The designs, images, and instructions listed on this blog are for personal use only and may not be distributed or sold in any form without specific permission from Tammy Tutterow.
« August 2011 | Main | October 2011 »
I forgot to add in the post Tuesday that the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Washers (that I love so much) have been discontinued. If you love them like I do, you will probably want to stock up because I am told that when they are gone, they're gone!
They are still in stock at Inspiration Emporium, and remember, if you use the coupon code "tammytutorial" you will get 10% off of your order.
I absolutely adore the girls over at Ella. I was so thrilled to be a part of their Spring Training workshop earlier this year. I was seriously impressed with the info that was packed into the classes and the way it was all put together. If you participated in Spring Training, I know you will be thrilled with Boot Camp 2011! The line up of instructors is top notch and sure to inspire and inform. Boot Camp 2011 includes training videos from expert Drill Instructors Maggie Holmes, Nichol Magouirk, Lisa Dickinson, and Angie Lucas—plus 6 bonus inspiration sessions with Wendy Smedley. To learn more, click either banner to to visit Ella's Book Camp page with information and videos.
I am all signed up and ready to learn a ton. I am super thrilled that I have the opportunity to share a discount with everyone here on my blog so that you can join in the fun as well. As if it wasn't already a bargain, you can sign up and use the discount code GIJANE to save $2.00!
AND. . . I am thrilled to tell you that I have ONE FREE class code to give away! Class starts soon so this give away will be open only until midnight (cst) Thursday (9/15/11). All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post. I will draw one random comment for a free spot in Boot Camp 2011! Good luck!
Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a guest on the the Paperclipping Roundtable audio show. It was great fun talking with Nancy, Noell, and Izzy about 6x6 paper pads and about scrapbooking and the industry. I was so nervous at first but they quickly put me at ease and soon it was like old friends chatting at a crop. I think we had a great conversation and had some great ideas to share.
I hope you will take a listen! You can find the show here: http://www.paperclipping.com/prt083-the-6x6-paper-pad-show/
This tutorial is now located on my new website. You can find it here: http://tammytutterow.com/2011/09/tuesday-tutorial-ribbon-embroidery-embellishments/. I hope you will follow the link and check it out!
t
This post is now located on my new website: http://tammytutterow.com/2011/09/sunday-stamping-look-ahead/.
Thanks!
Tammy
"What if imagination and art are not frosting, but the fountainhead of human expirience?" Rollo May
I really love this quote. I have to think that for me it is so true. Imagination, day dreaming, and creating have always been a huge part of who I am. At times when I felt like I didn't have much else, I had the ability to create and imagine something else. Imagination and art haven't been just an extra topping in my life, they have many times been my life. If you love great quotes then you might enjoy more of Rollo May's notable quotes. You can find several here, here, here, here, and here. (I love great quotes, I could sit here and link them all day!)
This is photo is another from our recent visit to The City Museum in St. Louis. This part of the museum is called Beatnik Bob's Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem. It is a total section of randomness with bits of anything and everything. It is designed by St. Louis Artist Bill Christman. I love that this salvaged billboard cowboy has had his six shooters removed and replaced by paint brushes. (Sadly, one was knocked off when we were there.)
A couple of years ago David and I had the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony at Bill Christman's Joe's Cafe which is part of his studio and Sculpture Garden. It has a vaudville-like stage and seating area and a patio/garden area that is packed with every kind of quirky statue and large scale relic you can imagine. Inside every single inch is covered with unique finds, the kinds of things you can't imagine that anyone would ever save or turn into art, but when seeing them assembled, you are glad they did. It is hands down the most unique place I have ever been.
If you ever make it to The City Muesem, you really need to be sure and check out the Beatnik Bob section. It unique, inspiring, weird, and thought provoking all in one. I have read too that Bill Christman's Sculpture Garden at his stuido is also open on occasion so if you happen to visit St. Louis, you have got to check it out!
These images have been added to the Vintage Text: Advertising gallery on the Vintage Papergoods page. Click on the image above to see the high resolution version. Right click and save to download the image to your computer for use. (If you download be sure you have read the Terms of Use.)
I am back to share the book from my When I See You project.
To begin, I painted the chipboard binder first with gesso to prime it and then with yellow. I painted the yellow on so that it was very streaked and would look like the whitewash effect on the lunch box. I accented the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
I layered a strip of patterned paper along with a slightly larger strip of Sticky Back Canvas. I inked the edges of each with Vintage Photo and then machine stitched the two together.
Before adhering them to the cover of the book, I layered two ribbons on the cover and then applied the Sticky Back Canvas/paper strip over it.
I am so in love with the vintage cream ribbon. I bought a mixed lot of vintage ribbons on eBay and totally lucked out with a box full of amazing ribbons, including a whole roll of this beauty.
I wanted to be very simple on the front of the book. I primed a Maya Road chipboard frame and center with gesso. I colored the scalloped frame with Bundled Sage Distress Stain and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. On the center piece, I simply added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the gesso.
In the center, I added a grungepaper heart that I colored with Aged Mahogany and Picket Fence Distress Stains. I brushed a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink onto the edges for added definition. I adhered the heart to the frame and added staples. I used sticker letters to add "my heart". As I did on the cover, I outlined each letter with a 01 Zig Writer pen.
On the first page inside, I simply added a heart, colored as before, and a fabric flower with the word "is".
On each page I selected a photo from this year that I really loved and paired it with a word that seemed to go with the photo. I wanted one word that would continue with the theme "When I see you, my heart is. . ."
When I do mini books, I really love sticking with a formula to make the project faster and keep the focus on the content. For this book I decided that the left page would be a solid with a heart and a banner with the word on the banner using the same sticker letters. I alternated between green and red letters. Each word banner is stapled onto the heart.
On the right page, the base is a patterned page that coordinates with the solid on the left, a solid color photo mat, and a photo.
My girls are so silly! When I was editing photos I realized that "laughs" doesn't really work with "my heart is. . ." It isn't "right" but I am going to leave it because it doesn't have to be perfect and really, how can you not laugh or giggle a bit at those two in their balloon crowns?
Melted, truly. Emma nose to nose with her doll Emily telling secrets.
{giggle} That puppy has the best faces.
I love the way following the same formula through the whole book gives cohesive feeling. I think it helps you not think about the individual pages as much as the project as a whole.
To finish it up, I added a little note from me to summarize. Full indeed.
To create the notebook paper, I cut a piece of BasicGrey Basics paper to the size I wanted, punched the edge with the Fiskars Notebook border punch (a must have punch by the way) and then inked the edges with Vintage photo.
I included a bit of my handwriting that I wrote using a 03 Zig Writer. I accented the writing with a super subtle grey shadow with a Moonlight Zig Color Brush Twin. I love that it is so subtle that you almost don't notice it, yet it adds a bit of depth to the letters. (Sorry, I tried to find a link to these, but they are hard to find since EK Success stopped distributing Zig products. If your store still has lots of EK/Zig stuff you will probably find them if you are interested. Otherwise, a super light grey marker with a brush tip should give the same effect.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today I want to share with you the technique I use to add color to metal tins. You can use this technique on any metal product. It especially looks great for shabby or distressed styles.
Begin by removing any hardware, if any if possible. In this example, I am using a Maya Road mini lunchbox. The handles and clasps are all attached with a metal flange that can be un-bent, making the pieces removable. Be sure that any pieces that you remove are done so in a way that will allow you to put them back if desired. If the piece has hardware that you can not remove, just work around it.
Use masking tape to tape off any areas that you don't want painted.
Apply a thin first coat to the tin using a foam brush. I prefer using white gesso. It works like a primer, adheres well, and gives me a nice neutral base for my color.
As you apply the first coat, whether you use paint, gesso, or a primer, be sure to keep your brush strokes consistent. The brush strokes will show on the finished piece so keeping them consistent will look nicer on the finished piece. This layer does not need to be perfect in coverage, it is mainly laying a base to build on. Streaks and thin areas that are uncovered are okay.
After the first coat is thoroughly dry, apply the next coat. In my case, this is paint. You can use any type of acrylic paint. I really like the Claudine Hellmuth paint. It has a really nice consistency that gives a lot of color in a thinner layer.
Try to apply very thin coats and avoid the urge to try to achieve full coverage in on or two coats. A thin coat will dry faster and adhere better. Multiple coats will take longer to apply, but the finished product will be better.
Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before adding the next. I generally add 2-3 thin coats of color.
As you apply each coat you will see that the color coverage becomes more solid.
After your final coat is dry, you can add other layers of products to create other finishes. Picket Fence Distress stain can be applied for a shabby white wash look. You could also dry brush white paint on for a similar look.
If you like a distressed or chippy look, you can sand some of the edges to expose the metal underneath. I like to add sanding to smooth out any uneven places in the paint. Sanding and adding some imperfections is a great way to detract from any unintentional imperfections.
Another way to add some age or distress would be to apply Distress Ink to the edges with an ink blending tool. Keep in mind that when you apply a sealer, if it is a wet product, the ink can lighten and move. I generally choose an ink color slightly darker than what I want. The ink will move with your brush strokes when you apply the wet sealer, so go with a less is more application.
The paint will scratch off of tin so depending on how much handling your piece will receive, you will most likely want to seal it. I prefer to use a clear wet medium like Claudine Hellmuth's Matte Multi Medium. Apply the medium with a thin foam brush, again using thin coats and following the previous brush strokes. Generally, you will only need 1-2 thin coats.
After the pieces is dry, you can see how the Distress Ink changed. It is lighter and softer looking.
You can re-apply more ink to the edges if you want to darken them. It dries well on the sealed surface and keeps it color well. Keep in mind, that this layer of ink is not sealed and on this surface, if it were to get wet it could possibly come off. I tested my sample with a wet wipe after a few days and only had a very small amount of ink come off. I think adding ink after that fact looks great, but thought I should mention the durability part of it just in case...
Once the paint and ink layers are all dry, you can remove any masking. If any edges are rough, clean them up with a craft knife or sanding.
The final step is to replace all of the hardware and clean up any wayward paint on the inside of the box. I usually find I can scrape it away with my fingernail and a baby wipe.
One huge word of caution. . . DO NOT close the lid (if you have one) on your tin for a few days after you have painted and sealed. Even though it feels dry, it is best to let it cure a bit before putting on or closing any lids. I painted a round tin once and was in a rush to photograph it and put the lid on right way. The lid bonded like nothing I have ever seen and would not come back off. I pried and twisted and used every jar opener known and could never get that lid off! So a word to the wise, give it a few days before closing a box or putting a lid on, you will be glad you did! When I follow that rule, I have never had a problem with one opening, even after sitting closed for a long period of time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I love when a little seed is planted and it grows instantly into a project that comes together so easily that it seems just meant to be. That is how I feel about this project.
Recently, Stacy Julian emailed me and asked if I would be interested in making a project for her as part of her participation in the upcoming The Creavitve Connection event. I had to use a Maya Road Lunchbox tin and binder and use the theme "When I see you. . .". The phrase instantly sparked an idea for me and knew exactly what I would create and with what paper. Because I have been a contract designer with BasicGrey, I was fortunate enough to have the brand new Picadilly collection before its release at CHA. It is hands down one of my top five most favorite BasicGrey collections ever. I have been saving it for something special, and thanks to Stacy's prompt, I finally had just the project.
Because there are lots of parts I want to show about this project, I decided to break it up into parts, first the tin and then another post about the book.
To apply the theme of the project, I created an insert for the window and used sticker letters. I used a super fine tip journaling pen to outline the letters. I love adding an outline to sticker letters, I think it really anchors them and makes them jump off of the page more.
To embellish the outside of the window I combined Blossoms from the Jovial collection along with the new fabric die cut flowers from Picadilly.
The cute little birdie is from the 12x12 element sticker sheet. To make him sturdy and dimensional, I adhered him to a piece of grunge paper and cut him out.
I also used the printed chipboard elements from Picadilly as well as a few of the dimensional stickers. I brushed the edges of each with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink to add a bit of shabbiness.
I used 3D Zots behind the petals of the yellow fabric die cut flower to lift the petals up off of the flower below it. I love to use the 3D Zots like I would an adhesive foam square. I love that they are clear and can easily be cut to the size I need with a craft knife.
The lunch box was originally silver but I thought yellow would be really sweet and very fitting for such a happy and cheery project. That leads me to tomorrow's Tuesday Tutorial. . . it is all about the technique I use to paint and seal tins. It is so easy and I think adds so much to this project.
On Wednesday I will be back with a post about the book inside the tin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
