Hi Lovelies!
I'm celebrating a little Fall and Winter with my first makes for Tim Holtz's Sizzix Chapter 4 release!
There is so much to love in this release but I am going to start with focusing on two sets of dies that have a lot of possibilities with a little imagination.
I have done two projects each for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Leaf Print Thinlits Dies and the Tim Holtz Sizzix Arctic Die: one in a more "traditional" way and the other featuring a bit of experimentation, all featuring ink-smooshing for the card fronts or backgrounds.
Products used are linked at the bottom of the post in the Supplies section. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think! :-)
Card 1 - Find Joy in the Ordinary
Since Fall is upon us and Pumpkin Spice is everywhere, let's start with the Leaves. :-)
My color palette here is simply inspired by the changing leaves of fall.
Featured Supplies:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Dies Leaf Print
Distress Oxide - Crackling Campfire, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn
Distress Watercolor Cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Tim Holtz Tiny Text Stamp Set
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Embossing Powder White
Ranger Heat Tool
Key Techniques:
Ink your craft mat as shown below with your Distress Oxides.
Spritz the Oxides with 4-6 quick sprays of water using the Distress Sprayer.
Press the smooth side of your Watercolor Cardstock into the Oxides.
Let sit for a few second seconds to absorb the color; do not twist/move around.
Carefully lift it up and place colored side up on your craft mat; gently dry with your heat tool.
Add several large water droplets using slow sprays of the Distress Sprayer.
Gently dry with your heat tool.
Add more large water droplets and dry, repeating this process until are happy with the look of your background.
Diecut your leaves as shown below.
Stamp and emboss your sentiment using the white embossing powder on black cardstock.
Assemble your card layers.
How easy was that?
Card 2 - Be Your Beautiful Self
For the next card I wanted to create the "card front" using all of the dies as if they were a "cover plate". I think seeing is easier than saying for this one...
I will share the colors that I used for the "background" but the technique is the same as I described above, so I won't bore you by repeating it.
Each of the leaf dies in this set comes in two parts, for this card we will only be using the solid piece, the "inlay" that shows the the veins of the leaf as opposed to the outline that cuts out the leaf shape.
Featured Supplies:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Leaf Dies
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Dies Alphnumeric Shadow Lower
Distress Ink - Wilted Violet, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage
Distress Watercolor Cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Tim Holtz Metallic Jewels Cardstock - Purple
Tim Holtz Tiny Text Stamp Set
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Heat Tool
Key Techniques:
Prepare your colorful background using Inks, Watercolor Cardstock, Sprayer and Heat Tool. Set aside to dry.
Diecut the letters "b" and "e" from the Shadow Alpha Die Set.
Place all of the leaf "inlay" dies, cutting side down on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of black cardstock.
Arrange in a pleasing pattern leaving a little space just to the right of the middle for the diecut letters (as shown in picture above). Tip: you can figure out placement by putting the letters onto the cardstock temporarily and arranging the leaf dies around them.
If you want to be extra careful about the dies moving around, secure them to your black cardstock with small pieces of low-tack tape.
If your die-cutting machine uses a thin metal shim, place this under your cardstock and diecut.
Remove unwanted die-cut pieces from your black cardstock.
Adhere your diecut black layer to your dry, colorful background.
Stamp your sentiment onto a strip of white cardstock.
Assemble your card layers.
I hope this gets you thinking about what other dies might work to make a "card front" like this!
Card 3 - SNOW/Winter Wishes
On this card we will create a two-piece shaker card front using the gorgeous Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowflake Cover Plate.
Featured Supplies:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Arctic
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Dies Alphnumeric Shadow Lower
Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood
Distress Watercolor Cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Tim Holtz Modern Christmas Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Distress Glitter
Tim Holtz Metallic Droplets - Silver
Tim Holtz Fluted Star
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Heat Tool
Key Techniques:
Prepare your colorful card front using Inks, Watercolor Cardstock, Sprayer and Heat Tool. Set aside to dry.
Diecut the letters "S", "N", "O" and "W" from the Shadow Alpha Upper Die Set out of silver glitter cardstock and also out of a coordinating light blue cardstock.
Stamp your sentiment onto a strip of white cardstock in Tumbled Glass Ink. Trim as needed
Place the Thinlits Arctic Die, cutting side down onto your prepared watercolor background.
If your die-cutting machine uses a thin metal shim, place this under your cardstock and diecut.
Remove unwanted die-cut pieces from your watercolor card front. Tip: I did not remove all of the snowflake pieces on the blue version of the card. You can use low-tack tape to help keep the snowflake diecut pieces that you are leaving on the card front in place while you assemble to shaker card sections.
Cut 2 pieces from your die-cut card front, as well as 2 pieces of acetate sized approx. 1 1/2" x 4 1/4" and 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" to create your shaker card sections.
Adhere the acetate to the diecut card front. adhere thin strips of foam tape to the back side of the shaker card sections (as shown).
Cut and score your card base.
Add a small pile of glitter and some of the smaller die-cut snowflakes along the top of the card base (as shown), place your smaller shaker card section over it and adhere. Repeat with the bottom section.
Assemble and adhere the diecut letters in the middle of the two shaker sections.
Embellish with Droplets and Fluted Star.
NOTE: I originally created this card in another color scheme (Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Blueprint Sketch) that did not receive my Review Committee's (Hubby and Cat) stamp of approval. LOL However, my process photos below were taken with those colors, which I ask that you happily disregard the color and focus on the technique. :-)
Create Card Front:
Stamp & Diecut
Assemble Shaker Card Sections
Adhere Diecut Letters and Embellish
Card 4 - Peace on Earth
Have you tried using your cover plate dies to make stencils? It's a great way to stretch your dies!
Featured Supplies:
Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits Arctic
Tim Holtz Sizzix 3D Impresslits Winged
Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon, Black Soot
Distress Watercolor Cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Tim Holtz Kraft Stock Metallic Paper Stash - Silver
Tim Holtz Modern Christmas Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Distress Glitter
Distress Collage Medium
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Heat Tool
Stencil Material or Acetate Sheet
Key Techniques:
Prepare your colorful card front using Inks, Watercolor Cardstock, Sprayer and Heat Tool. Set aside to dry.
Place the Thinlits Arctic Die, cutting side down onto your Stencil Material or Acetate. If your die-cutting machine uses a thin metal shim, place this under your cardstock and die-cut. Remove unwanted pieces.
Diecut the Winged 3D Impresslits twice out of the Silver Metallic Cardstock.
Stamp your sentiment onto a strip of white cardstock in Black Soot Ink. Trim as needed.
Tape stencil in place over your card front and ink with Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon. Let dry for a few minutes, leaving stencil in place.
Use a palette knife to spread Collage Medium over stencil generously. (don't make it too wet though)
Add a dusting of glitter on top of the Collage Medium before it dries and gently pat with the palette knife. (I went a little crazy in the photo, adding this much will make it more likely to fall off) Tip: Quickly remove your stencil and drop into a water bath until you can clean it to be ready to use again when needed.
Let dry completely and cut down to 4" x 5 1/4", attach foam tape to the back to pop up off of an A2 card base.
Layer your Wings on top of one another and adhere to the card front, shaping with your fingers so they curve as shown.
Adhere your sentiment
Use Ink Smooshing to Create Card Front
Diecut Stencil
Stencil Card Front
Apply Collage Medium and Glitter
Assemble Layers
I hope that you had fun here Lovelies!
Purchases from the Supplies section below help offset my blog maintenance fees and are super appreciated!
SUPPLIES:
I listed the products that I have used below. Please note that these are compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support. All products were personally purchased, except the stamps and dies, which were received from Tim Holtz as part of my Maker package. I was not paid to do this post and love the products that I share. Click on the icons below each product picture to shop with Simon Says Stamp.