Darkroom Door & Sizzix Artist Trading Card Swap


 Hello!

Every month on the Darkroom Door blog we hold an Artist Trading Card swap. It's a great way for crafters to share a bit of their own artwork with other like minded crafters around the world and gain some new ideas and inspiration! Each month has a different theme. Recently one of the themes was 'Darkroom Door & Sizzix' where all the artists needed to use a Darkroom Door stamp or paper product combined with a Sizzix die or embossing folder.

It was so much fun watching the ATC's arrive in the mailbox and seeing what all the artists created! Each idea was different and the combinations of dies, stamps and embossing folders used gave us all some new great ideas on how they can be used.

Here are all of the ATC's that were created for this swap:

 

Created by Belinda Spencer using Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die -  Festive Greenery #657467, Darkroom Door Stitched Christmas Rubber Stamps and Christmas Word Block Stamp. 

 

Created by Godelieve Tijskens using Sizzix Bigz Caged Bird Die #656634, Notebook Texture Fades #656647, Darkroom Door Carved Birds Vol 2 Rubber Stamps, Wildflowers Rubber Stamps and Flourish Background Stamp.

Created by Jenny Webster. A Darkroom Door Art de Fleur Photochip was cut using the Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set Butterflies #658367 on a Sizzix Base tray.

 

Created by Judith Beattie using the Sizzix Bigz Caged Bird Die #656634 and the Darkroom Door 'Ferns' Photo Stamp. 

 

Created by Rachel Greig (that's me!) using Darkroom Door Kimono Montage and Wordstrip, framed with the Sizzix Thinlits Scallop Polka Dot Frame Layers Die #659129

 

Created by Susie Campbell using Sizzix Movers &Shapers Magnetic Die 'Fleur' from the Mini Crown and Fleur Set #657210 and Darkroom Door Tour Eiffel Rubber Stamps.

Created by Teresa Abajo using Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Mini Sewing Room  #657487 and Darkroom Door Measuring Tape Background Stamp, Fashionable Rubber Stamps and Stitched Christmas Rubber Stamps.

 

Created by Tracey Strong using Sizzix Texture Fades Pattern & Stitches Set #657198 and Darkroom Door Stitched Christmas Rubber Stamps.

Created by Vicky Fernando using Sizzix Mini Flourish Alterations die #657205, Darkroom Door Wildflowers Vol 1 Rubber Stamps & the sentiment from Gothic Arches Rubber Stamp set.  

I'm sure you'll agree with me that the different ideas and artwork from all of these artists is amazing!  

If you are interested in participating in the ATC Swaps, please click here for all of the information! We'd love to have you take part!! It's a lot of fun :) 

Hope you have a creative weekend! Thanks for stopping by today! 

Rachel

I add layers - because I can!

Hi again friends! 

Today I'm sharing with you one of my newest paper layouts - all covered in my favorite colors of Archival Inks, Distress Inks and sprays... I just love this way of creating, when I keep using bits and pieces which are around, on my table, waiting to be used. I hate throwing away things - they can be used for a project, right? Small pieces of paper and cardboard are great for Die-cutting - that's why I always put them aside. I've also made a basket for my cut-out pieces and leftovers... hmmm crazy enough?

As you can see I've gone really crazy with layers (why not, right?)
There are paper strips and pieces (7 Dots Studio, Prima Marketing), canvas pieces, metal embellishments (Prima Marketing - my Mechanicals), lace - and of course my favorite Sizzix cut-outs - all colored and inked!

Here are the Sizzix dies I used for this layout:
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime
 - 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily 
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

I wish you all a great, creative week - I hope you will find time to play a bit and make something beautiful!
Finn

My Valentine's Style

Hi again friends! 

It's really cold outside - but here, on my desk I already started thinking about projects for St. Valentine's Day! I'm not a huge fan of hearts or butterflies - but I do love creating something unique for people I love. Mixing styles and using a lot of metal embellishments is my trademark - but this time I was trying to create "mechanical-botanical" look on my greeting card. I'm sure this mixture of elegant and industrial, a bit more "masculine" look will be perfect for those of you who want to give something special to your boyfriends, husbands, brothers or fathers.

Everything is non-traditional here - color palette (mostly greens, golds, creams and metallic colors), layering and embellishments layered on tons of paper and paper cut-outs. There are doilies and "medallions" which i love and use constantly to create the 3D look on my projects, but also more masculine elements: "Picture Wheel" from Tim Holtz and really beautiful - and neutral - leaves from his collection.
All this was glued with craft glue, hot glue and a lot of 3D foams to create even more dimension.
I hope you will like my idea!

Here are the dies I used to create this project:
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily
- 658339 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Medallions
- 658558 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Picture Wheel

I wish you all a great, creative week! Maybe it is the best moment to create something for your loved ones?
Finn

New Blooms! (Part 2)

The suspense has been killing me, so as promised last week here is part two of my Picture frame decorated with two fabulous dies from the new Tim Holtz range namely, Bigz XL Jumbo Tattered Florals and the Bigz Garden Greens.

Now if you remember, in last weeks thrilling instalment we die cut our flowers and foliage from Kraft card and attached them to an old frame and I was waiting for my Stone effect spray from PlastiKote (or Rust-oleum works just as well) to arrive. This gives a fabulous stone texture to your chosen projects which can then be painted over. As you can see below, I sprayed it on liberally, allowed it to dry and then mixed some very dark grey acrylic before painting the whole project taking care to get in all the nooks and crannies. 

I mixed a mid grey acrylic and dry brushed it across the surface very delicately to pick out the detail. Next, I mixed a pale grey acrylic and dry brushed the project once again. Finally I applied some silver wax gilt ( the stuff that smells like boot polish Mmmmm....) with my finger tip, randomly picking out bits of detail.

Last but not least, a picture of my Beloved Granddad, not bad from an old recovered frame and a couple of pieces of Kraft card? I think I'll go and make some more!

New Blooms! (Part 1)

New Year, new dies new inspiration, and where better to start than with some brand new dies from Mr Tim Holtz. Today I am using the Sizzix Bigz XL Jumbo Tattered Florals  and the Sizzix Bigz Die Garden Greens which are perfect bed fellows. These dies were supposed to be launched in March but they created such a buzz we felt it wouldn't be fair to keep you waiting.

I'm going to spread this project over two blogs because I was hoping to have some special spray to complete it, hopefully it will arrive soon.

I started by Die cutting three of the flower shapes and two leaves and the garden greens from Kraft card. I then took my large ball end stylus from the Susan's Garden Tool Kit and softened and creased the flower shapes against the thick foam mat. Next, I cut the flower into 3 parts as shown (1,2 and 3 petals).

I took the single and double petals and twisted them into cones. Next I used tweezers to fold over the edges of the petals and placed one inside the other. I repeated the same process with the three petals and wrapped them around the first two cones before building outward with larger flowers (4,5 petals etc).

Keep building from the centre until you are happy with your bloom.

Next, soften the two leaves with the stylus and use the leaf tool to add a crease down the centre. Die cut the foliage, then soften and crease each leaf

Finally, Attach to and old picture frame using your glue gun, This frame was recovered from an old project which I had lying around. Next week we will sprinkle on some magic dust and if all goes well we should have something pretty cool!

I'm excited now because I have a vision of how this will look but I have no idea if it will work as well as I expect, Tune in next week, or as they say on Sherlock.......to be Continued!

Venetian Tag


Hi there! Today I have a fabulous tag by Darkroom Door Design Team member Godelieve Tijskens. Godelieve has used the Sizzix Tag & Bookplates die along with a selection of Darkroom Door stamps. Take a look: 

Godelieve created a pocket to hold another tag. Here's how she did it:

First she used Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Tag and Bookplates to cut a tag.  Punched holes and made a cut with a craft knife.  Stamped a background with Distress Ink #Pumice Stone and used several stamps from Darkroom Door's Venetian Vol 1 set.

Black cardstock and Darkroom Door Filmstrips are used to create a bookplate.

This tag has a metal tag from Tim Holtz, Darkroom Door Filmstrips #Venetian Vol 2.  

Supplies used:
Sizzix:
Tim Holtz Alterations Die: Tag & Bookplates 656938

Darkroom Door stamps:

Venetian Vol 1 stamp set
Checkered Background

Darkroom Door Paper:
Venetian Filmstrip Vol 1
Venetian Filmstrip Vol 2

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you have a creative weekend!

Rachel

Like Clockwork!

I had so much fun working with the new Tim Holtz Halloween dies that I thought I would go a little crazy this week and have fun with dies old and new for no better reason than I wanted to have a bit more fun! Now if that's a crime then you can lock me up and throw away the key.

The card is an over the top celebration of die cutting and inking techniques in perfect harmony (I hope!) It's hard to believe that everything that you see started off as smooth white card!

Below is a list of the dies and folders I used all of which are designed by Tim Holtz from collections old and new, just click on the dies and follow the link for more information.

• Sizzix On the Edge Die - Steampunk (657182)
• Sizzix Bigz die - Gadget Gears (656636)
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Wall Clock (658719)
• Texture fades Embossing Folders - Blueprint & Gears Set (658580)
• Texture fades Embossing Folders - Diamond Plate & Rivited Metal Set (657848)

You will also need a selection of Ranger Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls powders and some smooth heavy weight card.

Take a piece of smooth white card measuring 200 x 135mm and trim both ends using the On the Edge die so that the centre section measures no more that 100mm so that the embossing folder fits over the top. Die cut all the parts to create the clock including two of the main body before trimming the centre from one of them using the crease lines to guide you.

Choose a range of Distress inks which will, when combined give a rusty patina to the die cuts I used Broken China, Crushed Olive, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed and Dusty Concord and I used Vintage Photo and Soot Black towards the end of the process. Press some of the ink pads face down onto and ink blending mat in a random fashion and add a fine mist with a spritzer before placing the die cuts face down into the ink, when you are happy with the results use a heat tool to speed up the drying process.

Deboss the main background and main clock using the gears folder and use your ink applicators to bring out the detail by gently applying the ink a little at a time until you attain the desired effect. Repeat with all of the other die cuts finishing with the darker colours. While still wet brush with metallic perfect pearls in places to add a sheen. Next, mount all the elements together onto the background using a glue gun and adhesive 3D foam pads to add depth.

Create a base card from the smooth white card stock measuring 210 x 135mm and emboss the top and bottom of the front cover using the diamond plate folder. Gently apply ink to bring out the embossed texture, for this I used Weathered Wood to give the grey finish and Wild Honey and Mustard Seed to mimic the effects of rust. Next, I diluted some ink in water and used a paint brush to drip it down the front of the card to give a more realistic weathered metal feel. Finally, I brushed over the diamond plate pattern with a fine dusting of Pearl powder to give a pleasing metallic sheen.

Tim Holtz halloween

It seems that the imagination of Mr Tim Holtz knows no bounds which is great news for the rest of us on planet Sizzix. my favourite collections are Tim's Halloween and Christmas collections which always seem to transcend the norm and avoid the obvious or at least give it a new spin. 

Tim's collections almost dare you to try something new, transporting your creative imagination away from the flat page or card and into other previously undiscovered realms.

I decorated a couple of frames (below) for a recent event which we attended using a selection of the dies from Tim's new collection and I had an absolute blast experimenting with inks and different distressing techniques. I also got to use the new Christmas dies which I will be showing you at the beginning of October, I think they will be worth waiting for too!

Below are some close ups of some of the elements I used. I particularly like the mirror which is decorated with a stamped skull using a very subtle, washed out look. The ink pot and quill are a welcome edition to the Sizzix cannon, those of you with long memories may recall a similar Sizzix die from about ten years ago which was always very popular. The Spooktacular alphabet is, as are all Tim's alphabet very well balanced and fun to use.

I can't believe how well the ironwork Gate  cuts, it's so clean and great fun for distressing, I went for the rusty look!

The Bigz wall clock die is a new favourite of mine, it comes in various parts and I embossed it with one of Tim's new folders before going crazy with inks and Perfect Pearl powders.

Two of the stand out dies of this collection for me are the decorative strips Bats & Crossbones and Cobwebs. Cobwebs like the gate is very complex in design but cuts so crisply and is a great edition not only to your Halloween projects but anything for boys too (we love that kind of thing!).

Finally, let's not forget the Apothecary bottles which I embossed using the Ink Splats folder and attacked with my Distress Inks. Later on this week I will show you a wicked clock card with a very masculine feel which has a description of the techniques used to create it so stay tuned!!!

Click on the individual dies to follow the links. The dies used are:

• Decorative Strip Bats & Crossbones Garland by Tim Holtz (658710)
• Decorative Strip - Cobwebs by Tim Holtz (658713)
• Decorative Strip - Ironwork Gate by Tim Holtz (658711)
• Decorative Strip - Spooktacular by Tim Holtz (658714)
• Bigz Die - Apothecary Bottles by Tim Holtz (658715)
• Bigz Die - Deco Mirror by Tim Holtz (658718)
• Bigz Die - Wall Clock by Tim Holtz (658719)
• Bigz Die - Writing Desk by Tim Holtz (658717)
• Texture Fades Embossing folders - Ink Splats & Wood planks Set by Tim Holtz (658726)
• Texture Fades Embossing folders - Iron Gate & Starry Night Set by Tim Holtz (658727)

Photobooth Picture Wheel Card



Hi everyone, I have a fun project to share with you today from Darkroom Door Creative Team member Connie Mercer. 

Connie has used the Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Picture Wheel Die and Darkroom Door Photobooth images. It's a super fun way to use both of these products together! Let's see what Connie has created...

So get your supplies in front of you ~ photo booth, word strip, French Script Background Stamp and the Sizzix Picture Wheel die. You'll need ink too

First run the Picture Wheel die through your Big Shot machine using white cardstock.  Then ink around the edges with black ink, for shading.  It's a good idea to use one that is really dry so it's easy get a good shade, not a dark line. Select photo's (from photo booth sheet) with two people. You will need 6.

 Then cut them apart, like I have shown in the photo.

Now for the fun part. Use the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher and staple them in the frame and then cut off the excess.

This is how the back will look.

And here is Connie's finished card.  The size is 5" X 5"on Kraft cardstock.  Connie also stamped the patterned paper with the Darkroom Door French Script Background Stamp. Love that look!!!   

Supplies used:

Sizzix Picture Wheel Die 658558

Darkroom Door Photobooth

Darkroom Door French Script Background Stamp

Darkroom Door Full Bloom Wordstrip

Fabric

Patterned Paper

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

Rachel