This tag was posted by Tim, but without detailed instructions. I can't be certain of the techniques he used, but am fairly confident it was very close to the instructions I provided.
Instructions for making this card:
Stamp the Santa from the Retro Holiday Tim Holtz Stamp Set using black ink. I would imagine he used Archival black ink because the ink didn't run when the distress stickles were applied over it. Create a mask of that santa face using a post-it note or JudiKins Eclipse sheets. Directions for making a mask are available here. Apply the mask over the stamped Santa. Use the Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool to apply distress ink in peeled paint just above Santa's head. Using the same tool apply brick distress ink to the bottom of the tag and around the edges blending right up to the green ink. Leave the mask on and stamp the music bars from the Tim Holtz Festive Sounds Stamp Set. Still with the mask on use the Snow White Adiorondack Paint Dabber to apply paint to the edges of the larger flourish on the Tim Holtz Fabulous Flourishes Stamp Set and stamp in both corners of the tag. Remove the mask from the tag. It looks like Tim when tim was adding the green Distress Ink using the Ink Blending Tool he actually raised the mask to apply a little green to the garland around Santa's head. You may choose to try this as well. Apply fired brick Distress Stickles in dots to the berries in the wreat on Santa's Head. Apply Picket Fence Distress Stickles to the beard and use your finger to spread them out. Remember, since distress stickles don't have glitter in them you can shorten the drying time with a heat gun.
Don't have all these supplies?
Tim Holtz has created these tags primarily using Ranger and Advantus products and we carry both lines of products and fully encourage customers to support these companies so that they and Tim Holtz can continue to bring us free learning tools. That being said we recognize that for many of us the acquisition of craft tools and supplies can't happen all at once so we provide these hints for putting off the purchase of some of the products used.
- If you don't have the Inkssential Ink Blending Tool but did purchase some of the Foam Cut n' Dry in the past you will find that the surface is very similar and you can apply your distress colors to the background using a small peice of that. Cosmetic sponges can sometimes work, too but sometimes I find that they are a little to mushy. The handle is handy but if you're just starting to play with this technique, try this and see if this look is for you.
- This tag does need a background stamp to maintain it's composition but with the dark ink the musical bars aren't that visible and another fine line background you have in your collection may look just as nice.
- Try any black ink to stamp the images but make sure it is waterproof when dry or the stickles will make the ink bleed.
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