Grungy Monday done by Tuesday!

Did you notice the title? That's right! It's Tuesday as in the day after Monday when Linda at StudioL3 issued the latest Grungy Monday challenge and I am posting a project!  Woo Hoo!  Guess my mojo from last week is still with me!

The instructions for Challenge 7 were to go to the Ranger Ink website for a demo on Distress Ink Color Blocking Technique from the master himself, Tim Holtz!

I guess I've been living under a rock or something because this is another "Tim" technique that I had never tried before.  It was fun, quick and easy!  And it looks great!    The bear was stamped, cut out and adhered with foam tape.  His hat was cut free-hand.

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(After I took the picture, I decided to add strings with a black glaze pen to the inside balloons!)

I am so glad Linda is hosting Grungy Monday, it's getting me out and about! If you haven't tried Grungy Monday Challenge yet, drop by Linda's and give it a try!

Hope your week is fabulous!

Linda

In the comments Plume wondered how I did it.
Assuming that was not a rhetorical question, here's what I did for the bear:
Since I really struggle with blending the "traditional ways" (i.e., markers or pencils), I cheated.  I stamped the image on manilla cardstock, then with a blending tool lightly colored the entire bear (including the bow) with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, next I lightly went over most of it with Vintage Photo, then Walnut Stain around the outer edges and "recessed" areas.  After I cut him out, I went over the edges with Walnut Stain DI too.  I stamped a partial image of the bear just making sure I had the entire bow .  Using the blending tool I covered everything in Broken China DI.  After I cut the bow out, I went around the edges with Faded Jeans DI before gluing it on the bear. I went over his eyes and nose with a black Sakura Glaze pen.  I added a tiny white (Sakura Glaze) dots to each eye too. Quick and easy!


Stuff I used: 
PAPER: Inkssential Manilla cardstock (have I mentioned I LOVE this stuff?), card base unknown 
INK: Ranger Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire, Rusty Hinge, Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass, Pine Needles, Dusty Concord, Crushed Olive, Broken China, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain), Stazon Ink (Ultra Marine)
STAMPS: JudiKins Stamp (Bear), Studio G Alphabet Stamps (#VS4191), Hero Arts "Sunny Birthday" Stamp 
ADHESIVES:  Micracle tape, Ace double side mounting tape, Zig 2-way glue, Studio Mat Medium
MISC: Blending Tool, Craft Mat, Sizzix Balloon die, small bit of yarn, Sukura Glaze pen

A busy weekend!

I've been on a roll this weekend, actually all week!  Saturday was the deadline for getting items entered in the State Fair delivered.  I made it to the fair grounds with 22 minutes to spare. (And I was NOT the last person arriving either! lol)  Judging is Wednesday and then sometime before June 2, entrants find out what didn't make it.  (We have to pick up the items not receiving a ribbon on June 2 or June 3  or have the fair people mail the stuff on June 2.)   Once I know what made it and what didn't I will share pictures.

I was in creative high gear all week, then kicked it up a notch on Friday and Saturday.  I guess the juices are still flowing today as I have been busy creating most of this cool, rainy day!

Grungy Monday Challenge 6 (GM)(hosted by the fabulous Linda at Studio L3)  is based on Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of Christmas 2007, Day 8.   If you haven't checked out the challenges, you really need to as they are great fun!

Over at Gingersnap Creations' blog the Random Redhead Challenge that ends today is "Fans".  Gingersnap creations is another awesome challenge site, if you haven't checked them out, it's another place you need to go!

I decided to combine the challenges!  WHAT? How do you combine GM with fans?????  Well I created the background using GM's technique:

The piece on the left is being "saved", I have an idea floating around to use it in my canvas I started with Grungy Monday challenges 1-5.  The piece on the right is what I used for the background of Gingersnap's challenge.  (When I took this picture I wasn't quite finished with the GM as you are supposed to stamp an image on it, which I did eventually as you will see!)

I created some fan using washi paper and Tim's Sizzix rosette die.  I used the tiny attacher to hold the fans together, then wrapped some cord around the staple and volia! I had this card!  (Ok, I added a little glue and tape too, but you know what I mean! lol)

Since the base of the card is an Onyx (black) I created a second background piece to use as a liner inside the card:

Hope you enjoyed your visit!  Please take a moment and leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!  Have fabulous week and don't forget to check out Studio L3 tomorrow for Grungy Monday challenge 7!

Linda


Supplies used for this card are:  Onyx (black) Stardream folding card, Inkssentials Manila Cardstock (LOVE that stuff!), Adirondack Aqua Dabber, Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink, Simply Sage Delta Paint for Paper, Hanko Designs Washi paper, Great Impression #e320 (leaves),  Kodomo Ink "Sayings  1", Studio Matte Medium and Miracle Tape.

a Happy Mother's Day Card

I wanted to create something a little different than the "usual" for my Mother-in-law's  Mother's Day Card.  I came across a card that looked like it would be fun to make on Extreme Cards and Papercrafts blog yesterday.  Carol had a link to Brenda's Qbee's Quest blog who had the directions on how to make a fabulous pop-up card!

The fact that I didn't have much, if anything, Brenda used in her card, didn't stop me from making my own version!   I improvised A LOT!   Although, not being able to come up with Hyacinths ALMOST was a show stopper.  I tried many ideas but didn't like any of them.  In the end, I went with the Rosettes.  And no curtains on the window.     My MIL loved the card so I guess it came out OK.

It was much easier than I expected and other than being frustrated by not having hyacinths, I had fun creating it!  Thank you Carol and Brenda for the help!  If you haven't checked out their blogs, you should!

Hope you have a Wonderful week ahead!

Stuff I used in my card
2 Hero Arts Photo Card with the extra "flap" removed. (it already had the window cut out!)
Stamps
  Hero Arts - Bold Flourish
  Great Impression - E320 (it's the leafy vine)
  Inkadinkado - "Happy Mother's Day
Distress Ink
   Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Forest Moss, Spun Sugar, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters
Sixxix 
   TH Tattered Floral and Paper Rosette dies, Woodgrain Texture Fade
Adhesives
    Glossy Accents, Miracle Tape, Zig 2 way glue 
Miscellaneous
   Tonic Scissors,  EK Success 1/2" punch, Ranger Ink Blending Tools, Fiskars Border Punch

Playing catch-up

What do you get when life is a whirlwind?  Behind!  My life certainly has been a whirlwind lately, but it is finally settling down!  I have been so busy (or sick)  that until this last week I did not even have time to play along with the Grungy Monday challenges and they are already on Challenge 5!  But never fear, it is time to play catch up!

What is Grungy Monday you ask?  Well head on over to StudioL3 to find out!  (The link will take to the "introduction" for Grungy Monday!)

The first challenge started back on March 28 and it used the techniques the AWESOME Tim Holtz used on the 2008 Day 10 Tag for the 12 Tags of Christmas!  The idea of Grungy Monday is to take a "Tim Technique" and put your personal twist on it.  Here is my twist!

 The second challenge took participants to the Ranger Ink website to view a Tim Holtz video demonstrating Distress Ink with Studio Matte Medium!  I never tried this technique before, it was quite fun!  It was kinda like magic because I was sure it wasn't going to come out, but I kept applying the ink and my ship magically appeared!  I think I got it right - the speakers are not hooked up to my computer, so I watched in silent mode, lol!

The third challenge explored using Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash!  Another product I had never used before!  All I can say is WOW! oh, and make sure everything around is well protected! lol

The fourth challenge took participates to  the "timholtz" YouTube channel for a lesson on Texture Fades and Distress!

And finally, the fifth challenge takes us to a New Dimension!  You can read all about it on Tim's blog.  This is the current challenge and it is open until 8:00 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, May 8, 2011.  Then on Monday, the fabulous Linda will post challenge 6!

So what do you get when you put 5 challenges together?  A work in progress!  I plan to incorporate a few more of the challenges into my canvas, so nothing is permanently attached yet.  I will let you know when it is complete!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend and in case I don't post again before Mother's Day. - Happy Mother's Day!

Especially for Anonymous

On Wednesday, May 4, 2011, I left my house around 6 p.m. to make a "quick" trip to Costco.  About 1/2 mile from my house I had to pull over and take a picture of this sign for Anonymous!  Anonymous LOVES the heat and as soon as I saw it, I thought of her!

It really wasn't that hot yesterday, it was "only" about 90, if it makes you feel better!   You NEED to come back!

I have been working on many projects, most of which I can share quite yet, but soon I will be able to share.

I am also working on a project for GrungyMonday over at Linda Ledbetter's StudioL3 blog.  I will have it ready to post in the next day or two!  If you want to see the current challenge you can click on the button near the top of my sidebar!

Take care,
Linda

Scrappy Easter Cards!

Just a quick post to say "Happy Easter"!

Yesterday and this morning (in between fighting allergies) I enjoyed some serious studio time!  My first creation will remain unseen for awhile, but from the scraps and some scraps in my scrap box I made these Easter cards!

I tried a new style of card - a "tri-shutter card".  I followed the directions at SplitCoastStampers.  It was surprising easy and looks awesome in person!  I don't have any Easter saying stamps, so "Plan A" was to print on velum, then emboss.  "Plan B" and "Plan C" also involved the printer and different velum.  The printer was not cooperating. "Plan D" involved printing the saying, placing velum on top and copy using an embossing pen.  It worked.

Tri-Shutter

The side fold card uses an image from Tim's "seasonal paper stash".  (So did the Tri-Shutter card).  This is a true scrappy card - everything came from my scrap heap including the card base!  It's a little smaller than standard - it is 5.25 x 4.00".  If you were able to see behind the image, you'd see the rose paper has a partial circle cut out of the top!  I love using scraps and creating something new!  The picture is not the greatest, it looks much better in person.  "Happy Easter" is stamped inside.

Side fold

This one is also all from the scrap heap and the sticker files.  Again the picture is not the best.

All stickers

Inside the All stickers card

 My last card is another image from Tim's seasonal paper stash.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Linda

Remember me?

Where have I been you wonder?  Well, wonder no more!

I survived the wedding!  Survived all 9 people, 2 animals and a gazillion plants living in our house for at least 2 weeks (normally there are only 3 people, 2 animals and a few plants) plus all the visitors (a couple of times with 20 plus at a time) coming and going!  I survived going back to work for a few days, then decided to get sick for about a week.  Yesterday (Tuesday, 4/19) the first day, I made it through and felt like myself!!!  It's a great feeling!

The wedding was wonderful!

Kristine, Randy and entire wedding party

Randy, Kristine, Izzy and Brandon

Randy, Kristine, Betty (Dave's Mom), me, Dave, Brandon & Izzy

The reception was fabulous

Kristine & Randy arriving at the reception

Teresita & Charlene's creativity!

Then it was time for the first dance -

 What is wrong with the groom?

 The bride seems so composed.

Seems there was a little confusion when the DJ started the music for the first dance. . . it was supposed to be "You Got a Friend in Me" but some how a Gregorian Chant started playing.  Can't imagine how that happened (they did choose April 1 as their wedding date! lol)  

After getting the bride and groom off on their honeymoon early Saturday afternoon,  

        Charlene and Chris, the most fantastic friends ever, kidnapped me for a couple of days!  First we headed over to the Harley Davidson store to get Chris's husband a tee-shirt.  The only problem was the Harley store was having some kind of event including a live band and there were LOTS of people so we didn't stop. (That just means you have to come back out Chris! lol) Then we explored Old Sacramento, had dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant - Frank Fats on L Street, went back to Charlene's place had a drink and that I think that was the night they had to wake me up to go to bed! lol.  

On Sunday morning, we went out for breakfast then headed to the coast and ended up in Bodega Bay!  Had a fabulous dinner at The Tides (anyone remember Alfred Hitchcocks' "The Birds"?   It was filmed in Bodega Bay.) We had a fabulous time and I enjoyed the "girl time" with just us girls!

I am going to end this post now because if I don't it will be another day or two until I get it posted and its already been too long.  


I have some exciting news to share in my next post!  Look forward to hearing from you!