Layering Stencil: Monoprint

Here we are at the last challenge for Tim's A Compendium of Curiosities III book - Challenge number 34, Layering Stencil: Monoprint!  It just doesn't seem possible!  The time has flown for me and I have loved every minute!

I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for all your wonderful comments and for playing along with these challenges!  All of you are so talented!  I have SO enjoyed getting to know all of you - even though I haven't met most of you personally, I still feel like I know you.  Hopefully our paths will cross in the future!

Many of you have commented that you have enjoyed the use of my family photos in my artwork.  I have had so much fun incorporating these photos into my projects and have loved creating some wonderful keepsakes for my family along the way.

As I started off with a family photo for one of my first projects, I thought I would finish up with several as well.

You will find this wonderful monoprint technique on Page 48 of the Compendium of Curiosities III book.  You will see that there are actually two different ways to incorporate this technique.  I decided to go for it since it is the last challenge and created two different projects - with each one I have used the technique differently.  Here they are side by side, one tag and one journal page:

As  you can see, both projects are very different, a vintage tag with a photo of my mother-in-law and my very first journal page using bright colors.    First the vintage tag:

This is a photo of my husband's mother, Rosa Maria Cura Mostek.  She is originally from Spain.  This tag project is a tribute to her amazing journey from Spain to the United States shortly after she married.  It is also a way to thank my wonderful husband who has never complained about all the time I spend working on my art and waiting for dinner on more than one occasion when I didn't want to quite working as I was "on a roll".

I started by creating a monoprint on cream card stock with the Flourish Layering Stencil.  While I can't tell you how I did it, I followed the first technique using Broken China, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, and Hickory Smoke Distress Paints and Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I could have kicked myself when I realized I had become so engrossed in the project I forgot to take step-by-step photos, so I took some close-ups of the project.

I created a frame by die cutting Tim's Sizzix Postage Stamp from Grunge Board.  I then added a layer of gesso and added Antique Linen Distress Paint over the top when dry.  I finished my frame by adding Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs Distress inks around the edges.  Once this was completed, I added the photo of my mother-in-law after adding some Vintage Photo ink around the edges.

I adhered my frame to my monoprint tag and then began adding several Idea-ology pieces I had painted with Cracked Pistachio, partially dried and then rubbed off a bit to create a patina.

My mother-in-law fell in love with a young Czech man who escaped from then Czechoslovakia after WWII and came to this country shortly after they were married, not knowing any English or anyone here in this country.  I felt Tim's "Life was meant to be a great Adventure" stamp from the Handwritten Thoughts Stamper's Anonymous set was quite appropriate as well as the Idea-ology Word Band choice.

The "angel" wing from the Idea-ology Adornments: Regal represents Rosa's faith and Guardian Angel watching over her.

I added the crown from the Adornments: Regal as she reminded me a bit of a young Queen Elizabeth.  Lastly, I created a bow from Tim's Crinkle Ribbon, using Antique Linen and Broken China Distress Stains.  I added a Trinket Pin, Jump Ring and Heart Charm with the words "All my Heart" representing her love for my father-in-law.  I finished the project by adhering the finished tag to a piece of Aqua color solid card stock.

Now for the second project.  This is my first first journal page (which I have been dying to start) using a photo of my mother, uncle (in the back) and their cousin.  It always puts a smile on my face as I think of simpler times, a fun picnic and wading in the stream.

Now I definitely don't have a step-by-step of this monoprint technique as that would completely give away the technique.  I can tell you I used Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Dusty Concord and Mermaid Lagoon Paints along with Twisted Citron and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Inks.  I wanted to leave quite a bit of white on the page as well.

The wonderful sentiment is from Tim's Stamper's Anonymous set Handwritten Thoughts.  Here are a few close-ups:

 Thanks for being patient with my longer than usual blog post.  Hope you have enjoyed both projects.

This final challenge is being sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Linda Coughlin will be offering a $25.00 shopping spree in her online store to the winner of a randomly chosen project.  Tim and Mario  are generously offering a fabulous prize package to the winner of the Curiosity Crew Choice.  A big thank you to all of them for supporting these challenges!

Finally, I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our fearless leader, Linda Ledbetter.  She has done such a wonderful job putting these challenges together and keeping the Curisioty Crew in line!   I feel so honored that I was asked to participate - I have stretched myself so much artistically and had so much fun along the way, especially being associated with all the other terrific gals on the Curiosity Crew!

Now head on over to Linda's website, study the rules and enter your project!  We can't wait to see what you create for this final challenge!

Hugs, Susan

Fabulous Frameworks!

Drumroll please!  We have officially arrived at the 25th, yes 25th Challenge for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge using Tim Holtz's fabulous frameworks dies!  I honestly don't know where the time has gone as I have been having so much fun with these challenges!  Linda Ledbetter  has been doing an awesome job hosting them too!  If you haven't played along with us, it's never too late.  Head on over to her website for all the rules and information. You won't regret it!

I have been so happy enjoying our beautiful Springtime in the Rockies - the trees are in bloom as well as the daffodils and grape hyacinth. Therefore I knew my project had to be inspired by the beauty around me.  Here is the tag I created using the Lattice Framework Die:

Now here  is the irony.  This is what I woke up to this morning!

Somehow this just isn't right!  However, as they say here in Colorado, "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes".  It will change back to Spring again - our local meteorologist has assured us that it will in a few days.

Tim has multiple, and all wonderful, Frameworks dies by Sizzix.   I envisioned flowers and leaves on a trellis so I used his Lattice die to create the base for this project.  I began by cutting out two lattices from chipboard.  I then painted both of them with his new January release color - Cracked Pistachio.  Love this color!  Once dry, I added some Pumice Stone Distress Paint over the top.  I forgot to take a picture of both pieces before I adhere them to the tag.  However, I have a small piece leftover which hopefully will show the color.

I stamped the tag with Tim's Stamper's Anonymous Wood Grain background from the Wallpaper and Wood stamp set using a combination of Vintage and Antique Linen Distress Inks.  I then stamped the sentiment from Tim's new Life Quotes set in black over the background.

I used one of my favorite techniques, Paint Marbling, to create some flowers to add to my trellis.  I used Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade and  Festive Berries Paints.  Once dry, I used Tim's Sizzix Alterations Tattered Florals Garland die to cut out the flowers.  Here is what it looked like once I cut out the flowers along with a sample flower:

I then used Tim's Sizzix Alterations Spring Greenery die to cut out a variety of greens to creep up my trellis.  I cut them out of cream card stock and added color with Peeled Paint and Forest Green Distress Inks.

I stamped some tiny flowers from Tim's Stamper's Anonymous Watercolor set randomly over the background on the left side of the tag.  I used one entire trellis and parts of a second one to add over the top.   I wove some of the greenery through the trellises before I adhered everything to the tag.

Flowers were added to the greenery and trellis as well as butterflies from Tim's new Watercolor stamp set (one of my favorites!)  Here is a close up of the flowers and butterflies:

I finished the tag off by dying Tim's Crinkle Ribbon with Festive Berries Distress ink and Spice Marmalade and creating a bow which was adhered to the top.  I then adhered one more watercolor butterfly to the center of the bow.

Okay now, get out your Compendium of Curiosities III book and turn to page 64.  Still don't have the book?  Don't worry, it's still available here.  Come join the fun!  This challenge is generously sponsored by The Inspiration Emporium who will provide a $50.00 shopping spree at their online store for a randomly chosen winner.  Tim and Mario are also providing a fabulous prize package for the Curiosity Crew Choice as well!

Good luck to all!

Dimensional Cutting Pad Fun!

Hello Everyone!  I have a new technique (to me anyway) to share with all of you for this 22nd Challenge for the Compendium of Curiosities III!

Has anyone used Tim's Sizzix Dimensional Cutting Pad before  If not, you might want to take the time to order one for yourself and start playing!  I will confess, when I first saw this product, I thought it would be good for nothing more that cutting out butterfly wings, however, when I started to experiment with it, I discovered that I could create so much more!

Here is my finished project using Tim's large pocket watch and the dimensional plate:

Here is a view of the dimension created by using the plate:

Isn't that cool?  It really make the watch come to life, doesn't it?  This technique for using the pad can be found on Page 62 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book.  It's never too late to order here.

My husband loves trains and requested a train theme for the card, so I happily obliged!

I first created a fun background using Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks.  I thought it might be fun to use the round blending tool to create circle on the background to mimic the  shape of the pocket watch.  I used Frayed Burlap for this background technique.  After following the technique on Page 62, this is what I started out with:

I added some black around the edges of the pocket watch and then cut a dial from Tim's Eclectic Elements Fabric and adhered it to the center of the watch.  Finally, I cut another pocket watch from a piece of scrap card stock and added Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.  I finished with a coat of Tarnished Brass Distress Paint that I dabbed over the Frayed Burlap to give that old metal look.

As  you can see, I added some Idea-ology Game Spinners for the clock hands.  I then went on to decorating the rest of the card.

I first stamped railroad tracks on the top and bottom of the card and added Tim's rick rack over the top.  I stamped and cut out a train on an extra piece of card stock that I had colored with the Distress inks as before and added a little tarnished brass Distress Paint to parts of the train.  I then adhered the train over the rick rack at the bottom right of the card.

I added a strip of Tim's Tissue Tape to both the right and left hand sides of the card.  Then I got busy with the Idea-ology Gears (I just can't get enough of them!) and glued them to several areas of the card, including on the pocket watch itself.

I used an Idea-ology Swivel Clasp and attached a Philosophy Tag to the end.  The clip was threaded through the top of the watch and a drop of Glossy Accents here and there to adhere the token to the card.

Finally, I had fun with Tim's Remnant Rubs, adding them here and there to the background for some fun detail.  I finished the whole card off by backing it with a black mat and adding two Idea-ology          Corners painted lightly with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint .

This 22nd challenge is generously sponsored this time by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Linda is providing a wonderful $25.00 shopping spree in her online store to a randomly chosen winner.  As always Tim and Mario have another great prize package waiting for the Curiosity Choice winner of this challenge.  Good luck.  Head on over to Linda Ledbetter's site to refresh your memory on the rules and play along!

Hope you enjoy this project!  Now let's see what you create.