Saturday, July 18, 2015

Altered Surfaces

We have arrived at the next to last challenge - No. 33 - for the Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge!  Say it isn't so!  I have been having so much fun with these challenges that I hate to say goodbye to them!

The current challenge, Altered Surfaces, can be found on Page 45 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book.  It's never too late to get your autographed copy which can be found here.  Tim and Mario are also providing a fabulous prize package to the winner chosen by the Curiosity Crew.

The wonderful folks at Inspiration Emporium also have a generous $50.00 shopping spree just waiting for the randomly chosen winner of this challenge. You will love their product selection and customer service!

Now all of us on the Curiosity Crew want you to participate, so head on over to Linda Ledbetter's site here for all the rules!

Here is my project:


A lovely blog comment was made that she enjoyed my use of family photos in past blog challenge posts.  It made be realize that I hadn't incorporated any for awhile! Time to dig out more photos! 

I have always wanted to do something with the above hilarious photo of my mother (center) with her best buddies, Pat (left) and Ginger (right).  She has tried to convince me that this photo was taken in Wenatchee, Washington at the carnival during the Apple Blossom Festival.  However, I know better as I have this photo that shows what happened to these naughty girls:


Now for the challenge piece.  I chose to alter the large number 3 as well as the arrow.  I thought the technique would be most effective on larger pieces.  The number 3 is from Idea-ology Alpha Parts  Numeric and the Arrow is from Alpha Parts Framed.  I attempted to use the technique on the framed sentiment, also from the Alpha Parts Framed, however, I think it is much more effective on the more solid pieces.  I can't tell you how I accomplished this look as you have to find out yourself by turning to page 45 of the book, however, here are close-ups of the two altered surfaces:



I began my project by placing patterned paper cards from Idea-ology Pocket Cards behind the photo and adhering them to my Burlap canvas (also from Idea-ology)  I then adhered  a red strip cut from Tim's Sizzix Alterations Frameworks Courtyard die so that it would peek out from behind my photo as well as another card from the Pocket Cards.   I adhered my enlarged photo over the paper and die and added some Film Strip Ribbon on either side of the photo.   This is how it looked at that point:


Now I began to add more details to the canvas, including a Flash Card with the word "Friend" (I added an "s" from Alpha Parts to the end) from Flash Cards Elementary, Two Remnant Rubs from the Numbers Sheet, several pieces from the Ephemera Pack (Thrift Shop and Expedition), some tiny playing cards from my stash and a Word Band.  I threaded Correspondence Paper String through the Word Band and adhered blue eyelets.  The Paper String was wrapped around to the back of the canvas.  I did the same thing on the right side of the piece as well.  Here are some close ups of the details:





I used Distress Paints to add color to the Alpha Parts Framed "Good Times".  The red ticket is an actual raffle ticket and the other two are from the Ephemera Packs.

One last look at the finished project:


Looking at this piece in my studio will definitely make me smile!

Ok, now it's your turn to create a project using Altered Surfaces!  I hope you have as much fun as I did with this project!  My mother will either laugh or be horrified that I chose these photos!

Susan










45 comments :

  1. Susan this is fabulous! I love everything about this! The photo of your mom and her buddies is so cute! Your embellishments you have collaged around it are perfect! What a great way to frame that picture. Love your altered surfaces, too.

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  2. A NEW FAVORITE!!! OMG...you have the best family photos! This one needs to be used over and over again...love those gals! All the layers are wonderful...LOVE everything about this piece Susan!!!

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  3. Yep...glad to see your family pics back! LOVE this...the picture of your mom and friends is a treasure within itself! I really love the era...You have an amazing gift in incorporating your pics into your work!!! Glad to see it's back! hehehe. Fabulous! BIG HUGS!

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  4. Yep...glad to see your family pics back! LOVE this...the picture of your mom and friends is a treasure within itself! I really love the era...You have an amazing gift in incorporating your pics into your work!!! Glad to see it's back! hehehe. Fabulous! BIG HUGS!

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  5. Delightful photo with wonderful embellishments fit the picture so well!

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  6. This is so cool; your mom is beautiful (but...naughty? LOL) and you've done an amazing job of showcasing this great photo. So much to look at, and yet it never becomes too "busy." You have a real eye for detail and I've loved every bit of your work in these challenges!

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  7. Your Mom is gorgeous! She and her friends definitely look like they are up to something. Wonderful photo and I love it on your wonderful canvas. So many great embellishments and layers.

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  8. Susan, you added so many details to this canvas, I love it. The picture is amazing and you complemented it with all the embellishments without overwhelming the picture. Greta result.

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  9. Susan you make me giddy with all these cute little details... it's so fun how you use family photos. I love your use of correspondence paper and embellishments; that red, white and blue throughout ... OMG so much fun ! your embellishments "pull you' into the activity ... I feel like I'm there with them :) !

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  10. I am one of your biggest fans, Susan, and I too love it when you create with personal photos of your family and tell us a funny story behind them. This burlap canvas is SO great! Love that photo. So glad you have these treasures to work with. The entire piece is so perfectly composed and adorned. I have to say this might be one of my all-time favorites of yours!

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  11. Love thos playing cards and the photos. The girls look like they really enjoy sharing time together.

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  12. Love thos playing cards and the photos. The girls look like they really enjoy sharing time together.

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  13. beautiful and vintage, love your use of the technique.
    have a nice day :)

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  14. I cannot tell you how much I love this piece to highlight this photo of your Mom and her friends. It's an amazing vintage piece for a terrific photo. Love all of the details you've used, from the "Seen and Noted" to the "friends" flashcard. What a wonderful keepsake. Thanks for the inspiration Susan! -- Mary Elizabeth

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  15. Susan!! OMG! This is the BEST yet!! Every single detail is just perfect and fits the backstory of this photo of your Mom & her friends AWESOMELY!! I love your red, white & blue vintagey color combo--I just LOVE everything!! OK--Now, for a second burlap canvas of them behind bars?? LOL ;) :) As I've been mentioning in your fellow Curiosity Crew's blogs--You're all -almost- ending the CC3 challenges with some of your best!! Thank You for all of your inspiration, Susan!! XOXO-Shari

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  16. Everything you do is lovely, but you've been holding back. This is the BEST from you! Great collage and your execution of this technique is brilliant. Way to rock it, girl!

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  17. Your Mother is beautiful and clearly had two great friends. I hope she at leadt smiled!

    What a great collage...it really sets a scene.

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  18. Susan, what a cool nostalgic piece! I love the colors and the textures and that your mom and her pals are the focus. I think this is my favorite piece of yours so far!

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  19. Very clever! I have yet to try a burlap panel but this is inspiring me!!

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  20. Very clever! I have yet to try a burlap panel but this is inspiring me!!

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  21. LOVE LOVE LOVE this Susan! .... The photo of your mum and her friends is so adorable! . Love what you have done with your altered surfaces, a fabby little canvas!

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  22. i absolutely love pieces that use actual photos from ago....your piece is so special in so many ways!!

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  23. What great photos!!! This canvas is absolutely perfect.

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  24. Omagosh!! You just ROCKED this canvas w the summer theme!! THIS is what summer is all about: having fun in our youth...and never letting go of that!! ADORABLE!!!!!! Esp the items & arrangement; super cute!!!!

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  25. Oh my! You have designed a delightful setting for this photo cute, I love that your creation.

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  26. This is such a wonderful piece, it really takes you back to when your Mum and her friends were having fun. Love all the alterations pieces and the extra embellishments.

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  27. I love the way you framed the picture. Looks awesome.

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  28. Heheh - Tim needs this picture for his found relatives.... it is GREAT - wow. The tickets go perfect with it as does everything in your FABULOUS creation Susan. You did your Mom's picture PROUD.... I just love it all. Smiling Big.... j.

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  29. Heheh - Tim needs this picture for his found relatives.... it is GREAT - wow. The tickets go perfect with it as does everything in your FABULOUS creation Susan. You did your Mom's picture PROUD.... I just love it all. Smiling Big.... j.

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  30. Oh WOW! The photos are fabulous, and you have created one awesome piece to showcase the ladies!

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  31. I always think it makes it more special to include a real photo and this one of your lovely Mum and her friends is wonderful. I love the altered surfaces that you did and I also love the paper from Tim's Correspondence pad, it just suits the whole of your beautiful piece! Anne x

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  32. I always think it makes it more special to include a real photo and this one of your lovely Mum and her friends is wonderful. I love the altered surfaces that you did and I also love the paper from Tim's Correspondence pad, it just suits the whole of your beautiful piece! Anne x

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  33. This makes me smile too. The pictures are great. Nice composition-really showcases all the elements.

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  34. Amazing collaged layour - love your alterations and all the little details you have added! x

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  35. Amazing collaged layour - love your alterations and all the little details you have added! x

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  36. Oh, I bet it will make you smile, especially knowing what came next! I love your composition to showcase this fabulous photo of your Mom and her friends! Boy, your Mom is a beauty queen! Exquisite job on the technique pieces, too! Just love this from start to finish! Hugs!

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  37. Oh, I bet it will make you smile, especially knowing what came next! I love your composition to showcase this fabulous photo of your Mom and her friends! Boy, your Mom is a beauty queen! Exquisite job on the technique pieces, too! Just love this from start to finish! Hugs!

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  38. I love the family photo and this is a wonderful piece!

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  39. What an awesome photo and project Susan. I love it!!!

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  40. What an awesome photo and project Susan. I love it!!!

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  41. What an awesome photo and project Susan. I love it!!!

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  42. Susan, your canvas is awesome. You have certainly done justice to that fabulous photo of your Mom and her friends. Your have captured the fun feeling and your use of the technique is fabulous.

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  43. Susan, your canvas is awesome. You have certainly done justice to that fabulous photo of your Mom and her friends. Your have captured the fun feeling and your use of the technique is fabulous.

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  44. Oh this is a wonderful canvas! LOVE it with all its layering and details. Awesome!

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  45. Oh this is a wonderful canvas! LOVE it with all its layering and details. Awesome!

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