The butterfly counts

White, patterned cardstock
Ribbon
Acetate

Sizzix: TH alterations: Brackets, Butterflight

EKSuccess border punch - Dotted Scallop

Impression Obsession: Butterfly Counts D1379

Savvy Stamps: Thinking of you - wavy 319C

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink; distress and distress oxide inks (Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Spun Sugar, Shaded Lilac, Scattered Straw, Stormy Sky)

Card pattern can be found on Splitcoast Stampers (Acetate Tent Card by Dina Kowal)

Happy anniversary

Ranger:  Distress oxides (Tumbled Glass); Distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Old Paper); heavy duty mixed media cardstock; Distress collage medium-crazing; Jet Black archival ink

Stamp Zia: oriental bamboo chop

watercolor pencils; Molotow Grafx Art Masking Liquid; blue cardstock; EKSuccess border punch; stained coffee filter

Hello friend

Distress oxides on heavy duty cardstock make up the gorgeous (I think!) card front.  I used Fired Brick, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade.  The piece was run through an embossing folder (Notebook Paper by The Paper Studio) then slightly sanded so the lines would show up better.  The edge was punched using an EKSuccess border punch (Binding Edge PL8002).

The next layer is the reverse side of the package insert from a Studio 490 stencil.  Two laurel branches (Sizzix) were cut from the same layer.  The peach mini label (Sizzix 657214) was edged with Vintage Photo distress ink and overstamped with a text stamp (unknown manufacturer). 

The bird was stamped on mixed media cardstock in Black Soot archival ink and colored with distress markers (Twisted Citron, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Worn Lipstick).  The sentiment is from Sizzix 561218 (framelits/texture fade w/ stamps) and stamped (BSai) on a scrap from the same larger D-ox/m-m cardstock piece.  It, too, is on a scrap of stencil insert.  The card base is Bazzil cardstock.

I have quite a few advertising magnets that were just begging to be repurposed.  This one was covered in glassine paper (remember it?) that had been treated to a range of Distress Oxide inks before being wadded up.  At this point I smeared Vintage Photo archival ink over the wrinkles then smoothed it out and heat set.  Double stick tape was used to adhere the glassine to the magnet.  IRL it looks like real stone.  (YAY!)  The stamp (one of Tim's new ones) was stamped in Jet Black archial ink and heat set.

Happy birthday to a California girl!

Happy 60th birthday!

Sizzix Typo Upper 661198
Ranger:  Black Enamel Accents, archival ink (Black Soot, Jet Black)
EKSuccess:  Scrabble stamp set
black, white, kraft cardstocks

Unknown border punch
Sizzix: Tattered Florals, Tattered Greens
white, black cardstocks
distress ink: yellow, brown, green (whatever was on foam applicator)

 My sister's faith is very important to her.  I used this photo of her church to recreate a version she could have at home.

Sizzix:  Village Bell Tower 660987, Village Dwelling 660992, Village Brownstone 661205, Village Rooftops 661197; TMS038 mini brick stencil

Ranger:  embossing powder (clear, Pumice Stone, Red Geranium, Frosted Crystal, Orange Blossom, Watering Can, Cement, Bottle, Moss); clear embossing ink; distress ink (Ground Espresso, Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke); distress paint (Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone); alcohol ink (Stonewashed, Butterscotch, Raisin, Meadow)

miscellaneous:  white cardstock, chipboard, washi tape, Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi embossing powder, bell, was

I made up my own recipe for the bricks, roof and grass based on a recipe Wendy Vecchi shared on her blog.  Do make a test run on a scrap piece of cardstock to make sure you get the look you want.  I did wipe some Pumice Stone distress ink over most of the surfaces to tone down some of the color.

If you have these dies you can see I made some alterations to the roofs (cut narrow edges off each one) and walls.  All the dies were first cut from white cardstock then cut or traced and cut around a 2nd set on white cardstock.  The second set had any tabs removed and were cut apart before altering.  When needing just a trim piece I cut out the appropriate wall, marked the piece I wanted to use, turned it over and embossed with appropriate color, heat set, then cut out and adhered.

Unbeknownst to me my niece had made an entire putz house village for the dining room table and put tea lights under each one.  They are scaled perfectly for this so now it's as if the entire congregation can reside in her home!  Toooo funny!

May mixed media technique

Are you creating mixed media calendar pages with Roni?  Here's my rendition of May.  The focus this month is all about rolling papers.  I've never done this and I wasn't sure I'd like it.  But what the heck, let's give it a whirl.

Sizzix Arch Frame; TH tissue wrap; Ranger archival inks (Tea Rose, Sky Blue, Buttercup...all new by Studio 490); TH Flourish Stencil; DecoArt Paper Perfect; Penny Black Brush Tulips stamp (2835K); distress markers; watercolor paper; book page scraps; EK Success border punch; Bazzill card stock

love,

Love,

LOVE

Wendy's new archival ink colors!!!!!!

Cabinet pocket cards

I have a lot of cabinet card photos in my family history collection so having Tim create pockets we could use with new photos was a great idea!  The current CCC3 challenge is to use a cabinet card in your art.  Tim has 2 sizes; I chose the smaller one for my project.

6x6 grungebook page (TH92879); Vintage Shabby Paper Stash; Mini Cabinet Cards (TH93118); distress paint (Antique Linen, Spun Sugar); archival inks (Jet Black, Fern Green, Watering Can); Nature Walk (CMS181); distress ink (Tattered Rose, Gathered Twigs, Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar); clear embossing powder; Hero Arts alpha & numeric stamps; Studio 490 stencils (Classic Words, From The Garden); Studio 490 Metallic Silver Embossing Paste; Studio 490 stamp (Art Parts LCS014)silk ribbon; Remnant Rub (TH93120); EKSuccess Scrabble Crossword Stamps

Not only do I get a challenge project completed but I scrapbook a part of my life.  The entry also allows me the chance to win some goodies from Tim & Mario (as chosen by the Curiosity Crew) and a $50 gift certificate from The Inspiration Emporium, this week's sponsor.

The grungebook page was painted with a base coat of Antique Linen Distress paint; distressed the edges and rubbed Gathered Twigs Distress Ink along them.  Studio 490 Leaf Spray was stenciled in the two left corners; and a Studio 490 frill was stamped in Spun Sugar over the spray.

The decorative cardstock was trimmed to size, distressed the edges with the sanding block then added Tattered Rose and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks to the white edges. Stamped the date in Fern Leaf Archival Ink at the top; embossing paste the word at the bottom.  Added a photo of the bowl (same as in the photo) and a stamped and embossed image of a spoon.

Aged the cabinet card, added the photo, faux Scrabble tiles and Remnant Rub.  The bow is attached to a colored and distressed tag that tells the story behind the photo.   

This picture was taken in the kitchen of my maternal grandparents' home in northwestern Illinois.  I've eaten many a meal at that table..which is still in the family.  The bowl is part of a set that they acquired when going to the movies back in the '30s and '40s.  The flatware is Queen Bess Silver Plate.  When my grandparents died I was given the dishes and flatware.  The dishes only come out on special occasions because they are not dishwasher-safe.  The flatware requires silver polish periodically but we use it every day.  Thank you, grandpa and grandma, for giving me such wonderful, lasting memories!

Altered Playing Cards - weeks 1 and 2

Claudine recently started an Altered Playing Cards challenge.  She's taking a deck of cards and creating 2 cards per week so this challenge will take a while.  You'll have to check out her blog to see all the rules and regulations. 

The first week she prepped the deck of cards.  Weeks 2 and 3 have been posted so please check her blog for all those details and her samples.  I loosely followed her tutorials.

Gesso; Dylusions sprays (Fresh Lime, Campso Teal); Sizzix Townscape OTE die; Hero Arts JS153 sentiment; Martha Stewart Coneflower punch (sun); Stampers Anonymous Purely Random (text on sun); Jet Black Archival Ink, Glossy Accents, distress inks; Sakura Jelly Roll White Pen; black, yellow cardstock scraps

Gesso; Dylusions sprays (Bubblegum Pink, After Midnight); Hero Arts stars and sentiment; Poppy Stamps (little girl 217C); Jet Black Archival Ink, distress markers; watercolor paper; silver & black cardstock scraps; ekSuccess star punch; silver & black Sharpies; Tsukineko Encore Silver Metallic ink



I think this will be a fun challenge and so simple...at least thus far.  Surely I can find my mojo for 2 small canvases each week!

Happy birthday, mom! (Part 2)

So when you turn 80 yesterday's floral wall display just doesn't seem enough.  At least not for me.  Months ago I had asked her for ALL the family photos so I could start a pictorial timeline for myself.  Kind of like writing my autobiography except with photos.  I also wanted them so I could find enough to make a scrapbook for my mom.  I have made one for my siblings on their special birthdays over the past few years.  But she didn't comply so I had to use images I had in my own collection.  I also went to her public library and took photos of her yearbook pages.  (Sure couldn't ask her for her copies!)  And this is the result.

 Do you typically put something on the cover?  This has a protective vinyl sleeve so it couldn't be 3-D.  Rather than not be happy with a stamped image on the royal blue fabric cover, I left it blank and hope her baby picture will suffice.  I can always add something later.

 The pages are 8"x8" white or orange cardstock.  All journaling was computer-generated.  I know handwritten pieces are lovely but mine is more like chicken scratching and I wanted it to be legible for a long, long time.

 If you put the baby pictures of my grandma, mom and me side by side you'd be hard pressed to know who is who...except for the vintage, and less so, backgrounds.

 Isn't she a cutie?  She's always smiling!

 Except for this one photo...no smile.  Hmmm.

 The page layouts are my own efforts, ditto for the embellishments.  I wanted this to be as original as my mom.

 Like the pen nib cut outs pointing to mom?  Look at the lower right hand photo...she had an 18" waist when she was a senior!!! 

 My mom will just flip when she sees that bottom piece.  She'll be asking right away how I came to have that info. 

 Love that debossing folder!  The chain represents the family members and how we'll always be together, forever linked.  I'll have to tell her about that; she may not get that right away.

 These tags are from an old Provocraft die set.  I thought they made great journaling prompts.

Top photo: her 7 grandchildren





Bottom photo:  my youngest sister, her husband and daughter were unable to be here with us

 Mom's the clown on the left...Jesters for Jesus.

She racked up a lot of road miles when she worked for the State of Illinois...making sure schools followed the guidelines for the lunch program. 


Now she and my step-dad (but he's more like a dad!) travel extensively...I think Africa and Antarctica are the only continents they haven't visited.

Here they are on my sister's pond.  Don't you like how the shadow of the tree points to them?  That was an aftersight.





I didn't want the pages to be too fussy with embellishments.  The scrapbook is all about the photos, not the extras.  I also wanted it to be something she could use later in life recalling special moments, people, etc.  Maybe it would be the only thing that would help her connect to reality or in the here & now.  No matter, it's made with love and I hope it brings her much joy, both now and later.

Another college grad in the family

One of my nephews is graduating from Drexel University today with a master's degree in public health.  I wanted something unique and thought about Dr. Seuss and his words of wisdom. 

card front

coordinating envelope

On white cardstock I used Tim's new Arrows Stencil and Mustard Seed Distress ink.  I computer-generated the words onto that 'new' card stock.  I cut it down to the size and shape then backed it with black.  Of course I didn't have yellow card stock but Mustard Seed Distress Ink smeared on white cardstock works perfectly!  I punched out the dragon (EKSuccess Paper Shaper) and put some foam tape snippets on the back to make it stand out.  The year was die cut from the same 'new' card stock using Tim's Typeset decorative strip die.

I still had ink on the stencil so I misted it and placed it on the envelope.  Cool, huh!?!??  I have covered the envelope with Judikins MicroGlaze to protect the ink from running.  That would NOT be cool!

I love what Dr. Seuss wrote and can see using them again but creating a rebus.  Wouldn't that be fun?

I'm a visionary

No, if that was the case I'd probably know what was going to happen at my doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon.  I'll be finding out if the time is right to have my cataracts removed.  My vision is getting blurrier, even during the day.  Night time driving is out of the question.  I'm scared that if I have to wait my husband's health may take a turn and I won't be able to help him.  I'm his sole caregiver and need to be on top of my game at all times.

So I guess with all my anxieties about the outcome of the appointment, it's only fitting that I chose to feature eye related items on my version of Tim Holtz' September tag this year.

Supplies:  TH stencils (006, 008, 009, 010, 011); Studio 490 white embossing paste; Distress Stains (Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Tarnished Brass); Distress Ink (Picked Raspberry, Walnut Stain, Black Soot); Distress Paint (Picket Fence); Jet Black Archival Ink;  Stamp set (Oddities CMS 083); unknown alphabet

I decided to use the same color palette as Tim's because it was out of my comfort zone.  I had to create my own chit chat stickers out of kraft card stock.  The optical lens dangling from the ribbon was a find at a local antique store as was the eye glass lens over the eye.









I was still in the mood to try these same techniques so I picked out my preferred color palette of fall (yellows, oranges, reds, touch of gray-green, and brown).

Supplies:  TH stencils (001, 007, 008, 010, 012, 013); TH stamps (Calendar 2, Mini Halloween 2); Distress Stains (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Tarnished Brass); Distress Paint (Picket Fence); Distress Inks (Peeled paint, Black Soot, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain); Studio 490 white embossing paste; Martha Stewart witch punch; EK Success thumb punches (cat, bat); Idea-ology (skull & crossbones)













What do you see when you play with stains like this?  Do you choose your color palette first and see what stamps call to you?  Do you choose your stamps and then your color palette?  Or do you just randomly grab and see what happens?  No matter which way you choose, have fun and let it just happen!

Anniversary card idea

I don't remember if I saw this idea on Pinterest or where (my rememberer is faulty at times) but I thought it was quite clever.  Here's my version:

The lavender base card is Bazzill cardstock.  Love the Sizzix strip die (Flagpole with Lantern & Sign by Karen Burniston) for the towel bar (scrap of brown cardstock), the towels, heart, trim and initials are also Bazzill cardstock.  The heart is a Sizzix die; the initials are Sizzix 'Type Set' strip die by Tim Holtz, and the trim is an EK Success border punch.

Grungy Monday and birthdays

If you're a follower of Grungy Mondays then you'll know that Tim Holtz' birthday is the 7th.  The lovely Linda thought the best challenge this week would be to create birthday cards for the man.  She'll even supply his address if you want to send him your greetings.  I have a lot on my plate this week and wasn't going to participate but this sentiment has been bugging me for quite some time.  I just had to alter it a bit and knew it was perfect for Tim.

I started out with Tim's clock mask and Blue Patina Perfect Pearls (made my own mist).  Using an EKSuccess punch I made another mask of Mickey and sponged in the centers with Black Soot Distress Ink.  From Calendars 1 I stamped 'January' in Jet Black Archival Ink and distressed with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  I crumpled it a bit before adhering to the background.  Umbrella Man die is 'da bomb'!  He was cut from black cardstock and elevated with grungepaper leftover bits.  The sentiment was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink and cut out, edging the words with blue and brown distress inks.  'Never' was cut from the Typeset die in black cardstock then covered with Glossy Accents.  The background was layered onto a sheet of black cardstock that had distressed edges.  My message inside has to do with betting he never thought his days at Ben Franklin would lead to where he is today. 

Hope your birthday is filled with lots of wonderfulness, Tim!

Very loose interpretation...lol

Oh, you wonder where the mind wanders.  MakingArt challenge 26 on the EWV yahoo group was to use polka dots and a face or eyes...Lori was loose on her wording so I took her at her word. 

I made an anniversary card using Studio 490 stamps (Art From The Heart and Art For Men).  White cardstock is the base card and the layer.  I stamped the text background onto the layer using Snow Cap Pigment Ink, heat set, then rubbed in blue distress inks until the text appeared.  The top and bottom edges were punched with an EK Success border punch (Swiss Cheese?) that reminds me of bubbles.  A strip of white cardstock was smeared with Red Pepper Pigment Ink, heat set, then the polka dot border was stamped in Faded Jeans Distress Ink and heat set again.  It was glued behind the 'bubbles'.

I smeared Red Pepper Pigment Ink on the heart then took the polka dot stamp and pressed it into the ink, removing the polka dots.  This was stamped onto scrapcardstock and cut out.  A bit of Rock Candy Distress Stickles makes it glitzy, not ritzy.

The fish were stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink on more scrap cardstock then colored following the tutorial in Wendy's latest book (#5) on page 26.  If you haven't seen this book, you just have to get it - so many wonderful ideas!

A Sakura Glaze pen was run around the edges of the card for a bit more glitz.

On to the inside of the card...

I stamped the text in Jet Black Archival; the Maya Road chipboard letters were covered with Red Pepper Pigment Ink, heat set, then covered with Diamond Stickles...as were the dots before and after the word 'love'.  Thought the inside could be a bit more ritzy than glitzy.

So, a happy anniversary to someone special...hope they have a good sense of humor!

Double-duty

What luck!  I was able to combine the Simon Says Stamp & Show blog challenge (use a Tim Holtz technique) with the Grungy Monday 19 challenge (Christmas tag 2010, Day 10) and create a holiday tag for my collection.

The Grungy Monday portion you can figure out when you've read all about it in Tim's tutorial.  The technique I chose was Dabber Resist from the Compendium of Curiosities, page 37; it was used on the skeleton.

TH/Sizzix:  Pumpkin Patch embossing folder, Tag & Bookplates die

TH stamps:  Trick-or-Treat, Mini Halloween

Ranger:  all distress ink colors except blue, Jet Black and Sienna Archival Inks, Black Soot Distress Stickles

Misc:  EK Success spider punch, rusty safety pin, stained gauze, fibers, recylcled old packaging

This was a great combination of techniques and I can see myself using it over and over in the future.

Time began in a garden

We have severe weather again and plenty, plenty of rain...at least another 2" after 4" the other day.  My backyard is beginning to look like a swamp and some of my garden statuary has even floated to a different location within the rock bed.  Raging river...a river runs through it...you name it.  But, it's a perfect day to Make Art!

Over on the EWV Yahoo group we've been challenged to create a piece using Wendy's art from Book One, Page 26.  Specifically, we need to include a horizontal ATC and a chipboard circle and use at least one of Wendy's stamps.  I decided to create a page for my garden journal (you can see the cover in my post from May 15). 

I covered a 5 1/2" x 5 3/4" piece of chipboard with some cardstock, distressed the edges with distress ink and added black penstitching.  From my pressed flowers box I found what I'm guessing to be a Black-eyed Susan, or something similar, and made my own slide to house it.  Wendy's leaves were stamped in Gold Paint Dabber onto black shrink plastic. 

The ATC is more chipboard on which I stamped a background image in Snow Cap pigment ink, heat set then rubbed the Peeled Paint Distress Stain across the surface.  More distress inks are on the edge.

The chipboard circle was painted with the Gold Paint Dabber before I stamped Wendy's clock face in Jet Black Archival Ink.  Tim's Idea-ology spinner works well for the clock hands.  More chipboard was colored and stamped with Wendy's belt for the watch band.

An EKSuccess Photo Labels punch was cut out of chipboard, distressed with green ink then stamped Wendy's text in Sepia Archival Ink.  The leafy stem is by Sizzix and was distressed with plenty of green and brown inks.  Love the Dymo Caption Maker for creating interesting text spots! 

Wendy's stamp sets:  Rose Art Part 2, Let Your Art Have Wings, Gentleman's Art, A Form of Art

Out of season

Right about now many of you have put away your cooler weather clothes and are sporting warm weather attire.  I decided to think out of the season for this Grungy Monday tag that features the technique Tim Holtz showed back in September 2008.  I love how the inks bleed when misted with water, especially on watercolor paper! 

Tim Holtz:  Falling Leaves, web from Trick-or-Treat, Odds-n-Ends ticket, Raven & Scaredy Cat  Sizzix die, Typeset strip die

Ranger:  Rust, Caramel, Currant, Lettuce, Butterscotch, Eggplant Adirondack inks; Jet Black Archival Ink

Misc:  Sakura glaze pen, EKSuccess spider punch, fibers, buttons

We do have a lot of leaves falling today but it's because of the high winds, severe t-storms and tornado watches and warnings in effect.  Hope everyone is able to stay and sound if you're in the path of nasty weather!

A friend for all seasons

When I made the birthday card using the Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps last week I was asked about the value of the sets, my thoughts on them, etc.  I own nearly 4 shoeboxes of their sets but am embarrassed and ashamed to say some of them haven't met an ink pad yet and many haven't been used in a long, long time.  So I set out to remedy that situation.  I created 4 ATCs, one for each season, trying to fit a set for each that would be different and not do a wreath on all of them. 

Susan Walton, Rubber Stamp Tapestry owner, recommends using Versacolor pigment inks but most of my pads are dry and I don't have all the re-inkers.  I use the Ranger inks so much that I reach for them first, only using others when I 'have' to because of color or properties.

Spring features the Cherry Blossoms set (SFL34068), a PSX sentiment (F-3292) stamped with Black Archival ink, EKSuccess Scalloped Punch, Stickles:  Diamond, Lavender, Baby Blue and Lime Green.  Distress inks used: Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy.  Tombow markers:  blue, green and purple.













Summer features the Sand Dollar & Starfish Border (AQU00003), My Sentiments Exactly (H179) stamped with Black Archival ink, sandpaper, charm and fishing line.  Distress inks used: Bundled Sage, Tattered Rose, Stormy Sky, Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Weathered Wood.  Wild Honey Distress Stickles was used on the sandpaper.  The birds are from Tim Holtz' Lost & Found.

Fall features the Pumpkin Border (SFV10004).  The tree is Wendy Vecchi's from Mail Art, stamped in Coffee Archival ink. Tim Holtz' Halloween ticket (Odds & Ends) was stamped in Black Archival ink and distressed with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The bats were punched using an EKSuccess punch.  Distress inks used: Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain.










Winter features the Winter Pine Border (SBR04004) and Designer
Block Prints (UNM6202).  The pine tree was punched from a Sizzix die.  Santa was cut from Tim Holtz' Seasonal Stash paper and covered with Glossy Accents.  Distress inks used: Pine Needle, Walnut Stain and Frayed Burlap.  A gold marker decorated the tree along with a gold star brad.

The ATCs coordinate with this card that uses all Hero Arts stamps, a Tim Holtz fragment charm and some black embroidery floss.  I used Ranger dye and pigment inks in Lettuce, Butterscotch, Terra Cotta and Denim.