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.