CC2C Challenge - Week 7

Hello again!  I'm here with my tag for this week's CC2 technique challenge hosted by Linda on the Studio L3 blog .  The technique is Brushless Watercolor and it can be found on page 49 of Tim Holtz's book A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2.  If you don't already own a copy, you should!  Get an autographed one here!

This week's challenge is sponsored by eclectic Paperie.  They have generously provided a $25 gift certificate that will go to one lucky participant!  Sweet!

Here's my tag:

I started by stamping the background with a Hero Arts stamp Old French Script and black Ranger Archival Ink.  I used the Stampers Anonymous Carved Swirls stamp and the new Spring Seasonal Distress Inks for the technique.  The images are from Tim's Visual Artistry Lost & Found clear stamp set and Tim's Stampers Anonymous Urban Tapestry cling stamp set.  I distressed the edges of the tag and then applied Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy to give it an aged look.  Then I spritzed the tag with Perfect Pearls Mist in Biscotti.  I coated the words with Ranger Ink Essentials Glossy Accents so they look like epoxy stickers.

It still needed something else so I added some Idea-ology Metal Foliage colored with Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabbers in Cool Peri, Pink Sherbet, Salmon and Willow.  I backed the foliage with tan tulle for added interest.  I hope you like it!

I really do love this technique and plan to experiment some more with it.  I put this tag together last night after spending most of my long weekend cleaning and organizing all of my stash!  Here's a picture of the six cube organizer that I picked up over the weekend.  Participating in this challenge made me realize that I need to have my stash close at hand and ready to use at a moment's notice!  And this gets the job done.  It hold all of my stains, paint dabbers, mists and sprays in plain view and ready to grab!

I also labeled and alphabetically organized all of my Distress Ink pads in the ink pad holder (an old cassette tape storage rack) that's mounted on the wall above my workspace.  Pretty handy!!  And I bought some plastic trading card storage sheets which I labeled and they hold all of my ink blending pads.  And they're closely guarded by Skelly!  I have a thing for skeletons.  I don't know where it comes from and it mystifies most people who know me well.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't include a picture of my two favorite stamping buddies...Willie and Maggie.  They kept me company while I worked and played all the while hoping I would stop and play with them!  Which of course I did from time to time!  Who could deny those faces?!

Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by.

CC2C Challenge - Week 6

Good afternoon everyone!  I can't believe that we are already in week 6 of the Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2 challenge hosted by Linda on the StudioL3 blog.  It's been a lot of fun so I'm really looking forward to the challenges Linda chooses in the weeks ahead.  This week's challenge is generously sponsored by The Funkie Junkie's Boutique.  A lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate!  Sweet!

This week's technique is Tissue Wrap Collage which can be found on page 38 of Tim Holtz's book A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2.  If you don't already have the book then you should!  Get an autographed copy here!

Here is my entry for this week:

I decided to try a canvas for this round.  This is a 5x5 gallery wrapped canvas.  I like to add elements to the sides of the canvas when it's deep enough.  I think it adds interest to the piece.  For the technique I used the Terminology Tissue Wrap and the Sizzix Alterations Movers and Shapers Mini Flourish cut from Grungeboard.  The house was cut from Grungeboard using the Sizzix Alterations Artful Dwellings die and the Movers and Shapers mini openings die.  The bird is from the Sizzix Alterations Movers and Shapers mini bird and cage die.  I used Distress Ink in Faded Jeans, Shaded Lilac, Forest Moss, Broken China, Mustard Seed and Vintage Photo.  I used Adirondack Paint Dabbers in Aqua and Willow.  The paper used for the house and the stamped images is from Tim's Lost and Found Paper Stash.  The stamps are from Tim's Visual Artistry Regal Flourish, Impression Obsession, and Character Contructions-French Laundry and Theater of Dreams.

Thanks for stopping by!

12 Tags of 2012 - May

Happy Monday!  This past weekend I was able to devote time to completing the May tag for the TimHoltz 12 Tags of 2012.

I don’t have the Haberdashery stamp set so instead I used a graphic that was printed on the pattern tissue as the tag background. The dressform and thread stamp are from the Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Seamless Experience set and the Beaux Arts image is from Stampers Anonymous. I don’t have the Ideaology ruler ribbon so I cut a ruler from a sheet of Tim Holtz Design Originals paper and used it instead.

I don't have Ideaology Cash Key charms so I added the Fragments charm on the hanger clip. 

I substituted a 7 Gypsies Amber Apothecary Bottle instead of a wooden spool as I didn’t have a way to flatten the back of the spool so it would be flush against the tag.


This one was a lot of fun to make.  I finally put to use the Ranger Melt Art MeltingPot I purchased a while back to make the porcelain flowers.  I couldn’t find paper flowers and was really afraid that these synthetic fabric flowers would melt the minute I dipped them into the UTEE but they didn’t!  I loved making these porcelain-look flowers!  I’ll be using that melting pot more often now!


Thanks for looking!  I'll be back in a day or two with my piece for week 6 of the Compendium of Curiosities Volume Two challenge hosted by Linda on the StudioL3 blog!

CC2C Challenge – Week 5

The technique chosen for this week’s CC2C Challenge on the Studio L3 blog is Shattered Stains. The instructions for the shattered stains technique can be found on page 48 of Tim Holtz’s book A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2. If you don’t already have the book you should! You can buy a copy, autographed by Tim, right here. This week’s challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and that means a randomly chosen participant will win a $25 gift certificate! Sweet!!

I first tried the shattered stains technique during the Creative Chemistry 101 class and the result makes me think of ice crystals…nice, cool, blue ice crystals. I live in Florida and it will be really hot and humid within the next couple of weeks…and it’s going to stay that way for the next 5 months :( …so creating something 'icy' was very appealing! Here’s the result…

I used Tim’s Sizzix Snow Flurries On The Edge die cut from grungeboard. I added one step to the technique by painting the grungeboard piece with an Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in Snow Cap White before applying the technique. I used Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress Stains. I love how the white background made the icy blue shattered stains effect pop!

The other snowflakes were cut from Tim’s Movers & Shapers Mini Snowflakes magnetic dies. On the white mini snowflakes I applied Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint. The blue snowflake also received the shattered stains technique and then I added Picket Fence Distress Stain over the top of it. The background paper is from Tim’s Vintage Shabby Paper Stash and I stamped over it with the SA Grunge Flakes cling stamp set and inked the edges using Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

The letters were cut from Tim’s Core’dinations paper using Tim’s Sizzix Alphabetical strip die. I lightly sanded the tops of the letters to give a snow residue effect. I hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by!

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show...Anything Goes challenge also sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.

CC2C Challenge - Week 4

Today I have my entry for week 4 of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge hosted by Linda on the StudioL3 blog.  This week's challenge is the Faded Layers technique on page 43 of A Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 by Tim Holtz.  If you would like to see the technique you can buy the book here.

I used the new Spring Seasonal Distress Inks as the base for my tag.  Then I followed the instructions for the technique and added additional distress ink colors of Victorian Velvet, Stormy Sky, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed.  The stamps are from the Tim Holtz Flights of Fancy clear set and the Papillon cling set. To finish off the tag I added a couple of old buttons.

I hope you like it!  Thanks for stopping by!

CC2C Challenge - Week 3

Today I have my entry for week 3 of the Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge hosted by Linda on the Studio L3 blog.  This week's challenge is Marbled Distress Stain and can be found on page 46 of A Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 by Tim Holtz. If you would like to see the technique you can buy the book here!


The sponsor for this challenge is eclectic Paperie. They have generously donated a $25 gift certificate to one lucky participant! I sure hope it’s me!

Below is my entry for this challenge.

I used this entry as a cumulative exam! I included this week’s technique and then also repeated the techniques from the past week's challenges. I created the marbled distress stain tag. Then I stamped it using foam stamps (CC2C Week #1) cut from the Movers and Shapers Mini Gears. I applied Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges of the tag. I cut the Weathered Clock from grungeboard and stained it with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  Then I sprayed it with Perfect Pearls Mist in Sunflower Sparkle. It was cut to fit the tag and then glued down with Inkessentials Glossy Accents.  I applied the faux patina (CC2C Week #2) to the Ideaology clock face and spinner. The stamp is from one of Tim's clear sets.

I'm afraid I added so much that it's difficult to see exactly what the marbled distress stain background looks like.  However, it was a good practice to repeat the past challenge techniques so that I'll be able to remember how to do them without needing to reference the book each time!

Thanks for looking!