Tape It Up Challenge

Right, so today's creation started from the Simon Says Stamp Challenge of Tape It Up!  I created my own tissue tape using the tutorial from Let's Scrap by Sue Dawn.  I changed it up a little by using Distress Stain to colour the tape ad then colouring some of the images with Smooch Ink.  This was the result:

It's a little hard to see the colour as it's on a brown background but I think you get the idea :0)

Then, I had to decide how to use this tape I had created.  It took me a while to decide to make it into a "framed" piece of art.  I cut a frame shape using my eCraft Fundamentals card and framed a 3 1/2" square of tape.  Then began the odyssey of finding the "right" paper.  You see, I'm one of those "Oooo, that looks nice!  What about that one?  I wonder what these would look like together?" people.  It took me a fair while to choose.  In the end, I went with some Webster's Pages from a 6x6 paper collection.  I cut two of the pieces in half and attached them together to make a 5 inch panel, hiding the join under some Webster's Pages trim.  I adhered the framed art and began the search for a sentiment.

It didn't take long - a Tim Holtz Philosophy Stick took my fancy and I altered it with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber.  I added some jewels to the corner and I thought I was done, but I was wrong!  The whole piece needed a frame.  So I found a piece of Tim Holtz Kraft Resist (with butterflies, of course).  I cut it to 5 1/2 inches and began colouring.  I started with Picket Fence Distress Stain and then added some Broken China and Peeled Paint.  I finished it off with some Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist and a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the edges.  I stuck it behind the panel and I knew I had nearly finished. I adhered my pieces to a 6 inch card base and voila!

My tissue tape card!

Here are a few close ups AND a picture of the back which has just the Kraft Resist on it.

 The tape framed art.

 The philosophy stick.

 You can see that the panels are elevated here with foam tape.

 Oooooo!  Look at that shine!  I love the Perfect Pearls Mist!!

The finished panel on the reverse of the card.  You can see the colour and resist pattern here.

It was a good exploration today.  Thanks for looking and I hope to see you here again soon!

xoxo

Kim

Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 20

Today's work is my first chance to participate in the Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge being hosted by Studio L3.  I've wanted to join in but life got in the way so I've been enjoying all the other participant's entries.

This week is Enameled Stamping and can be found on page 44 of Tim Holtz's book, Compendium of Curiosities 2.  If you want to know how to do the technique, you'll have to buy the book!

So here is my take on the technique:

Now, for a self confessed addict like myself, you'll be surprised to know that I don't own any background stamps!  So I improvised with a large one I had.  I also chose to ink with 3 colours - Spiced Marmalade, Stormy Sky and Shabby Shutters and then finished off with Vintage Photo.  To add a little extra sheen, I put on a few spritzes of Perfect Pearl Mist in Pearl.  The embellishment at the top is a Pink Paislee Artisan Element that I inked with alcohol inks and then misted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold.  I've also included to Word Sticks that were altered with black acrylic paint.  The final element is a die cut made with the eCraft machine that is FINALLY sitting on my desk!  It's a layered flower from the Fundamentals cartridge that comes with the machine.  I cut it out of white card stock and then inked each layer with the same distress inks used in the background.  I curled the edges and popped it up on foam tape to give it a bit of height.  I added a few small paper flowers under it with small beads as the centres.

Here are some close ups of the detail:

I had fun with this although it was one of those projects where I had to stop and step away to like what I had come up with.  I hope you have enjoyed looking and that you too make some time for your hobby of choice!

xoxo
Kim

12 Tags of 2012 - September and My New Craft Space

Yay!!! I'm back on line and in our new house.  I can't tell you how much I detest moving but at least it is done for the next to last time.  Which means, I have a new crafting space!  It's fabulous for me as it is right in the middle of everything but still all mine so no need to clean up if I need to leave what I am working on.  It's right next to the windows so it has great light and it has been Kiminated - overly organised for those of you who know me.

Here's what it looks like:

Of course with a new space, I had to give it a try.  Oooooooohhhhhh....heaven!  The right amount of space with everything close at hand and just a few steps from the cabinet of goodness that protects all my stash from 3 year old hands.  And being that I am inflicted with "Tim Holtzitis", my first project in the new space had to be a Tim challenge.

This month is an industrial look (see Tim's tag here) and it required me to improvise a lot, which was fantastic.  I have been watching videos and listening to podcasts while waiting to get back into it and the one saying that has really stuck with me was "What If I...".  I heard it on the Paperclipping Roundtable podcast that Tim was recently on and it was from an amazing crafter, Laura Denison.  Do yourself a favour, check her blog out.  You will be blown away.

So, with "What If..." in hand, I began my tag!  I didn't have foil tape or the right colour alcohol inks or steel wool or even any of the embellishments that were used on Tim's tag but I wasn't going to let that stop me!  Here is what I came up with:

I used aluminium foil to replace the foil tape and instead of alcohol inking it, I used black acrylic paint. I  found an old scratchy dish cloth under the sink and used that to rub the paint off and scratch up the surface a bit.  I used the pen technique from Tim to create the rivet look and my pick for the holes.  The "stitching" was created using my bone folder.

When it was time to embellish, I had to think hard because my Vagabond hasn't been replaced yet and I have no die cutting machine (so many dies and no way to use them!).  I don't have any really industrial stamps but for some reason iron scrollwork popped into my head and I remembered some Kaisercraft stamps I had.  I had actually picked out a bird but in the end, the dragonfly spoke to me more.

I stamped it using Staz-On ink onto silver foil card and embossed it with a glitter embossing powder.  Then I used the ginger alcohol ink to colour it in.  

I had a message in mind when I pulled out the word band and key.  But where to find the words "the" and "is"?  As I rummaged through my stickers, I came across the DCWV Once Upon a Time chipboard stickers and there was my "the".  Still looking for the "is"... and then it hit me!  I have had the grunge blocks for ages and barely used them.  I could try a modified version of rusted grunge as I have no Distress Embossing powders!

So, it's not exactly what I was in my head but it is close and I like it.  The blocks were inked with Black Soot Distress Ink and then I dusted silver embossing powder over the top.  There's a lot more black showing that this picture suggest.  The letters were inked with Vintage Photo and then embossed with clear powder.  Before I heated though, I ran my fingers over the letters to remove patches of powder.  Then I inked the top with Black Soot.  I got a pretty decent speckled look.

Overall, I am extremely please with my improvisation!  I hope you had fun looking and that you too will think with "What If I..."!

xoxo

Kim