"A woman is like a tea bag;

you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water."  This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt is the theme chosen for the current eclecticPaperie blog hop (inspired by words).  A $25.00 gift voucher from their store is up for grabs.

I started out with a blank page in my journal...and in my mind.  And I thought, 'Silly, start at the beginning!'  I started going through my stamps looking to see what would be appropriate.  The stamps I selected helped  determine the other bits and pieces that on the page.  A length of painters tape was used to keep the inner border clean for challenge info. 

Up on my shelf was a never opened, got on clearance years ago, tube of Country Red Delta Texture Magic.  I slathered it over a Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture stencil.  A blast of the heat tool and it was dry.  Over this I stamped a block of words describing women (Lasting Impressions with Panache) in Saffron archival ink.  I drew around the word 'woman' with a Micron black pen.  Through a Dylusions stencil (Luscious Leaves) I rubbed in various green and brown distress inks.  Tea Dye distress ink (appropriate choice) was used all over the page, leaving the center lighter.

I journaled the quote along the left hand side of the page, using an alpha wood tile, part of my stamped image (lucky placement, that's all!), my own handwriting and Maya Road chipboard letters.  The tea bag stamp (Ann-ticipations) makes this like a rebus.  The chipboard letters were inked with yellow, orange and red distress inks (to simulate heat) then covered with Glossy Accents.

The tea cup (Stampington & Company) was stamped with Jet Black archival ink on Studio 490's 'Clearly For Art'.  The reverse side was colored with red alcohol ink then smooshed the Sepia archival ink pad over that.  A bit of heat was applied so I could curve the cup and saucer.

I had to ask a neighbor for a tea bag (removing the tea!) so I could stamp the face (Studio 490's 'Art Fit For A Queen') on it with Jet Black archival ink.  I dampened the tea bag and sprinkled the tea all over it; let dry.  Maya Road chipboard scrolls were colored with Pitch Black and Silver paint dabbers before dripping Caramel alcohol ink on them (Thank you, Shelly Hickox for this idea!*).  I cut them apart and glued them down to simulate steam. 

At the urging of a friend, I have also submitted this journal page to the Frilly & Funkie blog challenge that requires the use of stencils and masks.  I was unaware of this blog but will definitely be following them now.  Frilly, funkie and vintage...just up my alley!

* If you haven't checked out Shelly's blog, please do so!  She is so talented and I love her work! 

A kaleidoscope of color

This week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show is all about a kaleidoscope of color.  I love color, especially the warm family...reds, oranges, and yellows.  I had been playing around on 140 lb. watercolor paper, just slapping on color using a number of inks, sprays and mediums....with all colors of the rainbow.  And this journaling thing that people keep showing...not sure it's my thing but I figured I'd give it a whirl.  From my large sheet I cut off a 5x8 piece for my journal cover.  Now I can submit this entry for the eclecticPaperie blog hop.  After gesso, stencils, more inks, doodling and embellishments I can safely say I'm pleased with the outcome.

I free-handed some hills on the lower portion and wrote across them :never compare your journey with someone else's.  your journey is YOUR journey, not a competition."  I saw this on a friend's Facebook post and thought it very appropriate for my first art journal cover. 

If you've done this sort of thing before you know there's no way to really keep up with all the steps so I'll just list the items I used.

Ranger:  Fired Brick Distress Crackle Paint, Inkssentials white gel pen, Butterscotch & Terra Cotta pigment inks; Jet Black archival ink; clear & copper embossing powders; Faded Jeans Distress ink; Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls mist; mists I made from re-inkers and Perfect Pearls; distress inks (all colors); Claudine Hellmuth gesso, Studio Paint and Multi-medium

Crafters Workshop and All Night media stencils

Studio 490: Gentlemen's Art (let your heart lead the way)

Black, red, green Sharpies

Inkadinkado: my name stamp

Idea-ology:  ornate plate, long fasteners, corners, grungeboard heart

Sizzix:  pennants on-the-edge die (traced around and doodled inside them)


BTW, this was a Strathmore journal I found in the clearance aisle at Michaels for very little money.  So little money I bought 2...just in case I wanted to do another one.  vbg

Anything but a card

I was working on the packaging for my sister's birthday present when I remembered the SimonSaysStampandShow challenge.  I'd already created the gift tag, courtesy of Lynne Forsythe's blog.  A combo of the two and I've met the challenge requirements.  Without further ado I present 'the present'.

close up of tag

Using mini rosettes left from a previous project I added alpha circles spelling out my sister's name.  She wrote poetry when she was younger and my mom still had many of them.  All I did was scrapbook them, going along with the theme of the poems.  It was quite fun and I knew she'd prefer it over a photo album like I'd given my other siblings. 

You might not be able to see all the layers on the tag but there's quite a bit going on.  Go check out Lynne's, it's really, really cool.  You'll definitely want to create one yourself.

Supplies: 
Crafters Workshop: Mini Capricious acrylic template
Sizzix:  Tattered Leaves, Tattered Florals, Mini Paper Rosettes dies
Ranger:  Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, Pine Needles Distress Stains; Butterscotch, Espresso Color Washes; Claudine Hellmuth gesso, Matte Multi-Medium; Jet Black Archival Ink
Tim Holtz:  Retro Grunge and Shabby Chic cardstock
Studio 490:  Dimensional Rose Art (leafy flourish)
Cornish Heritage Farms: sentiment on small tag (no longer in business but I think the images may be available elsewhere)
#8 manilla tag

Thanks, Lynne, for a super tutorial on your tag!  Now I have to go shopping and get some Glimmer Mist sprays that I don't have!  What an enabler you are!  lol