The Gentleman Crafter

Tim's Tags! Done

Wow!  What a absolutely wonderful time I have doing these tags!  Day 12's tag was so cool.  So many different mixed mediums!! I kept going thinking I was done and there was just another step..and another.  LOL!

I learned the coolest thing yesterday from Susan over at Archivers.  The little fractured doll's that Tim has recreated for his line and used in Day 12's Tag are actually called Frozen Charlotte Dolls.  If the doll was a boy it would have been called a Frozen Charlie.  Here's what Wikipedia says:

The Frozen Charlotte doll is made in the form of a standing, naked figure moulded all in one piece. These dolls may also be seen described as pillar dolls, solid chinas or bathing babies^[2]. The dolls ranged in size from under an inch to 18 inches plus. The smallest dolls were sometimes used as charms in Christmas puddings^[2]. Smaller sizes were very popular for putting in doll's houses. Occasionally versions are seen with a glazed china front and an unglazed stoneware back. This enabled the doll to float on its back when placed in a bath^[3].

They are also made in bisque, and can come in white, pink-tinted, or, more rarely, painted black^[2]. Some rare examples have moulded chemises. Male dolls (identified by their boyish hairstyles) are called Frozen Charlies.

Of course alot of folks find these creepy...maybe, but how cool is this awesome little piece of history!

Here is the last tag....

Thanks for looking!

 

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Tim Tags! Days 6 though 11

Here is the second half of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas 2011!  There is only one day left and I'm already going through withdrawls...a sense of sadness even.  I have so enjoyed learning and re-creating all Tim's beautiful tags.  Well without delay, here they are, days 6 through 11...

Day 6

I so loved everything about this tag!  Not traditional but just Christmas Cool!  Fun and easy to do.  Embossing the metal was a BLAST!

 

Day 7

I didn't have the die Tim used for this.  I used a Sizzix die that has mistletoe and holly leaves.  This is probably one of my favorite tags.  How cool was the Glassine Paper Technique???  I loved it!  Also, I was totally blown away by how easy it was to color the pearl babbles red with alcohol ink.

 

Day 8!!!

Ok, This is my favorite tag of all the 11 so far!  This is so right up my alley!  Grungy steampunk!  Love Love Love It!

Day 9

Fun and easy tag to make!  Cool background technique on this one!

Day 10

Wow!  Loved the transfer technique on this tag!  Transferring the image with the packing tape...Who knew!  I'm hooked!  Think of how many possiblites this has!  So Cool! I can't wait to do more!

Day 11

And finally...Day 11!  What can I say, another one of my favories!  I am sold on shrinky dinks and UTEE!  What fun!  Another door opened! 

Tomorrow marks the the twelfth and final day of Tim's awesome tags!

Thank you all for looking!!

 

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Beauty... In The Eye Of The Beholder!

Well, the new unit is working well, the house is back together and YES, and the snakes are still in the attic!  I guess I'll call the exterminator...I mean what does one do? :)

So anyway, back to my beauty...Here she is!  Could I be any more proud?  LOL!

Tis The Season...Discombobulated!!

 

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile but everything is in chaos....

dis·com·bob·u·late

verb \ˌdis-kəm-ˈbä-b(y)ə-ˌlāt\

dis·com·bob·u·lat·eddis·com·bob·u·lat·ing

Definition of DISCOMBOBULATE

transitive verb

: upset, confuse <inventing cool new ways to discombobulate the old order — Kurt Andersen>

— dis·com·bob·u·la·tion noun

See discombobulate defined for kids »

Examples of DISCOMBOBULATE

1. <our grandmother seems a bit discombobulated by all of this birthday fuss>

Origin of DISCOMBOBULATE

probably alteration of discompose

First Known Use: circa 1916

Related to DISCOMBOBULATE

Synonyms: addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex

 

Well Folks,  this is truly my life at the moment!  I'm getting a new Heating and Air-conditioning unit for the house!  I would pick NOW to try to do this...presents half wrapped, tree still needing even more ornaments, clothes stacked up in the washroom, Amazon.com boxes blocking the doorways, paper EVERY where and my little get away that I call the Studio is where all the action is happening!  I can't even get in there!  So the kitchen bar, the bed, the ironing board have all become my workroom!  Try cutting chip on a bed and see what it does to your back let alone the new sheets that now have Tim’s distress ink on them!  Can't wait to wash them and see what effect I get!!!  LOL!

All this because, I live in the country!  To get something done in a rural area is like....well, not easy.  Maybe some of you can sympathize!  I remember dreaming about living in the country and how glorious it would be to live like Martha Stewart amongst the chickens, trees and fresh air!  Whatever!!!! 

Really, I do love living out, but it does have its trials!  To make a long story longer, the wiring for the house was referred to by all as "country wiring."  The gentleman who built the house also wired the house himself.  This didn't fly to well with the electrician who came out and wouldn't touch it!  So to appease him we had to throw $2000.00 at a new box coming in from the city electrics.  As far as I can tell at this moment, we don’t even own the box!  Someone else controls it.  So the city had to come out and turn off electricity at the pole, the company that owns the box had to turn of electricity at the box and then the electrician could start work.

So around 8 or so last night, I finally got electricity again as they never got the call at 4:00 to come out and turn the electrics back on!  See...Discombobulated!

Y'all, I have 7 dogs, 1 cat, and about 20 ducks.  Each and every one of them making LOUD noises right now, as the electrician just informed me we have SNAKES in the attic! Ok, maybe I shouldn't have had that pot of coffee!  The Air-conditioning people finally arrived and it literally a zoo around here!  Did the Electrician just say something about snakes?  I will have to put that in my memory bank and try to deal with that next!

Pray for me people!  Pray!

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Tim Tags! Days 1 through 5

Wow!  How much fun is it to make these tags!  I'm having a blast learning all kinds of new techniques.  For me, I want to try and make it just like the designer the first time around.  I need to understand why they chose this to go with that.  It gives me a better inside understanding.  Ok, maybe I'm weird and the only one who does this!  LOL!

So here are my 5 days of tags!

Day 1

Day 2

Ok, so how many of you got the bottle technique Tim showed to work?  I obviously need hands on lessons!  Couldn't get it to splatter like he did!  I finally gave up and got my paintbrush and flicked the perfect pearls on!  Advice accepted!  LOL!

Day 3

I so screwed this up!  Oh well!  I didn't have the felt to do this project.  I stamped the image.  Then I took the embossing folder and applied perfect medium with the perfect medium pen on each letter and then embossed the tag with the folder.  I immediately took it out and applied clear embossing powder and heat set it. I also got a little carried away with the gold spray! LOL!  But at least I tried...

Day 4

I had a blast doing this tag! So much fun to make.  I love Rock Candy Distress!

Day 5

I have always wanted to try this technique and am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and did it! I so didn't have anything Tim used to make this tag except for the dies.  I chose a damask stamp.  I knew it would need to be backwards.  so words were out...I grabbed this stamp and really like the way out turned out.  Would you believe out of all the stinkin' alcohol inks I have, I didn't have two of the tree he used!  And how many times a week am I in Hobby Lobby, Aaron Brothers, Joanns, Michaels or Archivers!!!! Come On Really!  Anyway...It is such a fascinating technique to do. 

Well, It's 12:33 a.m. so I guess I need to check Tim's blog to see what I'm in for tomorrow.....

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Finally Done!! Graphic 45 Vintage Traveling Wine Case

Well, I finally finished my Graphic 45 Wine Case!  Yahooo.  It was a blast to design and create!!  Now, like most of us, I can catch up on Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas and other projects that I have stacking up.

 

I really love Graphic 45 and all it's incredible goodness!  The papers are simply outstanding.  I love working with them.  Like most, at first, it is hard to cut into that beautiful paper as they indeed are stand alone works of art that need to be framed!  G45 also has some really great Staples that I hope they build on!

 

It's a fully functional Vintage Traveling Wine Case.  Fitted with a "Graphic 45 wine cork", cork screw/pull, napkins, wine journal, two glasses and a bottle of wine!  LOL!  Something that one could give as a gift for so many things.  Keep in mind if the recipient does not imbibe in spirits, there are so many incredible sparkling fruit drinks out there.  I personally LOVE the sparkling Pomegranate drink from IKEA!  Can't get enough of it.  It's so refreshing. 

 

My thought for this traveling wine box was for a hostess gift this holiday season....

Here is the line up for The Graphic 45 Vintage Traveling Wine Case:
 
The Graphic 45 paper used for the lid and the base are Globe Trotter and Transatlantique.  For the interior I used, Bon Voyage, Timely Point of View, A Fine Specimen and Globe Trotter again for the straps. 

For the lid I used several Graphic 45 staples:

For the handle I used the Metal Hinge Staples. For the lid the Ornate Metal Door Plate and Knob Staples. On the corners of the lid, I once again used the Metal Hinge Staples to not only decorate the corners but also add extra support to the box lid.  I used the Metal Button Staples for added interest on the doorplate.

For the interior fitted lid I used, the Metal Flower Staples for the cork, and the Metal Tag staples to adorn the napkin pocket. I used the Globe Trotter paper and wrapped it around TYVEK (Thanks Kathy Orta!) to strengthen all the straps exterior and interior. 

For the bottom of the box, as I mentioned above, I used the Envelope Tag Staples and the Trim Staples.  I used the Envelope Tags as straps and then threaded the eyelets with the Trim Staples to hold the wine bottle in place.  It really holds it quite securely!!   As an added touch to the glasses, I glued a Metal Flower Staples and button to the outside of the plastic glass.  The box sits on four of the Metal Button Staples as feet.  When I added the straps to the base, the box needed to be raised up to accommodate the brads and the thickness of the straps.  The buttons were the answer!

I had so much fun designing and creating this.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter 

More Exploding Boxes

Wow!  What an incredible Birthday!  Thank you all for helping make it so special!  Maybe being 23 isn't that bad after all!  Give or take a few years...ok 20 years....hmmmm...21 years??? There's gotta be someone out there that will believe me!

Funny thing happened today, actually maybe it's a bit depressing...I was asked if I joined the mid-century club!  What in the world is the mid-century club??? I laughed and ackowledged the comment and didn't really give it any thought...Later....IT HIT ME!!  I think she meant that I looked 50!  I immediately came home, shucked off my clothes,  dawned my workout gear (the ones that make you look awesome head on but if you turn sideways...watch out Dolly!  This man's got boobs!) and went up and looked though the attic for my Jane Fonda Buns of Steal video and VCR!  I wiped off the dust tried to plug it into my ultra high tech TV and it wouldnt work!  So I had another piece of birthday cake and pondered my next move....

It is now almost 2 o' clock in the morning, birthday is over, cake eaten, thank you's written now for the new post....

Exploding Boxes

I do not know why I have a love affair with boxes but I do!  I think it's because they are their own unit.  Their own container.  It's clean and neat and you can stuff things in them and then put the lid on them...It's weird.  I love love making boxes!  Laura Denison at Following the Paper Trail has the BEST pattern for the guts to these boxes.  Of course Gentleman Crafterized!  Follow the trail to: (http://www.followthepapertrailwithlaura.com/store/exploding-envelopes-mini-album) I will do a tutorial for the outside of the box and some of the pages I switched up very soon...

Here are a few Exploding Boxes for your perusal:

Parisian Nights Exploding Box-

And the Gent's Exploding Box-

Do you see that key on the little envelope?  Wonder why it's there?  Completely punched the hole in the totally wrong place! LOL!

Hope you enjoy...

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Men Do Scrap Too!