to attend Swiss Days, where we shop till it’s too crowded to even see anything, or until we’re out of money, or we can’t carry anything else. I look for one vendor when I go who makes the most incredible “one of a kind” witches.  Her booth is called Nettie’s Gnomes.  I have so much “stuff” I’ve collected over the years,  I only want to buy “one of a kind” pieces of artwork anymore.  I am trying to get four of her pieces so I can give one to each son when they are married and I no longer want to decorate for Halloween.  I found two this year that I loved, so now I only have one more to buy (I bought my first one last year at Swiss Days).

Aren’t they the cutest witches!  The detail she puts into them is amazing!

Ok, back to the real reason I started this post! 

This was my first try with several inks:

Attempt#1

I practiced on the inside of the top so if I didn’t like it…This attempt was ok, but didn’t do anything for me so I cleaned it up and went  for a second try.

Attempt #2 – on top of the lid (feeling a little braver)

The top pictures are a better example of the true color, not the one below.

Tried some Prima flowers to see if that made it better…

I liked it, but wasn’t quite what I wanted – cleaned it up again and gave it a third try…

Attempt #3 -You know what they say…the third time is the charm!

 

Finally…got the right combination that felt and looked right – I know, I’m a slow learner!  Really-I like options, so trying just one thing doesn’t usually work with me!  I took these pictures after I got home where I could get to my supplies, and was ready to put everything together!

I made  the paper and ribbon flowers up at the cabin, but knew I had some burlap ribbon and other fun things in my creative room, so opted to finish working on it when I got home.

I love the different textures of the flowers, burlap ribbon, the twine, beads from an old necklace, metal and the paper.

I drilled a hole in the top and used one of the Idea-ology Curio Knobs in the center to lift the lid with, (so not only practical, but cute!)

I inked the paper and ribbon flowers to give it a more vintage look.

I wish you could see it in person.  Pictures never do projects justice.  You can never see the dimension and textures very well in pictures, so sorry!!!

I really needed some time away and it gave me the ok to relax so the creative side could come out!  Thanks Julie and the gang for a wonderful fun filled, eating, shopping, playing games, laughing till we cried week away from reality!

Renee

Products Used:

• Ranger Distress Inks: Old paper, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint
• Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks: Lettuce, Cranberry, Slate,Expresso,Pitch Black, Butterscotch
• Tim Holtz The IDEA-OLOGY: Timepieces, Philosophy Tags, Accoutrements Button, Game Spinners, Curio knobs
• Tim Holtz Paper: Lost and Found
• May Arts Ribbon: Green & Brown
• Prima: Say it in Pearls
• Renee’s Stash: Burlap ribbon, Netting,  Green beads(old necklace)
• Glue Dots