Sunday, August 18, 2013

CARNIVAL!!!

Hello Everyone!!!  It's another Monday and time for a new challenge from Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  This week, the theme is "Carnival".

Carnivals and Circuses are about the same thing, right?  Anyway, here is my challenge piece for this week ...

I created a large, dimensional tag using vintage circus images from Tim Holtz and Bottle Caps.

What is a carnival without a "BIG TOP"?  I began with a piece of manila cardstock and Wendy Vecchi's Yike Stripes stencil to create the "BIG TOP" at the top of my tag.  I made the stripes using Fired Brick Distress Ink and then covered them with Wendy's new and AMAZING Transluscent Embossing Paste!  See the shine on the stripes?  It's glossy but not gaudy.  Perfect for distress work! Next I die cut the bottom edge with Tim Holtz' Plaque and Postage On The Edge die cut to create more of the feel of a Big Top.


I stamped the wheel from Tim Holtz' Big Top twice onto Specialty Stamping Paper with Jet Black Archival Ink.  I cut out only the center circle one one of the stamped images and divided it into equal sections.  Then I colored in each of the elongated triangles of the circle with various Distress Inks and a Detailer Water Brush.  When dry, I glued it into place, inked the top of the wheel with Versamark Embossing Ink and then poured Clear UTEE over the top of the newly altered wheel.  I heat set it and poked a hole into the center of the wheel where I would add a Tim Holtz Washer and Long Fastener.



Here is the way the original stamp looked and my altered, more "Carnival" version.



The clowns were also stamped onto Specialty Stamping Paper and colored with various Distress Inks and a Detailer Water Brush.  Primarily, the flesh faces were done with a mixture of Scattered Straw and Tattered Rose.  The bright red hair, cheeks and lips is Barn Door. The bright blue is Salty Ocean.  The other yellow-ish vintage color is Scattered Straw.  I cut around the clowns and glued them onto another piece of left over striped paper from the Big Top to create a pocket.  I also gathered a piece of distressed cream crepe paper with a needle and thread that would later become a big clown color for the center clown.  That was attached with 1/8" Scor Tape and the wavy edges of the crepe paper all accented with Waterfall Stickles.  I also accented the other clowns with Waterfall and Stardust Stickles for that extra "sparkle".


Here you can see the completed pocket, the wheel and three Bottle Caps Inc. vintage bottle caps and vintage circus images inside of each.  The cabochons on top magnify the images and give a neat vintage look of being covered in glass.

  
The basic #10 Manila Tag was distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and the Big Top attached with 1/4" Scor Tape to the backside of the tag.  I then clipped off either side to conform to the shape of the tag.  I added two black pop dots stacked on each side underneath the front of the Big Top to give it more dimension and I flared out the bottom half of the tag.  The Fired Brick Tickets were originally manila cardstock that I distressed and cut out using Tim Holtz' Mini Tickets die cut strip.  I then stamped the ticket image on each ticket using Jet Black Archival Ink.  Time to put everything in place.



In this photograph, you can better see the dimension of the Big Top.



I also die cut a Tim Holtz Mini Ticket onto a piece of distressed Manila Cardstock and stamped "Life Is A Circus" on it.  I colorized some of the letters with Fired Brick Distress Ink and a Detailer Water Brush.  I then stamped three stars and circles from Tim Holtz' Bitty Grunge stamp set and colorized the stars with Salty Ocean Distress Ink and a Detailer Water Brush.  I punched out the circles and pop dotted them in place.  I then sliced either side of the tag with my Tonic Craft Knife and inserted a piece of black ribbon.  I added some tickets across the front of the Big Top and some running vertically down the tag.  Looks like a circus, doesn't it?


The center portion of the tag sports the altered wheel that will really spin.  The Wendy Vecchi hand (from her Mail Art stamp set) to the right is supposed to look like those "tickers" that point to the winning number on a wheel after it stops spinning.  It is colored with the same colors as the clowns and is pop dotted in place.

   
The clown pocket is really fun.  I love the main clown's big ruffled collar.  I also love the vintage images from Bottle Cap Inc.'s Vintage Circus bottle cap centers.  I added them to distressed Bottle Cap bottle caps and covered them with a 1" cabochon.  They really make the images pop!



I hope you've enjoyed seeing this tag and see how I made it.  And ... I hope this has inspired you to join our challenge and create something with a "Carnival" theme.  Then enter our challenge and YOU could be the lucky winner of our weekly random drawing of 



$50.00 credit voucher.  The Design Team also choose our top picks from each week and some of them are highlighted on our newer feature called ...




So, join us today and YOU may be among the select artists that we feel have really rocked the challenge.

Here are all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp that I used in creating this tag:








32 comments:

  1. Fabulous imagery, dimension and design Candy, I just adore the bottle tops.
    Hugs Brenda xxx

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  2. Such a great tag with so many creative ideas Candy. Love how you always think outside the box and come up with unique and detailed projects. Hugs, Jenny x

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  3. Wow... this is such a fantastic project! The colors and those images are awesome! Love your design, Candy. :)

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  4. Fabulous Tag Candy. What a lot of work went into it. The end result is stunning, love the Big Top stripes and the great bottle caps. Debbiex

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  5. Hi Candy, another fabulous and creative make from you. The way you created the dimensional tent at the top is wonderful, I adore those bottle caps and the frill on the clown is brilliant. Your creations are always stunning and it is such a pleasure to visit your blog for a 'fix' of creativity. Hugs, Anne x

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  6. Great tag, love all the different layers

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  7. Great tag, love all the different layers

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  8. WOW! Very cool! Love all the different elements!

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  9. oh my - that is just the best tag!!! The Clowns I have to admit are scary things for me - but that probably has more to do with an early childhood experience with Steven King's "It". Other than the clowns I love all of it. The little candy-strip awning is to die for!

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  10. Fabulous tag Candy!! SO many special details as always. Love the clear paste, ruffles and of course the wonderful UTEE game wheel. The tent at the top is so clever!

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  11. Great new make Candy!! You always come up with such cool ideas!! Love it! Specially like how you did those bottlecaps!

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  12. Candy, you're amazing! This is an awesome project and I have been dying to tell you how much I love this. I adore the clowns ruffles. So cute! And I LOVE how you made the color wheel. That is sooo clever! The pointing finger...perfect! All of the details really paid off here. You have created a beautiful piece. I love your work. :)

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  13. OMG Candy!! Those stripes are immaculately done - how is this woman so neat I ask myself - then I move onto the wheel and it's so darn perfect too! As for those bottlecaps - well they are the superb ! Amazing tag - just LOVE your imagination! Nicola x

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  14. oh my Candy! This tag is amazing! I love all the dimension and detail! The clowns ruffle looks awesome and the trio of bottle caps makes me want to go hoard bottle caps!! Love how you brought the color wheel to life! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

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  15. Fantastic big top tag Candy, I love how,you die cut the edge and added stripes to the backdrop. Love the added ruffle to the clowns too, little touches like this really do make a piece unique. Love your coloured dimensional wheel too. This tag really does pack a creative punch . Tracy x

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  16. Candy ... this is sooooo cute. I love the big top that you made. How amazingly creative that is! The colors (definitely accented by the use of UTEE) are so vibrant and fun. Love it!! -- Mary Elizabeth

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  17. This is so wonderful Candy...I love everything about this project. Wonderful depth and colour.

    Brilliant!

    Crafty hugs Annie x

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  18. What a fun project, Candy! Love the way you popped up your big top and those bottle caps are fabulous!

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  19. You blow me away again, Candy! The big top stripes are perfectly vintage, and the bottle caps are such a touch of fun and whimsy. I'm loving the fun spinner and the pointing finger...and the ruffle on the clown suit...oh my giddy aunt! Fabulous! Once again, your attention to detail just makes this tag extra, extra special! The most spectacular show on earth!

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  20. I just love this project! It's gorgeous! Especially the stripes and the dimension in the card.

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  21. Ohh Candy! What a wonderful circus tag! Love all the elements. The clowns look really scary, the big top is stunning, and the bottle caps are such a great touch! Perfect! Hugs, Sandra

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  22. Fabulous design! I love the wheel and finger, and the big top stripes!!! Awesome and creative as all get out!

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  23. LOVE it! This just shouts circus and carnival! The stripes were a brilliant touch! Beautiful project Candy!

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  24. Oh, but those clowns are SCARY! - though I do love the ruff on the middle one - fabulous touch. Love the bold big top stripes, and those bottle-top embellishments totally make it for me - brilliant!
    Alison x

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  25. Hey there sweetness, your clowns are looking fabulous and a bit scary lol....but you Circus Project is just amazing, love the wheel and the clowns and everything on your project. Thank you for sharing sweetness, Hugs Terry xxx

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  26. Such an amazing piece Candy! I love how you always share the details of your creations.
    Hope you are enjoying your summer!

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  27. WOW Candy this is a MASTER PIECE, love it. All the details, so much fun!!

    Love from The Netherlands,
    Leintje*

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  28. This is so clever on so many levels! I especially loved the bright colors mixed with the vintage images. Really stunning piece and I'm always amazed at your techniques. You've got skillz, girl! No doubt about it!

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  29. Hello Candy,
    Thank you so much for your very nice comment today on the AO blog hop. It was very encouraging.
    I love your tag! The circus theme is of recent interest. This tag has inspired me a lot. I also love how you show us how you made it. Thank you for sharing your lovely talent.
    Kate

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  30. Hi Candy! I'm back from holiday , I'm slowly taking up the rhythm, even in the comments!! In this work I really love every detail, especially the color wheel and bottle caps, but it really is all perfect!

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