Grungy Monday #13 and Showing a Word!

This week on Studio L3's Grungy Monday challenge, Linda has sent us to Ranger Ink, where Tim Holtz is demo-ing Adirondack alcohol inks! Now, you all know I Love alchohol, (of any sort! LOL!) but I was a little stumped on what to do..I usually also don't like looking at everyone else's posts until after I post, (which adds to why I comment so little..time and dial-up-but I do peek!) But I just didn't want to do a background, so browsed, and Donna's was first up--and it was amazing! So I told her so..and then we started emailing, and she asked a simple question about some die-cuts, and..not kidding..I'm at work... and typing my reply, when a lightingbolt, ridden by my muse, blew into my brain! All sorts of ideas were flashing fast and furious! Of course, the last hour of work, the 50 minute drive home, the feeding of the felines and husband (our puppy just doesn't eat-not sure why she's getting bigger! LOL!) some of my energy left.

So, while not quite what I visioned, I still had a ball..you see, I got to play with an early birthday present to me (and Julie...sorta ruins the surprise of a folder you'll be getting in the mail!) but I had bought the TH Rosetta die! So, I cut it out on glossy, and then pounced away with AAI's Butterscotch, Wild Plum and Cranberry with Gold. Then, went to assemble; being a little nervous, as some people on some of the groups mentioned having issues...but-WoW! It just pressed right down into the perfect little rosette!! I used Glossy Accents to attach the ends and the discs. Now I needed foliage, and thought of the Florish die--again in glossy. Hit that with Lettuce, Meadow and Butterscotch AI's, and pretty cool! Didn't want to overdo the background, so used the Wrinkle free technique on the tag with Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge and Sage DI's (which really faded down when dry..but still look very agate-ey) I glued the flourishes and rosette down, added some bling , but it needed something, when I remembered that Simon Says Stamp and Show was about Words this week, so I used another TH die, and punched out Grow, and Ta Dah! A Two-fer! And all without using one stamp! Very weird! Also weird...the letters looked so well aligned last night--but not on todays photos! SO, go visit Linda's Studio, and see Simon Says, and then go grab some bottles of this wonderful stuff! there is still time to jump in and Play! Have a great Holiday weekend everyone!

WOWW #108

Good Morning Workdesk Warriors!! I have the sun out today...the temp is low 70's, and NO HUMIDITY!!! This is my perfect day, and more like Sept./Oct in upstate NY, not end of June! If only it wasn't spoiled by having to work...I just know I'd have my lilly and butterfly gardens weeded, my wash finished and still have 4 hours to play in the craft room before I make dinner!! Really..it's that type of day! LOL!

So, last night, which was Wed., so it counts, I went up to take the photos for the Grungy Monday challenge at Studio L3 (just a peek on the desk!)...you need to visit my next post for all those details! And also started getting things back where they belonged so I could actually lay a sheet of paper out flat on my desk when I realized...I just can't work in this space! For those who don't follow me regularly, In February, I took over my Step-son's room, and the new desk my Husband got me for Christmas fit in the dormer window space perfectly! See? But, I...am a stacker. And if I only colored or such, it would be fine...but I need space for inks, stamps, scraps, etc. Sure, I like having the window hold some of my latest tags and such, but..I think I'm just getting too frustrated with how many times I have to get up, get down, get over, get back...So, this weekend I will be moving things around..and will sorta be breaking the promise that it is still a guest room--as I won't just be taking up the back wall now, but the whole back corner and closet. So check back next week to see how I made out! And now visit Julia's Stamping Ground (with guest hostess) to see what everyone else is up too!

GM #12- A New Kinda Shabby-Chic!

Hello again! Wow, this week was truely a challenge! Linda has been busy perusing Tim Holtz's archives for our technique challenge at her Studio L3, and has found the modified Shabby Chic technique from Tim's Technique Challenge, April 2008! You can see all the details here. Linda mentioned it was intimidating looking--she was right! She mentioned it was fun--right again--but I'll confess, it was definately not the easiest one to complete (again-super kudos for all of you able to keep up with and/or complete the 12 Tags of Christmas-during Christmas! Yes, this was from April, but he mentioned it was an adaption of a Xmas Tag.)

Now, part of my problem might have been my inability to, erm, well, ok...I guess USE could be the term, my paper stash! It seemed the only sheets that would work were either a twin or, gasp, an orphan! I can only use full clans! LOL! As it was, the one I finally picked had a very water-color papery texture, and my key background (Rubber City Stamp Works) stamp didn't stamp well, which was hard to tell with the clear embossing powder, until it was melted--bummer. But, I moved on, but you can barely make out the keys resisted on the tag; the paper should match the pocket. I think this definately deserves another shot! I was very excited about the adaption for the Dymo label maker---went looking for mine-last seen in my top right desk drawer in my old bedroom at my mother's house, who when moved, had the boxes go to my garage studio space...overthere..in the far right corner--3 boxes of stuff from the old bedroom--yup--not anywhere where I envision them-and no time left to look! So I stamped and black embossed my words instead. I'm sure I'll find it tomorrow when I'm not even looking! Just think what that will look like on the Core'dinations paper!! And look Julie---I used my ribbon and lace!!

So, there you have it...my tag for Gungy Monday #12! I probably shouldn't have used the same paper for the background to photograph, but too late now. And I didn't even try to get this to an ATC size for my tray, but I'm sure I'll have no trouble filling it as we progress! So, there is still time to check out the details and play along. At the very least go hop to Linda's and see what everyone else has done! Have a great Crafty Week everyone!

WOYWW #107

Happy Wednesday everyone! Rainy here, again. And work had troubles with the server exchange last night, so I still have access, at least for a few more days...really don't know what I'll do next week as home dial-up just doesn't let me open alot of everyones blogs. Still not ready to move off my hill...ah well! So the good news is I got my PiF Gift from Bella in S. Africa in time for me to share it with you!! I was so very excited just from the wrapping tissue (we just don't have the cool gift papers in the USA as everyone else!)

And then once open!!! Holy Cow! It was if Bella and I had been long time crafting buddies! Check out this card! Butterflies! Fabulous! (And see the tag in the corner w/ the WOYWW diddy! She thought she forgot!) And then the Tag!! Music and birds and green!! That was made for me! She also included this cool ATC for the Soccer World Cup and 4 baggies of really cool goodies! I can't wait to play with the tickets... (And I apologize for this mess; I just can't seem to get photo's to stack nicely! Which-can be said about my desk-good thing it's not being shown this week!)

So, now jump over to Julia's Stamping Ground, check out her buttons, and then see what everyone else is up to! Have a great rest of the week everyone!

GM #11-the Batik strikes Back

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone's week went well. I'm not much of a summer/heat person, but I have to say, if we don't get out of this wet, dreary weather soon, I will not be held accountable for my behaviour! LOL! I'm so "blah", even with 3 (yes..3!) crafting opportunites this week, I just couldn't come up with anything I liked. Oh, and what are we coming up with? Linda in Studio L3 has assigned us another Tim Holz Technique Challenge from January, 2008--which you can see here. This is the Batik style, which does require the use of......The IRON! /gasp!! But I can't blame my overall ambivalence towards the iron, 'cause in the past I've always been pleased with the effect, just not this week. Maybe the ATC format just doesn't allow it to show through?

Anyway, Here is my 2nd attempt: Istamped a Penny Black Morning glory in Tumbled glass DI, then embossed. Overcolored with Tattered Rose, Peeled Paint and Faded Denim. After the ironing, I stamped the TH birds in Chipped Sapphire. The TH Butterfly was stamped in Walnut Stain DI, then dusted with gold Perfect Pearls. The Believe stamp is one of the first 15 stamps I've owned, but I can't tell you where its from at the moment! Im not sure if this will make it into the GM Tray; we'll just have to wait and see.

And just because, here is my first attempt: The TH Papillon Background was clear embossed with Milled Lavender DI. The card was then wrinkle free distressed with Concord Grape and Victorian Velvet (a much smoother look than sponging on, after ironing, I loved the polished look! Should have stopped there! LOL) Then I added the butterflies in black--to much, then tried adding the other butterfly, black with gold perfect pearls... maybe if I didn't use the black?? Eh, something...../sigh.

So, now go visit Linda's and see some Great examples of this techique..you'll want go give it a try yourself!

WOYWW #106

Welcome fellow WOYWW'ers. In the midst of working on those cards for a craft show (yeah, will I make it? You saw the plain images of those sunflowers, like, what, 3 weeks ago..and just got colored now?) But then I had to stop everything to make this card...because I am a true believer in that if you are prepared for something, the event will never happen. My friend Deb's cat, Bob, is at the vet with a very serious blockage/UTI. If you know cats, this can be fatal fast. So, I've made a condolence card, hoping I won't need it. And while I'm not a devout person in the traditional way, I do believe good thoughts can work wonders, so if anyone can send a good thought to Bob, a big ole' tiger tabby his family would appreciate it! But back to cheerier things, go hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and explore the wonderful Wednesday workspaces there! (Oh, erm, Hettie's is quite nice, if I say so myself! LOL!)

PDC #85

Greetings everyone! I feel like if the wet weather here in the north east doesn't end soon, I'll become a mushroom!! Pretty much have kissed my garden goodbye; or put another way, it will be au naturel; may the strongest plants win! Unfortunately, with blueberry being a color of choice this week, it drives home that my 10 acres of wild blueberries... not a flower among them! I'm usually picking in 3 weeks, and my freezer is empty...so sad. But it does allow for craft time.

So, over at the Play Date Cafe, the challenge is for Blueberry (cry), Cream and Dusty Rose. I started with a dark blue card, layerd with a cream panel that I ran through a swiss dot embossing folder. I then hit the dots with some Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. The TH Tattered Florals die was used with a dusty rose paper. Some of the flowers were hit with the DI Sapphire ink, with a new lace pattern and music pattern stamp from Glitz Studio. The other two were hit with an Inkadinkado Flourish in Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. Hard to see in the photo, but the brads are a sparkly dark blue. The saying is from Impression Obsession (yes, I wrote everything down this week AND remembered to bring it to work!) The panel is from the new Spellbinders Die I picked up this weekend. I don't have the impression pad or silicone pad for my Big Shot, so I improvised with folded paper...pretty bizarre, but it worked. I tried working in some beautiful blue velvet ribbon, but it just looked too busy.

So, there you have it. Now jump over to the Cafe to see everyone else's beautiful creations. I hope everyone has a great crafty week.

Grungy Monday #10 & Just For Fun & SSS Tag: Get Inky with It (Distress Inks, that is!)

Good Friday Morning! It has cooled down a bit, and I was able to get in my craft room for a real quick go at three challenges! My main motivator-theGrungy Monday challenge from Linda at Studio L3. As part of our exploration of Tim Holtz's wonderful techniques and products, this week we are to play with Distress Inks to our hearts content. Well, Duh! They never leave my desk! And a new challenge for me, Just For Fun which is Something Tim! And lastly, Simon Says Stamp and show a Tag! While I feel a bit guilty on the triple duty, we do what we have to do! LOL!

So, Here it is; A tag that has been wrinkle free distressed with Ancient Linen and Victorian Velvet DI's. The edges where hit with Barn Door. The stamp is, of course, from Tim, as are the Die's, the new mini hearts and mini flourish (Straight from my new shipment from Ecletic Paperie! Thanks Daisy!)! The Flourishes (grunge paper) were inked with Victorian Velvet and the heart (grunge board) were inked with Barn Door. The heart was then stamped with the large background from Tim's Papillion set, then all were sprayed with gold Perfect pearls in a mini-mister. (Yup, just rifle through the Compendium; it's all there! LOL). I then ran the seam binding through some barn door DI, and also spritzed with the PP mix; disappointing that you can't see the gold. And--Ta Dah..done! (Ok, actually took over an hour; puppy issues, had to play with the new dies and fades to get an idea, etc.)

So, have a great crafty week everyone; enjoy your weekend!

WOYWW #104! Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations Julia and the Stamping Ground for 2 years of inspiring us to share our work desks! Can you believe we do this? While many times its with excitement on a successful project or new toys, many times it's with shame--"maybe if I show the world, I'll be mortified enough to get organized". Notice I didn't say clean-I can't work in clean, but organized, in my own stacking way, absolutely! LOL! So, I can't show my actual work cubby, I just didn't have time to hide my PiF project and, errr, creative miscasts. So, instead I am showing my 2nd desk, which is where friends can play, and things get organized, and holy crap! What a mess!! This is stacking beyond even my "depth of finding" ability! The red box is a small sewing box from Harbor Freight-$15, that holds quite a bit of my Tim Holtz stash. Not the ones with lots of little pieces, like brads, rings and such. Those are kept in the open drawer next to it. And for some reason, a ton of cards are out on the left side (I make doubles sometimes) must have needed an idea. And most of my Compendium of Curiosities projects are stacked on the right side--an idea from two of those made into my PiF. OK, next rainy day---this will get put to rights (or before my Brother comes over to hang that white cabinet on the wall; my drywall thing-eys went right through the wall, so not going to work! And DH isn't helping) So, hop over to the Stamping ground, wish Julia her congrats on running this wonderful weekly event, and show your own creative space! Have a great week everyone!