Saturday, January 31, 2015

ROCK CANDY DISTRESS GLITTER FOR COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES III CHALLENGE

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog and to another new challenge over at Compendium of Curiosities III!   
This is the 21st out of 34 challenges already!  I cannot believe how quickly the time is passing.  Thanks to all of you for allowing all of us on the Curiosity Crew to share our love of all things Tim Holtz and his products and techniques with you.  And thank you for the beautiful art we have been seeing from YOU on every challenge. So inspiring!!!

This challenge is found on page 55 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book.  It is Rock Candy Distress Glitter.


I have created this #8 Manila tag using Tim's technique.  While I can't divulge the actual technique with you, I will tell you this...it was SO MUCH FUN to do!  I am really not a "glitzy" girl and seldom will you see a lot of "bling" on anything I make, but the subtle sparkle you achieve from this technique is well within my comfort zone. (smile)

I will also be very happy to tell you all of the products and the steps I did in creating this tag.  This is one of those projects that literally just came together pretty effortlessly. (Don't you LOVE it when that happens?) 
I began with a plain #8 Manila tag.  I distressed the basic tag using Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Inks. 


I swiped both of those colors onto my main "have to have" craft supply, my non stick craft sheet, and then spritzed the colorful swipes with water until little colorful beads appeared.  I then swiped my tag through the beads, heat set it (very important in between layers) and repeated this process; also blotting up the tiny excess droplets of colored water until my craft sheet was dry. 

 
Here is the tag after distressing with just the Mustard Seed and Wild Honey plus a little Gathered Twigs added to the edges using my Ink Blending Tool.  Then I decided that I might like to add another layer of color using the Gathered Twigs.  So, I swiped the ink pad onto my craft mat, spritzed it with water and repeated the process above until all of the colored droplets were gone.


Here is the the richer more dramatic tag after adding the Gathered Twigs. 


Next I did Tim's technique using the Distress Rock Candy Glitter.  The ink color I used on this beautiful background stamp (from Tim Holtz' Distress Damask stamp set) is Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Notice the little bits of sparkle left behind?  Love that! I later decided to add little accents of Peacock Feathers on the outer edges of the tag for what I was planning next....
Since the technique was done, it was time to add embellishments to the tag.  I had already decided to use the beautiful vintage image of an ink bottle from Tim's Typography stamp set on this tag.  An ink bottle needs an ink pen...right?  So, I decided to construct one out of a wooden skewer, one of Tim's Pen Nibs, some feathers and whatever else came to mind.


I began by stamping the ink bottle image onto a piece of manila cardstock and coloring it using Tim's Detailer Water Brush and Distress Inks.  I used Peacock Feathers for the glass section of the bottle, Scattered Straw for the majority of the labels on the bottle and a Tattered Rose Distress Marker to fill in "writing fluid" on the label. I fussy cut around the bottle and colored the edge with Scattered Straw.  Finally, I matted the bottle onto some black cardstock to really make it pop against the tag background. 


Next I colored some of Tim's Tissue Tape with an Espresso Paint Dabber. This would cover my wooden skewer and also help hold the feathers in place at the top of the pen. 


I had some lovely little teal-ish and brown (my favorite colors together) feathers and glued them to the backside of the skewer using Glossy Accents. To help hold them in place, I added a 1/4" piece of adhesive silver tape and wrapped around the end of the pen. Then I added Tim's Pen Nib to the bottom of the pen and toned down the bright silver surface with a Pitch Paint Dabber that was added then wiped off to leave a more antiqued finish. I dipped the tip of the nib in the black paint to look like dried ink. (You will see more of the pen in a minute). 


Next I distressed one of Tim's Word Bands with Broken China Distress Paint.  I simply wiped the dabber across the word band, filling up the letters and then wiping the excess paint off of the smooth surface, leaving it in the letters to highlight them. 


Finally I decided to add one of Tim's beautiful butterflies from his Papillon stamp set to my tag...flying out of the ink bottle.  So I stamped the image onto a piece of Specialty Stamping Paper using Jet Black Archival Ink.  I then colored the butterfly with Wild Honey and Peacock Feathers using Tim's Detailer Water Brush.  I cut out around the butterfly, colored the border with a Scattered Straw Distress Marker and edged it with a Black Soot Distress Marker. I added some wire to the backside to create antenna and also a cork screwy bottom piece to represent the butterflies flight pattern as it rose from the ink bottle. 

 

Now it was time to put everything together. But as I was starting to layout my design, I decided that my ink pen needed something else at the top.  


So, I wrapped some wire around the silver tape and added one of Tim's Type Charms to dangle from the pen.  I like that little bit of detail that such a simple step adds.
Next I used some of Tim's Trimmings to attach the Word Band in place at the bottom of the tag.  


I used Glossy Accents to glue the pen onto the tag but since it is pretty dimensional, I also wired it in place.  The ink bottle would cover up the wiring. I really love that pen going diagonally across the tag.  I love the airiness of the feathers, and the grunginess of  the wire, the pen body and antiqued nib in contrast to the softness and feminine quality of the Rock Candy Glittered damask image. 


I attached the butterfly to the bottle using the quirky wire and then I added three layers of black pop dots to pop the bottle over the pen.  It took that many layers of pop dots to "clear" the height of the pen wired onto the tag.  So, you can tell that this tag has some dimension, unlike last challenge's watercoloring technique tag that was relatively flat. 
And here again is the finished project. Simple and fun!


Now it's time for you to try your hand at this Rock Candy Glitter technique and enter our challenge. You have TWO chances to win some fabulous prizes.

Our sponsor for this challenge is 


that fabulous online store ... INSPIRATION EMPORIUM. They are giving away a $50.00 gift certificate to shop in their store!  Thank you to Inspiration Emporium for you continued support!
And, of course, Tim and Mario have donated tons of Tim's wonderful products to be given away in prize packages for each challenge. A very generous selection of these products have already been given to 20 previous winners!  Will you be the 21st?
If you are not clear on our simple rules to follow, just check them out at Linda's blog

Have a great couple of weeks and get inky!





56 comments:

  1. Hey there Candy, wow thanks so much for sharing your amazing Tag, love the Rock Candy Glitter technique, fabulous, Your Gathered Twigs are wonderfully embossed and the sentiment background stamp, love that one too......Thanks sweetie for the tutorial.....might try it out and hopefully it will look as beautifull as yours Hugs Terry xxxx love you xxxx

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  2. This is a fantastic tag, Candy! I just adore the tinting of the bottle, and the wonderful dimension of it as it lies over the pen. The mustardy background brings gorgeous warmth and that sparkly flourish is just fabulous!
    Alison xx

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  3. Fabulous tag Candy love the pen and how you decorated it with the feathers . I don't have CCIII so haven't been able to participate . May have to break down and buy one lol

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  4. Swanky swank swank with that feather! WOW...gorgeous! This totally doesn't suck!!! ;0)

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  5. Absolutely love the subtleness of this technique! It adds just the right amount of bling to your tag. And those feathers are gorgeous!

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  6. The pen is genius! I love how simple and concise your instructions are...I always know that I can follow your lead!

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  7. Hi Candy, what a beautiful tag, I love the background with the subtle sparkle. The pen and feathers are such a fun element and the bottle looks 3D. Brilliant Jan x

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  8. Beautiful!!! Love that you added the Gathered Twigs to the tag base and the peacock feathers. Beautiful background!! And that pen!!!!! Wow :)

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  9. Absolutely beautiful. Love the feathers!

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  10. Wow! Love that background. That pen is fabulous. You rocked this one - again!

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  11. Candy love how you always think outside of the box....Love your tag and the background.
    Very nice.

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  12. Candy you have done it again...the pen is just too cool! The whole tag is just about perfect! I just LOVE it. The colors are great, the added dimension just went on my list for whatever I'm going to make tonight, and the overall effect is stunning. Smiling from ear to ear!

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  13. Candy, I love the feeling of of this tag, very masculine and the feather are super cute

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  14. This is fabulous - the background looks stunning and I love the way you have made the pen. Love all your colour combinations too.

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  15. So cool! Love the pen tucked in behind the bottle.

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  16. Your tag is stunning Candy! I swear, only you could take a simple skewer and make it look like a vintage pen found in an old antique shop - it is so striking with the beautiful feathers... and the butterfly fluttering away is divine... I love this! Hugs, Anne xx

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  17. You never cease to amaze me Candy, so much detail and creativity. The pen and feathers is such a good add to the tag. Does your mind ever rest or is it just spinning with ideas all night?

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  18. Well, Candy, you've done it again. Another awesome creation. I'm happy to hear that it just fell into place for you. It's great when that happens. I love that you stamped the main flourish image off center and filled in around it with the script. Such a lovely choice of stamps and placement. And of course your color combos are spot-on. That pop of Peacock Feathers is perfect!

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  19. What a gorgeous tag, love your pen!

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  20. Amazing tag ! The pen with the feathers, the butterfly the awesome color used in the background. The colors all come together amazingly !

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  21. I'm with you, Candy! I'm not really a glitzy girl either, but this technique--super cool!! I love the subtle sparkly effect in your background--it's sooo pretty and adds so much depth!! Just a super duper Awesome tag!! I want everything you used to make it!! XOXO-Shari

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  22. Very dramatic effect on this gorgeous tag, Candy! As always your attention to details is wonderful. I have a little collections of coffee stir sticks and of course wooden skewers!!! Did like your homemade pen for the nib! Love this, GF! Hugs!

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  23. I love your tag, and I agree, this is a glitter technique I can see me using..though I still need to get a better hang of it. I love the pen creation...really adds that extra Umph to the tag!

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  24. So awesome love how you popped up the bottle and the butterfly! You rocked that technique on the background ! Pen is genius :)

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  25. Candy, you are a FREAK! (In my world, a high compliment!!) First, your background using Tim's technique is flawless. The embellishments layered over the tag are fabulous and cause my idea motor to start churning. I love, love, love that pen. Love. Awesome!!

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  26. Fabulous tag, Candy! I absolutely LOVE the way you make those pens with the skewers and pen nibs! Your background turned out so gorgeous to put everything on too! Awesome!

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  27. Candy, yours would have to be my FAVE !!! The color theme as well as the items you embellished with...I just love the old 1700s & 1800s period of decor!! (Not that I'd care to live then, but VISIT would be ok, lol!!

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  28. Wow Candy, you did it again. .. that technique looks awesome on your gorgeous tag... and the pen us just so genius x

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  29. What a fabulous tag, Candy! Love the feathers on your pencil and all that beautiful stamping.

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  30. Candy, I just don't know HOW you do it, my girl, but you have managed to outdo yourself with this fabulous tag! I don't normally do tags, but you have really inspired to get on the tag-wagon, for sure! First, your shimmery background is spectacular and just perfect to set off this wonderful composition of writing elements and beautiful moth (I don't usually use those two words in the same sentence--I don't like moths!). Second, your pen is sheer creative genius--love the feathers, the wire, the tag and that Candy-detail of the pen dipped in ink! Lastly, but not leastly, is my favorite--that luscious color combination and technique you used on your background! thank you for divulging your chosen colors! I'm going to give that combo a try! And yes! It's a wonderful thing when a project comes together effortlessly! I equate it with a perfect golf swing. You know it's going to be a winner from the minute you grip your club (and it's comfortable and loose), start the backswing, swing through, and that sound you get when the club face hits that tiny, little, obnoxious ball! You know it's going just where you want it. It happens more in the Closet than it does on the course, trust me!!! Hugs!

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  31. Candy, What a beautiful tag. Love the colors that you chose for the Damask stamp and Tim's technique on the tag. The blues for the bottle and butterfly really are a lovely contrast and your feather topped pen is amazing. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.

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  32. I'm in awe! The bavkground is perfect and the dimension you achieved...WOW!

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  33. Beautiful as always Candy! I just love the creative ideas you always come up with! Your floating butterfly is incredible and I love the pen you put together! Just gorgeous! hugs :)

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  34. Stunning tag, thank you very much for the tutorial! Love the warm background (these are my favourite colours) and that fantastic bottle: great idea, perfect realization!

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  35. ooo errrr! What a clever idea Candy - the pen is amazing. Nikki x

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  36. Gorgeous tag! I love the feather and butterfly!

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  37. Such a nice idea of using the pen! This is so beautiful! Love your creations!

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  38. That ink pen is too too fabulous...and this tag is just off the hook gorgeous! I'm going to try this! It's the incredible detail that you build into your projects that make them stand out, Candy! Love, love, love!

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  39. I love the pen! How clever are you?! The color work you did on here is spot on.

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  40. Hi, Ilove all the details on your tag. My fave stamp to create the glittery background, the pen and ink bottle, so effective with the butterfly. Jan x

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  41. such a gorgeous tag Candy and the perfect detail to finish is those wonderful feathers on your pen...tfs and huge hugs Annie x

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  42. This is so beautiful! I love your feather pen! You need a whole set of pens like this to use for writing! =) I know I do!!! Love the ink bottle and the rock candy background is so perfect! Love the butterfly wired up to come off the page!

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  43. I love this, you can just imagine sitting down to write with that fabulous pen. Love the butterfly too, they should fly!

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  44. Cool pen!! this came out really really nicely. =)

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  45. Wow... this is such a beautiful creation, Candy. The pen and the butterfly are gorgeous. :)

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  46. This tag is so clever!! the stamp on the tag with the glitter so pretty!!!

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  47. Candy, Your tag is beautiful. I love the colors of your background with the Damask stamp and Rock Candy Distress Glitter. Your pen is just ingenious!

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  48. You are so clever and you provide such variety in your pieces ;-) Love all the details on this tag!

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Hugs,
    Gaby

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  49. Love the springy butterfly and how the feathers pop your whole project.

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  50. Casndy - this is beautiful and the feathers are a wonderful touch! Happy Valentines Day.

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  51. Gorgeous tag Candy! I love the background and the design is fabulous.

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  52. So, so pretty! I love the color combination and the feathers on the pen are a wonderful detail. I also love my craft sheet; can't imagine what I did without it! This is so inspiring; the springy wire is an amazing idea!

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  53. Truly love the glitter background and that amazing pen. Another work of art. Jenny x

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