TIM HOLTZ 12 TAGS OF 2013 - JULY

It is ready! Tim had his July tag out for all to see this morning! You can find it HERE!

Remember the usual rules for our swaps. Tim's tag for July uses very pretty techniques and media to create a gorgeous American flag from grunge paper, rock candy crystal crackle paint, and Distress paints. His die for the flag and stars is used to cut the flag. I am definitely going to be improvising because it's a die I do not have and I'm not sure I have that crackle paint. We'll have to put our creativity in high gear to make that flag or find a substitute that works beautifully as explained below in each month's instructions.

Be sure to read his instructions through once to get the whole sense of the tag: the "big view," we'll call it. THEN remind yourself that you may not have all of the products he uses for the tag and that he, himself, says you do not need to duplicate his tag. It is a jump starter to get your creative juices simmering. Sometimes I have all the items he uses and may follow his steps exactly as I'm learning how to use the products I do have. For other tags, I'm left with very few of the items, especially dies, that he uses and start pushing the edges of my creativity to make my tag at least recognizable as his tag for that month! That is the key; you do want it to resemble his tag.

Like Tim Holtz, our group all is about quality, creativity, imagination, and the artistic journey within ourselves and as expressions of ourselves. Be sure to enjoy that process with this month's tag. Additionally, please make something you'd be proud to receive and that you'd be proud to show Tim what you did even if it is your first tag ever! That includes covering all the brads, etc. on the back of the tag with a clean piece of white paper and then providing the group and swap information along with your name, the month and year so that partners can pull out your tag to enjoy a couple years from now and know who it was from, for what month and year. You may also want to add your city and state, as some partners would like to have that info to remember. This is info I haven't thought to include until I've been getting swaps from other groups (not ours) with junky looking backs and pencil scribbled info I cannot read. Please do the best you can on both sides of the tag. No matter what you do or make or become in future years, take pride in every part of yourself--that is the key to success and self actualization.

OK--OFF my soapbox (former professor???) instructions! LOL But, hey, I want new swappers who join our swaps to see that we are the best in all ways, right--Artistically and as personal support teams and friends!

Have fun always--remember Tim loves to say "Enjoy the journey!"

Be sure to use an official #8 size tag: 6.25" x 3.25" (15,8 x 7,9 cm).

As always, post comments or questions below--I try to check back a few time each month. If you have a question or problem you REALLY want me to see and answer, please send a PM.

Thanks--cannot wait to see the tag from my partner!