Thursday, January 31, 2008

Valentines Day Tag #1

Hello - welcome to KAT Toys... Thanks for stopping in!

My first upload! I hope you like it *insert nail biting here*, I am just a bit nervous - but this project is an act of love and it will be fun to share.

This is Day #1 of the 14 days of Valentines for my sister in law (SIL) who, I am lucky enough to say, is my VERY best friend (yes we even use the term BFF). We have been friends for - well let's just say a long, long time so that I don't date myself! She had a very rough 2007 dealing with health issues and is a bit down. I thought I would cheer her up with something unexpected and give her something to look forward to during the dark, drab days of February in NE Ohio... So for the next 14 days she will receive a small gift from me along with a tag! I thought I would share this journey with you and maybe help to inspire you to do something unexpected for someone you care about!

The inspiration for the tags came from Tim Holtz - the distressing king himself. He did the 12 Tags of Christmas and is now having a "technique challenge" on his blog every month. January's tag was Distress Batik... This tag uses the same technique - check out his blog to see the tutorial: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/january-techniq.html . He will truly inspire you! Oh, and because of Tim, you will see one of my favorite new products - Grungeboard - don'tcha just love the name! The material is different and awesome - kind of like leather! It's the #1 on this tag but you will see more of this Grungeboard in the next 14 days...

The technique is really simple - emboss resist, add ink and stamped images on top, remove embossing powder (EB) from your paper using a craft iron and basic white tissue paper (I didn't have the plain newsprint and the tissue paper worked great).... Enough jabber...

All tags started out as a blank office tag:




The Tag #1:


Another View:


The friendship quote:















Close up of the Grungeboard with SU Soft Sky rubbed on.







Technique: Distress Batik

Stamps: Agapanthus Long (Stampendous), 3140H (Penny Black, it's the brown blossom)
The sentiment was computer printed.

Ink: All Stampin Up (SU): Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink

Paper: Blank Office Tag, scrap of Soft Sky and Pretty in Pink (SU)

DoDads: WeRMemory Makers extra large brads, misc. buttons, ribbon scraps, Tim Holtz Grungeboard

Tools: Craft Iron, Crop-a-Dyl, 3/4 & 1 inch circle punches, Tim Holtz Distresser, Ranger Ink Blending Tool

General Note: I won't include basis tools, for example: paper cutter, ruler, non-stick craft mat, heat gun, adhesives ect...


I hope you enjoyed the 1st Valentine's Tag. I'm off to give the tag and the gift: DVD of Pretty Woman - the #1 Chick Flick in the US.

Let me know what you think!

KAT

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Almost Ready....

After almost 18 months of being a voyeur on SplitCoastStampers (SCS) and stamping blogs I am finally taking the leap to share my handmade creations. My first official post will be on February 1st so please check back!