Frilly & Funkie Challenge: Our House Tim Holtz Etcetera Tag

Hello, Friends!  It’s time for a brand new challenge over on the Frilly & Funkie Blog.  Linda is our hostess this go round, and the theme is “The Sound of Music.”  I’ve created a very fun Our House Tim Holtz Etcetera Tag to share with you, but before we get into that, let’s see what Linda has to say about this challenge.

“When this challenge goes live, I will be in Key West for the annual Songwriters’ Festival. I thought it would be fun to create something vintage or shabby chic that tells what music means to you and/or to depict a favorite song.”

Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House

I’ve created this shabby chic vignette on a Tim Holtz Medium Sized Etcetera tag.  Don’t be fooled by the word “medium” .  This tag measures a whopping 6.5″ wide x 12″ tall.  It’s made of what Tim calls “thickboard” which the package says is made to be “collaged, altered, and embellished.”  In other words,it can handle anything you throw at it or on it!

I dug deep into all my TH supplies for this shabby chic crafting adventure, and you can find the links to all those items in the Thumblinky below.

The Story Behind Our House Tim Holtz Etcetera Tag

(This is a personal story, and if you’d rather not read it, just skip below and look at the pretty pictures.  I won’t mind one bit! )

I’ve always loved the music of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the song “Our House” was definitely a favorite.  But in 2013 an event took place that moved it right to the top of my list.

A few of you know that my darling husband Dale had emergency quadruple bypass surgery in November 2013.  The main artery to his heart was 99% blocked, and every nurse, physician and medical professional during our stay in the hospital told me that he was a walking miracle.  Not only did he NOT die (Thank you Dear Lord) but he suffered no heart damage and came through the surgery like a champ.

He did, however, develop some complications after surgery that led to a 10 day hospital stay. These were some of the most stressful, scary,  difficult days of our 40+ year marriage.  When we were finally released to come home, it was a glad and joyous day.

A few days after getting home, we were sitting in my old studio.  The sun was shining through the double windows, and I was playing the radio while I worked and Dale rested.  Our House by Crosby, Stills & Nash began to play, and we both spontaneously got out of our chairs and began to slow dance with the golden sunbeams shining on us.  In no time, we were both weeping tears of gratitude and love because we were so aware of how close we had come to losing one another.   So, this song has deep meaning for the two of us.   When Linda issued this challenge, it took me about 10 seconds to create a project that would include the lyrics of this song.

If you’re not familiar with it or if you’d just like to hear it again, have a listen on me!

On with the Show: The Details

First, I covered the tag with Tim’s “Dapper” paper collection, then sanded and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  To create a ledge for my Paper Dolls and Tiny House to rest on, I stained and cut a wooden ruler.  Dapper Brads are inserted into the ruler’s round holes.

After covering the larger Tiny House with designer paper, i brushed on Picket Fence Distress Paint to give it a weathered look.  Next I created gingerbread trim by cutting cream cardstock with Tim’s Lace Thinlits Die.  The house was so light in color that it seemed to “float” off the tag, so I added some black accents with various Idea-Ology Rub Ons.

I stained a wooden picket fence with Vintage Photo, then brushed it with Picket Fence and Weathered Wood Distress Paint.  This was glued onto the base of the house. To reflect the “two cats in the yard” line from the song, I added this cute novelty button.  Next, because the song mentions putting flowers in a vase, I added these Petaloo blossoms to the vignette. My round “window” is actually a wooden button topped with another novelty button.

A Beautiful, Abundant Life

Meet Mr. & Mrs. Happy.  This darling couple is one of Tim’s Paper Dolls.  I colored in their clothing with alcohol ink markers.  The next step was running a Glassine Paper Bag through a texture fade to create some texture. Then I sponged the raised edges with Vintage Photo.

To give Mr. & Mrs. Happy a lift, I popped them up on foam tabs and added them to the distressed pinstripe paper panel.  Next, I added a ticket, a rusty house, novelty buttons and more rub ons.  I especially love the one I added below the ruler that reads “a beautiful, abundant life.”

A Song in my Pocket

The glassine envelope opens to reveal a little art tag that reinforces the challenge theme.

I printed out the lyrics and added them to the back of the tag.

The other ruler piece sits at the top of the tag along with some inked up Scrabble tiles, and other bits and bobs from Tim.

Now It’s Your Turn

Now that I’ve shared my Our House Tim Holtz Etcetera Tag with you, I’d like to invite you to share your own “Sound of Music” project with us over on the Frilly and Funkie Blog. Simply link your project up on the F&F blog before 11:59PM EDT on Tuesday, May 9th.

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  You can find all the details HERE.

I can’t wait to see what you make.

I hope this Our House Tim Holtz Etcetera Tag project contains some tips and tricks that you can use in your own crafty adventures. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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