Diffusing with Compendium of Curiosities

Hello friends!  Today I have a card I made for my husband.  He is graduating (again) this Friday after returning to get his Master's Certificate in Teaching.  Hallelujah! I know it's been really hard for him to go back to school at this age.  I am very proud of him, and wanted to make a special card to remind him why he went back to get this degree in the first place. He has a passion for History and Math, and he plans to be able to teach these subjects when he gets his certificate--just one more hurtle--taking the exam to get certified!

Pardon the orange coloring--it is the lighting reflecting off the acetate.

It just so happens that Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3 is in the midst of her Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #27 and this time we are using Tim Holtz' Alterations Embossing Diffusers.  You can read all about it on page 61 of Tim's book A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3. If for some reason you don't own this informational and inspirational book yet, you can order your signed copy from Tim here.  The rules at CC3C say we all must work out of our own copy, so be sure to get your's today!  You will be happy you did, especially if you link up your project to Linda's challenge, because there are TWO prizes on the table.  If you are clever enough to be picked as the Curiosity Crew's choice, you will will a massive pile of Tim's goodies, compliments of Tim and Mario. And if you are the random lucky winner you will win a whopping $50 shopping spree to Inspiration Emporium who are the sponsors for this challenge!  That's a good deal!  And everyone's a winner, because they get to try out one of Tim's fabulous techniques.  Be sure to pop on over to Studio L3 CC3C to see all the fantastic inspiration by the Curiosity Crew, then visit their blogs to see all the lovely makes in detail. This is time well spent!

Now, back to my card! The back ground panel is the World Map from Tim's Kraft Resist paper stash--a gift from the lovely Shari Trumbull--thank you, Shari! I swiped on Picket Fence Distress stain, then blended on Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress inks and wiped with a paper towel to reveal the resist.

I've used Tim's oval Diffusers as described on page 61, acetate waste packaging, Tim's Compass Rose Texture Fade, and  Distress paints in Salty Ocean, Peeled Paint, Antique Bronze, Iced Spruce, Picket Fence, and Brushed Pewter to make my background.  Once I Texture Faded and Diffused, I swiped on the Distress paints on the back side, let them set up a minute and wiped off the excess.  I took the Diffuser and placed it over the diffused space on the back side to use as a stencil.  I wiped on some Picket Fence DP around the inside of the "stencil" and wiped to leave some just around the edges to give the oval more definition, trying to give it a faded, time worn look.  I did make one important mistake, and recommend you follow the directions on the package as well as those in the book! Let's just say acetate is very slippery, and I had to redo several times! It also tends to warp the acetate a little bit more than if you were to just use the Texture Fade alone.  I tried to make up for that by using LOTS of foam tape to adhere it to the black card.

A final touch on my background acetate was to use my Marker spritzer with my silver paint pen to add some silver specks on the reverse.

To get the sentiment (Tim Holtz Perspective stamps) lined up, I simply used my acetate background in place of an acrylic block.  Viola!  Perfect positioning of my image on the black card stock backing!  I used Versamark and Ranger silver embossing powder for the sentiment.

Sorry for the reflection again!

I used Tim's globe Movers and Shapers and a cereal box to make the globe.I wanted to join the the fun atFrilly and Funkie's "Snap, Crackle, Crackle" challenge hosted by the lovely Pamellia, so I needed to add a little crackle, which I just happen to love anyway.  I started by laying down some Distress Picket Fence Crackle paint on the cereal box, allowed it to dry, and swiped on Vintage Photo Distress stain.  I then die cut, adding some Mowed Lawn distress paint to the continents, Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn and Picket Fence Distress paint to the oceans, and Walnut Stain and Black Soot to the stand. I stamped the map with an unknown stamp using Archival ink.  I popped this off the background using foam tape.  At this point I realized I placed my card over the Mover's and Shapers upside down, and so my globe is not geographically correct!!!! OMG!  My husband will pick up on this in an instant! "Embrace Imperfection"!!!

Lastly, I added some Idea-ology: corner, cog, fastener thingy and Knowledge token, all given a little Distress paint treatment.

I attached the acetate panel  with black foam tape to lift it off the black panel giving some dimension and to give the effect of looking through a window to view the sentiment.

I may not have gotten a good grade on my technical skills, but I hope I get an A+ for a unique take on using the Diffuser! I've had these quite some time, and I'm so grateful to the girls over at CC3C for inspiring me to get them out and USE them! The Compass Coins are finally in at my local Michael's but too late to be used on this card! They would have made the perfect embellishment!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and for leaving your much loved comments! Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

I would like to enter this in the following inspiring challenges:

Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #27 Embossing Diffusers

Creatalicious Challenges # 74 'Embossing Wet or Dry" Dry embossing used.

Frilly and Funkie "Snap, Crackle, Crackle"

Fantasy Stampers Challenge #35 "Distress It"

Crafty Card Makers # 138 "Make Your Own Background"

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Let's Get Sentimental"