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

Fabulous Frosted Film

Here we are at Challenge Number 32, just two more to go!  I confess I had not used this product before, but I love it now!  You may find this challenge on Page 59 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book which still can be purchased here.  This challenge is once again sponsored by the generous Tim and Mario who are providing a fabulous prize package to the winner of this challenge! Head on over to Linda Ledbetter's site for all the details and enter!

One randomly chosen winner will also win a $25.00 shopping spree to The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Good luck to all!

Now for the technique.  Here is my latest challenge project:

I decided to use a canvas this time which features beautiful die cut flowers and frosted film butterflies.  I used a sentiment from Tim Holtz's Stampers Anonymous Life Quotes that I felt would blend well with the "dreamy quality" created as a result of blending the die cut butterflies with the  frosted film.

I started off by creating my butterflies. I used Tim Holtz's Sizzix Butterfly Duo die set.  (I obviously didn't use the included texture fade).  You will have to go to Page 59 to see how I accomplished this technique.  Here are the finished butterflies:

I then decided I wanted some texture to my canvas, so I started with a coat of white gesso on the canvas.  When it was dry, I added Wendy Vecchi's white embossing paste through Tim's Flourish Stencil.   Finally, I added some watered down Tumbled Glass Distress Paint to the background and then some white Picket Fence Distress paint to the raised surfaces.  This is how the prepared canvas looked:

Now I was quite unhappy with myself when I first created this texture pattern.  I originally had a "white on white" pattern, but decided that it was too "white" for my butterflies to really show up well.  I tossed around the idea of starting all over and painting the canvas with Tumbled Glass Distress paint first and then adding the white paste, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.  One of my mottos is "there is a way to fix anything" so I was determined to fix it.  It ended up being easier than I thought to use white Picket Fence Distress Paint to highlight the raised surface.  The Tumbled Glass background was watered down a bit so that the background wasn't too dark.

I then cut a number of flowers from my absolute favorite Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Tattered Floral Garland as well as some greenery from the Alterations Spring Greenery die.  I colored the flowers by blending Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade Distress inks.  When dry, I assembled them and added Buttercup and Petal Pink Liquid Pearls to the flower centers.  The greenery was colored with Peeled Paint and Gathered Twigs Distress inks.

I laid out the flowers and greenery on the canvas until I was happy with the layout.

Unfortunately, even though I lightened the background a tad, the colors seemed to vary each time of the day I photographed the piece.  It is actually a little lighter in color.

Now I wondered how I was going to stamp my sentiment on the canvas.   I certainly couldn't do it the traditional way due to the texture.  Then I remembered the technique I learned from Cheryl (who learned it from Candy), etc. of stamping on white tissue paper, tearing around the sentiment and using Matte Medium to adhere it to the background with a paint brush.  Worked like a charm!  The tissue blends right into the background!

Finally, I adhered all the flowers and greenery as well as the butterflies to the canvas using Matte  Medium.  Once again here is the finished project:

See what I mean about the variation in background color!

Here it is on a darker background and different light (even though it is really a slightly lighter blue):

You may have noticed I added antennae to the butterflies before I adhered them to the canvas.  I achieved this by cutting two small pieces of black linen thread and creating a knot on either end.  I then folded each in half and adhered them to the back of the butterflies' bodies.

All of us here at the CC3 Challenge are looking forward to seeing your submissions!  You all are such talented artists who have blown us away with  your creativity!  Let's see more of it!

Susan

Layering Stencil: Paint Resist

Challenge Number 31 - only three more to go!  The official countdown has begun!  It's never too late to join us, we would love to see your work!  I hope everyone has Tim's fabulous book, Compendium of Curiosities III, however, you may still order it here.  Tim and Mario also have yet another incredible prize package awaiting the Curiosity Crew choice winner!  It could be you!

This challenge is sponsored by the generous folks at the Inspiration Emporium.  They will be providing a $50.00 shopping spree for one lucky randomly chose winner!

Now for the challenge..head on over to page 47 of Tim's book, study the technique and enter to win!
Here is my project:

I decided to create a box to hold some of my stash as I seem to have so much of it - it's addicting!  I started with a paper mache box that I painted with Seedless Preserves Distress Paints.  I only added the paint to the edges of the sides and top of the box.

I painted the box inside as well as the lid inside and outside edges.

Next I applied the technique to five card stock pieces, one for the lid and 4 for the box sides.  I can't tell you how it was done, however, I can tell you I used Tim's Wildflower,  Flourish, Traveler and Bubble Layering Stencils.  I also  used Seedless Preserves Paint and Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Seedless Preserves and Peacock Feather Distress inks.

I then adhered all of the panels to the box and finished the box by adding one of Tim's Idea-ology Curio Knobs to the box lid.  Finally, I added some butterflies from B Line Designs to all the panels.  Here again is the finished project:

Now that you have seen my project, head on over to Linda Ledbetter's site here.  You will find all the rules for participating - hope to see your projects there!

Susan

Faux Cracked Glass

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the 30th CC3 Challenge - only 4 more to go!  I don't know about you, but I don't want the challenges to end - they are too much fun!

This time around the Challenge is sponsored by the lovely Linda at The Funkie Junkie who has a $25.00 gift certificate to use in her store to one randomly selected winner!  Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Tim and Mario also have yet another fabulous prize package for the winner of this "Cracked Glass" challenge!  Remember, you have to play to win - that's not hard, is it?  You will love this challenge!

Without further ado, here is the project I created for this 30th challenge:

I have had this frame laying around for quite awhile.  I knew that I would find just the right project for it and this is it!  I apologize for not taking e a photo of the frame before I started decorating it.  The only thing on the frame to begin with was the wood mat and the netting on the bottom and right sides with the starfish and a couple of shells.

I added everything else to the frame, including the focus of this challenge, the bottles.  Here is a close up of the bottles after the technique was applied:

I created a small tied "letter" to place in one of the bottles and poured some sand into the second bottle.  I also used the technique for a third tiny bottle which I placed on the right side of the frame in the netting:

I die cut several seahorses and a sand dollar to add to the frame mat.  I thought it would be fun to use Tims technique used on his July 2014 tag as it was a bit similar in some ways to the faux cracked glass.  You can see the sea horse in the above photo as well.

Here is the seahorse on the opposite side.  Both of them are wrapped around sea grass and coral created with Tim's Sizzix alterations Spring Greenery dies:

I created the picture to place in the frame by using B Line Designs' wonderful The Charlotte stamp.  I colored the sails with Antique Linen Distress Ink, the ship body with Gathered Twigs and the water with Faded Jeans using a watercolor technique.  Then I pulled out my colored pencils and added detail to the water, then creating my own "ocean" all the way down to the bottom.  I used chalks and a stencil to add clouds to the top.  

I stamped B Line's Captain Ron on a scrap of cream card stock and colored him with my pencils as well.  The image was cut out and adhered to the top of the glass using foam tape.

I also added some netting on the upper and left hand sides of the frame to balance the composition.  The netting was a bit dark, so my Antique Linen Distress Paint came to the rescue!  Worked like a charm to lighten up the color!

To finish the piece I adhered the bottles to the frame along with a larger scalloped shell at the bottom. I die cut the word "expedition" from Tim's Sizzix Thinlits Adventure set and glued it to the top of the wood mat.

To join us for this challenge, head on over to Page 54 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book - still available here.  Then create your own piece of faux cracked glass and enter it.  Linda Ledbetter has all the info on how to play along with us on her site here.  Make sure to read the rules and have fun!

Happy creating!
Susan

CC3C Eroded Metallic Technique

We have arrived at the 29th Challenge, the Eroded Metallic technique found on Page 33 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosity III book.  Think it's too late to join us?  It's never too late!  You still have time to purchase an autographed copy of the book here.

This challenge is being sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium, a wonderful online company!  They are providing one lucky randomly chosen winner a $50.00 shopping spree, so buy the book, try out the technique and join us.  All the information, including rules for participating, can be found at the lovely Linda's website here.  Tim and Mario have yet another fabulous prize package for the winner as chosen by the Curiosity Crew!

I was in my studio the other day trying to decide what I was going to create with this fun technique.  I looked out the window, and, as usual, it was raining AGAIN!  That's when I decided that I just had to incorporate Tim's Stamper's Anonymous Umbrella Man with an Idea-ology Faucet Knob to act as a shut-off valve.  That way I can shut the rain off temporarily, at least in my imagination!  I guess the knob also represents shutting off fear and indeed "Living the life you have imagined" - traveling, dreaming, just going for it!  Here is my creation:

I love the look of the finished technique so much that I didn't want to add too many images to take away from the eroded metallic look.  Believe me, I tried!  Finally, I decided that simplicity was the answer and then I was satisfied with this tag.

After completing the technique (wish I could tell you how I did it, however, you'll have to look in the book on Page 44 yourself), I stamped the Umbrella Man directly to the tag along with the sentiment from Tim's Stamper's Anonymous Creative Muse cling mount stamp set.  I also used several rub-ons from Idea-ology Words remnant rubs which I adhered directly to the tag.  Finally,  I had to have my rain Faucet Knob.   Before adding it to the tag, I used some of the Paint colors from the tag background to add a bit of color to the faucet knob.

Finally, I adhered a black mat to the tag and died crinkle ribbon with some of the same colors I used for my technique, Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough, Peeled Paint and Broken China Distress Paints.  I also added a bit of the Metallic Bronze paint on the ribbon.  Voila!  Easy to do!

I also wanted to experiment more with this technique to see what it would look like to be "more eroded".  I made up a quick tag to show you what it looks like.  I actually like how both of them turned out!

I hope you will all try this fun and easy technique!  I am "hooked" now and will definitely be incorporating it into my future artwork!

Once again here is my finished project:

Hope you enjoy it!  I wish you all sunshine (except in drought-sticken areas).  Maybe we can send some of this extra water your way via the Colorado River.  Can't wait to see what all of you create!

Susan

B Line Designs Happy Dance!

As you can tell by the title of this post, I am doing the Happy Dance now that I have received the new stamps from B Line Designs!  They are all from the brand new Vintage Spring supplement!

Beverly has knocked it out of the park with this one!  I love them all!  All of the new images blend so well with the wonderful selection of existing ones - lots of nature themes, thoughtful sentiments as well as a few architectural stamps!

I love the new Collaged Butterfly!   

Here a few samples Beverly created with the new images.  There are two pages of lovely full color artwork!

  

I couldn't wait to play with the new stamps!  I used several of my favorites, including the Beehives and Honeycomb I used on my project for the current CC3 Challenge "Alcohol Ink Ombre Technique"  at Linda Ledbetter's site.  I enjoyed this technique so much that I created another one  as well.  

When you pull the tab on this second card, the wings actually flap.  A dear friend of mine gave me a commercial card that incorporated this feature and said "Susan, I know you can figure out how this was done"  She was right - here it is!    I also used the Climbing Vine Duo as well as a sentiment from the Live Each Moment cube.  

 I went on to create one more card using the same mechanism and the new Botanical Cabbage Rose image from B Line's current supplement:

I watercolored the rose and the butterfly on this card.

There is so much more to see on B Line's website at blinedesigns.com !  Head on over to see all the new images from Vintage Spring along with previous supplements.  You'll be glad you did!

Susan

Don't Worry, Bee Happy Alcohol ink Ombre Technique

The 28th Challenge for the CC3 Challenge has arrived - the Alcohol Ink Ombre technique.  This technique can be found on Page 57 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities III book.  Want an autographed copy?  Head on over to timholtz.com and Mario will make sure to get that off to you!

The wonderful Linda over at the Funkie Junkie Boutique is sponsoring this even numbered challenge with a $25.00 shopping spree at her site.  This prize will be awarded to one lucky randomly chosen winner!  Tim and Mario have another fabulous prize package awaiting the winner of the challenge as chosen by the Curiosity Crew.  Good luck to everyone!

Here is my project for this challenge:

I have used B Line Designs images on my card.  I knew I wanted to do something with their new Beehives stamp, so I checked out my stash of fabulous Ranger alcohol inks and found that I had Lemonade, Butterscotch and Honeycomb inks.  What better choices to go with a beehive!  Now I can't tell you how I achieved this effect - you'll have to turn to page 57 of the book to find out!

Sadly, I was so excited putting together this project that I forgot to take step-by-step photos!  I know, I'm, bad!!!!  However, I think you can get the idea after studying the technique.

I started out with a larger piece of glossy card stock and, after completing the technique, I stamped the Beehives and the Honeycomb from the Honeycomb/Wire duo onto the card.  I then trimmed off some of the card at the top and bottom and created strips which I backed with black card stock.  I started by adhering two thin strips to the sides of the card.  I then added two slightly wider strips to the top and bottom areas of the card.

I knew I wanted to add some bees as well as the round "Don't Worry -Be Happy" image from the Celebrate Dreams cube,  so I repeated the Alcohol Ombre technique on a small piece of glossy card stock and stamped the image four times.  I used the entire image for the top of the card and cut just the bees out to add to the bottom strip.  I was in fussy-cutting heaven!  The image at the top was backed with a slightly larger piece of black card stock and the bees were attached to the bottom strip!  Easy!  I love the effect!

Okay, let's see what you all come up with for your projects!  Head on over to the wonderful Linda Ledbetter's site for all the rules on how to participate.  We know we will see some beautiful projects and are sooooo looking forward to it!  You guys blow us away with your talent!

Here is one more look at my card:

Get out those alcohol inks and have fun!
Susan