Fabulous Frayed Fabric

Happy New Year, everyone!  I can't believe I am sharing the 19th CC3 Challenge, Frayed Fabric, with all of you!  Somehow I managed to get it done even though I had company for the holidays.  Here it is:

I will confess that I had never used Tim's Eclectic Elements Fabric before.  However, I LOVED the finished product!  The fabric is such good quality which made it so easy to work with.

I wanted a "natural" look to this project so I decided that a burlap panel was in order to use with the fabric (LOVE Tim's burlap panels).  I also wanted to keep it simple.  I referred to the technique found on Page 66 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosity III book and followed the instructions to create the fabric background.  I used the Eclectic Elements Timepieces Neutral fabric.

This piece is dedicated to my father, so I copied his high school graduation photo which I adhered to a slightly larger black mat and then to the fabric.  It started out like this:

My grandparents had very little money (remember the piece I did with the imaginary Paris honeymoon? - that's them), and my father had a dream to be a dentist.  Without any money or emotional support, he set out to make his dream come true.  After much sacrifice, he did indeed graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Dentistry and was a Navy dentist for many years.

I used the Alpha Part - Remember and backed it with a piece of red card stock.  I then poked a hole in the card stock below the "R" and threaded through a piece of thin jute .  The other end of the jute was used to attach a Philosphy Tag that says "Journey".  I wanted my Dad to remember this journey he was on as his accomplishment is a source of great pride, as it should be.

I loved the expression "Dare to Dream" from Tim's Simple Sayings set, so I stamped it on a piece of extra cream card stock, inked around the edges with Fired Brick Distress ink and adhered it to the piece.  I also used Alpha Tiles to spell out "D A D".  A Word Band which says "Life is about creating yourself" was threaded through a piece of natural trim, a pen nib (representing his studies) was added to the upper right portion of his photo and finally a metal Timepiece with game spinners attached was adhered over a piece from the Thrift Shop Ephemera pack.  I used Fired Brick Paint to highlight the words on the Philosophy Tag and the Word Band and also on the metal timepiece to add some color.

Here's one last look at the finished project.

There you have it!  I truly hope you will participate in this fun challenge.  Whether you are new to this challenge or have participated before, we would love to see your work!  You can still order your very own copy of Tim's book here and you will find this particular challenge technique on page 66.  Then head on over to Linda Ledbetter's site to get all the information you need about participating, including all the rules.

This challenge is generously sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium.  One lucky randomly chosen winner will win a $50.00 shopping spree to their site.  A fabulous prize package generously provided by Tim and Mario will be presented to the winner of this challenge as chosen by the Curiosity Crew.  Good luck to all of you!

All the best
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!

Fabulous Faux Tea Roses

Here we are at the third challenge for the CC3C Challenge!  I had a ton of fun with this project!  Who would have thought to make tea roses this way - Tim Holtz, that's who!  I love it!  Here is the project I came up with:

I decided to make a middle step card with a bit of a vintage romantic theme.  I started off with the basic card that I covered with paper from my favorite Wallflower paper stash.

I then gathered up my supplies including some of my favorite images from B Line Designs, Lisa and the Open Book.  I also used Tim's leaf and love letter Stamper's Anonymous images along with his On the Edge Distressed Doily and Alterations greenery dies.  Please refer to Page 65 in Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book for directions on how to create these gorgeous roses.  It's still not too late to pick it up.  Go to        http://timholtz.com/a-compendium-of-curiosities-volume-iii/ for your copy.

I wanted my little open book to have some pages, so I stamped the book once on cardstock and 3 times on text weight paper.  I stamped the love letter text on two of the pages and adhered all the pages to the center of the cardstock image and finished by wrapping a thin piece of gold cord around the book.

It's a bit hard to see in the photograph, but I added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges along with some gold ink.  I edged all the separate images with Vintage Photo as well.  Some Bundled Sage Distress Ink was added to the greenery and Peeled Paint to the leaves.

I finished this piece by adhering all the cut images to the different steps.  The tea roses were the last to be adhered using glossy accents.

I hope you enjoyed my project.  Are you playing along with the challenge yet?  It's not too late!  This week's challenge is sponsored by The Inspiration Emporium.  We will also have another fabulous prize package of goodies from Tim and Mario!  Don't forget to leave at comment at each of the Curiosity Crew Member's pages for your chance to win!  Join us!

Susan