GM #32: A "12 Tags" Opportunity!

This week over at Studio L3, our Grungy Monday assignment was to pick a new technique from Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas, and do a non-Christmas spin on it. I'm thrilled, as I can never get to the tags in December, so this was my chance! I chose the Double Rusted Enamel one from Day #9, because I loved the regular rusted enamel look, so why not go one better?

Of course, finding the right stamp was a bit tough, but I settled on this tile background from Stamp Out Cute. My inks were Seedless Preserves and Scattered Straw, then hit with Vintage Photo after...I have to say..I just loved it!! Came out almost exactly as I imagined. Of course, I had no clue what to do from here!

So first I went through my dies, and cut out the flourish in Grungepaper, then used the Concord Grape Distress Stain (thanks again Linda!) to color it. I have to say, I'm using this stain more than I thought! Seriously considering get more colors... but I digress... So, now I had the flourishes, figured I'd need some kind of saying, so flipped through my Tim Holtz stamps, and found this one, stamped in in the Seedless Preserves, cut it out with a Spellbinder die, then hit it with the Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo. Layered this all with a yellow card, and not bad, if I do say so myself! I feel it still needs some sort of embellishment...but I just couldn't find anything in my first sort-though of my bin.

There is still time for you to get your "12 Tags" on!! And, as an added bonus, Simon Says Stamp has graciously donated a $25 Gift Certificate to one of the participants!! So what are you waiting for? Have a great weekend everyone!

-K

Grungy Monday #15: Get Rusted!

How cool is this technique!! I'm talking about Tim Holtz's rusted enamel technique, from the 12 Tags of Christmas, 2007 series, which Linda has used as our 15th Grungy Monday Challenge. I remember this from the Compendium challenge, and loved the effect! I have tried stamping over it, but, as Tim says, it's really best for backgrounds.

Now, if you've noticed, I usually do the challenge as a challenge piece, for the challenge's sake. This way I have the samples to look at when I need inspiration, but as I have done this one a few times since, and I have three birthday cards to do for this month, and I'll be away for work all next week, I couldn't putz around! Besides, after my space-reorganization, an idea for my best friends's son's birthday jumped right out. Now, the Ogre was a lot tougher to do than I thought; I now have quite a few of the little fellows, in various states of un-dress running around the desk! I used the Bundled Sage DI for the background, which is cut with an old retired sizzix die, "Parchment"-how cool is that! Now, bundled Sage is usually so soft, and light; not when used DTP!! It's darker than the Peeled Paint! But it was still doable. The inside has the Tim stamp "The world of reality has its limits, but the world of imagination is boundless" which I thought was fitting for a virtual role-playing gamer!

So, it's still early, you have time to jump on over the Linda's, check out the technique for yourself, and get Rusting!! It really is very cool. Have a great crafty week everyone!

Rusted Enamel-or suede, kinda...hmmm

Hello everyone! Wow, week 31 already at Linda's Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities Challenge. It is very sad we are almost done! She promises something just as exciting will start up, but hasn't leaked any details.






This week, we are on page 41, Rusted Enamel. And let me just say...how very cool! Never would have thought of this in a million years!! Now, my first piece (above) had a much more rusted look. Not sure why, as I really like it.

The pieces I tried last night only had the bearest amount of "rusting". But, it does look very "leathery" . This card is for my Step-son's birthday. I used the sage DI, which came out very green (I found it doesn't work so well on regular paper, so I cut the baroque label out of old manila folders) which might account to the color shift. The feathers were a challenge; more so as while I was working, my pup Dakota had managed to grab a bag of the smaller feathers and had them shrewn all over the newly cleaned carpet!!! It's a good thing she's cute; otherwise she could likely be dead! LOL! The two valentines ones aren't done yet, I'll try to get them on later this weekend.

The background is from the "Vintage" pack from Core'dinations paper. I love this stuff; sanded and frayed; I can't wait for the new Adirondack and and Distress matching colors to become available! Well, best get back to work! I hope everyone has a great crafty weekend!