SIMON SAYS SHOW US A RECIPE

SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW is all about details this week....in the form of a "RECIPE"...as in the ingredients for a project.  If you haven't already, stop by the challenge blog and take a look at all of the wonderful projects the Design Team has posted for you this week!!  Mind blowing!!

I went WAAAAAY outside of my comfort zone this week!  I did something I have never done before but I had so much fun doing it!  I have wanted to try this for a while but I had to work up the courage.   Why are we like that?  That fear of trying something different?

Anyway....

This is an 8x10 stretch canvas.  I saw this technique on a YouTube VIDEO posted by the very creative, talented artist and a fellow Ranger U grad in my class last April, Christy Tomlinson.Take a few minutes to check it out.  It's way cool!

My dimensional canvas has a lot of "ingredients" in it's "recipe", but that is what makes it so unique. I think the end result is worth it!  Here are all of the "ingredients" for this recipe:

The Basic Canvas

1. Gesso

2. Classic Teal Studio Paint

3. Matte Multi Medium

4. Blank Canvas White, Altered Orange, Dab of Yellow Studio Paints

5. Copper Inka Gold

The Dimensional Heart

1. Terra Cotta Paint Dabber

2. Teal, Landscape Green, Dash of Red, Altered Orange, Dab of Yellow Studio Paints

3. Wild Honey, Broken China, Picket Fence Distress Stains

4. Vermillion, Lettuce, Jet Black, Monarch Orange Archival Inks

5. Bitty Grunge, Artful Artifacts, Ultimate Grunge, Papillon Tim Holtz Stamp Sets

6. The Right Words Dylusions Stamp Set

7. Black Embossing Powder and Versamark Embossing Ink
8. Book pages

Embellishments

1. Various sizes of White Prima Roses

2. Marigold, Jazz Blue, Dreamsicle Glimmer Mist

3. Word Keys, Ornate Plates, Keyholes Ideaology

4. Juniper, Gold Paint Dabber

Here are the instructions for putting all of the ingredients together:

The Basic Canvas

Begin by painting the canvas with Gesso.  When dry, cover the canvas with a basecoat of Classic Teal Studio Paint.  When that is dry, add some old tissue pattern pieces to the canvas using Matte Multi Medium to glue them in place.  When that is dry, add interest to the canvas by stamping the wire mesh looking image from Tim Holtz' background stamps onto the canvas.  Paint Blank Canvas directly on to the stamp, stamp the design and then be sure to immediately wash off the stamp.  Make a thinner paint out of the Altered Orange by adding just a little water and mixing it with a brush.  Flick the paint on the brush onto the canvas, creating the little random orange splotches on the background.  After I added the dimensional heart, I went back and added some Copper Inka Gold in random areas of the background before I added the embellishments.

The Dimensional Heart

The dimensional heart is made out of rolled pages from an old book.  Using thinner paper works better on this as it rolls so easy.  Tear pages out of a book.  You can leave them plain or add patterns and color to them.  Above are the pages I made using various paint and stain colors.  The polka dot patterns was achieved by stenciling paint through some sequin waste.  When I finished applying all of the color I wanted to, then I used Jet Black Archival Ink to stamp random images onto some of the pages.

Closeup of a section of the rolled book pages that formed the heart shape.

I began in the center of the "heart" and worked down to the small point at the bottom of the heart.  I used Matte Multi Medium as my "glue" to adhere the rolled paper to the canvas in the shape of a heart; measuring and tearing smaller strips when necessary to achieve the heart shape.  Once I completed the bottom of the heart, I moved from the center upwards to create the top of the heart.  Then I stamped Dyan Reaveley's sentiment out on manila cardstock and heat embossed it using black embossing powder.  I cut out around it and used color coordinated cardstock to double mount the sentiment.  Then I pop dotted the sentiment onto the dimensional heart.

The Embellishments

Some of the embellishments are made from Prima Roses that are lightly sprayed with Marigold Glimmer Mist.

The largest of the roses is nestled in a shabby bow made from white Hug Snug that is sprayed with Jazz Blue and Dreamsicle Glimmer Mists.  I tipped the edges of this rose with Altered Orange Studio Paint.

The little Prima roses at the lower left are glued into two large plastic buttons: one bright yellow and one bright orange to coordinate with the canvas and the dimensional heart.  There is also sprayed ribbon behind them.

The little Prima heart on the lower right side of the canvas is nestled in the center of an ornate plate that has a key hole stacked on top of it.  The Ideaology pieces have been given a patina look by rubbing a little Juniper paint from a dabber onto the metal surface, using my finger.  The ornate plate is glued onto a corrugated heart that has been painted first with gesso then Altered Orange Studio Paint. I then added a touch of Picket Fence followed by edges of Juniper paint to antique the heart and pick up more of the colors from the canvas and dimensional heart.

The upper right corner of the canvas features a Tim Holtz Word Key with some more dyed Hug Snug ribbon dangling from it.  This ribbon was sprayed with Dreamsicle and Marigold Glimmer Mist.  Finally, the little "broach" attached to the dimensional paper heart is just a little decorative brad I had laying around and loved the touch of "bling" it added.

So, that's my recipe and my finished dimensional canvas.  I love it and it will be hanging in my studio as soon as I can find a nail and a hammer. (smile)  

Now it's YOUR turn to share your recipe for your entry into our challenge this week.  If your entry is chosen by a random drawing, you could win a .....

And... if you are chosen as one of the TOP THREE entries this week, you will receive that special recognition on our blog and also a TOP THREE BLINKIE to proudly display on your blog!  So...get out your "ingredients" and start creating!

SOMETHING OLD...SOMETHING NEW...

Happy New Year Everybody!  

  

Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed my blog and also my contributions to Simon Says Stamp and Show.  I really appreciate all of your support and wonderful comments that you leave.  They inspire me and encourage me.  My wish for you is that your life will be so richly blessed in 2012.

And now...for the first challenge of 2012...
Simon Says Show "Something Old ... Something New..." 

When I saw that, the first thing I thought of was a wedding.  You know...Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue.  One of my passions is taking something brand new and making it look really old.  So, my challenge piece this week mimics one of those ornate pages from an old photo album and I made a vintage frame out of it.

 

I started with a piece of Ranger's Manila Cardstock and cut it into a 6" x 7" piece.  In the center of that, I die cut Tim Holtz' Vintage Cabinet Card (to create my opening).  I then cut a back for my frame out of chipboard and another piece of Manila Cardstock 7" x 8".

 

I cut the manila cardstock an inch larger so that I could cover the chipboard and leave a 1/2" border all the way around.  That would allow me to make nice covered edges and miter the corners.

Next I distressed the Manila Cardstock with a mixture of Brushed Corduroy, Wild Honey and Picket Fence Distress Stains.  Then I lightly distressed the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  When the was dry, I lightly misted the front and back of the frame with Pearl Perfect Pearls Mist.  I love the sheen that the pearl mist gives.  It's subtle but really amazing! Next I used a Gold Metallic Pen and edged the Vintage Cabinet Card cut out and the outside edge of the picture frame.  Finally, to add the intricate design work to the frame, I used the larger flourish from Tim Holtz' Fabulous Flourishes stamp set and Ranger's Queen's Gold Embossing Powder.

Before I began embellishing the picture frame, I needed to add a backing.  The perfect solution for this is Tim Holtz' Small Easel Die Cut.  I cut it out of chipboard and colorized it using Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain.  Then I hot glued it onto the back of my frame.

I attached the frame front to the back using 1/2" Wonder Tape on the sides and the bottom.  I left the top open so I could slide pictures in and out of the frame.  

Let the embelllishing begin!!  I began by cutting three vintage pink Tattered Pine Cones from Tim Holtz' Kraft Core Nostalgic Paper Stack.  Instead of pine cones, I made little sweetheart roses.  I also cut greenery from the Tattered Pine Cone die cut.  I also used the mum looking flower from Tim Holtz' Tattered Flowers die cut.  I used two different greens from the Nostalgic Paper Stack on the greenery.  

Behind the roses is something blue.  This is made from Tim Holtz' Distressed Doily On The Edge die cut.  I cut the doily out of white crepe paper that I then sprayed with my own concoction of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink Refill, Biscotti Perfect Pearls and Water in a Mini Mister.  I used that color combination on the doily and also on the "vintage" ribbon you see mixed in with the roses.  

I also cut a mum Tattered Flower out of white crinoline and sprayed three layers with my concoction of Dried Marigold Reinker, Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls and water. I also tipped the distressed doily with that orange-ish color and accented some of the greenery by dragging them through the color spray.  The other three layers of the mum are sprayed with my concoction of Mustard Seed Reinker, Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls and water.  I alternated the layers of color on the mum and distressed some of the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  I smushed the mum up and glued it on to the lower left corner of the frame.  Then I added the blue "vintage ribbon" and also a ribbon sprayed with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist.  I created a double bow and stuck them in place above the mum and among the sweetheart roses.  I also sprayed the roses with a touch of the Dried Marigold color spray to highlight their delicate edges.  Then I glued all of the roses in place.  

I added an old piece of lace in the upper right hand corner with a Rosette partially resting on top of it.  I highlighted the edges of the Rosette by heat embossing them with Queen's Gold Embossing Powder.  Layered on top of the Rosette is a gathered piece of blue tulle.  On top of the tulle is an adornment made out of a Tim Holtz' Accoutrements Fanciful Button (highlighted by a Gold Paint Dabber), Tim Holtz' Baubles and Tim Holtz' Heart Charm from his Adornments Ideaology.  The heart is distressed with a Gold Paint Dabber.  All of those elements are put together with Tim Holtz' Jump Rings.  I added a little more vintage lace, reminiscent of a bridal bouquet and a date of October 19, 1946 on a little banner at the top.

OH...and that beautiful bride and groom that is in the center of my frame...that is my parents on their wedding day.

Now it is YOUR turn to create "Something Old...Something New".  Stop by Simon Says Stamp and Show to see all of the absolutely beautiful ideas my Design Team buddies have created for you this week.  Then enter your piece in our weekly challenge.  If you are the lucky winner of our random drawing, you will be awarded a fabulous 

If your work is voted as one of the top three, you will receive that special recognition on our blog and you will also receive a TOP THREE BLINKIE to proudly display on your blog.

Here's to a creative 2012!!!  I can't wait to see your entries!!

SIMON SAYS SHOW TICKETS

Simon Says "Show Tickets!"   Hmm...what to do??  With the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to make something Christmas-y.  But TICKETS ... CHRISTMAS .... how can those two go together?  I'll show you my creation in a minute.  But first ... 

I hope you'll take the time to stop by SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW'S BLOG to see what wonderful creations my Design Team buddies have conjured up for you this week!  It's all about "TICKETS" and their ideas are AMAZING! 

Then, create your own vintage or Tim Holtz-ish style design using tickets and enter them in our challenge!  You could be the lucky winner of our sponsor's most generous gift of a .....

... AND if your entry is chosen as one of the TOP THREE, you will receive special recognition for this honor with a TOP THREE BLINKIE you can post on your blog.


Here is my "TICKET" design.  This big ticket could easily be used as a package decoration or as an ornament on a Christmas tree.

This started out as a plain extra large manila tag (8 1/2" x 4").  I used my Martha Stewart Score Board (I LOVE THAT THING!) and scored 1/4" inside the tag on all sides.  Then used a 1" round punch to clip off the edges...making my extra large tag look like a ticket.  

I used a combination of Gathered Twigs, Stormy Sky, Black Soot, and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks to colorize and distress my big ticket's background.  I then used a combination of the larger and smaller snowflake stamps from Tim Holtz' Mini Holidays 2 and Winterwonder Stamp Sets.  I heat embossed the snowflakes using a mixture of Rangers' Queens Gold and Copper Embossing Powders.  

Finally, I stamped a Ranger Distress Embossing Ink Pad over the entire ticket and covered it with Clear UTEE.  Then, I melted the powdered UTEE; sealing my ticket and leaving a lightly pitted enamel effect.  In the picture below, you can see some of the scoring, the embossed snowflakes and the pitted enamel background.

 I found a wonderful vintage Santa image, sized it to fit my ticket and cut it out.  I used my Tonic Craft Knife Tool to slice the edge of Santa's glove so that I could add more tickets underneath.  Then I glued the Santa in place, leaving under his glove unglued. 
 

I have been anxious to try some of my new Tim Holtz' Christmas die cuts!  I chose to use the Tattered Pine Cone and the Vintage Noel die cuts.  I cut the pine cones out of cream cardstock that I had distressed with Gathered Twig and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  I cut the pine needles out of a dark green cardstock.  I glued the pine needles in place and then stickled them with three different greens:  Firefly, Eucalyptus and Patina.  I followed the instructions included with the die cut to make the pine cones and set them to the side.  I also added some Eucalyptus and Patina Stickles to the holly leaves on Santa's hat.

I used a red cardstock as the base for the NOEL die cut.  Then I brushed over the letters with Matte Multi Medium and sprinkled NOEL with Siren Art Glitter Dazzlers.  It is like a chunky vintage glitter.  I love the look I achieved with it.

I then added some festive narrow gold ribbon and the Tattered Pine Cones.  Hmmm...it still needed a little something to "lighten" things up a bit.  So, I decided to add some Mini Snowflakes cut from Plain Grungeboard and painted with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber.  When that dried, I covered the snowflakes with Star Dust Stickles to give them that glisten of freshly fallen snow and glued them in place.

Finally, I added the tickets that Santa is holding in his hand.  They were fashioned out of manila tag board that was colored with Fired Brick, Picket Fence and Barn Door Distress Stains.  Then I lightly spritzed over it with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist for that subtle shimmer.  Using Tim Holtz' Odds and Ends stamp set, I stamped two plain tickets onto the vintage red background and wrote "NAUGHTY" on one and "NICE" on the other.  Then I glued them underneath Santa's glove.

So, there's my "ticket" for this week's challenge ... an extra large ticket with Santa holding tickets!  If Santa asked you to choose a ticket to describe how you'd been this year...which one would you choose..."NAUGHTY" or "NICE"?

Have a great week and take time to PLAY!!!

IT'S ALL ABOUT WENDY!!!

Good Monday morning everybody!  Last week's challenge was "Men Only"  This weeks' challenge is all about the girls....in particular....one very talented and super creative lady.... THE WeNdY VecCHi of Studio 490!!!  Don't you just love her stamps and Art Parts??  Wendy, if you're reading this, you are a genius!!!

I have a lot of Wendy's stamps and Art Parts.  There were so many inspiring things to choose from that I really had a lot of trouble zeroing in on what to use.  The only thing I knew before I started was that I wanted to use her new Art Shrine and her Dress Form Art Parts.  Other than that, I had no clue where this challenge piece would take me!!  And that is typically how I create....I just start in and let what I'm making tell me where it wants to go.  Here is my finished piece:

As I said, I started with an Art Parts Shrine.  I painted a base coat with white acrylic paint  because I wanted to go for more of a "fresco paint" type of look.  I then inked the background with Broken China and Wild Honey Distress Inks.  I love the subtle chalky looking finish I got.  Next I stamped the entire background with a text stamp using Jet Black Archival Ink.  

The frame for the Art Parts Shrine really tested my patience!  I started out with a base coat of white acrylic paint.  Then I covered it with Spiced Marmalade Crackle Paint.  When it dried, it looked amazing!  I distressed it with Black Soot but some of the crackle kept flaking off, exposing the white underneath.  I was not happy with that at all.  So, I ended up sanding all of the crackle off.  BUT...THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH THESE STURDY ART PARTS!  Then I decided to paint the frame using a Terra Cotta Paint Dabber followed by a light washing with some Picket Fence Distress Stain.  Finally, I very lightly brushed a touch of Juniper Paint Dabber on to my finger and distressed the frame.

As I was working on the shrine, I thought it would be cool to add a shelf.  So, I pulled out the largest of the scallops from Wendy's Scallops Trim Art Parts which coincidentally is exactly the same size as the bottom of the shelf!!! That would be the front of the shelf.  I cut a 5 1/2 x 3/4 inch piece of out chipboard to be the actual shelf.  I painted both with white acrylic paint.  I wanted them to look sort of like an old weathered farmhouse door, so I sanded them.  Then I lightly distressed them with Wild Honey Distress Ink.  I poked a hole on either side of the shelf that I would later use to attach some swivel clasps.  I attached the shelf bottom to the frame using black masking tape and then I also hot glued the joint to strengthen the shelf.  Then I glued the interior of the shrine and the frame together using Glossy Accents. 

I decided to combine a couple of Wendy's Art Parts together to create a top for the shrine.  They are the Pocket Watches and the largest of the flowers from her Florals Art Parts.  The pocket watch was distressed using Gathered Twigs from Tim Holtz' new Fall Seasonal Distress Ink Three Pack.  What delicious colors!!!  I chose to not use the pocket watch as a pocket watch but rather as a "doo hickey" (for lack of a better word) to showcase Wendy sentiment.  I lightly distressed a piece of white cardstock with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then stamped "Remember...Life Every Day of Your Life" from Wendy's Life and Art stamp set.  Next I lightly brushed over it with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls to give it a subtle shimmer.  The large flower was heat embossed with a mixture I made using Ranger's Queens Gold and Copper Embossing Powders.  When I finished that piece, I knew that I wanted to string Tim Holtz' Swivel Clasps from the pocket watches to the shelf I had made.  So I joined two clasps together on each side at the jump rings so that they would perfectly reach.  I attached them to the pocket watches but waited until the end to attach them to the shelf.  

The Dress Form from Dress Forms And More was also base coated with white acrylic paint.  I lightly distressed it with Pumice Stone and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks.  I then heat embossed leaves onto the dress form from Wendy's It's Face Art stamp set using Gold Embossing Powder.  I lightly dusted over the dress form using Biscotti Perfect Pearls Powder for an extra subtle shimmer.  I used two sets of wings from Wendy's Simply Wings Art Parts.  The largest set were colored using Seedless Preserves and the smaller wings were colored using Ripe Persimmon from Tim's new Fall Ink Triple Pack.  The larger wings were stamped with Wendy's famous polka dot pattern from her All About Art stamp set.  The smaller wings were stamped with a little cross hatch pattern and gold heat embossed around the edges.  The larger set of wings were glued to the back of the dress form and the smaller wings were glued on top of the dress form.  For added interest, I added a key hole from Tim Holtz' Locket Keys Ideaology.  The dress form needed a head!  

I LOVE the faces on Wendy's It's Face Art stamp set.  So I used the smaller of the Queens And Crowns Art Parts (base coated with a flesh tone acrylic paint) and stamped a partial face onto it.  I then colorized the lips using a small Sakura Water Brush and making my own paint from Forever Red Perfect Pearls Powder and the water brush.  Then I gave her a blue eye by making my own paint with Blue Raspberry Perfect Pearls Powder and the water brush.  I added some Perfect Copper Perfect Pearls to her eye lid using the same paint technique.  Next I lightly added some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink with my finger to give her cheeks a blush and finished off her face with a light dusting of Biscotti Perfect Pearls.  The crown attached to the face was heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I added another crown Art Part on top and heat embossed it with my Queens Gold and Copper Mix.  I off set that crown just a bit when I glued it on for a more three dimensional effect.  Then I cocked her head to give her an attitude and glued it onto the dress form body. 

The tall flower to the left is from Wendy's Florals Art Parts.  It is painted using Butterscotch and Bottle Paint Dabbers.  Because I love Wendy's polka dots so much, I chose to reuse them on the flower.  The center of the flower is a three dimensional flower I created from Wendy's 6 petal flower stamp on her Dimensional Rose Art stamp set.  The flower was created on manila tag paper using Wild Honey and Broken China Distress Stains and water.  I lightly brushed it with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls for more shimmer.  The flower is growing out of an ink bottle from Wendy's Borders and Bottles Art Parts. 

I first base coated the bottle with white acrylic paint and then covered it with an Aqua Paint Dabber.  Then I highlighted it a little with a Silver Paint Dabber and distressed the edges with a black cats eye ink pad.  The label on the bottle is from Wendy's Tools For Art stamp set.  It is stamped onto kraft paper and then covered with Crackle Accents.  

The smallest flower in the little "spool pot" is also from Wendy!  The wooden spool pot is painted using a Butterscotch Paint Dabber.  The little flower is from Wendy's Ticket To Art stamp set.  The flower was stamped three times onto the scrap manila paper I used to create the three dimensional flower.  I then cut out the small flower, glued the centers together and spread out the petals.  I added a black button as the center for the flower.  I added a chipboard stem, painted with Bottle and Butterscotch Paint Dabbers and the leaves stamped onto a Peeled Paint distress cardstock are from Wendy's Nature's Art stamps set.  

After all of the pieces were glued into place on the shelf, I joined the Swivel Clasps to the shelf.  Finally, I embellished the pocket watch at the top by adding a silver bee charm, that I toned down by rubbing Gold Paint Dabber over the surface with my finger.  I added a stamped hand from Wendy's Mail Art stamp set.  It is heat embossed with my mixture of Queens Gold and Copper embossing powders over cardstock colorized with Broken China Distress Ink and then edged with a black cats eye ink pad.  I tied a little black cord around the finger, reminding you to "Live Every Day Of Your Life" and it is also pointing upwards towards Wendy's sentiment that the bee is holding;  "Believe in Yourself" from her Art Inspiration stamp set (stamped onto kraft paper).  Isn't THAT sentiment so true??

So there you have it...my Wendy Vecchi project for this week!!!  I hope you enjoyed seeing it and reading about all of her wonderful products I used in this piece!  See...I TOLD you I had a lot of Wendy stuff!!!  (smile) 

Check out the wildly creative and super cool pieces my Design Teammies have made for you at 
SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW CHALLENGE!!!

Then enter your Wendy Vecchi piece in our challenge.  You could win our wonderful sponsor's very generous gift of.....(drum roll).....  

You may also be selected as one of the Top Three artists for the week!!!  So, now it's YOUR turn to get your Wendy on and get busy!  I can't wait to see what you'll create!!  Good luck!!