Friday 28 March 2014

Tim Tower ATB

Hello everyone and thank you for dropping by here.
Today I want to share a set of Artist Trading Blocks (ATBs) which I made with the help of the wonderful die designed by Eileen Hull for Sizzix.
These are so easy and quick to put together once you have the die, and of course with each cube having 6 sides, there is lots of fun in creating the different sides. I cut mine from grey chipboard, though I have since found the die even cuts mount board really easily. I put them together with strong score tape and then painted the edges black with a black paint dabber. After some trial and error, I found out these dies are designed to cut thick material like chip board. I tried it first with Kraft card, but you don't get the fold lines then, as it is too thin. I know some of you have been wondering about whether you need a crease pad, and no, you don't for this die.

4 main sides of the largest cube


I mainly used Tim Holtz papers, stamps, paints and inks etc to decorate my different cubes. But I also used a few bits from the Papermania Madame Payraud's paper line. I think they combine perfectly with the Tim papers, as in many ways they are similar in style.

Second largest cube, as you can see I also used chit chat stickers and tissue tape.

And the smallest cube. The Tim Holtz mini stamps are the perfect size for these.

These dies are so versatile and of course you can make them in any style you like of course. If you leave one side open, they also could make super little boxes.
I left the top and bottom of each cube pretty plain, just covering them with some paper and inking around the edges, but I made this little heart with the help of a mold for the very top. I made the actual heart out of a mix of Uteeh and various colours of Frantage and then coloured it with Distress Paints (Broken China and Frayed Burlap) and highlighted with a bit of Treasure Gold in Renaissance gold.
Sorry about this blurry picture, but here you get a bit more of an idea about the size of the different cubes in relation to one another.The largest of the cubes is 3" by 3". 

I have some more cut out and am definitely going to make more, they are so much fun.

Thank you for visiting and I really, really appreciate all the lovely comments you always leave me!

45 comments:

Inkypinkycraft said...

what a fab make , I have this die on the way and cannot wait to play! this is fab and looks so much fun! hugs x trace x

massofhair said...

Beautiful ATB's Astrid, (have fallen in love with both ATB's and Chunky ATC's) love your colours. A fun project full of inspiration:-) xxx

brenda said...

ATB's are new ones to me Astrid but you have done them with your usual style and creativity.

B x

Stamps and Paper said...

SUch a fabulous idea Astrid...love how you've decorated all your cubes, lovely rich colours and great embellishments

Anne

Aquarius said...

Oh dear - another die which I NEED!!! Love what you've done with these.

chrissie said...

Wonderful idea and yours look amazing

Chrissie x

froebelsternchen said...

Those are the most beautiful artist cubes to wish for !
I am always thrilled by what you create and share with us Astrid!

Marianne said...

Wonderful!!
xxx Marianne

Rosie said...

Wow, Astrid, another gorgeous artwork from you. I love this cubes. Fantastic.

Have a wonderful weekend

Netty said...

Loving your gorgeous cube boxes Astrid. Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

rachel said...

what a stunning tower of ATB's astrid - how wonderful - this die is not one I've seen around - it sounds wonderful and I must look into it! Beautiful make! Hugs rachel x

Unknown said...

These are simply gorgeous Astrid! Chris xxx

Redanne said...

You know already how much I love this die Astrid but what you have done with them is absolutely stunning. Tim's papers work beautifully with them - I love that you call them Tim Towers - so appropriate. It looks like we have had similar thoughts of Tim this week!! Hugs, Anne xx

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Haha Tim Tower! Love it, amazing, stunning!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Simply stunning ATBs Astrid. I love the idea of these little blocks, they look amazing and I can well believe that they are a lot of fun to do. Am thinking to try some for myself. As always, yours are stunning Astrid. Of course I love the colour combinations and the gorgeous stamps and textures. Once again, you've left me in awe!! Magic!! ox

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful as always Astrid. Those papers really are gorgeous and you've inked and embellished to perfection. The heart is fab too! What a stunning decor piece. Nicola x

Mary Elizabeth said...

So gorgeous. I absolutely adore Tim's Mini Stamps and they look positively perfect on that smallest cube. Wonderful colors and layers :)
Mary Elizabeth

Dianne said...

SQUAWK, BRILLIANT Miss Astrid, Mister Tim would be proud, I love those boxes and am dying to make one thanks for sharing so much inspiration, your art work is SPECTACULAR, have a wonderful weekend, ((( BIG HUGS )))..

Meggymay said...

Wow, this looks like another die to go on my wish list. These boxes are fabulous.
Yvonne

Dorthe said...

How sweet they look on top of each other, and so beautiful decorated also, dear Astrid.
I love the papers you used from Madame Payraud, they look so lovely,and just a bit more romantic than T.H. papers :-)
They are 3 little magic art boxes now, with your fabolous inking and decorating .
Hugs and a great weekend to you.
Dorthe

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wooooooooow, I have no words for it!!!!yust FANTASTIC!!!!

Greetings
Maria

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow Astrid, that's another masterpiece. So many fantastic details.

Lisa H said...

Those are beautiful!! I so love the new Wallflower paper. =)

Rita said...

Good Evening Astrid. Wow, these blocks look fabulous. I will need to have a look at this die. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs Rita xxx

Terry said...

Astrid, you are so tempting me with these blocks! I keep scrolling back up to look again and again! Each panel is gorgeous and I love your heart mold. So much eye candy here! Hope you have a most lovely weekend. Hugs!

Carol Q said...

these dies are going to be so popular this year. LOVE what you created Astrid. (they are now officially on my wish list)

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Oh, these cubes look fantastic! I love the variety of images and vintage look - gorgeous! xx

Anonymous said...

I need that die SO badly!!!!!Saving pennies is hard work, but I'll get there..... :) Your tower is wonderful, I love every detail.

Annie said...

Wow Astrid...totally amazing details on your ATB x

Love the depth you have created with fantastic embellishments. I can see you had loads of fun.

TFS and crafty hugs Annie x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

The #PaperTrail girls were raving about this! Stunning work and gorgeous design! Love every bit!

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous stack of crafty goodness. I adore blocks and haven't got the die yet and these you have created are superb and of course I live all the wallflower stash images.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs Brenda xx

Words and Pictures said...

These are just fabulous, Astrid - and you've beaten me to it! My weekend plan was to stop stroking the papers and start playing, and I thought an ATB would be the way to go!! Glorious additions to each surface, and I just love that UTEE heart - beautiful colours shimmering on the surface. Altogether wonderful!
Alison xx

Ros Crawford said...

What fun creations ... they're fabulous!

Paula J Atkinson said...

Very beautiful blocks, Astrid. They would make fabulous decorations in any room. I love the Papermania Madame Payraud paper & bought it in both 6x6 & 12x12 because I knew it would get used :)

Maryanne said...

I love your blocks, Astrid! I love how you've decorated them and your little heart is beautiful. I've been planning on getting that die so I appreciate the tips about what it's capable of cutting and that you don't need the crease pad.

Heather Jacob said...

wow Astrid, your work is always so rich and beautiful, loving the way you create with so much love and detail ... stunning once again x

May said...

WOW...Fabulous ATB's Astrid...fabulous designs you have created for the sides & tops...Love it all....Hugs May x x

Almo said...

Hi Astrid, your atb's are gorgeous, love the Tim Towers title for them, beautiful mix of colours and designs. Hugs Mo x

Elly said...

The blogs look as addictive as my pyramids.Love how you layered all the different elements. Such projects really make me smile and you are right, they are very inspiring. (:o)

Jann said...

Oh my gosh, Astrid, these are just wonderful! I love all of them!

sheila 77 said...

You've decorated these so beautifully and I love the way you use colours, they are subtle yet glowing. These blogs are such a good adult version of the children's blocks.

Sandy said...

Now this is what I call dog gone purty. My comment is done in American Southern Mountain talk.
See you again soon I am sure of that!
Sandy xx

Jools Robertson said...

Finally catching up, I saw these on FB and loved them, but now seeing all the detail love them even more
I wasn't sure on the size, but they are bigger than I imaged, better for getting more on!
The little heart on the top is beautiful, looking forward to trying some of these

Jools x

eileen hull said...

Astrid I love what you created with the ATB die! The colors are so rich- Amy B and I saw this on the #Papertrail and were ooh=ing and ahhh-ing :-) We would like to feature you on the blog- could you send a link to Amy at amystarz23@yahoo.com! Thanks for working with the ATB!

Marjie Kemper said...

Astrid, these are exceptionally gorgeous! Wow, what a tremendous array of eye candy.... LOVE your ATBs!

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