Playing along with a couple of challenges

My poor blog has been neglected for awhile.  I started doing a little spring cleaning!  As I was cleaning I realized some of the challenge sites were not active but some were still being used.  After I removed the inactive sites and I checked out the challenges and decided tocreate a card that I use for two of the challenges!

First challenge is the House Mouse and Friend Challenge HMFMC139 which is "wings".  While I adore House Mouse stamps, sadly I don't own any.   I do have 2 Gruffies stamps (bears, imagine that)!  But neither have any "wings".   I decided to use "Hammock Hibernation" and add the wings!

The second challenge is Simon Says by the numbers challenge. 1 bear, 2 flowers, and 3 butterflies!

There is still time to join both challenges and both are offering prizes, so go make something and enter!
To create this card I:

• stamped the image twice with Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• used Copics markers (YR02, Y11, Y13, Y18, G12, G14, G17, G46, G82, B21,E40, E42, E44, E47, and colorless blending solution) to color the first image completely and just the sunflowers (including stems and leaves) on the second image
• fussy cut the sunflowers on the second image
• attached the lower part of the stems directly to the complete image and popped the upper leaves and sunflowers with some foam tape
• printed the sentiment with MS Word using Calbri font
• mounted sentiment & image on dark blue mat
• stamped inside of card using a stamp from Tim Holtz' "Words for Thoughts" set
• added a butterfly inside
• mounted image/mat on white card
• added butterflies (folded the butterfly on the nose in the attempt to make it look like it is just taking off, lol)

Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, if you have a favorite challenge site, please leave a link to it in the comment section!  Thanks!  Have a great day!

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Quick post for Paper Craft Island challenge

Have you dropped by the Paper Craft Island Blog yet?  It's a new challenge blog started by Kimi, it kinda like "Survivor" only for crafty people! lol  Those of us just hangin' out on the beach get to vote on the the projects each week.  The cool thing is the contestants are all anonymous!  The fun just started a few weeks ago, so go take a look.

This week there is a reward challenge for the shipwrecked (that would be all of us who are not the contestants).  The challenge this week was to make a birthday card for a 10 year girl, so here is my card!

Hope you like and will drop on by the Paper Craft Island and hang out for a while!

I am not LAST this week or CCC challenge 21!

As the title implies, I am not (at least I hope I am not) the last one to post an entry for the 21st Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3!!!  I am excited as it seems lately, I have just been squeaking in before the deadline!  You have until Sunday evening (November 14) to get something posted! So if haven't checked out (the other) Linda's blog, you really need to get over there and check it out.

This week, I admit I had ahead start. . . I had the background paper already made. . .not because I knew what the challenge was going to be, but because I am working on "Save the Date" cards for my youngest daughter's wedding!  As long I am admitting things, not ALL the cards will have the "Perfect Distress" technique applied, in fact only a few, if any, will make it to the mail.

Here are 2 of the 50 or so backgrounds I had already made using the "smooshing" technique. 

 

Here's where I used the challenge's technique which can be found on page 38 of the Compendium of Curiosities.

The next few pictures are the almost final prototype I made to get the bride & groom's approval. . . .and it is not very pretty, a slip of a stamp is not a good thing, but it gave them a good idea of what the cards will look like. The prototype was also a learning exercise for me!  The most important lesson - emboss before attaching the elephants. lol

You can see the results of the Perfect Distress just above the elephant on the left.  And another important lesson - do not use too much "wet glue" (in this case Studio Matte Meduim) on the elephants.

This is the "almost final" prototype because the insert with all the details is on the computer waiting to get over it's virus. (Along with all the addresses to mail). The insert will be printed on the same blue as the heart between the elephants and mounted on the darker blue inside. I need to make a slight design change as Kristine has requested the heart only have K + R.

I will spend most of the weekend getting the cards put together as much as possible, finishing a wedding album for a co-worker, making a few miscellaneous cards and getting ready for Rebecca (my daughter who lives in Hawaii) to come home on Tuesday and Erinn & Kristine will be here Thursday night!!!  I am excited all 4 kids will be home and we get to celebrate Thanksgiving together on the 20th!   What are your plans for the weekend?

Hope your weekend is fabulous!

Linda

PS - If you were one of the winners from my drawing on Halloween, I haven't forgotten you, it just seems like I blink a days have flown by.  I apologize for the delay and will get your prizes out to you soon!

PSS  - A special thank you to my awesome son, Joseph, who has been uploading pictures for me so I can get them posted!

Another 2 for 1

This time it's a tag for the Let's Ink It Up and the combined Simon Says Stamp and Show and Simon Says Stamp "Stamp-tember Hop" challenges!   Both challenges have some terrific prizes!  Hurry on over and check them out!  Then create and post your project (on the above sites) for a chance to win!


Let's Ink It Up's theme is Tags and/or Bookmark with a TWIST!  The twist is it must have a Vintage feel!  The Simon Says combined theme is Holiday Fun (any format!)

I used Tim Holtz tree stamp on a #8 tag, Distress Ink, Distress Embossing powder (in Pineneedles and Vintage Photo - front tree only), Sno-cap dabber, Hero Arts "dot pattern" stamp, Alteration ticket die, Christmas ticket stamp from Tim's 100th stamp collection, a mini paper clip (idea-ology) and red organza ribbon from my stash.

Take care and have an awesome week!

Linda

Cool! 2 (challenges) for 1 (ATC)

The "Spicy Supply Challenge" (GC 70) over at GingersnapCreations is "punches".  The challenge at Drunken Stampers is "cirlcles".   If you haven't checked out these cool blogs, you really need to and while you are there check out all the awesome creations for each of these challenges!

I created this cute little guy using some punched circles (see how nicely that fits into both challenges! lol) and some scraps!  I used one of Tim's texture fades for the background, then sanded the circles!  "Cool" was stamped using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink then covered with stickles (I think "diamond" but not positive.)  And yes, this is another ATC for the cruise!

Guess I need to get busy and finish all these ATCs with the backs!  Only 2 1/2 weeks to go! 

Take care, hope your weekend is everything you want it to be!

Linda

PS - ssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  I will let you in on a secret. . . when I make my 100th post (I am guestimating it will be after I get back from the cruise, but it could be sooner) I will be hosting a BIG blog giveaway.  If I have 100 followers BEFORE my 100th post it will be even a BIGGER giveaway.  

Have I mentioned I am going on a cruise with Tim (Holtz)?  Hmmmm, maybe it will include something I bring home with me.  So if you are not a follower, maybe you should be.  I will ship worldwide, so the drawing will be open to EVERYONE!  Maybe this is a secret you should spread around.

Gingersnap Challenge #65 Famous Painter or Painting

Gingersnap Challenge #65 Famous Painter or Painting closes on Sunday.  I couldn't come up with anything.  I had a few ideas, but they involved looking for some postcards from an art class I took a year or so ago.  The thought of trying to find anything in any of the places they might possibly be staying safe is daunting.   So I was going to let this one go.

In May I was in an antique store and they had bags of used postage stamps for a dollar.  I grabbed a couple of bags.  One bag has stayed in my sight since I purchased it, the other one disappeared.  Tonight the 2nd bag just materialized (things do that here).  It was stuffed full, I found some stamps that fit perfect in the Gingersnap challenge.  So I made a quick, simple ATC!

The artist are Mary Cassatt, John Trumbull and Thomas Easkins.  Art history is definitely not one of my strong suits, so I did a little research.   Each name is linked to an article on Wikipedia.

I guess the art classes I've taken have left a small impression on my brain!  I didn't remember Mary's name, but I recognized one of her paintings, "The Boating Party"!!!  I am totally impressed! lol I thought I recognized John Trumbull's name before I looked up his art work, after I looked him up I didn't recognize any of the paintings.  I didn't recognize either Thomas Easkins' name or paintings.  Like I said, art history is NOT my strong suit.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Linda

Another ATC, another challenge

I have been working on ATCs for the cruise for awhile and try to work them into challenges as much as I can.  Today I created a couple of ATCs for the Gingersnap Color Challenge #64  -Yellow, Orange, & Red.  I could not decide which one I liked better so I am posting both, since they both fit!  Be sure to check out the link and see all the other creations for this challenge!

This first one I used a piece of "recycled" tea box, covered with gesso, then added yellow, red and orange oil pastels, covered that with a thin coating of multi-medium.

For the 2nd ATC, I used Alcohol Inks-including copper (it looks brown in the picture). The stamp is one of Tim's.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Linda

My first Grandbabies picture! And 1 ATC - 2 challenges

As I mentioned in my last post I was waiting for my daughter, Kristine, and her fiance, Randy.  They FINALLY made it  here about 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon!  We had a fabulous, but busy weekend.  Friday we checked out a couple wedding venues and got ready for the party on Saturday afternoon.   I think there were 36 of us (including kids) to celebrate their engagement!   

My grandbabies are THE cutest sweethearts you could imagine!  I had a blast spoiling them this weekend!   On Saturday morning, Izzy & my oldest daughter, Erinn, were playing, as I was walked past Izzy looks at me and says "Grandma Linda, I love you!"  Of course, she has Grandma Linda (that is still a little weird to me, but in a good way! lol) wrapped around her little finger! lol.  On Sunday morning there was a quiet little knock on our bedroom door, when I said "who is it?" Brandon answered "me, can I please come in?"  How is one resist the sweet little guy, so he got to come in and snuggle with Grandma! (He might have Grandma Linda wrapped around his little finger too! lol) I could go on and on about Brandon & Izzy, but I will spare you, at least for now! lol 

Pictured is Brandon, Randy, Kristine & Izzy!

A couple of weeks ago, when the CC challenge was inking grunge I created this ATC with the Gingersnap Creation Color challenge - Yellow, Orange & Red (GC #64)  in mind.  I did not even think about challenge #63 - Sunshine until I looked at the ATC this evening and compared it to my list of challenges!

Here's my 1-fer-2 ATC! It's made on grungeboard with Distress Ink, an Idea-ology corner, some miscellaneous beads and I believe the sun is from a package of Colorbok chipboard dies with added ink on the rays!

Hope your weekend was FABULOUS!

Take care!

Linda

Out on a limb

One of my goals for 2010 is to join challenges once or twice a week.  I haven't been consistent with one or two a week but I have participated in more challenges than ever before so I am counting myself as successful so far in this goal. 


Another goal was to step outside my creative comfort zone.   I haven't really worked on this one much this year and I am OK with that.  I needed the familiar and comfortable in creating this year.  The familiar and comfortable helps in healing.   I still need the familiar and comfortable but this evening I was ready to go a little beyond the comfortable! 


Gingersnaps Creations Challenge #59 is "Fairies".   The only fairy stamps I have are Tinkerbell.  Now don't get me wrong I like Tink and there is nothing wrong with her.   I was just not in the mood to make something with Tink.  I have been contemplating this challenge for some time, trying to do decide what I was going to create without buying a new stamp.    I perused my stamp collection and the closest I could come to a person/fairy was this:

Then I went to my "bits & pieces" jar and my "odds and ends" jar. 

In these jars one never knows what one will find, it's always fun to see what's in them.  It could be a pair of wings , it could be pearls or game spinners or just about any little thing I have in my studio that did not get put away properly or maybe there were only one or two of whatever left so, I add them to the jars.  There's not any differences in the jars other than their names.

See, like I said, always an adventure when looking in the jars.  Then I raided the bins I inherited from my mom and found a couple of small drapery hooks and some other type of hook.  Then I "threw it all together", added some, ink,  fibers, a few jewels and my fairy was created.  She is definitely not my "normal" but I am quite proud of her! 

Here she is, out on a limb!   

I am not sure what I am going to do with her, for right now she is sitting on a bottle next to my monitor.  I think I will keep there for the time being reminding, it's not was so bad stepping outside your creative comfort zone!  What was your last project outside your zone?


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

With hours to spare

With hours to spare I completed an entry for the 2nd week of CCC at Studio L3!   Nothin' like working under a deadline!

I started a project earlier in the week, it just wouldn't come together.   In an effort to create something for the challenge this week, I created this ATC.  The background is a Kleenex box, the flower is out of grungepaper/board "leftover" from Tim's birdcage die. For the flower I misted Mustard Seed re-inker mixed with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls. For the stem and leaves I used Forest Moss  Distress Ink directly on the paper then misted with Peeled Paint mixed with Blue Smoke Perfect Pearls.  The sentiment (Great Impressions) was stamped in Staz-on Jet Black Ink.   The lady bug is from my stash.  Everything was attached  with Glossy Accents.

Hope you all a great weekend!  Have a fabulous week!

More challenges completed!!

I completed more 4 challenges!  I don't get much time in my studio as it has been converted to a bedroom for the moment too, so I made ATCs!  My daughter who is staying in my studio will be leaving in 10 short days to head to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas for 4 months of training.  She just completed 4 years in the Air Force and is now in the Reserves.

I started by combining several GingerSnaps Creations challenges.  I combined GCSP3  Blue Moon Challenge - Take on a Tutorial with a little GC50 -.Found Objects and a little GC 51 Botanicals. 

I used the ATC Tutorial by Susan Briss and made these 2 ATCs.   The way this really started was I started cleaning my work table.  I found everything with the exception of the woman on my worktable and the words.  The black backing was scraps as was the background paper I had created for another  project.  The pick-up was leftover from something, who knows what.  The flowers, gem stone and copper wire "stem" were in the pile of things to put away.  The "best" found object is the flower pot!  It was a left over piece from the Eiffel Tower in the card in the previous post!  I had used it to test colors.  The flower is "Botanicals", but I usually think "old fashion" when I think of botanicals so I may try to create something a little more old fashion for GC51.

 I completed Tuesday Taggers Dragons, Dragons Everywhere challenge.  I read Eileen's blog where she has mentioned the "Drunken Scotch" technique and gave a brief description on how to do it.  I read it in the morning.  I created the ATC in the evening without re-reading the description until AFTER I tried it.  Then I googled for complete directions.  The heat gun didn't make it to the glue until the glue had started to dry, and I didn't use Scotch brand glue, I used "Aleene's" Tacky Glue and various Alcohol Inks  (does that  mean I used the "Drunken Aleene Technique"? lol)  I used the technique as the frame. The background paper is courtesy of Astrid, she some free backgrounds on her blog!  The "ready to roll" came out of a magazine, I just added a little ink to age it a bit.  It's hard to tell in this photo, but the dragon is mounted on foam tape in the attempted to make it look like he is coming out of the frame.

And last but not least for today, I created an ATC for Art Creations Friday's challenge 71!  The image of the little girl  is on their blog, the background is another one from Astrid.  To me the little girl has such hope that she gets to go play in the water and sand down by the ocean!  The sand by her feet is a blend of Distress Stickles.

I am in the process of making my first ever easel card, maybe I will have something to show you later this weekend!   Hope you all have a great weekend!  Take care,

Linda