THIS ONE'S FOR THE GUYS ...

I hope everyone in the US is enjoying a safe and happy Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Simon Says Stamp and Show is asking all of us to create something for the guys this week.  Check out the blog to see the wonderful masculine pieces my fabulous Design Team buddies have posted this week.  As always, they are amazing!

I got my grunge on and used almost all Tim Holtz products to create this 6x6 board.

This piece really has an emphasis on Tim's wonderful and often misunderstood Distress Embossing Powders.  They are not meant to be metallic or shiny when they are heated.  They are meant to be grainy and rough with a sand paper-ish type texture.

First I glued a piece of paper from Tim's Crowded Attic Paper Stash to a 6x6 chipboard square.  I distressed the background using Bundled Sage, Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, Crushed Olive then Black Soot Distress Inks.  Next I embossed the 6x6 board using Tim's Postal Texture Fade.  I lightly tapped the Distress Embossing Ink to just hit all of the high areas of the embossed design and cover them with clear ink.  Then I sprinkled first Walnut Stain and then Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powders randomly over the entire embossed image; mixing the two colors.  I removed the excess powder and heat set it into the raised image.  I rubbed off the excess powder and release crystals leaving a beautiful, rough image.

Next I randomly stamped parts of the harlequin design from Dyan Reaveley's Basic Backgrounds stamp set using the Distress Embossing Ink.  Using the same technique that I did with the postal cancellation image, I randomly sprinkled Weathered Wood and Vintage Photo Distress Powders over the ink and heat set it.  Then I distressed the board again with a little more Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I die cut the Old Jalopy out of Grungeboard.  Then I rubbed the surface of the jalopy with the Distress Embossing Ink pad and sprinkled Black Soot Distress Embossing Powder all over it.  I heat set and removed the excess powder.  The little die cut details in the car are heat embossed with Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powders and glued into place using Glossy Accents.  The "windows" in the jalopy are made from Mica that is glued to the backside of the jalopy die cut. I added the Plaquette across the car door.  The "smoke" coming out of the back end of the jalopy is made using a Mini Flourish die cut out of Grungeboard and painted with a Cloudy Blue Paint Dabber.  When it was dry, I smeared Waterfall Stickles over the surface and distressed the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.  Then I glued it to the back end of the car, as if it were smoke coming out of a tailpipe.

I distressed Tim's Journaling Ticket with Vintage Photo and Crushed Olive Distress Inks with just a touch of Black Soot around the edges.  I stamped 'Enjoy The Journey" from Tim's Just Thoughts stamp set, using Jet Black Archival Ink.  I used Tim's Ruler to punch three holes equidistant on the top and bottom of the ticket.  Then I added a Long Fastener to each and pounded them with Tim's Texture Hammer to distress the heads.  The ticket is mounted on a piece from a Metal Foil Sheet that was embossed with Tim's Damask Texture Fade.  It was then rubbed with a Pitch Black Paint Dabber and I wiped away some of the paint with a paper towel, leaving a really cool antiqued look to the metal.  I then cut the edges of the metal sheet to mimic the edges of the ticket.

Finally, I added a piece of Tim's Filmstrip Ribbon to the right side of the board, using Tim's Tiny Attacher.  I pop dotted the Journal Ticket in place and then hot glued the Old Jalopy in Place.  With all of the Distress Embossing Powders, this not only has the look but the feel of a masculine project.

Now it's YOUR turn to create something for the guys and post it to our blog.  If you are chosen as the lucky random winner for the week, you will receive a ....

      

And...you could be chosen as one of our TOP THREE artists for the week!!  So...get your thinking caps on and think about all of those wonderful guys in our lives!  I can't wait to see what you create!

  

TIM HOLTZ MAY TAG ... OR IN MY CASE ... AN ATC

I love Tim Holtz' TWELVE TAGS of 2012!  If you're not participating, I encourage you to do so!  Not only are the tags really pretty and fun to do, but the techniques are way cool, too.  Click HERE to see Tim's May tag.

Here is my version of Tim's tag.  Instead of making a tag...I made an ATC.  I used Tim's miniature dress form, needle book, spool label, ruler and pattern image from his Attic Treasures stamp set.  They are the perfect size for ATCs!  

The background was done with Tim's new Spring Distress Ink colors; Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade.  I also did the spritz and flick technique to add some interest to the background.  Stamping is all done with Jet Black Archival Ink, except for the pattern image.  That was stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

  

The dress form was stamped directly on to the background.  I stamped another dress form and cut out the bodice.  I added the skirt made from Tim's Tissue Tape.  I added some Orange Peel to the skirt and drew a line at the bottom of the skirt to give it some definition.

The wings are stamped using Tim's Distress Markers directly onto the stamp and then stamping them on Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper.  There is a bit of a glare in the photo but they really blended nicely.  I added the smaller flower from Tim's Ideaology Foliage.  I colored it using Vintaj Patina in the green tones.  

Finally, I hot glued a little Ideaology Hanger underneath the Foliage flower to hold it in place. I also added an Ideaology Type Charm with the letter "T" to dangle from the hanger. 

The needle book and spool label are also stamped onto Specialty Stamp paper and then colorized using Tim's Distress Markers.  The little butterfly and the larger wings used on the dress form are from Tim's Papillion and the Attic Treasures Stamp sets.

The faux porcelain flowers were originally little white flowers.  I sprayed them with a mixture of Spiced Marmalade Ink Refiller, Bronze Perfect Pearls Powder and water in a Mini Mister.  Then I dipped the flowers in hot UTEE (see Tim's tutorial for the May tag) and then glued them in place on my little ATC.  They are so easy to make but really look like little porcelain flowers.

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful Spring weather and you're taking time out of your busy schedules to stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy your day and take time to play!

 

 

 

THE LAZY HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER....

Hello everyone!  Happy Monday!!  

Memorial Day is fast approaching.  That means summer  vacations will soon begin!  Simon Says Stamp and Show's challenge this week is all about Summer Holidays.  The Design Team has posted some really wonderful works of art for your viewing pleasure.  Check them out over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

 

I have created a journal using that wonderful  
Graphic 45 On The Boardwalk paper. 

I started off with a plain 9 3/4 x 7 1/2" composition notebook.  I covered both the inside and outside covers of the notebook with great background papers.  Then I finished off the insides of the covers first; followed by the back and then finally the front.

The inside of the front cover features a really cute vintage advertisement mounted onto a pocket.  

Tim Holtz' Trimmings gathered elastic ribbon was sprayed with my own concoction of Broken China Reinker, Kiwi Perfect Pearls and water in a Mini Mister.  It was then taped across the front of the pocket using 1/8" Wonder Tape.  I added extra ribbon onto both sides so that I could tuck it under the folded edge of the pocket before gluing the pocket in place using 1/4" Wonder Tape.  Then I just taped the "On The Boardwalk" piece on top.

I sprayed a Honey Stain from Design Masters on several of the first and last pages of the journal, to give it even more of a vintage feeling.

The embellishment running across the top and bottom of the inside cover was created using a Martha Stewart Floral Lace Edge Puncher.  I distressed the edges and put them in place using Wonder Tape.  Next, I added the little tickets, also using Wonder Tape.  All of the images I've used to embellish this journal are included in this wonderful 12 x 12 paper pack!!

In the pocket, I've stuck a couple of vintage postcards I created from still more of the images included in this paper pack.

The back interior cover features a long pocket on the side so you can slip notes, pictures or other memories in it.  The postcards laying on the left side of the book can easily be tucked into the pocket on the right.  All of the vintage photos and post card images were taken from the paper pack.  I have distressed the edges of all of the photos and other cut pieces with a Chestnut Roan and Black Cats Eye ink pads.

The back cover again features more of those wonderful vintages images from the On The Boardwalk collection.  I added some ribbon trim under the accent stripe that looks like bottle caps on the left side.  

I also smashed a couple of bottle caps and added them to coordinate with the bottle cap images on the accent stripe.

The front cover is my favorite.  It features a beautiful "bathing beauty" with a small group of lovely ladies.  Paper Artsy's Hot Picks 1201 stamp set provides the wonderful vintage anchor at the top and the lovely seashell at the bottom.  

The anchor was stamped using Coffee Archival Ink.  I punched a hole in the top and ran a hemp type cording through it and down the anchor; following the cording on the stamped image.  I then continued the hemp cording down the side of the cover to add interest and dimension.  I popped the anchor in place using small pop dots.   These cute little tags are part of the paper pack.  I added them to the hemp twine and tied them with ribbon. 

At the bottom of the twine, I added an airy Tattered Floral was made from Tim Holtz' Terminology Tissue Wrap.  The flowers have been colorized first with Picket Fence Distress Stain followed by Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Stains.  Another smashed bottle cap was added for the center.

The seashell was colored right onto the stamp using Tim Holtz' Distress Marker Colors: Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Barn Door and Dried Marigold.  I stamped the shell on Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper.  After I dried it, I added some Tumbled Glass and Broken China highlights to the shell using Tim Holtz' Detailer Brush.  I popped the shell in place using small pop dots.  I couldn't get a good picture of the shell...but the Distress Markers really did a nice job of blending and shading the shell colors.

Now, I'm set to journal about my summer holiday and beyond!  Time to start planning YOUR summer Holiday!  Post your creation to our blog and you could be the winner of our generous sponsor's weekly prize of a .... 

You could also be selected as one of the TOP THREE entries for the week.  That is quite a compliment, judging from the amazing entries we have each week!  So, enter today for your chance to win!!!  I can't wait to see your creations!

 

GONE WITH THE WIND ATCs

I am a huge fan of that 1939 movie classic ... Gone With The Wind.

Clark Gable starred as the dashing Rhett Butler and 

Vivian Leigh was the perfect Scarlett O'Hara.

When I saw the sign ups for a Gone With The Wind ATC swap through my VPI art group, I knew I HAD to sign up!  I am making 6 cards for the swap....using 4 different designs.  For this swap, you were required to use vintage images from the movie.

Here are the different designs I have created...some more dimensional than others; 

but all so FUN to do!!

Since this movie was set in the deep South around the time of the Civil War, I used a Confederate flag as my background on most of the cards.  It is washed with a mixture of Folk Art Buttercup acrylic paint and water.  I love the ochre muted tone it created on the flag.  It's still there but really fades into the background and allowed me to pop the characters.

I loved this picture of Scarlett.  She was such a spoiled "Daddy's girl" and an absolutely stunning "Suthern" Belle.

"Prissy" was such a great character!  I will never forget her line, "Miss Scarlett, I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies" as Scarlett was depending on her to help deliver Melanie's baby during the Union Army's march on Atlanta.

This famous line was so typical of Scarlett.  At the end of the movie, her life is falling apart.  She finally realizes that the love of her life is not Ashley Wilkes but Rhett Butler.  As Scarlett professes her love to Rhett, he begins walking out the door and calmly delivers his famous line, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" But instead of immediately going after him, Scarlett decides she will figure out a way to win him back....but she will think about it later. After all, tomorrow IS another day!

I loved this picture of Rhett and Scarlett.  They had lots of Confederate money, a beautiful home and everything anyone could want.  But, they learned that everything can be gone in an instant as if "Gone With The Wind".

I can't wait to swap these cards and see the little masterpieces I will receive in return from the very talented group of artists who are participating in this swap.  I'll post my cards once I receive them!  Can't wait!!!

ANYTHING GOES ~ WHAT ABOUT A CORSET?

Happy Monday everybody! I hope all you Moms out there (in the US) had a fantastic Mother's Day celebration yesterday. 

This week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge is "Anything Goes".  So, get those creative thinking caps on and create whatever you heart desires for this challenge!

I am in the midst of making some ATCs for a future swap.  The theme is corsets.  The only stipulation is that the cards have to feature vintage images of corsets. Here is one of the designs I've created for the swap. While the trio of lovely ladies are wearing what I'd like to call "semi corsets", the little vintage ad features a full corset...so I'm safe.

 

I found these images online, I just fell in love with them and knew I just HAD to use them!  Aren't they beautiful?  I absolutely love teal and browns together anyway, so I love how this ATC turned out....simple yet elegant.

Ranger has some wonderful options for ATC cards in Black, Kraft, Specialty Stamping Paper and Manila.  Check them out HERE.  I like to back all of my ATCs with mat or mounting board.  (You can get it at craft stores and cut it into 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 size.)  It really gives the cards extra strength so that they won't easily get bent.  They also look and feel so much more impressive and substantial when they have a strong backing.

The background for this ATC was some left over Pink Paislee "Butterfly Garden" paper that I had.  Pink Paislee has some beautiful paper lines out right now at Simon Says Stamp.  London Market is another one that I adore right now.  Anyway...back to this ATC.  (smile)

The background is one of the teal backgrounds with small brown images of text and drawings from Butterfly Garden.  I taped it in place using 1/4" Wonder Double Sided Tape.  Next I distressed the paper using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then just touched the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.  This background color was such a lovely color-especially after the Vintage Photo added such wonderful rich tones.  But it needed a little "umfph".  So, I lightly brushed some Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Powder over the teal background; particularly around the outside edges.  

I tore a strip of book print from another scrap from the Butterfly Garden collection, distressed it with Vintage Photo and Black Soot and then glued it going somewhat diagonally across the ATC.  I cut off the excess edges and then distressed the edges of the card with Gathered Twig Distress Ink followed with a touch of Black Soot.

Next, I cut the trio of ladies out using my Honey Bee Scissors.  I love them for the fine detail cutting!  Then I lightly...very lightly added just a touch of Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the picture.  It's amazing what just a touch of Vintage Photo can do to change the appearance of a photograph.  I inked the edges of the ladies with a Chestnut Roan Cats Eye Ink Pad.  I always ink edges....it gives them real definition!  Then I centered the ladies on the ATC and glued them in place.  The sparkle on their pearl necklaces is courtesy of Waterfall and Stardust Stickles.

The vintage ad at the very top and the bottom of the ATC were actually one ad that I cut apart.  I distressed the ads using Vintage Photo and Black Soot Distress Inks.  Using 1/8" Wonder Tape, I placed the smaller ad line at the top of the ATC.  I gathered a bit of vintage cream tulle and glued it in place using 1/4" Wonder Tape.  Then I laid the other part of the vintage ad on top of it, using 1/4" Wonder Tape.  I liked the little bit of dimension and femininity it added to the ATC. 

Finally, I wanted to add just a small embellishment to the right side of the ATC, where I felt like there was a glaring bare spot. Melissa Frances' Cream Pearls were the perfect solution!  This set has several different sizes of the prettiest cream pearls!

Enter your Anything Goes creation in our challenge.  You might be the lucky winnner of our random weekly drawing for a...

from our most generous sponsor!  Lots and lots of amazing products at Simon Says Stamp!

You could also be selected as one of the Top Three projects for the week.  This is quite an honor as we always have such beautiful work on display from our entrees.  And also from the Design Team!!!  If you've not seen the amazing Anything Goes ideas from my Design Team buddies this week, click on the Simon Says Stamp and Show's Challenge Blog Link.

Good luck!!!

FAVORITE STAMP

This week's Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge was a hard one for me....YOUR FAVORITE STAMP!  The theme is not hard...but choosing my favorite stamp was!  I have so many favorites!  Check out the favorite stamps of my design team buddies and the wonderful creations they've made for you this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show's Challenge Blog.  Their imaginations never cease to amaze me.  Always inspiring art!

I guess right now...my favorite stamp would have to be Tim Holtz Remnants set because I love the hot air balloon!  So, I chose to use that stamp set to create my piece for this week...a vintage piece reminiscent of an old wind up toy.

I started off with a little inexpensive wooden box that I bought from a craft store for $3.

I think the box is supposed to sit flat with the mesh being the top of the box.  But, I liked it up on end.  So, here is my box before I started....The first thing I did was spray the entire box with some "Honey" stain from Design Master.  It does a wonderful job of adding a beautiful aged sepia tone to a project.  My next step was probably "bass akwards" of what I normally do.  I created my paper interior of the box before I painted the outside of the box.  I think I was so excited to see my idea of the interior come to life that I just jumped in with both feet!  But, it worked out just fine.

Before and After picture of the background being added to the basic paper.

I selected a paper from my Bo Bunny 6x6 Weekend Market Paper Pad.  I wanted a paper that has just a little bit of print so that my stamped image would not compete with it.  I selected the large text from Remnants as my background. I colored the stamp with Broken China, Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain Distress Markers.  Then I stamped it onto my piece of paper, cut to fit the inside of my box. I loved the "earthy tones" I got and how the Distress Markers blended on the paper. Then I distressed the edges of the paper with a little Vintage Photo Distress Ink and set it to the side.

I knew that my box was pretty deep and that I needed to create a "false back" in my box so that my hot air balloon would not sit back so far inside of the box.  So, I added several small wooded blocks to the bottom of my box so that I could glue my background on to them.

I covered the interior of the box with various papers from the same paper pack.  Then I stamped the hot air balloon 4 times onto Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper. I stamped the balloon using Jet Black Archival Ink and colored it with a Barn Door Distress Marker. I used the same technique to create my dimensional hot air balloon that I used a month ago on a project.  See those instructions HERE.  

I cut out little flags for the bunting from left over Specialty Stamp Paper.  I colorized it with a Tumbled Glass Distress Marker and edged with a black cats eye pad.  I then folded and glued the flags over a black cord.  To add some "sheen", I lightly brushed the bunting with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls. Then I added the bunting to the hot air balloon.  

Finally, I knew that I was going to be adding a "passenger" on the hot air balloon, so I painted a 3/4" wood block black and glued it onto the base of my balloon.  This would give me a good dimensional base to add my flying man....

The little man was so much fun to make! I used a "SOAR" (since he's flying on the hot air balloon) Adage Ticket as his body.  It is highlighted around the edges with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls that has been painted on using Tim Holtz' Detailer Brush....so far the cuffs on his shirt.  The rest of the little man is from a wonderul collage sheet that I recently purchased from Alpha Stamps.  Isn't he great?

I found the "stage curtain" that I used across the top of the interior of my box online.  I sized it to fit my box and cut it out.  It was cute...but it needed something.  So, I dusted it with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls and then painted some detail work on the fringe and folds with the Detailer Brush. I think it really brought the curtain to life.  You can see the Before (top) and After (bottom) results from the application of the Perfect Pearls.  

Here is the finished interior of the box. Lots of detail...lots of fun!

Now that my interior was finished, it was time to do the outside of the box. I wanted it to look really old and well worn.  So, I started off with a paint coating of Aspen Green Folk Art Acrylic Paint.  Then I smeared some Vaseline on to areas that I wanted to resist my darker paint color I was about to add.

Next, I used my Paper Artsy Crackle Glaze in a bit different way than it called for on the instructions.  I painted on the glaze and let it dry.  Then, instead of adding another layer of paint and letting it crackle, I added a thinner wash using a little water and Raw Sienna Folk Art Acrylic Paint.  I didn't want it so much to crackle as I wanted to try to create a weathered, peeling paint effect.  Here is the top of my box during the process.  You can see the difference before and after the application of the raw sienna wash and drying it with a heat tool.

Here is another picture of the texture on the box.  It really does look like a peeling paint or varnish.  I finally lightly painted some Iridescent Medium over the box to give it some sheen when the light hits it.

Now the exterior of my box needed some character.  I purchased some little unfinished wood pieces to achieve that.  Two different size wheels created the top of my box.  I painted them with Paper Artsy Haystack Fresco Paint.  Simon Says Stamp carries some of the Paper Artsy Paint and Glaze Products.  Click HERE to see them. Then I stacked them, hot glued them and distressed them using Gathered Twig Distress Ink. Then I added a dusting of Sunflower Sparkle for that extra shimmer.  I added a piece of braid trim and added Tim Holtz' Clock Key to the top.  It really gives my box that vintage, wind up toy feeling.

I also added four wooden stars painted in Haystack, distressed with Gathered Twig and dusted with Sunflower Sparkle.  I hot glued them in place on the four corners of the front of the box and added Tim Holtz' Mini Gears to the centers of each one....a different one on each star.  I also added four wooden knobs (colored the same at the stars and top) to the base.  I love the character just those knob added!

This is a picture of the box with the door closed.

Finally, I added some metal pieces that I found at a craft store to the interior of the wire mesh.  I wired each of them in place so that they would freely hang when the door is open yet it would not detract from the exterior of the box when the door is closed.  The little Antique Brass Hook at the top that is holding the wired pieces in place is from 7 Gypsies. Those little deals come in so handy!

So, that is my favorite stamp...made into a fun, vintage piece that I will enjoy having around!

Now it's YOUR turn to pull out your favorite stamp and make something wonderful! Then enter them into our weekly challenge. You could be randomly selected to win our generous sponsor's prize of a ...

You may also be selected as one of our TOP THREE entries of the week! Not an easy thing to achieve as we have so many wonderfully creative entries every week. So, get your ink on and enter today!

I'm also entering this piece in the "Alter It" Challenge over at Frilly and Funkie.  It's another fun challenge with a very artistic following.