Rough start to summer

Even though we got a summer off from cancer treatments life continues to throw us some curve balls.  I caught a nasty cold, and, being the good wife that I am (lol) I just had to share it with Walt.  After 2+ weeks we're finally seeing the end of that mess - thank goodness.  But then our little tortoiseshell kitty, Amber, developed health complications that couldn't be fixed.  My sister's cat was in grave health.  Monday afternoon both crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I've had no energy or desire to craft in any way, shape or form.

But yesterday I got a bee in my bonnet, as my grandma would say, and I decided to make a retirement booklet for an old friend back in NJ.  I think he'll get a charge out of the card/gift.  I made a female version of this a number of years ago and it was the hit of the party.  Hope this one brings a smile to JT's face.

 

I found an 8-panel accordion fold card by The Paper Cut up in the closet - perfect!  The day stamps are Jenni Bowlin; the fellas are from Art Impressions, the dies are by Sizzix and the ink if Ranger's Jet Black Archival and Watermark Resist.  The text is Hero Arts.  All images were stamped on watercolor paper and colored using distress markers scribbled on my Ranger craft sheet.

Joy bell pull

Didn't realize until after I'd taken the photo that this project will qualify for 2 challenges.  The first is over at Studio L3, the 2nd compendium challenge using paper rosettes, and at Inspiration Emporium, 'joyful creations'. 

The bell pull is about 18" long.  I used the Sizzix Mini Paper Rosettes die with green Bazzill cardstock.  The edges of the rosettes and ribbons were all touched by Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Maya Road chipboard letters were covered with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and Aged Mahogany Distress Stickles.

The buttons are Jenni Bowlin and tied with cranberry twine.  Don't know who makes the word tiles (Greetings, Joy, and Happy Holidays), ribbons, brads or d-ring.

The day is so overcast and the bell pull so long...hence terrible photograph.  I'm sure I can also blame the operator.  lol

Embossable grunge

It kind of sounds like 'Impossible Dream', doesn't it?  That's very nearly where this stayed...in my dreams. 

Trust me when I say that Fired Brick Distress Stain on an unfinished wood frame with Picket Fence Crackle Paint over it is NOT a pretty thing...unless you love Pepto Bismol pink!  lol  Oh my, this was definitely not going to work with the photo of 3 kids peeking out of an opening on an old red barn.  Note:  If you've not played with Ranger's Crackle Paint, let me tell you that it does not act like other crackle mediums in that the base color really doesn't show through the cracks.  It's meant to have a color wiped over the cracks.

I called out to all my Ranger distress inks, distress stains, pigment inks and archival inks in nearly every hue to remedy this mess.  After much playing around I finally came up with a color I could accept on this 6.5"x8.5" frame.

Not only is this a birthday present for my neighbor* (little girl on top) but it also fits the requirements for challenges on the Simon Says Stamp & Show blog (embossing) and Grungy Monday over on the StudioL# blog (grungeboard/grungepaper).  Thank you, T!m Holtz, for getting us such cool products!  The 3 larger flowers are grungepaper and have been embossed using Spellbinders dies (cut and emboss) while the tractor was heat embosssed on grungeboard.  I watercolored the tractor mixing 2 Nick Bantok ink colors.  Ranger doesn't make 'John Deere green' ink...lol!

Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies:  Tattered Florals, Elegant Flourish, Hardware Findings

Spellbinders:  Daisy Heads & Leaves

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms (tractor)

Ranger:  Distress Inks (9 colors), Distress Stain (4 colors), Crackle Paint (2 colors), Pigment Ink (3 colors), Superfine Black Embossing Powder, Nick Bantok ink (2 colors)

Jenni Bowlin:  Bingo card

Bazzill:  chipboard rectangle

Maya Road:  chipboard letter

Grungepaper and grungeboard, misc. buttons, twine, rusty wire, brads, glass bottle, ribbon, vintage ad from paper sack, TH paper clip

*  This is the neighbor that LOVES grungy stuff, rusty things, old buttons, vintage bottles and flowers.  One of her brothers is on the bottom of the heap, the little girl in the middle is her cousin.  This barn was on her parents' farm but it's no longer standing.  There are still barns on the property, along with several vintage tractors.  They had several horses when she was a young girl, hence the ad in the bottle.  I've gone 'picking' in the attic of one of the barns...cool window frames, old glass bottles, etc.  Fun but scary because some of the floorboards are missing.