One of a Kind

Hello everyone!  I'm happy to make my first ever entry into Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014  challenge with my One of a Kind tag.  You can find all the details of how to make Tim's November tag here.  I've never participated in his tag challenges before, because I never  had the supplies he used in most of his tags, but  I've finally decided it's OK to improvise!

When I saw Tim's Layered Snowflake die and embossing folder set, it was love at first sight! And when I saw his November tag using a leaf, I thought I can do this! As I slowly progressed, I saw a few other snowflakes being used in place of the leaf, and I felt even more confident in working outside the box.

Not only did I improvise on the focal point, I also had to change up a few other things. I did follow along by marbleizing my tag with Distress Paints as Tim did in his inspiration tag, but added Perfect Pearl Powder to the paint on my craft mat to give it a little glisten. (Weathered Wood, Iced Spruce, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Picket Fence and Brushed Pewter paints used)  Instead of using Walnut stain Distress Ink on the embossing folder, I used Iced Spruce.

I don't have the sticky embossing powder or foil transfer sheets, so I used some Brushed Pewter Distress Stain on a plastic stir stick and flicked it over my painted tag to give it more sparkle.

On my cardboard layer (torn from a hoarded box-waste not, want not!), before die cutting, I swiped on Picket Fence Distress Stain, spritzed with some Perfect Pearls spray and flicked some more Brushed Pewter Stain and paint over the dried surface. This was done in place of the sprays, since I don't own any yet.  (Hint, hint, Santa!) I die cut the snowflake and assembled as per Tim's tutorial, using the Walnut Stain around the inside edges of the die cut snowflake before assembling and around the distressed edges of the completed tag.

My vintage book titled "Snow" mentions the types of snowflakes and this is the stellar snowflake--my favorite!

I smeared some texture paste through Tim's Christmas Layering Stencil on a piece of  acetate waste packaging, allowed it to dry, and wiped with Walnut Stain Distress ink. I used the acetate, because the word was just a little to long to fit on the tag horizontally and the surface too rough. I think it worked out fine.

Chit chat stickers were inked, a Vial Label was labeled with a  Words rub on, inked and spritz and flicked to distress it, and one of Tim's very old Christmas Idea-ology snowflakes was altered with Distress paint and stain.  I spritzed a tiny plastic snowflake ornament from my stash with Perfect Pearls sprays (Perfect Pearl and Turquiose), and all these elements were glued onto the tag.  I popped up the vial label with sticky foam tape. A tiny bit of bling was added to the center of my metal snowfake embellishment.

I stained Crinkle Ribbon with Distress stains (same colors as the paints), lightly crinkled it, and dried with a heat gun.  I twisted it up into a famous Paula bow and added some  Crystal Stickles to make it sparkle.  I inserted the loose ends through the hole in the "top" of the tag, and let the ends dangle.  But wait, you assembled it upside down, you say!  No, I did that on purpose, because each time I looked at the tag, it just looked better upside down with the bow at the bottom.  So, I hope I don't get points taken off for going against the rules.  I snapped a shot after moving the bow out of the way to show it really is a tag!

I have to say I'm quite pleased with the outcome of my first ever Tim tag, and it didn't hurt me a bit to step off the path a little. Thank you so much for visiting and leaving your cherished comments!

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 November

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #20 "Box it Up!" I'm going out on a limb here, and taking a piece of a box to make my project for my entry.

Inspiration Journal "Happy Holidays"  I think of snowflakes when I think of Christmas and since my tree will be mostly snowflakes this year, it is going on as an ornament!

Divas By Design Challenge "Let It Snow"

Rhedd's Creative Spirit Anything Goes (as long as it's altered art)

The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side #3 Christmas Decorations I'm using this tag as a tree ornament!