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.

What to do with all of those Sizzix Movers and Shapers

As I said in my profile I have more craft supplies than I can ever use in my lifetime.  Those supplies include a Sizzix Big Shot machine AND a Tim Holtz Vagabond machine, both of which I love!  Along with the machines I have LOTS of dies including Movers and Shapers which I've been trying to figure out how to store so they are more accessible.  I was shopping recently in one of my favorite stores, Ballard Designs, and found a magnetic bulletin board covered in Parisian script fabric.  I thought it would be the perfect solution until I realized that the board was magnetic and the little holders weren't magnets but pieces of steel.  Magnets won't stick to a magnetic board but it gave me an idea to make my own board.

I went to my local home improvement store to look for a piece of sheet metal.  The only two options were a roll or sheet of steel flashing. I opted for the sheet of steel flashing...being unsure of how I'd be able to flatten out a piece from the roll.  Be very careful handling the flashing.  It's EXTREMELY sharp on the edges...I cut my hand before I had even left the store!  Cutting the flashing wasn't an easy job...I had to get help (Thanks, TBG!)...you basically have to measure out the size piece you want and then use a cutting knife to score the lines over and over...and over and over...and over and over...until you get to the point that you can break off the piece!

I wanted my board to hang down the side of the steel shelving where I store all of my Sizzix dies so my board is 11 inches by 24 inches.  Once the steel is cut all you have to do is decide what you want to cover it with.  I opted for a scrapbook paper collage and I used 7 Gypsies Conservatory paper.  I cut out pieces in various sizes and ran them through a Xyron machine to apply permanent adhesive to the back.  Then I applied them to the steel piece wrapping about a half inch of each piece around the edge and onto the back to cover up the sharp edges.

I used a Crop-a-dile to punch two holes at the top for hanging and then used a heavy gauge wire to attach it to the top rack of my shelf.  Below are pics of the process and the finished project:

I'm very happy with the way this turned out!  It was super simple and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon while watching a movie.