Grungy Monday #29---Git 'er Done!

OK, I'm a big fan of "Git 'er done", with all that red-neck twang and mentality behind it... only way to get the board packets out on time, get the newsletter articles out to the printer on time, get a loan approved..on time (get the gist?) I'm not a big fan when creating..well, maybe with practicing those flute studies, but it has been 40 years, so I'm entitled...but definately not while creating art with ink. So it is with a head hung in shame, that I admit, this sample was attacked with the whole idea of getting 'er done. Lovely Linda at Studio L3 even gave us two weeks for this one, and no set assignment, just use a technique or product from the fabulous Tim Holtz, in honor of his wonderful "12 Tags of Christmas". But, you see, I am WAY behind the eightball this season; I sold all my Christmas cards at the craft show, so I still have to make 45 to get out for me; I have a commission of 10 gift card holders for my head boss (no pressure), I haven't even started on shopping for the immediate family, but at least picked up the grand niece/nephews that have to wrapped, boxed and mailed out this week, and I don't have a clue what to get my husband!

So, as I'm on the home computer, I can't go back to check but it was the 2nd or 3rd tag with the Holiday Relfections set that I chose to follow (Yea for me! 1 Tag technique done! LOL!) This is the one where you use alcohol ink on hard plastic and the Reflections Stamps. To get the whole formula, hop over to Tim's blog and scout it out. As I had the folder out, I also tried to recreate his original technique of stamping on the embossing folders. Of course I did it backwards the first time! LOL!

Here is a close-up, showing the music staff. I wish I had used more ink on the felt, so it would be smoother and the detail would be cleaner. I used a drop of the enamel accents for the eye. The saying comes from Memory Box.

So, done, and with luck, may actually upload before tomorrows deadline.

And, I'd like to take this opportunity to let everyone who is following and completeing the "12 Tags" to know, while I just can't post, I'm am peeking and you all deserve a huge Congrats! And Tim, thank you for sharing your wonderful vision and creativity...it's my new year resolution to be all caught up by next December 1 so I can play along too! LOL!

Grungy Monday #28-Foiled Again!

Well! It has been a while since I've been able to participate in Linda's Studio L3 Grungy Monday Series and I feel like an outsider! LOL! This week we had the task of using Tim Holtz's foil technique. As I have already been on this machine 45 minutes, and still haven't been able to load Linda's page to get the link, I'm going to send you to her to get the info from Tim...trust me, it will be better for all of us.

And since I couldn't get to his link all week I had to guess at the actual procedure. Maybe thats why mine is such a mess! Actually, it doesn't look a such mess in person, but as you can see from the detail image below...omg! I wish I had thought I wanted gold foil before I did the border, and used the Butterscotch AI before I embossed. That may have made it much more blended. And as you can see, I'm still trying to find a great way to use those reindeer...still not sure of this one, but getting closer. The little saying is from Memory Box...as a huge fan of "So You Think You Can Dance", I just had to have it!

The AI's I used are butterscotch, cranberry, meadow and espresso. The deer die is Tim's, and the stamp with all the names I believe is from Hero Arts---a very old hero arts! I'm also totally getting into the Spellbinders dies, which cut out the main layer and the saying layer. (And I'm still typing as I'm still loading the photo...the air is blue here!) For Christmas, I want someone to convince the Broadband suppliers that denying people broadband just because of their somewhat un-populated location is cruel and unusual punishment, particularly since we are over a decade into the 21st Century! How is this progress!!!??? OK, photos loaded, rant over...I'll stop now.

So, to see some fine examples of this technique, hop over to Linda's and explore away. Have a great weekend everyone.

Charmingly Fragmented

So over at Studio L3 we have made it to week 17; Fragment Charms, which is on page 64 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities. I have found playing with these fragments much more fun than I originally thought I would...but as much as I LOVE the "touchiness" of beads; the raw attraction of natural stones and crystals...beading and jewelry making are just not for me! My stubby, non-nimble flute playing little fingers just won't allow me to relax and enjoy anything involving a jump ring! To the point that while you can't see it; the alcohol ink on the bees was not diluted with the extender; but instead with the glossy accents; which made the felt very hairy..and sticky..and, well, generally quite messy! And does anyone care to guess how quickly I was able to realize that I had picked up the wrong bottle??? Anyone??? All from attaching 6 little jump rings!! Though I will say; Tim's jump rings are by far the easiest I have ever worked with! They stayed in my pliers mouths, and closed pretty nicely; plus they come in such great colors...all my others are just too shiney...and small...and stiff...

Speaking of shiney; I thought the chain was a bit bright as well, so went in with some latte, ginger and espresso alcohol inks on those, but you can't really tell. Those are also the same colors I used on the fragments, with the addition of glossy accents to the felts...of course!

Oh, and another weird realization..this is my second stamping challenge piece that didn't involve one stamp! The images are from my fave Graphic 45 paper! So, while my blog-hopping has been seriously curtailed by work pretty much cutting all non-work related computer activity out, and dial-up being way too slow for enjoyable viewing, I will try to get to Linda's to see what fabulous charms everyone else has come up with! Have a great creative week everyone!