Details, details, details

With the wedding less than 3 weeks away, my life is ruled by details!  Details also happened to be the LAST challenge from A Compendium of Curiosities hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  For our final challenge we were instructed to turn to page 67 for Design Details.

Design details come in all shapes and sizes.  Here is a project I created in a Tim class in June 2009 using the techniques in the book.

Other design details are not quite so obvious as the stitching, unless you have something to compare it to.  Do you ever play the "can you name the differences between the pictures" game?  Well here's your chance! There are differences or design details added to the 2nd photo!  

Don't worry, I will give the answers!  The card on the right are the ones I made for my daughter to use as "thank yous" for her shower.  (Her shower was a tea party with everyone getting dressed up including hats!  It was great fun!)

I did it!  I made all 35 challenges and posted for each week!  My journal is not completely up to date, but there is a project for each week waiting to be added!

When Linda at StudioL3 announces the winner of the 35th CCC she is going to announce something else too! Make sure you take a look at her blog (she has hints on her week 35 project!).

Have a fabulous week!

Linda

The answers to the differences -
1) the tea cup on the right has a gold added around the rim of the cup and saucer as well as the cup handle
2) the edges of the white square are inked with Tumbled Glass distress ink
3) the edges of the light blue mat (under the white square) are inked with Faded Jeans distress ink
4) the "thank you" strip is placed higher on the card
5) lace under the thank you strip
6) the edges of the "thank you" strip are inked with Tumbled Glass distress ink
7) the edges of the mat under the "thank you" strip are inked with Faded Jeans distress ink

Can't imagine why, can you?

On Tuesday evening, I worked on CCC 34!  I left it on my work table to dry.  Since Tuesday I've worked on other stuff, mostly wedding stuff (as I write this we are down to 3 weeks and 5 days!  How does time slip away so quickly?).   The studio is also becoming my greenhouse for the wedding since I am trying to create an enchanted jungle.  Then I happened to drop by  a store that had some plants on sale for half price that I had to get.

Today (Sunday) I realized I had not posted yet, partly because I was not happy with the way my fragment came out and partly I've been busy with other stuff.  It wasn't the directions on page 63  of A Compendium of Curiosities for Dimensional Collage Fragment technique because as all of the instructions in book they are very clear and nicely illustrated.  The problem was my execution of the technique.  The reason I wasn't too happy with it was because the flower I used got under another element and you can't tell it's a flower.   Even though I don't care for it much I was going to show it to you anyway along with some I made a couple of years ago when Tim was in town.  So I went to my studio to get the fragment and I couldn't find it.  I did look,  but it was nowhere to be found.  I am sure when I clean (no Chris, I did not get as far as cleaning the studio yesterday! lol) I will find it so I can add it to my journal I making for all the challenges.  


Do you see it sitting on the table?

Can't imagine why I can't find the fragment, can you?

The flowers (Cyclamens) are my latest purchase, well except for the ferns I bought today, but they are still in the van and are going to live in the office until the wedding.   Directly behind the chair is this view:

Like I said, the studio is turning into a greenhouse!  There are more plants outside  plus a friend has a nursery and he is going to loan some "background" plants for the wedding.  An then there is the friend at work who is going to be doing some landscaping and will let me use his plants before he puts them in the ground!  I am also working on one of the stores to see if I can rent a 6' waterfall!

OK back to the Dimensional Collage Fragment.  I found the ones I made for the project with Tim. (Perhaps "found" is not the right verb as it is on display in the studio!)  This started as a plain framed IKEA mirror!  There are 6 dimensional collage  fragments in this project - one in each of the lower corners, one above the center of the mirror and one on each the left & right upper edge of the mirror.  There is another one on the bottom right edge of the mirror.  The key in the fragment  to the upper left of the mirror started as a flat metal key, but as time has gone by, it reacted with something and turned turquoise!  It was quite interesting watching it change as it started at one end and slowly went to the other.

Hope you have a fabulous week!

Linda

CCC #32

Wow!  It's only Tuesday and I am posting CCC 32!   Amazing how motivated one can be when one is leaving in 36 hours for Hawaii!  Yep, I am off to see my middle daughter who is living in Hawaii!  This will be my first trip ever to visit the Islands and I am EXCITED!!!

OK, onto the Compendium of Curiosity Challenge hosted by the awesome Linda @ StudioL3.  If you haven't been playing along, there is plenty of time to mosey on over and give it a try this week!  We only have 3 more lessons before we've tried all the techniques in the book.  But not to worry, Linda says she has something up her sleeve!

 We were instructed to turn to page 59.   This week the piece I am showing off was created for my companion book I am creating to go along with the Compendium of Curiosity.  And it has nothing to do with the wedding! lol

I also used the technique for a retirement card I made.  I didn't take a picture of it because I really didn't care for it all that much (the card).  In fact, I even stopped at a store on my way to work to buy a card.    Everyone at work thought it was great and that I am too hard on myself, but I disagree.  The recipient said she liked it, so I guess in the end that is what matters!

Anyway, following the instructions on page 59 in the Compendium of Curiosity, I created this:

I went with the car, not because I was "copying" Tim, but because I had a couple Karen Foster signs I wanted to use.  One said "Retiree Parking" and the other "Retirement Street" which both worked fabulously with the car stamp.   In the book Tim says the main image will float over the other images and in this picture the car really looks to be floating, kinda like Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang!  lol   Guess that means I "achieved" the look!

I was playing around with different color of inks for the background stamp, you know, "test driving"  which I liked best for the card.  I think I ended up using the brown on the card.  I really wished I had "road map" rubber stamp for this, or at least a few more background stamps to choose from.  Some day!

For now I say ALOHA!  I will post a few pictures when I get home and tell you all about my adventures!

Take care my friends and be safe!

Linda

PS - If you need some of Tim's Alteration Dies Stamper's Corner has a buy one, get one free sale going on right now and they will ship for actual shipping cost.  Give them a call at 916-686-0651if you are interested! 

CCC #31

Boy,  working full time and planning a wedding sure doesn't leave one much time for other activities! For the 31st Compendium of Curiosities Challenge hosted by the fabulous Linda @ StudioL3, I decided to design an element to use at the reception!  (There is more than one way to have some fun!)

We are going to have a limited open bar (beer, wine and a "signature drink") with a twist!  As at most bars there will be a tip jar, the twist will be the tips will be for the bride & groom! (If you want a twist of lime with your drink, we might have those too! lol)  Anyway, I have a big jar that I plan to decorate with the same elephants used on the invitations with a jungle background.  Going up the jar will be different locations of where the kids "will" go on their honeymoon depending on the tips they make.

Anyway, here are the elephants, they were made as one piece.  Hard to tell they are enameled and they don't have eyes yet, but I will get there.  I didn't get as far as I planned as one of my sisters dropped by for a surprise visit and then I spent a lot more time than I had planned planting or re-planting some "tropical" plants I got at a fabulous price (yes, for the wedding!)

 (sorry about the weird angle, but I scanned it instead taking a picture and that is the only way I could get the elephants to fit on the scanner.)

Once I get the jar completed I will try to remember to take pictures and post.

I hope you have a fabulous week!

Linda

Collaboration and CCC #30

Before the holidays, SJ and I donated some cards we had each made for an annual raffle held at work.  Part of the prize was 4 custom cards of the raffle winner's choice.  A couple of weeks ago, the raffle winner asked us for a wedding card, giving us about 4 weeks lead time.

We were in the middle of wedding invitations when she asked us. ( I am happy to say wedding invitations were mailed on the 1st as planned!  We have even received 2 RSVPs already!)  So yesterday (Saturday) we were finally able to get to it.  I gave SJ a refresher on how to make roses (she made the big one). To get white roses we used Ranger's "snow cap" dabber.   I have found when using paint for grunge roses,  it is easier to create each layer, paint, then assemble.  (As opposed to using ink and inking the grungepaper before making the layers.)

 I was having a rough day yesterday so SJ did most of the work of putting the card together. My main contributions were some ideas and the word stick.  Didn't she do a fantastic job?  I think so too!  Thank you SJ for your help!  I am pretty sure I'd still be trying to decide on the base! lol

The word stick is my "project" for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, hosted by the fabulous Linda at StudioL3, Altered Metal with Paint.  The instructions for the challenge can be found on page 48 of Tim Holtz' book Compendium of Curiosities.


To leave you with a smile, here's a picture of my awesome husband Dave and Max!  (Yes, Max is actually sleeping with his head resting on Dave's arm!)

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday afternoon!  And a fabulous week!

Linda

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #29

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #29 over at StudioL3 was weathered wood grunge, instructions are found on page 50.  


As I may have mentioned once or twice I am in "wedding mode" so I decided to use this weeks challenge and make something for the wedding.  At the reception sitting on the gift table there will be (vintage style) birdcage to keep cards safe.  Just in case anyone is confused, I made this sign to hang on the birdcage.  

I did make one discovery - do NOT glue two layers of grunge board together and then try running it through the Big Shot in an embossing folder. . . The Big Shot did not like it at all and now it makes funny noises and the embossing folder got a little more distressed.   The Big Shot still works, albeit noisy.  I haven't tried the embossing folder yey to see if it still works.  Of course if your goal is to get a new die cut machine (say maybe a Vagabond) then by all means try the double grunge board technique, it may be just the ticket!


Be sure to stop by Studio L3 where the AWESOME Linda Ledbetter will have a new challenge posted.


Have a fabulous week!


Linda

CCC #26 and some rambling

I am not sure how time flies by so quickly but days seem to go by faster than I can snap my fingers!  It seems like I was just posting CCC  #25 and here it is almost at the end of CCC #26!  

Made it with a minute to spare!  I really need to work on not cutting it quite so close.  This time it wasn't because I forgot to create something, I started working a project yesterday but I've been fighting a cold for 2 weeks now not really motivate to do much.  When I did try to post tonight, I ran into some technical difficulties.   But all is good now!

The bookplate from one of Tim's grungeboard packs was altered using the instructions on page 45 of Compendium of Curiosities.   The "Only U" was created & printed using PrintMaster 16. I went over "only" with a black Sakura Glaze pen.  The background paper is from Tim's Lost & Found Stack.  

Be sure to check Linda's blog every Monday for a new challenge, there are still about 9 to go!  

In other ramblings. . . 

What little time I have spent crafting these last couple of weeks has been mostly devoted to designing my daughter's wedding invitations.  I think I finally came up with a design I like.  Just have to get final approval from the bride & groom then for the next couple of weeks I will be creating the invitations!  I am some really AWESOME friends who have volunteered to help me prepare the invites and any other items we need created.   If you are wondering why the bride, the groom or the attendants are not helping is because they are scattered across the US - literally - from Maryland to Hawaii and from Seattle to Los Angeles.  

A couple weeks ago, Sherry had a crossword puzzle to solve.  It was all about the group Earth Wind and Fire, a group she LOVES.  I know who they are and remember them from "back in the day" but didn't know a whole lot about them.  I decided I was up for the challenge.  So I did some research and learned a thing or two along the way.  Did you know an African thumb piano is called a Kalimba? Neither did I.   I got some help from a couple of co-workers (thanks Kate & Derek!) and was able to fill in all the blanks!  I sent a note off to Sherry with my answers.  She responded that I was the first one with all the correct answers!  Yippee, I won!  

My prize arrived last Thursday in a yummy looking box.  I had dashed home from work before heading off to the dentist.  When I saw the package I told myself to wait until I got back to open it.  Yeah, right who was I kidding. . .I was NOT going to wait, so I tore into it and found yumminess was definitely packed inside!

I pulled ribbon after ribbon out of the box and then found some more goodies

and finally the last thing I found!

But "OH NO!  I thought, even though a "Tiny Attacher" is on my 'wish list' I don't have one" What I am going to do with a box of refills?"  "But wait! I received a couple of gift cards for Stampers' Corner!"  I hurried off to the dentist and since I had to literally drive right passed Stampers' Corner to get home (pur house, Stampers' Corner and the dentist are all on the same street) AND one of those gift cards happened to be in my pocket,  I made a little detour into the store. And now I am the proud owner of a new 

THANK YOU Sherry for the awesome prize pack and for reminding me I wanted a Tiny Attacher!

Have a fabulous week!

Once again under the wire - CCC #25

Once again I am making just under the wire. . .

Here's my entry for Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 25 going on at StudioL3.  Instructions can be found on page 34 of the Compendium of Curiosities! 

Same technique, different paper and what a difference it made!!


Hope 2011 has started out fabulous for you!


Edit -Thankfully everything came together!  From the time I realized tonight was the deadline for Challenge 25 to the time I created the 2 "pieces" and finished posting - 24 minutes!  Good thing I work well under pressure!  And THANK YOU LINDA (LEDBETTER) for having a quick and easy challenge this time!

In case you are wonderin' (and CCC# 24)

I haven't forgotten how to blog. Really, I haven't!  I have been busy; besides getting ready for Christmas, I decided an unexpected root canal would be fun.  It was my first ever and I was kidding about the fun part because this last week had not been fun.

I have managed to get a few things finished including Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #24 hosted by the fabulous Linda at StudioL3!  Today is the last day of the challenge, but there will be a brand new challenge posted tomorrow morning, so be sure to check it!

For Challenge 24 we were instructed to turn to page 47 for the Rock Candy Distress Stickles technique.  Check out the  Compendium of Curiosities  by Tim Holtz for the details on the technique.  For the base of my tag, I found a couple pieces of scrap paper that had obviously had been used to make Christmas trees at some point and used the leftover "frame".  Under the trees I used some leftover TH Seasonal Paper Stash. (I LOVE using all the little leftover pieces of paper I can't throw away!)  Once I had the tag base created, I followed the directions in the book!  It's a fun easy way to add some sparkle!  If you haven't already, I hope you give it a try! 

Did you follow along with Tim and his 12 Tags of Christmas?  The man is a creative GENIUS.  Even though I haven't posted any yet, I have 6 days completed, 2 days in progress and 4 waitin' to get made plus another project.  I hope to have the project completed by tomorrow and the tags before Christmas.  As soon as they are complete, I will post pictures!


Have a fabulous week!


Linda


Products used:
tag
TH Seasonal Paper Stash
Vintage holly garland
Rock Candy Distress Stickles
Burgundy Stickles
Archival Ink - jet black
Ofray ribbon

Staying slightly ahead of deadlines. . .

When Linda at Studio L3 started the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge way back in June, I made a promise to myself that I would complete each challenge on time!   So far, I have been successful,  some weeks I cut it close. LOL

For the 19th challenge we were instructed to turn to page 61 for Extreme Masking.   Here are my two entries!

And this was a scene from yesterday. . . .it was just too cute to pass up.   That is the afghan my husband  using until he got up to go get something an then Max claimed it has his as he watched the game!   That'll teach Dave not to leave stuff on the floor!  lol

Have a fabulous week!

Linda

CCC Week 11

Week 11 lesson in A Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3 is "Blended Batik", which can be found on page 36.  Hop on over and take a look at all awesome ART others have been creating.

I created 2 ATCs  using the technique.   The image on the first ATC is from AlteredPages.com "mini images".

This is the 2nd version of the 2nd ATC.   On the original version (that will never be seen),  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the ATC.  It was hard to read as it was so faint.  So in addition to the technique for the week's lesson, I stamped the sentiment on tissue paper, then applied it with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi Medium.   As you can see, the tissue paper all but disappeared, but the sentiment stayed "on top".  

Hope the rest of your week is fabulous!

Linda

CCC Week 10

The weeks are flying by and we are already finishing up week 10 of the Compendium of Curiosity Challenge over at Studio L3!  If you haven't already dropped by, you don't know what you are missing!

This week we were instructed to turn to page 46 for the Distress Stickles technique.  Part of the instructions this week were to name the colors of Distress Stickles we use.  I created 3 ATCs, on each one the base the stickles were applied to is different.

The image on the "Live" ATC is a sticker (you remember those, don't you?)  I used Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap (I think) and Scattered Straw Distress Stickles on the center of the sunflower.

On the "haunted house" ATC I used Vintage Photo, Antique Linen and Peeled Paint Distress Stickles on the cardstock tree.  (The eyes and mouth of the Jack O'Lantern  came that way and are not Distress Stickles to my knowledge.)

On the "Autumn" ATC I used  Fire Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Stickles on the grungepaper leaf.  (This ATC looks WAY better in person than it does in this photo.)

I am up to about 55 ATCs for the cruise!  Still have a bunch to go!  For those of you who asked, YES!  It IS the Tim Holtz Cruise to Canada and New England!  I am SUPER excited. 

Hope your weekend is exactly what you want it to be!

Linda

CCC #9 (edited to add Gingersnap Creations Challenge 66: Paint!)

As you know for the past 9 weeks, every Monday Linda at Studio L3 posts a new Compendium of Curiosity challenge.  This Monday was no different and since I KNEW I had a busy week I planned on completing the challenge on Monday night.  It didn't happen.  I did  FINALLY finish the project, just a little later than I wanted.

Week 9's challenge can be found on page 42, Distress Crackle.  This week instead of an ATC, I went in a different direction!

I tried taking pictures in the studio of the completed project, but they were not very good.  This morning I took my "masterpiece" and headed outside for some natural lighting.  I was just about finished with the photos when I heard a noise that sounded very close to my ears.  I looked up and saw a shadow of a hummingbird on the house.  When I (slowly) turned around she was only a couple feet away.  I tried to get a picture of her, but she was too fast.  After a short time, she flew to a branch and sat.  I tried getting a picture of her sitting there watching me.  Even with a 10x zoom she blended in with the trees too much.  Then she took off again to come "distract" me, but only now she had help! There were 2 hummingbirds flying around me.  I managed to get my camera on burst shooting, but still didn't get a good picture (didn't think about changing to action shots until I was typing this!)  She went back to original branch and sat and watched.  Then he decided to sit on a branch that was much lower and I was able to get a picture!

I looked around, but didn't see a nest, but I am sure there must have been one nearby because normally hummingbirds do not usually get as close as these two were to me!  Thankfully, they didn't get any closer or I might have nightmares (a la Alfred Hitchcock's  "The Birds") lol

Oh, I did manage to get a picture of my project too!

The wood frame is from Ikea that I painted with acrylic paint, after that dried I followed page 42 using  Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Crackles.   On the ship's wheel I used Weathered Wood Distress Crackle.  The seaweed is again leftover scraps from Charlene's journal and the sand is from MuddPuddles.  The Mermaid image is a Microsoft Office Clipart, it's hard to tell in the photo but I used Sakura Glaze pens on her hair, clam shells and scales.  On her necklace I used Stickles.  She is cut out and mounted on foam tape. 

Have a fabulous weekend!  I know I will - my youngest daughter is coming home with her fiance and my future darling grandkids and we will be celebrating their engagement with family and friends!

Take care

Linda

PS As I wait INPATIENTLY for my daughter to arrived I was checking out blogs and realized my frame will work for the Gingersnap Creations Challenge 66: Paint since Distress Crackle is a type of paint!  I LOVE it when one project  works for multiple  challenges!

CCC #7

Just a quick post for CCC # 7, for the details go to the Studio L3 Blog and while you are there, check out the other AWESOME projects for this week's challenge and Linda's inspiring art!!!

This weeks challenge Tinted Vision Fragments was found on page 55 in the Compendium of Curiosities.  Charlene came over earlier in the week and we each worked on the fragments.  I used a picture of my parents when they were dating and a 1 1/2" fragment.  

Later in the week I started working on something to use the fragment on and came up with a 4 x 5 canvas frame.   I used all kinds of layers on the frame, then decided the fragment was too small.  Using a larger version of the same image, I ended up with one just right!  Well at least I think it was just right!

In the next few days, I will post some pictures of a project I just completed.  It started out as a relatively simple project, but it just kept growing and growing and growing!  (If you are wondering why I haven't been around much lately, it's because of trying to get the project completed!)

Have a fabulous week!

Linda

Courage - CCC#6

It's week 6 of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3! We were instructed to turn to page 66 of Compendium of Curiosities to the multi-medium collage  technique. 

Courage takes many forms - one form I had to practice while making this ATC.  After I finished the collage technique on the grungeboard frame, I found a piece of vellum with the word "courage" printed on it.  It fit behind the frame without any overlap on the top and bottom.  I decided to fill with Glossy Accent (to help hold the vellum in place)  All started well, then as I finished with the Glossy Accent I noticed there were a couple of teeny tiny air pockets. 

I popped the first one, no problem.  Getting the 2nd one didn't quite go as planned.  The vellum started lifting, the Glossy Accent started going over the frame (especially when I picked up the piece to try to "fix" the vellum from the bottom.)   The more I tried to fix it, the more frustrated I became.   Note to self:  Do NOT pick up anything with a lot of wet Glossy Accent and tip it sideways.

I started to trash the whole thing.  But just before scooping up the "mess" and hurling in the garbage, I made myself walk away with a promise I could throw it away later - after the Glossy Accent was dry.  

I am so glad I waited.  After the piece dried, it looked great (in a not perfect, kind of rumpled sort of way!)  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the vellum is a little "ruffled" (it's most notable in the top right corner).

And then there is this type of courage.  To those of you who have fought the battle, I salute you!

In addition to using multi-medium collage technique  on a few pieces of grungeboard, I also experimented on a couple of wooden stars, one of which ended up on this ATC. It makes for a thick ATC (the star is about 1/4" high):

Thanks for dropping by, hope you enjoyed your visit and take a moment to leave a word or two!

Take care,

Linda

Email

I returned to work today, first time in 2 weeks.  I had 204 e-mails waiting for me.  I got through about a good portion of them.   When I got home I had 10 e-mails waiting for me including one with the subject line of "ATTENTION ALL TIM HOLTZ FANS", I knew it was going to be the best e-mail I looked at today!

It was from Carol at Stampers' Corner!  They expect Tim's new book, Compendium of Curiosities in this week and are having an introductory special.  They are offering the book for 19.99 (plus CA sale tax) instead of the retail price of $25.00. So I am sure you can figure out what I ordered today when I stopped by the store!  I am really looking forward to getting it!   If you want one and you don't live nearby, they will ship it for $5.00 via priority mail!  Stampers' Corner, phone number is 916-686-0651.  Tell 'em Linda sent you! lol

They also have an introductory special going on for the new Distress Inks - buy 11 and get the 12th one free!  I've had mine for a couple of weeks, not that I've had much of a chance to play with them yet.  I will tell you all the colors are AWESOME!   I managed to play with them a bit tonight. . .I'm in the process of making a lily and some roses.  I will show them just as soon as I can!

Take care,

Linda