Holly and the Ivy

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the last week in February. I am always quite amazed how quickly time goes by, but really fast in a short month!

Today I am sharing this lovely Holly and the Ivy card at Artistic Outpost. If you would like to read about all the details, please click right here! This is still a little time left to join in the monthly "Show Us Your AO Art" challenge for a chance to win!!

Sorry I have been MIA, but we actually took a mini vacation and went to see my Holly over Valentine's Day and her birthday a few days later. It was so nice to get away.

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a lovely weekend!

A Ruinator I Am!

So you are wondering if I have lost my mind with the title of this blog post, well maybe I have!  You see I signed up for this online workshop by Andy Skinner entitled "The Book of Ruination" and I have been so caught up in learning new techniques!  For some time now I have admired his work, so I was pretty excited to start and finish this project!  Now I won't tell you about the technique out of respect for Andy, but I can tell you that if you like what you see, sign up!  This man does some incredible work and remember any technique can be applied to any style!  Here we go and I will share what I feel comfortable with! 

The outside cover of my paper mache book was done following the technique, which has quite a few layers and a mix of materials!

For the edge treatment, I used Tim's Sewing Room OTE die and this was painted using a mix from the color palette.  Once dried, I embossed and highlighted.  The photo corners were painted and sealed.

All stamps are from Mr. Holtz and the ruler is from his new "Artful Tools" set, which I picked up at the Carson convention!  This was first inked with Distress Inks, stamped in Black Archival, dried and crackled here and there. 

For the box inside top, I stamped the dress form in Black Archival, gave a spray of Goosebumps and then inked with Distress.  Other images were stamped with Aged Mahogany and then given a quick spray with Matt Sealer!

The bottom back of the box, I just stenciled on an image of the dancing ladies.  Not that anyone will see it, but I kind of liked those gals!

This truly was a blast to work on and I hope I did not overwhelm you with an abundance of photos!  Thank you for visiting today and go get inky!

Stamps:  Tim Holtz
Paints:  DecoArt; Quinacradone Gold (Traditions), Prussian Blue, White, Bright Yellow, Tangerine, Mustard Seed, Fresca Finish; Hey Pesto, Delta; Silver
Inks:  Distress; Iced Spruce, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Aged Mahogany, Faded Jeans, Walnut Stain, Archival Black
Misc:  Modeling Paste, Rock Candy Crackle, Masking Fluid, Mod Podge, Embossing Folder

I Can See Clearly Now!

OK not really, but at least I can find my glasses case!  For a long time I have wanted to alter the many cases I have and this has laid around with a crackle finish and those Steampunky eyes for several weeks.  Today we decided it would be a good day to finish what was started!

So here is why I did!  I used the SteamPunk and Secretary Pool stamp plates from Artistic Outpost and everything was stamped on tissue paper and cut out, using Archival and heat set!  The block letters are all from one stamp and after I heat set, I colored the reverse side with Distress Markers.  I did give this a quick spray of Matt Sealer to avoid any running once I glued these down with a gel medium.  I was wanting a collage of letters, so these were just randomly placed.  After I was happy, I gave this another coat of gel medium and then a coat of matt varnish!   I am also linking this up to The Cheerful Ink Pad's "Anything But a Card" challenge! 

Remember there is still time to pull out those AO stamps and join in the February Referral Program, so come on and play along.

As always I am thrilled when you stop by and comment.  Hope everyone has a most fabulous weekend! 

Oh Dorothy Artistic Outpost DT Blog Hop!

It is a Literature or Children's Book Blog Hop at Artistic Outpost and I am thrilled to share with you a "mini book" that I created and had such a fun time putting together!  You won't want to miss out on all the inspiration the DT has for you so stop by and have a visit and let that inner child come out to play!  Gerrie, Lisa, Sue, Tracy, Linda Alison, Terry (Me), Kate!

For my mini children's book, I use stamps from the Oz Collage collection and I want to give each character equal time!  Now I will not bore you with every little detail, so if there is anything you want to know, just ask and I will answer you!  I already figure this will be photo heavy and I will be somewhat brief with details.  My little book will also be linked to eclectic Paperie's "Altered Books," as I think this is altered!!  First all the pages were cut using grungeboard, covered with Folk Art Crackle Medium, sponge painted using Fresco Finish "Haystack" and DecoArt "Emperor's Gold."   Once dry I punched the holes and shaded with Archival Coffee and Sepia.  All of the focal pieces were cut using Tim's new "Cameo Frame" from manila card stock.  Love that die!!!  I wanted a heavier texture for my book cover, so used a brick stencil from Crafters Workshop and mixed the modeling paste with Fresco Finish Haystack, after the cut piece was inked. 

Dorothy and faithful companion were stamped and colored, masked and shaded, then I used the Embossing Diffuser with Tim's brick texture fade.  I used two Spellbinders dies for the scalloped frame, which was cut from glassine paper.  The house is shrink plastic, which was sanded and inked prior to the oven visit. 

Lots of masking and inking here!  Both the "yellow brick road" and the little village also received a coat of Rock Candy Stickles for extra sparkle.  The walkway was inked and I drew the lines, cut and inserted under the gentle paws of the lion.  Added a flower border with Flower Soft.  The backing under the courage is embossed glassine and both received a few coats of clear embossing powder. 



The Scarecrow background was inked with Peeled Paint, Squeezed Lemonade and Antique Linen and given and stamped in Coffee Archival. 

I "Heart" the Tin Man!  Again there is masking and inking and coloring with sponge applicators.  All the sentiments have been stamped using Archival on Newsprint! 

For the back cover, I just stamped all the sentiments and added some ruby slippers.  This was tied up with some gorgeous fibers to finish it off.

Thank you so very much for stopping by and joining in this month's AO blog hop!  Remember you can enter any of your creations using AO stamps in the monthly Referral Program, which there is always a prize!



Stamps:  Artistic Outpost, Oz Collage
Ink:  Distress, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Weathered Wood
Archival:  Black, Coffee, Sepia
Stazon: Red
Clear Embossing Powder
Fresco Finsh Paint: Haystack
Crackle Medium
Delta Metallic
Sizzix - Tim
Spellbinders

30 Years!

Sorry I have been a little MIA, but sometimes we all need to just take a little break!  Well I am back and wanting to share an "Anniversary Tag" I made for my darling hubby.  We are coming up on 30 years and it is so hard to believe.  We were talking about that the other day and how time really does fly.   My tag to my hubby is joining Lisa's Bloggers Challenge. "Cut it Out,"  Simon Says Stamp and Show, "Metal-ology"  and Inspiration Journal, "L.O.V.E."

I first started by stamping the sentiment and clear embossing, which was then inked over with various Distress colors.  I was looking for a splattered look and tried something a little different thinning some Distress stains (including a metallic) with water and then flicking with a toothbrush and then taking my fingernail to give a light spray. 

When I was happy with that, I did some random stamping of the time piece with Coffee Archival.  At that point, I ironed away all the clear embossing.  The March calendar page was stamped and clear embossed.   I added some vintage watch bits along the way, but check out that tiny hand with the red!  How cool is that?  Oh our big day is the 5th!

Next we have the metal wings, which I used some Vintaj Patinas and Distress Metallic stains.  The heart was cut from corrugated cardboard, crackled and inked with Distress Stains.  All other TH metals were colored using alcohol inks and paint.  I was happy to find a "30" game piece! 

As always, I am thrilled when you stop by for a visit and take the time to comment!  I hope you all are well and enjoying the week! 

Inks:  Distress, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Archival, Sepia, VersaMark
Stains:  Metallics, Antique Bronze, Tarnished Brass, Brushed Pewter, Barn Door, Faded Jeans, Broken China, Wild Honey (for heart)

Bits

TGIF!!!!  Playing along with Frilly and Funkie's newest challenge of "Spruce It Up"  and I was not sure if I was going to do another 3-Ring Binder Insert to identify stamps or something totally new.  While looking around, I saw this plastic container that I have been tossing in "Bits" of ribbon, thread, sequins, etc.  You get the idea!  I am also linking this to Eclectic Paperie "Altered Boxes."  So here we go and this is a little picture heavy!  Not some of the white areas are reflections from the Pewter Mica Flakes and a little of the Mod Podge is not completely dried, but it will dry to crystal clear! 

Before, well an empty one!



The first thing I did was to take two way adhesive sheets and apply to the empty, cleaned container.  Next was to place Tim's Tissue wrap on the container and a coat of Rock Candy Crackle and let it dry.  I thinned out some Fresco Finish "Chocolate Pudding" and applied to the crackle until I was satisfied with the color.  Let this dry and then applied a thick coat of Mod Podge and began adding some glitter/bead mixture, left over butterflies, threads, etc.,  and also added thicker areas of Glossy Accents to collect more of my mixture.  Let this dry and another coat of MP.


Back

Side

Side

This is what my empty container will be used for!

The letters were cut Tim's Word Play die from grungepaper, inked randomly with Distress Stains, Vintage Photo and Tarnished Brass and then sprayed with water to run and blend.  Another set was cut from chipboard and then covered with UTEE. 

Hope you have some great fun planned for the weekend!  We are meeting up with friends for a birthday dinner tonight and then again for Superbowl Sunday.  Thank you for taking the time to visit!

Joie de Vivre

How is everyone doing so far this year?  Can't believe we are midway through the month of January!  I started this canvas yesterday and had a couple of ideas, not sure what I think about it.  One part of my brain is telling me to add more stamping and I just may do that, so what do you think and be honest with me.  The mixed media art is somewhat new to me, so I am truly open to suggestions!

Revised with a Little Help From my Friends!

 First I painted up my canvas using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints, which my dear friend Brenda "Bumblebees and Butterflies" gifted me!  Thank you, Brenda!  I blended these, spayed some water and wiped off some color.  Added crackle and then a coat of a little more green and did some dry brushing with DecoArts Emperor Gold.  Did some stenciling with modeling paste using an older square template from the days of painting and Crafters Work Shop.  I did heat seat the paste, as I do love that raised effect!  These areas were highlighted in gold.  The canvas edges were highlighted with gold and the corner's embossed with Stampendous Aged Gold.  The sentiment was computer generated.  The Eiffel Tower is from Invoke and the background stamps from Tim Holtz.  I cut a piece of lace from a flea market find and embossed that in gold and then added touches of Fresco Paint to give a patina look.  

This canvas will be linked to Unruly PaperArts RAQ2, "Joie de Vivre," Eclectic Paperie's "Get Altered - Using Canvas," and Simon Says Stamp and Show "Lace Love."

Really appreciate your stopping by for a visit and have a great day!

Fresco Finish, Inky Pool, Hey Pesto, Chocolate Pudding, Haystack
Distress Ink:  Tumbled Glass
Archival:  Sepia
Stampendous:  Aged Gold EP
Crackle
Gold Paint