Life moments

While our trees aren't starting to show their fall colors just yet they are dropping because of the heat and lack of rain.  So I chose to make my own colored fall leaves!  For the 9th challenge from the 3rd Compendium of Curiosities Linda Ledbetter has chosen page 63 - Stamps and Framelits.

I really didn't think I needed any of these sets but after using them a few times I've discovered they really are a timesaver if you are making multiples, which I often do.  Why not?  You already have the tools out...make the most of them.

This challenge is being sponsored by Inspiration Emporium.  Joy is offering a $25 gift certificate to her store; she has lots of unique things so you should check out her offerings.  There's also a prize package from Tim & Mario that goes to the winner of the Curiosity Crew's Choice.  And don't forget to check out and comment on the blogs of all the Curiosity Crew; that's a requirement.  Not only are you learning how to use your products but there's also the inspiration you have from the other participants.  It's a win-win situation!

Front

Side to show depth

#8 tag, misc. thread & ribbon scraps, crinoline, gesso, cardstock

Ranger:  Vintage Photo distress marker; distress inks (Frayed Burlap, Old Paper, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs); Potting Soil archival ink; embossing ink; Ancient Gold/Tarnished Gold embossing powder; Glossy Accents

Sizzix: Woodgrain Texture Fade; Autumn Gatherings dec. strip alterations die; Leaf Blueprint Stamps & Framelits

Stampers Anonymous:  Purely Random (CSS27843)









To create the background on the tag I followed the technique found in Book 2, pg. 64.  Loved this and hated to cover it up!

The image was stamped twice in embossing ink; once on watercolor paper and again on crinoline that had received a coat of gesso.  The embossing powder I chose is more like a rose gold; very pretty.

All the leaves and label were colored with distress inks.  A few spatters were added to the main image. 

I only have 2 Stamps & Framelits sets (the other one is the cupcake) but I can see that a few more might be in my shopping cart in the near future.

Little things...big things

Swaps without parameters can be difficult.  And everyone involved is so artsy-fartsy in their own rights.  The pressure was on.  I must say I struggled with this for quite a while but now I have some tag bases and ideas that won't go to waste!

I took the packaging from inside a Tim Holtz stencil and cut it in the tag shape using the Tag & Bookplate die*.  It was covered with gesso.  Through the Numbered stencil I sponged yellow, orange and red distress inks.  Through the Clockwork stencil I sponged a brown distress ink.

Across the bottom I stamped the Dylusions border in Fern Green archival ink.  The Hero Arts tree was colored with distress markers.  The mini movers & shapers bird was cut from black card stock and overstamped with Picket Fence distress paint and a text stamp.

At the top I positioned the Studio 490 Lovely Leaves stencils and filled it with Studio 490 Crackle Embossing Paste that I had colored with Fern Green re-inker.  Let dry then replace the stencil and color with darker green and brown distress inks.


Around the edge of the tag I scribbled a graphite pencil then smeared the lines with my finger.  The same was done under the leaves to provide shading.

On orange Bazzill card stock I stamped the Dylusions sentiment in Jet Black archival ink.  Cut out and edge with brown distress ink.  The strips were adhered and Black Enamel Accents created 3 drops that I pulled away from the...just to be different.

* I use this die a lot and it shows.  The die separated from the base plate.  Oops!  Called Sizzix and after a brief description of the problem and a photo to back up the description a new on is on the way.  Thank you Sizzix!  By the way...now I have an extra base plate to use with my movers & shapers.  I'm doubly happy now!

Discover beauty

Once again it's time to try my hand at recreating Tim Holtz' monthly tag.  I try very hard not to copy but just use the general descriptions and see what happens.  Here's my version of his August tag.

Ranger:  distress stains (Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Dusty Concord); distress inks (Tea Dye, Walnut Stain); distress paint (Peacock Feathers); distress embossing powder (Vintage Photo); distress embossing powder; Texture Paste; Jet Black Archival Ink

Idea-ology:  vial labels, ruler ribbon, tissue tape, remnant rubs, crinkle ribbon, chipboard hanger

Sizzix:  layering stencils (Burlap, Stripes, Measured, Speckled)

Stampers Anonymous:  CMS105 Haberdashery

Misc.: #8 manilla tag, thread, metal flower, button


I love how the tissue tape keeps a 'clean' look to the stamped images.  And playing with the Texture Paste is fun!  That it accepts color so readily is a big plus when you want to hurriedly slap down color. 

Discoveries

Pardon the blurry photos but I think you can actually see some of the results better this way.

From the Caged Bird die...upper left is the original die cut.  Upper right is a hoop skirt or barred window; lower left is a parasol or umbrella and the lower right is an upturned flower.

On the left sample you can see where I applied Crackle Embossing Paste. Once dry it flaked off.  Which left me with the sample on the right - a ghostly image.  Cool, huh?

When I first saw this stencil I immediately saw an animal face.  Kind of reminded me of some drawings I had seen in a book about India, Nepal -  somewhere in that area.

Now do you see the face?  I carefully colored the areas I wanted with distress markers.  BTW, the top and bottom black borders are leftover from the parasol/umbrella cuts.

Would love to see any discoveries you've made with your dies or stencils!  I often (gasp!) cut apart stamps and have even cut apart stencils and embossing folders to meet my needs.

Time is...

Yes indeed, time for another challenge from the lovely Linda who's hosting the 3rd round of Compendium of Curiosity challenges.  This challenge features the technique Faded Layers that can be found on p. 58 of Tim's newest book.

The sponsor for this challenge is The Funkie Junkie; they're offering a $25 gift certificate to a winner chosen via the Random Number Generator.  There's also a prize that comes from Tim and Mario and that will go to the 'Curiosity Crew's Choice'.    It's so much fun seeing how everyone interprets the technique.

Ingredients:  Glossy paper, alcohol inks, Clockwork stencil, sentiment & watch face from 'The Journey' stamp set, mini mover & shaper pocketwatch, vellum, tag & bookplate die, Inkssentials gel pen, black micron pen, miscellaneous leftover letters and numbers

It's harder in the photo to see the stencil I used but the pocketwatch is in the center of the lower clock.  The faux stitching is where the stenciled clocks are not.

Well, what are you waiting for?  This challenge ends 8/15 at 11:59 MT.!  But don't forget to check out the blogs of the Curiosity Crew and leave a comment for each of them...that's part of the requirement!  You'll find plenty of inspiration on their blogs.

National Sister's Day

Today is National Sister's Day!  I have 2 super sisters that I am recognizing today. 

The Art Impressions 'Gossip Ladies' were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink on watercolor paper and colored with distress markers.  The fern leaf and flowers are Martha Stewart punches and were cut from pink and green vellum scraps.  The bow is also from Martha Stewart when she had the line out a few years ago.

The floral layer is a scrap I had; the 2 pink layers are Bazzill cardstock.

Sisters...different flowers from the same garden.  Love you, S2 and S3!

I am S1.  Our husbands are W1, W2 and W3.  Yes, my siblings' names all begin with 's' and we all married men whose names began with 'w'.  Makes it easy to sign your name when you just write 'sw1'.  lol