Collection Folio Challenge!

Here it is - the 23rd challenge for the Compendium of Curiosities III - the Collection Folio found on Page 34 of Tim's third book!  I will confess I was a bit nervous about taking on this challenge on as it looked like quite the task!  However, it has turned out to be one of the most rewarding challenges I have done!

I decided I would use my maternal grandmother, Eunice Blanch Wood, as my inspiration as she was truly one of the strongest people I have ever known.  She was also kind, loving, faithful and patient, attributes that I will always remember.  I was also blessed to be the granddaughter she wanted to have her photos, so I have lots of wonderful photos to work with.  It was hard to fit them all in!

Here is the cover of the folio:

I originally resisted using Tim's Wallflower Stash as I use it quite frequently, however, it is truly my all-time favorite paper and I couldn't bear not to use it for this project!  Don't ever discontinue it, Tim!  I removed the elastic closure and covered the entire folio with the paper with the exception of a few of the "fold-over" areas.

I then cut out my favorite picture of my grandmother with an oval die and oval scalloped die and mounted it on green and brown card stock.  I used Tim's Alterations Typeset die to cut the letters for her name.  After this was done, I reattached the elastic closure through the designated holes, adding a Word Band to the top before threading it through the last hole.

Now it's time for another confession!  I tend to generally "play it safe" with colors and textures.  However, I finally decided I needed to step out of my comfort zone and go crazy!  I did this with the inside piece of the folio that the photos and ephemera are attached to.  Here is what it looked like when I started:

I used Tim's Frameworks Trellis Die as well as the Latticework stencil along with Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Forest Moss and Gathered Twigs Paint.

The fun then began!  I have to admit that it took me two full days to put this together, however, I wanted it to be extra special.  I also had lots of photos I wanted to incorporate.  You certainly don't have to put as much as I did into this project - just select a theme you like and go for it!

For the inside cover of the folio I used one of Tim's Mini Cabinet Cards and placed my grandmothers baby's picture in it!  I always laugh when I see it as she looks so startled.  I used this photo for the first challenge and turned the photo into a birthday card.  I die cut a banner from Tim's Sizzix Alterations Tattered Banners strip and hand wrote her birthdate.  To finish this cover I added two photos of the farm where she was born in Alva, Oklahoma.

On the right side I sandwiched two new Elementary Flashcards, one that said "family" and the other "story" over the first cascading flap.  These Flashcards have such wonderful words on them!  Love them!

On the right hand side of the second cascading flap I attached two photos of my grandmother's family.  I used an Industrious Frame from the new Gallery set to frame her parents' wedding picture.  Some photo corners from the same set were used in all four corners of the family photo.  I used the Alpha Parts: Newsprint letters to spell out the word "Family" at the top of the photo.

For the back of the second cascading flap I added two more photos which I adhered to not only the flap, but also the reverse side of the photos on the opposite side.  I used the Life Quotes Remnant              Rubs to add some words.

The right side of the third flap features my Great-Grandmother Mamie.  I used a library pocket I had in my stash.  I laid it on its side and covered part of it with paper from the Wallflower Stash.  After placing the photo on a brown mat, I adhered it over the paper and added some Alpha Tiles to spell out her name.  I tucked in a tag I colored with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and stamped with a B-Line Designs Gorgeous Fabric background.  I added another Elementary Flash Card and then a Remnant Rub from the Botanical set to the card.  I finished the front of the flap die by cutting and adding a Tim Alterations Distressed Doily die cut and  fussy cutting a rose image from the Wallflower Stash paper (one of my favorite things to do).  The last touch was the addition of an ephemera piece from the Emporium Ephemera Pack.

Close up of the tag:

I used the reverse side of the third flap for one photo plus another Flash Card and some fussy cut images from the Wallflower Stash paper to create a nature collage. 

I also stamped the tag on the reverse side with a stamp from Wendy Vecchi's The Beauty of Art stamp set.  Here's a close up of the reverse side of the tag:

On the right side of the fourth flap I used two large #10 tags.  I adhered a reduced size copy of my grandmother's graduation certificate to the top tag.  I used two B Line Designs stamps for the bottom tag, Women are like Buttons and Button Collage that I stamped lightly with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  Another photo was placed on this tag along with a Life Quotes Remnant Rub, Stencil Mark and Chit-Chat sticker.   Both tags were finished with a strip from the Industrious Gallery Stickers, two bows made from Crinkled Ribbon, a Ring Fastener and a Graphic 45 Shabby Chic key.  Another                      Flash Card with an image from the Botanical Remnant Rubs can be found in the center of the flap.

The left side of the fourth flap features two #8 tags to which have been added Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress inks and adhered to the larger #10 tags on the opposite side.   I decorated the tags with another photo, my grandmother's wedding announcement, a flower from the new  Emporium Ephemera pack, two bows made from burgundy seam binding that was crinkled, an photo is an oval frame from the Industrious Gallery Stickers with a photo, a Flash Card with a Botanical Remnant Rub and a metal key (sorry - not sure where this is from) and a floral stem from Nature Adornments.

The left side of the fifth flap was adorned with photos of my mother and uncle in Industrious Gallery Frames and finished with words from Chit-Chat stickers.  The back of the library pocket on the opposite side was decorated with another photo and Label Letters spelling my mother's name.  I also attached a gingham ribbon bow by Creative Impressions to the tag front.  Here's a close up of the tag front:

 Finally the back of the tag was stamped with a border from Wendy Vecchi's The Beauty of Art set and a stamp from Wendy's new Art and You set.

Close up of the reverse side of the tag:

Finally, the last flap was adhered to the back of the folio and a large photo of my grandparents on their honeymoon was placed on top.  A later photo of my grandmother was adhered to the top inside flap and a photo with me in it was adhered to the inside bottom flap and a fussy cut image from the Paper Stash was glued over the photo and onto the paper. 

I had to move from my small studio to the dining room table to spread everything out for this project. Here is what it looked like (I'm embarrassed to say):  I would bet that many of you can confess to the same thing!  Am I right?

Wow, that was a much longer post than I had intended, however, there are so many details I wanted to share with  you.  Now it's your turn to create something beautiful with this wonderful Collection Folio and share it with us.  As usual, head on over to the lovely Linda Ledbetter's site, read the rules for the challenge and start creating!  For this 23rd Challenge,  Inspiration Emporium is sponsoring a shopping spree in the amount of $50.00 for one randomly chosen winner.  Tim and Mario have a fabulous prize package for the winner of the Curiosity Crew Choice.

Good luck to everyone and have fun!

Susan

Distress Watercoloring - Part 1

Boy, we are really changing things up with these challenges aren't we?  We have gone from using heavier Distress Paints to making roses and, this past two weeks, using texture paste with layering stencils.  For the next two weeks we will be focusing on a softer look - Watercoloring with Distress Ink, Part 1 which can be found on Page 39 in Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book.  Here is the project I created for this challenge:

I used B Line Designs stamps this time around - Miranda, the flower and leaf from the Sunkissed cube and Just Sittin here.  I used Tim's Distress watercolor cardstock and was extremely pleased with the results!  It is a fabulous weight and takes the color beautifully! 

Here are the supplies I used:

I love these soft color combinations - Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Tea Dye, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint.

I followed the technique on Page 39 and colored the background and Lady.  I then stamped the flowers and leaves on a separate piece of Distress Watercolor cardstock, watercolored the images and cut them out. They were then adhered to the main image.  I finished the card by matting it with lilac cardstock, layering it with a piece of Graphic 45 paper from the Secret Garden collection and finally adhering all to one last piece of lilac cardstock.  I finished by gluing a bow to the left top corner.

Hope you like this week's project.  As always, Tim and Mario have provided a fabulous prize package for one lucky winner chosen by the Curiosity Crew. The Inspiration Emporium is sponsoring this challenge and will provide a $50.00 gift certificate to a random winner.  Good luck to everyone.  Don't forget to leave a comment on all the Curiosity Crews' blogs for your change to win!  If  you are still in doubt as to who we are, head on over to www.lindaledbetter.com for links to all our blogs and official challenge rules!  Most importantly, have fun!

Susan

Layering Stencil: Texture Paste - Does it Measure Up?

I couldn't resist using a play on words here...I used the Tim Holtz "Measured" stencil to create this tag for the latest CC3C challenge, Layering Stencil: Texture Paste.  Can you believe it is already the fourth challenge?!  This challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique who are generously donating a gift certificate.   As always, Tim and Mario have an awesome prize package that will knock your socks off!  Here is my project:

I decided to create a tag this time.  Following the technique instructions listed on Page 49, I used the Measured stencil to make the background along with Antique Linen, Evergreen Bough and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to color the tag.   I used the colors from the Kaisercraft paper that I used for the mannequin's skirt for my inspiration.

Once the tag background was complete, I die cut Tim Holtz's Mannequin from the Sewing Room die twice, once from dark brown cardstock and once from Ranger Sticky Back Canvas.  I peeled the back off the canvas and attached over the top of the mannequin's bodice.  I then cut a piece of Kaisercraft paper and scored every 1/2".  Once scored, I threaded some narrow brown jute into a large eye sewing needle and "gathered" the skirt at the top, starting in the center of the skirt and ending at the center.  Here's how it looked:

I placed the gathered paper over the top of the mannequin and then pulled the jute up carefully at the center, being careful not to tear the paper.  Once the skirt was pleated, I tied off the jute and made a bow.  I then added the matching rose.

I also used Tim's Frameworks Lattice  die which I cut once from cream cardstock, coloring it with Vintage Photo Distress ink, and again from the same Kaisercraft paper I used for the skirt.  I used the reverse side of the paper as well to place in the lattice openings.  Once glued down, I added the finished mannequin over the top with foam tape squares.

To finish the project, I added an Ideology Heart as well as a brad and paper clip hanger.  I also used Tim's Label Letters to spell out "Sew Special" and finally added some metal buttons to finish the piece.

I used some Creative Impressions tape measure ribbon along with some aqua narrow satin ribbon tothe top of the tag at the end.

I had so much fun creating this tag.  I must say, I am officially "addicted" to using Texture Paste!  I hope you have as much fun as I did creating your own artwork with this technique!

It's still not too late to play along!  You can still buy the book from Tim who will autograph it for you.  Head on over to the CC3C Challenge hosted by none other than Linda Ledbetter for all the information and leave a comment on all the Curiosity Crews' blogs to win a prize!  You'll be glad you did!