Hi everyone! Jan Hobbins here today, sharing a festive Tree Ring Wreath using dies from the Tim Holtz Chapter 4 release!
I love decorating for the holidays, and always look forward to creating new pieces that I can add to my ever growing collection. I also like to make home decor projects for my mom who has an apartment in a senior's building. She loves decorating her small space, but also all the residents like to decorate outside their doors. So keeping that in mind, I created this small lightweight Tree Ring wreath that can hang outside her apartment. The finished wreath is about 10" in diameter. I hope you enjoy this tutorial!
You will need:
Sizzix Big Shot Machine
Sizzix Bigz Die w/Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Tree Rings, Mini
Sizzix Pine Branch Thinlits Die Set
Sizzix Christmas Ribbon Thinlits Die Set
Cupboard - medium thickness
Thin Chipboard or Cardstock
Tim Holtz Classic Kraft-Stock Stash
craft Wire
Tim Holtz Matte Collage Medium
Tim Holtz Rock Candy Glitter
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink and Spray - Antique Linen
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer
Heat Tool
Craft Mat
Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Picket Fence, Ground Espresso, Vintage Photo
Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media Heavystock cardstock
Tim Holtz Splatter brush
Sizzix adhesive sheets
Hot Glue Gun
Instructions:
- Die-cut both sizes of your mini tree rings with the thicker chipboard. The amount depends on how thick you want your tree rings and how large you want your wreath. I have 7 finished tree rings of both sizes for my wreath. I cut enough of the thicker chipboard for 3 layers of the bigger size for a total 21 and the smaller size I just did 2 layers. Set these aside. I also cut 7 of the larger tree ring size with the thin chipboard or cardstock. These will be used to secure your wire to make a wreath frame.
- Next, I coloured enough mixed media heavy-stock for all of my embossed rings (I used two 8 1/2 x 11 sheets). I sprayed my paper lightly with one swipe of water and then sprayed my paper with the Antique Linen Oxide ink. Next, lightly spray with water to dilute the colour. After this has dried, I applied the Antique Linen Oxide ink,(the ink pad) to my craft mat, spritzed with water creating droplets of the oxide colour. Lightly dip your paper to the ink on the mat, so you get all those wonder spots of oxidized colour. I dry my paper in-between the dipping with my heat tool.
- Using your coloured paper, die-cut 7 large tree rings and 7 small ones.
- These are then embossed with the texture fade. I lightly spritz (once) the back so the paper doesn't crack.
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- The embossed areas are highlighted with Distress Ink. Starting with the Vintage Photo, apply with your Tim Holtz ink applicator. Finish with the Distress Ground Espresso ink around the outer edge of the tree rings.
- Glue your three layers of chipboard together for each ring and finish it off by painting around the edge with brown paint. Glue the oxidized embossed ring on top of each one.
- Using your craft wire, create a circle. I lay down my rings to get an idea or how big my wire circle should be. I then wrapped it around a canister that was pretty close to the size i needed to get a nice round circle. Twist the two ends together, clip off the excess but leave enough to make a small loop.
- The edges of the thin chipboard tree rings are coloured with brown marker, then the backs are painted brown for a more finished look. Lay down your thin Chipboard rings or cardstock in a circle and glue down the wire. I used a small amount of hot glue, taking care that it's not to thick. This is so it's not too lumpy when you are gluing down the thick rings. The tree ring at the top has a small hole cut in the middle for the wire to come through. I then created a loop for hanging the wreath.
- The thicker tree rings were then adhered to the wired tree rings with Collage medium. I have some cheap craft clamps which I find so useful to clamp my projects when they are drying, This ensures nothing slips or lifts up and everything adheres securely. I think I bought them at the dollar store .
- Now you're ready to embellish your wreath! I die-cut a number of pine branches (the more you have, creates more dimension and gives it a better finished look) and two large and two small pinecones with the Pine Branch Thinlits set.
- Usually I trace around an open die, when I want a solid back, but I also like the look that the different colours are inlaid in the frame. Here's my way to make it a little easier. Die-cut your pinecone, but before removing any pieces from the metal die, take ordinary clear tape and lay the tape strips on the back. I take a stylus tool or blunt end of a small tool and press in the centre of each pop out die-cut piece just to hold it in place. Flip and gently pull off the metal die. All your die-cut pieces should stay attached to the tape. Gently pull off the outer pinecone die-cut frame, leaving all the small pieces on the tape. I repeat this with another colour to coordinate with the pinecone. (light brown and dark brown). Switch out the frames, dark brown on light centre and light frame on dark centre and adhere to your pieces on the tape. It should fit on top perfectly. I just trim the tape close, press it down, and leave on the back. No lost tiny pieces!
- Once you have all your branches and pinecones ready, apply collage medium randomly with your finger to the die-cut pieces and sprinkle with distress rock candy glitter. I just pour it on the pieces on a piece of paper, remove the pieces and pour it back into the jar.
- After these have dried, apply Picket Fence Distress paint with a splatter brush to your wreath, pinecones, and branches to give them a snowy look.
- Adhere these to your wreath (I used a hot glue gun).
- Die-cut the larger Merry Christmas from the Tim Holtz Christmas Ribbon Thinlits set with Distress Cardstock. I used a Sizzix adhesive sheet on the back of my coloured Kraft-stock before I die-cut my word out. Die-cut another word out and adhere this to the back of the adhesive backed one. I did this so my word is a little sturdier, as not all of it is adhered to the wreath. Adhere the ends of your Merry Christmas to your wreath.
- To complete your project, finish off with a ribbon bow and adhere this in the middle of your pine branches.
Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my tutorial!
Until next time
Jan
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