August is bringing you tons of new Tim Holtz products and I can't wait to try them out! But, alas, we must all be patient for shipping dates from the factories to The Funkie Junkie Boutique and then to most parts of the USA. So while I'm (not so, lol) patiently waiting, it's all good if you've got some older Tim Holtz things still using up space in your stash and you get the itch to craft: by all means, use them now and make that room for all the new craft-candy coming your way! My eyes spied a few packages of Tim's Idea-ology Number Blocks.... and then some Odds and Ends... and since I still had some of the Distress Paints still on my desk from the last TFJB Inspiration Ave make (click here if you missed it)... a light bulb went off in my head because this was the perfect mix for the theme covering this next 2-weeks: "By the Numbers"! C'mon, join me for a scroll to see what I created.
We'll start with a list of links to help you find some of the products:
After playing around with two sets of the Block Numbers, I decided I wouldn't need to use the two leftover numbers that didn't fit into my idea. You'll find that the packaging order of the blocks is actually the best setup that forms a near-perfect rectangle. But I kept on because I knew it would somehow work.
I chose to work on the front numbers first and pleasantly found that by using the 6 as a 9, my plan worked! I mean, who's gonna really care that it's really a 6 used upside down?
So I used my (very old) craft mat to help me flip the entire thing over. I had to be careful to make sure it was in the same order, so I picked up each to double-check. We were in Florida at the time I was finally getting to play with these blocks, so I had time. And since it was the very week of our 39th Anniversary... I had motive!
By the time I was ready to sand down the blocks, we were home from Florida and already packed back up again - camping in Hillsburo, Ohio, for the People-2-People Family Camp, which runs for a week. This year, 4 sets of Besties were together- along with over 1,000 other campers walking to and fro for all the programs. I was also using my very old (retired, but I really wish Tim would make these again) Sanding Block with a couple of refill sheets. (Since it's retired, I added the all-new Tim Holtz Distress Sanding Discs for you up above on that list.)
You can see how I made sure, for the third time, it was all in order after sanding was complete. My plan book shows the order I settled on while down at the Florida house.
Layering was a bit tricky...Was I going to level all the black areas? Or was I going to level all the number faces? After looking at all the angles, I settled on having all the black areas level together. Why? Because when it was stacked up like that, the view off the side was one of a giant old wooden stamp! I began with the BOTTOM layer- because it was going to stand up, I was going to need to make sure it was level on the bottom. I used the top view (looking down at the "wall" of my blocks stacked) to make the black areas level together as I built upward. GLOSSY ACCENTS !!! Easy to use, dries FAST and SURE!!!
Here is where it gets even trickier. I ended up going backward from that last bottom block, to the 4 then 8, 9, and 1. Then I just filled in all the rest as they fit.I admit to needing LOTS of pressured sanding on that little number 7's sides for it to be the last fit into that groove between the two blacks. Whew!
This is where I stopped to make sure the back of the blocks were also all level when laid flat. Meaning the black areas all leveled together and the numbers were all the same level.
You can see the spaces left in just a couple spots... and they were CUTE!
Next, some embellishments! I did use the Distress Crayons and (retired) Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder (in Vintage Photo) to give a lot of faux rust to the Odds and Ends. PERFECT TOUCH!
I brought it back from Hillsburo and put it on top of my black filing cabinet. Below are the rest of the photos- including some closeups.
I cut the plastic that held this frame piece and glued it to the INSIDE. Then printed out one of my mini-print B&W paper photos to fit inside. Have we really changed that much?!
Just the 2 of us- on the road anyway!
Our special numbers!
Those BACKSIDE numbers look pretty cool also! I may add photos later into those spaces.
Thanks so much for joining me on another crafting adventure here on Inspiration Ave! Be sure to come back for more AWESOME projects from the rest of our Design Team!
I hope you'll keep busy while you're waiting on all the new Tim Holtz goodies, and don't forget to go over to The Funkie Junkie Boutique- just in case you forgot anything for Halloween!
Until next time...
Stay Safe &
HAPPY BLOGGING!!
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