12 Tags of 2014 - January

2014 is a new year which means a new set of monthly Tim Holtz Tags. Here is the tag for Januaary. Can I say that I really love this tag. There is dimension and detail, yet it was a fairly easy tag to make. I love the pocket watch die along with the visible gears. I look forward to each month for the new tag.

Life is Good

The SweetStamps monthly challenge for Dec 15 - Jan 14 is to make an easel card. The focal floral frame stamp is from SweetStamps and is colored using distress markers. The sentiment stamps are from Artistic Outpost. The base card and sentiment panels are kraft.
I am also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge which is anything goes and in the Kraft Journal challenge which is a color challenge using pastel pink, yellow, blue, white and green. I don't usually do color challenges, but these colors worked so well with the floral frame.

Creative Chemistry 102 Day 1

Distress Paint Marbling and Colored Crackle

Altered Surface and Eroded Metallic

Stamping Resist and Industrial

Since the start of Creative Chemistry 102 with Tim Holtz coincided with the start of my long hospital stay, I wasn't able to do any of the techniques until now. The class was 5 days in length and featured 30 techniques. Today I finished the last of the first day's techniques. I am so glad that even though I had to miss the fun of participation as the class progressed, at least I am able to follow the classes and participate after the fact.

Perfection

Flowers are what the doctor ordered for this dreary day. I think that this oval frame die from Tim Holtz is quickly becoming one of my favorites. And to think, I thought I didn't need it.

To make my card I started with a kraft base card and the frame cut out of kraft paper. The inside of the frame is cut from a Tim Holtz metal foil tape sheet to represent a mirror. The flowers and vase is a SweetStamps stamp which I colored using distress markers. The sentiment is from Dyan Reaveley. The design paper and lace border is from my stash.

I am entering my card in the Kraft Journal challenge which is lace it up and in the SweetStamps challenge which is kraft paper.

Snow Snow Snow

This will be the last posting for today. I have to say that I was a little nervous about using the TJ technique, shadow tiles. I had seen several cards using this technique and they looked so difficult. Since the Try That Technique challenge this week is shadow tiles, it seemed like the perfect time to take the plunge. I used my Martha Stewart scoring board and the technique was a piece of cake.
I love this little snowman from Serendipity. I bought him months ago, but never got a chance to use him.  I pulled him out today and had fun with him. The challenge this month at Serendipity is buttons. Every snowman needs buttons on his outfit. (The snowflakes are also buttons.) Tuesday Throwdown challenged us to feature a snowman. I guess no explanation is necessary here.

Winter Whtes

I had a wonderful day today working in my studio. My card here is layered in whites. I always have difficulty with the white on white challenges because of the scanning. I cheated a little here since I used a silver layer (silver is a white metallic). That and a few strategically placed pop dots gave me enough shadow so that my card scanned. All of the die cuts are from Cheery Lynn (Mexican tile, ivy corner flourish, vase).
I am entering my card into the following challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- winter whites; V's Sweet Ideas challenge -- anything goes.

This Day

Wow, it's been ages since I played with the Bloggers Challenge. My long hospital stayed sure played havoc with my art creation. However, this week the challenge is quotes and here is my card. One thing about the time I spent in the hospital -- I had lots of time to think. My New Year resolution is to appreciate life a lot more and to be more aware of my health. This quote by Goethe says it all.

I based my layout on the Mojo Monday sketch challenge 327. I started with a background of designer paper. The quote is done in the chalkboard technique from Tim Holtz. The flowers and leaves are Cheery Lynn die cuts. I added a ribbon of lace.
I am also entering my card in these additional challenges: Word Art Wednesday which is anything goes; Friends of Speedy (MFP) which is New Year's resolution; Simple Salutations (MFP) which is a sentiment plus black/white; and Frilly & Funkie which is New Year's resolutions.