Happy Halloween

12 Tags of 2014

Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge 14 - Colored Crackle

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

My entry is early for the CC3C but I'm sliding into home plate with my October tag for Tim's 12 Tags of 2014. I'm just glad I made the deadline at this point with the whirlwind month I've had. ;) I combined the techniques on his October tag with the current Colored Crackle challenge at CC3C and I gotta say, I love my tag. As usual it finished totally different than my original vision but that's okay.

Challenge #14 using Tim's Compendium of Curiosities 3 book which you can order here. 

At this point my image (Tim's fab witch) was stamped on my tag and embossed, then I used the stamped image on the mask sheet to cover and protect it from the texture that I added to my background.  

I used Studio 490's translucent embossing paste which takes the color a bit differently than regular texture paste. After it dried I went back to add more depth in color with Distress Paint and Markers in some places because it was bugging me. ;)

I don't own the pumpkin image Tim used on his tag so I used another one with a black cat, colored with Distress Marker and gave it a shiny coat with Glossy Accents. After it dried I cut it out and adhered it to my tag.

I used some of the same Idea-ology products he used like the wish bone, alpha tiles, monocle, Halloween remnant rub ons, chain and trim. I couldn't resist using this Trick or Treat token though. :)

This is where the CC3C-Colored Crackle challenge part comes in and I can't go into the technique so guess you'll just have to buy the book. I did use Tim's window die and it was die cut from his grunge paper.

A close up of the crackle detail on the window and ...

on the window box piece which I actually used as trim at the top of the window because the bottom of my tag is kinda busy.

The Funkie Junkie is sponsoring Challenge #14 and Linda is generously offering a $25.00 gift certificate to her online store. Thanks Linda!

I'm entering this tag in the 12 Tags of 2014 challenge as well as the CC3C #14-Colored Crackle challenge (links above).

That's all for me today, we are off to go see our college girl but this time her big brother and SIL are coming with us so it'll be fun times in the 'Boro this weekend. 

Hope all the little (and big) trick-or-treaters everywhere have a fun, safe Halloween and get lots of candy.

Thanks for looking!

Lisa xx 

Fun with Chevrons

~ CHEVRONS ~

Over at Top Tip Tuesday we are kicking off a new challenge and it's Chevrons. I couldn't resist using this Turkey and Fall Leaves cutting file by Carina Gardner which I picked up at the Silhouette online store. More on my card in minute but first a big thank you to Sweet Stamps for sponsoring this challenge. 

Sweet Stamps

Prize is a $10.00 gift certificate.

Deneen has some great tips on the challenge blog on how to keep your paper organized and there's a DT CALL going on as well. If you'd fancy designing for Top Tip Tuesday then check the details out and throw your name in the hat. Good Luck!  

It's so hard to believe that Thanksgiving (here in the US) is literally in a few weeks and that trick-or-treaters will be ringing doorbells everywhere this Friday. Where has this year gone? :( 

I wanted this card to be CAS (clean and simple) and I couldn't resist using the Turkey and Fall Leaves cutting file because it happened to have this chevron turkey in it. :) I added a fun googly eye and altered some alpha's by Tim Holtz with an Adirondack Lettuce Paint Dabber then glued them on top. I should note that I backed the image with orange cardstock. Finishing touches were added with a wood button, twine, punched photo corners and a MS punched border. 

Here's my Tip: If you're having issues with your punch not cutting well use aluminum foil to sharpen it.

Don't forget about our DT CALL going on and be sure to visit my teamies to see how they incorporated chevrons in their projects. 

Thanks for stopping by today, have a wonderful week!

Lisa xx

A Shabby Worn Cover

Front cover of my 12 Tags of 2014 book.

Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #13 - Worn Cover 

I hope all of you are enjoying the fall season as much as I am. With the cooler temps and beautiful foliage everywhere it's hard to stay indoors. :)

Before I share my project I'd like to thank the Curiosity Crew for choosing my tag as their pick for the Distress Phototinting challenge. It was sentimental to me so it meant even more to be chosen. 

Thank you ladies!!! xx

The current challenge is Worn Cover and I've been waiting for it as well. Why?

I

In May I decided to join Tim's 12 Tags of 2014 Challenge and this book is perfect for storing my tags. Even though I didn't participate the first four months I made tags for those months as well. You always learn something new with Tim's fabulous techniques. :)  

If you haven't joined in the CC3C fun yet it's not too late, click here for your autographed copy of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities 3 book. A new challenge starts tomorrow! 

No technique this time so we are free to share our entire alteration process.  

I used the Composition Worn Cover and started by adding some texture using Tim's Doily layering stencil and...

Studio 490's silver metallic embossing paste. Spread it over the cover with a palette knife and carefully lift to reveal this stunning image. The embossing paste dries with a shiny finish and reminds me of an old tin ceiling. 

(By the way, this stuff spreads like butter. Gotta love that!)

The back side of my cover. 

I cut two strips of paper from Tim's Wallflower Paper Stash dp (for the front and back) then inked both with worn lipstick and tumbled glass Distress Ink. I liked the colors so I rubbed them on my textured surface as well and the fabric underneath grabs and holds the color. 

A scalloped Industrial Sticker Border was added to the front and back. These stickers look like metal and add to my tin ceiling theme I have going on. Tim's Ornate Frame was die cut using his Vintage Shabby Paper Stash collection (an oldie but a goody) and I also chose a pretty pink dp from it to use as the base for my stamped butterfly image. The stamp is part of the Butterfly Melange set and seems to be a favorite of Mr. Holtz. I love it too! The metal numbers were altered with Distress Paints (black soot and antique linen) and Glossy Accents doubles as my glue for adhering them.  

The inside panels were covered with this dp from the Vintage Shabby Paper Stash collection and a Ring Binder was attached with Tim's trim. I finished it off with a narrow Industrial Sticker Border at the top and bottom. 

My original thought was to alter Tim's Letterpress alpha's and put them on the front cover. I couldn't get the placement right so changed course and placed them on the spine instead. ;)

They were altered with Distress Paint (antique linen, spun sugar, tumbled glass, black soot, silver) and connected with Screw Eyes and Jump Rings.

I secured the "T" with Glossy Accents and the rest are free to dangle. The front cover was finished with an Ornate Book Plate, Label Letters and Newsprint alpha set (altered with antique linen Distress Paint). A dazzle butterfly was colored with Distress Markers (spun, sugar, worn lipstick, tumbled glass) and placed in the upper right corner. 

My book will rest on an easel so the alteration on the back was kept to a minimum. 

Page Pockets Tags are great for protecting my tags and I can easily flip through my book and remember what fun I had creating them. There are 6 in a package so I placed my tags back to back. 

The last thing I did was to add a Custom Knob with the clock image. It represents time I spent in 2014 studying and learning from the creative genius, Tim Holtz. 

This challenge is sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium

and they are offering a generous prize to one lucky winner.

All of the products used to decorate my Worn Cover are from Tim's Idea-ology product line and you can find them by clicking the IE link. Happy Shopping!

Thanks for the visit today! 

Have a great weekend, wherever you are!

Lisa xx

Halloween, Mason Style

11 Days til Halloween!!!

I'm back to share the latest inspiration from The Cutting Cafe. It's all about the Halloween and Fall in a Jar Printable Set for the next two weeks and I created two cards with Halloween themes. Visit TCC blog here to see all of the DT projects, including the fall jars, tomorrow October 21st. 

For the first card I used the jar full of eyes and colored it with Copic markers. I fussy cut the image (which is used for layering) and used foam tape to give it some dimension. The papers, ribbon, twine and button are from my Halloween crafty stash. I punched Eek! from one of the dp's and distressed the edges with black soot distress ink (actually all of the edges on this card are distressed with black soot). 

Here's my second card. 

The set includes several jars with various images, sizes and sentiments. It was colored with Distress Ink pads (spiced marmalade and black soot) and Copic markers. I added purple twine around the neck of the jar and a Halloween token by Tim Holtz. I love the way my white Signo uniball pen makes the eyes look like they're glowing. This jar card is the small size just for reference. I did not make the large size but my teamies did so be sure to check out their creations.

Halloween and Fall in a Jar Printable Set by The Cutting Cafe

  

If you'd like to be the next random winner of 3 cutting file/templates visit TCC blog and leave a comment. Regina will announce the winner on the 7th of November. Good luck!

Have a Happy Halloween everyone!

Lisa xx

Favorite Color Combo

ATC

There are so many possibilities when it comes to color combos that limiting it to just one combo is nearly impossible for me. But I did it and you can too! :)

~Favorite Color Combo~

is the new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and I went with a blue, green and brown combo for my ATC's. I love how the colors blend together and I added a little interest with the addition of Czech glass beads. 

Here's a look at my second ATC.

I used a wash on this ATC which muted the colors a bit. Czech glass beads were added as well as a stamped image from Tim's Nature Walk set.

Here are a few photos of my process.

Both ATC's started out as playing cards and each received a light coat of Gesso. I used embossing paste and a TCW-Mini Specimens 6x6 stencil to add texture and design. 

Broken China Distress Stain was dabbed over the butterflies once they dried.  You can see the back of the playing cards through the light coat of Gesso. ;)

Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo Distress Stains were then dabbed on to round out the color. At this point I dabbed some of the color off with a paper towel and used a mix of Picket Fence Distress Stain and water to mute the colors. On my first ATC I added layers of color and wanted to see what the opposite effect would be on this one. 

For dimension, texture and an infusion of color I added Czech glass beads by mixing a few drops of Antique Linen (re-inker) with Liquitex Glass Beads and mixed well. I applied it to my ATC with a palette knife and sprinkled the beads over the mixture while gently pressing them in. At this point I left them to dry for a whole day so the beads would set and any loose stragglers were brushed off afterwards. I can keep them for my collection or I thought about mounting each one to a piece of sticky back canvas and framing. Not sure what to do so I'll wait on that step.

So there you have it, my favorite color combo. Well, one of them anyway! :)

Kenny K is offering 3 free digital images to our lucky winner!

That's all for me today, thanks for looking and be sure to visit my teamies to see what their favorite color combo is. Have a great day everyone!

Lisa xx

I Love Distress Phototinting!

Hello everyone!

I have been waiting for this challenge
~ Distress Phototinting ~
at the Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge. We are on challenge #12 and this one by far is my favorite as Tim has introduced us to a new way of updating old photos. You can find this technique on pg. 41 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities III book and if you fancy an autographed copy click here.  

I love the inspiration this week by the Curiosity Crew and many of them created tags so I did too. As usual, I can't share the technique out of respect for Tim but I can share a few close ups and the products I used to create my tag. 

This adorable little boy is my dad and he's 4 years old in this photo. It's the only photo I have of him at a young age so I cherish it beyond measure. The girl with the cute bob is his big sis, Helen. He absolutely adored her! If you take a close look you'll see that they are standing in front of a cornfield and after coloring their clothes with distress markers I decided to also color the cornstalks as well as the ground. I also enhanced the windmill so it would show up as it was very faint in the photo. 

To create my tag I began by using distress stain to color the base, then placed Tim's schoolhouse layering stencil on top and dabbed walnut stain distress ink over it. Wendy Vecchi's translucent embossing paste and Tim's sunburst layering stencil add some texture to the top.  Mustard seed distress ink was pounced on top of the rays and I spritzed it with some water to activate the other colors. I did not take step by step photos as time did not allow. I'm running at Mach 5 with my hair on fire these days so I'm just happy to enter this tag in time. :)

I used Idea-ology products with the exception of the two letter charms. R is for Ralph, my Dad's name, and H is for Helen, his sister/best friend/confidant. Life wasn't easy in rural Nebraska during the depression and at age 6 his life was altered in a drastic way. His mother passed away after giving birth to triplets. Helen and the infants went to live with their aunt in the city while the boys stayed on the farm with their dad. He lost his mom and older sister at the same time and quickly became responsible for his two younger brothers with my grandfather working full time. I can't imagine how hard it was for all of them. 

The Funkie Junkie is sponsoring this challenge and Linda's offering a $25.00 shopping spree to one lucky CC3Cer!

Edited: Just wanted to share that I won this challenge. I am over the moon as this particular project was very close to my heart. Thanks Curiosity Crew, it means SO much!!!

On a happy note, my baby turns 20 today so hubby and I are off for a celebratory birthday weekend with her.

Happy Birthday Sara, we love you!!!

Also, my son and DIL will be home soon and I can't wait to see them! It has been 11 months and this mama's ready for a big hug and plenty of time to catch up. :) Now you know why I've been scarce in blog land, I'm working overtime to fluff the house and yard up, cook ahead and get some of my DT projects finished so I can relax and enjoy my kids.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for looking!

Lisa xx