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

Challenge 28 from "A Compendium of Curiosity"

Hi!  This week Challenge 28 from A Compendium of Curiosity challenge over at StudioL3 was found on page 57, Colorful Layered Fragments.   Unlike some of the more recent challenges I actually started working on it on Monday, the day the challenge was posted!  Go me!

I created 2 pieces, the smaller one (the fish) for my sample book and the large one (butterfly) for a "TBD" later project.

Turns out late Thursday night (as in I was already in bed and about to fall asleep) I realized I had not made my friend (and boss), SJ, a card for her birthday which was Friday.  So the "TBD" later project took shape.   Friday morning I quickly threw some elements together including the large fragment with the butterfly.  In my rush to get things done before I left for work, I didn't even think about taking a picture of the completed card.


Thanks to my friends  we are making great strides on the wedding invites!  Teresita came over yesterday (Saturday) and helped embossing elephants on the invitations, inking the edges and started to assemble the mats.  SJ came over today (Sunday) and we finished assembling the invitation mats & invite.  We worked on the bands that will go around the entire "packet".   My goal is to have them in the mail by February 1 and  I think we will make it with time to spare, well if I get all the addresses the goal will be met!  In case any of you are wondering why the bride isn't working on the invitations it's because she is in the Air Force Reserves and is away at training until the end of February.   And her bride's maids are scattered from Maryland to Hawaii and Los Angeles to Seattle, so with the help of my AWESOME, FABULOUS, and WONDERFUL friends we are getting the invitations done.

What kind of paper cutter do you use?  What do you like about it?  Is there anything you don't like about it?

Hope you have a fantastic week!

Linda

Splatter! Edited (edits in red)

Hi!  Did you have a fabulous weekend?  I sure did!  We celebrated Thanksgiving a bit early as ALL four of my kids were home this weekend!  It was the first time in what seems like forever that we have all been together!  We had a house full of family and friends yesterday - about 26 people in all!  It was glorious, everyone had a fantastic time!


I am running a bit behind (what else is new) on  A Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 22 so I am having another mad dash to post before the deadlines.   Good thing I work well under pressure! lol  Details about the challenge and prize can be found on the fabulous Linda Ledbetter's StudioL3 blog.  She has a new challenge every Monday!  This week we were told to turn page 52 for Alcohol Ink Splatter!


I started with some acetate (recycled from an old report cover) (so much for following directions), using a negative mask I spray painted the image with black paint on the acetate, after the paint dried I applied the technique of the week directly to the acetate and over the black paint, added some embellishments and was done!

Have a fabulous week!


Linda

Another ATC and only 9 more posts to go

Yep, I created another ATC. . .the cruise is ALMOST here (we leave in 11 days and some hours as I type!) so you won't see ATCs much longer!  I really do know how to create things other than ATC! lol  This ATC is doing double duty for Compenduim of Curiosity Challenge Week 14 and Gingersnaps Creations color challenge # 68 red & black!

The "enjoy the journey" is one of Tim's stamps, I used black archival ink on red tissue paper.  The background is Barn Door and Black Soot distress ink with one of Tim's mask.  The "hardware" is all from Tim's lines a couple have pitch black alcohol ink.  The car is a "dress it up" button.

The "only 9 more posts to go" refers to how many posts I have before my big 100th post giveaway!    I will post a picture of some of the prize package soon!  I won't know everything in the prize package as I plan on getting something to add to the package in the "Mario Store" on the cruise!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Linda

Playing around with grungepaper, CCC week 13

It's Monday so that means the awesome Linda L @ Studio L3 posted a new challenge.  It is also a holiday so I was home today and got to play! Charlene even dropped by for a bit and played!  (We are still working on the door sign for the cruise.)

Week 13 challenge was found on page 65, "Grungepaper Flowers".  While waiting for some stuff to dry (for our door sign) Charlene and I chatted and I created these "lilies" and Charlene cut out some stuff, but you will have to watch her blog for an update on what she did.

There are 3lilies  in the old thread spool.  Here's one by itself to give you a clearer view. 

I don't have a clue what I am going to do with my lilies, but until the idea presents itself, I will enjoy their beauty in the spool!

After I finished, I had these leftover.

I don't know about you, but I really hate throwing leftovers away.  So I asked myself:  "Self, what can you do with these?"  I didn't answer (bet some of you thought I might answer!lol) but played a bit and came up with this ATC.  I found some extra leftover petals and made the leaves.

Besides the grungepaper flowers on the ATC, there is DCWV (black) paper, glossy paper with alcohol inks, 7 Gypsy ATC transparency, Tim Holtz' Adage ticket and a button from my stash (covered with alcohol ink).

If you had a day off, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it. If you had to work, I hope your week got off to a fabulous start!

Linda

A couple of techniques (including CCC Week 12!)

This week found me trying a couple of techniques, one I have done once or twice before and a new one!  The fabulous Linda Ledbetter, aka the hostess of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, is on the design team at Gingersnap Creations Blogs.  Last week she posted a "Simple Image Transfer with Gesso" tutorial on the Gingersnap blog.

This week's CCC was found on page 44, Chipped Enamel. (This is the techinque I have used before.) I had fun playing with this one and created quite a few pieces. 

Charlene and I are working on a door sign for our upcoming cruise with Tim and friends.  I used the transfer technique for part of the sign (pictures will follow once we have completed the sign) and had so much fun with it, I kept right on going and created some ATC backgrounds.

I combined the chipped enamel pieces with one of the transferred image backgrounds to create this ATC:

For the "how to" on the flower and leaf you will have to check out page 44 of the Compendium of Curiosities.  In the tutorial for the image transfer, Linda used a mini canvas (board), I just used a piece canvas cloth.  When the background was completed and dried, the image was really faint.  I liked the look much better when it was wet so after I stamped it, I spread a thin layer of Glossy Accents over the entire surface of the ATC to bring out the colors!  (I used glossy accents to adhere the flower and leaf too!)

Like I said, I kept on going, in all I made 7 ATC backgrounds, but as of yet have only completed one other ATC.  I treated this canvas with a little ink, a thin layer of Glossy Accents and some stitching. 

Charlene and I experimented a bit with image transfers and are very excited about the results, but that will be for another post as the experiment was for the door sign.  We had fun experimenting and both plan on using our "discoveries" on other projects, so you may not have to wait for the door sign to see it!

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Linda

PS - the "Beleive" stamp is from "Rubber Soul" and "Autumn" is from Hero Arts.

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 #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

Comprendium of Curiosities Challenge (CCC) Week 5

Hi!

Glad you dropped by to see my Week 5 challenge!  (If you haven't heard about the challenge, check out "the other" Linda's blog and then join the fun!)  This week we turned to page 43  for the Distress Powder technique.

Hmmmmm, Distress Embossing Powder (DEP)!  I have one container of Vintage Photo (VP).  What can I do?  My first thought was a bear (you have noticed the name of my blog, right?  There's a reason for it, which is a story for another time.) 

On Saturday, I received the set of stamps I won from Tim's (Holtz) blog.  On Monday, I sent Mario a note to thank him and Tim for the stamps and mentioned they sat all weekend unused.  He wrote back, "Get those stamps out and start stamping!!".   I saw Jason's entry for CCC #5.   Good idea!  Maybe I could use my new stamps for the challenge.  I started thinking about what colors I could use for the witch (she makes me giggle),  I could use soot black, dusty concord., shabby shutters or peeled paint, barn red, oooh I need spiced marmalade too!  Then I saw Stephen's entry and decided not to use the witch.  (BTW Stephen, THANK YOU, you saved me some $$ ! lol)   Then it hit me - the owl would be perfect with the VP DEP!  Thanks guys for the inspiration!!!!   So here you go!

Both the owl and the "happy halloween" are embossed with VP DEP.  I used Tim's embossing folder for the tree and inked with distress ink (Black Soot & Walnut Stain.  (The paper is from my scrap bins, so I have no idea who made it.)

I made an extra owl for my journal and played a bit with a frame and saying:

Both owls have Crushed Olive distress ink as well as a bit of Rusty Hinge.  The beaks and talons are an orange Glaze pen.  The white highlights on the beak and around the eyes are also a Glaze pen. And I also used black Glaze pen on the eyes.   The "Journey" is embossed with plain ol' detail black embossing powder on paper from Tim's Retro Grunge Paper Pack.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you take a moment to leave a comment and come back real soon!

Take care,

Linda

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 4

It's hard to believe this is the 4th week already, it seems like we just started Challenge 1 a few days ago!  Are you playing along? I hope so because it is fun and educational!  Go to Studio L3 for details!  If you play, you might even win a prize in  a random drawing!

This week's challenge is "Shabby Chic" and can be found on page 49 of  Tim's Compendium of Curiosities book.

I struggled with this one but learned a few things along the way.  I ended up making 6 pieces - 5 ATCs and one slightly smaller (than an ATC) piece.  Don't worry I am not going to bore you with all the pieces, just the finished ones! lol

The Shabby Chic part of these ATC were both created, oops, found myself wanting to type directions here.  Turn to page 49 to find the directions, I followed them pretty closely.  I will tell you for the top coat I used my silver dabber and my gold dabber.

When we started this challenge 4 weeks ago Eileen  at ArtSavesLives blog mentioned she was going to keep an art journal of all the techniques as she does them.  I thought it was a fabulous idea and decided to create my own even though I am not much of a "journaler".    Then the only problem was what to use as my journal.  I sat in my studio pondering the question of what to use when my eyes landed on this:

This is a journal I created last year when Tim was in town and taught a "Nostalgic Metal Memoirs" class.  It was a fabulous class and I loved making this book. I loved working with the metal.   It has a hand-stictched binding which is something I had never attempted before and I enjoyed it.   When I showed it off to family and friends, they all wanted to know what I was going to do with it.  I told them I had no idea, but one day it's use would become clear.  And sure enough after sitting on a shelf for a year, its purpose became clear!  It's my art journal!  After 4 weeks I can even say I have faithfully added a sample of the technique along with a sentence or two about the technique!

Here's this week's sample:

For the sample I used Stream and Copper.

Oh, the few things I learned

1) Be PATIENT

2) Make sure your embossing ink pad is juicy

3) I know there was something else, but I can't think of it now. 

Go have some fun and play a little!

Take care

Linda

With days to spare (and a special request)

With days to spare I went into overdrive for the 3rd week of  Compendium of Curiosities Challenge (CCC) at Studio L3!   Using this week's challenge -Alcohol Ink Monoprint - I created a ton of ATC backgrounds (about 30!) and 4 card backgrounds!  I have even managed to complete 6 ATCs!!!  I have other ATCs in progress and a few that are being "re-purposed" (or you could ATCs I screwed up and "saved" them by using in other projects! lol)

Now I find a fabulous way to use a fragment!  (The piece under the fragment is one of the re-purposed pieces I mentioned above!)   The tree image is a Penny Black Stamp using Staz-on Jet Black.  The sentiment is by Great Impressions. The birds in the top left corner are from one of Tim Holtz' Visual Artistry set.

Next up is an ATC that not only works for the CCC but also the Gingersnaps Challenge #57 - Wings The sentiment was stamped using Staz-on Jet Black from a Hampton Art Stamps. (The background of the main words is another re-purposed piece!) The background stamp is Hero Art's, "Sandra's Letter Background" stamp. I used Coffee Archival Ink.  The hearts and wings are grungeboard.  The hearts and small wings were inked with Distress Ink (Hearts -Barn Door; wings Vintage Photo, I think).  The large wings were covered with Distress crackle paint (Vintage Photo). 

And here is a glimpse of the "ton" of ATC backgrounds that are waiting to become masterpieces!

If you are lucky, I will show you the other ATCs later in the week, unless of course I get distracted and make something else!  Did you see Tim's (Holtz) post today? Did you know I can get distracted pretty easily? lol  And if you haven't looked at his post, you really should! Then you will understand!

Before you leave, I have a request.  My son-in-law, Tim, (not to be confused with Tim Holtz) is preparing to depart on a deployment as I type. He is in the US Army.  He will be gone for quite awhile.  My daughter is 1,000s of miles away from the rest of her family.  Please say prayers and/or send good thoughts for his safe return and for them both to looked after by angels. 

 I love you Rebecca and Tim. 

Take care,

Linda

Let the FUN begin!

The FUN begins!!!!!Today is the start of  Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge (CCC)!  What is the CCC you ask?  Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3 is using Tim Holtz' book "Compendium of Curiosities" and randomly selecting a different technique each week for the next 35 weeks.   Along the way she will be giving out random prizes! So if you haven't already, go check it out (and while you are there check out her blog too, she creates some fantastic art work)!.  

Here are my creations - a couple of cards, a few pieces waiting to be turned into something and a lesson learned!

The finished cards!

Waiting to turn into something:

Lesson Learned:  Make sure you use a CLEAN stamp or you might be surprised by the color you get!  I think this turned out well and I will probably use it for something, it's just not quite the faux bleach look I was going for today! !

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit.  Come back soon!

Linda