Thursday, December 2, 2010

Tim's at it again!

Tim Holtz has started his 12 tags of Christmas and I'm a tiny bit behind but only because I really wanted to get some personal things done and out of the way (cleaning and laundry - lol!) so I could have uninterrupted time to play.  And it worked!  Except for the cats demanding attention at the most inopportune times.  Sigh.

So, without further ado, here is my version for day 1.  Tim focused on using the rickety house and fence dies.  I went a bit on the wild side with this tag.  If you live in Illinois you have most likely heard of the Cabrini-Green high rises in Chicago.  The last building will be demolished very soon.  There's always been a lot of death and violence associated with this project, sad to say.  All stamps are Tim's with the exception of the 'graffiti' that is stamped across the building; it's from Wendy Vecchi and says 'create'.  I broke out the window frames and put some cracked glass (acetate) from Tim's embossing folder behind the windows.  There's even some rolled back screen on the door.  The fence is broken, slats damaged beyond repair, a gun is on the scene.  The face represents the residents.  A memo pin acts as a sign post.  With the scene so bleak I chose the bare branch tree.  Some of Tim's birds were stamped in the upper right hand corner.  This was fun, even if it is quite outside the box.

As you know I belong to the EverythingWendyVecchi group and posted a challenge to all those who were making Tim's tags to do a set in Wendy's style.  Here's my version using much brighter colors and a lighter theme. I used a wooden fence I found in a craft store and perched 3 of Wendy's mini houses on top of the posts.  They're now birdhouses!  Her bird was stamped in red on grungepaper and my cardinal is quite happy sitting on his new home.  Wendy's tree is in the background.  Tim's ticket and safety pin, a glitzy snowflake and the monogram finish off the tag.









Ready for day 2?  Tim showed us how to create a custom stamp pad using Ranger's Cut & Dry Felt pads.  Way cool!  I tried using the Black Enamel Accents but wasn't happy with the results.  I tried to wipe them off quickly, of course they smeared.  So I took a black marker and highlighted some of the letters for a more artsy look.  I adhered an old French postage stamp to grungepaper for dimension.  All the stamps are Tim's.












It was harder for me to create the same idea using Wendy's stamps.  Probably could have made a better choice but I was determined to see my idea to the end.  The heart is suppposed to be the Queen's chest; I guess it kind of works.  The crown is Maya Road.

Thank goodness Ranger has so many great colors of Distress Inks, Distress Stickles, paint dabbers and Distress Crackle Paint!  I couldn't keep track of all that I used.

Can't wait to see what's in store for day 3!

14 comments:

  1. OK, GF, let me express my total awe at your amazing creativity. Being from Illinois, too, (as YOU know), and originally from the Chicago area, I'm very familiar with this housing project and think your first tag makes a profound statement. Having majored in sociology, it's the type of art I would aspire to make. I'm still sitting here soaking in your concept. In the Wendy version tag, I love how you converted the house idea to birdhouses. Your two tags for day 2 really show off how well you know how to work with these products to create unique art. Can't wait to see your Tag #3.

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  2. Susan, these are fabulous works of art! The first one is such a social commentary ... it could be a focus of an exhibition ... ART in/from/of The Housing Projects .... , I'm sure there are a lot of people who would create their take on that theme.

    Beautiful Wendy interpretations!

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  3. Love the tags, all of them. Your Chicago project tag is wonderful, even not knowing the history. I must try and join in the EVW challenge for one of these tags, I will try, I promise!!

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  4. Your tags are beautiful! Your Chicago tag certainly does a great job representing the projects. Great job!!!

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  5. SUSAN!!!! These are ... I don't know .. I'm speechless! They are beyond outstanding!!

    My brother & his family lived in Chicago for 22 years (oh, how I love Chicago!) - I remember seeing Cabrini & seeing the news article the other day about the impending demolition of the last one stirred many memories for my brother & I. I'd forgotten that as he drove to one of his first job sites, after moving to Chicago, he drove through C-G, much to the chagrin of his carmates! *lol* (I never said my brother was always smart *lol*)

    Anyway ... the first tag is by far & away my favorite, though they are all superb!

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  7. Susan, your tags are wonderful!!! I totally love your 1st day Wendy tag!!! (PS Tiny Timmy was my comment but I didn't realize my son was signed in instead of me and so I deleted it and redid it).

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  8. A PS to my last comment... he's not tiny... he's almost 6'5" and broad shouldered!! and just 14 years old. LOL

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  9. OMG, I'm in love.....with your tags! You know my goal this year was to be inspired by, but not copy Tim's tags, and your work epitomizes this! Love them all, but the first one really speaks to me. A #8 tag = social commentary. Who knew?
    Eileen

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  10. Wow, what a fantastic job Susan. I love the first one without even knowing the history. I had my first child in Chicago. Went for a week-end wedding visit and got rear-ended on Friday, went to the wedding Saturday and went into labor early Sunday morning and had her there prematurely.

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  11. Oh My!! I love your take on the first tag...and I love that you are doing the two different styles...and, or course..I just love your tags!! Wow!

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  12. wowee fabby tags all of them. Annette x

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  13. I am absolutely in awe of all of your tags but the first one will keep me thinking. Helen H posted your link at Pages In Time - just another thing to thank her for :)

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  14. Stunned, that's all I can say. The Cabrini tag is just...well...stunning. So creative. The rest of the tags are as well, just so outside the box wonderful, I'm really loving seeing your creativity express itself! Fantastic!

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