Friday, May 29, 2015

12 Tags of 2015-May

Hello, again!  It's been over 3 weeks since I've posted anything, and I bet you might have thought I fell off the face of the earth.  It's just been a tremendously busy three weeks for me and my family, and now that the weather is perfect, I like to get out and tame the garden.

Today, I spent the day in shear joy in my closet creating this vintage tag with inspiration from the Vintage Master--Tim Holtz.



  You can see details of Tim's fabulous inspirational tag and follow along with his easy to follow tutorial HERE on his blog.


I followed his instructions, with some minor tweaking here and there, either due to lack of the goods or just because I like to put my spin on things. I am now able to lift my sewing machine, and I wanted to put it to good use by sewing a burlap tag I cut using Tim's Tag and Bookplates die to black card stock.  After sewing it on, I frayed the edges, and trimmed the card.


UPDATE: You may notice the photo above does not have the Remnant Rub arrow on it!  I made the tag, and added my spritzing.  I goofed spritzing, and totally messed up the young lady's face.  I was able to correct that, but in the heat of the moment forgot to add the rub on.  After uploading all my photos and writing my post, I noticed it was missing.  I had to completely redo!  Now I notice I forgot to take this photo out of the post.  Well, I like it, so it's staying!  I just didn't want you to think your eyes were playing tricks on you!

I chose to use black texture paste to really show off my brand new Cracked Pistachio Distress ink. I love the color so much,  I made my entire tag around it. Isn't it such a happy color?  It makes me so happy to use it, I thought I would enter my tag in Georgie's  Happy, Happy, Happy challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  And nothing makes me happier than Vintage, Vintage, Vintage!  So I'll be joining in the fun at Mixed Media World for their Vintage challenge, too.

  I used Tim's Measured Layering stencil to lay down my paste. Ephemera was chosen from Tim's Ephemera Packs--Expedition and Emporium and one vintage match box label from my collection.  No originals were harmed; I photo copied it, and treated it to a little Cracked Pistachio Distress ink.




 I cut up the Bus Route piece from Tim's collection so it would better fit my collage and popped up "Route 4" with foam tape.  I also chose to use my Vintage Photo Distress marker to give a little shadow to my pieces, after covering the entire tag with Glue and Seal.Oops!  I did this before I added my Small Talk quote! I added some Vintage Photo to that, too, because it just looked too bright for this vintage piece.


I chose this couple from Tim's Photobooth; they look like they've just gotten their photo taken for the Church Directory, so I made my tag about looking for Divine moments.  I used Antique Linen, Wild Honey, and Vintage Photo Distress Markers to color the photo. I swiped some Cracked Pistachio ink on my mat, and applied it to her dress using a Detail Water Brush. I don't have anything but the ink in this lovely color, so I found ways to get it on everything! I used a Remnant Rub arrow from the Special Delivery collection.



The pin is from my stash--sorryTim; will pick up some the next time I'm out, but after running to 3 different craft stores to pick up my supplies, I didn't feel like running back out again today!  I had these sweet buttons, too, that really match in real life, but not in the lighting in my photo studio.

My flowers are all hand made using the Tattered Florals and Tattered Flower Garland dies.  I used plain white card for the top flower, inked with Cracked Pistachio and spritzed with Vintage Photo Distress spray and Pewter Perfect Pearl spray.  The other two are cut from Kraft Core and colored with Cracked Pistachio ink and the Pewter Perfect Pearl spray. By the way, flowers make me happy, too!

I used Idea-ology Paper Twine, inked with Cracked Pistachio instead of thread to tie around my upward pointing arrow. I also tied my threads off at the end of the stitching into a little bow.  You can see the Marker spritzer was put to use. Little details like this make me happy!



In place of the Linen ribbon, I used a strip of burlap I slathered with white texture paste, dried, then applied Cracked Pistachio and Vintage Photo Distress inks.  I twirled it up into some cork screw curls for fun. The date of my ledger page is 1945-vintage!


 A Vintage Journey wants us to use our spring colors this time (of course with a Tim Holtz influence), and I can't think of any color more spring-like than this Cracked Pistachio and being more influenced by Tim than by being inspired by his latest tutorial.



 That's it for today!  I appreciate your visits and your comments, and I'm so happy you didn't give up on me!  I read and appreciate every comment you leave, and I try hard to respond to each and every one! (eventually!) Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

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


Thursday, May 7, 2015

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:

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Anything But Cute Mixed Media Challenge

It's time for our very first challenge at Anything But Cute! The lovely and uber-talented Branka is our hostess, and  she has chosen the theme Vintage Garden.  She would like you to create a mixed media project that includes something that reminds you of a garden--flowers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, lattice, vines or maybe a fence.  Whatever garden vision you have, we want to see it!  Just be sure it's in a vintage style! 


Just the thought of a garden brings to mind flowers, vines, trellises and fences for me. After taking part in our town's Spring Garden Tour, I was inspired to make this 3 dimensional Vintage Garden for Branka's theme.  I saw old overgrown lattice rooms, garden benches, potting sheds, bird cages, rose gardens, lots of crumbling old gingerbread, brick walls with ivy growing over them, fountains and plenty of cobblestones. Of course there was plenty more to see, but these were just some of the things that stuck in my head. I've tried to include these features in my bird house garden shed. Please click on any photo to zoom in on the details.


I'm a recycler and repurposer, and love to use "junk/trash"and common household items in new ways.  Some of the trash I've used on this birdhouse is foam and acetate waste packaging, grapevine wreath bits,  paint chips, cereal boxes, and old greeting cards.


I started with a paper mache' birdhouse I picked up on clearance a couple of years ago. 

                                                           

 After giving it a coat of gesso, I started "building my shed" and "planting" my garden".  I made a copper roof using copper colored card stock, embossed it with Tim Holtz Stripes Texture Fade and wiped on Distress paints with my fingers (Peeled Paint, Black Soot, and Salty Ocean).  I then wiped on some metallic rubs in various colors.  I used the same colors on the eaves over top DecoArt copper fabric paint. My Tim Holtz influence here is in my modified Painted Industrial technique from his latest volume  of Compendium of Curiosities.


Here's a shot from the top in my strawberry patch.


The "cobble stone walk" started with a Kleenex tissue (well a few of them).  First, I peeled them apart so they were one ply.  Then I used texture paste through a Prima stencil.  After it dried, I used Gel Matte Medium to adhere it to the base of the birdhouse.  This is a great way to use stencils on an uneven or curved surface. After the adhered stenciled tissue dried completely, I painted it with Weathered Wood, Black Soot, and Gathered Twigs Distress Paints to give it a weathered stone appearance.


We'll start our walk through my garden at the front window. Here you'll see some architectural elements like Victorian Gingerbread and old brick.


To give some texture to this side of the house, I stuck on some masking tape and bits of cheese cloth. The bricks are made from paper clay  and a handmade brick stencil and cut to fit around the window.  The roses, leaves and ivy were all made from paper clay and molds. I used Distress paints, inks, stains, sprays and markers to paint everything. I also added some random stamping using script from Tim Holtz'' Urban Grunge set and the image over the window is Cloud Nine. Some more Tim Holtz influence here using his Paint Marbling  and Layering Stencil: Texture Paste techniques from Compendium of Curiosities Vol 3, modified to use on a surface other than a tag.



The window is made from two dies:  Tim Holtz Window and Window Box and Sizzix Curly Gate. I trimmed the window to fit the space, and I gave it and the trim pieces a coat of gesso, followed by Picket Fence Crackle Paint. Once dry, I stamped it with an image from Tim Holtz Attic Treasures in Archival ink and dripped some Distress ink in the cracks and wiped off the excess.

The "wallpaper" is from My Mind's Eye.  I've added some ink and paint and a stamp from Tim Holtz' Nature's Elements, as well as a fussy cut cat from my book "Parlor Cats". Every vintage garden needs a cat peeking out the window at the butterflies! They are cut with Butterfly Frenzy die (Tim Holtz) and colored with Perfect Pearl powders and Distress paint.


Next we walk through the potting area, where wisteria (bits cut from a large floral stem) drips down from the eaves from vines (little bits I cut off my wreath), and dogwoods hang in the background (unidentified stamp from a yard sale).  I used a home made stencil for the brickwork, laying down crackle texture paste.  Some random stamping done with the script stamp complete the background.

                                               

 Some of the details include regular texture paste swiped through a TCW stencil for the grass, and a bluebell stamp from Art Impressions.  You might be able to see I gave the bricks and the bluebells some shadowing. The birdcage is from Paper Studio, painted with Distress paints and popped off the wall.  The bench is actually 5 layers of a Spellbinders die cut-- 2 for the backrest and 5 for the rest to give it some dimension.  I used Picket Fence and Brushed Pewter Crackle paints and Distress paint and stain to highlight the cracks and give a shadow.







I made little flowers using Tim's Tattered Flower Garland die and paint chips and a few tiny pearls pulled off a necklace.  The hollyhocks were a find at an estate sale last week--I got a big box of crafting goodies! More Perfect Pearl butterflies added!


The pots--probably my favorite part about this entire garden started out as wood miniatures. I gave them a coat of gesso, added Rusty Hinge Distress paint and some sand for texture.  Once dry, I dabbed on Gathered Twigs, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Black Soot, and Antique Linen Distress paints. 

Here is a shot I took of the process from start to finish.


And here is a close up of them on my completed project. 


Let's walk around to the lathe house...This is a little whimsical, so pardon my over-sized flowers! These were also cut with the same Tim Holtz die and paint chips.  Gesso gives them a vintage, worn look.

                                                



 I made my lattice from a recycled greeting card.  It's purple, teal and black on the reverse side!  I threw everything at this puppy--crackle paint, crackle texture paste, gobs of gesso, all to give it that really time and weather-worn appearance.  Distress paint and stain finish it off. You can see a little cheese cloth peeking out around the edges and between the "boards" of the lattice on the finished project..  I added a layer under there just for fun.

                                         

 The bird and nest is Paper Studio, altered by moi, as is the bicycle (thanks for the inspiration Samra!).  The picket fence is from Hobby Lobby, and it started out brown.  Lots of gesso, Picket Fence (ha, imagine that!) Crackle paint, and stain dripped in the cracks give it a shabby look.



 My vines are some of the metal vines I've used on many of my projects-purchased at a yard sale years ago.  Love this versatile stuff-it can be painted any color-I used Distress paints this time.



More holly hocks and butterflies! The basket was a plain straw-colored one I picked up at a yard sale and have been hoarding for a special project.  I cut it in half and painted it to add to my wall.  I cut a bird from the cover of Tim Holtz' Wallflower paper stash, since I messed up the first bird cut from the actual paper. There are little handmade roses in the basket.


I bet you heard the trickle of water coming from the fountain just around the corner! 


 This is my favorite view of the garden, and I had a lot of fun designing it around the metal lion head doorknocker from Paper Studio.  I panicked for days, because I couldn't get the horseshoe out of his mouth.  I gave it to my husband, and he pulled it right out!  My hero!


The bricks forming the arch are made from paper clay, and I used texture paste as mortar between them.  The back of the fountain was made by applying a thin layer of texture paste through a Prima stencil on a piece of cardstock. The "concrete" blocks and the pool were made from the dense foam inserts that come in Texture Fades.  Everything was painted with Distress paints, and shadows were added using watered down Gathered Twigs paint.




 I added some more paper clay and handmade roses, vines, ivy, and Flower Soft.  I created the pool of water from Cellophane Glitter and microbeads. The stream of water falling from the lion's mouth was made by gluing microbeads and Raindrops on Roses to a strip of thin plastic waste packaging (the wrap from Distress inks). A couple more butterflies complete the scene.




I wanted to make a base for my birdhouse vintage garden, and found this piece in my stash, which I painted with distress paints, textured with some textured Kleenex, more paint, Picket Fence Crackle paint, and Distress stains dribbled in the cracks, and wiped off. I  forgot to take the before picture of the entire piece, but this one shows it's true colors on the top which I didn't paint. This is another Tim Holtz influence: Tim likes to use old vintage things in his work, and his displays, and many of them he finds out "junkin" (just like me, his soul-sister).



 I guess I could have left it at the first paint layer (Distress Marbling), but NOOOO!  That would have been too easy!


I was the lucky winner of a huge stack of Heartfelt Creations stamp sets from the generous  Kathy Clement,  and I wanted to use at least one of  them on my project.  Although the one I really intended to use just wouldn't fit, I made this tag (Tim Holtz Tiny Tabs and Tags die) and  to hang on my house using one of the sentiments from the sets.  I used Tim Holtz' technique he presented for his April tag. I used water spritzed water color paper, Distress markers and Distress marker spritzer for the background, after embossing the sentiment in clay embossing powder. Of course, I had to distress the edges and add a little spritz and flick, too, to give it a real vintage feel.  I even used vintage string to tie it on the base.


                         


Here' another quick walk around my vintage garden...







I hope you enjoyed my post as much as I enjoyed creating this little shed for you!  Thank you for stopping in today, and for all your wonderful comments!  I read and appreciate each and every one of them!  Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

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

A Vintage Journey "Spring Colors" My Tim Holtz influence is in bold text. I am also a huge fan of his Distress products, stamps, dies,  and Texture Fades and have used MANY of them here!
Creatalicious Challenges #74 "Embossing Wet or Dry" I used both dry (roof) and wet (tag) embossing.