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

12 Tags of 2012 - July

Tim challenged us to play with our alcohol inks in this month's 12 Tags and I finally have time to join in!

As we don't celebrate 4th of July in Australia, I chose some bright colours that would help me feel warm in all this cold.  Also, I didn't have any canned air so I had to improvise there too.   I chose to use a straw to blow the ink around.  I am happy with the way it turned out.  I turned the tag each time applied ink to ensure that I was blowing in the direction I wanted it to splatter.  This is such a quick way to make a cool, colourful background!

Finally, I applied my stamps using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black, added my embellishments and tied on my ribbon.  Easy and fun!

Some of the close up details:  As you can see here, I inked the edges of the glossy card stock with some Tea Dye Distress Ink

This addition of a chunky embellishment like a key is new to me.  I have tried it a couple of times now and have determined that I need more of this style of embellishment with new ways to attach them!  Watch out wallet :0)

I hope you liked my take on Tim Holtz's July tag.  Thank you for looking and I will get back into posting after we have moved!

xoxo

Kim

June Card Class Project - A Photo Wallet

Hey everyone! Hope this frosty morning finds you all well.

I've posted this project before but I wanted to share again - including what we are making for the class. This project was sourced from Splitcoaststampers. It's a really simple way to share a few photos with friends and family.

So here are the two different versions we are making this month.









The second version:






The flower on the front came from Paper Loves Glue. It's super easy and soooo effective! Here is a side on photo to give you an idea of the dimension:



You will also notice I chose to go with a Velcro fastener and not a belly band. I found that the band kind of takes over if you are using patterned paper.

The projects are made using KaiserCraft and Prima papers. I used Stampin' Up and Distress ink to ink the edges of the paper and stamp the sentiments. Stamps are from Hero Arts, Bo Bunny and KaiserCraft.

xoxo

- Kim

The Book Card

So, my one of my besties had a Finally Forty party last week and I wanted to make her something special because it was a big birthday! I wish I could say I invented this card but, alas, such is not the case. I found it at Gramma's House of Cards. It's called a book card.




As you can see, it sort of looks like a book. It looks really intricate but the hardest part is the accordion frame inside. Before I make this again, I'll be buying a scoring board! So here is the front:



I used Bo Bunny Country Garden paper and embellishments plus a little Stickles and a few rhinestones. The inside is more of the same:



I printed the poem and greeting onto cardstock and inked the edges of the patterned paper. I also added ribbon and corner fasteners to the top of the "shadow box". Here are some close ups and different angles:









In this part of the card, I placed the different items at different levels of the accordion folds to give a 3D effect.

It's a fabulous card that is sure to get lots of admiration if you are keen to give it a try!

- Kim

Where Does the Time Go? And Giving the Gift of Cards

We have been so busy around here! What with regular daily activities, visitors and card classes, I just haven't had time to post. I'm not complaining, just making note :)

Today, I had friends come to visit with their new baby. It was wonderful to cuddle a newly born little guy again, but equally as nice to give him back. It made me realise that my "little baby" will be 3 in a few months and I am wondering where all that time went! It all just goes by so quick - I mean the oldest will be double digits next year. Sheesh!

As I like to do, I picked up a gift for the baby to give to my friends when they arrived. And, as I also like to do, I added something for Mum. After all, she had a lot of work to do (and much more to come) and deserves a little treat too! This time I decided on a gift of cards.

So, I found this awesome little thing called a One Sheet Wonder. It's different patterns you can cut up one sheet of paper into to make bulk lots of cards. I found the one I used at Mae's Cachet. If you search her site for One Sheet Wonder, you'll find a few different templates for both A4 and 12x12. There are tons if you search on Google too.

I also made the envelopes (I may never buy envelopes again) using the Any Size Envelope tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. The box is the A2 Card Box tutorial from the same site.

So here are the results:
















All cardstock, embellishments, ribbon and stamps are from Stampin' Up (What! No Bo Bunny or Tim Holtz I hear you say!). As I have often said, it's much easier to create cards and other projects when you use a coordinating line of products. I made all of this in about 3 hours (including envelopes and the research). I hope you give it a try!

I have sent out the email for the June card class. We are making photo wallets! Let me known if you want to join in and I'll send you the details.

xoxo

- Kim

The Never Ending Card

Much like the Never Ending Story, this card just keeps on going! It's almost mesmerising. You just want to keep turning it.

The main thing to remember with this card is not to put bulky embellishments on it as it needs to be able to fold through all the faces without getting stuck. I found an excellent set of instructions here (remember, no point reinventing the wheel).

So here is an example I made while at MUFOG:


This is the front of the card - the start if you like.


This is position 2 - the first set of fold backs.


This is position 3 - the second set of folds


And position 4 - the last set of folds before you get back to the beginning!

I again recommend that you use one line of paper so that all the panels match and a 6 x 6 paper pad works beautifully here. If you get a single line of product, you can use the matching stickers, rub ons and other flat embellishments to dress it up.

Have fun!

xoxo

- Kim