Happy Thanksgiving!

thanksgiving...an act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God.

I have so much to be thankful for...friends, family, health, wealth enough to satisfy our needs, a warm home, food on the table, my art.

Thank you for coming to visit my blog and see what I've been creating.  Many days I get a lot of lookers but no comments.  I've often wondered why but don't dwell on the question.  I hope that you still come away with inspiration of some sort and stop back in soon.  I try to mix up my art...clean, grungy, holiday, scrapbook, crafts, etc.  There are so many mediums...ATCs, wood, glass, plastic, paper, tags, grungebooks, etc.  The ideas are endless, thanks to places like Pinterest. 

Thank you, God, for all that you have given me!

Who are you?

As soon as I saw Linda Ledbetter's post about the newest CCC3 challenge I knew what layering stencils I wanted to use.  Whew!  Sometimes I overthink these challenges but this time my hands and heart just flew through the whole process.

Stampers Anonymous Phrases 2 HC006 and Jet Black Archival Ink; layering stencils (woodgrain, measured, speckles); distress inks; clear embossing ink and powder; copper embossing powder; leaves and acorn mini mover & shapers dies; token/jump ring/distress paint; ribbon; Botanical Remnant Rub

You'll have to check out Tim's latest book (see page 50) to learn more about the technique.  I used several older techniques on this tag (spritz & flick, distressed edges); they are always winners in my book.

And don't forget the big prize from Tim & Mario that you'll get if you're chosen by the Curiosity Crew.  Wowza!  And it gets better!  The Funkie Junkie is sponsoring the challenge and has a $25 gift certificate to their on-line store to a randomly chosen artist!  It's fun shopping with Linda Coughlin and she always includes some really neat freebies with your order.

Hope to see your art in the gallery!

Reflections

The twelfth Altered Playing Card challenge is all about reflections.  First I need to discover what I like about myself; secondly, things I am thankful for.  Wow, I think this is harder for me than it is to actually create some art.

On both cards:  decorative card stock, doodled around the edges, drawn journaling lines (brown Sharpie).  Sizzix/TH alpha die leftovers covered with Black Enamel Accents.  Martha Stewart maple leaf punch.  Black Sharpie to add my reflections.

Thank you, Claudine, for another push to make a piece of art!  They may be small but I do feel good when they're done and I can say I've accomplished something.

Wintry blast

Claudine is using another technique on this week's challenge for the Altered Playing Cards.  It's also about recycling.  She often uses paper towels under her work when she uses sprays.  So why not take those towels and create art?

 On this card I glued the towel directly to the gesso'd playing card.  Studio 490 embossing paste was used on Tim's Holiday Knits layering stencil and Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles Dry Glitter was sprinkled over the top; let dry.  The JustRite stamps are pre-inked.

I tried to get the sprayed towel to transfer to the card but it wasn't happening so I sprayed the same colors onto the card and let them dry.  Same effect, just darker.  The earlier effect was way too pale.  On watercolor paper I stamped the boy and snowman; colored with distress markers.  Cut out and applied texture paste to the snow at the bottom of the card.  The sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly M373-IO) was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.  The snowflakes (Mini Holidays 3 CS114) were stamped in Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.







We had snow flurries last week and more are on tap for this week.  I'm more than ready for the air to get clear and dry and watch the flakes pile high and glisten. 

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!

Leaf

I tried to come up with a different theme for Tim's November tag but my mojo seemed to have jumped ship.  So I followed Tim's lead, had fun with it and was pleased with the results.  Why knock what works?

Here's my base tag...really  hated to cover it up.  Oh well.  I used Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door distress paints.

And here's the finished product.

#8 tag, corrugated cardboard
Burlap layering stencil
Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain distress inks
Melted Chocolate Dylusions Sprays
Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist
Tarnished Brass distress paint on alpha parts and arrow sticker
Industrious sticker, vial label, remnant rub, alpha parts, ribbon remnants, foil linen ribbon colored with watered down distress paints
Layered Leaf embossing folder and die set

I'd like to try this with the wings and do it in blues and silvers.  Make it more like in memory of a special someone who has left the physical world.

More altered playing cards

It's week 10 and the theme is quirky and whimsical.  I wouldn't say this is my style but it was rather fun to dabble in the process.

By the numbers...

Distress paints (Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Weathered Wood) over gesso

Paper Artsy stamp (Dolls-Plate 1); SA Clear Stamps (Phrases 2 HC006)

Jet Black Archival Ink

Black and white permanent pens

Get in touch...

Claudine Hellmuth paints (Landscape Green, Classic Teal) over gesso

Paper Artsy stamp (Dolls-Plate 1)

Jet Black Archival Ink

Black and white permanent pens

Martha Stewart Floral Lace Edge Punch

Sizzix Packages & Bows die #558768


All the details on how Claudine created her cards can be found on her blog.  Thanks for the push to go way outside my box, Claudine!