Play day

Finally got some time to play in my art room today so 2 challenges are done, 2 tag displays are done and a few ideas are brewing for some cards I need to make.

First up is the 3C challenge.  Week 12 finds us playing with Chipped Enamel (pg. 44).  Another simple tag but it's more about the technique than all the embellishments, etc.   I stamped the retro circles (TH Psychedeli Grunge) in white pigment ink, dried thoroughly, then smeared Lemonade and Sunshine Yellow pigment inks over it.  The sentiment (TH Just Thoughts) was stamped in Cool Peri Adirondack Lights.  A touch of Milled Lavender distress ink around the edges topped off with a smidge of Dusty Concord d. i.  The Chipped Enamel technique was used on the metal word as well as the 2 metal flowers.  I chose Milled Lavender distress powder.    The flower centers are some gems I've had tucked away for quite some time.  I've never used this color combo before; it's more spring-like than end-of-summer but change is good.

'Eye' see you

It's Week 11 and Linda has chosen Tim's Blended Batik for the CC Challenge.  These stamps are from a Tim Holtz Visual Artistry set I recently purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The embellishment was actually used in an optometrist's office.  My distress inks are yellows, oranges, and black.

Funny how some things come together

isn't it?  Just got a new TH Visual Artistry stamp set at Hobby Lobby.  I didn't have several of the stamps so it was destined to go in my shopping basket. 

This week's challenge on Simon Says Stamp & Show blog was to create a piece of art inspired by none other than Lord Tim of Holtz.  I don't know what Tim had in mind when he included the city skyline but it sure looks like NYC to me.  The heart and banner just seemed to jump out and scream at me.  Typically I prefer to remember this day quietly and wouldn't be making art to mark the day the world changed.  However, once I saw the images together that's what happened.

The #8 tag was distressed with brown and black inks.  'Post card' and the city skyline were stamped in black archival, the stars in cobalt archival and the heart in crimson archival.  The sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly) was stamped in sepia archival.  I added the date with a black pen.

God bless America

I'm blue because 'You don't bring me flowers anymore...'

Remember this song?  My dh doesn't bring me flowers anymore either but that's because our precious feline children have decided that they make great cat toys.  Very expensive cat toys!  LOL

Actually, Hels chose this title as the theme for her weekly blog challenge.  I started out by making a hinged box based on the Suitcase Gift Box that was recently mentioned on the ATT yahoo group.  It's constructed from foam core, covered with kraft paper, and the inside is the same blue gingham paper as the corner protectors and latch (adhered with micro tiny brown brads).

The flourishes and word are grunge board punchouts colored in green pigment inks and brown distress inks.  The bird is Tim's punched out of grunge paper and colored in blue and browns.  The flowers are from Tim's Tattered Florals die.  Again, kraft paper stamped with Tim's stamps (Cobalt Archival Ink) and more gingham paper.  Blue buttons tied with distressed twine are the flower centers.  A Martha Stewart leaf punch met up with some green Bazzill cardstock that also saw pigment and distress inks.

My box is 3" (front-back) x 5" (side-side) x 2" (tall) and can be opened and closed so not only is it pretty, but can hold special things!

Distress Stickles (CCC #10)

Lots going on in my life this week...hosting a large tag swap on the EWV Yahoo group, funeral, getting ready for company and life in general...you know, usual stuff.  LOL 

Stickles are a wonderful invention...no more loose glitter to wear in public!  But Distress Stickles (DS)?  Oh man, they are 'da bomb'!  I was so happy Linda picked this for the Compendium challenge.  This piece is pretty self-explanatory.  The chipboard ghost (distressed edges) and black cat are both Sizzix dies.  The black cat is sporting Black Soot DS.  The spiderweb in back (Cuttlebug) glistens with Rock Candy DS while the pumpkin (Wendy Vecchi flower stamp - Lower Case Art) is sporting several colors of distress ink and stickles (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Antique Bronze).  The leaves are dressed with Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint DI and DS then curled for dimension. 

Believe (Just Word Art) was stamped in black archival ink.  Tim's ticket was distressed with browns and oranges as was the patterned paper (also wrinkled).  The bingo piece is Maya Road.  Cool spider, huh?  It was a paper clip and I've been waiting to use this on just the right project.  Bingo!

Art ala Studio 490 style

This week's challenge on the Simon Says Stamp & Show blog couldn't have been more up my alley!  You're to make an art piece in the style of Wendy Vecchi.  Woohoo!  Oh, what to make, what to make?!??

I started with another 6" square of scalloped chipboard.  The papers that came with it are not my style nor color preference so I turned it over and had a blank canvas of white.  I clear embossed Wendy's foliage (Be Inspired...Make Art) then distressed the overall piece with various brown distress inks.  The wreath got an added touch of the greens while the edges saw the reds.

The new flourish foliage (Botanical Art) was stamped with olive archival ink around the outside of the wreath.  I stamped the sentiment (Card Art Essentials) with coffee archival.  The foliage dots were touched with the Gold Liquid Pearls.  The gems are various greens and reds stuck on randomly.  I ran the gold paint dabber along the scalloped edges to help tie in all the gold accents.

Wendy's bird (Let Your Art Have Wings) was inked up with cranberry pigment ink, stamped on the houndstooth background (Well Worn Art) then on grunge paper.  After cutting it out (and an extra for the wing) I distressed with browns before adding gold paint to the outside edges.  Black Enamel Accents makes a wonderful eye.  There are several layers of grunge paper behind it for elevation.  The 'feather' (Make Mine Mini Art) on the bird's head was embossed with gold, cut out, and distressed with browns before adhering it behind the head.  A twine bow and my bird is resting comfortably in the wreath.  A gold mesh bow at the top provides the crowning glory on my holiday hanging.

Whiskey in the jar

Hey Hels, how about this???  In case you followers don't know my fabby English friend, Hels has a Sunday Stampers blog challenge that involves song titles.  This week (#116) she chose 'Whiskey in the Jar' or jars/bottles/alcohol.  I happen to know this title belongs to an old Irish folk song;  I've heard it played numerous times in British bars and pub sing-a-longs by famous and not-so-famous groups.

My piece started out as a 6" piece of scalloped chipboard that I found in the dollar section at Michaels a long time ago.  Trad tan (aren't you proud of me, Hels?) was painted around the edges then treated to a bit of brown distress ink that I quickly rubbed off, I only wanted it to have an antique look.  The gold paint dabber was run around the scalloped edges.

There are several versions to the song, depending on the artist and the locale but I chose this one, printed it on cardstock then put Tim's musical mask across it.  Being as how thie song is Irish, I chose several green distress inks to smear across the mask, edging it with a touch of brown. 

The bottle is Wendy's that I stamped onto a piece of plastic packaging, cut out and applied gold paint dabber to the cap (back side) and Sepia Accents mixed with brown reinker (painted on the back side) to give it the color of whiskey.  (Okay, DARK whiskey).  I printed out the word 'whiskey' and put it behind the label plate so it would look like one of those hanging signs that you see in a posh house on their liquor bottles. 

Just happened to have a miniature bottle of Jameson's Whiskey (Irish, natch!) so out came the label remover smelly stuff because I really wanted that label for this art piece.  The music note is a dimensional plastic sticker - lucky find in my stash. 

After creating a hanger from gold wire and adding a few scraps of ribbons, I think my interpretation of Hels' theme is pretty good for a Yank!

Enjoy the journey

Simon Says Stamp and Show - a new blog in town!  Their first challenge is to make an art piece using 'Things with Wings'.  I just got this TH die so the timing couldn't have been better!

The tag is a #12 (8"x4").  The background was created with Scattered Straw and Wild Honey Distress Inks.  I smooshed Vintage Photo DI onto my craft sheet then spritzed the ink with water.  I strategically (not!) placed the tag in the droplets, pulled up, heat set, placed the tag in more droplets, heat set, etc. until I was happy.  (If mama ain't happy, nobody is happy!)

I stamped Tim's large flourish using the Perfect Distress technique that's on page 38 of his Compendium of Curiosities book.  Cool, huh?  More distress inks were applied to the edges, along with black dots and stitching lines.

The flowers were some that were sent to me but the colors mimicked those in the butterfly.  Isn't she a beaut?  I ran the brayer across a rainbow pad then cut out the butterfly with Tim's die.  Once the layers were glued together I smeared Rock Candy Distress Stickles all over it.  Wire was twisted for the antenna.

The idea-ology piece was inked up with alcohol inks; a turquoise checked ribbon was tied on for more color pop.  Small square brads bring more color to the bottom of the tag. 

I hear Christmas!

Over on Hels's blog her Sunday theme was music (in general, not a specific song title as she's done in the past).  I made this tag 8"x4" and put Tim's mask down the center.  Lots of distress ink over and around it.  His sheet music and title were stamped in black archival ink, the reindeer in Sepia, the trees have several distress inks on them, and 'Merry Christmas' was gold embossed.

The calendar page (Tim's) was stamped on grungepaper in Library Green archival ink, green and brown distress inks around the edges, and the gold paint dabber was touched to the edges.  The upper left hand corner was curled and  a red jewel placed on the 25th.

I distressed a red heart brad with Tim's sander and pulled the pin on a Maya Road star that I touched up with the gold paint dabber to take away some of the shine. 

Music ribbon and a gold binder clip complete the tag.

I smell Christmas!

I was cutting out a coupon when my dh (Walt) asked if I was cutting out paper dolls.  No, but what a leap it was when my mind immediately went to the Compendium challenge and a gingerbread boy (Sizzix die) cut from grungeboard was baked!   One never knows where the mind will travel if allowed to roam freely!  :)   

Doesn't he look like he's just popped out of the oven?  Thanks to Tim's Distress Crackle technique he does!  White Enamel Accents makes great icing.  The chipboard letter 'G' also got the DC treatment.  I did edge both pieces with a slightly darker ink for more dimension.  The boy has grungeboard layers under him so he's not directly on the tag.

The scrapbook papers were adhered to the tag then cut to size and distressed.  Ditto for the ribbon.  I photocopied a Gingerbread Cutout recipe, distressed it with my fingers and ink and placed it behind the boy.  Buttons in holiday colors were stacked and tied with stained twine add just the right touch.

Mmmmm...if it wasn't so blasted hot I'd be tempted to fire up the oven and make some gingerbread cookies!

Irene's special day

Yesterday was a fellow EWV member's birthday.  How special is her day?  08/09/10 -- cool, huh?

I used grungeboard for the journal covers and cardstock for the inner pages.  There are 6 WV stamps on the cover.  Sure wish the rest of the new ones would get here!!!!

The past few days have been spent reorganizing my art room.  I didn't purge much but did get a better layout so the floor is now clean and you can actually walk around in there without fear of knocking over a pile of art, art parts, or parts of art in the process.

Today I'll finish tidying up my desk top, take photos (trust me, it won't be this clean again in a long, long time!) then work on several challenges.  In a few days I'll put more art on the walls (can't have any blank spaces, doncha know!).  With the temps to be in the mid to upper 90s (and humidity to match) all week it's a perfect time to stay in and make art!

Inking Grunge

Can't believe we're already into the 8th week of the Compendium challenge!  This one was a no-brainer but came at a good time.  I'm getting ready to re-organize my stamp room and my head is really wrapped up with what I want to do, what I want to delete from my room, etc. 

Inking Grunge can be found on page 39 of the book and that's where you'll find the instructions on how to ink your grungeboard and grungepaper.  I don't know how I ever lived without this really cool and easy technique; it appears in most of my art these days.

The stamps are all Tim's; the inks all by Ranger.  The tag actually looks and smells like real leather!  I just love grungeboard and grungepaper!!!

If you're participating in the challenge (and if you're not, how come???) I hope you're enjoying the creativity that is showing up on Linda's blog and the ATT yahoo group.  You never know when your name might be chosen to win some really cool Tim toys!