Watercolor Flower Fun

I've been following action over at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 3 even if I haven't had the time to participate in all of Linda Ledbetter's and the Curosity Crew's calls to action. Beautiful work - be sure to check out the site if you haven't already.

We're using Tim Holt'z third book of techniques....cleverly entitled Compendium of Curiosities 3! These books are just great - overflowing with inspiring ideas. This time the challenge was Distress Watercolors. I just had to play along!

As you can see I went with a floral theme. Each of the flowers used a minimum of three of the distress markers on each of the paper flowers. I remember the first time I tried this technique; I felt like I was actually painting! If you haven't tried it, get your hands on the book, and turn to page 39 and 40 for a full description from Tim.

I layered the paper colored flowers with some metal flowers (an inspiration from Hels Sheridian, a member of the Curiosity Crew, who used metal flowers on her piece). I love the contrast in texture of metal and paper but wanted to mix it up a bit from Hels, so I  colored them with alcohol inks and/or distress embossing powder.

Other bits of using the magic of Distress with water include the ribbon colored with inks, and the second background. For that - I used the cute little mini distress inks on an embossing folder, misted with water and embossed. LOVE this process. Thank you Paula Cheney for that idea.

Okay - one thank you card done, only about 10 more needed!! 

Summer Dragonflies - Tim's Tag Plus

I've been on a real orange and yellow quick lately....so I decided to use those colors to work on Tim's June Tag. He used the dragonfly stamp again!! I was so excited. I am a TOTAL fan of dragonflies: I have a dragonfly dress, dragonfly earrings, dragonfly necklace, well....you get the idea. Plus he brought out the distress markers and we all get to pretend like we know how to watercolor! Actually I am starting to learn more about that, but this is so fun and easy. You should try it.

This is my rendition....

I did have to add some sparkle to the wings, because I think that's one of the coolest things about a dragonfly is their iridescent wings. 

And then I thought I should add a little something to the bottom and it certainly did turn out to be one of life's little moments. 

As I was sprinkling little drops of orange on another project, well, it sprinkled here too. I've decided it gives it character. Yeah, that's the ticket. Character.

I was having such a good time with the markers I mad a couple of other things using the technique including this card for my Uncle.

And because I was really in the "TIM ZONE" and I LOVED last month's technique so much I made a birthday card.

I played around with fragments last month - using the rub-ons, alcohol stains and foil on the back and loved how it came out - I was even one of Tim's May winners - so I thought I would try it again. This time I used his little stickers. With all the black I think it worked out fine. (Pretty sly how I worked that in, huh? LOL).

If you haven't joined the 12 Tags of 2013, give it a go....it is TONS 'O FUN. 

And speaking of fun, thanks for stopping by the Fun Room to see what's up! I appreciate your visit and your comments. 

Love 'Em - Don't Know Why I Don't Use 'Em

I got a text from my daughter last night trying to cajole me into sending her Girl Scout cookies in the mail. Turns out she really wants mail...and probably the cookies but as much as I like the Girl Scouts - having been one myself - the cookies are already plenty expensive and she can buy her own! But I did bite and decided to make a card for her on Sunday afternoon. I also wanted to participate in the Simon Says Stamp challenge of using a stamp you love but don't use often. Sadly I have, well, let's just say there were a lot of stamps to choose from.

The Fairy Stamp is a old Graphic 45 Stamp that doesn't seem to be available any more. I stamped her on a piece of manilla paper, colored in the edges with Spun Sugar and Bundled Sage Distress Inks, and went around the edge with Vintage Photo. I used Distress Markers and a water brush to color her dress and flowers, but the thing I now LOVE is the dry glitter I used on her wings.

OMG - this stuff is SO Cool. Well, it's from Tim Holtz, master of the universe, so I should have known, but it SOOOOO dimensional. Little late to this party, but I can't wait to use it again!

The other stamp I really like I got from my sister Daina and it was way before I knew Donna Downey was...as fate would have it she's one of my current inspirations! I stamped it in clear and emossed it with white....love the look. The other thing I want to mention is the trick I picked up from Tammy Tutterow about embossing the top of a brad. Super simple. Touch it to the Versamark pad, dip it in the embossing powder (with tweezers) and try it. And yes, I will say it. Don't touch it. It's metal. It's hot. You would think I get that. Nope. Ouch.

I mounted the whole paper on a piece of card stock and embossed some more dandelions, inside....and while for us spring is at least 6 if not 8 weeks away, it is sunny and the days are longer and it's all good!