Tammy Tutterow

Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia Card

Today I want to share with you a card I made featuring the new Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia die.  The die is a new design that was shown at CHA Summer and is scheduled to ship in October.  I truly love the way this card turned out.  It might possibly be my most favorite card I have ever made!  I love the dimension the flower has and think that even though it is a poinsettia and would gennerally be thought of as a holiday design, it is one I will use all year long.

To create my card, I started with a card base made from kraft core cardstock in the cream color.  I inked around the edges of the card with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  To embellish the front of the card, I cut a piece of kraft resist paper so that it was slightly smaller than my card front.  I colored the kraft resist paper with Barn Door Distress Stain.  After drying the stain with a heat tool, I misted it with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist.  After drying the mist, I inked the edges and some of the surface of the paper with Vintage Photo Distress Ink with an ink blending tool.

Before adhering the kraft resist paper to my card front, I wrapped it with a piece of dyed crinkle ribbon, tying it off in a bow on the left side of the paper.  

After adhering the kraft resist piece to the card front, I added some die cut foliage pieces to the card, slipping them under the ribbon bow.  To create the foliage, I die cut manila cardstock with the Festive Garland die.  I colored the pieces with Forest Moss and Pine Needles Distress Stains.  After drying the stain, I inked the edges of the pieces with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For the flower, I die cut the flower pieces from manila cardstock.  After die cutting, I colored the pieces with Victorian Velvet and Picket Fence Distress Stains. I misted the pieces with water after applying the layers of stain to encourage blending. After drying the pieces, I added Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage Distress Inks to the center of each flower using an ink blending tool.  I dried the pieces again and then misted them with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist.  I once again dried the pieces and finished up by added Victorian Velvet and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to the edges of the flowers. 

Once the layers were all dry, I adhered them together and inserted a green velvet brad through the center of them.  I tapped a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the brad to mute the color and help it coordinate better with the rest of the project.

Finally, I adhere the assembled flower to my card over the bow.  I slipped a coupld of Gem Clips under the edge of the flower clipping them onto the ribbon below.

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Tuesday Tutorial: Stamped Wash Background

Today I want to share with you the technique I used to create the washed background using Distress Stains and Specialty Stamping Paper.  I really love the look of it and think it works particularly well with the message of this stamp, "Art Washes away from the soul the dirt from everyday life".

Begin by placing the stamp face up on a nonstick craft sheet.  If you are using a cling mount stamp, you don't need to put it on a block, simply lay it on your craft sheet.  Apply Distress Stain to the surface of the stamp.  Apply the stain generously so that you have puddles of color.

You may apply multiple colors to the stamp.  I like adding the colors in straight lines, but you could apply the color randomly in any direction or pattern.  (The technique samples feature Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Stains.)

Place a peice of Specialty Stamping Paper onto the stamp.  You can lay the paper into the ink and immediately lift it up or you can press randomly over the back lightly with your fingers.

This piece was laid into the ink and lifted up quickly.  It is very fluid looking.

These second examples are after reinking (without cleaning the stamp from the first inking)  and by adding a bit of pressure over the back of the paper before lifting.  The lower image is a second stamping without inking and with a bit of finger pressure on the back of the paper before lifting.  You can see that reinking without cleaning the stamp creates much more blending of the colors than in the first example.  Anything after a second inking is probably going to get muddy looking so keep stamping until you have used up the stain on the stamp.

Photo 1 is the first stamping.  Photo 2 is after adding more ink and a bit of pressure.  Photo 3 uses Glossy Cardstock and was a fresh inking and light amount of pressure.  Photo 4 is also on Glossy Cardstock and is a second stamping without reinking and a bit more pressure before lifting.  I think the difference between the Specialty Stamping Paper (left) and the Glossy Cardstock (right) is striking.

Here are the same four examples after they were dry.

On my finished card, I used Broken China, Bundled Sage, and Vintage Photo for my background.

After the background was dry, I added Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges of the Specialty Stamping Paper piece and also to the edges of my plain white cardstock card using an ink blending tool.

I stamped the face image on smooth white cardstock using Cofee Archival Ink.  After cutting out the image, I inked it using Antique Linen Distress ink with an ink blending tool.  I applied more ink to the outer areas of the face so that her nose and front cheek area would be lighter. 

I applied Permanant Red Tin Panpastels to the cheek and lips using the Panpastel foam applicator tool.  I added a touch of Ultramarine Blue Tint to the eyes for a very subltle touch of color.

I added a light edging of Vintage Photo Distress Ink with an ink blending tool to the edges of the face piece before adhereing it to my card.

For the final touch, I stamped the word "art" onto a piece of Specialty Stamping Paper using Jet Black Arvhival Ink.  I colored the letters with Broken China Distress Stain.  After drying, I cut the letters out and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink using an ink blending tool and then adhered them to my card.

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Stamp2Cut Mini Halloween Trio Card

I am blogging today on the Sizzix blog.  I am sharing this Halloween card that features Stamp2Cut for the Sizzix eclips.  I hope you will check it out: http://sizzixblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/stamp2cut-mini-halloween-trio-card.html

So Spooky! Tim Holtz Sizzix Bell Jar + Stamp2Cut Card

I am blogging today on the Sizzix blog and sharing this spooky card I made for CHA featuring the new Tim Holtz Bell Jar die along with new Stampers Anonymous Stamps and Sizzix Stamp2Cut.  I hope you will stop by and take a peek at the details!  You can find it here: http://sizzixblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/so-spooky-tim-holtz-bell-jar-stamp2cut.html.

Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Holiday Wreath Card

My July has been such a blur of Christmas, Fall, and Halloween projects.  Summer CHA (the industry trade show where craft manufacturers reveal new products) normally has a fall and winter product focus.  While we have been in the middle of a drought and heat wave in the midwest, I spent my July working on Christmas and Halloween projects!

I created this card as a sample for Sizzix featuring the new Tim Holtz Holiday Wreath die and Holly Pattern Texture Fade (both scheduled to ship in October).  This wreath die is super fun because it has leaves that lift up to add dimension!

To create this card, I started with a kraft cardstock base.  I tore a piece of green Kraft Core cardstock so that it was slightly smaller than my card front.  I embossed the green paper with the new Holly Pattern Texture Fade.  I sanded the raised design and then inked the edges and some raised areas with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I adhered the embossed piece to the front of my card and added machine stitching around the edges.

To create the wreath for the front of the card, I die cut one wreath shape from manila cardstock.  I used an ink blending tool to apply Pine Needles and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  I misted over the wreath with Green Patina Perfect Pearls Mist.  After drying the mist with my heat tool, I added more Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges.  I slipped a scrap piece of paper under the edges of the leaves so that I could ink them without adding more ink to the wreath below them.

After inking and misting, I adhered the wreath to my card front.  I wanted to keep the leaves popped up but didn't want to see adhesive foam squares in the openings.  My solution was to use 3D Craft Zots which are large and clear.  I cut each one in half, lifted the leaves, and then used tweezers to place the Zots under the leaf cut outs.

To embellish my wreath, I added a die cut bow.  I cut the bow pieces from red Kraft Core cardstock.  I sanded the pieces lightly to create some color variance and then inked the edges of the pieces with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  After inking, I misted the pieces with Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mist.  I dried the mist with my heat tool and then added a bit more Vintage Photo to the edges.  I used a brad (colored red with a Copic Marker) to the center of the bow to assemble the pieces together before adhering to the front of the wreath.

To finish off the card, I die cut a tiny tag from Kraft Cardstock, wrote a sentiment, and tied it to the wreath with a piece of thread.

This card was so fun to create!  The Perfect Pearls Mist give it such a pretty subtle shimmer.  I love how they layer with Distress Inks.  And the new wreath die!!  Trust me, this one needs to be on your die wish list!  Look for it and the Holiday Pattern Texture Fade in October.

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I am yours. . .

Just a quick post as I head out the door for a weekend of teaching at The Doodlebug in Jasper, Indiana.  I will be back on Sunday and then am heading to New Jersey on Wednesday.  To call the end of April a whirlwind is an understatement!  I remember thinking in March how relaxed April was going to be compared to how busy March was. . . now I am thinking about May being a little more relaxed with a lot more time for creating. . .  we shall see!

In the meantime, I am headed to Indiana to share some inkiness with new friends.  Be back soon!

PS- The image above was a card. . . yes, a card, from me, the one who says I "can't make cards".  It turns out I can.  This is one from a whole set even!  I will share the rest when I get home.

Love and Luck Card for Ranger Ink

Just a quick note today to share a link with you to a new tutorial I have on the Ranger Ink website. I hope you will check it out and see my favorite use for Liquid Pearls.

You Warm My Heart

I really wanted to post a new project today but I am fighting such an ugly headache that I can't seem to wrap my brain around forming words into cohesive sentences, let alone any kind of detailed project explanation.  Needless to say, the project I planned to share today isn't going to happen.  It is just far more involved than I can explain today.  Instead, I decided to share a project from CHA that didn't need much detailed explanation.  It is pretty simple, but I hope that you find inspiration in it.

I made this card for Tim Holtz to demonstrated the Kraft Core papers.  I wanted it to looke like a well worn, well loved patchwork quilt.

I used a Fiskars punch to cut different colored squares from Tim's Kraft Core cardstock.  I sanded each square with a sanding block and distressed the edges of each with an edge distresser tool.  I inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I wanted the center of each square to look puffy or raised so I adhered each square to the front of a pre-made card using a Zots Craft Adhesive Dot in the center.  The Zots Craft are thicker than regular Zots, but not quite as thick as the 3D Zots.

Before sewing, I tucked a paper lace strip under the bottom row of patches cut from Kraft Core paper and the Tim Holtz Vintage Lace die.  After adhering the squares and lace, I sewed around the edges of each square.

After each square was sewn, I sanded each square again, in some places, actually sewing through the stitches, making them look very worn and frayed.

I wanted a subtle sparkle to the card, so I misted the surface with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist.

I die cut a small Grungepaper heart using the Tim Holtz Mini Hearts Movers & Shapers die.  I colored the heart with Barn Door Distress Stains.  After drying the stain, I misted the heart with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist.  I dried the heart again and inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I adhered the heart to the front of the card with a 3D Foam Square.

I topped the heart with a simple banner cut from the piece of white Kraft Core paper.  I stamped the phrase on it with Jet Black Archival Ink using Hero Arts' Printers Type LC alphabet stamps.  I added two small mini pins at the end of each banner.

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You Are Just My Type

I am blogging today on the Sizzix blog and sharing the details about this card I made for CHA featuring the new Tim Holtz Alterations Vintage Typewriter die.  You can find the card and details here: http://sizzixblog.blogspot.com/.

Skipping Stones Designs: Christmas Song Blog Hop

Today I am excited to be taking part in a blog hop with the team from Skipping Stones Designs as a guest designer.  They are celebrating the release of the new Christmas Song stamp set.  If you are following the hop, you should have come from Kandi Phillips's blog.  Next you will head to Karen Baker's blog.  For your hopping convenience, I will also include the list of all the hop participants at the end of the post (before the supplies).

If you are stopping by today for today's Tuesday Tutorial, I will be back a little later today with it so please check back in a bit.

For the hop, the team at Skipping Stones Designs is working with the new Christmas Song and their Sketch 97.  I will be the first to tell you, I am card challenged.  I am not sure why, I just struggle with making them.  Maybe it is because I am not a card giver, I don't know.  I made several cards for the challenge, attempting to stamp the entire face of the card.  I hated every one.  I took a break and started playing with ATCs instead, and ended up creating one with the featured stamp set that I really liked.  That is when it kind of hit me, that a card really didn't need to be an elaborate production at all, that it could be as simple as an ATC on a card front.  And like that, the card I battled with for hours was done.

To create the ATC, I started with a manila ATC blank.  I stamped the phrase I wanted to use in Black Soot Distress Ink and added clear embossing powder.  

After heating the embossing powder, I stamped the tree on the card with Pine Needles Distress Ink.  I added clear embossing powder to the wet ink.  Where the tree overlapped onto the already embossed words, I used a dry paint brush to brush it away and then heat set the powder.  Next I used an ink blending tool to lightly apply Pine Needles to the inside of the tree.  I love how the embossed outline, while stamped in the same ink, looks like a different shade of the same green.  I used an ink blending tool next to apply Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the edges of the card.

After heating the card to dry the Distress Ink, I misted the entire surface with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist to add sparkle and create some movement in the ink.  I blotted the card with a dry cloth and then heated it to dry.

To create a banner, I stamped a sentiment on a scrap of manila cardstock using Black Soot Distress Ink.  I added clear embossing powder to the text and heat set it.  I trimmed the strip to fit my card.  I liked that by stamping it first and then cutting it out, that I ended up with a straight sentiment, which always seems to be a challenge for me!  Next, I inked the strip with Fired Brick Distress Ink and an ink blending tool.  I misted the surface with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist.  After blotting and drying the mist, I stapled it to my ATC with the Tiny Attacher.

To use the ATC on a card, I simply created a plain card from cardstock (Tim Holtz's Distress Core'dinations Cardstock).  I chose a green that looked like it was a shade darker so that my card wouldn't feel too matchy-matchy.  Next, I cut a second strip of manila cardstock the the same width as the strip on my ATC.  I inked and misted it as before.  I adhered it to my card and added Tiny Attacher staples to the ends to complete the look.

Don't forget, if you are following the Skipping Stones Designs blog hop, you will head to Karen's blog next!

Cristina Kowalczyk * Jingle * JoAnn Valderama  * Kandi Phillips *Tammy Tutterow * Karen Baker * Katie Gehring * Shannon Teubner * Andrea Ewen * Stephanie Mino * Karen Christensen * Taylor Usry * Wendy Price *Wendy Jordan

Skipping Stones Design: Christmas Song	Inkssentials Surfaces: Manila ATC	Ranger Inkssentials: Manila Cardstock 8.5x11	Tim Holtz Core'dinations Color Core Cardstock
Ranger Ink: Clear Embossing Powder	Perfect Pearls Mist: Biscotti	Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs	Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Fired Brick
Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Pine Needles	Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Black Soot	Ranger Inkssentials: Ink Blending Tool	Ranger Inkssentials: Heat It Craft Tool
Ranger Inkssentials: Craft Sheet	Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Tiny Attacher	Fiskars: Cut Line 12inch Trimmer	Tim Holtz Tonic: Non-Stick Micro Serrated Scissors
Therm O Web: Sticky Strip Runner

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