COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES CHALLENGE III ~ PAINTED INDUSTRIAL PAPER DOLL

Hello fellow Tim Holtz lovers!  Welcome to my blog and my newest piece that I've created for the Lovely Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities III Challenges.  

I am just returning from an "EPIC" trip to Paris, France and then onto Germany! I adore Europe, even though I had only been there once before. I am always mesmerized by the incredible history, the timeless architecture, the sights and sounds of the bustling European cities and the serenity of the rolling hills and small villages of the countryside. I don't like to "advertise" when I am away from home for obvious reasons but I'm back now and need to get caught up on my comments and replies while I was away.  Thank you all so much for comments left about my altered burlap canvas piece! I am thrilled that so many people liked it! And ...

Thank you so much for your continued support to the entire Curiosity Crew!  We so much appreciate all of your positive comments about our projects that we create to inspire you and hopefully educate you about a Tim technique or product that you may have questions about or been afraid to try.

This week, the Curiosity Crew is taking you to page 46 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Volume III.  It's all about his Painted Industrial technique.  I LOVE this technique! Whether you love to do steampunk inspired pieces or down and dirty metallic grunge, this technique is AWESOME and so much fun!

I made a gift envelope this week with a grungy Painted Industrial background and then mixed it with a totally opposite fun and funky Julie Nutting Mixed Media Paper Doll Stamp.  This is to show you that you can mix styles and still be just fine. I think the embossed painted industrial background gives my paper doll some extra "sass"...not to mention the way I've changed up her sweet, demure look with an embossed metal bodice and layered Melissa Frances zippered ribbon skirt. 

The envelope started out as a kraft colored plain 8 3/4" x 3 3/4" envelope.  I covered it with my embossed metallic background done with two of Tim's Texture Fades: Subway on the front and Riveted Metal on the back.

You can follow along in Tim's book to see exactly how the background was achived but I can tell you that I used Ranger's Foil Tape Sheets, the Texture Fades, my Vagabond to emboss the images and then Pitch Black and Juniper Paint Dabbers to colorize my metal. I love the aged, patina look that results from Tim's technique. 

(Back view)

Once the panels were completed, I simply glued them in place on top of the kraft envelope.  I then cut a 1/4" strip of the Foil Tape Sheet and added it to each long end of the envelope.  I finished it in the same manner that I did the panels.  This gave the edges that folded metal, finished look. I simply brushed the flap at the top on both sides with Silver Distress Paint and then lightly distressed it with Black Soot when dry.  I also added three Washers and three Long Fasteners to the bottom of the back (before I glued the embossed panel in place on the kraft envelope) and gave them a patina look with the Juniper paint from the Dabber (using my finger to apply the paint).

I used Jet Black Archival Ink to stamp my paper doll onto Specialty Stamping Paper and heat set it. Then I added the skin tones using Tattered Rose and Scattered Straw Distress Inks mixed together using a Detailer Water Brush.  I added a little more Tattered Rose to her cheek area and for highlights on her arms and legs.  Her hair was colored with Scattered Straw and touches of Tea Dye and just a hint of Vintage Photo for shading. 

I then stamped just the dress portion onto some scrap paper to use as a pattern to create my paper dolls' funky attire.

I first added the two little Melissa Frances pearls to the chest area of the bodice to give my paper doll a bit more "lift"...if you catch my drift. (smile) I then added the embossed metal foil sheet over the top.  The bodice was done with Tim's Damask Texture Fade on silver metal foil that was then wiped with a Gold Paint Dabber on the high areas. Next I cut four strips of Melissa Frances zipper ribbon and beginning at the bottom, I layered them on top of each other to create the ruffled skirt. I secured each layer using 1/4" Scor Tape. 

Using my Tim Holtz Kraft Knife, I made a small slit between her arm and bodice on the one side. I cut out the triangle made by her bended arm on the other side. Then I wrapped a small chain around her waist a couple of times and made a knot in the chain. At each end of the chain, I added a Mini Gear using a small Jump Ring. 

I wanted my paper doll to display even more of a funky attitude so using a Micron Permanent Black Ink Pen, I drew fishnet leggings on her legs. I added the black laced high tops rather than the cute little Mary Jane type of shoes on the stamp. 

To finish her off, I added Tim's Ideaology metallic Arrow that has been painted first with Broken China Distress Paint and then highlighted with a Juniper Paint Dabber. I added a few black pop dots on the underneath side and hot glued into place going across her body. She is glued in place using regular glue. Finally, I added a dimensional head piece to her head using a really lacy, neat little metallic piece from the Funkie Junkie Boutique (one of our generous sponsors) and a sweet little light pink colored rose like button that I had in my stash of stuff. The metal piece bends very easily, so I was able to give it a more dimensional look before I hot glued it into place. 

Since my paper doll has a sassy attitude, she needed a sentiment and some embellishments that coordinated with her.  I used a piece of Tim's Filmstrip Ribbon and stamped "ATTITUDE" on it using Black Stazon Ink and a little set of alphabet letters that I had. Underneath the filmstrip ribbon, I distressed a piece of white cardstock first with Broken China and then a light touch of Peacock Feathers Distress Inks. I cut the strip to 1/2" wide, the width of the filmstrip ribbon and distressed the edges with a Chestnut Roan Cats Eye Ink Pad.  Then, using touches of Glossy Accents (it dries clear), I glued "ATTITUDE" in place on top of the colored cardstock to make it stand out. I glued that in place on my envelope.

I added a bit of the Juniper Paint Dabber to three sewing bobbins and then hot glued them into place on top and to the side of my "ATTITUDE" filmstrip ribbon. Then I added the gold ball chain to wrap around the sewing bobbins.  You can actually move the chain around the bobbins if you want to!  To the sewing bobbins, I added an Enamel Charm that has Remnant Rubs words on it with a Jump Ring. I also added a vintage type pin to the bottom left bobbin and hung a Mini Gear from it.  The gear was given a patina look with the Juniper paint from the dabber (using my finger). 

Finally, I added the sentiment at the top.  It is a combination of two sayings from Dyan Reaveley's The Right Words and Say It How It Is stamp sets. They are stamped onto the same distressed white cardstock that I used on "ATTITUDE". I touched up the cut edges of the sentiments with my Black Soot Distress Marker to blacken the white edges of the cardstock. I popped the sentiment in place using black pop dots. 

This gift envelope would be a unique way to celebrate someone you know in a special way. You could stuff a card in here, add a gift card and even add a special letter or note. What a fun way to let someone know you're thinking of them!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I encourage you to check out the other Curiosity Crew's Painted Industrial projects and then join us at The Compendium of Curiosity III Challenge! This weeks' sponsor are the wonderful and generous people at Inspiration Emporium!

 Just for entering our challenge, you might be the lucky winner of their most generous $50.00 gift certificate to spend at their store!  

And ... as an added bonus ... Tim and Mario have generously donated a treasure trove of Tim Holtz products so that we can have a second winner randomly drawn each challenge. This lucky winner will receive a wonderful array of his products...a really NICE prize package! 

So, turn to page 46 in your Compendium of Curiosities III book and be on your way to entering our challenge!  

GOOD LUCK!!