Tammy Tutterow

Quick News: Blog Hop Winner and Papertalk Live

Congrats to Heather in Alabama for being the winner of a copy of Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 7!  Huge, HUGE thank you's to everyone who stopped by over the weekend for the Sketch Support blog hop!  It was so much fun!  I hope you all enjoyed the wide range of interpretations the team brought you. 

I have a second bit of fun news to share also. . . Tomorrow I will be a guest on The Papergirls Papertalk Live. Papertalk Live is a fun live audio show brought to you from The Paperlife.  The Papergirls (and me) will be live at 12:30 CST talking about social media and its role in our creative lives.  It is sure to be a fun and intersting conversation.  If you can't make it, there will be a link to the recorded show afterwards on The Paperlife.  I always tune in to listen and chat in the chat room during the show and am super thrilled to be invited to participate in the conversation.  I hope you will stop by and join in or come by later and listen to the recording!

Sketch Support: Design Team Blog Hop and a Bit of Vintage Love

This weekend I am thrilled to be participating in a fun blog hop with the other members of the Sketch Support design team.  This weekend, each member of the team is sharing their interpretaion of the same sketch, sharing a little abour ourselves, and also giving away a copies of Scrapbook Generation's Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 7.  All you need to do, is visit each team member's blog and leave a comment.  As your final stop, leave a comment on the Sketch Support blog for a chance to win the grand prize.

The questions:

• When it comes to paper crafting I am... addicted to making things and adding ink to everything!  If I can make it a little more vintage looking I will!
• Where do you craft? I am very lucky to have a whole room all to my self for creating.  It is in the basement adjacent to our family room so I can be there creating and still a part of family time. 
• When I am creating, these are the things I have to have around me... Distress Ink and my iPhone so I can Twitter and Facebook sneak peeks of what I am working on. 
• When I am not creating, you can find me... at my computer blogging, Twittering/Facebooking, and reading message boards about creating!
• When it comes to sketches I... love the spark of inspiration they provide, not only for pages, but for all types of papercrafts.  There is always something you can take from one and adapt it to another type of project.

After you check out the sketch and my project based on it below, be sure to leave me a comment (link at the very bottom), and then visit team member Suzanna Lee.

For my project based on the sketch (which you can get in .pdf form on the Sketch Support site), I decided to use the left half of the sketch for the basis of a framed collage piece.

I began with a shadowbox style frame that was a clearance aisle find from Hobby Lobby.  I recovered the insde back and outer frame with patterned papers from Jenni Bowlin Studios Red/Black III collection using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi Medium.  Each element of the entire project was inked using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I used one of the collection's journal cards to add an element for text.  I used small single letter stamps to stamp the text using Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink.  I added an Idea-ology Word Key with a bit of vintage ribbon tied around it.

To raise the different elements up to different levels, I stacked and adhered adhesive foam squares together until they were the heighth I wanted.  Placing the elements at several different heighths gives it a lot of dimension.  Each element is adhered to a piece of chipboard to give it extra stability.

I used the Tim Holtz Alterations Rosette die to cut a strip that I could fold into a dimensional border strip.  I adhered the piece to the underside of the rectangular piece above.  I embellished the section with a vintage style button by Jenni Bowlin, a strip of vintage lace, and a Trinket Pin and Type Charms by Tim Holtz.  I use a wire cutter to snip the loops of the charms so that they would look more like old typewriter keys.

I love the way the strip can be used for a ruffled border.  To fold it into a ruffled strip, I folded every third section to the opposite direction.

I dabbed Vintage Photo Distress Ink onto the plastic button down into the cracks to add some extra color and age.  I threaded it with a scrap of brown and white bakers twine (Jillibean Soup).

I absolutely love the vintage image on this journal card from Jenni Bowlin.  I pretty much made this whole project around it.  To create a clip to clip the card to the piece of covered chipboard below it, I bent a large Game Spinner in half just above the round center hole.  I used a Distrezz-It-All tool to add some really chewed up distressed effects to the paper covered chipboard piece below the journal card. 

I added a rub-on by 7gypsies to a second journal card and adhered buttons to the open area of it to create a vintage style button card.  I used the Distrezz-It-All to distress the edges of a photo journal card and tucked it into the collage behind the button card.  The photo card had a journaling block on the image that I was able to hide under the button card, making it look as though the piece is a full photo. 

I really love how by using the sketch to determine the placement of most of my elements, I really only had to think about the fun parts of the project, what papers and embellishments to use.  I love that the finished piece has so many different layers and textures.

The final touch was to wrap the edges of the frame with Tissue Tape.  This frame originally had mint green and white strips on the edges.  Because of the odd shape of the frame, covering the edges with strips of paper would have been difficult.  I gave the edge a quick coat of Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint in Blank Canvas (white) to nuetralize the color and stripes so that they would not show through the semi-transparent Tissue Tape.  The Tissue Tape was easy to apply and added a perfect vintage finishing touch. 

----------Supplies----------

• frame: Hobby Lobby (decor clearance item)
• patterned paper: Jenni Bowlin Studios Red/Black Extension III- Feed Store, Petite Red Floral, Deco Chain, Mama's Dress
• embellishments: Jenni Bowlin Studio- Red Pearl Buttons, Green Sew On Buttons; Tim Holtz Idea-ology- "Traveler" Tissue Tape, Type Charms, Word Key, Trinket Pin, Game Spinner
• journaling cards: Jenni Bowlin Studio Red/Black Extension III Journaling Cards
• rub-ons: 7gypsies Rubbings Nomenclature
• die cut: Tim Holtz Alterations Rosette Die
• stamps: single letter wooden alphabet stamps (unknown)
• adhesvie: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi Medium, Therm O Web 3D Foam Squares (black), Therm O Web Super Stick, Helmar 450 Quick Dry
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Ranger Ink Jet Black Archival
• paint: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Blank Canvas
• tools: Distreszz-it-All
• misc: vintage lace and ribbon; baker's twine: Jillibean Soup

Art Journal: Anxiety Go Away

I have a deep dark confession. . . I have anxiety and I hate it.  I am lucky, I don't have it bad, I only have one or two things that trigger an episode and I generally am able to recover fairly quickly.  

For me, my worst trigger is the smell of something burning, especially if I smell it in my house.  I am sure it is an after effect of our house fire.  A few days ago we had a smell in the house, I think the dryer got overheated or something, and needless to say, it caused an episode.  When it happens, it feels like a waiting game.  I know that in time it will pass but while I am waiting for it to subside, I am slightly miserable.  When this happened a few days ago, I decided that spending a little time creating some art would help the time pass and get my mind on something else.  Creating always makes me happy and soothes my soul.  It totally worked and I love the finished page I ended up with.  I think it totally captures the mood.

I began by stamping The Look (the man's face from the Artful Artifacts set) stamp on a lined notebook page from my journal.  I colored the image using assorted colors of Letraset Aqua Markers.  I love the translucent color of these markers and how I can keep layering and blending the colors until I get the effect I want.  I placed a Crafter's Workshop 12x12 Time Travel stencil over the page and misted it with Ranger Ink Espresso Color Wash.  I sprayed it so that it was a very light application that wouldn't fill in all of the stencil design.  I wanted it to be patchy and messy looking.  Once the Color Wash was dry, I applied Black Soot Distress ink to the edges of the page.

I added two strips of patterned paper across the top and bottom of the page.  I tore the edges so that it would look like the center of the page was ripped away to reveal the face and clocks below.  I stamped over the surface of the patterned paper with Black Soot Distress Ink using the Scribbles stamp from the Tim Holtz Slight Alterations set.  I inked the edges of both pieces of patterned paper with Black Soot Distress Ink.  

I used my small single alphabet stamps inked with Black Soot Distress Ink to add some journaling.  For me, an anxiety episode is a waiting game so the use of time and numbers on the piece felt very symbolic.

I have always felt that this face image seemed very somber and serious and almost kind of fearful.  I loved the image but wasn't sure what I would ever use it for.  When I pulled out my stamps to find the ones to use on this project, I knew right away that this one was it.

I am pretty sure that 90% of the time that I can't do a project without adding flowers to it.  For this project, I layered flowers cut with the Tattered Florals die.  I cut Kraft Glassine, inked Grungepaper, and mica.  I layered flowers with leaves from the Foliage sets and Sprockets.  I used a Timepiece and Game Spinners for the center of a larger flower.

I stamped a clock from the Mini Classics stamp set on the Kraft Glassine flowers.  I used a green Letraset Pro marker to apply color to the metal leaves and brads.  The Letraset Pro markers are alcohol ink so they can color on many different kinds of surfaces including metal.  You can apply multiple layers of the same and different colors to achieve really nice color coverage and depth.  A band of ruler ribbon below the flower cluster adds another number element.

I really love the way mica looks when die cut!  Depending on the angle, it can be super clear or mirror like.  I love the flakiness of it so that it not only has a great finish but also an interesting texture.

I used Zots 3D Singles to adhere all of the embellishments to adhere them securely to page and also give them dimension and lift them off the page.  I love that they are clear. 

----------Supplies----------

• journal/page: Creative Imaginations Creative Lifestyle Binder and Notebook Paper
• patterned paper: BasicGrey Basics Curio 6x6 Paper Pad
• stencil: Crafter's Workshop Time Travel, 12x12
• stamp: Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Slight Alterations, Mini Classics, Artful Artifacts; single letter small alpha stamps- unknown
• die cut: Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals
• embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Foliage, Sprocket Gears, Time Pieces, Ruler Ribbon, Kraft Glassine, Grungepaper
• ink: Black Soot Distress Ink; Ranger Ink Adirondack Color Wash: Espresso; 
• markers: Letraset Aqua Markers, Letraset Pro Markers
• adhesive: Therm O Web Zots 3D, Superstick
• misc: mica sheets

Art Journal: Count Your Blessings

It feels like a million years since I last added a page to my art journal!  I had a really productive day recently and made a several that I am looking forward to sharing with you.

I began by laying the 12x12 Crafter's Workshop Numbers Collage template over my blank journal page.  I sprayed several swipes of Ranger's Adirondack Color Wash over the template.  I then used a roll of paper towels (Dyan Reaveley style) to blot up the excess off of my stencil and page.

I love that the paper towels added a bit of a texture look in the ink on my page.

After the page was dry, I added a quick spritz of Blue Smoke Perfect Pearls Mist mostly to the top and bottom third of the page.  I used a Copic MultiLiner to go in and freehand outline the shape of several of the numbers in the middle section of the page.  I added Black Soot Distress Ink the the edges of the page and then filled in the numbers with assorted white and clear Stickles colors.

I applied the Black Soot Distress Ink much heavier at the bottom of the page, including slightly onto the lower part of some of the outlined numbers.  You can see how it shows through the Stickles and makes its effect look even deeper.

I tried to use a different color of Stickles on each connected letter.  It is hard to see it in the photo, but no two touching numbers have the same color.  The difference in the sparkle of each one makes each number different and unique from the one next to it, just like the blessings the numbers represent.

I love the way the color of the Color Wash sprays blended and the pattern that the paper towels created in them.  It totally reminds me of the images of colored dots they show you to test for color blindness.  Kind of funny that numbers are usually what they use in those images.  It is totally unintentional that the page, at least to me, resembles one of those tests.  If you want to attach a bigger meaning to the page, you could say that we are often blind to blessings in our lives and sometimes need help seeing them. . .  again, unintentional, but totally the meaning I get from this page.

I used a stamp from what is quickly becoming one of my favorite Tim Hotlz stamp set, Slight Alterations to add a little texture to the edges of the page.  I used Black Soot Distress Ink for my stamping.

I finished the page off with a bit of text stamped with my small single alpha stamps using Black Soot Distress Ink on a scrap of patterned paper from BasicGrey's Basics White collection.

I added Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges of the piece and stitched it to the page with my sewing machine.

------Supplies----------

• journal/page: Creative Imaginations Creative Lifestyle Binder and Notebook Paper
• patterned paper: BasicGrey Basics Booknote, white
• stencil: Crafter's Workshop Numbers Collage, 12x12
• stamp: Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Slight Alterations, single letter small alpha stamps- unknown
• Stickles: Baby Blue, Crystal, Frosted Lace, Stardust, Distress Clear Rock Candy, and Distress Pumice Stone
• Color Wash: Butterscotch, Meadow, Lettuce, Sailboat Blue
• mist: Perfect Pearls Mist, Blue Smoke
• ink: Black Soot Distress Ink
• pen: Copic Multiliner .3

Sketch Support: Smile Photo Frame

For my second project this month at Sketch Support, I did a second project from the one page sketch, this time creating an embellished photo frame.

To create this photo frame, I adapted the sketch by omitting the individual photo blocks and using the frame opening instead for on photo area.  I also widened the center band (the camera paper) so that there would be a full row of cameras above and below the photo opening.  I really love this camera paper and wanted to include as much of it as I could.

Rather than add a title, I used a sticker with a phrase that I liked and combined all of the elements into one cluster.  

I layered the sticker with a journaling spot, a corrugated flower, and another journaling spot to add extra dimension on the otherwise flat surface.  

I trimmed a border strip from the corrugated alphabet and used it under a row of twine to the row of twine be more prominent and to help bring it off of the surface of the frame.

I used the base of the white paperboard frame for what would have been the base paper in the sketch.  I added Distress Ink to the edges of it just as if it were a piece of paper from the layout.

I have been mad at work on new art journal pages using some fun new things, well new to me, but fun just the same.  I plan to start sharing them tomorrow, I hope you will stop back by to see them!

----------Supplies----------

• frame: Creative Imaginations Bare Elements
• patterned paper: Jillibean Soup Fasta Fagioli: Italian Seasoning; Jillibean Soup Patterned Paper on Kraft Chilled Strawberry Soup Collection: Whipped Cream
• stickers: Jillibean Soup Cardstock Stickers: Chilled Strawberry Soup 
• elements: Jillibean Soup Corrugated Shapes: Flowers; Jillibean Soup Corrugated Alphas: Blue (strip from border around alphas); Jillibean Soup Journaling Sprouts
• fiber: Jillibean Soup Bean Stalks
• brads: 7gypsies
• ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Sketch Support: Signs of Spring

It is One Page week over at Sketch Support.  This month I created two projects from the single page sketch.  The wonderful team at Jillibean Soup sponsored the Sketch Support team and provided a wonderful assortment of products to work with.  I really love their products and was so thrilled that the team got to showcase their products.  The first of the first of my two projects is a scrapbook page and is featured on the Sketch Support blog today.

For my layout based on the sketch, I stayed pretty true to the basics of the sketch with the only major change being that I chose to make all photo blocks 3" x 3" and only placed photos in four of the sections.  I loved the papers so much that I honestly didn't want to cover it all up with photos! 

This paper inspired me to think of spring so I pulled out some photos I snapped last year of things that I felt are some of the first signs of spring: the bunnies coming out to nibble, the Lenten Rose sprouting in my flower bed, and the daffodils and forsythia blooming in my neighborhood.  I am generally not much of a journaler, but now that the page is finished, I wish I had made a place for a block of journaling to talk about the significance of those things and the arrival of spring (my most favorite season).

For my title, I had red stickers that I wanted to use that were a bit brighter than I wanted.  I lightly sanded the surface and applied Vintage Photo Distress Ink over them to darken them and soften the brightness of the red.

To create dimensional embellishments, I layered button shaped cardstock stickers with corrugated shapes and journaling spots.

I love this little birdie die cut corrugated shape.  I really love the chunkiness of the letters in the corrugated alphabet also.

I threaded the bakers twine onto a large eye embroidery needle and used it to stitch an X at each corner of the photo/paper squares.

I used a Copic Marker to add color to the Kraft paper base of the page.  I chose a super light blue, thinking it would be a subtle touch that would tie in the blue from the other papers.  It came out so faint that it really doesn't add much of anything.  Rather than trying a different color, I went with it and just let it be.

One thing I really love about Jillibean Soup papers are the sweet little floral prints that mix and match so nicely.  I used papers from two different collections but they blend so well that you would never know that they weren't part of the same one.

My other Sketch Support project is a frame that will be online Thursday.

----------Supplies----------

• patterned paper: Jillibean Soup Pasta Fagioli: Romano Cheese and Blended Beans; Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup: Anejo Cheese and Corn Kernals; Jillibean Soup Patterned Paper on Kraft Soup Staples Collection: Brown Pea Pod
• stickers: Jillibean Soup Cardstock Stickers: Chilled Strawberry Soup
• fiber: Jillibean Soup Bean Stalks
• elements: Jillibean Soup Corrugated Shapes: Flowers
• alphabets: Jillibean Soup Corrugated Alphas: Blue; BasicGrey Micro Mono Stickers: Wander
• ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink

 

Class Kits available!

I was cleaning and organizing the studio tonight and rounded up a few class kits.  They are very limited in quantities.  Both of these classes are now retired and will not be re-stocked or offered again.

I have a very limited number of COMPLETE class kits available in my Etsy shop HERE.  (This is NOT the same embellishment kit I offered for this class in the past.)  This kit includes partial bottles of Glimmer Mists in the colors I used in the class.  These bottles are the shared class supply bottles I used in my classes.  There are 7 colors included and all are about half full or more.  I am no longer teaching for Tattered Angels and am passing along my class supplies in this kit.

If you are interested in the download instructions only, the download will only be available until February 28th.  It is still on sale for $7.95.  You can find it HERE.

The Distressed Decor class a complete class kit also.  You will only need to add adhesive and Distress Ink.  You can find it HERE.

I am working on new class designs and will hopefully have some early peeks to share soon!  My class calendar has also been updated in the sidebar on the left.  I have added dates for the Scrapbooking Studio in Moline.  I should be adding new dates for For Keeps Sake in St. Louis very soon.

Glitz Design: Adore Photo Frame

Today is my day over on the Glitz Design blog.  I am sharing a couple of decor pieces I created using their Love Nest collection.  As always, I am sharing them here as well.

The colors in the Love Nest collection are perfect for love inspired project.  For this frame, I re-faced a small box frame that I found at my local Target store on clearance for $2.50.  I applied Damask patterned paper to the front and sides of the frame using Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium.  

To get a faded effect with the stamping, I lightly brushed areas on my inked stamp with a dry towel to remove some of the ink.

On the front of the frame, I used the music scale stamp from the Distressing 2 stamp set using Brushed Corduroy Distress ink.  If you are stamping with a detail heavy clear stamp like this one using such a light colored transparent ink, I would reccomend stamping first on scrap paper to make sure you have the design oriented correctly.  It has been way too many years since I read sheet music, but as I look at it now, I think I stamped them all upside down.  (sigh)

I used the same ink to all of the edges on the frame and brought the ink in from the edges in a few places to blend it with the stamping.  In the top left corner, I added a swallow Glitzers sticker.

In the lower corner, I layered a Love Nest Glitzers frame onto Love Nest Whatnot.  I distressed the edges of the Whatnot with a Distrezz It All tool and inked them using Brushed Corduroy.  I added a cluster of flowers tied off with a bit of brown Tulle and crinkled ribbon.  I added two green flourish Love Nest Glitzers with the flowers to look like leaves.  I finished off the cluster with a Love Nest Rub On phrase applied to a scrap piece of a previously used Whatnot that I had trimmed.

To create the flowers, I die cut a piece of Love Nest Paper Layers using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die.  I spritzed the flowers with a pink shade of Glimmer Mist.  When dry, I added Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to the edges.  I lightly distressed the petals with the Distrezz It All tool.  I folded two flowers into a cone shape and wrapped the tip with floral wire to create a stem.

For my second project, I re-covered an small wooden jewelry box that I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $5.00.  I used the Love Nest Polka patterned paper (the dots were a perfect match to the original color of the box) to cover the top lid and the drawer fronts.

On the top of the lid, I layered several elements together to add decoration.  The base layer is a large Love Nest Peek-a-Boo.  The print on the piece is bright red.  The reverse side of the print is pinkish and much softer looking so I place it print side down.  On top of the Peek-a-Boo, I added a Love Nest Whatnot to which I applied a couple of Love Nest rose Rub Ons.  The next layer is another Peek-a-Boo.  I added a phrase to a scrap of patterned paper using the brown Teeny Alpha stickers.  I stapled the strip onto the top of the piece and adhered it all to the top of my box.

Supplies

Frame: 

• patterned paper: Glitz Design Love Nest Damask, Love Nest Paper Layers
• stickers: Glitz Design Love Nest Glitzers, Garden Glitzers
• rub ons: Glitz Design Love Nest Rub Ons
• elements: Glitz Design Love Nest Whatnots
• ribbon: Glitz Design Tulle, crinkled seam binding
• flowers: Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals Die
• stamp: Glitz Design Distressing 2 stamp set
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy
• adhesive: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium, Therm O Web Super Tape, Helmar 450 Quick Dry
• tools: Distrezz-it-All, Inkssentials Ink Blender Tool

 

Jewelry Box:

• patterned paper: Glitz Design Love Nest Polka
• stickers: Glitz Design Teeny Alphas, Brown
• rub ons: Glitz Design Love Nest Rub Ons
• elements: Glitz Design Love Nest Whatnots, Glitz Design Love Nest Peek-a-Boos
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy
• adhesive: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium, Therm O Web Super Tape, Helmar 450 Quick Dry
• tools: Distrezz-it-All, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher, Inkssentials Ink Blender Tool

Free Vintage Image: Bluebird Valentine

Wow, I can't believe I have neglected the vintage images gallery for so long!  I haven't posted a new image in a month and a half!  I have been steadily acquiring new images, but I just haven't had much time to scan them and share.  Hopefully things will slow down a bit soon and I can share some of the treasures I have found recently.  Here is a new one to celebrate Valentine's Day.  I hope you enjoy it!

This image has been added to the Vintage Valentines gallery on the Vintage Papergoods page.  Click on the image above to see the high resolution version.

In the groove. . .

I always have such a hard time settling back in and getting back into my routine when I travel.  This time I had two trips back to back which maybe justifies that it took me twice as long as usual to get back to work.  I am happy to report that after putzing around the studio, organizing, re-arranging, and moving in a new counter height work table (seriously loving it), I am FINALLY back to work and creating.  Tonight I got my decoupage groove on playing with a little Glitz, some wood decor items, and some Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium.  Ahhh, it feels good to be back to work!

I will be back soon to share what I created!