Day 4 - Embossed stencil

This is one of my all-time favorite stencils by the fabulous Wendy Vecchi of Studio 490!  I guess because the natural colors of brick are my preferred color palette. 

Ingredients:  Studio 490 Brick Wall stencil, white card stock, Bazzill cardstock, Studio 490 'Residential Art' and 'Homemade Art' stamp sets, Tim Holtz 'Wood Planks' texture fade, Maya Road chipboard house, Jet Black Archival Ink, Antique Linen Distress Embossing Powder, Distress Embossing Ink

Another keeper!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a card I sent out to a few people.

Exterior

Interior

'Love' was stamped in red archival ink using an old Memory Makers foam stamp set (Jersey UC font).  The inside features Tim's mini globe, ticket and mini heart.  The sentiment was created with a Dymo Caption Maker (the pink one with 3 font wheels included). 

The globe was cut from green and blue paper and put back together using the appropriate global colors.  I colored the stand's metal pieces using silver and gold paint dabbers.

Here's a paint brush project that I'll give my sweetie later today along with the 2 cards I made him (shared in earlier posts).

The paintbrush was painted with Claudine Hellmuth's Traditional Tan paint, sanded then distressed with brown archival inks.

The mini lock and key were cut from grunge board and I used Tim's Rusted Grunge technique on them  (Compendium Book 1, Page 45).  The mini cupid was cut from heavy chipboard and run through one of Tim's embossing folders.  Cupid was painted with the black paint dabber before adding gold paint onto the raised areas.  He's holding 2 mini red kraft core'dinations hearts that were sanded and edged in brown distress ink.

Maya Road chipboard flourishes were layered behind the crinoline flower (mini poinsettia and tattered florals and leaves dies that were colored with distress stains and edged with gold paint).  The flourishes were also painted black and highlighted with gold. 

'Love' was spray-painted black through an older Sizzix embossing brass stencil (removed from the plastic folder).

Generic ribbons were distressed and placed at the top and around the metal band on the paint brush.

Just another way to let my sweetie know he swept me off my feet 30 years ago!

So in love

Admittedly I'm finding working on themes of love and Valentines a bit tough these days.  The anniversary of our first date falls right before Valentine's Day so I have a number of 'love' occasions that call for a card...or 2. 

Over on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group we're into the 2nd MakingArt challenge.  Lori has stepped away from Wendy's books this time and has asked the participants to incorporate the following items into their art: Pop 'N Cuts, a heart, glitter, and of course, at least one Studio 490 stamp.  No Pop 'N Cuts?  No problem!  Use a dimensional piece for the interior of the card.  Hey, we're not that strict around here!  lol

 I used numerous blue and orange distress inks on top layer of my card front then overstamped with the background text (Art From The Heart) in Jet Black Archival Ink.  In the lower left hand corner I smeared some of Wendy's embossing paste and immediately stamped in to it, misting the stamp first, and washing it right away afterwards.  Once dry, I added more orange inks to the top so you can see what was stamped (also from AFTH).

The heart (AFTH) was stamped into a glue pad then on my cardstock and quickly covered with Art Institute Glitter...a gorgeous bright fall orange.  Reminder to self:  don't use this glue again as it's not very durable.  Sigh.  An Sizzix mini arrow (TH) was cut from coordinating patterned cardstock and layered behind the heart.  A Martha Stewart silk ribbon bow finishes the heart.

I've layered several coordinating cardstock strips (cut with Sizzix dies and a Martha Stewart border punch) at the top, top middle, and lower parts of the card.

More coordinating cardstock was used to cut a 2nd medallion for the pop part.  A grungeboard heart and a Maya Road key complete the medallion.  The mini portrait dies were cut from kraft core core'dinations and sanded.  More cardstock and grungeboard hearts complete the card.  Behind the medallion the portraits and heart are on wire that kind of bobble when the card is opened.

This card certainly isn't your typical Valentine palette but I think I like it even better.

If you don't have the Pop 'N Cuts system I hope you'll look into getting it.  There are so many options for this and it makes cardmaking so easy and quick.  The hardest part for me is knowing when to stop adding elements!  lol

Fall into fall

Here in the U.S. the first day of fall was Saturday.  And a gorgeous day it was here in central Illinois.  Because of the drought and heat I doubt we'll have much of a show of color in our trees.  So I thought I'd make up for that with this entry for the challenge hosted by Frilly & Funkie.  They are offering a $25 gift certificate to their store as well as a chance to have your project named best in the competition.  The challenge closes Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Autumn is my favorite time of year...I love the color palette of browns, golds, oranges, greens and the dark reddish-purples.  I don't mind raking leaves but would prefer to scuffle through them on my morning walk.   Our flowers have pretty much gone to seed which make the birds very happy.

So, on with the show!  Up first is a completely (gasp!) naked 3" chip brush.  I found a 12 pack of them at the big box hardware store so I'm sure another one will show up every now and again.

Here's the back of the finished brush...you can see what happens when you cover it with Antique Linen distress crackle paint and a wash of watered down brown acrylic paint with a touch of Coffee archival ink rubbed along the edges.  It looks so old and beat up!

And here's the finished brush!  I really didn't know when to stop adding flowers and leaves.  A number of Kraft core'dinations strips were cut using Tim's Tattered Floral Garland and Autumn Gatherings alterations dies.  Before removing the die cuts from the strips I sanded them.  Saw that Tim had done that and I really like the effect; plus it's way easier than trying to do it on a fragile petal or leaf stem.

The petals were misted with water and formed with a ball roller or just my fingers.  Ditto for the leaves...floral and from the trees.  Some of them were smudged with distress inks.

The flower centers are small wood beads I colored with Ranger's archival inks in several colors.  Some took the color better than others but I guess that mimics nature.

I used some torn burlap around the top of the handle.  From it dangles a Maya Road canvas tag that I dipped in some distress stain and distress ink.  The word 'autumn' was stamped in Jet Black archival ink and is from Stamp Camp.  Mist, wad, heat.  Love it!

Perhaps I should add a pot or 2 of mums to my front stoop...the pumpkins, gourds and leaf garlands look kinda lonely without some flowers sporting their fall wardrobe.

From a Holtzian Garden

Good job Linda gave us 2 weeks to start or finish a configurations box because it's taken me almost all of that time to come up with an idea and then execute it.  The 11th and 12th challenge for the Compendium of Curiosities Vol.2, is to play with the configurations boxes.  To find out how Tim started his, check out pages 33 and 34 in his book.  You must include 2 techniques that Tim used (but with your own flair).  Did you check out Linda's blog to see the awesomest prize package of Tim goodies that Mario sent for one lucky winner???  Wow!!!!!

I did finish the outsides of my inner box so it can be displayed with or without the cover.  I found it easier to make a template for my inner boxes before ruining good paper.  Not all boxes are created equal! 

From the front

I chose the 5.5"x5.5" configurations box and removed 2 of them.  The shovel and gloves have been sitting in a drawer just waiting to be used in a project.  The gloves were inked with green & brown distress inks.  The shovel's handle was sanded and stained (more brown distress ink).  I mixed up some modeling paste and brown paint and dipped the shovel into it...once dry it works as dirt!

From Psychedelic Grunge I stamped the rays in yellow, orange and red archival inks onto shrink plastic.  Once shrunk I dabbed blue archival ink on the back to represent the sunshine needed to garden.  The grungeboard umbrella is from the Iconic Grungeboard collection.  You need rain to garden...wish we'd get some; we're so, so dry! 

The roses were cut from mulberry paper using Tim's Tattered Pinecone Die.  It makes excellent roses!  I used the Tattered Flower Garland and Autumn Gatherings dies for the leaves and flowers (used up lots of scraps).  All were treated to various distress inks.  The Sizzix Leafy Branch die is on the left hand side of the larger opening.  It reminds me of the morning glories that grow wild and strangle my flowers and bushes.

another front view

Using Maya Road chipboard letters (Mini Jonathan) and scraps of grungeboard, I created faux woodblock stamps.  I believe Tim shared this technique on his blog a long time ago.  I love these and make them frequently.

Paper from Tim's Lost & Found Stash covers the outside of the box (also my color inspiration) and paper from Retro Grunge (green pages) was chosen for the insides of the boxes.  Brown archival ink was wiped over all the tissue tape and papers to make them look aged. 

side view

Tip:  burnish, burnish, burnish the tissue tape with a bone folder will make it lie flat and smooth.  A bit of Matte Medium or Glue 'N Seal will hold down any unruly bits that just don't want to play nice.

I'll also be sharing this project on Maya Road's Facebook page.  Each month during the summer (starting with July) you can enter a project and it will be entered into a random drawing for a Maya Road prize package valued at $20.  Maya Road products work well with Tim's papers, inks, stamps and techniques.

Happy gardening!

"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! 

Trifecta

I'm usually not very good at combining multiple challenges but I was lucky this week.  Over on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group we were discussing inspirations words for the year.  I chose 'create' because I wanted to go beyond what I've been doing.  Following the InkStains blog, Roni is creating a house journal of monthly techniques complete with a calendar per page, even providing some links to small ones that are a great size to use on most projects.  I decided not to use her house template but instead Tim Holtz' Vintage Valise die...a die that I've had but never used.  Doesn't that constitute as something new?  If so, then it will work for the SimonSaysStamp&Show blog where 'something old, something new' is the theme.  The Terminology Tissue Wrap is also new but everything else I used and every technique is old (at least it's been used or I've done it before).  I was also able to use one of Shelly Hickox's tutorials to create a faux enamel (number) tag.  She was recently asked to design some pieces of art for Tim so you know she's got some great ideas!

I crumpled the Terminology Tissue Wrap before adhering it to the chipboard valise.  Several distress stains were wiped/smeared on it.  The corners were colored, distressed and have Crackle Accents on them.  The long strips and hinge pieces for them were stamped with background stamps from Studio 490.  The Maya Road chipboard letters were colored (roygbv), distressed and have Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint on them. 

Once all 12 calendar pages of techniques are complete I'll be binding this using my Cinch.  On the back of each page I've listed the supplies used as well as the directions.  This will be another handy, all-in-one journal that I can use when my mojo has taken a leave of absence.

Ranger:  Fired Brick, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain Distress Stains; Gathered Twigs, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Black Soot Distress Inks; Coffee, Jet Black Archival Inks; Rocky Candy Distress Crackle Paint; Gold Paint Dabber; Crackle Accents; Glue N' Seal

Maya Road Chipboard letters

Tim Holtz:  Vintage Valise die; Terminology Tissue Wrap; Tiny Fasteners

Studio 490 stamps:  Ticket To Art, Believe In Art

Re-use, recycle, repurpose

Gee, that's been my mantra for a long time so I'm glad to see that this theme for the challenge on the Simon Says Stamp & show blog.  I've been saving used coffee filters the past few weeks just so I could make a garden full of flowers for some friends of mine.  Even though the coffee filters were really cool in their used state I wanted to add more color so out came the distress stains and inks.  You can cut multiple layers of flowers in the Spellbinders dies since the filters are so thin.  What a timesaver!

This is a 6x6 heavy duty chipboard  page that is covered in Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas and plenty of her paints.  The flourishes (Coffee archival ink) are Studio 490, the butterfly and my initial are from Maya Road, Martha Stewart branch punch, and Sizzix swirly heart frame.  The purple Washi tape just doesn't like sticking to the canvas...perhaps it wasn't dry enough.  I did stamp some text on it in Jet Black archival ink and it's only barely seen which is fine. I've done some hit-or-miss with the Gold paint dabber and there's Rock Candy distress stickles on both layers of the butterfly.  The heart and initial were covered in Walnut Stain and Dusty Concord crackle paints; more Coffee archival was smeared into the cracks.

In loving memory

At first I thought this week's Grungy Monday challenge was a bit strange...to create a loving tribute to someone no longer in our lives.  But then I got to thinking about it being Halloween (the first day of the challenge), the Day of the Dead, etc. and figured it fit in pretty well.  My best friend for nearly 21 years was my cat, Pi.  When I got her as a 6-week old kitten my 10-year old mind would never have thought about how long she would live.  She went from coast to coast with me, even doing a stint in Canada for a few months.  If she could talk I'm sure she'd share more stories than I would care for you to hear.  lol  She loved opening presents...tearing and clawing at the paper like a young child.  She knew a treat of catnip was inside...she just couldn't get to it fast enough!  Here's my #8 tag remembering my special friend one Christmas morning many, many years ago.

I used Tim's tag from the 12 Days of Christmas, Day 2, 2008 as my inspiration.  The pine tree stamp I created from his die and a foam sheet.

Ranger:  glossy cardstock; Denim, Stream, Slate, Eggplant, Silver Metallic Mixative alcohol inks; Bottle, Meadow, Espresso Adirondack inks; clear embossing powder; Blue Violet archival ink; Butterscotch, Cranberry Adirondack acrylic paints; Chipped Sapphire, Gathered Twigs distress inks

Tim Holtz:  Tag & Bookplate die, Pine tree die, snowflakes from Mini Holidays

Maya Road: large bottle cap, chipboard letters

Oktoberfest

So, this weekend culminates the end of Oktoberfest.  We'll be celebrating by having a big party at a neighbor's home with all the trimmings.  I can't wait!  Love the food and even more, the German beer!!!

My maternal family line is German; my great-grandparents often spoke it in front of us if they didn't want us to know what they were saying.  My grandparents wouldn't teach it to my mom and her brother because they were afraid of what their peers would say or do.  To honor my German heritage and participate in the latest MakingArt! challenge on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group I've created a tag using the required vintage text paper.  Mine is actually a page torn from a German book.

I really enjoy creating #8 tags.  They're a super size to try out a technique, small enough so you're not overwhelmed yet large enough to have plenty of room to stamp and embellish.

First off I clear embossed Bertha of Savoy, a German queen. The German flag is represented on the tag in equal bands of black, red, and yellow (distress inks).  The text was stamped with the gold paint dabber and Jet Black archival ink.  All the stamps are from Regal Art.  The crown is from Maya Road and has more gold paint on it.  (I'm a gold kinda girl...no silver for me.)

On the computer I generated the text to fit in one of the smaller Spellbinders Labels 4 dies.  Bertha* was born 21 September 1051 and died 27 December 1087.   Lastly I edged the tag with the gold paint dabber.

*My great-grandmother was named Bertha so it was only fitting I chose Bertha of Savoy to reign on my tag. 

Auf wiedersehen!

Time 2 bloom

Not only did I make a second tag for the EWV 25th challenge but I also pulled out Ranger's Perfect Pearls which I hadn't used in a long time.  This tag features Studio 490's Rose Art Part 2 stamps.

Here's a sample of Ranger's new black #8 tag.  Isn't it neat?  I stamped the background stamp in the Perfect Medium and brushed Perfect Gold over the entire image.  For the berries I made a mixture of Forever Red and water.  I stamped and cut out one large rose and 3 smaller ones out of black cardstock.

Using a technique I learned from Kristy Dreyer back in 2002 I colored the petals using Forever Red Perfect Pearls and a scrap of Rubit Scrubit pad.  With a bit of PP on the pad mist lightly with water.  I swirled the pad on the cardstock to create multiple circles, especially on the petal edges.  The leaves were inked up with Perfect Medium and brushed with Forever Green.

The clock was stamped with clear embossing ink and heat set with clear embossing powder.  I spritzed it with a mix of PP FR and water before punching it out.  A game spinner from Tim gives the clock some hands. 

I brushed PP PG on black cardstock for one border and layered it onto another piece of plain black cardstock.  On top of this are Maya Road chipboard letters (Jonathan mini) that were inked up then heat embossed with Ranger's Frosted Crystal embossing powder - some cool texture to these.  Over this I brushed PP FG then wiped a bit off so they'd look aged. 

The number 2 is a metal charm that I painted with gesso before adding several layers of Black Enamel Accents.

Although we're nearing the first day of fall so 'time 2 bloom' is a bit late, I do hope you'll find time to 'bloom' in your happy space and make art!

Anything goes with rock candy

Yes, ANYTHING!  This may look like an ordinary wood box (5.75"x4.75"x3.25") but it's not.  Yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of my father's death and I've been trying to figure out how to decorate the box that contains his ashes.

I used Walnut Stain Distress Stain all over the exterior of the box but knew it was not what I wanted.  I then wiped down a watered Snow Cap Pigment Ink over that and was very pleased with the new color.  Kind of like the wood was pickled.  The inside was painted with Claudine Hellmuth's Traditional Tan paint with a bit of watered down Espresso Color Wash over that for an uneven tone. 

The top is adorned with 3 faux wood block letters (Maya Road), a patriotic piece from Tim Holtz's Seasonal Stash, and leaves, bark, mica and a twig.  I did coat the leaves with Claudine's Multi-Medium (matte) for a longer-lasting finish.  The patriotic piece was adhered to chipboard, sanded, smeared with Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Walnut Stain Distress Ink wiped over that and metal corners were added for protection.  Let me explain the significance of these items.

When my dad left the service it was as a Colonel in the Army Reserves.  He was very proud to serve his country.  While he never saw active duty abroad, he was ready if they should call him.  The natural materials are an equally important part of his life.  When my dad retired he worked for the parks department in their community.  He was so well liked and his job performance was such that the park was eventually named for him.  He took pride in everything he did and it showed.

Wendy's stamps from Evidence of Art were a perfect fit for this keepsake.  The sentiment (stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink edged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink) on top portrays many of his feelings.  The license plates are from the Seasonal Stash sticker book.  These are the states he lived in during his lifetime.  The tree was stamped in Coffee Archival Ink.  I took my pinky and dabbed it into Pale Ochre, Monarch Orange, Crimson, Sienna and Olive Archival Inks to show off the leaves.  I squirted Rock Candy Distress Stickles on my craft sheet and once again dipped my pinky into it and touched each of the colored leaves.  Fortunately my pinky was a perfect fit!  The label holder is by Creative Impressions and the label has his birth and death years.



The photo frame was a glossy blonde - yuk!  I sanded some of the gloss off and ran the Walnut Stain Distress Stain over it, waited a moment or two, then wiped off the excess.  I love how this looks!  And this little guy is my dad!  I don't think he was even 1 at the time (1930).

I'm really, really pleased with how this turned out and I think he would be too.  I hope that the folks over at Simon Says Stamp & Show (Anything Goes challenge) and Linda (Grungy Monday - Rock Candy Crackle Paint and/or Distress Stickles challenge) think so as well.  And a big thank you to Tim, Wendy, and Ranger for such awesome products and stamps!

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. 

Another out of date range holiday

Oh yeah, sometimes you just have to work on an idea when it pops up whether it's date-relevant or not.  Since I still had some Perfect Pearls-Distress Ink mixes left from my project on Wednesday I decided to use them in my Simon Says Stamp & Show blog project that must feature a flourish.  In fact, they were the catalyst for my idea.  Well, what would you do with red, green, gold and brown?  Yup, Christmas!

I started out with a 5" chipboard circle and painted it with Claudine Hellmuth's Traditional Tan paint but left some spots bare.  Once dry I stamped Wendy's poinsettia flourish in Jet Black Archival Ink.  Various brown distress inks were sponged over the the entire piece then I smeared some Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint over all, again not being too neat.  After the crackling was done I smeared more brown distress inks over the piece.

Using the leftover Mini Mister mixtures, I sprayed another piece of cardstock with all the colors (not overlapping the colors).  Wendy's image was stamped multiple times so I could cut and stack the layers.  Between each layer is a bit of foam tape; the flower petals were pinched for more dimension.

Maya Road chipboard flourishes were touched up with Peeled Paint DI as well as the green MM mix.  The brown MM provided the background for the stamped fragment.  The Gold Paint Dabber was run around the edge as a finishing touch.

Using some of the leftover crepe paper ribbon from Wednesday's tag I sprayed it with the red mix then ran it through my Big Shot using Tim's medium rosette die.  I did have to add tape to the back side as the ribbon is thin and fragile.  LOTS of glue holds this fiddly piece on...but it was worth the hassle (I think).  Last, but not least, I confiscated some gold chain from an old necklace.

I know quite a few stores celebrate Christmas in July.  After all, crafters need to get started early if they're going to finish cards, decorations and gifts in time.  So think of this as my way of jump starting the creativity process.  You probably don't want to hear this but I already have my holiday card idea worked out.

Let's hear it for the red, white and blue!

Hope you're having a safe & happy 4th of July!  And that your a/c is working since so much of the country is experiencing some sizzling hot days.

Lori, our wonderful list mom on the EWV group, chose a color theme for this challenge as opposed to using one of Wendy's art pieces for inspiration.  Of course, using Wendy's stamps (I folowed her style as well) were still required.  The Maya Road chipboard flower negative and words had been sitting on my desktop for quite some time.  Things just sort of 'happened' when I saw them and this is the result.

Studio 490 stamps: Celestial Art, Make Mine Mini Art, Live & Make Art

Ranger:  Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber; Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans, Fired Brick Distress Inks; Picket Fence, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans Distress Stickles; Jet Black, Coffee Archival Ink

Miscellaneous:  red plaid scrap, brads, seam binding

Ticket to ride

If you haven't played with alcohol inks lately, now's the time to get them out and do some pouncing!  The latest Grungy Monday theme is based on Tim's Ranger video all about alcohol inks.  A lot of inking took place for on this #11.  There's also alcohol ink ideas on the eclecticPaperie blog hog today through Monday, July 4th...plus 5 giveaways. 

A bit of Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, and Peeled Paint Distress Inks were applied to make the tag look aged.  Next came Tim's bicycle stamp in Saffron, Monarch Orange (new colors!), and Crimson (retired) Archival Inks.  For the fun bit...pouncing Lemonade, Butterscotch, Peach Bellini, Terra Cotta, Red Pepper, Latte and Ginger on 3 different pieces of glossy cardstock. 

Tim's stamps (3 Men, calendar page and bicycle background info) were stamped in Jet Black and Coffee Archival Inks.  The ticket stamp was stamped on white cardstock and aged with whatever brown was on my blending tool.  After looking up a possible year for this calendar page, I handwrote the message using a Sharpie.  (ffrom the sets of Steampunk, Pen & Pencil, Odds and Ends, Calendar)

The word 'ride' was stamped using Hero Arts Quill LowerCase Letters in Espresso Adirondack Ink and my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig (sorry Tim, I do overthink sometimes!).

Miscellaneous:  Maya Road bingo piece (day of the race), gold chain, brads, black cardstock, Idea-ology gear

Putting on the bling

If you know me at all, you know that I am NOT a bling-y person.  Don't wear much jewelry - ever, not even my wedding ring.  So when the challenge was issued over on the EWV Yahoo group to use some bling, I went out of my way, it seems, to use it where possible on this piece.  You be the judge...is it bling-y enough?

My 3-D wardrobe screen comes complete with rhinestone-studded gold gloves, diamond-encrusted tiara, gold-tipped ebony hanger, gold lame skirt and blouse.  Now you can't get much bling-ier than that!  lol

Studio 490:  Fashion Style and Art stamps; Dress Forms & More Art Parts

Tim Holtz: Woodgrain and  Damask embossing folders,  Mini Cabinet Card die (cut 3 but only 1 in full), hitch fastener

Sizzix:   Crescent Tag

Ranger:  Gold Acrylic Paint Dabber, Pitch Black and Snow Cap pigment inks, Tea Dye and Walnut Stain distress inks

Maya Road:  chipboard crown, hanger

Miscellaneous:  square sandwich toothpicks (legs for wardrobe screen and shelf), mini wood clothespins, jewels, foil (mirror)

If you'd care to see the inspiration piece, you can check out Wendy's second book, page 14.  It's amazing where a little bit of inspiration can take you!

By the numbers...2, 4, 3x3

A twofer!!!  Thank goodness Simon Says Stamp & Show Blog and the Grungy Monday 06 challenges would work out for a two-fer because I've been plenty busy this week.  A funeral took me out of town for 2 days, I've spread 6 cubic yards of mulch, finished planting my veggie & herb garden, planted a lot of perennials and quite a few hanging baskets and planters, attended an out-of-town college graduation and have another one this weekend as well as a class with Wendy Vecchi (yes!).  I'll be heading to nw IL shortly for some stops along the way before reaching my destination.  Oh, my entry?  Sure, guess I'd better share now before I bog you down with any more details you don't really care to hear.  Sorry!

My 3x3 Sticky notepad cover started out as a 8 1/2"x  4 1/8" tag.  The weathered wood technique in greens and browns is the background (inside and out), then added more Tim stamps, foliage and Maya Road flower to decorate inside and out.

Ranger products:  Lettuce, Gold Pigment Ink; Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain Distress Inks; Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Powder; Sepia, Coffee, Jet Black Archival Inks

Tim stamps:  Nature's Elements, Nature's Moments

Now maybe I won't have to search so hard for paper when I need to jot down an idea or add to my shopping wish list!

Grungy grandma

Okay, she would definitely not like being called that but since I'm using a 4"x6" photo of her for a Grungy Monday entry, that's what it is.  So there.  Yep, time for another Grungy Monday project.   It's week 4 and the theme is to use Texture Fades and Distress Ink, per Tim's video.  He's offered two ideas using these products; I chose to use the coloring method, not the stamping one.

It's hard to detect the colors and texture but I used Tim's Damask Texture Fade with Antique Linen, Old Paper and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.

Because I chose a picture frame I ended up doing this technique on an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper that I cut into fourths.  While the pieces were drying I coated the frame with Claudine Hellmuth's Traditional Tan paint.  Then the pieces were torn to fit and glued to the Darice particleboard frame using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi Medium in Matte.  That stuff is awesome!  I did go around the frame's edges with a bit of Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to set off the colors.

Now the fun begins!  Decorating the frame that will house a wedding photo of my maternal grandparents.  My mom keeps ogling the one I made earlier so this one will be her Mother's Day gift.

All flowers and leaves were cut from ivory cardstock.  Some were stamped, all were colored with Weathered Wood Distress Ink (smoosh on my craft sheet, spritz with water, let soak, crumple or form, let dry).  The oak leaf is a leftover using Tim's Shabby Chic technique.










Here's a closeup of the flower corner so you can see the dimension.  The layers are over 1" deep.

Ingredients used:
Wendy Vecchi: Botanical Art--Tim Holtz:  Tattered Florals, Tattered Leaves, Ticket, key (sanded off most of the copper color), Damask Texture Fade--Maya Road: chipboard word, leaf pin--Ranger:  Antique Linen, Old Paper, Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass, Brushed Corduroy, Clear Embossing Distress Inks; Black, Sepia Archival Inks; UTEE; Silver embossing powder; Brushed Pewter, Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paints--Hero Arts:  pearls--Sizzix:  Flower Layers #2 die--Martha Stewart fern punch--Claudine Hellmuth:  Traditional Tan paint; Matte Multi Medium

Now I just have to make a card to accompany the gift...good job I have several days to do that!  lol

I hit the trifecta!!!

Well, not really but I do think I scored big with this entry that meets the requirements for three challenges.  Linda's Grungy Monday was using the Ranger Adirondack Colorwash Stains, Simon Says Stamp & Blog wanted some Distressing, and the ninth challenge for the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group needed at least 3 buttons and some dimensional grungepaper or grungeboard objects (the inspiration piece can be found in Book 1, page 24--a card).

I started off with a chipboard square; painted it with Mushroom Acrylic Paint Dabber; stamped on it using Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber.  Let's see...Tim's Tissue Tape frames the stamped background, edged in Gold Paint Dabber.

Ranger:  Colorwash Stains on the watercolor paper flowers and leaves: Butterscotch, Pesto, Lettuce, Denim, Eggplant, Wild Plum;  Archival inks: Olive, Jet Black; Distress Stickles: Old Paper; Distress Crackle Paint: Picket Fence; Distress Inks: Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Paper, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick; Enamel Accents: Black

Tim Holtz:  Tattered Florals, Hanging Sign, Caged Bird Sizzix dies; stamp from Adverts, Sheet Music embossing folder

Wendy Vecchi: stamps from Art-Fully Said, Art Fit for a Queen, Make Mine Mini Art

Maya Road: Jonathan Mini chipboard alphabet

Martha Stewart: green silk ribbon

So, there's defiinitely plenty of color stains, lots of distressing with paints, glitters, inks and my fingers, more than 3 buttons and several grungepaper dimensional elements.  Ta da!