Fragmented Jewel Tones

This week on Linda Ledbetter's Grungy Monday 33 the challenge was to use Tim Holtz August 2008 Challenge, where he demonstrated using alcohol inks and fragments. Each Monday Linda throws out a challenge based on Tim Holtz techniques and since he's why I started the blog in the first place I check in faithfully. After messing about with what colors to use, I decided to go with the old standby jewel tones. OOOO.....they just seem so luscious to me. And I had just gotten this amazingly cool Dylusions stamp so decided to incorporate it as well. Here's a close up of the finished piece:

I used two or three alcohol inks on each one, and had to experiment a bit to find stamps that would work with the technique. It couldn't be too dense or too fine, and you couldn't leave the ink or too long or wipe it off too fast. I finally got the hang of it though after several trys.

My idea was to make a scene, which was modestly successfully. I used Twinkling H2O's to paint the background on watercolor paper. If you've never played with these they are loads of fun....you open the little containers up and prime them with some water and next thing you know you're painting with glimmery watercolors. They mix beautifully. Only trick is to make sure you leave the lid off the container for a good 24 hours when your finished -- or they get moldy.

So I think I'll spray it and use it as a cover for a small notebook, once I mount it on another, stiffer, medium.

Thanks to Linda for these wonderful challenges!

366 minus a few

Shortly after the first of the year I was nosing around and came across Kate Crane's  website and her amazing calendar challenge. The 366 is from the fact there are 366 days this year. The photos were oh so fun, so having made friends with acrylic paint last October in Portland while at the Art & Soul Retreat I thought I would join in even though it was a bit past January 1. As I understand it, the idea is to make a monthly page, with individual blocks for each day to journal about creativity. So here's my first attempt at a month's page....

Those white blocks are atrocious...but also in my nosing around I saw something about playing it forward, so once i got these cut out and put on, I thought I'll just do it differently the next time. My absolutely favorite part of this layout is the very cool new branch stamp I recently got from Dylusions that I'm in love with ...



What's that saying: from meager beginnings grow....well, something or other. The point is though I'm in the game and my page has already had a few modifications...February will look much different I'm sure. Makes me smile, so I'm happy.

Serious Imitation of Winter

Not complaining mind you, but it has basically been between 10 above and 20 below since the first weekend in December. Except for the very freakish day it zoomed from about 10 below to 40 above and back again in a twenty four hour period. The good news is there's LOTS of snow. One night I was looking at the trees outside the living room and thought: how can there be more snow than branch?

So I checked the next morning and sure enough, more snow than branch. Must be the cumulative effect of snow, after snow, after snow. Weird huh?

A couple of shots of the back porch...



 

All this is background so you understand tomorrow's post and why I chose the colors I did. Stay warm!

Birthday Wishes to Tim

This week on Grunge Monday, over at the inspiring Linda Ledbetter's page, the call was for birthday cards for Tim Holtz (who, it turns out got to spend the day at Disneyland - lucky duck). So I put my fears aside and thought why not really jump into this, make a card specifically for Grunge Monday and Tim.

I looked at about 15 of the posts to the site and thought, oooo, best just stay away until I'm finished with mine. There are some things I just associate with Tim. Umbrella Man. The Weathered Clock. Winged Things. Dripping Butterfly. Flourishes, and Tattered Florals. I chose the last two.

I was really taken with the glassine holly leaves he showed us how to make during the 12 tags of Christmas. I was  joyful about how the flowers came out, but I thought they needed a little sparkle. Turns out Scotch Adhesive really does dry clear.....on most things.......but I'm getting head of myself. I tried to do the flourishes in glassine too, but they were just too fragile. So I ended up coloring the paper with about 10 colors of alcohol ink and glued it on to grunge paper and then cut it out...sadly the photo doesn't do the flourishes any favors, so you'll have to trust me on this one.

I auditioned several other components for the card, but finally used one of the frames....Tim has so many amazing quotes, sayings, sentiments, whatever, but turning dreams into wishes has always been one of my favorites. A little paint, a bit of re-cycled cardboard, and there you have it....ta da. My first real entry into challenges. What fun. And how appropriate it was to celebrate Tim Holtz, a man who's creativity seems contagious. Happy Birthday Tim!

Day 12 - Plus One

Before I could get started on the next projects, I had to clean up a bit and found the background tissue paper background - so I thought, what the hey, I'll just do one more tag, and here it is. 

Aside from the amazingly cute kitty, I actually like a lot about this tag. I didn't have the die cuts for the houses, so I just made one out of grunge board. How amazing is that stuff?  Oh, I could go on for several paragraphs, but I digress.... I loved how it did exactly what Tim said it would. I painted it with two coats - it really is so much better to do 2 light coats instead of one thick one....sanded it and then used walnut stain ink. The stickles are like magic with the paint over top of them; it looks very beach-y to me.

I like the foil lace, but it's a bit tricky. One must have patience which we know is not my most strongest suit. However I hung in there and was happy I did. I love how you get bonus lace from the die cut!! The tissue paper flower worked and then I had this old silver plastic stuff that has literally been kicking around for years - but I think it's perfect on this tag.

And just one more picture of the cute kitty. Reminds me of one of our cats - Ben, right after he's done something he knows is bad. He's so dang cute, I can hardle be mad at him....

Next project: A Valentine's Album for Stamp Cache.