Monday, July 12, 2010

Christmas in July

Today's Compendium of Curiosities challenge is Distress Powder, page 43 from Tim Holtz's book.  I've already seen some of the art others have done and the pieces are wonderful.  If you haven't been able to play along, it's never too late to catch up.  Just having the samples at hand is a nice way to remember to use what you know.

'Christmas Carols' is the image that uses the Distress Powder technique (a combo of Black Soot, Weathered Wood & Walnut Stain).  Around the tag edges I distressed with several browns before scraping the edges for texture.  A bit of black on the very edges and I was content.  The reindeer were stamped in a combo of Sepia & Coffee Archival inks; the music in Black Archival ink.  All the stamps are Tim's.

Love how this tissue tape calendar fits on the fragment; not perfect but close enough.  I ran the Gold Paint Dabber around the edge.  The brown & white ribbon has Fired Brick DI run over it and a touch of GPD.  The Bazzill poinsettia was white but colored with FBDI, Mahogany DI and a touch of Walnut DI with the edges tipped in GPD.  The Bazzill holly leaves have some Peeled Paint DI on them and are also tipped in gold.  A tiny gold brad anchors the two.  The Maya Road chipboard letters have FBDI and PPDI on them.  I ran the FBDI from top to bottom and the PPDI from bottom to top...kind a fade into each other look.  Again, I added GPD to the top and bottom edges. 

It's too hot to contemplate Christmas today but perhaps I can sing (or not!) and get my art spirit to help me along with my next project. 

Hope you have an artistic week!

20 comments:

  1. Oh, I just love this tag. I am part way through my entry now!

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  2. This is really fabulous, Susan! Love the gradient color on the SING, very cool. It all looks so vintage Christmas, I just love it! And I just love your fragment/tissue tape idea.

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  3. Oh, something so beautiful and festive to make me think cool thoughts on another 90+ day!
    Eileen

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  4. looks lovely! can't wait for cooler weather (112 here today and tomorrow)...

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  5. Susan, your gorgeous Christmas tag is the perfect refreshment on this hot summer day! The Carols stamp worked beautifully with the Distress Powder, and your design is absolute perfection. Love all your thoughtful, elegant details!

    Thanks for sharing this beauty at the Compendium Challenge!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  6. Totally LOVE your tag!!! I could just sit and keep looking at it!!!

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  7. My favorite stamping theme!!! And Christmas is perfect for this hot weather!! Thanks! Humm mmm hummm...(cool humming here...)

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  8. Susan, this is just beautiful! And the tissue tape/fragment combo? Ingenious!

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  9. Oh this is wonderful Susan! I love the soft colors and so non-traditional for Christmas. Awesome job on this!

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  10. Geeze, Susan, I've got Christmas on my blog too! Great minds think alike!

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  11. This is great, Susan...I kept looking at all the layers and depth it creates. I love to layer stamps on top of each other and you have certainly inspired me:)

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  12. Gorgeous tag, looks like it should be one of the 12 tags of Christmas, I love it!

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  13. What an amazing tag! I got my Christmas box out yesterday. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  14. A fab christmas tag! x

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  15. OH my... I am going to start looking at your website BEFORE tim holtz for inspiration!

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  16. Love your Christmas in July tag! The little red flower is a wonderful touch!

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