February technique calendar

Roni chose a rather interesting technique for February...the use of petroleum jelly.  When you try this technique for yourself, please note that thinner paints work much better than thicker ones.  I used distress paints but watered them down.

Ranger:  distress paints (Frayed Burlap, Worn Lipstick, Milled Lavender, Festive Berries); Potting Soil Archival Ink; Black Fude Ball Pen; distress stains (Worn Lipstick, Milled Lavender, Festive Berries)

Marvy heart punch; old book page

Advantus/Idea-ology: washi tape


February is a special month for me.  My birthday, the day I met my future husband, our first date and Valentine's Day...all within the same week!  Needless to say, I LOVE February!

Hearts/love altered playing cards

It's week 20...and the theme is hearts/love.  But NOT your traditional red, pink, white, etc.  Huh uh.

 

Ranger:  distress paints (Ripe Persimmon, Chipped Sapphire); Black Fude Ball pen; Dylusions stamp (Around The Edge DYR34421); Jet Black Archival Ink

Sizzix:  Mini movers & shapers heart

Handheld heart punch; security envelope

White Sharpie

Ranger:  distress paints (Mustard Seed, Barn Red); Black Enamel Accents

Idea-ology:  tissue tape

White Sharpie; red card stock scrap

Sizzix:  mini movers & shapers heart die; Carnivale dec. strip die

I don't have spray paints so I just smeared the paint onto my craft sheet, misted my APC then swiped it through the paint.  On the yellow one I created a watery puddle of Barn Red paint and used a paint brush to flick drops onto the base. 

I normally would be bothered by the dots not being the same size but I actually like them as they are.  Go figure.  Likewise the lettering on the top card is a bit busy with the border I chose but again, I kinda like it like that. 

Maybe now that I'm about to put another decade behind me I'm breaking out of my shell????

 

Make Art challenge #1 - Studio 490 embossing paste

The challenge was to use one of Wendy's embossing pastes on your work.  I went overboard and used them all.  Yes, all (black, white, translucent, crackle, metallic silver and metallic gold).  I opted to use Art Parts as my base for a Valentine booklet for my husband.  And I used LOTS of Wendy's stamps and most of her archival ink colors.  On the back of each page I journaled a message that corresponds to the front side. 

  

I love how the art parts heart on the front cover turned out!  At first the color wasn't very pretty so I kept painting over it until I was happy.  Then I black embossed the stamped image on it.  Lots of Traditional Tan paint was applied over it.  Kept wiping it just before it was really dry.  Once I was satisfied I added some brown archival ink.  It looks so awesomely shabby in real life!

The front cover was given a coat of paint before layering on a mix of metallic gold and translucent embossing pastes.  Before it dried I stamped into it (clean that stamp good immediately!).  Once dry I went over it with several archival inks (yellow, orange, brown and black).  It felt tacky even after a day so I poured clear embossing powder over it; heat set then added my heart and word.  Just a bit of shimmer but lots of texture when you see it in person.

The sunshine page is on specialty stamping paper and was drawn through Wendy's archival ink and a puddle of alcohol.  I didn't use a brayer.

Two hearts was done on sticky back canvas.  The graphite pencil gives a nice shadow effect when you draw around the stencil.  Once I colored the checkmate stencil I moved it over to color the blank spots.

Love that little Sizzix mini movers & shaper bottle cut from plastic packaging.  I covered the back with white and blue distress paints and backed it with white paper.  I stamped on the front using StazOn black ink.  The faux cork was colored using an Adirondack marker.

 Art Parts:  Small Pages, Words for Art, Dress Forms & More

Studio 490 embossing paste:  Black, White, Translucent, Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver

Studio 490 archival ink:  Jet Black, Tree Branch, Potting Soil, Dandelion, Orange Blossom, Watering Can, Hydrangea, Cornflower Blue, Fern Green, Red Geranium

Studio 490 stencils: Never Enough Hearts, Sunburst, Classic Words, Dots & Stripes Border, Basically Brick, Checkmate

Studio 490 stamp sets:  Art-fully Said, Art for You, It's More Flower Art, She Created Art, Label It Art, Card Art Essentials, Let Your Art Have Wings, Homemade Art, Botanical Art, Optical Art, She Spoke of Art, Sentimental Art, Daisy Art, Sunshine & Art, and Manly Art, Busy Making Art and Pricing Chart (17 - whew!  That's a record for me!)

Claudine Hellmuth:  Traditional Tan Studio Paint; Sticky Back Canvas - Natural

Ranger:  black and clear embossing powders; Glue n' Seal; Specialty Stamping Paper; Black Fude Ball pen; Watermark Resist Ink; distress markers; distress stains; distress inks; distress paints; Adirondack markers

Sizzix:  window-window box bigz die; labels thinlits die; mini movers & shapers typewriter and bottle dies

Misc.:  alcohol; water color paper; manilla tags; kraft tags; graphite pencil; clear plastic packaging; card stock scraps: Dreamweavers metallic copper embossing paste; StazOn ink; silver pen

If you haven't played with Wendy's embossing pastes, you're missing out!

2015 calendar page techniques

In the past I've followed Ink Stains with Roni on creating technique-heavy calendar pages.  When I saw her recent post that she would be doing this once again I couldn't wait. 

Here's my rendition for January.

I cut my arch from chipboard using Sizzix Gothic Arch die 658569.  I found a downloadable calendar that actually created two sets at once so I can make a second calendar if I choose.

Gesso; blue sprays; Jet Black Archival Ink; Ann-ticipation stamp 9346G; Icicle Stickles; FloraCraft 'Diamond Dust'; Glossy Accents; Adirondack markers; Martha Stewart snowflake punch; blue distress ink

I can't wait to see what technique Roni chooses for February!

Tag assortment

Here are a few tags I recently created to send to a friend who lives north of the border.  The tags were entirely my own ideas...usually I've at least perused Pinterest for a jumping off point.

Dylusions sprays (Calypso Teal, London Blue, After Midnight); vellum; Sizzix Thinlits dies (Paper Snowflakes 660059); Jet Black Archival Ink; Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Stickles; black machine stitching

By stamping on vellum and stitching it over the base tag, the dark background around the snowflakes is still quite visible but muted so the message stands out.

Stampers Anonymous stencils (arrows, stripes, schoolhouse); lime, turquoise Sharpies; misc. card stock; Stampers Anonymous Phrases 2 stamp; Sizzix mini M & S jalopy die; clear embossing ink & powder; Black Fude Ball pen

I first drew around each arrow with the Black Fude Ball Pen.  Left the stencil in place and overlayed it with the arrows stencil and drew around it in turquoise.  Removed that stencil and overlayed the arrow stencil with the Schoolhouse stencil and drew around it with the lime Sharpie.  I'm a terrible doodler left to my own devices!

Black #8 tag; white pigment ink; white embossing powder; Stampers Anonymous snowflake CMS066 and snowman CS067; Sizzix mini branch die; Martha Stewart fern punch; Hero Arts alphabet stamps; white card stock; Jet Black Archival Ink; White Enamel Accents; Orange/Brown Sharpies; Glossy Accents; Sizzix Typewritten dec. strip die

Studio 490 translucent embossing paste; red/brown distress inks; Stampers Anonymous hearts stencil; Sizzix mini cupid; Die-namites Dies 'Love Heart' DN-1008; Brushed Pewter distress stain; Black Marble Dylusions spray; Black Enamel Accents; tissue wrap; Glue n' Seal; black card stock

Wishes

Here's my entry for the 20th challenge from the CCC#3.  You can find the instructions on page 40 of Tim's book.  I chose a very subtle look using the technique (on the 3 larger words) but in person the effect is much more dramatic.  The visual dimension it creates is awesome!  Don't forget to check out the samples shared by the Curiosity Crew and to comment on each one....that's part of the rules!

Ranger:  Pumice Stone distress marker; Jet Black, Red Geranium, Tree Branch, Venetian Orange, Saffron archival inks; Red Geranium, Tree Branch embossing powders

Stampers Anonymous: Good Thoughts stamp CMS085; Burlap, Hearts stencils

Studio 490:  black embossing paste

Sizzix:  Love Print texture fade

Core'dinations:  red kraft core

Misc.: silk ribbon, water color paper, black card stock

On the black card base I used the black embossing paste and hearts stencil; removed the stencil and pinched out the Red Geranium and Tree Branch embossing powders.  Let dry; heat set.  Love the colors together!

Don't forget that you could be chosen as the Curiosity Crew's choice to win a wonderful assortment of goodies from Tim and Mario or you might be the random winner of a $25 gift certificate from this week's sponsor,  The Funkie Junkie!

Steampunk

It's Monday and time for another Altered Playing Card challenge from Claudine.  She chose Steampunk or Time as the theme.  I'm not into steam punk and suppose I could have elected to create cards all about time, but I didn't.  I have the Sizzix gears mini movers & shapers so why not use them?

playing cards; gesso; dry wall tape; glitter paper (unknown source); Hero Art stamps (A3321,  C3075); Sizzix mini movers & shapers gears; distress paints (Tarnished Brass, Brushed Pewter); Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder; Versamark; washi tape; Createx Pearlized Blue paint; TCW Mini Ledger stencil; CMS107 Steampunk; Glossy Accents; white card stock; Jet Black Archival Ink

So, get in gear...what are you waiting for?????  Join in the fun!

To swirl or not to swirl

Claudine's testing us...swirl one, don't swirl one.  Which do you like best?  This 18th APC challenge was fun!  I generally write down the basic instructions then get right to creating my own or put them away for a few days while life takes over.  Such was the case this week so I'm quite surprised at how similar mine are to hers. 

Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint (Smidge of Blue, Purple Palette, Blank Canvas); Jet Black Archival Ink; watercolor paper; watercolors; Studio 490 'She Created Art' LCS036; Black Fude Ball pen

Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint (Charcoal Black, Dash of Red, Dab of Yellow); Jet Black Archival Ink; white card stock; Studio 490 'Make Mine Mini Art' LCS021; Black Fude Ball pen













So, are you playing along?  Do you prefer to swirl or not?  I'm torn.

Happy birthday!

I pretty much copied Wendy Vecchi's sample that she made back in September.  Her idea uses holiday stamps and stencils on a non-holiday card.  Love it!!!!  Way to think outside the box, Wendy!

Ranger archival inks (Jet Black, Cornflower Blue, Hydrangea, Tree Branch, Leaf Green), brown distress ink; Studio 490 stencils (Yikes, Stripes/Happy Holidays) and S-I S-I (Holiday Icons); Sakura Black Micron Pen; Tim Holtz Dot Fade stencil; Studio 490 stamps (Vintage Mesh, Vintage Lace, Card Art Essentials, Seriously Art)

12 tags of 2015 a la Tim Holtz

Tim has started off the new year with an awesome tag!  You know me, I don't usually copy and sometimes my tags look so different I've wondered if they came from the same lesson plan.  But, rest assured, they do.

Ranger:  Superfine Black Embossing Powder; Jet Black, Red Geranium Archival Inks; Antique Linen Distress Glitter; Walnut Stain, Tarnished Brass, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries Distress Stains; Milled Lavender, Festive Berries, Antique Linen, Tarnished Brass, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Fence Distress Paints; Black Soot Distress Marker; Glue n' Seal; Glossy Accents

Tim Holtz: HC006 Clear Stamps - Phrases 2; TH93120 Remnant Rub-ons; Terminology Tissue Wrap; alpha parts

Miscellaneous:  foil trim; ribbon; black card stock alphabet (all leftovers from previous play times); white card stock; Marvy punch

Love my reds and oranges...great way to start off the new year -HOT!  And this message is most insightful and needs to be remembered.

Bright and colorful

These are two words are not normally found in my art.  But sometimes you just have to go outside your comfort zone and play.  These APCs are for Claudine's 17th challenge.  She chose bright pinks/reds, birds and thoughts. 

There was a line that had been etched into the gesso so I created an arrow out of it which directed your eye to the sentiment.  Even those these birds are from a Christmas collection I still think they're fine to use all year.  Friends are like ornaments in your life, collectible, not always around, but always there to add a bit of color to your life.

All stamps are by Hero Arts (birds - LL213, sentiments - LL091); watercolor paper, Ranger (Jet Black Archival Ink, Black Fude Pen, distress inks, distress paints/Spun Sugar & Picked Raspberry); Studio 490 stencil (Artful Words) and black embossing paste; TH Elements tissue tape; Sakura Glaze pens

These little works are fun to create, don't take much time and don't take much space.  I really miss making ATCs so these playing cards are just the thing to get me back to that time in my life.

Tissue paper and paint

I haven't played with Tim's Tissue Wrap in a while...no reason, guess I just have soo much stuff I don't know what to use first or else just forget what all I do have tucked away.  Sigh.  But fortunately there are plenty of challenges to help jumpstart my creativity or get me to use products unknown or stashed away.

Claudine's latest challenge is to play with the tissue wrap and acrylic paint.

 

Advantus/Idea-ology Tissue Wrap; Ranger (distress paints, distress markers, Glossy Accents, Jet Black Archival Ink, Adirondack markers, Stickles); water color paper; Studio 490 Art Fit For A Queen LCS040; Impression Obsession B1233 (sentiment); All Night Media (image)

Deep winter morning

Every month I send cards to a special group of people.  I'm hoping to remember to use Tim Holtz' new shadow press monthly dies on them.  If you haven't tried them, you should.  They're quite fun to use as is, sand the shadows or by accenting the debossing bits with a distress ink marker to highlight the shadow.

Deep Winter Morning stamp set by Rubber Stamp Tapestry/Ranger Fern Green, Tree Branch, Jet Black archival inks, Snow Cap White pigment ink,brown distress ink/Sizzix months shadow press folders/Bazzill card stocks/Stampers Anonymous Christmas Nostalgia/Spellbinders classic scalloped rectangle die

Happy New Year!

Red, white, black card stock/Sizzix weathered clock die, carnivale decorative strip die/Hero Arts LL240/American Art Stamp EM7109.G/Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen/Sakura Glitter Jelly Roll pen/Ranger's Red Geranium, Jet Black archival inks, clear embossing powder/black brad

May the new year be a good one for us all!