CCC #11-Blended Batik

Happy week 11 everyone! Before I go too far in this blog; I have a few disclaimers: 1. I have an active dislike of irons (I will not say irrational fear...) 2. My girlfriend Julie was to come over and have a play-day; but she's sick. 3. Since I had planned for a party, and my husband will be golfing all day, I felt it only right to partake of the menu; I've had 2 pineapple mojito's; I just realized I probably shouldn't be driving to meet my SIL for dinner; and 4. I have a brand new digital SLR; these are the 8th shots from it: I don't know how to work the software that came with it' and am giggling too much to read the manual-you'll just have to live with what is coming out. I think they still look better than the little olympus that died last week; but I should refer you back to #3.

So, this week was page #36 in Tim Holtz's book for the challenge at Studio L3. (pretty cool; finally figured out this link stuff..sorry, refer to #3) Aside from disclaimer #1, I was looking forward to this challenge; I can't find a good white ink; and this is a great substitute; as long as you know you want to do something thats paler than your background--before you do your background. So, how did my image not turn out pale?? I don't know; somewhere between during my first tag the checkboard popped into my head; and of course I started it backwards. So on take 2 I did the red first, then the black over, then continued with the instructions--can't share them here! LOL! I tried to go back to the original celtic knotwork in green; but now it looks really boring; and busy; and way too pale- But this one---I'm really liking it! And since I wanted to show the technique in a more normal fashion, I also used it on the little tag. Now, because the clip was increadbly shiney, I used some alcohol inks to tone it down, and took a close up (because I can! LOL!) to show that detail, with some of the batik effect.

Now, as if one challenge in my time-deprived life isn't enough, Simon Says Stamp and Show also has a weekly challenge. And since this is an item inspired by Tim, and this tag is darker than I usually do, a tad grungier, so to speak, I'm sorta cheating by sending it to both places. I will try on future challenges to not have one piece do double duty!

And lastly, some good news; it has taken 1 hour 22 minutes to load the photos (and yes, I start those first; and you wonder why my blog can ramble...); in which I've had 2 ice teas (normal ones..Sheesh..) and feel that I can safely drive to dinner in the next half hour. So have a good weekend everyone! Julie; I hope you feel better soon, and you can get your challenge done! See you all on week #12!

Distress Stickles!

Welcome Week #10! I've been looking forward to this technique for a while...a reason to use all my pretty stickles bottles! (Yeah, that hording..need all colors thing...)

So...with all my bottles lined up..the possibilites!! Settled on flowers..I had cut some at my old stamp store on the Cape, and thought the outlines would mirror Tim's technique sort of. After inking, I covered the flowers with Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold,touch of Fired Brick, Milled Lavender, touch of Dusty Concord, Faded Denim, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint. (Almost all but the browns and metals! LOL!) I found I liked dabbing more than spreading; more texture was left that way. The saying is from Rubbernecker Stamps.

Got everything all glued down; and Dumb...Stupid...Me...couldn't leave well enough alone...thought leaves and a vine would be nice... Part of my brain was shouting "Stop! Less is More"..and yet my poor, uncoordinated hand had to grap the peeled paint bottle and start squirting! LOL! Ah well, "it is what it is", as the saying goes! So, the picture isn't great, but you can sort of see the glitterl

I have found that Simon Says Stamp is also running a weekly challenge, and this week its stamping in the Wendy Vecchi-Studio 490 Style. Just discovering Wendy, I hope this sort of works; I've noticed she has flowers on almost everything...so this is going there as well...I hope it isn't too wrong. You can find their challenge here: Simon says stamp and show

Distressing Crackle!

Oh Boy! This is week #9 in Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, and this week, it's page #42. You all know the rules, you need to get the book to see how it's done! But...this has been my MOST challenging! It took an entire evening just trying to get my jars of Distress Crackle Paint into a somewhat liquid state..still very thick..but somewhat spreadable. I haven't had these jars too long, maybe a year, and had capped them tightly, so I'm a bit annoyed with their lack of longevitiy, I must say. But once that feat was accomplished, it was design time; I had a great plan, but wasn't sure how to pull it off...how clear can you stamp over a cracked surface?? Not too well, depending on how crisp you want. On the other hand, a bold graphic stamp came off looking antique-ey and awesome!

Anyway, after sampling, testing, and almost finishing...I decided I didn't like it! LOL! So back to the drawing board, with no time to spare! This time an ATC seemed to be forming; I colored Tim's butterflies with Prismacolor pencils, then applied the rock candy crackle over them. The saying is from Penny Black, and the floral border is from Tim's set as well. Nothing fancy, and I have a small detail of the butterflies to see the effect.

And just because: the stars and hearts came out kinda cool; here is the one I scrapped..sorta..it may be resurrected some day...

The Inking of the Grunge!

Almost didn't think I was going to make it this week! But I refuse to go down this early! Besides, the weather is absolutely beautiful today, and I didn't feel like I'd be dying of humidity (can people die of humidity? I really think I almost did!)

Now, before I get into my piece..I wish to thank Linda again for hosting this challenge, and for everyone who has participated with such stunning pieces of art. And it is because of all of you..that, despite feeling I'd never need one..I have aquired a Sizzix Big Shot! Ok, some of Tim's dies and textures helped a bit; but it was everyone's work showing what they did with the dies that pushed me over the edge. Now, I only have 2 dies..one's budget can only go so far; but its a start!

Now, on to the Challenge; The Compendium of Curiosities page #39. Remember, we're not allowe to give the techniques away; you need to get your own copy! I had these flowers already cut when I had used a stores machine, and thought what a great time to use them. I used Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass and Victorian Velvet DI's, along with Vintage Photo DI on the edges. The ATC was Mustartd Seed and Vintage Photo. THe vine was stamped with Peeled Paint, and I'm embarassed to say, I have no idea who made it. The saying is from Stampscapes. And I added just a bit of bling to the flower centers.

For some reason...I just love this ATC! I hope you all do as well!

Challenge #7! Ophelia!

Yeah!! This week Linda at Studio L3 chose page 55 for our challenge! Tinted Vision Fragments! I confess...when I first got my Compendium of Curiosities, this was the only technique that totally grabbed me and I knew I'd be trying it out. (Needless to say...I'm very glad I'm in this challenge, as I have 6 other "go-to" techniques now in my tool-box!)

Now, while thumbing through the Compendium when it first arrived, I new immediately that Ophelia from Stampsmith would be my subject! Thank god there's a fragment that fits her! I can't believe I don't have Espresso ink, but Latte, Ginger and and Slate did the trick. The tag background is Crushed Olive, Bundled Sage, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo DI's, with Mustard Seed Distress Embossing Powder on the corner flourishes. (see..a technique from two weeks ago!) I really love this effect...so to all my card recipients...expect to see some fragments in the future!

And here is a close-up for Ophelia: I forgot to mention, I used Spun Sugar, Barn Door and Dried Marigold DI's to color her in.

Come back Art Muse...Come Back!!

As has become my new weekly habit...the first thing I do Monday morning is to see which page Linda will pick for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3. This week: page 66, Mulit Media Collage. Ok, I have a week to think about this, as I'm away for work, thinking...thinking...seeing everyone elses work...thinking...

OK, home now; chores done.. in my stamp room...reading the technique...thinking...thinking...I have come to the conclusion my muse has run away...a logical assumption after a week long seminar doing financial analysis on loans, where creative thinking was banned...

Now..the best block-busting technique: dump the embellishment drawer out..Eureka! I found two cardboard hearts! Now we're getting somewhere! Now I have to clean up my desk! Oh, found a key while I was at it... and wow, this one was a lot of work!

The details as I remember:
Aged Paper, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahogany DI's on the hearts. The same plus Tea Dye on the background. Since I still haven't found an opaque white that works, I used a technique not yet challenged to get the text to pop.

I think I'll need to give this one another go, once I'm more at peace with my creative self...and maybe a lot less hot and humid!

Oh, and with advice from Marnie, I think I loaded this image at a more friendly web resolution. Please let me know if anyone notices anything better/worse, etc. Thanks!

The Curiosities Continue...

Wow! 5 for 5! I'm pretty amazed..this will be 1/7th of the journey completed!! So this week Linda at Studio L3 chose Page 43.. Distress Powers. Now, I did have two jars, and had used them a bit, with some "eh" results. And after seeing the early posts, I went and got 3 more colors, and paid particular attention to step #4....(hmmm, a trend; patience!!!) and I will say this time I had much better results.

I used the Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans for the powers, with the Distress Embossing Ink...which does make a bit of a difference over regular pigment inks. Then I used mustard seed, dried marigold, spiced marmalade, milled lavender and dusty concord on the background. The stamps come from Tim (but you all knew that!) and the Flight came from Inkadinkado.

I liked it so much, I then did my husband's birthday card this way... Yeah! A new technique to add to the creative tool box!

Oh, and on a side note; it has become apparent that I now Hate those silly bags that have the self-adhesive on the flap...really!! What ever happened to good old zipper bags?? They didn't stick, tear, get mangled, and leave 3 sets of stamps precariously loose from their covers! Hurumph!