Tim Holtz + DieCember®
The DieCember® release from Simon Says Stamp is now available! See the whole release here. I’ll be sharing some cards with it over the next few weeks.
Today there is a special bonus limited edition Tim Holtz Sizzix DieCember® Die set! It will be a Free Gift with $25 of Tim Holtz product purchase, while supplies last. Heidi and Tim have a live from today where you can find out all about it, and see lots of ideas for ways to use it.
I was lucky enough to get one of these die sets and have already made a few cards with it…
Approach:
This limited edition die set collaboration is part of a DieCember series. I have the three previous years, which is about the same amount of time I’ve really been making cards like this, so I wanted to find a way to use them all together on one card example.
Techniques:
I wanted to use all four of the series, but really wanted to showcase the new 2024 set. I used the dies in a way that would create contrast between the new one and the other three by using those three in a way that made them visually appear secondary. I accomplished this with a combination of techniques.
I did a character from the new set in full color, while I did each of the others in a monochromatic color that matches the stripe it is on.
I used a partial element from the previous years, but a full character from this year’s. The other three are either coming in from the edge or appear partially covered by the adjacent stripe.
The Santa from the new die set is the only element that is on a different plane. I used foam squares behind the Santa die cut to add dimension and attention to him.
Another technique that helps the Santa be such a strong focal point is the energy/tension that is created by placing it on a stripe in a complimentary color.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Sorbet, Grapefruit, Avocado, Rainforest, and Eucalyptus (for the stripes), as well as Pink Lemonade, Cranberry, Poppy, Nectar, Powder, and Black for Santa. Neenah Solar White.
ink: Concord & 9th Avocado, Eucalyptus, and Rainforest.
Techniques:
The size of these dies make perfect elements to pop through a window, so I used circle dies to cut a window in the card front for each of the two characters. I love doing things like this to make the inside fun and add that interactive element.
The front panel is a mix of a background stamp that I misted with water before stamping, and then layered Distress Spray Stains and Mica Spray over the top of that. It has a great shimmer to it!
To continue that sparkle to the die cuts, I used glitter cardstock for the white - both on Santa’s beard and hat, and for the snowman’s face.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Powder, Mushroom (card panels), Pink Lemonade, Cranberry, Poppy, Nectar, Clementine, Pebble, Black, Grape Soda, Eggplant (die cuts). Altenew Moonstone glitter cardstock.
background inks: Distress inks (Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Winter Violet); Distress Spray Stain (Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina); Distress Mica Stain (Snow Flurries). White gouache.
Techniques:
This card is a play on the fun, slightly wonky style of the characters, with a touch of mod feel to it. The angles of the card front play on that, and there are two layers so the gift has a drop shadow effect, which is also a little wonky.
I used some less-traditional bright colors for the die cuts. Santa’s hat is in two shades of vibrant magenta pink, and the snowman’s scarf is in a bright yellow-green.
Inking tone-on-one through a Tim Holtz stencil added a festive mod feel to the package.
Two shades of bright red for the bow, also added at angles, continue the playful feel.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Cranberry, Poppy, Peacock (main), Wildberry, Dragonfruit, Pink Lemonade, Nectar, Clementine, Lemongrass, Avocado, Powder, black, white.
ink: Concord & 9th Peacock.
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