As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am a huge Tim Holtz fan! He is so creative it blows my mind. He is willing to take risks to see if materials work with each other and then teach that to the general crafting public. I had the opportunity to take a class in his Holiday Workshop that he did at Absolutely Everything back in September. Just like his teaching posts on the web, he is an amazing teacher in person. So patient and takes you step by step through the process. For that particular class we made a clear album using alcohol inks, something I had never used before. I was scared of them and he made them as easy as pens to use!
At the holidays he spends the first 12 days of December posting a 'technique challenge' each day by making Holiday tags. I have learned SO much from these challenges in the past 2 years. When you first look at them it seems like these tags could take you all day to make, but in reality each one is no more than an hour, if that. I decided that I would go through the last 2 Decembers as well as each month through 2008 that he posted a challenge and pick tags for everyones gifts. I did an early one for Keith's nephews when we brought then some early presents at Thomas' birthday. Then I made them for Mom, Dad, Strat, Eunice, Theo, Keith, Phil, Riley & Bill, Nicole, Bill, Pat, Richard, Heather & Ryan and then a few others. I had fun picking what tag I would do for each person and what my variation could be if I needed to do that.
Without further ado:
These are the boys... My uncle Phil's and my father's tags were from last year. Phils' was one of my favorite techniques I learned last year on the Day 3 tag - using different embossing powders on an image. I love how it comes out.
Dad's is based on Day 9 2007. I didn't have any grungeboard last year so I pretty much made sure I had all of it this year! I had to use slightly different stamps and loved how it came out.
Stratton's was one of my favorite tags from this year - Day 9. I love how Santa looks like he is looking through a window that is frosted. Thankfully I had all the stamps and necessary products to do that! (Note in the previous post I also did a card based on this tag b/c I loved it so much.)
These are the tags that I did for the Simkins and Nickelmann's. Note here: My Mom's tag ended up being the same as Pat's b/c I tried a technique from Day 6 2007 that I just didn't have the right re-inkers for or the right mask. Pat & my Mom's tags is one of my favorite images from Tim's stamps this year: the lamp post! This is from Day 1 2008 - again I don't have the mask so I changed it a little.
Richard's (the RAS) is from Day 1 2007. For the musical paper I stamped using the music stamp from this year and inked it up. I also had to use the Santa stamp from this year.
Nicoles tag is based on a few tags. I combined techniqes from April 2008 using the Wanted paper from Cosmo Cricket b/c Nicole is a big horseback rider. Then I added the reindeer based on Day 5 2008.
Bill's tag is from Day 3 2008. I am just learning how to use fragments and loved how this looked. I didn't have the ovals so I used a square.
Here are pictures of my brothers family's tags. Here you can see Theo's and Eunice's a little better.
Theo's tag was the one i wanted to try most. This was completely taking me out of my comfort zone and ended up being so easy! This is based on the Day 7 2008 tag. I loved the snow at the bottom and thought it so perfect for a little boy! I loved how it came out so much that I did a variation using the Xmas Tree from the seasonal grungeboard and add green glitter to the mix. (no pictures yet, sorry!)
Eunice's tag is from Day 8 2008. I don't have the stamp that Tim used so I decided to just do the harlequin. Those ornaments come out great after using the metallic distress paints and alcohol inks.
There are a few pictuers missing... Keith's tag which was based on Day 12 2007; Heather & Ryan's (another favorite tag) from Day 12 2008; Riley & Bill's (which I am doing for someone else too) from Day 5 2008, and then as I mentioned above, a variation on Day 7 2008. There is still one I really want to do, but need to get the transparencies. Day 6 2008 is based on the technique that we learned at class in September.
I had so much fun making each and every one of these tags and look forward to 'hopefully' learning more from Tim! - maybe tags for each month of '09?!
FABULOUS!!! LOVE them all!!!! We ADORE our tag!!!!
Posted by: HJT | January 06, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Pretty darn amazing ! wow !
Posted by: Fran | January 13, 2009 at 11:35 AM