Thursday, March 26, 2015

Curiously Rubbed Butterfly Canvas

Good evening, everyone!  I've been having some fun with Tim Holtz' Remnant Rubs.  The "new" challenge at Linda Ledbetter's Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #24 is now almost the "old" one as I finish my project just under the deadline.  Some of my favorite work is done under pressure of deadlines.

Challenge 24, "Remnant Rub Resist" is a product-specific one which requires the use of Tim's Holtz' Remnant Rubs from Idea-ology.  They come in all sorts of designs, and I really would like to get my hands on the Botanicals, which would be great for my theme.  But I only have Numbers, Words, Elements and Life Quotes and not a Botanical in sight!  I went ahead with my plan anyway, and tried to redeem myself with coming up with something I haven't seen yet--using them on my focal image instead of the background.  I hope I'm compliant with the technique, which can be found on page 51 of Tim's book--A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3, which you can purchase here, signed by the creative genius himself!  You must have your own copy of the book to enter the CC3 challenges, so why not get yours now!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique is back to sponsor this challenge and the always-wonderful and generous owner Linda Coughlin has a fabulous $25 shopping spree for one lucky CC3Cer.  If that's not enough, Tim and Mario have generously donated a ton of Tim's goodies for the Curiosity Crews Choice winner.  You gotta be in it to win it!  So visit Linda's blog and be sure to visit each of the Crew's blogs, too, to see how they make the most amazing Tim influenced designs!

A Vintage Journey is celebrating their first birthday, and the theme is "Anything Tim"--I think this fits the bill with lots of techniques from his Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 1 and 3, at least.

Well, lets get to the canvas...It seems Tim's tags would be the best way to approach this project--the surface is perfect for this technique, but I'm one to always look for the hard way to do things! I started to cut up 2 tags--one for each wing, but I only had one left (I've been making way too many March 12 Tags of 2015!) I ended up using a manila file folder.  I will tell you there is no substitute for the REAL TAG-these rubs will stick to anything, but the technique doesn't work the best on a file folder. I can't tell you Tim's technique out of respect to him, but I can tell you the colors and other products I've used.




My canvas started as this cheap stapled -on-the-edges canvas I probably picked up NIP from a yard sale.  I gave it some color at the edges with Distress paint in Antique Linen and Walnut Stain.  Then I took some jute that was tying up some bamboo poles I got at the hardware store and glued it around the edges to cover those not so lovely staples. I think it fit's the natural theme here.

I chose the background paper from Tim's Wallflower paper stash.  I inked it here and there and gave it just a little spritz and flick and crackle paste through Tim's Flourish Layering stencil. When the paste was dry, I took a little ink on my water brush and painted over the raised areas.  I fussy cut some of the flowers from the same sheet, painted them with Spiced Marmalade Distress marker and a water pen to suit my color scheme, and adhered them so my butterfly would have somewhere to land. I distressed a little and inked the edges with Walnut Stain ink to give that grungy time worn look I love.

Oh, how I love the spritz and flick technique! I used Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, and Gathered Twigs  inks on the background.

Peeled paint and Forest Moss


Butterfly inked in Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo.   

I used the Remnant rub technique on Tim's Layered Butterfly, and colored him with Distress inks, stamped with some of Tim's script (Urban Grunge) and a few butterflies (Flights of Fancy), using Coffee and Jet Black Archival inks. I used all of my sets of rubs mentioned above and used them exactly as the instructions are outlined on page 51. I chose to use many smaller areas, because I was going for a monarch look. Wish now I had used several of the smaller butterfly stamped images instead of one of each large and small...oh, well, 20/20 hindsight and all of that! I toned down the starkness of the black and white rubs by wiping just a teensy bit of Antique Linen Distress paint over the entire thing before stamping. After stamping, I dabbed a tiny bit of the same on the stamped butterflies. I inked the edges of the butterfly with Vintage Photo and edged randomly with Picket Fence Crackle paint . When dry, I rubbed some ink in the cracks. I cut a second butterfly out of black paper and cut it to use as a shadow.

You can see some of the pffts here under the wing.

I filled one of Tim's vials with sand to use as the body. I painted the cork with Black Soot Distress paint, and gave the vial the Faux Cracked Glass technique found on page 54 of our books. I won't give the technicals on this. I used some Butterscotch alcohol ink to color it.  The cracks are hard to see in the photo, but FCG is not this challenge's theme, so please just take my word for it--it looks really cool in real life.  I curled up some copper wire for antennae and stuck them in the cork. I added some microbeads because real butterflies have microbeads on their thorax.

After attaching the butterfly, I added some microbeads to the background and used the Marker Spritzer and Walnut Stain Distress Marker to make pffts here and there. Does anyone know the proper word for the little marks you make with this fabulous fun tool? I purposely kept my embellishments to a minimum due to the busy nature of both the background and the butterfly.


Well, that's it for today!  I'm so happy you stopped in, and I love to read your lovely comments!  I appreciate them all and respond to each eventually! Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

I would like to enter this into the following inspirational challenges:









58 comments:

  1. Wow Sara, it looks amazing! The background is full of details I love looking at! What did we do before microbeads? I lost the plot with the rubs, it just wasn't working for me but after seeing your butterfly I will rescue them from the bin and try some die cuts. Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs Jan x

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    1. Hmmm, someone signed me out of my account! I just left you a long message that went something like this....Ha! Ha! We probably didn't curse like sailors and clean up so much before we had these pesky beads! I'm also laughing about you losing the plot! I'm so happy I've inspired you, and I can't wait to see what you create! Hugs!

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  2. Wonderfully textured canvas, lovely colours and lovely shapes. Can see why you enjoyed creating this Sara, so glad you joined our challenge again.

    Mo:-)
    DT MMW

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    1. Thank you, Mo! And I'm so happy you came by and left your lovely comment!

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  3. Lovely, Sara! You've inspired and educated me (I did not know about real butterflies having microbes on the thorax; interesting!!). You're right we were on the same wavelength! Very clever to use this tech as your focal point rather than background. I've read about that cracked glass technique but haven't tried it yet. Very well done, as usual. Thanks for playing along on CC3C!!

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    1. Yes, they provide ballast, so the sweet things don't fly off into the atmosphere! Thank you for your sweet comment!

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  4. This is just gorgeous,thanks for sharing with us at Country View Challenges.xxx

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  5. Gorgeous canvas Sara! The background looks amazing and the butterfly is so cleverly done!

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    1. Thank you kindly, Samra! A little different, I have to say, about the butterfly, but that was the technique!

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  6. Your canvas is amazing Sara. I just love the vile in the center of the butterfly, it so interesting and different. Thanks for joining us here at A Vintage Journey.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy! Unfortunately for me, that vial is covering my favorite Remnant Rub! I need to plan better next time!

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  7. Gorgeous Sara Emily! I love all the creative ways you find to decorate your butterflies, every one of them is always beautiful and unique! Love the amazing crackle texture and I am a huge fan of microbeads, so you know I love that detail...I love all the details actually!! Stunning! big hugs and happy weekend :)

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    1. Pamellia, what a sweet comment! As always, you find the nicest things to say! I agree, I sure have been using a LOT of butterflies this month! I love reading your comments! I hope you have a lovely weekend, too! Hugs!

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  8. This is a beautiful canvas Sara, I absolutely adore the butterfly with the lovely Remnant Rubs on, it looks so beautiful. I love the FCG technique too and it looks wonderful on the thorax. Great background too.

    Thanks so much for joining in at Inspiration Journal this month and big thanks too for joining in our birthday celebration month at A Vintage Journey. Anne x

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    1. Thank you, Anne! What a wonderful compliment! I had the pleasure of seeing your RRR technique with the Birds last evening, and was just tickled by your wedding card! So adorable!

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  9. Wow, I'm just loving all the detail Sara!! Those little beads and the crackle through the stencil. The whole piece is just gorgeous!! xx

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    1. Georgie, thank you for your sweet comment! I know your time is precious these days, so it is with great appreciation that I read your comments! Hugs!

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  10. Sara, this is an amazing piece of art! You are so talented! I adore the texture on your canvas and your clever use of remnant rubs! Stunning!
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs :)
    Branka xxx

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    1. Branka, thank you so much! You flatter me! I was just in awe of your Time tag for the RRR technique, and really feel yours is such a winner! Enjoy your weekend, too! Hugs!

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  11. What an original butterfly ! I love the idea of the vial. And such a Beautiful background !

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    1. Thank you, Lys! I really appreciate your visit and comment!

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  12. Fabulously creative, Sara - packed with amazing ideas. I love the crackly flourish background, and that amazing butterfly. The wings are stunning, and I love the body! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey and for playing along at Country View Challenges.
    Alison xx

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    1. Alison, thank you for another lovely compliment!

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  13. Fabulous is right! Love the rubs on the butterfly..... beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us at CC3C, Sara.

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  14. LOVE the remnant rubs on the butterfly...clever and gorgeous! The whole canvas is wonderful! Thanks so much for playing with Remnant Rubs with us at CC3Challenge!!!

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    1. Thank you, Anita! My goal was to try to do something a little different with the technique.

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  15. Stunning canvas ... thanks for the share !

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  16. Gorgeous as always Sara, you never fail to inspire!

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  17. Amazing piece! I love the gorgeous butterfly! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Hi, Glenda! It looks like you and I are up early on a Sunday morning! I'm loving your comment! Thank you!

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  18. How gorgeous. I love that butterfly. Thank you for entering it into the challenge at ASOI.

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    1. Thank you, Jaine! I'm happy you like my butterfly!

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  19. Such a fabulous canvas,love,love the background and the butterfly is gorgeous.
    Thank you for joining us over at Altered Eclectics...x

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    1. Thank you, Sandra, and what a pleasure it is to see you here!

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  20. Another wonderful creation from you! Thanks for sharing with us at Altered Eclectics and good luck - Steffi :o) xx

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  21. Get outta here girl! Love this and so many wonderful techniques were put into this lovely canvas. Whoot whoot to you and raise the roof! I can't wait to get my hands on the Bontanicals as well. Rubs are fun stuff and TH rubs are awesome sauce! Loves it muffin! Hugzzzz to you! ~Niki

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    1. Niki, you are like a bright sunshine-y day! I always love to read your comments and I truly appreciate your support! Hugs, Punkin!

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  22. Hi Sara.....very cool design. Love all of the techniques you've combined on this canvas. Your butterfly is very cool. I love the flowers in the background as well. SO so pretty! Thanks for sharing with all of us at CC3C. <3 Candy

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    1. Thank you, Candy! I always enjoy reading your comments!

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  23. Very nice, love the butterfly. Thank for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous.

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    1. Donna, thank you for this wonderful compliment!

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  24. Very beautiful! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Hello, Glenda! Thank you for this sweet comment!

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  25. Wow...you and Mixed Media are a perfect match! This is gorgeous! I love the wings on the butterfly...sooo fun with all those great remnant rubs. The texture in this is fabulous...and I love all the beautiful details. I'm such a fan, Sara! Happy Easter, and thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Thank you, Kathy! It is always a treat to get one of your heartfelt comments! I'm happy you liked my "off the wall" butterfly! Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  26. Being a lover of butterflies this is gorgeous! Love how you used the rubs on the wings! very clever! Love your canvas! Very very pretty! Thanks for joining us at CC3C!

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    1. Yvonne, so happy you visited and thank you for your very kind and generous praise!

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  27. Love the mix of grunge and gorgeousness! A lovely mixed media piece! Thank you so much for sharing it with us at The Mirror Crack'd!

    Claudia x

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  28. Beautiful project! Thanks for sharing over at Altered Eclectics! Hugs Erin xx

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  29. One masterpiece after another. How do you find the time!!!!???? Stunning work!!! I have to remember to follow your blog since Hoarders is ending and I won't see your work pop up every month! ;)

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    1. Gloria, you are too kind! I hope you will pop in from time to time! I will miss your happy comments and your challenges! I will also have to follow your blog! Hugs!

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